cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of natural plant products in modulating the immune system: An adaptable approach for combating disease in grazing animals☆

Plants provide herbivores with an array of chemicals with the potential to improve health and well-being. For instance, phytochemicals, known as secondary compounds, which protect plants from consumers and pests can adversely affect cellular and metabolic processes in herbivores, but at low doses and in appropriate mixtures, they can have beneficial effects on animal nutrition and health, though the latter has not been explored in great breadth or depth. In this review, we summarize the potential impact of natural plant products on immunomodulation and other therapeutic effects in herbivores. Development of preventative strategies to help animals resist disease would be a more economical, ecological and socially effective long-term healthcare strategy than treating diseases. In this realm, immunomodulation promoted by forages emerges as an interesting alternative and complement to chemotherapy. The challenge for feeding systems will be to incorporate mixes of plants with bioactive properties in ways that enhance health without compromising animal production and well-being. A solution to this challenge may involve developing management programs that acknowledge the ability of animals to learn about the beneficial effects of diverse foods. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Copper and zinc in silicate and oxide minerals in igneous rocks from the Bingham - Park City Belt, Utah: Synchrotron X-ray-fluorescence data

Synchrotron X-ray-fluorescence (SXRF) analyses for Cu, Zn and Fe were carried out on magmatic minerals from intrusive and volcanic rocks in the Bingham – Park City Belt, Utah. The main goals of the study were to determine average Cu and Zn contents and zoning patterns in magmatic minerals in order to shed light on the chemical behavior of Cu and Zn during crystallization of the magmas. The combination of low limits of detection and small analytical footprint makes SXRF the preferred method for tests of this type. Results of the study show that the Zn is homogeneously distributed through most ferromagnesian minerals, commonly following Fe, for which it probably substitutes. The distribution of Cu is more complex, and includes Cu-rich patches of as yet unknown mineralogy that are widespread in all minerals. Median Cu and Zn contents for magmatic minerals, estimated excluding the Cu-rich patches, are lower than and higher than, respectively, those of volcanic rocks in the area. Copper thus must have behaved incompatibly, whereas Zn behaved compatibly during magmatic crystallization. Decreasing Cu concentrations from core to rim were observed in biotite from the volcanic rocks, but Cu and Zn zoning is absent in ferromagnesian minerals in the intrusive rocks. Altered rims on biotite in the intrusive rocks are enriched in Cu and locally in Zn thought to reflect postcrystallization migration of a late magmatic vapor phase.
Surface modeling using multi-view range and color images

This paper presents a framework of surface modeling from multi-view range and color images. The input to the algorithms are pairs of triangle meshes and color images, and each pair is obtained by a single-view scanning. In the proposed framework, the triangle meshes from raw data are first processed by the novel surface denoising algorithm based on area decreasing flow, which avoids the difficulty in curvature estimation of mean curvature flow. The proposed adaptive triangle mesh smoothing algorithm is based on crease edge strength of each vertex and uses tensor voting of the normal vector field inside a geodesic window. Surfaces from multiple views are then integrated into a single 3D model. Two integration approaches are discussed, which are based on mesh zippering and implicit surface fusion, respectively. Color images are incorporated to generate textured models. The reconstructed surfaces are finally post-processed by volumetric smoothing and filling the holes. Experimentation using two different range scanners shows that the proposed surface modeling framework is robust and flexible in processing data from different types of range scanners.
Examining Intrinsic Motivations in Campus Intramural Sports

Regular physical activity has been shown to decrease the risk of many chronic health problems (Haskell, Lee, Pate et al., 2007). Recent research has shown a steep decline in physical activity as children develop through adolescence and into young adulthood (Sallis, 1993; Stone, McKenzie, Welk, Booth, 1998). Many universities across the country have updated their campus recreation programs and facilities to promote physical activity and healthy living. Overall health and wellness is one of the many benefits offered from campus recreation services. To maximize physical activity outcomes, an assessment of motivations to participate in campus recreation services should be considered. The purpose of this study was to investigate motivational factors that are associated with students’ participation in intramural sports and compare these motivations across different demographic groups. The theoretical basis for this study was the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) developed by Deci and Ryan (1985). Motivational fac...
Reflectance microscopy techniques for 3D imaging of the alveolar structure

