cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nontraumatic abdominal surgical emergencies in the pregnant patient.

One of the greatest challenges that confronts the emergency physician (EP) is care of the pregnant patient. Regardless of the gestational age of the fetus, the EP must be cognizant of the fact that he or she is now caring for two patients: the fetus and the mother. In addition, physiological changes that occur in pregnancy can affect individual complaints, presentations, and treatments. Abdominal surgical emergencies in the pregnant woman are often particularly difficult to diagnose, and management of conditions that are straightforward in the nonpregnant state can become complicated. After a brief review of the physiologic changes that impact the identification and management of abdominal emergencies in pregnancy, several specific conditions are discussed. This review also discusses the choice of imaging modalities in the evaluation of the pregnant patient with abdominal pain, in general and in the context of specific diagnoses. Physiologic changes in pregnancy The physiologic changes that comprise maternal adaptation to pregnancy involve almost every organ system. Some of the changes that contribute to the difficulty of diagnosing and managing surgical conditions during pregnancy are summarized in this section.
The Sheppard-Towner Act: progressivism in the 1920s.

THE first venture of the federal government into social security legislation-the Sheppard-Towner maternity and infancy protection act of 1921 -has been generally ignored in discussions about the persistence of progressivism in the 1920s.1 The maternity bill was a link in a chain of ideas and actions from Roosevelt to Roosevelt, which began with the White House Conference on Child Welfare Standards in 1909 and ended with the Social Security Act of 1935. In addition, the Sheppard-Towner Act was the first major dividend of the full enfranchisement of women. Women's organizations helped to force the enactment of the bill and later fought to preserve it from repeal. Although passed in the first year of the Harding administration, it was a product of the progressive movement. The United States Children's Bureau developed from the White House Conference in 1909, and the Bureau's first major investigations were into the causes of infant and maternal mortality. The studies revealed that the nation had unusually high rates. For example, in 1918 it ranked seventeenth in maternal and eleventh in infant mortality. The Bureau found a correlation between poverty and the mortality rate. For families earning less than $450 annually, one baby in six died within the first year; for the income range of $650-$850 annually, the rate was one in ten; and for those earning about $1,250 annually, the rate was one in sixteen. Even the latter rate compared unfavorably to the average of a nation like New Zealand,
Expression of multiple P2Y receptors by MDCK-D1 cells: P2Y1 receptor cloning and signaling

The Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line, a well-differentiated renal epithelial cell line, is a useful model to examine P2Y receptor signaling and response. Our studies with MDCK-D1, a clonal isolate, demonstrate that these cells release ATP in response to mechanical stimulation and activation of certain G-protein-coupled receptors. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) studies document that MDCK cells express multiple P2Y receptors, including P2Y 1 , P2Y 2 , P2Y 6 , and P2Y 11 receptors. We isolated cDNAs for several of the P2Y receptor genes and expressed these in cells, such as the 1321N1 astrocytoma cell line, that lack native P2Y receptor expression. We report here the molecular cloning of the MDCK P2Y 1 receptor, heterologous expression in 1321N1 cells, and the ability of the heterologously expressed receptors to increase intracellular calcium and phosphoinositide hydrolysis. ADP, methylthioATP, and ADPβS are agonists with the greatest potency, while ATP and ATPyS show lower potency and efficacy, and benzoylbenzoylATP, UTP, and UDP lack efficacy at the cloned P2Y 1 receptor. Several antagonists, including MRS2179, A3P5PS, suramin, and PPADS blocked response at the cloned P2Y 1 receptors. With their ability to respond to ADP and ATP, P2Y 1 receptors, along with other P2Y receptors expressed in MDCK cells, contribute to the response of these cells to ATP (or its breakdown product, ADP) released from the cells and to exogenously added nucleotides.
Precipitation Contribution of Tropical Cyclones in the Southeastern United States from 1998 to 2009 Using TRMM Satellite Data

AbstractThe objective of this paper is to characterize the precipitation amounts originating from tropical cyclones (TCs) in the southeastern United States during the tropical storm season from June to November. Using 12 years of precipitation data from the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM), the authors estimate the TC contribution on the seasonal, interannual, and monthly precipitation budget using TC information derived from the International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). Results derived from the TRMM Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) 3B42 showed that TCs accounted for about 7% of the seasonal precipitation total from 1998 to 2009. Rainfall attributable to TCs was found to contribute as much as 8%–12% for inland areas located between 150 and 300 km from the coast and up to 15%–20% for coastal areas from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, southern Florida, and coastal Carolinas. The interannual contribution varied from 1.3% to 13.8% for the period 1998–2009 ...
Quark physics at multi-GeV electron beam accelerators.

