cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Attachment of Plasma Membrane Vesicles of Human Macrophages to Leishmania tropica Promastigotes

Intracellular parasitism of host macrophages is the pathologic hallmark of leishmaniasis. Since the organisms are found almost exclusively in this type of cell, the possibility that specific macrophage plasma-membrane determinants mediate the attachment to promastigotes of Leishmania tropica was investigated. Plasma membrane vesicles were prepared from human monocytes/macrophages and erythrocytes, radioiodinated, and incubated with L tropica promastigotes, erythrocytes, or Sephadex beads. Macrophage plasma-membrane vesicles bound to promastigotes to a significant extent but did not bind to intact erythrocytes or to an inert particle. In contrast, erythrocyte membrane vesicles did not bind to promastigotes. The binding of macrophage plasma-membrane vesicles to promastigotes demonstrated the characteristics of a receptor-ligand interaction in terms of specificity, saturability, competitive inhibition, and temperature independence. These results suggest the presence of one or more intrinsic binding sites on the macrophage plasma membrane to which promastigotes can attach. If this is the case, therapeutic intervention by strategies that inhibit attachment of this obligate intracellular parasite to its target host cell may be possible.
Neutrino Masses and Sterile Neutrino Dark Matter from the PeV Scale

We show that active neutrino masses and a keV-GeV mass sterile neutrino dark matter candidate can result from a modified, low energy seesaw mechanism if right-handed neutrinos are charged under a new symmetry broken by a scalar field vacuum expectation value at the PeV scale. The dark matter relic abundance can be obtained through active-sterile oscillation, freeze-in through the decay of the heavy scalar, or freeze-in via nonrenormalizable interactions at high temperatures. The low energy effective theory maps onto the widely studied $\ensuremath{\nu}\mathrm{MSM}$ framework.
Steady state penetration of rigid perfectly plastic targets

The problem of steady penetration by a semi-infinite, rigid penetrator into an infinite, rigid/perfectly plastic target has been studied. The rod is assumed to be cylindrical, with a hemispherical nose, and the target is assumed to obey the Von-Mises yield criterion with the associated flow rule. Contact between target and penetrator has been assumed to be smooth and frictionless. Results computed and presented graphically include the velocity field in the target, the tangential velocity of target particles on the penetrator nose, normal pressure over the penetrator nose, and the dependence of the axial resisting force on penetrator speed and target strength. In this article a detailed numerical solution to an idealized penetration problem is presented in an attempt to shed some light on these matters. The approach taken is as follows. Suppose that the penetrator is in the intermediate stages of penetration so that the active target/penetrator interface is at least one or two penetrator diameters away from either target face, and the remaining penetrator is still much longer than several diameters and is still traveling at a speed close to its striking velocity. This situation is idealized here in several ways. First, it is assumed that the rod is semi-infinite in length and that the target is infinite with a semi-infinite hole. Furthermore, it is assumed that the rate of penetration and all flow fields are steady as seen from the nose of the penetrator. These approximations are reasonable if the major features of the plastic flow field become constant within a diameter or so of the nose of the penetrator, and will be justified a posteriori by the calculation. Next, it is assumed that no shear stress can be transmitted across the target/penetrator interface. This is justified on the grounds that a thin layer of material at the interface either melts or is severely degraded by adiabatic shear. This assumption, together with the previous one, makes it possible to decompose the problem into two parts in which either a rigid rod penetrates a deformable target or a deformable rod is upset at the
Improved performance of SS-OCT by calibration with logarithmic amplified frequency clock

The presented work demonstrates that using a true logarithmic amplifier to precondition the frequency clock signal in swept source OCT can obtain optimal calibration hence improve the imaging performance such as axial resolution and SNR.
Outcome predictors and implications for management of scimitar syndrome.

Background Scimitar syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly. We evaluated risk factors for postoperative pulmonary vein stenosis or death and predictive factors for survival without scimitar vein surgery in patients with scimitar syndrome. Methods The records of patients with scimitar syndrome evaluated at our medical center between 1964 and 2011 were reviewed. Results Scimitar syndrome was identified in 80 patients, with a median follow-up of 4.5 years. Patients presenting less than 1 year of age had a higher incidence of symptoms, aortopulmonary collaterals, coexisting congenital heart disease (CHD), extracardiac anomalies, and pulmonary hypertension. Of 36 patients having scimitar vein surgery, 18 had postoperative pulmonary vein obstruction that occurred with similar frequency after baffle or reimplantation procedures, early or late in the study period, and tended to be more common in infants ( P = .10). Overall, 19 (24%) of 80 died. Multivariate risk factors for death included systolic pulmonary pressure >0.5 systemic level ( P = .007) and left pulmonary vein stenosis ( P = .009). Pulmonary artery systolic pressure P = .01) and absence of CHD excluding atrial septal defect ( P = .01) were predictive factors in 28 patients who survived and did not have scimitar vein surgery; these patients had no or mild right ventricular dilation and a ratio of pulmonary-to-systemic flow Conclusions Postoperative pulmonary vein obstruction is common after scimitar vein surgery regardless of redirection technique. Pulmonary hypertension and left pulmonary vein stenosis are risk factors for death, whereas patients without significant pulmonary hypertension or associated CHD did well without scimitar vein surgery. These observations may guide management decisions in patients with scimitar syndrome.
Predicted crater morphologies on Ceres: Probing internal structure and evolution