Lung disease involving the alveoli and distal bronchioles are poorly understood and most commonly studied indirectly via lung function tests. Available imaging tools for the non-destructive assessment of the alveolar structure include X-ray computed tomography, intra-vital fluorescence microscopy and Optical Coherence Tomography, which are either limited by long acquisition time, inadequate resolution and contrast, or shallow imaging depth. In this study, we investigated the potential of two high-resolution reflectance microscopy imaging techniques, Spectrally Encoded Confocal Microscopy (SECM; 1µm (x) x 1µm (y) x 5µm (z) resolution) and Full Field Optical Coherence Microscopy (FFOCM; 1µm (x) x 1µm (y) x 1µm (z) resolution), for imaging alveolar microstructural detail. Two mouse lung samples were imaged with both SECM and FFOCM. The specimens were inflation-fixed using a modified Heitzman fixation technique at 20 cm H2O pressure. They were cut in 500mm thick slices and water immersed for imaging. Images were obtained and analyzed to determine whether or not the resolution and contrast of these techniques are sufficient to visualize the fine structures of the alveolar wall. Alveolar microstructure could be resolved in three dimensions in images obtained by both technologies. Alveolar septal walls from multiple layers could be clearly identified while sub-cellular structures such as nuclei were also visible in the SECM technique. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that two imaging technologies provide important sub-cellular detail that is required to study alveolar microstructure. Future research to develop these imaging modalities further so that they may be used in vivo is merited.
Symbolic pruning in a structural approach to engineering drawing analysis

Interpretation of paper drawings has received a good deal of attention over the last decade. Progress has also been made in related areas such as direct interpretation of human drawings (HCI), search and indexing of graphics databases, and knowledge representation in the domain of graphics and drawing understanding. One of the most interesting applications in this domain is the analysis of semantics in engineering drawings. We propose a structural modeling approach combined with a nondeterministic agent system to produce interpretations of scanned images of CAD drawings. We allow a broad set of thresholds during the image analysis and show how this large search space can be efficiently pruned by taking advantage of constraints from the model or specific application.
Low-power scan design using first-level supply gating

Reduction in test power is important to improve battery lifetime in portable electronic devices employing periodic self-test, to increase reliability of testing, and to reduce test cost. In scan-based testing, a significant fraction of total test power is dissipated in the combinational block. In this paper, we present a novel circuit technique to virtually eliminate test power dissipation in combinational logic by masking signal transitions at the logic inputs during scan shifting. We implement the masking effect by inserting an extra supply gating transistor in the supply to ground path for the first-level gates at the outputs of the scan flip-flops. The supply gating transistor is turned off in the scan-in mode, essentially gating the supply. Adding an extra transistor in only one logic level renders significant advantages with respect to area, delay, and power overhead compared to existing methods, which use gating logic at the output of scan flip-flops. Moreover, the proposed gating technique allows a reduction in leakage power by input vector control during scan shifting. Simulation results on ISCAS89 benchmarks show an average improvement of 62% in area overhead, 101% in power overhead (in normal mode), and 94% in delay overhead, compared to the lowest cost existing method.
Stimulus-response theory of finite automata

Ever since the appearance of Chomsky’s famous review (1959) of Skinner’s Verbal Behavior (1957), linguists have conducted an effective and active campaign against the empirical or conceptual adequacy of any learning theory whose basic concepts are those of stimulus and response, and whose basic processes are stimulus conditioning and stimulus sampling.
An efficient algorithm for the run-time parallelization of DOACROSS loops

While automatic parallelization of loops usually relies on compile-time analysis of data dependences, for some loops the data dependences cannot be determined at compile time. An example is loops accessing arrays with subscripted subscripts. To parallelize these loops, it is necessary to perform run-time analysis. In this paper, we present a new algorithm to parallelize these loops at run time. Our scheme handles any type of data dependence in the loop without requiring any special architectural support in the multiprocessor. Furthermore, compared to an older scheme with the same generality, our scheme significantly reduces the amount of processor communication required and increases the overlap among dependent iterations. We evaluate our algorithm with parameterized loops running on the 32-processor Cedar shared-memory multiprocessor. The results show speedups over the serial code of up to 14 with the full overhead of run-time analysis and of up to 27 if part of the analysis is reused across loop invocations. Moreover, the algorithm outperforms the older scheme in nearly all cases, reaching speedups of up to times when the loop has many dependences.
A 3.5 GS/s 5-b Flash ADC in 90 nm CMOS

A 5-bit flash ADC incorporates 20 ?m by 20 ?m inductors to improve both comparator pre-amplification bandwidth and regeneration speed. A switched-cascode scheme reduces comparator kickback. Offset cancellation is achieved by modifying the comparator reference voltages without degrading high-speed performance. The ADC achieves a measured SNDR of 27.5 dB for a 5 MHz input at 4 GS/s, and 23.6 dB for a 1 GHz input at 3.5 GS/s. The power consumption (including clock buffer and ladder) is 227 mW at 3.5 GS/s. The active area is 0.658 mm2.
Findings from a participatory evaluation of a smart home application for older adults

