cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The saxitoxin/tetrodotoxin binding site on cloned rat brain IIa Na channels is in the transmembrane electric field

The rat brain IIa (BrIIa) Na channel alpha-subunit and the brain beta 1 subunit were coexpressed in Xenopus oocytes, and peak whole-oocyte Na current (INa) was measured at a test potential of -10 mV. Hyperpolarization of the holding potential resulted in an increased affinity of STX and TTX rested-state block of BrIIa Na channels. The apparent half-block concentration (ED50) for STX of BrIIa current decreased with hyperpolarizing holding potentials (Vhold). At Vhold of -100 mV, the ED50 was 2.1 +/- 0.4 nM, and the affinity increased to a ED50 of 1.2 +/- 0.2 nM with Vhold of -140 mV. In the absence of toxin, the peak current amplitude was the same for all potentials negative to -90 mV, demonstrating that all of the channels were in a closed conformation and maximally available to open in this range of holding potentials. The Woodhull model (1973) was used to describe the increase of the STX ED50 as a function of holding potential. The equivalent electrical distance of block (delta) by STX was 0.18 from the extracellular milieu when the valence of STX was fixed to +2. Analysis of the holding potential dependence of TTX block yielded a similar delta when the valence of TTX was fixed to +1. We conclude that the guanidinium toxin site is located partially within the transmembrane electric field. Previous site-directed mutagenesis studies demonstrated that an isoform-specific phenylalanine in the BrIIa channel is critical for high affinity toxin block.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
CAB-DW™ for 5 µm trace-width deposition of solar cell metallization top-contacts

This paper reviews methods for creating solar cell grid contacts and explores how cell efficiency can be increased using CAB-DW™. Specifically, the efficiency of p-i-n structure solar cells built in-house with 90 µm sputtered lines and 5 µm CAB-DW™ lines were compared. Preliminary results of the comparison show a marked improvement in solar cell efficiency using CAB-DW™. In addition, a theoretical and experimental analysis of the dynamics of particle impaction on a substrate (i.e. whether particles stick or bounce) is presented including how this analysis may lead to further improvement of CAB-DW™.
Going with the flow: how shear stress signals the emergence of adult hematopoiesis.

![Figure][1] Insight from David Traver It has long been noted that the initiation of definitive hematopoiesis occurs just after blood circulation begins during embryonic development. In this issue, three companion papers demonstrate that this is not just a coincidence and describe a
Effects of Anti-Insulin Receptor Antibodies (AIRA) on Downregulation and Turnover of Insulin Receptors on Cultured Hepatocytes

We have studied the effects of two polyclonal anti-insulin receptor antibodies (AIRA) on insulin receptor downregulation and turnover in rat hepatocytes in primary culture. Downregulation was determined by measurement of insulin binding after acid washing of cells to remove AIRA. Insulin receptor turnover was estimated by measurement of insulin binding after inhibition of synthesis of functional receptors with tunicamycin (0.5 μg/ml). Exposure of hepatocytes to AIRA (both sera were of comparable effectiveness) resulted in progressive, time- and dose-dependent losses of insulin binding (maximal loss was about 55% after 24 h of incubation with AIRA diluted 1:25). Cycloheximide (100 μM) prevented AIRA-mediated downregulation. The t½ of disappearance of cell surface insulin binding capacity determined with tunicamycin was 8.0 h. Addition of insulin (1000 ng/ml) or AIRA to tunicamycin reduced the t½ to 2.6 h (insulin), 2.2 h (patient B10), and 2.0 h (patient 1). These data suggest that (1) AIRA downregulated insulin receptors on cultured hepatocytes by accelerating their rate of disappearance, (2) inhibition of protein synthesis prevented AIRA-mediated downregulation, and (3) downregulation by AIRA of insulin binding may be partially responsible for the desensitization of target cells to some of the insulinlike actions of these autoantibodies.
Rapid release of carcinogen-guanine adducts from DNA after reaction with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene or N-benzoyloxy-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene

Reaction of N-benzoyloxy-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene (N-benzoyloxy-MAB) or N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (N-acetoxy-AAF), model ultimate aromatic amine or amide carcinogens, with (purine-/sup 14/C)DNA at pH 7.4 or reaction of N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene (N-hydroxy-AF) at pH 4.6 resulted in the rapid release of /sup 14/C-containing products not precipitable with the DNA. Four such products were obtained on reaction with N-acetoxy-AAF, two with N-hydroxy-AF, and six with N-benzoyloxy-MAB. Depending on the DNA sample used, the total amounts of /sup 14/C in these products from the reactions with N-benzoyloxy-MAB or N-acetoxy-AAF ranged from about 5% to as much as 30-40% of the amounts in the N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-MAB or N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-AFF residues in the DNA from the same reaction mixtures. Reactions with N-acetoxy-(acetyl-3H)AAF showed that the two major products retained the amide residue from the N-acetoxy-AAF. When the reactions were carried out with (guanine-(8-/sup 3/H; 8-/sup 14/C); adenine-(2,8-/sup 3/H; 8-/sup 14/C))DNA, the two major products formed from N-acetoxy-AAF and four products formed from N-benzoyloxy-MAB had very low /sup 3/H:/sup 14/C ratios; these ratios were those expected for guanine derivatives which had lost the 8-/sup 3/H. Studies on the major DNA adducts N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-MAB and N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-AAF indicated that the new adducts were not formed from these nucleosides. The data suggest that the two major AAF productsmore » and the four MAB adducts studied are guanine derivatives formed by depurination of N-7 substituted adducts in the DNA.« less
A New Method for Microwave Characterization of Metallic Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

On-chip subtraction of capacitive parasitic effects is proposed for microwave characterization of individual metallic single-walled carbon nanotube (mSWNT) that yields low intensity signals. The method dramatically reduces capacitive parasitic effects to uncover the otherwise buried signals. Both computer simulations and experimental measurements of small capacitance demonstrated the efficacy of the approach.
System Integration - A Major Step toward Lab on a Chip

Microfluidics holds great promise to revolutionize various areas of biological engineering, such as single cell analysis, environmental monitoring, regenerative medicine, and point-of-care diagnostics. Despite the fact that intensive efforts have been devoted into the field in the past decades, microfluidics has not yet been adopted widely. It is increasingly realized that an effective system integration strategy that is low cost and broadly applicable to various biological engineering situations is required to fully realize the potential of microfluidics. In this article, we review several promising system integration approaches for microfluidics and discuss their advantages, limitations, and applications. Future advancements of these microfluidic strategies will lead toward translational lab-on-a-chip systems for a wide spectrum of biological engineering applications.
Study of noise sources in thin film media

The noise behavior of planar isotropic thin-film media is studied by examining magnetization configurations as well as pole-density distributions. Magnetization configurations at the remanent coercive state and in transitions are simulated by a micromagnetic model. The magnetic pole-density distributions are studied for films with and without intergranular exchange coupling. It is found that the magnetic poles form clusters and concentrate mainly near magnetization vortices and flux saddle points. In films with intergranular exchange coupling, large position fluctuations of the magnetization vortices and the flux saddle points results in large fluctuations of the pole-density distributions. The DC-erase noise in the remanent coercive state and the transition noise are higher in an exchange-coupled medium than in a film without intergranular exchange coupling. >
General Systems Theory in Medical Education -- A Medical-Psychiatric Liaison Fellowship

As a primary care internist, these are common kinds of experiences I have had and observed: A middle-aged man comes to the emergency room with chest pain typical for a myocardial infarction; he signs out against medical advice when the pain is relieved, in spite of great efforts to convince him to stay. A young girl with juvenile diabetes has a series of admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis; each time her electrolytes and insulin requirements are managed elegantly, but the events in her life and her conflict with parents and sexuality are not sought out. A woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and new onset asthma insists she is not well enough to leave the hospital when discharge is recommended; she has two more admissions in a 2-week period for exacerbations of the asthma; closer inspection reveals she is still grieving the death of a brother and is not yet ready to deal with making a new home after a recent move from another city. A patient with terminal cancer has high pain medication requirements without adequate relief, cries out fearfully and says a rosary regularly; when it is suggested that the fearful images during the rosary be replaced by positive, comforting and supportive ones, the pain medication requirements drop by half in 24 hours.
On open nesting in distributed transactional memory

Distributed Transactional Memory (DTM) is a recent but promising model for programming distributed systems. It aims to present programmers with a simple to use distributed concurrency control abstraction (transactions), while maintaining performance and scalability similar to distributed fine-grained locks. Any complications usually associated with such locks (e.g., distributed deadlocks) are avoided. Building upon the previously proposed Transactional Forwarding Algorithm (TFA), we add support for open-nested transactions. We discuss the mechanisms and performance implications of such nesting, and identify the cases where using open nesting is warranted and the relevant parameters for such a decision. To the best of our knowledge, our work contributes the first ever implementation of a DTM system with support for open-nested transactions.
An electron projection and alignment system for 3-inch diameter wafers