We discuss the relevance of the explicit consideration of quark degrees of freedom for the understanding of experiments at multi-GeV electron accelerators such as the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). We suggest that the precocious scaling'' seen in deep-inelastic scattering at low values of {ital Q}{sup 2} may be understood on the basis of a relativistic quark model which contains nonperturbative features not present in a quark-parton model. We also observe that the rate at which scaling is achieved is determined by a parameter which specifies the momentum content of the quark wave function of our model.
Proteins Needed for Vesicle Budding from the Golgi Complex Are Also Required for the Docking Step of Homotypic Vacuole Fusion

Vam2p/Vps41p is known to be required for transport vesicles with vacuolar cargo to bud from the Golgi. Like other VAM-encoded proteins, which are needed for homotypic vacuole fusion, we now report that Vam2p and its associated protein Vam6p/Vps39p are needed on each vacuole partner for homotypic fusion. In vitro vacuole fusion occurs in successive steps of priming, docking, and membrane fusion. While priming does not require Vam2p or Vam6p, the functions of these two proteins cannot be fulfilled until priming has occurred, and each is required for the docking reaction which culminates in trans-SNARE pairing. Consistent with their dual function in Golgi vesicle budding and homotypic fusion of vacuoles, approximately half of the Vam2p and Vam6p of the cell are recovered from cell lysates with purified vacuoles.
Sexual Abuse in Childhood and the Mentally Disordered Female Offender

This study examines the role that a history of child sexual abuse played in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders in a sample of 321 female offenders incarcerated in a maximum-security prison for women. The results show that a history of child sexual abuse increases the likelihood that an inmate would receive mental health treatment. Psychotropic medication is frequently prescribed in response to adjustment problems associated with childhood sexual abuse. White women who exhibit adjustment problems associated with a history of child sexual abuse are especially likely to be diagnosed as mentally disordered at admission and to be sent to the mental health unit for treatment. In the absence of a diagnosed mental disorder at admission, women who receive psychotropic medication to help them adjust to prison life are likely to be diagnosed with a mental disorder later on.
Physiology of trace element toxicity and its relation to iron stress

Abstract Evidence is presented which supports the view that cobalt toxicity induces iron deficiency in sugar beets. When excess cobalt was supplied to plants cultured hydroponically in half‐Hoagland's solution, less iron was transported to leaves, and chlorosis developed. Chlorosis caused by excess cobalt had characteristics similar to that obtained by withholding iron. Chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b ratios, carotene and xanthophyll contents, number and size of photosynthetic units, and the number and average volume of chloroplasts and leaf cells exhibited similar changes irrespective of how chlorosis was induced. Cobalt toxicity also decreased the rate of photosynthesis per unit leaf area in a manner comparable to iron deficiency, i.e. by reducing the number of photosynthetic units (and thereby photosynthetic electron transport capacity) per unit leaf area. A linear relationship between chlorophyll content and total leaf iron content was obtained with cobalt toxicity. This is because most (about 69 to 84%) ...
Novel occurrence of 5 beta-cholanic acid in plants: isolation from jequirity bean seeds (Abrus precatorius L.).

Abstract The presence of 5β-cholanic acid has been detected in the seeds of jequirity bean ( Abrus precatorius L.) Its structure was unequivocally established by spectroscopic methods. This report provides proof, for the first time, of the occurrence of 5β-cholanic acid in a plant source.
Thermal fatigue life prediction of solder joints of plastic ball grid array packages

In the present study, the fatigue life of solder joints of plastic ball grid array packages (PBGA) under thermal cycling condition is evaluated using the finite element method. A unified, viscoplastic constitutive model for solder joints of plastic ball grid array packages is employed to improve accuracy of reliability prediction. The constitutive model is then implemented into the commercial finite element analysis software, ABAQUS, to predict the thermo-mechanical behaviour of solder balls in PBGA package subjected to thermal cycling. Damage parameters are obtained from the FEA results and are used to estimate the thermal fatigue life of solder balls. The Coffin-Manson equation is employed. The predicted thermal fatigue lives are discussed in detail.
THE EFFECT OF RESPONSE EFFORT ON COMPLIANCE IN YOUNG CHILDREN

We evaluated the effect of response effort on compliance with three children who exhibited noncompliance when asked to relinquish a preferred toy. Participants were given access to a preferred toy and then asked to place the toy in a toy bin, which was located either 0.3 m (low effort) or 3 m (high effort) away. We used a reversal design to evaluate the effect of the effort manipulation. Compliance by all three participants was sensitive to the effort manipulation. In addition, compliance by two participants maintained as the distance required to comply with instructions was systematically increased. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of the linear vestibulo-ocular reflex on accommodative vergence eye movements.

