cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulating Protein Mediated Hydrolysis of ATP and Other Nucleoside Triphosphates by Combining QM/MM Molecular Dynamics with Advances in Metadynamics

The protein mediated hydrolysis of nucleoside triphosphates such as ATP or GTP is one of the most important and challenging biochemical reactions in nature. The chemical environment (water structure, catalytic metal, and amino acid residues) adjacent to the hydrolysis site contains hundreds of atoms, usually greatly limiting the amount of the free energy sampling that one can achieve from computationally demanding electronic structure calculations such as QM/MM simulations. Therefore, the combination of QM/MM molecular dynamics with the recently developed transition-tempered metadynamics (TTMetaD), an enhanced sampling method that can provide a high-quality free energy estimate at an early stage in a simulation, is an ideal approach to address the biomolecular nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis problem. In this work the ATP hydrolysis process in monomeric and filamentous actin is studied as an example application of the combined methodology. The performance of TTMetaD in these demanding QM/MM simulations ...
Analyzing Unstructured Communication in a Computer-Mediated Environment for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Research Protocol

Background: Individuals with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk for comorbidities such as heart disease, lower limb amputations, stroke, and renal failure. Multiple factors influence development of complications in a person living with type 2 diabetes; however, an individual’s self-management behaviors may delay the onset of, or lessen the severity of, these complications. Social support provides personal, informal advice and knowledge that helps individuals initiate and sustain self-management and adherence. Objective: Our aim was to gain an understanding of type 2 diabetes social interaction in a virtual environment, one type of computer-mediated environment (CME), and the social support characteristics that increase and sustain self-management in adults living with chronic illness. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of longitudinal data collected in a CME study, Second Life Impacts Diabetes Education & Self-Management (1R21-LM010727-01). This virtual environment replicated a real-life community where 6 months of naturalistic synchronous voice conversations, emails, and text chats were recorded among participants and providers. This analysis uses a mixed-methods approach to explore and compare qualitative and quantitative findings. This analysis is guided by two theories: Strong/Weak Ties Theory and Social Penetration Theory. Qualitative data will be analyzed using content analysis, and we will complete descriptive statistics on the quantified variables (eg, average number of ties). Institutional review board approval was obtained in June 2016. Results: This study is in progress. Conclusions: Interventions provided through virtual environments are a promising solution to increasing self-management practices. However, little is known of the depth, breadth, and quality of social support that is exchanged and how interaction supports self-management and relates to health outcomes. This study will provide knowledge that will help guide clinical practice and policy to enhance social support for chronic illness via the Internet. [JMIR Res Protoc 2017;6(4):e65]
Inequality of Opportunity: Some Lessons from the Case of Highly Selective Universities.

Many egalitarians believe that there is a pro tanto reason to remedy inequalities of opportunity in access to higher education. This consensus, I argue, masks practical disagreement among egalitarians: in many real-world choice contexts, egalitarians will disagree about which policies are to be endorsed, both from the point of view of equality and all things considered. I focus my discussion on a real-world case (the ‘big squeeze’ – so-called because the children of well-off families ‘squeeze out’ the children of less well-off families from access to highly selective US universities) that has recently been discussed by Amy Gutmann. I argue that while (a) the ‘big squeeze’ is condemned by the ideal of equal opportunity, nevertheless (b) different egalitarians will favor different policies in response to the ‘big squeeze’, and (c) one intuitive, and apparently egalitarian, response lacks support from most plausible egalitarian views.
PriSearch: Efficient Search on Private Data

We propose PriSearch, a provably secure methodology for two-party string search. The scenario involves two parties, Alice (holding a query string) and Bob (holding a text), who wish to perform a string search while keeping both the query and the text private without relying on any third party. Such privacy-preserving string search avoids any data leakage when handling sensitive information, e.g., genomic data. PriSearch provides an efficient solution where two parties only need to interact for a constant number of rounds independent of the query and text size. Our approach is based on the provably secure Yao's Garbled Circuit (GC) protocol that requires the string search algorithm to be described as a Boolean circuit. We leverage logic synthesis tools to generate an optimized Boolean circuit for PriSearch such that it incurs the minimum communication/computation cost. We achieve approximately 2× and 140× performance improvements compared to the best prior non-GC and GC-based solutions, respectively.
Aging effects on intestinal homeostasis associated with expansion and dysfunction of intestinal epithelial stem cells

