cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurements of elliptic and triangular flow in high-multiplicity 3He + Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV

Abstract In this paper, we present measurements of two-particles correlations across a rapidity gap of about | Δ η | > 3.5 in central 3 He+Au and p + p collisions at s N N = 200 GeV . A near-side peak is observed for central 3 He+Au collisions while not for p + p . We also present the first measurements of elliptic v 2 and triangular v 3 anisotropy coefficients with respect to their corresponding event planes. The measured v 2 and v 3 are compared with that in Au+Au, p +Au, d +Au collisions at same collision energy, and several models calculations. The comparison indicates that the initial geometry with final state interactions play important role for the developing of anisotropy in the small collisions systems such as p / d / 3 He+Au collisions. We also present measurements of v 2 for identified π ± , K ± and (anti)protons in central 3 He+Au collisions, and quark-number scaling is observed which is similar to that seen in A+A heavy ion collisions.
If Microbes Could Tweet

Organized by Kara Schoenemann, Belkys Sanchez, and Minseon Kim. Tweets by members of the University of Texas at Houston MMG Department.
Art Education: A Civil Right Denied?.

The American Constitution was written in order to detail the fundamental principles that bind American citizens together as a people and a nation and to establish the institutions that would be use...
Finding a needle in a haystack: Bacteroides fragilis polysaccharide A as the archetypical symbiosis factor.

Starting from birth, all animals develop a symbiotic relationship with their resident microorganisms that benefits both the microbe and the host. Recent advances in technology have substantially improved our ability to direct research toward the identification of important microbial species that affect host physiology. The identification of specific commensal molecules from these microbes and their mechanisms of action is still in its early stages. Polysaccharide A (PSA) of Bacteroides fragilis is the archetypical example of a commensal molecule that can modulate the host immune system in health and disease. This zwitterionic polysaccharide has a critical impact on the development of the mammalian immune system and also on the stimulation of interleukin 10-producing CD4+ T cells; consequently, PSA confers benefits to the host with regard to experimental autoimmune, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the immunomodulatory effects of B. fragilis PSA and discuss these effects as a novel immunological paradigm. In particular, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the unique functional mechanisms of this molecule and its therapeutic potential, and we review the recent literature in the field of microbiome research aimed at discovering new commensal products and their immunomodulatory potential.
Are Markets Rational? Insight from Tradesports

This study tests for market rationality by examining the price movements of prediction market contracts. The true values of these assets are revealed with certainty upon contract expiry, thus we avoid the joint hypothesis problem inherent in stock market studies. Further, utilizing a prediction market enables us to directly observe price movements whereas in traditional gambling market research the point spreads set by bookmakers must be used as a proxy for the market’s dollar-weighted vote. We find that early contract price movements are reliable predictors of future contract values. The magnitude of these movements is sufficient to remove the possibility of profit-taking, thus we find evidence of market efficiency. Because gambling markets are a close analog of equities markets, this study provides insight as to the rationality of the latter.
CodeSlinger: An Interactive Biomedical Ontology Browser

CodeSlinger is a highly interactive and semi-intelligent application designed to support the search and navigation of large biomedical coding schemes, thesauri, and ontologies. We discuss how CodeSlinger is used by epidemiologist/physicians in the creation of coding sets for data extraction and analysis, the exploratory nature of the application, and finally, the issues facing our knowledge-representation model and extension of the UMLS.
Automatically Detecting Inconsistencies in Program Specifications

A verification system relies on a programmer writing mathematically precise descriptions of code. A specification that describes the behavior of an operation and a loop invariant for iterative code are examples of such mathematical formalizations. Due to human errors, logical defects may be introduced into these mathematical constructs. Techniques to detect certain logical errors in program specifications, loop invariants, and loop variants are described. Additionally, to make program specifications more concise and to make it easier to create them, RESOLVE has parameter modes: each formal parameter is annotated with a mode that is related to the intended roles of the incoming and outgoing values of that parameter. Methods to check whether the programmer has chosen a plausibly correct mode for each parameter are also explained. The techniques described are lightweight and are applied at an early stage in the verification process.
Seven cases of interaction between warfarin and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors.