The detailed internal structure of the dwarf planet Ceres, target of NASA’s Dawn mission, has not been unequivocally determined from ground-based data. Whereas Ceres is most likely differentiated with a near surface ice layer tens to one-hundred kilometers thick, the possibility of a homogenous, ice-poor interior structure cannot be completely eliminated. These two internal structural end-members have profoundly different implications for Ceres’ origin and evolution. Here we demonstrate that observations of Ceres’ impact craters by the Dawn spacecraft will permit unambiguous distinction between the two internal structural models. Using finite element simulations of crater relaxation, we show that if Ceres does contain a water ice layer, its relatively warm diurnally-averaged surface temperature ensures extensive viscous relaxation of even small impact craters. At likely equatorial temperatures, craters as small as 4km in diameter can be relaxed to the point where complete crater erasure is plausible, thus decreasing the overall crater density in the equatorial region. At mid-latitudes, crater relaxation is less extensive, but still sufficient to completely relax all craters older than 10 Ma and larger than � 16 km in diameter, as well as smaller, ancient craters. Only in Ceres’ cold polar regions are some crater morphologies expected to be pristine. In contrast, if Ceres is primarily a rocky body, we expect crater relaxation to be negligible. These basic conclusions are generally independent of ice grain size, salt/dust contamination of the ice, the presence of a thin, undifferentiated ice/rock crust, and the total thickness of the ice layer, all of which produce second-order modifications to the relaxation process that can be used to better constrain such ice layer properties. Thus, the morphology of impact craters on Ceres, as revealed by the Dawn spacecraft, will provide direct insight into the internal structure and evolution of the dwarf planet.
Response variability in attention-deficit disorders.

Reaction times in a mental rotation task were measured across a diverse population that sorted into two groupings based on overall variability. Although both the low- and the high-variance groups produced data that displayed the trends typical of mental rotation, the two groups' reaction time sequences had very different auto-correlation functions. Power spectra derived from the two groups' data showed the presence of distinctive noise processes with long memory. Normal levels of variance were associated with 1/f noise, whereas high-variance data had substantial traces of random walk contour. These findings provide new perspectives on cognitive assessments of attention dysfunction.
Identification of genes expressed in a human scleral cDNA library

Purpose: Clones established from a human scleral cDNA library were systematically sequenced. Public database sequence comparisons were performed to generate a profile of genes expressed in the human sclera and identify candidate genes for inherited diseases with scleral involvement. Methods: A directionally cloned pCMV-PCR cDNA library was constructed from RNA isolated from scleras of human donor eyes with known plano refractive history. Plasmid DNA was extracted from randomly selected cDNA clones, and the insert sequences were determined by 5' end single-pass sequencing. Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were generated and analyzed with the GenBank BLASTN program to identify sequence homologies to known genes. Results: A total of 609 ESTs underwent BLAST analysis. Of these, 341 (56%) matched 228 known human genes and 4 non-human genes, 252 matched uncharacterized ESTs, and 16 showed no significant homology to human or non-human known sequences. The most redundant connective tissue-related genes were αA-crystallin, Xα-1 collagen, and β-5 integrin. Other extracellular matrix gene matches were biglycan, syndecan, decorin, fibromodulin, proline arginine-rich end leucine-rich repeat protein, transgelin, TIMP-1, and fibulin 1. Human scleral expression of all but decorin and biglycan has not previously been reported. Conclusions: This effort provides the first partial list of genes expressed in human sclera. Identification of genes expressed in the sclera contributes to our understanding of scleral biology, and potentially provides positional candidate genes for scleral disorders such as high myopia.
THE NORMATIVITY OF SELF-GROUNDED REASON

In this essay, I propose a standard of practical rationality and a grounding for the standard that rests on the idea of autonomous agency. This grounding is intended to explain the “normativity” of the standard. The basic idea is this: To be autonomous is to be self-governing. To be rational is at least in part to be self-governing; it is to do well in governing oneself. I argue that a person's values are aspects of her identity—of her “self-esteem identity”—in a way that most of her ends are not, and that it therefore is plausible to view action governed by one's values as self-governed. This is also plausible on independent grounds. Given this, I say, rational agents comply with a standard—the “values standard”—that requires them to serve their values, and to seek what they need in order to continue to be able to serve their values.
Luminescence and Space Charge Phenomena in Polymeric Dielectrics

