cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The neurointeractive paradigm: dynamical mechanics and the emergence of higher cortical function

Recently established biological principles of neural connectionism promote a neuro-interactivist paradigm of brain and behavior which emphasizes interactivity between neurons within cortical areas, between areas of the cerebral cortex, and between the cortex and the environment. This paradigm recognizes the closed architecture of file behaving organism with respect to motor/sensory integration within a dynamic environment where the majority of sensory activity is the direct consequence of self-oriented motor actions. The top-down cortical inputs to primary sensory areas, which generate a signal that predicts discrimination behavior in monkeys (Cauller and Kulics, 1991), selectively activate the cortico-bulbar neurons that mediate directed movements. Unlike the widely distributed axons and long-lasting excitatory synaptic effects of the top-down projections, which generate the associative context for motor/ sensory interactivity, the bottom-up sensory projections are spatially precise and activate a brief excitation followed by a long-lasting inhibition (Cauller and Connors, 1994). Therefore, the sensory consequences of a motor action are the major source of negative feedback, which completes an interactive cycle of associative hypothesis testing: a winner-take-all motor/sensory pattern initiates a behavioral action within a top-down associative context; the bottom-up sensory consequences of that action interfere with top-down sensory predictions and strengthen or refine the associative hypothesis; then the testing cycle repeats as the sensory negative feedback inhibits the motor/sensory pattern and releases the next winner-take-all action.Given this neurointeractivity, perception is a proactive behavior rather than information processing, so there is no need to impose representationalism: neurons simply respond to their inputs rather than encode sensory properties; neural activity patterns are self-organized dynamical attractors rather than sensory driven transformations; action is based upon a purely subjective model of the environment rather than a reconstruction. The associative hypothesis is the neurointeractive equivalent to awareness and hypothesis testing is the basis for attention. This neurointeractive process of action/prediction association explains early development: from self-organized cortical attractors in utero; to the emergence of self-identity in the newborn, who learns to predict the immediate effects of self-action (i.e. listening to its own speech sounds); to the discovery of ecological contingencies; to the emergence of speech by prediction of mother's responses to infant speech. Ultimately, our scientific paradigm likewise emerges by neurointeractivity as we learn to see the world in a way that explains more of the effects of our actions.
The Later Kourouma, Chronicler of West African State 'Modernity'

Ahmadou Kourouma’ novels offer a nuanced analysis of major events of colonial and postcolonial African history. They point to the complicity between European colonizers and African elites, hopes for change, and the strategic use of tradition to legitimize oppressive postcolonial regimes. They also chronicle the increasing alienation of African youth as a major impediment to the development of viable social and political projects. Kourouma’s first novels have adults as their major protagonists, dissatisfied with their conditions but able to formulate their dissatisfaction as they mature and claim to own themselves, their minds, and their languages. In contrast, the protagonists of Kourouma’s later novels are adolescents lost in worlds not of their own making. These adolescents’ struggles for survival mirror the spiritual bricolage witnessed of late in African states that have lost control over any slightly meaningful way of assuring their own social and cultural reproduction. Here, too, mastery of self and situation lies in mastering a language and owning a discourse as a community. But Kourouma’s youngsters borrow from European dictionaries to tell their stories. With such characters, Kourouma illustrates and explores the decentering at the heart of contemporary African political formations—from “electoral politics” and “democratic states” to “NGOs.”
Life history of the northern mole cricket, Neocurtilla hexadactyla (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae), utilizing carolina-bay habitats

Life history of the northern mole cricket, Neocurtilla hexadactyla (Perty), was elucidated from a sample of 432 individuals collected from Carolina-bay habitats. Terrestrial drift fences with pitfall traps were an effective sampling technique. Juveniles emerged from subterranean nests in June and July and overwintered in an immature stage. They matured the following summer and presumably mated in the autumn at 16–18 months of age. Females were larger in body size than males but relative forewing length was the same. Females underwent vitellogenesis in spring and oviposition presumably occurred in May and June. Eggs deposited in laboratory containers were found in a single underground chamber and were attended by the female. Sex ratio of the sample was skewed 3:1 in favor of females. Adults and juveniles were found during all months of the year. The life cycle of N. hexadactyla was semivoltine in South Carolina.
Ecology and Human Ecology

government control tends to promote equal distribution of whatever advantages are derived from planning. Our open-class philosophy and broad educational base would tend to make planning for the exclusive benefit of the elite classes unworkable. Since dictatorial regimes, as well as social planning, tend to arise in crisis situations, it is not at all unexpected to find dictatorships the first proponents of planning. Their coincidental development, however, does not indicate that planning brought about the dictatorships; in fact, quite the reverse was true.25 Still a current trend of thought which is not uncommon among social scientists pictures social planning as the entering wedge for dictatorship. If the problems of social order and stability persist as they are likely to, the possibilities for the future social structure lie between a dictatorship where the planning (not social planning) is for the maintenance of power and social planning for the maintenance of democracy. We probably lack the choice between plan and no plan, but it is conceivable that we could successfully plan our social structure for the maintenance of democratic principles. The greatest danger to such an achievement, as the Italian philosopher Croce recently put it, is active ignorance.26
Effects of reserpine on adrenal responses to nicotine.

