cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The potential role of regucalcin in kidney cell regulation: Involvement in renal failure (Review)

The kidneys play a physiologic role in the regulation of urine formation and nutrient reabsorption in the proximal tubule epithelial cells. Kidney development has been shown to be regulated through calcium (Ca2+) signaling processes that are present through numerous steps of tubulogenesis and nephron induction during embryonic development of the kidneys. Ca2+-binding proteins, such as calbindin-D28k and regucalcin are important proteins that are commonly used as biomarkers in pronephric tubules, and the ureteric bud and metanephric mesenchyme. Previous research on regucalcin focused on Ca2+ sensors that are involved in renal organogenesis and the link between Ca2+-dependent signals and polycystins. Moreover, regucalcin has been highlighted to play a multifunctional role in kidney cell regulation. The regucalcin gene, which is localized on the X chromosome, is regulated through various transcription factors. Regucalcin has been found to regulate intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells. Regucalcin has been demonstrated to regulate the activity of various enzymes that are involved in intracellular signaling pathways. It has been noted that regucalcin suppresses DNA synthesis and regulates the gene expression of various proteins related to mineral transport, transcription factors, cell proliferation and apoptosis. The overexpression of regucalcin has been shown to exert suppressive effects on cell proliferation and apoptotic cell death, which are stimulated by various stimulatory factors. Moreover, regucalcin gene expression was found to to be involved in various pathophysiological states, including renal failure. This review discusses recent findings concerning the potential role of regucalcin as a regulatory protein in the kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells.
Alone in the Ivory Tower

The authors use data from the 2000 Census Public Use Microdata Sample to examine the likelihood of a birth event, defined as the household presence of a child younger than 2 years, for male and female professionals. Physicians have the highest rate of birth events, followed in order by attorneys and academics. Within each profession men have more birth events than women. For men, occupational variation in birth events can be explained by marital status, income, and spousal employment. These factors only partially account for occupational differences in birth events for women.
Aquaporin-4 autoimmunity

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and a related spectrum of inflammatory CNS disorders are unified by detection of a serum autoantibody specific for the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channel, which is abundant in astrocytic foot processes. The classic clinical manifestations of NMO are optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Newly recognized manifestations of AQP4 autoimmunity include lesions of circumventricular organs and skeletal muscle. NMO is commonly relapsing, is frequently accompanied by other autoimmune disorders, and sometimes occurs in a paraneoplastic context. The goals of treatment are to minimize neurologic disability in the acute attack and thereafter to prevent relapses and cumulative disability. The disease specificity of AQP4 immunoglobulin (Ig) G approaches 100% using optimized molecular-based detection assays. Clinical, immunohistopathologic, and in vitro evidence support this antibody being central to NMO pathogenesis. Current animal models yield limited histopathologic characteristics of NMO, with no clinical deficits to date. Recent descriptions of a myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein autoantibody in a minority of patients with NMO spectrum phenotype who lack AQP4-IgG predict serologic delineation of additional distinctive disease entities.
Glucagonoma: Gastrointestinal Features

Glucagonoma is a rare tumor of alpha cells in the pancreas. This disease results in glucagon overproduction of approximately 1,000 times normal. The incidence of this pathology is thought to be 1 in 20 million, although this is likely an underestimation given the lack of specific symptoms. The effect on long-term survival is not known because of the rarity of the condition. Although it originates in the pancreas, the effects of this disease are widespread and can affect multiple organ systems.
Electrochemical Synthesis and Nonvolatile Resistance Switching of Mn3O4 Thin Films

An electrodeposition method is introduced to produce crystalline films of Mn3O4 from aqueous solution. The films are electrodeposited potentiostatically from a solution of 0.2 M Mn(II) acetate at a pH of 6 and a deposition temperature of 80 °C. The anodic deposition is performed in the potential range of 0.275–0.350 V vs Ag/AgCl/KCl(sat.). In this potential range the current efficiency is 100%. Both the stoichiometry and the morphology of the films can be controlled through the applied potential. Films deposited at a low overpotential grow with a [001] preferred orientation, columnar microstructure, and near-stoichiometric Mn(III)/Mn(II) ratio of 1.99. Films deposited at higher overpotential deposit with a near-random orientation, porous or powdery microstructure, and Mn(III)/Mn(II) ratio of 2.62. At potentials greater than 0.38 V, amorphous films of MnO2 are produced. The as-deposited Mn3O4 has a very high resistivity of 4.4 × 108 Ωcm. The electrodeposited Mn3O4 films undergo unipolar, nonvolatile resist...
The Malpractice Question

Entomological consulting is a new and rapidly expanding profession; the number of professional entomological consultants has tripled in the last ten years. Tremendous growth is expected in this area since there is an ever increasing need for a comprehensive understanding of our environment and of insect pests, their damage, and damage resulting from their control or the absence of control.
Technology and Property: Knowledge and the Commons

