cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nitrosyl-heme structures of Bacillus subtilis nitric oxide synthase have implications for understanding substrate oxidation.

The crystal structures of nitrosyl-heme complexes of a prokaryotic nitric oxide synthase (NOS) from Bacillus subtilis (bsNOS) reveal changes in active-site hydrogen bonding in the presence of the intermediate N{sup {omega}}-hydroxy-L-arginine (NOHA) compared to the substrate L-arginine (L-Arg). Correlating with a Val-to-Ile residue substitution in the bsNOS heme pocket, the Fe(II)-NO complex with both L-Arg and NOHA is more bent than the Fe(II)-NO, L-Arg complex of mammalian eNOS. Structures of the Fe(III)-NO complex with NOHA show a nearly linear nitrosyl group, and in one subunit, partial nitrosation of bound NOHA. In the Fe(II)-NO complexes, the protonated NOHA N{sup {omega}} atom forms a short hydrogen bond with the heme-coordinated NO nitrogen, but active-site water molecules are out of hydrogen bonding range with the distal NO oxygen. In contrast, the L-Arg guanidinium interacts more weakly and equally with both NO atoms, and an active-site water molecule hydrogen bonds to the distal NO oxygen. This difference in hydrogen bonding to the nitrosyl group by the two substrates indicates that interactions provided by NOHA may preferentially stabilize an electrophilic peroxo-heme intermediate in the second step of NOS catalysis.
Thick plate bending wave transmission using a mobility power flow approach

The mobility power flow (MPF) approach is used in this paper to describe the flexural behavior of an L-shaped plate structure consisting of thick plates with rotary inertia and shear deformation effects included in the analysis. The introduction of the thick plate effects significantly increases the complexity of the structural mobility functions used in the definitions of the power flow terms; however, because of the substructuring that is used in the MPF approach, the complexity of the problem is significantly reduced as compared to solving for the global structure. Additionally, with the MPF approach the modal behavior is described. The MPF analysis of the L-shaped plate is performed for the case of point force excitation on one plate, with the two plates being identical in both size and thickness. The results of this analysis are compared to results from the finite-element analysis (FEA) and the statistical energy analysis (SEA) and show very good agreement in the low- and high-frequency regimes, respectively.
Issues in the extinction of specific stimulus-outcome associations in Pavlovian conditioning.

This paper reviews a variety of studies designed to examine the effects of extinction upon control by specific stimulus-outcome (S-O) associations in Pavlovian conditioning. Studies conducted with rats in a magazine approach conditioning paradigm have shown that control by specific S-O associations is normally unaffected by extinction treatments, although other aspects of conditioned responding seem affected in a more enduring way. However, recent work suggests that extinction can undermine control by such associations if it is administered after the conditioned stimulus is weakly encoded. The results from these studies suggest that it may be important to consider multiple response systems in assessing the impact of extinction. Studies conducted with the flavor preference learning paradigm in rats also show that specific S-O associations can be undermined by procedures that involve presenting a flavor cue in the absence of its associated nutrient. These findings provide no support for the view that flavor preference learning necessarily entails some unique learning process that differs from more conventional processes. As in other situations, some of these effects likely involve a masking process, but the extent to which masking or true associative weakening occurs in extinction more generally is a topic that is not well understood. Finally, we present some data to suggest that extinction also involves conditional “occasion-setting” control by contextual cues. Special procedures are recommended in assessing such learning when the goal is to distinguish this form of learning from other more conventional mechanisms of extinction.
Factorial Validity of a Student Evaluation of Teaching Instrument.

The validity of the Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET) used in the College of Education, University of Kentucky was studied using 3573 individual student evaluations from 254 graduate and undergraduate classes taught by 126 instructors in one semester in the College of Education. As a result of principal axis factor analysis with varimax rotation performed on the 17 item 5-point Likert Scale variables of the 22 item questionnaire, three factors were identified. The first factor was considered to be a measure of method and style of teaching. The second factor was made up of items relating to a student's perception of self as it relates to the course. The third factor had high loading on items concerning materials and resources. It was concluded that the SET instrument was somewhat useful in evaluating teaching because items associated with teaching emerged as the primary distinct factor.
Computation of minimum-time feedback control laws for discrete-time systems with state-control constraints

The problem of finding a feedback law that drives the state of a linear discrete-time system to the origin in minimum-time subject to state-control constraints is considered. Algorithms are given to obtain facial descriptions of the M -step admissible sets. These descriptions are then used to characterize the complete class of minimum-time feedback laws. Moreover, the characterization leads to a conceptually simple on-line implementation. The main ideas are illustrated with two simple examples.
The Dielectric Constant and Molecular Weight of Bromine Vapor

It is shown that the conclusion reached by Bramley in a recent article that bromine has the formula (Br2)6 is inconsistent with previous results relating to the density of this substance in the gaseous state and that it is not theoretically justified by the considerations presented by the author.
Future value and patch choice in least chipmunks.