The aim of this paper is to present a participatory evaluation of an actual "smart home" project implemented in an independent retirement facility. Using the participatory evaluation process, residents guided the research team through development and implementation of the initial phase of a smart home project designed to assist residents to remain functionally independent and age in place. We recruited nine residents who provided permission to install the technology in their apartments. We conducted a total of 75 interviews and three observational sessions. Residents expressed overall positive perceptions of the sensor technologies and did not feel that these interfered with their daily activities. The process of adoption and acceptance of the sensors included three phases, familiarization, adjustment and curiosity, and full integration. Residents did not express privacy concerns. They provided detailed feedback and suggestions that were integrated into the redesign of the system. They also reported a sense of control resulting from their active involvement in the evaluation process. Observational sessions confirmed that the sensors were not noticeable and residents did not change their routines. The participatory evaluation approach not only empowers end-users but it also allows for the implementation of smart home systems that address residents' needs.
Housing Crisis and Vertical Equity of the Property Tax in a Market Value based Assessment System

Market value–based assessment systems introduce objectivity and transparency into the assessment process by partially removing assessors’ bias while benchmarking assessed values against the recentl...
Modeling of the self-sustained, discharge-excited xenon-chloride laser

A kinetic model for the self-sustained, discharge-excited XeCl laser with Ne-Xe-HCI gas mixtures is described. The improvements include an improved treatment of the HCl vibrational kinetics and a detailed treatment of the XeCl excited-state manifold, and as a result the predictions of the model are in good agreement with several experiments covering a wide range of excitation conditions. Scaling investigations suggest that large improvements in the efficiency of self-sustained, discharge-excited XeCl lasers are not to be expected; however, the model predicts that efficient operation over pulse lengths of several microseconds may be possible if the present difficulties with discharge stability can be overcome. >
Cobaltocene adsorption and dissociation on Cu(1 1 1)

Photoemission results indicate that the initial adsorption of cobaltocene on Cu(1 1 1) at 150 K leads to molecular fragmentation, but with subsequent cobaltocene exposures, molecular absorption occurs. The molecularly adsorbed species is either adsorbed with only a fraction of molecules adopting a preferential orientation along the surface normal or adsorbed with the molecular axis away from the surface normal. This adsorption behavior is compared to nickelocene and ferrocene adsorption.
Three-dimensional vector potential analysis for machine field problems

Modern electrical plant and machinery have to be designed to operate at high power densities at minimum cost and optimal efficiency with a high degree of reliability during operation. These stringent requirements necessitate accurate performance prediction at the design stage. As a first and important step in this process, the magnetic field distribution must be evaluated taking full account of the geometrical complexity of the field region, magnetic saturation of the iron parts, and circulating currents in conducting media. The advent of digital computers has spurred the development of sophisticated numerical techniques to accomplish this task with a high degree of precision. In this paper, three-dimensional vector potential solution methods for linear and nonlinear diffusion and magnetostatic field problems are presented. The methods are illustrated by numerical examples where feasible. This research has been partially funded by the Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, California under EPRI contract RP 1288-1.
Identification and phenotypic characterization of Sphingomonas wittichii strain RW1 by peptide mass fingerprinting using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.

Mass spectrometry is a potentially attractive means of monitoring the survival and efficacy of bioaugmentation agents, such as the dioxin-mineralizing bacterium Sphingomonas wittichii strain RW1. The biotransformation activity of RW1 phenotypes is determined primarily by the presence and concentration of the dioxin dioxygenase, an enzyme initiating the degradation of both dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran (DF). We explored the possibility of identifying and characterizing putative cultures of RW1 by peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) targeting this characteristic phenotypic biomarker. The proteome from cells of RW1—grown on various media in the presence and absence of DF—was partially purified, tryptically digested, and analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Mascot online database queries allowed statistically significant identification of RW1 in disrupted, digested cells (P < 0.01 to 0.05) and in digested whole-cell extracts (P < 0.00001 to 0.05) containing hundreds of proteins, as determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Up to 14 peptide ions of the alpha subunit of the dioxin dioxygenase (43% protein coverage) were detected in individual samples. A minimum of 107 DF-grown cells was required to identify dioxin degradation-enabled phenotypes. The technique hinges on the detection of multiple characteristic peptides of a biomarker that can reveal at once the identity and phenotypic properties of the microbial host expressing the protein. The results demonstrate the power of PMF of minimally processed microbial cultures as a sensitive and specific technique for the positive identification and phenotypic characterization of certain microorganisms used in biotechnology and bioremediation.
Adaptive grouping and subdivision for simulating hair dynamics

