cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maximum walking speed and lower limb length in hominids

In 1984, Helene (Am. J. Physics 52:656) and Alexander (Am. Scientist 72:348–354) presented equations which purported to explain how lower limb length limited maximum walking speed in humans. The equations were based on a simplified model of human walking in which the center of mass (CoM) “vaults” over the supporting leg. Increasing walking speed by increasing stride frequency or stride length would increase the upward acceleration of the CoM in the first half of stance phase, to the point that it would be greater than the downward pull of gravity, and the individual would become airborne. This constitutes running by most definitions. While these models ignored various mechanical factors, such as knee flexion during midstance, that reduce the vertical movement of the CoM, the general idea is plausible inasmuch as the CoM of the body does oscillate vertically with each step. One hypothesis tested here is whether it is indeed the interaction between the pull of gravity and the individual's own upward acceleration that determines at what speed (or cadence) he changes from walking to running. Another hypothesis considered is that increased lower limb length (L) was selected for in early hominids, because of the locomotor advantages of longer lower limbs. Results indicate, however, that while L was clearly related to maximum possible walking speed, it was not an important factor in determining maximum “comfortable” walking speed. These and other results from the recent literature suggest that increased lower limb length provided no selective advantage in locomotion, and other explanations should be sought. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Achalasia of the cardia in childhood and the syndrome of achalasia alacrima and ACTH insensitivity.

Achalasia of the cardia is an uncommon condition with an incidence of 0.1 cases per year per 100 000 population under 14 years. A review of experience at Booth Hall Children's Hospital over the past 10 years has revealed six cases of achalasia in children. This includes two cases of the rare syndrome of achalasia, alacrima and ACTH insensitivity (also known as Triple A syndrome) and its variants. There are 23 previously reported cases of Triple A syndrome and a further eight cases of its variants reported in the world literature. One-third of these cases (10 out of 31) have associated neurological abnormalities. The clinical and radiological features of achalasia are reviewed. The importance of barium studies in making the diagnosis is emphasized. However, early cases may show only spasm or incoordination, and manometry is required to confirm the diagnosis in these equivocal cases. In this series only three of the six barium studies were diagnostic and the remainder were diagnosed by manometry; all cases were subsequently confirmed by histology. Delay in diagnosis may result in severe lung damage due to repeated aspiration; this occurred in one of the six cases and was the cause of the child's death.
RNA metabolism in streptomyces antibioticus; effect of 5-fluorouracil on the appearance of phenoxazinone synthetase

Abstract The present studies on the biosynthesis of actinomycin have concerned the relationship between antibiotic production and nucleic acid metabolism. Since actinomycin is an inhibitor of DNA-dependent RNA synthesis, it was reasoned that changes in the patterns of RNA synthesis or degradation might precede or accompany actinomycin production in Streptomyces antibioticus . Studies on the incorporation of radioactive serine and uridine into subcellular fraction of S. antibioticus , between 0 and 36 hr after inoculation, revealed few differences between control cells and cells in which actinomycin formation was inhibited by the addition of 3-methyl proline to the medium. These studies did show, however, that the rate and extent of incorporation of the label into RNA decreased with increasing age of the cells. Still, 36-hr cells, which were actively making actinomycin, had a measurable rate of RNA synthesis. Sucrose gradient centrifugation studies were performed on total RNA preparations from 12- and 36-hr-old cells. Centrifugation for 2 hr at 60,000 rpm revealed three peaks of uv-absorbing material. The first two peaks had sedimentation coefficients of approximately 7s and 30s, whether the RNA was obtained from control or methyl proline-grown cells at 12 and 36 hr. However, the sedimentation coefficient of the third peak from 36-hr cells was 46s while that from 12-hr cells had a value of 40s. This difference was observed in both normal and methyl proline-grown cells. Transfer RNA from S. antibioticus was fractionated by reverse phase chromatography on a Freon column. The fractionated material was then tested for its ability to accept several amino acids. The chromatographic patterns of the transfer RNA for the amino acids examined were qualitatively the same in 12- and 36-hr cells. An interesting in vivo effect of 5-fluorouracil on the appearance of the enzyme phenoxazinone synthetase has been observed. It was demonstrated that the addition of 5–20 μg/ml of 5-fluorouracil to 3-hr-old S. antibioticus cells resulted in an increase in the specific activity and the total amount of phenoxazinone synthetase as compared with untreated cultures of the same age. Increases of 5–10-fold have been routinely observed 9–12 hr after adding fluorouracil. Fluorouracil has no effect on the enzyme in vitro , and its in vivo effect is reversed by chloramphenicol. Thus, fluorouracil appears to cause premature synthesis of the enzyme and is not an activator of the enzyme. It is believed that fluorouracil acts by inhibiting the synthesis of a repressor of phenoxazinone synthetase.
DNA microarray detection of metabolic responses to protein overproduction in Escherichia coli.

