cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correlation of Sugar Release and Concanavalin A Agglutinability with Infectivity of Symbiotic Algae from Paramecium bursaria for Aposymbiotic P. bursaria

Synopsis. Eighteen strains of algae, including 17 formerly symbiotic with Paramecium bursaria, were tested for capacity to release sugar. Detectable amounts of sugar were found in the supernatant fluids from 10 strains, including 6 strains infective for aposymbiotic P. bursaria syngen 2. The other 4 sugar-releasing strains were noninfective and released ˜26–46 mg sugar/mg dry cell weight compared to ˜90–175 mg sugar/mg dry cell weight for infective strains. This relationship of infectivity with capacity to release sugar supplements data that indicate a relationship of infectivity with resistance to Con A agglutination. The correlation is completed if we assume that resistance to Con A agglutination and capacity for sugar release must both be present in an algal strain for infectivity. The data thus strongly suggest that these 2 characteristics must be present for infectivity by any algal strains for aposymbiotic P. bursaria syngen 2.
Total-ionizing-dose effects on the impedance of silverdoped chalcogenide programmable metallization cells

Nanoionic based resistive switching memory cells are nowadays being implemented in novel memory technology known as Conductive Bridging Random Access Memory. These memory cells, known as programmable metallization cells, are a promising memory technology not only due to their scaling potential but also because of characteristics such as non-volatility, low-power operation and speed. Resistance switching in programmable metallization cells is related to the growth and dissolution of conductive metallic filaments in solid electrolytes. In this work, the effect of total ionizing dose on the solid-state electrolyte obtained after photodoping of chalcogenide based programmable metallization is investigated. Equivalent circuits of devices are extracted from impedance spectroscopy measurements and used to gain insights on the effect of ionizing radiation on these materials and structures.
Verbal communication outcomes in children with autism after in-home father training.

Background This retrospective study examined the efficacy of in-home father training on the communicative outcomes of children with autism. The inhome training consisted of two components: (  ) expectant waiting; and (  ) imitation with animation. Methods Efficacy of parent training was examined by measuring the ratio of utterances produced by the parents to the utterances produced by the children and the number of verbal imitation by the parents. Outcomes of the children’s verbal production were examined by measuring the number of (  ) single word utterances; (  ) different words produced; and (  ) verbal response to questions. Results Following training there was a decrease in the ratio of parent to child utterances and an increase in (  ) the use of imitation by the parents; and (  ) the number of single words and different words produced by the children. Discussion Results of this study suggested that the parents had learned to wait for their children to communicate verbally during communicative interactions and to interact more efficiently with their children by using verbal imitation. Overall, the results of this
Accessory muscle activation during the superimposed burst technique

Abstract Quadriceps muscle activation is assessed using the superimposed burst technique. This technique involves percutaneous muscle stimulation superimposed during maximal isometric volitional knee extension. It is unknown whether accessory muscle activation during maximal knee extension influences estimates of quadriceps muscle activation. Our aim was to compare accessory muscle activation while performing the superimposed burst technique using investigator delivered verbal instruction to constrain the system (CS) and a participant preferred (PP) technique. Twenty five healthy, active individuals (13M/12F, age=23.8±3.35, height=72.73±14.51cm, and weight=175.29±9.59kg) were recruited for this study. All participants performed superimposed burst testing with (CS) and without (PP) verbal instruction to encourage isolated quadriceps activation during maximal isometric knee extension. The main outcome variables measured were knee extension torque, quadriceps central activation ratio and mean EMG of vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, and lumbar paraspinal muscles. There were significant differences in knee extension torque (CS=2.87±0.93Nm/kg, PP=3.40±1.12Nm/kg, p p =0.002) and quadriceps CAR (CS=84.1±12.0%, PP=90.2±9.9%, p p =0.043) between the techniques however vastus lateralis EMG was not significantly different. Patient instruction via verbal instruction to constrain proximal structures may help patient minimize confounders to knee extension torque generation while maximizing quadriceps activation.
INTRACELLULAR RECORDING OF ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY IN MUSCLE CELLS OF INTACT AND ISOLATED DORSAL BLOOD VESSEL OF THE EARTHWORM LUMBRICUS TERRESTRIS

