cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enzyme immobilization in MCM-41 molecular sieve

The immobilization of globular enzymes, cytochrome c (bovine heart), papain (papaya latex) and trypsin (bovine pancreas), in the mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41 was studied. The physical adsorption in the hexagonal 40 A pure silica phase of MCM-41 showed a clear dependence on enzyme size. The efficiency of papain and trypsin immobilization was pH dependent and favorable at pH values 7 and less susceptible to pH changes. Peroxidase (horseradish) was not significantly retained by the MCM-41 support. Silanation of the mesopore openings after trypsin adsorption eliminated the leaching of enzyme into solution at high pH. The entrapped trypsin enzyme was active for the hydrolysis of N-α-benzoyl-dl-arginine-4-nitroanilide (BAPNA). Results for the inhibition of this reaction by poly-l-lysine of various molecular weights are reported. The stability of trypsin was also enhanced by the physical entrapment in MCM-41.
Magnetostriction in amorphous Gd/sub 2/Fe/sub 14/B thin films

Films 222 nm thick were sputtered from a stoichiometric Gd/sub 2/Fe/sub 14/B sintered target for the purpose of establishing their magnetoelastic properties. They were deposited onto precut rectangular coverglasses and Si substrates using ion beam sputtering. The saturation magnetostriction coefficient ( lambda /sub s/), was measured using a ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) technique where the same specimen was characterized in the as-deposited state and after having been annealed at 300 degrees C in gettered Ar for 30 min. The average values for ( lambda /sub s/) were determined to be +19.9*10/sup -6/ and +34.6*10/sup -6/, respectively. >
The Depiction of Seizures in Film

Summary: Purpose: The purpose was to describe the depiction of epilepsy in English language film. Methods: The list of films, developed by consulting several databases, film scholars, and neurologists, includes every film suggested by any source. By using the saturation techniques of grounded theory, names of films were sought until no new names were received. All films were reviewed by an experienced board-certified neurologist. Results: Seizures were depicted in 20 films. Generally, seizures are used in film to develop narrative or enrich character. They serve four functions: (a) a principal character has epilepsy; thus the condition is critical to character and narrative; (b) a seizure is used to drive the narrative; (c) a seizure is used to enrich a minor role; and (d) a seizure is feigned to distract attention from another activity. Conclusions: Conclusions can be drawn in four areas: character, accuracy of depiction, roles and responses of onlookers, and the place of epilepsy in the films: (a) Epilepsy is one dimension linked with other aspects of an individual to enrich character; (b) Seizures are depicted fairly accurately, but their frequent representation as uncontrollable and violent is exaggerated and out of date; (c) In the films, the onlookers' responses range from fear to taking correct measures; and (d) The presence of epilepsy is never arbitrary, but the function varies. Overall, the view of epilepsy conveyed in film continues to be distorted, sensationalized, and presented in the most frightening ways.
Loss of heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein A(2)/B(1) expression in thyroid neoplasms.

Objective To determine whether a difference exists in the immunohistochemical expression of heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A(2)/B(1) between benign and malignant thyroid lesions and to assess whether a gradient of expression could be found in normal thyroid, adenomas, and thyroid malignant tumors. Methods Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissues from 32 cases (8 nodular goiters, 8 follicular adenomas, 8 follicular carcinomas, and 8 papillary carcinomas) were immunostained with monoclonal antibody 703D4, directed against hnRNP A(2)/B(1), applied at a concentration of 10 microg/mL. The streptavidin-biotin peroxidase method was used to label bound monoclonal antibody. Positivity was independently scored by two pathologists, who used a three-tiered scale. Results The benign thyroid tissues, including the hyperplastic and adenomatous lesions, demonstrated 3+ granular cytoplasmic staining for hnRNP A(2)/B(1), except in two cases (one nodular goiter and one follicular adenoma) in which 2+ staining intensity was noted. In contrast, the papillary and follicular carcinomas failed to stain with the antibody, except in two cases that showed weak (1+) staining. Conclusion hnRNP A(2)/B(1) immunostaining appears to distinguish benign from malignant thyroid lesions. Loss of hnRNP A(2)/B(1) expression seems to be a characteristic feature of thyroid malignant lesions.
High-resolution adaptive phase distortion suppression based solely on intensity information

New control algorithms for an adaptive system with high-resolution piston-type wave-front corrector and optoelectronic feedback that do not require phase information are introduced and analyzed. Numerical simulations of adaptive system performance in the presence of phase distortions described using several common phase fluctuation spectrums demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. An adaptive optical system having two separate feedback loops for compensation of large- and small-scale phase distortions is studied. Spatiotemporal instabilities that can occur in high-resolution adaptive systems were observed in numerical simulations.
Building a timeline editor from prefab parts: the architecture of an object-oriented application