Abstract It has been commonly observed that gratuitous overexpression of proteins in Escherichia coli causes growth retardation. However, the molecular events involved in the metabolic response to the over-expression of proteins are still unclear. Here we used DNA microarray technology to characterize the changes in transcriptional patterns of selected host genes during protein overexpression. A nontoxic, soluble protein, LuxA (coded by luxA ), which is the α-subunit of the luciferase heterodimer, was overexpressed for this purpose. A total of 132 E. coli genes, including those in the central metabolism, key biosynthetic pathways, and selected regulatory functions, were used as probes for detecting the level of mRNA transcripts in E. coli strains JM109, MC4100, and VJS676A during protein overexpression. Upon induction, these strains shared several common responses, such as the upregulation of glk and the heat shock genes as well as the downregulation of fba , ppc , atpA , and gnd . In addition, the biosynthesis genes glnA , glyA , and leuA were downregulated in all three strains. Media-dependent responses were also observed in our study. For example, many respiratory genes that were upregulated in defined media showed an opposite effect in complex media under protein-overproducing conditions. These results demonstrate that gratuitous overexpression of proteins triggers a complex global response that involves several metabolic and regulatory systems. Explanations based on either existing knowledge of global regulations such as the heat shock response and the stringent response or stoichiometric analysis without regulatory considerations cannot account for the response induced by protein overexpression.
A new method to measure intestinal activity of P-glycoprotein in avian and mammalian species.

Permeability-glycoprotein (Pgp) actively exports numerous potentially toxic compounds once they diffuse into the cell membrane of intestinal epithelial cells. We adapted the everted sleeve technique to make the first measures of intestinal Pgp function in an avian species (chicken) and in wild mammalian species, and compared them to laboratory rats. Tissues maintained both structural and functional integrity, and our method offers advantages over other in vitro techniques by using smaller intestinal sections (1 cm), and shorter incubation times (8–12 min). To determine Pgp function, we compared accumulation of [3H]-digoxin in sleeves incubated in Ringer solution with and without a transport-saturating concentration of a competitive inhibitor, cyclosporin A. We demonstrated significant variation in Pgp activity within individuals along the intestine, between populations fed different diets, and between species (laboratory rats had one-third to one-fifth the Pgp activity of wild rodents). In chicken, we also tested the effect of natural metabolites on digoxin accumulation. We found that among flavonoids, genistein (200 μM), found in soy and other legumes, but not quercetin (10, 30, 100, 330 μM) or the 3-β-glycoside isoquercetrin (100 μM), significantly increased digoxin accumulation. Among fungal metabolites, sterigmatocystin (5 μM), but not aflatoxin B1 (5 μM), significantly increased digoxin accumulation.
Access ordering and memory-conscious cache utilization

As processor speeds increase relative to memory speeds, memory bandwidth is rapidly becoming the limiting performance, factor for many applications. Several approaches to bridging this performance gap have been suggested. This paper examines one approach, access ordering, and pushes its limits to determine bounds on memory performance. We present several access-ordering schemes, and compare their performance, developing analytic models and partially validating these with benchmark timings on the Intel i860XR. >
Membrane effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics measured in liposomes containing the fluorescent probe, 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate

Abstract The mechanism of membrane disturbance by aminoglycoside antibiotics was investigated in liposomes containing the fluorescent probe, 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS). Liposomes of PC and different anionic phospholipids (1:1 to 15:1 molar ratios) were challenged with aminoglycosides in the presence of low (1 μM) and high (3 mM) concentrations of calcium. Liposomes containing PIP 2 showed the greatest drug-induced changes in ANS fluorescence in the presence of high and low concentrations of calcium and at all PC:PIP 2 molar ratios tested. Liposomes containing other anionic phospholipids (PS, PI and PIP 2 ) were not reactive toward aminoglycosides in the presence of 3 mM calcium or when the ratio of PC to anionic lipid was increased to 10:1. The aminoglycoside-induced changes of ANS flouorescence were not due to any changes in the emission spectrum of ANS, nor to changes in quantum yield, nor to a change in the binding affinity of ANS. It is concluded that a specific aminoglycoside-PIP 2 interaction results in phase separation of PC and PIP 2 and thus increases the number of available ANS binding sites in PC:PIP 2 liposomes.
A visualization solution for the analysis and identification of workforce expertise

Keeping sight of the enterprise's workforce strengthens the entire business by helping to avoid poor decision-making and lowering the risk of failure in problem-solving. It is critical for large-scale, global enterprises to have capabilities to quickly identify subject matter experts (SMEs) to staff teams or to resolve domain-specific problems. This requires timely understanding of the kinds of experience and expertise of the people in the firm for any given set of skills. Fortunately, a large portion of the information that is needed to identify SMEs and knowledge communities is embedded in many structured and unstructured data sources. Mining and understanding this information requires non-linear processes to interact with automated tools; along with visualizations of different interrelated data to enable exploration and discovery. This paper describes a visualization solution coupled with an interactive information analytics technique to facilitate the discovery and identification of workforce experience and knowledge community capacity.
Transport properties of thulium single crystals

