cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Liver X Receptor Agonist T0901317 Protects Mice from High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance

The effect of activation of liver X receptor by N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-N-[4-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-hydroxy-1(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]phenyl] benzenesulfonamide (T0901317) on high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and insulin resistance was examined in C57BL/6 mice. When on HFD continuously for 10 weeks, C57BL/6 mice became obese with an average body weight of 42 g, insulin resistant, and glucose intolerant. Twice weekly intraperitoneal injections of T0901317 at 50 mg/kg in animals on the same diet completely blocked obesity development, obesity-associated insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that T0901317-treated animals had significantly higher mRNA levels of genes involved in energy metabolism, including Ucp-1, Pgc1a, Pgc1b, Cpt1a, Cpt1b, Acadm, Acadl, Aox, and Ehhadh. Transcription activation of Cyp7a1, Srebp-1c, Fas, Scd-1, and Acc-1 genes was also seen in T0901317-treated animals. T0901317 treatment induced reversible aggregation of lipids in the liver. These results suggest that liver X receptor could be a potential target for prevention of obesity and obesity-associated insulin resistance.
Complex Local Dynamics in DNA on the Picosecond and Nanosecond Time Scales

Time-resolved Stokes shift measurements of the local structural relaxation of three DNA oligonucleotides are presented. Logarithmic relaxation is seen for over three decades in time (40 ps-40 ns), indicating a complex relaxation among a large number of conformational substates. The observed relaxation is the same in all the sequences. Sequence dependence of the localized dynamics of DNA does not appear within this time range. We infer that 30%-50% of the relaxation is faster than 40 ps, has a nonlogarithmic decay and has a sequence dependent amplitude.
Deoxyguanosine kinase deficiency presenting as neonatal hemochromatosis.

Abstract Mutations in DGUOK result in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion and may present as neonatal liver failure. Neonatal hemochromatosis (NH1) is a liver disorder of uncertain and varied etiology characterized by hepatic and non-reticuloendothelial siderosis. To date, deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK2) deficiency has not been formally recognized in cases of NH. We report an African American female neonate with clinical and autopsy findings consistent with NH, and mtDNA depletion due to a homozygous mutation in DGUOK. This report highlights hepatocerebral mtDNA depletion in the differential of neonatal tyrosinemia, advocates considering dGK deficiency in cases of NH, and posits mitochondrial oxidative processes in the pathogenesis of NH.
Three Generations of Unconventional Family Values: A Case Study of the Ashursts

In addition to shaping individuals, the family unit can be an important agent of political change. Although Victorian family values fortified the father's role as the undisputed paterfamilias with almost unlimited patriarchal control, the Ashurst family disavowed convention. For three generations the Ashursts carried their commitments to equality and freedom out of the home, where the ideas were nurtured, into civil society, where family members campaigned for change. From the 1830s through to the early twentieth century they were on the front lines of reform in Britain. Through their correspondence and social contacts, they created an international network stretching from Italy to the USA. Anecdotes in their letters, memoirs and obituaries reveal how families transmit values. The Ashursts defined ‘family’ broadly, including not only blood relatives but also those who cared as deeply as they did about reform. Rather than accommodate to cultural norms they self-consciously subverted society's expectations ...
Morphine hyperalgesia: a case report.

We report a case of a patient with metastatic testicular cancer and intractable pain refractory to massive doses of oral, intravenous, and intrathecal (IT) opioids supported by analgesic adjuvants. During our efforts to control his pain, the patient exhibited opioid-induced hyperalgesia, an uncommon but important phenomenon seen with high-dose opioid therapy. With appropriate opioid adjustment—in this case reduction of intrathecal morphine dosage by a factor of 100—the condition rapidly resolved and the patient became pain-free and remained so until his death six weeks later. The keys to identifying this uncommon, but treatable, opioid side effect are recognizing it as a possibility when aggressive efforts to control pain with high doses of opioids, especially when administered neuraxially, are met with increasing pain.
Photoluminescence and optically induced ESR in pure and K-doped glassy Se

Abstract Both deoxygenation and K doping (0.01–0.1 at %) enhance the efficiency of the broad photoluminescence (PL) band observed at 0.8 eV in nominally pure Se glass at ∼6K by a factor of 10, and introduce a second, weaker, narrower PL band centered near 0.57 eV. With increasing temperature the 0.8 eV band is thermally quenched while the efficiency of the 0.57 eV band increases and becomes dominant at 77K. In oxygen contaminated Se glass the 0.8 eV PL remains the dominant band at 77K.
Lung cancer: Current concepts and prospects

In the United States, lung cancer is now the leading cancer killer among men, and it will soon be the leader among women. Most lung cancers are attributable to cigarette smoking. Symptomatic lung cancer tends to be advanced and unresectable. Chest roentgenography and sputum cytology are the only techniques proved capable of detecting presymptomatic, early-stage disease. Treatment of lung cancer depends primarily on the cell type and the extent of the tumor. Small cell cancer tends to be widespread, and the favored treatment is combination chemotherapy. For non-small cell cancer, the treatment of choice, whenever possible, is surgical resection. Efforts directed toward early detection and treatment have failed to reduce lung cancer mortality substantially. Thus, primary prevention through control of cigarette smoking remains the single most important measure for combating this frustrating disease.
Identification of histologically distinct conventional adenomas that arise predominately in patients with sessile serrated adenomas.

