cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response to Gut Reactions

1. The same familiar emotion words, fear, anger, disgust, etc., are central to the working vocabularies of two different sets of disciplines. In the moral sciences rhetoric, ethics, political economy, sociology, anthropology, psychoanalysis they name robustly contentful standing states of a person with characteristic roles (sometimes supportive, sometimes disruptive) in our ongoing efforts to think and act and value in ways that can pass muster as rational. In the new experimental affective sciences tracing their origins to Darwin and William James, they name recurrent but inherently short-lived states of patterned arousal, triggered (typically) by face-to-face encounters with their appropriate objects and involving characteristic physiological changes, characteristic bodily expressions, characteristic action tendencies, and characteristic changes in the way we perceive and think and feel for as long as they last. These latter states have clear counterparts in animals we don't view as thinking or acting or valuing in any full sense of the terms. It would be nice if we could persuade ourselves the two groups of sciences had seized hold of a single underlying subject matter by two different sets of conceptual handles, in something of the way students of weather and students of climate have seized hold of a single underlying subject matter the atmosphere and its changes by different but similarly named sets of handles. The moral sciences are rich in candidate explanations but poor in promising investigative techniques; so far, the new affective sciences are rich in techniques but poor in explanations. So far both groups of sciences differentiate what they call emotions by means of an untidy mix of different criteria, none of which enjoys any obvious priority over the others. Each group of sciences might look to the other for new and more perspicuous ways of arranging its own materials. Yet there are formidable obstacles to viewing emotions and their study in this hopeful light.
Adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy with dacarbazine in high‐risk childhood melanoma

Four of four children with clinical Stage II-IIIB childhood melanoma treated at The University of Texas System Cancer Center M.D. Anderson Hospital with surgical excision of gross disease and adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy with dimethyl triazeno-imidazole carboxamide (dacarbazine) were alive without evidence of disease at 2, 6, 9.5, and 10.5 years after treatment. In one of the four patients suspected pulmonary nodules developed shortly after the start of chemotherapy, but regressed completely with continued treatment. In another patient with a primary left wrist melanoma and palpable epitrochlear and axillary nodes, there was dramatic shrinkage of nodal disease during chemotherapy and subsequent biopsies were cytologically negative. The expected survival of children with this rare condition when diagnosed at a comparably advanced stage and treated primarily by surgery is 32% compared with the 100% survival in these four cases. Although dacarbazine has not been notably successful as adjuvant therapy in high-risk adult melanoma, data from this small series is suggestive of an adjuvant effect in high-risk childhood melanoma and merits further study although the rarity of this condition may make a controlled trial difficult.
A framework for development of surface smoothing procedures in large deformation frictional contact analysis

This paper presents a variational framework and numerical implementation strategy for contact smoothing algorithms in large deformation finite element analysis. Since traditional approaches in contact mechanics enforce kinematic constraints defined in terms of faceted surfaces introduced by finite element discretizations, large sliding problems in particular tend to induce nonphysical oscillations in contact forces and nonlinear equation solving difficulties associated with the discontinuities in the contact surface geometry. The formulation presented herein is shown to circumvent these issues, improving the robustness of the numerical procedure and eliminating many of the contact force oscillations given by more traditional procedures.
The locally 2-arc transitive graphs admitting an almost simple group of Suzuki type

In this paper, seven families of vertex-intransitive locally (G,2)-arc transitive graphs are constructed, where Sz(q)=
A recursive analysis technique for multi-dimensionally infinite Markov chains

Performance analysis of multiserver systems with multiple classes of jobs often has a common source of difficulty: the state space needed to capture the system behavior grows infinitely in multiple dimensions. For example, consider two processors, each serving its own M/M/1 queue, where one of the processors (the "donor") can help the other processor (the "beneficiary") with its jobs, during times when the donor processor is idle [5, 16] or when some threshold conditions are met [14, 15]. Since the behavior of beneficiary jobs depends on the number of donor jobs in system, performance analysis of beneficiary jobs involves a two dimensionally infinite (2D-infinite) state space, where one dimension corresponds to the number of beneficiary jobs and the other dimension corresponds to the number of donor jobs. Another example is an M/M/2 queue with two priority classes, where high priority jobs have preemptive priority over low priority jobs (see for example [1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17] and references therein). Since the behavior of low priority jobs depends on the number of high priority jobs in system, performance analysis of low priority jobs involves 2D-infinite state space, where each dimension corresponds to the number of each class of jobs in system. As we will see, when there are m priority classes, performance analysis of the lowest priority classes involves m dimensionally infinite state space.
Alternative kinetic models for the interpretation of amino acid enantiomeric ratios in Pleistocene mollusks: Examples from California, Washington, and Florida