Single crystals of thulium have been grown by the strain-anneal technique. The electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, and Seebeck coefficients were measured along the $〈11\overline{2}0〉$ ($a$-axis), $〈10\overline{1}0〉$ ($b$-axis), and $〈0001〉$ ($c$-axis) crystallographic directions as a function of temperature from 5 to 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. All measurements indicated a magnetic transition near 57\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, in good agreement with a N\'eel temperature of 56\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K as determined in earlier work by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory neutron diffraction group. The Seebeck coefficient measured along the $c$ axis exhibited a second anomaly at 32\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, in agreement with low-field ac susceptibility measurements; but this anomaly did not appear in the neutron-diffraction measurements. The anomalies observed in the electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity at the N\'eel temperature are interpreted in terms of magnetic superzone planes. All transport properties exhibited a significant anisotropy between the $a$- or $b$-axis and $c$-axis directions. The high-temperature anisotropy of the electrical resistivity and the thermal conductivity is interpreted in terms of the anisotropy of the Fermi surface.
Molecular basis of plant cold acclimation: insights gained from studying the CBF cold response pathway.

For the 75th Anniversary Issue of Plant Physiology , I contributed an article ([Thomashow, 2001][1]) in which I highlighted recent advances in the identification of genes with roles in cold acclimation: the process whereby certain plants increase in freezing tolerance in response to low nonfreezing
Damage analysis of simulated I-880 structures under the Loma Prieta earthquake

Abstract This paper analyzes the collapse of the Cypress portion of the Nimitz freeway in Oakland, California, during the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 17 October 1989. The most important bent configuration is chosen to carry out a nonlinear dynamic analysis and damage evaluation using the program SARCF-III. The acceleration history recorded at a nearby location with similar soil properties is used as the input ground motion. In order to cover the uncertainty about the structural properties and reinforcing details six different structures models are utilized. The maximum dynamic internal forces are compared to the structural capacity. It is investigated whether the collapse can be explained using a simplified structural model and one of the available computer codes.
Trail-Making Test

The Trail-Making Test (TMT) is a measure of visual scanning, complex attention, psychomotor speed, and mental flexibility. The TMT is an adaptation of John E. Partington's Test of Distributed Attribution, which was originally developed in 1938 to assess intellectual function. It was later renamed Partington's Pathways Test and was used to examine the effects of opiate use on brain function (Partington & Leiter, 1949). Subsequently, it was incorporated into the Army Individual Test Battery in 1944, where it received its current name. It was incorporated into the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery (HRNB) with minor modifications, and it remains one of the most frequently used neuropsychological tests in research and clinical practice (Rabin, Barr, & Burton, 2005). Keywords: cognitive capacities; diagnostic methods; neuropsychological assessment; testing; trail-making test
Review of Child and Adolescent Refugee Mental Health

ABSTRACT Objective To review stressful experiences and stress reactions among child and adolescent refugees, as well as interventions and ethical considerations in research and clinical work, within the framework of the chronological experiences of child refugees; namely, the phases of preflight, flight, and resettlement. Highlighted are special refugee populations such as unaccompanied minors, asylum seekers, and former child soldiers. Pertinent medical findings are summarized. Method The authors reviewed articles from 1990 to 2003 addressing the topics above. Literature was gathered from databases including PsycINFO, Medline, and SocioFile . Pertinent earlier papers and those from other disciplines cited in database-identified articles were also included. Results Child and adolescent refugees suffer from significant conflict-related exposures. Reactions to stress may be mediated by coping strategies, belief systems, and social relations. Conclusions More research is needed on interventions, specifically on efficacy and cultural relevance. Interventions that have an impact on multiple ecological levels need further development and evaluation.
Amino acid and protein metabolism1

The sections in this article are: 1 Proteins and Amino Acids in Rat Epididymal Adipose Tissue 2 Hormonal Effects 2.1 Insulin 2.2 Epinephrine and ACTH 2.3 Growth Hormone 2.4 Glucocorticoids 2.5 Glucagon, Thyroxine, Testosterone 3 Effect of Fasting, Re Feeding and Prolonged Incubations in Vitro 4 Net Proteolysis and Protein Turnover in Incubated Adipose Tissue 5 Conclusions
Final Stage Densification During Pressure Sintering of Pure and Lithium Doped Nickel Oxide

The final stage densification behavior of nickel oxide was studied during pressure sintering at temperatures between 925°C and 1150°C and at applied pressures up to 11,750 psi. The densification kinetics were found to agree well with published cation self-diffusion data. The densification rate behavior of lithium doped samples also indicated cation diffusion to be rate controlling in the pure oxide.
Quasi-Resonant Converters

Resonant switch converters are a broad class of converters in which the PWM switch network of a conventional buck, boost, or other converter is replaced with a switch cell containing resonant elements. These resonant elements are positioned such that one or more of the switching loss mechanisms is eliminated. The resulting hybrid converter combines the properties of the resonant switch network and the parent PWM converter.
Simple Harmonic Oscillator Based Reconstruction and Estimation for One-Dimensional q-Space Magnetic Resonance (1D-SHORE)

