cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression hierarchy in the Yersinia type III secretion system established through YopD recognition of RNA

Summary The Yersinia type III secretion system (T3SS) is environmentally responsive to enable its rapid induction upon contact with host cells and is necessary for Yersiniae to establish a replicative niche and cause disease. YopD, a translocator protein, represses the expression of T3SS genes until signalled by environmental cues, a mechanism known as the low calcium response. In this work, we investigated recognition of target genes by Yersinia pestis YopD. Expression of all genes of the T3SS was induced in a yopD mutant, though not to the same degree, with effector Yops most affected. Two, short AU-rich sequence elements up- and downstream of start codons of target genes were necessary but not sufficient for YopD mediated repression. Purified YopD–LcrH bound specifically to target RNAs in vitro with different relative affinities, with effector Yops having greater affinity. Together, the data suggest YopD binds to T3SS transcripts where it may prevent ribosome binding causing accelerated mRNA degradation. This regulatory mechanism may ensure an expression hierarchy during the low calcium response as low affinity YopD targets such as chaperones would be translated prior to high affinity targets such as effector Yops allowing the bacteria another layer of control over Yop translocation during infection.
Wave energy research, development and demonstration at Oregon State University

This paper presents the wave energy research, development and demonstration (RD&D) efforts at Oregon State University (OSU), including the activities of the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center (NNMREC) headquartered at OSU. The NNMREC facilities and research thrusts are described, and a full-scale mobile ocean test berth (MOTB) concept is detailed. In addition, a high-precision wave tank testing system established at OSU's O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory (HWRL) is presented. The critical wave tank instrumentation, optical motion tracking system, data acquisition and related components are characterized. The paper concludes with example testing of scaled wave energy devices as well as upcoming device array testing.
Improved estimation of the switching activity for reliability prediction in VLSI circuits

Estimating the reliability of integrated circuits is a major concern of the semiconductor industry. In CMOS circuits, the extent of node switching activity, called the transition density, is a good measure of susceptibility to a variety of reliability problems. However the density computation algorithm does not take into account the effect of the inertial delay of logic gates. Thus, the transition density may be severely overestimated in high frequency applications. To overcome this problem, we model the effect of gate delay in the form of a conceptual low-pass filter block that does not allow unacceptably short logic pulses to propagate through. Using a stochastic model of logic signals, we then derive the equations required to propagate the transition density through the filter. We will present experimental results that illustrate the validity and importance of these results. >
Design of a low VSWR harmonics, low loss SP6T switch for GSM/Edge applications.

In this paper the design and measurement of a high performance SP6T GaAs pHEMT switch for Quad-Band GSM/EDGE Front-Ends are discussed. The design uses a novel approach to reduce the generated harmonic levels at 3 V supply, 35 dBm drive and antenna VSWR of 5:1 down to -40 dBm, the lowest levels for the multi-mode multi-throw switches reported to date. Besides low harmonic performance, low TX insertion loss of below 0.5 dB at 2 GHz and RX insertion loss of below 1 dB at 2 GHz is achieved.
Radial sums of Ridge functions: a characterization

We extend and sharpen the characterization of radial sums of ridge functions of two variables given in an earlier paper. More precisely, a bound on the degree of certain polynomials is given which depends on the angles between the ridges; not only is this bound best possible but also a converse result holds. Furthermore, variants of this characterization which hold for higher dimensional analogues are also given. These results are then applied to certain parallel am models in computed tomography to obtain more precise and otherwise improved characterizations of algorithms which commute with rigid motions.
A study of practical‐moral knowledge in science teaching: Case studies in physical science classrooms

This study further extends a conceptual framework that explores science teaching as a ''practice'' not reducible to the application of formal knowledge, but as informed by teachers' practical-moral knowledge. A hermeneutic model was developed to examine practical-moral knowledge indirectly by investigating teachers' commitments, interpretations, actions, and dialectic interactions between them. The study also aimed to analyze teachers' actions in terms of their interpretations and commitments as they realize ''internal goods'' of their practice. Ethnographic case studies of three science teachers were conducted through classroom observation, in-depth interviews and dialogues, and artifact analysis. A commitment of preparing students for national exams was common to the three teachers but was manifested differently in classroom practices. This commitment originated from interpretations about the duty of ''good'' teachers not letting students and schools down. Other emergent commitments were commitments: to conceptual understandings, to ''challenge'' learners, and to social modeling. We present each with associated interpretations and actions. The concepts of practical wisdom (phronesis) and gap closing are used to characterize teachers' practical knowledge and its development respectively. Implications for teacher education are discussed.! 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 47: 929-951, 2010
Student responses to a hands-on kinesthetic lecture activity for learning about the oxygen carrying capacity of blood

This article describes a new hands-on, or “kinesthetic,” activity for use in a physiology lecture hall to help students comprehend an important concept in cardiopulmonary physiology known as oxygen...
Aboriginal overkill in the intermountain west of North America