This article describes InterVal, a software tool that allows authors to create dynamic timelines. It is one tool in Intermedia, a framework developed at Brown University's institute for Research in Information and Scholarship (IRIS) that allows professors and students to create linked multimedia documents and encourages exploration, connectivity, and visualization of ideas. The system was written using an object-oriented extension to C, MacApp, and a set of underlying building blocks, or functional groups of objects. This paper describes InterVal and discusses the architecture of the InterVal application, focusing on the design of the object-oriented architecture and on the use of appropriate building blocks. Concluding sections evaluate object-oriented programming and outline future work.
A quantitative synthesis of the immigrant achievement gap across OECD countries

While existing evidence strongly suggests that immigrant students underperform relative to their native counterparts on measures of mathematics, science, and reading, country-level analyses assessing the homogeneity of the immigrant achievement gap across different factors have not been systematically conducted. Beyond finding a statistically significant average achievement gap, existing findings show considerable variation. The goal of this quantitative synthesis was to analyze effect sizes which compared immigrants to natives on international mathematics, reading, and science examinations. We used data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). We investigated whether the achievement gap is larger in some content areas than others (among mathematics, science, and reading), across the different types of tests (PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS), across academic grades and age, and whether it has changed across time. Standardized mean differences between immigrant and native students were obtained using data from 2000 to 2009 for current Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Statistically significant weighted mean effect sizes favored native test takers in mathematics , reading , and science . Effects of moderators differed across content areas. Our analyses have the potential to contribute to the literature about how variation in the immigrant achievement gap relates to different national-level factors.
“A Convenient Reality”: Kurt Vonnegut's Mother Night and the Falsification of Memory

Howard W. Campbell's tale of working as an American double agent during the war years is a fabrication on his part, a lie told to justify his own reprehensible behavior as a Nazi propagandist. The revision of memory he undertakes in his confessions ties Campbell to Adolf Eichmann, whose trial was being internationally televised as Vonnegut was finishing the novel, as well as to Nazi collaborators discussed by Primo Levi and other Holocaust historians.
Thinking deeply about the future

Posits that libraries have planned ahead and taken their services to where users require them most rather than becoming too insular or denying users the chance to learn in a modern environment using virtual reference services, for instance. Contends that librarians need to be proactive and to think creatively about delivery of service – perhaps moving from behind a desk to help students at computers when they are in need.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors for Intermittent Claudication Associated With Peripheral Arterial Disease

Objective: To review published literature regarding the effectiveness of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for managing intermittent claudication (IC) associated with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Data Sources: A search of MEDLINE/PubMed (1966-July 2013) using the MeSH terms intermittent claudication and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was conducted. Limits included articles written in English with human participants. Additional data were identified through bibliographic reviews. Study Selection and Data Extraction: All English-language articles identified from the data sources were evaluated. Clinical trials and meta-analyses were included if they evaluated the efficacy of ACE inhibitors for improving functional capacity of patients with PAD with IC. In all, 9 clinical trials and 1 meta-analysis were identified and included for review. ACE inhibitors evaluated in the studies were captopril, lisinopril, perindopril, quinapril, and ramipril. Data Synthesis: Current medications ap...
Unique Regulation of Carbohydrate Chemotaxis in Bacillus subtilis by the Phosphoenolpyruvate-Dependent Phosphotransferase System and the Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Protein McpC

The phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) plays a major role in the ability of Escherichia coli to migrate toward PTS carbohydrates. The present study establishes that chemotaxis toward PTS substrates in Bacillus subtilis is mediated by the PTS as well as by a methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein (MCP). As for E. coli, a B. subtilis ptsH null mutant is severely deficient in chemotaxis toward most PTS carbohydrates. Tethering analysis revealed that this mutant does respond normally to the stepwise addition of a PTS substrate (positive stimulus) but fails to respond normally to the stepwise removal of such a substrate (negative stimulus). An mcpC null mutant showed no response to the stepwise addition or removal ofd-glucose or d-mannitol, both of which are PTS substrates. Therefore, in contrast to E. coli PTS carbohydrate chemotaxis, B. subtilis PTS carbohydrate chemotaxis is mediated by both MCPs and the PTS; the response to positive stimulus is primarily McpC mediated, while the duration or magnitude of the response to negative PTS carbohydrate stimulus is greatly influenced by components of the PTS and McpC. In the case of the PTS substrate d-glucose, the response to negative stimulus is also partially mediated by McpA. Finally, we show thatB. subtilis EnzymeI-P has the ability to inhibit B. subtilis CheA autophosphorylation in vitro. We hypothesize that chemotaxis in the spatial gradient of the capillary assay may result from a combination of a transient increase in the intracellular concentration of EnzymeI-P and a decrease in the concentration of carbohydrate-associated McpC as the cell moves down the carbohydrate concentration gradient. Both events appear to contribute to inhibition of CheA activity that increases the tendency of the bacteria to tumble. In the case of d-glucose, a decrease ind-glucose-associated McpA may also contribute to the inhibition of CheA. This bias on the otherwise random walk allows net migration, or chemotaxis, to occur.
Mitochondrial DNA Polymerase γ is Expressed and Translated in the Absence of Mitochondrial DNA Maintenance and Replication

