cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Steel Processing Properties and Their Effect on Impact Deformation of Lightweight Structures

The objective of the research was to perform a comprehensive computational analysis of the effects of material and process modeling approaches on performance of UltraLight Steel Auto Body (ULSAB) vehicle models. The research addressed numerous material related effects, impact conditions as well as analyzed the performance of the ULSAB vehicles in crashes against designs representing the current US vehicle fleet. This report is organized into three main sections. The first section describes the results of the computational analysis of ULSAB crash simulations that were performed using advanced material modeling techniques. The effects of strain-rate sensitivity on a high strength steel (HSS) intensive vehicle were analyzed. Frontal and frontal offset crash scenarios were used in a finite element parametric study of the ULSAB body structure. Comparisons are made between the crash results using the piece-wise-linear isotropic plasticity strain-rate dependent material model, and the isotropic plasticity material model based on quasi-static properties. The simulation results show the importance of advanced material modeling techniques for vehicle crash simulations due to strain-rate sensitivity and rapid hardening characteristics of advanced high strength steels. Material substitution was investigated for the main frontal crush structure using the material of similar yield stress a significantly different strain-rate andmore » hardening characteristics. The objective of the research presented in Section 2 was to assess the influence of stamping process on crash response of ULSAB vehicle. Considered forming effects included thickness variations and plastic strain hardening imparted in the part forming process. The as-formed thickness and plastic strain for front crash parts were used as input data for vehicle crash analysis. Differences in structural performance between crash models with and without forming data were analyzed in order to determine the effects and feasibility of integration of forming processes and crash models. Computational analysis of vehicle-to-vehicle crashes between ULSAB and conventional car designs is reported in Section 3. The study involved vehicles of comparable weights and dimensions to assess the compatibility of the ULSAB with existing designs. Deformation and acceleration data for crashed vehicles were analyzed. Vehicle-modeling approaches have strong influence on computational results and the requirements for compatibility of models were identified for future research on vehicle-to-vehicle crash modeling.« less
Incidence Of Hospital Acquired Anemia

Introduction While in the hospital, patients frequently have considerable volumes of blood removed for diagnostic testing which may contribute to the development of anemia associated with hospitalization. Our primary goal was to investigate the incidence of anemia acquired during hospitalization. As a secondary goal we evaluated the impact of using a smaller volume phlebotomy tube for the basic metabolic panel (BMP) on the incidence of hospital acquired anemia. Methods A retrospective study was conducted using patients admitted to an academic community teaching hospital in Providence, RI. Inclusion criteria included adult patients aged >18 years who were admitted to internal medicine inpatient service. Those patients who had acute medical conditions that may cause or contribute to the decrease in hemoglobin, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, transfusion dependent anemia, a previous history of anemia, hemolysis, hemorrhagic stroke, retroperitoneal bleed, chronic kidney disease/dialysis, or any hematologic malignancies or were on therapy that may affect hemoglobin levels such as iron or erythropoietin or chemotherapy were excluded. Patients who had central or peripherally central line, who received blood transfusion during hospitalization, who were hospitalized for less than 2 days, or were triaged to surgical, Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Care Unit, maximum-care service, were also excluded. The volume of phelobotomy tube used for BMP was reduced by approximately 4mL. Eleven percent of blood draws in this hospital included BMP. To calculate the incidence of hospital acquired anemia, hemoglobin levels on admission were compared with those at discharge. The effect of the smaller volume BMP tubes on hospital acquired anemia was evaluated by comparing the incidence a of hospital acquired anemia before and after the change to a smaller volume was implemented. Results A total of 4206 hospitalizations were reviewed and 623 hospitalizations were included in our analysis. Between admission and discharge, 60% of patients dropped their hemoglobin by 1.0 g/dL or more; 56% of the men and 63% of the women. Upon discharge, 43% of the female patients and 46% of male patients who were not anemic at the time of admission had hemoglobin that had dropped into the anemic range. On average, men and women dropped their Hb by 1.3 g/dL. We also found that 61% of patients aged >65 years became anemic during hospitalization compared to 41% of patients aged ≤65 years (p<0.04). Patients with a high BMI had a smaller drop in hemoglobin on average than patients with a low BMI (p=0.01). When stratified by age, the implementation of a decrease in test tube size did not effect the decrease in hemoglobin. Conclusions Hospital acquired anemia has a high incidence and is more common in patients aged older than 65 years and has a lower frequency of occurrence in those with a higher BMI. Switching to a smaller volume BMP collecting tube did not significantly reduce the drop of hemoglobin between admission and discharge. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Advanced techniques in diagnostic parasitology

