cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Binding of cellular p32 protein to the rubella virus P150 replicase protein via PxxPxR motifs.

A proline-rich region (PRR) within the rubella virus (RUBV) P150 replicase protein that contains three SH3 domain-binding motifs (PxxPxR) was investigated for its ability to bind cell proteins. Pull-down experiments using a glutathione S-transferase–PRR fusion revealed PxxPxR motif-specific binding with human p32 protein (gC1qR), which could be mediated by either of the first two motifs. This finding was of interest because p32 protein also binds to the RUBV capsid protein. Binding of p32 to P150 was confirmed and was abolished by mutation of the first two motifs. When mutations in the first two motifs were introduced into a RUBV cDNA infectious clone, virus replication was significantly impaired. However, virus RNA synthesis was found to be unaffected, and subsequent immunofluorescence analysis of RUBV-infected cells revealed co-localization of p32 and P150 but little overlap of p32 with RNA replication complexes, indicating that p32 does not participate directly in virus RNA synthesis. Thus, the role of p32 in RUBV replication remains unresolved.
Inhibition of DNA synthesis in lymphocytes by dialyzable components of human leukocyte extracts.

Abstract Dialysates prepared from human leukocytes contain molecular species which can suppress the uptake of [3H]thymidine by a continuous B cell line and by peripheral lymphocytes. These suppressors are capable of dialyzing through a membrane having an exclusion limit of 3500 MW and can be separated from each other and from the major polypeptide-containing fraction of the lysate by gel filtration on Sephadex G-10.
Reductions in Renal Mass and the Nephropathy Induced by Mercury

The severity of renal injury induced by several graded doses of mercuric chloride and the disposition of mercury were evaluated and compared in control, uninephrectomized (50% NPX), and 75% nephrectomized (75% NPX) rats in an attempt to determine the effect of increased reductions of renal mass on the nephropathy induced by inorganic mercury. Consistent with previously published findings, proximal tubular necrosis (as assessed histopathologically and by the urinary excretion of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and total protein) was significantly more severe in 50% NPX rats than in control rats 24 hr after the administration of any of three lowest (1.0, 1.5, or 1.75 μmol/kg) doses of mercuric chloride used in the study. Interestingly, the severity of proximal tubular necrosis in the 75% NPX rats was not greater than that in control rats at these same doses. The reason for this appeared to be due to decreased renal accumulation of mercury, particularly in the renal cortex and outer stripe of the outer medulla. At the highest (8.0 μmol/kg) dose of mercuric chloride used, renal tubular injury was very extensive in all three groups of rats, with the level of injury being greatest in the 50% NPX rats. The injury was so severe in all three groups that acute renal failure was induced within the first 24 hr after the injection of mercury. An important finding that was made at this dose was that the level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was significantly greater in the 75% NPX rats than in either the 50% NPX or control rats, which indicates that 75% NPX rats may have entered into acute renal failure sooner than the 50% NPX or control rats. Overall, the findings from the present study indicate that as renal mass is reduced to a level at which renal function is not significantly impaired (50% NPX), the severity of the nephropathy induced by mercury is increased. By contrast, when the reduction of renal mass progresses to a level at which renal function begins to become impaired, the level of proximal tubular injury is not greatly different from that of animals with two kidneys, especially at low nephrotoxic doses of inorganic mercury. In addition, low nephrotoxic doses of inorganic mercury do not appear to affect significantly the reduced glomerular filtration rate in 75% NPX rats. However, it does appear that 75% NPX rats may be at greater risk of entering into acute renal failure at higher toxic doses of inorganic mercury than 50% NPX or control rats.
Modified bovine serum albumin. II. Immunochemical studies

Abstract Quantitative immunochemical studies were made of the homologous and heterologous reactions of bovine serum albumin; its deaminated, acetylated, and guanidinated derivatives; and the heat-treated products of these derivatives. It has been shown that the —NH 3 + groups per se do not participate in the interaction of BSA with its antibody. It was found that heat treatment brought about greater immuno-chemical changes in BSA, than did chemical modifications. Acetylated and highly deaminated derivatives of BSA appeared to be resistant to heat, while BSA and the guanido derivative were profoundly altered upon heating.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet Surveys: Introduction to the Special Issue

The history of survey research has witnessed a number of transitions in the way data are collected (Chang & Krosnick, 2009). Each transition has met with resistance. Prior to the 1970s, for example...
Contextual Explanations of School Choice

Participation in school-choice programs has been increasing across the country since the early 1990s. While some have examined the role that families play in the school-choice process, research has largely ignored the role of social contexts in determining where a student attends school. This article improves on previous research by modeling the contextual effects of elementary schools and neighborhoods on high school enrollment outcomes using population-level geocoded administrative data on an entire cohort of eighth graders from one of the largest urban school districts in the United States. The results of hierarchical multinomial logistic models suggest that the contextual effects of percentage black, poverty, and neighborhood concentrated disadvantage reduce the likelihood of students attending private or elite public high schools. Students in schools with high average achievement are less likely to attend selective-enrollment magnet schools, perhaps because of a “frog pond” effect. Finally, the study...
How to use oxytocin treatment to prolong corpus luteum function for suppressing estrus in mares.