1.Intracellular electrical records from muscle cells in intact dorsal blood vessels of the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris , showed a polarization rhythm which consisted of: ( a ) a prolonged ramp of depolarization, ( b ) one or a series of several non-overshooting spike potentials, ( c ) a sustained, hump-like depolarization, and ( d ) a complete repolarization. The polarization rhythm of the intact vessel was reset by intracellular current injection. 2.Simultaneous recordings of intracellular electrical and mechanical activities during rhythmic pulsation waves of the intact vessel indicated that the ramp-like depolarization corresponded temporally to a gradual filling of the vessel with blood. Spike potentials occurred during the later portion of filling, and constriction began near the peak of the slow, sustained depolarization. 3.Simultaneous intracellular and extracellular electrical records during rhythmic pulsations of the intact vessel indicated a close temporal correspondence between spike potentials in both electrical records. The repolarization phase in intracellular records corresponded to a small, slow wave in extracellular records. 4.A polarization rhythm was usually absent in isolated preparations of the dorsal blood vessel, but in a few preparations rhythmic activity persisted for up to 1 h. In quiescent isolated preparations membrane potentials were stable (mean resting potential = - 66.7 m V), but active membrane responses (non-overshooting spikes and sustained depolarizations), were evoked by intracellular current injection or by stretching of the vessel. 5.Evidence from dual intracellular recordings in isolated dorsal vessels suggest that muscle cells are electrically coupled. 6.The intracellular activity patterns in intact and isolated vessels, and the responsiveness of cells to current injection and stretching, suggest that both initiation and conduction of pulsation waves in the dorsal blood vessel are myogenic.
Daily Rounding for Patient Safety and Nursing Satisfaction

Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program Gaps noted in knowledge regarding patients on the unit increased the number of safe staffing surveys submitted, which reported concern about assignments. Frustrations were expressed about missing or broken equipment, which resulted in increased time spent by registered nurses (RNs) searching for equipment; key patient information failing to be relayed during daily huddles; and increased length of stay in labor room due to concerns about plans of care that were not addressed. We proposed to institute daily rounding between the bedside nurse, charge RN, unit manager, and the patient. Questions to be addressed by the bedside nurse include the following: What is your patient's history and diagnosis? What category tracing is your fetal heart rate strip? What concerns you most about this patient? What is the plan of care for this patient? Do you feel safe with this assignment? Do you have all the equipment needed to care for patient? Questions for the patient include the following: Do you have everything you need? Do you have any concerns or questions about your plan of care? Are we meeting/exceeding your expectations? Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation The assistant clinical director modeled the rounding process with the unit manager and charge RN to ensure that the process was fully understood. The unit manager and charge RN assumed primary responsibility of daily rounding 4 weeks after the assistant clinical director modeled the process; staff became increasingly comfortable with the new process. Some staff members were resistant. Rationale behind rounding was explained, and literature detailing the purpose and benefits of rounding was given to staff. As a result of the daily rounds, there has been a decrease in the number of safe staffing surveys submitted. There has been a decrease in the length of stay from 18 hours to 16 hours in the labor room as a result of focused discussion regarding the patient's plan of care and an increase in patient satisfaction scores. Common patient remarks on surveys now express how the patient felt supported in their birthing decisions and informed about all processes. Increased nurse engagement and willingness to assume ownership of unit have been reported as a result of focused interaction. Implications for Nursing Practice As a result of the program, there has been increased situational awareness regarding patients with concerning conditions and/or concerning electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) tracings, increased interaction with patients, and increased direct communication by staff RN with chain of command.
Ethyl Nitroacetate as a Useful Synthon for the Synthesis of Orthogonally Protected, Poly-Functional C αα -Disubstituted Amino Acids

The discovery of Cα, α-disubstituted amino acids (ααAAs) and their propensity to induce secondary structure even into short peptides has resulted in an increased interest in novel methods for their synthesis [1, 2]. Herein ethyl nitroacetate, a useful synthetic intermediate for a variety of biologically significant compounds [3], has been employed for the preparation of sterically hindered and polyfunctional ααAAs which are suitable for incorporation into peptides.
Mechanisms of Ligand-Induced Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Biochemical and Toxic Responses

The ubiquitous environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, dioxin) is a member of a broad group of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) that is known to induce a wide r...
Flexible topographies: Muslim spaces in a German cityscape

This paper examines transient and semi-permanent Muslim spaces, their social construction, use, and relevance for diverse pious Muslims in Stuttgart, Germany. I describe the location, creation, negotiation, and maintenance of such spaces and analyze their position and contribution to a larger urban Muslim social geography. Based on several years of ethnographic fieldwork in Stuttgart, Germany, I illustrate how individuals mark or inhabit spaces momentarily or more permanently as Muslim spaces. I illustrate how at least for the length of a particular encounter, spaces are used in manners that reflect Islamic sensitivities and normativities. These spaces are ever more inseparably and irreversibly woven into the urban fabric. Over time they become and indeed some already have become integral parts of the cityscape. Some spaces in the process of recurrent islamically inspired uses become semi-permanent or even permanent Muslim spatialities, especially in contexts with considerable Muslim interaction or moveme...
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Stimulates the Expression and Production of Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor (SLPI) in Oral Epithelial Cells: a Role for SLPI in Innate Mucosal Immunity

