cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interactions among Hydrophobically Modified Polyelectrolytes and Surfactants of the Same Charge

Effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on surface tension and rheology of aqueous solutions of an associative polymer, poly(ethylene oxide)−b-poly(propylene oxide)−b-(poly(ethylene oxide))−g-poly(acrylic acid) (Pluronic-PAA) have been studied. SDS starts to bind to the Pluronic-PAA copolymer at a concentration that is 25-fold lower than the critical micellization concentration (CMC) of the surfactant. The data indicate predominant binding between SDS and polyether segments of Pluronic-PAA. Incorporation of SDS into the Pluronic micelles makes the polymer less surface-active, as the surface tension increases. The Pluronic-PAA chains collapse when SDS binds, because the surfactant enhances hydrophobic intramolecular associations.
Protocol Use in Surgical Intensive Care Units.

Abstract Background Protocols are common in intensive care, however the association between protocol prevalence and outcomes in surgical ICU patients is unclear. We hypothesized that ICUs in a multicenter database using more protocols had better outcomes. Material and Methods This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from a 2-d prevalence study with 30-d follow up, on surgical and trauma patients in ICUs at 42 trauma centers. Use of forty clinical protocols was queried. Protocol prevalence was categorized by quartile into Low (first), Moderate (second and third), or High (fourth) use ICUs. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; secondary outcomes were ventilator, ICU, and hospital days, mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, renal replacement, transfusion, and hospital-acquired infections. Results Data from 1044 surgical and trauma patients were analyzed. Protocol use was not different for “closed” (n = 20), “open” (n = 9), or “semi-open” (n = 13) ICUs (P= 0.20). Thirty-day in-hospital mortality was 8.4%, and not associated with number of protocols (OR 1.01 [95% CI 0.98-1.03], P= 0.65). There was no statistically significant difference between High and Low use ICUs for ventilator days (OR 0.86; 0.52-1.43), tracheostomy (OR 0.8; 0.47-1.38), renal replacement therapy (OR 0.66; 0.04-9.82), transfusion (OR 0.95; 0.58-1.57), or hospital-acquired infections (OR 1.07; 0.67-1.7). Higher mortality was seen in open (versusclosed; OR 1.74 [1.05-2.89], P= 0.033), and surgical/trauma (versustrauma; OR 1.86 [1.33-2.61]; P Conclusions In this multicenter observational study of surgical ICU patients, no association was found between the number of protocols used and patient outcomes.
Intellectual Humility in the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

Based on the premise that psychologists of religion and spirituality tend to define our objects of interest only on our own terms and not on the terms of the people we study, it is suggested that w...
Intestinal Rehabilitation

Intestinal failure is a disabling condition that affects quality of life and social integration. The clinical hallmarks of intestinal failure include diarrhea, fluid, and electrolyte deficiency and malnutrition. The basic goals of medical treatment are to maintain fluid, electrolyte, and nutrient balances and to make appropriate modifications in disease management to avoid side effects. The likelihood that a patient with intestinal failure will be permanently dependent on total parenteral nutrition is thought to be primarily influenced by the length, location, and health of the remaining intestine. The bowel has a remarkable ability to adapt; in many instances, this process of intestinal adaptation effectively prevents severe complications resulting from markedly decreased surface area. Current nutritional, medical, and surgical strategies for intestinal failure are discussed.
Modeling of Ion-Sputtering and Surface Deposition on a Spacecraft Surface Due to Xe + Ion Thruster Plume Plasma

Plasma surface in teractions are an important aspect of spacecraft design. Due to the presence of negatively charged surfaces, a few slow ions present in the plume region of an ion thruster can enter the back-flow region of the thruster and interact with the surface of spacecraft1. This interaction is important especially for the solar panels present in this backflow region of ion thrusters. The ions accelerating towards the spacecraft can cause surface sputtering on dielectric protective coating present on the solar panel surfaces. Additionally, other elements such as Molybdenum which is present in the ion-plume may be deposited on the solar panels and reduce their energy efficiency2, In this work, we will perform a three-dimensional numerical study of ion thruster plume plasma interactions with a surface.
Psychosocial Contributors to Depressive Symptoms in Hispanic Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to identify psychosocial factors associated with depressive symptoms in Hispanic patients with diabetes and explore the extent to which their effects may vary by gender and acculturation. METHODS The authors completed a secondary analysis of data from 247 Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes. Gender and language groups were compared using chi-square and t tests. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine associations of depressive symptoms with perceived support, diabetes-related distress, and social and personal factors. RESULTS Women reported less support than men. English speakers reported more depressive symptoms than Spanish speakers. When adjusting for age, gender, and acculturation, psychosocial factors significantly associated with depressive symptoms included less support received, greater emotional burden, and less ability to socialize or pursue normal activities because of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Social support provided by family among less acculturated Hispanics may play an important role in reducing emotional burden and lowering the risk of comorbid depression. The quality of interpersonal relationships and the ability to continue normal activities may also be important. More acculturated Hispanic women with diabetes may be at greater risk for comorbid depression and worse health outcomes. Screening for depression and assessment of support needs is warranted for Hispanic women.
High-Throughput Culture Method of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Alveolar Epithelial Cells