Straightforward reports of unusual drug experiences are included in this section. While selected references may be cited, the purpose of a Drug Experience report is not to present an extensive review of the literature. A related section, Grand Rounds, includes papers that are well-documented patient case reports with a through review of the important literature to help put the case in perspective. Authors should report serious adverse drug reactions to the FDA medical products reporting program (MedWatch). Such reporting will not jeopardize the chances that AJHP will publish manuscripts on the same drug reactions.
TRANSPORT OF SUGARS

This chapter discusses the transport of sugars. At some point in the metabolism of an energy source, the substrate must enter the cell to be acted upon by the enzymes of the organism. Although no transport enzymes have been isolated, the bacterial cell must assist actively in the entry process because (1) substrates often accumulate in concentrations higher than the concentration of the medium, (2) entry processes are selective for stereoisomers, and (3) transport systems are under genetic control. Transport systems of bacteria are referred to as permease systems and the specific transport protein as the permease. Because of the nature of transport systems, there is no direct assay for a permease and therefore, no permease has ever been isolated. The usual assay for permeases is accomplished by incubating whole cells with radioactive substrate, filtering quickly on a membrane filter, and then determining the amount of radioactive substrate associated with the cells. Uptake of β-galactosides measured in this way shows many characteristics of enzymic reactions. The transport system is stereospecific for β-galactosides as opposed to β-glucosides, although a wide variety of compounds will substitute for the glucose part of lactose. Almost all of the galactoside can be extracted from the E. coli in an unchanged form, which argues against a chemical modification of the substrate during transport. .
n-pentane isomerization and disproportionation catalyzed by promoted and unpromoted sulfated zirconia

Isomerization and disproportionation of n-pentane were catalyzed by sulfated zirconia, Fe- and Mn-promoted sulfated zirconia, and Pt-, Fe-, and Mn-promoted sulfated zirconia in a flow reactor at temperatures of −25 to 50°C and n-pentane partial pressures of 0.005–0.01 atm. Incorporation of the Fe and Mn promoters increased the activity of the sulfated zirconia by two orders of magnitude at 50°C; addition of Pt to the latter catalyst increased the activity only slightly. The primary reactions, disproportionation (to give butanes and hexanes) and isomerization, occurred in parallel; secondary disproportionation reactions gave heptanes, propane, butanes, and pentanes. The data are consistent with acid-base catalysis and carbenium ion intermediates, and the isomerization is inferred to proceed both by unimolecular and bimolecular mechanisms. H2 in the feed stream and Pt in the catalyst both led to reductions in the rate of catalyst deactivation.
Activin-like kinase 5 (ALK5) inactivation in the mouse uterus results in metastatic endometrial carcinoma

The endometrial lining of the uterine cavity is a highly dynamic tissue that is under the continuous control of the ovarian steroid hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Endometrial adenocarcinoma arises from the uncontrolled growth of the endometrial glands, which is typically associated with unopposed estrogen action and frequently occurs in older postmenopausal women. The incidence of endometrial cancer among younger women has been rising due to increasing rates of obesity, a major risk factor for the disease. The transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) family is a highly conserved group of proteins with roles in cellular differentiation, proliferation, and cancer. Inactivating mutations in the genes encoding the TGFβ cell surface receptors (TGFBR1/ALK5 and TGFBR2) have been detected in various human cancers, indicating that a functional TGFβ signaling pathway is required for evading tumorigenesis. In this study, we present a mouse model with conditional inactivation of activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) in the mouse uterus using progesterone receptor cre (“Alk5 cKO”) that develops endometrial adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the lungs. The cancer and metastatic lung nodules are estrogen dependent and retain estrogen receptor α (ERα) reactivity, but have decreased levels of progesterone receptor (PR) protein. The endometrial tumors develop only in Alk5 cKO mice that are mated to fertile males, indicating that TGFβ-mediated postpartum endometrial repair is critical for endometrial function. Overall, these studies indicate that TGFβ signaling through TGFBR1/ALK5 in the endometrium is required for endometrial homeostasis, tumor suppression, and postpartum endometrial regeneration.
Penile Deformity: Peyronie’s Disease

Peyronie’s disease (PD) is an acquired localized connective tissue disorder of the penile tunica albuginea. PD is characterized by changes in the collagen composition and the formation of fibrous plaques in the surrounding vascular tissue of the corpora cavernosum.
Cancer of the Ear

The ear consists of pinna (auricle), external auditory canal (EAC), tympanic membrane, middle ear (containing the auditory ossicles), and inner ear in the petrous portion of the temporal bone (consisting of the bony and membranous labyrinth). Primary middle ear and temporal bone tumors are rare, but external ear cutaneous malignancies may involve these structures. BCC >> SCC for malignancies of the external ear, but SCC accounts for 85% of EAC, middle ear, and mastoid tumors. Nodal metastases occur in <15% with lymphatic drainage to parotid, cervical, and postauricular nodes.
TARGETING SEROTONERGIC PATHWAY FOR ANTI-AMNESIC ACTIVITY BY MORUS ALBA L.