The innate immune response is a key barrier against pathogenic microorganisms such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Because HIV-1 is rarely transmitted orally, we hypothesized that oral epithelial cells participate in the innate immune defense against this virus. We further hypothesized that secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), a 12-kDa mucosal antiviral protein, is a component of the host immune response to this virus. Here we demonstrated constitutive expression and production of SLPI in immortalized human oral keratinocytes. Brief exposure of cells to HIV-1 BaL and HXB2 significantly increased SLPI mRNA and protein production compared to that in mock-exposed cells (P < 0.01), as evaluated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HIV-1-mediated stimulation of SLPI occurred at the transcriptional level, was dose and time dependent, was elicited by heat-inactivated and infectious viruses, and did not depend on cellular infection. Experiments with purified retroviral proteins showed that the stimulatory effect was induced specifically by external envelope glycoproteins from HIV-1 and simian immunodeficiency virus. SLPI responsiveness to HIV-1 was also observed in an unrelated oral epithelial cell line and in normal (nonimmortalized) human oral epithelial cells isolated from healthy uninfected gingival tissues. In this first report of SLPI regulation by HIV-1, we show that the expression and production of the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory protein can be stimulated in oral epithelial cells by the virus through interactions with gp120 in the absence of direct infection. These findings indicate that SLPI is a component of the oral mucosal response to HIV-1.
A design approach for radiation-hard digital electronics

In this paper, we present a novel circuit design approach for radiation hardened digital electronics. Our approach is based on the use of shadow gates, whose task it is to protect the primary gate in case it is struck by a heavy cosmic ion. We locally duplicate the gate to be protected, and connect a pair of transistors (or diodes) between the outputs of the original and shadow gates. These transistors turn on when the voltages of the two gates deviate during a radiation strike. Our experiments show that at the level of a single gate, our circuit structure has a delay overhead of about 4% on average, and an area overhead of over 100%. At the circuit level, however, we do not need to protect all gates. We present a methodology to selectively protect specific gates of the circuit in a manner that guarantees radiation tolerance for the entire circuit. With this methodology, we demonstrate that at the circuit level, the delay overhead is about 4% and the placed-and-routed area overhead is 30%, compared to an unprotected circuit (for delay mapped designs).
Medication Dosing and Renal Insufficiency in a Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit: Impact of Pharmacist Consultation

Pediatric patients who have undergone cardiac surgery are at risk for renal insufficiency. The impact of pharmacist consultation in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) has yet to be defined. Patients admitted to the pediatric cardiac ICU at our institution from January through March of 2006 were included. Patient information, collected retrospectively, included: demographics, cardiac lesion/surgery, height, weight, need for peritoneal or hemodialysis, need for mechanical support, highest and lowest serum creatinine, ICU length of stay (LOS), renally eliminated medications, pharmacist recommendations (accepted or not), and appropriateness of dosing changes.There were 140 total admissions (131 patients; age: 3.0 +/- 6.3 years) during the study period. In total, 14 classes of renally eliminated medications were administered, with 32.6 +/- 56.4 doses administered per patient admission. Thirty-seven patient admissions had one or more medications adjusted for renal insufficiency; the most commonly adjusted medication was ranitidine. Patients who required medication adjustment for renal dysfunction were significantly younger compared to those patients not requiring medication adjustment. Pharmacist recommendations were responsible for 96% of medication adjustments for renal dysfunction, and the recommendations were accepted and appropriate all of the time. The monetary impact of pharmacist interventions, in doses saved, was approximately $12,000. Pharmacist consultation can result in improved dosing of medications and cost savings. The youngest patients are most at risk for inappropriate dosing.
FDTD absorbing boundary conditions: From global lookback schemes to metamaterial PMLs

In this paper, the author reviewed his mathematical analysis with FDTD simulations on metamaterial perfect match layer (PML). It was demonstrated that a unixial medium with specifically designed permittivity and permeability values could produce the desired PML and permeability values could produce the desired PML behavior.The interesting aspect of this was not only the originally developed two-time derivative Lorentz material (2-TDLM) ABC, but the 2-TDLM model itself and a restricted version, the 1-TDLM model. These novel material models enabled the development of ABCs that were perfectly matched to lossy dielectric materials. Moreover, the 2-TDLM model and its proposed realizations were one of the precursors to artificial media that we now call metamaterials.
Fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement as a determinant of successive discrimination reversal learning in the pigeon

Pigeons, trained on a series of blue-green discrimination reversals and then on a series of red-yellow discrimination reversals, were required to emit either 1 or 15 pecks per trial. Those pigeons with the FR 15 requirement improved more rapidly across successive reversals for both problems, with the magnitude of the effect being larger for the more difficult discrimination problem.
Performance comparison of Kalman filter based approaches for energy efficiency in wireless sensor networks

