cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Importin 7 and Importin α/Importin β Are Nuclear Import Receptors for the Glucocorticoid Receptor

The vertebrate glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is cytoplasmic without hormone and localizes to the nucleus after hormone binding. GR has two nuclear localization signals (NLS): NL1 is similar in sequence to the SV40 NLS; NL2 is poorly defined, residing in the ligand-binding domain. We found that GR displayed similar hormone-regulated compartmentalization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and required the Sxm1 nuclear import receptor for NL2-mediated import. Two metazoan homologues of Sxm1, importin 7 and importin 8, bound both NL1 and NL2, whereas importin alpha selectively bound NL1. In an in vitro nuclear import assay, both importin 7 and the importin alpha-importin beta heterodimer could import a GR NL1 fragment. Under these conditions, full-length GR localized to nuclei in the presence but not absence of an unidentified component in cell extracts. Interestingly, importin 7, importin 8, and importin alpha bound GR even in the absence of hormone; thus, hormonal control of localization is exerted at a step downstream of import receptor binding.
Meta-Analysis of the Safety of 5-HT3 Antagonists with Dexamethasone or Droperidol for Prevention of PONV

Background:Antiemetic guidelines recommend a combination of serotonin (5-HT3) with a second agent such as droperidol or dexamethasone. Physicians have been reluctant to employ these guidelines due to concerns over the black-box warning of droperidol and safety concerns with a steroid.Objective:To assess the safety profiles of 5-HT3 receptor antagonist (5-HT3RA) monotherapy and combination therapy with a steroid or droperidol for prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).Methods:A MEDLINE search of English-language reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted (1966–September 2005) using the key terms 5-HT3, granisetron, ondansetron, dolasetron, tropisetron, PONV, postoperative, vomiting, emesis, and nausea. RCTs with treatment arms comparing 5-HT3RA monotherapy (granisetron, ondansetron, dolasetron, or tropisetron) with dexamethasone or droperidol or 5-HT3RA combinations and providing incidence data on adverse events were identified and reviewed. Within-study odds ratios with ...
Profile guided management of code partitions for embedded systems

Researchers have proposed to divide embedded applications into code partitions and to download partitions on demand from a wireless code server to enable a diverse set of applications for very tightly constrained embedded systems. This paper describes a new approach for managing the request and storage of code partitions and we explore the benefits of our scheme.
An Improved Hilbert–Huang Method for Analysis of Time-Varying Waveforms in Power Quality

The Hilbert-Huang method is presented with modifications, for time-frequency analysis of distorted power quality signals. The empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is enhanced with masking signals based on fast Fourier transform (FFT), for separating frequencies that lie within an octave. Further, the instantaneous frequency and amplitude of the constituent modes obtained by Hilbert spectral analysis are improved by demodulation. The method shows promising time-frequency-magnitude localization capabilities for distorted power quality signals. The performance of the new technique is compared with that of another multiresolution analysis tool, the S-transform-a phase corrected wavelet transform. Analysis on actual measurements of transformer inrush current from an existing laboratory setup is used to demonstrate this technique.
Spectra and cross‐spectra of velocity components in the mesometeorological range

Power spectra of horizontal wind components at 91 m indicate the existence of a gap near wavelengths of the order of 10 km or periods of the order of one hour.
Process entropy control for reduced quality loss

A mathematical basis for the guidance of advanced process control systems operating in uncertain environments has been developed. Within this structure entropy functions are derived to provide a unified performance metric for both high-accuracy inner feedback loops and the uncertainty of outer qualitative loops that employ a process description language. With this method process automation is realizable as the mathematical programming solution that minimizes total entropy, with transformation of system-theoretic parameters to identities defining controlled-variable statistical design for quality. >
The Use of Prosthetic Stents in Tracheobronchial,Gastrointestinal, and Genitourinary Diseases

The concept of using a stent to maintain patency of a lumen is not new. As early as 1969, stents were being investigated in the peripheral arterial system as a means of preventing restenosis after dilatation by balloon angioplasty (Dotter, 1969). Since then, numerous reports have demonstrated the use of stents in both the peripheral and coronary artery systems (Maass et al., 1982; Dotter et al., 1983; Wright et al., 1985; Palmaz et al., 1987). Concomitant with the investigation of expandable endovascular metal prosthesis has been the development of prosthetic devices for management of tracheobronchial, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary diseases. We will review the use of endoscopically placed prosthetic devices in the management of diseases affecting these systems.
Spiritual Lifemaps: A Client-Centered Pictorial Instrument for Spiritual Assessment, Planning, and Intervention

