cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rat Hippocampal Glutamate and GABA Release Exhibit Biphasic Effects as a Function of Chronic Lead Exposure Level

Previous work has suggested that the lead (Pb) exposure-induced decrease in K(+)-evoked hippocampal glutamate (GLU) release is an important factor in the elevated threshold and diminished magnitude reported for hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in exposed animals. In addition, complex dose-effect relationships between Pb exposure level and LTP have been reported. This investigation was conducted to determine the effects of Pb on hippocampal GLU and GABA release as a function of exposure level. Rats were continuously exposed to 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, or 1.0% Pb in the drinking water beginning at gestational day 15-16. Hippocampal transmitter release was induced in adult males by perfusion of 150 mM K(+) in the presence of Ca(+2) (total release) through a microdialysis probe in one test session, followed by perfusion through a contralateral probe in the absence of Ca(+2) (Ca(+2)-independent release) in the second session. Chronic exposure produced decreases in total K(+)-stimulated hippocampal GLU and GABA release at exposure levels of 0.1-0.5% Pb. Maximal effects were seen in the 0.2% group (blood Pb = 40 microg/100 ml), and changes in total release could be directly traced to alterations in the Ca(+2)-dependent component. However, these effects were less evident in the 0.5% group and were no longer present in the 1.0% Pb group, thus defining U-shaped dose-effect relationships. Moreover, in the absence of Ca(+2) in the dialysis perfusate, K(+)-induced release was elevated in the 2 highest exposure groups, suggesting a Pb(+2)-induced enhancement in evoked release. This pattern of results indicates the presence of 2 actions of Pb on in vivo transmitter release: a more potent suppression of stimulated release seen at lower exposure levels (27-62 microg/100 ml) combined with Ca+2-mimetic actions to independently induce exocytosis that is exhibited at higher exposure levels (> or =62 microg/100 ml). Furthermore, significant similarities in the dose-effect relationships uncovered in measures of evoked GLU release and hippocampal LTP (M. E. Gilbert et al., 1999b, Neurotoxicology 20, 71-82) reinforce the conclusion that exposure-related changes in GLU release play a significant role in the Pb-induced effects seen in this model of synaptic plasticity.
Equivalent Circuit of Frog Atrial Tissue as Determined by Voltage Clamp-Unclamp Experiments

The equivalent circuit that has been used in the analysis of nerve voltage-clamp data is that of the membrane capacity in parallel with the membrane resistance. Voltage-clamp experiments on frog atrial tissue indicate that this circuit will not suffice for this cardiac tissue. The change in membrane current associated with a step change in membrane potential does not show a rapid spike of capacitive current as would be expected for the simple parallel resistance-capacitance network. Rather, there is a step change in current followed by an exponential decay in current with a time constant of about 1 msec. This relatively slow capacitive charging current suggests that there is a resistance in series with the membrane capacity. A possible equivalent circuit is that of a series resistance external to the parallel resistance-capacitance network of the cell membranes. Another possible circuit assumes that the series resistance is an integral part of the cell membrane. The data presented in this paper demonstrate that the equivalent circuit of a bundle of frog atrial muscle is that of an external resistance in series with the cell membranes.
Complement Components C5 and C7: Recombinant Factor I Modules of C7 Bind to the C345C Domain of C5

Studies reported over 30 years ago revealed that latent, nonactivated C5 binds specifically and reversibly to C6 and C7. These reversible reactions are distinct from the essentially nonreversible associations with activated C5b that occur during assembly of the membrane attack complex, but they likely involve some, perhaps many, of the same molecular contacts. We recently reported that these reversible reactions are mediated by the C345C (NTR) domain at the C terminus of the C5 α-chain. Earlier work by others localized the complementary binding sites to a tryptic fragment of C6 composed entirely of two adjacent factor I modules (FIMs), and to a larger fragment of C7 composed of its homologous FIMs as well as two adjoining short consensus repeat modules. In this work, we expressed the tandem FIMs from C7 in bacteria. The mobility on SDS-polyacrylamide gels, lack of free sulfhydryl groups, and atypical circular dichroism spectrum of the recombinant product rC7-FIMs were all consistent with a native structure. Using surface plasmon resonance, we found that rC7-FIMs binds specifically to both C5 and the rC5-C345C domain with K D ≈ 50 nM, and competes with C7 for binding to C5, as expected for an active domain. These results indicate that, like C6, the FIMs alone in C7 mediate reversible binding to C5. Based on available evidence, we suggest a model for an irreversible membrane attack complex assembly in which the C7 FIMs, but not those in C6, are bound to the C345C domain of C5 within the fully assembled complex.
Toxicodendron radicans dermatitis with black lacquer deposit on the skin

Four patients with clinical Toxicodendron ermatitis (poison ivy) presented with dramatic black lacquer-like deposits on several lesions. This black deposit was also observed at sites of injury on poison ivy plants and was reproduced on volunteers by the application of plant sap on the skin. Histologically, the observed material was identified in the stratum corneum. This little-recognized phenomenon has been mentioned in past dermatologic literature.
STRENGTH OF A BODY CONTAINING A CRACK PARTIALLY FILLED WITH INJECTION MATERIAL