Alternative kinetic models for amino acid racemization in Pleistocene molluscan samples are compared by examination of results for samples from marine Pleistocene deposits in California, Washington, and Florida. Linear kinetic models previously have been applied to the Florida samples [Mitterer, R.M. (1975). Earth and Planetary Science Letters 28, 275–282.] because these kinetics were observed in laboratory pyrolysis experiments with the particular genus involved (Mercenaria). Nonlinear kinetic models, extrapolated from deep-sea foraminifera racemization kinetics, are applied to samples of Protothaca and Saxidomus from California and Washington and seem more consistent with their local chronologic and stratigraphic control. Average or effective diagenetic temperatures can be estimated by each of these models if reliably dated samples are available. Linear models applied to such samples from California and Florida suggest average diagenetic temperatures that are cooler (by as much as 10°C) than would be inferred from available paleoclimatic records. Nonlinear kinetic models yield estimates of average diagenetic temperatures that are more consistent with these records: full-glacial (i.e., approximately 18,000 yr BP) temperature reductions of between 2 and 6°C are inferred for coastal California and southern Florida. The nonlinear kinetic model is used to expand (by a factor of 2.5 to 3.0) the time scale proposed by Mitterer (1975) for five marine Pleistocene units of Florida.
Explosive plasma releases in the earth's ionosphere

The Trigger and Buaro experiments and the University of Alaska's radial shaped charge experiment, which were conducted to actively probe the ionosphere with expanding plasmas are described. Emphasis is on the Trigger experiment, which has a Cs release with spherical geometry. Transient events occurring after Cs detonation include the production of a 200 mV/m electric field pulse, and the precipitation of energetic electrons. Future applications are also discussed, and include in situ measurements of the radial shaped experiment from a mother-daughter payload.
Key antecedents of executive information system success: a path analytic approach

Abstract Over the past decade, a number of firms have been developing Executive Information Systems (EIS) to support their executives and managers. This paper draws upon the existing literature in EIS to explain key factors affecting EIS success. The study uses data collected from sixty-nine firms to examine the relationships between top management support, IS support, vendor/consultant support, and EIS success. A structural equation model is proposed to assess the relationships among these constructs. EQS is employed to empirically test the theoretical model and hypothesized relationships. The results indicate that IS support in EIS efforts is directly related to EIS success and that both IS support and vendor/consultant support in EIS efforts are influenced by top management support. No direct links between vendor/consultant support and EIS success, and between top management support and EIS success were found. However, high levels of top management support indirectly influence EIS success by creating a supportive context for the IS organization and vendors/consultant undertakings in a firm's EIS efforts. Implications of these findings for practitioners and researchers are outlined.
Special Education in Content Area Classes Development of a Model and Practical Procedures

Serving students with special needs in content area classes is a difficult issue. At the policy level, roles are not clearly articulated to help special and general educators demarcate responsibilities and working relationships. At the practical classroom level, strategies have not been clearly identified to define what and how content information should be taught to students with special needs. This study describes the results of a pilot investigation that focused on a range of variables in serving special education students in a science classroom. Data from several sources were collected to better understand the relationship between curriculum content, instruction, and assessment. The data confirm that if students are to be helped, special educators need to better understand how content area teachers prioritize instruction and assessment.
Public Engagement in Supportive Communication Behaviors toward an Organization: Effects of Relational Satisfaction and Organizational Reputation in Public Relations Management

Over the years, the understanding of the link between organization–public relationships and reputation constructs and their attitudinal and behavioral outcomes has advanced considerably. The Excell...
The Importance of Modern Teaching Labs

Engineers in Large Numbers are Needed to Realize the promises of renewable power generation, energy storage, reliable delivery, efficient end use, and the smart grid. However, many professional, trade, and research organizations including IEEE, Edison Electric Institute, and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) are predicting massive workforce shortages in the electric energy area. Just when inevitable large-scale retirements loom in the power industries and an effective power education system is most needed, power programs at many universities have stagnated and are in need of major reform, and power faculty members are nearing retirement age.
A low- and high-temperature superconducting NMR magnet: design and performance results

A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) magnet comprised of low- and high-temperature superconducting (LTS/HTS) coils has been built and operated at a frequency of 360 MHz. The magnet operates at 4.2 K with the LTS background coil operated in persistent mode, while the HTS insert is in driven mode. The HTS insert is an assembly of 50 double pancakes, each wound with Bi-2223/Ag tape. The paper describes design and performance results of the LTS/HTS magnet.
Portable Monitors in the Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The use of portable monitors (PM) devices has been demonstrated in a wide variety of investigational settings with varying results. While most devices correlate very well with in-laboratory polysomnography, some still misclassify a significant numbers of patients and have lower sensitivity. In addition, the failure rate of PM devices is higher than that of in-laboratory polysomnography, requiring repeated investigations. Nonetheless, these devices may reduce the waiting time for diagnosis and could potentially decrease costs. Cost-effectiveness studies have yet to demonstrate an advantage to using PM devices, although their employed modeling techniques may not accurately reflect prevailing practices. The majority of third-party payers do not reimburse unattended studies and consider them still to be investigational. Some health maintenance organizations have begun to recognize PM-based studies in their diagnostic algorithms and will cover their cost; others may do so on a case-by-case basis. There continues to be a dearth of evidence to support widespread implementation of PM devices for use within the general population. Larger-scale validation studies in patients with lower pretest probabilities and a wide range of comorbidities are needed.
ASSOCIATION OF CALCIUM WITH MEMBRANES OF SQUID GIANT AXON Ultrastructure and Microprobe Analysis

