cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Blood-Brain Barrier Transport of Therapeutics via Receptor- Mediation

Drug delivery to the brain is hindered by the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Although the BBB restricts the passage of many substances, it is actually selectively permeable to nutrients necessary for healthy brain function. To accomplish the task of nutrient transport, the brain endothelium is endowed with a diverse collection of molecular transport systems. One such class of transport system, known as a receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT), employs the vesicular trafficking machinery of the endothelium to transport substrates between blood and brain. If appropriately targeted, RMT systems can also be used to shuttle a wide range of therapeutics into the brain in a noninvasive manner. Over the last decade, there have been significant developments in the arena of RMT-based brain drug transport, and this review will focus on those approaches that have been validated in an in vivo setting.
So you aspire to be a Professor

Nicholas J Talley, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine Consultant, 200 First Street S.W., PL-6-56, Rochester, MN 55905, United States Author contributions: Talley NJ solely contributed to this paper. Correspondence to: Nicholas J Talley, MD, PhD, FACP, FRACP, FRCP Chair, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine Consultant, 200 First Street S.W., PL-6-56, Rochester, MN 55905, United States. talley.nicholas@mayo.edu Telephone: +1-904-9532000 Fax: +1-904-9537366 Received: July 3, 2009 Revised: October 19, 2009 Accepted: October 26, 2009 Published online: November 28, 2009
The Relativistic non-abelian Chern-Simons Equations

We study ther xr system of nonlinear elliptic equations\(\Delta u_a = - \lambda \sum\limits_{b = 1}^r {K_{ab} e^{u_b } + \lambda } \sum\limits_{b = 1}^r {\sum\limits_{c = 1}^r {e^{u_b } K_{ab} e^{u_c } K_{bc} + 4\pi \sum\limits_{j = 1}^{N_a } {\delta _{p_{aj} } } } } \),a=1,2,...,r,x∈R2, where λ τ 0 is a constant parameter,K = (Kab) is the Cartan matrix of a semi-simple Lie algebra, and βp is the Dirac measure concentrated atpR2. This system of equations arises in the relativistic non-Abelian Chern-Simons theory and may be viewed as a nonintegrable deformation of the integrable Toda system. We establish the existence of a class of solutions known as topological multivortices. The crucial step in our method is the use of the decomposition theorem of Cholesky for positive definite matrices so that a variational principle can be formulated.
Automated severity assessment of software defect reports

In mission critical systems, such as those developed by NASA, it is very important that the test engineers properly recognize the severity of each issue they identify during testing. Proper severity assessment is essential for appropriate resource allocation and planning for fixing activities and additional testing. Severity assessment is strongly influenced by the experience of the test engineers and by the time they spend on each issue. The paper presents a new and automated method named SEVERIS (severity issue assessment), which assists the test engineer in assigning severity levels to defect reports. SEVERIS is based on standard text mining and machine learning techniques applied to existing sets of defect reports. A case study on using SEVERIS with data from NASApsilas Project and Issue Tracking System (PITS) is presented in the paper. The case study results indicate that SEVERIS is a good predictor for issue severity levels, while it is easy to use and efficient.
In vitro two-dimensional echocardiographic imaging of a stented porcine bioprosthetic valve: the bent strut artifact.

Background Echocardiographic imaging of a stented valve bioprosthesis can reveal apparent inward deflection of one or more struts. It could be assumed that this finding is related to actual strut distortion as opposed to an artifact of off-axis imaging. Objective To determine whether normal (nondistorted) bioprosthetic struts can appear by artifact to be bent inward on two-dimensional echocardiographic imaging. Methods A production-quality porcine bioprosthetic aortic valve was imaged in vitro using standard two-dimensional echocardiographic techniques. Apparent strut distortion on echocardiographic imaging was investigated relative to prosthesis orientation to the transducer. Results The appearance of inward strut distortion was produced when two of three struts were simultaneously imaged, including imaging in an off-axis long axis orientation and from above or below the prosthesis. Conclusion Apparent inward distortion of bioprosthetic struts can be simulated in vitro using a normal, nondistorted valve, and is common if two struts are simultaneously imaged. A finding of inward distortion of strut tips on in vivo imaging should be used with caution, since the finding may not be representative of actual strut anatomy.
High risk of osteoporosis in male patients with eating disorders

Objective: Osteoporosis has traditionally been considered a female problem. This study’s purpose is to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in males with eating disorders. Method: Charts of 70 consecutive males admitted to an eating disorder program were reviewed. Females admitted during the same time period were used for comparison. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: Thirty-six percent (19/53) had osteopenia and 26% (14/53) had osteoporosis at the lumbar spine. A disproportionate number of males with anorexia restricting or binge/purge subtype (ANR/ ANB) had osteoporosis, as well as those of older age, lower weights, and longer illness duration. BMD for ANR and ANB males was significantly lower than females (p 5 .02 and p 5 .03, respectively). In multivariate stepwise linear and logistic regression, lowest BMI and illness duration predicted lumbar Zscores. Conclusion: Males with ANR/ANB often have severe bone disease, which is worse than females, and is best predicted by a patient’s lowest BMI and illness duration.
Breaking the cycle of academic failure for foster children — What can the schools do to help?