Various types of filling of cracklike defects with injection materials are analyzed. On the basis of the numerical solutions of problems of this sort, we compute the stress intensity factors for different schemes of filling, parameters of stiffness of the injection material after solidification, and the geometry of the defects. The conditions guaranteeing the attainment of the maximum degree of hardening of the body by partial filling of the crack with injection materials are established.
Effects of Speech Intensity on the Callsign Acquisition Test (CAT) and Modified Rhyme Test (MRT) Presented in Noise

This study sought to evaluate the effect of speech intensity on performance of the Callsign Acquisition Test (CAT) and Modified Rhyme Test (MRT) presented in noise. Fourteen normally hearing listeners performed both tests in 65 dB A white background noise. Speech intensity varied while background noise remained constant to form speech-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of −18, −15, −12, −9, and −6 dB. Results showed that CAT recognition scores were significantly higher than MRT scores at the same SNRs; how- ever, the scores from both tests were highly correlated and their relationship for the SNRs tested can be expressed by a simple linear function. The concept of CAT can be easily ported to other languages for testing speech communication under adverse listening conditions.
Exploring anti‐gang advertisements: Focus group discussions with gang members and at‐risk youth

Abstract In the highly debated issue concerning the use of advertising to discourage gang membership, the responses of the gang members and at‐risk youth for whom the ads are intended have been overlooked. This study explores the usefulness of anti‐gang advertising by seeking the opinion of young people living in a gang environment. Participants verbally responded to seven anti‐gang ads created and broadcast by a Fox television network affiliate. Based on participant responses, seven generic advertising strategies were suggested that hold the possibility of creating more effective anti‐gang ads.
Direct exposure to a single filament of DBD plasma leads to the inactivation of airborne bacteria

Airborne transmission is the cause of the spread of many deadly diseases. There are bacteria that can be easily aerosolized and transmitted far distances inside HVAC systems. To control the spread of these contaminants, HEPA filters are used. These filters however, do not kill bacteria and viruses but only trap them. They also cause large pressure drops inside HVAC systems. DBD plasma discharge has been used as a method of inactivating airborne bacteria[1]. The focus now is on determining the major mechanism of this inactivation. The main distinguishing parameter used to evaluate the sterilization of bacteria is whether this effect is due to direct exposure to plasma or the indirect effect of long living species produced by it. The hypothesis here is that the charges produced by DBD are responsible for this inactivation.
DEMONSTRATION OF AN EXTERNAL COMBUSTION MICRO-HEAT ENGINE

Abstract The integration of an external combustion micro heat engine with a Swiss roll combustor to produce power is presented in this work. The micro heat engine, a micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) based engine fabricated with standard micro-fabrication techniques, consists of a cavity filled with a saturated, two-phase working fluid, and bounded on the top and bottom by thin membranes. The engine is coupled to the combustor through a thermal switch which controls heat conduction from the combustor to the engine. The engine can utilize heat over a wide range of temperatures to produce power. The Swiss roll combustor utilizes the high energy density of hydrocarbon fuels in order to provide the necessary heat transfer required to power the engine. The overall feasibility of this integration as well as the results of this endeavor are explored.
Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in wild rodents from central coastal California and a review of T. gondii prevalence in rodents.

Sera from 523 wild rodents were tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using either an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) (rats and mice, with titer ≥80 considered positive) or a latex agglutination test (LAT) (voles, squirrels, and pocket mice, with titer ≥32 considered positive). Seventeen percent (88/523) of the rodents, including 26% (85/328) of the Peromyscus sp. and 8% (3/37) of Spermophilus beecheyi, were seropositive. Fourteen percent (23/161) of rodents captured in trap sites next to Morro Bay (California) and 15% (16/109) of rodents from sites adjacent to riparian habitats had antibodies to T. gondii, compared to 19% (49/253) of rodents captured in habitats not associated with water; this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.32). Significantly fewer rodents were captured <200 m from residential housing compared to locations further away (11% vs. 30%, respectively). Factors associated with an increased risk for T. gondii seropositivity in rodents were capture location ≥200 ...
NTAP: for NimbleGen tiling array ChIP-chip data analysis.