Zooarchaeological evidence has often been called on to help researchers determine prehistoric relative abundances of elk (Cervus elaphus) in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Some interpret that evidence as indicating elk were abundant; others interpret it as indicating elk were rare. Wildlife biologist Charles Kay argues that prehistoric faunal remains recovered from archaeological sites support his contention that aboriginal hunters depleted elk populations throughout the Intermountain West, including the Yellowstone area. To support his contention Kay cites differences between modern and prehistoric relative abundances of artiodactyls, age and sex demographics of ungulates in the prehistoric record indicating selective predation of prime-age females, and a high degree of fragmentation of artiodactyl bones indicating humans were under nutritional stress. Kay’s data on taxonomic abundances are time and space averaged and thus mask much variation in elk abundances. When these data are not lumped they suggest that elk were at some times, in some places, as abundant as they are today. Data on the age-sex demography of artiodactyl prey are ambiguous or contradict Kay’s predictions. Bone fragmentation data are variously nonexistent or ambiguous. The zooarchaeological implications of Kay’s aboriginal overkill hypothesis have not yet undergone rigorous testing.
Design of variable gain amplifier with gain-bandwidth product up to 354 GHz implemented in InP-InGaAs DHBT technology

A high-gain and wide-band variable gain amplifier (VGA) is developed using 300-GHz InP-InGaAs double-heterojunction bipolar transistor (DHBT). Negative-R/sub E/ quad is used to enhance amplifier gain-bandwidth product. At maximum gain, the single-ended S/sub 21/ of 17 dB and the associated 3-dB bandwidth of 50 GHz are measured to produce a gain-bandwidth product of 354 GHz in a VGA including a Gilbert multiplier and an output driver. The gain-bandwidth product is twice the value measured from the VGA designed by single resistor degeneration in the same process. The circuit is designed in terms of detailed stability considerations and the experimental results show it to be unconditionally stable over 0.5-50 GHz. The linearity of the VGA is affected by nonlinear effects in DHBTs, and different design approaches are analyzed. An output interception point of the third harmonic of 16.2 dBm is measured.
Atypical antipsychotic drugs: beyond acute psychosis, new directions

1. Summary Schizophrenia is the most serious of the mental illnesses, affecting more than 1% of the population [1]. Typically, symptoms begin in early adulthood and too often are followed by a lifetime of interpersonal, social, and vocational dysfunction. A measure of the disorder’s devastation is that over 10% of individuals with schizophrenia commit suicide. Given the age of onset and chronicity of the illness, schizophrenia presents a major public health challenge. In the US, the direct costs for care annually exceed US$65 bn [2] and consume 2.5% of total healthcare expenditure [3].
Physiological consequences of early neonatal growth retardation: Effects of α‐difluoromethylornithine on renal growth and function in the rat

The physiological consequences of early neonatal growth retardation in the kidney were investigated using α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamines. We administered by s.c. 500 mg/kg/day DFMO, or saline, to Sprague-Dawley rat pups from the day of birth through postnatal day (PD) 6 and evaluated renal function on PD 4, 7, 10, and 13 using tests of basal renal clearance and urinary concentrating ability. Kidney weights and gross pathology were also obtained. On PD 39, serum chemistries and organ weights were determined. In a second experiment, we evaluated concentrating ability on PD 7–10, and basal renal function, concentrating ability, diuretic response, serum chemistries, and organ weights on PD 132–140. DFMO selectively inhibited renal growth but did not inhibit glomerular and tubular functional maturation. In fact, the rates of filtration and reabsorption (per g renal tissue), and concentrating ability were increased in treated pups. These changes were associated with long-term effects on renal function, including uremia, glucosuria, and male-specific concentrating deficits in adulthood. Several hypotheses can be developed concerning the physiological mechanisms underlying these changes (e.g., altered renal urea metabolism), which in turn may reflect either a direct role of ODC in the regulation of maturation or secondary consequences of inhibition of ODC. In conclusion, the renal growth retardation induced by neonatal administration of DFMO (PD 2–6) was associated with an apparent precocious maturation of function in the early postnatal period (PD 4–13) and dysfunction in adulthood, thus demonstrating that the physiological consequences of growth retardation are not always obvious and predictable, and must be evaluted on a case by case basis.
A genome-wide association study identifies a potential novel gene locus for keratoconus, one of the commonest causes for corneal transplantation in developed countries