We have recently shown that a study population of patients with at least 1 sessile serrated adenoma (SSA) are 4 times more likely to harbor synchronous serrated polyps [SSAs, traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs) and right sided hyperplastic polyps] than a unselected population of patients. However, 35% of the polyps in the study patients were conventional adenomas (CAds). We hypothesized that the CAds in these study patients would have histologic and molecular differences compared with CAds from a control population without sessile serrated adenomas. To this end, 104 study and 79 control CAds were analyzed according to 9 histologic criteria. A subset of these polyps was also screened for BRAF mutations, KRAS mutations, CpG island methylation, and MUC6 expression. A total of 31 study CAds and 2 control CAds had atypical histologic features (bright cytoplasmic eosinophilia ± focal serrations and crypt dilatation). None of the adenomas tested had mutations in BRAF or KRAS. Evidence of low levels of CpG island methylation was seen in 35% of the atypical CAds and in only 4.5% of the typical CAds. In addition, these atypical CAds were more likely to express MUC6. Thus, the presence of cytoplasmic eosinophilia with or without focal serrations and crypt dilatation identifies a subset of CAds with characteristics of the serrated neoplasia pathway. These atypical CAds occur more commonly in patients predisposed to developing SSAs and suggest the presence of a mucosal field defect in these patients.
Efficient mixing in membrane bioreactors:minimizing dilution effects

Abstract Thermodynamically unfavorable enzyme-catalyzed synthesis reactions can attain higher levels of conversion with enhanced kinetics in membrane bioreactors as opposed to conventional biochemical reactors. Dilute reactants in separate solutions are mixed efficiently using permselective membranes, with the result that the reaction can be carried out to a high level of conversion. Pertinent operating parameters are identified and model calculations are presented showing thermodynamic and kinetic advantages.
Comment: Concepts in Archaeology and Economic Development

This note is a comment on the papers and presentations by Paul Burtenshaw, Alexander Herrera, and Arjo Klamer. It aims to provide a simple conceptual framework to help bridge the gap between cultural and economic values in archaeology, by considering the meaning of and circular interaction between the key concepts of cultural assets, values, stakeholders and conservation. It further explores the notion of sustainability and scaling up as significant elements of an effective and high impact approach to conservation.
Politics after Neoliberalism: Reregulation in Mexico

Part I. The Framework and Comparative Analysis: 1. Rethinking the consequences of Neoliberalism 2. From deregulation to regulation in the Mexican coffee sector Part II. The Cases: 3. Remaking corporatism from below: a participatory policy framework in Oaxaca 4. When corporatism and democracy collide: an exclusionary policy framework in Guerrero 5. Peasants and oligarchs: stalemate and transition to a participatory policy framework in Chiapas 6. Oligarchs as the dominant force: an exclusionary policy framework in Puebla Part III. The Conclusion: 7. After neoliberalism: what next?
The relationship between body weight and perceived weight-related employment discrimination: The role of sex and race

Abstract This study provides unique empirical evidence regarding a growing concern internationally: weight discrimination in the workplace. Using survey data from a national sample of 2838 American adults, it responds to Puhl and Brownell’s [Puhl, R., & Brownell, K. D. (2001). Bias, discrimination, and obesity. Obesity Research , 9 , 788–805] call for additional research investigating the prevalence of discriminatory experience among overweight employees, and to their more specific call for research that takes sex and race into account when examining weight discrimination. The results indicate that women are over 16 times more likely than men to perceive employment related discrimination and identify weight as the basis for their discriminatory experience. In addition, overweight respondents were 12 times more likely than normal weight respondents to report weight-related employment discrimination, obese 37 times more likely, and severely obese more than 100 times more likely. The implications of the study’s findings for organizations, policy makers, overweight employees, and career counselors are discussed, and future research directions suggested.
The Effects of Competition on Retail Structure: An Examination of Intratype, Intertype, and Intercategory Competition

Discount retailers and “category killers” are believed to be so detrimental to the existing retail environment that many communities have fought their entry through zoning and other regulations. Ho...
War and peace in veto voting