The movements of endogenous molecules during the magnetic resonance acquisition influence the resulting signal. By exploiting the sensitivity of diffusion on the signal, q-space MR has the ability to transform a set of diffusion-attenuated signal values into a probability density function or propagator that characterizes the diffusion process. Accurate estimation of the signal values and reconstruction of the propagator demand sophisticated tools that are well suited to these estimation and reconstruction problems. In this work, a series representation of one-dimensional q-space signals is presented in terms of a complete set of orthogonal Hermite functions. The basis possesses many interesting properties relevant to q-space MR, such as the ability to represent both the signal and its Fourier transform. Unlike the previously employed cumulant expansion, biexponential fit, and similar methods, this approach is linear and capable of reproducing complicated signal profiles, e.g., those exhibiting diffraction peaks. The estimation of the coefficients is fast and accurate while the representation lends itself to a direct reconstruction of ensemble average propagators as well as calculation of useful descriptors of it, such as the return-to-origin probability and its moments. In axially symmetric and isotropic geometries, respectively, two- and three-dimensional propagators can be reconstructed from one-dimensional q-space data. Useful relationships between the one- and higher-dimensional propagators in such environments are derived.
Louis de la Forge and the Development of Cartesian Medical Philosophy

Louis de la Forge (1632–1666) was a medical doctor and an early defender of the Cartesian philosophy. He is best known for his views on causation and his development of occasionalism within the Cartesian school. Commentators such as Balz (1932), Garber (1987), and Nadler (1998) have focused on the consequences of La Forge’s views for Cartesian metaphysics and physics, with little consideration of La Forge’s medical philosophy. We argue that La Forge provides a sophisticated version of Cartesian mind-body dualism, and he advances a mechanistic account of the animal spirits, corporeal memory, and a host of other topics relevant to Descartes’s conception of the human body-machine. We examine La Forge’s lengthy Remarques in the French edition of Descartes’s L’Homme de Rene Descartes et un Traite de la Formation du Foetus (1664, 1667) where he advances Descartes’s account of the generation and working of the animal spirits and its relevance to the human body-machine. We also examine La Forge’s Traite de l’esprit de l’homme et de ses facultez et fonctions, et de son union avec le corps (1666), where he explains the functions of the soul while defending dualism and the mechanism of the body-machine against scholasticism. We conclude that La Forge advances Descartes’s account of the generation and workings of the animal spirits and their interaction with the human soul, giving us an important vantage point to see the reception and development of the Cartesian medical philosophy in France.
Co-design of 3D wireless network-on-chip architectures with microchannel-based cooling

Three-dimensional Integrated Circuits (3D ICs) provide promising solutions to the challenges of footprint, device density and energy cost of on-chip communication. However, the increase in power density in 3D ICs due to reduced footprint aggravates the thermal issues in the chip. Liquid cooling through microfluidic channels can provide cooling capacities required for effective management of chip temperatures in 3D ICs. However, pumping liquid through the microchannels can cause high pressure drops causing structural instability in the chip. In order to reduce the pressure drops the height of the microchannels needs to be increased. This in turn makes the vertical interconnects realized by Through-Silicon-Vias longer, increasing delay and power consumption in data transfer. In this paper we propose to realize the vertical interconnects across the cooling layers with on-chip wireless interconnects. We present energy-efficient wireless 3D NoC architectures with optimal dimensions of microchannels for best thermal cooling capability and pressure characteristics.
Better Must Come: Exiting Homelessness in Two Global Cities

In Better Must Come, Mathew D. Marr provides a sincere and genuinely empathetic exploration of the processes that cause, sustain and alleviate (street) homelessness in the global cities of Los Ange...
Frontal Cortex Transcriptome Analysis of Mice Exposed to Electronic Cigarettes During Early Life Stages

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), battery-powered devices containing nicotine, glycerin, propylene glycol, flavorings, and other substances, are increasing in popularity. They pose a potential threat to the developing brain, as nicotine is a known neurotoxicant. We hypothesized that exposure to e-cigarettes during early life stages induce changes in central nervous system (CNS) transcriptome associated with adverse neurobiological outcomes and long-term disease states. To test the hypothesis, pregnant C57BL/6 mice were exposed daily (via whole body inhalation) throughout gestation (3 h/day; 5 days/week) to aerosols produced from e-cigarettes either with nicotine (13–16 mg/mL) or without nicotine; following birth, pups and dams were exposed together to e-cigarette aerosols throughout lactation beginning at postnatal day (PND) 4–6 and using the same exposure conditions employed during gestational exposure. Following exposure, frontal cortex recovered from ~one-month-old male and female offspring were excised and analyzed for gene expression by RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq). Comparisons between the treatment groups revealed that e-cigarette constituents other than nicotine might be partly responsible for the observed biological effects. Transcriptome alterations in both offspring sexes and treatment groups were all significantly associated with downstream adverse neurobiological outcomes. Results from this study demonstrate that e-cigarette exposure during early life alters CNS development potentially leading to chronic neuropathology.
Role of cholecystokinin in intestinal phase and meal-induced pancreatic secretion.