Summary form only given. Link adaptation techniques improve the link quality by adjusting medium access control (MAC) parameters such as frame size, data rate, and sleep time, thereby improving energy efficiency. In this paper, we study a performance comparison of two recently proposed link adaptation techniques based on Kalman filter at MAC layer to enhance energy efficiency of the sensor nodes in mobile wireless sensor networks. These two new approaches use extended Kalman filter (EKF) and unscented Kalman filter (UKF) to predict the optimal frame size for improving energy efficiency and goodput, while minimizing the sensor memory requirement. We designed and verified different network models to evaluate and analyze the proposed link adaptation schemes. The simulation results show that the UKF-based link adaptation algorithm offers a better performance than the EKF-based algorithm due to less errors on estimation and prediction in a nonGaussian nonlinear scenario.
Scan primitives for vector computers

This paper describes an optimized implementation of a set of scan (also called all-prefix-sums) primitives on a single processor of a CRAY Y-MP, and demonstrates that their use leads to greatly improved performance for several applications that cannot be vectorized with existing compiler technology. The algorithm used to implement the scans is based on an algorithm for parallel computers and is applicable with minor modifications to any register-based vector computer. On the CRAY Y-MP, the asymptotic running time of the plus-scan is about 2.25 times that of a vector add, and is within 20% of optimal. An important aspect of our implementation is that a set of segmented versions of these scans are only marginally more expensive than the unsegmented versions. These segmented versions can be used to execute a scan on multiple data sets without having to pay the vector startup cost (n1/2) for each set.The paper describes a radix sorting routine based on the scans that is 13 times faster than a Fortran version and within 20% of a highly optimized library sort routine, three operations on trees that are between 10 and 20 times faster than the corresponding C versions, and a connectionist learning algorithm that is 10 times faster than the corresponding C version for sparse and irregular networks.
Single Crystal Fibers By The Laser-Heated Pedestal Growth Method

The versatility of the laser heated pedestal growth method for producing a wide range of compounds in single crystal fiber form is discussed along with some potential applications. Some preliminary results on the growth of single domain LiNb0 3 crystals, and crystals of BaF 2 and CaF 2 , sapphire and several laser materials are discussed.
Ventral bulla osteotomy for treatment of otitis media in a rabbit.

Abstract This article describes the management of otitis media in a domestic rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) that presented with a history of chronic upper respiratory disease. Deep nasal culture yielded a pure growth of Bordetella bronchiseptica susceptible to chloramphenicol. To further evaluate recurring clinical signs after treatment with chloramphenicol, skull radiographs were obtained and showed an increased density in the right tympanic bulla. A ventral bulla osteotomy was performed, and the success of treatment was determined by the resolution of respiratory signs and the absence of increased radiographic density in the right tympanic bulla 5 months postoperatively.
Conservation Value of Mount Rushmore National Memorial's Forest

Abstract Justifying the maintenance of small natural areas requires understanding their contribution to the conservation of specific natural resources. Mount Rushmore National Memorial (MORU) is a small portion of the Black Hills of western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. Because it has been protected from logging since the late 1930s, it may serve as an important part of the Black Hills forest as a whole. To understand this role, we investigated the extent and degree of logging activities in the memorial and compared the current structure of the MORU forest to that in the rest of the Black Hills today and before Euro-American settlement. Our results suggest that approximately 29% of the park has had no tree harvesting activity, 18% of the park has had only selective cutting of trees, and 66% (344 ha) of the park's area is covered by old-growth forest. Based on current estimates of similar forest in the remainder of the Black Hills, the forest at MORU constitutes the second-largest area of old-growth po...
MULTICOMPONENT SYNTHESIS OF THE MEDICINALLY IMPORTANT PYRROLO[2,3- d ]PYRIMIDINE SCAFFOLD

Multicomponent reactions are emerging as a powerful tool in the synthesis of heterocyclic privileged medicinal scaffolds. This highlight describes a recently developed approach to the construction of the medicinally important pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine scaffold using a one-pot synthesis from commercially available starting materials via novel multicomponent reactions. How to Cite Dasari, R.; Kornienko, A. Chem. Heterocycl. Compd. 2014 , 50 , 139. [ Khim. Geterotsikl. Soedin. 2014 , 160.] For this article in the English edition see DOI 10.1007/s10593-014-1456-9
Modeling Kidney Disease with iPS Cells

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are somatic cells that have been transcriptionally reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell (ESC)-like state. iPSCs are a renewable source of diverse somatic cell types and tissues matching the original patient, including nephron-like kidney organoids. iPSCs have been derived representing several kidney disorders, such as ADPKD, ARPKD, Alport syndrome, and lupus nephritis, with the goals of generating replacement tissue and 'disease in a dish' laboratory models. Cellular defects in iPSCs and derived kidney organoids provide functional, personalized biomarkers, which can be correlated with genetic and clinical information. In proof of principle, disease-specific phenotypes have been described in iPSCs and ESCs with mutations linked to polycystic kidney disease or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. In addition, these cells can be used to model nephrotoxic chemical injury. Recent advances in directed differentiation and CRISPR genome editing enable more specific iPSC models and present new possibilities for diagnostics, disease modeling, therapeutic screens, and tissue regeneration using human cells. This review outlines growth opportunities and design strategies for this rapidly expanding and evolving field.
An Examination Of Business Students" Student Loan Debt And Total Debt