Intestinal epithelial stem cells (IESCs) are critical to maintain intestinal epithelial function and homeostasis. We tested the hypothesis that aging promotes IESC dysfunction using old (18-22 months) and young (2-4 month) Sox9-EGFP IESC reporter mice. Different levels of Sox9-EGFP permit analyses of active IESC (Sox9-EGFPLow), activatable reserve IESC and enteroendocrine cells (Sox9-EGFPHigh), Sox9-EGFPSublow progenitors, and Sox9-EGFPNegative differentiated lineages. Crypt-villus morphology, cellular composition and apoptosis were measured by histology. IESC function was assessed by crypt culture, and proliferation by flow cytometry and histology. Main findings were confirmed in Lgr5-EGFP and Lgr5-LacZ mice. Aging-associated gene expression changes were analyzed by Fluidigm mRNA profiling. Crypts culture from old mice yielded fewer and less complex enteroids. Histology revealed increased villus height and Paneth cells per crypt in old mice. Old mice showed increased numbers and hyperproliferation of Sox9-EGFPLow IESC and Sox9-EGFPHigh cells. Cleaved caspase-3 staining demonstrated increased apoptotic cells in crypts and villi of old mice. Gene expression profiling revealed aging-associated changes in mRNAs associated with cell cycle, oxidative stress and apoptosis specifically in IESC. These findings provide new, direct evidence for aging associated IESC dysfunction, and define potential biomarkers and targets for translational studies to assess and maintain IESC function during aging.
Heterodienophile Additions to Dienes

Diels–Alder reactions of heterodienophiles have been known for decades, but only recently has this methodology become widely accepted by the synthetic community. There is enormous diversity in the structural types of compounds which can act as heterodienophiles, and a wide array of heterocyclic adducts can be prepared via these [4 + 2] cycloadditions. It seems clear that hetero Diels–Alder reactions span a range of mechanism from concerted to stepwise ionic processes. In many instances, mechanistic information is totally lacking. The discussion below therefore classifies heterodienophiles by structural rather than mechanistic class. Only the major types of synthetically useful heterodienophiles have been included. Moreover, the significant regio- and stereo-chemical features of the reactions have been exemplified as much as possible using recently reported cases. Other more comprehensive and more specialized reviews1 should be consulted for older material and more obscure hetero Diels–Alder cycloadditions.
Climate Change Impacts on the Bulk Power System: Assessing Vulnerabilities and Planning for Resilience

As the scale, speed, and implications of climate change come into focus, stakeholders in the electricity sector are finding it increasingly difficult to turn a blind eye. However, many have opted to attend to climate impacts in a piecemeal fashion, often merely responding to particular extreme events — or types of extreme events, such as coastal storms or floods — and failing to consider the larger phenomenon. This is true of the bulk power system (BPS) in regions overseen by Independent System Operators and Regional Transmission Organizations (collectively, ISO/RTOs), none of which have comprehensively assessed their systems’ vulnerabilities to climate change. This paper collects recent research highlighting the implications of climate change for the BPS and explains how ISO/RTOs can assess and respond to them.
Did Bundesbank Interventions serve as Signals of Monetary Policy

For empirically testing the signalling hypothesis, it is crucial to be able to detect the central bank’s monetary policy stance subsequent to foreign exchange market interventions. This requires an observable indicator of monetary policy which appropriately perforins this task. Notice that foreign exchange market participants face a similar problem: Returning to the credibility problem that intervention signals face, the future usage of sterilized interventions as a policy instrument requires central banks to carry out all announced policy changes. But this alone is not sufficient to establish a reputation: It is necessary that market participants be able to verify that policies have been undertaken. Here again, an indicator of the central bank’s monetary policy stance is desirable which is sufficiently informative to reflect central bank policies in a reliable fashion. Formally, the requirements for such an indicator are twofold: (i) It must respond to all central bank policy instruments with only little or no time lag. (ii) Ideally, it must be free from other influences than central bank policymaking. The monetary authority should have complete control over this indicator variable, and the private sector or empirical investigator should be able to perfectly monitor the central bank.1
Reconceptualizing Lifelong Learning

For the UNESCO Lifelong Learning Institute, coordinating and writing the General Report on Adult Learning Education (GRALE report) was not an easy feat. Like many documents of its kind, GRALE is a policy advocacy document, drawing from reports produced by governments, secondary data, and supplementary empirical reports and information. Yet to have the academic and political credibility, it should have been influenced by state of the art debates in the field of adult and lifelong learning, a field that is rather under-theorized.
Solving Equal Groups (EG) Problems

Learning Outcome: Be able to solve EG word problems using the EG diagram equation Materials Needed: Equation Diagram Equal Groups (EG) Diagram Equation Checklist DOTS Checklist Poster PPT Modeling Modeling EG problem solving 1, 2, and 3 Student Worksheets Modeling EG problem solving 1, 2, and 3 Try It Out–EG problem solving 4, 5, and 6 Independent Worksheet–EG problem solving 7, 8 and 9 Reference Guide Reference Guide: EG problem solving 1–9
Risk Factors for Adult T-Cell Leukemia Among Carriers of Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type I

The presence of circulating “flower cells” and a low prevalence of antibody to Tax regulatory protein of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) are characteristics of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). To examine the predictability of levels of HTLV-I antibodies and of flower cell-like abnormal lymphocytes (Ably) for the risk of ATL among asymptomatic HTLV-I carriers, we prospectively evaluated the levels of viral markers of five HTLV-I carriers who developed ATL and 38 age-, sex-, and screen-matched HTLV-I–positive controls in the Miyazaki Cohort Study. After accounting for matching factors, Ably level was slightly, but not significantly, higher among cases than among controls ( P = .13). Anti–HTLV-I (odds ratio [OR] = 1.6 per twofold dilution; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.94, 3.8) was associated with ATL diagnosis, but antibody to Tax regulatory protein (anti-Tax) was not (OR = 0.78; 95% CI 0.26, 1.7). Anti-Tax level was low for all ATL cases for up to 10 years preceding their diagnosis, independent of the level of anti–HTLV-I titer. HTLV-I carriers with a higher anti–HTLV-I titer and a lower anti-Tax reactivity may be at greatest risk of ATL.
Quivers and Perverse Sheaves

