cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production and radioassay of TC-94M for pet studies

The goal of this work was to develop a remote apparatus for the preparation of Tc-94m pertechnetate, suitable for the injection into a variety of Tc-99m instant kits, and to develop a dose calibrator radioassay of this radionuclide for use in the radiopharmacy. At the NIH Clinical Center Tc-94m has been produced utilizing 12.1 ± 0.5 MeV protons in the Mo-94 (p, n) Tc-94m nuclear reaction with >92% isotopically enriched Mo-94 molybdenum oxide pellet external target and NaOH/MEK chemical separation. With a Tc-94m average production rate of 15 ± 3 mCi/μA-hr (17 preparations) we have routinely obtained 25 ± 6 mCi of Tc-94m pertechnetate at 45 minutes past EOB in the first 3 mL of isotopic saline for injection into a Tc-99m-sestamibi instant kit.
α-d-Mannosidase. Preparation and properties of free and insolubilized enzyme

Abstract α- d -Mannosidase (α- d -mannoside mannohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.24) has been purified to homogeneity as demonstrated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation. The molecular weight of the enzyme is approx. 200 000; the protein appears to contain 4 subunits, with molecular weights of 66 000 and 44 000. The enzyme was immobilized on Sepharose and the properties of the coupled and free enzyme were compared. Both were stable up to 70°C with rapid loss of activity between 75–80°C; both retained 25–30% activity in 6 M urea and 65% of the original activity could be restored in the coupled preparation by removal of the urea. The pH maximum of each form was approximately the same, with the maximum of the immobilized enzyme shifted slightly to a lower pH. The coupled α- d -mannosidase presented in this report offers the possibility of digesting high molecular weight substrates, such as glycoproteins, with the advantages of (1) recovering large quantities of digested substrate; (2) recovery of the active glycosidase; and (3) digestion at high temperatures and under conditions that denature many proteins.
Are Spider Silk Proteins a New Class of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins

Spider dragline silk is an outstanding biopolymer with a strength that exceeds steel by weight and a toughness greater than high-performance fibers like Kevlar. For this reason, understanding how a spider converts the gel-like, aqueous protein spinning dope within the major ampullate (MA) gland into a super fiber is of great importance for developing future biomaterials based on spider silk. In this work, the initial state of the silk proteins within Black Widow MA glands was probed with solution-state NMR spectroscopy following isotopic enrichment. 15N relaxation parameters, T1, T2 and 15N-{1H} steady-state NOE were measured for twelve backbone environments at two spectrometer frequencies, 500 and 800 MHz. All observed backbone environments are consistent with MA silk protein dynamics on the fast sub-nanosecond timescale. In addition, the observed conformation-dependent isotropic chemical shifts are consistent with a random coil. Therefore, it is concluded that the repetitive core of spider MA proteins are in an unfolded, highly flexible state in the MA gland. We propose that spider silk proteins can be considered intrinsically disordered proteins prior to fiber formation.
Testing the correlation for clustered categorical and censored discrete time-to-event data when covariates are measured without/with errors.

Summary. In the analysis of clustered categorical data, it is of common interest to test for the correlation within clusters, and the heterogeneity across different clusters. We address this problem by proposing a class of score tests for the null hypothesis that the variance components are zero in random effects models, for clustered nominal and ordinal categorical responses. We extend the results to accommodate clustered censored discrete time-to-event data. We next consider such tests in the situation where covariates are measured with errors. We propose using the SIMEX method to construct the score tests for the null hypothesis that the variance components are zero. Key advantages of the proposed score tests are that they can be easily implemented by fitting standard polytomous regression models and discrete failure time models, and that they are robust in the sense that no assumptions need to be made regarding the distributions of the random effects and the unobserved covariates. The asymptotic properties of the proposed tests are studied. We illustrate these tests by analyzing two data sets and evaluate their performance with simulations.
A compact fluorescence and white light imaging system for intraoperative visualization of nerves

Fluorescence image guided surgery (FIGS) allows intraoperative visualization of critical structures, with applications spanning neurology, cardiology and oncology. An unmet clinical need is prevention of iatrogenic nerve damage, a major cause of post-surgical morbidity. Here we describe the advancement of FIGS imaging hardware, coupled with a custom nerve-labeling fluorophore (GE3082), to bring FIGS nerve imaging closer to clinical translation. The instrument is comprised of a 405nm laser and a white light LED source for excitation and illumination. A single 90 gram color CCD camera is coupled to a 10mm surgical laparoscope for image acquisition. Synchronization of the light source and camera allows for simultaneous visualization of reflected white light and fluorescence using only a single camera. The imaging hardware and contrast agent were evaluated in rats during in situ surgical procedures.
the Delaware as women: a symbolic solution

