cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Post-translational loss of renal TRPV5 calcium channel expression, Ca(2+) wasting, and bone loss in experimental colitis.

Background & Aims Dysregulated Ca 2+ homeostasis likely contributes to the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease–associated loss of bone mineral density. Experimental colitis leads to decreased expression of Klotho, a protein that supports renal Ca 2+ reabsorption by stabilizing the transient receptor potential vanilloid 5 (TRPV5) channel on the apical membrane of distal tubule epithelial cells. Methods Colitis was induced in mice via administration of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) or transfer of CD4 + interleukin-10 -/- and CD4 + , CD45RB hi T cells. We investigated changes in bone metabolism, renal processing of Ca 2+ , and expression of TRPV5. Results Mice with colitis had normal serum levels of Ca 2+ and parathormone. Computed tomography analysis showed a decreased density of cortical and trabecular bone, and there was biochemical evidence for reduced bone formation and increased bone resorption. Increased fractional urinary excretion of Ca 2+ was accompanied by reduced levels of TRPV5 protein in distal convoluted tubules, with a concomitant increase in TRPV5 sialylation. In mouse renal intermedullary collecting duct epithelial (mIMCD3) cells transduced with TRPV5 adenovirus, the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor, interferon-γ, and interleukin-1β reduced levels of TRPV5 on the cell surface, leading to its degradation. Cytomix induced interaction between TRPV5 and UBR4 (Ubiquitin recoginition 4), an E3 ubiquitin ligase; knockdown of UBR4 with small interfering RNAs prevented cytomix-induced degradation of TRPV5. The effects of cytokines on TRPV5 were not observed in cells stably transfected with membrane-bound Klotho; TRPV5 expression was preserved when colitis was induced with TNBS in transgenic mice that overexpressed Klotho or in mice with T-cell transfer colitis injected with soluble recombinant Klotho. Conclusions After induction of colitis in mice via TNBS administration or T-cell transfer, tumor necrosis factor and interferon-γ reduced the expression and activity of Klotho, which otherwise would protect TRPV5 from hypersialylation and cytokine-induced TRPV5 endocytosis, UBR4-dependent ubiquitination, degradation, and urinary wasting of Ca 2+ .
Chronic Lithium Chloride Administration Attenuates Brain NMDA Receptor-Initiated Signaling via Arachidonic Acid in Unanesthetized Rats

It has been proposed that lithium is effective in bipolar disorder (BD) by inhibiting glutamatergic neurotransmission, particularly via N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs). To test this hypothesis and to see if the neurotransmission could involve the NMDAR-mediated activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), to release arachidonic acid (AA) from membrane phospholipid, we administered subconvulsant doses of NMDA to unanesthetized rats fed a chronic control or LiCl diet. We used quantitative autoradiography following the intravenous injection of radiolabeled AA to measure regional brain incorporation coefficients k* for AA, which reflect receptor-mediated activation of PLA2. In control diet rats, NMDA (25 and 50 mg/kg i.p.) compared with i.p. saline increased k* significantly in 49 and 67 regions, respectively, of the 83 brain regions examined. The regions affected were those with reported NMDARs, including the neocortex, hippocampus, caudate-putamen, thalamus, substantia nigra, and nucleus accumbens. The increases could be blocked by pretreatment with the specific noncompetitive NMDA antagonist MK-801 ((5R,10S)-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate) (0.3 mg/kg i.p.), as well by a 6-week LiCl diet sufficient to produce plasma and brain lithium concentrations known to be effective in BD. MK-801 alone reduced baseline values for k* in many brain regions. The results show that it is possible to image NMDA signaling via PLA2 activation and AA release in vivo, and that chronic lithium blocks this signaling, consistent with its suggested mechanism of action in BD.
Analysis of the piggyBac transposase reveals a functional nuclear targeting signal in the 94 c-terminal residues

The piggyBac transposable element is a popular tool for germ-line transgenesis of eukaryotes. Despite this, little is known about the mechanism of transposition or the transposase (TPase) itself. A thorough understanding of just how piggyBac works may lead to more effective use of this important mobile element. A PSORTII analysis of the TPase amino acid sequence predicts a bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) near the c-terminus, just upstream of a putative ZnF (ZnF). We fused the piggyBac TPase upstream of and in-frame with the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) in the Drosophila melanogaster inducible metallothionein protein. Using Drosophila Schneider 2 (S2) cells and the deep red fluorescent nuclear stain Draq5, we were able to track the pattern of piggyBac localization with a scanning confocal microscope 48 hours after induction with copper sulphate. Through n and c-terminal truncations, targeted internal deletions, and specific amino acid mutations of the piggyBac TPase open reading frame, we found that not only is the PSORTII-predicted NLS required for the TPase to enter the nucleus of S2 cells, but there are additional requirements for negatively charged amino acids a short length upstream of this region for nuclear localization.
Uncovering the Root Causes of Soil Erosion in the Philippines

