cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shaking Table Test for Seismic Performance of 500 kV Arrester

This paper studied the application of artificial standard time history wave on the seismic performance evaluation of 500 kV arrester in shaking table test,in which artificial standard time history wave,EL Centro seismic wave,Taft seismic wave,Beat- Wave were inputted unidirectional or bidirectional. The test results show that,under above 4 kinds of seismic waves with the same seismic grade,the stress of the equipment root under the action of artificial standard time history wave is the largest. The difference of test results for the different equipment under the action of artificial standard time history wave should be relatively small because the dominant frequency segment of the response spectrum of time history waves is gentle,so artificial standard time history wave is applied to the seismic performance evaluation of 500 kV arrester. Comparison results under the action of unidirectional or bidirectional waves demonstrate that it can only carry out unidirectional excitation shaking table test for the seismic performance evaluation of two-dimensional axisymmetric structure.
Inventions and Patents: A Practical Tutorial

Patents are designed to protect and encourage creativity and innovation. Patenting a biomedical discovery can be a requirement before a pharmaceutical company or biotech entity will invest in the lengthy and costly clinical testing necessary to achieve patient benefit. Although scientists and clinicians are well versed in research publication requirements, patent descriptions and claims are formatted in a manner quite different from a research paper. Patents require (a) a series of logical statements clearly delineating the boundaries of the novel aspects of the invention and (b) sufficient disclosure of the invention so that it can be reproduced by others. Patents are granted only for inventions that meet three conditions: novelty, nonobviousness, and usefulness. This chapter provides basic guidelines and definitions of technology transfer: inventions, inventorship, and patent filing, which are summarized using a question and answer format.
A Modified MUSIC Algorithm for Direction of Arrival Estimation in the Presence of Antenna Array Manifold Mismatch

We introduce a modified multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm to estimate the directions of arrival (DOAs) of multiple radio frequency signals. We specifically consider an antenna array with an imperfectly calibrated array response. The modified MUSIC algorithm estimates the DOA of each signal individually after attempting to null the other signals that are present. We compare the new approach to the conventional MUSIC algorithm in simulations, and show that the new approach leads to improved performance. The new approach converges quickly and produces DOA estimates with smaller mean error and standard deviation than MUSIC over a range of incident signal separations. We recommend our approach for systems with challenging antenna placements, a time varying host platform, and limited processing capabilities.
Intersections of Multiple Oppressions: Racism, Sizeism, Ableism, and the “Illimitable Etceteras”† in Encounters With Law Enforcement‡,§

This think piece on the intersectionality of multiple oppressive markers incorporates critical race feminism, fat studies, body/embodiment studies, and dis/ability studies. It discusses the cases of two African Americans deemed irresolvable nuisances, treated as threats to police, and dealt with, with undue force, resulting in their untimely deaths. Eleanor Bumpurs, 66, was a black female of older age, ample size, with physical and mental disabilities; she was arthritic, fighting off hallucinations, and was economically disadvantaged. Eric Garner, 43, was a black male of ample size, with physical disabilities; he was diabetic, asthmatic, with sleep apnea and a heart condition, all of which made employment difficult for him. Intersectional identities determined what happened when each crossed paths with law enforcement. Intersecting oppressions of racism/classism/fat hatred/ageism/ableism/healthism resulted in the murder of Bumpurs in 1984 and Garner in 2014. Following Garner's execution, police supporters used multiple, intersecting forms of discrimination to sidestep the brutality: “Garner would've died going up a flight of stairs—he died because of preexisting medical conditions.” This article argues that besides perpetuating the long history of portraying African American men as hulking brutes or as genetically inferior, such justifications aim to divert attention away from structural racism, cloaking it in sizeism/ableism/healthism.
Chronic Renal Failure in Children in Saudi Arabia

This study includes 100 children (male to female ratio, 65:35) with chronic renal failure referred to our renal unit from different parts of the Kingdom over a period of three years. Their ages ran...
Management of Traumatic Hemothorax, Retained Hemothorax, and Other Thoracic Collections

This review focuses on the various approaches for the treatment of post-traumatic hemothorax, retained hemothorax, and other thoracic collections. Early diagnosis and complete evacuation of post-traumatic hemothorax are essential to avoid complications. Incomplete evacuation of blood may result in retained hemothorax, fibrothorax, or empyema. Tube thoracostomy has been the most commonly used option for draining blood and other collections. Alternative options include image-guided placement of small-bore chest tubes, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and thoracotomy. However, as data supporting safety and efficacy of image-guided placement of small-bore chest tubes have been increasingly published, the technique has been widely adopted as a primary treatment option for patients with various pleural collections after trauma. Traumatic pleural collections have traditionally been treated with tube thoracostomy, VATS, or thoracotomy. However, recent data suggest that placement of small-bore chest tubes is similarly effective with a reduced rate of complication and should be considered as a viable option.
On the Performance of Cyclically Adjusted Valuation Measures

We confirm the effectiveness of using cyclically-adjusted valuation metrics to identify high performing stocks. The Shiller P/E, or cyclically-adjusted price-to-earnings (CAPE) ratio, is not the optimal way to implement a cyclically-adjusted value measure. At the margin, the cyclically-adjusted book-to-market (CA-BM) is a better measure to predict returns. We find that more frequent rebalancing and momentum can enhance strategies based on cyclically-adjusted valuation metrics.
The role of Balint group training in the professional and personal development of family medicine residents.