Lung regeneration is dependent on the availability of progenitor lung cells. Large numbers of self-renewing, patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell derived alveolar epithelial cells (iPSC-AECs) are needed to adequately recellularize whole organ constructs. Prior methods to generated functional iPSC-AECs are not feasible for large-scale cell production. We present a novel protocol to produce iPSC-AECs which is scalable for whole organ regeneration. Differentiation of iPSCs was performed with genetically modified iPSCs with fluorescent reporters which underwent differentiation in a stepwise protocol mimicking lung development. Cells were purified, sorted, and embedded in a liquid Matrigel precursor to form either adherent droplets or to form cell-laden Matrigel spheroids which were subsequently transferred to spinner flasks with media as floating droplets. After culture, monolayer spheres of iPSC-AECs were isolated to form single cell suspensions. Equal numbers of iPSC-AECs from the two culture conditions were seeded into decellularized lung scaffolds. IPSC-AECs cultured in floating droplets were significantly more proliferative than those in adherent droplets, with significantly higher total cell counts and Ki67 expression. Equivalent expression of the distal lung markers was observed for both culture conditions. Lungs recellularized from both culture groups had similar histologic appearance. Media changes took significantly less time with the floating droplet method and was more cost effective. The floating droplet culture method demonstrated enhanced proliferative capacity, stable distal lung epithelial phenotype, and reduced resources compared to prior culture methods. Here we provide a means for iPSC-AEC production for regeneration of whole lung constructs.
Grazing Seasons and Seasonal Balance

Determining when to harvest standing forage crop with grazing animals must consider: plant factors, physical site factors, animal factors, and economic and management factors. If animals are to be grazed beyond a single season, the grazing plan must consider how best to coordinate the multiseason demand for grazing capacity with seasonal forage supplies. In temperate and cold latitudes the forage production year is distinctly cyclic and plant growth is concentrated in a limited growing season. During this time temperature and soil moisture are usually conducive to plant growth. During dormant periods, growth is halted, and the forage supply in standing crop declines due to consumption, wastage, and natural weathering. Forage plant species, particularly grasses, are commonly classified as cool-season and warm-season. Nutrient conversion efficiency and production rate per animal are greatest when forage plants are grazed while growing and thereby providing high-quality forage. Delaying the grazing or mechanical harvest of forage plants until near the end of the plant growth cycle generally maximizes dry matter yield while greatly reducing nutrient content and often even digestible protein and total digestible nutrients (TDN) yield per acre. Plant, soil, climatic, and animal factors combine to dictate if grazing of the vegetation on a given site can occur anytime of the year or whether grazing must be restricted to a given season of the year. However, the management plan for any given year may specify a reduced time period of grazing within the overall grazing season to optimize: the quantity and/or quality of forage produced, its utilization by grazing animals, and/or its utility in meeting the nutritional needs of grazing animals.
A user-centered look at glyph-based security visualization

This paper presents the intrusion detection toolkit (IDtk), an information visualization tool for intrusion detection (ID). IDtk was developed through a user-centered design process, in which we identified design guidelines to support ID users. ID analysts protect their networks by searching for evidence of attacks in ID system output, firewall and system logs, and other complex, textual data sources. Monitoring and analyzing these sources incurs a heavy cognitive load for analysts. The use of information visualization techniques offers a valuable addition to the toolkit of the ID analyst. Several visualization techniques for ID have been developed, but few usability or field studies have been completed to assess the needs of ID analysts and the usability and usefulness of these tools. We intended to fill this gap by applying a user-centered design process in the development and evaluation of IDtk, a 3D, glyph-based visualization tool that gives the user maximum flexibility in setting up how the visualization display represents ID data. The user can also customize whether the display is a simple, high-level overview to support monitoring, or a more complex 3D view allowing for viewing the data from multiple angles and thus supporting analysis and diagnosis. This flexibility was found crucial in our usability evaluation. In addition to describing the tool, we report the findings of our user evaluation and propose new guidelines for the design of information visualization tools for ID.
FARM HOUSEHOLD LABOR ALLOCATION AND HIRED LABOR DEMANDS IN THE MIDWEST U.S.: THE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT PAYMENTS

In addition to farm work, most farm households in developed countries have at least one person working off-farm. The purpose of this paper is to examine if, and how, government payments, personal characteristics and household characteristics affect labor allocation of farm operators and their spouses, and the decisions to hire labor. We estimate an 8-regime multinomial logit model and a three equation multivariate probit model to quantify these impacts. Results indicate that age of household members is consistent with the life-cycle hypothesis on increasing then decreasing labor market par, and is positively associated with demand for hired labor. Hired farm labor and off farm activities increase with the operator education levels. As household size increases, a household member is more likely to work off the farm. Increasing net worth is found to have a positive impact on probability of spouses working on the farm as well as hired labor being used. Both coupled and decoupled payments increase demand for hired labor which is consistent both with farm expansion and reduced family labor time on the farm.
The Illustrated Four Freedoms: FDR, Rockwell, and the Margins of the Rhetorical Presidency

