cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
State-Dependent Differences in Functional Connectivity in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract Background While there is increasing evidence of altered brain connectivity in autism, the degree and direction of these alterations in connectivity and their uniqueness to autism has not been established. The aim of the present study was to compare connectivity in children with autism to that of typically developing controls and children with developmental delay without autism. Methods We assessed EEG spectral power, coherence, phase lag, Pearson and partial correlations, and epileptiform activity during the awake, slow wave sleep, and REM sleep states in 137 children aged 2 to 6years with autism (n=87), developmental delay without autism (n=21), or typical development (n=29). Findings We found that brain connectivity, as measured by coherence, phase lag, and Pearson and partial correlations distinguished children with autism from both neurotypical and developmentally delayed children. In general, children with autism had increased coherence which was most prominent during slow wave sleep. Interpretation Functional connectivity is distinctly different in children with autism compared to samples with typical development and developmental delay without autism. Differences in connectivity in autism are state and region related. In this study, children with autism were characterized by a dynamically evolving pattern of altered connectivity.
TIME-RESOLVED EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY FOR THE COMBUSTION ANALYSIS OF SERIES PRODUCTION ENGINES

This paper presents a device that detects light emerging from the combustion inside a series production automotive engine. Simulta- neous time and wavelength resolution is achieved by this system and it can be applied in a simple manner to either diesel or spark ignition (SI) engines without any geometrical modification of the combustion cham- ber. An optical probe is inserted into spark plug or glow plug. A fiber is connected to the probe and leads the light to a spectrograph, which provides spectral analysis in the UV and visible wavelength ranges. An intensified streak camera with time resolution in the microsecond range completes the detection unit. This measuring system enables time- resolved emission spectroscopy applied to the light emitted during the combustion in a series production engine. Time-resolved emission spec- tra are presented from both a diesel and an SI engine. The time behavior of the internal temperature in a diesel engine combustion chamber and its dependence on engine speed and load are measured with this setup using a multiple two-color method. In an SI engine, the time behavior of the emissions of specific molecules or radicals is detected. Thus, differ- ences in the combustion process are demonstrated to be caused by operation with different fuels. © 1997 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation En- gineers. (S0091-3286(97)02804-3) Subject terms: time-resolved emission spectroscopy; streak camera; series pro- duction engine; continuous radiation at diesel engine; radical radiation at spark ignition engine; time behavior.
Forming Impressions: Effects of Facial Expression and Gender Stereotypes:

The present study of 138 participants explored how facial expressions and gender stereotypes influence impressions. It was predicted that images of smiling women would be evaluated more favorably on traits reflecting warmth, and that images of non-smiling men would be evaluated more favorably on traits reflecting competence. As predicted, smiling female faces were rated as more warm; however, contrary to prediction, perceived competence of male faces was not affected by facial expression. Participants' female stereotype endorsement was a significant predictor for evaluations of female faces; those who ascribed more strongly to traditional female stereotypes reported the most positive impressions of female faces displaying a smiling expression. However, a similar effect was not found for images of men; endorsement of traditional male stereotypes did not predict participants' impressions of male faces.
Landmark Placement for Wireless Localization in Rectangular-Shaped Industrial Facilities

Wireless localization is an important application of emerging technologies, e.g., wireless sensor network and radio-frequency identification (RFID). In this paper, the effect of landmark placement on localization performance in rectangularshaped facilities is investigated. The localization performance is evaluated by multiple performance metrics based on the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB), i.e., expected CRLB, probability of lower CRLB, minimum CRLB, and maximum CRLB. Analytical analysis shows that all rectangular landmark layouts have the same minimum CRLB. Numerical results show that the optimal layout in terms of expected CRLB changes with respect to the aspect ratio of facility geometry, which can be predicted by statistical models. The performance on maximum CRLB deteriorates as the aspect ratio of the facility increases. Moreover, the performance in terms of every metric becomes significantly poorer if one landmark fails. Localization experiment based on active RFID devices confirms the findings from both analytical and numerical results.
Energy Audit Practices in China: National and Local Experiences and Issues

China set an ambitious goal of reducing its energy use per unit of GDP by 20% between 2006 and 2010. Much of the country’s effort is focused on improving the energy efficiency of the industrial sector, which consumes about two-thirds of China’s primary energy. Industrial energy audits are an important part of China’s efforts to improve its energy intensity. Such audits are employed to help enterprises identify energy-efficiency improvement opportunities and serve as a means to collect critical energy-consuming information. Information about energy audit practices in China is, however, little known to the outside world. This study combines a review of China’s national policies and programs on energy auditing with information collected from surveying a variety of Chinese institutions involved in energy audits. A key goal of the study is to conduct a gap analysis to identify how current practices in China related to energy auditing differ from energy auditing practices found around the world. This article presents our findings on the study of China’s energy auditing practices at the national and provincial levels. It discusses key issues related to the energy audits conducted in China and offers policy recommendations that draw upon international best practices.
Conversion of nitrite to nitric oxide at zinc via S-nitrosothiols