Abstract Let I = { i 1 , … , i n } be a set of voters (players) and A = { a 1 , … , a p } be a set of candidates (outcomes). Each voter i ∈ I has a preference Pi over the candidates. We assume that Pi is a complete order on A. The preference profile P = { P i , i ∈ I } is called a situation. A situation is called war if the set of all voters I is partitioned in two coalitions K1 and K2 such that all voters of Ki have the same preference, i = 1 , 2 , and these two preferences are opposite. For a simple class of veto voting schemes we prove that the results of elections in all war situations uniquely define the results for all other (peace) situations. In other words, the results depend only on the veto (or effectivity) function. We give several other examples from game (and from graph) theory with the same property.
Extracellular Calcium-sensing Receptor Activation Induces Vitamin D Receptor Levels in Proximal Kidney HK-2G Cells by a Mechanism That Requires Phosphorylation of p38α MAPK

In hypocalcaemia, elevated parathyroid hormone transitorily down-regulates the kidney vitamin D receptor, which returns to normal levels with the rise in serum extracellular calcium [Ca2+]e. In this study, we investigated the mechanism that underlies VDR increase in kidney in association with elevated [Ca2+]e. Examination of MAP kinase signals in a proximal tubule human kidney (HK-2G) epithelial cell line showed that treatment of [Ca2+]e in the culture medium elevated phosphorylation of both ERK and p38 MAPKs. Blockade of p38 phosphorylation with SB203580 or SB202190 in turn abolished [Ca2+]e-mediated VDR protein increase, while treatment with PD98059 and U0126, specifically blocked ERK phosphorylation, but had no effect on VDR stimulation by [Ca2+]e. Furthermore, SB203580 treatment potently repressed [Ca2+]e-mediated activation of VDR promoter. We also demonstrate that si-RNA knock down of p38α completely diminished high [Ca2+]e-mediated VDR induction. Direct CaSR involvement was demonstrated by using an si-RNA of CaSR that impeded [Ca2+]e-mediated induction of VDR. In conclusion, a high extracellular [Ca2+]e concentration in the physiological range is capable of directly increasing renal proximal VDR expression, and the induction mechanism requires activation of the CaSR and signal mediation by the p38α MAP kinase pathway.
On estimation error using maximum entropy density estimates

Purpose – In many problems involving decision‐making under uncertainty, the underlying probability model is unknown but partial information is available. In some approaches to this problem, the available prior information is used to define an appropriate probability model for the system uncertainty through a probability density function. When the prior information is available as a finite sequence of moments of the unknown probability density function (PDF) defining the appropriate probability model for the uncertain system, the maximum entropy (ME) method derives a PDF from an exponential family to define an approximate model. This paper, aims to investigate some optimality properties of the ME estimates.Design/methodology/approach – For n>m, when the exact model can be best approximated by one of an infinite number of unknown PDFs from an n parameter exponential family. The upper bound of the divergence distance between any PDF from this family and the m parameter exponential family PDF defined by the M...
The emergence of the nontraditional doctorate: A historical overview

The nontraditional doctorate is a relatively recent development in the long history of the doctoral degree. Understanding what makes a doctoral degree “nontraditional” requires describing its key features in relation to those of the traditional doctorate and embedding this analysis in a historical context.
Calcium alginate-Immobilized hepatic microsomes: Effect of NADPH cofactor on oxidation rates

An important function of the liver is detoxification of drugs, toxins and foreign compounds. Within the liver cell, the endoplasmic reticulum, isolated as the microsomal fraction, is especially active. Microsomal oxidation is the major oxidation pathway for many compounds, and the requirement for NADPH, an expensive cofactor, is an important consideration in bioreactor design. This paper presents design information for NADPH- and substrate-dependent oxidation rates for free and immobilized microsomes. The primary goal of this paper is determining NADPH requirements for oxidation. The effect of various initial levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) on chlorpromazine oxidation rate has been studied for a crude hepatic microsomal fraction immobilized in calcium alginate gel. At an initial NADPH concentration of 600 nmoles/ml, immobilized microsomes accelerate to a maximal velocity of ≈ 240 nmoles min−1 ml−1 of oxygen consumption. In comparison, free microsomes reach a maximal velocity of approximately 150 nmoles min−1 ml−1 at an initial NADPH concentration of 220 nmoles/ml. By fitting the “initial” rate as a function of NADPH concentration to Michaelis-Menten kinetics, the apparent half-saturation coefficients (Km)app are 3.5 nmole/ml for free microsomes and 134.4 nmole/ml for immobilized microsomes, however the maximum reaction velocity, Vmax, for immobilized microsomes is calculated to be 322 nmoles min−1 ml−1 compared with 145 nmols min−1 ml−1 for free microsomes. Preliminary studies indicate that is is possible to obtain significant reaction rates using calcium alginate immobilized microsomes and that this system may offer advantages due to its simplicity and lower cost.
Criteria Used by the FDA to Determine What Classes of Drugs are Appropriate Switch Candidates