Parasites are a significant source of morbidity and mortality worldwide, infecting humans in nearly all geographic regions. While parasite diagnostics have traditionally relied on conventional morphology- and serology-based methods, recent advances in digital image acquisition and analytics, molecular amplification and sequencing methods, and proteomics have revolutionized clinical parasitology. Parasitic infections for which advanced techniques are now routinely used include malaria, toxoplasmosis, babesiosis, leishmaniasis, trichomoniasis, and gastrointestinal infections. The availability of commercially available tests has facilitated adoption in the diagnostic laboratory. This chapter will discuss the technologies that hold significant promise for routine diagnostic use.
Herbal Medicines as Adjuncts to Cancer Chemotherapy—Part 1: Immunomodulators

Abstract Immunomodulating herbs that have been studied in patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer are reviewed in depth. Trametes versicolor (turkey tail, yun zhī) mushroom, formerly known as C...
A 3D Printed Tunable Phase Shifter

A tunable phase shifter is presented in this paper. The phase shifter is built using a multi-material 3D printer and is presented as a proof of concept for a 3D printed Liquid Crystal Device (LCD).
A Meshed Tree Protocol for Loop Avoidance in Switched Networks

Switched networks use meshed topologies. Loop avoidance is essential in these networks to avoid broadcast storms. Logical Spanning Trees are constructed on the physical meshed topologies to address the broadcast storm problem. However, during topology changes, networks take time to re-converge and identify new spanning tree paths for frame forwarding. Link State routing was introduced to speed up convergence and reduce convergence delays on root failures experienced with spanning tree protocols (STP). Meshed Tree algorithms (MTA) offer a new approach. They support multiple tree branches from a single root to cut down convergence delays on link failures. Multi Meshed Tree algorithm an enhancement to MTA supports multiple roots each with its own meshed trees. A Meshed Tree Protocol (MTP) based on MTA is currently under development as an IEEE standard. In this article, MTP is evaluated for convergence delay in comparison with Rapid STP.
Membranous nephropathy in children

Membranous nephropathy (MN), also known as membranous glomerulonephritis, is a pathologic condition associated with an immune complex deposition within the glomerulus resulting in glomerular dysfunction. Clinical manifestations of MN include proteinuria, hematuria, overt nephrotic syndrome, and in some cases renal dysfunction. In adults, MN is the most common primary glomerulopathy associated with the nephrotic syndrome, accounting for approximately 25–35% of adults diagnosed with this condition [1–3]. In children, MNmay present as the nephrotic syndrome or as asymptomatic proteinuria and is considered to a much less common condition than that seen in adults [4, 5]. MNmay be idiopathic or secondary to infections, autoimmune diseases, or medications. Recent breakthrough discoveries regarding the pathogenesis of idiopathic MN have reenergized the field and should aid clinicians going forward with regard to developing novel means to monitor and treat patients with membranous nephropathy [6–8].
Understanding Impacts of Data Integrity Attacks on Transactive Control Systems

With the rapid growth of internet-connected smart devices capable of exchanging energy price information and adaptively controlling energy consumption of connected loads, the role of transactive control is expected to become more prominent in the modern grid. Transactive control systems integrate the wholesale and retail energy markets, and enable active participation of end users employing distributed assets in the smart grid. The use of internet for the communication of data between the controllers at the building and the electric grid, makes the system susceptible to cyber-attacks. A skilled adversary can potentially manipulate the exchanged data with the intention of inflicting damage to the system. In this paper, four categories of metrics are put forth for evaluating the performance of the system when under data integrity attacks. A model for scaling-based data integrity attack has been described, and co-simulations have been performed on a 240 bus WECC transmission system model with detailed modeling of distribution systems at specific buses. Our results show that scaling attacks can have non-trivial impacts on the operational, financial, and comfort aspects of the transactive control system, and the impacts depend on the type of scaling attack, and its time and magnitude.
Theoretical Framework: Engage, Enhance, and Enrich

This chapter presents the theoretical framework of this research. It proposes a placemaking conceptual model that illustrates the interrelatedness of various theories on urban imageability, likeability, symbolism, placemaking, sustainability, and public participation. It hypothesizes that participatory placemaking promotes a healthier social life, economy, and environment, which collectively support tourism and sustainability. The chapter closes by stressing that establishing sound spatial relationships between public places and tall buildings is essential to placemaking.
Immune Response of Macrophage Population to Cochlear Implantation: Cochlea Immune Cells.