Polymers are extensively used as insulating material in high voltage devices, such as underground power cables, power capacitors and transformers. During normal operation the polymeric insulation of a power device is not only subjected to electrical stresses, but could also be subjected to thermal, mechanical and environmental stresses. These stresses either acting singly or in combination can cause the degradation which leads to insulation failure. It has been well established that electroluminescence (EL) and charge injection, which gives rise to space charge in the polymeric insulation, occur at ac, dc and impulse field above a certain threshold value. Space charge can cause dissipative energetic processes such as photon and phonon emission, increase the local electric field, lead to the reduction of the insulation withstand voltage and ultimately to premature failure of the power device. This paper describes the characteristics of EL in polymeric insulation subjected to ac voltage and shows its relevance to space charge injection in the material. It is shown that insulation subjected to HV could emit various types of light but EL emission which is related to charge injection can be differentiated from these other types of light emission. The EL technique can be used to develop and evaluate novel dielectric materials, such as nanodielectrics.
Cyclometalated platinum(II) diimine complexes: synthetically tuning the photophysical and electrochemical properties.

Presented is the synthesis of an array of 16 heteroleptic phosphorescent diimine complexes of platinum(II) with electronically diverse ligand spheres and their full spectroscopic, photophysical, and electrochemical characterization. The complexes were found to exhibit luminescence (480–500 nm) in deaerated solutions at room temperature from a long-lived 3LC state (τ = 2–3 μs) that exhibits significant metal character perturbed by a low-lying 1MLCT state. Interestingly, emission from a 3MLCT state was not observed as is the case with many other polypyridine-based d-block complexes. Electrochemical intermediates proved stable as multiple reversible reductions between −1 and −2 V vs. SCE were noted during cyclic voltammetry experiments unveiling the potential of these luminophores for use in a variety of optoelectronic and solar energy conversion applications.
Determining Evapotranspiration Rates in the Middle Rio Grande Bosque: 3-D Eddy Covariance and Remote Sensing Techniques

Currently, annual rates of actual evapotranspiration (ET) in native and non-native riparian forests in semi-arid landscapes are poorly known. In addition, the effects of flooding, or the removal of flooding through flow regulation, on riparian ecosystem ET is also not well understood. Both ground-based and remote sensing techniques are used to estimate ET along the Middle Rio Grande corridor. Ground based climatic data are collected using four instrumentation towers installed in representative ecosystems. The 3-D Eddy Covariance method gives more accurate estimates of ET than were previously known. Landsat imagery, along with ground estimates of leaf area index (LAI), will be used to scale the estimates to the entire corridor. Background Evapotranspiration is believed to account for about one quarter of the total water depletion along the semi-arid Middle Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico. An accurate estimate of evapotranspiration (ET) is an important component in developing effective riparian restoration strategies for this area, as well as for better quantifying the water budget. The Middle Rio Grande runs through central New Mexico, U.S.A. and is typically defined by the reach of river between Cochiti Dam and Elephant Butte Reservoir. The contributing watershed to this reach of river is shown in Figure 1. Water demands include those of the state’s largest city (Albuquerque), irrigation districts, and several endangered species. Water budgeting is critical due to these demands and the legal compacts between adjacent states requiring the delivery of mandated quantities of water. The inputs and outputs of water from the upper and lower end of the river corridor are reasonably well quantified by permanent gauges with long-term records. Additional sources of water along the Middle Rio Grande corridor, and the amount of water depleted by various sources, are more poorly quantified.
Human responses to extreme altitudes

Synopsis It is a strange coincidence that the highest point on Earth is very close to the limit of human tolerance to hypoxia. The physiological changes that allow humans to reach these extreme altitudes involve enormous alterations of their normal state. It is useful to contrast this response with two others to high altitude. One is acclimatization that allows lowlanders to ascend to altitudes of up to 5000 m and remain there for an indefinite period. The other is evolutionary adaptation which allows highlanders to live continuously over generations at altitudes up to 5000 m. These two responses enable humans to survive for an indefinite period at high altitude. By contrast, the changes that allow ascent to extreme altitudes are not compatible with an extended stay because of a poorly-understood process called high-altitude deterioration. The most important physiological response to extreme altitude is extreme hyperventilation which, on the summit of Mt. Everest, drives the alveolar PCO2 down to 7–8 mmHg. This is associated with a marked respiratory alkalosis with an arterial pH exceeding 7.7. Interestingly this alkalosis increases the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin, a response which the successful climber shares with many other animals in oxygen-deprived environments. The arterial PO2 on the Everest summit is only about 30 mmHg and falls on exercise because of diffusion limitation of oxygen across the blood-gas barrier. Maximal oxygen consumption on the summit is just over 1 liter.min1. Anaerobic metabolism as measured by blood lactate levels is paradoxically reduced at extreme altitudes.
Bioimpedance modeling to monitor astrocytic response to chronically implanted electrodes.