We present a novel approach for adaptively grouping and subdividing hair using discrete level-of-detail (LOD) representations. The set of discrete LODs include hair strands, clusters and strips. Their dynamic behavior is controlled by a base skeleton. The base skeletons are subdivided and grouped to form clustering hierarchies using a quad-tree data structure during the precomputation. At run time, our algorithm traverses the hierarchy to create continuous LODs on the fly and chooses both the appropriate discrete and continuous hair LOD representations based on the motion, the visibility, and the viewing distance of the hair from the viewer. Our collision detection for hair represented by the proposed LODs relies on a family of "swept sphere volumes" for fast and accurate intersection computations. We also use an implicit integration method to achieve simulation stability while allowing us to take large time steps. Together, these approaches for hair simulation and collision detection offer the flexibility to balance between the overall performance and visual quality of the animated hair. Furthermore, our approach is capable of modeling various styles, lengths, and motion of hair.
Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) Is a Novel Regulator of Central Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor and Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase B (TrkB) Signaling

Neuronal protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) deficiency in mice results in enhanced leptin signaling and protection from diet-induced obesity; however, whether additional signaling pathways in the brain contribute to the metabolic effects of PTP1B deficiency remains unclear. Here, we show that the tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) receptor is a direct PTP1B substrate and implicate PTP1B in the regulation of the central brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling. PTP1B interacts with activated TrkB receptor in mouse brain and human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. PTP1B overexpression reduces TrkB phosphorylation and activation of downstream signaling pathways, whereas PTP1B inhibition augments TrkB signaling. Notably, brains of Ptpn1(-/-) mice exhibit enhanced TrkB phosphorylation, and Ptpn1(-/-) mice are hypersensitive to central BDNF-induced increase in core temperature. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that PTP1B is a novel physiological regulator of TrkB and that enhanced BDNF/TrkB signaling may contribute to the beneficial metabolic effects of PTP1B deficiency.
PRAGMATISM AND RADICAL BEHAVIORISM: COMMENTS ON MALONE (2001)

The purpose of this commentary is to discuss briefly a few points arising from Malone's (2001) interesting paper, "Ontology Recapitulates Philology: Willard Quine, Pragmatism, and Radical Behaviorism." Malone's paper serves both as a tribute to Quine as well as a reexamination of the possible pathways of influence between Quine and B. F. Skinner. These remarks are directed primarily to questions involving pragmatism in Skinner's radical behaviorism. Some of the points made here have been discussed in more detail elsewhere (Leigland, 1999).
Introduction to Rousseeuw (1984) Least Median of Squares Regression

Following seminal papers by Box (1953) and Tukey (1960), which demonstrated the need for robust statistical procedures, the theory of robust statistics blossomed in the 1960s and 1970s. An early milestone was Huber’s (1964) paper which introduced univariate M-estimators and the minimax asymptotic variance criterion. Hampel (1974) proposed the influence function of an estimator as a way to describe the effect of a single outlier. In order to measure the effect of several outliers, he introduced the breakdown value (Hampel, 1971) in a general and asymptotic setting. Donoho and Huber (1983) advocated a finite-sample version of the breakdown value, in line with Hodges’s (1967) study in the univariate framework. Heuristically, the breakdown point is the largest percentage of ill-fitting data that a method can cope with. For a formal definition, see equation (2.1) of the reprinted Rousseeuw (1984).
Banking carbon: a review of organic carbon storage and physical factors influencing retention in floodplains and riparian ecosystems

Rivers are dynamic components of the terrestrial carbon cycle and provide important functions in ecosystem processes. Although rivers act as conveyers of carbon to the oceans, rivers also retain carbon within riparian ecosystems along floodplains, with potential for long-term (> 102 years) storage. Research in ecosystem processing emphasizes the importance of organic carbon (OC) in river systems, and estimates of OC fluxes in terrestrial freshwater systems indicate that a significant portion of terrestrial carbon is stored within river networks. Studies have examined soil OC on floodplains, but research that examines the potential mechanistic controls on OC storage in riparian ecosystems and floodplains is more limited. We emphasize three primary OC reservoirs within fluvial systems: (1) standing riparian biomass; (2) dead biomass as large wood (LW) in the stream and on the floodplain; (3) OC on and beneath the floodplain surface, including litter, humus, and soil organic carbon (SOC). This review focuses on studies that have framed research questions and results in the context of OC retention, accumulation and storage within the three primary pools along riparian ecosystems. In this paper, we (i) discuss the various reservoirs for OC storage in riparian ecosystems, (ii) discuss physical conditions that facilitate carbon retention and storage in riparian ecosystems, (iii) provide a synthesis of published OC storage in riparian ecosystems, (iv) present a conceptual model of the conditions that favor OC storage in riparian ecosystems, (v) briefly discuss human impacts on OC storage in riparian ecosystems, and (vi) highlight current knowledge gaps. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reenchanting International Law