SummaryIncrements in plasma levels of epinephrine resulting from nicotine stimulation of the adrenal medulla are markedly reduced by reserpine. However, increments in heart contractile force and arterial blood pressure produced by adrenal stimulation, normally proportional to catechol amine levels, are not significantly altered following reserpine.
Business efforts, opportunities, and limits addressing the poor: A Brazilian case study

Abstract Businesses have many opportunities to foster sustainable peace. To illustrate the possibilities and limits of businesses reducing violence, we describe the case of ABN AMRO in Brazil and its social program in Novo Lino, one of the poorest municipalities in the country characterized by high levels of violence toward children. With ABN AMRO's support, Novo Lino was able to significantly improve the living conditions of abused children assisted by the social project and raise awareness of children's rights protection. However, despite the corporation's efforts, the project ended after ABN AMRO withdrew its financial support. This case study intends to stimulate discussion on the roles and possibilities of corporations in the social context of extreme poverty. We conclude that businesses need to adopt an integrated approach that simultaneously addresses the several factors related to extreme deprivation and reduces the likelihood of violence in situations of extreme poverty.
Pathogenesis and therapy of glomerulonephritis. Reflections on recent advances

The aim of this review is to describe how antibodies and cells of the immune system induce inflammatory lesions in the kidney. Renal glomeruli and tubules can be damaged not only by antibodies and immune complexes generated in the immune system but also by T lymphocyte-mediated hypersensitivity reactions originated locally. New mediators of inflammation have been identified, including growth factors and cytokines which are essential symbols of a language of intercellular communication modulating cell proliferation, the adhesion of inflammatory cells to the walls of the vessels, and to the extracellular matrix, and the formation of fibrosclerotic tissue contributing to the healing process. The identification of new methods for induction of tolerance to histocompatibility antigens, the identification of antigens responsible for autoimmune diseases of the kidney, and the synthesis of the peptides forming the receptor of T lymphocytes involved in the pathogenesis of an autoimmune disease of the brain, may help to design new therapeutic strategies for renal diseases, based on the inhibition of T lymphocyte activation.
Cationic modifications of polychloroprene

The synthesis of the novel graft-block copolymer poly[chloroprene-g-(isobutylene-b-α-methylstyrene)], i.e., a polychloroprene backbone carrying isobutylene/α-methylstyrene block copolymer branches, is described. The synthesis was accomplished by exploiting detailed insight into the mechanisms of initiation of isobutylene and α-methylstyrene polymerization, and termination of isobutylene polymerization.
It Was a Terrible Time

U Sam Oeur and his family suffered in Khmer Rouge concentration camps. Relocating to the USA after the regime fell, he became a noted poet. We organize an event for him to read to the children of Indochinese Housing Development Corporation. His poems tell terrible stories of suffering, but also of rebirth in America. I have misgivings about introducing the children to such horror and ask them how many of them knew of such suffering in their ancestral homeland. Most raise their hands. “We wrote a book about it,” a service provider says, Stories of Survival.
Spinal Cord Injury Care in the U.S.S.R.

(1979). Spinal Cord Injury Care in the U.S.S.R. The Journal of The American Paraplegia Society: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 1-6.
Pre-calculated LCIs with uncertainties revisited

Heijungs et al. (Int J Life Cycle Assess 22(3):461, 2017) argued that (1) dependent sampling is required when analyzing uncertainties using Monte Carlo simulation in a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) and that (2) using pre-calculated geometric standard deviations (GSDs) will lead to a “large overestimation” of the uncertainty of the results in a comparative LCA. While we agree with Heijungs and colleagues on the former from a theoretical standpoint, we find that the latter needs to be substantiated empirically. With this article, we tested the hypothesis that the use of pre-calculated life cycle inventories (LCIs) leads to an overestimation of uncertainty. In addition, we clarified a number of relevant issues and misconceptions in and around the independent sampling. We compared the GSDs of LCIs for 100 randomly selected Ecoinvent processes that were derived (1) using pre-calculated GSD values (partially independent sampling PIS) and (2) without using pre-calculated values (fully dependent sampling FDS). We tested the null hypothesis, E(GSD FDS /GSD PIS ) < 1, using a t test. The difference in the GSDs from fully dependent sampling and partially independent sampling (using pre-calculated LCIs) was statistically significant, though the average ratio GSD FDS /GSD PIS was very close to 1. Furthermore, the average ratio was larger than 1 with the confidence interval ranging from 1.0681 to 1.0696 at the 95% confidence level. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected. According to our empirical analyses, the use of pre-calculated LCIs and associated GSDs leads to a slight underestimation rather than an overestimation—not to mention “large overestimation”—of uncertainties in the results. GSDs in the results derived from pre-calculated LCIs and associated GSDs are very close to those derived from fully dependent sampling, and therefore, in practice, pre-calculated LCIs can be used as a reasonable proxy in understanding the uncertainties and variabilities of both non-comparative and comparative LCAs. Given the high uncertainty in the uncertainty analysis itself, the minor difference between GSDs from pre-calculated values and fully dependent sampling should not prevent LCA practitioners from using pre-calculated LCIs and corresponding GSDs for uncertainty analysis when no better option is reasonably practicable.
Historic Background of Group Psychotherapy