Nitrite is an important reservoir of nitric oxide activity in the plasma and cells. Using a biomimetic model, we demonstrate the conversion of zinc-bound nitrite in the tris(pyrazolyl)borate complex iPr2TpZn(NO2) to the corresponding S-nitrosothiol RSNO and zinc thiolate iPr2TpZn–SR via reaction with thiols H–SR. Decomposition of the S-nitrosothiol formed releases nitric oxide gas.
The alkaloids of Rauwolfia serpentina benth

Rauwolfia is an important genus of the plant family Apocynaceae. There are nearly one hundred and twenty‐five species of Rauwolfia which are distributed all over the tropical regions of the world (1‐8). The most important member of the genus is R. serpentina Benth; the crude drug was known to the ancient Indians as a useful febrifuge (8), a remedy for snake bite, and as a cure for dysentery. In more recent times it has been used for insomnia, hypochondria and insanity. The presence of alkaloidal principles in R. serpentina was first pointed out in 1890 by Greshoff (9). In 1933, Chopra, Gupta, and Mukherjee (10) reported the hypotensive activity of the material extracted from the plant and in 1931 Siddiqui and Siddiqui (11) isolated a series of crystalline alkaloids from R. serpentina. Active chemical and pharmacological interest in R. serpentina has resulted in the discovery of several new alkaloids (Table I). The isolation by Muller, Schlittler, and Bein (12) of reserpine, an alkaloid with pronounced hypotensive and sedative activity, has lent further impetus to the pharmacological and chemical study of the alkaloids of R. serpentha. A brief summary of the chemical aspects of R. serpentina will be presented in this review.
Sampling and scoring: A marriage made in heaven

Most structure prediction algorithms consist of initial sampling of the conformational space, followed by rescoring and possibly refinement of a number of selected structures. Here we focus on protein docking, and show that while decoupling sampling and scoring facilitates method development, integration of the two steps can lead to substantial improvements in docking results. Since decoupling is usually achieved by generating a decoy set containing both non-native and near-native docked structures, which can be then used for scoring function construction, we first review the roles and potential pitfalls of decoys in protein-protein docking, and show that some type of decoys are better than others for method development. We then describe three case studies showing that complete decoupling of scoring from sampling is not the best choice for solving realistic docking problems. Although some of the examples are based on our own experience, the results of the CAPRI docking and scoring experiments also show that performing both sampling and scoring generally yields better results than scoring the structures generated by all predictors. Next we investigate how the selection of training and decoy sets affects the performance of the scoring functions obtained. Finally, we discuss pathways to better alignment of the two steps, and show some algorithms that achieve a certain level of integration. Although we focus on protein-protein docking, our observations most likely also apply to other conformational search problems, including protein structure prediction and the docking of small molecules to proteins.
Dietary Intake and Adequacy of Vitamin K

The current daily recommended dietary allowance for vitamin K is 1 microg/kg. Reliable measurements of vitamin K content in foods are now available, and data from 11 studies of vitamin K intake indicate that the mean intake of young adults is approximately 80 microg phylloquinone/d and that older adults consume approximately 150 microg/d. The vitamin K concentration in most foods is very low (<10 microg/100 g), and the majority of the vitamin is obtained from a few leafy green vegetables and four vegetable oils (soybean, cottonseed, canola and olive) that contain high amounts. Limited data indicate that absorption of phylloquinone from a food matrix is poor. Hydrogenated oils also contain appreciable amounts of 2', 3'-dihydrophylloquinone of unknown physiological importance. Menaquinones absorbed from the diet or the gut appear to provide only a minor portion of the human daily requirement. Measures of the extent to which plasma prothrombin or serum osteocalcin lack essential gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues formed by vitamin K action, or the urinary excretion of this amino acid, provide more sensitive measures of vitamin K status than measures of plasma phylloquinone or insensitive clotting assays.
Superior–subordinate communication: The state of the art.