9.1.1. By definition, a (finite) graph is a pair consisting of two finite sets I (vertices) and H (edges) and a map which to each h ∈ H associates a two-element subset [h] of I.
Undiagnosed Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes in Adult Neuromuscular Practice: a Long Road to Diagnosis and Treatment. (P2.033)

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic challenges of congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) in adult neuromuscular practice. Background: CMS are a genetically heterogeneous group of neuromuscular transmission disorders. A prompt molecular diagnosis is important for treatment. Design/Methods: We searched the Mayo Clinic database to identify adult CMS patients diagnosed in our neuromuscular clinic between 2000 and 2016. Clinical, serological, molecular and electrodiagnostic data were reviewed. Results: We identified 34 CMS patients from 33 unrelated families. Mutations were discovered in 30 patients [14 DOK7, 6 RAPSN, 2 LRP4, 2 COLQ, 2 slow-channel (1 CHRNA1 and 1 CHRND), 1 primary AChR deficiency (CHRNE), 1 AGRN, 1 GFPT1, and 1 SCN4A]. Ophthalmoparesis was often mild and present in 13 patients. Predominant limb girdle weakness occurred in 19 patients. Two patients had only ptosis. Age of onset ranged from birth to 39 years (median, 5 years). The median time from onset to diagnosis was 27 years (range, 4–56 years). Nine patients had affected family members. Fatigable weakness was present when examined. Creatinine kinase was elevated in 4 of 23 patients (range, 1.2–4.2 times upper limit of normal). Repetitive nerve stimulation (2-Hz) revealed decrement in 29 patients. Thirty-two patients were previously misdiagnosed with: seronegative myasthenia gravis (n=15), myopathies (n=10), weakness of undetermined cause (n=8), muscular dystrophies (n=5), endocrine disorders (n=1), periodic paralysis (n=1), spinal muscular atrophy (n=1), and epilepsy (n=1). Fifteen patients received immunosuppressive therapy or thymectomy without benefits. Among 25 patients receiving pyridostigmine, 14 were either non-responsive or worsen. Three genetically-undiagnosed patients underwent muscle biopsy that showed normal or nonspecific findings. Conclusions: Misdiagnosis occurred in 94% of adult CMS patients and led to a median diagnostic delay of nearly 3 decades from symptom onset. Seronegative myasthenia gravis was the most common misdiagnosis, which led to unnecessary immunosuppressive therapy or thymectomy. Disclosure: Dr. Kao has nothing to disclose. Dr. Milone has nothing to disclose. Dr. Selcen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Engel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Liewluck has nothing to disclose.
Controlling pore structure of polyelectrolyte multilayer nanofiltration membranes by tuning polyelectrolyte-salt interactions

Abstract Nanofiltration membranes have limited ion-ion selectivity in water treatment applications, especially when separating ions with similar size and charge. To achieve greater size-based selectivity in nanofiltration, more control of pore structure is required during membrane fabrication. We demonstrate how to tailor membrane pore size and thickness using polyelectrolyte layer-by-layer assembly by alternately applying two strong polyelectrolytes, PDADMAC and PSS, to a polysulfone substrate while systematically controlling the polyelectrolyte and salt concentrations in the deposition solution. Results suggest that increasing polyelectrolyte concentration or salt concentration in the deposition solution increases polyelectrolyte multilayer thickness, but the effects on pore size may be categorized into two distinct regimes. In the first growth regime, increasing polyelectrolyte concentration in the deposition solution led to larger polymer deposition rates and smaller pore sizes. In the second growth regime, increasing polyelectrolyte concentration produced larger pore sizes. We attribute the second regime to less adsorbed polyelectrolyte on the membrane and/or less coiled polymer chains as a result of changing polyelectrolyte-salt interactions. Overall, results show that pore size modification is achievable using layer-by-layer assembly by tuning polyelectrolyte-salt interactions and can be used to study and improve size-based selectivity in membrane separation processes.
Degradation of Components After Exposure in a Biomass Pyrolysis System

X-ray diffraction, electron probe microanalysis, and scanning transmission electron microscopy with focused ion beam lift-out sample preparation techniques were used to study corrosion products in ...
Olfactory dysfunction persists after smoking cessation and signals increased cardiovascular risk