Giant axons from the squid, Loligo pealei, were fixed in glutaraldehyde and posttixed in osmium tetroxide. Calcium chloride (5 mM/liter) was added to all aqueous solutions used for tissue processing. Electron-opaque deposits were found along the axonal plasma membranes, within mitochondria, and along the basal plasma membranes of Schwann ceils. X-ray microprobe analysis (EMMA-4) yielded signals for calcium and phosphorus when deposits were probed, whereas these elements were not detected in the axoplasm.
The Younger Dryas cold interval as viewed from central Greenland

Abstract Greenland ice-core records provide an exceptionally clear picture of many aspects of abrupt climate changes, and particularly of those associated with the Younger Dryas event, as reviewed here. Well-preserved annual layers can be counted confidently, with only ≈1% errors for the age of the end of the Younger Dryas ≈11,500 years before present. Ice-flow corrections allow reconstruction of snow accumulation rates over tens of thousands of years with little additional uncertainty. Glaciochemical and particulate data record atmospheric-loading changes with little uncertainty introduced by changes in snow accumulation. Confident paleothermometry is provided by site-specific calibrations using ice-isotopic ratios, borehole temperatures, and gas-isotopic ratios. Near-simultaneous changes in ice-core paleoclimatic indicators of local, regional, and more-widespread climate conditions demonstrate that much of the Earth experienced abrupt climate changes synchronous with Greenland within thirty years or less. Post-Younger Dryas changes have not duplicated the size, extent and rapidity of these paleoclimatic changes.
Performance of Relaxed-Clock Methods in Estimating Evolutionary Divergence Times and Their Credibility Intervals

The rapid expansion of sequence data and the development of statistical approaches that embrace varying evolutionary rates among lineages have encouraged many more investigators to use DNA and protein data to time species divergences. Here, we report results from a systematic evaluation, by means of computer simulation, of the performance of two frequently used relaxed-clock methods for estimating these times and their credibility intervals (CrIs). These relaxed-clock methods allow rates to vary in a phylogeny randomly over lineages (e.g., BEAST software) and in autocorrelated fashion (e.g., MultiDivTime software). We applied these methods for analyzing sequence data sets simulated using naturally derived parameters (evolutionary rates, sequence lengths, and base substitution patterns) and assuming that clock calibrations are known without error. We find that the estimated times are, on average, close to the true times as long as the assumed model of lineage rate changes matches the actual model. The 95% CrIs also contain the true time for ≥95% of the simulated data sets. However, the use of incorrect lineage rate model reduces this frequency to 83%, indicating that the relaxed-clock methods are not robust to the violation of underlying lineage rate model. Because these rate models are rarely known a priori and are difficult to detect empirically, we suggest building composite CrIs using CrIs produced from MultiDivTime and BEAST analysis. These composite CrIs are found to contain the true time for ≥97% data sets. Our analyses also verify the usefulness of the common practice of interpreting the congruence of times inferred from different methods as a reflection of the accuracy of time estimates. Overall, our results show that simple strategies can be used to enhance our ability to estimate times and their CrIs when using the relaxed-clock methods.
Identification of cartilage injury using quantitative multiphoton microscopy.

Summary Objective Cartilage injury can lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Immediate post-trauma cellular and structural changes are not widely understood. Furthermore, current cellular-resolution cartilage imaging techniques require sectioning of cartilage and/or use of dyes not suitable for patient imaging. In this study, we used multiphoton microscopy (MPM) data with FDA-approved sodium fluorescein to identify and evaluate the pattern of chondrocyte death after traumatic injury. Method Mature equine distal metacarpal or metatarsal osteochondral blocks (OCBs) were injured by 30 MPa compressive loading delivered over 1 s. Injured and control sites were imaged unfixed and in situ 1 h post-injury with sodium fluorescein using rasterized z-scanning. MPM data was quantified in MATLAB, reconstructed in 3-D, and projected in 2-D to determine the damage pattern. Results MPM images (600 per sample) were reconstructed and analyzed for cell death. The overall distribution of cell death appeared to cluster into circular ( n = 7) or elliptical ( n = 4) patterns ( p = 0.006). Dead cells were prevalent near cracks in the matrix, with only 26.3% (SE = 5.0%, p Conclusion This study demonstrates the first application of MPM for evaluating cellular-scale cartilage injury in situ in live tissue, with clinical potential for detecting early cartilage damage. With this technique, we were able to uniquely observe two death patterns resulting from the same compressive loading, which may be related to local variability in matrix structure. These results also demonstrate proof-of-concept MPM diagnostic use in detecting subtle and early cartilage damage not detectable in any other way.
The life activities achievement scale: an ACT-frequency approach to the measurement of motivation