Summary: NTAP is designed to analyze ChIP-chip data generated by the NimbleGen tiling array platform and to accomplish various pattern recognition tasks that are useful especially for epigenetic studies. The modular design of NTAP makes the data processing highly customizable. Users can either use NTAP to perform the full process of NimbleGen tiling array data analysis, or choose postprocessing modules in NTAP to analyze pre-processed epigenetic data generated by other platforms. The output of NTAP can be saved in standard GFF format files and visualized in GBrowse. Availability and Implementation: The source code of NTAP is freely available at http://ntap.cbi.pku.edu.cn/. It is implemented in Perl and R and can be used on Linux, Mac and Windows platforms.
IL-17-producing T cells can augment autoantibody-induced arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a T lymphocyte-mediated disorder, but the precise nature of T cell involvement remains unclear. In the K/BxN mouse model of inflammatory arthritis, T cells initiate disease by providing help to B cells to produce arthritogenic autoantibodies. Here, we have characterized an additional, nonhumoral role for T cells in promoting autoantibody-induced arthritis. Autoreactive KRN T cells introduced either by direct transfer or bone marrow transplantation into B-cell-deficient hosts enhanced K/BxN serum-transferred arthritis, an effect that was dependent on expression of the cognate MHC-molecule/peptide complex. The T cell influence was dependent on interleukin (IL)-17; in contrast, standard serum-transferred arthritis, unenhanced by the addition of T cells, was unaffected by IL-17 neutralization. An IL-17-producing population of transferred KRN T cells was identified and found to be supported by the cotransfer of arthritogenic autoantibodies. IL-17-producing KRN T cells were enriched in inflamed joints of K/BxN mice, suggesting either selective recruitment or preferential differentiation. These results demonstrate the potential for autoreactive T cells to play two roles in the development of arthritis, both driving the production of pathogenic autoantibodies and bolstering the subsequent inflammatory cascade dependent on the innate immune system.
A Hot Envelope around the Southern Coalsack: X-Ray and Far-Ultraviolet Observations

We present Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer and ROSAT X-ray observations toward the Southern Coalsack. An almost complete X-ray halo can be seen around the cloud in the 0.75 and 1.5 keV images, and most of the observed stars show O VI absorption. Both the cloud and the stars have highly accurate distance determinations, allowing us to reliably place the stars and the cloud relative to each other. Using these distance determinations, we find no O VI-bearing gas in the foreground of the Coalsack, while for stars in the background of the cloud, O VI absorption is the norm. The column density of O VI correlates with the 0.75 and 1.5 keV intensities. These results suggest that the X-ray-emitting hot plasma is associated with the dense cloud. We propose that the heating of the Coalsack envelope is due to the hot gas in the interior of the Upper Cen-Lup superbubble. The Coalsack interaction region provides a nearby example of the hot-cold gas interfaces thought to be responsible for the O VI absorptions seen on many sight lines throughout the Galaxy.
Adhesion strength of cordierite glass-ceramic coatings on molybdenum substrates

Cordierite glass-ceramic coatings do not bond to molybdenum directly because of the absence of a suitable transition layer. Dual metallic interlayers of copper/chromium and nickel/chromium were electroplated on the substrates to enhance adhesion. The adhesion of the glass-ceramic coatings was evaluated by indentation testing and a modified analytical method based on interfacial fracture toughness. Quantitative chemical analyses of the interfaces were used to explain differences in fracture toughness among samples with different interlayers. Of those tested, the best interface for adhering glass-ceramic coatings to molybdenum was found to be a 4 μm chromium over 2 μm copper on molybdenum.
UV irradiation of nucleic acids: characterization of photoproducts of thymidylyl-(3'-->5')-2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine.

Abstract— The acetone-sensitized irradiation using UV-B (ultraviolet light, 280–320 nm; sunlamps) of thymidyl-yl(3′→5′)deoxyfluorouridine monophosphate produces two main photoproducts. The distribution of these photo-products is dependent on the pH of the irradiation solution. At pH 6, the cis-syn cyclobutane-type photodimer is the major product, whereas at high pH (8–10) a photoadduct is the major product. These photoproducts have been identified and structurally characterized by H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. The photoadduct arises from defluorination of the 5-fluorouracil moiety. The structure of the photoadduct maintains the sugar-phosphate backbone of the starting material (d-TpF), and contains a saturated thymine moiety with an added Thy(C6-hydroxyl) and a Thy(C5)-(C5)Ura covalent bond.
Heterotropic effects on drug-metabolizing enzyme activities: in vitro curiosity emerges as a clinically meaningful phenomenon (perhaps?).

Alterations in cytochrome P4503A4 are the most frequent underlying cause of drug–drug interactions (DDIs). This enzyme exhibits some unusual behaviors; for example, it has been observed that certain inhibitors can affect some CYP3A4-catalyzed reactions more than others, even for the same substrate. This has been proposed to be due to the simultaneous binding of more than one ligand to the enzyme. This behavior has been frequently observed in vitro, but seldom are analogous effects evident in vivo. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2012); 91 3, 385–387. doi:10.1038/clpt.2011.182
Simulation of industrial AC drive system under fault conditions

An industrial motor drive suffers from periodic failures of the DC link aluminum electrolytic capacitor bank. Simulations pinpoint likely causes, including problems with the design of the balancing resistors. Stress on the capacitor can be produced by faults in the inverter and by open-conductor faults in the balancing resistors.
End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide as a Measure of Stress Response to Clustered Nursing Interventions in Neurologic Patients

BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend rest periods between nursing interventions for patients with a neurologic diagnosis but do not specify a safe number of interventions. OBJECTIVES: To examine the physiological stress response to clustered nursing interventions in neurologic patients receiving mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Prospective, comparative, descriptive design to examine effects of clustered interventions (≥6 interventions in a single nursing interaction) versus nonclustered interventions on patients' stress. Stress response was defined as a 10% change in end-tidal carbon dioxide from before the interaction to (1) 5 and 10 minutes after the start of the interaction, (2) at the end of the interaction, and (3) 15 minutes after the interaction. RESULTS: The mean percent change in end-tidal carbon dioxide at 5 minutes differed significantly between patients with clustered interventions and patients with nonclustered interventions (6.7% vs -0.2%; P = .001). Patients with clustered interventions were significantly more likely than patients with low clustering to exhibit a stress response at 5 minutes (24.3% vs 0%; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Neurologic patients receiving mechanical ventilation who experienced 6 or more clustered nursing interventions showed a higher mean change in end-tidal carbon dioxide than did patients who received fewer than 6 clustered interventions. These findings suggest that providing fewer interventions during 1 nursing interaction may minimize induced stress in neurologic patients receiving mechanical ventilation.
Dissolved gas supersaturation and dilution in thermal plumes from steam electric generating stations

Abstract The use of natural waters for waste heat dissipation for steam electric generating stations using once-through cooling, creates potential problems of dissolved gas supersaturation in the thermal discharge plume for fish that can reside in the plume. Computations are presented which show the amount of dissolved gas supersaturation that would be expected in thermal discharge plumes employing offshore high velocity discharge and onshore low velocity discharge. It is predicted that dissolved gas supersaturation problems would be rare for steam electric generating stations utilizing high velocity offshore discharge for cooling water/heat dissipation because of the rapid dilution that occurs in the discharge plume. However, problems of this type would be expected for low velocity discharges. It is also shown that the rate of dilution from high velocity discharges would tend to minimize the environmental impact of chemicals (such as chlorine) used for condenser fouling control.
Yeast cell death during DNA damage arrest is independent of caspase or reactive oxygen species

CDC13 encodes a telomere-binding protein that prevents degradation of telomeres. cdc13-1 yeast grown at the nonpermissive temperature undergo G2/M arrest, progressive chromosome instability, and subsequent cell death. Recently, it has been suggested that cell death in the cdc13-1 mutant is an active process characterized by phenotypic hallmarks of apoptosis and caspase activation. In this work, we show that cell death triggered by cdc13-1 is independent of the yeast metacaspase Yca1p and reactive oxygen species but related to cell cycle arrest per se. Inactivating YCA1 or depleting reactive oxygen species does not increase viability of cdc13-1 cells. In turn, caspase activation does not precede cell death in the cdc13-1 mutant. Yca1p activity assayed by cell binding of mammalian caspase inhibitors is confounded by artifactual labeling of dead yeast cells, which nonspecifically bind fluorochromes. We speculate that during a prolonged cell cycle arrest, cdc13-1 cells reach a critical size and die by cell lysis.
The Clinical Spectrum and Diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection

The clinical, radiographic and microbiological data of 47 patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection admitted to three Norfolk hospitals during a 20-month period between 1982 and 1983 have been reviewed. Thirty-nine presented with pneumonia and eight with non-pulmonary infection. The M. pneumoniae specific IgM test was positive in 42 of 45 patients tested (89 per cent); in 39 the levels were diagnostic on admission. Cold agglutinins were detected in 27 (57 per cent) and a fourfold rise in complement fixation titre was demonstrated in 13 (29 per cent). Sputum culture was positive in 12 (26 per cent). The extrapulmonary manifestations observed were haemolytic anaemia (17 per cent), Stevens Johnson syndrome (4.1 per cent), neurological abnormalities (4.1 per cent), arthritis (2.1 per cent), hepatitis (2.1 per cent) and pericarditis (2.1 per cent). One patient with multilobe pneumonia, pericardial effusion and haemolytic anaemia died. Six patients presented with a history of illness longer than a month; in three the clinical and radiographic picture suggested chronic disease (pulmonary tuberculosis, lymphoma and unresolvlng pneumonia). There were no distinctive clinical or radiographic features of M. pneumoniae infection. Diagnosis, therefore, relies on serological tests of which the most useful is the rapid, specific IgM test, positive in 86 per cent of the admission sera.
A fast object detection algorithm using motion-based region of interest determination

We present a fast algorithm for achieving motion-based object detection in an image sequence. While in most existing object-detection algorithms, segmentation of the image is done as the first step followed by grouping of segments, the proposed algorithm first uses motion information to identify what we call a region of interest. Segmentation (which is computationally very expensive) is done only within a square of interest (whose area is smaller than that of the entire image), which ensures a speed up. The segments are then combined to obtain the final segment, which closely matches the shape of the object to be detected. Since the square of interest is always smaller than the image, the proposed algorithm is 2 to 4 times faster than every existing algorithm for object detection. In terms of the accuracy with which a desired object is detected, the performance of our algorithm is comparable to existing algorithms.
Homologous restriction factor.