The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-amnesic potential of ethyl acetate soluble fraction of methanolic extract of Morus alba L (EASF). The effect of EASF of Morus alba on learning and memory was evaluated by using object recognition test (ORT), elevated plus maze (EPM) and water maze test (WMT). EASF was administrated in doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg p.o. Scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) was used to induce impairment in memory. The effect of EASF was also studied on serotonin–induced contractions of isolated rat fundus. EASF significantly improved discrimination index (DI) in ORT. Pretreatment with EASF significantly increased transfer latency (TL) and swimming time in target quadrant in EPM and WMT respectively. The result of the in-vitro study showed that EASF inhibited serotonin-induced contractions on rat fundus, possessing anti-serotonergic activity. Thus, the present study revealed that EASF of M. alba has significantly improved learning and memory through its anti-serotonergic mechanism. Morus alba may be useful for the treatment of dementia and other cognitive disorders.
Forecasting short-term dynamics of shallow cumuli using dynamic mode decomposition

The application of dynamic mode decomposition to clear-sky index forecasting of shadowing effects of convective fair-weather cumulus clouds is presented. Cloud dynamics are captured by sequences of visible-light photographic video frames. This method can be more easily applied to the modeling of cloud evolution than traditional fluid-based methods and can enhance the existing frozen-cloud advection methods. Its use is demonstrated for an actual fair-weather cumulus cloud image sequence and compared to an advection-only forecast. It is concluded that the method shows promise for very short-term clear-sky index forecasting for up to 7 minute horizons.The application of dynamic mode decomposition to clear-sky index forecasting of shadowing effects of convective fair-weather cumulus clouds is presented. Cloud dynamics are captured by sequences of visible-light photographic video frames. This method can be more easily applied to the modeling of cloud evolution than traditional fluid-based methods and can enhance the existing frozen-cloud advection methods. Its use is demonstrated for an actual fair-weather cumulus cloud image sequence and compared to an advection-only forecast. It is concluded that the method shows promise for very short-term clear-sky index forecasting for up to 7 minute horizons.
Network architecture and regulatory logic in neural crest development

The neural crest is an ectodermal cell population that gives rise to over 30 cell types during vertebrate embryogenesis. These stem cells are formed at the border of the developing central nervous system and undergo extensive migration before differentiating into components of multiple tissues and organs. Neural crest formation and differentiation is a multistep process, as these cells transition through sequential regulatory states before adopting their adult phenotype. Such changes are governed by a complex gene regulatory network (GRN) that integrates environmental and cell-intrinsic inputs to regulate cell identity. Studies of neural crest cells in a variety of vertebrate models have elucidated the function and regulation of dozens of the molecular players that are part of this network. The neural crest GRN has served as a platform to explore the molecular control of multipotency, cell differentiation, and the evolution of vertebrates. In this review, we employ this genetic program as a stepping-stone to explore the architecture and the regulatory principles of developmental GRNs. We also discuss how modern genomic approaches can further expand our understanding of genetic networks in this system and others. This article is categorized under: Physiology > Mammalian Physiology in Health and Disease Biological Mechanisms > Cell Fates Developmental Biology > Lineages Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Cellular Models.
T- Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma/Leukemia:A Case Report

T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-LBL) is rare, aggressive neoplasm of lymphoblasts committed to T-cell lineage involving bone marrow (BM), blood or presenting as a tissue-based mass involving the thymus, lymph nodes or extra nodal sites.
Diagnostic Biopsy in Uveitis

Elucidating the cause of uveitis is critical to evaluate for systemic disease and to determine treatment and prognosis. The diagnosis of various forms of uveitis is typically determined by a multitude of factors including patient history, clinical manifestations, course of uveitis, imaging, laboratory testing, and response to treatment. Unfortunately, most patients do not present with classic clinical findings and the underlying etiology is a diagnostic dilemma. While serologic diagnosis is limited to a few entities (such as syphilis), the diagnostic yield of systemic diagnostic testing for many infectious and malignant processes can be quite low. Obtaining a sample of aqueous, vitreous, or chorioretinal tissue can help make the diagnosis and guide therapy when there is suspicion for malignancy, infection, or inflammation that fails to respond to medical therapy.
Does Age Really Matter

This is a brief commentary regarding Newdow v. The Congress of the United States of America, which held that California public school policies of classroom recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, with the words under God, violated the Establishment Clause. The commentary begins with a case brief that is followed by a discussion of the opinion.
Unveiling Electron Optics in Two-Dimensional Materials by Nonlocal Resistance Mapping

We propose a technique based on nonlocal resistance measurements for mapping transport in electron optics experiments. Utilizing tight-binding transport methods, we show how to use a four-terminal measurement to isolate the ballistic transport from a single lead of interest and reconstruct its contribution to the local density of states. This enables us to propose an experimentally tractable four-terminal device with via contacts for measuring Veselago lensing in a graphene p-n junction. Furthermore, we demonstrate how to extend this method as a scanning probe technique, implementing mapping of complex electron optics experiments including angled junctions, collimation optics, and beam steering. Our results highlight the fundamental importance of electron dephasing in ballistic transport and provide guidelines for isolating electron optics signals of interest. These findings unveil a fresh approach to performing electron optics experiments, with a plethora of two-dimensional material platforms to explore.
Detailed simulation of laser-induced ignition, spherical-flame acceleration, and the origins of hydrodynamic instability