Based on a review of the literature, empirical research in the area of superiorsubordinate communication is classified into nine topical categories and critically examined. Inspection of this literature suggests that researchers have focused the majority of their attention on studying (a) the effects of power and status on superior-subo rdinate communication, (b) trust as a moderator of superior-subo rdinate communication, and (c) semantic-information distance as a source of misunderstand ing in superior-subo rdinate communication. It is concluded that future research should increasingly be developmental and longitudinal in nature and should take into greater consideration the effects situational variables have on communication in the superior-subordinate dyad. Status hierarchy is inherent in the nature of purposeful organizations. As Redding (1972) observes, within organizations "there are 'superiors' and 'subordinates'—even though these terms may not be expressly used, and even though there may exist fluid arrangements whereby superior and subordinates roles may be reversible" (p. 18). How superiors and subordinates interact and communicate to achieve both personal and organizational goals has been an object of investigation by social scientists for most of the 20th century. Empirical research examining superior-subordinate communication is diverse, is strewn across a multitude of disciplines, lacks coherent organization and classification, and in general, has not received sufficient review and interpretation as a body of literature. The present article attempts to alleviate this confusion by reviewing, classifying, interpreting, and providing directions for future research in the area of organizational communication that is loosely termed superior-subordinate communication. This article focuses on empirical research solely in the domain of organizationa l communication. To avoid generalizations from communication research outside of the orga
Professional Portfolios for Health Educators and Other Allied Health Professionals

A professional portfolio is a compilation of material that documents a health educator’s competencies. A portfolio can assist students relate academic assignments to the practical skills that are necessary for the practicing health educator (Waishwell, Morrow, Micke & Keyser, 1996). The portfolio should be conceptualized as a “living document” that is ever-changing with the increasing depth of knowledge and experience of the individual. During a Society for Public Health Education/American Association for Health Education Program Approval Process (SABPAC) visit, the site team recommended that students develop a portfolio as an assignment in an introductory health education course. By instituting this assignment earlier in their academic careers, students become oriented to the process of collecting and organizing assignments and material for their portfolio, as well as documenting volunteer experiences and/or health education in the community. This portfolio can eventually be used as a job-seeking instrument that gives potential employers an overview of an applicant’s strengths and experiences.
Sports and Internet Gambling: A Friendly Wager or a Threat to the Integrity of the Game?

This paper aims to explore the tax revenue implications of legalizing sports gambling. Due to the very nature of sports gambling, the state will likely only retain, at a maximum, 5% of all bets wagered, while state gaming win may vary from year to year (AGA.) We believe that the rise in popularity of legalized sports gambling will create sufficient revenue for the states, as gamblers leave risky illegal establishments and offshore casinos. We will trace the recent history of sports gambling in the US as well as examining the clash between New Jersey and the Sports leagues over this issue. The paper will also show the connection between Internet and Sports gambling especially as it pertains to producing revenue for states. Finally we will discuss the social costs of sports gambling, which includes bankruptcy, addiction, and the tampering of sporting events. The paper will develop an appropriate framework to administer and run sports gambling operations in the new legalized states that best utilizes sports gambling operation and minimizes social costs.
Evaluating the Effect of Catalyst Nuclearity in Ni-Catalyzed Alkyne Cyclotrimerizations

An evaluation of catalyst nuclearity effects in Ni-catalyzed alkyne oligomerization reactions is presented. A dinuclear complex, featuring a Ni–Ni bond supported by a naphthyridine–diimine (NDI) ligand, promotes rapid and selective cyclotrimerization to form 1,2,4-substituted arene products. Mononickel congeners bearing related N-donor chelates (2-iminopyridines, 2,2′-bipyridines, or 1,4,-diazadienes) are significantly less active and yield complex product mixtures. Stoichiometric reactions of the dinickel catalyst with hindered silyl acetylenes enable characterization of the alkyne complex and the metallacycle that are implicated as catalytic intermediates. Based on these experiments and supporting DFT calculations, the role of the dinuclear active site in promoting regioselective alkyne coupling is discussed. Together, these results demonstrate the utility of exploring nuclearity as a parameter for catalyst optimization.
The social context of a territorial dispute differentially influences the way individuals in breeding pairs coordinate their aggressive tactics

In diverse species, individuals coordinate behavior to accomplish shared goals or tasks. Such coordination, however, often occurs selectively, and the contextual information animals use to determine when they coordinate and when they do not is unclear. We investigate this issue in the highly territorial downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) by exploring how individuals within a social breeding pair differentially modulate coordinated aggressive responses during graded simulated territorial intrusions (STIs). Analyses show that resident pairs mount a more robust aggressive response to STIs that represent a greater threat. Moreover, in this social context, pair members produce contact vocalizations in a way that predicts their partner’s aggressive behavior. We also show that, when presented with a low threat, individuals that first respond to intrusions decrease their aggressive output once their partner attends to the stimulus; the partner, in turn, increases their levels of aggressive behavior. This does not occur in high-threat STIs, where both partners maintain high levels of aggression throughout the entire encounter. Together, these results show that individuals within a pair flexibly adjust their aggressive tactics in response to different social competitive contexts, and this includes adjusting the way in which individuals coordinate certain aspects of their agonistic repertoire. We speculate that this ability reflects an adaptive mechanism that allows individuals to fine-tune territorial tactics to reduce overall costs of aggression. Although research has demonstrated that individuals often coordinate their behavior to accomplish common tasks, little is known about the factors that determine when such coordination occurs and when it does not. We address this issue for the first time in the highly territorial downy woodpecker by testing how the level of threat associated with a territorial interaction influences the coordination of defensive behavior. We find that, when facing intruders that pose a greater threat, residents adjust levels of aggressive output in response to the number of vocalizations produced by their breeding partner. By contrast, this relationship is not observed when pairs face intruders that pose a relatively lower threat. Our data therefore provide striking evidence that coordination in defensive tactics depends on the residents’ appraisal of the social context, such that fiercer competition is associated with greater behavioral coordination.
Effect of ACTH administration on certain enzyme systems in rat liver.