It is known that human complement is more efficient at lysing erythrocytes of other species than at lysing homologous erythrocytes. This phenomenon has been called homologous species restriction (Hansch et al. 1981) of complement- mediated hemolysis. Human complement is restricted by at least three proteins known so far. Decay accelerating factor (Nicholson-Weller et al. 1982) is a powerful regulator of cell bound C3/C5 convertase. At the end of the complement cascade, two separate proteins seem to act. The lower molecular weight protein was first isolated as P18 (Sugita et al. 1988) and is also known as IF5 or HRF20 (Okada et al. 1989), MIRL (Holguin et al. 1989), and CD59 (Davies et al. 1989). The other higher molecular weight protein is homologous restriction factor (Zalman et al. 1986a), also known as C8 binding protein (Schonermark et al. 1986) and MIP (Watts et al. 1990). This review will focus on homologous restriction factor.
Use of the Phantom Electrode strategy to improve bass frequency perception for music listening in cochlear implant users

AbstractObjectivesThe Phantom Electrode strategy makes use of partial bipolar stimulation on the two most apical electrodes in an effort to extend the frequency range available to cochlear implant (CI) users. This study aimed to quantify the effect of the Phantom Electrode strategy on bass frequency perception in music listening in CI users.MethodsEleven adult Advanced Bionics users with the Fidelity 120 processing strategy and 16 adult normal hearing (NH) individuals participated in the study. All subjects completed the CI-multiple stimulus with hidden reference and anchor (MUSHRA), a test of an individual's ability to make discriminations in sound quality following the removal of bass frequency information. NH participants completed the CI-MUSHRA once, whereas CI users completed the task twice – once with their baseline clinical program and once with the Phantom Electrode strategy, in random order. CI users’ performance was assessed in comparison with NH performance.ResultsThe Phantom Electrode strategy...
Reactions of human endometrium to the intrauterine device: I. Correlation of the endometrial histology with the bacterial environment of the uterus following short-term insertion of the IUD☆

Abstract The introduction of an intrauterine device through the endocervical canal produces a transient endometrial infection as the result of contamination with bacteria from the cervical mucus. These bacteria are nearly always of low virulence. The response of endometrial tissue to the bacteria and to the polyethylene device is similar to a foreign body reaction in other tissues of the body. In this study a correlation has been established between the length of time following the insertion of an IUD and the intensity and incidence of cell types (plasma cells, mononuclear cells, and neutrophils) found in the endometrium. During the first 6 days following IUD insertion, only neutrophils and mononuclear cells (lymphocytes and monocytes) were present in the endometrial stroma. The period of 7 through 49 days was characterized by the presence of neutrophils, plasma cells, and increasing numbers of mononuclear cells. Even though the bacteria are killed shortly after IUD insertion by the endometrial fluids and cells, the inflammatory cell infiltrates persist for many months in response to the IUD itself. The presence of plasma cells in the endometrium is not pathognomonic of an active bacterial infection, but more commonly represents the residual of a previous endometritis.
Predictive Value of Initial Cervical Length for Subsequent Cervical Length Shortening in Women with a Prior Preterm Birth.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to estimate the predictive value of the initial cervical length (CL) for later CL shortening in women at high risk for recurrent spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB). Materials and METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of a multicenter randomized trial of high-risk women with CL screening scheduled at least every 2 weeks from 16(0/7) to 22(6/7) weeks. Primary outcome was CL < 25 mm or SPTB before follow-up CL; the risk of this outcome was analyzed by initial CL at 16(0/7) to 21(6/7) weeks using multivariable logistic regression and receiver operator curves. RESULTS A total of 786 women were identified in the parent trial; 197 (25.0%) developed CL shortening < 23 weeks, 3 (0.4%) delivered within 2 weeks of initial CL measurement (< 24 weeks), and 586 (74.6%) maintained CL ≥ 25 mm. The covariate-adjusted receiver operator characteristics curve had moderate predictive value (area under the curve = 0.748) but did not reveal a clinically useful CL cutoff. Evaluation of selected CL cutoffs demonstrated that an initial CL ≥39 mm had the greatest negative predictive value (85.1%). No CL cutoff existed above which there was no CL shortening, although at ≥ 39 mm only two patients (1.1%) shortened within 2 weeks as compared with 32 (7.1%) patients whose initial CL was < 39 mm (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION In high-risk patients whose initial CL is ≥ 39 mm, CL shortening or delivery is uncommon in the following 2 weeks. Patients with initial CL above this threshold may require less frequent surveillance.
Should we treat subclinical hypothyroidism in obese children