Abstract Animals subsisting on non-renewing patches confront a unique valuation problem, in which the objective value of a patch is inversely related to the amount already harvested. We investigated whether the subjective patch valuations of captive least chipmunks,Tamias minimus, reflected this environmental constraint as they foraged for buried patches of seeds. On the day following partial depletion of two patches, chipmunks spontaneously selected the least depleted patch, despite having no direct information about its former or present value. These findings held across experiments in which the order and extent of patch depletion were under the forager's control or experimental control. The animals consistently chose sites from which they had taken the fewest items, despite experiencing no difference in relative capture rate, suggesting that they discounted patch value on the basis of amount harvested or harvest time. Furthermore, the animals refused to return to patches they had completely depleted, and when induced to re-dig depleted patches by placing seeds above them, the animals chose randomly despite a three-fold difference in the number of items previously taken from each, suggesting that they disregarded rewards taken, attending only to the amount remaining. Subsequent experiments showed that chipmunks can take past reward history into account. When we refilled previously depleted patches and induced chipmunks to re-dig and deplete them again, they treated the patches as renewable types and represented their value in terms of the amount removed, not the amount left. Thus, the assessment mechanism of least chipmunks is facultative: they expect that patches will not replenish, but are prepared for exceptions.
Higher order derivatives of Liapunov functions

The problem considered is that of inferring asymptotic stability by examining higher order derivatives of a Liapunov function when examination of only the first derivative does not permit such an inference. It is shown that a seemingly plausible approach using only \dot{V} and \ddot{V} is vacuous. It is also shown that it is possible to infer asymptotic stability by examining \dot{V} and \ddot{V} , and perhaps \ddot{V} .
The murine gene encoding apolipoprotein D exhibits a unique expression pattern as compared to other species

The ApoD cDNA coding for murine apolipoprotein D (ApoD) was cloned from a mammary gland library and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence and encoded mature protein are highly homologous to those of rabbit and human. Interestingly, unlike in other species, ApoD RNA is not found in spleen, liver, pancreas or kidney.
A real-time heart rate analysis for a remote millimeter wave I-Q sensor

This paper analyzes heart rate (HR) information from physiological tracings collected with a remote millimeter wave (mmW) I-Q sensor for biometric monitoring applications. A parameter optimization method based on the nonlinear Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm is used. The mmW sensor works at 94 GHz and can detect the vital signs of a human subject from a few to tens of meters away. The reflected mmW signal is typically affected by respiration, body movement, background noise, and electronic system noise. Processing of the mmW radar signal is, thus, necessary to obtain the true HR. The down-converted received signal in this case consists of both the real part (I-branch) and the imaginary part (Q-branch), which can be considered as the cosine and sine of the received phase of the HR signal. Instead of fitting the converted phase angle signal, the method directly fits the real and imaginary parts of the HR signal, which circumvents the need for phase unwrapping. This is particularly useful when the SNR is low. Also, the method identifies both beat-to-beat HR and individual heartbeat magnitude, which is valuable for some medical diagnosis applications. The mean HR here is compared to that obtained using the discrete Fourier transform.
Direct experimental evidence for atomic scale structural changes involved in the interface-trap transformation process

We have identified atomic scale processes involved in the so called "interface trap transformation" process. These changes involve the generation of a silicon "dangling bond" defect called P/sub b1/. This defect is somewhat different in electronic density of states and slightly different in physical structure than the dominating radiation induced Si/SiO/sub 2/ interface trap defect, the P/sub b0/ center.
Carbonic anhydrase in the adult mosquito midgut.

We have previously demonstrated the involvement of carbonic anhydrase (CA) in larval mosquito midgut physiology. In this study, we used Hansson's histochemistry to examine the distribution of the enzyme in the midgut of Aedes aegypti , Aedes albopictus , Culex quinquefasciatus , Culex nigripalpus , Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus , Anopheles albimanus and Anopheles quadrimaculatus adult mosquitoes. Additionally, we quantitated CA content in the anterior and posterior midgut of adult males and females from these species using the 18O isotope exchange method coupled to mass spectrometry. We also tested the effect of CA inhibitors such as methazolamide and acetazolamide in the alkalization of the midgut in females from these species. Our results indicate that CA is present in the midgut of adults from the species studied and that it appears to be preferentially associated with the posterior midgut in both males and females. CA inhibitors appear to have a profound effect on midgut pH indicating that this enzyme might play a key role in the maintenance of this pH.
Tire model for simulations of vehicle motion on high and low friction road surfaces

