cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generation and Characterization of LANP/pp32 Null Mice

The leucine-rich acidic nuclear protein (LANP) belongs to a family of evolutionarily conserved proteins that are characterized by an amino-terminal domain rich in leucine residues followed by a carboxy-terminal acidic tail. LANP has been implicated in the regulation of a variety of cellular processes including RNA transport, transcription, apoptosis, vesicular trafficking, and intracellular signaling. Abundantly expressed in the developing cerebellum, this protein has also been hypothesized to play a role in cerebellar morphogenesis. LANP has been implicated in disease biology as well, both as a mediator of toxicity in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 and as a tumor suppressor in cancers of the breast and prostate. To better understand the function of this multifaceted protein, we have generated mice lacking LANP. Surprisingly, these mice are viable and fertile. In addition we could not discern any derangements in any of the major organ systems, including the nervous system, which we have studied in detail. Overall our results point to a functional redundancy of LANP's function, most likely provided by its closely related family members.
High-resolution direction of arrival estimation using minimum-norm method without eigendecomposition

The minimum-norm method (MNM) for high-resolution directions-of-arrival (DOA) estimation relies on special purpose hardware or software for obtaining the signal and noise subspace eigenvectors of autocorrelation (AC) matrices. It is shown in this paper that the DFT of the AC matrix (DFT-of-AC) essentially performs an equivalent task of separating the signal and noise subspaces. Furthermore, when the signal-subspace part of the DFT-of-AC vectors are used in the minimum-norm framework, almost identical high-resolution DOA estimates are produced. When compared with eigendecomposition-based MNM, the computational load of the proposed DFT-based approach (D-MNM) is lower but the bias, mean-squared error and the root locations are almost similar. The simulations further show that at low SNR the performance of D-MNM is more robust and it also has superior dynamic range. >
Teorizando la Ilustración: Rousseau y Voltaire en Jicoténcal

La novela historica Jicotencal (1826), publicada anonimamente en forma de tratado politico en Filadelfia, utilizo la conquista de Nueva Espana y el ejemplo de la republica de Tlaxcala como alegoria historica para condenar la tirania del despotismo ilustrado de Fernando VII de Espana. Fuertemente influido por los escritores censurados de la Ilustracion Francesa, en especial Rousseau y Voltaire, el autor latinoamericano aboga por una forma republicana de gobierno —ostensiblemente en la colonia de Cuba— en oposicion a la anacronica y corrupta monarquia espanola. Para apoyar su razonamiento, el autor ademas emplea pasajes casi completos del Discurso sobre las ciencias y las artes y El contrato social de Rousseau y el cuento satirico de Voltaire, “El Ingenuo”.
Decomposition-Based Assembly Synthesis of a Three-Dimensional Body-in-White Model for Structural Stiffness

This paper presents an extension of our previous work on decomposition-based assembly synthesis for structural stiffness, where the three-dimensional finite element model of a vehicle body-in-white (BIW) is optimally decomposed into a set of components considering (1) stiffness of the assembled structure under given loading conditions, (2) manufacturability, and (3) assembleability of components. Two case studies, each focusing on the decomposition of a different portion of a BIW, are discussed. In the first case study, the side frame is decomposed for the minimum distortion of front door frame geometry under global bending. In the second case study, the side/floor frame and floor panels are decomposed for the minimum floor deflections under global bending. In each case study, multiobjective genetic algorithm with graph-based crossover, combined with finite element methods analyses, is used to obtain Pareto optimal solutions. Representative designs are selected from the Pareto front and trade-offs among stiffness, manufacturability, and assembleability are discussed.
Building Trust in Public and Nonprofit Networks Personal, Dyadic, and Third-Party Influences

This article provides greater understanding of factors influencing interpersonal trust in networks composed of public and nonprofit service providers. The present theoretical model identifies propensity to trust, the perceived trustworthiness of the trustee, the relationship between the trustee and trustor, and third-party relationships as influencing interpersonal trust. The model is tested using action research data collected from a network of local social service providers. Key findings include the following: (a) Successful past cooperation between a trustor and a trustee and structural equivalence increase the likelihood the trustor will perceive the trustee as trustworthy; (b) the frequency of interactions between the trustor and trustee, trust transferability, and the perceived trustworthiness of the trustee have a direct, positive impact on whether the trustor trusts the trustee; and (c) trust between the trustor and trustee has a positive impact on expected future cooperation.
Molecular analysis of the Na+ channel blocking actions of the novel class I anti-arrhythmic agent RSD 921