Soil erosion is a serious threat to the sustainability of agricultural systems in the Philippines, as in many intensively cultivated regions of the developing world, yet the ultimate causes of eros...
Growth, structure and chemical properties of FeO overlayers on Pt(100) and Pt(111)

Abstract Iron oxide was deposited on Pt(111) and Pt(100). In both cases the growth mode appears to be layer-by-layer for the first few layers, as indicated by Auger and ion scattering spectroscopies. Ordered structures were formed after annealing as indicated by LEED with (10 × 10) and c(2 × 10) expitaxial relationships respectively. The Fe/Pt atomic ratio was the same for both substrates and the stoichiometry was approximately Fe: O = 1:1, with the (100) substrate containing less O relative to Fe than the (111) substrate. The oxidation state of Fe is + 2 according to XPS. A model is proposed for both overlayers consisting of an FeO(111) bilayer of Fe2+ and O2−. The chemical properties of these two oxide monolayers were found to be similar in regard to H2O adsorption, but very different toward CO chemisorption. Their stability towards alkali metal deposition was found to be different also.
Absolutely positively on time: what would it take? [embedded computing systems]

Despite considerable progress in software and hardware techniques, many recent computing advances do more harm than good when embedded computing systems absolutely must meet tight timing constraints. For example, while synchronous digital logic delivers precise timing determinacy, advances in computer architecture and software have made it difficult or impossible to estimate or predict software's execution time. Moreover, networking techniques introduce variability and stochastic behavior, while operating systems rely on best-effort techniques. Worse, programming language semantics do not handle time well, so developers can only specify timing requirements indirectly. Thus, achieving precise timeliness in a networked embedded system - an absolutely essential goal - requires sweeping changes. For embedded computing to realize its full potential, we must reinvent computer science. Resource limitations have influenced embedded software's evolution. Embedded software differs from other software in more fundamental ways.
Comparison of spectroscopic and biochemical determination of collagen crosslinks in cartilage

Type II collagen is the main protein of the articular cartilage matrix. Covalent inter-molecular crosslinking of collagen is the critical post-translational modification contributing to the ultimate mechanical properties of the tissue, and thus can be an important component of tissue quality in aging and disease. An HPLC biochemical assay, which is destructive, is the standard method for determination of crosslinks, This study assessed whether Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) imaging spectroscopy, a technique based on molecular vibrations, could be used to assess crosslinks in bovine cartilage at high spatial resolution. HPLC determination of the ratio of mature to immature crosslinks (collagen maturity) in bovine tissue of different ages showed increases during aging, as expected. This was correlated to the FT-IRIS derived 1660/1690cm−1 peak height ratio, a parameter previously shown to correlate to type I collagen crosslink maturity. Thus, is it possible that the same parameter could be used for crosslink assessment in type II collagen-based tissues as well.
Nurse reported quality of care: A measure of hospital quality

As the primary providers of round-the-clock bedside care, nurses are well positioned to report on hospital quality of care. Researchers have not examined how nurses' reports of quality correspond with standard process or outcomes measures of quality. We assess the validity of evaluating hospital quality by aggregating hospital nurses' responses to a single item that asks them to report on quality of care. We found that a 10% increment in the proportion of nurses reporting excellent quality of care was associated with lower odds of mortality and failure to rescue; greater patient satisfaction; and higher composite process of care scores for acute myocardial infarction, pneumonia, and surgical patients. Nurse reported quality of care is a useful indicator of hospital performance.
Neuropsychological deficit and symptomatology: Evidence for the heterogeneity of positive symptoms

The positive-negative symptom dichotomy has strongly influenced recent conceptualizations of the nature of schizophrenia. Several studies have now shown that negative symptoms are significantly associated with one another but that intercorrelations among positive symptoms are less strong. A recent factor analytic study by our group on the SANS/SAPS found three factors rather than the two suggested by the positive-negative distinction (Arndt, Alliger & Andreasen, Br J Psychiatry, in press). Negative global scores made up one clear factor but positive globals split, with hallucinations and delusions making up one factor and positive formal thought disorder (PFTD) and bizarre behavior forming another. The present study explores the possibility that positive symptoms may be differentially related to cognitive performance. Data will be reported from three independent samples of schizophrenics (DSM-III criteria) studied at the University of Iowa Psychiatric Hospital. All patients received a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Severity of negative symptoms was found to be related to a wide range of cognitive deficits including lower IQ scores and poorer performance on measures of attention and memory. Severity of hallucinations and delusions, in contrast, was not significantly related to deficiencies on any measure in the battery. Patients with high ratings on PFTD and bizarre behavior showed a pattern of cognitive disorganization that was less consistent across the three studies than the generalized deficit associated with negative symptoms. The results support previous findings that negative symptoms are associated with cognitive deficit that may reflect underlying brain pathology. Florid positive symptoms show no evidence of association with cognitive impairment. We will discuss the possibility that the cognitive disorganization associated with PFTD and bizarre behavior reflects a neuropathological process independent of that associated with negative symptoms.
Teaching Spelling through Prompting and Review Procedures Using Computer-Based Instruction.