(1955). Historic Background of Group Psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy: Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 162-168.
An Under-the-Table Leg-Movement Apparatus and Changes in Energy Expenditure

Introduction: Deskwork contributes substantially to sedentariness. Here, we evaluated an under-the-table apparatus that was designed to promote leg movement (fidgeting) while seated. Our hypothesis was that the under-the-table apparatus would increase energy expenditure. Methods: We measured energy expenditure and heart rate in 26 people while they sat and worked using a standard chair, walked on a treadmill, and sat and worked using an under-the-desk apparatus that encouraged leg movement. Results: Energy expenditure increased significantly while using the under-the-table apparatus when compared to the standard office chair (standard chair, 81 ± 18 kcal/h; under-the-table apparatus, 96 ± 23 kcal/h) (P < 0.001); representing an 18 ± 16% increase. The changes in energy expenditure were not as great as walking (1 mph, 168 ± 46 kcal/h, P < 0.001; 2 mph, 205 ± 51 kcal/, P < 0.001), representing 107 ± 37% and 155 ± 48% increases over baseline, respectively. Conclusions: An under-the-table apparatus that promotes leg movement can increase energy expenditure by approximately 20%. Dynamic sitting is promoted by this apparatus and may be among a lexicon of options to help people move more while seated at work.
Determinants of red blood cell alloantibody detection duration: analysis of multiply alloimmunized patients supports peritransfusion factors.

BACKGROUND Alloimmunization to red blood cells (RBCs) can cause serious transfusion reactions and complicate the search for compatible blood products. Alloantibodies can be detected for periods ranging from a few days to several years, yet the mechanisms controlling the duration of detectability remain unknown. We studied the detection durations in patients forming multiple antibodies to investigate whether the duration is more strongly determined by conditions present at the time of each transfusion (peritransfusion factors) or by more stable patient-specific factors likely to persist across transfusions. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We studied retrospective medical records for alloimmunized patients at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital (1461 patients; 2187 antibodies). RESULTS Antibodies discovered simultaneously in a patient shared similar fates: 76% persisted through the last screen or first became undetectable during the same screen. Simultaneously identified antibodies were also more persistent than sequentially identified antibodies (mean, 9.2 months vs. 4.9 months; p < 10−3). Within a patient, antibodies discovered simultaneously tended to be detected for similar periods of time (mean difference, 25 days), compared to the detection period for sequentially discovered antibodies (107 days, p < 10−3). CONCLUSIONS The similarity in detection duration of simultaneously identified antibodies suggests that peritransfusion factors are important determinants of alloantibody detectability and duration. We also find some evidence that detection durations for sequentially identified antibodies are also more highly correlated than those for randomly selected antibodies across all patients, suggesting that patient-specific factors also play a role in determining alloantibody persistence.
Identification of Histidine 303 as the Catalytic Base of Lysyl Oxidase via Site-Directed Mutagenesis

Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is a copper-dependent amine oxidase enzyme that catalyzes the formation of crosslinkages of collagen and elastin in connective tissues by oxidative deamination of lysine. Using site-directed mutagenesis, Histidine 303 has been shown to be a key residue that acts as the necessary catalytic base for this enzyme to function properly. Histidine 303 was mutated to isoleucine to remove catalytic activity and to aspartate and glutamate, respectively, in order to provide alternate residues that could act as a general base that could maintain catalytic activity. Overexpression of the H303I mutant yielded 3.9 mg of enzyme per liter of media, the H303D mutant yielded 3.3 mg of enzyme per liter of media, and the H303E mutant yielded 3.0 mg/L of media. Overexpression of wildtype LOX yielded 4.5 mg/L of media, which is a slight improvement from previous yields. Total copper incorporation for H303I was calculated to be 68% and no copper was detected for the H303D and H303E mutants. As LOX requires the self-processed cofactor lysyl tyrosyl quinone (LTQ) for activity, total LTQ content was obtained by reacting the enzyme with phenylhydrazine and using the previously reported extinction coefficient of 15.4 mM/cm. LTQ content for the wildtype enzyme was determined to be 92%, for H303I the total LTQ content was determined to be 36%, and no LTQ was detected for the H303D and H303E mutants. No catalytic activity was detected for any mutants when compared to the wildtype which has a previously reported activity of 0.11 U/mg. Comparison of excitation–emission matrices (EEM) of each of the mutants as compared to the wildtype indicate that all the mutations cause a change in the internal environment of the enzyme, albeit to varying degrees, as evidenced by the observed shifts.
Reconstruction of Cell Focal Adhesions using Physical Constraints and Compressive Regularization

