cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of sediment slurrying on microbial processes, and the role of amino acids as substrates for sulfate reduction in anoxic marine sediments

In sediment slurry experiments with anoxic marine sediments collected in Cape Lookout Bight, NC, and a site in mid-Chesapeake Bay, the rates of sulfate reduction and ammonium production decrease with increasing dilution of sediment with oxygen-free sea-water. The effect of sediment dilution on the rates of these processes can be described by a simple mathematical relationship, and when these rates are corrected for sediment dilution they yield values which agree well with direct measurements of these processes. In sediment slurry studies of amino acid utilization in Cape Lookout Bight sediments, the fermentative decarboxylation of glutamic acid (to γ-aminobutyric acid) or aspartic acid (to alanine or β-alanine) did not occur when either of these amino acids were added to Cape Lookout Bight slurries. The addition of glutamic acid did however lead to a small (∼1) transient build-up of β-aminoglutaric acid. Measured rates of glutamic acid uptake in these slurries also decreased with increasing sediment dilution. Molybdate inhibition experiments demonstrated that dissolved free amino acids represent 1–3% of the carbon sources/electron donors used for sulfate reduction in Cape Lookout Bight sediments. The direct oxidation of amino acids by sulfate reducing bacteria also accounts for 13–20% of the total ammonium produced. Glutamic acid, alanine, β-aminoglutaric acid, aspartic acid and asparagine are the major amino acids oxidized by sulfate reducing bacteria in Cape Lookout Bight sediments.
Pulsed static magnetic field effects on in-vitro pineal indoleamine metabolism.

Abstract In-vitro rat pineal glands stimulated with the β-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol to induce melatonin synthesis and exposed for 1 h to a pulsed 0.4-G static magnetic field demonstrated significant inhibition of serotonin-N-acetyltransferase activity and melatonin content, 2-h exposure to pulsed magnetic field also resulted in a significant reduction in isoproterenol-induced serotonin-N-acetyltransferase activity. These results support the idea that the cultures pineal gland can be affected directly by artificially generated weak magnetic fields.
Streamline based black-oil simulation and its application to waterflooding

Finite-difference method is widely used for solving large-scale multiphase displacement problems. Drawbacks of finite difference methods are numerical dispersion, grid orientation, small time step size, and large computation time. To overcome these problems, streamline methods are being developed in which fluid is transported along the streamlines instead of the finite difference grid. This paper describes the development and application of a three-dimensional black-oil streamline simulator to study water flooding in a quarter five spot pattern. Larger time steps and higher spatial resolution can be achieved in these simulations. Streamline simulator is benchmarked against finite difference simulator (UTCOMP) for different test cases. Predictions from streamline simulator are in good agreement with the results from finite difference simulation, however speed up factor of up to 12 times is observed with streamline simulator. Results from the streamline simulator are also compared with the laboratory scale experimental data which shows a fairly good match. The 3-D streamline simulator is further extended to study the impact of various factors on the water flood performance.
Expression, purification and characterization of enoyl-ACP reductase II, FabK, from Porphyromonas gingivalis

The rapid rise in bacterial drug resistance coupled with the low number of novel antimicrobial compounds in the discovery pipeline has led to a critical situation requiring the expedient discovery and characterization of new antimicrobial drug targets. Enzymes in the bacterial fatty acid synthesis pathway, FAS-II, are distinct from their mammalian counterparts, FAS-I, in terms of both structure and mechanism. As such, they represent attractive targets for the design of novel antimicrobial compounds. Enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase II, FabK, is a key, rate-limiting enzyme in the FAS-II pathway for several bacterial pathogens. The organism, Porphyromonas gingivalis, is a causative agent of chronic periodontitis that affects up to 25% of the US population and incurs a high national burden in terms of cost of treatment. P. gingivalis expresses FabK as the sole enoyl reductase enzyme in its FAS-II cycle, which makes this a particularly appealing target with potential for selective antimicrobial therapy. Herein we report the molecular cloning, expression, purification and characterization of the FabK enzyme from P. gingivalis, only the second organism from which this enzyme has been isolated. Characterization studies have shown that the enzyme is a flavoprotein, the reaction dependent upon FMN and NADPH and proceeding via a Ping-Pong Bi-Bi mechanism to reduce the enoyl substrate. A sensitive assay measuring the fluorescence decrease of NADPH as it is converted to NADP(+) during the reaction has been optimized for high-throughput screening. Finally, protein crystallization conditions have been identified which led to protein crystals that diffract x-rays to high resolution.
HIV is inactivated after transepithelial migration via adult oral epithelial cells but not fetal epithelial cells