The application of scarcity and private property to technology is misguided because technology is a special kind of commons, particularly ill-suited for conversion to private property and market pricing. Emphasizing the de-centering of technology, the article explores technology’s communal aspects, Ostrom’s commons, and the dialectical process involved in the social construction of technology. An appendix adds institutional context.
Occupational health investigation of lead-exposed workers in zhoukou

Objective To investigate the occupational hazards for the lead-exposed workers in ZhouKou.Methods Determination of urinary lead was carried out for the lead-exposed workers for medical examination in zhoukou city center for disease control since 2008～2009.Results Urinary lead concentrations of 38 lead-exposed workers among the 202 were higher than that of the occupational exposure limit(0.43～0.57 μmol/ L);49 workers had both higher urinary lead(≥0.58 μmol/L),which belonged to light occupational lead poisoning.Lead workers engaged mainly in young adults 20 to 40 years.Symptoms of neurasthenic and digestive system were found among the lead-exposed workers.Conclusion Lead-exposure is proved to be occupationally hazardous for the workers.Effective preventive measures should be taken to prevent the attack of lead poisoning.
On the Aristotelian paragraph

L'A. defend l'hypothese selon laquelle le corpus aristotelicien a ete ecrit sous forme de paragraphes. Examinant la structure discursive du texte comme reflet des pratiques d'ecriture et de lecture de l'epoque, l'A. montre que le paragraphe est un outil analytique qui temoigne du projet cognitif de l'auteur: transformer la persuasion en contemplation.
RESPONSE OF THE PULMONARY VEIN TO RAPID BLOOD TRANSFUSION IN INTACT DOGS.

Abstract Using a modification of the transeptal technique of cardiac catheterization, pulmonary venous responses to rapid bood transfusion, were studied in 10 intact dogs. It was found that immediately following whole blood transfusion (mean 26.9 ml. per kilogram) mean left atrial pressure, pulmonary venous pressure, and pulmonary blood volume increased. However, between 3 and 18 minutes after completion of the transfusion, pulmonary venous pressure returned to control levels, whereas pulmonary blood volume remained unchanged. During this same period, left atrial pressure decreased, but it remained significantly above the control. These studies indicate that, following rapid blood transfusion, the pulmonary venous system behaved as a distensible reservoir accomodating a large volume of blood with only a transient rise in pressure. The fact that between 3 and 18 minutes after transfusion pulmonary venous pressure decreased in the absence of a decrease in pulmonary blood volume while left atrial pressure remained significantly elevated indicates that there was an active decrease in pulmonary venous tone. It is concluded that the pulmonary venous system plays an active role in the immediate hemodynamic adjustments to sudden hypervolemia.
A hybrid reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin and continuous Galerkin finite element method for incompressible flows on unstructured grids

A hybrid reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin and continuous Galerkin method based on an incremental pressure projection formulation, termed rDG ( P n P m ) + CG ( P n ) in this paper, is developed for solving the unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes equations on unstructured grids. In this method, a reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin method ( rDG ( P n P m ) ) is used to discretize the velocity and a standard continuous Galerkin method ( CG ( P n ) ) is used to approximate the pressure. The rDG ( P n P m ) + CG ( P n ) method is designed to increase the accuracy of the hybrid DG ( P n ) + CG ( P n ) method and yet still satisfy Ladyźenskaja-Babuska-Brezzi (LBB) condition, thus avoiding the pressure checkerboard instability. An upwind method is used to discretize the nonlinear convective fluxes in the momentum equations in order to suppress spurious oscillations in the velocity field. A number of incompressible flow problems for a variety of flow conditions are computed to numerically assess the spatial order of convergence of the rDG ( P n P m ) + CG ( P n ) method. The numerical experiments indicate that both rDG ( P 0 P 1 ) + CG ( P 1 ) and rDG ( P 1 P 2 ) + CG ( P 1 ) methods can attain the designed 2nd order and 3rd order accuracy in space for the velocity respectively. Moreover, the 3rd order rDG ( P 1 P 2 ) + CG ( P 1 ) method significantly outperforms its 2nd order rDG ( P 0 P 1 ) + CG ( P 1 ) and rDG ( P 1 P 1 ) + CG ( P 1 ) counterparts: being able to not only increase the accuracy of the velocity by one order but also improve the accuracy of the pressure.
Promoting Early Mobility for Hospitalized Patients: A Quality Improvement (QI) Project

This chapter provides a sample case of developing a quality improvement project to encourage mobility in hospitalized patients. This chapter is unique in that it provides a perspective from both a resident and an attending in order to help delineate differences in commitment between these two roles. This chapter also explains the basic structure utilized in the book for other sample projects. SBAR template (see below) will be used to provide the motivation for the project and DMAIC template (see below) will be used to communicate the project implementation. SBAR will provide the context for the quality improvement opportunity, which often can be identified as a gap between current scientific evidence and present-day clinical practice. Each of the subsections below will be subdivided into What and How sections. What section describes goals and conclusions. How section illustrates how these were reached/accomplished.
The Pendulum of Growth