Abstract Prolonging function of the corpus luteum (CL) is a method of suppressing estrus that uses continued secretion of endogenous progesterone to keep mares out of heat naturally. The most common method of prolonging CL function has been intrauterine insertion of a glass ball (i.e., marble). However, several recent reports have described deleterious complications associated with their use, including the presence of multiple glass balls, fragmentation of the glass ball(s), and/or pyometra. Therefore, the use of other methods for prolonging CL function is warranted. Alternatives to using an intrauterine glass ball for prolonging CL function include (1) oxytocin treatment, (2) inducing a late-diestrus ovulation, (3) intrauterine infusion of plant oils, and (4) manual reduction of the conceptus after day 16 of gestation. Of these, oxytocin treatment is the most practical and efficacious method of prolonging CL function. As described here, one oxytocin protocol involves administering 60 units of oxytocin intramuscularly (IM) once daily on days 7 to 14 after ovulation, which induces prolonged CL function in 60% to 70% of treated mares. Alternatively, by extending the duration of oxytocin treatment to 29 days, administration of 60 units of oxytocin IM can be initiated randomly at any point in the estrous cycle with no loss in efficacy (i.e., over 70% response).
Teaching-for-Learning (TFL): A Model for Faculty to Advance Student Learning.

In light of the widespread recognition of the enduring challenge of enhancing the learning of all students—including a growing number of students representing diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds—there has been an explosion of literature on teaching, learning, and assessment in higher education. Notwithstanding scores of promising new ideas, individual faculty in higher education need a dynamic and inclusive model to help them engage in a systematic and continuous process of exploring and testing
Two-dimensional transverse-magnetic time-domain scattering using the Nystro/spl uml/m method and Green's function filtering

Time-domain integral equations are uniquely suited to modeling many electromagnetic scattering phenomena, such as broadband, nonlinear, and time-varying problems. While a method of moments-like Galerkin approach is usually used in their discretization, in principle, the locally corrected Nystro/spl uml/m method is equally applicable. The Nystro/spl uml/m method has several advantages over Galerkin's method. It only requires the evaluation of the Green's function to compute most matrix elements so the setup phase requires less computation, and complex, multipatch parametric basis functions are completely avoided (Canino, L.F. et al., J. Computational Phys., vol.146, p.627-63, 1998). For a time-domain formulation, the spatial integration rules are unchanged; however, the Green's function is not bandlimited, so any temporal sampling results in aliasing. Also, the local corrections approach outlined by Canino et al. accounts for the spatial singularity of the Green's function, but not the temporal singularity. These problems are intimately linked and can be addressed by filtering the Green's function, resulting in an accurate and stable method.
Falsely low parathyroid hormone secondary to biotin interference: a case series.

ABSTRACT Objective To present a case series on biotin interference in parathyroid hormone (PTH) level measurement. Methods We review the presentation and management of patients at our institution evaluated for unexpectedly low PTH levels while taking biotin supplements in the setting of high or normal serum calcium. Results Two patients presented with surprising low parathyroid levels—one during preoperative evaluation for hyperparathyroidism and another during postoperative follow-up after subtotal parathyroidectomy. The patients were found to be taking 1,500 mcg and 5,000 mcg of biotin per day, respectively. The role of biotin interference was confirmed in one of the patients when she was retested off biotin, and PTH levels responded appropriately. Biotin supplements remain as unbound molecules in the serum, thus interfering with PTH enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results and falsely depressing the PTH level. Conclusion Biotin supplement use has expanded over the years, ranging from medically endorsed therapies to home remedies. Review of the 2 ELISA systems used at our institution demonstrates that free biotin mimics the biotinylated antibody used in the detection process. Screening for biotin use prior to PTH measurement and automatic biotin levels for clinically aberrant PTH levels provide the clinician with a true PTH level-lowering the disease burden of untreated hyperparathyroidism while avoiding unnecessary work-ups for other processes. (Endocr Pract. 2013;19:451-455)
Preliminary Crystallographic Investigations of 5,6=Dimethylbenzimidazolylcobamide Coenzyme