Amylase secretion and plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) were measured in dogs in the interdigestive state and after exogenous CCK-8 and CCK-39 (12.5 to 400 pmol.kg-1.h-1), intestinal sodium oleate, tryptophan plus phenylalanine, HCl (0.74, 2.2, 6.7, 20 mmol/h), and a meat meal (20 g/kg). Interdigestive plasma CCK did not vary, although amylase output showed periodic 15-fold increases. Plasma CCK increased linearly after doubling doses of CCK-8 and CCK-39; the slope of plasma CCK-39 vs. dose was 2.8 times steeper than that of CCK-8, suggesting a longer circulating half-life. At similar plasma concentrations, CCK-8 and CCK-39 were equipotent for stimulating pancreatic secretion. Sodium oleate and tryptophan plus phenylalanine significantly increased plasma CCK and amylase secretion in a load-dependent pattern and were equipotent for both effects. HCl stimulated bicarbonate secretion but not plasma CCK or amylase secretion. Food significantly increased plasma CCK and amylase secretion. Amylase responses to intestinal stimulants and food were significantly greater than to exogenous CCK at low plasma CCK levels. Maximal amylase responses to intestinal stimulants were similar to that after CCK-39 but occurred at 10-fold lower plasma CCK levels. These results indicate that CCK and other factors interact to regulate pancreatic responses to food and intestinal stimulants in dogs.
Food allergy in atopic dogs.

The aim was to develop an animal model for food allergy. Twenty inbred allergic dogs were immunized as newborns and infancy with 1 µug food allergen-soy, cow’s milk, wheat, beef, rice in alum 2mg, after 3 monthly injections of 0.5ml distemper-hepatitis live virus vaccine. At 4 months, most animals made IgE antibodies to these foods. At 6 months on, food challenges with 20O–500g amounts caused significantly increased fecal index scores, and in some-facial edema, rash, and vomiting. Via gastroendoscopy, 0.1ml food extracts were injected into gastric mucosa after giving intravenous 0.5% Evans blue dye (0.25ml/kg). Within minutes, blue wheals and erythema occurred at injection sites on mucosa, none at saline control sites. Punch biopsies were taken within 10–15min. and again at 24 or 48hr. Aliquots of biopsy specimens were used for histology. Immediate reaction specimens showed edema and neutrophils. The 24 and 48hr. samples showed eosinophil and mononuclear cells infiltrations. With soy allergens-gly m-1 and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor glycinins-thioredoxin incubation for 1hr. at 25C which reduced intrachain disulfide bonds, caused marked reduction in allergenicity evidenced by reduction in skin reaction threshold with serial dilutions of allergens. The food allergic dog is a useful model for food allergy research.
Traumatic bronchial injury

Introduction Tracheobronchial injury is a recognized, yet uncommon, result of blunt trauma to the thorax. Often the diagnosis and treatment are delayed, resulting in attempted surgical repair months or even years after the injury.
Recent Advances in Stem Cell-Based Therapeutics for Stroke

Regenerative medicine for central nervous system disorders, including stroke, has challenged the non-regenerative capacity of the brain. Among the many treatment strategies tailored towards repairing the injured brain, stem cell-based therapeutics have been demonstrated as safe and effective in animal models of stroke, and are being tested in limited clinical trials. We address here key lab-to-clinic translational research that relate to efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action underlying stem cell therapy. Recognizing the multi-pronged cell death processes associated with stroke that will likely require combination therapies, we next discuss potent drugs and novel technologies directed at improving the functional outcomes of stem cell-based therapeutics. We also examine discrepant transplant regimens between preclinical studies and clinical trials, as well as missing appropriate control arm (i.e., stroke subjects undergoing rehabilitation) on which to directly compare the therapeutic benefits of cell therapy. Finally, the bioethics of cell therapy is presented in order to assess its prevailing social status. With preliminary results now being reported from on-going clinical trials of stem cell therapy for stroke, a careful assessment of the true functional benefits of this novel treatment will further direct the future of regenerative medicine for neurological disorders.
Harnessing Creativity for Design: Tests in an Introduction to Engineering Class

Abstract Exercises targeted at each of the creativity categories were implemented in an engineering seminar for freshmen at MIT's D-Lab. Students built a prototype of a manual tilling tool and were tasked to ideate improvements. They then completed the targeted exercises and immediately transitioned back to ideation of design improvements. Two of the three teams demonstrated originality in response - generating ideas for new features, as opposed to simply changing dimensions of existing features. Greater fluency and elaboration of ideas may have emerged given more time to complete the task. The results suggest that some level of creative capacity was built, and future work is planned to elicit details on these dynamics.
Differences and similarities between structural properties of GaN grown by different growth methods