The aim of the study was to determine whether accommodation to the relative motion of a target along the visual axis of one eye during fore–aft movement of the head could induce accurate vergence over a wide range of viewing distances and frequencies of oscillation, despite lack of vision in the second eye. This was compared to the vergence when both eyes viewed the target. Two rhesus monkeys were trained to fixate a visual target located 216–336 mm in front and along the visual axis of one eye, while being sinusoidally translated in the fore–aft direction. There was no movement of the seeing eye while the other eye converged, regardless of whether there was vision in the converged eye. Gain and phase of the convergence were determined based on the ratio of actual versus expected eye position if the target was accurately fixated. During translation at frequencies from 0.05 to 2 Hz, the eye converged on the target with an eye position gain of ≈1, and a phase close to zero. When vision was occluded in the converging eye, gains of convergence were 0.6–0.8 Hz up to 2 Hz, and the phases remained close to zero. At low frequencies of fore–aft movement, when the acceleration was negligible, convergence was driven by accommodation in the seeing eye. At higher frequencies, vergence could also be driven by the linear vestibulo-ocular reflex (lVOR). Thus, vision in one nonmoving eye and the lVOR combine to generate convergence over a wide range of frequencies and viewing distances.
Genetic and Functional Analyses of the Conserved C-Terminal Core Domain of Escherichia coli FtsZ

In Escherichia coli, FtsZ is required for the recruitment of the essential cell division proteins FtsA and ZipA to the septal ring. Several C-terminal deletions of E. coli FtsZ, including one of only 12 amino acids that removes the highly conserved C-terminal core domain, failed to complement chromosomal ftsZ mutants when expressed on a plasmid. To identify key individual residues within the core domain, six highly conserved residues were replaced with alanines. All but one of these mutants (D373A) failed to complement an ftsZ chromosomal mutant. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that whereas I374A and F377A proteins were unstable in the cell, L372A, D373A, P375A, and L378A proteins were synthesized at normal levels, suggesting that they were specifically defective in some aspect of FtsZ function. In addition, all four of the stable mutant proteins were able to localize and form rings at potential division sites in chromosomal ftsZ mutants, implying a defect in a function other than localization and multimerization. Because another proposed function of FtsZ is the recruitment of FtsA and ZipA, we tested whether the C-terminal core domain was important for interactions with these proteins. Using two different in vivo assays, we found that the 12-amino-acid truncation of FtsZ was defective in binding to FtsA. Furthermore, two point mutants in this region (L372A and P375A) showed weakened binding to FtsA. In contrast, ZipA was capable of binding to all four stable point mutants in the FtsZ C-terminal core but not to the 12-amino-acid deletion.
Efficient Coding of Labelled Graphs

The efficient coding of directed graphs can be of importance in data compression algorithms, as well as in graphical modelling applications in artificial intelligence and biological network reconstruction. One type of code commonly used involves the separate coding of node parent sets, and can be shown to have an asymptotic code length proportional to the number of edges. We show the existence of an alternative code, based on graph blocks, which can be shown to be of uniformly shorter length under asymptotically invariant conditions.
Impact of Job Complexity and Performance on CFO Compensation

This study investigates the impact of job complexity and firm, as well as CFO-specific performance, on CFO compensation. We find job complexity and overall firm performance affects both CFO salary and bonus, while CFO-specific performance affects CFO bonus. Specifically, we find that CFOs are not only rewarded when their firms meet or beat earnings targets, but they get incremental rewards for managing earnings and/or expectations to allow their firms to meet or just beat those targets.
Design of a recursive, shape controlling mesh generator

A recursive, shape controlling triangulation method is described. The method is designed to produce a labelling which implies reduced fill in the solution of (finite element) equations assembled from such a triangulation and allows simple implementation of a nested disection algorithm for irregular domains. This approach saves a substantial amount of time usually spent on discovering a suitable relabelling of the triangulation. In addition, the matrix of the resulting system is then endowed with a recursive doubly bordered block diagonal form. This allows us to develop a recursive parallel bisection method for the solution of the system of equations.
Inhibitory Control in Mind and Brain 2.0: Blocked-Input Models of Saccadic Countermanding

The interactive race model of saccadic countermanding assumes that response inhibition results from an interaction between a go unit, identified with gaze-shifting neurons, and a stop unit, identified with gaze-holding neurons, in which activation of the stop unit inhibits the growth of activation in the go unit to prevent it from reaching threshold. The interactive race model accounts for behavioral data and predicts physiological data in monkeys performing the stop-signal task. We propose an alternative model that assumes that response inhibition results from blocking the input to the go unit. We show that the blocked-input model accounts for behavioral data as accurately as the original interactive race model and predicts aspects of the physiological data more accurately. We extend the models to address the steady-state fixation period before the go stimulus is presented and find that the blocked-input model fits better than the interactive race model. We consider a model in which fixation activity is boosted when a stop signal occurs and find that it fits as well as the blocked input model but predicts very high steady-state fixation activity after the response is inhibited. We discuss the alternative linking propositions that connect computational models to neural mechanisms, the lessons to be learned from model mimicry, and generalization from countermanding saccades to countermanding other kinds of responses.
Chit chat club: bridging virtual and physical space for social interaction