Keratoconus is a condition in which the cornea progressively thins over time, and is a major cause for cornea transplantation. To identify keratoconus susceptibility regions, we performed a comprehensive genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a discovery and replication design. A discovery panel of 222 keratoconus Caucasian patients and 3324 Caucasian controls was genotyped using Illumina 370K beadchips. Further associated and fine-mapping single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (n= 4905) were genotyped in an independent replication case-control panel of 304 cases and 518 controls and a family panel of 307 subjects in 70 families. Logistic regression models implemented in PLINK were performed to test associations in case-control samples with and without principal component (PC) adjustments. Generalized estimation equation models accounting for familial correlations implemented in GWAF were used for association testing in families. No genome-wide associations were identified in the discovery GWAS panel. From the initial testing without adjustments for PCs, the top three SNPs located at 3p26 (rs6442925), 2q21.3 (rs4954218) and 19q13.3 (rs1428642) were identified with unadjusted P-values of 6.5 × 10(-8), 2.4 × 10(-7) and 3.1 × 10(-7), respectively. After adjustments for PCs, rs1428642 became the most significant through the genome with a P-value of 1.4 × 10(-6), while rs6442925 and rs4954218 were less significant (P= 1.9 × 10(-5) and 2.6 × 10(-4)). SNP rs4954218 was confirmed in two independent replication panels with P-values of 0.004 and 0.009, respectively. Meta-analysis revealed a highest association at rs4954218 with adjusted P= 1.6 × 10(-7) (unadjusted P= 1.2 × 10(-9)). These findings suggest SNP rs4954218, located near the RAB3GAP1 gene, previously reported to be associated with corneal malformation, is a potential susceptibility locus for keratoconus.
Role of the Dopaminergic System in Luteinizing Hormone Release and Ovulation in the Hen

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to examine further the role of the dopaminergic system in the ovulatory cycle of the hen. In Experiment 1, dopamine (DA; 8 μg) was injected intraventricular 14 hr prior to the C1 ovulation (to determine the efficacy of DA in causing premature ovulation) and the DA-receptor blocker, pimozide, implanted intraventicularly for the previous 24 hr was used to assess the specificity of the response. The luteinizing hormone (LH) radioimmunoassays from serial blood samples subsequent to the injection, indicated no effect of the DA treatment on either the time or the magnitude of the preovulatory LH surge. In Experiment 2, an intraventricular injection of DA (10 μg) was made 8 hr prior to the C1 ovulation (to examine the effect of DA on the normal preovulatory LH surge) and assay results from blood samples at short intervals immediately after the injection showed no effect of the treatment on plasma LH levels. These results, in addition to the finding that the pimozide implant caused no disruption of the ovulatory cycle, suggest that the dopaminergic system is not essential to the ovulatory process in the hen.
Comparison of acetolactate synthase enzyme inhibition among resistant and susceptible Xanthium strumarium biotypes

Abstract Failure to control Xanthium strumarium with acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor herbicides has been reported in Iowa and surrounding states. Single-seed descent techniques were used to isolate three X. strumarium biotypes: CAM-10 from near Cambridge, Iowa; Colo-25 from near Colo, Iowa; and Ohio-1 from Fulton County, Ohio. Ohio-1 and Colo-25 were selected because of apparent resistance to imazethapyr, whereas CAM-10 was selected for observed sensitivity to imazethapyr. The biotypes were assayed in vitro with three different ALS inhibitor herbicides, and ALS activity was measured. The 50% inhibition values (I50) of ALS for imazethapyr were determined to be ninefold or higher for the Ohio-1 and Colo-25 biotypes compared to the CAM-10 biotype. The I50 for imazaquin was determined to be about ninefold higher for the Colo-25 biotype and sixfold higher for the Ohio-1 biotype when compared to the CAM-10 biotype. All biotypes were equally sensitive to chlorimuron ethyl. The resistance was due to a singl...
New Developments in Aesthetics for Urban Design

Imagine walking through an unfamiliar city. As you proceed, the surroundings change from what you see in Figure 1 to what you see in Figure 2. You might evaluate the change as unpleasant, feel less safe, and change your behavior, walking faster or leaving the area. In contrast, had you passed by the scene in Figure 3, you might evaluate it favorably, feel a calming change in emotion, and you might slow down or enter the area to savor the experience. In each case, environmental cues, which you may not have noticed, affected your appraisal of the scene, emotions, inferences, and behavior. This chapter is predicated on the conviction that the visual character of buildings has important impacts on human experience—aesthetic impacts.
Inelastic shape changes of silicon particles and stress evolution at binder/particle interface in a composite electrode during lithiation/delithiation cycling

Inelastic shape changes of Si particles and stress evolution at binder/particle interface was modeled using coupled diffusion–stress framework available in finite element software. A simple model that contains two spherical Si particles with and without the polymer binder film was used to represent the composite electrode. The particles were lithiated and delithiated at two different rates: one representing a slow charging case which results in a uniform Li concentration throughout the Si particles and the other representing a fast charging condition which results in non-uniform lithium concentration within the spherical Si particles. The inelastic shape changes and associated contact forces predicted by the model are qualitatively consistent with experimental data. Further, the effect of binder mechanical properties and the binder fraction on the stress evolution in Si particles and at the binder/particle interface was calculated. The proposed model, although simple, can guide a battery design engineer to choose a proper binder, charge/discharge strategy, and binder fraction for a durable electrode design.
Interaction of cholesterol in ternary lipid mixtures investigated using single-molecule fluorescence.