Summary form only given, as follows. An Electron Projection System is being developed at Radiant Energy Systems. Inc. for the purpose of providing submicron imaging and alignment in the mask alignment process. This system is the first electron beam lithography system capable of exposing 3-inch diameter wafers in seconds. The system is designed to process wafers au.tomatically once inserted into the vacuum system. Alignment of the mask to the wafer is computer controlled and requires no operator assistance. The system, called the EPS-1500 Electron Projection System, images an integrated circuit mask onto a silicon wafer utilizing a photoemissive surface and coaxial magnetic and electric fields. 3-inch wafers have been processed with micron resolution over the full 3-inch format. Multilayer alignments have been accomplished with integrated circuit mask sets. Alignment is accomplished via holes drilled in the silicon wafer. These holes provide alignment sensitivities of 0.1 micron and survive all processing steps. The performance of the system as compared to conventional mask alignment systems and other microfabrication techniques is discussed.
Climate Change: A "Green" Approach to Teaching Contemporary Germany.

This articles describes a newly designed upper division German language course, “Contemporary Germany: Food, Energy Politics,” and two sampling methods of assessment for measuring parallel gains in German skills and sustainable development (SD) thinking. Second Language Acquisition (SLA) informed course design, key assignments, and multi-media teaching resources are discussed and presented. A content-based pedagogical model is advocated as an effective approach to creating a sustainability- and foreign language-infused curricula that make a valuable contribution to the liberal arts undergraduate education as a whole.
A Survey of Vision Aids for the Blind

The development of effective user interfaces, appropriate sensors, and information processing techniques make it is possible to enable the blind to achieve additional perception of the environment. Since the beginning of the 1970's, the research of vision aids for the visually impaired people has been broadly extended. After introducing the traditional methods for guiding blind, two typical modes of mobility aid are presented in this paper. One called as ETA (short for Electronic Travel Aids), bases on the other natural senses of the blind, such as hearing, touch, smell, feeling and etc, focusing on Meijer's vOICe system which is based on the blind's sensitive auditory senses and ENVS which is by means of haptic feedback. The other technique is artificial vision, using surgical methods of implanting visual prosthesis in the blind's healthy retina, cortex, or optic nerve. The prosthesis generates electrical impulse and evokes the perception of points of light in the patients' visual cortex. The first type is non-wounded for the blind while the second type is wounded for the blind. Besides these, comparisons between the above two techniques and the related researches have also been indicated in this paper.
Postprandial oxidative stress in response to dextrose and lipid meals of differing size.

We have recently noted that ingestion of dietary lipid (in the form of heavy whipping cream) leads to greater oxidative stress than dietary carbohydrate (in the form of dextrose), when consumed in isocaloric amounts.
The limits to biogeographical distributions: insights from the northward range extension of the marine snail, Kelletia kelletii (Forbes, 1852)

Aim The development of accurate models predicting species range shifts in response to climate change requires studies on the population biology of species whose distributional limits are in the process of shifting. We examine the population biology of an example system using the recent northward range expansion of the marine neogastropod Kelletia kelletii (Forbes, 1852). Location This is a marine coastal shelf neogastropod species whose range extends from Isla Asuncion (Baja California, Mexico) to Monterey (CA, USA). Research sites spanned the extent of the range. Methods We examine abundance distributions and size frequency distributions of K. kelletii for evidence of factors determining historic and contemporary distributional patterns. Population studies were supplemented by historic and contemporary hydrographic data, including seawater temperature data from California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI ) and National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), and seawater circulation data. Results The structure of recently established populations varied dramatically from that of historic populations. Markedly low densities and irregular size frequency distributions characterized recently established populations and suggested only occasionally successful recruitment. The point of transition between historic and recently established populations also corresponded to the location of a gradient in seawater temperature and the confluence of two major oceanic currents. The accumulated data suggest that temperature and/or barriers to dispersal could have set both contemporary patterns in population structure as well as the former northern range limit. Main conclusions Early life stages play a critical role in determining distributional patterns of K. kelletii. Dispersal barriers and temperature limitation are two plausible mechanisms that could determine both contemporary and historic distributional patterns. Future studies on this species should attempt to tease apart the relative importance of these factors in maintaining the populations at the northern edge of the range.
Late Preterm Birth and Risk of Developing Asthma