Computer-based instruction (CBI) was used to teach 3 sets of 20 spelling words to two 6th graders in a multiple baseline design. The CBI presented a voice recording of each spelling word and prompted the students to type the word. If they spelled the word incorrectly, a training procedure was initiated that included prompt fading and systematic review practice. Results showed that three to ten 15- min training sessions were needed for participants to score 100% on each word set. During a subsequent maintenance phase, one participant received 2 re-training sessions on word Set 2 due to low performance but no other training was provided. Average performance was 93% across all word sets during the final three sessions of the maintenance phase and 79% on a 3-week follow-up test.
Effects of gamma-vinyl-GABA on the human electroencephalogram

Gamma-vinyl-GABA (GVG) is a new anticonvulsant drug that significantly raises the level of the gamma-aminobutyric acid in the brain (GABA). The effects of gamma-vinyl-GABA on the human electroencephalogram were studied to assess the role of GABAergic mechanisms on electrocortical activity. Serial EEGs were recorded in 15 epileptic patients undergoing a controlled clinical trial of gamma-vinyl-GABA. The effects of gamma-vinyl-GABA on alpha, beta, or theta activity, sleep spindles and epileptiform activity were studied. No changes could be detected in any of the intrinsic brain rhythms. Three patients showed a mild amelioration of epileptiform activity; no increase in epileptiform activity was seen.
Approximation of the joint spectral radius using sum of squares

We provide an asymptotically tight, computationally efficient approximation of the joint spectral radius of a set of matrices using sum of squares (SOS) programming. The approach is based on a search for an SOS polynomial that proves simultaneous contractibility of a finite set of matrices. We provide a bound on the quality of the approximation that unifies several earlier results and is independent of the number of matrices. Additionally, we present a comparison between our approximation scheme and earlier techniques, including the use of common quadratic Lyapunov functions and a method based on matrix liftings. Theoretical results and numerical investigations show that our approach yields tighter approximations.
Drug-protein interactions: binding of chlorpromazine to calmodulin, calmodulin fragments, and related calcium binding proteins

The quantitative binding of a phenothiazine drug to calmodulin, calmodulin fragments, and structurally related calcium binding proteins was measured under conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium by using a gel filtration method. Plant and animal calmodulins, troponin C, S100 alpha, and S100 beta bind chlorpromazine in a calcium-dependent manner with different stoichiometries and affinities for the drug. The interaction between calmodulin and chlorpromazine appears to be a complex, calcium-dependent phenomenon. Bovine brain calmodulin bound approximately 5 mol of drug per mol of protein with apparent half-maximal binding at 17 microM drug. Large fragments of calmodulin had limited ability to bind chlorpromazine. The largest fragment, containing residues 1-90, retained only 5% of the drug binding activity of the intact protein. A reinvestigation of the chlorpromazine inhibition of calmodulin stimulation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase further indicated a complex, multiple equilibrium among the reaction components and demonstrated that the order of addition of components to the reaction altered the drug concentration required for half-maximal inhibition of the activity over a 10-fold range. These results confirm previous observations using immobilized phenothiazines [Marshak, D.R., Watterson, D.M., & Van Eldik, L.J. (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 6793-6797] that indicated a subclass of calcium-modulated proteins bound phenothiazines in a calcium-dependent manner, demonstrate that the interaction between phenothiazines and calmodulin is more complex than previously assumed, and suggest that extended regions of the calmodulin molecule capable of forming the appropriate conformation are required for specific, high-affinity, calcium-dependent drug binding activity.
Effects of inhibitors on monoamine oxidase activity in perch (Perca flavescens) brain in vitro

Abstract 1. Perch brain homogenates were incubated in vitro and monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was determined fluorometrically, using a kynuramine substrate. 2. Clorgyline, harmaline and deprenyl inhibited MAO activity in a concentration-related manner, with single sigmoid inhibition curves, and the type A inhibitors harmaline and clorgyline were more effective than the type B inhibitor deprenyl. 3. Two types of inhibition were recognized in vitro; a fast-onsetting inhibition, similar to that produced by a reversible inhibitor, and a slow-onsetting inhibition, which is time- and concentration-dependent and presumably represents inactivation of the enzyme.
Contextual Influences of Proactive and Reactive Subtypes of Aggression