#### What you need to know Thyroid function tests are often requested when investigating obese or overweight children. Slightly raised thyrotropin (TSH) with normal free thyroxine—subclinical hypothyroidism (hyperthyrotropinaemia)—is a common finding. An isolated raised thyrotropin is best described as hyperthyrotropinaemia rather than subclinical hypothyroidism and by definition excludes people with clinical symptoms, positive thyroid antibodies, goitre, or associated thyroidal illness.1 2 The adult consensus guideline defines it as a thyrotropin value between the upper limit of the local normal range and 10 mIU/L.1 Paediatric reviews have adopted a similar definition and thresholds.3 Reference ranges vary with the laboratory but are typically 0.45-4.5 mIU/L.1 In paediatric practice, as in adults, thyrotropin >10 mIU/L is potentially indicative of overt hypothyroidism.4 An isolated increase in thyrotropin is more common in overweight children, with a reported prevalence of 7-23% in obese children compared with only 2% in normal weight children.4 5 Thus it is unclear whether raised thyrotropin is a cause or consequence of obesity and whether thyroxine should be used to help manage these children’s weight. To ascertain the association between obesity and hyperthyrotropinaemia in children, we searched the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases until February 2015 …
Electrical Properties of Integrated Ta2O5 Metal-Insulator-Metal Capacitors

We demonstrate the feasibility of a Ta2O5-based metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor module which is integrated into the backend-of-the-line of a 0.5 μm CMOS process flow. The demonstration utilizes 6-inch wafers, sputtered Ta2O5 films with TaN and TiN electrodes, reactive ion etch (RIE) processes for defining the capacitor stack, and a metallization scheme which uses hot Al(Cu) and W plugs and a standard forming gas anneal (N2-5% H2). Acceptable electrical properties have been achieved within these processing constraints for the integrated MIM capacitor module, including specific capacitance (C/A) and leakage current density (J) of ≥ 5 fF/μm2 and ≤ 1 pA/pF-V, respectively. In addition, we compare the fundamental properties of the Ta2O5 dielectric with literature reports and point out that leakage mechanisms must be analyzed with care due to significant dielectric relaxation in the films under certain processing/measurement conditions. For the baseline integrated films, we confirm that leakage is most consistent with a Poole-Frenkel mechanism.
Adolescent sexual minority girls are at elevated risk for use of multiple substances

ABSTRACTBackground: Sexual minority youth, especially girls, are at risk for alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use when these substances are examined individually. However, little is known about concurrent use of these substances (i.e., three-substance use) in relation to sexual orientation. Objectives: The present study compared profiles of past year alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use between SMGs and heterosexual girls. In addition, because internalizing and externalizing symptoms are associated with substance use, we examined whether sexual orientation was associated with substance use profile over and above co-occurring psychopathology. Methods: Mixture modeling was used to identify patterns of alcohol (including binge drinking), cigarette, and marijuana use in the past year using a cross-sectional sample of urban adolescent girls (Pittsburgh Girls Study; N = 2,064; mean age = 17). Approximately 8% (n = 173) of the girls endorsed a lesbian or bisexual identity. Results: Five substance using classes...
Bio mathematical venture for the metallic nanoparticles due to ciliary motion

The effect of cilia motion is deliberated by the fluid model of metallic nanoparticles.Two types of fluid nanoparticles (i.e. Cu Water nanofluid and pure Water nanofluid) are discussed.The problem is formulated in a symmetric channel with ciliated walls.Exact solutions of the governing problem are obtained for pressure gradient, temperature and velocities of the fluid.Streamlines for the velocity profile are plotted to discuss the trapping phenomenon. Background and ObjectivesThe present investigation is associated with the contemporary study of viscous flow in a vertical tube with ciliary motion. Methods/Results/ConclusionsThe main flow problem has been modeled using cylindrical coordinates; flow equations are simplified to ordinary differential equations using longwave length and low Reynold's number approximation; and exact solutions have been obtained for velocity, pressure gradient and temperature. Results acquired are discussed graphically for better understanding. Streamlines for the velocity profile are plotted to discuss the trapping phenomenon. It is seen that with an increment in the Grashof number, the velocity of the governing fluids starts to decrease significantly.
Promoting Student Academic Achievement Through Faculty Development about Inclusive Teaching

The achievement and equity gap between majority students and underrepresented minority students, first generation college students, and low socio-economic status undergraduate students is a pervasi...
The role of steroid hormone supplementation in non–assisted reproductive technology treatments for unexplained infertility

Fertility treatment strategies are evolving, with a more rapid transition to assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments after unsuccessful non-ART treatments. This trend increases the potential importance of adjuvant treatments in non-ART cycles, such as steroid hormone supplementation. It has been established that success rates of ART treatments are increased with the use of luteal support with progesterone. In the setting of non-ART cycles, however, the evidence is less clear, and clinical practices vary widely between providers and clinics. In this review, we aimed to provide an overview of the current evidence for the use of steroid hormone supplementation, including progesterone for luteal support, estrogens, androgens, and mineralocorticoids, in the setting of non-ART treatments for ovulatory women.
Outcasts of Empire: Japan's Rule on Taiwan's "Savage Border," 1874-1945

