cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genomic structure, alternative splice forms and normal and mutant alleles of cadherin 23 (Cdh23).

Abstract Cadherins are components of adherens junctions and play critical roles during embryogenesis and organogenesis. They interact through the formation of anti-parallel dimers to mediate cell adhesion, migration and compaction. We recently showed that cadherins also play important roles in the inner ear; mutations in cadherin 23 (Cdh23) disrupt stereocilia organization on hair cells leading to deafness and vestibular dysfunction in waltzer mice. Here we extend our initial study on the structure and function of Cdh23. The mouse Cdh23 locus is comprised of two 5′-untranslated exons and 69 coding exons; together they cover a genomic distance of at least 350 kb. Amino acid sequence alignments and secondary structure prediction suggest that Cdh23 ectodomains adopt a conformation similar to the classic cadherins. Nucleotide sequence analysis of six alleles of waltzer reveals a strong correlation between loss of function mutations and the deafness/waltzing phenotype. A Cdh23 transcript with a spliced exon 68 is the predominantly expressed isoform in the organ of Corti. Age-related hearing loss (Ahl) is a non-syndromic trait in common inbred strains of mice associated with the Ahl locus on chromosome 10. Sequence comparison of Cdh23 between C57BL/6J and CAST/Ei identified ten amino acid polymorphisms. In the 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions we detected 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms. None of these sequence changes correlate with the Ahl phenotype. Our results provide the necessary framework for further characterization of Cdh23-related hearing loss in mice.
Graphene–ferromagnet interfaces: hybridization, magnetization and charge transfer

Electronic and magnetic properties of graphene–ferromagnet interfaces are investigated using first-principles electronic structure methods in which a single layer graphene is adsorbed on Ni(111) and Co(111) surfaces. Due to the symmetry matching and orbital overlap, the hybridization between graphene pπ and Ni (or Co) dz2 states is very strong. This pd hybridization, which is both spin and k dependent, greatly affects the electronic and magnetic properties of the interface, resulting in a significantly reduced (by about 20% for Ni and 10% for Co) local magnetic moment of the top ferromagnetic layer at the interface and an induced spin polarization on the graphene layer. The calculated induced magnetic moment on the graphene layer agrees well with a recent experiment. In addition, a substantial charge transfer across the graphene–ferromagnet interfaces is observed. We also investigate the effects of thickness of the ferromagnet slab on the calculated electronic and magnetic properties of the interface. The strength of the pd hybridization and the thickness-dependent interfacial properties may be exploited to design structures with desirable magnetic and transport properties for spintronic applications.
ORGAN CULTURE OF BENIGN, AGING, AND HYPERPLASTIC HUMAN PROSTATE

Organ culture of the human prostate began in the 1970s and was modeled after the work of Lasnitzki and her collaborators in the mouse two decades earlier. In organ culture of human prostates, one sees a rapid increase in epithelial cells and decrease in stromal cells during the first 3–5 days of culture. While modulation of many phenotypic properties occurs, these cultures provide a simple and rapid way to achieve large numbers of human prostatic epithelial cells in cultured tissues that are markedly depleted of stromal cells. There is some evidence that organ cultures are maintained in slightly better functional states in the presence of androgens; however, most of this evidence is less than quantitative. Most organ culture of prostates has been accomplished with tissues from unspecified locations within the prostate; interpretation of cultures carried out in this fashion has been less complete than would have been possible if they had been carried out from specific anatomic locations within the prostate. Careful pathological characterization of locations contiguous to the cultured tissue is mandatory if cultures are to be interpreted meaningfully. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Product drift from NBTI: Guardbanding, circuit and statistical effects

Circuits employing advanced performance and power management techniques (clock gating, half-cycle paths) are found to be much more sensitive to NBTI primarily due to differential and asymmetric aging, with a 1% transistor drift leading to as much as 3% circuit drift in some cases. For the first time, we report a monotonic reduction in variance of the log parameters (Ln(ΔF/F) and Ln(ΔI D /I D )) as a function of stress time. A stochastic guard banding model accounting for time-dependent variance, re-ordering effects and granularity of data is demonstrated.
Training in peacekeeping operations using virtual environments

Proper training of military personnel, at all levels, has never been more crucial. In this article, we describe the application of virtual environment technology to a novel and complex task-the military checkpoint. In the process, we also address differences between an immersive virtual environment training system and a destop version.
Kinetics and Mechanism of the Stannous Octoate-Catalyzed Bulk Polymerization of ε-Caprolactone