Abstract Many students in foster care are not being provided fair educations or opportunities for academic achievement. They do not have access to the many special programs, advanced placement courses, extracurricular clubs and sports, and other activities that are vital to obtaining a well-rounded education. In addition, many foster children are not encouraged to pursue advanced education. It is safe to say, moreover, that the education of foster children is often overlooked, and they are one of the most educationally vulnerable populations in our schools. School personnel must develop a deeper understanding of the challenge of transforming their schools into caring and cohesive institutions that focus on helping every student succeed. The only way for the foster child to have a fighting chance, especially under the graduation requirements of No Child Left Behind, is for researchers and educators to be given incentives by the federal, state and local governments to develop and implement innovative programs and interventions that help these students succeed. Policies must be put into place at the national, state, and local levels that support effective educational reforms and innovative practices. Interventions that bring students, like foster children, up to grade level and provide experiences that bring realworld relevance into classrooms are as critical as school environments that support excellence in teaching and learning. This study examines the difficulties that the foster care child has in succeeding in school and it asks the question “What is currently known about the achievement of Foster Children?” Furthermore, this study examines what the research believes can be done to solve these problems and improve the chances for the foster child's academic success. It asks and answers the questions, “What can schools do to help improve the achievement of foster children?” and “What can be concluded about how schools can help foster children improve their overall achievement?”
A new species of Astylopsis Casey (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Acanthocinini) from the southeastern United States.

Abstract Astylopsis fascipennis, new species (Cerambycidae), from the southeastern United States, is described and illustrated. A key to the six species of Astylopsis Casey is provided.
Complex regional pain syndrome in children: asking the right questions.

BACKGROUND: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a painful disorder without a known unifying mechanism. There are little data on which to base evaluation and treatment decisions, and what data are available come from studies involving adults; however, even that literature is relatively sparse. Developing robust research for CRPS in children is essential for the progress toward optimal treatment.
Red-emitting manganese-doped aluminum nitride phosphor

Abstract We report high efficiency luminescence with a manganese-doped aluminum nitride red-emitting phosphor under 254 nm excitation, as well as its excellent lumen maintenance in fluorescent lamp conditions, making it a candidate replacement for the widely deployed europium-doped yttria red phosphor. Solid-state reaction of aluminum nitride powders with manganese metal at 1900 °C, 10 atm N2 in a reducing environment results in nitrogen deficiency, as revealed diffuse reflectance spectra. When these powders are subsequently annealed in flowing nitrogen at 1650 °C, higher nitrogen content is recovered, resulting in white powders. Silicon was added to samples as an oxygen getter to improve emission efficiency. NEXAFS spectra and DFT calculations indicate that the Mn dopant is divalent. From DFT calculations, the UV absorption band is proposed to be due to an aluminum vacancy coupled with oxygen impurity dopants, and Mn2+ is assumed to be closely associated with this site. In contrast with some previous reports, we find that the highest quantum efficiency with 254 nm excitation (Q.E. = 0.86 ± 0.14) is obtained in aluminum nitride with a low manganese doping level of 0.06 mol.%. The principal Mn2+ decay of 1.25 ms is assigned to non-interacting Mn sites, while additional components in the microsecond range appear with higher Mn doping, consistent with Mn clustering and resultant exchange coupling. Slower components are present in samples with low Mn doping, as well as strong afterglow, assigned to trapping on shallow traps followed by detrapping and subsequent trapping on Mn.
Dinner Party

Dinner Party is an interactive installation, where a single chair and a place set for one person seem to provide a solitary dining experience. However, the installation offers an interaction between oneself and imaginary creatures. As if she or he is about to enjoy a meal, a participant sits down at an interactive table on which are placed several objects that he or she can move. The objects cast virtual shadows on the tabletop, with animated creatures hiding in these shadows.
The toxicity of thioxanthene neuroleptics to isolated rat liver cells.

SummaryA series of thioxanthenes was tested for cytotoxicity to isolated rat hepatocytes, as measured by the loss of an intracellular enzyme (GOT) to the surrounding medium. The relative order of potency was found to be: SKF 10812 > cis. = trans-chlorprothixene = N-756A > cis- = trans-flupenthixol > xanthiol > methixene = cis- = trans-clopenthixol = N-716 > N-710. The presence of an unsaturated exocyclic bond increased the apparent toxicity as did the presence of a substituent (trifluoromethyl, chlorine, bromine) at the two position of the tricyclic nucleus. The trifluoromethyl substituted thioxanthenes were three to four times more potent than their halogenated analogs, but there were no differences in potency among the halogenated (chlorine or bromine) thioxanthenes. Compounds which had a dimethylaminopropylidene side chain were five to six times stronger in causing enzyme leakage than were their analog which had a hydroxyethylpipera-zinylpropylidene side cain. Although only the cis-isomers of each comp...
Abstract 771: Therapy of spontaneous primary breast tumors in neu-N transgenic mice by adoptive transfer of vaccine-primed LN T cells also induces a humoral response