After the isolation of crystalline, 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazolylcobamide coenzyme by Barker et al. (l), a comparison of its crystallographic properties with those of vitamin Blz appeared desirable. This communication gives a brief description of the properties so far determined. Crystals of 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazolylcobamide coenzyme were obtained from Dr. H. A. Barker. They were prepared by crystalli5ation from 87.5% (volume per volume) aqueous acetone at 4”. The crystals were washed successively with 90 7’ acetone, 100% acetone, and ethyl ether. Residual ether was removed with a stream of dry air and the crystals were stored in a tightly stoppered vial at - 10” until used. The crystals contained 8% solvent, presumably water, that could be removed by drying at 56” for 2 hours in a vacuum over silica gel. Part of this solvent may have been lost during manipulation of individual crystals. The crystals used in these studies showed forms characteristic of the orthorhombic system. They occurred as flattened diamond-shaped crystals with six faces; the largest dimension was about 0.5 mm (Fig. 1). Two large pinacoid faces had developed normal to the a axis1 and four prism faces parallel to the a axis. It was noted that numerous cracks developed on the crystal faces which resulted in a mosaic appearance of reflected light and rendered goniometric measurements uncertain. The two prism interfacial angles, calculated from x-ray data, were 75”24’ and 104”36’.
Managing the Uninsured With a Community Network

Today, more than 45 million Americans are uninsured and another 30 million are underinsured.[1][1] Medical schools and teaching hospitals form a critical component of our nation’s medical safety net, yet this role comes at enormous cost. Although our teaching hospitals comprise only 6% of all
A No-No for NonO and JNK in Extracellular Matrix Homeostasis and Vascular Stability

The pivotal role of chronic inflammation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysm is now firmly established.1 Atherosclerotic lesions usually develop at branch points in arteries with abnormal shear stress. Risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and cigarette smoke, among others, promote injury to the vascular endothelium, resulting in the infiltration of leukocytes to initiate an inflammatory response. Monocytes infiltrating the lesion area accumulate lipids and become foam cells. Meanwhile, T lymphocytes populating the intimal area of the lesion secrete inflammatory cytokines such as γ-interferon (INF) and tumor necrosis factors (TNF) that further stimulate macrophages and activate vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Chronic inflammation of the vessel wall attributable to repetitive endothelial injury advances lesion development with the deposition of extracellular matrix in forming a fibrous cap. See page 1760 The coordinated regulation of extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation is essential for the maintenance of vascular homeostasis and plaque stability. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrade extracellular matrix promote atherosclerotic lesion formation by increasing smooth muscle cell migration and angiogenesis. Lesions with thin fibrous cap covering a necrotic core of dead cells are prone to fissures and rupture resulting in myocardial infarction. …
The Philosophy of Religious Experience and the Nag Hammadi Texts: A Response to Kaler and Tite

This essay, in response to Michael Kaler and Philip Tite, examines several theoretical issues about mystical experience in the Nag Hammadi texts. First is the problem of whether experiences can be an object of study at all, and I argue that they can, so long as we attend to the causes of the experiences. Attending to the causes of experiences, however, means that neo-perennialists must articulate and defend an account of the cause(s) of the cross-culturally universal experiences that they suppose occur. As for the attempt to apply contemporary psychologists' attachment theory to the experiential knowledge described in the Nag Hammadi texts, questions remain about the relation between attachment to the divine figure purportedly experienced and the experiencer's attachment to his or her religious community.
Preferential sites for stationary adhesion of neutrophils to cytokine-stimulated HUVEC under flow conditions.

Neutrophils form CD18-dependent ad- hesions to endothelial cells at sites of inflammation. This phenomenon was investigated under condi- tions of flow in vitro using isolated human neutro- phils and monolayers of HUVEC. The efficiency of conversion of neutrophil rolling to stable adhesion in this model was >95%. Neither anti-CD11a nor anti-CD11b antibodies significantly altered the ex- tent of this conversion, but a combination of both antibodies inhibited the arrest of rolling neutro- phils by >95%. The efficiency of transendothelial migration of arrested neutrophils was >90%, and the site of transmigration was typically <6 mm from the site of stationary adhesion. Approxi- mately 70% of transmigrating neutrophils mi- grated at tricellular corners between three adja- cent endothelial cells. A model of neutrophils ran- domly distributed on endothelium predicted a significantly greater migration distance to these preferred sites of transmigration, but a model of neutrophils adhering to endothelial borders is con- sistent with observed distances. It appears that sta- ble adhesions form very near tricellular corners. J. Leukoc. Biol. 68: 47-57; 2000.
Preparation of monodispersed colloidal cadmium compounds

Abstract Exceedingly uniform rhombohedral microcrystals of cadmium carbonate were prepared by aging cadmium salt solutions in the presence of urea. For this purpose concentrated (up to 10 M ) urea solutions were preheated at 70–80°C for 24 hr. The X-ray analysis of the resulting powder was consistent with mineral otavite. The solids were chemically pure and showed no porosity. The so obtained CdCO 3 was thermally decomposed to CdO which retained the original morphology, yet the specific surface area increased substantially.
Effects of adenosine A2A receptor stimulation on cocaine-seeking behavior in rats