The contextual factors associated with proactive and reactive subtypes of aggression have not been well-studied. In order to address this omission in the literature, the current study evaluated relations between perceived best friend delinquency, negative life events, and proactive and reactive aggression in a sample of 147 school-age children (Mage=8.22 years; 54.4% male). Multiple regression analyses suggested that negative life events were uniquely associated with reactive aggression and best friend delinquency was uniquely associated with proactive aggression. Findings and their implications are discussed.
Evaluating User Satisfaction with a Consumer Protection Hotline

The consumer complaint-handling literature characterizes users of toll-free Hotlines, but satisfaction with this consumer service has not been evaluated. A telephone survey was conducted of callers to a Wisconsin consumer protection Hotline in an effort to assess user satisfaction. When filers of complaints and inquiries were compared, it was found that complainants were more likely to have used the Hotline more than once or to have recommended it to others, while inquirers expressed greater satisfaction with the agency. As expected from previous research, users were generally satisfied with the Hotline and related services; high-status groups were most satisfied; and low-status persons were less likely to have used the Hotline.
Reshaping primary care: the Healthy Steps Initiative.

Abstract The Healthy Steps Initiative, funded by the Commonwealth Fund in New York and developed and implemented by Boston University School of Medicine, is an enhanced approach to pediatric care in the first 3 years of life. The goals of this effort in transforming pediatric care include (a) supporting the physical and emotional development of each infant and young child; (b) supporting a parental sense of confidence in their child-rearing knowledge and skills; and (c) supporting the clinical effectiveness of pediatric primary care practices to meet the needs of young children and families. The Healthy Steps Initiative enhances well-child care to achieve these goals by providing child development information and support as part of an expanded approach to pediatric primary care. Healthy Steps offers both pediatric practices and families a vehicle for meeting the needs of infants and young children within a preventative framework. This unique program, which is being quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated over 3 years, has been initiated in more than 24 pediatric sites nationwide. J Pediatr Health Care. (2001). 15 , 58-62.
Amplified Fragment Length Microsatellites (AFLM) might be used to develop microsatellite markers in organisms with limited amounts of DNA applied to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi.

Developing microsatellite markers for or- ganisms with limited amounts of DNA can be difficult because sequence information is needed. To over- come this problem in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Glomus etunicatum and Gigaspora gigan- tea, global amplification of the genomes of each spe- cies was performed with linker-adaptor-PCR from sin- gle spores. Amplified fragments were enriched for microsatellite motifs with 59-biotinylated oligonucle- otides and recovered by magnetic streptavidin beads. The recovered fragments were reamplified and sep- arated on denaturing polyacrylamide gels, and 16 se- lected bands were excised, cloned and sequenced. Seven microsatellite motifs were detected from six clones (efficiency rate of 43.8%). Primers were de- signed for all putative microsatellite loci and most were successfully amplified from three single-spore preparations and from pools of five, 10 and 20 spores after global amplification. This approach, termed amplified fragment-length micosatellites (AFLM), might aid investigations of organisms that cannot or are not readily cultured in vitro and where DNA is a limiting factor for genetic studies. However, the tech- nique also can be used to isolate microsatellite loci in any organism.
Is there a supply side to occupational sex segregation

We examine evidencefor supply-side explanations of occu- pational sex segregation, using the 1979-93 NLSY. Supply-side explana- tions, such as those derivedfrom neoclassical economic theoy and gender socialization, look to individual characteristics of workers, such as values, aspirations, and roles, to explain occupational outcomes. Contra y to human capital theory, we find no tendency for individuals with early plans for employment intermittency or more actual breaks in employment to work in predominantly female occupations. This suggests that women who anticipate breaks in employment do not choose female occupations because of lower wage penalties for time out of the labor force. A second neoclassical view, from the theo y of compensating differentials, posits that women sacrifice some pay for "mother-friendly" features ofjobs. Consistent with this, white and Latina mothers are in more female jobs than are nonmothers, but the opposite is true for African-American women. The gender socialization per- spective posits a long-term effect of gendered attitudes and aspirations formed in youth. Consistent with this, wefind that those aspiring to or expecting to work in predominantly female jobs are in more heavily female jobs four- teen years later. Also, for women (but not men), more liberal gender role attitudes predicts working in a more sex-typical occupation. For men (but not women), having had either afather or mother who worked in a female occupation predicts working in a more heavily female occupation.
In vitro functional studies of naturally occurring pathogenic PRKAR1A mutations that are not subject to nonsense mRNA decay.