This paper presents a study based on the participation of PGY2 and PGY3 family medicine residents in Balint seminars that occurred twice monthly for 24 months. Balint groups were cofacilitated by l...
Teaching Family and Marriage Therapy

A major issue in teaching family and marriage therapy is how to help students attain both technical competence and self-development. Rejection of old distinctions between these two stressful tasks ...
Revisiting the Table 2 fallacy: A motivating example examining preeclampsia and preterm birth.

Background A "Table Fallacy," as coined by Westreich and Greenland, reports multiple adjusted effect estimates from a single model. This practice, which remains common in published literature, can be problematic when different types of effect estimates are presented together in a single table. The purpose of this paper is to quantitatively illustrate this potential for misinterpretation with an example estimating the effects of preeclampsia on preterm birth. Methods We analysed a retrospective population-based cohort of 2 963 888 singleton births in California between 2007 and 2012. We performed a modified Poisson regression to calculate the total effect of preeclampsia on the risk of PTB, adjusting for previous preterm birth. pregnancy alcohol abuse, maternal education, and maternal socio-demographic factors (Model 1). In subsequent models, we report the total effects of previous preterm birth, alcohol abuse, and education on the risk of PTB, comparing and contrasting the controlled direct effects, total effects, and confounded effect estimates, resulting from Model 1. Results The effect estimate for previous preterm birth (a controlled direct effect in Model 1) increased 10% when estimated as a total effect. The risk ratio for alcohol abuse, biased due to an uncontrolled confounder in Model 1, was reduced by 23% when adjusted for drug abuse. The risk ratio for maternal education, solely a predictor of the outcome, was essentially unchanged. Conclusions Reporting multiple effect estimates from a single model may lead to misinterpretation and lack of reproducibility. This example highlights the need for careful consideration of the types of effects estimated in statistical models.
The subject librarian’s survival guide to technical services

In this brief tome, Schmidt and Carstens endeavor to improve subject liaison librarians’ understanding of the “complexities of technical services” by teasing out the components of technical service...
Resolution and Regulation of Inflammation

Acute inflammation in health is time-limited; however, the pathobiology of several common human diseases is notable for chronic inflammation. It is now clear that the resolution of acute inflammation is an active process that is governed by specific mediators and cellular mechanisms within inflammatory exudates. During the battle of inflammation, leukocytes infiltrate tissues to kill invading microbes or repair tissue injury. Cell–cell interactions between leukocytes and tissue resident cells within exudates lead to the transcellular biosynthesis of autacoid mediators, including mediators enzymatically derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids that can control inflammation by activating local resolution programs. A genus of specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs), including lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, and maresins, has been identified with anti-inflammatory and proresolving actions. Individual SPMs have distinct chemical structures and serve as stereoselective agonists at specific G protein-coupled receptors. Insights into resolution mechanisms have provided a new understanding of the pathobiology of human disease and a window for novel potential therapeutic approaches that activate resolution mechanisms to control inflammatory diseases. This article reviews the biology of resolution of acute inflammation, SPM identification, biosynthesis and receptors, and SPM-driven cellular mechanisms for resolution and the regulation of inflammation.
Plasma Induced Wiggler Magnetic Field in a Cavity

The transformation of an elliptically polarized standing wave in a cavity by a suddenly and uniformly created plasma is discussed. Theoretical expressions for the plasma induced wiggler magnetic field as well as the frequency-upshifted standing wave are derived. By choosing appropriate values of the source wave parameters and plasma parameters, one can get wiggler magnetic field of desired magnitude, direction and wiggler wavelength. A few representative results are discussed.
Biotite dissolution in simulated Hanford tank waste