Although some consumers desire to integrate spirituality into the clinical dialogue, few resources have appeared in the literature to help practitioners operationalize spiritual strengths. This article introduces and orients practitioners to a new pictorial instrument—the spiritual lifemap—that can be used for spiritual assessment. The instrument facilitates a smooth transition from assessment to exploring and planning interventions. The author provides a case study and suggestions on how to use the instrument in clinical settings. A number of common spiritual interventions, drawn from a wide variety of theoretical approaches, are highlighted. The author discusses several applications and possible value conflicts that may arise when assessing spirituality.
Using Particle Imaging Velocimetry to Measure Anterior-Posterior Velocity Gradients in the Excised Canine Larynx Model

Objectives To quantify the anterior-posterior velocity gradient, we studied the velocity flow fields above the vocal folds in both the midcoronal and midsagittal planes. It was also our purpose to use these fields to deduce the mechanisms that cause the anterior-posterior gradient and to determine whether the vortical structures are highly 3-dimensional.
INFLUENCE OF PASSIVE AND ACTIVE VESTIBULAR STIMULATION ON BALANCE OF YOUNG CHILDREN

60 children, 6 to 8 yr. old, with below-average scores on three balance tests were divided into four equal groups: active vestibular stimulation (Preston Vestibular Board), passive vestibular stimulation (rotating chair), and a control group for each. Vestibular groups were given 14 sessions of stimulation over a 5-wk. period. Balance scores for all groups, including controls, improved significantly on one or more of the tests. Improvement could not be related to vestibular stimulation.
DC Internal Inductance for a Conductor of Rectangular Cross Section

In this paper, the dc internal inductance for conductors with rectangular cross section is investigated. Using a quasistatic Green's function, the magnetic fields inside a rectangular conductor are derived. These magnetic field expressions are used to formulate the internal inductance of the conductor. We present numerical results and closed-form expressions for the dc internal inductance for this geometry. Comparisons to various expressions found in the literature are made, and the inaccuracies of these other results are presented and discussed. Finally, we discuss some of the subtleties associated with the inductance of a single current path, in which we examine why the total and external inductances of a single infinitely long conductor have no physical meaning, whereas the internal inductance does.
Irreversible Translation Arrest in the Reperfused Brain

Irreversible translation arrest occurs in reperfused neurons that will die by delayed neuronal death. It is now recognized that suppression of protein synthesis is a general response of eukaryotic cells to exogenous stressors. Indeed, stress-induced translation arrest can be viewed as a component of cell stress responses, and consists of initiation, maintenance, and termination phases that work in concert with stress-induced transcriptional mechanisms. Within this framework, we review translation arrest in reperfused neurons. This framework provides a basis to recognize that phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 is the initiator of translation arrest, and a key marker indicating activation of neuronal stress responses. However, eIF2 alpha phosphorylation is reversible. Other phases of stress-induced translation arrest appear to contribute to irreversible translation arrest specifically in ischemic vulnerable neuron populations. We detail two lines of evidence supporting this view. First, ischemia, as a stress stimulus, induces irreversible co-translational protein misfolding and aggregation after 4 to 6 h of reperfusion, trapping protein synthesis machinery into functionally inactive protein aggregates. Second, ischemia and reperfusion leads to modifications of stress granules (SGs) that sequester functionally inactive 48S preinitiation complexes to maintain translation arrest. At later reperfusion durations, these mechanisms may converge such that SGs become sequestered in protein aggregates. These mechanisms result in elimination of functionally active ribosomes and preclude recovery of protein synthesis in selectively vulnerable neurons. Thus, recognizing translation arrest as a component of endogenous cellular stress response pathways will aid in making sense of the complexities of postischemic translation arrest.
Postrigor tumble marination strategies for improving color and water-holding capacity in normal and pale broiler breast fillets

Pale or pale, soft, and exudative-like meat can be caused by a decline in pH early postmortem while carcass temperatures are still high. This decrease in pH leads to protein denaturation, attributing to the pale color and poor water-holding capacity that is characteristic of this lesser quality meat. Marination with NaCl and phosphates has been shown to improve protein functionality, thereby reducing lost meat yield and improving meat quality. However, there are few studies relating marination with phosphates to improvements in pale meat. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment was to determine if meat quality improvements could be obtained in pale meat via marination with various phosphate and NaCl treatments without altering the quality and stability of normal or pale meat. The treatments used in this study were 1) sodium tripolyphosphate, an industry control; 2) a high pH phosphate (11.9); 3) a sodium tripolyphosphate and high pH mixture; 4) an agglomerated phosphate; and 5) a nonagglomerated phosphate. The marinades used in this study increased the pH, decreased the L* values of the pale fillets, and improved water-holding capacity. There were no significant differences in overall flavor preference for any of the 5 phosphate treatments. There was also no difference in oxidation or shelf-life trends in either the pale or normal fillets marinated with each of the 5 treatments. The results of this study were that marination with phosphates can be used to marinate pale meat without altering flavor, increasing the development of oxidation, or reducing shelf life.
Restricted access to food, but not sucrose, saccharine, or salt, synchronizes the expression of Period2 protein in the limbic forebrain