In this work, we create an audio-video link via an interactive sculpture to facilitate casual, sociable communication between two remote spaces. This communication installation was designed to blend the benefits of online interaction such as low risk interaction, lower barriers to entry, and minimized geographical constraints with the ease and the affordances of interacting and signalling in physical space. We describe the creation and the iterative design process for creating a social virtual-physical hybrid space-interface we call the Chit Chat Club. In describing our design decisions, we note the advantages and disadvantages of two Chit Chat Club installations and their effect on interaction.
Structural gate decomposition for depth-optimal technology mapping in LUT-based FPGA design

In this paper, we study the problem of decomposing gates in fanin-unbounded or K-bounded networks such that the K-input LUT mapping solutions computed by a depth-optimal mapper have minimum depth. We show (1) any decomposition leads to a smaller or equal mapping depth regardless the decomposition algorithm used, and (2) the problem is NP-hard for unbounded networks when K/spl ges/3 and remains NP-hard for K-bounded networks when K/spl ges/5. We propose a gate decomposition algorithm, named DOGMA, which combines level-driven node packing technique (Chortle-d) and the network flow based optimal labeling technique (FlowMap). Experimental results show that networks decomposed by DOGMA allow depth-optimal technology mappers to improve the mapping solutions by up to 11% in depth and up to 35% in area comparing to the mapping results of networks decomposed by other existing decomposition algorithms.
Coherence controller architectures for SMP-based CC-NUMA multiprocessors

Scalable distributed shared-memory architectures rely on coherence controllers on each processing node to synthesize cache-coherent shared memory across the entire machine. The coherence controllers execute coherence protocol handlers that may be hardwired in custom hardware or programmed in a protocol processor within each coherence controller. Although custom hardware runs faster, a protocol processor allows the coherence protocol to be tailored to specific application needs and may shorten hardware development time. Previous research show that the increase in application execution time due to protocol processors over custom hardware is minimal.With the advent of SMP nodes and faster processors and networks, the tradeoff between custom hardware and protocol processors needs to be reexamined. This paper studies the performance of custom-hardware and protocol-processor-based coherence controllers in SMP-node-based CC-NUMA systems on applications from the SPLASH-2 suite. Using realistic parameters and detailed models of existing state-of-the-art system components, it shows that the occupancy of coherence controllers can limit the performance of applications with high communication requirements, where the execution time using protocol processors can be twice as long as using custom hardware.To gain a deeper understanding of the tradeoff, we investigate the effect of varying several architectural parameters that influence the communication characteristics of the applications and the underlying system on coherence controller performance. We identify measures of applications' communication requirements and their impact on the performance penalty of protocol processors, which can help system designers predict performance penalties for other applications. We also study the potential of improving the performance of hardware-based and protocol-processor-based coherence controllers by separating or duplicating critical components.
Numerical investigation of the atmospheric dispersion of stack effluents

This report describes a numerical method based on the best gradient-transfer theory currently available for computing pollutant concentration distributions downwind from a stack. The vertical inhomogeneity of the atmosphere and ground roughness are included in the model. Vertical wind and temperature profiles are calculated numerically from given values of ground roughness and wind speed and relative temperature at stack height. An equation governing the plume from the stack is solved by a finite difference method. The numerical results, compared with several experiments, suggest that ground roughness is an important parameter and that is agreement between different sets of experimental data may be due to different values of this parameter. The effect of wind is found to be small under neutral conditions. The effective mean wind decreases to a minimum value a short distance from the stack and then increases downwind.
Structure–Function Relationships in Yeast Tubulins

A comprehensive set of clustered charged-to-alanine mutations was generated that systematically alter TUB1, the major α-tubulin gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A variety of phenotypes were observ...
Issues for Research on Alternative Patterns of Care for Low Birth weight Infants

Summary It is unlikely that the rate of very low birthweight infants born annually will change in the near future. However, efforts to improve their outcomes and to control the cost of their care will continue. Professional opinion, special interests, politics, and values all will play some role in public policy decisions about the provision of care to this group, especially during periods of economic restraint. In this context it is even more important for nursing to examine alternative models of care that are efficacious, that justify their costs, and that promote the image and self-determination of the profession in advancing its practice.
The role of the plasma membrane fluidity on the shear sensitivity of hybridomas grown under hydrodynamic stress