Previously several authors have discussed the circumstances whereby the entire Delaware nation became known as women and the Iroquois confederacy known as men. These authors have debated whether these designations were the result of military conquest or political agreement. My own view is that the Delaware became women and the Iroquois men as the result of what is known in structural analysis as a transformation. Three other examples of man/woman transformations are also suggested for Native America.
Reflecting to learn mathematics: supporting pre-service teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge with reflection on writing prompts in mathematics education

The use of and reflection on writing prompts in mathematics education can allow pre-service teachers to enhance their own mathematical knowledge and broaden their understanding of students’ learning needs. In this paper, we share results from a study with secondary pre-service mathematics teachers who were asked to respond to writing prompts related to various mathematical concepts, reflect on their responses, and then give the same prompts to a group of college algebra students. Our analysis of the data shows that the prompts helped the pre-service teachers to reflect on their role as learners, student thinking and needs and classroom practices. We relate these findings to a framework for looking at pedagogical content knowledge and discuss the usefulness of writing prompts with pre-service mathematics teachers for expanding such knowledge.
Liquid convection effects on the pushing-engulfment transition of insoluble particles by a solidifying interface: Part II. Numerical calculation of drag and lift forces on a particle in parabolic shear flow

In this work, lift and drag forces acting on a particle in the close vicinity of a wall are calculated by numerically solving the incompressible two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. The flow field computations are done using the well-known Marker and Cell (MAC) method on a staggered grid. A parabolic shear flow at the inlet is assumed. The particle is assumed to be nonrotating and Magnus forces are not considered. The numerical results are compared to those obtained from analytical/empirical expressions for drag and lift forces from different theoretical models. Reasonably good agreement has been found between the two approaches.
Renin Release after Hemorrhage and after Suprarenal Aortic Constriction in Dogs without Sodium Delivery to the Macula Densa

To study the possible factors that control renin secretion by the kidney, a model has been developed to prevent glomerular filtration in the dog. Ureteral ligation was combined with a 2-hour period of total renal ischemia to induce tubular degeneration and cessation of glomerular filtration. After the surgical procedures, the dogs were maintained for 4 days by peritoneal dialysis. The absence of lissamine green dye in the renal tubules after an intra-aortic injection provided evidence that filtration had ceased. Plasma renin activity was significantly increased in six conscious dogs at 30, 60, and 90 minutes after hemorrhage of 20 ml/kg body weight. In another group of five conscious animals, suprarenal aortic constriction produced increases in plasma renin activity at 30, 60, and 90 minutes that were 3 to 4 times the control values before aortic constriction. Plasma renin substrate concentration did not change significantly after hemorrhage or after aortic constriction. In a third group of five dogs, only the left kidney was subjected to ureteral ligation and renal ischemia. These dogs were anesthetized and renal blood flow was measured with an electromagnetic flowmeter. After hemorrhage (20 ml/kg), renin secretion increased significantly above control levels at 30, 45, and 60 minutes. It is concluded that sodium delivery to the macula densa is not essential for renin secretion.
Bacterial Interference Caused by Autoinducing Peptide Variants

The synthesis of virulence factors and other extracellular proteins by Staphylococcus aureus is globally controlled by the agr locus, which encodes a two-component signaling pathway whose activating ligand is an agr-encoded autoinducing peptide. The cognate peptides produced by some strains inhibit the expression of agr in other strains, and the amino acid sequences of peptide and receptor are markedly different between such strains, suggesting a hypervariability-generating mechanism. Cross-inhibition of gene expression represents a type of bacterial interference that could be correlated with the ability of one strain to exclude others from infection or colonization sites, or both.
Some Observable Effects of the Quantum-Mechanical Fluctuations of the Electromagnetic Field

An intuitive explanation is given for the electromagnetic shift of energy levels by calculating the mean square amplitude of oscillation of an electron coupled to the zero-point fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. The resulting disturbance of the charge and current density of the electron gives rise to various observable effects which can be estimated in a simple classical fashion. The effects treated are the Lamb shift, the correction to the $g$-factor for the orbital and spin angular momenta of the electron, and the correction to the Compton scattering cross section at low energies. A simple explanation is also given for the peculiar ultraviolet divergence noticed by Pauli and Fierz in their treatment of the infra-red paradox.
The Test–Retest Reliability and Predictive Validity of a Battery of Newly Developed Occupational Performance Assessments

The purpose of the author in this study was to investigate the test–retest reliability and predictive validity of new occupational performance assessments. The researcher used a test–retest design with mixed quantitative and qualitative methods. The test–retest reliability of the perceived adequacy of engagement in occupations of priority to participants as measured on the assessments was r (15) = .54, p < .05. Perceived test adequacy predicted 27% [B = .517, t = 2.18, R2 = .27, F (1, 13) = 4.75, p = .048] and retest adequacy predicted 67% [B = .820, t = 5.16, R2 = .67, F (1, 13) = 26.61, p = .000] of variability in the retest frequency of engagement in occupations seen as a priority by research participants. Test satisfaction scores predicted 50% of variability in the test frequency of engagement in occupations [B = .707, t = 3.61, R2 = .50, F (1, 13) = 13.01, p = .003]. It was concluded that adequacy and satisfaction scores could be used by occupational therapists in planning therapeutic interventions t...
Cancer portal project: a multidisciplinary approach to cancer care among Hispanic patients.