Restricted feeding schedules (RF) in which daily access to food is limited to a few hours each day can entrain the rhythms of expression of circadian clock genes in the brain and periphery in rodents. The critical factors mediating the effect of RF on rhythms of clock gene expression are unknown. Previously, we demonstrated that daytime RF shifts the phase of expression of the clock protein, Period2 (PER2) in the oval nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in rats kept on a 12-h light/dark cycle, and restored the rhythm of PER2 expression in rats housed in constant light. We now report that RF also modifies the rhythms of PER2 expression in the central and basolateral nuclei of the amygdala and in the dentate gyrus, such that all three areas become synchronized, peaking 12 h after the time of food presentation. Daily limited access to sucrose or saccharine in freely fed rats or scheduled access to saline in sodium-deprived rats had no effect on these PER2 rhythms. Thus, it would appear that the rhythms of PER2 in limbic forebrain structures are sensitive to signals that arise from the alleviation of a negative metabolic state associated with scheduled feeding and that access to rewarding substances in the absence of food deprivation or metabolic challenges, per se, is not sufficient to alter the rhythms of PER2 expression in these regions.
Isolation of the bovine and human genes for müllerian inhibiting substance and expression of the human gene in animal cells

We have isolated the bovine and human genes for Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS), a testicular glycoprotein that causes regression of the Mullerian duct during development of the male embryo. The mRNA sequence of bovine MIS, determined from an analysis of cDNA and genomic clones, codes for a protein of 575 amino acids containing a 24 amino acid leader peptide. The human gene has five exons that code for a protein of 560 amino acids. A comparison of the bovine and human MIS proteins reveals a highly conserved C-terminal domain that shows marked homology with human transforming growth factor-beta and the beta chain of porcine inhibin. Animal cells transfected with the human gene secrete biologically active MIS, which causes regression of the rat Mullerian duct in vitro.
A path to the Arrow–Debreu competitive market equilibrium

We present polynomial-time interior-point algorithms for solving the Fisher and Arrow–Debreu competitive market equilibrium problems with linear utilities and n players. Both of them have the arithmetic operation complexity bound of $${O(n^{4}log(1/\epsilon}$$)) for computing an $${\epsilon}$$ -equilibrium solution. If the problem data are rational numbers and their bit-length is L, then the bound to generate an exact solution is O(n4L) which is in line with the best complexity bound for linear programming of the same dimension and size. This is a significant improvement over the previously best bound $$O(n^{8}log(1/\epsilon$$)) for approximating the two problems using other methods. The key ingredient to derive these results is to show that these problems admit convex optimization formulations, efficient barrier functions and fast rounding techniques. We also present a continuous path leading to the set of the Arrow–Debreu equilibrium, similar to the central path developed for linear programming interior-point methods. This path is derived from the weighted logarithmic utility and barrier functions and the Brouwer fixed-point theorem. The defining equations are bilinear and possess some primal-dual structure for the application of the Newton-based path-following method.
Endogenous Small RNA Mediates Meiotic Silencing of a Novel DNA Transposon

Genome defense likely evolved to curtail the spread of transposable elements and invading viruses. A combination of effective defense mechanisms has been shown to limit colonization of the Neurospora crassa genome by transposable elements. A novel DNA transposon named Sly1-1 was discovered in the genome of the most widely used laboratory “wild-type” strain FGSC 2489 (OR74A). Meiotic silencing by unpaired DNA, also simply called meiotic silencing, prevents the expression of regions of the genome that are unpaired during karyogamy. This mechanism is posttranscriptional and is proposed to involve the production of small RNA, so-called masiRNAs, by proteins homologous to those involved in RNA interference−silencing pathways in animals, fungi, and plants. Here, we demonstrate production of small RNAs when Sly1-1 was unpaired in a cross between two wild-type strains. These small RNAs are dependent on SAD-1, an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase necessary for meiotic silencing. We present the first case of endogenously produced masiRNA from a novel N. crassa DNA transposable element.
Social Responsibility and Social Change: How to Engage in Public Policy Process Via Social Entrepreneurship

This paper will address a few critical components of social change and social justice including social responsibility, social change, public policy initiatives, and the role of social entrepreneurs in mobilizing communities through building partnership and coalitions for achieving social change. The AEA model will be the main feature of the paper that includes three key elements of Awareness, Empowerment, and Action as its pillars supplemented by addressing the key role of public policy in providing the legal and Implementation base for social change and the pivotal role of social entrepreneurship in facilitating the whole change process. A brief reference to Levin’s Force Field and Change models as well as the role of technology and ethics as they relate to social change process will be addressed too.
Direct G protein activation reverses impaired CCK signaling in human gallbladders with cholesterol stones