Oral transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in adult populations is rare. However, HIV spread across fetal/neonatal oropharyngeal epithelia could be important in mother-to-child transmission. Analysis of HIV transmission across polarized adult and fetal oral epithelial cells revealed that HIV transmigrates through both adult and fetal cells. However, only virions that passed through the fetal cells – and not those that passed through the adult cells – remained infectious. Analysis of expression of anti-HIV innate proteins beta-defensins 2 and 3, and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor in adult, fetal, and infant oral epithelia showed that their expression is predominantly in the adult oral epithelium. Retention of HIV infectivity after transmigration correlated inversely with the expression of these innate proteins. Inactivation of innate proteins in adult oral keratinocytes restored HIV infectivity. These data suggest that high-level innate protein expression may contribute to the resistance of the adult oral epithelium to HIV transmission.
Bubble and ventilator-derived nasal continuous positive airway pressure in premature infants: work of breathing and gas exchange.

Bubble and ventilator-derived nasal continuous positive airway pressure in premature infants: work of breathing and gas exchange
Asymmetric composition profiles in block copolymer interphases: 2. Thermodynamic model predictions and implications

Abstract Evidence for various types of compositional asymmetries associated with the interphase region of microphase-separated block copolymers leads to a classification of four general cases that may exist. The recently modified version of the Leary-Williams thermodynamic model for diblock (AB) and triblock (ABA) copolymers is extended to include all four cases, for planar microstructures. Calculations are performed of free energy and separation temperature corresponding to each case. Results are consistent with experimental observations of interphases found to be rich in the A component, but inconsistent with experiments that indicate residual mixing of B material in the A core. The inference is made that the latter observations correspond to samples that are not in a state of thermodynamic equilibrium.
Topological feedback in Kaluza-Klein theory

Abstract We know that certain four-manifolds allow for a nontrivial topological U(1) contribution. We show that such contributions can arise in the usual five-dimensional Kaluza-Klein theory. This approach suggests that the radius of the fifth dimension can be fixed in this manner. This mechanism is illustrated using euclidean gravitational instantons as the base manifold.
Abbreviated output for input in ACL2: an implementation case study

ACL2 has long provided a way to print expressions in an abbreviated manner, where information about hidden subexpressions is lost. We present a new ACL2 feature that allows the missing subexpressions to be recovered. One purpose of this paper is to motivate and explain the new feature. But the main focus is on the design and implementation of this feature, as a case study to give a sense of the process of improving ACL2, especially to enhance its support for user interaction.
Strong consistency and exponential rate of the minimum L 1 -norm estimated in linear regression models

Abstract Let y i =α+ x ′ i β+ e i , i =1,… n , …be a linear regression model, where x i is a sequence of experimental points, i.e., known p -vectors, e i is a sequence of independent random errors, with med( e i )=0, i =1,2,… Define the minimum L 1 -norm estimate of (α,β′)′, by (â n , β′ n )′, to be chosen such that ∑ n i=1 |y i −â n x′ i vb; n |= min α,vb;, α vb; ∑ n i=1 |y i −α−x′ i INFvb;|. Under quite general conditions on { x i } and { e i }, the strong consistency of the minimum L 1 -norm estimate is established. Further, under an additional condition on { x i }, it is also proved that, for any given e#62;0, there exist constant C #62;0 not depending on n , such that P {||ĝa n −α|| 2 +||ĝb n −β|| 2 ⩾/g3 2 }⩽exp{- Cn } for large n .
Hypertriglyceridemia during late pregnancy is associated with the formation of small dense low-density lipoproteins and the presence of large buoyant high-density lipoproteins

Late pregnancy is a unique metabolic state where there are transient increases in the concentrations of plasma triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, and apolipoprotein (apo) B. Despite the hypertriglyceridemic environment, we recently reported that there is an unusual shift in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subclass distribution from smaller HDL subclasses to the largest, most buoyant HDL2b subclass. In the present investigation, we determined whether the subclasses of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) also change during this transient hyperlipidemic state and whether such changes were associated with plasma TG and apolipoprotein concentrations. Thirty-six Hispanic subjects at 35 to 36 weeks' gestation and at 6 weeks' postpartum were studied. At 35 to 36 weeks of gestation, plasma concentrations of TG, cholesterol, and apo B were increased (218 +/- 62, 234 +/- 48, and 130 +/- 35 mg/dL, respectively) over levels at 6 weeks' postpartum (112 +/- 69, 197 +/- 36, and 97 +/- 25 mg/dL respectively). However, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentrations were not changed during pregnancy compared with postpartum. LDL subclass patterns (A, B, or I) were determined by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis in our group of 36 pregnant women. During late pregnancy, 97% of subjects were categorized as LDL subclass patterns B or I, indicating that small, dense LDL particles predominated. This predominance of small, dense LDL was associated with plasma TG concentration, where there was a significant inverse relationship (r = -.45, P < .01) between the LDL peak particle diameter and plasma TG concentration. In an apparent anomaly, there were significant increases in the concentrations of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and HDL2 mass, even though small, dense LDL particles predominated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Carbon nanotube interaction with DNA