Summary1.0 mg ACTH was injected into rats for 8-10 days. Liver slices from these animals showed a decreased methylation of nicotinamide and an increased methylation of guanidoacetic acid. The methylation of homocysteine was unaffected. Tyrosine formation from phenylalanine was inhibited as was uric acid formation from xanthine. Urea production was normal. Endogenous ketone body production and the oxidation of octanoate was increased.
Effect of Ammonia on Pt, Ru, Rh, and Ni Cathodes During the Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The effects of ammonia on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with Pt, Rh, Ru, and Ni have been investigated using electrochemical methods. The activity of the catalysts for HER, in the presence of ammonia follows the trend Rh > Pt > Ru > Ni. Pt and Ru exhibit a decrease in the activity toward HER. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) studies show that the presence of ammonia results in weaker metal–hydrogen underpotential deposition (M–Hupd) bonds. In addition, the activity of HER on Pt and Ru is retarded in the presence of ammonia, supporting the theory that the activity for HER is higher on the metal surface with Hupd than on the bare metal. On the contrary, the activity for HER on Rh surface in the presence of ammonia is enhanced, suggesting the M–Hupd bond is a barrier to the HER. CV for Ni in the presence of ammonia shows a Ni(OH)2 reduction peak. However, the overpotentials for HER on Ni are very high such that no significant difference is observed in the activity of HER.
Biotypic status of six greenbug (Homoptera: Aphididae) isolates

Seventeen entries from 10 crop species including sorghums, small grain cereals, and grasses were evaluated as seedlings to determine or confirm the biotypic status of six isolates of greenbugs, Schizaphts graminum (Rondani). Eight plant entries were rated for damage 20 days postinfestation with 10 first-instar greenbugs, and 13 entries were studied for antibiosis effects on number of days to reproductive maturity, fecundity, and longevity. Four greenbug isolates showed strong biotypic differences. These included biotypes B, C, E, and the Ohio isolate, herewith designated biotype F. Biotype F is nearest to biotype A in terms of plant response, but it differs in its ability to kill ‘Amigo’ wheat, Triticum aestivum L., and in morphology, having no dorsal stripe. Biotype F was also able to kill ‘Reubens’ Canada bluegrass, Poa compressa L., which was highly resistant to the other greenbug isolates tested. The Maryland isolate seemed to be nearest to biotype C in terms of biological and host plant responses although similarities to biotype E also existed. Greatest differences of the Oklahoma isolate included increased longevity on various plants and a higher virulence on ‘Kentucky 31’ tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb.
Epidemiological study on the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Henan,China

Aim: To study the epidemiological and clinical features of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Henan.Methods: The epidemiologic, clinical, and diagnostic data from all the clinically diagnosed cases were collected.Results:The outbreak began from April 2, 2003 in Henan, there were 15 clinically diagnosed cases reported until May 12, 2003. 10 were imported cases, the infection source for 8 cases was from hospitals. The most common symptoms were fever (15/15), cough (10/15), and with infiltrates on chest radiography (15/15). One of imported cases caused 3 new cases in a family, 1 person was infected because of sharing the same ward with this index case.It was estimated that the incubation period ranged from 5 to 8 days in our study.Conclusion:The outbreak of SARS in Henan was caused predominantly by imported cases. The secondary and tertiary transmission only occurred in hospitals and families because of close contact. There were few secondary and tertiary cases in this outbreak, which indicates that the prevention and control measures are effective.
Poor Choices: The Sociopolitical Context of “Grand Theft Education”

In recent years, districts have paid special attention to the common practice of “district hopping,” families bending geographic school assignment rules by sending a child to a school in a district...
Yogis in the Office: Interviews with Workplace Practitioners

The Sanskrit term for work as part of spiritual practice is karma-yoga or uniting with the Divine through action. The Gita points to an even higher dimension of work: bhakti or acting from a starting point of love and devotion. How bhakti, the yoga of love, factors in business is the subject of this chapter.
Prepatellar and olecranon arthroscopic bursectomy.