Human gallbladders were used to investigate the mechanisms of the impaired contraction induced by cholecystokinin (CCK) associated with cholesterol stones. Single muscle cells were isolated enzymatically with collagenase. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Diacylglycerol was assayed by thin-layer chromatography. CCK stimulation showed decreased muscle contraction and production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol in gallbladders with cholesterol stones compared with those with pigment stones. Exogenous calmodulin induced maximal contraction of 22.4 +/- 0.5 and 21.0 +/- 0.6% in gallbladders with cholesterol and pigment stones, respectively. Similar findings were observed with a synthetic diacylglycerol analogue. Two G protein activators, aluminum fluoride and guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate), evoked similar responses in these two types of gallbladders, with maximal contractions of 21.3 +/- 0.4 and 23.3 +/- 0.5%, respectively, in those with cholesterol stones and 20.9 +/- 0.8 and 22.6 +/- 0.4%, respectively, in those with pigment stones. These results suggest that receptor-dependent ligands like CCK cannot fully activate the intracellular pathways, which, however, can be fully stimulated by circumventing receptors with G protein activators or second messengers. After G protein activation, the pathways appear to be functionally intact. The defect might then reside in the receptor or in the interaction between receptors and G proteins.
Daddy, are We There Yet? Lost in Grokster-Land

When the Supreme Court decided the Grokster case last June, it pretty much resolved the dispute as to the particular players in the case but it arguably did little to move toward any long-range resolution of the dispute over the downloading of copyrighted works. By adopting an inducement theory, and then reaching for any available shred of evidence to support it, however, the opinion may have added a few more problems to the mix. In particular, by referring disapprovingly to the failure of the defendants to use methods like filtering, and by finding support for inducement in the fact that the defendants' incomes were positively related to the level infringing uses made by their users, the Court introduced the prospect of product producers and distributors being drawn into design wars comparable to those that have long raged in products liability cases, or finding themselves at risk simply for producing a product that is attractive to would-be infringers as well as to wholly legitimate users. The most certain prediction that can be made about Grokster, however, is that it will do nothing to achieve a stable resolution of the problems that animated the litigation. Two likely scenarios are proposed. One is that the decision will quickly be mooted by technological change, and will at most provide a roadmap for future versions of Grokster and StreamCast on how not to induce. The other is that it will invite so much and such confusing litigation over the meaning of inducement that the Sony balance will be indirectly upended and Congress or the Court will be forced to step back into the fray to protect technological innovation.
Dynamic shear rheology of a thixotropic suspension: Comparison of an improved structure-based model with large amplitude oscillatory shear experiments

Rheological measurements on a model thixotropic suspension by Dullaert and Mewis [J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech. 139(1–2), 21–30 (2006); Rheol. Acta 45, 23–32 (2005)] are extended to include large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) flow, shear flow reversal, and a novel unidirectional LAOS flow to provide an extended rheological data set for testing constitutive models. We use this extended data set to test a new structure-based model developed by improving the Delaware thixotropic model [A. Mujumdar et al., J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech. 102, 157–178 (2002); A. J. Apostolidis et al., J. Rheol. 59, 275–298 (2015)]. Model parameters are determined from steady, small amplitude oscillatory, and step shear rate tests. Holding those parameters fixed, model predictions are compared to LAOS experiments. Similar comparisons are made for three contemporary models from the literature. Two of these models use a scalar internal structural parameter and include the modified Jeffreys model proposed by de Souza Mendes and Thompson [Rheol. Acta 52, 673–694 (2013)]. The third model is based on fluidity additivity [F. Bautista et al., J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech. 80, 93–113 (1999)]. A common weakness in all models is shown to be the use of scalar order parameters that cannot account for the reversal of flow directionality inherent in LAOS flow. This is further illustrated by comparison with flow reversal and unidirectional LAOS experiments.Rheological measurements on a model thixotropic suspension by Dullaert and Mewis [J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech. 139(1–2), 21–30 (2006); Rheol. Acta 45, 23–32 (2005)] are extended to include large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) flow, shear flow reversal, and a novel unidirectional LAOS flow to provide an extended rheological data set for testing constitutive models. We use this extended data set to test a new structure-based model developed by improving the Delaware thixotropic model [A. Mujumdar et al., J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech. 102, 157–178 (2002); A. J. Apostolidis et al., J. Rheol. 59, 275–298 (2015)]. Model parameters are determined from steady, small amplitude oscillatory, and step shear rate tests. Holding those parameters fixed, model predictions are compared to LAOS experiments. Similar comparisons are made for three contemporary models from the literature. Two of these models use a scalar internal structural parameter and include the modified Jeffreys model proposed by de Souza Mendes and T...
Stimulatory action of adrenal medulla and catecholamines upon hydroxylation of steroids by adrenocortical homogenates.