In the post-war period and until the late 1970s, Greece was below the european average level of per capita income, but its economy was growing at much higher rates, so that the gap was systematically shrinking; see Figure 1.1. After the devastation brought about by the Second World War and the civil war, the economy started awakening in a desperate attempt of reviving growth and fostering employment. Investors found Greece to be a country with major opportunities in traditional sectors, which could be exploited even by firms with low technological and innovative potential.
Multirate iterative learning control for enhanced motion performance with application to wafer scanner systems

Iterative learning control (ILC) is an effective control technique for servo improvement in systems that repetitively execute the same tasks. In the learning process, the measured tracking error from the current iteration is incorporated to generate a new feedforward compensation signal to improve the system performance in the next iteration. Due to its discrete-time implementation, conventional ILC only considers errors at the sampled output points without inter-sample learning ability. Therefore, its achievable performance is limited by the output sampling rate. In this paper, a multirate ILC (MRILC) approach is proposed. Based on multirate Kalman Smoother and multirate feedforward control, the ILC update law in a multirate two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) control system with a fast feedforward ILC input but a slow output sampling rate is derived. The bandwidth of the learning loop may then be extended beyond that of the feedback loop for enhanced inter-sample learning. The effectiveness of the proposed MRILC is verified by experiments on a wafer scanner system.
"When information is not enough": A model for understanding BRCA-positive previvors' information needs regarding hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk.

Abstract Objective To investigate BRCA -positive, unaffected patients' – referred to as previvors – information needs after testing positive for a deleterious BRCA genetic mutation. Methods 25 qualitative interviews were conducted with previvors. Data were analyzed using the constant comparison method of grounded theory. Results Analysis revealed a theoretical model of previvors' information needs related to the stage of their health journey. Specifically, a four-stage model was developed based on the data: (1) pre-testing information needs, (2) post-testing information needs, (3) pre-management information needs, and (4) post-management information needs. Two recurring dimensions of desired knowledge also emerged within the stages—personal/social knowledge and medical knowledge. Conclusions While previvors may be genetically predisposed to develop cancer, they have not been diagnosed with cancer, and therefore have different information needs than cancer patients and cancer survivors. Practice Implications This model can serve as a framework for assisting healthcare providers in meeting the specific information needs of cancer previvors.
The Student Risk Screening Scale: A Reliability and Validity Generalization Meta-Analysis:

The purpose of this study was to conduct reliability and validity generalization meta-analyses of evidence regarding the Student Risk Screening Scale (SRSS), a universal screener for externalizing ...
Toll-Like Receptor 9 and Toll-Like Receptor 7 in the Development and Regulation of Systemic Autoimmune Disease

In vitro analyses of autoreactive B cells and pDCs clearly demonstrate a critical role for both TLR7 and TLR9 in the detection of endogenous nucleic acid ligands and activation of autoreactive B cells and dendritic cell subsets. Ligands for TLR7 and TLR9 are bound by surface receptors, either the BCR or an FcγR, and then delivered to endolysomal compartments where TLR7 or TLR9 are subsequently engaged, leading to immune activation. However, in vivo analyses of autoimmune-prone mice have revealed a more complex interplay between TLR9- and TLR7-driven activation of key effector populations and the severity of systemic autoimmune diseases such as SLE. It is clear that TLR7/BCR co-engagement promotes B cell activation, autoantibody production, and clinical disease. By contrast, TLR9 has a biphasic role and appears to initially limit the activation of B cells reactive to DNA or DNA-binding proteins, either by contributing to the production of protective antibodies or by directly constraining B cell responses to endogenous ligands. Nevertheless, TLR9 is still required for the full-scale activation of B cells with similar DNA/DNA-binding autoanigen reactivities.
Relative family performance and variance structure of open-pollinated Douglas-fir seedlings grown in three competitive environments.

Open-pollinated Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var ‘menziesii’ (Mirb.) Franco) families were tested in three contrasting competitive environments to test the hypothesis that relative performance as measured by total seedling dry weight is dependent upon distance or genotype of neighbors. The three competitive environmnts included (1) a mixture of individuals from all families planted at close spacing, (2) single (pure) family blocks planted at close spacing, and (3) individuals from all families planted at a wide, non-competitive spacing. Despite occasional large changes in rank between competitive environments and only moderate correlations of family means between competitive environments, the family x competitive environment interaction was non-significant. Furthermore, families did not differ significantly in competitive ability or density tolerance. The competitive environment in which seedlings were grown, however, had a large effect on estimates of variance components, which in turn led to large differences in estimates of heritability and genetic gain. Evaluation of families in mixture resulted in the largest estimates of heritability, while evaluation in pure family blocks resulted in the lowest. Analysis of correlated response to selection indicated that testing and selection in mixture result in the largest estimated gain, even if progeny of selected individuals are subsequently grown in a pure or non-competitive environment.
When the Giant Falls: Endurance and Adaptation at Çadır Höyük in the Context of the Hittite Empire and Its Collapse

At the end of the Late Bronze Age, around 1200 b.c., the Hittite Empire of Anatolia collapsed. While that collapse has been well studied, the effects on Hittite-held lands are less so, with many ar...
Effect of age, sex, and season on the variation in blood analytes of a clinically normal ex situ population of killer whales (Orcinus orca).