Abstract Ignition of a lean hydrogen–oxygen premixture by focused-laser-induced breakdown and subsequent three-dimensional expanding-flame instabilities are simulated in high detail. Both diffusive–thermal and hydrodynamic (Darrieus–Landau) instabilities are active and accelerate the flame expansion. The fluid is a partially-ionized gas in local thermodynamic equilibrium with detailed kinetics and transport models, starting from initial conditions from an auxiliary simulation based on a two-temperature local thermodynamic non-equilibrium model. After the decay of the initial laser-induced plasma, the r ∼ t1.5 growth in time of the flame radius matches theory and experimental observations. Based on hydrodynamic theory for spherical-flame propagation, a global Karlovitz number is defined as the ratio of the hydrodynamic to flame-distortion time scales. It initially increases during the diffusive–thermal instability stage, then with the onset of significant baroclinic torque, this trend reverses, with vorticity production becoming the dominant mechanism of instability.
Hyperoxia inhibits proliferation of retinal endothelial cells in Myc dependent manner

Oxygen supplementation is necessary to prevent mortality of severely premature infants. However, the supraphysiological concentration of oxygen utilized in these infants simultaneously creates retinovascular growth attenuation and vasoobliteration that induces retinopathy of prematurity. Here, we report that hyperoxia regulates the cell cycle and retinal endothelial cell proliferation in a previously unknown Myc dependent manner which contributes to oxygen-induced retinopathy.
Topology optimization of hyperelastic structures with anisotropic fiber reinforcement under large deformations

Abstract Fiber-reinforced soft materials have emerged as promising candidates in various applications such as soft robotics and soft fibrous tissues . To enable a systematic approach to design fiber-reinforced materials and structures, we propose a general topology optimization framework for the computational optimized design of hyperelastic structures with nonlinear and anisotropic fiber reinforcements under large deformations . This framework simultaneously optimizes both the material distribution in the matrix phase and the orientations of the underlying fiber reinforcements, by parameterizing matrix and fiber phases individually using two sets of design variables. The optimized distribution of fiber orientations is chosen from a set of discrete orientations defined a priori , and several fiber orientation interpolation schemes are studied. In addition, this work proposes a novel anisotropic material interpolation scheme, which integrates both matrix and fiber design variables (both with material nonlinearity) into the stored-energy function. To improve the computational efficiency of both optimization and nonlinear structural analysis, we derive a fully decoupled fiber-matrix update scheme that performs parallel updates of the matrix and fiber design variables and employ the virtual element method (VEM) together with a tailored mesh adaptivity scheme to solve the finite elasticity boundary value problem. Design examples involving three objective functions are presented, demonstrating the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed framework in designing anisotropic hyperelastic structures under large deformations.
Outcomes of Procedural Sedation: What Are the Benchmarks?

Every day, around the world, thousands of children receive sedation for procedures performed outside the operating room (OR). Sedation for a wide range of elective and emergent procedures is performed by an array of providers, using a variety of drugs, in many settings outside the OR. Individual specialty societies and organizations have proposed guidelines and recommendations for the provision of procedural sedation; in addition, guidance and recommendations on how outcomes of sedation should be defined, documented, and reported have also been published. The intent of this chapter is to review the current, significant, and expanding literature on procedural sedation for children performed outside the OR, examine important quality measures of sedation, and begin to determine performance standards, acceptable adverse events rates, and outcomes that define best practice of sedation. We will aim to meticulously examine safety and effectiveness of sedation in the context of differing definitions, reporting methods and expectations of providers, patients, and their families.
Survival and recovery of viable but nonculturable Listeria monocytogenes cells in a nutritionally depleted medium.