1 RSD 921 is a novel, structurally unique, class I Na + channel blocking drug under development as a local anaesthetic agent and possibly for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. The eAects of RSD 921 on wild-type heart, skeletal muscle, neuronal and non-inactivating IFMQ3 mutant neuronal Na + channels expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes were examined using a two-electrode voltage clamp. 2 RSD 921 produced similarly potent tonic block of all three wild-type channel isoforms, with EC50 values between 35 and 47 mM, whereas the EC50 for block of the IFMQ3 mutant channel was 110+5.5 mM. 3 Block of Na + channels by RSD 921 was concentration and use-dependent, with marked frequency-dependent block of heart channels and mild frequency-dependent block of skeletal muscle, wild-type neuronal and IFMQ3 mutant channels. 4 RSD 921 produced a minimal hyperpolarizing shift in the steady-state voltage-dependence of inactivation of all three wild-type channel isoforms. 5 Open channel block of the IFMQ3 mutant channel was best fit with a first order blocking scheme with kon equal to 0.11+0.012610 6 M 71 s 71 and koA equal to 12.5+2.5 s 71 , resulting in KD of 117+31 mM. Recovery from open channel block occurred with a time constant of 14+2.7 s 71 . 6 These results suggest that RSD 921 preferentially interacts with the open state of the Na + channel, and that the drug may produce potent local anaesthetic or anti-arrhythmic action under
Event related brain potential evidence for preserved attentional set switching in schizophrenia

Pervasive deficits of attention and set switching have been reported in schizophrenia, prompting efforts to identify the information processing mechanisms associated with these deficits. Recent evidence suggests that set switching may be intact in schizophrenia when the task switch requires only a change in the relevance of perceptual dimensions (e.g., attentional set switches) but decision-to-response mappings (intentional set) are maintained across trials in a cued task switching procedure. The goal of the present research was to replicate this finding and to test its direct corollary, which is the unconventional prediction that individuals with schizophrenia will evidence an intact, switch-sensitive P3(b) brain response to cued switches of attentional set. This prediction was tested in a group of 20 individuals with schizophrenia and 20 healthy comparison participants using event-related brain potential methodology and a cued task-switching task. Attentional set switching costs were equivalent between the two groups despite a set maintenance deficit in schizophrenia. Moreover, a posterior-parietal P3(b) component of the ERP was found to be equally sensitive to attentional set switching in schizophrenia and comparison groups, indicating a "healthy" brain response to switches of attentional set in schizophrenia. These results suggest that the dynamic control of attentional set may be preserved in schizophrenia and that previously reported executive deficits may be specific to the control of intentional task set and to deficits of task set maintenance.
Development of a 12-Tesla Multifilamentary Nb3Sn Magnet for MFTF-B

Two 12 tesla superconducting insert coils are being designed by General Dynamics Convair Division for the axicell regions of MFTF-B for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. A major challenge of this project is to ensure that combined fabrication and operational strains induced in the conductor are within stringent limitations of the relatively brittle Nb3Sn superconductor filaments. These coils are located in the axicell region of MFTF-B (Figure 1). They have a clear-bore diameter of 36.35 cm (14.31 inches) and consist of 27 double pancakes (i.e., 54 pancakes per coil) wound on an electrically insulated 304LN stainless bobbin/helium vessel. Each pancake has 57 turns separated by G-10CR insulation. The complete winding bundle has 4.6 million ampere-turns and uniform current density of 1985 A/cm2. In conjunction with the other magnets in the system, they produce a 12 tesla central field and a 12.52 tesla peak field. A multfilamentary Nb3Sn conductor was selected to meet these requirements. The conductor consists of a monolithic insert soldered into a copper stabilizer. Sufficient cross-sectional area and work-hardening of the copper stabilizer has been provided for the conductor to self-react the electromagnetic Lorenz force induced hoop stresses with normal operational tensile strains less than 0.07 percent. This conductor configuration also provides adequate stabilizer area for unconditional cryostability in pool boiling liquid helium. The monolithic insert has a geometric aspect ratio of 3.2:1 that was selected to minimize the strain induced during winding without excessive critical current anisotropic degradation. The resulting cross sectional area of the insert has a 1,500-ampere operational current.
Do Research Procedures Pose Relatively Greater Risk for Healthy Persons Than for Persons With Schizophrenia

Federal regulations governing human research suggest that potential harms and discomforts of research be considered in relation to the risks normally encountered in daily life or in routine examinations. No data regarding relative risks of research exist for persons with schizophrenia. We surveyed psychiatrists (N = 68) to assess their perceptions of the risk associated with 12 research procedures in 2 categories, that is, evaluation- and intervention-type procedures. Psychiatrists were asked to rate “risks compared to usual daily risks” for people with schizophrenia and, separately, for healthy people. For healthy research volunteers, psychiatrists rated 2 of 5 evaluation procedures and none of the intervention procedures as posing fewer risks than daily life. One evaluation procedure and 2 intervention procedures were rated as similar to daily risks for healthy research volunteers. For volunteers with schizophrenia, psychiatrists rated 4 of the 5 evaluation procedures and 1 intervention procedure as conferring less risk than everyday life. For 1 of 5 evaluation procedures and 5 of 7 intervention procedures, the risks associated with the procedures were centered close to the benchmark for those faced every day by persons with schizophrenia. Psychiatrists in this study viewed research procedure risks as closer to the daily risks encountered by persons with schizophrenia than by healthy persons. Because federal regulations benchmark research studies as “minimal risk” if they are analogous to the usual risks of everyday life, this finding may have important implications for the evaluation of psychiatric protocols.
Costs of Automobile Air Emissions in U.S. Metropolitan Areas