This article examines the rhetorical failure and eventual resurrection of Franklin D. Roosevelt's (FDR's) Four Freedoms and the implications of this transformation for conceptualizing the rhetorical presidency. By charting the phrase's initial flop and the related troubles of the administration's official Four Freedoms pamphlet, the essay argues that FDR's ideal was restrained by the government's reliance on a diegetic approach to propaganda. The appearance of Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms series in 1943, in contrast, embraced a mimetic approach. I conclude that Rockwell's paintings and their attendant publicity blitz dramatized and personalized the president's Four Freedoms, fostering a surge of identification on the home front and ultimately launching the ideal on its ascendant course into rhetorical history.
Carver and White's (1994) BIS/BAS scales and their relationship to risky health behaviours

Abstract The BIS (behavioural inhibition) and BAS (behavioural approach) motivational systems are thought to influence an individual’s proclivity to engage in risky health behaviours. Using a sample of college undergraduates from four universities ( N = 1014), Carver and White’s (1994) BIS and BAS subscales (Reward Responsiveness, Drive, and Fun Seeking) were tested against seven health composites including sex, alcohol, drug, and tobacco use, safety, inactivity, and poor diet. Contrary to expectations, Reward Responsiveness (rather than BIS) served as a protective force against engagement in the risky health behaviours. In comparison, the Fun Seeking subscale performed as anticipated, generating strong, positive associations with all but two of the behaviours. The results are discussed in the context of recent theorizing as well as the factor structure of BIS and BAS, given concerns about the latter’s dimensionality.
Procedures for Serial Testing in Censored Survival Data

Prospective studies, such as those carried out in many cancer centers throughout the world, need to be carefully monitored and subjected to interim analyses to satisfy important ethical considerations. Typically, the therapeutic effecacy and resulting survival distribution for an experimental treatment regimen are compared to the efficacy and survival obtained from a currently accepted standard regimen. These studies often give rise to the dual need to terminate as soon as possible any trial in which it ist sufficiently clear either that (1) the experimental treatment yields better results than the standard treatment or (2) the data strongly contradict the hypothesis of some minimally acceptable treatment difference. In this paper, we examine the problem of constructing closed sequential experimental designs allowing for hypothesis tests at multiple points in time when the data gathered are censored failure time data. The tests we study are useful for examining various forms of dependence of an underlying survival function S(x) on a random scalar covariate Z.
Delayed ontogenic development in the bypassed ileum of the infant rat

Abstract Ontogenic development continues after birth in mammalian enteric epithelium as an adaptive mechanism to extrauterine life. In the rat, particularly significant developmental changes in enteric structure, function, and cytokinetic properties occur over a short critical period (usually between 16 and 20 days of age), preparatory to dietary change with weaning. Surgical bypass of ileal segments was performed on suckling rats of 12–14 days of age, and the effect on subsequent intestinal development was studied in both the bypassed and the shortened segment remaining in continuity. The bypassed segment, although achieving normal maturational patterns of active sucrase appearance and maltase accumulation, continued to maintain coincident immature patterns of high lactase activity and low cell turnover times. The intestine in continuity showed precocious appearance of active sucrase and accumulation along with maltase to greater than control levels, accompanied by a normal coincident decline in lactase activity and enterocyte life-span. Involvement of intraluminal influences on various parameters of enteric ontogenic development is thus indicated with the effects expressed by a delay in the excluded (bypassed) segment and by stimulation in the shortened segment in continuity. Data are presented in further support of the hypothesis that the life-span of the enterocyte serves postnatally as a primary determinant of enteric lactase levels.
Metabolic mechanisms of anoxia tolerance in the turtle brain.

Turtle brain survives anoxia by maintaining ATP levels necessary to avoid the loss of ion homeostasis and the uncontrolled release of excitotoxic neurotransmitters [1–6]. A central question toward defining anoxic tolerance in turtle brain is how do ATP production and ATP use remain matched despite complete inhibition of oxidative metabolism. Indirect evidence of both a Pasteur effect and a hypometabolic state have been proposed previously. For example, calculations based on creatine phosphate depletion and lactate accumulation during anoxia suggested that ATP production was markedly reduced (by approx 88%) [1, 2]. Also, enzymatic studies of turtle brain suggested the presence of an initial Pasteur effect followed by a decrease in the glycolytic rate[7]. Depression of electrical activity in the turtle brain further strengthened the proposal of the presence of a hypometabolic state [5, 8–10].
Multimodal imaging of refractory Candida chorioretinitis progressing to endogenous endophthalmitis

Background Endogenous fungal endophthalmitis is a serious vision-threatening condition that occurs in immunosuppressed patients with candidemia.
Role of antiribosomal P protein antibodies in the diagnosis of lupus isolated to the central nervous system.