Bulk polymerizations of e-caprolactone (CL) were conducted at 130 °C, in which the structure and amount of initiator were varied. Polymerization induction periods were observed and attributed to slow heat transfer and to the type of alcohol used as initiator. Induction periods persisted until virtually complete consumption of both ethylene glycol (EG) and 1,3-propanediol (PD). 1-Butanol displayed no detectable induction. 1H NMR suggested that induction was a result of strong and unique interactions between the diols and stannous octoate, which lead to the formation of more stable, less reactive stannous alkoxides compared to stannous alkoxides derived from the polymer chain end. Only after virtually all free diol was consumed did chain propagation commence at the normal rate. The rate of polymerization was insensitive to the [CL]/[EG] ratios chosen for this study. The results were consistent with a mechanism in which stannous alkoxide initiator is formed in situ via reaction between stannous octoate and a...
The Neuronal Actin Cytoskeleton and the Protrusion of Lamellipodia and Filopodia

The protrusion of filopodia and lamellipodia from the surface of neurons is fundamental to axon extension, guidance, the formation of axon branches, and synaptic structures. Protrusion is driven by the polymerization and controlled organization of actin filament arrays. This chapter provides an overview of the basic mechanisms operative during protrusion. Mechanisms underlying the suppression of protrusive activity are also discussed in relation to the regulation of axonal morphology. The purpose of this chapter is to provide the reader with an understanding of the major concepts underlying the regulation of actin filaments in protrusion without delving deeply into the molecular mechanisms, which are discussed in other chapters of this volume. Focus is placed on the organization of actin filaments in protrusive structures and how the organization relates to the process of protrusion.
Audio-visual speaker recognition using time-varying stream reliability prediction

We examine a time-varying, context dependent, information fusion methodology for multi-stream authentication based on audio and video data collected simultaneously during a user's interaction with a system. Scores obtained from the two data streams are combined based on the relative local richness, as compared to the training data or derived model, and on the stability of each stream. The results show that the proposed technique outperforms the use of video or audio data alone as well as the use of fused data streams (via concatenation). Of particular note is that the performance improvements are achieved for clean, high quality speech, whereas previous efforts focused on degraded speech conditions.
If Taiwan Chooses Unification, Should the United States Care?

Economic dependence on, and integration with, China may make unification desirable or necessary for Taiwan in the not‐too‐distant future. What would it mean for U.S. national interests and the stability of East Asia? Can Washington's detachment be sustained?
Widespread EMR: A new technique for removal of large areas of mucosa

Background Widespread EMR is a novel technique for resection of large areas of mucosa as a single bloc. Large lesion size (>2cm) is a recognized limitation of current EMR techniques. This study assessed the technical feasibility, efficacy, and safety of widespread EMR in a porcine model. Methods Widespread EMR was performed in 6 pigs. A submucosal fluid cushion was created in the distal esophagus by using a 0.83% solution of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. A mucosal strip 5 cm in length and including at least 50% of the luminal circumference was marginated by using a prototype cutting device. The proximal end of the mucosa was stripped from the submucosa by using a grasping forceps. The distal end was snare resected. Resected tissue was assessed histologically. Endoscopy was repeated at weeks 1 and 6. At week 6, a second widespread EMR of the mucosa on the wall opposite the initial resection was attempted to create a full circumferential resection. Results Widespread EMR was completed in all animals. The esophagus was denuded of mucosa in 5-cm lengths that included 50% of the circumference of the lumen. No procedure-related complication was observed. Histologic assessment demonstrated that the resection specimen included mucosa and submucosa but not muscularis propria. Endoscopy at 1 week revealed mucosal regrowth in two animals and ulceration in 4. At week 6, regrowth of mucosa was noted in all animals. The second wide EMR proved to be technically difficult and was associated with perforation, peri-esophageal abscess, and stricture formation. Conclusions Wide EMR appears to be technically feasible for removal of large areas of mucosa. Mucosal strips 5 cm long that included over 50% of the luminal circumference were resected safely. Resection was followed by complete regrowth of the mucosa. However, a second wide EMR to create a circumferential resection proved to be technically difficult and unsafe.
Electron solvation dynamics and reactivity in ionic liquids observed by picosecond radiolysis techniques

On time scales of a nanosecond or less, radiolytically-generated excess electrons in ionic liquids undergo solvation processes and reactions that determine all subsequent chemistry and the accumulation of radiolytic damage. Using picosecond pulse radiolysis detection methods, we observed and quantified the solvation response of the electron in 1-methyl-1-butyl-pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide and used it to understand electron scavenging by a typical solute, duroquinone.
Cybersecurity in the federal government: Failing to maintain a secure cyber infrastructure

EDITOR'S SUMMARY Since the first cyber-attack in 1988, online viruses have proliferated through personal, organizational and government computers worldwide with devastating consequences. Concern was raised in 1999 regarding potential effects on the nation's poorly protected nuclear weapons, and further reports have highlighted flaws in the country's information infrastructure that put national security, public safety and personal privacy at risk. A 2014 report revealed the alarming frequency of attacks on government systems and agencies, gaps in awareness and response and minimal disclosure. Software protections are often nonexistent, ineffective or simply unused and insufficient to match rapidly advancing technology. Lack of leadership, expertise, funding, time and other resources adds to the challenge. Creation and implementation of cybersecurity policy standards have been thwarted by conflict over public and private sector roles, capabilities and inaction, and compliance with existing standards is negligible and ineffective. Joint pressure from the public and government will be needed for meaningful action.
A high performance molten carbonate fuel cell cathode

