cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toxoplasma gondii-induced immune suppression by human peripheral blood monocytes : Role of gamma interferon

The ability of Toxoplasma gondii to evade the host immune response during primary infection in humans is poorly understood. In murine toxoplasmosis, infected spleen macrophages release soluble factors that mediate a transient immunosuppression, which may allow the parasite to become established. When an enriched population of human monocytes from seronegative individuals was incubated with toxoplasmas in vitro, soluble factors that mediated market suppression of mitogen-induced lymphocyte DNA synthesis were released. Irradiated tachyzoites that do not undergo replication were sufficient stimuli for near-maximal soluble factor release. Up to 50% of the soluble factor-mediated suppression is attributable to a gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-dependent pathway, and the mediator of the remaining inhibition is neither interleukin-10, transforming growth factor beta, prostaglandin E2, lipoxygenase products, nitric oxide, nor tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced mitochondrial cell-derived reactive oxygen intermediates. IFN-gamma also mediates the up-regulation of an antigen-presenting cell phenotype by both infected and uninfected macrophages. However, IFN-gamma does not activate macrophages to become toxoplasmacidal; instead, intracellular toxoplasmas replicate and reinfect, eventually lysing the macrophage population. These results suggest that T. gondii is able to evade the naive host immune response by induction of soluble immunosuppressive factors that allow the parasite to become established during an acute infection.
Coherent optical communication

Optical coherent receivers with subsequent DSP show great promise as enabling technologies for ultra-high information rate optical transmission systems. DSP alleviates the need to lock the phases of the LO and transmitter signal, which is one of the limiting factors for the use of coherent receivers in the optical domain. Various optical impairment issues can be addressed in the digital domain, in particular, nonlinearity compensation. One of the major issues still to be addressed for successful implementation of this technology is optimization of the algorithms and implementation methods used for DSP demodulation. Current DSP speeds are not high enough to process high-speed optical signals (e.g. 10 baud). Therefore, parallelization and pipelining techniques must be considered. Moreover, rigorous theoretical analysis of the performance of such receivers is being researched so the various parameters pertaining to the algorithms employed may be optimized.
Aberrant regeneration of the third nerve (oculomotor synkinesis)

Aberrant regeneration of a third nerve palsy (oculomotor synkinesis) excludes an ischaemic cause and in the absence of relevant trauma strongly suggests a compressive aetiology. A scan is mandatory in such cases. We describe the case of a 52-year-old woman who presented with complete pupil-involving third nerve palsy from a posterior communicating artery aneurysm, who later developed widespread aberrant regeneration of pupil, eyelid and third nerve territory rectus muscles.
Whatever Happened to the Jock, the Brain, and the Princess? Young Adult Pathways Linked to Adolescent Activity Involvement and Social Identity.

This study examined young adult sequelae of participation in high school activities and identity group for 900 participants from the Michigan Study of Life Transitions.Participation at Grade 10 in high school activities predicted later substance use, psychological adjustment, and educational and occupational outcomes.Prosocial activity participation predicted lower substance use and higher self-esteem and an increased likelihood of college graduation.Performing arts participation predicted more years of education as well as increases in drinking between ages 18 and 21 and higher rates of suicide attempts and psychologist visits by the age of 24.Sports participation predicted positive educational and occupational outcomes and lower levels of social isolation but also higher rates of drinking. Breakfast Club identity categories were predictive of both levels and longitudinal patterns in substance use, education and work outcomes, and psychological adjustment.In general, Jocks and Brains showed the most posi...
Hyperoxia blunts counterregulation during hypoglycaemia in humans: possible role for the carotid bodies?

Chemoreceptors in the carotid bodies sense arterial oxygen tension and regulate respiration. Isolated carotid body glomus cells also sense glucose, and animal studies have shown the carotid bodies play a role in the counterregulatory response to hypoglycaemia. Thus, we hypothesized that glucose infusion rate would be augmented and neuro-hormonal counterregulation blunted during hypoglycaemia when the carotid bodies were desensitized by hyperoxia. Seven healthy adults (four male, three female) underwent two 180 min hyperinsulinaemic (2 mU (kg fat-free mass (FFM))−1 min−1), hypoglycaemic (3.33 mmol l−1) clamps 1 week apart, randomized to either normoxia (arterial () 111 ± 6.3 mmHg) or hyperoxia ( 345 ± 80.6 mmHg) (P < 0.05). Plasma glucose concentrations were similar during normoxia and hyperoxia at baseline (5.52 ± 0.15 vs. 5.55 ± 0.13 μmol ml−1) and during the clamp (3.4 ± 0.05 vs. 3.3 ± 0.05 μmol ml−1). The glucose infusion rate was 44.2 ± 3.5% higher (P < 0.01) during hyperoxia than normoxia at steady state during the clamp (28.2 ± 0.15 vs. 42.7 ± 0.65 μmol (kg FFM)−1 min−1; P < 0.01). Area under the curve values (expressed as percentage normoxia response) for counterregulatory hormones during hypoglycaemia were significantly suppressed by hyperoxia (noradrenaline 50.7 ± 5.2%, adrenaline 62.6 ± 3.3%, cortisol 63.2 ± 2.1%, growth hormone 53.1 ± 2.7%, glucagon 48.6 ± 2.1%, all P < 0.05 vs. normoxia). These data support the idea that the carotid bodies respond to glucose and play a role in the counterregulatory response to hypoglycaemia in humans.
The challenge of IT-enabled policy design for sustainable electric energy systems