BACKGROUND Olfaction plays a critical role in health and function in older adults, and impaired sense of smell is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality. Smoking cigarettes causes olfactory impairment, but the mechanism of damage and ability to recover after cessation are unknown. We investigated the relationship between time since quitting and olfactory dysfunction in order to elucidate the mechanism(s) by which smoking damages the olfactory system and to inform patient counseling. METHODS Using longitudinal data from the National Social Life Health and Aging Project (n = 3528 older adults, including 1526 former smokers), we analyzed the association between odor identification performance and time since smoking cessation using multivariate ordinal logistic regression, adjusting for cognition and demographic variables. To test whether vascular disease plays a role, we also assessed the relationship between olfactory decline and incidence of heart attack and heart disease. RESULTS Former smokers who quit ≤15 years before testing had significantly impaired olfaction compared to never smokers (p = 0.04), but those who quit >15 years prior did not. Olfactory decline over 5 years showed modest evidence toward predicting increased incidence of heart attack or heart disease (p = 0.08). CONCLUSION Olfactory impairment in smokers persists 15 years after quitting, which is consistent with a vascular mechanism of impairment. Indeed, olfactory decline is a predictor of the development of cardiovascular disease. Taken together, these data suggest that olfactory loss may be a useful sign of underlying vascular pathology. Further investigation of olfactory loss as an early biomarker for cardiovascular disease is warranted.
Impact of acute ethanol exposure on body temperatures in aged, adult and adolescent male rats.

Abstract The mean population age of the United States continues to increase, and data suggest that by the year 2060 the population of people over the age of 65 will more than double, providing a potentially massive strain on health care systems. Research demonstrates individuals 65 and older continue to consume ethanol, often at high levels. However, preclinical animal models are still being developed to understand how ethanol might interact with the aged population. The current experiments investigated differential body temperature responses in aged rats compared to adult rats and adolescent rats. Aged (19 months of age), adult (70 days of age), or adolescent (30 days of age) male Sprague Dawley rats were administered 1.0 g/kg, 2.0 g/kg, or 3.0 g/kg ethanol, intraperitoneally (i.p.), in a balanced Latin square design. Prior to ethanol administration, a core body temperature via an anal probe was obtained, and then repeatedly determined every 60 min following ethanol exposure for a total of 360 min. In addition, a blood sample was obtained from a tail nick 60, 180, and 300 min following the ethanol injection to investigate the relationship of ethanol levels and body temperature in the same animals. Aged rats had significantly greater reductions in body temperature compared to either adult or adolescent rats following both the 2.0 g/kg and 3.0 g/kg ethanol injection. Additionally, adolescent rats cleared ethanol significantly faster than aged or adult animals. These experiments suggest body temperature regulation in aged rats might be more sensitive to acute ethanol compared to adult rats or adolescent rats. Future studies are needed to identify the neurobiological effects underlying the differential sensitivity in aged rats to ethanol.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Management of Severe Purpura Fulminans in a Burn Center: A Case Series.

Purpura fulminans is a life-threatening hematological emergency characterized by skin necrosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment. We present a case series of patients with severe purpura fulminans who were managed via a multidisciplinary approach at a regional burn center. We report the burn unit perspective which includes current intensive care guidelines with early surgical intervention, in addition to a review of the pathology and clinical features of the disease. Proper wound management and expeditious surgical evaluation can help reduce the mortality and minimize amputations. Early referral to a burn center with a multidisciplinary team is recommended for the best outcomes in these patients.
Eksistensi Warisan Budaya Leluhur: Studi Kasus Seni Tradisional Tangkap Ikan Masyarakat Kepulauan Talaud Provinsi Sulawesi Utara

Artikel ini menganalisis strategi pengembangan seni tradisional tangkap ikan atau yang lebih dikenal Mane’e sebagai bentuk warisan budaya leluhur. Seni tangkap ikan ini memiliki potensi wisata yang besar, diantaranya adalah sebagai salah satu bentuk kearifan lokal, tradisi leluhur yang masih dipertahankan oleh masyarakat lokal, dan tradisi yang unik dan langka satu-satunya di Indonesia bahkan mungkin dunia. Besarnya potensi wisata belum mampu menjamin seni tradisional tangkap ikan di Kepulauan Talaud, menjadi destinasi wisata favorit pilihan wisatawan. Terdapat tiga kendala utama yang menghambat perkembangan potensi wisata yaitu: minimnya sarana wisata, sulitnya aksesibilitas dan kurangnya promosi pengelolaan atraksi wisata. Tahapan dalam penelitian ini adalah pertama menggambarkan potensi wisata, kedua menganalisis potensi wisata, ketiga memformulasikan strategi pengembangan potensi wisata tersebut. Potensi-potensi tersebut kemudian dianalisis dengan matrik SWOT yang menghasilkan strategi S-O yaitu pengembangan pengemasan puncak acara festival Mane’e, strategi S-T adalah strategi kelembagaan, kemudian strategi W-O yakni peningkatan sarana wisata, dan strategi W-T pengembangan wisata budaya dan wisata di wilayah pesisir. This article analyses the strategy of development traditional fishing techniques or better known as Mane'e as a form of ancestral cultural heritage. This art of fishing has a great tourism potential, including as one form of local wisdom, ancestral traditions that are still maintained by local communities, and the only unique and rare traditions in Indonesia and maybe even the world. The great tourism potential has not been able to make traditional fishing art in the Talaud Islands, widely favorite choice of tourists for destination. There are three main obstacles that hinder the development of tourism potentials, namely: lack of tourist facilities, difficulty in accessibility and lack of promotion of tourism attraction management. Stages in the research were first described tourism potential, secondly analysed tourism potential, third formulated strategies for the development of tourism potentials. SWOT matrix analyses is used to find the strategies which resulted in an S-O strategy, namely the development of the peak packaging of Mane'e festival events, the S-T strategy was an institutional strategy, then the W-O strategy namely the improvement of tourism facilities, and the W-T strategy for the development of cultural and tourism in coastal areas.
Mechanistic Aspects of Methyltransferases with Small-Molecule Metabolites and Natural Products as Substrates