Objective To evaluate the association between gestational age at birth (late preterm vs term) and risk for physician-diagnosed asthma. Study design We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) linked natality files. The study included children age 2-83 months from singleton births, born late preterm (n = 537) or term (n = 5650). Using survival analysis, we modeled time to diagnosis of asthma; children with no asthma diagnosis were censored at the age of their survey interview. We used Cox proportional hazard regression to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for gestational age and asthma risk, adjusting for maternal age, maternal education, parental history of asthma/hay fever, maternal smoking history during pregnancy, race/ethnicity, and sex of the child. Results Adjusted analysis showed that physician-diagnosed asthma was modestly associated with late preterm birth (hazard ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.8-2.0), but this association was not statistically significant ( P = .30). Conclusions Our study found that late preterm birth was not associated with a diagnosis of asthma in early childhood.
The employee as a punching bag: The effect of multiple sources of incivility on employee withdrawal behavior and sales performance

Summary The link between the interpersonal stressor of workplace mistreatment and objective measures of performance is often overlooked in organizational research. In order to fill this research gap, we examined the unique and combined effects of two sources of incivility (customer and coworker) on objective sales performance and withdrawal behaviors (absenteeism and tardiness). We hypothesized that coworker and customer incivility would interact to predict reduced performance and increased withdrawal, using the conservation of resources model to support our hypotheses. We surveyed 120 bank tellers regarding experienced incivility and obtained performance and withdrawal data spanning a period of several months following the survey. The data indicated that coworker and customer incivility did interact to predict decreased sales performance and increased absenteeism, supporting the majority of our proposed hypotheses. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings and future directions are discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Foliage of Oaks Grown Under Elevated CO2 Reduces Performance of Antheraea polyphemus (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

To understand how the increase in atmospheric CO2 from human activity may affect leaf damage by forest insects, we examined host plant preference and larval performance of a generalist herbivore, Antheraea polyphemus Cram., that consumed foliage developed under ambient or elevated CO2. Larvae were fed leaves from Quercus alba L. and Quercus velutina Lam. grown under ambient or plus 200 μl/liter CO2 using free air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE). Lower digestibility of foliage, greater protein precipitation capacity in frass, and lower nitrogen concentration of larvae indicate that growth under elevated CO2 reduced the food quality of oak leaves for caterpillars. Consuming leaves of either oak species grown under elevated CO2 slowed the rate of development of A. polyphemus larvae. When given a choice, A. polyphemus larvae preferred Q. velutina leaves grown under ambient CO2; feeding on foliage of this species grown under elevated CO2 led to reduced consumption, slower growth, and greater mortality. Larvae compensated for the lower digestibility of Q. alba leaves grown under elevated CO2 by increasing the efficiency of conversion of ingested food into larval mass. Despite equivalent consumption rates, larvae grew larger when they consumed Q. alba leaves grown under elevated compared with ambient CO2. Reduced consumption, slower growth rates, and increased mortality of insect larvae may explain lower total leaf damage observed previously in plots in this forest exposed to elevated CO2. By subtly altering aspects of leaf chemistry, the ever-increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere will change the trophic dynamics in forest ecosystems.
Detergency: Micellar relationships of an anionic‐nonionic surfactant mixture

The micellar characteristics of the mixed micelles formed by three ratios of an anionicnonionic surfactant mixture have been compared with the detergencies imparted by the three combinations to aqueous alkaline cleaning solutions of ca. pH 12. It was found that detergency increases with increasing charge on, and number of anionic monomers in, the mixed micelles. Improved detergency appears to be connected to a reduction in micellar dissociation.
Designs for Instruction, Designs for Change: Distributing Knowledge of Evidence‐Based Practice

We comment on the target article by Weingardt (this issue), which discusses recent advances in instructional design and technology (IDT) and their implications for dissemination of evidence-based practices. These arguments are extended to the topic of psychological intervention design, and possibilities for new intervention structures are briefly explored. Finally, comments are offered on maintaining a careful balance between technological and social processes in the effort to promote the dissemination of innovative and evidence-based psychological procedures.
Zone or Five-Man Defense in Basketball