Mitochondria are essential organelles in all eukaryotic cells where cellular ATP is generated through the process of oxidative phosphorylation. Protein components of the respiratory assembly are gene products of both mitochondrial and nuclear genes. The mitochondrial genome itself encodes several protein and nucleic acid components required for such oxidative phosphorylative processes, but the vast majority of genes encoding respiratory chain components are nuclear. Similarly, the processes of replication and transcription of mitochondrial DNA rely exclusively upon RNA and protein species encoded by nuclear genes. We have analyzed two key nuclear-encoded proteins involved in mitochondrial DNA replication and transcription as a function of the presence or absence of mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA polymerase (DNA polymerase gamma), the nuclear-encoded enzyme which synthesizes mtDNA, is expressed and translated in cells devoid of mitochondrial DNA itself. In contrast, mitochondrial transcription factor A protein levels are tightly linked to the mtDNA status of the cell. These results demonstrate that the DNA polymerase gamma protein is stable in the absence of mitochondrial DNA, and that there appears to be no regulatory mechanism present in these cells to alter levels of this protein in the complete absence of mitochondrial DNA. Alternatively, it is possible that this enzyme plays an additional, as yet undefined, role in the cell, thereby mandating its continued production.
Insulin-like Growth Factors and Breast Cancer Risk in Chinese Women

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I has mitogenic and antiapoptotic effects on breast cancer cells. High-circulating IGF-I was found to be associated with increased risk of breast cancer in several previous epidemiological studies, mostly conducted in the Caucasian populations. Little is known about the association between IGF and breast cancer in Asian women whose dietary habits differ considerably from their Caucasian counterparts. A population-based case-control study was conducted to assess the associations of IGFs and IGF binding protein-3, a major IGF binding protein in the circulation, with breast cancer risk in Chinese women. The study included 300 incident breast cancer patients diagnosed between August 1996 and March 1998 in Shanghai and 300 age- and menopause-matched controls selected randomly from the general population. Plasma levels of IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGFBP-3 were measured using commercial ELISA kits (Diagnostic Systems Laboratories, Webster, TX). Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between IGF and breast cancer risk after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Breast cancer patients had higher plasma levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3. A dose-response relationship was observed between breast cancer risk and the level of IGF-I or IGFBP-3. The adjusted odds ratios were 2.01 (95% confidence interval, 1.26-3.19) or 3.01 (95% confidence interval, 1.81-4.99), respectively, for women with the highest tertile of IGF-I or IGFBP-3 compared with those with the lowest tertile of these molecules. These associations were more evident in premenopausal women or women with high body mass index or high waist-to-hip ratio. No significant association was found for IGF-II. The study confirms that high circulating levels of IGF-I are associated with elevated risk of breast cancer. In contrast to the findings from several studies conducted in Caucasian women, we found that IGFBP-3 was positively associated with breast cancer risk in Chinese women.
Agile optimization for coercion

Coercion combines flexible points, semi-automated optimization and expert guided manual code modification for adapting simulations to meet new requirements. Coercion can improve simulation adaptation efficiency by offloading large portions of work to automated search. This paper identifies requirements and related challenges in coercion, presents methods for gaining insight, and describes how to use these insights to make agile strategy decisions during a coercion. We call our optimization method agile optimization, because it allows users to preempt optimization and flexibly interleave alternative optimization methods and manual code modification, as needed. Agile optimization exploits the combined strengths of human insight and process automation to improve efficiency. We describe a prototype system and a case study that together demonstrate the benefits that can accrue from agile optimization.
Requirements for an interchange format for digitized EEG

A uniform means of transferring clinical EEG data between computer systems is proposed. This will facilitate the transfer of information between different computer systems within an institution, and between current and future generations of equipment. The mechanism for this transfer will be a data interchange format definition which does not depend on hardware or software characteristics, or on the nature of particular storage or transmission media. Each computerized EEG system will thus require only two special programs, a formatter and a deformatter, to convert between its particular internal format and the general interchange format. >
Role of temperature in determining relative abundance in cave twilight zones by two species of lungless salamander (family Plethodontidae)

Lungless salamanders of the family Plethodontidae have historically been considered to be passive conformers to their surrounding thermal environment because there is no evidence that they thermore...
An ontology-based context inference service for mobile applications in next-generation networks