Survival of a desiccated five-strain Listeria monocytogenes mixture during storage in sand at 4°C for 2 months was determined using the acridine orange direct count method with novobiocin and plate counts. Samples of inoculated sand were taken every 2 weeks, incubated at 37°C for 6 h, stained with acridine orange, and then examined with a fluorescence microscope. Elongated viable but nonculturable cells were most frequently observed during weeks 2 and 4. At weeks 6 and 8, most of the cells either remained viable or were dead. In each microscopic field, only one or two viable but nonculturable cells were observed among hundreds of other viable culturable cells, indicating that L. monocytogenes does not generally become viable but nonculturable. Therefore, viable but nonculturable cells are not a concern when plating environmental samples or desiccated L. monocytogenes cells on nonselective media. Tryptic soy agar with 0.6% (wt/vol) yeast extract (TSAYE) and Columbia agar were used as nonselective plate cou...
Matrix Metalloproteinases as Therapeutic Targets for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a restrictive lung disease that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Current medical therapies are not fully effective at limiting mortality in patients with IPF, and new therapies are urgently needed. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteinases that, together, can degrade all components of the extracellular matrix and numerous nonmatrix proteins. MMPs and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs), have been implicated in the pathogenesis of IPF based upon the results of clinical studies reporting elevated levels of MMPs (including MMP-1, MMP-7, MMP-8, and MMP-9) in IPF blood and/or lung samples. Surprisingly, studies of gene-targeted mice in murine models of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) have demonstrated that most MMPs promote (rather than inhibit) the development of PF and have identified diverse mechanisms involved. These mechanisms include MMPs: (1) promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (MMP-3 and MMP-7); (2) increasing lung levels or activity of profibrotic mediators or reducing lung levels of antifibrotic mediators (MMP-3, MMP-7, and MMP-8); (3) promoting abnormal epithelial cell migration and other aberrant repair processes (MMP-3 and MMP-9); (4) inducing the switching of lung macrophage phenotypes from M1 to M2 types (MMP-10 and MMP-28); and (5) promoting fibrocyte migration (MMP-8). Two MMPs, MMP-13 and MMP-19, have antifibrotic activities in murine models of PF, and two MMPs, MMP-1 and MMP-10, have the potential to limit fibrotic responses to injury. Herein, we review what is known about the contributions of MMPs and TIMPs to the pathogenesis of IPF and discuss their potential as therapeutic targets for IPF.
Energy Systems for Increased Endurance of Unmanned Untethered Submersible Vehicles

With the increasing level of maturity of unmanned untethered submersible vehicle (UUV) technology, it is becoming more apparent that the development of energy systems has not kept pace with the development of other UUV systems. The lack of suitable high endurance energy systems which meet the requirements of UUV applications may well be a limiting factor in the evolution of these vehicles from test bed and prototype status to a fully operational status where they can offer significant advantages over manned or tethered systems. In developing UUV technology, the near total reliance on secondary storage batteries for energy sources could well be justified, based on such factors as availability, reliability, low technical risk and relatively low cost. The extremely low gravimetric and volumetric energy densities associated with secondary batteries could be accepted for prototype UUVs with limited endurance requirements. In looking ahead to potential missions where UUVs could successfully compete with manned or tethered systems, the current lack of high endurance energy systems adapted to the UUV application appears to be a current limitation. This paper investigates the available technology suitable for application to UUV energy systems, based on published data, and develops appropriate selection criteria for evaluating alter native concepts. The selection criteria, together with such factors as potential mission endurance requirements and vehicle size constraints, are applied in the selection of candidate systems which are recommended for future UUV energy systems. The evaluation of relative costs is not included in this study.
Civil Forfeiture, Warrantless Property Seizures, and the Fourth Amendment

Prior to Saturday, June 22, 1985, Joseph Spina would have been considered a rather successful businessperson. He owned a thriving resort complex in Port Salerno, Florida, consisting of a hotel, restaurant, and boat company. Mr. Spina had purchased the hotel as part of a compensation agreement for accounting services he had performed for the hotel's previous owners. After investing over one million dollars in renovations, he was preparing to sell the property for approximately four times that amount. The closing was set for August 3. Only some minor construction work was left to be completed in order to finalize the deal. On June 22, however, the United States Marshal Service seized Mr. Spina's property and ejected him from it. The Marshal told vacationing guests, including participants in the Martin County Teachers' Retreat, to pack their bags and leave. To add further insult to an abruptly terminated holiday, government agents searched the departing guests' vehicles to ensure that the guests did not attempt to depart with any resort property. As a result of the seizure, the resort's business was severely damaged, and the impending sale placed in jeopardy.1 If Mr. Spina had asked, on June 22, 1985, why the government was seizing his vacation complex, he would have received a terse reply. Based on undisclosed information furnished by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, two government attorneys had decided that they had grounds to "allege[,] upon information and belief . . . [that] the subject real property [was] subject to forfeiture to the United States of America."2 No further details were provided.
Skills, education, and the rise of earnings inequality among the “other 99 percent”

The singular focus of public debate on the “top 1 percent” of households overlooks the component of earnings inequality that is arguably most consequential for the “other 99 percent” of citizens: the dramatic growth in the wage premium associated with higher education and cognitive ability. This Review documents the central role of both the supply and demand for skills in shaping inequality, discusses why skill demands have persistently risen in industrialized countries, and considers the economic value of inequality alongside its potential social costs. I conclude by highlighting the constructive role for public policy in fostering skills formation and preserving economic mobility.
Europoly money: how do tourists convert foreign currencies to make spending decisions?