Fluorescence measurements of the sterol analog 23-(dipyrrometheneboron difluoride)-24-norcholesterol (BODIPY-cholesterol) are used to compare the effects of cholesterol (Chol) in monolayers of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC)/1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC)/Chol and chicken egg sphingomyelin (SM)/DOPC/Chol. Monolayers are formed using the Langmuir–Blodgett technique and compared at surface pressures of 8 and 30 mN/m. In particular, these ternary lipid mixtures are compared using both ensemble and single-molecule fluorescence measurements of BODIPY-cholesterol. In mixed monolayers incorporating 0.10 mol % BODIPY-cholesterol, fluorescence microscopy measurements as a function of cholesterol added reveal similar trends in monolayer phase structure for both DPPC/DOPC/Chol and SM/DOPC/Chol films. With a probe concentration reduced to ∼10–8 mol % BODIPY-cholesterol, single-molecule fluorescence measurements using defocused polarized total internal reflection microscopy are...
Author Reply: Reply to Commentaries on Language and Emotion (2015)

“Language and Emotion” (2016) showed a number of nonobvious ways in which the nature of emotion can be studied via the way that emotions are expressed, mostly unconsciously, in language. The results given there have come mostly from cognitive linguistics, structured neural computation, and embodied cognition taken together. The references given, survey those results and their empirical basis. The commentators have each made contributions to our ultimate understanding of emotion, each from a different field with a different set of assumptions and research techniques. But they are not up on contemporary embodied cognitive linguistics. As a result, most missed points made in the article. The good news is that each got a chance to introduce their own research to our readership.
Anion exchange of metal complexes—VI: The nickel-thiocyanate system

Abstract The distribution of tracer 63Ni between the strongly basic anion exchange resin, Dowex 1 × 8, and solutions of sodium, potassium, ammonium, and lithium thiocyanate have been determined. No effects attributable to polynucleation were observed with concentrations of tracer up to 2·92 × 10−6 M. Since counting 63Ni, a soft β-emitter, is best accomplished with liquid scintillation techniques, a preliminary investigation was necessary to establish and characterize the best liquid scintillation mixture. The distributions were determined for the 0·05–5·0 M concentration range of the thiocyanate solution. Above 2·60 M, increasing sorbability was in the order NH4+ > K+ > Na+ > Li+, with a maximum at ∼ 0·3 M for Na+ and Li+, and 1·0 M for K+ and NH4+. Corrected distributions were determined by employing resin invasion data; from the corrected distributions, overall complexity parameters relating to the neutral complex were evaluated by curve fitting. Their values were found to be: k +2 ∗ =2·36×10 −3 ; k +1 ∗ =4·68×10 −1 ; k 0 ∗ =1 ( by definition ); k −1 ∗ =2·64; k −2 ∗ =1·89 . Resin sorption effects ∼ 85-fold stabilization of the neutral species over the aqueous phase.
Integrating beneficiaries into assessment of ecosystem services from managed forests at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, USA

Forests contribute to human wellbeing through the provision of important ecosystem services. In this study, we investigated how the perceived importance of ecosystem services may impact the overall benefit provided by managed watersheds at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest over a 45-year period, using standardized measures of service capacity weighted by service importance weights derived from a survey of beneficiaries. The capacity of watersheds to regulate water flow and quality was high in all watersheds throughout the study period, whereas cultural services such as scenic beauty declined after harvest. Impacts on greenhouse gas regulation depended on the efficiency with which harvested biomass was used. Surveys revealed that stakeholders placed high value on all ecosystem services, with regulating and cultural services seen as more important than provisioning services. When service metrics were weighted by survey responses and aggregated into a single measure, total service provision followed the same overall trend as greenhouse gas regulation. Where biomass use was less efficient in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, harvesting resulted in an overall “ecosystem service debt”; where use was more efficient, this “ecosystem service debt” was reduced. Beneficiaries’ educational backgrounds significantly affected overall assessment of service provision. Beneficiaries with college or university degrees incurred smaller “ecosystem service debts” and were less negatively affected by harvesting overall. This study highlights the importance of including empirical measures of beneficiary preference when attempting to quantify overall provision of ecosystem services to human beneficiaries over time.
Detection of Programmed Cell Death in Cells Exposed to Genotoxic Agents Using a Caspase Activation Assay