Context enabled mobile applications are considered to provide a richer experience and to enhance the user interaction by acquiring information that allows the identification of the user's current situation. Modern context inference infrastructures can source, process and deliver user information. However, a commercialization towards a context service has still been prohibited by the need for global service coverage and accurate context identification. With the advent of Next Generation Networks, telecom operators can leverage All-IP networks to design external service interfaces that integrate a diverse set of sources and context inference processes that are easily scalable, extendable, and robust at the same time. This article presents a telecom operator service that supplies mobile applications with context information to illustrate how context infrastructures can leverage NGN capabilities. The article introduces an innovative context inference approach involving third Party applications within the inference process itself. This is done by structuring the ontology context model in layers of complexity and inferring particular context information via modules, which are designed in collaboration with third party developers. Furthermore, the service is compliant with state-of-the-art IP Multimedia Subsystem infrastructures and provides an interface that uses HTTP/SOAP and HTTP/REST communication as well as the Session Initiation Protocol of the IMS. A first proof of concept indicates an increased service adoption, a higher accuracy of context, and an increased robustness towards errors.
Cybernetic modeling of microbial growth on multiple substrates

The internal regulatory processes, which underlie a variety of behavior in microbial growth on multiple substrates, are viewed as a manifestation of an invariant strategy to optimize some goal of the cells. A goal-seeking or cybernetic model is proposed here, with the optimization obased on a short-term perspective of response to the environment. The model parameters are determined from the growth data on single substrates. The model predicts the entire range of microbial growth behavior on multiple substrates from simultaneous utilization of all sugars to sequential utilization with pronounced diauxic lags. It is shown to predict the many variations of the diauxic phenomenon in different growth conditions. The transients in continuous culture growth on mixed substrates caused by varying the feed strategies are easily simulated by this model. The framework of this model can be applied to batch or continuous culture growth of many bacteria on different combinations of substrates.
Ultraviolet photoelectron and absorption spectra of substituted phenols

The spectroscopically parametrized CNDO/S3 model is used to provide a quantitative description of the valence electron photoemission and ultraviolet absorption spectra of a series of substituted phenols and anisoles. The CNDO/S3 density of valence states was used to determine the molecular conformation of these molecules via analysis of gas-phase photoemission spectra. These conformations, in turn, were used to quantitatively determine the ultraviolet absorption spectra.
Simulation of large turbulent vortex structures with the parabolic Navier-Stokes equations

The theoretical basis for well-posed marching of a Parabolic Navier-Stokes (PNS) computational technique for supersonic flow is discussed.and examples given to verify the analysis. It is demonstrated that stable computations can be made even with very small steps in the marching direction. The method is applied to cones at large angles of attack in high Reynolds-number, supersonic flow.Streamline trajectories generated from the numerical solutions demonstrate the development of vortex structures on the lee side of the cone.
Cross-layer inference-based fast link error recovery for MANETs

In traditional MANET MAC and routing protocols, if any link in a route fails, multiple fruitless attempts are made to use the failed link before reporting failure to the routing layer or attempting local recovery. The high frequency of link errors between mobile nodes requires rapid recovery in order to provide acceptable performance, especially for real-time applications. In this paper, we propose CIFLER, a cross-layer approach which uses enhanced channel reservation messages to allow alternate nodes to immediately elect themselves using only inferred neighbor information. This self-election avoids reliance on individual links and minimizes the impact frequent link errors have on delay, energy usage, and the function of upper layer protocols. We show via simulation that CIFLER provides better results in typical MANET scenarios. Unlike other local recovery schemes, CIFLER does not suffer from duplicated messages, allows new nodes to almost immediately learn the information needed to assist in the recovery of existing routes, and does not require additional hardware, delays, or control messages
Appendix: Methods of Detection, Separation and Purification of Carcinoembryonic Antigens

Although the purification and characterisation of normal or tumor-specific transplantation antigens are currently the center of interest in many laboratories, the problems involved have not yet been satisfactorily worked out. Purification and characterisation of transplantation CEA have not yet begun.
Effect of Duration of Exercise on Neuromuscular Hand Tremor

Abstract This study was an attempt to determine, by controlling certain variables not considered in previous investigations, the relationship between exercise and static neuromuscular hand tremor. Tremor measures of 52 women subjects were taken on three different occasions, the procedure being varied in the amount of exercise prescribed. The results appear to show that tremor increases with duration of exercise.
'How I Photographed Cetshwayo': Photography and the Spectacle of Exile in Colonial South Africa

The photographs taken of Cetshwayo once he was exiled from his kingdom have been reproduced and reprinted several times. As representations of the “Zulu king” prior to his visit to England, they also signal the moment at which Cetshwayo became an imperial celebrity. Moreover, as the leader of the Zulu kingdom, images of Cetshwayo were used to stand in for “Zuluness” in general. This paper will examine Cetshwayo’s relationship to the camera and to the photographers who took his portraits. Since these photographs were taken after 1879, they will be read as markers of the end of Zulu autonomy while also heralding and complementing the proliferation of the image of the “Zulu warrior”. The paper aims to offer insights into how Cetshwayo and “Zulus” became photographic subjects. Specifically, the dividing line between “elites” and “commoners” seems to have been blurred by photographic practice since all “Zulu” men became, through the power of the lens, warriors and all “warriors” became Zulu through the same medium.
Vocabulary Word Instruction for Students Who Read Braille