An arthroscopic technique for the excision of chronic prepatellar and olecranon bursae is presented. The results of this procedure, open surgical procedures, the pathophysiology, and the conservative care of prepatellar and olecranon bursitis are discussed.
An independent assessment of anthropogenic attribution statements for recent extreme temperature and rainfall events

AbstractThe annual “State of the Climate” report, published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS), has included a supplement since 2011 composed of brief analyses of the human influence on recent major extreme weather events. There are now several dozen extreme weather events examined in these supplements, but these studies have all differed in their data sources as well as their approaches to defining the events, analyzing the events, and the consideration of the role of anthropogenic emissions. This study reexamines most of these events using a single analytical approach and a single set of climate model and observational data sources. In response to recent studies recommending the importance of using multiple methods for extreme weather event attribution, results are compared from these analyses to those reported in the BAMS supplements collectively, with the aim of characterizing the degree to which the lack of a common methodological framework may or may not influence overall ...
New trade, new politics: intra-industry trade and domestic political coalitions

ABSTRACTWhy are industries highly active in some battles over international trade policies, but in other instances, individual firms are highly active and industry groups are subdued? I argue that rising intra-industry trade in the postwar period has undermined traditional trade coalitions and created new opportunities for individual firms to become politically active. Drawing on new trade theories from economics, as well as work on firm heterogeneity and lobbying, I argue that industry associations become less active as intra-industry trade increases due to competing trade preferences among member firms. At the same time, individual firms become more politically active. My results suggest that firms lobby not only for protection, but liberalization. Using data on lobbying expenditures in the USA, my work takes recent analyses of intra-industry trade and lobbying a step further. I show how intra-industry trade redraws domestic political alignments and changes the composition of societal coalitions organiz...
UVFR: A Unified Voltage and Frequency Regulator with 500MHz/0.84V to 100KHz/0.27V operating range, 99.4% current efficiency and 27% supply guardband reduction

A fully-digital, single-loop Unified Voltage and Frequency Regulator (UVFR) is designed in 130nm CMOS to provide the correct supply to digital loads to meet a timing criteria. Simultaneously a Tunable Replica Circuit (TRC) based local oscillator is generated from the regulated supply and clocks the load. Measurements show 0.84V to 0.27V range of operation, and 27% supply guardband reduction at iso-performance through adaptation and resiliency which are intrinsic to the control loop.
The occurrence of brochantite on archaeological bronzes: a case study from Lofkënd, Albania

ABSTRACTA technical study was conducted on a group of copper alloy artifacts excavated from the burial tumulus of Lofkend (fourteenth–ninth century BCE) to identify the alloy compositions and methods of manufacture. The surface corrosion was also examined in order to understand the diagenetic processes affecting the preservation of the finds and their condition. Portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, metallographic examination, and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis were used to characterize the alloy composition and identify the corrosion products present. XRD analysis showed the presence of brochantite (Cu4SO4(OH)6) on five of the metallic artifacts. Brochantite is not commonly reported on archaeological bronzes from terrestrial sites, but is more readily found on copper alloy objects exposed to sulfur pollutants in the air or soil. The possible conditions that could have led to the formation of this corrosion on the bronzes from Lofkend are discussed in the context of the particular burial envi...
Chemopreventive potential of selected cereals on chemically induced colon cancer in a Fisher 344 rat model

B12 Dietary fiber has been shown to have implications in colon cancer. In this study we examined the effects of selected cereals which are significant sources of dietary fiber (wheat bran (WB), rice bran (RB), yellow corn meal (CM) and flaxseed meal (FM) on the incidence of (AOM) induced colon tumorigenesis (Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and End point tumor(EPT) studies) in Fisher 344 male rats. >Fisher 344 male rats were randomly assigned into 20 groups after a 1 wk acclimatization period. For ACF study, Fisher 344 male rats were fed AIN-93G control diet (C) (n=6) and treatment groups (n=6); WB, RB, FM and CM at 5 and 10% levels. In EPT study, 20 groups of rats (n=14) were initially assigned AIN-93G control diet (C) and treatment groups; WB, RB, FM and CM at 5 and 10% levels. At 20wk of age rats were switched to AIN-93M diets. All rats received two S/c injections of AOM at 7 and 8 wk of age @ 16 mg/kg body weight in saline. At 45 wk of age all rats were killed by CO2 asphyxiation. >Total number of ACF (SEM±) in the colon ranged from 26 to 160 for groups fed C, WB, RB CM and FM. Tumor incidence (%) in C, WB, RB CM and FM ranged from a low of 31% in rats fed selected cereals to a high of 100% in control group. Tumors/ tumor bearing rats (TBR) and tumor size (mm) were significantly (p Our results suggests that feeding wheat bran, rice bran, corn meal and flax meal which are significant sources of dietary fiber at 5 and 10% levels significantly (P
Characterization of Developmental Immature Fiber ( im) Mutant and Texas Marker-1 (TM-1) Cotton Fibers Using Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR FT-IR) Spectroscopy.