Abstract Methylation is a widely distributed chemical modification on various biomolecules such as small-molecule metabolites and natural products. Enzymatic methylation is mainly catalyzed by methyltransferases with S-adenosyl- l -methionine (SAM) as a methyl donor. A majority of known methylation of small-molecule metabolites and natural products occurs on carbon, oxygen or nitrogen atoms. Methyltransferases can thus be classified according to the atomic types of these methylation nucleophiles. In comparison with the limited nucleophilic atoms as major methyl acceptors, the substrates of methyltransferases often display a broad chemical diversity. The structures of methyltransferases with the substrates of small-molecule metabolites and natural products have often been characterized for a Rossmann-fold architecture. These methyltransferases can thus be categorized according to their catalytic mechanisms. This book chapter will focus on the mechanistic description of these methylation events and the associated methyltransferase activities.
Calcium-Calmodulin Requirements of Phosphatidyl Inositol Turnover Stimulated by Auxin

In contrast to animal cells (Michell et al., 1977), the metabolism of phosphatidyl inositol (PI) in plant membranes has been little studied as a potential component in the signal-response cascades important to growth and development. PI is synthesized by pathways involving CDP-diglyceride and inositol. The terminal enzyme required Mg2+ or Mn2+, is inhibited by Ca2+, and is not known to be hormone responsive. A second pathway of inositol incorporation involves an exchange enzyme (Sexton and Moore, 1981), stimulated by cytidine nucleotides and Mn2+ and unaffected or slighly inhibited by Ca2+ (Sandelius and Morre, unpublished). This activity is stimulated or inhibited by auxin hormones in vitro with isolated membrane vesicles in a dose-dependent fashion (Morre et al. 1984). PI hydrolysis, also stimulated by auxin in vitro with isolated membrane vesicles (Morre et al., 1984), is less well characterized but appears to require calcium and/or calmodulin for maximum activity (Table). The assay procedure developed is as follows: Membrane vesicles from soybean are prelabeled for 10 to 30 min by the exchange enzyme activity, and washed by centrifugation. The method is rapid, facile, and requires only substrate amounts of radioactive inositol.
In vitro culture of human epiphyseal plate chondrocyte on porous silk scaffold

Objective To observe the biocompatibility of human epiphyseal plate chondrocyte on porous silk scaffold in in-vitro culture.Methods The morphology of first passage of human epiphyseal plate chondrocytes grown on porous silk scaffold was observed by inverted microscope,transmission electron microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope,and the cell viability was determined using the MTT test.Results The first passage of human epiphyseal plate chondrocytes observed under the inverted microscope were fusiform in shape after 2 days and grew to confluence in one well of a sixwell plate in 3 days.Plenty of the rough endoplasmic reticula were observed within the chondrocytes under transmission electron microscope.On the other hand,chondrocytes grown on scaffold were visible within 2 days in culture and grew in abundance after 8 days when observed under the laser scanning confocal microscope.There was no significant difference in cell viability between the first passage of human epiphyseal plate chondrocytes in in-vitro culture group and porous silk scaffold group using MTT test (Paired Samples Test,t=1.871,P=0.094,P＞0.05).Conclusions Human epiphyseal plate chondrocytes have good biocompatibility in in-vitro culture using porous silk scaffolds,and may be used in epiphyseal plate tissue engineering. Key words: Growth plate; Chondrocytes; Silk scaffolds
Gratitude predicts selective moral concern about interpersonal harms

Past research has established that gratitude, a sense of appreciation for the benefits one has received, is a moral emotion that motivates reciprocity. How does gratitude influence moral evaluation...
Defining the Field of Events

When considering the field of events, an important initial step is to consider the definition of an event. The goal of this article was twofold, first to take a novel approach in defining an event ...
Opioid Tapering/Detoxification Protocols, A Compendium: Narrative Review.