This paper concerns complex interactions between the regulators, system operators/owners and the candidate investors in new technologies. It is proposed that an effective interactive framework should be put in place for decision-making that enables choice and it also meets the social objectives. Given the complexity of the electric energy systems this process can no longer be based on blue print rules supported by coarse scenario analysis. It requires, instead, Information Technology (IT)-enabled dynamic and interactive modeling and decision making by all industry stakeholders. In addition, the process requires a design of regulatory rights, rules and responsibilities (3Rs) for binding interactions that must be communicated between different industry participants. Moreover, it is suggested that the coarse National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) can no longer support the design of 3Rs. Instead, an Energy Temporal and Spatial Kit (ENTASK) is proposed to interactively link with the NEMS model that is well understood by the policy makers at present. An ENTASK-like tool is essential for facilitating public policy decision makers in assessing potential of diverse technologies while designing the 3Rs for the industry. The 3Rs must be binding as they have major financial, technical and economic implications. It is described how such an interactive IT-enabled decision making framework could support near-optimal investments in infrastructures needed to meet the social objectives. Perhaps most striking is the observation that such a framework facilitates novel ways of integrating while enabling choice.
Risk of asynchronous contralateral breast cancer: multiple approaches for a complex issue

In 2013, an estimated 232,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the US (1). In the past few decades, breast cancer survival has increased significantly, with about 95% of patients still alive 5 years after diagnosis, and 77% alive after 15 years (1). This is due to the development of more sensitive screening methods that detect cancer early as well as improved treatment regimens. In 2012, it is estimated that about 2.9 million women were currently alive that had been previously diagnosed with breast cancer (2). An important health issue for these women involves the risk of being diagnosed with a second cancer. The second cancer could be a recurrence of the initial cancer in the same breast (ipsilateral recurrence), a new cancer in the same breast (ipsilateral second primary cancer) or a new cancer in contralateral breast [asynchronous contralateral breast cancer (CBC)]. CBC accounts for about 50% of all secondary cancers diagnosed among patients with primary breast cancer (3).
Safety and efficacy of commonly used antimicrobial agents in the treatment of enterococcal infections: a review

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Enterococci have become the second leading cause of nosocomial infections in the U.S, which are associated with higher morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and cost due to escalating resistance to several antimicrobial agents. With limited treatment options, the adverse events associated with the increasing use of available agents must be considered.Areas covered: Safety data about the most commonly used antimicrobial agents to treat enterococcal infections (ampicillin, vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin, and tigecycline) derived from animal models, clinical trials and post-marketing surveillance are evaluated. However, most of these agents are not FDA approved and have been used for off-label indications in enterococcal infections.Expert opinion: The commonly used antimicrobials to treat enterococcal infections have unique safety profiles and side effects but are generally safe and tolerated in the short-term based on data from clinical trials and post-marketing surveillance. Howeve...
ECONOMICS, BIOLOGY, AND CULTURE: HODGSON ON HISTORY

We must begin, of course, by understanding the strengths and limitations of our own approach. If we are to make progress, it is necessary to examine carefully the institutionalist position, to view it not just as a battering ram with which to inflict damage on currently prevailing orthodoxies, but to identify the strengths and weaknesses in its current incarnations. In so doing, we must be critical as well as constructive.
Electrical and Structural Characterization of HfO2 MIM Capacitors

Hafnium oxide is a promising dielectric for future microelectronic applications. HfO2 thin films (10–75nm) were deposited on Pt/SiO2/Si and quartz substrates by Pulsed DC magnetron reactive sputtering. Top electrodes of Pt were formed by e-beam evaporation through an aperture mask on the HfO2/Pt/SiO2/Si samples to create MIM capacitors. Various process conditions (Ar/O2 ratio, DC power, and deposition rate) and post-deposition annealing conditions (time and temperature) were investigated. The structure of the HfO2 films was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the roughness was measured by a profilometer. The electrical properties were characterized in terms of their relative permittivity (er(T) and er(f)), and leakage behavior (I-V and I-t). The electrical measurements were performed over a temperature range from –5 to 200°C. For the best samples, the relative permittivity of HfO2 was found to be ∼27 after anneal and increased by 0.027%/°C with increasing temperature over the measured temperature range. At 25°C, leakage current density was below 10-8 A/cm2 at 1 volt. The optical bandgap was measured to be 5.4eV after anneal.
Rechnerkonzept des Instituts für Nuklearmedizin, KZVA — Systemarchitektur und Anwendung —