The widespread adoption of neural prosthetic devices is currently hindered by our inability to reliably record neural signals from chronically implanted electrodes. The extent to which the local tissue response to implanted electrodes influences recording failure is not well understood. To investigate this phenomenon, impedance spectroscopy has shown promise for use as a non-invasive tool to estimate the local tissue response to microelectrodes. Here, we model impedance spectra from chronically implanted rats using the well-established Cole model, and perform a correlation analysis of modeled parameters with histological markers of astroglial scar, including glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and 4',6-diamidino-2- phenylindole (DAPI). Correlations between modeled parameters and GFAP were significant for three parameters studied: Py value, Ro and |Z|1 kHz, and in all cases were confined to the first 100 µm from the interface. Py value was the only parameter also correlated with DAPI in the first 100 µm. Our experimental results, along with computer simulations, suggest that astrocytes are a predominant cellular player affecting electrical impedance spectra. The results also suggest that the largest contribution from reactive astrocytes on impedance spectra occurs in the first 100 µm from the interface, where electrodes are most likely to record electrical signals. These results form the basis for future approaches where impedance spectroscopy can be used to evaluate neural implants, evaluate strategies to minimize scar and potentially develop closed-loop prosthetic devices.
The potential benefit of the placebo effect in sham-controlled trials: implications for risk-benefit assessments and informed consent

There has been considerable debate surrounding the ethics of sham-controlled trials of procedures and interventions. Critics argue that these trials are unethical because participants assigned to the control group have no prospect of benefit from the trial, yet they are exposed to all the risks of the sham intervention. However, the placebo effect associated with sham procedures can often be substantial and has been well documented in the scientific literature. We argue that, in light of the scientific evidence supporting the benefits of sham interventions for pain and Parkinson's disease that stem from the placebo effect, these sham-controlled trials should be considered as offering potential direct benefit to participants. If scientific evidence demonstrates the positive effect of placebo from sham interventions on other conditions, sham-controlled trials of interventions for the treatment of these conditions should be considered to have prospects of benefit as well. This potential benefit should be taken into account by research ethics committees in risk-benefit analyses, and be included in informed consent documents.
Detecting adverse drug effects using link classification on twitter data

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are among the leading causes of death in the United States. Although many ADEs are detected during pharmaceutical drug development and the FDA approval process, all of the possible reactions cannot be identified during this period. Currently, post-consumer drug surveillance relies on voluntary reporting systems, such as the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS). With an increase in availability of medical resources and health related data online, interest in medical data mining has grown rapidly. This information coupled with online conversations of people which involve discussions about their health provide a substantial resource for the identification of ADEs. In this work, we propose a method to identify adverse drug effects from tweets by modeling it as a link classification problem in graphs. Drug and symptom mentions are extracted from the tweet history of each user and a drug-symptom graph is built, where nodes represent either drugs or symptoms and edges are labelled positive or negative, for desired or adverse drug effects respectively. A link classification model is then used to identify negative edges i.e. adverse drug effects. We test our model on 864 users using 10-fold cross validation with Sider's dataset as ground truth. Our model was able to achieve an F-Score of 0.77 compared to the best baseline model with an F-Score of 0.58.
Zbtb16 (PLZF) is stably suppressed and not inducible in non-innate T cells via T cell receptor-mediated signaling

The transcription factor PLZF (promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger; zbtb16) is essential for nearly all of the unique characteristics of NKT cells including their rapid and potent response to antigen. In the immune system, zbtb16 expression is only found in innate cells. Conventional T cells that ectopically express PLZF spontaneously acquire an activated, effector phenotype. Activation induced expression of lineage defining transcription factors such as T-bet, FoxP3, RORγt, GATA3 and others is essential for naive T cell differentiation into effector T cells. In this study, we used sensitive genetic-based approaches to assess the induction of PLZF expression in non-innate T cells by T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated activation. Surprisingly, we found that PLZF was stably repressed in non-innate T cells and that TCR-mediated signaling was not sufficient to induce PLZF in conventional T cells. The inactivated state of PLZF was stably maintained in mature T cells, even under inflammatory conditions imposed by bacterial infection. Collectively, our data show that, in contrast to multiple recent reports, PLZF expression is highly specific to innate T cells and cannot be induced in conventional T cells via TCR-mediated activation or inflammatory challenge.
Recent changes in stream flashiness and flooding, and effects of flood management in North Carolina and Virginia

The southeastern United States has undergone anthropogenic changes in landscape structure, with the potential to increase (e.g., urbanization) and decrease (e.g., reservoir construction) stream flashiness and flooding. Assessment of the outcome of such change can provide insight into the efficacy of current strategies and policies to manage water resources. We (1) examined trends in precipitation, floods, and stream flashiness and (2) assessed the relative influence of land cover and flow-regulating features (e.g., best management practices and artificial water bodies) on stream flashiness from 1991 to 2013. We found mean annual precipitation decreased, which coincided with decreasing trends in floods. In contrast, stream flashiness, overall, showed an increasing trend during the period of study. However, upon closer examination, 20 watersheds showed stable stream flashiness, whereas 5 increased and 6 decreased in flashiness. Urban watersheds were among those that increased or decreased in flashiness. Watersheds that increased in stream flashiness gained more urban cover, lost more forested cover and had fewer best management practices installed than urban watersheds that decreased in stream flashiness. We found best management practices are more effective than artificial water bodies in regulating flashy floods. Flashiness index is a valuable and straightforward metric to characterize changes in streamflow and help to assess the efficacy of management interventions.
Applications of GPS Radio Occultation Data to Weather and Climate and the COSMIC Mission