An on-road analytical tire model has been developed to predict tire forces and moments at the tire/road interface. The model is computationally efficient and it only requires a limited set of easily obtained input parameters. Force and moment calculations are based on mechanical analogs that describe longitudinal and lateral tire tread and sidewall deflections during braking, traction and cornering. Longitudinal deflections are determined using a simple linear elastic spring model, while lateral deflections are calculated using an elastic beam model. Surface sliding friction is defined by experimental curves relating the friction coefficient to the wheel/road differential velocity. Source code has been developed to include the model as a force element subroutine in commercially available dynamic analysis software known as DADS (Dynamic Analysis Design System). The tire model has been successfully demonstrated in DADS using a simple simulation of a tire test device. Preliminary comparisons of model predictions with available test data have been favorable. Efforts are underway to incorporate the tire subroutine into a DADS model of a HMMWV to conduct driving simulations on dry, snow and ice covered road surfaces.
Glutamine Kinetics in Burn Patients: Comparison With Hormonally Induced Stress in Volunteers

Objective: To assess the acute and protracted adaptive response of peripheral glutamine kinetics to a severe injury. Design: Comparison study. Setting: Clinical research center at a university-affiliated hospital. Patients: Six severely burned men and five young healthy men. Interventions: The catabolic hormones epinephrine, cortisol, and glucagon were infused simultaneously into the femoral artery of five healthy volunteers, thus acutely simulating the hormonal milieu associated with a severe injury. Main Outcome Measures: Whole-body glutamine flux and peripheral glutamine kinetics were determined using glutamine labeled with nitrogen 15 and net balance measurements in patients 2 weeks following a severe burn injury. Identical measurements were made in the healthy volunteers before and following 4 hours of catabolic hormone infusion. Results: Whole-body glutamine flux increased to a similar extent in both the burn patients and in volunteers following catabolic hormone infusion. In comparison with their basal kinetics, the hormonally simulated acute stress in the volunteers induced a significant efflux of glutamine from the leg by greatly increasing the rate of glutamine appearance. In contrast, burn patients had a significant decrease in their rate of glutamine appearance and achieved a similar net loss of glutamine from the leg only by a compensatory decrease in peripheral glutamine consumption. Conclusions: These findings suggest that in the acute stress response, skeletal muscle preferentially releases glutamine from its free intracellular pool. As this reserve becomes depleted, net glutamine efflux is maintained by decreasing its rate of muscle glutamine utilization. These results suggest a failure of muscle to augment de novo glutamine synthesis and support the conclusion that glutamine is a conditionally essential amino acid during critical illness. (Arch Surg. 1994;129:1318-1323)
The Relationship Between the Genetic and Environmental Influences on Common Externalizing Psychopathology and Mental Wellbeing

To determine the relationship between the genetic and environmental risk factors for externalizing psychopathology and mental wellbeing, we examined detailed measures of emotional, social and psychological wellbeing, and a history of alcohol-related problems and smoking behavior in the last year in 1,386 individual twins from same-sex pairs from the MIDUS national US sample assessed in 1995. Cholesky decomposition analyses were performed with the Mx program. The best fit model contained one highly heritable common externalizing psychopathology factor for both substance use/abuse measures, and one strongly heritable common factor for the three wellbeing measures. Genetic and environmental risk factors for externalizing psychopathology were both negatively associated with levels of mental wellbeing and accounted for, respectively, 7% and 21% of its genetic and environmental influences. Adding internalizing psychopathology assessed in the last year to the model, genetic risk factors unique for externalizing psychopathology were now positively related to levels of mental wellbeing, although accounting for only 5% of the genetic variance. Environmental risk factors unique to externalizing psychopathology continued to be negatively associated with mental wellbeing, accounting for 26% of the environmental variance. When both internalizing psychopathology and externalizing psychopathology are associated with mental wellbeing, the strongest risk factors for low mental wellbeing are genetic factors that impact on both internalizing psychopathology and externalizing psychopathology, and environmental factors unique to externalizing psychopathology. In this model, genetic risk factors for externalizing psychopathology predict, albeit weakly, higher levels of mental wellbeing.
Flux bundle interactions

We show that magnetic flux lattice interactions are important at fields above a few thousand gauss. These interactions interfere with thermally activated current-induced flux bundle hopping and reduce the superconductor's flux creep resistance below that estimated from the standard flux creep models (which assume completely independent hopping). We find that the flux bundles can hop independently at the low fields at which, e.g., antennas and SQUID detection coils would be used, but interact very strongly at fields typical of magnet applications.
The Death Receptor Pathway