Contrary to the current conception of international law as having an autonomous, rational justification, this article argues that international law requires a religious or comprehensive justification because international law is indeterminate. For example, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights protects the Aright to self-determination@ and the Ainherent right to life." The International Convention, however, does not indicate whether the Ainherent right to life@ includes or prohibits a right to die and whether the inherent right to life trumps the right to self-determination by signatories protecting the right to die (e.g., the Netherlands). Interpreting and applying international law in these hard cases where the law is indeterminate requires relying on extra-legal norms which must be justified. Religious or comprehensive convictions are the most comprehensive normative convictions that humans hold, and all humans who act with reflective self-understanding (even if they do not believe in God) are religious. Consequently, a full justification of the extra-legal norms relied on in hard cases and the choice among them requires relying on religious convictions. More specifically, I assume that interpreting and applying international law involves two stages - deliberation and explanation. Given this distinction, my heretical thesis is two-fold: 1) legal interpreters should fully justify their interpretations of international law by relying on their religious or comprehensive convictions in their deliberation about hard cases; but 2) judges and other public officials should only partially justify their decisions in their written opinions by explaining their decisions in terms of legal norms and noncomprehensive extra-legal norms. The first thesis focuses on all interpreters of international law, official or not, and argues that they should fully justify their interpretations based on their comprehensive convictions to provide international law with a Auniversal@ justification. By contrast, the second thesis focuses on judges and other public officials. Based on a proper understanding of religious pluralism, it maintains that these public officials should not write their comprehensive convictions in their written opinions or in the text of international treaties or covenants. Rather, international law should include only noncomprehensive legal and extra-legal norms. This leaves the official text of international law indeterminate so that a plurality of comprehensive or religious convictions can implicitly justify or legitimate international law. Religious or comprehensive convictions are thus the silent prologue to any full justification of international law. When international law is indeterminate, the process of full justification reintroduces religious convictions into the justification of international law and thereby reenchants international law.
Outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty as primary versus revision procedure for proximal humerus fractures

Background Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has been shown to be an effective treatment for proximal humerus fracture (PHF). This study evaluates outcomes of all patients with PHF treated with RTSA as a primary procedure for acute PHF, a delayed primary procedure for symptomatic PHF malunion or nonunion, a revision procedure for failed PHF hemiarthroplasty (HA), or a revision procedure for failed open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Methods Patients who underwent RTSA for PHF were evaluated for active range of motion and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Simple Shoulder Test-12, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), University of California–Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder rating scale, Constant, and 12-Item Short Form Health Survey scores. Scaption and external rotation (ER) strength were also assessed. Results RTSA was performed in 49 patients with PHF; 13 patients underwent RTSA for acute PHF, 13 for malunion or nonunion, 12 for failed PHF HA, and 11 for failed PHF ORIF. ER range of motion, SPADI, ASES, UCLA, and Constant scores achieved significance. The acute fracture group significantly outperformed the failed HA group in SPADI, ASES, and UCLA scores. The malunion/nonunion group significantly outperformed the failed HA group in ASES and UCLA scores. The acute fracture and malunion/nonunion groups each had significantly greater ER than the failed HA group. Conclusion RTSA is an effective treatment option for PHF as both a primary and a revision procedure. Primary RTSA outperformed RTSA done as a revision procedure. RTSA for acute PHF is comparable to RTSA for malunions and nonunions. Our outcomes of revision RTSA for failed HA and ORIF are more promising than previously published.
Organic anion infusions exacerbate experimental acute renal failure.

This investigation proposed to determine whether high organic anion (OA) loads per nephron increase renal susceptibility to acute ischemic and nephrotoxic injury. Anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were infused with a control infusate, Na2SO4, or an OA (hippurate, p-aminohippurate, cephalothin; 0.125-1.0 mg/min). After a 40-min control period, acute renal injury was induced by either bilateral renal pedicle cross-clamping (X25 min) or by HgCl2 administration (12 mg/kg i.v.). Glomerular filtration rate (clearance of [125I]iothalamate) was determined every 20 min before and after renal injury. Non-OA-infused rats lost 51 +/- 4% (ischemia) and 40 +/- 4% (HgCl2) of control GFR. OA infusion exacerbated this loss of renal function (ischemia, 89 +/- 2%; HgCl2, 84 +/- 4%). Renal histology demonstrated that OA-treated acute renal failure (ARF) rats had more vacuolar degeneration of proximal tubular cells (HgCl2, ischemia) and greater tubular dilatation (ischemia) than did non-OA-treated ARF rats. These functional and histologic responses to OA infusion were not OA dose dependent. Discontinuation of OA infusion did not cause a subsequent rise in GFR. Na2SO4 infusion had no detrimental effects on ischemic ARF. Control rats subjected to prolonged OA infusion (1 mg/min X 5 h) maintained stable GFR and had normal renal histology. ARF rats infused with low-dose cephalothin had terminal serum cephalothin concentrations within a range commonly seen in humans. Conclusion: organic anion infusions can exacerbate early functional and histologic parameters of experimental ARF.
Evolution of the α-Subunit of Na/K-ATPase from Paramecium to Homo sapiens : Invariance of Transmembrane Helix Topology