We investigate a system consisting of B-DNA and an array of (10,0) carbon nanotubes periodically arranged to fit into the major groove of the DNA. We obtain an accurate electronic structure of the combined system, which reveals that it is semiconducting and that the bands on either end of the gap are derived exclusively from one of the two components. We discuss in detail how this system can be used as either an electronic switch involving transport through both components, or as a device for ultrafast DNA sequencing.
Managing Tacit Knowledge for a Software Development Process: A Case Study

The acquisition and management of knowledge is increasingly more important in today's economy because of the large proportion of the workforce eligible for retirement in the next 10 years. Companies have long understood that reusing explicit knowledge in the form of policies, documentation and procedures produces tremendous savings, reduces variability, decreases costs, and improves overall quality. Unfortunately, a considerable portion of corporate knowledge is tacit or known at a non-verbal level, and does not lend itself to reuse. This research examines "how" and "why" questions regarding a specific process used for managing and sharing tacit knowledge related to the software development life cycle. The issues related to acquiring, preserving and disseminating the tacit knowledge are discussed in detail, and the advantages and managerial implications of the results of the method are described, together with implications for knowledge workers and managers in other industries.
USE OF LITHIUM CARBONATE IN RAW ALKALINE GLAZES

The results of using lithium carbonate to replace the more soluble alkalis and their frits in glazes fired between cones 07 and 05 are discussed. Owing to its unusual fluxing properties, the use of from 9 to 12% lithium carbonate permits a marked increase in the amounts of alumina, calcium, and silica which may be used, resulting in a more stable glaze, with sufficient alkalinity to produce vivid copper blues and other typically alkaline colors.
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate and Brain‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor Decreased Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Developing Hypothalamic Neuronal Cells: Role of Microglia

Background We have previously shown that ethanol (EtOH) increases cellular apoptosis to developing neurons via the effects on oxidative stress of neurons directly and via increasing production of microglia-derived factors. To study further the mechanism of EtOH action on neuronal apoptosis, we determined the effects of 2 well-known PKA activators, dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), on EtOH-activated oxidative stress and apoptotic processes in the hypothalamic neurons in the presence and absence of microglial cells' influence. Methods In enriched neuronal cells from fetal rat hypothalami treated with EtOH or with conditioned medium from EtOH-treated microglia, we measured cellular apoptosis by the free nucleosome assay and the levels of cAMP, BDNF, O2−, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitrite, glutathione (GSH), and catalase following treatment with EtOH or EtOH-treated microglial culture conditioned medium. Additionally, we tested the effectiveness of dbcAMP and BDNF in preventing EtOH or EtOH-treated microglial conditioned medium on cellular apoptosis and oxidative stress in enriched hypothalamic neuronal cell in primary cultures. Results Neuronal cell cultures following treatment with EtOH or EtOH-activated microglial conditioned medium showed decreased production levels of cAMP and BDNF. EtOH also increased apoptotic death as well as oxidative status, as demonstrated by higher cellular levels of oxidants but lower levels of antioxidants, in neuronal cells. These effects of EtOH on oxidative stress and cell death were enhanced by the presence of microglia. Treatment with BDNF or dbcAMP decreased EtOH or EtOH-activated microglial conditioned medium-induced changes in the levels of intracellular free radicals, ROS and O2−, nitrite, GSH, and catalase. Conclusions These data support the possibility that EtOH by acting directly and via increasing the production of microglial-derived factors reduces cellular levels of cAMP and BDNF to increase cellular oxidative status and apoptosis in hypothalamic neuronal cells in primary cultures.
School psychologists and the secret illness: Perceived knowledge, role preferences, and training needs regarding the prevention and treatment of internalizing disorders:

This descriptive study examined the perceptions of a national sample of school psychologists in the United States regarding their perceived knowledge, preferred roles, and training needs in the prevention and treatment of nine prominent child and adolescent internalizing disorders. The results indicated that participants perceived the prevention of all nine internalizing disorders to be an appropriate role for school psychologists, and that they perceived the school-based treatment of particular disorders, such as school phobia/refusal, to be an appropriate role as well. A majority of the sample reported the need for some or significant additional training in all nine internalizing disorders. Limitations of the study and needs for future research are discussed.
Crystal Structures of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein in Complex with Inhibitors