The TNF receptor superfamily is a large group of membrane-associated receptors characterized by structural similarities in their extracellular and intracellular domains. A subgroup of these receptors, the so-called death receptors, shares an intracellular motif termed the death domain. When engaged by their cognate ligands, these receptors trigger an apoptotic pathway often referred to as the extrinsic pathway. This is mediated by the recruitment of various adaptor proteins, which, in turn, recruit and facilitate the activation of initiator caspases, initiating a proteolytic cascade. Death receptor deregulation has been associated with several pathological conditions; for this reason, death receptors have been the subject of intensive studies. These studies have also revealed, in different settings, that death receptors have additional apoptosis-independent functions, including regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation, chemokine production, and tumor-promoting activity. This chapter provides an updated overview on the signaling pathways mediated by the death receptors and on their role in human physiology and pathophysiology.
Introductory Functional Analysis

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce basic elements of functional analysis, especially those concepts necessary for a study of the operators arising in electromagnetics. The main idea is to start with the simple concept of a set and then introduce increasing levels of mathematical structure. The goal is to gradually build the foundation for understanding the concept and utility of formulating problems in an appropriate function space, usually a Hilbert or Banach space.
National Flood Insurance and the Coastal Zone: a Case Study of Hurricane Eloise

: This paper presents evidence that currently published flood insurance premiums may be insufficient to cover expected losses in coastal areas subject to hurricane. The problems of developing flood premiums in coastal zones are discussed and Federal Insurance Administration (FIA) reaction to these problems analyzed. Flood losses in the coastal zone of Bay County, Florida due to hurricane Eloise are compared with losses which would be predicted by the FIA. This comparison raises important questions concerning the adequacy of flood premiums in coastal zones and the undesirable indirect effects that underpricing flood risk will have on location decisions in the coastal floodplain.
Notes on Spline Functions IV. A Cardinal Spline Analogue of the Theorem of the Brothers Markov.

A cardinal spline analog of the Markov theorem is given. It is applied to derive the necessary conditions for a function to be the limit of its cardinal spline interpolents as their degree trends to infinity. Sufficient conditions for this to happen are given in [8].
Myofascial Trigger Points Then and Now: A Historical and Scientific Perspective

The intent of this article is to discuss the evolving role of the myofascial trigger point (MTrP) in myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) from both a historical and scientific perspective. MTrPs are hard, discrete, palpable nodules in a taut band of skeletal muscle that may be spontaneously painful (i.e., active) or painful only on compression (i.e., latent). MPS is a term used to describe a pain condition that can be acute or, more commonly, chronic and involves the muscle and its surrounding connective tissue (e.g. fascia). According to Travell and Simons, MTrPs are central to the syndrome-but are they necessary? Although the clinical study of muscle pain and MTrPs has proliferated over the past two centuries, the scientific literature often seems disjointed and confusing. Unfortunately, much of the terminology, theories, concepts, and diagnostic criteria are inconsistent, incomplete, or controversial. To address these deficiencies, investigators have recently applied clinical, imaging (of skeletal muscle and brain), and biochemical analyses to systematically and objectively study the MTrP and its role in MPS. Data suggest that the soft tissue milieu around the MTrP, neurogenic inflammation, sensitization, and limbic system dysfunction may all play a role in the initiation, amplification, and perpetuation of MPS. The authors chronicle the advances that have led to the current understanding of MTrP pathophysiology and its relationship to MPS, and review the contributions of clinicians and researchers who have influenced and expanded our contemporary level of clinical knowledge and practice.
Application of stochastic control techniques to chaotic nonlinear systems

A control algorithm based on stochastic control techniques is devised for chaotic nonlinear systems. The algorithm uses a state estimator based on the Kalman filter, and yields performance improvements in at least some regions of state space with respect to that obtainable by use of a controller utilizing only the conditional mean of the system state vector. The method is applied to two typical chaotic nonlinear systems (the Henon-Heiles system and the Lorenz system), and their behavior with control is explored numerically. >
Bayesian MLSD for multipath Rayleigh fading channels

We propose a tree-search based Bayesian approach to blind maximum likelihood sequence detection (MLSD) of convolutionally encoded data transmitted over a multipath Rayleigh fading channel. In deriving the path metric for searching the channel-code tree, the proposed algorithm incorporates a forgetting factor matched to the time variation of the channel to generate accurate estimates of the correlation across the transmitted and received data. In addition, an augmented metric is presented to address the challenge of unknown channel order in time-varying systems. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve significant improvement in bit error rate over competing schemes, even when channel order information is unavailable at the receiver.
Return-to-Play Rates in National Football League Linemen After Treatment for Lumbar Disk Herniation