Background: When lupus presents with isolated central nervous system findings, the usual serologic markers are often absent and diagnostic difficulty with a delay in treatment is common. Objective: To report the usefulness of antiribosomal P protein antibodies in the diagnosis of lupus isolated to the central nervous system when results of tests for anti—double-stranded DNA antibodies are negative. Design: Case report. Setting: University medical center. Patient: The patient was evaluated and treated on referral and followed up for 1 year. Results: We describe a patient with acute onset of psychosis followed by coma and focal clonic movements with undetectable DNA antibodies. Serum antiribosomal P protein antibody levels were elevated. Steroid therapy was followed by marked clinical improvement and a decrease in antibody titer. Conclusion: Antiribosomal P protein antibodies provide an important confirmatory test for the diagnosis of lupus isolated to the central nervous system when results of tests for anti—double-stranded DNA antibodies are negative.
Managing fungal diseases of potato

Potato, Solatium tuberosum, is the fourth-ranked food crop used to support a growing world population because of cultivar versatility and high complex carbohydrate content. Potatoes can be stored for long periods for table and processing markets, but are plagued by storage disease problems. Diseases both in the field and during storage can be limiting factors in sustainable and profitable potato production wherever they are grown. In North America, many diseases caused by fungi are important and require a variety of management practices to reduce them to tolerable economic levels. Such diseases include late blight [Phytophthora infestans], silver scurf [Helminthosporium solani], pink rot [Phytophthora erythroseptica], dry rot [Fusarium sambucinum], verticillium wilt [Verticillium dahliae and Verticillium albo-atrum], black scurf [Rhizoctonia solani], and early blight [Alternaria solani]. These diseases have both a field and storage component, and disease management inputs may be necessary throughout the s...
The Dresden approach for complete multivessel revascularization.

Abstract Background . In a prospective clinical trial, a group of patients receiving less invasive surgical procedure, including minithoracotomy in combination with cardiopulmonary bypass (group 1), was compared to a group of patients receiving conventional bypass surgery (group 2) for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Methods . Group 1 included 85 patients (71 men, 14 women, aged 39 to 82 years, median 61.1 ± 9.0 years); group 2 included 53 patients (38 men, 15 women, aged 51 to 79 years, median 62.0 ± 6.1 years). Results . There were no perioperative deaths in the whole series of patients. Time of operation was 256 ± 43 minutes in group 1 and 150.0 ± 53.6 minutes in group 2. Hospitalization was 6.0 ± 1.4 days and intensive care unit stay 1 day for both groups. Back pain assessment on postoperative day 3 showed less pain in group 1. Three-month follow-up revealed ischemia in stress electrocardiogram in 2 patients (2.5%) in group 1 and in 2 patients (4.1%) in group 2. Coronary angiograms confirmed the stress-electrocardiogram findings. Conclusions . Surgical results are equal for both techniques. Even though time of operation is longer in patients receiving less invasive procedures, intensive care unit stay and hospital stays are the same length. Early postoperative back pain is less in group 1 and combined with faster convalescence.
Nerve root sleeve diameters at normal segments and at segments with proximate disc disease: MRI evaluation.

Abstract Objective. To compare MR morphologic parameters of spinal nerve roots and their range of variability in normal and abnormal spinal segments. Design and patients. Ninety-six consecutive lumbar spine MRI examinations were segregated into three groups: group 1 was composed of 30 patients with disc bulge, protrusion or extrusion at the L5-S1 segment measuring 3 mm or more; group 2 consisted of 31 patients with no disc pathology; and group 3 was composed of 35 patients with no disc abnormality at the L5-S1 level but with coexisting spine pathology at other segments. Measurements of 192 S1 nerve root sleeves were performed at three consecutive levels on T1-weighted images. Differences between right and left nerve root sleeve diameters (delta value) at three slice levels were calculated in each group. Data were analyzed by ANOVA. Results. No significant differences between the mean values of traversing S1 nerve root sleeve diameter on three corresponding consecutive slices were found among groups (P=0.733, P=0.824, P=0.365 respectively), nor were significant differences in delta values between groups found (P=0.639, P=0.113, P=0.722). Conclusions. S1 nerve root sleeve diameter and the differences between right and left in the abnormal group were not significantly different from normal and therefore can not be used as an objective criterion of nerve root pathology.
Mapping the shadow of experience of extreme weather events

Climate change will increase the frequency and/or intensity of certain extreme weather events, and perceived experience with extreme weather may influence climate change beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. However, the aspects of extreme events that influence whether or not people perceive that they have personally experienced them remain unclear. We investigate (1) the correspondence of reported experience of extreme weather events with documented events, and (2) how characteristics of different extreme events shape the geographic area within which people are likely to report they have experienced it—the event’s perceived “shadow of experience.” We overlay geocoded survey responses indicating personal experience with hurricanes, tornadoes, and drought—from a 2012 nationally representative survey (N = 1,008) of U.S. residents—on maps of recorded event impacts. We find that reported experiences correspond well with recorded event impacts, particularly for hurricanes and tornadoes. Reported experiences were related to event type, proximity, magnitude and duration. The results suggest locations where disaster preparedness efforts and climate change education campaigns could be most effective after an extreme weather event.
Phase II study of CI-958 in colorectal cancer.