Hypothesis The presence and distribution of ionized calcium binding adaptor 1 and CD68 macrophages in the human cochlea is altered in cochlear implantation (CI) compared with the normative or nonimplanted cochlea. Background It has been hypothesized that CI induces an immunological response in macrophages leading to implant failure or reduced hearing. Macrophages are resident immune cells in human cochlea and have been shown to phagocytize implant material. In animal models, macrophage populations increase with surgical stress and with the introduction of a foreign body. However, the function and response of inner ear macrophages to CI are only beginning to be understood. This study seeks to investigate the inflammatory response to CI by comparing cochlear macrophages in implanted and nonimplanted human temporal bones. Methods Nineteen temporal bones from nine implanted ears, seven contralateral controls, and three normal control ears were evaluated for the presence and distribution of CD68 and Iba1 expressing positive macrophages. Results Three types of macrophage populations were detected 1) CD68 positive macrophages, 2) Iba1 positive macrophages, and 3) CD68 and Iba1 colocalizing macrophages. Macrophage distribution was ubiquitous: the stria vascularis, Rosenthal canal, and the mid-modiolus intermingled in the spiral ganglia. Iba1 and CD68 macrophages were found in the CI and non-CI contralateral and normal human cochlea. Most ionized calcium binding adaptor 1 expressing macrophages were ramified/amoeboid cells, while CD68 expressing macrophages were round shaped with foamy appearance in some areas. In the CI cochlea, both types of macrophages were detected in the fibrous sheath surrounding the CI path and within fibrotic areas within the scala tympani and the scala vestibuli in the case of CI translocation. In four cases, the density of macrophages was unchanged in the CI compared with the contralateral nonimplanted side, and in three cases, there was an increased number of macrophages in the implanted CI side compared with the nonimplanted side. Conclusion Multiple populations of macrophages exist within the cochlea which are present at baseline and in response to trauma from CI. These results further support evidence for a macrophage response to cochlear implantation. Further studies are indicated to evaluate whether these macrophages have a beneficial, detrimental, or a mixed effect in CI patients.
e-Health self-management intervention for oral and oropharyngeal cancer survivors: design and single-arm pilot study of empowered survivor

BACKGROUND Self-management regimens for oral and oropharyngeal cancer survivors can be complex and challenging. Effective self-management skills can foster better outcomes. We report on the development, feasibility, and pilot testing of a web-based self-management tool called "Empowered Survivor" (ES) for survivors of oral and oropharyngeal cancer. METHODS ES content was developed in two phases, with modules focusing on oral care, swallowing and muscle strength, and long-term follow-up. This single-arm pilot study consisted of a pre-, 2-month, and a 6-month postintervention survey. RESULTS Enrollment rates were relatively low. Once enrolled, data collected from the ES website indicated that 81.8% viewed ES. Participants provided positive evaluations of ES. Preliminary results indicate that ES had a beneficial impact on self-management self-efficacy, preparedness for survivorship care, and quality of life. ES improved survivors' engagement in oral self-exams and head and neck strengthening exercises, improved ability to address barriers, and decreased information and support needs. CONCLUSIONS This study provides preliminary evidence of engagement, acceptability, and beneficial impact of ES, which should be evaluated in a larger controlled clinical trial.
Rheology and structure of suspensions of spherocylinders via Brownian dynamics simulations

Brownian dynamics simulations were employed to investigate the rheological properties and structure of suspensions of rigid spherocylinders, as a model for rodlike colloids. The spherocylinders interacted only through a soft repulsive force that mimicked a hard spherocylinder interaction. The translational and rotational diffusivities of hard spherocylinder suspensions were reproduced. Liquid crystalline phases, including isotropic, nematic, and smectic and solid phases were identified using orientational and hexatic order parameters and pair distribution functions. Typical flow curves observed experimentally for rodlike colloidal suspensions were reproduced in the simulations, with two shear thinning regions that bracketed a viscosity plateau at intermediate Peclet numbers. The transient rheology and structure of suspensions that were nematic at rest exhibited a variety of behaviors that depended on the Peclet number and concentration. Systemwide domains that aligned in and kayaked about the vorticity direction, domains that rotated coherently locally, and layered domains were observed. Oscillations in the order parameter, viscosity, and the first and second normal stress differences were associated with changes in the structure.
How Youth of Color Create Communities of Hope: Connecting Advocacy, Activity, and Neighborhood Change.

The primary aim of this paper was to assess the association of after-school club characteristics with changes in physical activity, nutrition, and attitudes in students of color after participating in the “YEAH!” Advocacy-based Physical Activity Program. We examine the strengths of school-based vs. non-school based programs in promoting feelings of self-efficacy and empowerment among students learning to become more physically active—and importantly, also test the strength of how programs that are more connected (to community-based partners) may contribute to students’ optimism around policy and public health as it directly affects them. This study examined differences in the youth advocacy training impact across four after-school club types: school-based with community partnerships, school-based without partnerships, non-school-based with community partners, and non-school-based clubs without partnerships. We measured improvements in youth’s “optimism for change”, “assertiveness” and “decision-making” as related to after school activities and found that non-school-based programs with community partners showed highest positive impact.
Effect of age and morphology on sustained implantation rate after euploid blastocyst transfer.