Abstract This paper examines how tourists convert foreign currencies to make spending decisions. Six studies demonstrate how sequential (Study 1) and simultaneous (Study 2) exposure to nominally different (but economically identical) prices, and the manner in which tourists perform currency conversions (Studies 3–5) influence price perceptions and purchase intentions. Study 6 shows the effects using macroeconomic spending behavior from 1993 to 2008 spanning the introduction of the Euro. The general discussion concludes with a model of how numerical inputs are combined to make judgments as a function of the number of inputs available and their ease of use.
6% magnetic-field-induced strain by twin-boundary motion in ferromagnetic Ni–Mn–Ga

Field-induced strains of 6% are reported in ferromagnetic Ni–Mn–Ga martensites at room temperature. The strains are the result of twin boundary motion driven largely by the Zeeman energy difference across the twin boundary. The strain measured parallel to the applied magnetic field is negative in the sample/field geometry used here. The strain saturates in fields of order 400 kA/m and is blocked by a compressive stress of order 2 MPa applied orthogonal to the magnetic field. The strain versus field curves exhibit appreciable hysteresis associated with the motion of the twin boundaries. A simple model accounts quantitatively for the dependence of strain on magnetic field and external stress using as input parameters only measured quantities.
Topological and magnetic phase transitions in Bi2Se3 thin films with magnetic impurities

When topological insulators meet broken time-reversal symmetry, they bring forth many novel phenomena, such as topological magnetoelectric, half-quantum Hall, and quantum anomalous Hall effects. From the well-known quantum spin Hall state in Bi${}_{2}$Se${}_{3}$ thin films, we predict various topological and magnetic phases when the time-reversal symmetry is broken by magnetic ion doping. As the magnetic ion density increases, the system undergoes successive topological or magnetic phase transitions due to variation of the exchange field and the spin-orbit coupling. In order to identify the topological phases, we vary the spin-orbit coupling strength from zero to the original value of the system and count the number of band crossings between the conduction and valence bands, which directly indicates the change of the topological phase. This method provides a physically intuitive and abstract view to figure out the topological character of each phase and the phase transitions between them.
Effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone administration on the electroconvulsive therapy induced prolactin responses and seizure time

The effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) administration on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-induced prolactin (PRL) secretion and the duration of the seizure were studied in 14 depressed women. In a balanced order crossover design the patients were given 0.4 mg TRH or placebo intravenously 20 min before ECT during the first two sessions. In the third ECT session TRH was given just prior to ECT. ECT elicited the expected PRL response when given alone and when given 20 min after TRH when PRL plasma levels were high. During the coadministration design (third ECT session) PRL levels were raised not as a sum of the two stimuli but even significantly more. TRH failed to modify the duration of the seizure induced by ECT. Therefore, if TRH is involved in seizure modulation during ECT, our findings suggest a postictal rather than ictal role for TRH.
Synthetic and computational studies on liphagal: a natural product inhibitor of PI-3K

The natural product liphagal has been shown to function as a reasonably potent and selective inhibitor of the key signaling enzyme PI-3Kα. We have been interested in developing an analog class of PI-3K inhibitors based upon this unusual terpenoid natural product. Toward that end, we have evaluated the binding of the natural product to its target protein computationally and formulated a class of simplified analogs based on the structural analysis. Utilizing the cycloadduct derived from tetrabromocyclopropene and furan, we were able to generate a key, versatile scaffold upon which to pursue this analog design.
A Hidden Markov Model Perspective on Regimes and Metastability in Atmospheric Flows

Abstract In this study, data from three atmospheric models are analyzed to investigate the existence of atmospheric flow regimes despite nearly Gaussian statistics of the planetary waves in these models. A hierarchy of models is used, which describes the atmospheric circulation with increasing complexity. To systematically identify atmospheric regimes, the presence of metastable states in the data is searched for by fitting so-called hidden Markov models (HMMs) to the time series. A hidden Markov model is designed to describe the situation in which part of the information of the system is unknown or hidden and another part is observed. Within the context of this study, some representative variable of planetary-scale flow (e.g., mean zonal flow or leading principal component) is known (“observed”), but its dynamics may depend crucially on the overall flow configuration, which is unknown. The behavior of this latter, “hidden” variable is described by a Markov chain. If the Markov chain possesses metastable ...
The Varicella-Zoster Virus Immediate-Early 62 Promoter Contains a Negative Regulatory Element That Binds Transcriptional Factor NF-Y

Abstract The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) immediate-early (IE) open reading frame 62 (ORF62) promoter sequence contains a CCAAT box, located between positions −117 and −113. Mutation of this motif resulted in a five-fold increase of promoter activity. In mobility shift assays, we demonstrated that NF-Y, a CCAAT box-binding protein critical for the expression of diverse eukaryotic genes, binds to this motif. Thus, the VZV IE ORF62 promoter contains a negative regulatory element that binds the ubiquitous transcriptional factor NF-Y.
CLOSURE PRINCIPLE: RELATIONS ACROSS DOMAINS '

The present study examined a possible relationship between perceptual closure and social need for closure. These closure abilities were not correlated across domains of application.
The influence of lead, cadmium, and nickel on the growth of ryegrass and oats