Background: There is a paucity of evidence demonstrating clinical outcomes of high-end athletes sustaining a treatment for lumbar disk herniation.Purpose: To evaluate the ability of a National Football League lineman to return to play after lumbar diskectomy.Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods: National Football League offensive and defensive linemen diagnosed with a lumbar disk herniation were identified by previously published protocols using multiple sources of the public record. Demographic and statistical performance data were compiled for each player both before and after treatment.Results: A total of 66 linemen (36 offensive and 30 defensive) met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-two were treated surgically, and 14 were treated nonsurgically. On average, this group had a body mass index of 35.4 and was 27.6 years old. Of those players treated surgically, 80.8% (42/52) successfully returned to play an average of 33 games over 3.0 years, with 63.5% (33/52) becoming starters after trea...
Low-temperature glass dynamics probed by optical dephasing measurements

Abstract Optical dephasing measurements in glasses are affected by dynamical processes which occur on a very broad range of time scales. The relaxation rate distribution of a glass can be measured by using a combination of experiments which operate on different characteristic timescales. A four-time correlation function treatment of the observables is used to extract the fluctuation rate distributions at short and long times from photon echo and time-dependent holeburning measurements at low temperatures (1.0 to 5.0 K). The temperature dependence of the optical dephasing is characteristic of the ‘two level system’ (TLS) structural dynamics of a glass. Evidence confirming that glasses have fixed potential surfaces at low temperature (the basis for the TLS model) is provided by temperature cycled holeburning measurements. Dephasing at higher temperatures ( ≈ 10 K) is shown to be a property of the glass, not from a local motion of the chromophore as previously believed.
Terrain Gridding Using a Stochastic Weighting Function

The development of new stochastic terrain gridding methods are necessitated by new tire and vehicle modeling applications. Currently, grid node locations in the horizontal plane are assumed to be known and only the uncertainty in the vertical height estimates is modeled. This work modifies the current practice of weighting the importance of a particular measured data point (the terrain height at some horizontal location) by the inverse distance between the grid node and that point. A new weighting function is developed to account for the error in the horizontal position of the grid nodes. The geometry of the problem is described and the probability distribution is developed in steps. Although the solution cannot be determined in closed form, an estimate of the median distance is developed within 1% error. This more complete stochastic definition of the terrain can then be used for advanced tire modeling and vehicle simulation.© 2011 ASME
Interpreting the music of drug-eluting stents: halcyon song or albatross dirge?

When drug-eluting stents (DES) were introduced clinically in 2003 as the long-sought cure for restenosis, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) was so persuaded that these devices were a breakthrough technology that it took the almost unprecedented step of increasing reimbursement to
Playing a Few Hands at Russian Roulette: Anatomy of the Russian Currency Crisis

There are two schools of thought on causes of financial crises. One views such occurrences as homegrown, a consequence of structural weaknesses of the banking and corporate sector in the countries concerned. The other is of the view that financial crises are brought on by investors' panic reactions triggered by rapid accumulation of short-term debt as a result of capital market liberalization. Judging from the immense amounts of research papers written in the aftermath of the financial crises that gripped the attention of the global community while ravaging the world economy in the 1990's, it seems that there is no single cause or trigger of such events. Rather, financial crises are the offspring of a myriad array of factors and dynamics. These include, but are not limited to, globalization and financial liberalization of the economy; investment boom and bust; dollar-pegs and over-valuation of the currency; rapid increase of non-performing loans in the banking sector; corporate sector weaknesses; large-scale short-term borrowing from foreign banks; depletion of foreign exchange reserves. In an attempt to illustrate and uncover the many layers and intricacies of the Russian financial crisis, we will attempt to show various trends of the Russian economy, contagion between Asian and Russian crises, micro-and macro-economics disequilibrium, and argue that models of first and second generation best describe the domino effect of the Russian currency crisis.
Long-term Comparative Outcomes of Carotid Artery Stenting Following Previous Carotid Endarterectomy vs De Novo Lesions.

Purpose: To report the long-term outcomes of patients who underwent carotid artery stenting (CAS) for de novo carotid stenosis vs patients treated for restenosis after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all 385 patients (mean age 68.6±9.6 years; 231 men) who underwent 435 CAS procedures at a large tertiary care center between January 1999 and December 2013. For analysis, patients were stratified based on their lesion type [de novo (dn) vs post-CEA restenosis (res)] and subclassified by symptoms status [symptomatic (Sx) or asymptomatic (Asx)], creating 4 groups: (1) CAS-dn Asx, (2) CAS-dn Sx, (3) CAS-res Asx, and (4) CAS-res Sx. For the CAS-res group, the mean elapsed time from CEA to CAS was 72.4±63.6 months. Outcomes included target vessel reintervention (TVR) and in-stent restenosis (ISR), the latter defined by a carotid duplex ultrasound velocity >275 cm/s. Results: The main indication for initial carotid angiography with possible revascularization was severe...
ESA Symposium: Status of Resistance to Methyl Parathion and Permethrin in Heliothis Spp.