Under the current economic environment and its high levels of unemployment, many people are turning to university education to attain higher education or simply to upgrade their skills and avoid continued unemployment. This paper examines student workloads, debt levels, and the debt perceptions of junior- and senior-level College of Business students at a Midwestern state university during the current economic downturn. The paper also examines factors that influence the level of student debt such as semester credit load taken, employment and family assistance. Overall, the students felt confident in securing employment upon graduation and in managing their debt load. Results of regression analyses indicated that expected salary was significantly influenced by this confidence. Additionally, students’ confidence in their employment prospects and debt management abilities, and their belief that debt would impact their future lifestyles, were significantly related to student debt levels.
Some Uniqueness Theorems for Analytic Functions

(1975). Some Uniqueness Theorems for Analytic Functions. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 82, No. 2, pp. 152-155.
Qualitative studies of the protein in fetal lamb lung fluid.

SummaryThe protein fractions present in fetal lung fluid were determined by means of cellulose acetate and immunoelectrophoresis. Proteins with identical electrophoretic mobility to that of sheep albumin and α globulins were detected in all; prealbumin, beta and gamma globulins were observed in some. An unidentified γ globulin other than γ G-globulin was shown to be present in fetal lung fluid and absent in fetal serum. The α2 globulins in fetal lung fluid were found in a concentration which exceeds that of the serum. The local synthesis of both proteins in the lung is suggested.
Are we comparing frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease patients with the right measures

Background: Clinical research studies of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) often use Alzheimer disease (AD) as a comparison group for control of dementia variables, using tests of cognitive function to match the groups. These two dementia syndromes, however, are very different in clinical manifestations, and the comparable severity of these dementias may not be reflected by commonly used cognitive scales such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Methods: We evaluated different measures of dementia severity and symptoms among 20 people with bvFTD compared to 24 with early-onset AD. Results: Despite similar ages, disease-duration, education, and cognitive performance on two tests of cognitive function, the MMSE and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the bvFTD participants, compared to the AD participants, were significantly more impaired on other measures of disease severity, including function (Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ)), neuropsychiatric symptoms (Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)), and global dementia stage (Clinical Dementia Rating Scales (CDRs)). However, when we adjusted for the frontotemporal lobar degeneration-CDR (FTLD-CDR) in the analyses, the two dementia groups were comparable across all measures despite significant differences on the cognitive scales. Conclusion: We found tests of cognitive functions (MMSE and MoCA) to be insufficient measures for ensuring comparability between bvFTD and AD groups. In clinical studies, the FTLD-CDR, which includes additional language and behavior items, may be a better overall way to match bvFTD and AD groups on dementia severity.
Screening and primary identification of acetic acid-producing strain in the traditional fermentation thick broad-bean sauce

In this paper,a probiotic Bacillus strain was isolated and identified from Linjiangsi unfermented thick broad-bean sauce wrapped starter.The strain of Bacillus had a good production capacity of aroma and flavor substance,which was named as Bacillus subtilis X1 through strain morphology and physiological and biochemical characteristics.
Transmission Raman Measurements Using a Spatial Heterodyne Raman Spectrometer (SHRS)

A spatial heterodyne Raman spectrometer (SHRS) was used to measure transmission Raman spectra of highly scattering compounds. Transmission Raman spectral intensities of ibuprofen were only 2.4 times lower in intensity than backscatter Raman spectra. The throughput was about eight times higher than an f/1.8 dispersive spectrometer, and the width of the area viewed was found to be seven to nine times higher, using 50.8 mm and 250 mm focal length collection lenses. However, the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio was two times lower for the SHRS than the f/1.8 dispersive spectrometer, apparently due to high levels of stray light.
The preservation of vital functions in cat ovarian tissues during vitrification depends more on the temperature of the cryoprotectant exposure than on the sucrose supplementation.