Summary1. Conversion of progesterone to 17a,21-dihydroxycorticosteroids by homogenates of bovine adrenal cortex is markedly stimulated by addition of small amounts (15 mg/100 mg cortex) of medullar...
The case for horizontal launch of large exploration payloads

Unlike the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs, the future pace of NASA's programs for human and robotic space exploration will be driven by the space transportation system budget needed to lift heavy payloads to Earth escape velocity, with total heavy lift costs over 50 years of $100-$200 billion with present technology. This paper uses published cost and performance data to show that neither reusability nor high flight rate nor system improvements can be totally relied upon to lower launch costs significantly for heavy-lift boosters. Analysis of flight systems ranging from commercial aircraft to small expendable boosters to the Space Shuttle shows that launch cost correlates with propulsion system power, where launch costs ~ (thrust power) 1.09 , a nearly-linear correlation that can be used to predict launch costs with reasonable accuracy. The case for horizontal launch rests on the large reduction in thrust power, and hence launch costs, possible with these systems. Subsonic, supersonic and launch with air liquefaction cycles are discussed. The paper quantifies important cost factors and predicts significantly lower costs for horizontally launched heavy-lift payloads than for vertical launch, with savings >$100 billion.
Design and research on the loop closing operation analysis system medium voltage in radial distribution network

Analyzing and evaluating to the effect caused by loop closing operations in radial medium voltage distribution networks are extraordinary important to the safe operations.This paper studies the radial medium voltage distribution in the specified city,and introduces the solution of the loop closing operation analysis system.The CIM model based on IEC 61970/61968 standards is used to realize the data exchange between the loop closing operation analysis system and other systems existed in the distribution.To the loop closing power flow calculation,which is the most important part in the loop closing operation analysis system,the superposition principle is involved,which leads to better convergence property for the power flow calculation,satisfying the requirement for the system operating on line.
Analysis of Credits Earned by LEED Healthcare Certified Facilities

Abstract One of the main aims of the green building movement has been a desire to create a healthy indoor environment for building occupants. In terms of improving or enhancing occupant well-being, a unique case emerges for healthcare facilities, whose main existence is based on the principles of improving the health of their patients. In the U.S., the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system has become the most widely recognized and used certification system for green buildings, including green hospital buildings. However, hospitals with high total scores may be green buildings but not necessarily the optimal green healthcare environment from a patient's wellbeing perspective. The goal of the study was to identify whether hospitals and healthcare facilities actually value the specific criteria that influence the health of patients and their recovery period. In-depth analysis of LEED healthcare specific credits revealed general tendencies and practices for green healthcare buildings. Based on a statistical analysis, the mean of percent healthcare specific scores were calculated as 48% for those certified under LEED Healthcare, 62% for hospitals certified under LEED New Construction v3, and 52% for hospitals certified under LEED New Construction v2 rating systems. While hospitals included in the Healthcare category were initially expected to be the most successful ones in terms of achieving patient recovery and wellbeing related credits, they proved to earn the lowest percent of relevant points in this analysis. The result may be attributed to heightened restrictions and requirements of credits in the Healthcare scorecard, or hospitals may be valuing the level of certification more than those credits that were deemed relevant for patient wellbeing and rate of recovery, either due to lack of information or due to economic constraints. A high correlation coefficient was calculated among total scores and healthcare specific scores for the Healthcare dataset. On the other hand, correlation coefficients calculated for the other two datasets indicate a more random pattern among the two variables. For hospitals certified under the New Construction rating system, there seem to be weak support to claim that hospitals that receive high total scores and thus certification levels have high healthcare specific points as well.
Toward the integration of personality theory and decision theory in explaining economic behavior: An experimental investigation

Abstract Economics and trait-based personality psychology have taken different approaches to understanding individual differences. The former emphasizes variables measured according to formal decision theory; the latter instead emphasizes variables derived from the factor analysis of trait assessments. In a data set on trainee truckers in a large US company, we provide a systematic assessment of the empirical pattern of relationships and correlations between the measurements used in these two approaches by comparing the predictive power of variables derived from personality theory and decision theory for several individual characteristics and outcomes, and relating the two sets of measurements to each other. We show that personality traits have a comparable or stronger statistical predictive power than do economic preferences for several dependent variables, including credit score, job persistence, and heavy truck accidents. They also have strong predictive power for Body Mass Index (BMI) and smoking status. Further, decision theory and personality variables are meaningfully related. For example, we confirm that cognitive ability explains a substantial part of time preferences, and find that Neuroticism and cognitive ability together explain attitudes toward risk. In an experimental game, cognitive skills and Agreeableness explain important aspects of strategic behavior.
The effects of climate change associated abiotic stresses on maize phytochemical defenses