Abstract Research question What impact does maternal age and embryo morphology have on sustained implantation rates of euploid blastocysts? Design This was a retrospective analysis of sustained implantation rates of euploid blastocysts stratified by maternal age and morphology. The primary analysis included 208 embryo transfers with a total of 229 embryos transferred from January 2017 through August 2020. Results For all ages the sustained implantation rates for day 5 good quality blastocysts were higher than for day 5 fair, day 5 poor and day 6 blastocysts. At a maternal age of 36 years the best-fit sustained implantation rates were 86% for day 5 good quality blastocysts, 64% for day 5 fair, 63% for day 5 poor, and 51% for all day 6 blastocysts analysed as one group. When controlling for morphology and day of biopsy, there were higher sustained implantation rates for euploid embryos of younger patients compared with older patients. The best-fit sustained implantation rates for age 33 compared to age 39 years were 86% versus 80% for day 5 good, 71% versus 62% for day 5 fair, 59% versus 55% for day 5 poor, and 81% versus 46% for all day 6. Conclusions There was a clinically significant higher sustained implantation rate at all ages for euploid day 5 good quality embryos compared with day 5 fair, day 5 poor and day 6 embryos.
SU-D-204-06: Dose and Image Quality Evaluation of a Low-Dose Slot-Scanning X-Ray System for Pediatric Orthopedic Studies

Purpose: Children in early teens with scoliosis require repeated radiographic exams over a number of years. The EOS (EOS imaging S.A., Paris, France) is a novel low-dose slot-scanning digital radiographic system designed to produce full-spine images of a free-standing patient. The radiation dose and image quality characteristics of the EOS were evaluated relative to those of a Computed Radiography (CR) system for scoliosis imaging. Methods: For dose evaluation, a full-torso anthropomorphic phantom was scanned five times using the default standard clinical protocols for both the EOS and a CR system, which include both posteroanterior and lateral full-spine views. Optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs), also known as nanoDots™ (Landauer, Inc., Glenwood, IL), were placed on the phantom’s surface to measure entrance skin dose. To assess image quality, MTF curves were generated from sampling the noise levels within the high-contrast regions of a line-pair phantom. Vertical and horizontal distortions were measured for the square line-pair phantom with the EOS system to evaluate the effects of geometric magnification and misalignment with the indicated imaging plane. Results: The entrance skin dose was measured to be 0.4 to 1.1 mGy for the EOS, and 0.7 to 3.6 mGy for the CR study. MTF comparison showsmore » that CR greatly outperforms the EOS, despite both systems having a limiting resolution at 1.8 line-pairs per mm. Vertical distortion was unaffected by phantom positioning, because of the EOS slot-scanning geometry. Horizontal distortion increased linearly with miscentering distance. Conclusion: The EOS system resulted in approximately 70% lower radiation dose than CR for full-spine images. Image quality was found to be inferior to CR. Further investigation is required to see if EOS system is an acceptable modality for performing clinically diagnostic scoliosis examinations.« less
Dengue infection with multiorgan dysfunction: SOFA score, arterial lactate and serum albumin levels are predictors of outcome.

Dear Editor, Mortality in severe dengue infection with multiorgan dysfunction treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) and its outcome predictors in adult patients are not well studied [1–3]. We conducted a prospective, multicentred, observational study in 14 tertiary care ICUs in Pune, India during July 2012 to February 2014. The aim was to estimate the mortality in severe dengue infection with multiorgan organ dysfunction and to find any predictors of mortality. Patients over 18 years of age, admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of dengue infection and having multiorgan dysfunction (at least two organ dysfunctions) as per SOFA (sequential organ failure assessment) [4] score were enrolled in the study. Diagnosis of dengue infection was made on the basis of NS-1 antigen or IgM antibody or PCR testing. Patients with other concomitant infective diseases like malaria, leptospira, viral hepatitis or bacterial sepsis were excluded. Patients with IgG antibody positive and IgM antibody negative status were also excluded. The management of an individual patient at each centre was done as per the unit’s policy but investigators from all the participating ICUs broadly followed the principles and guidelines of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign [5]. Data was collected on demographics, clinical and laboratory variables during the ICU stay. Institutional ethics committee approval was obtained. A univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the association of risk factors (Table 1). All statistical analyses were performed using STATA version 13.0 (Stata Corporation, College Town, Texas). A total of 113 patients with an average age of 40.37 ± 17.73 years were enrolled. Only 34/113 (30.08 %) patients had medical comorbidities like diabetes, COPD, chronic kidney or liver disease. The 28-day all-cause mortality was 26.55 % (30/113). A total of 27.43 % (31/113) of patients had hypotension needing vasopressor therapy, 25.66 % (29/113) had respiratory failure needing mechanical ventilation, 47.7 % (54/113) had renal impairment of which 15 needed renal replacement therapy. A total of 23 % (26/133) of patients had neurological impairment in the form of encephalopathy or seizure. Patients were divided into survivors and nonsurvivors. These two groups were compared in a univariate analysis using clinical variables, laboratory variables and organ-specific SOFA scores. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard risk model created using baseline data on SOFA score, need for mechanical ventilation, serum albumin and arterial lactate levels to predict mortality revealed that higher SOFA score, higher arterial lactate and low serum albumin levels were significant independent predictors of mortality. Every 1 mmol/L increase in arterial lactate, the risk of mortality increased by a factor of 1.27. Non-
Purification and characterization of an antigen that is spatially segregated in the primary olfactory projection