Many environmental toxins cause DNA damage. Cells that have sustained significant DNA damage must attempt to repair the damage prior to replication, in which aberrant base incorporation can result in an irreversible mutation. If a cell cannot repair the damage, however, it may commit suicide through a genetically regulated programmed cell death (PCD) pathway. Crucial to the ultimate execution of PCD is a family of cysteine proteases called caspases. Activation of these enzymes occurs late in the PCD pathway, when a cell can no longer avoid cell death, but earlier than other PCD markers, such as morphological changes or DNA fragmentation. This protocol details a method for using fluorochrome-conjugated caspase inhibitors for the detection of activated caspases in intact cells using fluorescent microscopy.
THE ALKALINE DECOMPOSITION OF ALIPHATIC DISULFIDES

Abstract A review is presented of the experimental investigations, and the mechanistic interpretations thereof, of the action of aqueous alkali† on aliphatic disulfides. The facile and efficient transformation of cystinyl residues in proteins into lanthionyl residues, and the difficulty (and perhaps, impossibility) of transforming cystine itself into lanthionine, by aqueous alkali have not as yet been adequately correlated. The evidence supports the view that there are at least two, and perhaps more, operative ionic mechanisms for the alkaline decomposition of aliphatic disulfides. Direct, nucleophilic attack of the hydroxide ion on one of the sulfur atoms is not likely.
Labor Market Segmentation

(1977). Labor Market Segmentation. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 150-152.
Global Fascism:: geography, timing, support, and strategy

This article considers four aspects for understanding the greatly over-used term ‘fascism’: its place in space and also in time, the basis of its social support, and its modus operandi. While agreement exists on where and when fascism reached its apogee, there is little concurrence of opinion over the extent to which the world wars were determinative in its birth and death, and how far beyond European boundaries it has ventured. There are also wide-ranging discussions concerning the identity and extent of its backers, with some writers pointing to the formative role of the lumpen body politic, or various class fractions, and others to that of an elite vanguard, or even individual alienation. A similar spectrum of opinion over the basis of fascism’s appeal extends from studies emphasizing, and elucidating, its ideational content to those that focus on the pragmatic value of action. Such a great diversity of analyses brings both considerable empirical richness and the challenge of fragmentation. This article responds by reflecting on fascism as both a social phenomenon and a field of study, in the hope of bringing some analytical structure to what remains a vast, and continuously developing, literature.
High-contrast and fast electrochromic switching enabled by plasmonics(Conference Presentation)

With vibrant colors and simple, room-temperature processing methods, electrochromic polymers have long attracted attention as active materials for flexible, low-power consuming devices such as smart windows and displays. However, despite their many advantages, slow switching speed and complexity of combining several separate polymers to achieve full-color gamut has limited electrochromic materials to niche applications. Here we exploit the enhanced light-matter interaction associated with the deep-subwavelength mode confinement of surface plasmon polaritons propagating in metallic nanoslit arrays coated with ultra-thin electrochromic polymers to build a novel configuration for achieving high-contrast and fast electrochromic switching. The switchable configuration retains the short temporal charge-diffusion characteristics of thin electrochromic films while maintaining the high optical-contrast associated with thicker electrochromic coatings. We further demonstrate that by controlling the pitch of the nanoslit arrays, it is possible to achieve a full-color response with high-contrast and fast switching-speeds while relying on just one electrochromic polymer.
Justificatory Information Forefending in Digital Age: Self-Sealing Informational Conviction of Risky Health Behavior.

This study proposes the idea of justificatory information forefending, a cognitive process by which individuals accept information that confirms their preexisting health beliefs, and reject informa...
The Philosophy of Science, and Economics

(1994). The Philosophy of Science, and Economics. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 957-959.
Modifying the Sleep Treatment Education Program for Students to include technology use (STEPS‐TECH): Intervention effects on objective and subjective sleep outcomes

University students often have sleep issues that arise from poor sleep hygiene practices and technology use patterns. Yet, technology-related behaviors are often neglected in sleep hygiene education. This study examined whether the Sleep Treatment Education Program for Students-modified to include information regarding managing technology use (STEPS-TECH)-helps improve both subjective and objective sleep outcomes among university students. Results of an experimental study among 78 university students showed improvements in objective indicators of sleep quantity (total sleep time) and sleep quality (less awakenings) during the subsequent week for students in the STEPS-TECH intervention group compared to a control group. Exploratory analyses indicated that effects were driven by improvements in weekend days immediately following the intervention. There were also no intervention effects on subjective sleep quality or quantity outcomes. In terms of self-reported behavioral responses to educational content in the intervention, there were no group differences in sleep hygiene practices or technology use before bedtime. However, the intervention group reported less technology use during sleep periods than the control group. These preliminary findings suggest that STEPS-TECH may be a useful educational tool to help improve objective sleep and reduce technology use during sleep periods among university students.
Differential Effect of Copper Deficiency on Plasma Atrial Natriuretic Peptides in Male and Female Rats