Outcasts of Empire unveils the causes and consequences of capitalism’s failure to “batter down all Chinese walls” in modern Taiwan. Adopting micro- and macrohistorical perspectives, Paul D. Barclay argues that the interpreters, chiefs, and trading-post operators who mediated state-society relations on Taiwan’s “savage border” during successive Qing and Japanese regimes rose to prominence and faded to obscurity in concert with a series of “long nineteenth century” global transformations. Superior firepower and large economic reserves ultimately enabled Japanese statesmen to discard mediators on the border and sideline a cohort of indigenous headmen who played both sides of the fence to maintain their chiefly status. Even with reluctant “allies” marginalized, however, the colonial state lacked sufficient resources to integrate Taiwan’s indigenes into its disciplinary apparatus. The colonial state therefore created the Indigenous Territory, which exists to this day as a legacy of Japanese imperialism, local initiatives, and the global commodification of culture. “Sophisticated and engaging. This highly original narrative of a formative period will be of great interest to all those concerned with comparative colonial history.” NICHOLAS THOMAS, Professor of Historical Anthropology, University of Cambridge “A multisided and multiscale analysis—incorporating global, regional, and local scales— embedded in a coherent and compelling narrative.” PRASENJIT DUARA, Oscar Tang Professor of East Asian Studies, Duke University “Analytically precise and theoretically ambitious. A must-read for anyone interested in the fate of indigenous peoples under modern colonialism.” LOUISE YOUNG, author of Japan’s Total Empire: Manchuria and the Culture of Wartime Imperialism PAUL D. BARCLAY is Professor of History at Lafayette College. He is also general editor of the East Asia Image Collection , an open-access online digital repository of historical materials.
Why Some Goods Are Free

Economists spend a great deal of time explaining how market prices are determined, and almost all of that time is spent explaining why prices are positive (above zero). Their price analyses almost always reinforce an often-repeated quip: “There is no such thing as a free lunch.”
Identifying and Mapping Skill Development Opportunities Through Pharmacy Student Organization Involvement.

Objective. To describe a process for identifying skills that students can gain through co-curricular involvement and to map these skills to curricular outcomes.Methods. This pilot study used a mixe...
Social Work, Disenfranchised Communities, and the Natural Environment: Field Education Opportunities

Minority and lower socioeconomic communities face disproportionate exposure to the growing threat from natural environment hazards such as toxic waste. The author places an expanding field of social work practice in the context of the profession’s historic commitment to social welfare, justice, and equity. She describes specialized knowledge, the application of social work skills, ethical issues, and strategies for integrating environmental equity into practica training in a framework for field education. In addition, she examines opportunities for social work educators and students to contribute to the resolution of environmental hazard, across multiple intervention levels, for foundation and concentration practica.
Assessing model parameters sensitivity and uncertainty of streamflow, sediment, and nutrient transport using SWAT

Abstract The objectives of this study were to (1) simulate streamflow, total sediment (TS), total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) loads; and (2) use the sequential uncertainty fitting (SUFI-2) algorithm to quantify the model parameter sensitivity and uncertainty in simulating streamflow, TS, TP, and TN loads using Soil and Water Assessment (SWAT) model in Big Sunflower River watershed (BSRW). The model was calibrated from 1996 to 2003 and validated from 2004 to 2010 for daily streamflow, TS load, TP load, and TN load. The model performed well simulating daily streamflow (R2 = 0.58–0.75, NSE = 0.47–0.75), TS load (R2 = 0.50–0.72, NSE = 0.47–0.66), and TP load (R2 = 0.79–0.82, NSE = 0.73–0.77), and the model performance was slightly low for TN load (R2 = 0.13–0.31, NSE = −0.09 to 0.07). This study determined that parameter uncertainty was greatest for simulating TN load (p-factor = 0.48, r-factor = 1.25) and that parameter uncertainty was lowest for simulating streamflow (p-factor = 0.70–0.78, r-factor = 1.18–1.19). Output uncertainty was much greater during peak streamflow and peak pollutant loads compared to periods of low streamflow and low pollutant loads. The sensitivity analyses found that streamflow was most sensitive to Manning’s roughness coefficient for the main channel (CH_N2), TS load was most sensitive the peak rate adjustment factor for sediment routing in the tributary channels (ADJ_PKR), TP load was most sensitive to the Phosphorus enrichment ratio for loading with sediments (ERORGP), and TN load was most sensitive to the denitrification exponential rate coefficient (CDN). Uncertainty was found to be much greater during peak streamflow and peak pollutant loads compared to periods of low streamflow and low pollutant loads.
Anle138b prevents PrP plaque accumulation in Tg(PrP-A116V) mice but does not mitigate clinical disease.