A highly-conducting ceramic material, identified as stable in molten carbonate electrolyte, has been fabricated by partial sintering of the powder into porous gas-diffusion electrodes. These have been tested with commercial molten carbonate electrolyte ‘tiles’, to compare performance with that of state-of-the-art NiO cathodes. Although the fabrication technique was quite simple, the resultant La0.8Sr0.2CoO3 electrodes showed kinetic performance equivalent to the NiO. This, or other perovskite or spinel-structure ceramic shown to be totally system compatible in long-term tests, can be formed into effective electrodes to replace NiO.
Fluoxetine's Effects on Cognitive Performance in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective:There are preclinical data showing that fluoxetine stimulated expression of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and its specific tyrosine kinase receptor, and caused neuritic elongat...
Plasma proteins present in osteoarthritic synovial fluid can stimulate cytokine production via Toll-like receptor 4

Introduction Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease characterized by cartilage breakdown in the synovial joints. The presence of low-grade inflammation in OA joints is receiving increasing attention, with synovitis shown to be present even in the early stages of the disease. How the synovial inflammation arises is unclear, but proteins in the synovial fluid of affected joints could conceivably contribute. We therefore surveyed the proteins present in OA synovial fluid and assessed their immunostimulatory properties.
Molecular Phylogeny of the North American Enchenopa binotata (Homoptera: Membracidae) Species Complex

The North American Enchenopa binotata (Say) species complex is a model of sympatric speciation in which phytophagous insects are hypothesized to diverge through host-plant specialization resulting from changes in host plant usage that alter life history timing. A robust phylogeny is needed to evaluate the historical relevance of the prediction that sister taxa differ in critical life-history traits. Phylogenetic analysis using parsimony and likelihood criteria of 2305 nucleotides in sequences from mitochondrial COI, COII, tRNA-Leucine, and 12S genes revealed two pairs of sister taxa. Both pairs of sister taxa differ from each other in the timing of egg hatch in the spring that is mediated by differences in host-plant phenology. Host plant mediated timing of egg hatch results in asynchronous life histories among sister taxa facilitating reproductive isolation. Sister taxa of Enchenopa from Celastrus and from Viburnum differ in their diurnal and temporal spans during which mating occurs. Mating of Enchenopa from Liriodendron takes place after that of its sister species on Cercis. These results support the hypothesis that speciation could have been initiated through a shift to a host plant that alters life-history timing.
Polysilicon-emitter bipolar transistors with interfacial nitride

Polysilicon emitter transistors with interfacial nitride and low emitter resistance have been fabricated reproducibly. The use of a phosphorus emitter has reduced the emitter resistance to a level comparable to that of barrier-free poly emitters. It is shown that the enhanced gain due to the interfacial barrier can be traded off for a reduction in base resistance. The authors have investigated the thermal stability, electrical reliability and noise characteristics of the transistors. >
Interface recombination at the selectively wet-oxidized AlAs-GaAs interface

The threshold of vertical cavity lasers has recently been greatly reduced by replacing proton implantation with selective "wet oxidation" of the AlAs layers in Bragg reflectors to provide lateral confinement of both the electrical current and the optical mode. With the oxidation technique, record low threshold currents below 100 /spl mu/A at room temperature have been reported, which are far lower than those reported for implanted lasers. Here we report on the effects of the oxidation on the surface recombination of GaAs at the interface with the oxide. We show that the GaAs surface is pinned very much like a free surface of GaAs exposed to air. On the other hand, if the GaAs is isolated from the AlAs by a thin layer of Al/sub 0.35/Ga/sub 0.65/As then the GaAs/Al/sub 0.35/Ga/sub 0.65/As interface preserves the low surface recombination velocity typical of such interfaces. In order to explore the nature of this semiconductor-oxide interface, we have grown two heterostructures, oxidized them, and measured the room temperature photoluminescence lifetime at the bulk GaAs bandedge.
A general threshold for laser-driven linear particle acceleration in infinite vacuum

We derive a threshold formula for unbounded vacuum acceleration by hypothesizing that this is possible only if the field perturbs the particle relativistically in its initial rest frame. Numerical simulations support our formula and hypothesis.
Comparison between SEM and TEM Imaging Techniques to Determine Grain‐Boundary Wetting in Ceramic Polycrystals