Purpose: We completed a phase II trial of CI-958 (NSC #635371) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer given at a dose of 700 mg/m2 every 21 days. Methods: All 15 patients had metastatic disease and had been previously treated with one 5-fluorouracil-based regimen in an adjuvant (six) or metastatic (nine) setting. Results: None of the patients treated with CI-958 had an objective response to treatment. Median survival was 4.8 months after the start of treatment. Leukopenia was the major toxicity, but no patient experienced febrile neutropenia. An acute febrile reaction was seen after infusion in four of the first nine patients treated. This was abrogated by pretreatment with dexamethasone in the remaining patients. Conclusions: CI-958 was not effective at this dose and schedule in patients with previously treated advanced colorectal cancer.
Structural plasticity in self-assembling transmembrane β-sheets.

Here we test the hypothesis that membrane-spanning β-sheets can exhibit structural plasticity in membranes due to their ability to shift hydrogen-bonding patterns. Transmembrane β-sheet forming peptides of the sequence AcWLn, where n = 5, 6, or 7, which range from 21 to 27 A in maximum length, were incorporated into bilayers made of phosphatidylcholine lipids with saturated acyl chains containing 14, 16, or 18 carbons, which are 36–50 A in thickness. The effect of the peptide β-sheets on fluid- and gel-phase bilayers were studied with differential scanning calorimetry and circular dichroism spectroscopy. We show that AcWL5 forms a stable, peptide-rich gel phase in all three lipids. The whole family of AcWLn peptides appears to form similarly stable, nonmembrane-disrupting β-sheets in all bilayer phases and thicknesses. Bilayers containing up to 20 mol % peptide, which is the maximum concentration tested, formed gel phases with melting temperatures that were equal to, or slightly higher than, the pure lipid transitions. Given the range of peptide lengths and bilayer thicknesses tested, these experiments show that the AcWLn family of membrane-inserted β-sheets exhibit remarkable structural plasticity in membranes.
Protein misfolding and aggregation research: Some thoughts on improving quality and utility

Once misfolded and aggregated proteins were as interesting as yesterday's trash, just a bothersome byproduct of productive activities. Today, they attract sustained interest from both basic researchers and practicing engineers. In the burgeoning biopharmaceutical industry, protein misfolding and aggregation pose significant challenges to the economic manufacture of safe and effective protein products. In the clinic, protein aggregates are believed to be pathological agents in a number of serious neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Over the past few years, the quantity of research into biotechnological aspects of protein misfolding and aggregation has skyrocketed. However, the quality of the published work is quite variable. In this brief opinion piece, we describe what we believe are some key features of high-quality publications in protein aggregation. We focus on experimental studies that may also have a kinetic modeling component.
Functional imaging of the heart

The generation of functional images from the time-activity curves of individual pixels in the gated blood-pool study has become a routine part of most nuclear medicine computer systems. These images have the advantage of extracting useful functional information from the entire study and presenting it in an easily interpretable format. One can rapidly examine them, especially the phase and amplitude images, to seek out potential abnormalities of contraction and conduction. These are not designed to be "stand alone" images and correlation with the remainder of the study, including the cine display, is required. In addition to their use in assessing abnormalities of either ventricular chamber, they also have been shown to be useful in delineating atrioventricular borders in both the left and right sides of the heart. This facilitates definition of regions of interest for the calculation of ejection fractions. These images are produced at no increased expense or inconvenience to the patient and therefore should always be evaluated.
Isovaleric Acidemia Presenting with Altered Metabolism of Glycine

Extract: A 7-year-old girl with periodic acidosis, lethargy, and coma beginning during the 1st year of life was studied. Episodes of ketoacidosis usually occurred with minor respiratory or gastrointestinal infections. There was history neither of peculiar body odor nor characteristic smell like that of sweaty feet. Hyperglycinemia, 4.2 mg/100 ml, and hyperglycinuria, 361 mg/liter, were found at times of illness with acidosis. A clinical diagnosis of ketotic hyperglycinemia was made in 1966. Glycine metabolism was therefore investigated in vivo using 14C-labeled glycine. The oxidation of glycine to respiratory CO2 and formation of serine from glycine were found to be normal. The labeling of urinary hippurate, however, the largest component of the labeled products of glycine in the urine in normal individuals, was virtually zero. An abnormal, labeled product of glycine was found in the urine and identified as isovalerylglycine. As much as 6% of the 14C-glycine administered was incorporated into urinary isovalerylglycine within 24 hr. Isovalerylglycine in urine was 2880 mg/24 hr, while normal individuals excrete less than 2 mg/24 hr. Isovaleric acid was found in both urine and plasma. Isovaleric acid in the plasma and urine, 2.86 mg/liter and 2.56 mg/day, respectively, was only five to six times larger than that found in normal individuals. Formation and excretion of isovalerylglycine may be a compensatory mechanism for the elimination of toxic amounts of isovaleric acid from the body. Biosynthesis of such huge amounts of isovalerylglycine may alter the overall metabolism of glycine. Isovaleric acidemia may present with hyperglycinemia and hyperglycinuria. Examination of the urine for isovalerylglycine is a convenient method for detecting the syndrome of isovaleric acidemia. Speculation: Isovaleric acidemia, in common with propionic acidemia with ketotic hyperglycinemia and methylmalonic acidemia, produces dramatic episodes of ketoacidosis. It is now clear that, like these conditions, isovaleric acidemia can also produce leukopenia and elevated concentrations of glycine in body fluids. The mechanisms causing these abnormalities are unknown. Elucidation of metabolic interfaces among these conditions could lead to understanding of the pathophysiology involved.
LIM Kinase1 Controls Synaptic Stability Downstream of the Type II BMP Receptor