The TAT has long been considered the measure of choice for capturing operant aspects of achievement motivation. Not only does the psychometric integrity of the TAT continue to be challenged, but the instrument is cumbersome and inefficient for use in a research setting. Thus, there remains a need for a measure of achievement motivation that is easy to administer, is psychometrically sound, and has the interpretive depth of a projective test. The Life Activities Achievement Scale (LAAS), based on an act-frequency approach, was developed to meet this need. A sample of 414 undergraduates completed the LAAS and a variety of other person and performance measures, including the TAT. The results showed certain LAAS scales to correlate significantly with TAT scores and with other operant and respondent achievement criteria. The act-frequency approach is seen as offering a promising method for assessing operant motivation.
Understanding the nature of software evolution

Over the past several years, we have been developing methods of measuring the change characteristics of evolving software systems. Not all changes to software systems are equal. Some changes to these systems are very small and have low impact on the system as a whole. Other changes are substantial and have a very large impact of the fault proneness of the complete system. In this study we will identify the sources of variation in the set of software metrics used to measure the system. We will then study the change characteristics to the system over a large number of builds. We have begun a new investigation in these areas in collaboration with a flight software technology development effort at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and have progressed in resolving the limitations of the earlier work in two distinct steps. First, we have developed a standard for the enumeration of faults. This new standard permits software faults to be measured precisely and accurately. Second, we have developed a practical framework for automating the measurement of these faults. This new standard and fault measurement process was then applied to a software system's structural evolution during its development. Every change to the software system was measured and every fault was identified and tracked to a specific code module. The measurement process was implemented in a network appliance, minimizing the impact of measurement activities on development efforts and enabling the comparison of measurements across multiple development efforts. In this paper, we analyze the measurements of structural evolution and fault counts obtained from the JPL flight software technology development effort. Our results indicate that the measures of structural attributes of the evolving software system are suitable for forming predictors of the number of faults inserted into software modules during their development, and that some types of change are more likely to result in the insertion of faults than others. The new fault standard also insures that the model so developed has greater predictive validity.
Synthesis of a Au44(SR)28 nanocluster: structure prediction and evolution from Au28(SR)20, Au36(SR)24 to Au44(SR)28

We report the synthesis of a Au44(SR)28 nanocluster (SR = 4-tert-butylbenzenethiolate). Based on the structural rules learned from the known Au28(SR)20 and Au36(SR)24 structures, we propose a plausible structure for Au44(SR)28, which is predicted to comprise a six-interpenetrating cuboctahedral Au36 kernel protected by four dimeric staples and sixteen bridging thiolates, i.e. Au36[Au2(SR)3]4(SR)16.
Path behavior of processes with stationary independent increments

Let X = {X(t), t >= 0} be a stochastic process in R N with stationary, independent increments; suppose X is defined on some probability space (~, ~, P). We may (and will) assume that the paths of X are right continuous and have left limits at each point. We also assume throughout that X(0) = 0. If ~Pdu) is the (N-dimensional) characteristic function of X(t), then necessarily (see [4, 13, 16]) ~pt(u)= exp { ttp (u)}, where
Empirically Supported Treatments (ESTs) in Perspective Implications for Counseling Psychology Training

There is a strong movement toward employing only evidence-based treatments or empirically validated treatments (EVTs) in delivering psychological services. This movement is affecting professional practice, research, and training now and will continue to be influential far into the future. Efficacious treatments attempt to respond successfully to three prominent realms challenging psychology’s professional integrity: practicing psychologists’ applications, scientific certainty, and marketplace demands. In addition, training efficacy and adherence to ethical principles must be considered regarding adopting EVTs. Although the successful blending of these domains holds forth great potential for enriching training and practice, consolidating these areas may obscure elements essential to each pursuit. This article reviews both the merits and concerns the EVT movement holds forth for the counseling psychology profession. Recommendations are offered for integrating EVT knowledge into coursework and practica training.
A Large Margin Approach to Anaphora Resolution for Neuroscience Knowledge Discovery