The association made between the meaning, spelling, and pronunciation of a word has been shown to help children remember the meanings of words. The present study addressed whether the presence of a target word in Braille during instruction facilitated vocabulary learning more efficiently than an auditory-only instructional condition. The authors used an adapted alternating treatments single-case experimental design with three students with visual impairments who read Braille, collecting data on definition recall and spelling during each session. Data on definition recall were used to determine mastery. The results of this study are not consistent with previous findings with students who read print. Visual analyses of the data indicated that participants reached mastery in both conditions, but all three reached mastery on definition recall in fewer sessions in the auditory-only condition. Spellings of words were learned in the flashcard condition only, and possible implications of this are discussed. The d...
Radical Species Distributions in Hot-Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition Probed Via Threshold Ionization Mass Spectrometry and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Techniques

Monte Carlo simulations of hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) gas ambients indicate different flux ratios (SiH3/Si and H/SiHx) under conditions for amorphous or polycrystalline silicon growth. Gas-phase reactions of Si with ambient SiH4 studied using abinitio methods reveals that collisional stabilization of the adduct (H3SiSiH) is unlikely under typical HWCVD growth pressures, but an energetically favorable, low-pressure pathway has been identified that leads to the formation of Si2H2 and H2. Threshold ionization mass spectrometry has revealed significant quantities of the radical SiH2 at HWCVD growth pressures, indicative of heterogeneous pyrolysis. Mass spectrometry at low pressures suggests that incident silane dissociatively adsorbs at the wire and undergoes sequential H elimination to produce subhydrides. Disilicon species were not detected in significant quantities at HWCVD growth pressures. Finally, hot wire operation in a pure H2 ambient yields SiH4 as the dominant etching product from the silicon-coated walls of the growth chamber.
Practicing “Safe” Technical Communication:

The nuclear power industry is undergoing a renaissance, led by initiatives from the Obama administration and several states. In light of this development and the growing information economy, it is ...
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adult life.

ADHD in adults may look the same as it does with children and adolescents. The impact on relationships and on life successes is as great in adulthood as it is in youth. It is critical to be aware of this diagnosis when evaluating adults. The appropriate use of medication along with necessary psycho-social interventions maximizes the possibility of a successful clinical outcome.
Astrocytes drive upregulation of the multidrug resistance transporter ABCB1 (P‐Glycoprotein) in endothelial cells of the blood–brain barrier in mutant superoxide dismutase 1‐linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The efficacy of drugs targeting the CNS is influenced by their limited brain access, which can lead to complete pharmacoresistance. Recently a tissue-specific and selective upregulation of the multidrug efflux transporter ABCB1 or P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the spinal cord of both patients and the mutant SOD1-G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease that prevalently kills motor neurons has been reported. Here, we extended the analysis of P-gp expression in the SOD1-G93A ALS mouse model and found that P-gp upregulation was restricted to endothelial cells of the capillaries, while P-gp expression was not detected in other cells of the spinal cord parenchyma such as astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons. Using both in vitro human and mouse models of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), we found that mutant SOD1 astrocytes were driving P-gp upregulation in endothelial cells. In addition, a significant increase in reactive oxygen species production, Nrf2 and NFκB activation in endothelial cells exposed to mutant SOD1 astrocytes in both human and murine BBB models were observed. Most interestingly, astrocytes expressing FUS-H517Q, a different familial ALS-linked mutated gene, also drove NFκB-dependent upregulation of P-gp. However, the pathway was not dependent on oxidative stress but rather involved TNF-α release. Overall, these findings indicated that nuclear translocation of NFκB was a converging mechanism used by endothelial cells of the BBB to upregulate P-gp expression in mutant SOD1-linked ALS and possibly other forms of familial ALS. GLIA 2016 GLIA 2016;64:1298-1313.
Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies in children

Objective To understand the infection status of Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP) in Ningbo children,and provide the evidence for clinica1 diagnosis and preventive treatment.Methods The serum MP antibodies of 11,788 children with respiratory infection were measured by passive particle agglutination method.The positive rate was statistically analyzed based on different sex,ages and seasons.Results In the 11,788 cases of children with MP,the positive rate was 26.14%(3,081 cases);The positive rates had a statistically significant differences between different sex,ages and seasons(P0.05).The positive rate was higher in girls than in boys.And the positive rate showed an increasing trend along with age.Conclusion The morbidity of MP is high among children with respiratory infection.Girls and preschool children are more susceptible in spring and winter.
Role of astrocyte morphology changes in the search of Aquaporin 4 inhibitors by high throughput drug screening