The immature fiber ( im) mutant is one type of cotton fiber mutant with unique characteristics of non-fluffy cotton bolls. Compared to its near-isogenic wild type Texas Marker-1 (TM-1), im fiber has a thin secondary cell wall and is less mature. In this work, we applied the previously proposed principal component analysis (PCA) and simple algorithms to analyze the attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectra of developmental im and TM-1 fibers. The results from these approaches could not effectively and consistently indicate the inherent difference between TM-1 and im fibers at the same developmental stage. The difference between TM-1 and corresponding im fibers was detected when comparing the normalized intensity variations of the 730 cm-1 bands. The 730 cm-1 band intensities in developmental im fibers are temporally lower than those in developmental TM-1 fibers although they became similar when the TM-1 and im fibers are fully mature. The observation might imply the likelihood of temporal reduction of amorphous regions in developmental im fibers rather than in developmental TM-1 fibers.
Review: Microbial analysis in dielectrophoretic microfluidic systems

Infections caused by various known and emerging pathogenic microorganisms, including antibiotic-resistant strains, are a major threat to global health and well-being. This highlights the urgent need for detection systems for microbial identification, quantification and characterization towards assessing infections, prescribing therapies and understanding the dynamic cellular modifications. Current state-of-the-art microbial detection systems exhibit a trade-off between sensitivity and assay time, which could be alleviated by selective and label-free microbial capture onto the sensor surface from dilute samples. AC electrokinetic methods, such as dielectrophoresis, enable frequency-selective capture of viable microbial cells and spores due to polarization based on their distinguishing size, shape and sub-cellular compositional characteristics, for downstream coupling to various detection modalities. Following elucidation of the polarization mechanisms that distinguish bacterial cells from each other, as well as from mammalian cells, this review compares the microfluidic platforms for dielectrophoretic manipulation of microbials and their coupling to various detection modalities, including immuno-capture, impedance measurement, Raman spectroscopy and nucleic acid amplification methods, as well as for phenotypic assessment of microbial viability and antibiotic susceptibility. Based on the urgent need within point-of-care diagnostics towards reducing assay times and enhancing capture of the target organism, as well as the emerging interest in isolating intact microbials based on their phenotype and subcellular features, we envision widespread adoption of these label-free and selective electrokinetic techniques.
Barriers to screening: the theory of reasoned action applied to mammography use in a military beneficiary population.

Background : Mammography practices of women eligible for military health care are not known. Methods : A questionnaire was mailed to a stratified sample of 500 military beneficiary women. The hypothesis was that this group would not differ from the general population in regular mammography use (31%) and that the theory of reasoned action (TRA) is significantly associated with intent to obtain a mammogram. Results: Only 12.8% of these women had regular mammography according to current recommendations. High participation is associated with breast cancer risk factors, income, education, perceived risk of breast cancer, and a doctor's recommendation. The expanded model of the TRA regression is significantly associated with intent. Conclusions : Regular use of mammography among military beneficiaries is lower than rates in the non-military population. Providers need to stress regular use and address scheduling problems and patient beliefs about mammography. The TRA is a useful model for screening behavior.
Brain Regions Essential for Word Comprehension: Drawing Inferences from Patients

Lesion-deficit association studies are important as they can reveal brain regions essential for specific functions, but sometimes appear to yield conflicting results. We aimed to show how pitfalls of lesions studies can be avoided, and converging results obtained, illustrating from studies of the role of posterior superior temporal gyrus in auditory word comprehension. We review published lesion studies on auditory comprehension and present new data from both acute and chronic stroke that address weaknesses in some previous studies. Results demonstrate how convergence of positive results from diverse lesion studies provides strong evidence for the role of a particular region in a given behavior. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Enigmatic P450 Decarboxylase OleT Is Capable of, but Evolved To Frustrate, Oxygen Rebound Chemistry

OleT is a cytochrome P450 enzyme that catalyzes the removal of carbon dioxide from variable chain length fatty acids to form 1-alkenes. In this work, we examine the binding and metabolic profile of OleT with shorter chain length (n ≤ 12) fatty acids that can form liquid transportation fuels. Transient kinetics and product analyses confirm that OleT capably activates hydrogen peroxide with shorter substrates to form the high-valent intermediate Compound I and largely performs C–C bond scission. However, the enzyme also produces fatty alcohol side products using the high-valent iron oxo chemistry commonly associated with insertion of oxygen into hydrocarbons. When presented with a short chain fatty acid that can initiate the formation of Compound I, OleT oxidizes the diagnostic probe molecules norcarane and methylcyclopropane in a manner that is reminiscent of reactions of many CYP hydroxylases with radical clock substrates. These data are consistent with a decarboxylation mechanism in which Compound I abst...
Interactome analysis of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus nucleoprotein in infected cells reveals ATPase Na+/K+ transporting subunit Alpha 1 and prohibitin as host-cell factors involved in the life cycle of mammarenaviruses