Fur die Planung und Inbetriebnahme der Abteilung fur Nuklearmedizin im Zentralklinikum Augsburg (mit 1400 Betten ein Krankenhaus der 3. Versorgungsstufe) steltte sich die Aufgabe, ein leistungsfahiges Datenverarbeitungssystem anzuschaffen, welches den gestellten Anforderungen gerecht werden konnte.
The Shaping of the Radical Consciousness in Provincial New York

THE history of Revolutionary New York has settled into an uneasy ambiguity. Carl Becker's elucidation of revolutionary factionalism has been seriously challenged, but his challengers offer little in the way of a reasoned alternative.' It is now argued, contrary to Becker's estimate, that the suffrage was broad and representative, but at the same time the contending factions represented no particular constituencies. The politicos are described as self-serving opportunists; still the issues that divided them are certified as "bona fide." The contrariness of such recent scholarship finally resolves itself into a negation of revolutionary factionalism in which scholars are asked to believe that the Revolution in New York was merely an episode in the long-standing rivalry of the Livingston and De Lancey parties.2 "Histo-
Path Planning and Control for Underwater Vehicle Driven by an Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC) Actuator

This paper presents an approach for trajectory planning and control of an underwater vehicle within obstacles. The vehicle is driven by a single IPMC actuator that goes through oscillatory locomotion. The presented work is divided into kinematic path planning and trajectory control sections. In the kinematic path planning phase, the vehicle is approximated by a rectangle that encloses the largest deformation of the oscillating IPMC actuator. Obstacles are approximated by polygonal shapes that approximate their actual dimensions. To simplify the problem of collision detection, vehicle is shrunk to a line while obstacles are expanded by a half width of the rectangle representing the vehicle. Path planning problem is formulated as a nonlinear programming problem that minimizes the error between current and goal configurations of the vehicle. The objective function combines the distance to target and the orientation of the vehicle. A penalty term is added to the objective function to ensure that the vehicle is not colliding with obstacles. The obtained path is discretized with respect to time, and controlled simultaneously for the yaw angle and speed of the vehicle. These two controllers are designed based on the simulation data from the dynamic model of the IPMC propelled vehicle. This proposed approach can be used in real time implementation of vehicle trajectory control in the presence of obstacles.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Micrometeorological measurement of pesticide vapor flux from bare soil and corn under field conditions

An intensive study was conducted to evaluate the movement of dieldrin and heptachlor vapor from a treated watershed. The successful application of micrometeorological estimates of evapotranspiration using average hourly data indicates that reasonable confidence can be placed on the computation of vertical pesticide flux rates using the equation: $$P = K_Z \left( {\frac{{\partial p}}{{\partial Z}}} \right)$$ where vertical diffusivity coefficient, K i, for pesticide vapor is assumed equal to K z for water vapor as measured by micrometeorological methods. Total daily pesticide flux can easily be calculated by summing the total estimated flux for each of the 2 or 4 hr observations. Interpretations of within-canopy pesticide flux profiles and evapotranspiration flux rates indicate that the pesticide flux rate during nighttime hours is zero. No major sources or sinks for pesticide within the crop could be found, and it was concluded that the pesticide vapor flux was directly from the soil itself. Thus, vertical pesticide flux measurements made above the canopy are representative of total vertical flux rates. It is possible to evaluate the mass horizontal flow and the downwind pattern of adsorption of pesticide vapor on untreated soil as well as dissipation into the atmosphere.
Advantages of continuous excavation in lightweight planetary robotic operations

Planetary excavator robots face unique and extreme engineering constraints relative to terrestrial counterparts. In space missions mass is always at a premium because it is the main driver behind launch costs. Lightweight operation, due to low mass and reduced gravity, hinders excavation and mobility by reducing the forces a robot can effect on its environment. This work shows that there is a quantifiable, non-dimensional threshold that distinguishes the regimes of lightweight and nominal excavation. This threshold is crossed at lower weights for continuous excavators e.g. bucket-wheels than discrete scrapers. This research introduces novel experimentation that for the first time subjects excavators to gravity offload a cable pulls up on the robot with five-sixths its weight, to simulate lunar gravity while they dig. A 300 kg excavator robot offloaded to 1/6 g successfully collects 0.5 kg/s using a bucket-wheel, with no discernible effect on mobility. For a discrete scraper of the same weight, production rapidly declines as rising excavation resistance stalls the robot. These experiments suggest caution in interpreting low-gravity performance predictions based solely on testing in Earth gravity. Experiments were conducted in GRC-1, a washed industrial silica-sand devoid of agglutinates and of the sub-75-micron basaltic fines that make up 40% of lunar regolith. The important dangers related to dust are thus not directly addressed. The achieved densities for experimentation are 1640 kg/m3 very loose/loose and 1720 kg/m3 medium dense. This work develops a novel robotic bucket-wheel excavator, featuring unique direct transfer from bucket-wheel to dump bed as a solution to material transfer difficulties identified in past literature.
Effects of Salt Stress on the Germination of Citrullus lanatus and Cucumis melo Seeds