A discriminative large margin classifier based approach to anaphora resolution for neuroscience abstracts is presented. The system employs both syntactic and semantic features. A support vector machine based word sense disambiguation method combining evidence from three methods, that use WordNet and Wikipedia, is also introduced and used for semantic features. The support vector machine anaphora resolution classifier with probabilistic outputs achieved almost four-fold improvement in accuracy over the baseline method.
Top-down proteomics reveals a unique protein S-thiolation switch in Salmonella Typhimurium in response to infection-like conditions

Characterization of the mature protein complement in cells is crucial for a better understanding of cellular processes on a systems-wide scale. Toward this end, we used single-dimension ultra–high-pressure liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to investigate the comprehensive “intact” proteome of the Gram-negative bacterial pathogen Salmonella Typhimurium. Top-down proteomics analysis revealed 563 unique proteins including 1,665 proteoforms generated by posttranslational modifications (PTMs), representing the largest microbial top-down dataset reported to date. We confirmed many previously recognized aspects of Salmonella biology and bacterial PTMs, and our analysis also revealed several additional biological insights. Of particular interest was differential utilization of the protein S-thiolation forms S-glutathionylation and S-cysteinylation in response to infection-like conditions versus basal conditions. This finding of a S-glutathionylation-to-S-cysteinylation switch in a condition-specific manner was corroborated by bottom-up proteomics data and further by changes in corresponding biosynthetic pathways under infection-like conditions and during actual infection of host cells. This differential utilization highlights underlying metabolic mechanisms that modulate changes in cellular signaling, and represents a report of S-cysteinylation in Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, the functional relevance of these PTMs was supported by protein structure and gene deletion analyses. The demonstrated utility of our simple proteome-wide intact protein level measurement strategy for gaining biological insight should promote broader adoption and applications of top-down proteomics approaches.
Promoting cooperation among strangers to access Internet services from an ad hoc network

Via peer-to-peer sharing, we envision highly mobile users cooperating by sharing telecommunication connections to support a continuous messaging notification channel. Peer-to-peer sharing would enable a reduction of users' telecommunication charges and devices' battery consumption. Nevertheless, without a centralized trust authority, people lack the incentive to cooperate with a group of strangers. We present a new distributed trust framework and a credit system to solve this problem. Trust is evaluated based on a user's own experience and information obtained from others. The credit system is built on top of the trust system to ensure that each user appropriately takes turns providing the proxy service for the group of peers. No centralized authority or long-term accountability is needed. Simulation results demonstrate that this framework is stable and efficient. Fairness is maintained among users and each user may benefit in proportion to its contribution to the group.
Work in progress - teaching diversity one minute at a time

Diversity and globalization are both buzzwords in engineering education. How can these concepts be successfully integrated into a curriculum such that they avoid sacrificing content, pique student interest, and provide measurable learning outcomes? Many instructors have diverse experiences or origins, yet rarely are details shared with students. The diversity minute is an effective way of transmitting knowledge and understanding of diverse cultures or viewpoints without sacrificing valuable class time. It is simply a one or two minute break between sections of a class period where the instructor fields questions about their diverse experiences, cultural background, or other perspectives. Students find these minutes refreshing while their brains process the previous lecture information and prepare them mentally for the next part of the class. Over a full semester, these breaks can add up to approximately one class period, which is substantial enough to construct a reasonably coherent picture of a culture or diverse perspective that may otherwise never enter the classroom.
A ribozyme that triphosphorylates RNA 5′-hydroxyl groups

The RNA world hypothesis describes a stage in the early evolution of life in which RNA served as genome and as the only genome-encoded catalyst. To test whether RNA world organisms could have used cyclic trimetaphosphate as an energy source, we developed an in vitro selection strategy for isolating ribozymes that catalyze the triphosphorylation of RNA 5'-hydroxyl groups with trimetaphosphate. Several active sequences were isolated, and one ribozyme was analyzed in more detail. The ribozyme was truncated to 96 nt, while retaining full activity. It was converted to a trans-format and reacted with rates of 0.16 min(-1) under optimal conditions. The secondary structure appears to contain a four-helical junction motif. This study showed that ribozymes can use trimetaphosphate to triphosphorylate RNA 5'-hydroxyl groups and suggested that RNA world organisms could have used trimetaphosphate as their energy source.
Imaging evaluation of penetrating neck injuries.

Historical and current management of penetrating injuries to the neck is reviewed, and the role of imaging in evaluation of penetrating neck injuries and their imaging appearances are presented, with a special focus on multidetector CT angiography.
Diacylglycerol and fatty acids synergistically increase cardiomyocyte contraction via activation of PKC.