(1930). Zone or Five-Man Defense in Basketball. The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 36-37.
In-situ, high-frequency P-Wave velocity measurements within 1 m of the Earth’s surface

Seismic P-wave velocities in near‐surface materials can be much slower than the speed of sound waves in air (normally 335 m/s or 1100 ft/s). Difficulties often arise when measuring these low‐velocity P-waves because of interference by the air wave and the air‐coupled waves near the seismic source, at least when gathering data with the more commonly used shallow P-wave sources. Additional problems in separating the direct and refracted arrivals within ∼2 m of the source arise from source‐generated nonlinear displacement, even when small energy sources such as sledgehammers, small‐caliber rifles, and seismic blasting caps are used. Using an automotive spark plug as an energy source allowed us to measure seismic P-wave velocities accurately, in situ, from a few decimeters to a few meters from the shotpoint. We were able to observe three distinct P-wave velocities at our test site: ∼130m/s, 180m/s, and 300m/s. Even the third layer, which would normally constitute the first detected layer in a shallow‐seismic‐...
Effect of pH and Azide on the Oxygen Reduction Reaction with a Pyrolyzed Fe Phthalocyanine Catalyst

The active site of pyrolyzed Fe/N/C electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has been a source of debate since the initial discovery that these materials demonstrated activity toward the ORR. Here we utilize carbon-supported iron(II) phthalocyanine (FePc) that has been pyrolyzed at 800 °C in the absence and presence of azide in acidic, neutral, and basic environments in order to probe the ORR activity and mechanism of pyrolyzed Fe/N/C materials. The presence of azide served to enhance the ORR activity of this material in neutral electrolyte while having no effect in acid or base. Tafel slope differences in addition to the azide enhancement suggest an iron-centered active site for the ORR in pyrolyzed FePc and potentially other Fe/N/C electrocatalysts.
The evolution of drug discovery: from phenotypes to targets, and back

Cumulative scientific and technological advances over the past two centuries have transformed drug discovery from a largely serendipitous process into the high tech pipelines of today. For thousands of years, medicines were sourced directly from nature, through observing the phenotypic effects of substances on humans or animals. Following the molecular biology revolution and initiation of the human genome project in the 1990s, target-based screening gained popularity and soon came to dominate the pharmaceutical industry. Two decades later, the phenotypic approach began to make a strong comeback, benefiting from the scalability and speed afforded by massive technological advances. This has ignited a debate over the relative productivities of phenotypic and target-based screening. However, as more integrative technologies become available, the focus of the discussion should shift from prioritizing the different approaches to finding strategies that can combine their complementary strengths. This review chronicles major trends and transformative events in the evolution of drug discovery, and underscores the importance of phenotypic approaches for past, and likely future, successes.
Ureteral stenosis secondary to retroperitoneal rheumatoid nodules.

Abstract A 57-year-old man with Felty’s syndrome had flank pain as a result of ureteral obstruction and right hydronephrosis. The obstruction was due to retroperitoneal necrobiotic granulomas typical of rheumatoid nodules.
Renal pelvic explosion during conservative management of upper tract urothelial cancer

Ureteroscopic fulguration of a renal pelvic papillary transitional cell carcinoma is a relatively new and limited procedure. We present a case of intrarenal explosion during ureteroscopic fulguration.
The impact of mental illness on the risk of employment termination.

Background Mental illness can adversely impact labor market outcomes in a variety of ways, through education attainment, employment possibilities, and income. However, little is known about the impact of mental illness on an individual's ability to maintain employment. Aims of the study This paper examines the impact of mental health on the risk of employment termination. We also distinguish between voluntary and involuntary employment termination. Methods Using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we used survival analysis techniques to examine the impact of a mental illness diagnosis on the risk of employment termination and propensity score matching techniques to construct similar comparison groups. Initially, we used Cox proportional-hazards models where the event of interest was termination of employment. We then used a competing risk framework to differentiate between voluntary and involuntary employment termination. We also stratified our analysis by gender and capture levels of severity, receipt of treatment, and specific type of mental illness. Results We found that individuals with mental illness have an increased risk of employment termination in general as well as both involuntary and voluntary job loss. These results were consistent across all regression specifications. Discussion This paper is the first to explore the association between mental illness and the risk of employment termination in a sample of employed individuals. Employment is closely linked with mental health. Evidence suggests that employment can improve an individual's mental well-being but that job loss can have a detrimental effect. Our results suggest that individuals that can greatly benefit from their jobs are precisely those who are at high risk of losing them. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE PROVISION AND POLICIES: A greater effort must be made to provide support networks for employees within their work environments. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE RESEARCH: Future analysis should examine the impact of antidepressant therapy, supported employment policies, and other mental health-related interventions on the risk of employment termination for those individuals with mental illness. This would be instructive for advocates of the mentally ill to design more targeted interventions for individuals at risk. In addition, future research should examine the effect of other health conditions on the risk of employment termination. In the present study, poor self-reported health increased the risk of involuntary job termination. It would be informative to isolate what types of ailments contribute to this increased risk.
Online Appearance Manifold Learning for Video Classification and Clustering