Aim: To explore the method for high throughput drug screening searching for Aquaporin 4(AQP4) inhibitor and develop a new therapeutic approach to treat brain edema. Methods:Human fetal astrocyte was primarily cultured and characterized. The expression of AQP4 was determined using Western blot, while cell morphology alteration was observed using RT-CES system after siRNA transfection or addition of different FDA-approved drugs. Cell ATP level was examined to evaluate the cell viability. Results: Morphology alteration of the astrocytes dramatically presented in those added with lovastatin, guanabenz and mianserin at 12～24 h, which was similar to the cell pattern by siRNA of AQP4 at 4 d after the transtection. AQP4 expression was reduced by these drugs which was very similar to the effect of AQP4 siRNA. There was no significant difference of cell ATP levels treated by these drugs at the dose used. Conclusion: Cell morphology changes could be a valuable and efficient index for preliminary high throughput drug screening. The candidate drugs observed in the experiment may be new potential and potent AQP4 inhibitors.
Between History and Memory: A Conversation with Paul A. Cohen

In this delightful and thought-provoking interview, Paul Cohen shares his thoughts on numerous issues concerning history, memory, and the changes in research mythology and perspective over the past six decades and across generations of Chinese historians, as well as his own experiences as a historian of modern China during that period.
TOURNIQUETLESS TKA: LET IT BLEED – AFFIRMS

The major benefit of TKA with tourniquet is operating in a bloodless field. A possible secondary benefit is a better cement bone interface for fixation. The disadvantages of tourniquet use for TKA include multiple risk factors both local and systemic. Nerve damage Altered hemodynamics with limb exsanguinations (15–20% increase in circulatory volume) and reactive hyperemia with tourniquet release (10% increase in limb size increasing soft tissue tension and secondary pain) Delay in recovery of muscle function Increased risk of DVT with direct trauma to vessel walls and increased levels of thrombin-antithrombin complexes A 5.3x greater risk for large venous emboli propagation and transesophageal echogenic particles Vascular injury with higher risk in atherosclerotic, calcified arteries Increase in wound healing disturbances Our initial experience with TKA without tourniquet was in high risk patients with previous DVT or PE, multiple scarring, or compromised cardiovascular status. We have used this method on all patients for the last eight years. The protocol includes regional anesthesia, incision and approach made with 90-degree knee flexion, meticulous hemostasis, jet lavage and filtered carbon dioxide delivered to dry and prepare bone beds for cementation, application of topical tranexamic acid and routine closure. We have encountered no differences in blood loss or transfusion rates, less post-op pain, faster straight leg raise and knee flexion gains, and fewer wound healing disturbances. We recommend TKA sans tourniquet. Let it bleed!
NGK-State Relations during Apartheid’s Demise (1979–94)

The world eagerly anticipated South Africa’s dramatic political changes in the 1990s. In May 1994 Nelson Mandela became the country’s first black president, a long-awaited moment for many South Africans. Significant events in the 1980s preceded the end of white minority rule in South Africa, including the effective protest of apartheid laws by the masses, the intensification of international pressure, and the initiation of political change by P.W. Botha.
Forces from the Portal Govern the Late-Stage DNA Transport in a Viral DNA Packaging Nanomotor

In the Phi29 bacteriophage, the DNA packaging nanomotor packs its double-stranded DNA genome into the virus capsid. At the late stage of DNA packaging, the negatively charged genome is increasingly compacted at a higher density in the capsid with a higher internal pressure. During the process, two Donnan effects, osmotic pressure and Donnan equilibrium potentials, are significantly amplified, which, in turn, affect the channel activity of the portal protein, GP10, embedded in the semipermeable capsid shell. In the research, planar lipid bilayer experiments were used to study the channel activities of the viral protein. The Donnan effect on the conformational changes of the viral protein was discovered, indicating GP10 may not be a static channel at the late stage of DNA packaging. Due to the conformational changes, GP10 may generate electrostatic forces that govern the DNA transport. For the section of the genome DNA that remains outside of the connector channel, a strong repulsive force from the viral protein would be generated against the DNA entry; however, for the section of the genome DNA within the channel, the portal protein would become a Brownian motor, which adopts the flash Brownian ratchet mechanism to pump the DNA against the increasingly built-up internal pressure (up to 20 atm) in the capsid. Therefore, the DNA transport in the nanoscale viral channel at the late stage of DNA packaging could be a consequence of Brownian movement of the genomic DNA, which would be rectified and harnessed by the forces from the interior wall of the viral channel under the influence of the Donnan effect.
Cranial Radiation and Growth Hormone Deficiency

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is commonly observed in individuals with a history of hypothalamic and/or pituitary radiotherapy. In survivors of cancers and tumors of the central nervous system, GHD frequently occurs as a treatment-related late effect and may not appear until several years after the exposure to radiotherapy. The present chapter offers an overview of radiation-induced GHD with a focus on the challenges in the diagnosis and management of this condition in survivors of childhood cancers and brain tumors.
Subcellular distribution of human leukocytic cathepsins.