Chromium and technetium have been identified in solutions that have leaked from single-shell storage tanks at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford site in Washington state. Dissolution of Fe(II)-bearing minerals such as biotite is a potential source of electrons for the reduction of the soluble chromate (CrO4 ) and pertechnetate (TcO4 ) ions to less mobile reduced forms. Little is known, however, of biotite dissolution under the conditions found in Hanford waste: high pH, high Al and NaNO3 concentrations, high temperatures, and large amounts of organic compounds. In the current study, the effects of pH, Al, and NaNO3 were investigated using continuously-stirred flow-through reactors at room temperature (pH 14) and at 25 °C (pH 11-13). Steady-state dissolution rates for Si, Al, Fe, and K increased with increasing pH, except for Si, Al, and Fe at pHs 11 and 12 where the rates for each element were nearly identical. Dissolution was incongruent at all pHs with rapid preferential release of K followed by near stoichiometric release of Si and Al. Release of the octahedral cations, Fe and Mg, was much slower. High concentrations of NaNO3 (2 M or 6 M) at pH 13 and pH 14 generally enhanced the release rates of all elements. Al-enriched solutions (0.055 Al(NO3)3•9 H 2O, both with and without 2 M NaNO3), suppressed the release rates of Si and Fe at pH 13 relative to dissolution in nitrateand Al-free solutions whereas the release rates of K and Mg were enhanced. There were pHdependent transients (i.e., initially rapid dissolution rates decaying to slower rates) in each experiment. The amounts of Si, Al, Fe, and K released in the non-steady-state interval were greatest at pH 14, followed by pH 13, 12 and 11. Despite the fact that the solutions were supersaturated at all pHs with respect to the sparingly soluble iron oxides, detectable quantities of iron were present in all solutions except one. Therefore, if Fe oxidation and precipitation took place, they did not prevent continued Fe dissolution from biotite, suggesting that biotite may indeed be a source of reductive capacity within the Hanford sediments. Presolar/Interstellar Materials
Aging with HIV/AIDS

When the first small clusters of previously healthy, young gay men began to dramatically and mysteriously fall ill in the nation’s urban centers toward the end of the 1970s, few might have guessed that the United States was facing an emerging epidemic that would shake our confidence in modern medicine and revive “ … fears at least as old as the medieval plagues” (Institute of Medicine 1988:1; Shilts 1987). Tragically, over the past three plus decades such an epidemic has unfolded not only in this country, but worldwide. Indeed, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) – the virus believed to cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) – has become a global pandemic, one comprised of thousands of lesser epidemics with unique epidemiologic shapes and social contexts across the world (Mann et al. 1993).
CMTS: Conditional Multiple Trajectory Synthesizer for Generating Safety-critical Driving Scenarios

Naturalistic driving trajectories are crucial for the performance of autonomous driving algorithms. However, most of the data is collected in safe scenarios leading to the duplication of trajectories which are easy to be handled by currently developed algorithms. When considering safety, testing algorithms in near-miss scenarios that rarely show up in off-the-shelf datasets is a vital part of the evaluation. As a remedy, we propose a near-miss data synthesizing framework based on Variational Bayesian methods and term it as Conditional Multiple Trajectory Synthesizer (CMTS). We leverage a generative model conditioned on road maps to bridge safe and collision driving data by representing their distribution in the latent space. By sampling from the near-miss distribution, we can synthesize safety-critical data crucial for understanding traffic scenarios but not shown in neither the original dataset nor the collision dataset. Our experimental results demonstrate that the augmented dataset covers more kinds of driving scenarios, especially the near-miss ones, which help improve the trajectory prediction accuracy and the capability of dealing with risky driving scenarios.
Simultaneous reduction of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation in rice by zinc oxide nanoparticles

Abstract Accumulation of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in rice grains is a serious food safety concern for populations consuming rice as a staple food worldwide. Some agricultural practices such as water and nutrient management strategies can exhibit significant impact on their fate and bioavailability in rice paddies due to the profound impact of these activities on paddy soil properties. However, due to the unique biogeochemistry of As and Cd in rice paddies, their bioavailability often goes opposite directions and thus simultaneous control of both As and Cd in rice grains has not been achieved. Several previous studies have showed that some engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) can substantially lower the accumulation of either As or Cd in rice grains. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate whether zinc oxide nanoparticles, a popular nanofertilizer, can simultaneous lower both As and Cd in rice tissues using a greenhouse setup. The results suggested that both zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and zinc ions (Zn2+) significantly reduced the total As in rice roots (−39.5% and −83.3%) and shoots (−60.2% and −80.0%) and the reduction was primarily due to the lowered inorganic As(III) and organic As species. However, only ZnONPs reduced the Cd accumulation in rice shoots. Zn2+ significantly increased Cd content in rice shoot by 26.8%, suggesting the differential impact of ZnONPs and Zn2+ on As and Cd accumulation in rice tissues. Only ZnONPs holds the potential to simultaneously reduce both As and Cd in rice grains in As and Cd co-contaminated rice paddies. The results provide new insights into the sustainable applications of nanotechnology in agriculture.
A negative-feedback loop maintains optimal chemokine concentrations for directional cell migration.