We develop a method to reconstruct, from measured displacements of an underlying elastic substrate, the spatially dependent forces that cells or tissues impart on it. Given newly available high-resolution images of substrate displacements, it is desirable to be able to reconstruct small-scale, compactly supported focal adhesions that are often localized and exist only within the footprint of a cell. In addition to the standard quadratic data mismatch terms that define least-squares fitting, we motivate a regularization term in the objective function that penalizes vectorial invariants of the reconstructed surface stress while preserving boundaries. We solve this inverse problem by providing a numerical method for setting up a discretized inverse problem that is solvable by standard convex optimization techniques. By minimizing the objective function subject to a number of important physically motivated constraints, we are able to efficiently reconstruct stress fields with localized structure from simulated and experimental substrate displacements. Our method incorporates the exact solution for a stress tensor accurate to first-order finite differences and motivates the use of distance-based cutoffs for data inclusion and problem sparsification.
Dose-Related Nicotine Effects on CNS Binding and Behavior

Repeated nicotine exposures increase both central nicotinic receptor numbers and the behavioral stimulant effect of nicotine. In the present experiments, the behavioral effects of graded doses of nicotine (0.1 to 1.6 mg/kg, s.c.) were observed in photocell activity cages both before and after the rats were given five daily injections of 0.2 mg/kg nicotine in their home cages. Comparing the behavioral response after five days of exposure to the response prior to exposure revealed an upward shift in the dose-response curve (Fig. 1).
New Drugs Approved by the FDA; New Dosage Forms and Indications; Agents Pending FDA Approval; Significant Labeling Changes Related to Safety:

This monthly feature will help readers keep current on new drugs, new indications and dosage forms, and safety-related changes in labeling or use. Each month, new information will be added to the t...
Thermoresponsive, water-dispersible microcapsules with a lipid-polysaccharide shell to protect heat-sensitive colorants

Abstract We present a novel thermoresponsive microcapsule designed to protect heat-sensitive colorants from thermal degradation, with an aqueous core and a two-layer shell structure to ensure water-dispersibility. Surrounding the aqueous colorant core is a two-layer shell: an inner, solid lipid layer consisting of glycerol mono-oleate (GMO) and soy lecithin, and an outer, water-dispersible matrix consisting of maltodextrin and poloxamer 338. This thermoresponsive shell design is shown to prevent colorant fading due to heat degradation in a simulated pasteurization process. The encapsulated colorant produces a more intense beverage color compared to the non-encapsulated colorant. Simultaneously, the layered shell is shown to promote a homogeneous dispersion of the encapsulated color throughout an aqueous solution with no observed “creaming” or phase separation. As pasteurization is widely used in the food and beverage systems, this novel, multi-layer microcapsule design expands the applicability of heat-sensitive natural colorants in the food and beverage industry.
Manumycin A Is a Potent Inhibitor of Mammalian Thioredoxin Reductase-1 (TrxR-1).

The anticancer effect of manumycin A (Man A) has been attributed to the inhibition of farnesyl transferase (FTase), an enzyme that is responsible for post-translational modification of Ras proteins. However, we have discovered that Man A inhibits mammalian cytosolic thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR-1) in a time-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 272 nM with preincubation and 1586 nM without preincubation. The inhibition of TrxR-1 by Man A is irreversible and is the result of a covalent interaction between Man A and TrxR-1. Evidence presented herein demonstrates that Man A forms a Michael adduct with the selenocysteine residue, which is located in the C-terminal redox center of TrxR-1. Inhibitors of TrxR-1, which act through this mechanism, convert TrxR-1 into a SecTRAP, which utilizes NADPH to reduce oxygen to superoxide radical anion (O2–•).
Increasing Trust in Personal Informatics Tools

Personal Informatics (PI) systems help individuals collect and reflect on personal physiological, behavioral and/or contextual data. Typically, these systems offer users interactive visualizations that allow meaningful exploration of the data. Through this exploration, PI systems have great potential to facilitate self-reflection and encourage behavior change.
Public Opinion as a Normative Opinion Process

This chapter provides a review of literature related to the conceptualization of the expression of public opinion as a normative opinion process. Public opinion is described, in part, as an expression of the interaction between individuals’ actual opinions and their perceptions of others’ opinions. It also is seen as an indicator of social norms on particular issues. The literature review describes, in detail, group processes and social comparison, and explains the development of group norms as they relate to communication and public opinion. In addition, the author examines normative influences and the public opinion process by describing two types of norms that may affect the extent of normative influences on expressed opinion and the manner in which norms may be accepted by individuals. A description of the potential for integrating norms in current public opinion research is presented.
Bath gas temperature and the appearance of ion trap tandem mass spectra of high-mass ions

Abstract Bath gas temperature effects upon the appearance of ion trap tandem mass spectra of protonated leucine enkephalin have been studied under a variety of ion activation conditions and over a bath gas temperature range of 298–486 K. Bath gas temperature was found to have two possible effects upon the identities and abundances of product ions observed in tandem mass spectra. At high parent ion dissociation rates (>10 s−1) and short activation times ( 10 s−1), relatively long ion activation times (
The phylogenetic placement of Chondrichthyes: inferences from analysis of multiple genes and implications for comparative studies