The monoclonal antibody RB-8 heavily labels axons from the ventrolateral olfactory epithelium and their terminals in the glomeruli of the ventrolateral olfactory bulb, but leaves the axons from the dorsomedial epithelium unstained or lightly stained. RB-8 reacts with a 125 kDa membrane protein in both olfactory nerve and other parts of the CNS (Schwob and Gottlieb, 1986). Here we report further characterization of the molecular nature and cellular localization of the RB-8 antigen. The RB-8 antigen is exposed on the surface of olfactory axons. Individual axons and axon bundles stain when explant cultures of the fetal olfactory epithelium are incubated with monoclonal RB-8 antibody while living. The cell membrane is demonstrably intact, and access to the cell interior is blocked under these conditions, since the living axons do not stain if exposed to an antibody against a known intracellular constituent. The RB-8 antigen is an integral membrane protein. When assayed by direct radioimmunoassay (RIA), the antigen remains associated with brain membranes after extraction at pH 11, which solubilizes numerous other protein bands. The 125 kDa RB-8 antigen was purified to homogeneity from whole rat brains by extracting membranes with sodium deoxycholate, immunoaffinity chromatography over an RB-8 antibody column, and preparative one-dimensional SDS-PAGE. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence is apparently unique among neuron-specific proteins that have been sequenced and has only an insignificant degree of homology with other known proteins. Two polyclonal rabbit antisera raised against the purified antigen recognize only the 125 kDa protein on immunoblots. Immunohistochemical staining of the primary olfactory projection with the antisera exactly matches that seen with monoclonal RB-8 antibody. Thus, the RB-8 antigens in brain and in olfactory nerve are highly homologous, if not identical. Furthermore, the results with the antisera suggest that the expression of the entire 125 kDa protein is regulated differentially between ventral and dorsal zones of the olfactory epithelium. The additional characterization of the RB-8 antigen reported here places constraints on the potential functions of this protein. The availability of polyclonal antisera may prove useful in assessing the role of this spatially segregated antigen in the primary olfactory projection.
Increased expression of TLR3 in lymph nodes during simian immunodeficiency virus infection: implications for inflammation and immunodeficiency.

As pattern recognition receptors, TLRs signal and induce expression of multiple host defense genes including proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. To investigate the mechanisms of up-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines during SIV infection in rhesus macaques, we measured the relative levels of expression of TLRs 1–10 in lymphoid tissues during different stages of SIV infection. By real-time RT-PCR, TLR3 was determined to be up-regulated in macaque lymph nodes (LN) throughout the course of infection, whereas TLR9 was down-regulated during early stages of infection. CXCL9/Mig, CXCL10/IP-10, IFN-γ, and IFN-α mRNAs were also increased during acute SIV infection and AIDS. Treatment of macaque spleen and LN cells with TLR3 and TLR9 ligands led to the induction of these same genes. TLR3 stimulation had disparate effects on viral transcription and viral replication, because poly(I:C), a model TLR3 ligand, stimulated the viral promoter but potently inhibited SIV replication in primary cultures of macaque spleen and LN cells. These findings identify roles for TLR3 inflammation in lymphoid tissues and in the immunopathogenesis of HIV-1/SIV, and suggest that TLR3 ligands could potentially be used to flush out latently infected cells that persist during antiretroviral therapies.
Financial Consolidation and Monetary Policy

A paper presented at the April 2001 conference "Financial Innovation and Monetary Transmission," sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
A low complexity overcomplete directional image pyramid

An undecimated directional filter bank (UDFB) derived from the DFB originally proposed by Bamberger and Smith is proposed. The new UDFB has excellent orientation selectivity, and maintains the low computational complexity from its predecessor. While over complete, the UDFB presents other properties like shift invariance, desirable for some image analysis applications. Using ladder structures the overall directional response is readily controlled by 1D prototypes which are easy to design. We combine the UDFB with over complete pyramidal structures to form directional pyramids with excellent radial and directional selectivity.
Flux Pinning and Microstructure in YBa2Cu3O7

Critical current densities Jc of superconductors are one of the most important properties of superconductors in the majority of applications. Unfortunately, in spite of the fact that tremendous efforts have been mounted internationally in studies of the high temperature oxide superconductors, the current values of Jc are disappointingly low except in single crystal bulk specimens and films with the current flowing in the basal planes.1,2 The majority of the studies of Jc in bulk superconductors have emphasized that the difficulties may have been due to the poor intergranular superconductivity and/or the large anisotropy in the value of Jc, depending on the orientation of the crystallographic axis with applied magnetic fields.3–5 In order to minimize this problem, Jin et al.6 and more recently Murakami et al.7 have synthesized grain-aligned bulk specimens which show values Jc (~10 A/mm2 in applied magnetic fields of a few tesla and at 77 K) significantly larger than those in the sintered materials.
Message framing in green advertising: the effect of construal level and consumer environmental concern