The role of the plasma membrane fluidity (PMF) on the shear sensitivity of HB-32 hybridomas to laminar fluid shear was investigated. Steady-state fluorescence anisotropy (r(s)) of the cationic fluorescent probe 1-[4-(trimethylamino) phenyl]-6-phenylhexa-1,3,5-triene, was used to evaluate the PMF of whole hybridoma cells. The PMF was manipulated by the addition of the anesthetic benzyl alcohol, by temperature changes and by cholesterol enrichment. The effect of these PMF modifying procedures on the shear sensitivity of HB-32 was assessed by exposing the cells to defined levels of laminar shear stress in a Couette flow device. Conditions that resulted in lower r(s) values (indicating higher PMF) yielded a more fragile cell. Batch cultivations supplemented with the shear protective agent Pluronic(R) F-68 showed higher values of r(s) compared to control experiments during various growth phases, suggesting that the protective mechanism of Pluronic F-68 relies on its ability to decrease the PMF through direct interaction with the plasma membrane. The protective mechanism of serum against turbulent fluid shear is also discussed from analysis of growth and death kinetics of agitated and static cultures at increasing serum levels. The results of this study show that the fluid state of the plasma membrane is important in determining the integrity of hybridomas when exposed to lethal shear levels. It is concluded that increasing membrane fluidity correlates with increasing shear sensitivity.
Long-pulse, low-voltage infrared free-electron laser

Free-electron lasers (FEL's) have been developed as powerful IR sources at several sites around the world. This paper considers the design of a relatively compact, low-cost, tunable IR FEL based on a 3-MeV electrostatic accelerator and a submillimeter-wavelength electromagnetic wiggler. The system should be sufficiently portable for use in the field, and applications such as remote sensing and industrial processing are envisioned. The wiggler is powered by a second-harmonic quasioptical gyrotron. A prescription for optimizing the gain of an electromagnetic wiggler FEL is derived and the nonlinear regime is treated by relating the electromagnetic wiggler FEL to the "universal" normalized FEL equations. A point design is given showing accelerator, gyrotron, and output parameters for a system capable of operating over the entire 3-13-/spl mu/m wavelength atmospheric windows. A wide range of output characteristics is available. >
Reinforcement contingencies as discriminative stimuli

A matching paradigm was used to examine the discriminative properties of two different reinforcement contingencies. Responding according to either a differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate or a differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior schedule produced a choice situation in which each of two keys was illuminated with a unique color. The correct choice response was defined by the contingency that was met to produce the choice. Eighty to 100% correct matching was obtained and recovered during two reversals of the choice stimuli. Introduction of a delay between completion of the reinforcement contingency and presentation of the choice stimuli resulted in decrements in matching performances similar to those obtained when other types of sample stimuli are used. The results provided evidence of the discriminative properties of the relation between behavior and other classes of stimuli.
Cellular and Molecular Dissection of Reperfusion Injury: ROS Within and Without

Reperfusion injury in the heart can occur either as a result of transient arterial occlusion (eg, due to vasospasm or thrombus formation with spontaneous lysis) or as an iatrogenic consequence of thrombolytic or angioplastic therapy. A basic research objective is to delineate pathogenesis in order to devise effective prevention and/or treatment strategies. This, of course, applies to most biomedical research, and one general approach to this and other conditions is a reductionist model in which the responses of isolated cell types are investigated in tissue culture. This experimental approach has the advantage of distinguishing primary responses to the stimulus from those that are secondary to the responses of other cell types within the organ. Not only the target cell but also the inciting stimulus can be well defined in cell culture. Arterial occlusion leads to ischemia, which involves deprivation of energy substrates (glucose and oxygen) and accumulation of toxic metabolites (H+ and K+), as well as secondary alterations in endothelial and inflammatory cell function. In contrast, cultured cells (eg, cardiac myocytes) can be subjected to anoxia/hypoxia under highly controlled conditions. Furthermore, the expression of specific proteins can be experimentally manipulated in an attempt to establish molecular mechanisms. Two obvious limitations of tissue culture systems involve the analysis of responses that are not cell autonomous (ie, involve more than one cell type) and those that are cell-type or developmental-stage specific (eg, adult versus neonatal cardiomyocytes). Thus, the relevance of responses in tissue culture to organ …
NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT, TANNINS, AND THORNS: EFFECTS ON BROWSING OF SHRUB SEEDLINGS

Blackbrush acacia (Acacia rigidula) and guajillo (Acacia berlandieri) are major browse species in diets of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in southern Texas and northern Mexico. We conducted both field and greenhouse experiments to test the hypotheses that (1) fertilization reduces tannins and spinescence in black-brush acacia and guajillo seedlings, (2) thorn removal increases utilization of shrub seedlings by deer, and (3) fertilization alters seedling nutrient content, chemical composition, and growth characteristics. Guajillo seedlings grown in a greenhouse with high soil fertility were lower (P 0.05). Fertilization increased the levels of nitrogen and digestible protein in shrub seedlings of both species grown in the greenhouse (P < 0.05), but low rainfall during the field study may have precluded a similar response. Intensity of browsing was similar on fertilized and unfertilized seedlings. Seedlings with thorns removed were browsed more heavily than those with thorns (P < 0.05) in the field, where several species of herbivores were present. However, in feeding trials with tame deer, thorns did not affect browsing intensity. Thorns may be more important than tannins in defending seedlings against herbivory, and may be more important in defending against browsing by lagomorphs and small mammals than against browsing by white-tailed deer. Transplanted seedlings of both species should be protected from herbivores during early stages of establishment.
Cochlear nucleus cell size is regulated by auditory nerve electrical activity