Anle138b is an anti-aggregating compound previously shown to delay the onset of scrapie, a transmissible prion disease, although its in vivo efficacy against other prion disease subtypes has not been fully assessed. TgGSS mice that model Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease (GSS) via expression of mouse PrPA116V accumulate PrP amyloid plaques in their brains and develop progressive ataxia leading to death in ~160 days. When allowed to feed on food pellets containing anle138b from weaning until death, the brains of TgGSS mice displayed significant reductions in PrP plaque burden, insoluble PrP, and proteinase K-resistant PrPSc at end stage, compared with TgGSS mice allowed to feed on placebo food pellets. Despite these effects on biological markers of disease, there was no difference in the onset of symptoms or the age at death between the two treatment groups. In contrast, scrapie-inoculated wild-type mice treated with anle138b survived nearly twice as long (254 days) as scrapie-inoculated mice fed placebo (~136 days). They also displayed greater reductions in insoluble and PK-resistant PrPSc than TgGSS mice. Although these results support an anti-aggregating effect of anle138b, the discordance in clinical efficacy noted between the two prion disease models tested underscores the pathophysiological differences between them and highlights the need to consider differences in susceptibilities among prion subtypes when assessing potential therapies for prion diseases.
A model for mapping between the human and rodent cerebral cortex.

Iterative interactions between functional brain imaging in humans and mechanistic research in other animals hold great promise for understanding and treating mental health and neurological disorders. One way to accelerate discovery in this domain is to develop a unified, widely accepted vocabulary for describing structural and functional localization in the mammalian brain. To facilitate generation of such a defined nomenclature we begun by creating a table for direct mapping between terms for describing cerebral cortex parcellation according to six schemes in human, three schemes in mouse, and two schemes in rat. Use, refinement, and expansion of this model could lead to the development of a standardized structural neuroscience terminology, such as those long employed successfully in fields like chemistry, electrical engineering, and the naming of species.
Urban and agricultural soils in Southern California are a reservoir of carbapenem-resistant bacteria.

Carbapenems are last-resort β-lactam antibiotics used in healthcare facilities to treat multidrug-resistant infections. Thus, most studies on identifying and characterizing carbapenem-resistant bacteria (CRB) have focused on clinical settings. Relatively, little is still known about the distribution and characteristics of CRBs in the environment, and the role of soil as a potential reservoir of CRB in the United States remains unknown. Here, we have surveyed 11 soil samples from 9 different urban or agricultural locations in the Los Angeles-Southern California area to determine the prevalence and characteristics of CRB in these soils. All samples tested contained CRB with a frequency of <10 to 1.3 × 104 cfu per gram of soil, with most agricultural soil samples having a much higher relative frequency of CRB than urban soil samples. Identification and characterization of 40 CRB from these soil samples revealed that most of them were members of the genera Cupriavidus, Pseudomonas, and Stenotrophomonas. Other less prevalent genera identified among our isolated CRB, especially from agricultural soils, included the genera Enterococcus, Bradyrhizobium, Achromobacter, and Planomicrobium. Interestingly, all of these carbapenem-resistant isolates were also intermediate or resistant to at least 1 noncarbapenem antibiotic. Further characterization of our isolated CRB revealed that 11 Stenotrophomonas, 3 Pseudomonas, 1 Enterococcus, and 1 Bradyrhizobium isolates were carbapenemase producers. Our findings show for the first time that both urban and agricultural soils in Southern California are an underappreciated reservoir of bacteria resistant to carbapenems and other antibiotics, including carbapenemase-producing CRB.
A Simplified Formulation of Likelihood Ratio Confidence Intervals Using a Novel Property

This article describes a novel property of likelihood ratio (LR) confidence intervals which is subsequently used to formulate an alternative approach for their calculation. It is shown that LR conf...
Simultaneous Decision Making for Stochastic Multi-echelon Inventory Optimization with Deep Neural Networks as Decision Makers

We propose a framework that uses deep neural networks (DNN) to optimize inventory decisions in complex multi-echelon supply chains. We first introduce pairwise modeling of general stochastic multi-echelon inventory optimization (SMEIO). Then, we present a framework which uses DNN agents to directly determine order-up-to levels between any adjacent pair of nodes in the supply chain. Our model considers a finite horizon and accounts for the initial inventory conditions. Our method is suitable for a wide variety of supply chain networks, including general topologies that may contain both assembly and distribution nodes, and systems with nonlinear cost structures. We first numerically demonstrate the effectiveness of the method by showing that its solutions are close to the optimal solutions for single-node and serial supply chain networks, for which exact methods are available. Then, we investigate more general supply chain networks and find that the proposed method performs better in terms of both objective function values and the number of interactions with the environment compared to alternate methods.
Modeling the cardiovascular toxicities of anticancer therapies in the era of precision medicine

Abstract Recent advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment have conferred drastic improvements in patient outcomes. With improved survivorship, cardiovascular diseases have emerged as a significant adverse effect of cancer treatment, increasing the demand for cardiooncology services. A broad range of chemotherapeutic agents have now been associated with adverse cardiovascular events and are likely to have significant effects on patient outcomes. It is, therefore, of intense and pressing interest to develop tractable preclinical models capable of elucidating the precise mechanisms of drug-induced cardiotoxicity. The emergence of new technologies, including human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), genome editing, and tissue engineering, offers a precision medicine-based strategy for the preclinical prediction of chemotherapy-associated cardiotoxicity. This chapter discusses recent advances in cardiotoxicity testing for anticancer therapies with an emphasis on iPSC-derived cardiovascular in vitro models.