The objective of this study was to better characterize the impact of cryoprotectant exposure (temperature and sucrose supplementation) on the health and function of preantral follicles in ovarian tissues during vitrification using the domestic cat model. Ovarian cortical pieces from peri-pubertal individuals were exposed to cryoprotectants at 4 °C or room temperature and supplemented with 0 or 0.5 M of sucrose, followed by vitrification. After rapid warming, cortical pieces were cultured in vitro and assessed for normal follicular morphology, viability and resumption of transcriptional activities for up to 7 days. Throughout the culture period, follicular morphology (up to 67.5% normal follicles) and global RNA transcription (up to 50.9% follicles with transcriptional activity) in warmed tissues were improved by cryoprotectant exposure at 4 °C compared to room temperature, but viability (up to 84.6% viable follicles) did not seem to be affected by exposure temperature. Sucrose supplementation did not have a consistent effect as it increased RNA transcription but decreased normal follicular morphology. For the first time, the study demonstrated that the preservation of critical tissue functions, such as the transcriptional activities, highly depends on the temperature of the cryoprotectant exposure and not necessarily on the presence of sucrose.
Association between parent–adolescent communication about sex-related topics and HIV testing, United States. 2006–2013

Adolescents need information about sex-related topics in order to reduce risk behavior and engage in healthy sexual decision-making. Parents have the potential to be an important source of this information. Using the 2006-2010 and 2011-2013 National Survey of Family Growth, we examined associations between parent-adolescent communication before age 18 about sex-related topics and HIV testing among respondents aged 18-24 that ever had sexual intercourse (women = 3893; men = 3359). Analyses showed that for both men and women, discussing how to prevent HIV/AIDS and how to use a condom with a parent before age 18 were positively associated with HIV testing. Among women only, discussions about methods of birth control, where to get birth control, and STDs were positively associated with HIV testing. Developing strategies and interventions to facilitate parent-adolescent communication about sex-related topics, particularly HIV prevention and condom use, may be important to increase HIV testing among young women and men.
Ecosystem services and urban greenways: What's the public's perspective?

Abstract Ecosystem services (ES) are an important tool for quantifying the value of nature, yet there are often disconnects between services defined and measured by scientists and those that are realized and appreciated by the general public. Our study explored public perceptions of urban ES by examining benefits associated with greenways in two U.S. cities. Respondents (n =460) recognized all types of ES, though environmental benefits (e.g., air and water quality regulation; acknowledged by 74% of respondents) were less widely recognized than cultural benefits (e.g., economic impacts, social connectivity; 90%) or experiential benefits (e.g., attractive scenery, recreation; 98%). The distinction between these last two categories is rarely made in conventional ES frameworks, but it may be practically significant from the public's perspective. Benefit perceptions varied across geographic and socio-demographic contexts. Enhanced integration of cultural and experiential benefits into urban ES frameworks could lead to more equitable and informed decisions about the provision, management, and valuation of urban green space across diverse settings and populations.
Integrating Subspecialty Expertise in the Intensive Care Unit

The integration of subspecialty expertise in the management of critically ill patients has become an area of both great interest and controversy. The past several decades have seen the emergence and rapid implementation of such subspecialty intensive care settings as the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) and the neuroscience ICU. By pooling individuals with similar disease processes, and capitalizing on the expertise of specially trained nurses and physicians, many believe these units can provide more efficient and effective critical care delivery. Despite limited evidence to either support or refute their significance, these ICUs have become more commonplace, and their proliferation has brought to light important questions regarding optimal structure, staffing, and training. At the same time, the role of subspecialty consultants for an increasingly complex critical care population remains an important and evolving process.
David Oliver: Older doctors revisited

I’ve never had a response to a column quite like that to Keeping Older Doctors in the Job .1 As well as several public rapid responses, including an inspirational paean to rural general practice from Dr James Douglas,2 I received over 100 private emails. I calculate the median respondent’s age as 68. Others replied on Twitter to #olderdoctors. My respondents weren’t a scientifically constructed sample, and they may show self selecting response bias. Surgeons, GPs, anaesthetists, and then psychiatrists accounted for eight in 10. I’ve picked out some key themes and anonymised the findings. Around one in five …
La fibre aramide et ses applications dans les composites hybrides

Aujourd’hui, les ingenieurs d’etudes specialises dans les composites peuvent choisir parmi une grande variete de fibres de renfort, de resines et de techniques de mise en œuvre pour trouver les mieux adaptees a une application determinee. Toutefois, etant donne qu’il n’existe pas de renfort universel, on envisage frequemment la combinaison de deux fibres ou davantage, telles les fibres de verre E, de carbone ou d’aramide afin d’optimiser le rapport performances/cout. Les composites ainsi obtenus sont appeles hybrides ou mixtes.Le present article expose le concept des composites hybrides, les proprietes des differents systemes, leurs avantages et il presente des exemples d’applications les plus representatives. L’auteur parle surtout de la fibre Kevlar 49 a haute resistance, en combinaison avec les fibres de carbone et de verre. Il est recommande aux ingenieurs de consulter les references bibliographiques mentionnees dans cet article, le rapport de Chamis [1], les articles des ingenieurs de Du Pont de Nemours [2-4] et d’autres [5-6], en particulier.
Energy distribution of leptons from e+e--->W+W-