Chemoattractant gradients frequently guide migrating cells. To achieve the most directional signal, such gradients should be maintained with concentrations around the dissociation constant (Kd)1–6 of the chemoreceptor. Whether this actually occurs in animals is unknown. Here we investigate whether a moving tissue, the zebrafish posterior lateral line primordium, buffers its attractant in this concentration range to achieve robust migration. We find that the Cxcl12 (also known as Sdf1) attractant gradient ranges from 0 to 12 nM, values similar to the 3.4 nM Kd of its receptor Cxcr4. When we increase the Kd of Cxcl12 for Cxcr4, primordium migration is less directional. Furthermore, a negative-feedback loop between Cxcl12 and its clearance receptor Ackr3 (also known as Cxcr7) regulates the Cxcl12 concentrations. Breaking this negative feedback by blocking the phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic tail of Ackr3 also results in less directional primordium migration. Thus, directed migration of the primordium is dependent on a close match between the Cxcl12 concentration and the Kd of Cxcl12 for Cxcr4, which is maintained by buffering of the chemokine levels. Quantitative modelling confirms the plausibility of this mechanism. We anticipate that buffering of attractant concentration is a general mechanism for ensuring robust cell migration. Lau et al. quantify endogenous concentrations of the chemokine Cxcl12 and its binding affinity for its cognate receptor Cxcr4 in zebrafish embryos, uncovering a negative-feedback loop governing directional cell migration in vivo.
Locally programmable metamaterial elements using four-dimensional printing

Abstract Within the area of acoustic metamaterials, the field of tunable acoustic structures has gained a large amount of interest for their ability to adapt to a wide range of frequencies. In this work, we explore the intersection of tunable acoustic structures and additive manufacturing by 4D printing a metamaterial element whose acoustic response can be locally, actively tuned via resistive heating. Contrary to existing, thermally tunable structures, which rely on ambient heating for elastic modulation, the 3D printed structure presented here can be precisely controlled to selectively soften or stiffen only desired areas of the structure. We demonstrate this by tuning the acoustic response of membrane structures since many acoustic metamaterial phenomena utilize membrane geometries. Specifically, we present three geometries of tunable membranes, a structure which decreases frequency response upon heating, a structure which increases frequency response upon heating, and a structure which exhibits non-axisymmetric acoustic mode response from normal incident plane waves.
Cancer Surgery Scheduling During and After the COVID-19 First Wave: The MD Anderson Cancer Center Experience.

Objective To summarize the multi-specialty strategy and initial guidelines of a Case Review Committee in triaging oncologic surgery procedures in a large Comprehensive Cancer Center and to outline current steps moving forward after the initial wave. Summary of background data The impetus for strategic rescheduling of operations is multifactorial and includes our societal responsibility to minimize COVID-19 exposure risk and propagation among patients, the healthcare workforce, and our community at large. Strategic rescheduling is also driven by the need to preserve limited resources. As many states have already or are considering to re-open and relax stay-at-home orders, there remains a continued need for careful surgical scheduling because we must face the reality that we will need to co-exist with COVID-19 for months, if not years. Methods The quality officers, chairs, and leadership of the 9 surgical departments in our Division of Surgery provide specialty-specific approaches to appropriately triage patients. Results We present the strategic approach for surgical rescheduling during and immediately after the COVID-19 first wave for the 9 departments in the Division of Surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Conclusions Cancer surgeons should continue to use their oncologic knowledge to determine the window of opportunity for each surgical procedure, based on tumor biology, preoperative treatment sequencing, and response to systemic therapy, to safely guide patients through this cautious recovery phase.
A deconstruction story: Property, memory, and temporality in a Transylvanian village

The paper explores how the reconstruction of a Baroque castle in Transylvania became an indirect strategy to speed up its restitution to the former owners. It also analyses the reactions that this ...
College programming for students in addiction recovery: A PRISMA-guided scoping review.

Abstract Background The health and well-being of students in recovery from substance use disorder are increasingly being recognized as a priority on college campuses. This scoping review maps the state of the existing literature evaluating collegiate recovery programming to highlight research gaps and inform policy. Method We conducted a systematic search of articles related to collegiate recovery programming published before August 2020. The 15 extracted study characteristics included publication type, study design, primary outcomes, reporting of behavioral addictions, mutual-help group attendance, sample demographic information, school size, ownership, and funding source. Results The PRISMA-guided search strategy identified 357 articles for abstract review; of 113 articles retained for full-text review, 54 studies met criteria for inclusion. Primary outcomes were coded into four domains: clinical, recovery experience, program characterization, and stigma. Most (57%) used quantitative observational designs and 41% employed qualitative research designs. Government or foundation grants funded 11% of the studies. Conclusion The domains identified offer a framework for healthcare providers, college administrators, and researchers to understand and improve programs, thereby better serving this vulnerable student group.
Oxidative stress alters transcript localization of disease-causing genes in the retinal pigment epithelium