Patients presenting with primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD), Carney complex (CNC), or sporadic tumors were previously found to carry germline mutations in the human type Iα regulatory subunit (RIα) of adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP [cAMP])-dependent protein kinase (PKA; PRKAR1A). Although about 90% of disease-causing PRKAR1A mutations lead to premature stop codon generation and subsequent degradation of the mutant message by nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), here we describe seven PRKAR1A mutations whose mRNAs do not seem to undergo NMD and instead result in an expressed mutant RIα protein. The expressed mutations (p.Ser9Asn, p.Glu60_Lys116del [Δ-exon 3], p.Arg74Cys, p.Arg146Ser, p.Asp183Tyr, p.Ala213Asp, and p.Gly289Trp) were spread over all the functional RIα domains, and all of them exhibited increased PKA activity, which we attribute to decreased binding to cAMP and/or the catalytic subunit. Our data further corroborate the previous finding that altered PRKAR1A function, not only haploinsufficiency, is enough to elevate PKA activity which is apparently associated with tumorigenesis in tissues affected by CNC. In some cases, as with the Δ-exon 3 mutation, we may even conclude that the presence of a mutant PRKAR1A protein may be more harmful than allelic loss. Hum Mutat 29(5), 633–639, 2008. Published 2008, Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Damage Identification After Impact in Sandwich Composites Through Embedded Fiber Bragg Sensors

Based on the full-spectral response of fiber Bragg grating sensors, embedded at the facesheet-core interface, we identify the progression of failure modes in foam core sandwich composites during multiple, low-velocity impacts. By considering the characteristic shape of the reflected spectrum from the FBG sensor in the post-impact, residual strain state, it is shown that we can classify the extent of damage into one of three states. Unlike the previous FBG peak wavelength measurements; this identification does not require the full strain history to identify the current state of damage in the composite. The disparate material properties between the facesheet and core materials, which create significant challenges for conventional non-destructive evaluation methods, enhance the damage detection through large deformations in the core at the impact location with sharp strain gradients.
Network traffic-based automatic optimized migration from physical to virtualized cloud environment with UCM tool

Cloud computing provides virtualized resources as a service over the Internet. Migrating workload to virtualized cloud environment will benefit their owners on low cost, as well as dynamic scalability and performance. In this paper, we address the solutions on the migration challenge. An extensible and automatic migration framework is presented and implemented by the tool UCM which has been proved to reduce 90% cost in term of time. Workload migration to cloud environment is also a good timing for optimization. Despite the traditional capacity planning method, this paper proposes network traffic is critical dimension to be considered for migration optimization. The experiments illustrate the effective of the proposed method and tool.
Case for projectile kinetic energy gain in stopping power studies

Under certain collision conditions, a swift ion projectile colliding with a target will gain rather than lose kinetic energy, contrary to the standard conception of stopping power. In this work, we consider the conditions for such a collision such that the energy loss is negative, that is, that there will be projectile kinetic energy gain. In particular, for a target initially in the ground state we find that the projectile gains kinetic energy only when charge exchange and de-excitation processes are involved. This occurs when the electron affinity of the projectile is larger than the ionization potential of the target. Consequences of this effect are analyzed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 94: 215–221, 2003
A Delineation of Schizophrenic Language and Thought in a Test of Imagination

(1943). A Delineation of Schizophrenic Language and Thought in a Test of Imagination. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 239-271.
Effectiveness of the state soil geographic database (STATSGO) to predict white-tailed deer morphometrics in Mississippi

The State Soil Geographic Data Base (STATSGO) developed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service is a spatially explicit database of soil characteristics known to influence the distribution, abundance, or quality of vegetation, which ultimately may affect white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population phenotype. The national availability of STATSGO makes it an attractive tool for wildlife ecologists to use for explaining variation in deer population morphometrics. We constructed linear regression models relating site-specific mean population 1.5-year female body mass and 2.5-year male antler size to soil pH, organic matter, bulk density, and available water capacity values from STATSGO to evaluate the explanatory power of the database. For comparison, we developed general linear models that related the same deer morphometrics to nominal classification variables that represented 4 soil regions in Mississippi, USA. At the statewide level, regressions using site-specific soil pH, organic matter, bulk density, and available water capacity values from STATSGO did not explain more variation than did regional classification models. Although STATSGO did not generate good models for predicting or explaining localized variation in white-tailed deer morphometrics in Mississippi, it did reveal differences in soil properties that may influence white-tailed deer populations at regional spatial scales. At the statewide level, soil resource region classification models may be a more effective tool because they explained similar variation in deer morphometrics, and model input is easier to obtain.
MEMS actuator array as a neuro-physiological testing tool