Background The effects of sex, age, and season on blood analyte concentrations have not been investigated for the killer whale (Orcinus orca). Defining these changes provides background data for improving the care of managed populations and defines normal changes that could occur in wild counterparts. Objectives We aimed to define hematologic and serum biochemical variation by age, sex, and season for an ex situ killer whale population. Methods Blood samples collected from killer whales during normal wellness exams were retrospectively identified. Killer whales were categorized by age; calf (0-2.9 years), juvenile (3-10.9 years), early adult (11-20.9 years), adult (21-30.9 years), and aged (>30.9 years); sex; and season. Standard CBC and biochemistry were collated, and only samples without evidence of disease were used. A mixed effects maximum likelihood regression with animal identification (ID) as the random effects variable was used to compare groups with a significance set at P ≤ 0.01. Results All analytes differed by age, while only four differed by sex. Red blood cell parameters and associated renal analytes increased with age, while liver-associated analytes and glucose decreased. Season affected 59% of the blood analytes. Conclusions Aged killer whales showed strong evidence of altered physiology as compared with younger animals. Anemia did not develop with age as was observed in one bottlenose dolphin population. Observed decreases in renal function could be caused by chronic disease or dehydration. Decreases in immune function parameters suggest immune senescence. These results provide background data for evaluating the health of managed and free-ranging killer whales.
Chapter 18 Exchange-rate dynamics

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the dynamic behavior of exchange rates. It focuses on both the exchange rate's response to exogenous disturbances and the relation between exchange-rate movements and movements in such endogenous variables as nominal and relative prices, interest rates, output, and the current account. The chapter discusses an ideal treatment of exchange-rate dynamics by summarizing the relevant characteristics of the empirical record. All key features of the stochastic processes that appear to govern exchange rates and other statistically related economic variables have been reviewed in the chapter. It also presents a set of models that are compatible with at least some of the observed relationships. The chapter introduces market frictions so that the role of endogenous output fluctuations can be studied. The assumption of domestic price stickiness reinforces both the correlation between exchange-rate and terms-of-trade changes and the high short-run variability of the exchange rate compared to that of international price-level ratios. Finally, the chapter examines deterministic and stochastic models in which individual behavior is derived from an explicit intertemporal optimization problem.
An improved synthesis of (−)-dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphthol[2,1-b]furan via ozonolysis of (−)-sclareol

Abstract Ozonolysis of (−)-sclareol 1 under a wide range of experimental conditions has been investigated. The addition of one of the following; sodium periodate, sodium iodate, iodine or potassium iodide affords after workup the methyl-ketone 2 in excellent yield. Further elaboration of 2 afforded the title compound 4 in high yield.
Fractal Philosophy: Grounding the Nature of the Mind with Fractals

Grounding is a field of philosophy that attempts to answer what are the metaphysical aspects of nature. The reasoning and understanding that is used in philosophy can be mapped out with fractals, due to the symmetry, infinite, and circularity. These aspects of fractals are found through biologly, psychology, physics, and even computer science. Through this understanding; fractals implemented into philosophy and the sciences and create a unified method of bringing the metaphysical concepts of the mind to the empirical data observed from nature.
Impedance and Histologic Characteristics of the Sub-Laryngeal Esophagus Distinguish Eosinophilic Esophagitis From Other Esophageal Disorders

Background & Aims The region of the esophagus 15–17 cm below the incisors, called the sub-upper esophageal sphincter (sub-UES), has not been characterized in adults with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) but appears different during endoscopy. We investigated how the sub-UES differs from the remaining esophagus in patients with EoE and aimed to determine whether these differences be used to distinguish patients with EoE from those with lichen planus. Methods We performed a prospective study of 14 patients with EoE, 7 patients with lichen planus (based on presence of Civatte bodies, dysphagia, and/or narrow esophagus with thin esophageal mucosa without signs of EoE), and 20 patients undergoing upper endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal or with dysphagia but without features of EoE (controls) at a single medical center from 2015 through 2018. Biopsies from the distal, middle, and sub-UES regions of the esophagus were analyzed by histology, quantitative PCR, and immunohistochemistry. We measured mucosal impedance (MI) in all subjects at the sub-UES and 2 cm, 5 cm, and 10 cm from the gastro-esophageal junction. Results Patients with EoE had significantly fewer eosinophils (median, 2 eosinophils/high-powered field [HPF]; range, 0–8 eosinophils/HPF) in sub-UES tissues compared with distal esophagus (median, 50 eosinophils/HPF; range, 22.5–60.8 eosinophils/HPF; P Conclusions Sub-UES tissues from patients with EoE differ in numbers of eosinophils, histologic features, and MI compared to controls or patients with lichen planus. These features might help to distinguish these 2 diseases.
Intervertebral Disc Repair: Current Concepts:

Study Design:Review article.Objective:A review of the literature on current strategies utilized in intervertebral regeneration and repair efforts.Methods:A review of the literature and analysis of ...
One-trial perceptual learning in the absence of conscious remembering and independent of the medial temporal lobe

A degraded, black-and-white image of an object, which appears meaningless on first presentation, is easily identified after a single exposure to the original, intact image. This striking example of perceptual learning reflects a rapid (one-trial) change in performance, but the kind of learning that is involved is not known. We asked whether this learning depends on conscious (hippocampus-dependent) memory for the images that have been presented or on an unconscious (hippocampus-independent) change in the perception of images, independently of the ability to remember them. We tested five memory-impaired patients with hippocampal lesions or larger medial temporal lobe (MTL) lesions. In comparison to volunteers, the patients were fully intact at perceptual learning, and their improvement persisted without decrement from 1 d to more than 5 mo. Yet, the patients were impaired at remembering the test format and, even after 1 d, were impaired at remembering the images themselves. To compare perceptual learning and remembering directly, at 7 d after seeing degraded images and their solutions, patients and volunteers took either a naming test or a recognition memory test with these images. The patients improved as much as the volunteers at identifying the degraded images but were severely impaired at remembering them. Notably, the patient with the most severe memory impairment and the largest MTL lesions performed worse than the other patients on the memory tests but was the best at perceptual learning. The findings show that one-trial, long-lasting perceptual learning relies on hippocampus-independent (nondeclarative) memory, independent of any requirement to consciously remember.
Altered Mental Status in the Emergency Department - When to Consider Anti-LGI-1 Encephalitis: Case Report.

Author(s): Miljkovic, Stephanie S.; Koenig, B. Witkind | Abstract: Introduction: Anti-leucine-rich glioma inactivated-1 (LGI-1) is one of few antibodies implicated in limbic encephalitis, a syndrome that can result in permanent neurological symptoms if left untreated.Case Report: We present a patient with dystonic seizures, progressive cognitive decline, psychiatric symptoms and short-term memory loss, and mild hyponatremia diagnosed with anti-LGI-1 antibody limbic encephalitis.Conclusion: There are few reports in the emergency medicine community describing anti-LGI-1 antibody limbic encephalitis. Delay in diagnosis can risk irreversible limbic damage. Therefore, it is important for the emergency physician to be aware of anti-LGI-1 antibody limbic encephalitis when presented with adult-onset seizures and altered mental status of unknown etiology.
In Memoriam Charles Mills, 1951-2021: In Memoriam

In 1999, two years after the publication of The Racial Contract, I had the pleasure of meeting Charles Mills for the first time when I organized a panel at the American Political Science Associatio...
The Art of Pliny's Letters: A Poetics of Allusion in the Private Correspondence

Introduction 1. The semiotics of structure 2. Sed quid ego tam gloriose? Pliny's choice of poetics 3. The importance of being Secundus: Tacitus' voice in Pliny's letters 4. Storming historiography: Pliny's voice in Tacitus' texts 5. Overcoming Ciceronian anxiety: Pliny's niche/nike in literary history From dawn till dusk: four notes in lieu of a conclusion Appendix to Chapter 5.
Mapping Extent and Change in Surface Mines Within the United States for 2001 to 2006

A complete, spatially explicit dataset illustrating the 21st century mining footprint for the conterminous United States does not exist. To address this need, we developed a semi-automated procedure to map the country's mining footprint (30-m pixel) and establish a baseline to monitor changes in mine extent over time. The process uses mine seed points derived from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS), and USGS National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) and recodes patches of barren land that meet a “distance to seed” requirement and a patch area requirement before mapping a pixel as mining. Seed points derived from EIA coal points, an edited MRDS point file, and 1992 NLCD mine points were used in three separate efforts using different distance and patch area parameters for each. The three products were then merged to create a 2001 map of moderate-to-large mines in the United States, which was subsequently manually edited to reduce omission and commission errors. This process was replicated using NLCD 2006 barren pixels as a base layer to create a 2006 mine map and a 2001–2006 mine change map focusing on areas with surface mine expansion. In 2001, 8,324 km2 of surface mines were mapped. The footprint increased to 9,181 km2 in 2006, representing a 10·3% increase over 5 years. These methods exhibit merit as a timely approach to generate wall-to-wall, spatially explicit maps representing the recent extent of a wide range of surface mining activities across the country. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evolving Self-reference: Matter, Symbols, and Semantic Closure

A theory of emergent or open-ended evolution that is consistent with the epistemological foundations of physical theory and the logic of self-reference requires complementary descriptions of the material and symbolic aspects of events. The matter-symbol complementarity is explained in terms of the logic of self-replication, and physical distinction of laws and initial conditions. Physical laws and natural selection are complementary models of events. Physical laws describe those invariant events over which organisms have no control. Evolution by natural selection is a theory of how organisms increase their control over events. A necessary semantic closure relation is defined relating the material and symbolic aspects of organisms capable of open-ended evolution.
Disparity analysis and its application to three-dimensional reconstruction of medical images