Purpose: This study investigates the impact of a multilingual, multidisciplinary team targeting social and economic determinants of cancer treatment adherence among at-risk Hispanic immigrants. Methods: Patients were recruited at 10 hospital-based cancer clinics in New York City between December 2008 and November 2009. This is a nested cohort study of Hispanic patients and their sociodemographic characteristics, areas of needed assistance, and reported impact of meeting service needs on keeping appointments. At the core of the intervention is the trained, bilingual Portal Access Facilitator, who assesses needs and synchronizes an individualized set of transdisciplinary services for each patient. Results: A total of 328 Hispanic patients participated in the study. Of these, 89% preferred to speak Spanish in the health care setting, and 17% had no health insurance. The most common cancer diagnosis among participants was breast cancer (35%) followed by GI (17%) and gynecologic (16%) cancers. Patients most commonly requested financial support (59%), foodsupport(37%),transportationassistance(21%),socialwork services (14%), psychosocial support (6%), help with health insurance issues (5%), and legal services (5%). In a follow-up assessment of high-need patients in urgent need of financial support, 86% reported that portal services helped them attend cancercareandtreatmentappointments,and72%reportedthat portal services decreased worry about their care. Conclusion: Most patients reported that financial, social, and logistical support would help them attend their appointments for cancercareandtreatment.Furthermultidisciplinaryinterventions should be implemented and evaluated to address social and economic determinants in cancer care for this population.
A note on nitrogen fertilizer application timing

Abstract This paper is concerned with a farmer's decision on the timing of nitrogen fertilizer application. An analytical model is developed to determine the necessary conditions for the optimal timing of the application of nitrogen fertilizer. The empirical results explain various observed application timings of nitrogen fertilizer being used in cotton production in Mississippi and provide an estimate of the cost to a farmer when he or she must comply with a restriction on the timing of the application of nitrogen fertilizer.
The use of molecular assays to identify plant pathogenic organisms vectored by biological control agents

The planthopper Prokelisia marginata VanDuzee (Homoptera: Delphacidae) has beenconsidered for the biological control of theweed Spartina alterniflora Loisel(Poaceae) in Willapa Bay, Washington, U.S.A. Prokelisia marginata is a stenophagousphloem-feeding insect with the potential totransmit bacterial plant diseases that could bemoved by less-specific vectors to other plantspecies. Initial assays with PCR primers thatare putatively specific for phytoplasmas gavepositive results in Spartina. However,subsequent analyses did not indicate thetransmission of the pathogen by theplanthopper. We sequenced the 16S ribosomalRNA (rRNA) gene of the bacterial species thatgave positive results in PCR. Comparisons withsequences available in GenBank suggested thatthe positive results using the putativelyspecific PCR primers were due to the presenceof such bacteria as Pseudomonas, Holomonas, Vibrio, and Acinetobacter. We did not find phytoplasmasin either Spartina or the planthopperP. marginata.
Dynamic contract trading in spectrum markets

We address the question of optimal trading of bandwidth (service) contracts in wireless spectrum markets, for the primary spectrum providers. We propose a structured spectrum market and consider two basic types of spectrum contracts that can help attain desired flexibilities and tradeoffs in terms of service quality, spectrum usage efficiency and pricing: long-term guaranteed-bandwidth contracts, and shortterm opportunistic-access contracts. A primary provider (seller) creates and maintains a portfolio composed of an appropriate mix of these two types of contracts. The optimal contract trading question in this context amounts to how the spectrum contract portfolio of a seller in the spectrum market should be dynamically adjusted, so as to maximize return subject to meeting the bandwidth demands of its own subscribers. We formulate the optimal contract trading question as a stochastic dynamic programming problem, and obtain structural properties of the optimal dynamic trading strategy that takes into account the current market prices of the contracts and the subscriber demand process in the decision-making.
The Liberty Bell: From Commodity to Sacred Object

The Liberty Bell stands today as one of the most prominent and widely recognized symbols of America. As a cultural biography of this national artifact, this paper focuses on the four main media thr...
Faith on the Margins: Catholics and Catholicism in the Dutch Golden Age – By Charles H. Parker

Among historians, the religious plurality of the seventeenth‐century Dutch Republic has enjoyed an iconic reputation for its tolerant stance in an ocean of religious intolerance. Since the nineteen...
Using vancomycin concentrations for dosing daptomycin in a morbidly obese patient with renal insufficiency

Objective:To report a case in which vancomycin clearance was used to determine the daptomycin dosing interval in a morbidly obese patient with renal impairment.Case Summary:A 46-year-old man (209 kg; 178 cm) failed a 42 day course of vancomycin therapy for treatment of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus–infected wound and cellulitis. The median trough vancomycin concentration was 12.6 μg/mL (range 7.3–24.1) through his course of therapy. Estimation of creatinine clearance (Clcr) was confounded in this clinical scenario, given the patient's weight and a lack of valid equations in this patient population. Daptomycin was administered empirically at 6 mg/kg dosed every 48 hours based on estimated clearance from measured vancomycin concentrations. Steady-state plasma concentrations of daptomycin were determined, and the daptomycin half-life in this patient was more accurately estimated using vancomycin clearance as a surrogate. In addition, a 4 mg/kg dose of daptomycin would have been sufficient bas...
Differences in the social networks of African American men who have sex with men only and those who have sex with men and women.