To investigate factors which regulate T-cell mediated therapy of primary breast tumors in situ, we utilized neu-N transgenic mice. These neu-tolerant mice develop spontaneous breast tumors, several of which we have established as aggressive transplantable tumors and selected stem-like progenitor cells in vitro. We vaccinated neu-N mice with irradiated neu pos breast cancer progenitor cells to prime T cells in draining LNs. We purified a minor subset (5% to 10%) of LN cells with a CD62L low CD4 + or CD8 + phenotype representing recently activated effector cells. CD4 and CD8 subsets were separately activated in vitro with anti-CD3/IL-2/IL-7 for two stimulation cycles to induce 200-fold numerical expansion. Hosts bearing spontaneous primary breast tumors average 80 mm 2 were treated with 35 × 10 6 of each CD4 + and CD8 + subsets. Even though the neu-tolerant hosts did not receive lymphodepletion prior to T cell transfer, the T cells significantly delayed tumor growth compared with untreated control mice (n=4 per group, p=0.037). This extends our previous work showing effective T cell therapy of inoculated lung metastases to primary in situ neu-N breast tumors. Neu is a transmembrane tumor antigen with shared expression between vaccine cells and spontaneous tumors that could contribute to the anti-tumor response. We also searched for evidence of response against other cross-reactive antigens. Interestingly, treated mice developed a humoral response and post-treatment serum IgG bound to neu neg variant tumor cells as well as neu pos cell lines whereas pre-treatment serum was non-reactive. The development of an IgG serologic response following effective T cell-mediated therapy (in the absence of co-transferred B cells) indicates that transferred CD4 + T cells provided cognate helper function and immunoglobulin class switch signals to B cells and reversed tolerance to neu as well as other shared tumor antigens. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 771. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-771
Parallelization of the Traffic Flow Management Problem

This paper describes a parallel approach to solving the national air traffic flow management problem. High fidelity, aircraft-level approaches to this problem can determine which flights should be held on the ground or in an enroute sector. The major drawback to such aircraft-by-aircraft approaches lies in the large amount of data and resulting massive problem instances to be solved for nationwide or long planning horizon scenarios. The presented approach solves twenty individual problems, one for each Air Route Traffic Control Center in the continental United States. Individual client processes coordinate with a central server to solve their respective problems over multiple iterations. Experiments are performed using recent, historic data within a nominal scenario and a weather scenario. These experiments demonstrate the potential for solving this problem using parallel approaches in greatly reduced time. The initial results show solutions that would have taken over 24 hours to obtain optimally in a monolithic system were shown obtainable to within 3% optimality in less than one hour using the parallel architecture. In addition to the runtime and delay cost analysis, delay results from successfully running a high-fidelity, nationwide traffic flow scenario are also detailed.
Conjugation of LPS-Derived Oligosaccharides to Proteins Using Oxime Chemistry

Conjugates of bacterial polysaccharides covalently bound to a carrier protein are among licensed human vaccines. Immunization of adults and children with these vaccines results in induction of saccharide-specific antibodies composed mainly of the IgG class. Depending on the choice of coupling technique, saccharides can be attached to a protein by either multiple- or single-point attachments. While the first method is suitable for high molecular mass polysaccharides, the second one is beneficial for low-molecular mass compounds such as synthetic carbohydrates or bacterial oligosaccharides obtained by different degradation procedures. This chapter describes a method for coupling low-molecular mass lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-derived oligosaccharides composed of a core or a short O-specific polysaccharide-core fragment (O-SPC) to a carrier protein by a single-point attachment. Conjugation is performed between the carbonyl group of the reducing terminal of 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo) exposed after acid hydrolyses of LPS and the aminooxy group of a bifunctional linker bound to the protein. This is an efficient reaction that can be carried out quickly and under mild conditions. Conjugates thus prepared using this approach preserve the external nonreducing end of the sugar chain and can induce antibodies to both conjugate components. Consequently, this method is highly suitable for the preparation of LPS-based human vaccines.
Choice bias from unilateral cortical depression

Spreading depression of one cortical hemisphere causes rats to choose the arm of a Y-maze that is ipsilateral to the depression. This choice bias is similar to the effects of unilateral brain lesion. The bias may reflect an asymmetry of perceptual or motor functions produced by the depression.
Psychiatry and marital problems: Mental health implications

(1955). Psychiatry and marital problems: Mental health implications. Eugenics Quarterly: Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 110-117.
Escherichia coli thymidylate synthase expression protects human cells from the cytotoxic effects of 5-fluorodeoxyuridine more effectively than human thymidylate synthase overexpression.

Escherichia coli thymidylate synthase expression protects human cells from the cytotoxic effects of 5-fluorodeoxyuridine more effectively than human thymidylate synthase overexpression
Electrical stimulation effects on tenderness of five muscles from Hampshire x Rambouillet crossbred lambs with the callipyge phenotype.