Under the conditions controlled by artificial climate box in laboratory,the stress effects of different concentration(30,50,100,200 mmol/L respectively) of complex sodium salt(NaCl + Na2CO3 + Na2SO4) on the germination of Citrullus lanatus(Thunb.) Matsum.et Nakai and Cucumis melo L.seeds were examined.The result indicated that the germination percentage of the seeds untreated with salt was 97.78% and 98.89% for C.lanatus and C.melo seeds respectively;which decreased by the treatment of salt,the germination rate of C.melo seeds was 97.78%,75.56%,35.56% and 30.00% at the salt concentrations of 30,50,100 and 200 mmol/L respectively.With the increasing of salt concentration,germination time delayed(coefficient of germination rate increased);and the germination index and vigor index decreased.
Rethinking the Linguistic Threshold Hypothesis: Modeling the Linguistic Threshold among young Spanish–English Bilinguals

This study uses a discontinuous-linear regression methodological approach to test the Linguistic Threshold Hypothesis (LTH). Specifically, we investigate the following hypotheses: (1) the rate of transfer of literacy skills from L1 to L2 is a function of L2 oral language ability, (2) the rate of transfer from L1 to L2 accelerates when students cross a specified threshold(s) of L2 language oral ability, and (3) discontinuous change-point regression models fit the data better than linear regression interaction models. Across literacy skills, discontinuous change-point regression models revealed levels of L2 oral language at which transfer from L1 to L2 literacy was maximized, suggesting that the relationship between L2 language and cross-linguistic transfer is not constant for the young Spanish–English bilinguals in our study. Further, discontinuous change-point regression models fit the data better than linear interaction models, suggesting the importance of using models that better match the theoretical assumptions underpinning the LTH.
Biomedical Big Data Training Collaborative (BBDTC)

The BBDTC (https://biobigdata.ucsd.edu) is a community-oriented platform to encourage high-quality knowledge dissemination with the aim of growing a well-informed biomedical big data community through collaborative efforts on training and education. The BBDTC collaborative is an e-learning platform that supports the biomedical community to access, develop and deploy open training materials. The BBDTC supports Big Data skill training for biomedical scientists at all levels, and from varied backgrounds. The natural hierarchy of courses allows them to be broken into and handled as modules. Modules can be reused in the context of multiple courses and reshuffled, producing a new and different, dynamic course called a playlist. Users may create playlists to suit their learning requirements and share it with individual users or the wider public. BBDTC leverages the maturity and design of the HUBzero content-management platform for delivering educational content. To facilitate the migration of existing content, the BBDTC supports importing and exporting course material from the edX platform. Migration tools will be extended in the future to support other platforms. Hands-on training software packages, i.e., toolboxes, are supported through Amazon EC2 and Virtualbox virtualization technologies, and they are available as: (i) downloadable lightweight Virtualbox Images providing a standardized software tool environment with software packages and test data on their personal machines, and (ii) remotely accessible Amazon EC2 Virtual Machines for accessing biomedical big data tools and scalable big data experiments. At the moment, the BBDTC site contains three open Biomedical big data training courses with lecture contents, videos and hands-on training utilizing VM toolboxes, covering diverse topics. The courses have enhanced the hands-on learning environment by providing structured content that users can use at their own pace. A four course biomedical big data series is planned for development in 2016.
Barriers to Care

Access to health care has long been a source of inequities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). People with IDD in the United States are much more likely than the general public to depend on publicly funded health care (primarily through Medicaid and Medicare) rather than private insurance, which may limit access to care and health outcomes. However, individuals with IDD with comprehensive insurance also experience barriers to care and poorer health outcomes than the general population. Recommended solutions include better access to preventative health screenings, better monitoring and treatment for chronic conditions common in the general population such as diabetes and hypertension, improved efforts to promote health amongst adults with IDD who are aging, more attention to the needs of people with IDD not in the long-term supports and services system, and more effective inclusion of people with IDD in health and wellness programs.
Postoperative Radiotherapy Patterns of Care and Survival Implications for Medulloblastoma in Young Children.

Importance Postoperative radiotherapy to the craniospinal axis is standard-of-care for pediatric medulloblastoma but is associated with long-term morbidity, particularly in young children. With the advent of modern adjuvant chemotherapy strategies, postoperative radiotherapy deferral has gained acceptance in children younger than 3 years, although it remains controversial in older children. Objective To analyze recent postoperative radiotherapy national treatment patterns and implications for overall survival in patients with medulloblastoma ages 3 to 8 years. Design, Setting, and Exposures Using the National Cancer Data Base, patients ages 3 to 8 years diagnosed as having histologically confirmed medulloblastoma in 2004 to 2012, without distant metastases, who underwent surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy with or without postoperative radiotherapy at facilities nationwide accredited by the Commission on Cancer were identified. Patients were designated as having “postoperative radiotherapy upfront” if they received radiotherapy within 90 days of surgery or “postoperative radiotherapy deferred” otherwise. Factors associated with postoperative radiotherapy deferral were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Overall survival (OS) was compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank tests and multivariable Cox regression. Statistical tests were 2-sided. Main Outcomes and Measures Postoperative radiotherapy utilization and overall survival. Results Among 816 patients, 123 (15.1%) had postoperative radiotherapy deferred, and 693 (84.9%) had postoperative radiotherapy upfront; 36.8% of 3-year-olds and 4.1% of 8-year-olds had postoperative radiotherapy deferred ( P P Conclusions and Relevance Our national database analysis reveals a higher-than-expected and increasing rate of postoperative radiotherapy deferral in children with medulloblastoma ages 3 to 8 years. The analysis suggests that postoperative radiotherapy deferral is associated with worse survival in this age group, even in the modern era of chemotherapy.
Highly sensitive nano-aerosol detection based on the whispering-gallery-mode in cylindrical optical fiber resonators