Objectives. We compared social network characteristics of African American men who have sex with men only (MSMO) with social network characteristics of African American men who have sex with men and women (MSMW).Methods. Study participants were 234 African American men who have sex with men who completed a baseline social network assessment for a pilot behavioral HIV prevention intervention in Baltimore, Maryland, from 2006 through 2009. We surveyed the men to elicit the characteristics of their social networks, and we used logistic regression models to assess differences in network characteristics.Results. MSMO were significantly more likely than were MSMW to be HIV-positive (52% vs 31%). We found no differences between MSMO and MSMW in the size of kin networks or emotional and material support networks. MSMW had denser sexual networks, reported more concurrent and exchange partners, used condoms with more sexual partners, and reported interaction with a larger number of sexual partners at least once a w...
High peak power RF processing studies of 3 GHz niobium cavities

The effects and benefits of high peak power RF processing as a means of reducing field emission loading in 3-GHz niobium accelerator cavities are being investigated. The test apparatus includes 3-GHz klystron capable of delivering RF pulses of up to 200-kW peak power with pulse lengths up to 2.5 ms at a repetition rate of approximately 1 Hz. The test apparatus has variable coupling such that the input external Q varies between 10/sup 5/ and 10/sup 10/ without breaking the cavity vacuum. Low-power, continuous-wave (CW) tests before and after HPP show that HPP is effective in removing emissions which are unaffected by low-power RF processing. CW measurements show that field emission reduction is dependent on maximum field reached during HPP. HPP fields of E/sub peak/ = 70-72 MV/m have been attained. These tests showed FE elimination to E/sub peak/ = 40 MV/m, and maximum fields of E/sub peak/=50-55 MV/m. Temperature mapping is now available. A cavity which showed strong FE loading and had extensive temperature mapping is now being investigated in a scanning electron microscope. A nine-cell cavity has been successfully tested, and, through HPP, reached E/sub acc/=15 MV/m, with Q/sub 0/=6.0*10/sup 9/. >
Theory of Classical Fluids and the Convolution Approximation (Note on Papers by Tohru Morita)

A method employed by Morita for the approximate calculation of the free energy and pair distribution function of classical fluids is seen to be identical with the nodal expansion method. The limit of the nodal expansion sequence results-in an approximate integral equation for the potential of average force. This convolution appro:rimatioJl is seen to be consistent with the Ornstein-Zernike theory of fluids, and thus provides a convenient means for investi­ gating the behavior of fluids near the critical point. The convolution approximation results also from neglecting the non-convolutory terms in an exact integral equation for the pair distribution function. Recently, several papers dealing with an approximate method for the calcula­ tion of the free energy and pair distribution function of fluids have been published by Morita. 1l - 3 ) In footnotes to the first two of these papers* Morita indicated a relationship between his methods and some of our own. It is the purpose of this note to clarify this relationship between the two developments, with particular reference to the nodal expansion method reported in several previous publica­ tions. 4 )-7) In his first two papersl) ,2) Morita started from the Mayer cluster expansions of the free energy, distribution functions and potentials of average force in powers of particle number density, p. As is well known, the coefficients of fP in these expansions are integrals of sums of products of Ursell-Mayer f-bonds, fij= exp[- U(r)jl:zTj-l, where U(r) is the direct potential of interaction of particles i and j separated by r. These products are represented by graphs in which each vertex denotes a particle, and each line connecting two vertices i and j represents the corresponding factor Ii,i' The coefficient of pn involves integration over the coordinates of n particles. Morita noted that certain products in each coefficient contain only vertices connected either by directf-bonds, by chains of f-bonds (that is, by rows of vertices each of which is connected only to the preceding one and to the following one by direct f-bonds), and by any number of j:bond chains between two vertices. Integrals of j:bond chains are readily evaluated by the n
Butterfly wing colour patterns and flying heights in the seasonally wet forest of Barro Colorado Island, Panama