Here, we demonstrate that the BMP receptor Wishful Thinking (Wit) is required for synapse stabilization. In the absence of BMP signaling, synapse disassembly and retraction ensue. Remarkably, downstream Smad-mediated signaling cannot fully account for the stabilizing activity of the BMP receptor. We identify LIM Kinase1 (DLIMK1)-dependent signaling as a second, parallel pathway that confers the added synapse-stabilizing activity of the BMP receptor. We show that DLIMK1 binds a region of the Wit receptor that is necessary for synaptic stability but is dispensable for Smad-mediated synaptic growth. A genetic analysis demonstrates that DLIMK1 is necessary, presynaptically, for synapse stabilization, but is not necessary for normal synaptic growth or function. Furthermore, presynaptic expression of DLIMK1 in a wit or mad mutant significantly rescues synaptic stability, growth, and function. DLIMK1 localizes near synaptic microtubules and functions independently of ADF/cofilin, highlighting a novel requirement for DLIMK1 during synapse stabilization rather than actin-dependent axon outgrowth.
Recombination of carbon monoxide and atomic oxygen at high temperatures.

Recombination of carbon monoxide and atomic oxygen in expansion wave at high temperature in single pulse shock tube
Femtosecond laser micromachining in transparent materials

Femtosecond laser micromachining can be used either to remove materials or to change a material's properties, and can be applied to both absorptive and transparent substances. Over the past decade, this technique has been used in a broad range of applications, from waveguide fabrication to cell ablation. This review describes the physical mechanisms and the main experimental parameters involved in the femtosecond laser micromachining of transparent materials, and important emerging applications of the technology. Interactions between laser and matter are fascinating and have found a wide range of applications. This article gives an overview of the fundamental physical mechanisms in the processing of transparent materials using ultrafast lasers, as well as important emerging applications of the technology.
Manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging reveals increased DOI-induced brain activity in a mouse model of schizophrenia.

Maternal infection during pregnancy increases the risk for schizophrenia in offspring. In rodent models, maternal immune activation (MIA) yields offspring with schizophrenia-like behaviors. None of these behaviors are, however, specific to schizophrenia. The presence of hallucinations is a key diagnostic symptom of schizophrenia. In mice, this symptom can be defined as brain activation in the absence of external stimuli, which can be mimicked by administration of hallucinogens. We find that, compared with controls, adult MIA offspring display an increased stereotypical behavioral response to the hallucinogen 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI), an agonist for serotonin receptor 2A (5-HT2AR). This may be explained by increased levels of 5-HT2AR and downstream signaling molecules in unstimulated MIA prefrontal cortex (PFC). Using manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to identify neuronal activation elicited by DOI administration, we find that, compared with controls, MIA offspring exhibit a greater manganese (Mn2+) accumulation in several brain areas, including the PFC, thalamus, and striatum. The parafascicular thalamic nucleus, which plays the role in the pathogenesis of hallucinations, is activated by DOI in MIA offspring only. Additionally, compared with controls, MIA offspring demonstrate higher DOI-induced expression of early growth response protein 1, cyclooxygenase-2, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the PFC. Chronic treatment with the 5-HT2AR antagonist ketanserin reduces DOI-induced head twitching in MIA offspring. Thus, the MIA mouse model can be successfully used to investigate activity induced by DOI in awake, behaving mice. Moreover, manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is a useful, noninvasive method for accurately measuring this type of activity.
The mixing of Granular solids in a rotary cylinder

A model is derived for solids mixing and material transport in a continucus flow rotary dryer or reactor. Detailed analysis of the particle motions in the turnover process provides an opportunity to apply well-known reactor models to several subregions and to relate the overall results to different design geometries and operating conditions. The essential parameters of the model are the number of stages, the volume fractions of mixed flow and plug flow in each stage, the recycle ratio and the bypass ratio.
Non-blinking "Giant" nanocrystal quantum dots: Ideal probes for real-time three-dimensional tracking

We describe the development and characterization of two novel non-blinking “giant” nanocrystal quantum dot (g-NQD) systems and their application to single-particle tracking in live cells real-time and in three dimensions. The two g-NQDs — CdSe/CdS and InP/CdS — are characterized by a thick shell layer (>10 monolayers of CdS), a quasi-type-II or type-II electronic structure, and extremely suppressed non-radiative Auger recombination and photobleaching, in addition to suppressed blinking. We show that these unique traits make this new class of NQD ideal molecular probes for observing spatio-temporal dynamics of cellular processes.
What Determines the Relative Areas of Spots and Faculae on Sun-like Stars?