Two different non-oxide ceramics, Si 3 N 4 and SiC, were characterized with respect to their grain-boundary structure employing both scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The latter method, which enables one to gain direct insight of the atomistic interface structure, was utilized to verify whether grain-boundary wetting occurred. SEM imaging of plasma-etched surfaces revealed a characteristic bright contrast along interfaces for both ceramics, Si 3 N 4 as well as SiC, suggesting the presence of an intergranular glass film. High-resolution TEM studies of the Si 3 N 4 sample confirmed that these fine bright lines along grain boundaries represent intergranular glass films separating Si 3 N 4 matrix grains. However, when high-resolution TEM was employed on SiC samples, which showed a similar contrast variation across SiC grain boundaries in the SEM, the presence of residual glass films was not detected. The SiC materials showed clean grain boundaries with no indication of residual glass even at triple pockets. Chemical analysis monitored yttrium and aluminum segregation at interfaces, which creates a potential barrier (space charges) and therefore affects both the inner mean potential at the interface (Fresnel fringes) and the plasma-etching response. Although SEM imaging showed a similar interface contrast for both Si 3 N 4 and SiC ceramics, HRTEM studies clearly revealed grain-boundary wetting in the former and clean interfaces in the latter material, respectively. Hence, SEM imaging and Fresnel fringe TEM imaging alone are not conclusive when characterizing interface wetting in ceramic polycrystals.
Political and cultural contrasts in reporting about disasters: comparing United States and Chinese newspaper portrayals of bridge collapses

This paper compares the news coverage of bridge collapses in the United States and China to reveal how the cultural, political, and social differences of these two countries influence the ways in which disasters are represented to the public. By applying qualitative and quantitative research methods, the study examines the variations in news articles in different newspapers on bridge collapses. The results of this study indicate that news articles from Chinese newspapers, The People’s Daily and The Shanghai Daily, paid more attention to event description and consequences. News accounts from The Houston Chronicle showed similar patterns as their counterparts in China, but news articles from The New York Times highlighted bridge safety and the responsibility of either the government or specific members of the public in their reports. Chinese reporting may result in more effective risk communication and greater personal awareness of hazards as readers in each country are similarly embedded in discursive contexts that define their roles as consumers of news and as risk managers or decision makers.
Color vision testing of healthcare personnel

The purpose of the study was to identify and describe color vision testing of healthcare personnel who do glucose monitoring within a hospital. The subjects were 359 members of a nursing staff. Data were collected from nurses participating in a certification program for blood glucose monitoring. The lshihara plates were used to screen for a color vision deficiency. The results offered no evidence that screening of staff provided any benefit for patient care.
1,2-Dithiole-3-ones as potent inhibitors of the bacterial 3-ketoacyl acyl carrier protein synthase III (FabH)

The enzyme FabH catalyzes the initial step of fatty acid biosynthesis via a type II dissociated fatty acid synthase. The pivotal role of this essential enzyme, combined with its unique structural features and ubiquitous occurrence in bacteria, has made it an attractive new target for the development of antibacterial and antiparasitic compounds. We have searched the National Cancer Institute database for compounds bearing structural similarities to thiolactomycin, a natural product which exhibits a weak activity against FabH. This search has yielded several substituted 1,2-dithiole-3-ones that are potent inhibitors of FabH from both Escherichia coli (ecFabH) and Staphylococcus aureus (saFabH). The most potent inhibitor was 4,5-dichloro-1,2-dithiole-3-one, which had 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) values of 2 μM (ecFabH) and 0.16 μM (saFabH). The corresponding 3-thione analog exhibited comparable activities. Analogs in which the 4-chloro substituent was replaced with a phenyl group were also potent inhibitors, albeit somewhat less effectively (IC 50 values of 5.7 and 0.98 μM for ecFabH and saFabH, respectively). All of the 5-chlorinated inhibitors were most effective when they were preincubated with FabH in the absence of substrates. The resulting enzyme-inhibitor complex did not readily regain activity after excess inhibitor was removed, suggesting that a slow dissociation occurs. In stark contrast, a series of inhibitors in which the 5-chloro substituent was replaced with the isosteric and isoelectronic trifluoromethyl group were poorer inhibitors (IC 50 values typically ranging from 25 to >100 μM for both ecFabH and saFabH), did not require a preincubation period for maximal activity, and generated an enzyme-inhibitor complex which readily dissociated. Possible modes of binding of 5-chloro-1,2-dithiole-3-ones and 5-chloro-1,2-dithiole-3-thiones with FabH which account for the role of the 5-chloro substituent were considered.
Evidence for a universal law of dendritic growth rates

Abstract Measurements of dendritic growth velocity as a function of undercooling for both ice and succinonitrile appear to fall on a single smooth curve when the data are expressed in terms of appropriate dimensionless variables. The curve is consistent with that is predicted by the Langer-Muller-Krumbhaar stability theory.
Cosmological lower bound on the circuit complexity of a small problem in logic