Severely copper deficient animals manifest hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia, glucose intolerance, decreased hemoglobin concentration, abnormalities of the electrocardiogram and sudden death due to rupture of the heart. In addition, experimental copper deficiency in animals is also characterized by central nervous system disorders such as ataxia, motor incoordination, and brain and spinal cord degeneration. Further, feeding high levels of dietary fructose or sucrose as compared to starch has been reported to produce a more severe copper depletion syndrome in rats. Serum ceruloplasmin and superoxide dismutase activity in erythrocytes are also decreased in copper deficiency and these parameters are used as markers of copper status. Decreases in plasma enkephalins levels have also been suggested as markers of copper deficiency1. Recently, significant differences in symptoms of copper deficiency have been observed between male and female rats fed low copper diets2. Only male rats fed a copper deficient diet with fructose died of cardiac rupture. Females were protected against this syndrome, indicating sex hormones may be involved. Atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) have been shown to play a role in cardiac function, where, their levels in plasma are higher in patients with congestive heart failure and in hypertensive subjects. It is possible that in copper deficiency, atrial peptides may be differently regulated in male and female rats. We therefore studied the effect of copper deficiency and of sex hormones on ANP from plasma and atria.
Big Data in the Clinic: Using Data to Guide Practice

Radiology and pathology almost by definition are big data in both the healthcare and research arenas. The data sources are not only big, but incredibly varied. At the core of both medical practices are the acquired images that must be processed, transmitted, stored/archived and interpreted. Radiology is the most common medical imaging specialty with recent estimates of 3.6 billion medical procedures being done worldwide annually with ionizing radiation (3.1 billion diagnostic radiologic, 0.5 billion dental, and 37 million nuclear medicine examinations) [1].
QuActive: a quality of activities monitoring and notification system

In order to notify users about potentially unsafe situations and to track mistakes or efficiency performing activities, it is important to monitor the quality of performing an activity and identify the missing/wrong steps. However, the state-of-the-art activity recognition frameworks ignore such details and impose constraints on sensor values, the types of detected activities (no parallel/interleaved/joint activities), or the number of users, which reduce the robustness of the system in the real world settings. Therefore, we present QuActive, a grammar based general purpose framework for modeling activities and micro-activities that retains the details of the activity steps, quantifies activity quality, and notifies users about missing steps and unsafe situations. In order to show the versatility of QuActive, we evaluate the framework on three different public datasets that have interleaved activities, parallel and co-operative activities, and activities of cognitively declined patients with quality information labeled. In all cases, QuActive outperforms the state-of-the-art techniques applied on these data sets. In addition, we have deployed the system in a real home and collected data in a semi-controlled setting to evaluate the performance of the system in real settings. The results show that QuActive recognizes more than 90% of the defined micro-activities and the grammar detects almost all the defined activities from the recognized micro-activities.
Extensions to the Non-Linear Armington Model

This paper documents various extensions that have been made to the non-linear Armington partial equilibrium model used for modeling the impact of changes in border measures, particularly safeguard remedies and other changes in duties, quotas, and tariff-rate quotas. The extensions generally fall into two categories: (1) those that estimate the impact of changing border measures other than ad valorem duties, such as specific duties, quotas, and tariff rate quotas, (2) those that extend the single product and single market nature of the model to simultaneously account for impacts to additional products and/or additional markets.
Sequestration of orange G and methylene blue from aqueous solutions using a Co(II) coordination polymer

A Co(II) coordination polymer known for its crystalline sponge properties (CoSP) is used to sequester Orange G (OG) and methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solutions. Its ability to encapsulate the cationic MB is much greater than for OG. The CoSP material is notable for its structural transformations under different conditions (i.e. removal from solvent or immersion in alternative solvent systems) giving rise to both 3D and 2D networks. Herein, we study the activated semi-amorphous Co sponge (a-CoSP) as a host in aqueous solutions and find that guest uptake results in increased crystallinity as evidenced by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Reactivation releases some dye due to decomposition of the coordination polymer however, the solubility of the building blocks in solution enables the reconstruction of the sponge.
Transgenesis affects endogenous soybean allergen levels less than traditional breeding

Abstract The regulatory body that oversees the safety assessment of genetically modified (GM) crops in the European Union, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), uniquely requires that endogenous allergen levels be quantified as part of the compositional characterization of GM versions of crops, such as soybean, that are considered to be major allergenic foods. The value of this requirement for assessing food safety has been challenged for multiple reasons including negligible risk of altering allergen levels compared with traditional non-GM breeding. Scatter plots comparing the mean endogenous allergen levels in non-GM soybean isoline grain with the respective levels in GM grain or concurrently grown non-GM commercial reference varieties clearly show that transgenesis causes less change compared with traditional breeding. This visual assessment is confirmed by the quantitative fit of the line of identity (y = x) to the datasets. The current science on allergy does not support the requirement for quantifying allergen levels in GM crops to support safety assessment.
Absolute frequency measurement of the electric quadrupole transition of 88 Sr

We report a new measurement of the 445 THz electric quadrupole transition of the strontium ion made using a GPS link to the SI second. Compared to our previous measurement reported in 2012, the operation of the optical clock has been improved in several ways, especially from a reduction of the micromotion shifts, of the black body radiation shift, and of the servo tracking errors. Moreover, the stability of the clock has been improved three-fold with state-preparation. The uncertainty of the optical clock during the measurement campaign was 7 mHz. The uncertainty of the frequency measurement was 0.75 Hz, limited primarily by the GPS link and to a lesser extent by the measurement statistics. The new frequency measurement is in good agreement with previously reported values.
Adrenergic manipulation inhibits pavlovian conditioned approach behaviors.