Objectives The opioid epidemic has put pressure on clinicians to taper their chronic pain patients (CPPs) from opioids. This has resulted in rapid or forced tapers and opioid discontinuation. Partially responsible is lack of information on how to taper (tapering protocols).The objectives of this narrative review were then the following: compile all the published opioid tapering/detoxification protocols from the pain/drug rehabilitation/psychiatric literature whether for inpatient or outpatient use; organize these into general types; compare the types for advantages/disadvantages for use by a clinician in an outpatient setting; and answer some commonly asked questions relating to opioid tapering. Methods Relevant references were identified by a search strategy utilizing the terms tapering, tapering protocols, detoxification, detoxification protocols, withdrawal, dependence, addiction, and drug rehabilitation. These were explored with the term opioids. Identified abstract were reviewed for any study relating to the objectives of this review. Those studies were then included in this review. As this is a narrative review, no quality ratings of these references were performed. Results Of 1,922 abstracts identified by this search strategy, 301 were reviewed in detail for potential inclusion. Of these, 104 were utilized in this review. Nine types of opioid tapering protocols were identified and compared in tabular form. Twenty-two questions in reference to opioid tapering were addressed. Conclusions Based on this review, the protocol utilizing the opioid of current use is the simplest to use as it requires no rotation to another opioid and thereby avoids rotation errors. It also has behavior advantages.
Exploring the Association Between Short-cycle School Improvement Planning and Student Achievement in Underperforming Schools:

Some governments require that educational leaders working in underperforming schools create school improvement plans (SIPs) to guide change efforts. Extant research describes two common approaches ...
Latent Fingermark Aging in 2D: Qualitative and Quantitative Analytical Approaches

(Latent) Fingermarks have long been an instrumental part of criminal investigations. A recurring point of contention in court is often summarized in the following two questions: How long has the fingermark been on the item in question?; Does the trace line up with the time frame of the crime? With the emergence and adaptation of novel techniques and methodologies adopted and/or adapted for fingermark age estimations, scientists can begin to answer these questions. To date, there have been two main approaches to fingermark age research: chemical (i.e., analyses of compounds) and physical/optical (i.e., measurements of the topography of ridges). The latter can be further sub-classified based on the type of fingermark features to be analyzed: 2D- and 3D-based. This chapter will specifically focus on methodologies that describe morphometric features in 2D and have been made available through research although not yet ready for deployment in the field. A series of 2D imaging approaches as well as advantages and disadvantages of each of these techniques will be discussed. While scientific research on fingermark age estimation has come a long way since the 1950s, there are still a number of challenges and limitations, including elucidating the effect of environmental factors to ridge degradation and the potential use of mathematical models to crime scene scenarios, among others. It is anticipated that in the near future, there will exist a computer-based, automatic and portable “measuring tool” which will be able to objectively estimate time since deposition with a known degree of accuracy.
Enhancing interfacial charge transfer in a WO3/BiVO4 photoanode heterojunction through gallium and tungsten co-doping and a sulfur modified Bi2O3 interfacial layer

Photoanodes containing a WO3/BiVO4 heterojunction have demonstrated promising photoelectrochemical water splitting performance, but the ability to effectively passivate the WO3/BiVO4 interface has limited charge transport and collection. Here, the WO3/BiVO4 interface is passivated with a sulfur-modified Bi2O3 interfacial layer with a staggered band edge alignment to facilitate charge transfer and lifetime. Additionally, BiVO4 was co-doped with Ga3+ at Bi3+ sites and W6+ at V5+ sites (i.e., (Ga,W):BiVO4) to improve the light absorption and photogenerated charge carrier concentration. The optimized WO3/S:Bi2O3/(Ga,W):BiVO4 photoanode exhibited a photocurrent density of 4.0 ± 0.2 mA cm−2 compared to WO3/(Ga,W):BiVO4 with 2.8 ± 0.12 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE in K2HPO4 under simulated AM 1.5G illumination. Time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopic analysis of the WO3/S:Bi2O3/(Ga,W):BiVO4 electrode validated the enhanced interfacial charge transfer kinetics. In operando femto- and nano-second transient absorption spectroscopy confirmed the presence of long-lived photogenerated charge carriers and revealed lower recombination initially due to rapid charge separation of WO3/S:Bi2O3/(Ga,W):BiVO4. The distribution and role of sulfur was further investigated using EDAX, XPS and TOF-SIMS depth profiling. Finally, a Co-Pi co-catalyst layer was added to achieve a photocurrent of 5.1 ± 0.25 mA cm−2 and corresponding H2 generation rate of 67.3 μmol h−1 cm−2 for the WO3/S:Bi2O3/(Ga,W):BiVO4/Co-Pi photoanode.
Language in Tension Toward the Divine

Theologians have puzzled over how to understand divine language. If it is written that God loves us, is that to be taken literally, or figuratively, symbolically, analogically, or in some other way? In short, does God really love us?
The effect of neonatal, juvenile, and adult donors on rejuvenated neocartilage functional properties.