Automobile air emissions are a well-recognized problem and have been subject to considerable regulation. An increasing concern for greenhouse gas emissions draws additional considerations to the externalities of personal vehicle travel. This paper provides estimates of the costs for automobile air emissions for 86 U.S. metropolitan areas based on county-specific external air emission morbidity, mortality, and environmental costs. Total air emission costs in the urban areas are estimated to be $145 million/day, with Los Angeles, California, and New York City (each $23 million per day) having the highest totals. These external costs average $0.64 per day per person and $0.03 per vehicle mile traveled. Total air emission cost solely due to traffic congestion for the same 86 U.S. metropolitan areas was also estimated to be $24 million per day. These estimates are compared with others in the literature and are found to be generally consistent. These external automobile air emission costs are important for soci...
Use of potential determining ions to control energetics and photochemical charge transfer of a nanoscale water splitting photocatalyst

Tetrabutylammonium (TBA) stabilized H[Ca2Nb3O10] nanosheets catalyze hydrogen evolution from aqueous methanol under illumination with UV light. Here we show that surface treatment with protons, potassium, and strontium potential-determining cations (PDIs) in aqueous solution modifies the electrostatic, energetic and photocatalytic properties of this nanomaterial. Attachment of cations to the nanocrystals was verified with elemental dispersive spectroscopy. Zeta potentials were measured as −40 mV (TBA+, pH = 4.8), −50 mV (K+, pH = 4.3), and −20 mV (Sr2+, pH = 4.4). Photoelectrochemical measurements in methanol containing 0.1 M tetraethylammonium chloride revealed anodic current photoonset potentials/Fermi energies ranging between −0.59 V (Sr2+) and −0.71 V (at pH = 7, vs. NHE). The photocatalytic proton reduction ability of the modified nanocrystals was assessed in aqueous methanol at pH = 1. Here, KxH1−x[Ca2Nb3O10] evolved hydrogen at 350 μmol H2 h−1, SrxH1−2x[Ca2Nb3O10] at 70 μmol H2 h−1, and H[Ca2Nb3O10] at 160 μmol H2 h−1. In addition, the photocatalytic activity was found to increase (20–160 μmol H2 h−1) with solution pH. These observed activity variations can be quantitatively understood using a linear free energy relationship between the proton reduction rate constant and the free energy of proton reduction. This shows that the photocatalytic activity of the nanocrystals depends on the electrochemical potentials/Fermi energies of the modified catalysts. The effect of the PDI charge on the nanomaterial energetics can be rationalized by considering the surface potential. The latter can be related to the particle surface charge and the concentration of counterions in solution using the Grahame equation. These results provide a quantitative basis for the understanding and manipulation of nanomaterial photocatalysts with PDIs.
Relational database index choices for genome annotation data

Latest genomics techniques such as ChIP-chip, ChIP-seq, and RNA-seq have induced an exponential growth in the volume of genome annotations. The effective mining of these data is an indispensible step in systems biology. In this work we consider conventional B-tree, R-tree and no index options for annotation data in MySQL, Oracle, and PostgreSQL databases. We validate theoretical considerations of applicability of different indexes by computational experiments with gene, repeat masker, expressed sequence tag, and single nucleotide polymorphism annotations of Homo sapiens chromosome 22. The running times for distance and overlap queries suggest that, with the exception of PostgreSQL B-tree for overlap queries, R-trees are superior to B-trees for indexing annotations, and thus may be a good choice for genome annotation databases.
Atherothrombosis: Seeing Red?

The initiation, progression, and complications of atherosclerosis are mediated by a complex interplay of hematopoietic cells, vascular cells, and the extracellular matrix in response to metabolic (eg, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus) and environmental (eg, smoking) injury.1 Recruitment and activation of immune cells of hematopoietic origin are key elements in the development of atherosclerosis.2 Elegant experimental studies, typically performed in compound mutant mice susceptible to diet-induced atherosclerosis, indicate important roles for monocytes, T lymphocytes, neutrophils, and mast cells in lesion formation. Although Barger et al3 and Kolodgie et al4 proposed a role for vasa vasorum, neovascularization, and intraplaque hemorrhage with extravasation of red blood cells (RBCs) as a mechanism of atherosclerotic lesion progression, a direct contribution of RBCs in atherogenesis is uncertain. In this issue of Circulation , Unruh et al5 report that a high-fat diet induces RBC dysfunction, which is capable of promoting atherosclerosis by enhancement of the recruitment of inflammatory monocytes. Article see p 1898 The main physiological function of RBCs is to transport respiratory gases, including O2, CO2, and nitric oxide, throughout tissues. However, a series of studies spanning the past decade demonstrate that RBCs express adhesion molecules and multiple classes of receptors (eg, complement, scavenger, G protein–coupled, and chemokine), thereby raising the possibility that functional interactions of RBCs with leukocytes, platelets, endothelial cells, plasma proteins, and lipoproteins may be important in health and disease (Hermand …
Using the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager to Monitor Land Surface Temperatures, Wetness, and Snow Cover