The atmospheric limb sounding technique based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) has been shown to be accurate and of very high vertical resolution. The fact that the GPS radio occultation (RO) technique is not affected by clouds or precipitation, has no instrument drift, and requires no calibration makes it ideally suited for climate monitoring and global weather prediction. The Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) mission will be launched in late 2005, and will provide ~2,500 GPS radio occultation soundings per day to support operational weather prediction, climate analysis, and ionospheric research. The EQUARS mission, to be launched in 2006, will add ~500 soundings in addition to COSMIC. In this paper, we review selected GPS RO studies that are relevant to weather prediction and climate analysis and provide an overview of the COSMIC mission.
Nonlinear Absorption in the Blue: Photophysics of a New Ruthenium-Based Phthalocyanine

The photophysics of novel ruthenium-based phthalocyanines are reported. These materials undergo rapid intersystem crossing with yield ~1. Large excited-state-absorption cross-sections with intensity-independent kinetics demonstrate their potential as effective nonlinear absorber in the blue spectral region.
Electroejaculation of paraplegic males followed by pregnancies

Semen obtained by electroejaculation was used to achieve pregnancies in the spouses of T5-6 and T4-5 paraplegics. Viable semen was recovered in both an antegrade and retrograde fashion. In both cases, the SPA test was positive. Semen recovered for AIH IUI was washed and swum up prior to insemination.
Screening Petroleum Crude Oils for ARN Tetraprotic Acids with Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

This paper summarizes the development of a new method for screening petroleum crude oils for the presence of “ARN” tetraprotic acids, based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). When slurried with crude oils, MIPs imprinted by a suite of ARN acid standards selectively bind to ARN acids. The strong interaction enables removal of most of the crude oil by several toluene washes. The ARN acids are then recovered by washing with a mixture of 5% formic acid in methanol/toluene. Our results show that the sample load directly impacts the amount of ARN acids recovered: a higher sample load lowers the detectable concentration range. MIPs offer a quick and sensitive method to screen crude oils for ARN acid present at low concentrations (sub-parts per million). This study also illustrates the capabilities of MIPs for isolating members of an entire class of compounds.
Deception Methods for Defense

There are many ways to deceive, and this provides a rich array of methods for cyberdeceptions. We survey here some deception taxonomies (categorizations) that have been proposed. This framework allows us to systematically seek or develop deceptions. This chapter will focus primarily on defensive deceptions, and the next chapter will survey offensive deceptions.
Curing Blindness with Stem Cells: Hope, Reality, and Challenges

This article is a summary of a presentation at the XII International Symposium on Retinal Degeneration in Bariloche, Argentina, in October of 2006, in which the author presented his personal views of the contributions that the study of retinal cell differentiation during normal embryonic development can make towards overcoming the limitations that have so far prevented curing blindness through stem cell transplantation. The talk was illustrated mainly with examples derived from research on retinal cell differentiation in the author's laboratory, and the same approach will be kept in this article; for a broader coverage of the field, the reader is referred to several comprehensive reviews, e.g., (Adler, 2000; Boulton and Albon, 2004; Galli-Resta, 2001; Hatakeyama and Kageyama, 2004; Jean et al., 1998; Livesey and Cepko, 2001; Lupo et al., 2000; Malicki, 2004; Marquardt and Gruss, 2002; Rapaport et al., 2004; Vetter and Brown, 2001; Zhang et al., 2002).
Nanosecond risetime optically-activated mm-wave waveguide switch

We present the design and initial characterisation of a nanosecond risetime, laser driven 940Hz waveguide switch based on rapid carrier generation in high resistivity silicon. The fast switching time is designed to enable a dramatic reduction in the dead-time of a next-generation pulsed ESR spectrometer being constructed at St Andrews. We discuss the optical and mechanical design of the device.
High throughput sequencing reveals a novel fabavirus infecting sweet cherry

The genus Fabavirus currently consists of five species represented by viruses that infect a wide range of hosts but none reported from temperate climate fruit trees. A virus with genomic features resembling fabaviruses (tentatively named Prunus virus F, PrVF) was revealed by high throughput sequencing of extracts from a sweet cherry tree (Prunus avium). PrVF was subsequently shown to be graft transmissible and further identified in three other non-symptomatic Prunus spp. from different geographical locations. Two genetic variants of RNA1 and RNA2 coexisted in the same samples. RNA1 consisted of 6,165 and 6,163 nucleotides, and RNA2 consisted of 3,622 and 3,468 nucleotides.
Activity associated with speech articulation measured through direct cortical recordings.