ABSTRACTHighly sensitive detection of nanoscale aerosols, or nano-aerosols, is a difficult challenge. Here, we report a fiber optical technique that is capable of detecting trace-level nano-aerosols. Our method is based on monitoring the nano-aerosol-induced resonance shift due to the optical Whispering-Gallery-Mode (WGM) in a cylindrical optical fiber resonator. A nearly linear relationship between the WGM resonance shift and the aerosol coverage ratio of silica nanoparticles (40–50 nm dia.) on the fiber resonator was identified in the low coverage regime. Our experimental results imply sensitivity at the level of ∼2 nanoparticles per μm2 deposited on the fiber resonator, which corresponds to pg-level sensitivity in the total aerosol mass within the effective detection area. The response of this fiber optical sensor is further confirmed by using silica nanoparticles deposited on the fiber surface via electrostatic self-assembly. The fiber optical technique for nanoparticle detection may ultimately lead t...
Mechanistic insights from atomically precise gold nanocluster-catalyzed reduction of 4-nitrophenol

Abstract A trio of thiolate-protected atomically precise gold nanoclusters, [Au23(S-c-C6H11)16]–, Au24(SCH2pHtBu)20 and [Au25(SCH2CH2pH)18]–, are utilized as catalysts for 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction to 4-aminophenol (4-AP). Despite nearly identical sizes (~1 nm), the three nanoclusters possess distinctly different atomic packing structures and surface ligand binding modes, which contribute to different catalytic performance. The [Au23(S-c-C6H11)16]– nanocluster shows the highest activity with a kinetic rate constant of 0.0370 s−1, which is higher than those of Au24(SCH2pHtBu)20 (0.0090 s−1) and [Au25(SCH2CH2pH)18]– (0.0242 s−1). Such a trio of gold nanoclusters indicate that the atomic packing mode and electronic structure play a crucial role in determining their catalytic performance.
Skeletal muscle bioenergetics in aging and heart failure

Changes in mitochondrial capacity and quality play a critical role in skeletal and cardiac muscle dysfunction. In vivo measurements of mitochondrial capacity provide a clear link between physical activity and mitochondrial function in aging and heart failure, although the cause and effect relationship remains unclear. Age-related decline in mitochondrial quality leads to mitochondrial defects that affect redox, calcium, and energy-sensitive signaling by altering the cellular environment that can result in skeletal muscle dysfunction independent of reduced mitochondrial capacity. This reduced mitochondrial quality with age is also likely to sensitize skeletal muscle mitochondria to elevated angiotensin or beta-adrenergic signaling associated with heart failure. This synergy between aging and heart failure could further disrupt cell energy and redox homeostasis and contribute to exercise intolerance in this patient population. Therefore, the interaction between aging and heart failure, particularly with respect to mitochondrial dysfunction, should be a consideration when developing strategies to improve quality of life in heart failure patients. Given the central role of the mitochondria in skeletal and cardiac muscle dysfunction, mitochondrial quality may provide a common link for targeted interventions in these populations.
Recovery responses of testosterone, growth hormone, and IGF-1 after resistance exercise

The complexity and redundancy of the endocrine pathways during recovery related to anabolic function in the body belie an oversimplistic approach to its study. The purpose of this review is to exam...
Activation of Plant and Animal Calmodulin-Dependent Enzymes by Plant, Animal, Protist, and Fungal Calmodulins

The activities of the calmodulin-dependent enzymes, pea seedling NAD kinase, bovine brain cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and human erythroctye Ca2+-ATPase were determined in the presence of varying amounts of calmodulins from bovine brain, human erythrocyte, mung bean seed, sea pansy (a marine coelenterate), mushroom, and Tetrahymena. Pea seedling NAD kinase required 10 to 100-fold lower calmodulin concentration for 50% activation than did bovine brain cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase or human erythrocyte Ca2+-ATPase. The activation of phosphodiesterase and Ca2+-ATPase by all calmodulins tested was cooperative with Hill coefficients ranging from 1.3 to 2.0. The activation of NAD kinase by mushroom, Tetrahymena, sea pansy, bovine brain, and human erythrocyte calmodulin was not cooperative (Hill coefficients = 1.0) whereas activation of this enzyme by mung bean calmodulin was cooperative (Hill coefficient 1.3). The order of potency of the six calmodulins differed for each of the three enzymes. For Ca2+-ATPase the order of potency was erythrocyte > brain = sea pansy = mung bean = mushroom = Tetrahymena. For phosphodiesterase the order was erythrocyte = brain > mung bean = sea pansy > Tetrahymena > mushroom. For NAD kinase the order was Tetrahymena > mung bean > erythrocyte > brain = sea pansy = mushroom. These data show that calmodulin-dependent enzymes recognize different features of calcium-calmodulin complexes.
Extreme cases and the criminal justice system: responses to a traumatic sexual assault in India