Accumulating evidence suggests that sensorineural hearing loss in animals is rapidly followed by degenerative changes in central auditory neurons. For example, cochlear removal in birds and mammals results in a reduction in central auditory neuron cell size within 48 hours. A similar decrease in cell size after pharmacologic blockade of auditory nerve electrical activity with tetrodotoxin has been reported. In the present study, we evaluate the reversibility of central auditory changes after a profound sensorineural hearing loss caused by blockade of auditory nerve action potentials. Tetrodotoxin, which blocks voltage-sensitive sodium channels, was embedded in a slowrelease vehicle and placed next to the round window membrane of gerbils. Tetrodotoxin diffused into perilymph and unilaterally blocked electrical activity in auditory nerve axons. Electrical activity blockade was confirmed with recordings of auditory brainstem response. Animals were killed immediately after 24 hours of electrical blockade or 7...
1990s State Tax Cuts and the Current Revenue Crisis

The author writes that state tax cuts in the 1990s led to the states' current revenue crisis. States that enacted very large tax cuts in the 1990s are in the biggest financial trouble now, the author says.
Variation of Alkaline Phosphatase Activity Among Cells of Inducible and Constitutive Strains of Human Fibroblasts.

SummaryHistochemical studies of 12 strains of diploid human fibroblasts derived from newborn foreskins revealed marked variation of alkaline phosphatase activity within all populations, whether classified as constitutive for the enzyme or inducible by substrate. Variation was also apparent in non-induced populations having low activity and in “self-induced” populations having high activity.
Engineering of an L-arabinose metabolic pathway in Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 for biofuel production

The oleaginous bacterium, Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 has attracted considerable attention due to its capability to accumulate significant levels of triacylglycerol as renewable hydrocarbon. To enable the strain to utilize arabinose derived from lignocellulosic biomass, the metabolic pathway of L-arabinose utilization was introduced into R. jostii RHA1 by heterogenous expression of the operon, araBAD from Escherichia coli. The results showed that recombinant bearing araBAD could grow on L-arabinose as the sole carbon source, and additional expression of araFGH encoding the arabinose transporter from E. coli could improve the cell biomass yield from high contents of arabinose. We further increased the content of lipid produced from arabinose in the recombinants from 47.9 to 56.8 % of the cell dry weight (CDW) by overexpression of a gene, atf1 encoding a diglyceride acyltransferase from R. opacus PD630. This work demonstrated the feasibility of producing lipid from arabinose by genetic modification of the rhodococci strain.
Empirical analysis of influencing factors for implementing drug electronic supervision policy in Jiangsu Province

Objective To explore the key factors influencing the implementation of drug electronic supervision policy for medical enterprise in Jiangsu Province,and thereby to provide basis for policy-making and improvement on the part of departments concerned.Methods An index system of influencing factors for implementing drug electronic supervision was established,and quantitative analysis by method of factor analysis was conducted so as to select key factors influencing the implementation of drug electronic supervision.Results Key factors influencing the implementation of drug electronic supervision found by empirical analysis were the pharmaceutical administration law,specialized rules,initial investment,tag cost,public bidding,the technical standards and information security.Conclusion During the implementation of drug electronic supervision system,the government should formulate corresponding policies and measures aiming at the above key factors to realize the regulation goal of "all varieties and the overall process" of drug electronic supervision as scheduled.
Observations on the "Cytoskeleton" of Human Platelets.

Structural study of rapidly lysed platelets supports the view that that shape change involves a change in state of the microfilaments which contain actin. The microtubule "bundle" appears to be a continuous coil. Proteolysis of a high molecular weight band is observed in platelets which can no longer form filopodia after suppression by local anesthetics.
Bioelectronic interfaces by spontaneously organized peptides on 2D atomic single layer materials.

Self-assembly of biological molecules on solid materials is central to the “bottom-up” approach to directly integrate biology with electronics. Inspired by biology, exquisite biomolecular nanoarchitectures have been formed on solid surfaces. We demonstrate that a combinatorially-selected dodecapeptide and its variants self-assemble into peptide nanowires on two-dimensional nanosheets, single-layer graphene and MoS2. The abrupt boundaries of nanowires create electronic junctions via spatial biomolecular doping of graphene and manifest themselves as a self-assembled electronic network. Furthermore, designed peptides form nanowires on single-layer MoS2 modifying both its electric conductivity and photoluminescence. The biomolecular doping of nanosheets defined by peptide nanostructures may represent the crucial first step in integrating biology with nano-electronics towards realizing fully self-assembled bionanoelectronic devices.
High fan-out optical network for high performance standalone applications: HF-ON