Larvae of four Heliothis species attack cotton and other cultivated crops in six of the seven continents of the world. These species are: H. armigera (Hbn.), the American bollworm, found in Australia, Africa, Asia, and Europe; H. punctigera (Wallengren), found only in Australia; H. virescens (F.), the tobacco bud worm; and H. zea (Boddie), the cotton bollworm, corn earworm, or tomato fruitworm, found only in the Americas. Resistance to insecticides has been reported from time to time for three of these species by various investigators in different parts of the world. It is our purpose to compile the available data on the status of resistance in these species to insecticides (papers no. 1 and no. 2), to discuss the biochemical and nonbiochemical causes for this resistance (paper no. 3), and to present methods for preventing the development of resistance (paper no. 4).
Instigation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and glomerular injury in mice on the high fat diet: role of acid sphingomyelinase gene.

// Krishna M. Boini 1, 2 , Min Xia 1 , Saisudha Koka 1 , Todd W. Gehr 2 and Pin-Lan Li 1 1 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA 23298, USA 2 Division of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA 23298, USA Correspondence to: Krishna M. Boini, e-mail: kmboini@vcu.edu Keywords: obesity, inflammasomes, ceramide, glomerulosclerosis, end-stage renal disease Received: December 30, 2015 Accepted: January 29, 2016 Published: March 10, 2016 ABSTRACT Ceramide has been reported to initiate inflammasome formation and activation in obesity and different pathological conditions. The present study was performed to explore the role of acid sphingomyelinase (Asm) in the development of high fat diet (HFD)-induced inflammasome and activation and consequent glomerular injury. Asm knockout ( Asm -/- ) and wild type ( Asm +/+ ) mice with or without Asm short hairpin RNA (shRNA) transfection were fed a HFD or normal chow for 12 weeks to produce obesity and associated glomerular injury. HFD significantly enhanced the Asm activity, ceramide production, colocalization of Nlrp3 (Nod-like receptor protein 3) with ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein) or Caspase-1, NADPH-dependent superoxide (O 2 •− ) production in glomeruli of Asm +/+ mice than in control diet-fed mice. However, such HFD-induced increases in Asm activity, ceramide production, colocalization of Nlrp3 with ASC or Caspase-1, superoxide (O 2 •− ) production was attenuated in Asm -/- or Asm shRNA-transfected wild-type mice. In consistency with decreased inflammasome formation, the caspase-1 activity and IL-1β production was significantly attenuated in Asm -/- or Asm shRNA-transfected wild-type mice fed a HFD. Morphological examinations showed that HFD-induced profound injury in glomeruli of Asm +/+ mice which was markedly attenuated in A sm -/- mice. The decreased glomerular damage index in A sm -/- mice was accompanied by attenuated proteinuria. Fluorescent immunohistochemical examinations using podocin as a podocyte marker showed that inflammasome formation induced by the HFD were mostly located in podocytes as demonstrated by co-localization of podocin with Nlrp3. In conclusion, these observations disclose a pivotal role of Asm in the HFD-induced inflammasome formation and consequent glomerular inflammation and injury.
Measuring Strain Distributions in the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Using Ultrasound

Optimal prevention and treatment strategies of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury can be realized with a detailed understanding of how physiological factors impact the ACL. A noninvasive, in vivo method that assesses the ACL’s mechanical integrity is needed to help clarify this multi-factorial pathophysiology. We investigated the use of the noninvasive, in vivo technique, ultrasound strain elastography (USE) (1), to distinguish between normal and injured ACLs. USE is used as a diagnostic tool in oncological (2), hepatic (3), and cardiovascular (4) applications. This technique uses ultrasonic RF data to track tissue motion in order to estimate strain within the tissue.© 2010 ASME
Study on the epidemiological characteristics of measles in Jiulongpo district of Chongqing from 1997 to 2011

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of measles in Jiulongpo district of Chongqing from 1997 to 2011 in an aim to provide references for formulating control measures.Methods:The epidemic data of measles from 1997 to 2011 and the monitoring data of measles from 2005 to 2011 in Jiulongpo district of Chongqing were collected and analyzed with descriptive epidemiology.Results:The incidence of measles from 1997 to 2011 was ranged between 0.36/100 000 and 20.56/100 000 with an average incidence of 3.98/100 000.The months between April and July were the susceptible seasons for measles.Measles was mainly occurred under the age of 15,accounting for 76.99%.The monitoring data revealed that the age composition ratios within 8 months,from 8 months to 1 years old,from 1 years old to 2 year-old and over 20 year-old were 32.73%,21.39%,5.15% and 17.01% respectively.The cases who had no immunization history or whose immunization history was vague were accounted for 91.24%.Conclusion:Those within 8 months and those with older age were more susceptible to measles.Health education and the management work for migrant children should be enhanced,the vaccination work for femme in child-bearing age should be developed,the vaccination work for those under the age of 15 and supplementary immunization activities for those over the age of 15 should be promoted apart from the routine immunization work in order to control and eliminate measles.
Development of Instrumentation System Based on DSP