Human plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) transports cholesteryl ester from the antiatherogenic high-density lipoproteins (HDL) to the proatherogenic low-density and very low-density lipoproteins (LDL and VLDL). Inhibition of CETP has been shown to raise human plasma HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and is potentially a novel approach for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Here, we report the crystal structures of CETP in complex with torcetrapib, a CETP inhibitor that has been tested in phase 3 clinical trials, and compound 2, an analog from a structurally distinct inhibitor series. In both crystal structures, the inhibitors are buried deeply within the protein, shifting the bound cholesteryl ester in the N-terminal pocket of the long hydrophobic tunnel and displacing the phospholipid from that pocket. The lipids in the C-terminal pocket of the hydrophobic tunnel remain unchanged. The inhibitors are positioned near the narrowing neck of the hydrophobic tunnel of CETP and thus block the connection between the N- and C-terminal pockets. These structures illuminate the unusual inhibition mechanism of these compounds and support the tunnel mechanism for neutral lipid transfer by CETP. These highly lipophilic inhibitors bind mainly through extensive hydrophobic interactions with the protein and the shifted cholesteryl ester molecule. However, polar residues, such as Ser-230 and His-232, are also found in the inhibitor binding site. An enhanced understanding of the inhibitor binding site may provide opportunities to design novel CETP inhibitors possessing more drug-like physical properties, distinct modes of action, or alternative pharmacological profiles.
Bandwidth-reusable CDMA NoC with flexible codeword assignment

In this paper, we propose a novel and flexible codeword assignment technique for a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) based Network-on-Chip (NoC). This approach allows bandwidth to be reallocated to ports dynamically on an as-needed basis. In this way, more of the available system bandwidth can be utilized under practical traffic conditions. In addition, wormhole routing is applied to minimize the hardware overhead of the technique. Our switch has been synthesized using a 0.3 mum CMOS high-speed ASIC library. Synthesis results and performance analysis data are provided.
Proteomic responses of blue mussel (Mytilus) congeners to temperature acclimation

The ability to acclimate to variable environmental conditions affects the biogeographic range of species, their success at colonizing new habitats, and their likelihood of surviving rapid anthropogenic climate change. Here we compared responses to temperature acclimation (4 weeks at 7, 13 and 19°C) in gill tissue of the warm-adapted intertidal blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis , an invasive species in the northeastern Pacific, and the cold-adapted M. trossulus , the native congener in the region, to better understand the physiological differences underlying the ongoing competition. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry, we showed that warm acclimation caused changes in cytoskeletal composition and proteins of energy metabolism in both species, consistent with increasing rates of filtration and respiration due to increased ciliary activity. During cold acclimation, changes in cytoskeletal proteins were accompanied by increasing abundances of oxidative stress proteins and molecular chaperones, possibly because of the increased production of aldehydes as indicated by the upregulation of aldehyde dehydrogenase. The cold-adapted M. trossulus showed increased abundances of molecular chaperones at 19°C, but M. galloprovincialis did not, suggesting that the two species differ in their long-term upper thermal limits. In contrast, the warm-adapted M. galloprovincialis showed a stronger response to cold acclimation than M. trossulus , including changes in abundance in more proteins and differing protein expression profiles between 7 and 13°C, a pattern absent in M. trossulus . In general, increasing levels of oxidative stress proteins inversely correlate with modifications in Krebs cycle and electron transport chain proteins, indicating a trade-off between oxidative stress resistance and energy production. Overall, our results help explain why M. galloprovincialis has replaced M. trossulus in southern California over the last century, but also suggest that M. trossulus may maintain a competitive advantage at colder temperatures. Anthropogenic global warming may reinforce the advantage M. galloprovincialis has over M. trossulus in the warmer parts of the latter’s historical range. * 2DGE : two-dimensional gel electrophoresis ADP (ATP) : adenosine di-(tri)-phosphate ALDH : aldehyde dehydrogenase EST : expressed sequence tag ETC : electron transport chain Grp78 : glucose-regulated protein 78 Hsp : heat shock protein IDH : isocitrate dehydrogenase IPG : immobilized pH gradient MALDI-TOF-TOF : matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization tandem time-of-flight MOWSE : molecular weight search MS/MS : tandem mass spectrometry NAD(H) : nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced form) NADP(H) : nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced form) PC : principal component PCA : principal component analysis PMF : peptide mass fingerprint PTM : post-translational modification ROS : reactive oxygen species TCP-1 : T-complex protein 1 TFA : trifluoroacetic acid
A passive integrative sampler for mercury vapor in air and neutral mercury species in water

Abstract A passive integrative mercury sampler (PIMS) based on a sealed polymeric membrane was effective for the collection and preconcentration of Hg 0 . Because the Hg is both oxidized and stabilized in the PIMS, sampling intervals of weeks to months are possible. The effective air sampling rate for a 15×2.5 cm device was about 2 l-equivalents/day (0.002 m 3 /day) and the detection limit for 4-week sampling was about 2 ng/m 3 for conventional ICP-MS determination without clean-room preparation. Sampling precision was ⩽5% RSD for laboratory exposures, and 5–10% RSD for field exposures. These results suggest that the PIMS could be useful for screening assessments of Hg contamination and exposure in the environment, the laboratory, and the workplace. The PIMS approach may be particularly useful for applications requiring unattended sampling for extended periods at remote locations. Preliminary results indicate that sampling for dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) and potentially other neutral mercury species from water is also feasible. Rigorous validation of the sampler performance is currently in progress.
Toward a developmental epidemiology of the disruptive behavior disorders