In this paper, defects formed in GaN grown by different methods are reviewed. The crystal growth direction and growth rate play important roles. For bulk crystals grown under high pressure the highest growth rates are for planes perpendicular to the c-axis. Only planar defects formed on c-planes are observed in these crystals. There are no threading dislocations or nanotubes in the c-direction. However, polarity of the growth direction plays a role in the surface roughness and the distribution of planar defects. For the growth of homo-epitaxial and hetero-epitaxial layers, the growth is forced to take place in the much slower c-direction. As a result, defects related to the purity of constituents used for the growth are formed such as nanotubes and pinholes. In addition, threading dislocations and dislocations that accommodate lattice and thermal expansion mismatch are formed.
Evaluation of Transverse Tie Rods in a 50-Year-Old Adjacent Prestressed Concrete Box Beam Bridge

AbstractAdjacent prestressed concrete box beam bridges are one of the most popular bridges in the United States for short to medium spans. Recently, there has been concern about the structural capacity of these bridges as they age and show signs of deterioration. Unfortunately, limited research has been performed on the transverse ties because they are typically used for pulling the adjacent beam together during construction. Therefore, they are typically neglected in the overall performance of the bridge. Little, if any, information is known of the behavior and contribution of the transverse ties to load transfer and the ultimate capacity after failure of the longitudinal shear key joints. Instrumenting installed transverse tie rods has not been done in the past due to difficultly in accessing the rods, and no technique has been established to perform the installation of a sensor in the tie rods. In addition, instrumenting a tie rod that has already been installed from the fascia beam would only allow th...
Symptomatic pancreatic duct stones in the disconnected bile duct: A case series.

Abstract Background Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) refers to the union of the pancreatic and biliary ducts outside of the duodenal wall. Patients are at increased risk of bile duct and gallbladder cancer, likely secondary to pancreatic juice refluxing into the biliary tree, and it is recommended that they undergo biliary diversion. Methods This is a case series of all patients in our institution with PBM and bilioenteric anastomosis who presented with symptomatic pancreatic duct stones in a disconnected bile duct. IRB approval was obtained prior to the initiation of the study. Results We describe eight cases of this finding. All patients underwent ERCP, with stones successfully removed from the disconnected bile duct in seven patients and from the pancreatic duct in one patient. Conclusion This novel finding has not been described in the medical literature, and may become more prevalent as more patients with PBM undergo bilioenteric anastomosis.
A Nonlinear Control Viewpoint on Anti-Windup and Related Problems

Abstract We describe what the anti-windup problenl is, some of its history, and a perspective on its current state. We provide a framework for interpreting this important industrial problem as a novel nonlinear L 2 disturbance attenuation problem.
Coevolution of symbolic and concrete dimensions of understanding

An important issue in early mathematics learning is the degree to which experiences with the physical world and experiences with signs influence developing understanding of mathematics concepts. The relationship between concrete and symbolic understanding has been investigated extensively (Bruner, Olver, & Greenfield, 1966; Piaget, 1966). Many researchers claim that concrete understanding develops prior to and underlies symbolic understanding (Lakoff & Nunez, 2000; Moses & Cobb, 2001; Resnick, 1992). Other researchers point out that symbolic or abstract understanding can precede qualitative understanding (Simons & Keil, 1995; Uttal, Scudder, & DeLoache, 1997). There is evidence that in general, as children develop expertise in a mathematical content area, they shift from using primarily concrete models and working with individual instances to a using numbers and developing general strategies for solving math problems (Carpenter, Fennema, Franke, Levi, & Empson, 1999). However, this trend should not be confused with the question of how understanding develops. To answer this question, researchers need to examine how concrete and symbolic resources each shape development (Vygotsky, 1978). Concrete resources are items like blocks, physically realistic drawings, and interactive virtual objects. Symbolic resources are items like written numbers, maps, and other notations. There is evidence that both signs and concrete objects can mediate learning (Fuson & Briars, 1990; Uttal, 2000; Wellman & Miller, 1986). At the same time, neither is sufficient for developing understanding (Resnick & Omanson, 1987; Uttal et al., 1997). A reasonable conjecture is that these resources mediate the development of understanding in a co-evolving fashion (Fuson, 1990; Rittle-Johnson, Siegler, & Alibali, 2001; Saxe, 1994).
Trans‐nasal flexible bronchoscopy in wheezing children: Diagnostic yield, impact on therapy, and prevalence of laryngeal cleft