Dopamine (DA) receptor stimulation in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays an important role in regulating cocaine-seeking behavior. Adenosine receptors antagonize the effects of DA receptor stimulation on intracellular signaling, neuronal output, and behavior. The goal of the present study is to determine the effects of adenosine A2A receptor stimulation on reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior in rats. Rats were trained to lever press for cocaine in daily self-administration sessions on a fixed-ratio 1 schedule for 3 weeks. After 1 week of abstinence, lever pressing was extinguished in six daily extinction sessions. We subsequently assessed the effects of the adenosine A2A receptor agonist, CGS 21680, on cocaine-, quinpirole (D2 agonist)-, and cue-induced reinstatement to cocaine seeking. We also assessed the effects of CGS 21680 on sucrose seeking in rats extinguished from sucrose self-administration. Pretreatment of CGS 21680 dose-dependently blunted cocaine-induced reinstatement (15 mg/kg, i.p.). Pretreatment with CGS 21680 (0.03 mg/kg, i.p.) also attenuated quinpirole- and cue-induced reinstatement. A minimally effective dose of CGS 21680 failed to alter cocaine-induced locomotor activity or sucrose seeking. Stimulation of adenosine A2A receptors antagonizes reinstatement of cocaine seeking elicited by cocaine, DA D2-receptor stimulation, and cocaine-conditioned cues. These findings suggest that adenosine A2A receptor stimulation may oppose DA D2 receptor signaling in the NAc that mediates cocaine relapse.
Deviations from equity and parity in the National Football League.

This article examines the implications of exceptions to the National Football League's (NFL) earlier principles of financial equity and competitive parity across teams. The exception to financial equity is that revenue from premium seating is not shared. The exception to competitive parity is that the salary cap, used to engender parity, does not include coaching salaries. The fact that teams, along with stadium owners, can exchange general seating for premium seating makes the degree of revenue sharing an endogenous variable. Empirical evidence suggests that teams in larger, wealthier markets have a greater incentive to increase the number of premium seats, and thus reduce the degree of revenue sharing, and to acquire greater coaching talent. The evidence also indicates that teams in larger, wealthier markets earn significantly more revenue, much of which is unshared revenue, and on the margin, have a greater probability of making the playoffs.
Adaptive beam combining and interferometry with photorefractive quantum wells

We present a comprehensive study of excitonic electroabsorption and two-wave mixing in photorefractive quantum wells. By combining these two measurements, we are able to determine the internal grating writing efficiency for converting an external spatial light modulation into an internal space-charge field. The internal writing efficiency at a fringe spacing Λ=40 µm is found to be a decreasing function of applied field, varying from ξ=0.4 at low fields to 0.2 at 12 kV/cm. The two-wave mixing efficiency in the quantum wells exceeds 40% and is used for adaptive beam combining and laser-based ultrasound detection. The quantum wells balance the hot-electron-induced photorefractive phase shift with excitonic spectral phase to guarantee quadrature in homodyne detection of ultrasound-induced surface displacements. The ability to tune through multiple quadratures is demonstrated here for the first time to our knowledge. We derive a noise-equivalent surface displacement of 1.7×10-6 A (W/Hz)1/2 at a field of 12 kV/cm and a fringe spacing of Λ=40 µm. This value is within a factor of 7 of the shot-noise limit of an ideal interferometer.
Mechanical haemolysis in shock wave lithotripsy (SWL): II. In vitro cell lysis due to shear

In this work we report injury to isolated red blood cells (RBCs) due to focused shock waves in a cavitation-free environment. The lithotripter-generated shock wave was refocused by a parabolic reflector. This refocused wave field had a tighter focus (smaller beam width and a higher amplitude) than the lithotripter wave field, as characterized by a membrane hydrophone. Cavitation was eliminated by applying overpressure to the fluid. A novel passive cavitation detector (HP-PCD) operating at high overpressure (up to 7 MPa) was used to measure acoustic emission due to bubble activity. The typical 'double-bang' emission measured in the lithotripter free-field was replaced by a continuum of weak signals when the fluid was enclosed in a pressure chamber. No acoustic emissions were measured above an overpressure of 5.5 MPa. Aluminium foils were used to study shock wave damage and had distinct deformation features corresponding to exposure conditions, i.e. pitting and denting accompanied by wrinkling. Pitting was eliminated by high overpressure and so was due to cavitation bubble collapse, whereas denting and wrinkling were caused by the reflected shock wave refocused by the parabolic reflector. RBCs suspended in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were exposed to the reflected wave field from a parabolic reflector and also from a flat reflector. Exposure to the wave field from the parabolic reflector increased haemolysis four-fold compared with untreated controls and was twice that of cell lysis with the flat reflector. Recently we analysed deformation and rupture of RBCs when subjected to a flow field set up by a focused shock. The cell lysis results presented here are in qualitative agreement with our theoretical prediction that haemolysis is directly related to the gradient of shock strength and validates shearing as a cell lysis mechanism in SWL.
The History of Research on Chronic Physical Activity and Cognitive Performance