Epidemiology, the study of patterns of disease distribution in time and space, offers a powerful set of theories and methods for understanding and preventing illness. The disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) can be studied from the point of view of whether or not epidemiological methods could help to understand and prevent them. We suggest that the best approach to the DBDs is one that takes into account both the development of the child and the development of the disorder. Developmental epidemiology is the attempt to use recent advances in developmental psychopathology to help answer questions about how developmental processes increase or decrease vulnerability to DBDs, how risk factors change across childhood, and how the development of the disorder is reflected in rates of onset and patterns of symptomatology. Using examples of primary and secondary prevention studies, we discuss the importance of appropriate sampling strategies and a clearly articulated theoretical background, if intervention trials are to achieve their full utility as tests of a developmental theory of the DBDs.
The reliability of ring networks

An analysis is conducted of the reliability of links in a ring network. Back-up links have recently been used to enhance the reliability and throughput. In a previous study, the authors gave an optimal back-up link assignment to improve the reliability. In this study, the authors use the rings with back-up links to model single loop rings. >
Enterotoxigenicity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus with and without genes encoding thermostable direct hemolysin.

Abstract Vibrio parahaemolyticus produces a thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diarrheal disease caused by this organism. However, previous studies attempting to demonstrate the contribution of the hemolysin to virulence have been inconclusive. We investigated this putative virulence factor by using an isogenic TDH-negative (TDH-) strain constructed by specifically inactivating the two copies of the tdh gene encoding TDH. The enterotoxigenicities of the parent strain (AQ3815) and the mutant strain were tested by adding sterile culture supernatants to rabbit ileal tissue mounted in Ussing chambers. The culture filtrate of the parent strain produced a significant increase in short-circuit current (Isc), compared with the change induced by the TDH- mutant. The capacity of the culture filtrate of AQ3815 to increase the Isc was reduced by neutralization with anti-TDH serum, and the return of the cloned tdh gene to the TDH- mutant restored the ability to increase the Isc. These results were corroborated by rabbit ileal loop assays in which AQ3815 caused fluid accumulation but the TDH- mutant did not. No microscopic damage was seen in mucosal tissues exposed to the culture filtrate of either strain. These results indicate that TDH has an enterotoxigenic effect on rabbit small intestine and could be responsible for the watery diarrhea seen with V. parahaemolyticus.
GSP: Extending G-Code using JSP servlet technologies

The G-code programming language, introduced in the early 1960psilas, continues to be used to program motions for modern computer numerical controlled (CNC) machines. Vendors augment the motion control commands with various macro languages and other rudimentary programming languages to provide for parametric and flexible CNC programming. More modern programming languages promise greater capability, standardization and better programming architectures. This paper introduces a method for combining standard G-code commands with the programming power and features provided by the Java programming language in a vendor neutral solution. Java Servlet Technologies, such as Java server pages (JSP) and the Tomcat container, are adapted in order to provide advanced G-code programming capability. Other work has been done to integrate Internet technologies and CNC programming but use of Java Servlet Technology to generate dynamic G-code and transmit it to a CNC controller is the authorpsilas innovation.
Corpus Callosum Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Volume Measures Are Associated With Disease Severity in Pediatric Niemann-Pick Disease Type C1

Abstract Background Niemann-Pick disease type C1 is a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder. Without a highly effective treatment, biomarkers of severity would be beneficial for prognostication and testing new interventions. Diffusion tensor imaging has shown microstructural abnormalities in adults with Niemann-Pick disease type C1. This is the first study to apply diffusion tensor imaging and volume analysis to evaluate the corpus callosum in a pediatric and adolescent population of patients with Niemann-Pick disease type C1. We hypothesized that the callosal fractional anisotropy, volume, and cross-sectional area will negatively correlate with NPC severity score. Methods Thirty-nine individuals with Niemann-Pick disease type C1 aged 1-21.9 years (mean = 11.1; S.D. = 6.1), and each received one magnetic resonance imaging examination. Severity score were obtained by examination and clinical observation. An atlas-based automated approach was used to measure fractional anisotropy, cross-sectional area, and volume. For comparative analysis and validation of this atlas-based approach, one midsagittal image was chosen and the corpus callosum manually traced to obtain cross-sectional area. Statistical analyses were applied to study the relationships between imaging and clinical severity. Results For patients with Niemann-Pick disease type C1, lower corpus callosum fractional anisotropy, volume, and cross-sectional area significantly correlate with higher severity score. Severity subdomain analysis revealed ambulation, speech, seizures, and incontinence have the strongest relationships with callosal measures. Comparison of atlas-based processing and manual tracing techniques demonstrated validity for the automated method. Conclusions For individuals with Niemann-Pick disease type C1, the corpus callosum measures correlate with clinical severity. These findings reveal promise for the discovery of new imaging biomarkers for this disorder.
Concurrent schedules of reinforcement and punishment