Reliable large-scale maize production is an essential component of global food security; however, sustained efforts are needed to ensure optimized resilience under diverse crop stress conditions. Climate changes are expected to increase the frequency and intensity of both abiotic and biotic stress. Protective phytochemicals play an important role in both abiotic stress resilience and resistance to biotic challenges, yet the concentration and composition of these phytochemicals are also dependent on climate variables. We review the research on the effects of climate change associated abiotic stresses on three classes of maize defense metabolites, including benzoxazinoids, volatile organic compounds, and terpenoid phytoalexins. Despite significant knowledge gaps that still exist, it is evident that climate change will influence maize phytochemicals associated with resilient productivity. While broad generalizations are not yet possible, climate induced changes in phytochemicals are context specific and dependent upon developmental stage and tissue type. Under conditions of drought, maize modulates different classes of defense phytochemicals to protect the above-and belowground tissues. Aboveground the benzoxazinoid defenses are stimulated, but belowground terpenoid phytoalexins are predominantly deployed. Changes in the allocation or distribution of the different classes of defense metabolites or signaling molecules have the potential to further shape the biodiversity and abundance of pests within the maize agroecosystem. A better understanding of the underlying genetics, biosynthetic pathways, regulation and precise biological roles of maize phytochemicals modulated by arrays of climatic conditions will be required to ensure optimal plant resilience and productivity in the face of combined biotic and abiotic stresses.
Role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in carcinogenesis and potential as an anti-cancer drug target

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) was initially identified as the receptor that binds and mediates the toxic effects induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and structurally related halogenated aromatics. Other toxic compounds including some polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons act through the AhR; however, during the last 25 years, it has become apparent that the AhR plays an essential role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Moreover, the scope of ligands that bind the AhR includes endogenous compounds such as multiple tryptophan metabolites, other endogenous biochemicals, pharmaceuticals and health-promoting phytochemicals including flavonoids, indole-3-carbinol and its metabolites. It has also been shown that like other receptors, the AhR is a drug target for multiple diseases including cancer, where both AhR agonists and antagonists effectively block many of the critical hallmarks of cancer in multiple tumor types. This review describes the anti-cancer activities of AhR ligands and demonstrates that it is time to separate the AhR from TCDD and exploit the potential of the AhR as a novel target for cancer chemotherapy.
Treatment of Hip Flexion Contractures with Psoas Recession Through the Middle Window of the Ilioinguinal Approach

The ilioinguinal approach for psoas recession over the pelvic brim allows for direct visualization and protection of the femoral nerve while preserving hip flexion strength. Hip flexion contracture is a common problem in patients with spastic paresis such as cerebral palsy and may also affect patients who have sustained trauma about the hip. These contractures may impair gait and the ability to carry out activities of daily living. The iliopsoas muscle is the main deforming force; however, contraction of the hip capsule and surrounding soft tissue may also contribute1. Iliopsoas tenotomy at the level of the lesser trochanter treats the contracture at the cost of hip flexor strength, making it difficult for ambulatory patients to climb stairs or even walk on a level surface2,3. Intramuscular psoas recession over the pelvic brim is an alternative that preserves hip flexor strength while correcting the flexion contracture4-8. In this procedure, the psoas tendon is lengthened as it traverses the pelvic brim while the iliacus is preserved (Video 1). Thus, the iliopsoas unit is fractionally lengthened, preserving its ability to flex the hip. Previous studies have shown that hip flexion strength against gravity and manual resistance is maintained while improving dynamic pelvic tilt and step length during gait after this procedure4,8. Video 1 Introduction to psoas recession over the pelvic brim. An image in the video is copyrighted by, and reproduced with permission of, the AO Foundation, Switzerland.
Hypocognition: Making Sense of the Landscape beyond One's Conceptual Reach:

People think, feel, and behave within the confines of what they can conceive. Outside that conceptual landscape, people exhibit hypocognition (i.e., lacking cognitive or linguistic representations ...
Language for Science: Preservice Teachers Develop Science Concepts Through Language Study

ABSTRACTAn increasing focus on academic language across content areas, including science, prompted this study of the ways in which preservice teachers integrate academic language in middle grades science. Academic language is part of the discourse that students need for success in school, and it includes both what words are used and how those words are used. Three preservice teachers, all enrolled in an applied linguistics course for an English for Speakers of Other Languages endorsement, were part of this case study. Through content analysis, we explored how they incorporated academic language into middle grades science units on thermal energy, Newton’s laws of motion, and the classification of living things. Findings indicated that each preservice teacher selected language functions to complement and extend middle school students’ understanding of scientific content concepts. In other words, science concepts drove their integration of academic language and informed their evaluation of the success of the...
Development and Evaluation of the Inventory of New College Student Adjustment

The Inventory of New College Student Adjustment (INCA) was developed to assist college student personnel in assessing adjustment difficulties experienced by first-year college students. A sample of...
Caloric Restriction as a Therapeutic Approach to Heart Failure: Can Less Be More in (Mice) and Men?