This paper addresses criminal justice responses that came on the heels of a traumatic sexual assault in public space in India. The incident referred to as “Nirbhaya,” drew attention to the nation a...
Improving WiFi Network Performance under MPTCP Users

We found that directly employing MPTCP in WiFi network might adversely affect the overall network performance. The connecting MPTCP client achieves little bandwidth advantage through redundant paths of weak signal strength. However, it impairs the overall network performance by unintentionally reducing the throughput available to other clients sharing that access point in much greater extent. In this paper, we analyzed this phenomenon and provided a method, which improves the adverse impact of MPTCP significantly.
The Promise of Qualitative Research to Inform Theory to Address Health Equity

Most public health researchers and practitioners agree that we need to accelerate our efforts to eliminate health disparities and promote health equity. The past two decades of research have provided a wealth of descriptive studies, both qualitative and quantitative, that describe the size, scale, and scope of health disparities, as well as the key determinants that affect disparities. We need, however, to shift more aggressively to action informed by this research and develop deeper understandings of how to shape multilevel interventions, influenced by theories across multiple levels of the social-ecologic framework. In this article, we discuss the promising opportunities for qualitative and health equity scholars to advance research and practice through the refinement, expansion, and application of rigorous, theoretically informed qualitative research. In particular, to advance work in the area of theory to inform health equity, we encourage researchers (a) to move toward thinking about mechanisms and theory-building and refining; (b) to explicitly incorporate theories at the social, organizational, community, and policy levels and consider how factors at these levels interact synergistically with factors at the individual and interpersonal levels;
Abstract 657: A Tetramerization Domain Mutation in KCNA5 Identified in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Patients Causes Dysfunctional K+Currents

Pulmonary vasoconstriction and pulmonary vascular remodeling are major causes for the elevated pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Activity of voltage-gated K + (K v ) channels regulates the resting membrane potential ( E m ) in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC), and is involved in the regulation of PASMC contraction, proliferation and apoptosis. The highly conserved T1 domain in the N-terminus of K v channels is important for channel tetramerization, association with regulatory βsubunits, and localization to the plasma membrane. Downregulated expression of K v channels (e.g., K v 1.5) and decreased K v current ( I K (V)) have been observed in IPAH PASMC compared to normal PASMC. We recently found two non-synonymous mutations, G182R and E211D, in the T1 domain of IPAH patients’ K v 1.5 channel, encoded by the KCNA5 gene. HEK-293 cells transfected with mutant (G182R) or wildtype (WT) K v 1.5 channel revealed similar current amplitudes and activation thresholds (−40 mV). However, kinetic differences between the two channels were found to exist. While WT currents exhibited both fast- and non-inactivating components, the fast inactivating component was absent in G182R-transfected cells. The time to reach maximum current activation when cells were depolarized from −70 to + 60 mV was significantly longer for the G182R currents than for the WT currents (27 vs. 9 ms). Differences in tail currents were also observed: WT tail currents peaked and then slowly inactivated. However, the G182R tail currents inactivated rapidly and were at near resting levels by the end of the repolarizing pulse. Lastly, the two channels’ pharmacological responses to 4-AP, a K v channel blocker, differed. While WT currents were ~66% inhibited by 5 mM 4-AP, G182R currents were about 90% inhibited and showed a much slower recovery after washout of 4-AP compared to WT. Overall, the G182R mutant channel showed slow activation, fast inactivation, and fast channel closure; these effects would reduce channel activity and cause membrane depolarization. These results indicate that the G182R mutation may be one of the genetic causes for the inhibited K v channel activity in PASMC from some IPAH patients.
Zur Geschichte der Leopold-Handgriffe

Die Handgriffe nach Leopold zur auseren Untersuchung Schwangerer und Gebarender werden seit etwa 150 Jahren gelehrt. Welche Umstande haben zur Entwicklung dieser manuellen Untersuchungstechnik gefuhrt? Insbesondere die Publikationen von Carl Siegmund Franz Crede (1819–1892) und Christian Gerhard Leopold (1846–1911) aus dem Fachorgan „Archiv fur Gynakologie“ helfen bei der Antwort.
Reconstructive techniques for temporal bone cancer