Although many of us have a strong belief that the availability of additional medications over-the-counter could make treatment more available and more economical, there has been no groundswell of support for them. Indeed, no consumer group or medical group has come out wholeheartedly for the concept of switches. Professional societies representing largely private medical practitioners have generally commented negatively on individual switches. Support from pharmacy seems confined to the advocacy of a third class of drugs. Indeed, the proprietary association has been something of a lonely advocate and even they had trouble finding a common ground on ibuprofen. FDA criteria for switching drugs from prescription to over-the-counter status are an overall evaluation of safety of the drug, including toxicity and other potentiality for harmful effect, abuse/misuse potential, benefit/risk assessment, as well as an assessment of whether the condition being treated is amenable to self-diagnosis and self-treatment a...
Analysis of Two Simple Heuristics on a Random Instance ofk-sat

We consider the performance of two algorithms, GUC and SC studied by M. T. Chao and J. Franco SIAM J. Comput.15(1986), 1106?1118;Inform. Sci.51(1990), 289?314 and V. Chvatal and B. Reed in“Proceedings of the 33rd IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, 1992,” pp. 620?627, when applied to a random instance ? of a boolean formula in conjunctive normal form withnvariables and ?cn? clauses of sizekeach. For the case wherek=3, we obtain the exact limiting probability that GUC succeeds. We also consider the situation when GUC is allowed to have limited backtracking, and we improve an existing threshold forcbelow which almost all ? is satisfiable. Fork?4, we obtain a similar result regarding SC with limited backtracking.
Surface characterization of silicon carbide following shallow implantation of platinum ions

Silicon carbide is a promising wide-bandgap semiconductor intended for use in fabrication of high temperature, high power, and fast switching microelectronics components running without cooling. For hydrogen sensing applications, silicon carbide is generally used in conjunction with either palladium or platinum, both of them being good catalysts for hydrogen. Here we report on the temperature-dependent structural changes of silicon carbide substrates implanted with 13 keV Pt ions, providing a hydrogen-sensitive medium, and coated with W, providing electrical contacts to the device.
Percutaneous radiofrequency valvotomy using a standard 5Fr electrode catheter for pulmonary atresia in neonates

Radiofrequency energy applications with a standard 5Fr 3 mm tip electrode catheter facilitated opening of the pulmonary valve in neonates with pulmonary atresia. Shortening of the catheter tip electrode would probably improve efficiency.
A new method for the adaptive determination of optimum pH and temperature

An adaptive control algorithm for the on-line determination of optimal temperature or pH for biomass production in a continuous fermentor is presented. The algorithm requires no prior information and uses a dynamic Hammerstein model to identify parameters and to estimate an optimal steady-state control value. A check of the estimated performance measure second derivative is included to ensure that the target extremum is an optimum. The process is driven towards this optimum with a variable step size that depends on the quality of the on-line identified model. Numerical simulations are performed on a dynamic chemostat model that incorporates a metabolic time delay. The algorithm successfully finds the optimum temperature or pH values and maintains the reactor at the optimum steady state.
Reconstructing elementary teacher candidates' understanding of mathematics and science content

Abstract This paper examines the mathematics and science content knowledge of elementary teacher candidates. Data are presented which demonstrate that many elementary teacher candidates enter teacher education seriously deficient in their understanding of the subject matter they will teach to elementary students. The authors argue that these candidates are weakly prepared in content because of deficiencies in the pedagogy practiced in traditional didactic mathematics and science courses. They describe a conceptual approach to teaching mathematics and science content and contrast this with a didactic approach. Data are presented which demonstrate that these conceptual approaches significantly improved novice teachers understanding of content.
Synthesis and Surface Energy Measurement of Semi-Fluorinated, Low-Energy Surfaces†

The surface energy and stability of pendent semifluorinated groups (SFG) attached to the surface of PDMS were measured using the JKR technique. SFG, made up of a flexible hydrocarbon segment and a mesogen, i.e., the fluorocarbon segment, combine the low surface energy aspect of a (−CF2−) and (−CF3) surface with a resistance to surface reconstruction. An acid chloride group present on the end of the hydrocarbon segment allowed the SFG to be covalently attached to the surface of hydrolyzed elastomeric PDMS model networks. Whereas the hydrolyzed PDMS surfaces had surface energies of 1−10 J/m2 and showed large adhesion hysteresis, the SFG-treated surfaces displayed a minimum adhesion hysteresis and had a surface energy of ∼ 14.5 mJ/m2. This result suggests that in the SFG-modified surfaces both (−CF2−) and (−CF3) groups cover the surface. As the extent of hydrolysis of the PDMS networks increased, the density of attached SFG increased (as shown by XPS results), but the surface energy remained constant. No eff...
Measurement of exercise habits and prediction of leisure-time activity in established exercise

Habit formation may be important to maintaining repetitive healthy behaviors like exercise. Existing habit questionnaires only measure part of the definition of habit (automaticity; frequency). A novel habit questionnaire was evaluated that measured contextual cueing. We designed a two-stage observational cohort study of regular exercisers. For stage 1, we conducted an in-person interview on a university campus. For stage 2, we conducted an internet-based survey. Participants were 156 adults exercising at least once per week. A novel measure, The Exercise Habit Survey (EHS) assessed contextual cueing through 13 questions on constancy of place, time, people, and exercise behaviors. A subset of the Self-Report Habit Index (SRHI), measuring automaticity, was also collected along with measures of intention and self-efficacy, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), leisure-time section. The EHS was evaluated using factor analysis and test–retest reliability. Its correlation to other exerc...
Living with relatives: lessons from avian family systems*