Nuclear retention is a mechanism whereby RNA transcripts are held in the nucleus to maintain a proper nuclear-to-cytoplasmic balance or as a stockpile for use in responding to stimuli. Many mechanisms are employed to determine whether transcripts are retained or exported to the cytoplasm, though the extent to which tissue- or cell-type, stressors, or disease pathogenesis affect this process remains unclear. As the most biochemically active tissue in the body, the retina must mitigate endogenous and exogenous stressors to maintain cell health and tissue function. Oxidative stress, believed to contribute to the pathogenesis, or progression, of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs), is produced both internally from biochemical processes, as well as externally from environmental insult. To evaluate the effect of oxidative stress on transcript localization in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), we performed poly-A RNA sequencing on nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions from induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium (iPSC-RPE) cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide, as well as untreated controls. Under normal conditions, the number of mRNA transcripts retained in the nucleus exceeded that found in studies of other tissues. Further, the nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio of transcripts is altered following oxidative stress, as is the retention of genes associated with AMD, IRDs, and those important for RPE physiology. These results provide a retention catalog of all expressed mRNA in iPSC-RPE under normal conditions and after exposure to hydrogen peroxide, offering insight into one of the potential roles oxidative stress plays in the progression of visual disorders.
Comprehensive Energy System Evaluation Method Considering Multi-index System

As an important direction of energy reform, integrated energy system has become the focus of research and attention in today’s world. Building an integrated energy system can not only improve energy efficiency, but also bring good environmental benefits. At this stage, China has launched many R & D projects related to integrated energy systems, aiming to promote the construction of integrated energy systems. The evaluation of the integrated energy system is directly related to the safe and stable operation of the integrated energy system, and is an indispensable part of building an integrated energy system. In this paper, an integrated energy system is taken as the research object. According to the characteristics of multi-energy flow and multi-coupling in the integrated energy system, the indicator system is constructed according to the two levels of system operation and system equipment. Then use analytic hierarchy process to weight each level of indicators and calculate the value of each indicator, and finally make an overall evaluation of the comprehensive energy system to verify the feasibility of the established indicator system.
Calling owl: Rails adjust vocal activity rates in response to changes in predation risk

Animal communication carries the risk of signal exploitation by predators, and thus many prey species will adjust their signals into more discreet messages to conspecifics, or conspicuous antipredator cues. Although rails (Family Rallidae) use the visual display of tail flicking as a warning of vigilance toward predators, how these birds alter their vocal behavior based on perceived predation risk remains little studied. The calls of owls, predatory birds that consume a variety of rallid species and can home in on acoustic cues of their prey, can reduce singing in numerous bird species. We applied remotely activated broadcasts and autonomous recording units to study whether rails in the wetlands of the Lake Calumet region near Chicago, Illinois, would decrease their vocal activity rate following the broadcast of a rallid predator, the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). Contrary to predictions, Soras (Porzana carolina) significantly increased vocal activity when exposed to owl vocalizations and decreased vocal activity when exposed to a harmless control. Our results indicate that rails appear to increase their vocal activity as a potential alarm mechanism, likely to reduce predation risk by warning conspecifics.
Aspirin and Antiplatelet Agent Resistance

Oral antiplatelet drugs, including aspirin, clopidogrel and extendedrelease dipyridamole, are widely prescribed for the secondary prevention of vascular events, including stroke. Despite the benefits of antiplatelet therapy, 10–20% of patients experience a recurrent vascular event while taking antiplatelet medication. This article discusses the concept of antiplatelet resistance in general, focusing on aspirin resistance in particular, as a poorly defined cause of recurrent vascular events. Factors such as the lack of a standardized method to diagnose aspirin resistance and a poor clinical correlation with laboratory assays make the treatment of aspirin nonresponders difficult. In addition, there are confounding conditions such as diabetes mellitus that can affect aspirin resistance and determine a different course of treatment for these patients. Other antiplatelet options may also have resistant subpopulations; thus, alternative strategies for the secondary stroke patient must be explored.
Social Studies for Secondary Schools: Teaching to Learn, Learning to Teach

Brief Contents Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1. Who Am I? I. Thinking about Social Studies Chapter 2. Why Study History? Chapter 3. What Is Social Studies? Chapter 4. What Are Our Goals? Chapter 5. Is Social Studies Teaching "Political"? Chapter 6. How Do You Plan a Social Studies Curriculum? II. Preparing to Teach Social Studies Chapter 7. How Do You Plan a Social Studies Unit? Chapter 8. How Do You Plan a Social Studies Lesson? Chapter 9. What Are the Building Blocks of an Activity-Based Lesson? III. Implementing Your Ideas Chapter 10. How Can Social Studies Teachers Plan Controversy-Centered, Thematic, and Chapter 11. What Is a Project Approach to Social Studies? Chapter 12. How Should Teachers Assess Student Learning and Our Own Practice? Chapter 13. What Resources Exist for Social Studies Classrooms and Teachers?
A reading coach that listens: (edited) video transcript