We present a scalable high fan-out optical network (HF-PON) architecture that supports 450+ simultaneous users and an aggregate downstream bandwidth of 100Gb/s using quadrature amplitude modulation, coherent optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (QAM-OFDM) sub-carrier modulation scheme. Presented architecture is best suited for high-capacity bandwidth hungry applications such as in-flight entertainment networks and can be deployed in small and geographically confined areas. Simulation results show that HF-PON is able to provide up to ∼195Mb/s to each user with BER kept under the FEC threshold.
A human view of programming languages (keynote)

In computer science, we usually take a technical view of programming languages, defining them as precise, formal ways of specifying a computer behavior. This view shapes much of the research and development that we do on programming languages, determining the questions we ask about them, the improvements we make to them, and how we teach people to use them. But to many people (even software engineers) programming languages are not purely technical things, but socio-technical things. In this talk, I discuss several alternative views of programming languages, and how these views can reshape how we design, evolve, and use programming languages in research and practice.
Stepfamily Relationship Quality and Children's Internalizing and Externalizing Problems.

The stepfamily literature is replete with between-group analyses by which youth residing in stepfamilies are compared to youth in other family structures across indicators of adjustment and well-being. Few longitudinal studies examine variation in stepfamily functioning to identify factors that promote the positive adjustment of stepchildren over time. Using a longitudinal sample of 191 stepchildren (56% female, mean age = 11.3 years), the current study examines the association between the relationship quality of three central stepfamily dyads (stepparent-child, parent-child, and stepcouple) and children's internalizing and externalizing problems concurrently and over time. RESULTS from path analyses indicate that higher levels of parent-child affective quality are associated with lower levels of children's concurrent internalizing and externalizing problems at Wave 1. Higher levels of stepparent-child affective quality are associated with decreases in children's internalizing and externalizing problems at Wave 2 (6 months beyond baseline), even after controlling for children's internalizing and externalizing problems at Wave 1 and other covariates. The stepcouple relationship was not directly linked to youth outcomes. Our findings provide implications for future research and practice.© 2017 Family Process Institute. Language: en
Managing Geologic CO2 Storage with Pre-Injection Brine Production in Tandem Reservoirs

Abstract We present an approach for managing geologic CO2 storage using wells that serve three sequential purposes (1) characterization and monitoring, (2) brine production, and (3) CO2 injection. Two reservoirs are deployed in tandem: (1) a CO2-storage reservoir and (2) a brine-storage reservoir. This approach provides data that can be analyzed prior to CO2 injection, enabling proactive reservoir management, which reduces cost and risk. We analyze a range of brine-disposition options, including 100% reinjection in a nearby brine-storage reservoir and cases where a portion of the produced brine is used to generate water, with the residual brine reinjected in the nearby reservoir. We also consider the option of time-shifting the parasitic load of brine production and injection, so that those operations can utilize excess energy from electric grids during periods of over-generation.
Sterol targeting drugs reveal life cycle stage-specific differences in trypanosome lipid rafts

Cilia play important roles in cell signaling, facilitated by the unique lipid environment of a ciliary membrane containing high concentrations of sterol-rich lipid rafts. The African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei is a single-celled eukaryote with a single cilium/flagellum. We tested whether flagellar sterol enrichment results from selective flagellar partitioning of specific sterol species or from general enrichment of all sterols. While all sterols are enriched in the flagellum, cholesterol is especially enriched. T. brucei cycles between its mammalian host (bloodstream cell), in which it scavenges cholesterol, and its tsetse fly host (procyclic cell), in which it both scavenges cholesterol and synthesizes ergosterol. We wondered whether the insect and mammalian life cycle stages possess chemically different lipid rafts due to different sterol utilization. Treatment of bloodstream parasites with cholesterol-specific methyl-β-cyclodextrin disrupts both membrane liquid order and localization of a raft-associated ciliary membrane calcium sensor. Treatment with ergosterol-specific amphotericin B does not. The opposite results were observed with ergosterol-rich procyclic cells. Further, these agents have opposite effects on flagellar sterol enrichment and cell metabolism in the two life cycle stages. These findings illuminate differences in the lipid rafts of an organism employing life cycle-specific sterols and have implications for treatment.
Salt Level in a Simulated Aquaponic System and Effects on Bibb Lettuce

ABSTRACTAquaponics is the integration of plant and fish production where byproducts of one system are used as an input for the other. In an integrated system of tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) and Bibb Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), it is a common practice to add salt (NaCl) to the water to ease stress on fish. This study was undertaken to determine the tolerance of hydroponic Bibb lettuce to various chloride concentrations from addition of NaCl to the hydroponic solution. In Experiment 1, lettuce plants were grown hydroponically in 6-L buckets with standard hydroponic fertilizer and NaCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 500 mg·L−1 chloride. Approximately 30 days after transplanting, at maturity, plants were not adversely affected by any of the treatments. In Experiment 2, NaCl treatments ranged from 0 to 20,000 mg·L−1. Treatments of NaCl concentrations over 5000 mg·L−1 chloride were lethal to lettuce. Adverse effects were seen at concentrations above 2000 mg·L−1. With increasing worldwide fish–vegetable aquapon...
Developing winning marketing strategies in a competitive software market