We analyze newly digitized Ca K plage area data extending back to 1915, and also the white-light facular area data beginning in 1874, to investigate further our earlier finding that the area ratio of faculae to spots decreases at increasing activity levels. We find that this ratio decreases in plage as well as facular data, so it cannot be an artifact of the visibility function of limb faculae. The decrease is also accentuated in daily data, compared to annual means; we explain this as a consequence of the different dependences of facular, plage, and spot lifetimes upon their emergent magnetic flux. From this we show that subphotospheric field properties are more likely to determine this ratio, rather than photospheric field diffusion rates. Systematic, cycle-to-cycle variations in its value suggest an origin in fluctuations of the field generation mechanism; specifically, a mechanism that produces a positive correlation between magnetic flux generation efficiency, and relative power in the spatial spectrum at low frequencies. Our results also suggest that main-sequence stars about 50% more magnetically active than the present Sun might exhibit ratio values an order of magnitude lower than current solar values. This evidence strengthens our earlier argument that a rapid shift toward dark photospheric structures in both active regions and network provides the most likely explanation of the recently reported sharp increase of photometric variability in late-type stars somewhat more active than the Sun.
Ion mixing kinetics study by in situ resistance measurements in the Au/Si system

Abstract Ion beam mixing studies in the Au/poly-Si and Au/Si(100) system have been conducted by in situ resistance measurements. The relationship between sheet resistance of the irradiated samples and the growth of an amorphous Au5 Si2 layer as measured by Rutherford backscattering has been established in this system. An analytical model was employed to explain the linear relation between conductance g and square root of dose φ 1 2 . This in situ technique is used to study the kinetics of ion beam mixing in the Au/Si system.
On the horizontal density ratio in the upper ocean

Abstract The horizontal density ratio in the upper ocean is examined using SeaSoar data collected over the last 15 years in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. The horizontal density ratio R is defined to be the ratio of the relative effect of temperature and salinity on density. A front with a horizontal density ratio of 1 is said to be compensated since temperature and salinity gradients compensate in their effect on density. The statistics of density ratio are examined through calculation of conditional probability density functions. Case studies from each of the oceans elucidate processes affecting the density ratio. Global distributions of density ratio are calculated as functions of mixed-layer depth, distance below the mixed layer, and magnitude of thermohaline variability. Compensation is found in all oceans, on 3–4 km horizontal scales, when the mixed layer is deep and significant thermohaline variability exists. The tendency for compensation is stronger as mixed-layer depth increases. Conversely, compensation is not typical in shallow mixed layers, or when thermohaline variability is weak. The thermocline density ratio is found to be 2, in agreement with previous observational studies, and consistent with the process of salt fingering. The transition from R=1 in the mixed layer to R=2 in the thermocline is sharp when the mixed layer is deep. The ubiquity of compensation in the mixed layer is consistent with recent theory that suggests horizontal eddy diffusivity is a growing function of density gradient.
Hsp90 directly modulates the spatial distribution of AF9/MLLT3 and affects target gene expression.

AF9/MLLT3 contributes to the regulation of the gene encoding the epithelial sodium channel α, ENaCα, in renal tubular cells. Specifically, increases in AF9 protein lead to a reduction in ENaCα expression and changes in AF9 activity appear to be an important component of aldosterone signaling in the kidney. Whereas AF9 is found in the nucleus where it interacts with the histone H3 lysine 79 methyltransferase, Dot1, AF9 is also present in the cytoplasm. Data presented in this report indicate that the heat shock protein Hsp90 directly and specifically interacts with AF9 as part of an Hsp90-Hsp70-p60/Hop chaperone complex. Experimental manipulation of Hsp90 function by the inhibitor novobiocin, but not 17-AAG, results in redistribution of AF9 from a primarily nuclear to cytoplasmic location. Knockdown of Hsp90 with siRNA mimics the effect elicited by novobiocin. As expected, a shift in AF9 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in response to Hsp90 interference leads to increased ENaCα expression. This is accompanied by a decrease in AF9 occupancy at the ENaCα promoter. Our data suggest that the interaction of Hsp90, Hsp70, and p60/Hop with AF9 is necessary for the proper subnuclear localization and activity of AF9. AF9 is among a growing number of nuclear proteins recognized to rely on the Hsp90 complex for nuclear targeting.
Longitudinal Analysis of Vaginal Microbiome Dynamics in Women with Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis: Recognition of the Conversion Process