Aim Persistent or recurrent wheezing is a common indication for flexible bronchoscopy, as anatomic and infectious or inflammatory changes are highly prevalent. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of anatomic, infectious, and inflammatory disease in a cohort of children undergoing flexible bronchoscopy for wheezing or poorly controlled asthma. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all children <18 years old who underwent flexible bronchoscopy at our center from October 29, 2012-December 31, 2016 for the primary or secondary indication of wheezing (persistent, frequently recurring, or atypical) or poorly controlled asthma. Results A total of 101 procedures were identified in 94 patients, aged 3 months to 18 years. Potential anatomic causes for wheezing identified in 45.7% of patients and inflammatory changes in 49.5% of procedures. This included the identification of a laryngeal cleft in 17% for which half required medical or surgical management. Tracheobronchomalacia was the most commonly identified anatomic lesion. Thirty children from this cohort had poorly controlled asthma. Among this subgroup, 54% had increased neutrophils on BAL and 30% had an anatomic contributor to wheezing, including one with a laryngeal cleft. Based on findings from flexible bronchoscopy, management changes made in 63.8% of patients. This included medication changes in 54 and surgical intervention in 9. Discussion We conclude that transnasal flexible bronchoscopy has high yield in children with recurrent, persistent, or atypical wheezing and those with poorly controlled asthma. Laryngeal cleft has a reasonably high prevalence that warrants specific evaluation in this population.
Prosocial deficits in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia relate to reward network atrophy.

Author(s): Sturm, Virginia E; Perry, David C; Wood, Kristie; Hua, Alice Y; Alcantar, Oscar; Datta, Samir; Rankin, Katherine P; Rosen, Howard J; Miller, Bruce L; Kramer, Joel H | Abstract: IntroductionEmpathy and shared feelings of reward motivate individuals to share resources with others when material gain is not at stake. Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects emotion- and reward-relevant neural systems. Although there is diminished empathy and altered reward processing in bvFTD, how the disease impacts prosocial behavior is less well understood.MethodsA total of 74 participants (20 bvFTD, 15 Alzheimer's disease [AD], and 39 healthy controls) participated in this study. Inspired by token-based paradigms from animal studies, we developed a novel task to measure prosocial giving (the "Giving Game"). On each trial of the Giving Game, participants decided how much money to offer to the experimenter, and prosocial giving was the total amount that participants gave to the experimenter when it cost them nothing to give. Voxel-based morphometry was then used to identify brain regions that were associated with prosocial giving.ResultsProsocial giving was lower in bvFTD than in healthy controls; prosocial giving in AD did not differ significantly from either of the other groups. Whereas lower prosocial giving was associated with atrophy in the right pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus, greater prosocial giving was associated with atrophy in the left ventral striatum.ConclusionThese findings suggest that simple acts of generosity deteriorate in bvFTD due to lateralized atrophy in reward-relevant neural systems that promote shared feelings of positive affect.
Nulling, Mode-Changing and Drifting Subpulses in the Highly Asymmetric Conal Quadruple Radio Pulsar B2034\(+\)19

Radio pulsar B2034 $$+$$ 19 exhibits all three ‘canonical’ pulse-sequence phenomena—that is, pulse nulling, two distinct profile modes and subpulses with periodic modulation. Indeed, the bursts and nulls in the pulsar are short at several score pulses and quasi-periodic such that about 1/3 of the pulses are nulls. The pulsar’s two modes have very different characteristics, the first shows emission almost completely confined to the leading half of the profile and highly modulated in a 2-period odd–even manner; whereas the second mode illuminates both the leading and trailing parts of the star’s profile about equally with the appearance of drift bands at about a 3-period separation. The second mode occurs much less frequently than the first (about 15% of the time) and thus the leading part of the profile has a much larger average intensity than the trailing part. B2034 $$+$$ 19 represents an interesting example of a pulsar with emission primarily in the leading part of its profile window with only occasional illumination in the trailing part. This suggests that there are pulsars that perhaps never emit in a part of their profile window, connecting with earlier work on pulsars with apparent ‘partial cone’ profiles.
Abstract 288: Novel Mechanisms of Non-coding Genomic Regulation Identified in Cardiac Disease-in-a-dish Models

Genome-wide association studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at gene loci that affect cardiovascular function, and while mechanisms in protein-coding loci are obvious, those in non-coding loci are difficult to determine. 9p21 is a recently identified locus associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction. Associations have implicated SNPs in altering smooth muscle and endothelial cell properties but have not identified adverse effects in cardiomyocytes (CMs) despite enhanced disease risk. Using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CMs from patients that are homozygous risk/risk (R/R) and non-risk/non-risk (N/N) for 9p21 SNPs and either CAD positive or negative, we assessed CM function when cultured on hydrogels capable of mimicking the fibrotic stiffening associated with disease post-heart attack, i.e. “heart attack-in-a-dish” stiffening from 11 kiloPascals (kPa) to 50 kPa. While all CMs independent of genotype and disease beat synchronously on soft matrices, R/R CMs cultured on dynamically stiffened hydrogels exhibited asynchronous contractions and had significantly lower correlation coefficients versus N/N CMs in the same conditions. Dynamic stiffening reduced connexin 43 expression and gap junction assembly in R/R CMs but not N/N CMs. To eliminate patient-to-patient variability, we created an isogenic line by deleting the 9p21 gene locus from a R/R patient using TALEN-mediated gene editing, i.e. R/R KO. Deletion of the 9p21 locus restored synchronous contractility and organized connexin 43 junctions. As a non-coding locus, 9p21 appears to repress connexin transcription, leading to the phenotypes we observe, but only when the niche is stiffened as in disease. These data are the first to demonstrate that disease-specific niche remodeling, e.g. a “heart attack-in-a-dish” model, can differentially affect CM function depending on SNPs within a non-coding locus.
Technological competence and the duty to safeguard confidential information in the USA