Tactile perception of complex symbols through tactile stimulation is an exciting application of a phenomenon known as tactile illusion (TI). Sensation of motion on the skin can be produced by a limited number of discrete mechanical actuators applying light pressure over the skin. This phenomenon can thus be used as a neurophysiological testing tool to determine central and peripheral nervous system injury as well as providing an additional human-machine communication channel. This paper describes the development of a 4/spl times/5 actuator array of individual vibrating pixels for fingertip tactile communication. The array is approximately one square centimeter and utilizes novel micro-clutch MEMS technology. The individual pixels are turned ON and OFF by pairs of microscopic thermal actuators, while the main vibration is generated by a vibrating piezo-electric plate. The physiological parameters required for inducing tactile illusion are described. The fabrication sequence for the thermal microactuators along with actuation results are also presented.
CITYCLUSTER From the renaissance to the megabyte networking age: a virtual reality and high-speed networking project

This paper presents the CITYCLUSTER project, a virtual-reality networking matrix, in a high-tech framework with original technological features, navigation, interactivity, graphic, and content style, in which multiple environments, ambiences, and cities, both real and imagined, can be hosted, coexist, and be interrelated within themselves through a common virtual territory. It can be interconnected by high-speed network, enabling remote participants to access, interact, and collaborate in shared environments and work together in a common virtual space over distance in real time. The framework can be expanded and modified in accordance with the digital environment to be incorporated. Meta-Net-Page, a virtual-reality collaborative networking tool, was designed and implemented ad hoc for CITYCLUSTER."From the Renaissance to the Megabyte Networking Age" is the first CITY-CLUSTER virtual-reality networked application, which offers visitors a thrilling interactive journey, from the Renaissance to the Super Broadband Networking and Electronic Age. Florence represents the "Renaissance Age," Chicago the "Gigabits Networking Age." Each virtual city is inhabited by a group of avatars: David, Venus, and Machiavelli in Florence, and Mega, Giga, and Picasso in Chicago.The implementation of CITYCLUSTER has given rise to a range of technological challenges, which in turn have revealed innovative aspects and salient features relative to content management, the development of juxtaposed virtual environments, networking interactive techniques, avatar design, architecture, and virtual effects. A series of special features and enhancements have been added to the software Ygdrasil, to satisfy content and quality levels of interactivity. In consequence, the Ygdrasil system was further refined as software tools that aid the rapid and intuitive development of interactive virtual environments for artists and other nontechnical users.The CITYCLUSTER project is primarily designed to run in the CAVE and on the AGAVE (Access Grid Augmented Virtual Environment). It can run either locally or through remote networking in both SGIs and the Linux platform.
A review of current technology in child safety seats for infants.

Although nearly all infants younger than 1 year of age are restrained when riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle in the United States, there are still problems with misuse of the child restraint devices. This article reviews current technology in child safety seats for infants. The author notes that the essential elements of appropriate transportation of infants include: rear-facing, in the back seat, and secured appropriately in the child restraint device. The device itself must also be securely installed in the vehicle. One lengthy table summarizes the presently-available, rear-facing child restraint devices on the market in the U.S.; for each device, the chart lists the manufacturer, model, type, rear facing weight limit, rear facing height limit, and online retail price. The author cautions that securing the child restraint device to the vehicle is one of the most complex parts of the process. Readers are walked through the process in some detail. The author also outlines the numerous resources available for parents who need assistance with child restraint seats. The author concludes by stressing that, through active advocacy, pediatric health care providers can influence parents tremendously in preventing unnecessary injuries and death from motor vehicle collisions.
The physical and chemical stability of amorphous (−)-epi-gallocatechin gallate: Effects of water vapor sorption and storage temperature

Abstract (−)-Epi-gallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant bioactive component in green tea, and its reported health benefits have resulted in its wide application in functional foods and dietary supplements. However, the limited information available on the solid-state properties of crystalline and amorphous EGCG may impede its successful inclusion in many products. Therefore, in this study, the physical and chemical stability of amorphous EGCG stored at selected temperature (25–80 °C) and relative humidity (0–97% RH) conditions were assessed. Chemical stability was determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); color (L⁎, a⁎, b⁎ color space) was monitored; and physical stability of amorphous EGCG was tracked using powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Three different crystalline forms of EGCG were found upon recrystallization, dependent on the storage conditions. Chemical stability was a complex interplay of crystallization tendency and storage conditions. Storage conditions influenced epimerization and oxidation, two major reactions that occurred in EGCG solid-state degradation. Epimerization was diffusion-limited, while oxygen content affected oxidation. Color changes during storage were more noticeable than chemical degradation. These results revealed the physical and chemical changes of amorphous EGCG that are induced by storage temperature and RH conditions, and provided useful information for incorporating amorphous EGCG in food or pharmaceutical products.
Genotype- and phenotype-directed antiplatelet therapy selection in patients with acute coronary syndromes