I investigated the extent to which adult butterflies with different wing colours display preferences for flying heights within a lowland tropical forest. Observations on eight colour groups, some of which comprised putative aposematic models and mimics while others contained nonaposematic species, were made from the forest floor and from a scaffold tower that reached above the canopy. Two groups (yellow pierids and papilionids and orange heliconiines) were most frequently observed in or above the canopy, and other groups were most frequently observed in or below the canopy. The evidence suggests that significant differences exist between some groups, but stratification does not occur among all colour groups. In particular, flight distributions of some mimicry rings overlap considerably. The light environments of different forest layers are variable, and the role that butterfly wing colours play in signalling or avoiding prcdation is little understood. However, the general lack of fine stratification of colour groups suggests that flight preferences do not occur because wing colours and patterns are especially cryptic against the background of particular forest layers.
Register Versioning: A Low-Complexity Implementation of Register Renaming in Out-of-Order Microarchitectures

Register renaming and associated register management mechanisms represent a significant source of complexity in out-of-order micro architectures. We propose the use of register versioning to simplify this logic. Hardware-supported register versioning permits monotonically increasing version numbers to uniquely identify each uncommitted instance of an architectural register. Register versioning replaces the physical register file with a simpler structure that integrates the physical register file with an architectural register file, both having the same number of entries, namely the number of architectural registers. The integrated structure uses local bitcell level connections to commit results to a precise state, saving a significant amount of energy in the process. We also propose optimizations to the proposed mechanism. Despite drastic data path simplification, our proposed architecture performs within 6% of traditional out-of-order processors and within 4% of the performance of a SMT processor with 4 threads.
Length of Acute Exposure to Insulin Regulates the Rate of Deactivation of Stimulated Glucose Transport in Isolated Rat Adipocytes

We have studied the effects of the duration of exposure of rat adipocytes to insulin on the temporal relationships between insulin dissociation from receptors and deactivation of insulin-stimulated glucose transport. Cells were incubated with [126I]insulin plus unlabeled insulin at a total insulin concentration of either 1 or 10 ng/ml at 37 C. After various times of association, the cells were washed, and the rate of dissociation of bound hormone and subsequent decrease in insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity (deactivation) were measured. One nanogram of insulin/ml is a submaximally effective concentration and stimulates glucose transport to approximately 80% of maximal values. Dissociation of insulin from receptors and deactivation of glucose transport activity were measured after 10, 30, and 60 min of exposure of cells to 1 ng/ ml insulin. Dissociation rates were unchanged after the various times of exposure to insulin, whereas prolonging the preincuba-tion time from 10 to 60 min slowed the rat...
Pericentromeric Effects Shape the Patterns of Divergence, Retention, and Expression of Duplicated Genes in the Paleopolyploid Soybean

The evolutionary forces that govern the divergence and retention of duplicated genes in polyploids are poorly understood. In this study, we first investigated the rates of nonsynonymous substitution (Ka) and the rates of synonymous substitution (Ks) for a nearly complete set of genes in the paleopolyploid soybean (Glycine max) by comparing the orthologs between soybean and its progenitor species Glycine soja and then compared the patterns of gene divergence and expression between pericentromeric regions and chromosomal arms in different gene categories. Our results reveal strong associations between duplication status and Ka and gene expression levels and overall low Ks and low levels of gene expression in pericentromeric regions. It is theorized that deleterious mutations can easily accumulate in recombination-suppressed regions, because of Hill-Robertson effects. Intriguingly, the genes in pericentromeric regions—the cold spots for meiotic recombination in soybean—showed significantly lower Ka and higher levels of expression than their homoeologs in chromosomal arms. This asymmetric evolution of two members of individual whole genome duplication (WGD)-derived gene pairs, echoing the biased accumulation of singletons in pericentromeric regions, suggests that distinct genomic features between the two distinct chromatin types are important determinants shaping the patterns of divergence and retention of WGD-derived genes.
A data flow evaluator for attribute grammars

The attribute evaluation is accomplished in one bottom-up pass and data flow fashion. This results in a fast and parallel evaluation of the attribute instances. The bottom-up evaluator uses one FIFO (first-in, first-out) queue which initially holds the leaf attributes with known values in the reverse dependency graph. The reverse dependency graph shows the dependency of the attributes on each other and the order in which they are evaluated. The attributes in the queue give their values to their predecessor attributes. A predecessor attribute needs these values to be evaluated. >
New Notiodes semiaquatic weevil (Curculionidae) from sporocarps of Marsilea mollis (Marsileaceae) in southern Arizona, USA

ABSTRACT. A new species from the semiaquatic weevil genus, Notiodes sporocarpicus , which develops and pupates in the sporocarps of the water fern Marsilea mollis B.L. Rob. & Fernald, is described from cattle tanks in southeastern Arizona. This new species can be separated readily from the majority of the known species by its nearly straight rostrum, with its distinctive dorsally swollen base and attenuated apex. Its elongate and slender body will separate N. sporocarpicus from most species in the genus except N. aeratus, which lacks the characters above. The Texas species N. celatus resembles the new species but has strongly developed suberect curved setae that are not present in N. sporocarpicus. Included are habitus photos and line drawings of the male and female genitalia of the new species.
Orthogonal Field Calibration Analysis for Myocardial Electrode Arrays Used in Defibrillation Studies