Many firms adopt green advertising and put great emphasis on the value of green marketing strategies. However, little research has examined the effectiveness of green appeal in advertisements. Building on message framing and construal level theory, this study examines the moderating role of temporal distance in effects of gain or loss framed messages on consumers' attitudes and purchase intentions towards advertised brand. The findings demonstrate that a congruency between loss frame and low level construal, as well as the match between gain frame and high level construal, leads to more positive outcomes in consumers' attitudes and purchase intention. Furthermore, this research reveals that salience of the congruency effect varies in line with the level of consumer environmental concern, which has important theoretical and practical implications.
A Central Role for the T1 Domain in Voltage-gated Potassium Channel Formation and Function

To interpret the recent atomic structures of the Kv (voltage-dependent potassium) channel T1 domain in a functional context, we must understand both how the T1 domain is integrated into the full-length functional channel protein and what functional roles the T1 domain governs. The T1 domain clearly plays a role in restricting Kv channel subunit heteromultimerization. However, the importance of T1 tetramerization for the assembly and retention of quarternary structure within full-length channels has remained controversial. Here we describe a set of mutations that disrupt both T1 assembly and the formation of functional channels and show that these mutations produce elevated levels of the subunit monomer that becomes subject to degradation within the cell. In addition, our experiments reveal that the T1 domain lends stability to the full-length channel structure, because channels lacking the T1 containing N terminus are more easily denatured to monomers. The integration of the T1 domain ultrastructure into the full-length channel was probed by proteolytic mapping with immobilized trypsin. Trypsin cleavage yields an N-terminal fragment that is further digested to a tetrameric domain, which remains reactive with antisera to T1, and that is similar in size to the T1 domain used for crystallographic studies. The trypsin-sensitive linkages retaining the T1 domain are cleaved somewhat slowly over hours. Therefore, they seem to be intermediate in trypsin resistance between the rapidly cleaved extracellular linker between the first and second transmembrane domains, and the highly resistant T1 core, and are likely to be partially structured or contain dynamic structure. Our experiments suggest that tetrameric atomic models obtained for the T1 domain do reflect a structure that the T1 domain sequence forms early in channel assembly to drive subunit protein tetramerization and that this structure is retained as an integrated stabilizing structural element within the full-length functional channel.
Review of The Spread of Nuclear Weapons: A Debate Renewed

Scott D. Sagan and Kenneth N. Waltz. 2002. The Spread of Nuclear Weapons: A Debate Renewed . (2nd ed.) New York: W.W. Norton. ISBN: 0393977471. From Osama bin Laden's assertion that he has a religi...
Bilingualism and Children's Use of Paralinguistic Cues to Interpret Emotion in Speech.

Preschoolers tend to rely on what speakers say rather than how they sound when interpreting a speaker's emotion while adults rely instead on tone of voice. However, children who have a greater need to attend to speakers’ communicative requirements, such as bilingual children, may be more adept in using paralinguistic cues (e.g. tone of voice) when interpreting a speaker's affect. We explored whether bilingual children are better able than monolingual children to use paralinguistic cues when interpreting a speaker's emotion. While monolingual and bilingual children were equally capable of identifying emotion using affective information in low-pass filtered speech stimuli (Study 1), bilingual children were better able than monolingual children to use tone of voice when judging emotion in natural speech when content was clear (Study 2).
The von Restorff Isolation Effect Employing One and Three Isolates

60 college students were required to learn a serial list of 13 three-letter nouns either with the middle item (E1) or the three middle items (E2) isolated, or without any isolates (C), to a learning criterion of two perfect trials. Employing the perceptual enhancement of isolation, it was found that there was a significant facilitation of the learning of the isolated item in E1. This facilitation did not occur when three items were isolated nor was the learning of the list as a whole facilitated in either E1 or E2.
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS): an emerging field-portable sensor technology for real-time chemical analysis for military, security and environmental applications

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an emerging atomic emission spectroscopic technique that offers the prospect highly- selective, sensitive, and of real-time detection and analysis of both natural and man-made materials. Because LIBS is simultaneously sensitive to all chemical elements due to detector response in the 200-980nm range with 0.1 nm spectral resolution, the technique has many attributes that make it an attractive tool for a variety of military, security, and environmental applications.
The structure of D2O-nonane nanodroplets

We study the internal structure of nanometer-sized D2O-nonane aerosol droplets formed in supersonic nozzle expansions using a variety of experimental techniques including small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). By fitting the SAXS spectra to a wide range of droplet structure models, we find that the experimental results are inconsistent with mixed droplets that form aqueous core–organic shell structures, but are quite consistent with spherically asymmetric lens-on-sphere structures. The structure that agrees best with the SAXS data and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy measurements is that of a nonane lens on a sphere of D2O with a contact angle in the range of 40°–120°.
Effects of prostaglandin on estrous cycles, behavior and blood progesterone levels of American Saddlebred mares☆