Na/K-ATPase is a key plasma membrane enzyme involved in cell signaling, volume regulation, and maintenance of electrochemical gradients. The α-subunit, central to these functions, belongs to a large family of P-type ATPases. Differences in transmembrane (TM) helix topology, sequence homology, helix–helix contacts, cell signaling, and protein domains of Na/K-ATPase α-subunit were compared in fungi (Beauveria), unicellular organisms (Paramecia), primitive multicellular organisms (Hydra), and vertebrates (Xenopus, Homo sapiens), and correlated with evolution of physiological functions in the α-subunit. All α-subunits are of similar length, with groupings of four and six helices in the N- and C-terminal regions, respectively. Minimal homology was seen for protein domain patterns in Paramecium and Hydra, with high correlation between Hydra and vertebrates. Paramecium α-subunits display extensive disorder, with minimal helix contacts. Increases in helix contacts in Hydra approached vertebrates. Protein motifs known to be associated with membrane lipid rafts and cell signaling reveal significant positional shifts between Paramecium and Hydra vulgaris, indicating that regional membrane fluidity changes occur during evolution. Putative steroid binding sites overlapping TM-3 occurred in all species. Sites associated with G-protein-receptor stimulation occur both in vertebrates and amphibia but not in Hydra or Paramecia. The C-terminus moiety “KETYY,” necessary for the Na+ activation of pump phosphorylation, is not present in unicellular species indicating the absence of classical Na+/K+-pumps. The basic protein topology evolved earliest, followed by increases in protein domains and ordered helical arrays, correlated with appearance of α-subunit regions known to involve cell signaling, membrane recycling, and ion channel formation.
Energiedaten-Überwachung in der Produktion

Vorgestellt wird eine integrierte Losung zur dezentralen Erfassung von Energiedaten in der Industrieautomation. Alle ermittelten Daten werden direkt in ein Datenbank-Management-System (DBMS) ubertragen. Die Steuerungen (SPS) kommunizieren mit der SQL-Datenbank, sodass auf eine zusatzliche Middleware verzichtet werden kann. Die Verwendung bewahrter IT-Standard-Schnittstellen vereinfacht den Datenaustausch zwischen dem DBMS und den SPS und ermoglicht den einfachen Zugriff mit Software-Werkzeugen auf die Messwerte. Durch die zentrale Datenhaltung konnen durch Analysen der Daten - wie Korrelationsanalysen - Optimierungspotenziale zur energetischen Fuhrung von Prozessen identifiziert werden.
Objective and Subjective Intrapatient Comparison of Iohexol Versus Diatrizoate for Bowel Preparation Quality at CT Colonography.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to objectively and subjectively compare nonionic iohexol and ionic diatrizoate iodinated oral contrast agents as part of a cathartic bowel regimen within the same CT colonography (CTC) cohort, with otherwise identical preparations. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In this retrospective study, 46 adults with no symptoms (mean age, 59.4 years; 26 men and 20 women) returning for follow-up CTC over a 9-month interval underwent the same bowel preparation with the exception of 75 mL of iohexol 350 in place of 60 mL of diatrizoate. All other preparation components (bisacodyl, magnesium citrate, and 2% barium) remained constant. Objective volumetric analysis of residual colonic fluid volume and fluid attenuation was performed. Additionally, two radiologists experienced with CTC who were blinded to the specific bowel preparation scored each of six colonic segments for adherent residual solid stool using a previously validated 4-point scale (0 for no stool; 1–3 for increasing residual ...
Leader Survival, Military Mobilization, and Interstate Conflict in Democracies and Dictatorships.

I argue variation across regime type in the political cost of increasing military spending during an interstate war underlies differences in the crisis bargaining and conflict behavior of democracies and dictatorships. I develop a model in which a war's outcome is influenced by leaders' mobilization efforts and democratic leaders are more likely to be removed from power for increasing military spending than dictators. The model provides an explanation for known empirical regularities and implies previously unidentified relationships between regime type and interstate conflict. Consistent with one of the model's novel predictions, empirical analyses indicate democratic challengers are less likely to make demands that lead to fighting than non-democratic challengers when the distribution of capabilities is roughly equal, but not when one state is substantially stronger than the other state. My findings have implications for our understanding of when and why crisis bargaining and interstate conflict processes differ across regime type.
Transformation of Independent Oscillatory Inputs into Temporally Precise Rate Codes