Mapping the myocardial electric field during a defibrillation pulse requires the recording of potential differences between electrodes. The field is then calculated from these quantities and the corresponding calibration matrix. One straightforward calibration technique involves alignment of a known electric field along each of the orthogonal axes of an electrode array and recording the resulting potential differences. However, no results have been reported to support the efficacy of this technique. This study performs a detailed error analysis including a one-to-one comparison to a precision calibration technique, and quantitatively establishes the efficacy of the orthogonal field technique.
On the perception of time: experiential impact

"I don't believe it: another year has flown by-it seems that time is going by at an ever-faster rate." This often-expressed perception of time, actually the speed of time, is both qualitatively and quantitatively explored herein. While the speed of time is clearly invariant (at least on earth and at speeds that are orders of magnitude below the speed of light), there is ample and plausible evidence that serves to contribute to our perception of a faster moving time. More specifically, it seems that both nature and nurture impact or influence our perception of time, in particular, the speed of time. In this paper, we briefly review the cognitive and related literature to understand why the older we get, the more we perceive the speed of time to increase-there is a clinical reason for this nature-related aging phenomenon. We then show that nurture-related or experiential factors can also affect our perceived speed of time. More specifically, time series data that concern factors which impact our daily lives can be used to model or correlate with our perception of time. It is suggested that nurture reinforces and about doubles nature's impact; that is, the older we get, the more we perceive time to be speeding up. Interestingly, when age is controlled, the experiential data suggests, for example, that a 62-year-old in 1997 perceived time to be about 7.69 times as fast as that perceived by a 62-year-old in 1897; this phenomenon is less extreme for younger aged persons. Finally, it should be noted that understanding the way we perceive the speed of time over time is not only an important endeavor in its own right, but it also has a potentially significant impact on our ability to cope, on our work productivity, on our lifestyle, indeed on all aspects of our life.
Glycogen synthase kinase-3β in the platelets of patients with mood disorders: Effect of treatment

Glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3beta, an important component of the Wnt signaling pathway, is involved in numerous cellular functions. That GSK-3beta may be involved in the pathophysiology of bipolar (BP) illness is based on the observation that lithium, a mood-stabilizing drug, inhibits GSK-3beta both in vitro and in vivo. We determined the protein expression of GSK-3beta in the cytosol and membrane fractions of the platelets obtained from patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and BP illness, before treatment and after treatment with antidepressants or mood-stabilizing drugs, respectively. Protein expression was determined using the Western blot technique. We observed that the protein expression of GSK-3beta was significantly reduced in the membrane and cytosol fractions of platelets from drug-free patients with BP illness, but not from the drug-free patients with MDD, compared with normal control subjects. Treatment with mood-stabilizing drugs significantly increased the protein expression of GSK-3beta in the membrane and cytosol fractions of platelets from BP patients compared with pre-treatment levels, and the post-treatment levels were similar to those observed in normal control subjects. On the other hand, there was no significant effect of treatment with antidepressants on GSK-3beta protein expression either in the membrane or in the cytosol fractions of platelets from MDD patients. These results suggest that GSK-3beta may play an important role in the pathophysiology of BP illness but not MDD and that its abnormality may be corrected by treatment with mood-stabilizing drugs, suggesting that GSK-3beta may be a state rather than a trait marker for BP illness.
Phylogeny of the neotropical rove beetle genus Nordus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) with a special reference to the evolution of coloration and secondary sexual characters

A phylogenetic analysis for Nordus is provided; the monophyly of the genus is established and the phylogenetic relationships of its thirty-eight species are resolved. Analysis of eighty-seven morphological characters, including two coloration characters, produced four equally most-parsimonious trees (tree length ¼ 365, consistency index ¼ 0.38, retention index ¼ 0.66). The coloration of the head and thorax is examined in the context of the reconstructed phylogeny and the evolution of heterochromy is discussed. Golden-orange coloration of the head and thorax evolved in the ancestor of Nordus. Black coloration of the head evolved at least five times, and black coloration of the thorax at least six times within the genus. The evolution of secondary sexual structures in Nordus is also examined in the context of the phylogeny. In males, a medial emarginate abdom- inal sternum VIII is the ancestral condition. The presence of a single large median lobe on sternum VIII or the presence of two elongate median lobes with a medial emargination on sternum VIII each represent independent evolution of modifica- tions to the male sternum VIII in different lineages. In females, an unmodified abdominal sternum VIII is the ancestral condition. Evolution of an emargination, small lobe or pointed lobe on the margin of sternum VIII in females occurred in different lineages.
Inborn Errors of Metabolism ( Metabolic Disorders )