Reconstructive surgery is often necessary following resections of temporal bone cancers. Goals of reconstruction include providing cutaneous wound closure, coverage of dura and neurovascular structures, prevention of cerebrospinal fluid leaks, restoring facial contour, compensating for loss of facial nerve function, and supporting an auricular prosthesis. Thorough preoperative evaluation is essential in order to select the appropriate reconstructive technique. The use of adjacent tissue transfer and pedicled locoregional flaps is generally limited to smaller defects. Microvascular free flaps are often necessary for larger defects, especially when there is significant dead space, in previously irradiated or operated fields, or when critical neurovascular structures are exposed. While the free rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap has previously been commonly used for temporal bone reconstruction, more recently the free anterolateral thigh flap has become favored, in part because of its more suitable flap thickness and minimal donor site morbidity. When cranial nerves must be transected, nerve reconstruction and rehabilitation should be considered, especially for the facial nerve. The postoperative monitoring and care of patients who undergo reconstructive surgery for temporal bone defects are essential to ensure flap survival and optimize wound healing.
Estimating the Probabilistic Size and Shape Distributions of 3D Anomalies From Sectioning Measurements Using the Stereological Unfolding Approach

The accuracy of probabilistic risk assessment of rotor disks is strongly dependent on the accurate description of the size and shape distributions of anomalies in alloys. These size-shape distributions of anomalies are often derived from planar sectioning data measurements using stereological unfolding algorithms. Since it is impossible to accurately predict the shape and orientation parameters of a general ellipsoid based on measurements obtained from two-dimensional sectioning data, the anomaly model should be limited to a spheroid. In this study, an unfolding algorithm was implemented and verified that can be used to estimate the probabilistic dimensions and orientations of 3D spheroids based on 2D section data. It is shown that the accuracy of the predicted spheroid model is dependent on the number of sections and the discretization of the mesh used to characterize the data.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Getting There (Slowly)

The general foundations for a theory of human sentence processing and the basic goals and questions of the 1960s are argued to be solid and still very relevant today, even if the particular processing model of the time (the clausal model) does not hold up. Today there is considerable agreement that sentence processing is both fast and grammatically controlled from the outset, and that minimal structure and recent attachments are favored across a diverse range of languages. Parsing is not purely bottom-up but instead allows phrases to be postulated before all daughters have been parsed; it works similarly for head-initial and head-final languages. The parser takes as input a rich prosodic/intonational representation which influences processing in ways that extend far beyond use of intonational boundaries as local (juncture) cues. It is argued that psycholinguistic evidence disconfirms the use of prepackaged fully articulated X′ templates for identifying phrase structure, instead supporting the extended projections of Grimshaw (1991). Further, considerable evidence shows that the processor respects grammatical distinctions among types of dependencies, as indicated by differential processing effects for antecedent-government chains versus binding relations, by the processing difficulty of composite dependencies involving more than one grammatical type of dependency, and by distinctions between deep and surface anaphora. The central problem for future theories of sentence processing is claimed to be the development of theories of sentence interpretation. Various possible approaches are discussed, including parallel computation of alternatives with subsequent selection, a task-driven interpretive system, and underspecification. The question is raised whether sentence-level psycholinguistics is in the middle of a paradigm shift from models with symbolic representations and an intrinsically serial (Von Neumann) architecture to constraint-satisfaction/connectionist models with inherently parallel architectures. Reasons are offered for rejecting current constraint-satisfaction models, including lack of supporting evidence discriminating between constraint-satisfaction and “conventional” models, serious problems with the use of prepackaged X′ templates for identifying phrase structure (the only proposal to date for handling syntactic structures in constraint-based models) and an inability to deal with cross-language generalizations. Pure connectionist models are unlikely to fare better in the future for two reasons. They are apparently unable to handle restricted universal quantification (Marcus, 1998)which clearly lies within the capacity of the human sentence processor. Further, competition between alternatives lies at the very heart of such models. Maximal competition should occur in processing fully ambiguous sentences and thus they are predicted to take longer to process than biased or temporarily ambiguous ones (Frazier & Clifton, 1997). But the empirical evidence suggests that fully ambiguous sentences are not systematically harder to process than their disambiguated counterparts.
Neutron Diffraction Studies of [Cp(PMe3)2RuH] and [Cp(PMe3)2RuH2]BF4 at 20 K

The crystal and molecular structures of [Cp(PMe3)2RuH] (1) and [Cp(PMe3)2RuH2]BF4 (2) have been determined from neutron diffraction measurements at 20 K. The Ru−H bond lengths in 1 (1.630(4) A) and 2 (1.599(8), 1.604(9) A) are the first terminal Ru−H distances to be determined by single-crystal neutron diffraction. The “Cp‘L2Ru” system is now the first to have neutron diffraction studies of the monohydride, dihydride, and dihydrogen species. This is of particular importance in understanding the activation of H2 by this metal−ligand fragment. Thus detailed comparisons with the recent structure determination by neutron diffraction of the dihydrogen complex [Cp*(dppm)Ru(η2-H2)]BF4 (dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) [Klooster, W. T.; Koetzle, T. F.; Jia, G.; Fong, T. P.; Morris, R. H.; Albinati, A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1994, 116, 7677−7681] are presented. A network of C−H···F−BF3 hydrogen bonds links the anion and cation moieties in 2. The C(2)−H(2)···F(4) interaction has an H···F separation of only 2.078(8)...
The relationship between first and second chromosome segregarion ratios from Drosophila melanogaster males bearing segregation distorter.