A 24 factorial experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions. Factors and levels in the experiment were soil pH at 4.5 and 6.4, and cadmium, lead, and nickel added to the soil to provide soil concentrations of 50, 250, and 50 ppm, respectively, above background levels. Two species were grown in succession in the same experimental pots. Ryegrass (Lolium hybridum Hausskn. cv. Tetrelite) was harvested three times and then one crop of oats (Avena sativa L. cv. Garry) was grown and harvested. Plant tissue concentrations of cadmium, lead, and nickel were monitored throughout the experiment. Addition of cadmium to the soil lowered the dry matter yields in all three ryegrass harvests and also reduced the yield of oat grain. The application of lead nitrate to the soil enhanced the yield of ryegrass obtained at the first harvest and also increased the yield of oat grain. Nickel, added to the soil at 50 ppm, was relatively innocuous to ryegrass and oats. The presence of added cadmium, lead, or nickel to the soil resulted in enhanced tissue concentrations of these metals in both ryegrass and oats. This effect was particularly enhanced by a soil pH of 4.5. A single exception to this observation was that lead was not detected, under any of the conditions of this experiment, in oat grain. The presence of lead in the soil enhanced cadmium concentrations in ryegrass tissues. The presence of cadmium in the soil decreased lead tissue concentrations in ryegrass and oat straw. Soil pH interacted with both nickel and lead in the second ryegrass harvest with subsequent changes in tissue cadmium concentrations. At a soil pH of 4.5, the presence of added lead or nickel to the soil significantly increased the ryegrass tissue cadmium concentration beyond that observed at a soil pH of 6.4 with or without enhanced nickel or lead concentrations.
Design of a Highly Offset Pipe-to-Annular Flow Inlet

Conceptual design and CFD analysis of an inlet to a compressor is undertaken. In this design the inlet transitions pipe flow to annular flow and provides for a mechanical device to be mounted in centerline and in front of the compressor. The solution to this constraint along with the constraints of uniform outlet flow and low weight, size, and total pressure drop consists of: a highly offset transition region, where pipe flow is transitioned into annular flow, and a nozzle region, with the goal of delivering uniform flow to the compressor at minimal pressure drop. The design approach consists of utilizing CFD to guide the overall shape of the inlet toward desirable regions of the design space, then examining specific parameters and optimizing these to meet the constraints. A final analytical inlet design, optimized in the regions of interest, is selected for experimental work.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Comparison of rna synthesis by liver nuclei from rats of various ages

Abstract RNA synthesis was studied in nuclei isolated from male Fischer F344 rats of various ages. Both the initial rate and the extent of RNA synthesis were determined in two distinct media that result in the preferential synthesis of either mRNA or rRNA by hepatocytes. Synthesis of mRNA and rRNA, as determined by [3H]-UMP incorporation into acid-insoluble material, was shown to increase 1.6- to 3-fold from 3- to 6-months. The increase in RNA synthesis during maturation was followed by a 1.6 to 2.7-fold decrease from 6- to 31-months of age depending upon the assay medium and time of incubation. The age-related changes in RNA synthesis by rat liver nuclei were shown not to be due to changes in RNase activity, UTP uptake, or UTP degradation. RNA synthesized by liver nuclei from rats of various ages was characterized by SDS—polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Slight age-related differences in the size distribution of RNA isolated from liver nuclei were observed when nuclei from rats of various ages were incubated with [3H]-UTP in either assay medium.
The effect of an electric current on the capillary instability of an inviscid cylindrical jet

Summary The magnetic field resulting from an electric current in a jet exerts a Lorentz force on the liquid, which affects the rate of growth of a disturbance. Linear perturbation theory predicts that when the mode of deformation is an unstable one, the rate of growth is increased by the effect of the current. An estimate for the case of mercury indicates that for jet diameters of the order of 1 mm, currents of the order of 1 A should have an appreciable effect.
Virology: Bornavirus enters the genome.

A survey of mammalian genomes has unexpectedly unearthed DNA derived from bornaviruses, leading to speculation about the role of these viruses in causing mutations with evolutionary and medical consequences.
Survival kinetics of starving bacteria is biphasic and density-dependent.