By their very nature, rare inborn errors of metabolism challenge the generation and application of evidence-based medicine. • On the basis of limited research evidence as well as consensus, newborn screening for select metabolic disorders, including phenylketonuria, medium-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, and glutaric acidemia type I, may improve long-term outcomes for affected children. • On the basis of primarily consensus, due to lack of relevant clinical studies, inborn errors due to defects in the metabolism of energy sources (protein, fatty acids, and carbohydrates) may present in infancy with overwhelming metabolic decompensation, and initial laboratory evaluations may reveal hyperammonemia, nonketotic hypoglycemia, or a metabolic acidosis with an elevated anion gap, depending on the disorder. • On the basis of primarily consensus, due to lack of relevant clinical studies, specific laboratory testing for inborn errors of metabolism should include plasma amino acids, urine organic acids, plasma carnitine, and plasma acylcarnitine profile. • On the basis of primarily consensus, due to lack of relevant clinical studies, disorders of cellular organelles, such as lysosomal and peroxisomal disorders, may present with progressive organomegaly, developmental regression, dysmorphic facial characteristics. or sensory loss.
B1-to-B8 structural phase transition in MnO under pressure : Comparison of all-electron and pseudopotential approaches

We employ the density-functional theory to study a structural transition of MnO from B1 rocksalt to B8 NiAs structures that was observed experimentally at pressures around 100 GPa. We utilize all-electron description as well as norm-conserving pseudopotentials and demonstrate that these two approaches can significantly differ in quantitative predictions. We explicitly show that even small-core pseudopotentials exhibit transferability inaccuracies for quantities sensitive to the energy differences between high- and low-spin polarizations of valence electrons.
The Pathogenic Mechanisms of H. pylori — a Comment

At the First European Symposium, in Bordeaux, much of the discussion centred on whether H. pylori was pathogenic or not. Many argued in favour of a commensal role for the organism. The controversy now appears to be resolved, at least in part, and H. pylori colonisation of human gastric mucosa is now thought to be aetiological in histological gastritis and, probably, in peptic ulcer. In addition, a role for H. pylori in gastric cancer is now being seriously considered. It seems that in less than 1 year the question has changed from one of “is H. pylori pathogenic?” to “what are the pathogenic mechanisms involved in H. Pylori-associated disease?”.
A New Non-Equilibrium Molecular Dynamics Simulation Method for Rapid Solidification

A new non-equilibrium Molecular Dynamics (NEMD) computer simulation method has been developed to study ultra-rapid melting and resolidification processes, e.g. laser annealing, ion implantation, etc. An atomic-level description of the material is combined with a new simulation technique to produce thermodynamic, structural and kinetic information as a function of time. Experimentally realistic values of the energy fluence, pulse duration and substrate temperature are used as input to the simulation. Rapid heat transfer simulating the action of the energy input is then set up allowing a complete prediction of the undercooling and associated kinetic properties. As such this new method offers the most realistic simulation model for rapid thermal processing to date.
The Hidden Hand of Government Spending

“Tax expenditures” are government subsidies that are provided through the tax code, by granting tax credits or other tax benefits in exchange for goods and services that government values. Politically, tax expenditures are valued because they increase government intervention without increasing explicit government spending, but economically they are little different from traditional subsidies. Tax expenditures have grown in importance to a size unimaginable 40 years ago, when they were first were identified as a budget problem. The current congressional appetite for tax expenditures has distorted not just tax policy, but also the budget process and congressional oversight of the money it spends. The tax-writing committees have employed tax expenditures to extend the committees’ reach and to become, in fact, a Congress within the Congress.
Rare erroneous results on the Siemens Dimension Vista® platform due to urine carryover: A warning to current users

In 2014, the West Bank Laboratory at the University of Minnesota, part of the non-profit Fairview Health Services system, went live with two Siemens Dimension Vista® 500 instruments. In the first few months after go-live, the lab began receiving reports of rare, erroneous results from clinicians. After further investigation it was noted that most of the errors being reported followed a consistent pattern with significantly elevated potassium, BUN and creatinine. After months of unsuccessful troubleshooting with Siemens, our lab and others within the Fairview Health Services system began hypothesizing that urine carryover was occurring due to the pattern of elevated analytes, and asked Siemens to investigate this hypothesis. In March 2016 Siemens confirmed a software defect which omits an aliquot probe rinse resulting in sample carryover in rare cases. Our objective is to alert current users of the Siemens Dimension Vista® instruments to this rare but alarming phenomenon, discuss the frequency and impact of the erroneous results at our institution, and detail recommended steps for users of Siemens Dimension Vista® instruments to help retrospectively determine whether they have experienced similar erroneous results.
Vascular muscle cell depolarization and activation in renal arteries on elevation of transmural pressure.