Lipid signaling pathways are thought to play a prominent role in transducing extracellular signals into contractile responses in cardiac muscle. Two putative lipid messengers, diacyglycerol and ara...
Animate Objects: Shell Trumpets and Ritual Networks in the Greater Southwest

For over a millennium, shell trumpets have been an important part of Southwestern US ritual practice. We investigate the distribution of Southwestern shell trumpets, arguing that they are objects that are accorded animacy and can be used to track the history of different social networks. Using ethnohistoric and ethnographic documentation, at least two traditions of historically linked ritual practices are identified: one associated with serpent iconography and the other with curing, warfare, and sorcery. These two traditions represent enduring dispositions that link various regions of the Southwest through the introduction and adoption of ritual practices associated with migration and the transformation of late prehistoric societies.
Taiwanese adolescents’ gender differences in knowledge and attitudes towards menstruation

The purpose of the study was to explore gender differences in knowledge and attitudes towards menstruation among Taiwanese adolescents. This study was a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional comparison study conducted in Taiwan. A total of 287 female and 269 male students at a junior high school participated in the study. The results showed that almost all the students had heard about menstruation and most of them had received menstrual information at school. However, their knowledge about menstruation was not accurate. Moreover, the male students expressed more negative attitudes towards menstruation than the female students. Taboos were heard by most students and, although many female students doubted the reality of the taboos they had heard, they observed them anyway. The study calls for an evaluation of sex education and suggests more open discussions about menstruation among young people in those education sessions. In addition, school nurses and obstetrical/gynecological nurses should be involved more in adolescents' sexual education.
Axolemma—Ectoplasm Complex and Mechanical Responses of the Axon Membrane

The layer of axoplasm located directly underneath the axolemma is rich in fibrillar elements, such as microtubules, neurofilaments, and actin filaments (Metuzals and Izzard, 1969; Metuzals and Tasaki, 1978; Hodge and Adelman, 1980). An extensive destruction of this layer by intracellular perfusion with a solution containing chaotropic anions or proteolytic enzymes is known to lead to a loss of excitability. Therefore, we believe that this layer, which is called the ectoplasm, is an essential part of the excitable membrane.
Blood Pressure is the Strongest Component Associated with Arterial Stiffness in Mexican Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Objective: To establish which of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) components are more related to arterial stiffness. Research Design and Methods: We recruited eighty-two non-smoking male patients, 40 to 77 years old, (42 without MetS and 41 with MetS). The local ethics committee approved the study and signed informed consent forms were obtained from patients. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of height (in meters), and waist measurements were according to WHO recommendations. Blood pressure and baPWV were measured with the “Vascular Profiler 1000” device (VP-1000) (Omron®, Kyoto, Japan). All blood sample determinations were obtained after a 12-h fasting period and processed within one h. We used an oxidase technique to measure fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and enzymatic methods to obtain total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and triglyceride values. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) was estimated using the Friedewald formula (LDL-C = Total Cholesterol − HDL-C − Triglycerides/5). Results: We observed strong and significant correlations between SBP and baPWV (r=.753, p=<0.001), and between SBP and PP (r=.853, p=<0.001). The remaining components did not correlate with baPWV or PP.
Depth Perception for Robots: Structural Stereo from Extended Laplacian-of-Gaussian Features

We solve the stereo correspondence problem in robot vision using Laplacian-of-Gaussian (LoG) zero-crossing contours as a source of primitives for structural stereopsis, as opposed to traditional point-based algorithms. Since an extended image feature conveys more information than a single point, its spatial and photometric behavior may be exploited to advantage; there are also fewer features to match, resulting in a smaller combinatorial problem. Solving the correspondence problem at this level requires only an approximate probabilistic characterization of the image-to-image structural distortion rather than detailed knowledge of the epipolar geometry, thus offering the potential of autonomous calibration.
Effect of advancing age on thyrotropin content of the pituitary and blood of the rat.

SummaryThe thyroid hormone secretion rate (TSR) of female Sprague-Dawley-Rolfs-meyer rats has previously been shown to decline markedly from weaning time to about 4 months of age. In the present study it was shown that the pituitary and plasma levels of TSH were low at weaning time and gradually increased until 80 or 95 days of age, then showed a slight decline. In order-to explain the observations of a declining TSR associated with an increase in plasma TSH, it has been suggested that (1) the sensitivity of the thyroid gland to TSH decreases with age, (2) the t½ of TSH may decrease with increasing age, and (3) the secretion of L-T3 in the immature rat may be high and decline with age.
Pharmacokinetics of bevacizumab and its effects on serum VEGF and IGF-1 in infants with retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE To measure serum levels of bevacizumab and to compare serum levels of free vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in infants who were treated with either intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (IVB) or laser for type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS Twenty-four infants with type 1 ROP were randomized into three treatment groups: IVB at 0.625 mg per eye per dose, IVB at 0.25 mg per eye per dose, and laser. Blood samples were collected prior to treatment and on posttreatment days 2, 14, 42, and 60. Weekly body weights were documented from birth until 60 days post treatment. Serum levels of bevacizumab, free VEGF, and IGF-1 were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Serum bevacizumab was detected 2 days after the injection, peaked at 14 days, and persisted for up to 60 days with half-life of 21 days. Area under the curve (AUC) analysis showed that systemic exposure to bevacizumab was variable among the subjects and was dose dependent. Serum free VEGF levels decreased in all three subgroups 2 days post treatment, with more significant reductions found in both IVB-treated groups, P = 0.0001. Serum IGF-1 levels were lower in both IVB-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS Clearance of bevacizumab from the bloodstream in premature infants takes at least 2 months. Although serum free VEGF levels decreased following either laser or bevacizumab treatment, the reductions were more significant in the IVB-treated groups. Potential long-term effects of systemic exposure to bevacizumab in infants need to be studied further.
A Heat and Fluid Transport Simulation of a Soil-Root-Stem System