Elasmobranch fishes (sharks and rays) have proven valuable for inferring general and specific properties of molecular evolution through comparative studies with crown group vertebrates because they are the most ancient group of gnathostomes. Recent studies have questioned the conventional phylogenetic placement of sharks in the vertebrate tree, however. In this paper I review the importance of the basal position of Chondrichthyes for comparative biology and compile evidence from multiple, independent genes to evaluate the phylogenetic placement of sharks. The results suggests that alternative phylogenetic hypotheses of the relationships among the Chondrichthyes, Actinopterygii and Sarcopterygii can not be refuted with available data, implying that the assumption of the basal placement of sharks in the vertebrate tree is suspect. Resolving the phylogeny of basal vertebrates is important for testing hypotheses about the evolution of vertebrates, and the current lack of a robust phylogeny limits evolutionary inferences that can be gained from comparative studies that include sharks and rays.
Exploring C(sp3)–C(sp3) reductive elimination from an isolable iron metallacycle

Abstract A six-coordinate iron metallacyclopentane, (phen)2Fe(CH2)4, supported by two 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands, has been synthesized and structurally and spectroscopically characterized. The complex is diamagnetic and an idealized octahedral geometry was observed in the solid state. The electronic structure of (phen)2Fe(CH2)4 was determined by a combination of X-ray diffraction, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and DFT analyses and is best described as a low-spin Fe(III) center antiferromagnetically coupled to a radical anion delocalized equally over both phen ligands. The reactivity of (phen)2Fe(CH2)4 under different conditions was explored. Thermolysis or photolysis promoted elimination reactions and mixtures of isomeric butenes and butane were observed. Reactions of (phen)2Fe(CH2)4 with ethylene and isoprene yielded 3% and 11% of reductive elimination product cyclobutane, respectively, along with butane and butene isomers. Addition of π-accepting ligands such as carbon monoxide, maleic anhydride, or 1,4-benzoquinone to (phen)2Fe(CH2)4 promoted C(sp3)-C(sp3) reductive elimination as judged by high selectivity for cyclobutane formation. Two electron oxidation of (phen)2Fe(CH2)4 with two equivalents of ferrocenium tetraphenylborate also exclusively yielded cyclobutane in 95% yield. The electronic structure and reactivity of related bis(bipyridine) iron dialkyl compounds previously isolated by Kochi and co-workers were also revisited and their electronic structures revised based on structural, spectroscopic and computational data.
Liberia: Sustaining the Transition to Peace and Recovery

Liberia has generated great interest in international policy circles in recent years. The United States has provided a leadership role in focusing attention on this war battered country. While Liberians and observers acknowledge this attention, questions about concrete commitment to aid remain. The signing of a peace agreement in August 2003, the installation of a transitional government, and a donors' conference held in February 2004 all seemed to point to a window of opportunity for Liberia. Organized by the United Nations (UN), the United States and the World Bank, the donor's conference was intended to pledge funds and create an action plan for Liberia's reconstruction. A UN-World Bank needs assessment estimated that Liberia would need $488 million for reconstruction over two years. Pledges from the donor's conference topped that amount, totaling $520 million, including $200 million from the United States. Clearly the onus is on Liberians to seize this opportunity for a new beginning, even though the donor community will be a partner in this process. A successful recovery effort is bound to draw on lessons from previous experiences within Liberia and throughout the continent.
Hypothalamic and hormonal control of photoperiodically induced vernal functions in the white-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii

The effects of implantation of testosterone propionate (TP) in various sites in the hypothalamus on the photoperiodically induced vernal premigratory functions in the White-crowned Sparrows were investigated in order to assess the role of the hypothalamo-hypophysial-testicular axis in the induction of these responses.
Cruzain Inhibition by Terpenoids: A Molecular Docking Analysis:

A molecular docking analysis has been carried out using monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and triterpenoids that have shown enzyme inhibitory activity as ligands for the cysteine protease ...
Comparing videofluoroscopy and endoscopy to assess swallowing in bottle-fed young infants in the neonatal intensive care unit

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of videofluoroscopy (VFSS) and endoscopy (FEES) in detecting laryngeal penetration and tracheal aspiration in bottle-fed young infants in the NICU. VFSS and FEES findings of 22 infants were compared to each other and to a composite reference standard in this prospective study. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated for each assessment. Agreement between VFSS and FEES was high (92%) for aspiration and moderate (56%) for penetration, with FEES detecting more instances of penetration. Compared to the composite reference standard, FEES had greater sensitivity and a higher negative predictive value for penetration than VFSS. Because of the low prevalence of aspiration, diagnostic accuracy could not be determined for aspiration for either assessment. FEES appears to be more accurate in detecting penetration in this population, and both assessments are valuable tools in a comprehensive feeding and swallowing evaluation.
EBV-Associated Lymphoproliferative Disorders: Update in Classification.