Abstract The insula has been credited with a role in a number of functions, including speech production. Here, we recorded electrocorticography (ECoG) signals from the left insula during pseudoword articulation in two patients undergoing pre-surgical monitoring for the management of medically-intractable epilepsy. Event-related band power (ERBP) activity from electrodes implanted in the superior precentral gyrus of the insula (SPGI) was compared to that of other left hemisphere regions implicated in speech production. Results showed that SPGI contacts demonstrated significantly greater ERBP within the high-gamma frequency range (75–150 Hz) during articulation compared to a listening condition. However, frontal and post-central regions demonstrated significantly greater responses to the articulation task compared to the SPGI. Results suggest the SPGI is active during articulation, but frontal and post-central regions demonstrate significantly more robust responses. Given the small sample size, and number of electrodes implanted in the SPGI, further study is warranted to confirm these findings.
Generation of a Novel Mouse Model of Cooley’s Anemia.

A novel mouse model of Cooley’s Anemia (CA) has been generated by targeted gene replacement of the adult murine α-globin genes with human α-globin and the adult mouse β-globin genes with a human γ- to β-globin gene switching cassette containing a β 0 thalassemic allele. A positive-negative gene replacement construct was designed to simultaneously delete both of the adult mouse α-globin genes by inserting a 3.8kb human α1-globin gene and a hygromycin marker gene flanked by loxP sites in murine embryonic stem (ES) cells. Both adult murine β-globin genes were deleted by insertion of an Hprt marker gene that was later replaced by a 5.6kb human A γ-globin gene, 4.1kb human β 0 -globin gene, and a loxP flanked hygromycin marker gene by a “tag and exchange” strategy. The human β 0 -globin knock-in allele contains a single G to A nucleotide mutation in the first base of intervening sequence 1 [β 0-IVS1(GtoA) -globin]. This single base change destroys the splice donor site of IVS-1 resulting in the recruitment of several cryptic splice sites. Use of these cryptic splice sites produces a frameshift in the mRNA that results in no functional β-globin polypeptide synthesis from this allele. This β 0-IVS1(GtoA) -globin gene mutation is a naturally occurring β 0 thalassemia allele found in Mediterranean populations. Chimeric mice were generated from both the α- and β-globin targeted cells lines. After germline transmission the α- and β-globin targeted mice were bred to cre recombinase transgenic mice to remove the marker genes. Heterozygous CA mice exhibit β thalassemia intermedia. The α- and β-globin targeted mice were interbred to produce animals homozygous for the human α1- and γβ 0 -globin knock-in alleles. Instead of dying early in fetal life as all current homozygous β 0 thalassemia mouse models, these novel homozygous CA mice survive solely on high levels of human fetal hemoglobin (α 2 γ 2 ) throughout fetal development. Newborn homozygous CA mice are blood transfusion dependent similar to β thalassemia major infants. This novel model of CA has multiple improvements over existing models of β thalassemia. Namely, CA mice express 100% human hemoglobin in their RBCs, mimic the human γ- to β-globin gene switch, synthesize no functional β-globin chains after birth, have a single mutant human β 0 -globin knock-in allele at each β-globin locus, and are blood transfusion dependent for life after birth.
Failure analysis methodology on donut pattern failure due to photovoltaic electrochemical effect

Abstract This paper described a low yield case which resulted in a donut shape failing pattern. It also described a scenario where static fault localization is ineffective and a systematic problem solving approach based on symptoms, induction, hypothesis and verification was engaged to resolve the issue with understanding on the root cause and the failure mechanism. The low yield is due to residual light in the dilute HF clean tool which results in photovoltaic electrochemical effect on the exposed metal, through via holes, connecting to large PN junction. This results in subsequent resistive via formation and analogue failure.
Biochemie: Evolution einer Wissenschaft

Die Biochemie untersucht die Chemie der Lebensvorgange. Seit man im Jahr 1828 entdeckte, dass biologische Molekule wie etwa Harnstoff aus nichtlebenden Komponenten synthetisiert werden konnen, hat die Wissenschaft die Chemie des Lebens mit groser Intensitat erforscht. Aufgrund dieser Forschungen liesen sich bis jetzt viele der grundlegenden Ratsel losen, wie Lebewesen auf biochemischer Ebene funktionieren. Trotzdem gibt es viele Dinge, die erst noch untersucht werden mussen. Wie so haufig wirft jede Entdeckung mindestens genauso viele Fragen auf, wie sie beantwortet. Daruber hinaus befinden wir uns jetzt in einem Zeitalter, in dem in bisher unbekanntem Ausmas die Moglichkeit besteht, unser auserordentlich groses Wissen uber die Biochemie fur Fragestellungen in der Medizin, Zahnmedizin, Landwirtschaft, Gerichtsmedizin, Anthropologie, Okologie und auf anderen Gebieten anzuwenden. Wir beginnen unsere Reise in die Biochemie mit einer der aufsehenerregendsten Entdeckungen des vergangenen Jahrhunderts: der starken Einheitlichkeit aller Lebewesen auf der Ebene der Biochemie.
The use of a game-based learning platform to engage nursing students: A descriptive, qualitative study.