We derive an analytic expression for the double-energy distribution of the final leptons in e/sup +/e/sup -/..-->..W/sup +/W/sup -/..-->..l/sup +/..nu..l/sup -/ nu-bar. General values are taken for the magnetic moment and electric quadrupole moment at the ..gamma..WW and ZWW vertices. An analytic expression for the energy distribution of just one of the leptons is also given. Numerical examples illustrate the feasibility of using these expressions to fix the three-gauge-particle interaction.
Software-defined environments for science and engineering:

Service-based access models coupled with recent advances in application deployment technologies are enabling opportunities for realizing highly customized software-defined environments that can ach...
Bringing computational thinking to the digital humanities: introducing students to explorations of digitized texts

The rapid digitization of texts presents both new opportunities and real barriers of entry to computer-assisted explorations of texts for both faculty and students. Computer science programs, especially those on liberal arts campuses, are well positioned to help faculty and students across the humanities (and social sciences) who seek to apply computational techniques to their digitized corpora of interest. This workshop provides hands-on practice with Lexos [1], a web-based workflow for entry-level text processing, statistical analysis, and visualization of results when exploring digitized texts. Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Lexos reflects six years of software development with undergraduates in a model that blends a start-up company with interdisciplinary research. In addition to hands-on play, participants will be introduced to course materials used in our "Computing for Poets" course as well as share in discussions of effective practices for outreach to the digital humanities on their campuses. More information on our successful use in the classroom and in our own research is available at our website [2]. The software for Lexos is available on our GitHub repo [3].
The Ontology of Language and the Methodology of Linguistics

There are three competing frameworks for answering the foundational questions of linguistic theory. Platonism holds that linguistics is about abstract entities, whose essential properties grammarians discover, by using nonempirical reasoning, as in mathematics. Nominalism takes linguistics to be about concrete physical tokens that comprise conventional systems of communication; grammars explain how inscriptions and the like can be, e.g., grammatical, co-referential, or contradictory. Cognitivism takes linguistics to be a branch of psychology, seeing grammars as hypotheses about the tacit knowledge that every competent speaker possesses. I argue that the epistemological side of the platonist position is undermined by W. V. Quine’s attack on the notion of nonempirical modes of inquiry. Jerry Katz contends that Quine’s epistemology is inconsistent, because it entails that principles of reasoning are simultaneously revisable and unrevisable. I show that Katz’ “revisability paradox” overlooks the distinction between our principles of reasoning and our theory of those principles. Drawing this distinction eliminates the threat of inconsistency. Further, I argue that linguists’ claims concerning the infinitude of language need not signal an ontological commitment to abstract entities. Rather, they reflect the lawlike, counterfactual-supporting character of linguistic generalizations, as well as a principled idealization away from mortality, memory constraints, and motivational factors.
Quantitation of Potential Flavoring Compounds in Worts and Beers by HPLC1

Worts or beers sampled at five stages of brewing were quantitatively analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography for purines, pyrimidines, nucleosides, nucleotides, polyphenols, and pyrazine...
Do African Voters Favor Co-Ethnics? A New Identification Strategy

Do African voters favor co-ethnic candidates? African elections have been characterized as little more than ethnic head counts (Horowitz 1985), and electoral patterns often confirm this impression. But individual-level surveys of the African voter paint a more complex portrait, highlighting the role that performance evaluations play along- side ethnicity (Bratton et al. 2011). In fact, efforts to identify the independent ethnic effect on voting preferences meet a particularly formidable challenge. Insofar as ethnicity is an ascriptive characteristic of a person, not a variable we can randomly assign, and insofar as ethnicity is typically correlated with other characteristics such as class or partisanship, identifying its independent causal effect has proven difficult. This paper offers a new identification strategy that sheds light on whether African voters favor co-ethnic candidates because of ethnicity per se. Relying on mixed-ethnicity leaders and their plausible membership in more than one ethnic group, this paper proposes and shows that survey experiments can successfully measure the independent effect of ethnicity: holding the identity of an actual African head of State constant, the manipulation randomly assigns one ethnic cue versus the other. The method is applied and tested in Benin, a small West African democracy led by a mixed-identity leader. The results confirm that, in this context, ethnicity plays an independent, causal role on the African voter’s decision, and confirm the effectiveness of the identification strategy.
Evaluation of simulator use for anesthesia resident orientation