An exponential lower bound on the circuit complexity of deciding the weak monadic second-order theory of one successor (WS1S) is proved. Circuits are built from binary operations, or 2-input gates, which compute arbitrary Boolean functions. In particular, to decide the truth of logical formulas of length at most 610 in this second-order language requires a circuit containing at least 10125 gates. So even if each gate were the size of a proton, the circuit would not fit in the known universe. This result and its proof, due to both authors, originally appeared in 1974 in the Ph.D. thesis of the first author. In this article, the proof is given, the result is put in historical perspective, and the result is extended to probabilistic circuits.a
Economics And Electronic Spreadsheets: Interdisciplinary Economics In Education

This paper discusses a model we developed for using the computer to help introductory students learn economics. Each semester that we teach introduction to macro or micro, students inevitably make statements such as, “I know the theory but I don’t understand the graphs”, or “I understand the problems when you work them in class but I cant do them on the exams”, or even “The problems you did in class were easy, but the problems on the test were hard”. Strober and Cook (1992) carefully documented these types of student responses by viewing videotapes of students discussing course material. The authors found that difficulties were rooted in students’ inability to understand basic concepts and then to apply those concepts to graphical or mathematical constructs. Students are able to accumulate information, but cannot use it. Fels (1990) relates the story of a student who knows that a higher price means a lower quantity demanded, but when asked whether an increase in the price of gasoline will lower quantity demanded, responds “no, because people have to use their cars to get to work and school” (p. 89). These examples illustrate the difficulty that students often have when they attempt to apply economic concepts.
Effects of dietary protein intake on vasoactive hormones

Vasoactive hormonal response to two levels of dietary protein intake was studied in seven healthy adult volunteers. The subjects were randomly placed on a 2-g.kg-1.day-1 (high) or 0.55-g.kg-1.day-1 (low) diet using a crossover design and were studied on the morning of the 5th day and again after 24 h of indomethacin treatment. Plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone, vasopressin, and urinary excretion of 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (PGF1 alpha) were significantly higher on the high-protein diet despite constancy of body weight, blood pressure, pulse, urinary sodium and potassium excretion, and plasma amino acid levels. After treatment with cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha excretion was equalized, but the elevated PRA and aldosterone levels persisted on the high-protein diet, suggesting that PRA and aldosterone elevations do not depend entirely on prostanoid release. We conclude that chronic augmentation of dietary protein intake is accompanied by alterations of vasoactive hormones, which persist for up to 10 h postprandially and are independent of elevated plasma amino acid levels. Such hormonal alterations may mediate some of the dietary protein-mediated changes in renal hemodynamics.
Pulmonary Afferent Influences on Respiratory Modulation of Sympathetic Discharge

Experiments were performed on decerebrate or urethane-anesthetized, gallamine-paralyzed cats with pneumothorax and intact vagi. Efferent splanchnic and cervical sympathetic nerve discharges were recorded monophasically (0.2–1000 HZ). Phrenic nerve discharge served as an indicator of respiratory center output. Lung inflation was applied co-incidentally with phrenic discharge during control cycles by means of a cycle-triggered pump. Changes in the timing of cycle-triggered pump inflations were used to evaluate effects of pulmonary afferent activity from lung stretch receptors on central respiratory modulation of sympathetic discharge. When inflation was not applied for one inspiratory phase, the Breuer-Hering inspiratory-inhibitory reflex did not occur: inspiratory prolongation with no change in slope of the integral of phrenic activity, as measured with an average-response computer. In contrast, this test produced an increase in slope of the integrated sympathetic discharge. This indicates that inflations during the control inspiratory phases inhibited sympathetic discharge. The striking difference in the slope of phrenic vs sympathetic activities implies that this inhibition of sympathetic activity was acting via circuits different from, but related to, those of the Breuer-Hering reflex. Lung inflation also inhibited sympathetic discharge during the expiratory phase, since inflations applied during the expiratory phase reduced sympathetic discharge, concomitantly with lengthening of the expiratory phase (Breuer-Hering expiratory-facilitatory reflex). The latency for sympathetic inhibition from the onset of inflation was of the order of 100–200 ms both for inspiratory and expiratory inflations. Vagotomy abolished these effects and resulted in an increased respiratory modulation of sympathetic discharge. These results indicate that pulmonary afferent activity exerts an important influence on the central respiratory modulation of sympathetic discharge.
Flexible transceivers

The introduction of coherent transceivers in high capacity optical transmission systems has dramatically increased networking capabilities. We discuss how enhancing flexibility of these transceivers enables dynamic optimization of DWDM signal characteristics to extract more capacity from optical networks.
Novel Ether Modifiers for Anionic Polymerization of Isoprene

Abstract Because of demands on tire skid resistance, polyisoprenes with high 3,4-content are of particular interest to the tire industry due to their inherently better grip properties. Polar bident...
A Preliminary Investigation of the Relationship Between Emotion Dysregulation and Partner Violence Perpetration Among Individuals with PTSD and Alcohol Dependence