Drosophila melanogaster males heterozygous for the second chromosome locus Segregation Distorter preferentially transmit this chromosome to their progeny due to a dysfunctioning of SD+-bearing sperm. SD males with a normal sex chromosome constitution produce more females than males among SD+ progeny. This report shows that this unequal recovery of sexes is enhanced from XY/Y; SD/SD+ males and enhanced still further from XY/O; SD/SD+ males. It is argued that the probability that a SD+-bearing sperm will dysfunction is related to its sex chromsome complement, with the relative probabilities of dysfunction ranked O> Y> X> XY. It is shown that a modified probit analysis accounts for the relationship between sex ratio and second chromosome segregation frequency for all paternal genotypes. Finally, SD/SD+ males show no increase in sex chromosome nondisjunction with respect to a control.
Modeling Control of Eye Orientation in Three Dimensions. I. Role of Muscle Pulleys in Determining Saccadic Trajectory

Raphan, Theodore. Modeling control of eye orientation in three dimensions. I. Role of muscle pulleys in determining saccadic trajectory. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 2653–2667, 1998. This study evaluates t...
Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine and spontaneous abortion.

OBJECTIVE:To estimate the association between spontaneous abortion and influenza vaccine receipt with a case-control study utilizing data from six health care organizations in the Vaccine Safety Datalink.METHODS:Women aged 18–44 years with spontaneous abortion during the autumn of 2005 or 2006 were
Gandhi, Newton, and the Enlightenment

This chapter examines Gandhi’s critique of the Enlightenment. It expounds Gandhi’s view that certain attitudes that emerged around the new science in the modern West (not the science itself) stressed a form of detachment towards the world that disenchants the world and transforms the concept of nature into the concept of natural resources, a mere tool for our own ends. It argues that this transformation contributed to the rationalizations of colonial exploitation, since the colonizers infantilized conquered people as needing to be brought up to speed in acquiring the scientific rationality that would allow them to see nature and the world, generally, as a source of extraction and gain.
Overall survival based on oncologist density in the United States: Do we need to redefine underserved areas for oncologic care?

6568Background: ASCO has predicted shortage of 2,550 to 4,080 oncologists by 2020, disproportionately higher in underserved areas. The Conrad-30 program was established for international medical gr...
Moving Beyond Text: How Teens Evaluate Video-Based High Stakes Health Information via Social Media

This paper qualitatively examines how teenagers in the US evaluate high stakes health information via social media. Through 30 semi-structured interviews with teens ages 13–18, we explore how teens interact with and make decisions about the quality of video-based exercise and nutrition content. Participants indicated that they are wary of advertisements and language that encourages extreme weight loss, yet prefer video content that is “fun” and engaging. Additionally, participants reported having explicit and implicit criteria for evaluating videos with health content that includes both graphic and content quality.
Sensitivity of a Continuum-Scale Porous Media Heat and Mass Transfer Model to the Spatial-Discretization Length-Scale of Applied Atmospheric Forcing Data

Author(s): Trautz, AC; Illangasekare, TH; Howington, S; Cihan, A | Abstract: Fundamental process understanding and description of heat, mass, and momentum exchanges across the land-atmosphere interface in model boundary forcing parameterizations is critical to the simulation of near-surface soil moisture dynamics (e.g., bare-soil evaporation). This study explores the sensitivity of a continuum-scale porous media heat and mass transfer model to the spatial-discretization length-scales (i.e., spatial-resolution) of near-surface atmospheric data; the goal is to determine how much data are needed to force the model and adequately capture evaporative water losses and subsurface state variable distributions. The requisite atmospheric forcing data were taken from the high-resolution, precision bare-soil evaporation experiments of Trautz et al. (2018, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018WR023102). Simulation results demonstrated that shallow subsurface mass and heat transfer dynamics can be adequately captured with forcing data averaged over large length-scales, or a minimal number of measurements, provided that soil conditions are properly described. The soil moisture spatial distributions were found to be insensitive to horizontal variations in the forcing data. The model failed to capture small-scale trends observed experimentally; this did not impact the accuracy of total evaporative water loss estimates however. These results indicate that in future physical experimental efforts conducted at 1–10-m length-scales, there is no need to focus on the generation of high-spatial resolution atmospheric measurements—time and effort would be better spent in characterizing soil conditions and properties. Even though a theoretical foundation was not provided to directly extrapolate this work to the field scale, these findings have practical value in designing field data collection strategies.
Retrieval of Emotional Events from Memory

The enhancing effects of emotion on memory have been well documented; emotional events are often more frequently and more vividly remembered than their neutral counterparts. Much of the prior research has emphasized the effects of emotion on encoding processes and the downstream effects of these changes at the time of retrieval. In the current review, we focus specifically on how emotional valence influences retrieval processes, examining how emotion influences the experience of remembering an event at the time of retrieval (retrieval as an end point) as well as how emotion alters the way in which remembering the event affects the underlying memory representation and subsequent retrievals (retrieval as a starting point). We suggest ways in which emotion may augment or interfere with the selective enhancement of particular memory details, using both online and offline processes, and discuss how these effects of emotion may contribute to memory distortions in affective disorders.