Several mammalian arenaviruses (mammarenaviruses) cause hemorrhagic fevers in humans and pose serious public health concerns in their endemic regions. Additionally, mounting evidence indicates that the worldwide-distributed, prototypic mammarenavirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), is a neglected human pathogen of clinical significance. Concerns about human-pathogenic mammarenaviruses are exacerbated by of the lack of licensed vaccines, and current anti-mammarenavirus therapy is limited to off-label use of ribavirin that is only partially effective. Detailed understanding of virus/host-cell interactions may facilitate the development of novel anti-mammarenavirus strategies by targeting components of the host-cell machinery that are required for efficient virus multiplication. Here we document the generation of a recombinant LCMV encoding a nucleoprotein (NP) containing an affinity tag (rLCMV/Strep-NP) and its use to capture the NP-interactome in infected cells. Our proteomic approach combined with genetics and pharmacological validation assays identified ATPase Na+/K+ transporting subunit alpha 1 (ATP1A1) and prohibitin (PHB) as pro-viral factors. Cell-based assays revealed that ATP1A1 and PHB are involved in different steps of the virus life cycle. Accordingly, we observed a synergistic inhibitory effect on LCMV multiplication with a combination of ATP1A1 and PHB inhibitors. We show that ATP1A1 inhibitors suppress multiplication of Lassa virus and Candid#1, a live-attenuated vaccine strain of Junin virus, suggesting that the requirement of ATP1A1 in virus multiplication is conserved among genetically distantly related mammarenaviruses. Our findings suggest that clinically approved inhibitors of ATP1A1, like digoxin, could be repurposed to treat infections by mammarenaviruses pathogenic for humans.
Hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype(s): The 'fittest' for metastasis?

Abstract Metastasis is the leading cause of mortality among cancer patients. Dissemination enabled by an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of carcinoma cells has long been considered to be the predominant mechanism for carcinoma metastasis, based on overexpression studies of many EMT-inducing transcription factors. Individual CTCs – and a binary framework of EMT – have been long considered to be sufficient and necessary condition for metastasis. However, recent studies have shown that collective migration and invasion through tumor buds and clusters of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) as possibly being the prevalent mode of metastasis, although individual CTCs may still contribute to metastasis. These strands and clusters have been proposed to often exhibit a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) phenotype where cells retain epithelial traits of cell-cell adhesion and simultaneously gain mesenchymal characteristics of migration and invasion. To highlight the crucial questions regarding metastasis, we define EMT in a non-binary and context-specific manner, suggest that it can be viewed as a trans-differentiation process, and illustrate the implications of hybrid E/M phenotype(s) and cluster-based dissemination in metastasis.
The Charge-to-Mass ICR Signature in Weak ELF Bioelectromagnetic Effects

There is good experimental evidence for a specific biological interaction with ELF magnetic fields that is functionally dependent on ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) frequencies as derived from ionic charge-to-mass ratios. This evidence is gleaned from studies on an extraordinarily wide variety of biological systems. However, no reasonable underlying theoretical construct has surfaced to explain these results at the microscopic level, and thus the nature of this q/m interaction remains empirical at best. The main difficulty with the various theoretical models that have been advanced is that sustaining ion cyclotron resonance in a biological milieu is highly improbable considering the relatively large damping suffered by ions. Further, in cases where the damping problem may be ameliorated, as for example, in the interior pore of ion channels, there is a large discrepancy between expected cyclotron resonance-mediated ion transit times and observed times, which are faster by a factor of 107. Some, notably Lednev, Blanchard, Binhi, and Zhadin, have attempted to explain the unique charge-to-mass signature using models that do not explicitly involve the classical ICR mechanism, but nevertheless still result in functional dependences on the ion cyclotron resonance frequency. Most recently, del Giudice has suggested replacing Maxwellian statistics when studying bioelectromagnetic interactions at the cellular level with quantum electro-dynamics, claiming that the experimental results support the view that highly ordered coherent domains are involved. Two additional sets of experimental results, both involving conductivity measurements in cell-free systems, have now been reported, first, the discovery by Zhadin that polar amino acids in solution are sensitive to ICR magnetic field exposures, and the second, by Mohri, that a 1 μT ICR magnetic signal applied to ultra-pure (18.2 MΩ-cm) water for as little as one minute will result in increased conductivity lasting for days. These findings may shed light on the persistent and controversial reports claiming that the physical properties of water can be altered by relatively weak magnetic field exposures.
Walking With a Robotic Exoskeleton Does Not Mimic Natural Gait: A Within-Subjects Study.