At Carnegie Mellon University, Project LISTEN’ is t‘aking a novel approach to the problem of illiteracy. We have developed a prototype automated reading coach that listens to a child read aloud, and helps when needed. The coach provides a combination of reading and listening, in which the child reads wherever possible, and the coach helps wherever necessary -a bit like training wheels on a bicycle. Let’s see how the automated coach responds to various things a child might do. The output of the automatic speech recognizer is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Help when needed: The coach recues a misread word by rereading the words that lead up to it, just like the expert reading teachers whom the coach is modelled after. This context often helps the reader correct the word on the second try: Text: The cow lives on the farm. Reader: “The cow lives on the farm.” Text: She eats grass all day long. Reader: “She eats good all day long.” Coach: SHE EATS Reader: “grass” Coat h: GRASS. PLEASE CONTINUE. Support comprehension: The coach is designed to emph‘asize comprehension (and ignore minor mistakes, such as repeated words. However, the word “very” is important to the meaning of the sentence, so the coach asks the reader to reread it. The coach rereads the sentence to help the reader comprehend it: Text: At night she is very tired. Reader: “At night . . . at night she is tired.” Coach: READ THIS WORD AGAIN. [flashes "very"] Reader: “&d?” Coat h: VERY. AT NIGHT SHE IS VERY TIRED. Maintain flow: When the reader gets stuck, the coach jumps in, enabling the reader to complete the sentence: Text: Then she slowly comes home. Reader: “Then she then she s . . . s . . . ” Coat h: SLOWLY Reader: “slowly comes home.”
Peptidases in Escherichia coli K-12 Capable of Cleaving Lysine Homopeptides

Abstract The peptidases present in Escherichia coli K-12 that can cleave lysine oligopeptides were characterized to establish a system in which one could examine questions relating to peptidase specificity, function, and regulation. As an aid to this study, a mutant with diminished peptidase activity was isolated with the use of the reduced ability to cleave trilysine as a screening procedure. In this simplified system, the remaining enzymatic capacity to cleave lysine homopeptides was then characterized. On the basis of substrate specificities and cofactor requirements as well as resolution of the enzymes by ion exchange and Sephadex chromatography; it was shown that the mutant contains the following lysine peptidases: (a) a Co++-dependent peptidase capable of splitting dilysine, (b) an EDTA-sensitive peptidase specific for trilysine, and (c) an endopeptidase that can cleave tetralysine but has no activity toward di- or trilysine. The parental K-12 strain contains, in addition to these three activities, a metal-independent peptidase capable of cleaving all three lysine peptides.
A Tale of Two Cells: Endocannabinoid-Signaling Regulates Functions of Neurons and Sperm

Abstract Sea urchin and human sperm contain receptors for neurotransmitters and psychoactive drugs, including cannabinoid receptors (CNRs). Anandamide, arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA), is a lipid-signal molecule that is an endogenous agonist for CNRs. AEA is enyzmatically released from membrane phospholipids when neurons are stimulated. Retrograde AEA signals from depolarized postsynaptic neurons inhibit neurotransmitter release at synapses in mammalian brain. Analogous processes regulate sperm functions during fertilization in sea urchins. AEA and (−)Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol [(−)Δ9THC], the major psychoactive constituent of marijuana, inhibit fertilization by blocking acrosomal exocytosis/acrosome reactions (AR) stimulated by egg jelly. The acrosome is a Golgi-derived secretory granule in sperm analogous to synaptic vesicles in neurons. AEA and (−)Δ9THC do not block ionophore-induced AR, suggesting that they inhibit AR by modulating signal transduction event(s) before opening of ion channels. Unfertilized s...
Small-signal 2-terminal impedance of a thin Gunn diode

An approximate expression for the 2-terminal r.f. impedance of a thin Gunn diode is derived. From this, one can deduce a parallel equivalent circuit for the diode. The results are compared with the 1-dimensional model of Engelmann and Quate, and it is shown that the finite transverse dimensions of the diode can considerably affect its shunt capacitance. This result is applied to rederive a known stability criterion for thin Gunn diodes, and to correct the l.s.a. conditions of Copeland if thin diodes are being used.
The Pancreas in Cystic Fibrosis: Chemical Composition and Comparative Morphology