Complex behaviors demand temporal coordination among functionally distinct brain regions. The basal forebrain's afferent and efferent structure suggests a capacity for mediating such coordination. During performance of a selective attention task, synaptic activity in this region was dominated by four amplitude-oscillations temporally organized by the phase of the slowest, a theta rhythm. Further, oscillatory amplitudes were precisely organized by task epoch and a robust input/output transform, from synchronous synaptic activity to spiking rates of basal forebrain neurons, was identified. For many neurons, spiking was temporally organized as phase precessing sequences against theta band field potential oscillations. Remarkably, theta phase precession advanced in parallel to task progression, rather than absolute spatial location or time. Together, the findings reveal a process by which associative brain regions can integrate independent oscillatory inputs and transform them into sequence-specific, rate-coded outputs that are adaptive to the pace with which organisms interact with their environment.
Patterns on serpentine shapes elicit visual attention in marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Given the prevalence of threatening snakes in the evolutionary history, and modern-day environments of human and nonhuman primates, sensory, and perceptual abilities that allow for quick detection of, and appropriate response to snakes are likely to have evolved. Many studies have demonstrated that primates recognize snakes faster than other stimuli, and it is suggested that the unique serpentine shape is responsible for its quick detection. However, there are many nonthreatening serpentine shapes in the environment (e.g., vines) that are not threatening; therefore, other cues must be used to distinguish threatening from benign serpentine objects. In two experiments, we systematically evaluated how common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) visually attend to specific snake-like features. In the first experiment, we examined if skin pattern is a cue that elicits increased visual inspection of serpentine shapes by measuring the amount of time the marmosets looked into a blind before, during, and after presentation of clay models with and without patterns. The marmosets spent the most time looking at the objects, both serpentine and triangle, that were etched with scales, suggesting that something may be uniquely salient about scales in evoking attention. In contrast, they showed relatively little interest in the unpatterned serpentine and control (a triangle) stimuli. In experiment 2, we replicated and extended the results of experiment 1 by adding additional stimulus conditions. We found that patterns on a serpentine shape generated more inspection than those same patterns on a triangle shape. We were unable to confirm that a scaled pattern is unique in its ability to elicit visual interest; the scaled models elicited similar looking times as line and star patterns. Our data provide a foundation for future research to examine how snakes are detected and identified by primates. Am. J. Primatol. 78:928-936, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tuberose sclerosis with malignant astrocytoma.

Abstract A case is described of a recurrent malignant gemistocytic astrocytoma in which a diagnosis of tuberose sclerosis was made at post-mortem examination, when "rhabdomyomata" were found in the cardiac muscle and tubers in the cerebral hemispheres. Malignant degeneration of a cerebral lesion has not been described in association with tuberose sclerosis.
The Masochistic Quest of Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Deleuze and Guattari to Transversal Poetics with(out) Baudrillard

Jean-Jacques Rousseau sweated, urinated, defecated, and ejaculated. He produced and reproduced. According to the “schizoanalytic” theory of Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, he was a desiring-machine, an autonomic process of production and more production that works, breaks down, and immediately starts up again. But we are inclined to postpone discussion of Rousseau’s production until after inspecting the factories. For Deleuze and Guattari, desire acts independently of, and from, social and economic demands: it is both subject and object of desire; it is processes of desiring-production, and not acquisition, creativity, or lack. One cannot define desire against something outside of its self-reactive system, for such a formulation would irrevocably subject desire to an internal-external organizational dualism. Although desiring-production functions in continual interaction with and contrary to forces of attraction and repulsion, it is constituted neither by an impulsive naturalism nor by a compulsive constructionism. Desiring-production is not directed toward a specific purpose predicated upon a natural organization of the cosmos; rather, it strives for intensive singular states. The ongoing production of desire, itself the constituting expression of desire, is machinically enabled through couplings, the bringing apart and together of more forces in the formation of assemblages, whether experienced positively and/or negatively.
Comparison of Four Views to Single-view Ultrasound Protocols to Identify Clinically Significant Pneumothorax.