The goal of this study was to define some of the cellular and ionic mechanisms of smooth muscle cell activation in dog renal arteries exposed to physiological levels of transmural pressure. Isolate...
Clinical Overview of Instability in the Elderly

Falling is often a multifactorial syndrome that can be viewed from several perspectives, including pathophysiologic, biomedical, functional, and ecologic models. The history, physical examination, and performance testing are the cornerstones of evaluation. Diagnostic testing in selected cases and environmental evaluation when feasible are additional elements. Management is directed toward correcting reversible problems, improving deficits amenable to partial correction, and providing adaptation to fixed deficits.
Role of intestinal lymphatic in myocardial injury in rats receiving hemorrhage and lipopolysaccharide challenge

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of mesenteric lymph duct ligation in protecting myocardial injury in rats after hemorrhage and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. METHODS Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham group, non-ligation group and ligation group, and the "two-hit" injury model was reproduced by hemorrhage and LPS administration. Mesenteric lymph was blocked by ligating mesenteric lymph duct in ligation group after hemorrhage. After 24 hours of the assault, myocardial tissue was harvested and homogenized. The activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and ATPase and the contents of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined in myocardial homogenate. At the same time, myocardium was pathologically studied. Apoptosis cell rate of myocardium was determined by method of terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), the expression of bcl-2 and bax protein was determined by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS After hemorrhage and LPS challenge, the level of MPO [(0.23+/-0.08) U/g], TNF-alpha [(9.99+/-2.74) microg/g] and IL-6 [(31.57+/-12.71) microg/g] in myocardial homogenate of non-ligation group were significantly higher than those of sham group [MPO: (0.12+/-0.03) U/g, TNF-alpha: (4.17+/-1.35) microg/g, IL-6: (17.86+/-5.17) microg/g, respectively, all P<0.01], and the activity of ATPase was significantly lower. MPO [(0.13+/-0.03) U/g], TNF-alpha [(5.57+/-1.65) microg/g] and IL-6 [(23.24+/-5.95) microg/g] in myocardial homogenate of ligation group were significantly lower (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the ATPase activity was significantly higher compared with non-ligation group. The apoptosis rate [(22.7+/-6.9)%] and expression of bax protein (104.5+/-11.4) of myocardial cells in non-ligation group were significantly higher compared with sham group [apoptosis rate: (3.8+/-1.2)%, bax protein: 142.1+/-10.9] and ligation group [apoptosis rate: (8.4+/-2.8)%, bax protein: 128.4+/-9.6], and expression of bcl-2 protein of non-ligation group (196.4+/-19.3) was significantly lower than that of sham group (132.2+/-12.3) and ligation group (165.1+/-11.6, all P<0.01). CONCLUSION The results demonstrate that the mesenteric lymph duct ligation ameliorate the myocardial injury in rats subjected to hemorrhage and LPS by reducing the inflammatory mediators of TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels, upregulating the bcl-2 protein expression and improving membrane ATPase activity of myocardium.
Body mass index, new modes of TV viewing and active video games

Summary Background Recent technologies have changed screen time. TV can be viewed anywhere, anytime. Content can be collected via digital recorders and online streaming and viewed on smartphones. Video games are no longer strictly sedentary. Objectives We sought to assess the unknown relations between new modes of TV viewing – recorded, online, downloaded and on hand-held devices – and active video games with body mass index (BMI). Methods Cross-sectional analysis of the 2011 wave of the Growing Up Today Study 2 cohort. We used gender-specific generalized estimating equations to examine screen time and BMI among 3071 women and 2050 men aged 16–24 years. Results Among women, each hour/day of online TV (0.47; confidence interval [CI]: 0.12, 0.82) and total non-broadcast TV (0.37; CI: 0.14, 0.61) was associated with higher BMI, as was watching ≥ 1/2 h week−1 of TV on hand-held devices (1.04; CI: 0.32–1.77). Active video games were associated with BMI among women, but not after restricting to those not trying to lose/maintain weight. Broadcast TV was associated with higher BMI (kg m−2) among women and men (P < 0.05). Conclusions Among women, online TV, TV viewed on hand-held devices and the sum of non-broadcast TV time were associated with higher BMI. Broadcast TV was also associated with BMI in women and men.
Methodology of Recurrent Laguerre–Volterra Network for Modeling Nonlinear Dynamic Systems

In this paper, we have introduced a general modeling approach for dynamic nonlinear systems that utilizes a variant of the simulated annealing algorithm for training the Laguerre–Volterra network (LVN) to overcome the local minima and convergence problems and employs a pruning technique to achieve sparse LVN representations with $\ell _{1}$ regularization. We tested this new approach with computer simulated systems and extended it to autoregressive sparse LVN (ASLVN) model structures that are suitable for input–output modeling of nonlinear systems that exhibit transitions in dynamic states, such as the Hodgkin–Huxley (H-H) equations of neuronal firing. Application of the proposed ASLVN to the H-H equations yields a more parsimonious input–output model with improved predictive capability that is amenable to more insightful physiological/biological interpretation.
A Reliability Generalization of the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale

A reliability generalization was conducted on studies that reported use of the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA), published between 1987 and 2013. For inclusion in this me...