Steady responding was established on a Multiple Fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement in four White Carneaux pigeons. Single response punishments were then programmed in each component. Generally the position of the punishment within the ratio requirement determined the change in local rate. If punishment occurred on the first response, post reinforcement pausing increased. If punishment was delivered on the middle response, disruption in rate occurred during the first half of the ratio. If the last response was punished, rate decelerated as the ratio requirement was near completion.
Fundamental physical equations can be derived by applying fuzzy methodology to informal physical ideas

Fuzzy methodology transforms expert ideas — formulated in terms of words from natural language — into precise rules and formulas. In this paper, we show that by applying this methodology to intuitive physical ideas, we can get fundamental physical equations. This fact provides an additional justification for the fuzzy methodology.
Multiuser detection techniques for narrowband interference suppression in spread spectrum communications

Due to the scarcity of frequency allocations for emerging personal communications services, it has been proposed that spread spectrum (SS) signals be used in such services so that they can be overlaid on existing frequency band occupants. Such SS signals would be constrained in power so as not to interfere with pre-existing, narrowband users. In view of this application, suppression of strong narrowband signals that interfere with commercial SS communications systems is being investigated with renewed interest. Previous research has modeled narrowband users as sinusoidal or autoregressive signals, and consequently has advocated use of predictive altering to suppress such signals. In the present paper it is shown that when the narrowband interferer is in fact a digital communications signal these methods are less effective than techniques derived from multiuser communications. In particular, by modeling a narrowband user as a digital signal, optimal and asymptotically (low background noise) optimal linear algorithms for the recovery of the SS bit stream are developed. This technique represents not only a promising new approach to narrowband interference suppression, but also a new application for multiuser detection theory. >
Continuous-Flow Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry in Analytical Biochemistry

This chapter describes the operation of a mass spectrometric technique termed continuous-flow fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (CF-FABMS) and presents some applications concerning the analysis of proteins and peptides. A description of the operational aspects of the technique is presented along with a discussion of the features and criteria of stable operation. Analytical advantages are presented by using problems encountered in protein chemistry.The use of the method to evaluate the automated chemical synthesis of peptides is presented to demonstrate the facility of the CF-FAB method in an analytical biochemistry laboratory.
PRODUCT INTEGRAL REPRESENTATION OF SOLUTIONS TO SEMILINEAR VOLTERRA EQUATIONS WITH DELAY

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the product integral representation of solutions to semilinear Volterra equations with delay. It describes a nonlinear solution operator. It highlights the evolution operator by exploring the Crandall–Pazy product integral representation theorem. It presents the criteria for the convergence of solutions to approximating equations by means of the representation theorem. The approximating nonlinear evolution operators satisfy the hypotheses of the Crandall–Pazy approximation theorem. The product integral representation facilitates the examination of the behavior of solutions. The delay of equation is positive definite, and consequently the finite difference approximations can be solved.
Print media: circulating fandom

This essay catalogues the variety of printed material that circulates among fans. In addition to the traditional newspapers available at newsstands, free papers are given away at the stadium. The images of football players are an essential part of the fan experience as they are posted on the walls of fan clubs. Mass distributed print media is social media; it educates fans, it fuels conversations between strangers and it is used by fans to decorate their clubhouse walls. Smaller scale, fan-produced media is used to proclaim and solidify group identity and to recruit new members. Though print media may seem outdated, it is still an essential social media, as evidenced by the uses and reuses of print by football fans.
This Week in Blackness, the George Zimmerman acquittal, and the production of a networked collective identity

The night of George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin, This Week in Blackness (TWiB!) went livestreaming online with an unscheduled broadcast of their flagship podcast TWiB! Radio. To many, the verdict laid bare the systemic racism that the dominant neoliberal racial discourse of colorblindness works to obscure by emphasizing individual over collective racial identity. TWiB!, which functions simultaneously as both a broadcast-style network and a social media network, created an interactive, multi-media, trans-platform space where listeners and TWiB! staff came together to express their grief and anger. Drawing on longstanding Black traditions of both public and private counter-discourse production, TWiB! rejected colorblindness and reified a Black collective identity at a moment of racial turmoil.
Spectral Shifting Measurement of Cross Phase Modulation With a Balanced Photodiode