Abstract Environmental rewards and Pavlovian reward cues can acquire incentive salience, thereby eliciting incentive motivational states and instigate reward-seeking. In rats, the incentive salience of food cues can be measured during a Pavlovian conditioned approach paradigm, in which rats engage in cue-directed approach (“sign-tracking”) or approach the food delivery location (“goal-tracking”). While it has been shown that dopamine signaling is necessary for sign-tracking, some studies have suggested that norepinephrine is involved in learning to sign-track as well. Thus, in order to investigate the influence of norepinephrine in Pavlovian conditioned approach, we administered three adrenergic drugs while rats learned that a food cue (an illuminated, retractable lever) preceded the delivery of banana-flavored food pellets into a food-cup. We found that pre-session injections of disulfiram (a dopamine-β-hydroxylase inhibitor) inhibited the development of sign-tracking, but goal-tracking was only affected at the high dose. In one experiment, post-session injections of disulfiram blocked the development of sign-tracking, although this effect was not replicated in a separate set of rats. Post-session injections of prazosin (an α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist) and propranolol (a β-adrenergic receptor antagonist) also blocked the development of sign-tracking but not goal-tracking. Taken together, these results suggest that adrenergic transmission mediates the acquisition of sign-tracking but not goal-tracking, and thus plays a selective role in the attribution of incentive salience food cues.
Adaptive Interpolated Motion-Compensated Prediction with Variable Block Partitioning

Conventional video coders rely heavily on pixel-domain block matching to remove temporal redundancies. This prediction structure constrains pixels within a block to use the same motion vector, which is ineffective for blocks with complex motion. To mitigate this shortcoming we recently proposed a new paradigm of adaptive interpolated motion compensation (AIMC), wherein neighboring motion vectors are considered as pointers to multiple estimation sources, which are linearly combined to form the final prediction, with weights chosen from pre-trained K-sets to capture variations in statistics. While promising initial results were obtained for fixed block sizes, this paper extends the approach to the important setting of variable block size partitioning, which has become standard in state-of-the-art video coding. Specifically, we propose a non-trivial generalization of AIMC to account for arbitrary block partitioning by “virtually” breaking a block to match its non-causal neighbors, and creating an interpolation tree structure, whose nodes extend from the original partitioning. This provides multiple estimates at the leaf nodes of the tree and enables an effective AIMC implementation. Experimental results validate the proposed paradigm with significant bit rate savings over conventional motion compensated prediction.
Cryopreserved Saphenous Vein Compared With PTFE Graft for Use as Modified Blalock-Taussig or Central Shunt in Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease:

Many infants with congenital heart disease undergo palliative shunt procedures. In our center, cryopreserved saphenous vein and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are used as grafts to construct these shunts. In this retrospective review, we compare morbidity, mortality, and freedom from reoperation associated with the use of these graft materials. We conducted a retrospective study of 136 consecutive patients who were palliated with shunts between 2006 and 2015. A total of 136 patients were identified, 9 had incomplete data; thus, 127 patients were included: 69 saphenous and 58 PTFE. The cohorts were matched with respect to birth weight, gestational age, age and weight at time of surgery, and underlying cardiac condition. There were 15 (12%) deaths in the study cohort with no intraoperative mortality. Thrombosis was seen in 5.2% (2/38) of the saphenous modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (mBTS) group and 20.6% (14/68) of those with PTFE mBTS. There was no thrombosis in the central shunt group. Freedom from reoperation was 83% in the saphenous vein group and 81% in the PTFE group. There was no difference in overall morbidity or mortality, although thrombosis was significantly less in the saphenous vein group. Cryopreserved saphenous vein is a safe alternative, either as a mBTS or as a central shunt.
Advances in optimizing the prescription of antibiotics in outpatient settings

The inappropriate use of antibiotics can increase the likelihood of antibiotic resistance and adverse events. In the United States, nearly a third of antibiotic prescriptions in outpatient settings are unnecessary, and the selection of antibiotics and duration of treatment are also often inappropriate. Evidence shows that antibiotic prescribing is influenced by psychosocial factors, including lack of accountability, perceived patient expectations, clinician workload, and habit. A varied and growing body of evidence, including meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials, has evaluated interventions to optimize the use of antibiotics. Interventions informed by behavioral science-such as communication skills training, audit and feedback with peer comparison, public commitment posters, and accountable justification-have been associated with improved antibiotic prescribing. In addition, delayed prescribing, active monitoring, and the use of diagnostics are guideline recommended practices that improve antibiotic use for some conditions. In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship, which provides a framework for implementing these interventions in outpatient settings. This review summarizes the varied evidence on drivers of inappropriate prescription of antibiotics in outpatient settings and potential interventions to improve their use in such settings.
Bowel symptoms are associated with hypovitaminosis D in individuals with medically complicated obesity.