A heat and fluid transport simulation of a coupled soil-root-stem system was constructed to observe the diurnal heat and fluid flow changes within a tree trunk. The simulation accounts for time-varying thermal and hydraulic properties of the soil and wood medium. Fluid flow within the xylem of the tree is driven by measured time-varying xylem flow velocities. Nomenclature e K = Kersten number, the normalized thermal conductivity of the soil dry k = bulk thermal conductivity of dry soil o k = thermal conductivity of other particulate matter in the soil quartz k = thermal conductivity of quartz sat k = bulk thermal conductivity of saturated soil solid k = thermal conductivity of solids in the soil water k = thermal conductivity of water n = soil porosity q = percent quartz content of the soil r S = percent soil saturation (water content / porosity)
Efficacy of "Hong Kong" vaccine in preventing "England" variant influenza A in 1972.

Abstract The antigenic "drift" that occurs among influenza A viruses may impair the effectiveness of available vaccines containing older antigens. We therefore studied the efficacy of such a vaccine containing Hong Kong virus antigen (A2/Aichi/2/68) during an outbreak of A2/England/72 influenza in a population of 979 vaccinated and 2955 unvaccinated men. Attack rates for laboratory-confirmed febrile influenza were 18.4 and 46.0 per 1000, respectively. One dose of the vaccine thus reduced the frequency of influenza in those vaccinated by 60 per cent (p<0.01). Of 171 men studied before the outbreak, 84 per cent had hemagglutination-inhibition titers of ≤1:8 against the epidemic strain, but only 22 per cent had such low titers two weeks after vaccination. A significantly greater attack rate was found in men with acute-phase hemagglutination-inhibition titers of ≤1:8 than among those with titers of ≥1:16. There was a direct relation between the clinical effectiveness of the vaccine and its ability to produce ...
Epidemiological analysis of the immunization of human rabies in Dongcheng( north) district of Beijing from 2010 to 2013

Objective To grasp the epidemiological features of immunization of human rabies in Dongcheng( north)district of Beijing,find out the disadvantages and provide a scientific basis for the improvement of rabies prevention. Methods To analyze vaccination immunization surveillance data from 2010 to 2013 in Dongcheng( north) district. Results The top three age groups of injured people are 20-,50-,40-. The top three injured parts of the body are hand,leg and arm. The cases amount of Ⅲ- level exposure is 1777,takes 7. 56% of the total patients. 58. 25% of the dogs that injured people have immunization history. The rate of AEFI report is 2. 38 /one hundred thousand. Conclusion The standard of exposure levelshould be carried out strictly. It is needed to increase the sensitivity of AEFI supervision and continuously improve the immunization rate in dogs.
Laparoscopic and transvaginal ova recovery: the effect on ova quality.

Transvaginal follicle aspiration guided by transvaginal ultrasound for ova recovery is rapidly gaining popularity in many centers practicing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Cycle outcome following this new method has not been directly compared to the traditional, laparoscopic recovery technique. To this end, the authors evaluated multiple parameters in 66 laparoscopic (group A), and 44 transvaginal ova recovery procedures (group B) in patients undergoing IVF-ET. No statistically significant differences could be demonstrated between the groups in all but the rate of ova fertilization. The rate of fertilization was higher in the ova recovered by transvaginal follicle aspiration (59.6 versus 69.2%; P
Structure-function relationships in human alpha- and gamma-thrombins.