Perhaps the most significant changes to come out of the ABA's 20/20 Commission were two ‘technology amendments’: (1) a new comment to Rule 1.1 (Competence), which requires lawyers to ‘keep abreast ...
Ethanol and Membrane Cholesterol

ABSTRACT Ethanol is among the drugs whose potencies can be predicted from their lipid solubilities. Physical chemical methods reveal what it does in this hydrophobic environment; it disorders the membrane bilayer. Order parameters are reduced by ethanol and by other alcohols, in proportion to their in vivo potency. When mice are chronically treated with ethanol, their cell membranes become tolerant to the disordering effects of ethanol, and these tolerant membranes contain more cholesterol than controls. Studies with model membranes made of egg lecithin and cholesterol showed that the sterol makes membranes more ordered, and it also blocks the disordering effect of ethanol. Furthermore, ethanol facilitates the transfer of cholesterol between membranes. We speculate that changes in membrane cholesterol, mediated by ethanol itself, may contribute to ethanol tolerance.
Aging effects on basal and lipopolysaccharide inducible expression of antioxidant and inflammatory genes in human blood monocytes

The elderly are more susceptible to sepsis, which is often fatal, and caused by infection and characterized by systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Blood monocytes are effector immune cells that play critical roles in the pathogenesis of sepsis through producing large amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidants. In this study we examined glutathione (GSH) content, expression of Nrf2-regulated antioxidant genes (GCLC, GCLM, HO-1, and NQO1) and NF- B-regulated inflammatory genes (TNF , IL-1 , IL-6, and IL-8), and their induction in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in human blood monocytes from young (ages 20–40 years) and old (ages >60 years) donors. Our results showed that at basal condition, the intracellular GSH content and the mRNA level of GCLC were decreased in the old monocytes, while the expression of other antioxidant genes and pro-inflammatory genes was not changed with aging. Upon LPS exposure, the expression of all four antioxidant genes was decreased, while that of the pro-inflammatory genes increased, in the old monocytes. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that Nrf2-regulated antioxidant genes was suppressed in response to LPS in human blood monocytes, and that a greater inflammatory response was elicited by LPS in monocytes from the elderly.
Effects of oxygen and carbon dioxide on human retinal circulation.

PURPOSE Carbogen, a gas mixture of 95% O2 and 5% CO2, is given to patients with retinal artery obstruction in an attempt to improve retinal oxygenation. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of carbogen and 100% O2 breathing on retinal blood flow. METHODS On two separate occasions, 12 normal, healthy volunteers breathed air and then either 100% O2 or carbogen while laser Doppler velocimetry measurements and monochromatic fundus photographs were taken. Retinal vessel diameter, maximum velocity of red blood cells, and volumetric blood flow rate were determined in a main temporal vein. RESULTS Both 100% O2 and carbogen caused significant average reductions in vessel diameter (14.1% and 10.6%, respectively), maximum red blood cell velocity (42.1% and 27.3%, respectively), and blood flow (56.4% and 42.2%, respectively). The average vasoconstriction of the large retinal veins caused by carbogen was not significantly smaller than that caused by 100% O2. The average reductions in maximum red blood cell velocity and blood flow caused by carbogen were significantly smaller than those caused by 100% O2 (P < .001 and P < .01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS In normal subjects, inhalation of carbogen leads to less reduction in blood flow than inhalation of 100% O2, presumably by reducing the vasoconstriction of small arterioles induced by elevated oxygen levels.
Some Properties of Pseudo-conformal Images of Circular Domains in the Theory of Two Complex Variables

A biholomorphic mapping $$ W:\quad z_{k}^{*} = z_{k}^{*}\left( {{z_{1}},{z_{2}}} \right),\quad k = 1,2, $$ (1) of a domain 𝕭, which is one-to-one and continuous in 𝕭, will be called a PCT (pseudo-conformal transformation) of 𝕭.
Allosteric Regulation of Enzymatic Reactions in a Transparent Inorganic Sol-Gel Material

Glutamate dehydrogenase is encapsulated in a transparent porous silicate matrix by using sol-gel techniques. The inorganic polymer is formed around the enzyme (MW > 300,000 D). The enzyme is active in the material, catalyzes the reaction of L-glutamate to 2-oxoglutarate and follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The allosteric regulators ADP and GTP inhibit or activate the reaction; at pH 6, GTP acts as a strong activator and ADP acts as an inhibitor. This system involves a complex series of interactions; the co-enzyme NAD+ is required for catalysis, large-scale conformational changes accompany the binding of the substrate and coenzyme to the enzyme, the activators/inhibitors must bind to the enzyme to regulate the reactions, and the substrates and products must diffuse through the matrix to and from the binding site. The influence of the unique matrix on the complex enzymatic system is discussed.