Cartilage does not naturally heal, and cartilage lesions from trauma and wear-and-tear can lead to eventual osteoarthritis. To address long-term repair, tissue engineering of functional biologic implants to treat cartilage lesions is desirable, but the development of such implants is hindered by several limitations including 1) donor tissue scarcity due to the presence of diseased tissues in joints, 2) dedifferentiation of chondrocytes during expansion, and 3) differences in functional output of cells dependent on donor age. Toward overcoming these challenges, 1) costal cartilage has been explored as a donor tissue, and 2) methods have been developed to rejuvenate the chondrogenic phenotype of passaged chondrocytes for generating self-assembled neocartilage. However, it remains unclear how the rejuvenation processes are influenced by donor age, and, thus, how to develop strategies that specifically target age-related differences. Using histological, biochemical, proteomic, and mechanical assays, this study sought to determine the differences among neocartilage generated from neonatal, juvenile, and adult donors using the Yucatan minipig, a clinically relevant large animal model. Based on the literature, a relatively young adult population of animals was chosen due to a reduction in functional output of human articular chondrocytes after 40 years of age. After isolation, costal chondrocytes were expanded, rejuvenated, and self-assembled, and the neocartilages were assessed. The aggregate modulus values of neonatal constructs were at least 1.65-fold of those from the juvenile or adult constructs. Poisson's ratio also significantly differed among all groups, with neonatal constructs exhibiting values 49% higher than adult constructs. Surprisingly, other functional properties such as tensile modulus and GAG content did not significantly differ among groups. Total collagen content was slightly elevated in the adult constructs when compared to neonatal and juvenile constructs. A more nuanced view via bottom-up mass spectrometry showed that Col2a1 protein was not significantly different among groups, but content of several other collagen subtypes (i.e., Col1a1, Col9a1, Col11a2, and Col12a1) was modulated by donor age. For example, Col12a1 in adult constructs was found to be 102.9% higher than neonatal-derived constructs. Despite these differences, this study shows that different aged donors can be used to generate neocartilages of similar functional properties.
Oncogenic transformation by cellular DNA isolated from human cytomegalovirus-infected cells.

Delayed replication of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) was initiated in human embryonic fibroblasts using partially ultraviolet light-inactivated virus stock. Cellular [high molecular weight (HMW)] DNA extracted from CMV-infected cell cultures demonstrated a substantial increase in transforming activity after introduction into hamster embryo fibroblasts relative to HMW DNA extracted from mock-infected cells. The transforming activity of HMW DNA varied between 0.01 and 0.25 foci/µg DNA. HMW DNA isolated from CMV-infected cells after initiation of viral DNA synthesis demonstrated a significant decrease in the induction of morphologically transformed foci. The transforming activity of HMW DNA was unaffected by Hindill or Xbal endonuclease digestion, but it was sensitive to sonication and EcoRl endonuclease and DNase treatment. Six cell lines were established from the foci of morphologically altered cells. Cells of these lines demonstrated loss of contact inhibition, replication in semisolid agarose or in medium containing low serum, a high saturation density, and tumorigenicity when implanted into hamsters. Histopathological examination of the tumors identified the tissues as fibrosarcomas. In situ hybridization of cells isolated from foci of morphologically altered cells or Southern blot analysis of DNA isolated from either the cell lines or tumors did not demonstrate the presence of sequences with homology to viral DNA using the transforming region or the entire viral DNA as a probe. The lack of viral DNA sequences as well as the similar phenotypic characteristics of cell lines and tumors suggest that alteration(s) induced by CMV may occur in specific region(s) of cellular DNA.
Differential effects of Nd-YAG laser on collagen and elastin production by chick embryo aortae in vitro. Relevance to laser angioplasty for removal of atherosclerotic plaques.

Abstract Aortae from 17-day old chick embryos were subjected to irradiation with a Nd:YAG laser at energy densities varying from 1.2 – 4.7 × 10 3 J/cm 2 . The aortae were pulse-labeled in vitro with [ 3 H]proline or [ 14 C]valine, and the synthesis of collagenous polypeptides and soluble elastin was examined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by fluorography and quantitative scanning densitometry. Irradiation of the aortae with Nd:YAG laser resulted in inhibition of the synthesis of the extracellular matrix proteins. The production of collagen was inhibited to a considerably larger degree than the production of elastin. Thus, the biosynthetic pathway for collagen production appears to be more susceptible to laser inhibition than the corresponding pathway for elastin production. These observations may have relevance to laser angioplasty which has been proposed to be applicable for removal of atherosclerotic plaques in human vessels. Specifically, the results suggest that inhibition of the extracellular matrix production may result in weakening of the vessel wall with subsequent aneurysm formation and rupture.
INTRODUCTION: THE DUAL ECONOMY APPROACH TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

This volume contains papers that use a two-sector approach to studying economic growth. Many economists believe taking such an approach is essential, especially for understanding the early stages of development. A two-sector model generates important insights about both the accumulation of physical and human capital (Mankiw et al. 1992) and improvements in total factor productivity (TFP) (Hall and Jones, 1999; Parente and Prescott, 2000). The main premise is that the structural transformation of an economy, as one sector expands and another contracts, is a fundamental cause, and not just a by-product, of aggregate growth.
Suburban change: A time series approach to measuring form and spatial configuration