The body of research relative to the effects of chronic physical activity on cognitive performance has been developing since the 1950s and has recently experienced tremendous growth. Early research was focused on children and older adults, and this focus continues to be evident in current publications. The interpretation of the data relative to older adults benefits from the fact that numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted. With older adults, it is clear that physical activity participation results in improved cognitive performance and reduced risk of clinical cognitive impairment. In contrast, conclusions relative to the benefits for children are limited by the small number of RCTs that make judgments regarding causal effects more tenuous. Current research shows an increased interest in understanding mechanisms and identifying moderators of the effects and a continued limited exploration of potential benefits for individuals in the middle of the lifespan (young adults and middle-aged adults).
Pollen consumption and digestion by leaf beetles

Floral feeding in leaf beetles has been reported mainly for Aulacoscelinae, Donaciinae, Orsodacninae, Criocerinae, Megascelinae, Cryptocephalinae, Eumolpinae, Chrysomelinae, Galerucinae, and Alticinae (Jolivet, 1977, 1978, 1988, 1991; Nielsen, 1988; Schmitt, 1988, etc.), but the actual consumption of pollen in these insects has been rarely reported, though the mechanics of pollen digestion has been discussed by Mann & Crowson (1981) and Kuschel & May (1990).
Effective Instructional Time Use for School Leaders: Longitudinal Evidence From Observations of Principals

Scholars have long argued that principals should be instructional leaders, but few studies have empirically linked specific instructional leadership behaviors to school performance. This study examines the associations between leadership behaviors and student achievement gains using a unique data source: in-person, full-day observations of approximately 100 urban principals collected over 3 school years. We find that principals’ time spent broadly on instructional functions does not predict student achievement growth. Aggregating across leadership behaviors, however, masks that some specific instructional investments predict year-to-year gains. In particular, time spent on teacher coaching, evaluation, and developing the school’s educational program predict positive achievement gains. In contrast, time spent on informal classroom walkthroughs negatively predicts student growth, particularly in high schools. Additional survey and interview evidence suggests this negative association may arise because princ...
Some aspects of global lightning impacts

The number of lightning fatalities in the U.S. has decreased markedly from a maximum of over 400 deaths per year early in the 20 th century to less than 30 deaths annually in recent years (Curran et al, 2000; Holle et al. 2005; Lopez and Holle 1998; Roeder 2012). Figure 1 shows that the lightning fatality rate has decreased from as high as 6 fatalities per million people per year early in the 20 th century, to 0.1 per million people per year at present (Lopez and Holle 1998). This trend has occurred simultaneously with a decrease from a 60% rural population in 1900 to the current rural population below 20% in the U.S. Note that while the U.S. population has grown significantly during this period, the number of fatalities has greatly decreased. During this period, there has been a significant increase in the quality of homes, workplaces, schools, and other public and private buildings with respect to lightning safety (Holle 2012). Also important is a huge increase since the early 20 th century in the availability of fullyenclosed metal-topped vehicles that provide safety from lightning (Holle 2012). Additionally, a significant education and awareness
The Effect of Impurities in Tin Film When Used As Mos Gate Electrodes

Refractory metal gates have been studied for CMOS gate electrodes on ultra thin gate oxide due to its midgap work function, low resistivity and no gate depletion, etc. In particular, titanium nitride received most attention because of its process maturity and its good diffusion barrier properties for backend applications. Different TiN film properties are important when TiN is used as a gate material than when it is used for backend applications. One issue is the effect of TiN film impurities on the gate oxides and their high temperature stability since some high temperature processes are usually needed after gate formation. This paper reports the study of different TiN films used as MOS gate electrodes on ultra thin gate oxide and the effects of their impurities on gate oxide electrical performance. PVD TiN films deposited with different process conditions show different oxygen content, and different gate oxide properties were observed when these PVD TiN films were used as gate electrodes. On the other hand CVD TiN films deposited using different precursors also showed different impurities, including carbon, oxygen or silicon, which largely affect CVD TiN performance when used as gate material. The different TiN films were characterized by X-ray glancing angle reflection, XPS, SIMS and TEM, and the electrical properties were studied by I-V, C-V, charge to breakdown (Qbd) and ramp voltage breakdown tests on MOS capacitors. The results showed that the high purity TiN films provide stable gate material with small damage to the gate oxide, but impurities, especially oxygen, affect the gate oxide properties after high temperature anneal. However, due to the different TiN process capabilities, TiN films with impurities may still have advantages over pure TiN film in some cases of different MOS gate applications.
AM1 Specific Reaction Parameters for Reactions of Hydroxide Ion with Halomethanes in Complex Environments: Development and Testing