Proposing effective marketing strategies is a challenging task for a software publisher when there are competitors in the same market. A software publisher cannot propose strategies without considering the impacts of strategies launched by his competitors. The situation becomes more complicated when software piracy is involved. The software piracy could lead to either a loss of profits or a boost in profits and diffusion speed, and its outcome relies on the marketing strategies. In this paper, a model is introduced to simulate a duopoly software market as a complex adaptive system. The model studies the competitive diffusion of two products, taking into consideration the impacts of software piracy and social network topologies. The model develops dynamic and self-learning marketing strategies which help the software publisher defeat his competitor. In addition, the model demonstrates that the outcome of competition is also influenced by the social network topologies.
Distinction of the GABA 2.29 ppm resonance using triple refocusing at 3 T in vivo.

Purpose To develop 1 H MR spectroscopy that provides distinction of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signal at 3 T in vivo. Methods Triple-refocusing was tailored at 3 T, with numerical simulations and phantom validation, for distinction of the GABA 2.29-ppm resonance from the neighboring glutamate resonance. The optimization was performed on the inter-RF pulse time delays and the duration and carrier frequency of a non-slice-selective RF pulse. The optimized triple refocusing was tested in multiple regions in 6 healthy subjects, including hippocampus. The in vivo spectra were analyzed with the LCModel using in-house basis spectra. After normalization of the metabolite signal estimates to water, the metabolite concentrations were quantified with reference to medial-occipital creatine at 8 mM. Results A triple-refocusing scheme with optimized inter-RF pulse time delays (TE = 74 ms) was obtained for GABA detection. With optimized duration (14 ms) and carrier frequency (4.5 ppm) of the non-slice-selective RF pulse, the triple refocusing gave rise to distinction between the GABA 2.29-ppm and glutamate 2.35-ppm signals. The GABA 2.29-ppm signal was clearly discernible in spectra in vivo (voxel size 4 to 12 mL; scan times 4.3 to 17 minutes). With a total of 24 spectra from 6 gray or white matter-dominant regions, the GABA concentration was measured to be 0.62 to 1.15 mM (Cramer-Rao lower bound of 8 to 14%), and the glutamate level 5.8 to 11.2 mM (Cramer-Rao lower bound of 3 to 6%). Conclusion The optimized triple refocusing provided distinction between GABA and glutamate signals and permitted direct codetection of these metabolites in the human brain at 3 T in vivo.
A Challenge-Based Approach to Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training Poststroke: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Body weight support treadmill training protocols in conjunction with other modalities are commonly used to improve poststroke balance and walking function. However, typical body weight support paradigms tend to use consistently stable balance conditions, often with handrail support and or manual assistance. Objective: In this paper, we describe our study protocol, which involved 2 unique body weight support treadmill training paradigms of similar training intensity that integrated dynamic balance challenges to help improve ambulatory function post stroke. The first paradigm emphasized walking without any handrails or manual assistance, that is, hands-free walking, and served as the control group, whereas the second paradigm incorporated practicing 9 essential challenging mobility skills, akin to environmental barriers encountered during community ambulation along with hands-free walking (ie hands-free + challenge walking). Methods: We recruited individuals with chronic poststroke hemiparesis and randomized them to either group. Participants trained for 6 weeks on a self-driven, robotic treadmill interface that provided body weight support and a safe gait-training environment. We assessed participants at pre-, mid- and post 6 weeks of intervention-training, with a 6-month follow-up. We hypothesized greater walking improvements in the hands-free + challenge walking group following training because of increased practice opportunity of essential mobility skills along with hands-free walking. Results: We assessed 77 individuals with chronic hemiparesis, and enrolled and randomized 30 individuals poststroke for our study (hands-free group=19 and hands-free + challenge walking group=20) from June 2012 to January 2015. Data collection along with 6-month follow-up continued until January 2016. Our primary outcome measure is change in comfortable walking speed from pre to post intervention for each group. We will also assess feasibility, adherence, postintervention efficacy, and changes in various exploratory secondary outcome measures. Additionally, we will also assess participant responses to a study survey, conducted at the end of training week, to gauge each group's training experiences. Conclusions: Our treadmill training paradigms, and study protocol represent advances in standardized approaches to selecting body weight support levels without the necessity for using handrails or manual assistance, while progressively providing dynamic challenges for improving poststroke ambulatory function during rehabilitation. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02787759; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02787759 (Archived by Webcite at http://www.webcitation.org/6yJZCrIea)