Although about 90% of the world's population is infected by EBV only a small subset of the related infections result in neoplastic transformation. EBV is a versatile oncogenic agent involved in a multitude of hematopoietic, epithelial, and mesenchymal neoplasms, but the precise role of EBV in the pathogenesis of many of the associated lymphoid/histiocytic proliferations remains hypothetical or not completely understood. Additional studies and use of evolving technologies such as high-throughput next-generation sequencing may help address this knowledge gap and may lead to enhanced diagnostic assessment and the development of potential therapeutic interventions.
Integrating Market Models and Price Effects in a Multiscale Sustainable Process Design Framework

Abstract Sustainable process design has employed life cycle assessment (LCA) methods for determining the environmental impact while designing manufacturing technologies. However, system boundary problem and other deficiencies of LCA propagates down to the design problem, resulting in suboptimal solutions. While conventional LCA methods have mostly been attributional in nature, a new branch of LCA, known as consequential LCA has developed which is more practical and realistic for application to decision making. The main objective of this LCA method is to account for direct and indirect consequences due to a certain decision such as introduction of a new environmentally friendly product or technology. In this work, we explore some of the approaches being used for consequential LCA from a sustainable process design perspective and develop a multiscale framework that can combine policy design, supply chain design and design of manufacturing processes. This framework utilizes both the system expansion method as well as economic equilibrium models for performing consequential analysis. The method is applied to a small case study to observe the effects on the design of a manufacturing process due to tax on a conventional technology to promote the use of an environmentally better novel technology.
The Impact of High Dietary Sodium Consumption on Blood Pressure Variability in Healthy, Young Adults.

BACKGROUND High sodium (Na+) intake augments blood pressure variability (BPV) in normotensive rodents, without changes in resting blood pressure (BP). Augmented BPV is associated with end-organ damage and cardiovascular morbidity. It is unknown if changes in dietary Na+ influence BPV in humans. We tested the hypothesis that high Na+ feeding would augment BPV in healthy adults. METHODS Twenty-one participants (10 F/11 M; 26 ± 5 years; BP: 113 ± 11/62 ± 7 mm Hg) underwent a randomized, controlled feeding study that consisted of 10 days of low (2.6 g/day), medium (6.0 g/day), and high (18.0 g/day) salt diets. On the ninth day of each diet, 24-h urine samples were collected and BPV was calculated from 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring. On the tenth day, in-laboratory beat-to-beat BPV was calculated during 10 min of rest. Serum electrolytes were assessed. We calculated average real variability (ARV) and standard deviation (SD) as metrics of BPV. As a secondary analysis, we calculated central BPV from the 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring. RESULTS 24-h urinary Na+ excretion (low = 41 ± 24, medium = 97 ± 43, high = 265 ± 92 mmol/24 h, P < 0.01) and serum Na+ (low = 140.0 ± 2.1, medium = 140.7 ± 2.7, high = 141.7 ± 2.5 mmol/l, P = 0.009) increased with greater salt intake. 24-h ambulatory ARV (systolic BP ARV: low = 9.5 ± 1.7, medium = 9.5 ± 1.2, high = 10.0 ± 1.9 mm Hg, P = 0.37) and beat-to-beat ARV (systolic BP ARV: low = 2.1 ± 0.6, medium = 2.0 ± 0.4, high = 2.2 ± 0.8 mm Hg, P = 0.46) were not different. 24-h ambulatory SD (systolic BP: P = 0.29) and beat-to-beat SD (systolic BP: P = 0.47) were not different. There was a trend for a main effect of the diet (P = 0.08) for 24-h ambulatory central systolic BPV. CONCLUSIONS Ten days of high sodium feeding does not augment peripheral BPV in healthy, adults. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT02881515.
A grounded theory systematic review of environmental education for secondary students in the United States

Our world faces a range of environmental problems directly linked to or exacerbated by human actions and choices. Environmental education (EE) is one tool that can create a more environmentally lit...
Chemical Contamination of Drinking Water in Resource-Constrained Settings: Global Prevalence and Piloted Mitigation Strategies

Chemical contamination of drinking water (including salinity) puts more than one billion people at risk of adverse health effects globally. Resource-constrained communities are the most affected an...
Front propagation in flipping processes

We study a directed flipping process that underlies the performance of the random edge simplex algorithm. In this stochastic process, which takes place on a one-dimensional lattice whose sites may be either occupied or vacant, occupied sites become vacant at a constant rate and simultaneously cause all sites to the right to change their state. This random process exhibits rich phenomenology. First, there is a front, defined by the position of the leftmost occupied site, that propagates at a nontrivial velocity. Second, the front involves a depletion zone with an excess of vacant sites. The total excess Δk increases logarithmically, Δk ln k, with the distance k from the front. Third, the front exhibits ageing—young fronts are vigorous but old fronts are sluggish. We investigate these phenomena using a quasi-static approximation, direct solutions of small systems and numerical simulations.
Clinical ophthalmological diagnostic description of 10 healthy sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) and prevalence of ocular-related presentations in a larger hospital population.