A specific reaction parameters (SRP) approach is used to reparameterize the semiempirical AM1 method to represent two SN2 reactions of OH– with halomethanes (CH3F and CH3Cl). The objective is to develop SRP models that are able to accurately reproduce ab initio potential energy surfaces but with a reduction of several orders of magnitude in computational cost. The developed models, labeled AM1-SRP, have been tested in gas and aqueous phases. The results show that the AM1-SRP models are able to predict a minimum reaction path in close agreement with high level ab initio calculations in gas phase. A QM/MM simulation method with the solutes represented by the AM1-SRP models is used to compute the free energy profiles of the reactions in aqueous phase. The AM1-SRP models predict reaction free energies and free energy barriers in good agreement with experimental values. The current study indicates that semiempirical models may be improved to accurately reproduce an ab initio minimum reaction path at a consider...
Application of Improved Independent Component Analysis Algorithm to Electric Power Load Profile Estimation

FastICA(Independent Component Analysis) algorithm is applied to estimate active load profiles without prior knowledge of the electric network model parameters or topology. However,estimation accuracy can be lowered considering the measurement noise because the conventional algorithm has to separate the observed data including the noise. Consequently,we improved the FastICA to meet the demands of more accurate results depending on the induction of noise during the process of whitening. The experimental results based on IEEE 14 system show that estimation accuracy of the improved FastICA is higher than that of the basic FastICA. It is concluded that the improved FastICA is appropriate for the load profiles estimation with noise.
Body Images and Pediatric Burn Injury

Body image is a critical variable in understanding children and adolescent’s adjustment to burn injury (Bernstein, 1976; Stoddard, 1982). The primary goal of this chapter is to provide a broad theoretical, clinical, and empirical overview of the influence of body-image factors in children and adolescents’ adjustment to burn injury. However, when considering body-image adjustment we must also consider the total socioemotional adjustment of the patient and family to the burn injury; including such critical variables as social support, child temperament, existence of psychopathology, and the family’s socioeconomic status (Bernstein, 1976, 1990; Tarnow-ski, Rasnake, Gavaghan-Jones, & Smith, 1991).
Two new species of Carex (Cyperaceae) from northern South America

We describe and illustrate two new species of Carex from northern South America. Carex via-incaica from Ecuador belongs to section Aciculares . Carex haematopus from Colombia belongs to section Carex . Both species are so far known only from their type localities.
Rescue Strategies to Facilitate Emergency Neurosurgery in Patients on Antiplatelet or Anticoagulant Agents

The management of neurosurgical emergencies in patients on antiplatelet agents or anticoagulants poses a real challenge for the neurosurgeon. The central nervous system resides in a closed space with a fixed volume encased by cranial and spinal bones. The equilibrium and relationship of the contents in this space—blood, CSF, and brain tissue—is explained by Monro-Kellie doctrine. Due to this fine balance as well as the delicacy of the brain tissue and its susceptibility to sustained increased intracranial pressures, a neurosurgeon’s tolerance of poor hemostasis and bleeding is less than other disciplines in medicine. This poses a challenge in both managing these patients and applying the literature and data originating from other disciplines in medicine.
Language Development in Autism

Abnormal language development used to define autism, but it no longer does. Language development no longer even figures into contemporary diagnostic criteria, although early delays in language often lead to parents’ concerns. In this chapter, we review recent empirical research on language development in autism. To paint a contemporary picture, we restrict our review to studies published in the twenty-first century. We conclude the following: language development in autism is often delayed, but not deviant; a delay in language development is not unique to autism; and language development in autism is remarkably heterogeneous.
Descending Control of Nociceptive Transmission by Primate Spinothalamic Neurons

The spinothalamic tract in primates, including man, is thought to play a crucial role in nociception. Interruption of the anterolateral quadrant of the spinal cord, through which the spinothalamic tract ascends, results in analgesia on the contralateral side below the lesion (White & Sweet, 1955). Pain sensation is present when just one anterolateral quadrant of the cord is intact, as shown by the patient reported by Noordenbos and Wall (1976). Thus the anterolateral quadrant is both necessary and sufficient for pain sensation in humans. A comparable pathway also exists in monkeys (Vierck & Luck, 1979).
Summary of the Symposium

and complex model for fields of their techniques to attain ends that they practice analysis, derived largely from orthemselves consciously seek to define in ganizational theory (pages 156-165). But interaction with the community itself, espe note, too, how she uses it. The focus here daily with those whose lives are most di too is on the task upon which society and rectly affected. agency converge in coping with a given so cial problem—a task formulation flexibly FIELDS OF PRACTICE defined and subject to change under the One large question, in summing up the impact of a variety of forces, including the symposium, is whether the NASW Com insights and initiative of the social worker, mission on Practice and its various subunits Here the total work group, involving all were correct several years ago in their as professionals and the clients as well, is desumption that it would be useful to con fined as the problem-solving resource. The ceptualize social work practice in a two social work role is thus shaped by task and dimensional model—with method as one system while guided and formed by profesdimension and field of practice as the other, sional know-how. The social worker is cerThe method approach presents no problems tainly not seen as a medicine man whose because it has been the familiar way of one brew is hawked at all possible crossdividing up and classifying social work
A Survey of the Ionization Energies of the DNA Nitrogenous Bases via DFT-Based Calculations of their Potential Energy Surfaces