Abstract The worldwide network of in situ land surface temperatures archived in near-real time at the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) has limited applications, since many areas are poorly represented or provide no observations. Satellite measurements offer a possible way to fill in the data voids and obtain a complete map of surface temperature over the entire globe. A method has been developed to calculate near-surface temperature using measurements from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I). To accomplish this, the authors identify numerous surface types and make dynamic adjustments for variations in emissivity. Training datasets were used to define the relationship between the seven SSM/I channels and the near-surface temperature. For instance, liquid water on the surface reduces emissivity; therefore, the authors developed an adjustment to correct for this reduction. Other surface types (e.g., snow, ice, and deserts) as well as precipitation are identified, and numerous adjustments and/or f...
Self-assembled Ge QDs Formed by High-Temperature Annealing on Al(Ga)As (001)

This work studies the spontaneous self-assembly of Ge QDs on AlAs, GaAs and AlGaAs by high-temperature in␣situ annealing using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The morphology of Ge dots formed on AlAs were observed by atom probe tomography, which revealed nearly spherical QDs with diameters approaching 10 nm and confirmed the complete absence of a wetting layer. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction and atomic force microscopy of Ge annealed under similar conditions on GaAs and Al0.3Ga0.7As surfaces revealed the gradual suppression of QD formation with decreasing Al-content of the buffer. To investigate the prospects of using encapsulated Ge dots for upconverting photovoltaics, in which photocurrent can still be generated from photons with energy less than the host bandgap, Ge QDs were embedded into the active region of III–V PIN diodes by MBE. It was observed that orders of magnitude higher short-circuit current is obtained at photon energies below the GaAs bandgap compared with a reference PIN diode without Ge QDs. These results demonstrate the promise of Ge QDs for upconverting solar cells and the realization of device-quality integration of group IV and III–V semiconductors.
The effect of a salmon diet on blood clotting, platelet aggregation and fatty acids in normal adult men

This study was designed to measure the effect of dietary n−3 fatty acids (FA) on platelets and blood lipids. Healthy men (n=9), ages 31 to 65, were fed diets in which salmon was the source of n−3 fatty acids. They were confined in a nutrition suite at this Center for 100 days. Food intake and exercise levels were rigidly controlled. Initially they were placed on a stabilization diet for 20 days, then six men were fed the salmon diet for 40 days. The others remained on the stabilization diet. The two groups switched diets for the last 40 days of the study. Both diets were isocaloric [16% protein, 54% carbohydrate, and 30% fat by energy-% (En%)]. The salmon diet contained 7.5% of calories from n−6 FA and 2% from n−3 FA, primarily eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in a 40∶60 ratio, while the stabilization diet contained 7.5% of calories from n−6 FA and less than 0.3% n−3 FA, mainly 18∶3n−3. The bleeding time was unaffected by the diets in this study. The prothrombin time was shortened (11.6 sec.vs. 12.6 sec., p<0.01) for the subjects consuming the salmon diet as compared to that measured after 20 days of the stabilization diet. Mean platelet volume increased significantly during the period in which the volunteers consumed the salmon diet compared to the baseline diet (p<0.01), while the mean platelet levels decreased. Platelet aggregation (PA) was measured in platelet rich plasma before, during, and after the salmon diet using collagen, ADP, arachidonic acid (AA), and thrombin agonists. The PA threshold for ADP was significantly increased for the subjects on the salmon diet (p<0.05). No change in the PA threshold was detected for collagen or thrombin. The PA threshold for AA was unchanged also, but the platelets in subjects consuming the salmon diet had a prolonged time to maximum aggregation (p<0.01) with this reagent compared to platelets from men on the stabilization diet. Plasma, red cell, and platelet total FA composition was determined by capillary GLC. While the men consumed the salmon diets, there were marked increases (3 to 10-fold) in the EPA and DHA levels in all blood components with concomitant decreases in linoleic acid and AA levels. Thus, a salmon diet, high in n−3 FA, did not influence the bleeding times, but it decreased the sensitivity of platelets to ADP and AA, increased the mean platelet size, decreased the platelet count, and changed the FA composition of the plasma, RBC and platelet membrane lipids.
Abstract 1024: Selective inhibition of bcl-2 gene expression and leukemic cell growth by the bcl-2 quadruplex-forming sequence