With few exceptions, the field of suburban studies has largely ignored the question of what happens to a suburb after initial development, and efforts toward this end are often hampered by limited techniques for the direct measurement of built form and space over time. Historic data sources and computational advancements are prevailing against some of these limitations, but there remains a need for techniques to gather and process formal and spatial suburban data: not merely in the aggregate, but also in detailed patterns within a study area. Given the permanence of spatial and formal configurations in our cities, it is essential to develop the tools to better understand and predict future patterns of growth and change. In this study, a method for examining the relationship between long-term changes in built form and predictive characteristics such as global integration and block size is developed and explored. Conzenian morphology and space syntax approaches are integrated within a geographic information system (GIS) framework, and used to study an historic first-ring suburb in Raleigh, NC at four points in time over a 96-year span. Aerial images, historic road and insurance maps, and GIS sources are used to generate spatial configuration and building data for each study time period. These data are then processed and analysed to identify statistical and map-pattern morphological and syntactic relationships. It is concluded that the resulting database is capable of identifying and successfully investigating relationships between predictor and outcome variables such as global integration and building demolitions – both in the aggregate and in bivariate patterns. Further, this methodological approach should provide a rich set of prediction tools for urban designers and planners.
Determination of vitamin D and its metabolites in plasma from normal and anephric man

A multiple assay capable of reliably determining vitamins D2 and D3 (ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol), 25(OH)D2 (25-hydroxyvitamin D2) and 25(OH)D3 (25-hydroxyvitamin D3), 24,25(OH)2D (24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D), 25,26(OH)2D (25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D) and 1,25(OH)2D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D) in a single 3–5ml sample of human plasma was developed. The procedure involves methanol/methylene chloride extraction of plasma lipids followed by separation of the metabolites and purification from interfering contaminants by batch elution chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and Lipidex 5000 and by h.p.l.c. (high-pressure liquid chromatography). Vitamins D2 and D3 and 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 are quantified by h.p.l.c. by using u.v. detection, comparing their peak heights with those of standards. 24,25(OH)2D and 25,26(OH)2D are measured by competitive protein-binding assay with diluted plasma from vitamin D-deficient rats. 1,25(OH)2D is measured by competitive protein-binding assay with diluted cytosol from vitamin D-deficient chick intestine. Values in normal human plasma samples taken in February are: vitamin D 3.5±2.5ng/ml; 25(OH)D 31.6±9.3ng/ml; 24,25(OH)2D 3.5±1.4ng/ml; 25,26(OH)2D 0.7±0.5ng/ml; 1,25(OH)2D 31±9pg/ml (means±s.d.). Values in two normal human plasma samples taken in February after 1 week of high sun exposure are: vitamin D 27.1±7.9ng/ml; 25(OH)D 56.8±4.2ng/ml; 24,25(OH)2D 4.3±1.6ng/ml; 25,26(OH)2D 0.5±0.2ng/ml. Values in anephric-human plasma are: vitamin D 2.7±0.8ng/ml; 25(OH)D 36.4±16.5ng/ml; 24,25(OH)2D 1.9±1.3ng/ml; 25,26(OH)2D 0.6±0.3ng/ml; 1,25(OH)2D was undetectable.
Mathematical models of fixed bed reactors

This paper discusses in a semi-qualitative way mathematical models for fixed bed chemical reactors in which a single chemical reaction takes place. Various models are discussed with some mention of the difficulties of computation, stability, and the anatomy and pathology of systems in which chemical reaction is coupled with heat and mass transport. Both continuous and discrete models are discussed for a single phase flowing through a matrix of catalyst particles. In dieser Arbeit werden in halbqualitativer Weise mathematische Modelle fur chemische Festbettreaktoren diskutiert, in denen eine einzige chemische Reaktion ablauft. Es werden verschiedene Modelle dargestellt, und dabei wird auch auf die Schwierigkeiten bei der Berechnung, die Stabilitat, und die Anatomie und Pathologie von Systemen, in denen die chemische Reaktion mit Warme- und Massentransport verbunden ist, eingegangen. Fur einen Einphasenstrom durch eine Matrix von Katalysatorteilchen werden sowohl kontinuierliche als auch diskrete Modelle untersucht.
Activation of recombinant trp by thapsigargin in Sf9 insect cells

The mammalian protein responsible for Ca2+ release-activated current (Icrac) may be homologous to the Drosophila protein designated trp. Thus the activity of trp, and another Drosophila protein designated trp-like or trpl, may be linked to depletion of the internal Ca2+ store via the so-called capacitative Ca2+ entry mechanism. To test this hypothesis, the effect of thapsigargin, a selective inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump, on trp- and trpl-induced whole cell membrane current was determined using the baculovirus Sf9 insect cell expression system. The results demonstrate that trp and trpl form Ca(2+)-permeable cation channels. The trpl encodes a nonselective cation channel that is constitutively active under basal nonstimulated conditions and is unaffected by thapsigargin, whereas trp is more selective for Ca2+ than Na+ and is activated by depletion of the internal Ca2+ store. Although evaluation of cation selectivity suggests that trp is not identical to the channel responsible for Icrac, these channels must share some structural feature(s) since both are activated by thapsigargin. A unique proline-rich region in the COOH-terminal tail of trp, which is absent in trpl, may be necessary for capacitative Ca2+ entry.