A novel approach to image alignment or registration for three-dimensional reconstruction of medical images is introduced. The scheme is based on recent advances in computer vision. A point-to-point disparity analysis is used in the alignment algorithm. It is assumed that a sequence of images to be aligned is related by a linear affine transformation. Based on this model, a disparity function is defined by considering the image shape structure or the image intensity changes. The function parameters are estimated simultaneously from the computation of shape or intensity disparity. The decomposition of the disparity function parameters reveals the object rotation, deformation, scaling, and translation individually in a 3D space. These parameters provide enough information for image alignment as well as image matching. Experiments on 3D reconstruction of autoradiographic images demonstrate the effectiveness of the disparity analysis method. >
Regulation of the PH-domain-containing tyrosine kinase Etk by focal adhesion kinase through the FERM domain

Etk/BMX, a member of the Btk family of tyrosine kinases, is highly expressed in cells with great migratory potential, including endothelial cells and metastatic carcinoma cell lines. Here, we present evidence that Etk is involved in integrin signalling and promotes cell migration. The activation of Etk by extracellular matrix proteins is regulated by FAK through an interaction between the PH domain of Etk and the FERM domain of FAK. The lack of Etk activation by extracellular matrix in FAK-null cells could be restored by co-transfection with wild-type FAK. Disrupting the interaction between Etk and FAK diminished the cell migration promoted by either kinase. Furthermore, inhibiting Etk expression in metastatic carcinoma cell lines with an antisense oligonucleotide blocks integrin-mediated migration of these cells. Taken together, our data indicate the essential role of the interaction of the PH domain of Etk and the FERM domain of FAK in integrin signalling.
High mobility group box protein 1 as a novel vascular permeability factor derived from endothelial inflammasome activation during obesity (688.5)

The early onset of type II diabetes in obese individuals is characteristic of increased vascular permeability leading to diabetic vasculopathy. However, it remains unknown how obesity instigates en...
High power ultrawideband short pulse (UWBSP) electromagnetics (EM) application for wide band gap (WBG) photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSS)

UWBSP EM systems typically rely on spark gap or vacuum tube-based devices because of the significant current and voltage magnitudes involved. Historically, solid-state devices have not been able to resist dielectric breakdown and the subsequent catastrophic failure modes that result in device damage when the large, pulsed bias voltages associated with UWBSP applications are applied. Recent advances in semi-insulating WBG materials have the potential to create switches that relieve the breakdown problem, while also allowing for more predictable, controllable, stable, and efficient switching at a reduced size and weight than what has been possible with traditional high power switching technologies. These WBG switches are operated by virtue of optical excitation of charge carriers from dopants deep within the band gap, also known as extrinsic photoconduction. This paper presents a hybrid computational approach for investigating a PCSS-based UWBSP system, focusing on the source and accompanying antenna radiation. The PCSS is simulated through Synopsys Sentaurus, using an array of fundamental and user-defined solid-state physics models. Both conventional and WBG materials are examined, and compared to published data in existing literature on comparable spark gap and PCSS systems. The results of the PCSS are used to excite two lossy UWB antenna designs, and the radiated output signals are compared both to each other and to existing literature. The results indicate that PCSS possess very high potential for not only matching but also exceeding the performance of spark gap based devices. The thick dipole UWB antenna appears to be a better suited design for radiating the transient signal switched by the PCSS than the bow tie antenna, with a higher amplitude of radiated power and far electric field. The magnitude of the radiation presents a compelling case for further investigation into the prospect of further developing solid-state driving sources for high power electromagnetic radiating systems. More advanced material measurement and characterization of the physical process involved with critical aspects of the switch, such as extrinsic photoconduction, are required in order to produce a higher fidelity model for future research.
Ureteropelvic Junction Repair: Stent and Vent

AbstractPurpose: We report on a simple technique of how to stent and vent the anastomosis after ureteropelvic junction repair in children.Materials and Methods: An 8F feeding tube housing a 4F ureteral catheter, each trimmed to different lengths, was used to stent a ureteropelvic junction anastomosis in a 3-year-old girl with 1 functional kidney. On postoperative day 7 the ureteral catheter was removed and a nephrostogram was performed via the remaining feeding tube, which could also function as a nephrostomy tube.Results: The combined tubes were simply constructed, easily cared for during the postoperative period, served the purpose of stenting and could provide nephrostomy drainage if necessary.Conclusions: We recommend our stent and vent system in select cases of ureteropelvic junction repair.
Identification of PBX1 Target Genes in Cancer Cells by Global Mapping of PBX1 Binding Sites