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects ∼30% of women of reproductive age, has a high rate of recurrence, and is associated with miscarriage, preterm birth, and increased risk of acquiring other sexually transmitted infections, including HIV-1. Little is known of the daily changes in the vaginal bacterial composition as it progresses from treatment to recurrence, or whether any of these might be useful in its prediction or an understanding of its causes. We used phylogenetic branch-inclusive quantitative PCR (PB-qPCR) and Lactobacillus blocked/unblocked qPCR (Lb-qPCR) to characterize longitudinal changes in the vaginal microbiota in sequential vaginal self-swabs from five women with recurrent BV, from diagnosis through remission to recurrence. Both patients with acute BV samples dominated by G. vaginalis recurred during the study with similar profiles, whereas the three patients with acute BV samples dominated by other anaerobes did not recur or recurred to an intermediate Nugent score. L. iners dominated remission phases, with intermittent days of abnormal microbial profiles typically associated with menses. The exception was a newly discovered phenomenon, a sustained period of abnormal profiles, termed conversion, which preceded symptomatic acute BV. Species known to have antagonistic activity towards Lactobacillus were detected in pre-conversion samples, possibly contributing to the decline in Lactobacillus. Lb-qPCR scores define two categories of response in the initial post-treatment visit samples; scores 8 may predict delayed or no recurrence. Amsel criteria or Nugent scores did not have this potential predictive capability. Larger studies are warranted to evaluate the prognostic potential of detecting conversion and poor Lb-qPCR scores at the post-treatment visit of recurrent BV patients.
Neural networks and the part family/ machine group formation problem in cellular manufacturing: A framework using fuzzy ART

Abstract We apply the fuzzy adaptive resonance theory (ART) neural network to the part family/machine group formation problem in cellular manufacturing. Previous neural network applications have demonstrated the potential role of competitive learning and ART networks in part family/machine cell formation, but they have a number of shortcomings. Fuzzy ART, based on a similarity measure from fuzzy set theory, shows great promise over other approaches. We present results for fuzzy ART applied to several test problems of part family formation and give an extension for systematically generating alternative solutions in the problem domain.
Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of the Thermochromic Phase Transition of the Polydiacetylene from the Bis-n-Propylurethane of 5,7-Dodecadiyne-1,12-diol

The polydiacetylene (PDA) from the bis-n-propylurethane of 5,7-dodecadiyne-1,12-diol (PUDO) undergoes a first order phase transition near 135°C that is associated with a color change from blue at temperatures below the transition to red at temperatures above the transition. We have studied PDA-PUDO by solid state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra using cross polarization and magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) techniques at temperatures between 25° and 140°C. As observed previously, the acetylene carbon shift moves up field as the temperature is raised above the transition temperature. In addition, near 130°C, the oxymethylene carbon shows 3 resonances, indicating multiple side chain conformations as the PDA undergoes the phase transition.
Modifications of the surface reactivity of Ni(100) by structured overlayers of sulfur: Selectivity changes for ethanol and isopropanol decomposition

Abstract The reactions of ethanol and isopropanol were studied on Ni(100), Ni(100) p (2 × 2) S and Ni(100) c (2 × 2) S by temperature programmed reaction spectroscopy (TPRS). On both Ni(100) and Ni(100) p (2 × 2) S decomposition to adsorbed CO and atomic hydrogen dominated the reaction. Methane was also formed by the reaction of adsorbed hydrogen atoms with fragments of the decomposition, most likely carbon atoms. On both surfaces evidence for a COH complex was observed, similar to previous results with methanol. On Ni(100) c (2 × 2)0 S the selectivity of the reactions changed dramatically. Formation of aldehydes was enhanced at the expense of CO and H 2 ; methane was not observed. From these results it appears that alkoxy intermediates formed on all three surfaces by dehydrogenation and that their further decomposition to CO, h (a) and C (a) was limited by adsorbed sulfur.
Ripe for Emancipation: Rockbridge and Southern Antislavery from Revolution to Civil War

Ripe for Emancipation: Rockbridge and Southern Antislavery from Revolution to Civil War, by Neely Young, Buena Vista, Virginia, Mariner Publishing, 2011, xiv + 221 pp., $19.95, ISBN 978-0-9841128-9...
A Microcomputer-Based Imaging System for the Visualization of Fluid Displacements

Presentation of a PC-based imaging workstation that uses a video camera and appropriate computer hardware and software to digitize, display, and store images of fluid flow patterns in real time. The system includes image-processing software so that the digital images can be quantitatively analyzed
The Diagnostic Accuracy of Four Vocabulary Tests Administered to Preschool-Age Children

This study examined the empirical evidence for using four vocabulary tests (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III [Dunn & Dunn, 1997], Receptive One-Word Vocabulary Test [Gardner, 1985], Expressive V...
A Nonaqueous Lyotropic Nematic Gel

Abstract A nematic gel of a fatty substituted urea (3–4 Wt.%) in decane is studied optically and thermodynamically. Typical nematic schlieren textures are observed. Shear and compression forces distort these textures, but applied electric and magnetic fields are ineffective until one reaches the gel-isotropic transition temperature.