Twelve American Saddlebred mares ranging in weight from 365 to 450 kg were given intramuscular injections of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg of Prostaglandin (PGF2α) on day 6 of diestrus a mean length of control estrus and diestrus were 6.5 ± .6, 16.9 ± 1.0 days, respectively. The 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mg PGF2α doses significantly (P < .01) shortened the length of the treatment diestrus to 10.8 ± 1.8, 9.9 ± .7 and 9.9 ± .7, respectively. The 2.5 mg dose was 90% effective in shortening the duration of diestrus while doses of 5.0 and 7.5 mg were 100% effective. No effects were noted on the mean length of estrus or diestrus following treatment. Peripheral plasma progesterone concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay to determine the luteolytic effect of PGF2α. As compared to the non-treatment estrous cycles, all three treatments caused a significant (P < .01) decline in peripheral plasma progesterone concentrations 24 and 48 hr after treatment. The 2.5 mg PGF2α dose caused a drop in progesterone from 7.7 ± .4 on day 6 to 2.6 ± 1.0 and 2.1 ± .9 ng/ml 24 and 48 hr later, respectively. Similarly, 5.0 mg lowered the progesterone level from 7.7 ± .3 to 1.6 ± .6 and 1.5 ± .5 ng/ml, and the 7.5 mg dose lowered the progesterone level 7.5 ± .3 to 1.2 ± .2 and 1.3 ± .3 PGF2α. Abdominal cramps were noted in some mares after treatment. The incidence and severity of these reactions increased with the dose of PGF2α.
Tableaux for logic programming

We present a logic programming language, which we call Proflog, with an operational semantics based on tableaux and a denotational semantics based on supervaluations. We show the two agree. Negation is well behaved, and semantic noncomputability issues do not arise. This is accomplished essentially by dropping a domain closure requirement. The cost is that intuitions developed through the use of classical logic may need modification, though the system is still classical at a level once removed. Implementation problems are discussed very briefly; the thrust of the paper is primarily theoretical.
Quantitative models of attention and response processes in shape identification tasks

Abstract Two classes or attention models are applied to the identification of an item in a cluttered field: a serial model, exemplified by a two-process filter/graded-distribution model, and a parallel model, exemplified by a single-process zoom-lens model. The two attention models generate response-time distributions and response probabilities when the serial attention model is linked with a serial counting model and when the parallel attention model is linked to a parallel counting model. Each response counter is assumed to accumulate its counts independently or other response counters. It is shown that the two compound models give rise to equivalent response-time equations. The serial counting model is then modified by allowing the response counters to interact during processing. When the predictions of the independent and interactive counter models of response evocation are compared with data from a target/flanker identification task, both models predict the obtained convergence of response times obtained from the Incompatible and Compatible flanker displays, but the interactive model appeared to give a better account of response times obtained from the Neutral flanker displays.
MicroRNAs in skeletal myogenesis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of numerous biological processes by modulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. It has become increasingly clear that almost all aspects of skeletal muscle development involve regulation by miRNAs. Many of these miRNAs have distinct expression profiles in skeletal muscles, under the regulation by the myogenic program. In the last few years the field has seen a rapid expansion of our knowledge of myogenic miRNAs that target a wide range of muscle genes to coordinately control the myogenic process. In this review we provide an up-to-date list of reported myogenic miRNAs and survey their expression patterns, regulation of biogenesis, and gene targets in skeletal muscles. Emerging themes of miRNA regulation in the context of skeletal myogenesis will also be discussed.
MAHA: A Program for Datapath Synthesis

MAHA is a program which implements an algorithm for register level synthesis of data paths from a data flow specification. The algorithm is based on a linear hardware assignment to critical path nodes, followed by a cost-based assignment using the concept of the freedom of a node to be scheduled. Functions with the least scheduling freedom are scheduled first. The program either minimizes cost, subject to a time constraint, or maximizes speed subject to a cost constraint. The implementation of this algorithm is presented using examples from the literature. MAHA is written in Franz LISP, and executes within minutes for problems of practical size on a VAX 11/780.
Chandra-detected X-Ray Sources in the Nearby Spiral Scd Galaxy NGC 2403

We present an analysis of a 35.6 ks observation made with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory of the nearby spiral Scd galaxy NGC 2403. Forty-one discrete sources are detected at a significance of 3 ? or greater within the portion of the galaxy sampled by the Chandra detectors. The luminosities of the discrete sources range from ~1036 through ~1039 ergs s-1 over the energy range of 0.5?10 keV. We have also analyzed Einstein, ROSAT, and ASCA observations of this galaxy to search for time variability from the detected sources. One luminous X-ray source seen in an Einstein observation of this galaxy is not detected by Chandra or in a separate observation made with ASCA, while a luminous source observed by Chandra was not detected by Einstein or ASCA. For the four most luminous X-ray sources detected by the Chandra observation?including one previously identified as an ultraluminous X-ray source?spectral fits to these sources provide the best broadband CCD spectra to date. We have searched for counterparts at optical and radio wavelengths. Only one of the 35 optically identified supernova remnants (SNRs) in this galaxy, MFBL 31, is clearly associated with an X-ray source in our sample. Three other optically identified SNRs?MFBL 15, MFBL 17, and MFBL 29?may also have X-ray counterparts, but the associations are far less robust. A similar search for X-ray counterparts to known discrete radio sources seen toward NGC 2403 yields a single coincidence between an X-ray source and a candidate radio SNR, TH-2. None of the detected X-ray sources are coincident with either candidate globular clusters or massive star clusters associated with NGC 2403. The only historical supernova in NGC 2403, SN 1954J, is not detected; neither is an X-ray counterpart to the galaxy's optical nucleus detected. Finally, we confirm the diffuse emission results of Fraternali et al.
Who Does Dot Respond to the Agricultural Resource Management Survey and Does It Matter