Although dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) has been a standard treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) for over a decade, only recently have therapeutic options beyond aspirin and clopidogrel become available. Additional treatment options are particularly useful because of the documented history of variability in antiplatelet response. This article reviews the current treatment options for DAPT in ACS, and reviews both genotype- and phenotype-guided methods for determining optimal antiplatelet therapy for patients with ACS. Additionally, recommendations from current guidelines as well as expert commentary are provided for the use of available testing methods to determine optimal DAPT for ACS patients.
“We Communicated That Way for a Reason”: Language Practices and Language Ideologies Among Hearing Adults Whose Parents Are Deaf

Families with deaf parents and hearing children are often bilingual and bimodal, with both a spoken language and a signed one in regular use among family members. When interviewed, 13 American hearing adults with deaf parents reported widely varying language practices, sign language abilities, and social affiliations with Deaf and Hearing communities. Despite this variation, the interviewees' moral judgments of their own and others' communicative behavior suggest that these adults share a language ideology concerning the obligation of all family members to expend effort to overcome potential communication barriers. To our knowledge, such a language ideology is not similarly pervasive among spoken-language bilingual families, raising the question of whether there is something unique about family bimodal bilingualism that imposes different rights and responsibilities on family members than spoken-language family bilingualism does. This ideology unites an otherwise diverse group of interviewees, where each one preemptively denied being a "typical CODA [children of deaf adult]."
Organizational Memory as Objects, Processes, and Trajectories: An Examination of Organizational Memory in Use

For proper knowledge management, organizations must consider how knowledge is kept and reused. The term organizational memory is due for an overhaul. Memory appears to be everywhere in organizations; yet, the term has been limited to only a few uses. Based on an ethnographic study of a telephone hotline group, this paper presents a micro-level, distributed cognition analysis of two hotline calls, the work activity surrounding the calls, and the memory used in the work activity. Drawing on the work of Star, Hutchins, and Strauss, the paper focuses on issues of applying past information for current use. Our work extends Strauss' and Hutchins' trajectories to get at the understanding of potential future use by participants and its role in current information storage. We also note the simultaneously shared provenance and governance of multiple memories – human and technical. This analysis and the theoretical framework we construct should be to be useful in further efforts in describing and analyzing organizational memory within the context of knowledge management efforts.
Effects of Olfactory Stimuli and Brief Relaxation Induction on Imagery

Ninety-six introductory psychology students participated in an experiment studying the effects of olfactory stimulation and brief relaxation induction on qualities associated with imagery and perceived relaxation. Each subject imagined 10 images and rated the images on five dimensions. Each subject was in one of two levels of muscle relaxation and one of three olfactory states (2×3 design). ANOVA results indicated that odors which are congruent with images enhance several imagery qualities and odors which are incongruent can decrease these image qualities. The results suggest that congruent olfactory stimuli may be applicable to psychological interventions where increased imagery qualities, affective qualities and perceived relaxation are desired outcomes. Similarly, the results suggest that incongruent odors may be useful in driving away undesirable images when used in interventions when this is desirable.
Use of folded monopoles in antenna arrays

The use of folded elements in antenna arrays is reviewed and then discussed with regard to an array of vertical monopoles to which an improved impedance match of the feed system is required. A method of calculating the driving point impedances from the self and mutual impedances of related unfolded elements is given.
The Frontal Structure of an Explosive Oceanic Cyclone: Airbone Radar Observations of ERICA IOP 4

Abstract Observation taken during the Experiment on Rapidly Intensifying Cyclones over the Atlantic (ERICA) have permitted analyses of explosive oceanic cyclogenesis of unprecedented detail. The most intense of the cyclones that occurred during this experiment was that of intensive observing period 4 (IOP 4). This storm not only contained the lowest sea level pressure ever observed south of 40°N in an extratropical cyclone over the Atlantic but was well-sampled by the specially deployed observing systems (aircraft, airbone Doppler radar, dropwindsondes, and buoys. This paper presents detailed analysis of this case. The primary issues addressed here are 1) the finescale structure of the fronts, and 2) the structure and organization of the associated precipitating features. Both of these issues have previously been investigated primarily through numerical simulation of various cases of intense cyclogenesis. Analysis of the resulting model output has indicated a structural evolution of such cyclones that dep...
Opportunities to improve the net energy performance of photoelectrochemical water-splitting technology