The objective of this study was to determine effects of electrical stimulation (ES) on muscle quality and sensory traits of 12 Hampshire x Rambouillet callipyge lambs. One side of each carcass was randomly assigned to an ES treatment of 550 V and 60 Hz of electricity for 2 s on and 2 s off 15 times. The other side was a nonstimulated control (NES). Heated calpastatin, sarcomere length, myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS), and trained sensory panel values were measured on the semitendinosus (ST), semimembranosus (SM), longissimus (ML), supraspinatus (SP), and triceps brachii (TB) muscles. Electrically stimulating the carcass sides induced a more rapid (P = .001) pH decline in the longissimus muscle, and ES sides had a brighter (P = .001) red color of loineye than nonstimulated sides. At d 14 of storage (2 degrees C), the TB had the highest (P .05) from the TB muscle. Electrical stimulation had no effect on WBS or any trained sensory panel values (P > .05). The percentage of loin chops rated slightly tender or better was improved 30 to 34% by electrical stimulation (P .05) from the ST muscle. The SM and ML muscles were rated lower (P .05) from the ST muscle. Electrically stimulating callipyge carcasses improves the tenderness of loin chops by increasing the percentage of chops rated from slightly tough to slightly tender.
Protein restriction sequentially induces new urea transport processes in rat initial IMCD

We reported that feeding rats 8% protein for 4 wk induces two new urea transport processes in initial inner medullary collecting ducts (IMCD); neither is present in rats fed 18% protein. In this study, we measured the time course of induction of these transporters in perfused initial IMCD segments from rats fed 8% protein. Net urea flux was induced after 3 wk, whereas vasopressin-stimulated passive urea permeability (P(urea)) was induced after 2 wk. 8-Bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcAMP) significantly increased P(urea)); adding vasopressin did not increase P(urea) further. In fact, there was no difference in vasopressin-stimulated cAMP production in initial or terminal IMCD segments from rats fed 18% or 8% protein, suggesting that the adaptive response was not due to increased cAMP production. Glucagon did not change cAMP production or P(urea). Specificity of the response was suggested because neither aldose reductase nor sorbitol dehydrogenase activity changed with feeding 8% protein. Thu...
Investigation of Iron Removal from Reduced Upgraded Titania Slag Using Mild Acids

Leaching characteristics of impurity removal from the Upgraded Titania Slag (UGS) using hydrochloric and boric acids has been investigated. Specifically, this study has focused on removal of iron oxides from the UGS that has been reduced by hydrogen gas and magnesium at 750°C for 5 hours. Reduced UGS is mainly composed of titanium hydride and impurities like iron oxides, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, and magnesium oxide. The concentration of hydrochloric and boric acids and the leaching temperature have been chosen as the prime variables to identify the optimum conditions and leaching characteristics for removal of iron oxides. It was observed that under the constraint that 1 wt % of titanium hydride loss is the maximum amount tolerable, 0.1M HCl with 1M boric acid and 90°C are the most effective parameters for iron removal from the reduced UGS. Also, the overall rate of reaction seems to follow interfacial reaction controlled kinetics. The calculated activation energy of the reaction is 73.90kJ/mol.
Interactive online physics labs increase high school students’ interest

Here we describe the incorporation of a web-based application focusing on circuits for the physics high school classroom as part of an outreach program. The program involves college mentors creating and implementing science lessons in collaboration with the classroom teacher. Focusing on the challenge of understanding circuit design, a technology rich module is employed to improve learning and motivation of the students. The students’ conceptual understanding as well as interest in circuits was increased, the college mentors earned valuable teaching and mentoring experience and the teacher enjoyed more one-on-one time as well as assistance with students.
Analysis of Electrical System Effectiveness using Layer of Protection Analysis