Development process and physical structure of instrumentation development system based on DSP chips are given.The system is constructed of the host computer simulation configuration system,communication system between upper and lower computers and hardware platform developed on the basis of DSP and its analytical system for lower computers.Focusing on the deficiencies of existing technologies,the technical approach of the necessary instruments is simplified,and the bottom drawing of LCD screen,automatic data display,communication between upper and lower computers,data processing and waveform drawing are integrated into a unified development system.Therefore,it reduces the developers' workload and improves developer's productivity.
Sexualizing Neoliberalism: Identifying Technologies of Privatization, Cleansing, and Scarcity

Drawing from sexual politics unfolding in the contemporary Indian context, this article tracks the ways that sexuality provides particularly fertile ground for neoliberalism’s itineraries. Juxtaposing three disparate cases involving the struggle for decriminalization, labor rights, and migration, it identifies the technologies of privatization, cleansing, and scarcity as crucial to normalizing neoliberalism. In so doing, the essay analyzes how states continue to thrive by extending market principles through privatization, promoting the interests of the urban middle classes while dislocating subaltern communities, and upholding racist and nationalist ideologies by deporting select migrant populations.
Therapeutic effect of melatonin on pediatric functional dyspepsia: A pilot study.

AIM: To study the effectiveness of melatonin vs placebo in children with functional dyspepsia (FD). METHODS: The study was conducted as a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled crossover trial. Subjects were aged 8-17 years and diagnosed with FD based on Rome III criteria. All subjects had failed to respond to 4 wk of acid suppression. Subjects receive a continuous two weeks of placebo and a continuous two weeks of melatonin in an order blinded to the participant and the study team. A Global Clinical Score was obtained to assess changes in abdominal pain. Pain was self-reported to be worse (grade 1), no change (grade 2), moderate improvement (grade 3), good (grade 4; minimal pain and not interfering with daily activities), or excellent (grade 5; no pain), respectively. A positive clinical response was defined as a grade 3 or greater response. Subjects wore an actigraph to assess sleep during a one week baseline period and during each treatment period. Subjects’ sleep latency and total sleep time were recorded throughout the duration of the study. RESULTS: Fourteen subjects were enrolled and 12 completed the study. One withdrew prior to starting both melatonin and placebo and the other before starting melatonin. A positive clinical response (grade 3-5) was achieved in 42% of subjects on melatonin vs 50% of subjects on placebo (NS). Effect size was calculated and revealed a Cohen’s D of 0.343 which demonstrates a medium effect favoring placebo. A grade 4 or grade 5 response was seen in 4 patients on melatonin and 5 patients on placebo. Baseline sleep parameters were in the healthy range with the longest sleep latency being just over 20 min (mean 7.46 ± 8.53 min) and the shortest sleep duration just over 7 h (mean 10.09 ± 2.72 h). The mean latency did not differ between periods of treatment with melatonin as compared to placebo (4.48 ± 6.45 min vs 3.58 ± 4.24 min; NS). The mean sleep duration did not differ between periods of treatment with melatonin as compared to placebo (9.90 ± 3.53 h vs 9.41 ± 2.70 h; NS). CONCLUSION: Melatonin does not appear to have efficacy in relieving pain in unselected pediatric FD. Future studies should consider FD subtypes, pathophysiologic mechanisms, and baseline sleep disturbances.
Fabrication of Nonperiodic Metasurfaces by Microlens Projection Lithography

This paper describes a strategy that uses template-directed self-assembly of micrometer-scale microspheres to fabricate arrays of microlenses for projection photolithography of periodic, quasiperiodic, and aperiodic infrared metasurfaces. This method of “template-encoded microlens projection lithography” (TEMPL) enables rapid prototyping of planar, multiscale patterns of similarly shaped structures with critical dimensions down to ∼400 nm. Each of these structures is defined by local projection lithography with a single microsphere acting as a lens. This paper explores the use of TEMPL for the fabrication of a broad range of two-dimensional lattices with varying types of nonperiodic spatial distribution. The matching optical spectra of the fabricated and simulated metasurfaces confirm that TEMPL can produce structures that conform to expected optical behavior.
Decision making as optimization in multi-robot teams