Family-dwelling birds provide excellent opportunities for testing evolutionary predictions about social interactions among relatives. Their combination of behavioural complexity with cultural simplicity makes them ideal model systems in which to search for fundamental biological rules of social interaction. In this plenary, I provide a personalized overview of current thinking about both the evolution of families and the social dynamics to be expected among family members. Using an adaptationist/economic approach that uses fitness as its currency, I develop a set of 15 predictions about family formation, family stability, familial cooperation, familial competition and conflict resolution among kin. I argue that knowledge of four basic parameters, genetic relatedness, social dominance, the benefits of group living and the probable success of independent reproduction, can explain many aspects of family life in birds. I further suggest that this evolutionary perspective is generalizable across taxa and will provide new insights into understanding animal family systems in other species, including our own.
Intersubunit Disulfide Interactions Play a Critical Role in Maintaining the Thermostability of Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase from the Hyperthermophilic Bacterium Aquifex aeolicus

Proteins from thermophilic microorganisms are stabilized by various mechanisms to preserve their native folded states at higher temperatures. A thermostable glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (tG6PDH) from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus was expressed as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli. The A. aeolicus G6PDH is a homodimer exhibiting remarkable thermostability (t1/2 = 24 hr at 90 degrees C). Based on homology modeling and upon comparison of its structure with human G6PDH, it was predicted that cysteine 184 of one subunit could form a disulfide bond with cysteine 352 of the other subunit resulting in reinforced intersubunit interactions that hold the dimer together. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed on tG6PDH to convert C184 and C352 to serines. The tG6PDH double mutant exhibited a dramatic decrease in the half-life from 24 hr to 3 hr at 90 degrees C. The same decrease in half-life was also found when either C184 or C352 was mutated to serine. The result indicates that C184 and C352 may play a crucial role in strengthening the dimer interface through disulfide bond formation, thereby contributing to the thermal stability of the enzyme.
Algorithm for adaptively smoothing the log-periodogram

We use the principle of minimum cross entropy (MCE) to build a non-parametric adaptive algorithm for smoothing the log-transformed periodogram, and construct an optimal estimate for the spectral density function of a process. We show that this estimate minimizes the cross-entropy with the log-transformed spectral density function of the process. The method is non-parametric and performs very well for the case of processes having rapidly changing spectra that exhibits a variable order of smoothness. The algorithm is locally based on linearly approximating the information present in the process, and uses this approximation to allow the bandwidth of the spectral window in the smoothed log-periodogram to vary. We extend the algorithm empirically for better application to processes having mixed, narrow-band spectra. Comparisons with other currently used procedures are performed through the means of simulated examples.
Pediatric laryngeal dimensions: An age-based analysis

BACKGROUND:In children, the cricoid is considered the narrowest portion of the “funnel-shaped” airway. Growth and development lead to a transition to the more cylindrical adult airway. A number of airway decisions in pediatric airway practice are based on this transition from the pediatric to the ad
Biogenic manganese oxides: Properties and mechanisms of formation

▪ Abstract Manganese(IV) oxides produced through microbial activity, i.e., biogenic Mn oxides or Mn biooxides, are believed to be the most abundant and highly reactive Mn oxide phases in the environment. They mediate redox reactions with organic and inorganic compounds and sequester a variety of metals. The major pathway for bacterial Mn(II) oxidation is enzymatic, and although bacteria that oxidize Mn(II) are phylogenetically diverse, they require a multicopper oxidase-like enzyme to oxidize Mn(II). The oxidation of Mn(II) to Mn(IV) occurs via a soluble or enzyme-complexed Mn(III) intermediate. The primary Mn(IV) biooxide formed is a phyllomanganate most similar to δ-MnO2 or acid birnessite. Metal sequestration by the Mn biooxides occurs predominantly at vacant layer octahedral sites.
Process query systems for network security monitoring

In this paper we present the architecture of our network security monitoring infrastructure based on a Process Query System (PQS). PQS offers a new and powerful way of efficiently processing data streams, based on process descriptions that are submitted as queries. In this case the data streams are familiar network sensors, such as Snort, Netfilter, and Tripwire. The process queries describe the dynamics of network attacks and failures, such as worms, multistage attacks, and router failures. Using PQS the task of monitoring enterprise class networks is simplified, offering a priority-based GUI to the security administrator that clearly outlines events that require immediate attention. The PQS-Net system is deployed on an unsecured production network; the system has successfully detected many diverse attacks and failures.
Evaluation of the Substrate Specificity of Human Mast Cell Tryptase βI and Demonstration of Its Importance in Bacterial Infections of the Lung