The knowledge of the ionization energies (IE) of the four nitrogenous bases of DNA is crucial in understanding the DNA damage processes. So far, both theoretical and experimental results show that guanine has the least IE [J. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014,15, 13833-13837]. But even though the measured IEs seemed to be consistent with the calculated ones, they are not in good agreement. The disagreements might be due to the fact that the IE depends on the location of the leaving electron and its electronic environment. Besides, the calculations of the ionization energies of a molecular ion need the consideration of all directions that are indispensable to define the geometry of the molecule. Another factor which was often obscure when investigating these IEs is the effect of the geometry transition from the relaxed neutral to the relaxed cation.In this study, we considered a relaxed neutral nitrogenous base, which is also assumed to be the geometry of the cation right after its formation. Each single atom of the neutral base (as well as each single atom of the cation) is considered as a site of the departing electron and the corresponding potential curves are calculated in all three directions (x, y, z) using the density functional theory and assuming that all other atoms are frozen during the ionization. Thus, this method of calculations of IE is an all-direction survey of the IEs of the DNA nitrogenous bases. It is different from the standard ones that lead to either vertical IE or adiabatic IE. It gives access to the potential energy surfaces and IEs that are in good agreement with some measurements. The results are reported and discussed in this presentation.
New challenges to the therapy of systemic fungal infections.

Abstract In summary, the recent increase in frequency of systemic fungal infections has stimulated the development of new antifungal agents which are easier to use and which have decreased toxicity. This has resulted in increase in use, and along with this, the appearance of fungi resistant to antifungal agents. The medical community will have to come to terms with this newly emerging problem.
Decolonizing Veganism: On Resisting Vegan Whiteness and Racism

Are discourses and practices of veganism in the USA inevitably characterized by whiteness? From the infamous Thug Kitchen to PETA’s uncritical comparisons of slavery with factory farming, all the way to the practices—and often, the mere presence—of farmer’s markets, community gardens, and Whole Foods stores in low-income neighborhoods of color that are enduring renewed colonization vis-a-vis gentrification, the unmarked whiteness of veganism is ubiquitous. Nonetheless, it is difficult, if not impossible, to critically reflect on veganism as both a politically charged foodways practice and a critical/ethical commentary on animality—how have Western cultures managed to fundamentally transform dead non/human animal bodies into “meat” rather than “corpses” or “carcasses”? —without attending to the racial implications of animality. As many activists and scholars of color (discussed below) have already made clear, the very definition of “humanity” is irrevocably entrenched in Western conceptions of the value of life: to achieve (hu)Man status is fundamentally to achieve Westernized whiteness, and thus the very hierarchy of human versus non/human animal that veganism challenges is charged with the history of white supremacy from the outset. When we talk about racist language and physical violence as “dehumanizing,” we are invoking the ways that structures of whiteness have and continue to position people of color (POC) as less than human: as “animal.”
Can Engaging in Science Practices Promote Deep Understanding of Them

It is now widely accepted, and indeed emphasized in the Next Generation Science Standards, that science education should encompass scientific practice as well as science content. By participating in an intellectual community engaged in the broad range of activities that constitute scientific inquiry, rather than simply mastering isolated science procedures, it is hoped students will come to better understand and appreciate the norms, goals, and values that govern the conduct of science. We put this expectation to empirical test by engaging a secondary school science class in an extended problem-based activity that included design of investigations, multivariable causal analysis, and argumentation. Compared to students in a nonparticipating control group, in delayed assessments involving new content, participating students showed more advanced investigation, analysis, and argumentation skills, but also superior epistemological understanding regarding science as entailing the evaluation of claims in relation to available evidence.
The minor Cronenberg

AbstractCronenberg’s minor films – those that defy, exceed, or otherwise work outside the director’s famous themes and spectacles – emphasize a signature detachment or dispassion, one that is also operant in his most popular films. This detachment invites one to read his films as what Deleuze and Guattari would call minor cinema, a sociopolitical hermeneutic alternative to auteurism. Deleuze and Guattari explain that ‘a minor literature doesn’t come from a minor language; it is rather that which a minority constructs within a major language’, including that which an English Canadian filmmaker constructs in the shadow of the Hollywood tradition. Minor cinema is always political, even and especially when it addresses the individual and the personal, and it is collective, in that its films ‘express another possible community and forge the means for another consciousness and another sensibility’. Focusing on the staid cinematography and impassive protagonists of two of Cronenberg’s less studied works – Fast C...
Building Secure Platforms for Research on Human Subjects: The Importance of Computer Scientists