1. Methods are presented for the disruption of human peripheral leukocytes by sonication and the separation of the released particulate matter by differential centrifugation. 2. The distribution of catheptic activity in the various fractions was investigated both on material obtained from mixed populations of leukocytes and on that from isolated lymphocytes and granulocytes. 3. All of the leukocytic fractions tested contained cathepsins active at pH 3.5 and pH 8.5. 4. At pH 3.5, the catheptic activity was rather evenly distributed among nuclear (I), and light (IV) and heavy (II) granular fractions, with practically no activity in the soluble fraction (V). 5. At pH 8.5, there was always more catheptic activity in the heavier (II) than the lighter (IV) granules, variable amounts in the nuclear fraction (I) and very little in the supernatant (V). 6. At pH 3.5, the lymphocytic granules showed considerably higher proteolytic specific activity than those from granulocytes. 7. At pH 8.5, all fractions except the heavy granules (II) had higher proteolytic specific activities in granulocytes than in lymphocytes. 8. At pH 3.5, and to a lesser extent at pH 8.5, the light (IV) and heavy (II) granules from chronic lymphatic leukemia cells contained much lower cathepic activity than those from normal lymphocytes. 9. Cathepsins in each subcellular fraction are very labile, losing as much as 80 per cent of their activity upon storage at 4 C. overnight in distilled water.
Convolutional Codes over GF(q) with Applications to Frequency-Hopping Channels

We discuss the design and performance of convolutional codes over non-binary fields, with an eye toward use of orthogonal signaling and noncoherent detection as might be imposed by a frequency-hopping scenario. Orthogonal signaling combined with low-rate coding (convolutional or otherwise) has been shown to afford efficient transmission on AWGN, Rayleigh fading, and partial-band noise channels.
EDDIE: an embodied AI system for research and intervention for individuals with ASD

We report on the ongoing development of EDDIE (Emotion Demonstration, Decoding, Interpretation, and Encoding), an interactive embodied AI to be deployed as an intervention system for children diagnosed with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (HFASD). EDDIE presents the subject with interactive requests to decode facial expressions presented through an avatar, encode requested expressions, or do both in a single session. Facial tracking software interprets the subject's response, and allows for immediate feedback. The system fills a need in research and intervention for children with HFASD by providing an engaging platform for presentation of exemplar expressions consistent with mechanical systems of facial action measurement integrated with an automatic system for interpreting and giving feedback to the subject's expressions. Both live interaction with EDDIE and video recordings of human-EDDIE interaction will be demonstrated.
Library Statistics and the HAPLR Index (The 2006 ALA/YBP Student Writing and Development Award Winner)

This paper is the winner of the library school student writing award, as administered by LAMA and presented at the 2006 ALA Annual Conference. Thanks to YBP Library Services, Inc., for their support.
Methylmercury Bioaccumulation in an Urban Estuary: Delaware River, USA

Spatial variation in mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) bioaccumulation in urban coastal watersheds reflects complex interactions between Hg sources, land use, and environmental gradients. We examined MeHg concentrations in fauna from the Delaware River estuary, and related these measurements to environmental parameters and human impacts on the waterway. The sampling sites followed a north to south gradient of increasing salinity, decreasing urban influence, and increasing marsh cover. Although mean total Hg in surface sediments (top 4 cm) peaked in the urban estuarine turbidity maximum and generally decreased downstream, surface sediment MeHg concentrations showed no spatial patterns consistent with the examined environmental gradients, indicating urban influence on Hg loading to the sediment but not subsequent methylation. Surface water particulate MeHg concentration showed a positive correlation with marsh cover whereas dissolved MeHg concentrations were slightly elevated in the estuarine turbidity maximum region. Spatial patterns of MeHg bioaccumulation in resident fauna varied across taxa. Small fish showed increased MeHg concentrations in the more urban/industrial sites upstream, with concentrations generally decreasing farther downstream. Invertebrates either showed no clear spatial patterns in MeHg concentrations (blue crabs, fiddler crabs) or increasing concentrations further downstream (grass shrimp). Best-supported linear mixed models relating tissue concentration to environmental variables reflected these complex patterns, with species specific model results dominated by random site effects with a combination of particulate MeHg and landscape variables influencing bioaccumulation in some species. The data strengthen accumulating evidence that bioaccumulation in estuaries can be decoupled from sediment MeHg concentration, and that drivers of MeHg production and fate may vary within a small region.
Safety check: a semantic web application for emergency management