Bcl-2 (B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2), a mitochondrial membrane oncoprotein functioning as an inhibitor of apoptosis, is commonly overexpressed in a variety of hematological malignancies promoting apoptotic resistance and leading to poor patient survival. Inhibition of Bcl-2 may result in sustained regression of leukemia/lymphoma. Recently, the promoters of several cancer-related oncogenes, including Bcl-2, were found to contain sequences within nuclease hypersensitivity regions capable of forming quadruplex (four-stranded) DNA. The Bcl-2 quadruplex-forming sequence (Bcl-2 q, 23 bp) is located upstream of the P1 promoter of the Bcl-2 gene and is implicated in the regulation of Bcl-2 transcription, however, the biological role of this sequence remains unclear. We hypothesize that treatment of leukemia cells with the single-stranded, quadruplex-forming sequence (Bcl-2 q) induces cell death by inhibiting gene expression. To determine the biological role of the Bcl-2 q on leukemic cell proliferation, U937 and HL60 were treated with Bcl-2 q or the corresponding mutant sequence (MutBcl-2), which lacks runs of two or more guanines. Changes in cell proliferation were compared to levels of Bcl-2 protein expression. Quadruplex formation was confirmed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate that Bcl-2 q formed a stable parallel quadruplex structure, while the MutBcl-2 sequence did not form a quadruplex. Treatment of leukemia cells with Bcl-2 q caused a significant dose and time-dependent decrease in cell proliferation after 3 and 6 days as determined by MTT assay. No change in the growth of nontransformed stromal cells occurred in response to Bcl-2 q indicating the effect is specific for malignant cells. Two additional leukemia cell lines, Raji and K562 cells demonstrated dramatic growth inhibition while three solid tumor cell lines, DU145 (prostate), A549 (lung), and SK-BR-3 (breast) showed very little growth inhibition at concentrations up to10µM. Interestingly, the degree of growth inhibition induced by Bcl-2 q correlated with baseline Bcl-2 gene expression. Confocal and flow cytometry analysis of cells treated with FITC-labeled Bcl-2 q or MutBcl-2 showed prominent uptake and nuclear localization of Bcl-2 q not MutBcl-2 after 72 h. Inhibition of cell proliferation corresponded with decreased Bcl-2 protein expression. No significant change in the cell cycle was noted after 72 h, however, induction of cell death corresponded with a decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential. These results demonstrate striking growth inhibition in response to the Bcl-2 quadruplex-forming sequence related to inhibition of Bcl-2 expression. This oligonucleotide shows considerable therapeutic potential. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1024.
Abstract B57: Long-term exposure of colonic epithelial cells to Enterococcus faecalis-infected macrophages causes cellular transformation

Enterococcus faecalis is a human colonic commensal that contributes to early mutagenic events of colorectal carcinogenesis via bystander effects. The macrophage-mediated bystander effect is a long-term process that causes the accumulation of mutations that lead to cancer. We previously showed that E. faecalis-infected macrophages produce 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), a breakdown product of polyunsaturated fatty acids. 4-HNE damages mitotic spindles, generates tetraploidy, and is a mediator of the bystander effect. We show in this study that long-term exposure of non-transformed murine colonic epithelial cells (YAMC) to E. faecalis-infected macrophages or purified 4-HNE induces chromosomal instability (CIN) and cellular transformation. We initially exposed YAMC cells to E. faecalis-infected macrophages, or 4-HNE, and used the tsA58 gene as an indicator for mutagenesis. YAMC cells are derived from a transgenic mouse harboring the H-2Kb class I gene promoter fused to the SV40 tsA58 early region. As a consequence, YAMC cells die by senescence when grown at the non-permissive temperature of 39.5°C. Cells with acquired mutations in tsA58 can grow at this temperature to form colonies. YAMC cells were co-cultured with E. faecalis-infected macrophages for 72 hrs and then allowed to recover for 96 hrs. This process was performed for a total of 16 treatment cycles. The average mutant fraction for tsA58 significantly increased following 2–10 treatments with a peak after 10 treatments (56.8 ± 10.6 per 1 × 105 cells) compared to cells co-cultured with uninfected macrophages (10.7 ± 1.9 per 1 × 105 cells). To confirm a role for 4-HNE in this effect, YAMC cells were treated for 1 hr with 1 μM 4-HNE and cells allowed to recover for 1 week. Of note, compared to untreated YAMC cells, the mutant fraction for tsA58 increased to 128.0 ± 16.0, 247.0 ± 14.5, and 311.3 ± 18.3 per 1 × 105 cells after 8, 10, and 12 treatments, respectively. Next, YAMC cells were treated with E. faecalis-infected macrophages, or 4-HNE, and analyzed for ploidy by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The percentage of aneuploid cells increased remarkably after 8 exposures to E. faecalis-infected macrophages (P In summary, continuous exposure of colonic epithelial cells to E. faecalis-infected macrophages and 4-HNE induces accumulation of mutations, CIN, and cellular transformation. These findings provide a novel mechanism for colorectal carcinogenesis and should permit the development of new chemopreventive strategies. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):B57.
Crossbreeding and Heterosis in Turkeys

Abstract IT IS well known that when different breeds or strains of plants or animals are crossed the hybrids frequently exhibit increased vigor as measured by viability and growth. This has been well established for the domestic fowl by Warren (1930) and others. The results for different species or even subdivisions within a species differ. Thus, the results obtained by Borisenko, Altschuler, and Poliakov (1935) are of interest in that they were able to demonstrate heterosis in Drosophila melanogaster only for survival. They suggest that characters which do not influence survival are less likely to exhibit heterosis than those that do. Furthermore, their results, like those with corn (Shull, 1911, and others), show that the more homozygous the parent strains the greater the heterosis observed in the progeny obtained by crossing the various parent strains. There is some indication that crossbred chickens exhibiting heterosis make more efficient gains than the parent . . .
Tuning Hydrophobicity in Abiotic Affinity Reagents: Polymer Hydrogel Affinity Reagents for Molecules with Lipid-like Domains