PBX1 is a TALE homeodomain transcription factor involved in organogenesis and tumorigenesis. Although it has been shown that ovarian, breast, and melanoma cancer cells depend on PBX1 for cell growth and survival, the molecular mechanism of how PBX1 promotes tumorigenesis remains unclear. Here, we applied an integrated approach by overlapping PBX1 ChIP-chip targets with the PBX1-regulated transcriptome in ovarian cancer cells to identify genes whose transcription was directly regulated by PBX1. We further determined if PBX1 target genes identified in ovarian cancer cells were co-overexpressed with PBX1 in carcinoma tissues. By analyzing TCGA gene expression microarray datasets from ovarian serous carcinomas, we found co-upregulation of PBX1 and a significant number of its direct target genes. Among the PBX1 target genes, a homeodomain protein MEOX1 whose DNA binding motif was enriched in PBX1-immunoprecipicated DNA sequences was selected for functional analysis. We demonstrated that MEOX1 protein interacts with PBX1 protein and inhibition of MEOX1 yields a similar growth inhibitory phenotype as PBX1 suppression. Furthermore, ectopically expressed MEOX1 functionally rescued the PBX1-withdrawn effect, suggesting MEOX1 mediates the cellular growth signal of PBX1. These results demonstrate that MEOX1 is a critical target gene and cofactor of PBX1 in ovarian cancers.
Diffuse optics for monitoring brain hemodynamics

I will review recent diffuse optics experiments carried out at PENN which explore cerebral hemodynamics in a variety of patient populations. Generally speaking, the research demonstrates the feasibility of both diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS), for measurement of cerebral blood flow, and more ‘traditional’ near-infrared (NIR) measurements of cerebral blood volume and oxygen saturation. The optical methods are employed to assess cerebral responses to simple functional perturbations such as posture change. The optical methodologies are also directly compared to transcranial Doppler Ultrasound (TCD), Xenon-CT and MRI in some of these patient (and normal) populations.
Fast pedestal, SOL and divertor measurements from DIII-D to validate BOUT++ nonlinear ELM simulations

Abstract This paper documents first work toward validation of BOUT++ nonlinear edge localized mode (ELM) simulations in X-point geometry, at experimental pedestal collisionality, against multiple diagnostic measurements of a well-characterized ELM event in DIII-D. The key to the BOUT++ simulations is the use of a hyper-resistivity model that effectively spreads the very thin current sheets that form in low collisionality nonlinear simulations, and allows for ELM driven magnetic reconnection at finite current density. Experimental ELM characterization includes multiple fast line-integrated diagnostic measurements revealing in–out divertor asymmetric response to ELMs, IRTV imaging at the divertor targets, visible emission in the divertor volume to test the extension of BOUT++ to X-point geometry, and forward modeling of new electron cyclotron emission imaging to test predictions of ELM filaments in the edge pedestal. Initial comparisons suggest optimized BOUT boundary conditions and model parameters, and show similarities between initial BOUT++ results and several measurements.
Comparison of Shape Parameters for Selected Coarse Aggregates in Oklahoma

The performance of pavement can be significantly influenced by the gradation and shape parameters of the aggregates (i.e., angularity, texture, form, and sphericity). An accurate measurement of these properties is important for the development of specifications for the quality control and quality assurance of aggregates. The present study was undertaken in order to compare the shape parameters of different types and sizes of selected coarse aggregates that are commonly used in Oklahoma. Three different types of aggregates—granite, rhyolite, and limestone—were collected from stockpiles. Each type of aggregate was divided into three different sizes of coarse aggregates. These sizes include the following: passing through a 19 mm sieve and retained on a 12.5 mm sieve (CA1), passing through a 12.5 mm sieve and retained on a 9.5 mm sieve (CA2), and passing through a 9.5 mm sieve and retained on a 4.75 mm sieve (CA3). CA1 type aggregates had the largest size, followed by CA2 and CA3. An automated aggregate imaging measurement system was used to measure the shape parameters of the aggregates. The results show that the aggregates become smooth (low texture) and elongated (high form and low sphericity) as their size decreases. No relation was observed between the particle size and the angularity of the aggregates. A comparison of different types of aggregates indicated that, in general, granite aggregates were highly rough (high texture) and cubical (low form and high sphericity) compared to rhyolite and limestone aggregates. Similarly, the angularity of granite aggregates was found to be significantly different than that of rhyolite and limestone aggregates. The ranking of the aggregates was done based on the composite shape index factor (CI) for angularity, form, texture, and sphericity. The CI considers the combined effect of the gradation and shape parameters of aggregates. In addition, the ranking of aggregates was further verified by estimating the dynamic modulus (|E*|) of the mixes composed of granite, rhyolite, and limestone aggregates. The aggregate shape-based model developed by the authors was used to estimate |E*| of a mix using the aggregate shape parameter, frequency, viscosity of the asphalt binder, and volumetric properties of a mix. |E*| of a mix is considered as an important parameter in estimating the performance of flexible pavements in terms of fatigue, rutting, and low temperature cracking. Therefore, the ranking of aggregates based on |E*| of the mixes provides a better understanding of the performance of the aggregates. The results show that both methods for ranking the aggregates (i.e., CI factor and |E*|) showed similar results. Overall, the mix with rhyolite aggregate was ranked first, followed by the mixes with limestone and granite aggregates.
35S-labeled glycosaminoglycans of the mouse prostate and its secretion by organ culture.