This paper reviews how the effectiveness (i.e. the ability to perform an intended function) of electrical systems can be analyzed using the technique of layer of protection analysis (LOPA). LOPA is a process currently in use to determine if instrumented systems are effective in reducing possible risks from the release of hazardous chemicals. This technique can be used to evaluate mandatory protection of electrical systems, non-mandatory protection of electrical systems, alternate system designs, and intervals of maintenance on electrical systems in terms of their potential reliability risks and/or personnel risks. It is shown how LOPA is an additional tool, which can be applied to existing systems or to systems about to be designed, so as to enhance the electrical system effectiveness, reliability, and availability
Desulfated Heparin Blocks Platelet Activation Induced by HIT Antibodies / Heparin: A New Approach to Patient Management.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) represents a disease spectrum triggered by an immune response to heparin. The most dramatic clinical expression of HIT is HIT antibody-driven thrombosis. Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) are a promising new class of drugs for treatment of the acute phase of HIT; however, they have a narrow safety/efficacy window (high bleeding risk) and morbidity/mortality have not been eliminated. In addition, the high probability of developing thrombosis in HIT combined with extreme mortality, has led to a bias for prophylactic treatment. Thus, there remains a clinical need to identify optimal treatment options for patients with HIT. A new concept is to use an agent that can effectively compete with heparin in a manner that prevents the HIT antibody from inducing platelet activation, i.e., amelioration. We evaluated a 2-O, 3-O desulfated heparin (ParinGenix, Inc.; Tucson, AZ) to determine its ability to ameliorate HIT antibody/heparin induced platelet activation. The test agent was added to a mixture of known-reactive platelets and pre-formed immune complexes (heparin, PF4, HIT antibodies), and SRA and flow cytometry were performed. Due to the inherent biological variability of HIT antibodies, sera from four different patients (clinically diagnosed as HIT; SRA positive) were used. Two concentrations of heparin which reflect typical prevention (0.1 U/ml) and treatment (0.5 U/ml) clinical doses were used. The 2-O, 3-O desulfated heparin produced an amelioration of HIT antibody/heparin induced platelet activation as demonstrated in the SRA by inhibition of 14 C serotonin release from activated platelets, and in flow cytometric analysis by inhibition of platelet microparticle formation and platelet cell surface P-selectin expression. Significant amelioration activity was initiated at 6.25 μg/ml 2-O, 3-O desulfated heparin and complete inhibition of the induced platelet activation (equal to the 100 U/ml heparin HIT assay ‘no response’) was achieved with 50 μg/ml of the agent. Since this new treatment approach blocks platelet activation caused by HIT antibody/heparin (not a characteristic of DTIs), we propose that a non-anticoagulant glycosaminoglycan (GAG) may be useful in improving the clinical management of patients with HIT. The concept of amelioration differs from all previous options for the clinical management of patients with HIT including the use of danaparoid, fondaparinux, DTIs and other drugs that target thrombin/thrombin generation inhibition. Although not directed at platelet activation inhibition, this type of GAG effects an inhibition of HIT antibody mediated platelet activation, which is the source of the pathophysiology of HIT. The data of this study suggest that this 2-O, 3-O desulfated heparin may be effective as either an adjunct or sole treatment of an ongoing HIT pathology, or as a preventive measure in patients who will be exposed to heparin.
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (panNETs): Analysis of Overall Survival of Nonsurgical Management Versus Surgical Resection.

Outcomes of patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (panNETs) undergoing surgical or nonsurgical management and outcomes of enucleation versus standard resection were compared. MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane were queried (2000 to present). All studies comparing patients undergoing surgical versus nonsurgical treatments, or enucleation versus standard resection, were included. Pooled risk ratios and 95% CI for survival were calculated. Eleven studies met criteria with 1491 resected and 1607 nonsurgically managed patients. Meta-analysis showed improved overall survival with resection at 1 year (risk ratio (RR) = 1.281, CI 1.064–1.542, p = 0.009), 3 years (RR = 1.837, CI 1.594–2.117, p < 0.001), and 5 years (RR = 2.103, CI 1.50–2.945, p < 0.001). OS of patients with resected nonfunctioning panNETs was improved at 3 years (RR = 1.847, CI 1.477–2.309, p < 0.001) and 5 years (RR = 1.767, CI 1.068–2.924, p = 0.027). OS was improved when panNETs ≤2 cm were resected at 3 years (RR = 1.695, CI 1.269–2.264, p < 0.001) and 5 years (RR = 2.210, CI 1.749–2.791, p < 0.001). Fifteen articles met criteria for enucleation versus standard resection (n = 1035; 620 were nonfunctioning). Enucleation had shorter operative time (weighted mean difference (WMD) = −95.6 min, 95% CI −131.4 to −59.8, p < 0.01), less operative blood loss (WMD = −172.6 ml, 95% CI −340 to −5.1, p = 0.04), but increased postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) (RR = 2.08, 95% CI 1.39–3.12, p < 0.01). Surgical resection of panNETs, including small and nonfunctioning, appears to be associated with improved OS. Enucleation is associated with shorter operative time, less blood loss, but greater incidence of POPF. Prospective, randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm these results.
Implications of Recent Research on Student Evaluations of Teaching

This article discusses recent research about student evaluations of professors (sometimes called student ratings.) Recent studies identify factors that bias the ratings, including the effect of the students' expected grades. Studies also identify negative effects of the ratings, including a lessening of course rigor. The results of the author's study about student ratings are also discussed. Survey respondents were teachers of legal writing in U.S. law schools. Asked whether they had ever refrained from doing something they thought pedagogically sound because it might negatively affect their student ratings, 25% responded yes. Thirty-one percent believed student ratings contribute to a lessening of rigor in law school classes. The article concludes that some universities place undue weight on student ratings in light of their biases and negative effects. It recommends that teaching be evaluated holistically through such means as peer classroom visits and teaching portfolios.
Counterinsurgency and Criminology: Applying Routine Activities Theory to Military Approaches to Counterterrorism