Hydrophobic interactions often dominate the associative forces between biomacromolecules. A synthetic affinity reagent must be able to exploit and optimize these interactions. We describe synthesis of abiotic affinity reagents that sequester biomacromolecules with lipid-like domains. NIPAm-based copolymer nanoparticles (NPs) containing C4-C8 hydrophobic groups were evaluated for their affinity for lipopolysaccharides (LPS), the lipophilic component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Optimal affinity was found for NPs incorporating a linear C4 hydrocarbon group. 1D and 2D (1)H NMR studies revealed that in water, the longer chain (C6 and C8) alkyl groups in the hydrogel NPs were engaged in intrachain association, rendering them less available to interact with LPS. Optimal LPS-NP interaction requires maximizing hydrophobicity, while avoiding side chain aggregation. Polymer compositions with high LPS binding were grafted onto agarose beads and evaluated for LPS clearance from solution; samples containing linear C4 groups also showed the highest LPS clearance capacity.
Abstract 244: Increased Expression and Enhanced Vasorelaxation Activity of Specific Estrogen Receptor Subtypes in the Aorta and Mesenteric Vessels during Pregnancy

Pregnancy (Preg) is associated with hormonal and vascular changes, and estrogen (E2) may promote systemic vasodilation during Preg; however, the specific E2 receptor (ER), post-ER signaling mechanisms and vascular bed involved are unclear. To test if Preg is associated with distinct expression/activity of ERs in different blood vessels, BP and plasma E2 were measured in virgin and day-19 Preg rats, and the aorta, carotid, mesenteric and renal artery were isolated for measurement of ERα, ERβ and GPR30 expression, and the responses to E2 and specific ER agonists PPT (ERα), DPN (ERβ) and G1 (GPR30). BP was in Preg (89±6) virgin (94.3±7.5pg/ml). Western blots revealed increased ERα and ERβ in aorta and mesenteric artery and GPR30 in aorta of Preg vs virgin. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the increases in ERs were mainly in intima and media. E2 and PPT caused greater relaxation of aorta of Preg (52.8±5.5, 49.3±11.4) than virgin (30.0±3.9, 19.3±3.8%) and of mesenteric artery of Preg (77.9±4.7, 75.4±4.5) than virgin (57.4±5.9, 46.5±9.5%), but similar relaxation in carotid and renal artery of Preg vs virgin. DPN and G1 caused greater relaxation in mesenteric and renal artery (15 to 30%) than aorta and carotid artery ( virgin (5.3±6.7%). The NOS inhibitor L-NAME ± EDHF blocker tetraethylammonium or endothelium removal reduced PPT relaxation in aorta, suggesting an endothelium-dependent mechanism, but did not affect E2, PPT, DPN or G1-induced relaxation in other vessels, suggesting endothelium-independent mechanisms. PPT caused relaxation of Ca 2+ entry-dependent KCl contraction of mesenteric artery that was in Preg (69.7±5.5) > virgin rats (52.9±8.11%). Thus, during pregnancy, an increased ERα expression in endothelial and smooth muscle layers of aorta and mesenteric artery is associated with increased ERα-mediated relaxation via endothelium-derived vasodilators and direct inhibition of Ca 2+ entry pathways, supporting a role of aortic and mesenteric arterial ERα in pregnancy-associated systemic vasodilation. GPR30 may contribute to aortic dilation while the enhanced ERβ may mediate other genomic vascular effects during pregnancy.
The Relationship Between Perinatal Brain Damage and the Rehabilitation Effects about Cerebral Palsy

Objective: To observe the relationship between perinatal brain damage and the Rehabilitation effects and prognosis about cerebral palsy.Methods: 176 cases of children with cerebral palsy patients,including 48 females and 128 male patients,who were divided into three age groups: 8 months to 2 years,2 to 4 years and 4 to 5 years.each age group using methods are training in physical therapy,acupuncture,point injection,nutrition brain drug treatment,etc.The Gesell Scale and the Gross Motor Function Measure(GMFM) were used to assess the effectiveness.Results: The therapeutic effect of the 2 to 4 years group was evidently better than that of the other groups.,and the 4 to 5years group is the lowest.The therapeutic effect of the newborns with intracranial hemorrhage + HIE group and full-term children group was better than that of the other groups.Conclusion: The rehabilitation effects and prognosis about cerebral palsy may be related to age and perinatal brain damage.The younger,the better therapeutic effect could be obtained.
Model of the Air Mass Flow into the Cylinder Calibration Method Research For Electronic Controlled Gasoline Engine

This paper researched the theory and method of the model of the air mass flow into the cylinder calibration for electronic controlled gasoline engine,discussed the effect of each parameter and the judgment of the calibration data.
Adoptive transfer of cytotoxic T lymphocytes for the treatment of transplant-associated lymphoma.

Background. Immunocompromised organ transplant recipients have a high incidence of B cell lymphomas (BCL). Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice develop human BCL when engrafted with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed and immortalized B lymphoblastoid cell lines (BLCL). Because a lack of effective EB V-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (EB V-CTL) is thought to lead to lymphoma development, the SCID mouse model was used to determine the relationship between EBV-infected B cells and EBV-specific CTL in BCL development in vivo. Methods. EBV-CTL were generated by in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood leukocytes with autologous BLCL
From Rankine-Hugoniot Condition to a Constructive Derivation of HDG Methods