Biomedical imaging of the nonlinear refractive index n2 requires a measurement technique that, unlike z-scan, is robust in inhomogeneous scattering media. We present an adaptation of a pump-probe experiment to measure n2 via cross-phase modulation.
Dextromethorphan and Dextrorphan as Heuristic Rapid-Acting, Conventional, and Treatment-Resistant Antidepressants, with Substance Abuse Considerations

Abstract Dextromethorphan (DM) and its metabolite dextrorphan (DO) are pharmacodynamically similar to the antidepressant ketamine and have been hypothesized to possess rapid-acting (RA), conventional (C), and treatment-resistant (TR) antidepressant properties ( Lauterbach, 2011 , Lauterbach, 2012 ). DM and DO share N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) (RA, C, TR), phencyclidine (RA, C, TR), NMDA-2A (RA, C) receptor antagonism, sigma-1 (σ1) stimulation (RA, C, TR), mu (μ) potentiation (RA, TR), serotonin-1b/d binding (C, TR), serotonin (RA, C, TR) and norepinephrine (C, TR) transporter inhibition, calcium channel antagonism (C, TR), activation of mammalian target of rapamycin, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor, denditogenesis, and synaptogenesis (RA), while DM demonstrates NMDA-2B downregulation (RA, C, TR) and α2 adrenergic receptor binding (C, TR), whereas DO shows μ antagonism (RA, C) and muscarinic and β-adrenergic receptor binding (RA, C, TR). Case reports of DM-induced mania and improved treatment-resistant depression exist. A clinical trial in treatment-resistant depression is in progress. Clinical considerations in administering DM or DO, including in substance disorders (e.g., alcohol, heroin), are discussed.
A Simple Model of Protein Domain Swapping in Crowded Cellular Environments

Domain swapping in proteins is an important mechanism of functional and structural innovation. However, despite its ubiquity and importance, the physical mechanisms that lead to domain swapping are poorly understood. Here, we present a simple two-dimensional coarse-grained model of protein domain swapping in the cytoplasm. In our model, two-domain proteins partially unfold and diffuse in continuous space. Monte Carlo multiprotein simulations of the model reveal that domain swapping occurs at intermediate temperatures, whereas folded dimers and folded monomers prevail at low temperatures, and partially unfolded monomers predominate at high temperatures. We use a simplified amino acid alphabet consisting of four residue types, and find that the oligomeric state at a given temperature depends on the sequence of the protein. We also show that hinge strain between domains can promote domain swapping, consistent with experimental observations for real proteins. Domain swapping depends nonmonotonically on the protein concentration, with domain-swapped dimers occurring at intermediate concentrations and nonspecific interactions between partially unfolded proteins occurring at high concentrations. For folded proteins, we recover the result obtained in three-dimensional lattice simulations, i.e., that functional dimerization is most prevalent at intermediate temperatures and nonspecific interactions increase at low temperatures.
Present situation and control on emerging respiratory infectious diseases such as SARS and avian influenza

Infectious diseases have been recognized again due to appearing of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in the world. Most of them occur not only in developing countries but also in developed countries, and in Asian region. The pathogen is mainly virus and most of them are suspected zoonotic origin. SARS emerged in the world abruptly and disappeared in 2003. We have had many lessons and learn on control measures, public health, economic impacts, human rights, international cooperation and infectious diseases. The outbreaks of avian influenza among fowls have been occurred since 2004, and some fatal human cases infected with avian influenza virus are detected in Viet Nam, Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia. Although the total number of human cases are still limited and human to human transmission mode is not yet detected, it has been concerned the possibility to shift new types of influenza for human as pandemic. It is necessary to recognize correctly on existing of infectious diseases, to enhance surveillance, to call partnerships among several sectors such as medical institutes, medical education institutes, research institutes and public health departments. Further, infectious disease control should tackle in global level.
Behavioral health referrals in pediatric epilepsy

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a behavioral health referral protocol and barriers to behavioral health care in a pediatric epilepsy clinic. A sample of 93 youth with epilepsy ages 10–17 and caregivers completed behavioral health and seizure severity measures during a routine epilepsy clinic visit. Key findings are that 47 (50.5%) of the youth screened positive for a behavioral health referral, and 35 of these youth were referred for behavioral health services. However, only 20% made and presented for the behavioral health appointment. The most commonly cited barrier for accessing and utilizing behavioral health care was stigma related- a mental health label for the child. The significance of this study lies in the revelation that solely screening for and educating caregivers about behavioral health symptoms and providing behavioral health referral information is not an ideal model. Instead, stigma related barriers point to the necessity of continued integrated physical and behavioral health care within the pediatric epilepsy visit.
Legendre theorems for subclasses of overpartitions

A.M. Legendre noted that Euler's pentagonal number theorem implies that the number of partitions of n into an even number of distinct parts almost always equals the number of partitions of n into an odd number of distinct parts (the exceptions occur when n is a pentagonal number). Subsequently other classes of partitions, including overpartitions, have yielded related Legendre theorems. In this paper, we examine four subclasses of overpartitions that have surprising Legendre theorems.
Experimental Investigation of Deformation Mechanisms Present in Ultrafine-Grained Metals