Semantic Computing is being used in a wide variety of domains to develop intelligent applications. With the increasing availability of different kinds of data on the web, providing better emergency management in case of natural disasters and humanitarian crises is much needed. This paper presents the use of semantic technologies to build a web application called Safety Check. The aim of this work is to implement a knowledge intensive application that identifies those people that may have been affected due to natural disasters or man-made disasters at any geographical location and notify them with safety instructions. This involves extraction of data from various sources for emergency alerts, weather alerts, and contacts data. The extracted data is integrated using a semantic data model and transformed into semantic data. Semantic reasoning was done through rules and queries.
Optimal control and practical GNC algorithms for autonomous low-and high-glide-ratio delivery systems

Abstract The paper addresses development of control algorithms for two different autonomousaerial delivery systems. The first one is based on a solid circular parachute and the second one - on a ram-air parafoil. While the first, low-glide-ratio system is crucially dependent on the accuracy of the wind prediction, the second, high-glide-ratiosystem is capable of effectively rejecting moderate winds. This fundamental difference dictates different control laws described in this paper. The paper applies optimal control analysis to both systems and proceeds with thedevelopment of the practical guidance and control algorithms. Simulation results forboth systems as well as flight test results for the parachute-based system are included.
Post-harvest diseases of citrus fruits:

Even under conditions considered to be optimum for maintaining fruit quality, oranges and lemons which are not treated with fungicides may develop 25–50% decay during extended periods of storage. U...
Developing a landscape-scale, multi-species, and cost-efficient conservation strategy for imperilled aquatic species in the Upper Tennessee River Basin, USA

Strategic conservation of imperilled species faces several major challenges including uncertainty in species response to management actions, budgetary constraints that limit options, and the need to scale expected conservation benefits from local to landscape levels and from single to multiple species. A structured decision-making process was applied to address these challenges and identify a cost-effective conservation strategy for the Federally listed endangered and threatened aquatic species in the Upper Tennessee River Basin (UTRB). The UTRB, which encompasses a landscape of ~58 000 km2, primarily in western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and south-western Virginia, harbours one of the most globally diverse assemblages of freshwater fishes and mussels at temperate latitudes. To develop a strategy for conservation of 12 fish species and 24 mussel species over a 20-year period, a management strategy that would best recover these species was identified given costs and uncertainty in management effectiveness. The main insights came from a trade-off analysis that compared alternative allocations of effort among management actions. A strategy emphasizing population management, which included propagation and translocation, performed best across a wide range of objective weightings and was robust to uncertainty in management effectiveness. Species prioritization was based on the expected conservation benefit from the best performing strategy, degree of imperilment, and species-specific management costs. Sub-basin prioritization was based on expected conservation benefit from the best performing strategy and feasibility of habitat management and threat abatement. Although the strategy was developed for imperilled aquatic species in the UTRB, the structured process is applicable for developing cost-efficient strategies to conserve multiple species across a landscape under uncertain management effectiveness. The process can assist a manager with limited resources to understand which species to work on, where to conduct that work, and what work would be most beneficial for those species in those catchments.
Shielding Design Optimization for the Compact Ignition Tokamak Test Cell Building

Shielding optimization for the Compact Ignition Tokamak baseline test cell building design is performed to minimize the cost. The design is based on iterative calculations using one-dimensional SN ...
Microhabitat features influencing habitat use by Florida black bears

Abstract Understanding fine-scale habitat needs of species and the factors influencing heterogeneous use of habitat within home range would help identify limiting resources and inform habitat management practices. This information is especially important for large mammals living in fragmented habitats where resources may be scarcer and more patchily distributed than in contiguous habitats. Using bihourly Global Position System (GPS) location data collected from 10 individuals during 2011–2014, we investigated microhabitat features of areas within home ranges that received high vs. low intensity of use by Florida black bears ( Ursus americanus floridanus ) in north-central, Florida. We identified areas receiving high and low levels of use by bears based on their utilization distributions estimated with the dynamic Brownian bridge movement model, and performed vegetation sampling at bear locations within high- and low-use areas. Using univariate analyses and generalized linear mixed models, we found that (1) canopy cover, visual obstruction, and hardwood density were important in defining high-use sites; (2) the probability of high use was positively associated with principal components that represented habitat closer to creeks and with high canopy and shrub cover and higher hardwood densities, likely characteristic of forested wetlands; and (3) the probability of high use was, to a lesser extent, associated with principal components that represented habitat with high canopy cover, high pine density, and low visual obstruction and hardwood density; likely representing sand pine and pine plantations. Our results indicate that the high bear-use sites were in forested wetlands, where cover and food resources for bears are likely to occur in higher abundance. Habitat management plans whereby bears are a focal species should aim to increase the availability and quality of forested wetlands.