Counterinsurgents have two distinct but connected problems to manage when responding to an insurgency. First, they must be able to control and reduce insurgent violence. Second, they must assert and maintain the authority of a central government (see Kilcullen, 2009). While scholarly interest in counterinsurgency has expanded over the past decade, there is not much evidence base developed for counterinsurgency and relatively little research attention that focuses on the outcomes of tactical-level military interventions during counterinsurgency, particularly in urban environments.
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function by the Intensivist

The assessment of left ventricular diastolic function is an important element of advanced critical care echocardiography. Standard methods of evaluating diastolic function that are routinely performed on an elective basis in the cardiology echocardiography laboratory may be difficult to apply in the critical care unit. In this article, we review methods of measuring diastolic function with echocardiography that are of relevance to the intensivist and present two options for measurement: the standard cardiology method and a simplified approach.
Deoxycholate-Enhanced Shigella Virulence Is Regulated by a Rare π-Helix in the Type Three Secretion System Tip Protein IpaD

Type three secretion systems (T3SS) are specialized nanomachines that support infection by injecting bacterial proteins directly into host cells. The Shigella T3SS has uniquely evolved to sense environmental levels of the bile salt deoxycholate (DOC) and upregulate virulence in response to DOC. In this study, we describe a rare i + 5 hydrogen bonding secondary structure element (π-helix) within the type three secretion system tip protein IpaD that plays a critical role in DOC-enhanced virulence. Specifically, engineered mutations within the π-helix altered the pathogen’s response to DOC, with one mutant construct in particular exhibiting an unprecedented reduction in virulence following DOC exposure. Fluorescence polarization binding assays showed that these altered DOC responses are not the result of differences in affinity between IpaD and DOC, but rather differences in the DOC-dependent T3SS tip maturation resulting from binding of IpaD to translocator/effector protein IpaB. Together, these findings be...
Dynamics of Actin in the Heart: Defining Thin Filament Length

Cardiac sarcomeres are composed of overlapping actin-thin filaments and myosin-thick filaments. Efficient muscle contraction is dependent on the proper overlap of thick and thin filaments; therefore filament lengths are tightly regulated. The actin-thin filament is a polar structure with a distinct barbed end (at the Z-disc) and pointed end (at the M-line). Capping proteins bind to and regulate thin filament lengths at the ends of the filament. For instance, tropomodulin 1 (Tmod1) caps (blocks the incorporation and dissociation of G-actin) the pointed end of the thin filament, while CapZ caps the barbed end. Leiomodin 2 (Lmod2), a close family member of Tmod1, also binds to the pointed end but it elongates thin filaments. Lmod2 and Tmod1 compete to bind to the pointed end, which fine tunes thin filament length. While capping/elongation proteins play a critical role in length regulation, other proteins have been proposed to contribute. For instance, tropomyosin plays a vital role in stabilizing the thin filament. In addition, cyclase-associated protein 2 (CAP2) has been proposed to regulate thin filament length by severing filamentous actin and sequestering globular actin. Actin-monomer-binding proteins may also work in conjunction with capping proteins to regulate length. Due to the critical role these proteins play in maintaining lengths, it is not surprising that alterations or mutations in many of these proteins result in the development of human cardiomyopathies. Current research is focused on dissecting the role that alterations in thin filament length have in both normal heart function and the development of disease.
Lentiviral vector targeting.

After more than a decade of consternation over the lack of convincing efficacy data from the early gene therapy clinical trials, the recent reports of CAVAZZANA et al. (2000) and ABONOUR et al. (2000) have brought to gene therapists and their patients a new wave of optimism. Even so, there is conspicuous criticism of the high cost and complexity of gene therapy procedures. In large part, this relates to the shortcomings of the mode of gene delivery to the affected tissue. In these trials, blood cells were removed from the body, engineered with a gene-carrying vector, and returned to the patient. This type of ex vivo manipulation is inconvenient and expensive, and compromises the efficiency of gene transfer because only a small proportion of the intended target cell population can be explanted at one time. Other gene therapy trials use an in situ mode of gene delivery in which the gene transfer vehicle is introduced directly in the affected tissue (e.g., muscle). This approach is often limited by the difficulty of tissue access and by the inability to transduce the majority of cells. Another strategy relates to the idea that a gene transfer vector could be injected directly into the bloodstream and targeted to a specific organ or cell type by genetic manipulation. At this time, there are no clinical examples of this in vivo approach. However, if gene therapy is to fulfill its promise as a therapeutic option, in vivo injectable and targetable vectors must be developed.
Physiological Pathways of PAD Activation and Citrullinated Epitope Generation

The peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) enzymes hydrolyze arginine residues to create the nonnative amino acid citrulline (a process called citrullination or deimination). Five PAD enzymes (1, 2, 3, 4, 6) have been identified, and they exhibit fairly restricted tissue expression patterns. The conversion of arginine to citrulline (referred to as citrullination or deimination) results in only a small change in molecular mass (less than 1 Da) and a loss in a positive charge, which can have dramatic consequences on protein structure and protein–protein interactions. Since citrullination can lead to profound changes in protein function, it is not surprising that citrullination and the activity of the PAD enzymes has been implicated in many diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, and cancer. This chapter provides a general overview of the PAD enzymes and their known functions. Plasma and synovial biopsy specimen from patients with rheumatoid arthritis contain high levels of citrullinated proteins, and, in fact, rheumatoid patients often develop immune reactivity to citrullinated proteins. Here, we also discuss possible physiological pathways that may contribute to the generation of citrullinated self-antigens, which could then prime the development of anti-citrulline peptide autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis.
The Medial Nuclei