This chapter presents a constructive derivation of HDG methods for convection-diffusion-reaction equation using the Rankine-Hugoniot condition. This is possible due to the fact that, in the first order form, convection-diffusion-reaction equation is a hyperbolic system. As such it can be discretized using the standard upwind DG method. The key is to realize that the Rankine-Hugoniot condition naturally provides an upwind HDG framework. The chief idea is to first break the uniqueness of the upwind flux across element boundaries by introducing single-valued new trace unknowns on the mesh skeleton, and then re-enforce the uniqueness via algebraic conservation constraints. Essentially, the HDG framework is a redesign of the standard DG approach to reduce the number of coupled unknowns. In this work, an upwind HDG method with one trace unknown is systematically constructed, and then extended to a family of penalty HDG schemes. Various existing HDG methods are rediscovered using the proposed framework.
Signal, Image Processing, and Machine Learning: The Key to Complex Problems in Medicine and Biology

Computer-aided decision-making systems have been introduced into many fields, such as economics, medicine, architecture, and agriculture. The increasing demand and rapid pace of development of such computer-aided decision-making systems displays their popularity and success in aiding and enhancing various fields. In the field of medicine, the advantage of having such systems is in the expense, labor, energy, and budget savings they provide to the health care environments. In the following sections, a brief description of the application of such systems in hemorrhagic shock, attention detection, traumatic brain injuries, and pelvic fracture detection has been provided. A flowchart of the procedure of developing such systems is represented in Fig. 7.1.
The Tendency towards Regionalization in the Sterling Area

The statistical evidence for intra-sterling, total Sterling, and total world trade is summarized in Table 48, covering the period 1928 – 1956.1 It should be noted that trade between India and Pakistan was excluded from the statistics in order to arrive at a more “unbiased” estimate of the growth of intra-sterling trade in the postwar period as compared with the prewar era.
The Antecedents and Outcomes of Autonomous Behaviors: Modeling the Role of Autonomy in Achieving Sustainable Employment for Deaf Young Adults

Successfully obtaining employment is a pivotal developmental milestone for many young adults, yet for some, is beyond reach. Despite advances in accessibility legislation and academic attainment, deaf young adults in the United States continue to face underemployment and underpayment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of autonomy in the developmental process for deaf adolescents as they navigate the transition from adolescence to early adulthood and enter the workforce. A secondary analysis of a large-scale dataset, the second National Longitudinal Transition Study (NLTS2), was conducted to test a longitudinal model of how parental beliefs and attitudes contribute to autonomy development, and in turn, how autonomous orientations and actions exhibited by deaf youths contribute to employment outcomes. The findings indicate that autonomy plays a significant role in the transition towards sustainable employment for deaf young adults. Parental expectations emerged as important antecedents of autonomy development for deaf adolescents, contributing both to autonomous motivations and independent functioning. Deaf adolescents’ autonomy is linked to employment opportunities with greater opportunities for advancement and higher income, and thus offers the field a potential avenue for strengthening pathways towards sustainable employment for deaf individuals.
Charge trapping of ultra-thin ZrHfO x /RuO x /ZrHfO x high-k stacks

Charge trapping in ultra-thin ZrHfOx/RuOx/ZrHfOx high-k stacks has been investigated. ZrHfOx/RuOx/ZrHfOx tri-layer may be a more proper high-k dielectric than ZrHfOx, because of its smaller equivalent oxide thickness, leakage current and relaxation current. Positive charges trapped in both bulk and interface contribute to the interface state generation and Vfb, shift when electrons are injected from the gate under a negative gate bias condition; meanwhile no noticeable electron or neutral traps created by anode hole degrade much the performance of TiN/ ZrHfOx/RuOx/ZrHfOx/p-Si. It was also observed that a negligible number of defects are generated until the gate bias stress increases to a certain level. The stress-induced trap generation is not reversible and the number of these newly generated traps could be comparable to or even larger than that of the pre-existed ones.
Astrophysics: Taking Galileo into space

Galileo's experiment at the leaning tower of Pisa is one of the best-known stories in physics. Now a version of this famous experiment is to be sent into space. The Microscope mission will see if all bodies – given identical starting conditions – acquire exactly the same acceleration in a gravitational field, independent of their mass and composition. The mission will measure if this true to to one part in 1015.
Protection and Paternalism: Narratives of Nepali Women Migrants and the Gender Politics of Discriminatory Labour Migration Policy

This article considers the current age and gender discriminatory migration laws in Nepal in their historical and socio-cultural context. Drawing on eight months of field- work and data collected from both migrants and migration policymakers I ask, What are the consequences of discriminatory laws on young Nepali women’s migration experiences? And why do gender and age discriminatory laws and policies persist in light of evidence that they may actually endanger migrants? I posit that historically dominant Hindu gender norms provide the basis for the paternalistic migration laws currently in place. I argue that age and gender discriminatory migration policies are rooted in patriarchal concern for women’s ijaat (social honour) and sexual purity. The result of discriminatory law is not a reduction in migration but an increase in irregular and illegal migration that exacerbates women labour migrants’ vulnerability to a variety of abuses. I conclude that examining discriminatory migration laws with an intersectional lens raises interesting possibilities for theorizing how and why these ineffectual laws persist. Cet article se penche sur la legislation discriminatoire actuelle en matiere de migration concernant l’âge et le sexe au Nepal et son contexte historique ainsi que socio-culturel. En faisant appel aux donnees de sondage et denature ethnographique provenant des migrants ainsi que des responsables en matiere de politique migratoire, je considere en premier lieu: quelles sont les consequences des lois discriminatoires sur les migrantes nepalaises jeunes? Et quelles sont les raisons pour lesquelles des lois discriminatoires concernant l’âge et le sexe persistent encore a la lumiere des indications demontrant que ces lois risquent en fait de mettre en danger les migrants? J’estime que le sexe hindou dominant sur le plan historique fournit la base sur les lois paternalistes actuelles, et que les lois discriminatoires concernant l’âge et le sexe sont ancrees dans un ordre patriarcal du ijaat (l’honneur social) et de purete sexuelle chez les femmes. Le resultat est l’augmentation de la migration illegale et irreguliere, ce qui amplifie la vulnerabilite ainsi que divers abus de femmes migrantes. Je conclus sur une discussion portant sur la maniere dont une politique plus adaptee pourrait repondre a la legislation migratoire actuelle qui ne prend pas en compte la complexite du processus decisionnaire.
Electroclinical Case-Control Study of Sudep and Postictal Brain Shutdown