See Article by de Lucia et al Caloric restriction (CR) is a dietary intervention that involves reduction of total calories below ad libitum intake without nutritional insufficiency or malnutrition. A form of CR, intermittent fasting (IF), involves significant energy restriction on alternate days or 2 days a week (5:2 diet) with ad libitum consumption on nonfasting days.1 In the mid-1930s, McCay and colleagues first described the potential benefits of CR when they demonstrated prolongation of the mean and maximal lifespan of rats.2 Since then, CR has been the subject of considerable investigation across a spectrum of species including yeast, worms, flies, fish, rodents, and nonhuman primates to better understand possible biological and molecular benefits on aging and longevity. Perhaps the most well-known studies of CR were initiated in the late 1980s involving rhesus monkeys at the National Institute on Aging and the University of Wisconsin Madison.3 Rhesus monkeys are a useful model as their anatomy, physiology, eating patterns, and aging processes are similar to humans. The University of Wisconsin Madison study reported a positive impact on survival, but the National Institute on Aging study did not find a similar benefit. Significant differences in the 2 study designs likely contributed to the observed mortality differences.3 Other nonhuman studies over the past decade support the potential for CR to delay the onset of age-related chronic diseases, protect against cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, and exert direct cardioprotective effects.4 CR may have a favorable impact on the cardiovascular system, mediated by improvement in cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. As well, CR may reduce inflammation, myocardial fibrosis, oxidative stress, and development of atherosclerosis, and improve myocardial ischemic tolerance.4 The …
A facile one-step fluorescence method for the quantitation of low-content single base deamination impurity in synthetic oligonucleotides

Abstract Oligonucleotides are being researched and developed as potential drug candidates for the treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases. The characterization of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) impurities caused by base mutations (e.g. deamination) which are closely related to the target ASO is a significant analytical challenge. Herein, we describe a novel one-step method, utilizing a strategy that combines fluorescence-ON detection with competitive hybridization, to achieve single base mutation quantitation in extensively modified synthetic ASOs. Given that this method is highly specific and sensitive (LoQ = 4 nM), we envision that it will find utility for screening other impurities as well as sequencing modified oligonucleotides.
Mission analysis for next-generation RTG study

The Next-Generation Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) Study was carried out in 2016–2017 to determine the characteristics of options for a new RTG that would best fulfill NASA Planetary Science Division (PSD) mission needs, considering applicability to different targets and mission types. The NASA Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS) Program Mission Analysis Team gathered information on past and recent RPS mission concept studies by various organizations in the United States to support the Next-Generation RTG Study in crystalizing an understanding of mission “pull” that is crucial to define requirements for a potential next generation of RTGs. This paper describes the top-down processes and findings that helped establish a reasonable set of draft requirements for a potential Next-Generation RTG, which are documented in the Next-Generation RTG Study final report. To perform the required mission analyses, and to combine data and present the results in a unique way, an extensive relational database was developed. The database includes detailed data for 63 targets, six generic potential destinations (comet, Trojan, Centaur, etc.), 142 spacecraft concepts (65 launched and 77 studied), and 249 missions associated with these spacecraft concepts. In total, 77 RPS-powered spacecraft and associated mission concept studies were gathered, evaluated and assessed for the Next-Generation RTG Study. A number of spacecraft are associated with a number of mission concept types/subtypes at different destinations; thus, in this report, a mission is defined as a unique vector of spacecraft, mission concept type (e.g., lander) /subtype (e.g., rover), and target. For example, Cassini conducted flybys of Enceladus and 2685 Masursky, and orbited Saturn, which is considered three missions under this definition. Furthermore, there are two categories of spacecraft concepts: launched missions (e.g., Cassini, Mars Science Laboratory [MSL]) and concepts studied for possible future missions.
Arizona v. California & the Colorado River Compact: Fifty Years Ago, Fifty Years Ahead