Ultrafine-grained (UFG) metals possess grain sizes on the order of hundreds of nanometers and display a remarkable capacity for high strength, high ductility, and enhanced superplasticity. This paper presents the preparatory steps necessary for a highresolution experimental investigation into the deformation mechanisms active in UFG metals. A new experimental methodology is used, in which an optical metrology known as Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is combined with scanning electron microscopy to track the quantitative development of full-field strains on the length scale of the microstructure. The micro-scale field of view and use of a SEM for image capture require the development of novel specimen patterning methods and of image distortion corrections prior to experimentation. The results obtained through the combined SEM and DIC approach, and corresponding pre- and post-mortem electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis, enable the analysis of the real-time, micro-scale evolution of Lagrangian strains at an unprecedented spatial resolution, and the quantification of the surface deformations inside grains and across grain boundaries as the material is subjected to thermo-mechanical loading.
Empirical modeling of T cell activation predicts interplay of host cytokines and bacterial indole

Adoptive transfer of anti-inflammatory FOXP3+ Tregs has gained attention as a new therapeutic strategy for auto-inflammatory disorders such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The isolated cells are conditioned in vitro to obtain a sufficient number of anti-inflammatory FOXP3+ Tregs that can be reintroduced into the patient to potentially reduce the pathologic inflammatory response. Previous evidence suggests that microbiota metabolites can potentially condition cells during the in vitro expansion/differentiation step. However, the number of combinations of cytokines and metabolites that can be varied is large, preventing a purely experimental investigation which would determine optimal cell therapeutic outcomes. To address this problem, a combined experimental and modeling approached is investigated here: an artificial neural network model was trained to predict the steady-state T cell population phenotype after differentiation with a variety of host cytokines and the microbial metabolite indole. This artificial neural network model was able to both reliably predict the phenotype of these T cell populations and also uncover unexpected conditions for optimal Treg differentiation that were subsequently verified experimentally. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 2660-2667. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Role of the Folate-Pathway and the Thymidylate Synthase Genes in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment Response

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer with a cure rate of approximately 80%. However, despite the generally favorable outcome of ALL treatment, some children relapse or experience severe treatment side effects. Recent research efforts have focused on understanding the patient genetic characteristics that underlie treatment response. To date, several studies have demonstrated that polymorphic genetic variation in genes in the folic acid cycle are associated with altered risks of ALL relapse or treatment toxicity. This chapter summarizes and reviews these results with a particular focus on the methylene tetrahydrofolate and thymidylate synthase genes. While providing intriguing data that germline genetic variation may determine ALL treatment response, adequately powered prospective trials are necessary to translate these findings into clinical practice.
Electronic portfolios as tools for organizing student information

The educational literature contains abundant information regarding different types of electronic portfolios and their role in fulfilling various purposes. Student e-portfolios can be used to showcase academic accomplishments, support student advisement, assess student work, and prepare students for job seeking. Development of a student e-portfolio generally involves three processes: collection, selection and reflection. My review of the literature determined that there are numerous types or classifications of e-portfolios, in the academic and non-academic venues. My interest in incorporating an e-portfolio into my courses led me to consider which portfolio type would best suit my needs as well as those of my students. The classification schemes found in the literature did not seem adequate for categorizing the portfolio options available for organizing student work. The purpose of my analysis was to suggest a comprehensive classification scheme for student e-portfolios and to apply the classifications to case studies from the literature. The classification scheme considers the level of connection among the student's selected works as the key element of the portfolio's design, because it is the ability to make these connections that distinguishes an electronic portfolio from a print one. The classification scheme uses a file cabinet/briefcase approach to collecting and selecting student work, and proposes four types of student e-portfolios: showcase model, competencies model, development model, and integrated model. I chose five cases from the educational literature where electronic portfolios were incorporated into an academic program, and analyzed each case to determine which of the proposed models best fits the portfolio implementation. The models may serve as a tool for students or instructors who are deciding which portfolio structure best fits a particular program or course.
Effects of Selenium Deficiency on Mouse Articular Cartilage

An edemic form of osteoarthritis, Kashin-Beck disease, has been reported to be associated with low levels of selenium (Se) in the soil, foods, and hair of individuals from areas where this condition is common (Li et al. 1987; Mo 1987). However, other agents have been implicated in its etiology (Sokoloff 1985). Ren (1982) and Mo (1987) fed rats diets low in Se and found no necrotic areas in the articular cartilage. Nevertheless, as we had observed deformities in Se-deficient mice in our previous work, we determined to examine this tissue. Light and transmission electron microscopy showed it was affected by Se deficiency.