Ten adult patients with 30 documented epileptic seizures during video-EEG recording and who later died of SUDEP were compared with 30 matched live controls with 92 epileptic seizures from the same video-telemetry database at Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, and Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, UK.
Nuts and bolts of running a pulmonary embolism response team: results from an organizational survey of the National PERT™ Consortium members

ABSTRACTObjectives: Pulmonary embolism response teams (PERT) are developing rapidly to operationalize multi-disciplinary care for acute pulmonary embolism patients. Our objective is to describe the core components of PERT necessary for newly developing programs.Methods: An online organizational survey of active National PERT™ Consortium members was performed between April and June 2016. Analysis, including descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis tests, was performed on centers self-reporting a fully operational PERT program.Results: The survey response rate was 80%. Of the 31 institutions that responded (71% academic), 19 had fully functioning PERT programs. These programs were run by steering committees (17/19, 89%) more often than individual physicians (2/19, 11%). Most PERT programs involved 3–5 different specialties (14/19, 74%), which did not vary based on hospital size or academic affiliation. Of programs using multidisciplinary discussions, these occurred via phone or conference call (12/18, 67%)...
Esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula: A rare variant and cautionary tale

Abstract Esophageal atresia (EA) with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) are relatively common congenital anomalies. Additional variants of these anomalies have been reported, including EA-TEF associated with congenital esophageal stenosis (CES) and a few reports of EA-TEF associated with an esophageal web or membranous diaphragm. We report an extremely rare case of EA with distal TEF associated with both a CES and a separate esophageal web distal to the TEF. EA-TEF with an associated CES and/or mucosal web distal to the TEF presents both a diagnostic and management challenge, as the standard diagnostic/pre-operative work-up may not identify the distal areas of esophageal occlusion. Surgeons should be aware and should maintain a high index of suspicion for these anatomic variants as they can lead to operative complications. Use of a tube to confirm patency of the distal esophageal pouch as a standard technique during EA-TEF repair may help avoid the potential pitfalls associated with failure to recognize these conditions.
Intelligent Systems: Beyond Neural Networks and Fuzzy Control

Abstract Intelligent Systems has been attempted in many areas the area of Intelli Control has created numerous solutions which reproduce many features usually associated with human faculties such as cognition, learning from experience, generalization, focusing attention, creation of alternatives, and so on. Yet, the properties of human faculties happen to be elusive and the efforts in capturing the essence of intelligence do not give us clear scientific guidelines for answering the question of what does belong to the area of intelligent systems, and what us possible perspectives for development in this area. It would be interesting to discuss possible avenues of future research, to explore bold ideas for using the tools of control theory for conquering the area of intelligent systems.
CFD simulation of pesticide spray from air-assisted sprayers in an apple orchard: Tree deposition and off-target losses

Abstract The ultimate goal of a pesticide spraying system is to provide adequate coverage on intended canopies with a minimum amount of spray materials and off-target waste. Better spray coverage requires an understanding of the fate and transport of spray droplets carried by turbulent airflows in orchards. In this study, an integrated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed to predict displacement of pesticide spray droplets discharged from an air-assisted sprayer, depositions onto tree canopies, and off-target deposition and airborne drift in an apple orchard. Pesticide droplets discharged from a moving sprayer were tracked using the Lagrangian particle transport model, and the deposition model was applied to droplets entering porous canopy zones. Measurements of the droplet deposition and drift in the same orchard were used to validate the model simulations. Good agreement was found between the measured and simulated spray concentrations inside tree canopies and off-target losses (ground deposition and airborne drifts) with the overall relative errors of 22.1% and 40.6%, respectively, under three growth stages. The CFD model was able to estimate the mass balance of pesticide droplets in the orchard, which was practically difficult to investigate by measurements in field conditions. As the foliage of trees became denser, spray deposition inside canopies increased from 8.5% to 65.8% and airborne drift and ground deposition decreased from 25.8% to 7.0% and 47.8% to 21.2%, respectively. Higher wind speed also increased the spray airborne drift downwind of the orchard. This study demonstrates that CFD model can be used to evaluate spray application performance and design and operate sprayers with increased spray efficiencies and reduced drift potentials.