The hydrogen energy provided by solar-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting must be greater than the energy used to produce and operate the technology, as a fundamental system requirement to enable energetic benefits to society. PEC H2 production will require significant advances from both basic scientific research and applied technology development, prior to manufacturing and field deployment. To identify opportunities and priorities, here we use prospective life cycle system modeling to investigate the net-energy significance of six characteristics describing the PEC life cycle: (1) embodied energy of active cell materials, (2) embodied energy of inactive module materials, (3) energy intensity of active cell fabrication, (4) energy intensity of PEC module assembly, (5) initial energy use for production of balance-of-system (BOS), and (6) ongoing energy use for operation and end-of-life of BOS. We develop and apply a system model describing material and energy flows during the full life cycle of louvered thin-film PEC cells and their associated modules and BOS components. We find that fabrication processes for the PEC cells, especially the thin-film deposition of active cell materials, are important drivers of net energy performance. Nevertheless, high solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency and long cell life span are primary design requirements for PEC systems, even if such performance requires additional energy and material inputs for production and operation. We discuss these and other system dynamics, and highlight pathways to improve net energy performance.
SUPERSONIC FLOW PAST A SURFACE CATALYTIC DISCONTINUITY WITH VISCOUS-INVISCID INTERACTION

The local viscous-inviscid interaction field generated by a wall catalysis jump on a flat plate in dissociated supersonic flow is studied in detail by the use of both a Navier-Stokes numerical code and an analytical triple-deck model. Treatment of the rapid heat transfer changes both upstream and downstream of the jump is included. Closed-form relationships for the pressure and heating variations, including upstream influence, are derived from the triple-deck theory and are found to be in good agreement with the numerical solution of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. Such relationships not only clarify the interactive physics involved, but also are useful in preliminary design of thermal protection systems and as an insertable module to improve computational fluid dynamics code efficiency when applied to such small-scale interaction problems.
Short-term memory to long-term memory transition in a nanoscale memristor.

“Memory” is an essential building block in learning and decision-making in biological systems. Unlike modern semiconductor memory devices, needless to say, human memory is by no means eternal. Yet, forgetfulness is not always a disadvantage since it releases memory storage for more important or more frequently accessed pieces of information and is thought to be necessary for individuals to adapt to new environments. Eventually, only memories that are of significance are transformed from short-term memory into long-term memory through repeated stimulation. In this study, we show experimentally that the retention loss in a nanoscale memristor device bears striking resemblance to memory loss in biological systems. By stimulating the memristor with repeated voltage pulses, we observe an effect analogous to memory transition in biological systems with much improved retention time accompanied by additional structural changes in the memristor. We verify that not only the shape or the total number of stimuli is i...
Focusing on Emotion and Work–Family Conflict Research An Exploration Through the Paradigms

This agenda-setting article examines emotion and work–family conflict (WFC) through different paradigmatic lenses. To date, WFC and emotion research has been dominated by the functionalist perspect...
Design and Implementation of the Smart Home Gateway Based on Internet

The paper introduces the composition and structure of the smart home system and discusses two modes of connecting the smart home gateway to the Internet.The two modes are the direct connection mode and the proxy connection mode.On the basis of the comparison of the two modes,the paper concludes that the proxy connection mode is an effective mode for the smart home system access to the Internet.The paper presents the design and the implementation of the smart home gateway based on the Internet and introduces the ZigBee and SIP technology in the end.
Distribution Characteristics of Lightning Current Magnitude Measured by Lightning Location System

To satisfy the application demands of vast lightning current parameters in lightning protection engineering technology, the distribution characteristics of cumulative probability of lightning current magnitude adopted by IEEE working group and national power industry regulations are analyzed,and the distribution characteristics of lightning current magnitude in some typical areas based on lightning location system's data are studied. The results show that: the fitting expression format adopted by IEEE is better for cumulative probability curves gotten from lightning location system than that adopted by national power industry regulations,the characteristics of the statistical curves accord with that recommended by IEEE, in two sides of the crossing point, the cumulative probability values at smaller currents are 20% higher than the latter, and the cumulative probability values at higher currents are somewhat smaller than the latter, which is accordant with that the actual shielding failure rates of high voltage overhead transmission lines are higher than design values.
The“ Inactivation” Phenomenon of Enterprise and Its Breakthrough ── The Recomposing of Technology and Management Innovations

It is very important to reaearch the inactivation phenomenon and its ca use of formation in the development of privately－ run enterprise. In order to b reak through“ Inactivation” , modern privately－ run enterprises can't only de pend on technology innovations, institution innovations or management innovation s, but also the recomposing actions of various innovations, specially the recomp osing between technology innovations, and coordinate the inside contradition by management innovations to form the outward tension.
Management of brain metastasis in patients with pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas

Background:The patterns of intracranial failure in patients with brain metastasis from pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (PNEC) remain unknown.Methods:From 1998 to 2013, 29 patients with the diagn...