Human pulmonary mast cells (MCs) express tryptases a and bI, and both granule serine proteases are exocytosed during inflammatory events. Recombinant forms of these tryptases were generated for the first time to evaluate their substrate specificities at the biochemical level and then to address their physiologic roles in pulmonary inflammation. Analysis of a tryptase-specific, phage display peptide library revealed that tryptase bI prefers to cleave peptides with 1 or more Pro residues flanked by 2 positively charged residues. Although recombinant tryptase bI was unable to activate cultured cells that express different types of protease-activated receptors, the numbers of neutrophils increased >100fold when enzymatically active tryptase bI was instilled into the lungs of mice. In contrast, the numbers of lymphocytes and eosinophils in the airspaces did not change significantly. More important, the tryptase bItreated mice exhibited normal airway responsiveness. Neutrophils did not extravasate into the lungs of tryptase a-treated mice. Thus, this is the first study to demonstrate that the two nearly identical human MC tryptases are functionally distinct in vivo. When MCdeficient W/W v mice were given enzymatically active
Discovering Adaptive Heuristics for Ad-Hoc Sensor Networks by Mining Evolved Optimal Configurations

Ad-hoc sensor networks comprising large numbers of randomly deployed wireless sensors have recently been an active focus of investigation. These networks require self-organized configuration after deployment, and ad-hoc heuristic methods for such configuration have been proposed with regard to many aspects of the networks' performance. However, systematic approaches for such configuration remain elusive. In this paper, we present a preliminary attempt towards such a systematic approach using evolutionary algorithms and reverse engineering. In particular, we focus on the problem of obtaining heterogeneous networks that optimize global functional properties through local adaptive rules. Almost all work on ad-hoc sensor network has so far involved homogeneous networks where all nodes transmit with the same power level, creating a symmetric connectivity. It is possible to construct heterogeneous networks by allowing nodes to transmit at different power levels, and such networks are known to provide improvements in network lifetime, power efficiency, routing, etc. However, such networks are difficult to build mainly because the optimal power level for each node depends on the node location and spatial context, which are not known before deployment. A few heuristic schemes focused on improving power consumption have been proposed in the literature, but the issue has not been investigated sufficiently at a general level. In this paper, we present a new and improved heuristic developed using a reverse engineered approach. A genetic algorithm is used to generate a set of heterogeneous sensor networks that are characterized by low short paths and minimal congestion. Analysis of this optimal network set yields rules that form the basis for a local heuristic. We show that networks adapted using this heuristic produce significant improvement over the homogeneous case. More importantly, the results validate the utility of the proposed approach that can be used in other self-organizing systems.
Formation of nano-crystalline todorokite from biogenic Mn oxides

Todorokite, as one of three main Mn oxide phases present in oceanic Mn nodules and an active MnO{sub 6} octahedral molecular sieve (OMS), has garnered much interest; however, its formation pathway in natural systems is not fully understood. Todorokite is widely considered to form from layer structured Mn oxides with hexagonal symmetry, such as vernadite ({delta}-MnO{sub 2}), which are generally of biogenic origin. However, this geochemical process has not been documented in the environment or demonstrated in the laboratory, except for precursor phases with triclinic symmetry. Here we report on the formation of a nanoscale, todorokite-like phase from biogenic Mn oxides produced by the freshwater bacterium Pseudomonas putida strain GB-1. At long- and short-range structural scales biogenic Mn oxides were transformed to a todorokite-like phase at atmospheric pressure through refluxing. Topotactic transformation was observed during the transformation. Furthermore, the todorokite-like phases formed via refluxing had thin layers along the c* axis and a lack of c* periodicity, making the basal plane undetectable with X-ray diffraction reflection. The proposed pathway of the todorokite-like phase formation is proposed as: hexagonal biogenic Mn oxide {yields} 10-{angstrom} triclinic phyllomanganate {yields} todorokite. These observations provide evidence supporting the possible bio-related origin of natural todorokites andmore » provide important clues for understanding the transformation of biogenic Mn oxides to other Mn oxides in the environment. Additionally this method may be a viable biosynthesis route for porous, nano-crystalline OMS materials for use in practical applications.« less
"Once when i was on call...," theory versus reality in training for professionalism.

Purpose To identify the degree to which interns’ reported experiences with professional and unprofessional behavior converge and/or diverge with ideal professional behavior proposed by the physician community. Method Interns at Wayne State University’s residency programs in internal medicine, family medicine, and transitional medicine responded to essay questions about their experience with professional and unprofessional behavior as part of a curriculum on professionalism. Responses were coded for whether they reflected each of the principles and responsibilities outlined in a major publication on physician professionalism. Content analysis included the frequencies with which the interns’ essays reflected each principle or responsibility. Additionally, a thematic analysis revealed themes of professional behavior that emerged from the essays. Results Interns’ experiences with professional and unprofessional behavior most frequently converged with ideal behavior proposed by the physician community in categories involving interpersonal interactions with patients. Interns infrequently reported experiences involving behavior related to systems or sociopolitical issues. Conclusions
Adapting Some Ideas from Stochastic Control Theory to Studying the Heat Equation in Closed Smooth Domains