The current study examines the link between emotion dysregulation and intimate partner violence (IPV) among 77 individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol dependence. Participants were recruited from a residential substance abuse treatment program as part of the eligibility screening for an IRB-approved clinical trial examining the efficacy of an exposure-based intervention in individuals dually diagnosed with alcohol dependence and PTSD. Participants reported on PTSD symptoms, alcohol use disorder symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and physical and verbal aggression in their intimate relationships during the past year. Findings demonstrated that difficulties with emotion regulation are associated with physical and verbal IPV perpetration in a clinical sample. Although facets of emotion regulation emerged as significant predictors of IPV in the models, alcohol and PTSD symptom severity did not emerge as predictors of IPV. These findings suggest targeted emotion regulation skills training may benefit substance abusers who engage in IPV and that emotion dysregulation may be an important target for future research aimed at understanding elevated rates of IPV perpetration in mental health samples.
Jean Gerson’s Legacy in Tübingen and Strasbourg

The medieval French theologian Jean Gerson’s legacy in Germany involved several centres of learning. Among them Strasbourg and Tubingen deserve particular attention for their role in the circulation of Gerson’s works and ideas. Strasbourg, together with Vienna, belongs to the initial stage of this circulation, while Tubingen to the later one, leaping well into the 16th century. This study concerns itself with the history of the reception of all of Gerson’s ideas via his ’spiritual descendants’, understood here as both those who openly placed him in their spiritual lineage as well as those who relied on his opinions and ideas without necessarily admitting it or even being aware of it. Among those descendants are such influential and crucial figures as Gabriel Biel, Johannes von Staupitz, Johannes Eck and Philipp Melanchton.
Thyroxine determination by continuous spectrophotometry.

A relatively rapid continuous spectrophotometric method for the determination of thyroxine is described. Alcoholic thyroxine standards and patient specimens are passed through anion-exchange resin columns in parallel. Eluates containing free thyroxine are mixed with bromine to liberate free iodide. Under standard conditions this iodide reduces eerie ammonium sulfate at a rate constant proportional to the concentration of iodide. The decolorization of eerie substrate may be scanned continuously and the rate of absorbance change equated to the iodide concentration. Observation at 360 nm. provides increased sensitivity. The reaction occurs during a phase of true zero-order kinetics. Excellent linearity is seen in dilution studies. Accuracy and precision data are provided.
Mixing Code and 3D Printers with Madeup (Abstract Only)

Madeup is a text- and blocks-based programming language for making things up---literally. Programmers write sequences of commands to move and turn through space, tracing out printable 3D shapes with algorithms and mathematical operations. The language is designed to teach computation from a tangible, first-person perspective and help students integrate computation back into the physical world. In this workshop, we empower educators to use the freely-available and browser-based Madeup programming environment in their classrooms. Participants should expect to learn actively.
Performance and Emission Characteristics of Alcohol/Jet A Blends in a Small-Scale Gas Turbine Engine

Gas turbine engines, such as those used in aircraft and stationary power generators, use large amounts of petroleum-based fuel and cause significant air pollution. The desire for energy independence and reduction in pollutant emissions has generated an interest in research on alternate fuels. Alcohols, which can also be derived from biomass, are an attractive energy resource in this regard. However, alcohols have lower heating values than Jet fuels. Hence, the blending alcohol with petroleum fuels seems logical, at least in the nearterm. Therefore, the effects of alcohol/Jet A blends on the performance and emission characteristics of a small-scale 30 kilowatt gas turbine engine were studied. Blends of butanol with Jet A in varying concentrations, ranging from 25 to 100% by volume, were used as fuels. Butanol was chosen in this study because it can be produced from renewable energy sources, such as algae. The performance characteristics including the thrust, thrust-specific fuel consumption, and the emission properties, such as thrust-specific emission indices of CO and NOx, were measured for the different blends and compared with those obtained for Jet A over a range of throttle settings. The operational thrust range of the engine was reduced when compared to that available using Jet A fuel. The NOx emission was lower for the butanol-Jet A blends because of lower temperature at the turbine inlet. The results indicate that n-butanol-Jet A blend is a viable alternative fuel for gas turbine engines.
Spheroplast and protoplast formation from cysts of Phytophthora sojae treated with digestive enzymes.

(1993). Spheroplast and Protoplast Formation from Cysts of Phytophthora Sojae Treated with Digestive Enzymes. Mycologia: Vol. 85, No. 1, pp. 131-136.
The late-phase reaction and its clinical implications.