Objective To provide reference values for ocular examination and diagnostics in ophthalmologically normal sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps). To retrospectively determine the prevalence of ocular diseases in sugar gliders presenting to a single institution. Animals Ten client owned and 106 previously evaluated sugar gliders. Procedure A descriptive study evaluated sugar gliders presented to Colorado State University's Avian, Exotics, and Zoological Medicine Service (CSU-AEZ) from August-2019 to January-2020. A complete ophthalmic examination including Schirmer tear test II (STT II), phenol red threat test (PRTT), intraocular pressure (IOP) via rebound tonometry, fluorescein, and rose bengal stain was performed under anesthesia. Conjunctival aerobic culture swabs and cytology were collected prior to ophthalmic evaluation. A retrospective review of medical records of sugar gliders presented to CSU-AEZ from 2008 to 2018 for ocular disease was performed. Results Mean values ± standard deviation for selected diagnostics included the following: STT II: 2.2 ± 6.7 mm/min; PRTT: 0 ± 0 mm/15 s; IOP: 12 ± 2.6 mm Hg. Fluorescein and rose bengal staining highlighted corneal abrasions secondary to tear testing. The three most common conjunctival bacterial isolates cultured were Staphylococcus spp. (3/20, 15%), Coryneform spp. (3/20, 15%), and unidentified Gram-positive cocci (3/20, 15%). Retrospective analysis revealed ocular diseases to be the third most common abnormality resulting in sugar glider presentations (13/106, 12.3%). Conclusion This descriptive study gives reference values for IOP, conjunctival microbiology, and cytology for sugar gliders. STT II and PRTT provide little clinical value in sugar gliders. The retrospective study revealed that ocular abnormalities, often secondary to dental disease, are a common reason for presentation.
DNA polymerase III holoenzyme of Escherichia coli.

DNA Polymerase III Holoenzyme .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DNA Polymerase III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DNA Polymerase III' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DNA Polymerase 111* . . Isolated Holoenzyme Subunits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Possible Relationship of DNA Polymerase II and Complex Polymerase Forms .... .. PROCESSIVITY OF DNA POLYMERASE III FORMS . . . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . ... . . . . . . ........ . STAGES IN lHE DNA POLYMERASE III HOLOENZYME-CATALYZED REACTION . ........ . .. . . ... .
‘The Peking Formula’: International Law, the United Nations, and Chinese Sovereignty during the Korean War

The origins of China’s modern superpower ascendancy are most frequently located in the 1970s, the decade during which the People’s Republic of China (PRC) began to carry out transformative economic...
Cost & Benefit Analysis of the United States’ Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

What are the benefits and costs associated with the United States withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change? This note approaches this question focusing on the advantages and disadvantages for the United States while considering its global impact and the moral dimensions involved. This work is unique, because it considers this United States’ controversial decision from this law and economics perspective. This note also advances our understanding about membership in the Paris Accord, as it compares the United States’ withdrawal with the engagement of India.
Food Processing Operations Modeling: Design and Analysis

Thermophysical properties of foods introduction to modelling and numerical simulation aseptic processing to liquid and particulate foods modelling moisture diffusion in food grains during adsorption deep-fat frying of foods - an overview infrared heating of biological materials modelling electrical resistance/heating of foods stochastic finite element analysis of thermal food processes neural networks approach to modelling food processing operations.
Chapter 23 – Salicylic acid: signal perception and transduction

Salicylates, including salicylic acid (SA), methyl salicylate, saligenin and their respective glucosides, are natural products of plant metabolism that have long been known to possess therapeutic properties. SA has been also demonstrated to affect gene expression by altering the activity of transcription factors, Furthermore, phenols like SA are capable of directly binding to proteins and thereby altering their ability to transduce cellular signals. SA has been shown to play an important role in signaling defense responses in several plant species. Biochemical, molecular and genetic techniques have recently been used to address the pathways associated with SA metabolism, signal perception and transmission. This chapter will focus primarily on the progress made in deciphering the role SA plays in activating plant defense reponses. In particular, recent advances made in identifying SA's targets, and mode(s) of action, as well as the mechanism(s) through which the SA signal is amplified and exerted at the level of gene expression is presented. Recent progress has uncovered the complex nature of these responses in plants, as well as the presence of cross talk between multiple signaling pathways. SA has emerged as an important player in the ability of several dicotyledonous species to curtail the growth and spread of pathogens; additionally, SA influences several other plant processes.
EGTA inhibits reverse uniport-dependent Ca2+ release from uncoupled mitochondria. Possible regulation of the Ca2+ uniporter by a Ca2+ binding site on the cytoplasmic side of the inner membrane.