Anesthesia simulators are perceived as important and desirable to first year anesthesia residents according to our study. Operating room simulators are being used in anesthesia training ranging from medical student clerkship to team performance training. Learning of basic anesthesia skills by first-year residents has been shown to be accelerated by simulator training.1 We sought to evaluate residents’ attitudes toward the use of a simulator during anesthesia residency orientation. Our evaluation was divided into four areas of interest, with the first concentration evaluating the use of a simulated operating room environment during orientation training. Specifically, did the simulator experience help in orientation to anesthesia residency both initially and when it was viewed after a significant period? Secondly, what is the learning preference of residents today? With the availability of numerous new teaching media (e.g., CD ROM, videotapes, computer simulation programs, simulators), do we need to incorporate these into our residency programs? Furthermore, do residents want these modalities available to them? And if so, do these supplant traditional lectures and workshops or are they are a supplement to textbook reading? Thirdly, after having the initial orientation at a simulator do residents desire more of this training and if so, would there be a willingness to sacrifice personal free time? Finally, does the presence of a simulator at a residency program in any way influence choice of a residency?
Toxicant-mediated redox control of proteostasis in neurodegeneration

Disruption in redox signaling and control of cellular processes has emerged as a key player in many pathologies including neurodegeneration. As protein aggregations are a common hallmark of several neuronal pathologies, a firm understanding of the interplay between redox signaling, oxidative and free radical stress, and proteinopathies is required to sort out the complex mechanisms in these diseases. Fortunately, models of toxicant-induced neurodegeneration can be utilized to evaluate and report mechanistic alterations in the proteostasis network (PN). The epidemiological links between environmental toxicants and neurological disease gives further credence into characterizing the toxicant-mediated PN disruptions observed in these conditions. Reviewed here are examples of mechanistic interaction between oxidative or free radical stress and PN alterations. Additionally, investigations into toxicant-mediated PN disruptions, specifically focusing on environmental metals and pesticides, are discussed. Finally, we emphasize the need to distinguish whether the presence of protein aggregations are contributory to phenotypes related to neurodegeneration, or if they are a byproduct of PN deficiencies.
Nanomaterial Applications in Photothermal Therapy for Cancer

As a result of their unique compositions and properties, nanomaterials have recently seen a tremendous increase in use for novel cancer therapies. By taking advantage of the optical absorption of near-infrared light, researchers have utilized nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes, gold nanorods, and graphene oxide sheets to enhance photothermal therapies and target the effect on the tumor tissue. However, new uses for nanomaterials in targeted cancer therapy are coming to light, and the efficacy of photothermal therapy has increased dramatically. In this work, we review some of the current applications of nanomaterials to enhance photothermal therapy, specifically as photothermal absorbers, drug delivery vehicles, photoimmunological agents, and theranostic tools.
Evaluating tofacitinib citrate in the treatment of moderate-to-severe active ulcerative colitis: design, development and positioning of therapy.

The etiology of ulcerative colitis (UC) is complex and involves a host of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. Over the last thirty years, signaling pathways like the Janus kinase (JAK) signaling pathway have been implicated in its pathogenesis. Pharmacologic blockade of this pathway is available through several small molecule inhibitors, including tofacitinib. Tofacitinib is an orally administered pan-JAK inhibitor that was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in rheumatologic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. The FDA approved its use in moderate-to-severe active ulcerative colitis in 2018. The aim of this review will be to discuss the role of tofacitinib in ulcerative colitis. We will discuss the role of JAK-STAT signaling, clinical data available for tofacitinib, and the safety profile for this therapy. Tofacitinib’s place in the UC management algorithm is currently being debated. This effective oral therapy is poised to be a mainstay of UC therapeutics. This review will highlight the key clinical features and detail the UC experience to date.
Equivalence of Fluid Models for Gt/GI/N +GI Queues

Three different fluid model formulations have been recently developed for Gt/GI/N +GI queues, including a two-parameter fluid model in Whitt (2006) by tracking elapsed service and patience times of each customer, a measure-valued fluid model in Kang and Ramanan (2010) and its extension in Zuniga (2014) by tracking elapsed service and patience times of each customer, and a measure-valued fluid model in Zhang (2013) by tracking residual service and patience times of each customer. We show that, under general initial conditions, the first two fluid model formulations tracking elapsed times (Whitt’s and Kang and Ramanan’s fluidmodels) are equivalent and can be used to describe the same Gt/GI/N +GI queue when the service and patience time distributions have densities, whereas, Zuniga’s fluid model and Zhang’s fluid model are equivalent only when the initial conditions for the Gt/GI/N +GI queue satisfy certain assumptions. We identify these conditions under which Zuniga’s fluid model and Zhang’s fluid model can be derived from each other for the same system. The equivalence properties discovered provide important implications for the understanding of the recent development for non-Markovian many-server queues.
Activation of the PKA signaling pathway stimulates oxalate transport by human intestinal Caco2-BBE cells

Most kidney stones are composed of calcium oxalate, and small increases in urine oxalate enhance the stone risk. The mammalian intestine plays a crucial role in oxalate homeostasis, and we had rece...
Getting In, Getting Hired, Getting Sideways Looks: Organizational Hierarchy and Perceptions of Racial Discrimination:

This article argues that black workers’ perceptions of racial discrimination derive not just from being in the minority, but also from their position in the organizational structure. Researchers ha...