The biphasic nature of the response to allergen is now well established. In many allergic diseases, the so-called late-phase reaction provides a model much more closely akin to what is observed clinically than immediate reactions alone would afford. The crucial and persistent role of IgE in sustaining the late-phase response is underscored in this first of four articles on the phenomenon.
“Cat’s Cradling” the 3D Genome by the Act of LncRNA Transcription

There is growing evidence that transcription and nuclear organization are tightly linked. Yet, whether transcription of thousands of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) could play a role in this packaging process remains elusive. Although some lncRNAs have been found to have clear roles in nuclear architecture (e.g., FIRRE, NEAT1, XIST, and others), the vast majority remain poorly understood. In this Perspective, we highlight how the act of transcription can affect nuclear architecture. We synthesize several recent findings into a proposed model where the transcription of lncRNAs can serve as guide-posts for shaping genome organization. This model is similar to the game "cat's cradle," where the shape of a string is successively changed by opening up new sites for finger placement. Analogously, transcription of lncRNAs could serve as "grip holds" for nuclear proteins to pull the genome into new positions. This model could explain general lncRNA properties such as low abundance and tissue specificity. Overall, we propose a general framework for how the act of lncRNA transcription could play a role in organizing the 3D genome.
Critical coherence and characteristic times in brain stem neuronal discharge patterns

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the temporal complexity evident in neural systems and presents the formal analyses of multiple-time-scale phenomena observed in the discharge patterns of single neurons and in neuronal population dynamics. It also presents a brief history of physical models of action potential generation, which leads to the view that the strong nonlinearities on neurons can produce strange attractor phenomena. The chapter also discusses the interspike interval data from brain stem neurons for the evidence of bursting patterns, and present nonstatistical measures for describing the behavior of neurons over multiple time scales. A range of temporal complexity is required for normal functioning in biological systems, as measured in entropy per unit time. The dynamical interaction between the nigral dopaminergic, randomizing field, and the caudate-putamen lateral inhibitory network involves mutual feedback loops, which both require and modulate the timing of impulses in the system. It is the temporal pattern of the behavior of these thermal field systems.
Testing Galaxy Quenching Theories with Scatter in the Stellar to Halo Mass Relation

We use the scatter in the stellar-to-halo mass relation to constrain galaxy evolution models. If the efficiency of converting accreted baryons into stars varies with time, halos of the same present-day mass but different formation histories will have different z=0 galaxy stellar mass. This is one of the sources of scatter in stellar mass at fixed halo mass, $\sigma_{\log M\ast}$. For massive halos that undergo rapid quenching of star formation at z~2, different mechanisms that trigger this quenching yield different values of $\sigma_{\log M\ast}$. We use this framework to test various models in which quenching begins after a galaxy crosses a threshold in one of the following physical quantities: redshift, halo mass, stellar mass, and stellar-to-halo mass ratio. Our model is highly idealized, with other sources of scatter likely to arise as more physics is included. Thus, our test is whether a model can produce scatter lower than observational bounds, leaving room for other sources. Recent measurements find $\sigma_{\log M\ast}=0.16$ dex for 10^11 Msol galaxies. Under the assumption that the threshold is constant with time, such a low value of $\sigma_{\log M\ast}$ rules out all of these models with the exception of quenching by a stellar mass treshold. Most physical quantities, such as metallicity, will increase scatter if they are uncorrelated with halo formation history. Thus, to decrease the scatter of a given model, galaxy properties would correlate tightly with formation history, creating testable predictions for their clustering. Understanding why $\sigma_{\log M\ast}$ is so small may be key to understanding the physics of galaxy formation.
Improving Laboratory Utilization Is a Top Priority for Laboratory Directors.

In the US, the roles and responsibilities, as well as the education and degree requirements for laboratory directors, are well defined by the CLIA 1988 regulations and in the requirements of private and governmental accreditation bodies. Focusing on doing the right test on the right patient at the right time is nothing new for laboratory directors. But in the current healthcare environment, it is more important than ever for laboratory directors to be actively engaged in effective laboratory stewardship. One aspect of that stewardship is seeking to identify opportunities for improving laboratory test utilization and working to make productive contributions toward progress in these areas. For laboratory directors and other stakeholders, improving laboratory test utilization is a quality goal that must have a high priority. Over the past 2 decades, reports from the Institute of Medicine have progressively focused on key quality issues in healthcare including reducing medical errors, recognizing diagnostic errors, and improving patient safety. The Institute of Medicine advocates provision of healthcare that is safe, timely, efficient, effective, equitable, and patient-centered (STEEEP)2 (1). Laboratory utilization must also focus on these goals. Opportunities to improve laboratory test utilization are numerous and often complex. They can differ from one laboratory to the next, as can any resulting process improvement changes intended …
The Role of Stress in Dermatitis Artefacta

Dermatitis Artefacta (DA) is a primary psychiatric disorder with secondary skin manifestations; its prevalence is highest among adolescents and adults under the age of 30, with females being predominantly affected. The self-inflicted skin lesions can have wide ranging, bizarre morphological features, determined by the manner in which they are created. They do not conform to any known pattern of dermatoses and can appear as blisters, purpura, ulcers, chemical and thermal burns etc. The lesions are located on easily accessible parts of the body.
Nitrogen pollution knows no bounds.