Objective Ultrasound (US) has been shown to be effective at identifying a pneumothorax (PTX); however, the additional value of adding multiple views has not been studied. Single- and four-view protocols have both been described in the literature. The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of single-view versus four-view lung US to detect clinically significant PTX in trauma patients. Methods This was a randomized, prospective trial on trauma patients. Adult patients with acute traumatic injury undergoing computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest were eligible for enrollment. Patients were randomized to a single view or four views of each hemithorax prior to any imaging. USs were performed and interpreted by credentialed physicians using a 7.5-Mhz linear array transducer on a portable US machine with digital clips recorded for later review. Attending radiologist interpretation of the chest CT was reviewed for presence or absence of PTX with descriptions of small foci of air or minimal PTX categorized as clinically insignificant. Results A total of 260 patients were enrolled over a 2-year period. A total of 139 patients received a single view of each chest wall and 121 patients received four views. There were a total of 49 patients that had a PTX (19%), and 29 of these were clinically significant (11%). In diagnosis of any PTX, both single-view and four-view techniques showed poor sensitivity (54.2 and 68%) but high specificity (99 and 98%). For clinically significant PTX, single-view US demonstrated a sensitivity of 93% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 64.1% to 99.6%) and a specificity of 99.2% (95% CI = 95.5% to 99.9%), with sensitivity of 93.3% (95% CI = 66% to 99.7%) and specificity of 98% (95% CI = 92.1% to 99.7%) for four views. Conclusions Single-view and four-view chest wall USs demonstrate comparable sensitivity and specificity for PTX. The additional time to obtain four views should be weighed against the absence of additional diagnostic yield over a single view when using US to identify a clinically significant PTX.
c9orf72 Disease-Related Foci Are Each Composed of One Mutant Expanded Repeat RNA

The chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (c9orf72) gene contains a hexanucleotide (GGGGCC) repeat expansion responsible for many cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The mutant intronic RNA forms "foci" within nuclei, but the connection between transcript expression, foci, and biochemical disease mechanisms is unclear. Knowing the absolute numbers of cellular RNAs, in any system, is important for understanding the molecular mechanisms of natural physiology, disease, and drug action. Absolute numbers, however, are rarely determined, and this absence is a major impediment to understanding complex systems. Using quantitative methods, we demonstrate that foci are single RNA molecules. Most cells have no foci while 1%-2% have more than ten. Knowing the number of disease-causing molecules may contribute to understanding ALS and FTD pathology and successful drug discovery. More broadly, our data suggest that small numbers of RNA molecules may have a sizable impact on disease.
Recovery from Multiple APAs Delays Gait Initiation in Parkinson’s Disease

Background. Freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been linked with deficits in inhibitory control, but causal mechanisms are not established. Freezing at gait initiation (start hesitation) is often accompanied by multiple anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs). If inhibition deficits contribute to freezing by interfering with ability to inhibit initial weight shifts in the wrong direction, then PD subjects should experience more episodes of multiple APAs than healthy controls do. If inhibition deficits contribute to freezing by interfering with ability to release a previously inhibited step following multiple APAs, then step onset following multiple APAs should be delayed more in people with PD than in healthy controls. Methods. Older adults with PD and healthy control (HC) subjects rapidly initiated stepping in response to a light cue in blocks of simple (SRT) and choice (CRT) conditions. We recorded kinematics and ground reaction forces, and we administered the Stroop task to assess inhibitory control. Results. Multiple APAs were more common in CRT than SRT conditions but were equally common in HC and PD subjects. Step onsets were delayed in PD subjects in both conditions and further delayed in trials with multiple APAs, especially in PD subjects with self-reported freezing. Stroop scores correlated with prevalence of multiple APAs and step onset latency; prevalence of multiple APAs did not correlate with step onset latency. Conclusions. Start hesitation is not caused by multiple APAs per se, but may be associated with difficulty recovering from multiple APAs, due to difficulty releasing a previously inhibited step.
GPS-Based Exposure to Greenness and Walkability and Accelerometry-Based Physical Activity.

Background: Physical inactivity is a risk factor for cancer that may be influenced by environmental factors. Indeed, dense and well-connected built environments and environments with natural vegetation may create opportunities for higher routine physical activity. However, studies have focused primarily on residential environments to define exposure and self-reported methods to estimate physical activity. This study explores the momentary association between minute-level global positioning systems (GPS)-based greenness exposure and time-matched objectively measured physical activity.Methods: Adult women were recruited from sites across the United States. Participants wore a GPS device and accelerometer on the hip for 7 days to assess location and physical activity at minute-level epochs. GPS records were linked to 250 m resolution satellite-based vegetation data and Census Block Group-level U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Smart Location Database walkability data. Minute-level generalized additive mixed models were conducted to test for associations between GPS measures and accelerometer count data, accounting for repeated measures within participant and allowing for deviations from linearity using splines.Results: Among 360 adult women (mean age of 55.3 ± 10.2 years), we observed positive nonlinear relationships between physical activity and both greenness and walkability. In exploratory analyses, the relationships between environmental factors and physical activity were strongest among those who were white, had higher incomes, and who were middle-aged.Conclusions: Our results indicate that higher levels of physical activity occurred in areas with higher greenness and higher walkability.Impact: Findings suggest that planning and design policies should focus on these environments to optimize opportunities for physical activity. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(4); 525-32. ©2017 AACRSee all the articles in this CEBP Focus section, "Geospatial Approaches to Cancer Control and Population Sciences."