In the lifecycle of microorganisms, prolonged starvation is prevalent and sustaining life during starvation periods is a vital task. In the literature, it is commonly assumed that survival kinetics of starving microbes follows exponential decay. This assumption, however, has not been rigorously tested. Currently, it is not clear under what circumstances this assumption is true. Also, it is not known when such survival kinetics deviates from exponential decay and if it deviates, what underlying mechanisms for the deviation are. Here, to address these issues, we quantitatively characterized dynamics of survival and death of starving E. coli cells. The results show that the assumption – starving cells die exponentially – is true only at high cell density. At low density, starving cells persevere for extended periods of time, before dying rapidly exponentially. Detailed analyses show intriguing quantitative characteristics of the density-dependent and biphasic survival kinetics, including that the period of the perseverance is inversely proportional to cell density. These characteristics further lead us to identification of key underlying processes relevant for the perseverance of starving cells. Then, using mathematical modeling, we show how these processes contribute to the density-dependent and biphasic survival kinetics observed. Importantly, our model reveals a thrifty strategy employed by bacteria, by which upon sensing impending depletion of a substrate, the limiting substrate is conserved and utilized later during starvation to delay cell death. These findings advance quantitative understanding of survival of microbes in oligotrophic environments and facilitate quantitative analysis and prediction of microbial dynamics in nature. Furthermore, they prompt revision of previous models used to analyze and predict population dynamics of microbes.
Gabapentin-- actions on adult superficial dorsal horn neurons.

Abstract Despite identification of GABAB receptors with gb1a-gb2 composition and the α2δ calcium channel subunit as putative molecular targets for gabapentin (GBP), its cellular mechanism of action has remained elusive. Therefore, we have used an in vitro spinal cord slice preparation to study the effects of GBP on lamina II neurons. The frequency and amplitude of spontaneous EPSCs and IPSCs were unaffected by GBP, suggesting presynaptic neurotransmitter release is not regulated. Direct modulation of postsynaptic membrane excitability is also unlikely since the level of holding current required to maintain neurons at −70, 0 and +45 mV was unaffected by GBP. Effects on excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission were variable across the population. Primary afferent-evoked fast glutamatergic EPSCs were unaffected by GBP, while evoked NMDA receptor-mediated EPSCs and IPSCs were variably affected. In contrast, GBP enhanced responses to bath applied NMDA in 71% of neurons. Thus, in adult rat dorsal horn, synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors may be differentially regulated by GBP perhaps due to differences in subunit composition.
Isolation and counting of multiple cell types using an affinity separation device.

Abstract A simple device for the separation of cells by phenotype is described. Cells are separated/isolated using capture antibodies on a glass chip. Unlike other “sandwich” type assays, the readout is performed without labels using transmission microscopy, simplifying cell enumeration. T and B lymphocytes from cell culture or whole blood were separated using antibodies for the CD4, CD19, and CD71 antigens. The separation slides were found to reproducibly bind cells by antigen expression, allowing for accurate enumeration of mixed cell samples. Inter- and intra-device variability was evaluated, and the issue of nonspecific binding is addressed. We envision that this type of cell separation technique could be used in remote settings, as sample preparation is minimal and the analysis time is rapid (20 min from sample acquisition to final readout).
Married Once, Twice, and Three or More Times: Data From the American Community Survey

Some people might marry more than once in their lifetime. The demographic characteristics of groups by number of marriages have received little attention. As there is limited knowledge about how demographic profiles differ by number of remarriages, this descriptive report offers detailed tabulations of basic demographic characteristics by number of marriages. The logistic regression predicting the likelihood of having 2 or more marriages in a sample of ever married adults (age > 21) complements the project. By using data from the single-year American Community Survey 2010 Public Use Microdata Sample file, it is found that about 20% of the population reports being married more than once. Regression results indicate that educational attainment, race or ethnic status, age, nativity, disability, and personal income are all associated with the probability of experiencing multiple marriages. Future efforts should continue to provide descriptive characteristics of the population by number of marriages to better ...
Whither the Preconventional Child? Toward a Life-Span Moral Development Theory

A vigorous research literature focused on early childhood conscience, prosocial behavior, and empathy—and also theory of mind, emotion understanding, and social cognition—has important implications for moral development theory. It offers a new understanding of the early conceptual, affective, and relational foundations of moral development. In addition, it provides the opportunity to create a genuinely life-span theory of moral development when it is considered together with the research literatures on moral character, identity, and judgment at older ages. The purpose of this article is to summarize current research on the early foundations of moral development, highlighting how it compares with earlier formulations and describing its implications for constructing a life-span moral development theory to guide future research.
Phenelzine use throughout pregnancy and the puerperium: Case report, review of the literature, and management recommendations

Little is known about the use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) during pregnancy and the postpartum period. We present a literature review with what we believe is the second case report of phenelzine exposure throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. Potential indications for use and principles of the clinical management of the pregnant patient treated with an MAOI are also discussed and include: documenting informed consent, MAOI dose adjusting during pregnancy, monitoring of maternal and fetal outcome, and appropriate analgesia and anesthesia during labor and delivery. Our patient tolerated phenelzine well throughout her pregnancy but experienced recurring depressive symptoms during periods of significant weight gain requiring dose adjustment. Labor, delivery, and the perinatal period progressed without complication for our patient and her infant, in whom no congenital malformation was detected. Additional case reports and animal studies of MAOI use during gestation may help determine safety and refine clinical management guidelines.