In recent decades, the flow of fixed—that is, biologically usable—nitrogen from human activities into the environment has grown substantially. The sources include excess production and use of nitrogen fertilizers; ammonia emitted from animal husbandry and sewage; and nitrogen oxides emitted by automobiles, airplanes, and fossil fuel power plants. The resulting nitrogen flux into the ocean may approach the magnitude of natural sources ( 1 – 3 ). However, it is difficult to specify the integrated increase over natural sources precisely because there is very little data for when nitrogen sources were mostly natural. On page 749 of this issue, Ren et al. use the nitrogen isotope composition of a 50-year coral core from the South China Sea to show that the natural upwelling flux of fixed nitrogen has risen by 20% during the past two decades ( 4 ).
Response of alpha particles in hexagonal boron nitride neutron detectors

Thermal neutron detectors were fabricated from 10B enriched h-BN epilayers of different thicknesses. The charge carrier generation and energy loss mechanisms as well as the range of alpha daughter particles generated by the nuclear reaction between thermal neutrons and 10B atoms in hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) thermal neutron detectors have been investigated via their responses to alpha particles from a 210Po source. The ranges of alpha particles in h-BN were found to be anisotropic, which increase with the angle (θ) between the trajectory of the alpha particles and c-axis of the h-BN epilayer following (cos θ)−1 and are 4.6 and 5.6 μm, respectively, for the alpha particles with energies of 1.47 MeV and 1.78 MeV at θ = 0. However, the energy loss of an alpha particle inside h-BN is determined by the number of layers it passes through with a constant energy loss rate of 107 eV per layer due to the layered structure of h-BN. Roughly 5 electron-hole pairs are generated when an alpha particle passes through...
Effectiveness of composting as a biosecure disposal method for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV)-infected pig carcasses

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is an enteric disease of swine that has emerged as a worldwide threat to swine herd health and production. Substantial research has been conducted to assess viability of the virus on surfaces of vehicles and equipment, in feed and water, and on production building surfaces, but little is known about the persistence in PEDV-infected carcasses and effective disposal methods thereof. This study was conducted to quantify the persistence of PEDV RNA via quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) at various time-temperature combinations and in infected piglet carcasses subjected to composting. Although this method does not distinguish between infectious and noninfectious virus, it is a rapid and sensitive test to evaluate materials for evidence of virus genome. In the first study, PEDV was suspended in cell culture media at 1 × 105 TCID50 per sample (1 mL sample size) and subjected to various time and temperature combinations in triplicate including temperatures of 37, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 °C and exposure times of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 14 days. At all temperatures, viral RNA copies declined over time, with the decline most marked and rapid at 65 and 70 °C. Detectable RNA did persist throughout the trial in all but the most extreme condition, where two of three samples incubated at 70 °C yielded undetectable viral RNA after 14 days. In the second study, PEDV-infected piglet carcasses were subjected to two cycles of composting lasting 36 and 37 days, respectively, for a total compost time of 73 days. Composting was performed in triplicate windrow sections housed inside biosecure, climate-controlled rooms using insulated bins designed to represent a continuous windrow compost pile. Temperatures reached 35–57 °C for 26 days of cycle 1 and 35–45 °C for 3 days of cycle 2. Samples consisting of carbon material with or without decomposed tissue as available per sample site collected at ten locations throughout the cross-section of each windrow section following the primary and secondary compost cycles yielded no detectable viral RNA. Composting appears to be an effective disposal method for PEDV-infected piglet carcasses under the conditions examined. The combination of time and high temperature of the compost cycle effectively degraded viral RNA in cell culture media that should provide optimum stability. Complex compost material matrices collected from windrow sections yielded undetectable PEDV RNA by qRT-PCR after one 36-day compost cycle despite incomplete decomposition of soft tissue.
Methodology for Classifying and Indexing Case-Based Reasoning Systems in the Health Sciences

As the amount of information available to researchers grows at an increasing rate, it becomes much more difficult to find relevant resources. An approach taken by several authoritative bodies, such as the Association for Computing Machinery and the U.S. National Library of Medicine, is the introduction of a classification scheme. However, even the most modern schemes are not capable of adequately distinguishing one research paper from another, due mainly to their broad generality. This paper describes a methodology for building a much narrower, specialized classification scheme focused on the area of Cased-Based Reasoning in the Health Sciences. It is derived from thorough analysis of the field, but with a framework that can be adapted to other areas. Using a tiered approach to further subdivide systems into more specific classes according to criteria specific to this particular field, this classification scheme affords interdisciplinary search, which is generally left out of generic indexing systems. This paper presents the resulting classification scheme and showcases its usefulness for classifying and tracking the evolution of research.