Human pro-coagulant α-thrombin may be proteolyzed under controlled conditions to the non-coagulant β- and γ-thrombin forms. These derivative forms nonetheless retain esterase and amidase activities with small substrates as well as several other thrombin functions. Structurally, human γ-thrombin consists of three non-covalently associated fragments which retain structural integrity as measured by several spectroscopic criteria as well as enzymatic function. The protein folding characteristics of three-chain γ-thrombin indicate that each fragment (domain) contains sufficient information to result in a correct renaturation of protein conformation. Those subtle structural differences which distinguish γ- from α-thrombin are most likely the obstructions to fibrinogen binding which account for the loss of clotting activity.
Wanted: new allometric equations for large lianas and African lianas

Liana abundance appears to be increasing, possibly to the detriment of trees, but methods for measuring liana biomass are undependable. We show that five commonly used allometric equations produce disparate results and discuss two large information gaps—Central African lianas and large lianas—that currently preclude accurate liana biomass estimation.
Constituency Service in the District

“You can't help anyone if you cannot relate.” –An African-American staffer in Congressman Earl Hilliard's office, explaining why she thinks it is important to have African-American staff in congressional district offices. Is there a link between descriptive representation at the staff level and substantive representation at the congressional district level? What proportion of district staff are African American, white, or from other racial/ethnic backgrounds? Are these staff in the district working to reach black constituents? This chapter picks up where Chapter 4 left off, continuing to examine constituency service – a substantive, tangible good – delivered to African Americans. In this chapter, I argue that descriptive representation (the election of African-American legislators) is a key predictor of the hiring of black staff in congressional districts. Further, black staff are more likely than white staff to self-identify as being able to “relate” to African-American constituents. Whereas members of Congress personally engage in constituency service, most of the day-to-day work dealing with casework and other services falls to the congressional staff, and most often to the congressional staff in the district. When a constituent requests assistance from their representative, typically the request goes through a staff member in one of the district offices. Legislative observers have long noted the importance of staff in assisting the representational activities of members of Congress, particularly constituency service activities.
Water relations of tiger beetle larvae (Cicindela marutha) : correlations with habitat microclimate and burrowing activity

Rates of water loss/gain for third instar larvae of the tiger beetle Cicindela marutha Dow were measured at various temperatures and humidities. The larvae occupy burrows in exposed hot, dry sand ridges. They are active at the surface at midday during spring and fall, but plug their burrows during the summer day and become active only at night. Water loss rates increase moderately with increasing temperatures (25 to 40°C) and show a consistent decline with increasing relative humidity (0 to 97·5%). The larvae do not absorb sufficient atmospheric moisture at any of the high humidities to offset water lost via transpiration; however, they ingest moist sand while burrowed and absorb the water from their digestive tract. This uptake mechanism supplements water obtained from prey, whose availability is limited, and also enables them to remain in positive water balance during times that microclimatic conditions prevent them from feeding on the surface.
Role for the MED21-MED7 Hinge in Assembly of the Mediator-RNA Polymerase II Holoenzyme

Mediator plays an integral role in activation of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription. A key step in activation is binding of Mediator to Pol II to form the Mediator-Pol II holoenzyme. Here, we exploit a combination of biochemistry and macromolecular EM to investigate holoenzyme assembly. We identify a subset of human Mediator head module subunits that bind Pol II independent of other subunits and thus probably contribute to a major Pol II binding site. In addition, we show that binding of human Mediator to Pol II depends on the integrity of a conserved "hinge" in the middle module MED21-MED7 heterodimer. Point mutations in the hinge region leave core Mediator intact but lead to increased disorder of the middle module and markedly reduced affinity for Pol II. These findings highlight the importance of Mediator conformation for holoenzyme assembly.
Engaging Youth in the Curriculum Development Process with Technology: The Nebraska State 4-H Youth Curriculum Committee

Technology is changing the way youth learn and lead. This paper illustrates a successful case study of a program that actively engaged youth in the decision-making process through the use of an online community and virtual conferencing. Synergy was generated when the youth were mentored (virtually and in-person) by members of a parallel adult committee. Utilizing technology resources proved to be the key to building a vibrant, innovative and inclusive program that could overcome the barriers of time and travel constraints.
Assessment of Altered Lipid Homeostasis by HILIC-Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry-Based Lipidomics

Ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) has proven to be a highly informative technique for the characterization of lipids from cells and tissues. We report the combination of hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) with traveling-wave IM-MS (TWIM-MS) for comprehensive lipidomics analysis. Main lipid categories such as glycerolipids, sphingolipids, and glycerophospholipids are separated on the basis of their lipid backbones in the IM dimension, whereas subclasses of each category are mostly separated on the basis of their headgroups in the HILIC dimension, demonstrating the orthogonality of HILIC and IM separations. Using our previously established lipid calibrants for collision cross-section (CCS) measurements in TWIM, we measured over 250 CCS values covering 12 lipid classes in positive and negative modes. The coverage of the HILIC-IM-MS method is demonstrated in the analysis of Neuro2a neuroblastoma cells exposed to benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) with C10 or C16 alkyl chains, which we have previously shown to affect gene expression related to cholesterol and lipid homeostasis. We found that BAC exposure resulted in significant changes to several lipid classes, including glycerides, sphingomyelins, phosphatidylcholines, and phosphatidylethanolamines. Our results indicate that BAC exposure modifies lipid homeostasis in a manner that is dependent upon the length of the BAC alkyl chain.