SummaryMouse prostates maintained in organ culture continued to incorporate [35S]sulfate into GAGs up to 100 hr, the duration of culture. However, there was a lag phase of about 20 hr before the appearance of 35S-labeled secretions in the media.Aliquots of papain-extracted 35S-GAGs of prostates and secretions from 20-, 30-, and 50-hr cultures were digested to completion with either chondroitinase ABC or AC. The depolymerized components were separated by paper chromatography and visualized by radioautography. Both the radioautographs and specific radioactivities of the components of the prostate 35S-GAGs were consistently different from those of the secretion 35S-GAGs. Moreover, while about 95% of the non-dialyzable 35S in the prostate GAG preparations was shown to be incorporated into GAGs, only about 63% of the 35S of the secretion GAG preparations was incorporated into GAGs—the remainder appears to be in glycoprotein.The 35S distribution among the prostate and secretion 35S-GAGs was as follows: chondroi...
Thermal expansion behavior of NiSi/NiSi2☆

The thermal expansion of NiSi/NiSi2 for a range of temperatures from 293 to 1223 K was determined using high-temperature X-ray diffraction. While a linear relation with temperature was found for the lattice parameter of NiSi2, third-order relationships were found for the three lattice parameters of NiSi, with one of the parameters showing a decrease with increasing temperature. The volumetric expansion of both materials exhibited linear relationships.
Acid Rain: A Serious Regional Environmental Problem

At present, acid rain or snow is falling on most of the northeastern United States. The annual acidity value averages about pH 4, but values between pH 2.1 and 5 have been recorded for individual storms. The acidity of precipitation in this region apparently increased about 20 years ago, and the increase may have been associated with the augmented use of natural gas and with the installation of particle-removal devices in tall smokestacks. Only some of the ecological and economic effects of this widespread introduction of strong acids into natural systems are known at present, but clearly they must be considered in proposals for new energy sources and in the development of air quality emission standards.
Triboluminescent materials for smart sensors

Since the beginning of 21 st Century, scientists and engineers have been investigating triboluminescent materials for use in smart impact sensors. One of the brightest triboluminescent materials found thus far is europium dibenzoylmethide triethylammonium (EuD 4 TEA). This material was discovered by Hurt in 1966 and is bright enough to be seen in daylight. Through innovative design of the material synthesis steps and by exchanging europium chloride for europium nitrate, the triboluminescent emission was increased by over 80%. In addition, the material yield was increased, as chloride washing is not required. Here, we discuss the new synthesis process, triboluminescent results, and future applications of EuD 4 TEA phosphors.
The expanding role of the ER translocon in membrane protein folding

Eukaryotic polytopic membrane proteins are cotranslationally inserted into the ER membrane by a multisubunit protein-conducting channel called the Sec61 translocon. Although most major translocon components have been identified and reconstituted, their stoichiometry and functional organization remain unknown. This has led to speculative and sometimes conflicting models describing how multiple transmembrane (TM) segments might be oriented and integrated during nascent polytopic protein biogenesis. Kida et al. (see p. 1441 of this issue) shed new insight into this area by demonstrating that functional translocons exhibit a remarkable flexibility by simultaneously accommodating at least two hydrophilic translocating peptides that are separated by multiple hydrophobic TMs. These surprising findings support an expanded role for the translocon in membrane protein biogenesis and require reassessment of current views based on a single small functional pore.
The Influence of Social Networks on Agricultural Technology Adoption

Abstract This paper applies Social Network Analysis (SNA) to the effects of professional collaboration within social networks on farmers’ decision-making behavior when adopting irrigation technology. This paper addresses professional collaboration found in tenure relations, social and professional organizations. The sample consists of 195 fields farmed over a five-year period in southeast Texas by 37 farmers. The analysis suggests that participation in organizations is a key factor influencing adoption of irrigation technology. After initial implementation by central farmers, technology is transferred either through tenant or kinship relationships. Results suggest that ownership-stake is a factor as to whether a farmer participates in organizations.
The Effect of Display Modality on Decision-Making with Uncertainty

This research compared visual (color), auditory (tone pitch), and tactile (vibration amplitude) displays of uncertainty in a threat avoidance task. Thirty participants used these displays to navigate through a simulated minefield, selecting paths that would minimize their chance of hitting a mine, while moving through the field as quickly and directly as possible. Results showed the participants in the visual condition to be the most conservative (safer but longer), while those in the auditory condition took the shortest (riskier) path. Interestingly, in terms of trial time, while all participants tended to improve their performance with respect to speed, participants in the tactile condition started out more slowly, but were similar in speed to the fastest, visual condition, by the end of the trials.