Hydrologic conditions in the Colorado River Basin have changed markedly in the fifty-year period since the U.S. Supreme Court announced the seminal Colorado River decision of Arizona v. California in 1963. As projected by the Bureau of Reclamation in its recent Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study, this pattern of change is anticipated to persist during the next fifty years. Water demands exceeded supplies on average in the basin for the first time in recorded history over the past decade, and this supply-demand imbalance is forecast to widen between now and 2060, absent changes in the status quo. Rooted in concerns about reliance interests and expectations attached to Colorado River water in the Lower Basin, this Article considers the nuanced relationship between Arizona v. California and the Colorado River Compact as this relationship is implicated by the supply-demand imbalance. We initially provide an overview of the Compact’s prominent role in the Arizona v. California litigation — notwithstanding the majority’s ultimate disregard of it in the final decision. We then consider Arizona v. California’s facilitation of water uses and losses in the Lower Basin over the past several decades and essential parameters put into place by the Compact that bear on future efforts to manage these uses and losses. We conclude by advocating for the formulation of a Lower Basin water budget that is informed by the Compact’s basinwide apportionment scheme as a means for navigating the supply-demand imbalance.
Bayesian adaptive dual control of deep brain stimulation in a computational model of Parkinson's disease.

In this paper, we present a novel Bayesian adaptive dual controller (ADC) for autonomously programming deep brain stimulation devices. We evaluated the Bayesian ADC’s performance in the context of reducing beta power in a computational model of Parkinson’s disease, in which it was tasked with finding the set of stimulation parameters which optimally reduced beta power as fast as possible. Here, the Bayesian ADC has dual goals: (a) to minimize beta power by exploiting the best parameters found so far, and (b) to explore the space to find better parameters, thus allowing for better control in the future. The Bayesian ADC is composed of two parts: an inner parameterized feedback stimulator and an outer parameter adjustment loop. The inner loop operates on a short time scale, delivering stimulus based upon the phase and power of the beta oscillation. The outer loop operates on a long time scale, observing the effects of the stimulation parameters and using Bayesian optimization to intelligently select new parameters to minimize the beta power. We show that the Bayesian ADC can efficiently optimize stimulation parameters, and is superior to other optimization algorithms. The Bayesian ADC provides a robust and general framework for tuning stimulation parameters, can be adapted to use any feedback signal, and is applicable across diseases and stimulator designs.
ACM Code of Ethics: Looking Back and Forging Ahead

This special session will involve three related components. It will begin with a history of the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (the Code), its evolving presence in the computing curriculum guidelines over time, and its documented use outside of academe. This will lead into an overview of the major changes to the Code that occurred in the most recent update. The third component and primary focus of the session will be to work with participants to identify ways that ACM and the ACM Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE) can help Computer Science educators integrate the Code as broadly as possible into diverse programs, ranging from Kindergarten to PhD-level. The outcome of the session would be a preliminary set of guidelines for programs and departments to adopt the Code, potential challenges to be addressed when formalizing those guidelines, and suggested approaches to resolve these difficulties. If attendance is sufficiently large, we would adopt a jigsaw model, breaking into smaller focus groups that are tasked with distinct portions of the Code. Each group reports back at the end, and members of COPE will collate the results into a document for future distribution and work.
Classification of Radar and Communications Signals Using Wideband Autonomous Cognitive Radios

Spectrum awareness is one of the most challenging problems in wideband autonomous cognitive radio (WACR) design. Detection and classification of low-SNR signals is important for proper WACR functionality as it enables the radio to adapt to the user needs and surrounding RF environment. In this context, identification of radar and communications signals is critical in various applications, especially, electronic warfare. This paper introduces a classification framework for radar and communications signals based on their cyclostationary features, specifically, the cyclic profile. Two classification algorithms are used: an artificial neural network (ANN) and a convolutional neural network (CNN). The simulation results show that cyclic profile is a good candidate compared with other features to distinguish between radar and communications signals even at very low SNRs. Furthermore, from a complexity perspective, the ANN is shown to be more effective than the CNN in the proposed classification framework.
Controlling thermal conductivity of two-dimensional materials via externally induced phonon-electron interaction

Phonon scattering by electrons, or ``phonon-electron scattering,'' has been recognized as a significant scattering channel for phonons in materials with high electron concentration, such as thermoelectrics and nanoelectronics, even at room temperature. Despite the abundant previous studies of phonon-electron scattering in different types of three-dimensional bulk materials, its impact on the phonon transport, and thus the heat transfer properties, of two-dimensional (2D) materials has not been understood. In this work, we apply ab initio methods to calculate the phonon-electron scattering rates in two representative 2D materials, silicene and phosphorene, and examine the potential of controlling the thermal conductivity of these materials via externally induced phonon-electron scattering by electrostatic gating. We also develop an analytical model to explain the impact of reduced dimensionality and distinct electron and phonon dispersions in two dimensions on phonon-electron scattering processes. We find that over 40% reduction of the lattice thermal conductivity can be achieved in silicene with an induced charge-carrier concentration around ${10}^{13}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$, which is experimentally achievable. Our study not only generates new fundamental insights into phonon transport in 2D materials but also provides practical guidelines to search for 2D materials with strong phonon-electron scattering for potential thermal switching applications.