Background: Robotic exoskeleton devices enable individuals with lower extremity weakness to stand up and walk over ground with full weight-bearing and reciprocal gait. Limited information is available on how a robotic exoskeleton affects gait characteristics. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether wearing a robotic exoskeleton affects temporospatial parameters, kinematics, and muscle activity during gait. Methods: The study was completed by 15 healthy adults (mean age 26.2 [SD 8.3] years; 6 males, 9 females). Each participant performed walking under 2 conditions: with and without wearing a robotic exoskeleton (EKSO). A 10-camera motion analysis system synchronized with 6 force plates and a surface electromyography (EMG) system captured temporospatial and kinematic gait parameters and lower extremity muscle activity. For each condition, data for 5 walking trials were collected and included for analysis. Results: Differences were observed between the 2 conditions in temporospatial gait parameters of speed, stride length, and double-limb support time. When wearing EKSO, hip and ankle range of motion (ROM) were reduced and knee ROM increased during the stance phase. However, during the swing phase, knee and ankle ROM were reduced when wearing the exoskeleton bionic suit. When wearing EKSO, EMG activity decreased bilaterally in the stance phase for all muscle groups of the lower extremities and in the swing phase for the distal muscle groups (tibialis anterior and soleus) as well as the left medial hamstrings. Conclusions: Wearing EKSO altered temporospatial gait parameters, lower extremity kinematics, and muscle activity during gait in healthy adults. EKSO appears to promote a type of gait that is disparate from normal gait in first-time users. More research is needed to determine the impact on gait training with EKSO in people with gait impairments.
Separate Room Testing Accommodations for Students With and Without ADHD

Students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are frequently provided a separate room in which to take exams, to reduce external distractions. However, little research has explored ...
MIMO-WDM Visible Light Communications Based on Commercial RGBA LEDs

This paper considers a multi-input multi-output visible light communication (MIMO-WDM VLC) system using commercial four-color Red-Green-Blue-Amber (RGBA) LEDs using discrete multi-tone (DMT) modulation. The proposed 2×2 MIMO-VLC system offers an aggregate data transmission of over 120 Mb/s using over transmission distance of over 80 cm with bit-error rates below 2×10−3.
Fast network discovery on sequence data via time-aware hashing

Discovering and analyzing networks from non-network data is a task with applications in fields as diverse as neuroscience, genomics, climate science, economics, and more. In domains where networks are discovered on multiple time series, the most common approach is to compute measures of association or similarity between all pairs of time series. The nodes in the resultant network correspond to time series, which are linked by edges weighted according to the association scores of their endpoints. Finally, the fully connected network is thresholded such that only the edges with stronger weights remain and the desired sparsity level is achieved. While this approach is feasible for small datasets, its quadratic (or higher) time complexity does not scale as the individual time series length and the number of compared series increase. Thus, to circumvent the inefficient and wasteful intermediary step of building a fully connected graph before network sparsification, we propose a fast network discovery approach based on probabilistic hashing. Our methods emphasize consecutiveness, or the intuition that time series following similar fluctuations in longer time-consecutive intervals are more similar overall. Evaluation on real data shows that our method can build graphs nearly 15 times faster than baselines (when the baselines do not run out of memory), while achieving accuracy comparable to, or better than, baselines in task-based evaluation. Furthermore, our proposals are general, modular, and may be applied to a variety of sequence similarity search tasks.
Effectiveness comparisons of G-protein biased and unbiased mu opioid receptor ligands in warm water tail-withdrawal and drug discrimination in male and female rats.

Abstract One emerging strategy to address the opioid crisis is the development of mu opioid receptor (MOR) ligands that preferentially signal the G-protein vs. β-arrestin pathway. The present study compared the relative potency and effectiveness of two G-protein biased (GPB)-MOR ligands TRV130 and SR-14968 to five unbiased MOR ligands (NAQ, nalbuphine, buprenorphine, morphine, and methadone) on therapeutic-related (e.g. antinociception) and abuse-related (e.g. discriminative stimulus effects) endpoints. Male and female rats were tested in a warm water tail-withdrawal procedure (50 °C) or trained to discriminate fentanyl (0.04 mg/kg, SC) from saline in a two-lever food-reinforced discrimination procedure. TRV130 and SR-14968 were approximately two-fold more potent to produce fentanyl stimulus effects vs. antinociception. Morphine, fentanyl, and methadone were significantly more potent in the fentanyl discrimination vs. tail withdrawal procedure. In addition, maximum antinociceptive and discriminative stimulus effects of fixed-proportion fentanyl/naltrexone mixtures (1:0.018, 1:0.054, 1:0.18, 1:0.3, and 1:0.54) were used to quantify 1) the relative in vivo efficacy of the two GPB-MOR agonists and five unbiased MOR ligands, and 2) potential species differences in MOR ligand effects between rats and monkeys. The efficacy-effect function generated from the fentanyl/naltrexone mixtures stratified the five unbiased ligands consistent with agonist-stimulated GTPγS binding (NAQ = nalbuphine This article is part of the Special Issue entitled ‘New Vistas in Opioid Pharmacology’.