We reported that 30% of individuals with medically complicated obesity have bowel symptoms, suggesting irritable bowel syndrome, but this prevalence of bowel symptoms is not related to body mass index or diabetes mellitus. Hypovitaminosis D is common in individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus and is associated with depressive symptoms. Because antidepressants improve global symptoms in individuals with bowel symptoms, we hypothesize that the high prevalence of bowel symptoms in medically complicated obesity is associated with hypovitaminosis D. This is a single-institution, retrospective cohort study performed in a large, urban community teaching hospital. Over 2 years, individuals considering bariatric surgery completed a Manning symptom questionnaire to quantify bowel symptoms. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D was ordered, and the results were recorded for all individuals. Among 271 subjects, 229 subjects (80% women, 20% men; 67% black, 31% white; age range: 23-73 years; body mass index range: 35-91 kg/m2) completed 25-hydroxy vitamin D testing. Sixty-seven subjects (29%) have 3 to 6 Manning bowel symptoms, suggesting irritable bowel syndrome; 84 (37%) have type 2 diabetes; and 180 (79%) had vitamin D insufficiency. There are significant negative associations between Manning bowel symptoms and vitamin D concentrations in subjects with obesity (P = .01) and with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity (P = .007). The results support our hypothesis that the high prevalence of bowel symptoms in people with medically complicated obesity is associated with hypovitaminosis D. A prospective study is required to evaluate vitamin D supplementation and relief of bowel symptoms in people with medically complicated obesity.
Factors influencing U.S. physicians' decision to provide behavioral counseling.

Abstract Prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases is critical due to high costs of healthcare and increasing prevalence. Historical trends suggest physicians underperform in behavioral counseling (including exercise, diet/nutrition, or weight management). This study investigated physicians' decision-making by examining non-clinical sociological factors that influence ordering and provision of behavioral counseling. This was a retrospective multi-year cross-sectional study. Using the Eisenberg model of physician-decision making, we analyzed data from the 2005–2015 National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys (unweighted N = 177,599). Four weighted logistic regressions were performed to examine sociological factors associated with physician prescribing or ordering of behavioral counseling. Behavioral counseling was provided at suboptimal rates. Patient age, race/ethnicity, body weight status, and reasons for a medical visit were associated with physicians' decision to provide or order behavioral counseling. There was in general a decreasing trend of odds of provision of behavior counseling from 2005 to 2015. Patients who had been seen before were more likely to receive diet/nutrition and exercise counseling. This study concluded that ordering and provision of behavioral counseling was less than optimal. Policy makers and educators can consider factors that influence physicians' decisions for behavioral counseling to improve training and site policies. Future research examining effective behavioral counseling training and strategies to promote its provision, in particular to patients of different races/ethnicities and with different medical conditions, may increase effectiveness. Integrated care with behavioral health professionals could improve rates and/or delivery of counseling. Physicians can consider providing behavioral counseling when patients present with new problems and to newly seen patients.
IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HIGH CARDIOVASCULAR RISK PATIENT WITH MULTIPLE EVENTS

Despite treatment with a moderate or high-intensity statin, many patients who experience 2 cardiovascular (CV) events continue to be at an increased risk for subsequent events. Identification and characterization of these patients is necessary for identifying CV healthcare treatment gaps. Residents
Salsa Crossings: Dancing Latinidad in Los Angeles

It appears to be a ritual among salsa dance scholars to open by sharing a personal salsa experience. I will follow their lead: My introduction to Los Angeles–style salsa came on a Saturday night in the spring of 1999, when I had the pleasure of taking a tour of the city's salsa scene with dance scholar Juliet McMains. Already an established professional ballroom dancer, McMains was just beginning her graduate studies at the University of California–Riverside where I was visiting faculty, having recently co-edited a collection on Latin/o American social dance. Lucky for me, McMains was among the many brilliant students who enrolled in my class on race and dance. The night of our tour, she invited a handsome friend and fellow ballroom dancer to partner first one of us, then the other, throughout the night. He drove us around the city as we stopped at a cramped restaurant-turned-nightclub in a strip mall, at a glamorous ballroom in Beverly Hills, then ended the night downtown at a massive disco in a former movie palace, the Mayan nightclub.