Abstract Baccalaureate nursing programs require students to complete a research course, and faculty find it challenging to engage students. Educational gaming has recently gained attention as a technique to motivate students and enhance learning. The purpose of this pilot study was to describe undergraduate nursing students' reflections of their experiences with 3D Gamelab © , a game-based learning platform. A descriptive qualitative research design was used to elicit students' reflections of their experiences. Educational content such as handouts, videos, activities, and recommended resources for a required junior level nursing research course was organized into quests for use in 3D GameLab © . At the end of the semester, students were invited to give their feedback through a survey with open-ended questions. Thematic analysis resulted in the following components of the game-based learning experience: navigation, motivation, gaming concept, knowledge, technology, and target population. Although the overall response to 3D GameLab © in this course was negative, game-based learning does have the potential to engage students and enhance learning. To better understand how educational gaming could be used in nursing, further research should be conducted to determine the most motivating elements and the types of course content best delivered in this manner.
Three-dimensional Imaging and Analysis of Mitochondria within Human Intraepidermal Nerve Fibers

The goal of this protocol is to study mitochondria within intraepidermal nerve fibers. Therefore, 3D imaging and analysis techniques were developed to isolate nerve-specific mitochondria and evaluate disease-induced alterations of mitochondria in the distal tip of sensory nerves. The protocol combines fluorescence immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy and 3D image analysis techniques to visualize and quantify nerve-specific mitochondria. Detailed parameters are defined throughout the procedures in order to provide a concrete example of how to use these techniques to isolate nerve-specific mitochondria. Antibodies were used to label nerve and mitochondrial signals within tissue sections of skin punch biopsies, which was followed by indirect immunofluorescence to visualize nerves and mitochondria with a green and red fluorescent signal respectively. Z-series images were acquired with confocal microscopy and 3D analysis software was used to process and analyze the signals. It is not necessary to follow the exact parameters described within, but it is important to be consistent with the ones chosen throughout the staining, acquisition and analysis steps. The strength of this protocol is that it is applicable to a wide variety of circumstances where one fluorescent signal is used to isolate other signals that would otherwise be impossible to study alone.
Effect of Humidity on the CO2 Adsorption of Tertiary Amine Grafted SBA-15

Aminosilica materials are promising candidates for CO2 capture from dilute streams such as ambient air and flue gas. Most aminosilica sorbents are constructed using primary and/or secondary amines, which have been shown to primarily react with CO2 to form alkylammonium carbamates and related structures. While ammonium bicarbonate formation is known to occur in aqueous amine solutions in the presence of CO2, there has been conflicting evidence of its formation on solid supported analogues. To probe if the ammonium bicarbonate species can exist on solid supported amines, tertiary amines, which are known to form bicarbonates in aqueous solution, are grafted onto mesoporous silica SBA-15, and the materials are further characterized using in situ FTIR spectroscopy and solid-state NMR spectroscopy in the presence of humid and dry CO2. Dry and humid CO2 capacities for these sorbents are also evaluated using fixed bed experiments and thermogravimetric analysis. This work shows that ammonium bicarbonates can exist...
High-Fidelity Patient Simulation to Evaluate Student Nurse Patient Safety Competency

Abstract Background There is little evidence supporting the use of simulation to evaluate student nurse safety performance prior to entering the clinical environment. Methods A High Fidelity Patient Simulation (HFPS) was created and tested that evaluated student nurse patient safety competency. Students were observed and evaluated on their ability to identify or perform six basic safe patient care competencies. A convenience sample (N = 52) of sophomore level students completing their initial semester in the Baccalaureate Nursing program were used to test the patient safety knowledge and skill evaluation. Results The majority of the students complied with the safety competencies of communication and assuring call bell and personal items were within reach. Less than 60% of the students complied with hand hygiene and correct identification of the patient using two identifiers. Only 19% of the students were competent in all six patient safety competencies. Conclusions HFPS provided a realistic patient care situation to evaluate basic safe patient care competencies. Future evaluation of student's patient safety competency needs to include an orientation to the environment and clearer understanding of the student's previous health care experience. Evaluation of the student's patient safety competency will provide valuable information for faculty and clinical practice facilities.
Phytochemical Intakes with a Mediterranean Diet: Levels Achievable with an Exchange List Diet and Potential Biomarkers in Blood