For reasons that are rather arbitrary, though based on historical precedent, I consider the medial nuclear complex to consist of the mediodorsal nucleus, the parataenial nucleus, and the medioventral (reuniens) nucleus (Figs. 13.1 and 13.3). J. E. Rose (1942a,b) originally made this definition on the grounds that the three nuclei develop from a common pronuclear mass that is subsequently split by the growth of the intralaminar nuclei (his central commissural system) (see Fig. 6.10). Prior to Rose’s work, “medial group” was ill-defined and often included parts of the rostral and caudal intralaminar nuclei, anteromedial nucleus, submedial nucleus, and principal ventral medial nucleus (von Monakow, 1895; Vogt, 1909; Friedemann, 1911; Nissl, 1913; M. Rose, 1935; Walker, 1937, 1938a). Perhaps as J. E. Rose (1942b) intimated, the submedial nucleus should be regarded as an extension of the medioventral nucleus and thus included in the medial group because, like the mediodorsal nucleus, it receives olfactory inputs (Price and Slotnik, 1983). On the other hand, it also receives spinothalamic inputs (Craig and Burton, 1981; Burton and Craig, 1983; Mantyh, 1983) and because of this, I have chosen to include it in the ventral medial group of nuclei (Chapter 7).
Protein inhibitors of serine proteinases--mechanism and classification.

Protein proteinase inhibitors are widely distributed in plants, animals and microorganisms. They can be conveniently grouped since most frequently they inhibit proteinases belonging only to a single mechanistic class. Protein inhibitors of serine proteinases have been most extensively studied. They are strictly competitive inhibitors forming 1:1 complexes with the enzymes they inhibit. In these complexes, all activities of the enzyme are completely abolished. The inhibitors are substrates for the enzyme they inhibit at a unique peptide bond called the reactive site peptide bond (one for each inhibitory domain). However, compared to normal substrates where the enzyme-substrate and enzyme-product complexes dissociate very readily here, the complexes are very stable. Serine proteinase inhibitors can be divided into at least 13 families. Within each family the position of the reactive site and the closure of disulfide bridges can be inferred by homology. In enzyme-inhibitor complexes, about 10–15 residues of the inhibitor are in contact with the enzyme. Their specific nature strongly affects both the strength and the specificity of enzyme-inhibitor interaction. In all cases where the sequences of many inhibitors from the same family can be compared, the contact residues are not strongly conserved — instead, they are hypervariable. This raises major problems but also offers huge opportunities to those concerned with the role of inhibitors in biology and in medicine.
GPU-Based Integrated Security System for Minimizing Data Loss in Big Data Transmission

In big data transmission, data loss occurs due to excessive data and time overheads, transmission errors, and various security attacks. However, the current literature does not suggest any combinatorial solution to protect data loss by resolving these issues. Henceforth, this research proposes a GPU-based integrated technique. It includes the new dual rounds of error control operations to address every individual error bit. An idle lossless compression has been included to reduce data overhead. Furthermore, it includes a modern audio steganography which comprises a new sample selection scheme for hiding data. Finally, it reduces execution time by involving GPU during implementation. As per the experimental result, it offers higher time and space efficiencies by producing higher compression percentage and throughput. It shows substantial resistivity against various attacks and transmission errors by producing higher SNR and entropy values. It also offers lower percentage of information loss than other existing techniques.
Intelligent Performance Assessment System for Laparoscopic Surgical Box-Trainer

Laparoscopic surgeons should possess strong cognitive knowledge, case/problem management and manual dexterity skills. Such skills can be acquired through simulation using a basic, low-fidelity setup, such as the surgical box-trainer. The trainee’s performance is evaluated on the grounds of both precision and speed. However, no significant qualitative and quantitative information is measured and recorded electronically. The main objective of this research is to develop an intelligent box-trainer device which includes sensors and several high definition digital video cameras along with a two-layer fuzzy logic-based assessment system. The significance of the project is to create an intelligent performance assessment system that is much more objective than the ones which are currently being used. Using fuzzy logic to capture expert knowledge is a new approach in this area.
A Log-Scale Interpolation Method for Layered Medium Green's Functions

A novel spatial interpolation method using logarithmic scale is presented for rapidly computing layered medium Green's functions from their samples. Numerical examples demonstrate that the method is effective at subwavelength distances between source and observer points.
Current Status and Future Prospects in Herbicide Discovery