The Agricultural Resource Management Survey is the primary annual source of information on U.S. farms, but in a typical year one-third of sampled farms do not respond. We use Census of Agriculture data to study nonresponse to the survey and how it affects estimates in two econometric models. Despite larger farms responding less, the coefficients estimated from the respondent subsample always fall inside confidence intervals based on draws from the full sample of respondents and nonrespondents. Although nonresponse bias can vary by application, the findings suggest that bias is unlikely to undermine conclusions based on econometrics using respondent data.
The haves and the have nots

As the equipment needed to perform state-of-the-art research in many areas of biology becomes ever more expensive, Eve Marder worries that researchers in less wealthy institutions might be left behind.
Characterization of the activation of protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor-type, Z polypeptide 1 (PTPRZ1) by hypoxia inducible factor-2 alpha.

Background: Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) are the principal means by which cells upregulate genes in response to hypoxia and certain other stresses. There are two major HIFs, HIF-1 and HIF-2. We previously found that certain genes are preferentially activated by HIF-2. One was protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor-type, Z polypeptide 1 (PTPRZ1). PTPRZ1 is overexpressed in a number of tumors and has been implicated in glioblastoma pathogenesis. Methodology/Principal Findings: To understand the preferential activation of PTPRZ1 by HIF-2, we studied the PTPRZ1 promoter in HEK293T cells and Hep3B cells. Through deletion and mutational analysis, we identified the principal hypoxia response element. This element bound to both HIF-1 and HIF-2. We further identified a role for ELK1, an E26 transformationspecific (Ets) factor that can bind to HIF-2a but not HIF-1a, in the HIF-2 responsiveness. Knock-down experiments using siRNA to ELK1 decreased HIF-2 activation by over 50%. Also, a deletion mutation of one of the two Ets binding motifs located near the principal hypoxia response element similarly decreased activation of the PTPRZ1 promoter by HIF-2. Finally, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed binding of HIF and ELK1 to the PTPRZ1 promoter region. Conclusions/Significance: These results identify HIF-binding and Ets-binding motifs on the PTPRZ1 promoter and provide evidence that preferential activation of PTPRZ1 by HIF-2 results at least in part from cooperative binding of HIF-2 and ELK1 to nearby sites on the PTPRZ1 promoter region. These results may have implications in tumor pathogenesis and in understanding neurobiology, and may help inform the development of novel tumor therapy.
A novel non-invasive method to assess aortic valve opening in HeartMate II left ventricular assist device patients using a modified Karhunen-Loève transformation

Background Thrombus formation on or near the aortic valve has been reported in HeartMate II (Thoratec, Pleasanton, CA) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients whose aortic valves do not open. With an akinetic valve, thrombogenesis is more likely. Thrombus formation may lead to neurologic events, placing the patient at greater risk. Aortic valve stenosis and/or regurgitation have also been observed with akinetic aortic valves. Assessing aortic valve opening is crucial when optimizing rotations per minute (rpm) to minimize embolic risk and aortic valve stenosis but presently relies solely on echocardiography, intermittent decreases in rpms to force aortic valve opening, and monitoring of pulse pressure. We hypothesized the electrical current waveforms of the HeartMate II would reveal whether the aortic valve was opening due to pressure changes in the left ventricle to allow for continuous monitoring and control of aortic valve opening ratios. Methods Electrical HeartMate II current waveforms of patients from 2008 to 2009 that were recorded at the time of echocardiograph procedures were analyzed using a modified Karhunen-Loeve transformation with a training set of electrical waveforms from 8,860 HeartMate II electrical current recordings from 2001 to 2009. Results The study included 6 patients. The electrical current magnitude of the projection of the electrical current waveforms onto the training set's eigenvectors was statistically significantly greater in 4 of the 6 patients when the aortic valve was closed, confirmed by echocardiography. The 2 patients who did not have a large increase in the magnitude had mild aortic valve regurgitation. Conclusion Electrical current analysis for rotary non-pulsatile pumps is a means to develop a physiologic feedback algorithm for an auto-mode, which currently does not exist. Constant regulation and optimization of rotary non-pulsatile LVADs would minimize patients' risk for neurologic events and aortic valve stenosis.