When rat liver mitochondria are allowed to accumulate Ca2+, treated with ruthenium red to inhibit reverse activity of the Ca2+ uniporter, and then treated with an uncoupler, they release Ca2+ and endogenous Mg2+ and undergo large amplitude swelling with ultrastructural expansion of the matrix space. These effects are not produced by Ca2+ plus uncoupler alone. Like other "Ca2+-releasing agents" (i.e. N-ethylmaleimide, t-butylhydroperoxide, oxalacetate, etc.), the development of nonspecific permeability produced by ruthenium red plus uncoupler requires accumulated Ca2+ specifically and is antagonized by inhibitors of phospholipase A2. The permeability responses are also antagonized by ionophore A23187, indicating that a rapid pathway for Ca2+ efflux from deenergized mitochondria is necessary to prevent the development of nonspecific permeability. EGTA can be substituted for ruthenium red to produce the nonspecific permeability change in Ca2+-loaded, uncoupler-treated mitochondria. The permeability responses to EGTA plus uncoupler again require accumulated Ca2+ specifically and are antagonized by inhibitors of phospholipase A2 and by ionophore A23187. The equivalent effects of ruthenium red and EGTA on uncoupled, Ca2+-containing mitochondria indicate that reducing the extramitochondrial Ca2+ concentration to the subnanomolar range produces inhibition of reverse uniport activity. It is proposed that inhibition reflect regulation of the uniporter by a Ca2+ binding site which is available from the cytoplasmic side of the inner membrane. EDTA cannot substitute for EGTA to induce nonspecific permeability in Ca2+-loaded, uncoupled mitochondria. Furthermore, EDTA inhibits the response to EGTA with an I50 value of approximately 10 microM. These data suggest that the uniporter regulatory site also binds Mg2+. The data suggest further that Mg2+ binding to the regulatory site is necessary to inhibit reverse uniport activity, even when the site is not occupied by Ca2+.
Ultra-slow convergence to a Gaussian: The truncated Lévy flight

We introduce a class of quasi-stable stochastic process, the truncated Levy Flight (TLF). A TLF is a stochastic process with finite variance. We show theoretically and numerically that the convergence of the sum of n independent TLF to a. Gaussian process is usually extremely slow. In fact a remarkably large value of n can be required to ensure the convergence to a Gaussian process. We also investigate the statistical properties of the S&P 500 (a financial index) and we show that they are qualitatively in agreement with the one of a TLF.
Deformation mechanisms at Different grain sizes in a cryogenically ball-milled Al-Mg alloy.

An Al-7.5 wt. % Mg alloy was ball-milled in liquid N2 for eight hours and its microstructures were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. Electron diffraction confirmed that the resulting powder is a supersaturated Al-Mg solid solution with a face-centered cubic structure. Three nanostructures with different grain size ranges and shapes were observed and the deformation mechanisms in these structures were found to be different. The reasons for the different deformation mechanisms were discussed. Keywords: Aluminum alloy; Cryogenic ball milling; Transmission electron microscopy; Microstructure.
Energy-efficient wakeup scheduling for maximizing lifetime of IEEE 802.15.4 networks

Deployment of wireless ad hoc networks with scarce energy resources necessitates the design of algorithms that maximize the lifespan of the network, sustain connectivity and facilitate easy maintenance. Nodes in an ad hoc network often need to collaborate with each other to maintain network-connectivity or execute a set of tasks in a distributed fashion. They may have variable rates of energy consumption because some nodes perform energy-intensive tasks such as data-aggregation and data-forwarding more than others. These variations cause early energy depletion of certain nodes which impacts both the connectivity and the overall lifetime of the network. In this paper, we propose a scheme that alleviates this problem in low-traffic networks by tuning the energy consumption of a node during periods of inactivity to its energy-expenditure in the active phase. Since nodes are idle for extended periods of time, this compensation proves significant and we show that the lifetime of an IEEE 802.15.4 network improves up to 65% while ensuring that an end-to-end delay constraint is met.
Diagnostic decision support systems: how to determine the gold standard?☆

In 1996 in an editorial on evaluation of decision support systems, Miller proposed that the bottom line in evaluating clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) should be “whether the user plus the system is better than the unaided user with respect to a specified task….”1 Since 1996, several studies have examined that issue, and, yet, there is still disagreement on the way to operationalize Miller's proposition. In this issue of the Journal , Ramnarayan et al.2 describe a variety of metrics to evaluate the performance of a new pediatric diagnostic program, ISABEL. In a previous issue, Fraser et al.3 also described metrics to evaluate a heart disease program, the HDP. Both Ramnarayan et al. and Fraser et al. discussed how their measures compared with the earlier measures used by Berner et al.4 and Friedman et al.5 to evaluate other diagnostic programs. Why should it be so difficult to agree on a reasonable metric for evaluating these systems? Those of us who have struggled with this issue in our research have come to appreciate some of the difficulties that may not be immediately obvious in the published literature, but are important to articulate. Many of these issues are not unique to the diagnostic programs, but are a challenge in evaluating any CDSS. However, diagnostic programs are particularly challenging because, as Ramnarayan et al. indicate, diagnostic programs should influence both the diagnosis and the management plans. With that in mind, and with Miller's injunction to focus on evaluating how the system and clinician work together, I would like to discuss the problems that arise with the different “gold standards” that researchers have used and also would like to offer suggestions for researchers and developers of diagnostic CDSS. Most researchers have included in their metrics the production of the …