Extract: Sections of pancreas from 16 individuals who died with cystic fibrosis (CF) were classified by morphometric criteria into four categories in increasing order of pancreatic involvement. The concentration of acini, islets, main ducts, lobular ducts, connective tissue, and fat was compared with control levels. The results show that in the least involved pancreases, from neonates who died under 5 months of age, acini were reduced to 33% of control levels and the following were increased: islets, to 410%; lobular ducts, to 250%; and main ducts, to 1700% of controls. With increasing severity of the pancreatic disease the acini were further reduced to 5% and lobular ducts to 37% of control levels, respectively. Main ducts increased by 19-fold, and fatty infiltration accounted for more than 25% of the fresh weight of the pancreas in 9 of the 16 specimens. Comparative biochemical studies of 35 fibrocystic pancreases were quantitatively related to the severity of the pancreatic involvement as follows. Water and volatile matter, normally accounting for 80±% of the weight of the fresh pancreas, was reduced to less than 30% in the most affected organs. The concentration of zinc diminished from near normal mean levels of 193 μg Zn/g dry pancreas to 10% of this amount in the severely involved pancreas. Elevated concentrations of calcium, amounting to over 10 times control level, were found in obstructed ductal structures. Calcium was depleted from pancreatic sections adjacent to the obstructions. The following biochemical indicators were significantly different in their mean levels in the 35 fibrocystic pancreases when compared with the 17 controls: (P ≤ 0.001) fat, water, zinc, calcium, copper, magnesiu, potassium, and sodium (P ≤ 0.01). Speculation: Morphometric and biochemical studies of the pancreas in cystic fibrosis are interpreted to favor an early and perhaps primary role of ductal and ductular abnormality in the pathogenesis of the pancreatic lesion. The principal basis for this suggestion lies in the demonstration of early massive enlargement of the ductular system and the consequent accumulation of viscous calcium-rich inspissated material responsible for the formation of functional ductal obstructions. Alterations in calcium concentration and binding in the pancreas and in pancreatic juice are believed to be responsible for changes in membrane permeability and the transport of water and electrolytes. The pancreatic disease process begins in utero and the degeneration of the pancreas progresses through life in nearly all patients with cystic fibrosis.
Molecular Structure of Sarcomere-to-Membrane Attachment at M-Lines in C. elegans Muscle

C. elegans is an excellent model for studying nonmuscle cell focal adhesions and the analogous muscle cell attachment structures. In the major striated muscle of this nematode, all of the M-lines and the Z-disk analogs (dense bodies) are attached to the muscle cell membrane and underlying extracellular matrix. Accumulating at these sites are many proteins associated with integrin. We have found that nematode M-lines contain a set of protein complexes that link integrin-associated proteins to myosin thick filaments. We have also obtained evidence for intriguing additional functions for these muscle cell attachment proteins.
Pregnancy spacing among women delaying initiation of childbearing.

An increasing proportion of women in the US and other countries delay initiation of childbearing until their thirties. Little is known about their subsequent pregnancies, particularly with regard to pregnancy spacing. To determine interpregnancy interval (IPI) patterns, factors associated with IPI among women delaying initiation of childbearing until their thirties, and ascertain if delay in initiation of childbearing is associated with increased likelihood for short interpregnancy interval of less than 6 months. A retrospective cohort study was performed using the Missouri maternal linked file for 1978–1997, inclusive. Analysis was limited to mothers aged 20–50 years at first pregnancy, having a first and second pregnancy during the study period; the sample size included 242,559 mother–infant pairs. Analysis strategies included stratified analysis, and multivariable logistic regression. Interpregnancy interval was main outcome variable, and was grouped in seven categories: 0–5, 6–11, 12–17, 18–23, 24–59, 60–119, ≥120 months. The mean interpregnancy interval was significantly shorter for women delaying start of childbearing (≥30 years) compared to 20–29 year olds. Observed intervals are 31 (±24) months for mothers aged 20–29 years, 25 (±17) months for mothers aged 30–34 years, 21 (± 14) for 35–39 year olds, and 19 (±16) for 40–50 year olds (P < 0.0001). A significant trend for shorter intervals was noted as maternal age at first pregnancy increased (P < 0.0001). Factors associated with interpregnancy interval for women delaying initiation of childbearing included adverse outcome in preceding pregnancy, and low educational status. Mothers aged 35 and above at first pregnancy had increased odds for a second pregnancy following short IPI <6 months; (35–39 years OR = 1.26 95% CI 1.11–1.44; 40–50 OR = 1.91 95% CI 1.13–3.24). Mothers aged 30–34 years have lower odds for short IPI (OR = 0.93 95% CI 0.87–0.99). First time mothers aged 35 and above have higher odds of having a second pregnancy shortly after their first pregnancy. Given the increasing number of first time mothers aged 35 and above, these findings are of relevance for preconception counseling for this unique population of women.
Digital optical wave particle duality computers: a specific example

A practical, special purpose digital optical computer architecture is proposed which exploits the energetic advantages of a Wave Particle Duality computer. A specific, practical algorithm is proposed which contains operations that proceed at an energy cost per operation ofless than kT.
Poisons and Fever

1. Dysfunction of the thermoregulatory system is one of many pathologies documented in experimental animals and humans exposed to toxic chemicals. The mechanism of action responsible for many types of poison-induced fevers is not understood. Some elevations in body temperature are attributed to the peripheral actions of some poisons that stimulate metabolic rate and cause a forced hyperthermia. Exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides and certain metal fumes appears to cause a prolonged, regulated elevation in body temperature (Tb). 2. Activation of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) and the production of prostaglandin (PG)E2 in central nervous system (CNS) thermoregulatory centres is required to elicit a fever. Activating the COX-PGE2 pathway by a poison may occur by one of three mechanisms: (i) induction of cell-mediated immune responses and the subsequent release of cytokines; (ii) induction of lipid peroxidation in the CNS; and (iii) direct neurochemical activation. 3. Radiotelemetric monitoring of core temperature in unstressed rodents has led to an experimental animal model of poison-induced fever. Rats administered the OP agents chlorpyrifos and diisopropyl fluorophosphate display an initial hypothermic response lasting approximately 24 h, followed by an elevation in diurnal core temperature for 24-72 h after exposure. The hyperthermia is apparently a result of the activation of the COX-PGE2 pathway because it is blocked by the anti-pyretic sodium salicylate. Overall, the delayed hyperthermia resulting from OP exposure involves activation of thermoregulatory pathways that may be similar to infection-mediated fever.
Junctions between lens cells in differentiating cultures: structure, formation, intercellular permeability, and junctional protein expression.