Abstract. Sufficient conditions on bounded domains D ⊂ R d ={(t,x)} of class C 4 are given under which solutions of the heat equation u t =Δ u+f in D have continuous second-order derivatives with respect to (t,x) in D- . The equation is supplemented with C 4 boundary data and it is assumed that f∈ C 2 .
A new species of springsnail ( Pyrgulopsis ) from the Owyhee River Basin, Nevada

ABSTRACT. We describe a new springsnail species, Pyrgulopsis cybele , from the Owyhee River basin (northwestern Nevada) based on morphologic and molecular (mtCOI) evidence. Pyrgulopsis cybele differs from other members of its genus in its unique pattern of penial ornament, which consists of small glands on the distal edge of the penial lobe, base of the penial filament, and outer edge of the medial section of the penis. It is further differentiated from regional congeners by its thickened inner-shell lip and mtCOI sequences. A Bayesian analysis based on COI data placed P. cybele in a well-supported clade that contained congeners from Snake River, Great Basin, Colorado River, and California Pacific Coastal drainages; the sister taxon of this new species was not resolved. The COI divergence of P. cybele relative to its most genetically similar congener (P. glandulosa) suggests that it evolved subsequent to emplacement of the Miocene basalt that carpets the upper South Fork Owyhee basin. Pyrgulopsis cybele w...
Cylindrical electrostatic probes employed on Alouette II and explorer XXXI satellites

The cylindrical electrostatic probes flown on both AIouette II and Explorer XXXl enable intersatellite comparisons of directly measured parameters to be made. The sensors are identical, but differences between the two satellites resulted in differences of data format and probe potential. Interference from the topside sounder on Alouette II has made data processing difficult.
Mediastinal lymphangioma presenting as an acute epidural hematoma: Case report

Lymphangiomas are benign collections of blind-ended lymphatic and vascular channels. Lesions typically occur in the soft tissues of the head and neck, although any region of the body can be affected. Involvement of the spine is very rare. A complete resection is generally curative. On rare occasions, these tumors are complicated by infection or hemorrhage. The authors present an unusual case of a hemorrhagic lymphangioma in a 1-year-old male child. The lesion originated in the mediastinum and extended into the cervicothoracic epidural space via a neural foramen. This resulted in an acute epidural hematoma and quadriparesis. Emergency decompression resulted in full neurological recovery. This may be the first report of a lymphangioma resulting in an acute epidural hematoma and quadriparesis.
Shared virtue : The convergence of valued human strengths across culture and history

Positive psychology needs an agreed-upon way of classifying positive traits as a backbone for research, diagnosis, and intervention. As a 1st step toward classification, the authors examined philosophical and religious traditions in China (Confucianism and Taoism), South Asia (Buddhism and Hinduism), and the West (Athenian philosophy, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) for the answers each provided to questions of moral behavior and the good life. The authors found that 6 core virtues recurred in these writings: courage, justice, humanity, temperance, wisdom, and transcendence. This convergence suggests a nonarbitrary foundation for the classification of human strengths and virtues.
Tricyclic antidepressant overdose: Emergency department findings as predictors of clinical course

There is controversy regarding the appropriate utilization of health care resources in the management of tricyclic antidepressant overdosage. Antidepressant overdose patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) are routinely admitted to intensive care units, but only a small proportion develop cardiac arrhythmias or other complications requiring such an environment. The authors reviewed the findings in 165 patients presenting to an ED with antidepressant overdose. They found that major manifestations of toxicity on ED evaluation (altered mental status, seizures, arrhythmias, and conduction defects) were commonly associated with a complicated hospital course. Patients with the isolated findings of sinus tachycardia or QTc prolongation had no complications. No patient experienced a serious toxic event without major evidence of toxicity on ED evaluation and continued evidence of toxicity during the hospital course. These data support the concept that proper ED evaluation can identify a large body of patients with trivial ingestions who may not require hospital observation.
Residential Solar PV Systems in the Carolinas: Opportunities and Outcomes

This paper presents a first-order analysis of the feasibility and technical, environmental, and economic effects of large levels of solar photovoltaic (PV) penetration within the services areas of the Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC) and Duke Energy Progress (DEP). A PV production model based on household density and a gridded hourly global horizontal irradiance data set simulates hourly PV power output from roof-top installations, while a unit commitment and real-time economic dispatch (UC–ED) model simulates hourly system operations. We find that the large generating capacity of base-load nuclear power plants (NPPs) without ramping capability in the region limits PV integration levels to 5.3% (6510 MW) of 2015 generation. Enabling ramping capability for NPPs would raise the limit of PV penetration to near 9% of electricity generated. If the planned retirement of coal-fired power plants together with new installations and upgrades of natural gas and nuclear plants materialize in 2025, and if NPPs operate flex...
MELT 2015 workshop report: the fifth ACM SIGSPATIAL International Workshop on Mobile Entity Localization and Tracking in GPS-less Environments (Seattle, Washington, USA - November 3, 2015)