There is substantial epidemiological evidence that a Mediterranean dietary pattern can reduce risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and even aging-associated cognitive decline. A prominent feature of the traditional Greek diet was a high monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) intake, stemming largely from the use of olive oil. In addition, there was a high consumption of fruits and vegetables. All of these foods are rich in phytochemicals, and it is the combination of these dietary phytochemicals that might provide the best protection against the major chronic diseases that humans face. With a Mediterranean diet that is achieved using an exchange list approach, total intakes of flavonoids can be increased to about 200 mg/d using foods readily available in the United States. This is much higher than intakes of carotenoids at about 28 mg/day with a Mediterranean exchange list diet. To best capture intakes of the major flavonoid classes, it is proposed that a biomarker panel could comprehensively capture diversity in Mediterranean intakes. Development of such biomarker panels will be critical for evaluating the biological effects phytochemicals when consumed in concert as part of a preventive eating pattern.
Monitoring TgAb-positive patients with differentiated thyroid cancer

Abstract Thyroglobulin (Tg) is a glycoprotein hormone uniquely synthesized and secreted by both benign and malignant thyroid tissue. As such, serial Tg measurements have become a cornerstone in the longterm management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Currently, three different methods exist for the determination of serum Tg values: immunometric assays (IMA), radioimmunoassay (RIA) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (Tg-LC/MS). All assays produce accurate and reproducible Tg levels, the only difference being the sensitivity limits of each assay. However, in the presence of circulating thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb), the performance of these assays is reduced. Because 25 percent of patients with DTC have circulating TgAb, accurate Tg measurements can be compromised. In DTC patients with documented disease and TgAb, up to 50 percent of serum Tg levels will result as undetectable when measured either by the IMA or Tg-LC/MS while only four percent are undetectable when measured by the RIA. This necessitates prescreening all Tg samples for the presence of TgAb and rerouting samples to the RIA, if available. As the Tg RIA is not widely available, preliminary studies have demonstrated that TgAb can be used as a surrogate tumor marker in patients with DTC. In conclusion, patients with DTC who are TgAb positive, as described above, require alterations in the usual management of DTC.
Learning to share: Pedagogy, open learning, and the sharing economy:

The sharing economy is fertile sociological ground for studying important themes like labor, exchange, consumption, and inequality, as well as larger political-economic trends that are reflective of this post-recession era. The multifaceted research agenda of the sharing economy can provide lessons around many themes relevant to sociologists, but what does the sharing economy teach to those who participate in it? What is learned from the sharing economy and how do participants learn it? In this article, the author explores the pedagogic elements of one case study within the sharing economy: open learning. Drawing from 51 interviews with 34 participants and roughly 300 hours of participant observation, the study uses Bernstein’s theory of pedagogic discourse to ask how open learners learn to share. The author argues that an ethos of communalism and cooperativism dominated moral discourse for learners and regulated social order. Entrepreneurialism was learned through a flexible sociality, where participants...
Synthesis of Symmetric and Unsymmetric Secondary Amines from the Ligand-Promoted Ruthenium-Catalyzed Deaminative Coupling Reaction of Primary Amines.

The catalytic system generated in situ from the tetranuclear Ru–H complex with a catechol ligand (1/L1) was found to be effective for the direct deaminative coupling of two primary amines to form secondary amines. The catalyst 1/L1 was highly chemoselective for promoting the coupling of two different primary amines to afford unsymmetric secondary amines. The analogous coupling of aniline with primary amines formed aryl-substituted secondary amines. The treatment of aniline-d7 with 4-methoxybenzylamine led to the coupling product with significant deuterium incorporation on CH2 (18% D). The most pronounced carbon isotope effect was observed on the α-carbon of the product isolated from the coupling reaction of 4-methoxybenzylamine (C(1) = 1.015(2)). A Hammett plot was constructed from measuring the rates of the coupling reaction of 4-methoxyaniline with a series of para-substituted benzylamines 4-X-C6H4CH2NH2 (X = OMe, Me, H, F, CF3) (ρ = −0.79 ± 0.1). A plausible mechanistic scheme has been proposed for the...
The effect of telemedicine on neonatal intensive care unit length of stay in very low birthweight infants.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: This study addresses the effect of the installation and use of a telecardiology system on the intensive care length of stay of very low birthweight (VLBW) newborn infants. DESIGN: A retrospective comparison of 314 VLBW infants admitted to one of two neonatal intensive care units for a three year period from calendar years 1994 through 1996. A regression model was constructed to predict the intensive care length of stay while controlling for known risk factors. RESULTS: Telemedicine's effect is to reduce the intensive care length of stay and it both statistically significant (p < 0.05) and practically significant, reducing the intensive care length of stay by over 17%. The reduction in length of stay is greater at lower birthweights. CONCLUSIONS: Under the circumstances present in this study, telemedicine has been an effective intervention to reduce the intensive care length of stay.
A NONLINEAR GENERALIZATION OF THE HEAT EQUATION ARISING IN PLASMA PHYSICS

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a nonlinear generalization of the heat equation a rising in plasma physics. The function is a separable solution to with the property that it is positive inside the domain. The chapter highlights cases of fast diffusion and slow diffusion. The chapter presents an analog of the result in the case of nonlinear diffusion and in the case of fast diffusion. To highlight the essential difference between slow diffusion and fast diffusion, the chapter presents a case related to the scaling predicted for Okuda–Dawson diffusion in plasmas.