A key challenge in multi-robot teaming research is determining how to properly enable robots to make decisions on actions they should take to contribute to the overall system objective. This article discusses how many forms of decision making in multi-robot teams can be formulated as optimization problems. In particular, we examine the common multi-robot capabilities of task allocation, path planning, formation generation, and target tracking/observation, showing how each can be represented as optimization problems. Of course, globally optimal solutions to such formulations are not possible, as it is well-known that such problems are intractable. However, many researchers have successfully built solutions that are approximations to the global problems, which work well in practice. While we do not argue that all decision making in multi-robot systems should be based on optimization formulations, it is instructive to study when this technique is appropriate. Future development of new approximation algorithms to well-known global optimization problems can therefore have an important positive impact for many applications in multi-robot systems.
Explaining Perceptions of Election (Un)fairness: The Case of Ukrainian Presidential Election in 2004

Why do some people assess elections as fair, while others see them as flawed? What divides societies on the assessment of election fairness, as was the case in the Ukrainian presidential election in 2004? Then, mass protests led to a rerun of the second round of the vote. However, people’s assessments of the election were far from monolithic both within and across Ukrainian regions. I use data from the New Europe Barometer to explain popular perceptions of the election. The results from a hierarchical linear model show that national identity and linguistic affiliation are among major factors influencing election assessments. In addition, vote for the winner and interest in politics have a significant impact on perceptions of election fairness. The results highlight the importance of regional differences and national identity for people’s political perceptions.
cis-Platinum in gynecologic cancer

The toxicity of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum was evaluated in 41 patients who were treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix or epithelial carcinoma of the ovary, with a dosage schedule of 60mg/m 2 every 3weeks. Ototoxicity occurred in 33.3% of the patients serially tested, and anemia occurred in 48.8%. Leukopenia occurred in 29.9% and thrombocytopenia in 2.2% of courses administered. Nephrotoxicity was seen in 61% of patients as determined by evaluation of blood urea nitrogen and in 70.7% by serum creatinine elevation. Urine dipstick protein and 24hour urinary protein determinations were evaluated. Suggestions are made in regard to the use of these determinations as a guide to modification of dose and duration of therapy.
Stochastic Fluctuations in Multilevel Adiabatic Population Transfer

The ability to control the quantum state of matter is a goal that is being pursued by current research efforts. Theoretical calculations have shown that with a properly tailored electromagnetic field pulse, atoms and molecules can be driven to predetermined target states with high efficiency. For example, in state selective chemistry, if highly excited vibrational levels of the reactants are selectively excited, then branching ratios in chemical reactions can be controlled to achieve higher yield of the target product1. The technique of adiabatic population transfer utilizing so-called counterintuitive pulse sequences is a particularly effective technique to achieve this efficient, selective population transfers2. However, the promise of this technique to provide a practical means of coherent control lies in its robustness to stochastic fluctuations, which we now demonstrate.
New Perspectives on Gender and Emotion

What does it mean to be emotional? And how might perceptions of emotionality be gendered? In this chapter, we discuss the importance of considering systems of power when conducting research on gender and emotion. We argue that two themes, namely intersectionality of social identities and hierarchies of power and status, provide the way forward for research on gender and emotion. To begin, we take a step back and summarize where investigation of the links between gender and emotion has brought us so far. Then, we discuss the research potential of intersectionality and power and offer suggestions for avenues of future study. Last, we provide concluding thoughts on other promising research strategies and methods that could advance the study of gender and emotion.
Progression of Regional Microstructural Degeneration in Parkinson’s Disease: A Multicenter Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study

This study aimed to identify the utility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in measuring the regional distribution of abnormal microstructural progression in patients with Parkinson's disease who were enrolled in the Parkinson's progression marker initiative (PPMI). One hundred and twenty two de-novo PD patients (age = 60.5±9) and 50 healthy controls (age = 60.6±11) had DTI scans at baseline and 12.6±1 months later. Automated image processing included an intra-subject registration of all time points and an inter-subjects registration to a brain atlas. Annualized rates of DTI variations including fractional anisotropy (FA), radial (rD) and axial (aD) diffusivity were estimated in a total of 118 white matter and subcortical regions of interest. A mixed effects model framework was used to determine the degree to which DTI changes differed in PD relative to changes in healthy subjects. Significant DTI changes were also tested for correlations with changes in clinical measures, dopaminergic imaging and CSF biomarkers in PD patients. Compared to normal aging, PD was associated with higher rates of FA reduction, rD and aD increases predominantly in the substantia nigra, midbrain and thalamus. The highest rates of FA reduction involved the substantia nigra (3.6±1.4%/year from baseline, whereas the highest rates of increased diffusivity involved the thalamus (rD: 8.0±2.9%/year, aD: 4.0±1.5%/year). In PD patients, high DTI changes in the substantia nigra correlated with increasing dopaminergic deficits as well as with declining α-synuclein and total tau protein concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid. Increased DTI rates in the thalamus correlated with progressive decline in global cognition in PD. The results suggest that higher rates of regional microstructural degeneration are potential markers of PD progression.