Businesses and government are using new approaches to decision-making. They are exploiting new streams of (mostly) digital personal data, such as daily transaction records, web-browsing data, cell phone location data, and social media activity; and they are applying new analytical models and tools. Social science researchers, who are not trained in the stewardship of these new kinds of data, must now collect, manage and use them appropriately. There are many technical challenges: disparate datasets must be ingested, their provenance determined and metadata documented. Researchers must be able to query datasets to know what data are available and how they can be used. Datasets must be joined in a scientific manner, which means that workflows need to be traced and managed in such a way that the research can be replicated(Lane, 2017). Computer scientists' expertise is of critical value in many of these areas, but of greatest interest to this group is the facilities in which data on human subjects are stored. The data must be securely housed, and privacy and confidentiality must be protected using the best approaches available. The access and use must be documented to meet the needs of data providers. Yet the technology currently used to provide access to sensitive data is largely artisanal and manual. The stewardship restrictions placed on the use of confidential administrative data prevent the use of best practices for research data management. As a result, links between data sources are rarely validated, results often are not replicated, and connected datasets, results, and methods are not accessible to subsequent researchers in the same field. This is where computer scientists' expertise can come to play in building approaches that will enable sensitive data from different sources to be discovered, integrated, and analyzed in a carefully controlled manner, and that will, furthermore, allow researchers to share analysis methods, results, and expertise in ways not easily possible today
A novel R3 MYB transcriptional repressor associated with the loss of floral pigmentation in Iochroma

Losses of floral pigmentation represent one of the most common evolutionary transitions in flower color, yet the genetic basis for these changes has been elucidated in only a handful of cases. Here we used crossing studies, bulk-segregant RNA sequencing, phylogenetic analyses and functional tests to identify the gene(s) responsible for the transition to white flowers in Iochroma loxense. Crosses between I. loxense and its blue-flowered sister species, I. cyaneum, suggested that a single locus controls the flower color difference and that the white allele causes a nearly complete loss of pigmentation. Examining sequence variation across phenotypic pools from the crosses, we found that alleles at a novel R3 MYB transcription factor were tightly associated with flower color variation. This gene, which we term MYBL1, falls into a class of MYB transcriptional repressors and, accordingly, higher expression of this gene is associated with downregulation of multiple anthocyanin pigment pathway genes. We confirmed the repressive function of MYBL1 through stable transformation of Nicotiana. The mechanism underlying the evolution of white flowers in I. loxense differs from that uncovered in previous studies, pointing to multiple mechanisms for achieving fixed transitions in flower color intensity.
Neuronal activity drives FMRP- and HSPG-dependent matrix metalloproteinase function required for rapid synaptogenesis

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) functions modulate synapse formation and activity-dependent plasticity. Aberrant MMP activity is implicated in fragile X syndrome (FXS), a disease caused by the loss of the RNA-binding protein FMRP and characterized by neurological dysfunction and intellectual disability. Gene expression studies in Drosophila suggest that Mmps cooperate with the heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) glypican co-receptor Dally-like protein (Dlp) to restrict trans-synaptic Wnt signaling and that synaptogenic defects in the fly model of FXS are alleviated by either inhibition of Mmp or genetic reduction of Dlp. We used the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) glutamatergic synapse to test activity-dependent Dlp and Mmp intersections in the context of FXS. We found that rapid, activity-dependent synaptic bouton formation depended on secreted Mmp1. Acute neuronal stimulation reduced the abundance of Mmp2 but increased that of both Mmp1 and Dlp, as well as enhanced the colocalization of Dlp and Mmp1 at the synapse. Dlp function promoted Mmp1 abundance, localization, and proteolytic activity around synapses. Dlp glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains mediated this functional interaction with Mmp1. In the FXS fly model, activity-dependent increases in Mmp1 abundance and activity were lost but were restored by reducing the amount of synaptic Dlp. The data suggest that neuronal activity-induced, HSPG-dependent Mmp regulation drives activity-dependent synaptogenesis and that this is impaired in FXS. Thus, exploring this mechanism further may reveal therapeutic targets that have the potential to restore synaptogenesis in FXS patients.
Robust blind spectral estimation in the presence of non-Gaussian noise

Dynamic spectrum access (DSA) has seen a growing interest in recent years due to spectrum scarcity. Cognitive radio is a necessary component to enable DSA. One key requirement for cognitive radio is the ability to blindly detect the presence of signals in time and frequency. One popular method for blind detection is computing a power spectral density estimate using the Welch periodogram. The Welch periodogram is optimally efficient under the assumption that received signals are in the presence of additive white Gaussian noise. However, the Welch periodogram is not robust against non-Gaussian noise. Robustness against non-Gaussian noise is desirable because many man-made devices — such as microwave ovens, WiFi co-channel, gas emissions, etc. — contaminate the spectrum with non-Gaussian noise. In this work, robust estimation techniques are applied to the Welch method to increase its robustness against non-Gaussian noise at the cost of estimation efficiency and computational ease. The increase in robustness of the modified Welch method (compared to the traditional Welch method) is demonstrated for the Middleton Class A non-Gaussian noise model. These robust techniques are shown to enable more reliable detection of signals contaminated by non-Gaussian noise.