Abstract We previously described cultures of chick embryo lens cells which displayed a marked degree of differentiation. In this report, the junctions found between the lens fiber-like cells in the differentiated “lentoids” are characterized in several ways. Thin-section methods with electron microscopy first demonstrated that numerous, large junctions between lentoid cells accompanied the other differentiated features of these cells. Freeze-fracture techniques, including quantitative analysis, then revealed that (a) junctional particles were loosely arranged as is typical of fiber cells, (b) the population of individual junctional areas in culture was indistinguishable from that found in 10- to 12-day chick embryo lenses, and (c) apparent junction formation occurred during the development of the lens cells, with lacy arrays of particles being associated with fiber-like junctions. In addition, gap junctions with hexagonally packed particles, typical of lens epithelial cells, largely disappeared during the course of differentiation. Injection of tracer dyes into lentoid cells resulted in rapid intercellular movement of dye, consistent with functional cell-to-cell channels connecting lentoid cells. During the development of the lens cells in culture, as junction formation occurred, an increase of approximately eightfold in MP28 protein was observed within the cells. These combined results indicate that (a) extensive lens fiber junctions and functional cell-to-cell channels are found between differentiated lentoid cells in vitro , (b) lens fiber junctions appear to form during the course of lens cell differentiation in culture, (c) a significant increase occurs in the putative junctional protein before the cultures are highly developed, (d) the increased levels of MP28 and junction formation may be required for the full expression of the differentiated state in the lens fiber cell, and (e) this culture system should prove to be valuable for additional experiments on lens junctions and for other studies requiring the development of lens fiber cells in vitro .
Using non-mammalian hosts to study fungal virulence and host defense.

Non-mammalian hosts have been used to study host–fungal interactions. Hosts such as Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, Acathamoeba castellanii, Dictyostelium discoideum, and Galleria mellonella have provided means to examine the physical barriers, cellular mechanisms and molecular elements of the host response. The Drosophila host-response to fungi is mediated through the Toll pathway, whereas in C. elegans the host-response is TIR-1-dependent. Virulence traits that are involved in mammalian infection are important for the interaction of fungi with these hosts. Screening of fungal virulence traits using mutagenized fungi to determine changes in fungal infectivity of non-mammalian hosts has been used to identify novel virulence proteins used to infect C. elegans such as Kin1 (a serine/threonine protein kinase) and Rom2 (a Rho1 guanyl-nucleotide exchange factor) from Cryptococcus neoformans. These heterologous non-mammalian hosts highlight the similarities and differences between different hosts in fungal pathogenesis and they complement studies in mammalian systems and those using other genetic approaches.
Fractionation of neutral lipids on a lipophilic dextran gel.

Abstract The behavior of nonpolar neutral lipids in gel permeation chromatography on a lipophilic dextran gel is investigated. Sephadex LH-20, with chloroform as eluent, permits the fractionation of a wide range of glycerol- and diol-derived ethers, esters and ether esters and of other neutral lipid compounds, primarily according to their molecular size. The influence of various parameters, such as chain length, unsaturation, functional group and molecular shape on the separation patterns are examined. Emphasis is placed on the applicability of gel permeation chromatography to the fractionation of “critical mixtures of lipids”, i.e. lipids that cannot be separated by more conventional chromatographic procedures. The usefulness of the procedure for the separation of diol lipids from the corresponding glycerol-derived compounds is demonstrated.
Modification of the Boundary Layer over the South China Sea during a Winter MONEX Cold Surge Event

Abstract Aircraft dropwindsonde and conventional sounding data have been used to document the boundary layer structure over the South China Sea during the period of a 3-day moderate cold surge that occurred during the December 1918 Winter Monsoon Experiment (Winter MONEX). Throughout the cold surge event, equatorward deepening of the cumulus layer is observed over the northern South China Sea (to the south of a coastal cloud-free region) as cold air streaming of the coast encounter substantial surface, sensible and latent heat fluxes. Following the onset of the cold surge, the cumulus-layer depth increases over the central South China Sea. However, this depth decreases over the northern South China Sea at a distance of 200–300 km from the China coast. The depth and strength of the cumulus (or subsidence) inversion are greatest new the China coast (∼600–700 m, 4°–6°C) and weaken toward the central South China Sea (∼200 m, 1°C), whew they eventually become undetectable. Possible explanations for the observe...