After a decade of research and development for GPS-less localization and tracking, there has been significant progress in location-awareness and location-based services around the world. Almost all cell phone platforms, Android, iPhone and Windows phones, have localization and tracking facilities. In addition, special hardware and infrastructure (e.g., RFID, UWB and BLE or sensor tags) have been developed and deployed for tracking people and merchandise. The advances in cameras and computer vision make it possible for cheap simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). However, there are still many challenging problems to be solved, such as accuracy, power management, effective sensor fusion with increasingly powerful embedded computation and resourceful parallel computing backend, learning, transmitting and storing individual trajectories and spatial environment representation, labor-less environmental survey or infrastructure establishment for location-awareness, crowd computing or collective intelligence for map creations, and big data analytics of real-time and historical semantic locations that helps improving efficiency for both consumers and businesses.
ENSO-RELATED PHENOMENA AT LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH SITES

I outline a framework for investigating and discussing climate variability and ecosystem response. The example of an El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event is a relatively simple one for operationalizing this framework. I review some of the earlier findings related to El Ninos and Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites. Then I perform an analysis for the period 1957 to 1990 investigating the response of monthly mean temperature and monthly total precipitation standardized anomaly values to El Nino and La Nina events as indicated by the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). Different LTER sites manifest strong, detectable, and weak or no climatic signals to El Nino and La Nina events. Some of the effects of the ENSO-related climate variability on selected ecosystems are discussed. A statistically significant climate signal at an LTER site does not necessarily mean there will be an ecologically significant response. El Nino signals in the temperature series at the Andrews Forest, Oregon, the Luquillo Rai...
Effects of a Foster Parent Training Intervention on Child Behavior, Caregiver Stress, and Parenting Style

Findings from Maryland KEEP, a replication of KEEP (keeping foster and kinship parents trained and supported), a foster and kinship parent training intervention are presented. The purposes of this study were to evaluate child behavior change, changes in caregiver parenting style, and permanency and placement stability at baseline and then after the KEEP intervention. The KEEP intervention was provided to 65 foster and kinship parents providing care for children ages 4–12. Children who participated in the study were referred due to behavior problems, as reported by foster parents: they all scored in the clinical range for externalizing behavior on the child behavior checklist (CBCL). Baseline and posttest analyses assessed for child behavior and parenting style changes. Permanency data, including placement moves and exits from child welfare were examined. Overall, foster and kinship parents reported significantly fewer child behavior problems at posttest; severity levels on the CBCL decreased from baseline to posttest and scores on the Parent Daily Report decreased from 7.25 at baseline to 3.0 at posttest. Placement stability significantly increased between baseline and post KEEP intervention. The results provide support for the effectiveness of KEEP for a child welfare population with a high level of behavior problems and for the effectiveness of KEEP as a training program for foster and kinship parents.
ASSORTATIVE POLLINATION FOR STATURE IN LYTHRUM SALICARIA.

Several traits in animals, especially color and size, are known to induce some form of preference for mating between similar organisms (assortment) or between dissimilar organisms (disassortment). Assortative mating has been demonstrated in laboratory populations of Drosophila (Merrell, 1949; Rendel, 1944, 1951; Parsons, 1965) and natural populations of the BlueSnow Goose (Cooch and Beardmore, 1959; Cook and Cooch, 1968), Arctic Skua (O'Donald, 1959; Berry and Davis, 1970), and man (Spuhler, 1968). A tendency for disassortative mating has been observed in the moths Panaxia dominula (Kettlewell, 1942; Sheppard, 1952), Biston betularia (Kettlewell, 1956), and Amanthes glareosa (Kettlewell and Berry, 1961), and the white throated sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis (Lowther, 1961). Assortative pollination or mating in bior polymorphic populations of plants has not been reported. This void ostensibly is due to the lack of interest and observations in assortment by pollination biologists, rather than the absence of the practice. Assortative pollination for qualitative floral characters is a distinct possibility in zoophilous plants. It is well known that pollinators, especially bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, can discriminate between alternative floral signals such as color, scent and corolla configuration (cf., Faegri and van der Pijl, 1966). In addition, these pollinators often remain constant to a single food image in spite of the presence of alternative and suitable images which may be closely related species. If pollinators were to apply the same foraging tactics within a polymorphic population as they do in an as-
Analysis of mercury in health foods sold in Suzhou in 2008

Objective:To investigate the mercury contamination in health foods sold in Suzhou.Methods:The mercury in samples were determined by A Direct Mercury Analyzer(DMA-80).Results:The mercury contents in 16.30%(15/92)of the health foods exceeded the national standard of food hygiene in Suzhou in 2008.Coclusion:It is necessary to further strengthen the health food safety control for protecting the health of the consumers.