Herbicides represent about 60% of the pesticides (by volume) used worldwide. The success of herbicides can be attributed in part to a relatively steady discovery of one unique mechanisms of action (MOA) every two years from the early 1950s to the mid-1980s. While this situation changed dramatically after the introduction of glyphosate-resistant crops, evolution of resistance to glyphosate has renewed the agrichemical industry interest in new chemistry interacting with novel target sites. This review analyses recent characterization of new herbicide target sites, the chemical classes developed to inhibit these target sites, and where appropriate the innovative technologies used in these discovery programs.
Modeling InSAR Phase and SAR Intensity Changes Induced by Soil Moisture

A broad range of studies have been conducted so far to quantify the effect of soil moisture on synthetic aperture radar (SAR) intensity and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) phase. The introduced models are either intensity or interferometric models, and there is no single scattering model that can estimate both intensity and phase changes, indicating the subject is poorly understood. Here, we quantify the influence of soil moisture on InSAR phase and SAR intensity by employing a volume scattering model. We model soil as a collection of randomly distributed independent point scatterers embedded in a homogeneous background. Our volume scattering model successfully estimates SAR intensity and InSAR phase changes due to soil moisture changes. In addition to soil moisture changes, the model also takes into account the scatterers’ size and their volumetric fraction. This may open a new window in the study of soil structure using SAR images and InSAR methods. Our results indicate that the structure of soil manipulates the way soil moisture alters the SAR intensity and InSAR phase. The model has been evaluated against field soil moisture measurements and shown to be successful in modeling InSAR phase and SAR intensity.
A pilot study examining the use of ultrasound to measure sarcopenia, frailty and fall in older patients

Abstract Introduction The importance of this study is to devise an efficient tool for assessing frailty in the ED. The goals of this study are 1) to correlate ultrasonographic (US) measurements of muscle thickness in older ED patients with frailty and 2) to correlate US-measured sarcopenia with falls, subsequent hospitalizations and ED revisits. Methods Participants were conveniently sampled from a single ED in this prospective cohort pilot study of patients aged 65 or older. Participants completed a Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illness and Loss of Weight (FRAIL) scale assessment and US measurements of their upper arm muscles, quadricep muscles, and abdominal wall muscles thickness. We conducted one-month follow-up phone calls to assess for falls, ED revisits, and subsequent hospital visits. Results We enrolled 43 patients (mean age of 78.5). Ultrasound measurements of the three muscle groups were not significantly different between frail and non-frail groups. Frail participants had greater bicep asymmetry (a difference of 0.47 cm vs 0.24 cm, p Conclusion US measurements of sarcopenia in older patients had mild to moderate associations with frailty, falls and subsequent hospitalizations. Further investigation is needed to confirm these findings.
The Shackles of Covenant Marriage: Who Holds the Keys to Wedlock?

Covenant marriage laws have been defended as a way of strengthening marriage and decreasing divorce rates. However, these laws may actually work against the state’s interest by placing limitations on marriage. Arkansas’s Covenant Marriage Act of 2001 was based on similar statutes in Louisiana and Arizona. A philosophical analysis of the Arkansas act showcases problems that may arise from covenant marriage generally. Ultimately, covenant marriage does not prevent divorce but prolongs an irreconcilable marriage to the harm of its parties. State policies of marital stability may be better served by other premarital options that reinforce marriage’s contractual and religious significance.
Teaching Inclusive Engineering Design at a Small Liberal Arts College.

Modern engineering education tends to focus on mathematics and fundamentals, eschewing critical reflections on technology and the field of engineering. In this paper, I present an elective engineering course and a 3-lecture module in an introductory course that emphasize engaging with the social impacts of technology.
Thirty day readmissions and outcomes following radical nephrectomy in renal cell carcinoma: A nationwide analysis.

e16560Background: Nephrectomy is one of the primary treatments of Stage I-III renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which is usually associated with low rates of serious morbidity and mortality. However, a f...
The two proteins of the erythropoietin receptor are structurally similar

Abstract The structure of the erythropoietin receptor has been identified in this laboratory as two proteins of 100 and 85 kDa by cross-linking 125I-erythropoietin (125I-EP) to the surface of erythroid cells purified from the spleens of mice infected with the anemia strain of Friend virus. This study investigates the relatedness of these two proteins and the possibility that these proteins are subunits of the functional receptor for EP. Other workers have claimed that the 100- and 85-kDa proteins are bridged by disulfide bonds. This most likely is an artifact due to the insolubility of the cross-linked membrane. Proteolytic digestion by the method of Cleveland (Cleveland, D. W., Fischer, S. G., Kirschner, M. W., and Laemmli, U. K. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 1102-1106) resulted in identical fragments from the 100- and 85-kDa proteins, which strongly suggests that the primary amino acid sequence of these two proteins is similar if not identical. Increasing the number of protease inhibitors during the preparation of membranes and the binding and cross-linking steps increased the ratio of 100-kDa protein labeled compared to the 85-kDa protein. Together these results suggest that the 85-kDa protein is derived by proteolytic cleavage of the 100-kDa receptor for EP. It is not clear whether the 100-kDa protein can bind EP in the absence of the 85-kDa protein.