Video classification and clustering are key techniques in multimedia applications such as video segmentation and recognition. This paper investigates the application of incremental manifold learning algorithms to directly learn nonlinear relationships among video frames. Video frame classification and clustering are performed to the projected data in an intrinsic latent space. This approach has avoided partitioning video frames into arbitrary groups. It works even when the input video frames are under-sampled or unevenly distributed. Experiments show that video classification and clustering give better results in the latent space than in the original high dimensional space.
Biophysical determinants for cellular uptake of hydrocarbon-stapled peptide helices

Hydrocarbon-stapled peptides are a class of bioactive alpha-helical ligands developed to dissect and target protein interactions. While there is consensus that stapled peptides can be effective chemical tools for investigating protein regulation, their broader utility for therapeutic modulation of intracellular interactions remains an active area of study. In particular, the design principles for generating cell-permeable stapled peptides are empiric, yet consistent intracellular access is essential to in vivo application. Here, we used an unbiased statistical approach to determine which biophysical parameters dictate the uptake of stapled-peptide libraries. We found that staple placement at the amphipathic boundary combined with optimal hydrophobic and helical content are the key drivers of cellular uptake, whereas excess hydrophobicity and positive charge at isolated amino acid positions can trigger membrane lysis at elevated peptide dosing. Our results provide a design roadmap for maximizing the potential to generate cell-permeable stapled peptides with on-mechanism cellular activity.
A Pseudomonas aeruginosa hepta-acylated lipid A variant associated with cystic fibrosis selectively activates human neutrophils

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease causes airway neutrophilia and hyperinflammation without effective bacterial clearance. We evaluated the immunostimulatory activities of lipid A, the membrane anchor of LPS, isolated from mutants of PA that synthesize structural variants, present in the airways of patients with CF, to determine if they correlate with disease severity and progression. In a subset of patients with a severe late stage of CF disease, a unique hepta-acylated lipid A, hepta-1855, is synthesized. In primary human cell cultures, we found that hepta-1855 functioned as a potent TLR4 agonist by priming neutrophil respiratory burst and stimulating strong IL-8 from monocytes and neutrophils. hepta-1855 also had a potent survival effect on neutrophils. However, it was less efficient in stimulating neutrophil granule exocytosis and also less potent in triggering proinflammatory TNF-α response from monocytes. In PA isolates that do not synthesize hepta-1855, a distinct CF-specific adaptation favors synthesis of a penta-1447 and hexa-1685 LPS mixture. We found that penta-1447 lacked immunostimulatory activity but interfered with inflammatory IL-8 synthesis in response to hexa-1685. Together, these observations suggest a potential contribution of hepta-1855 to maintenance of the inflammatory burden in late-stage CF by recruiting neutrophils via IL-8 and promoting their survival, an effect presumably amplified by the absence of penta-1447. Moreover, the relative inefficiency of hepta-1855 in triggering neutrophil degranulation may partly explain the persistence of PA in CF disease, despite extensive airway neutrophilia.
Arterial Interventions: Gastrointestinal

In children, arterial interventions involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and liver are performed primarily for diagnosis and therapy for GI bleeding, liver trauma, and complications of liver transplantation. GI bleeding in infants and children is a fairly common problem in the practice of general pediatrics and accounts for about 10–15 % of referrals to pediatric gastroenterologists. Intervention for liver trauma and complications of liver transplant are limited to Level I trauma centers and transplant centers, respectively. Therefore, this chapter will focus on GI bleeding.
Global Learning in American Higher Education: Strategies for Developing Global Citizens in an Era of Complex Interdependence

In the global economy of the early twenty-first century, ‘knowledge societies’—those that constantly develop new ideas, technologies, methods, products, and services—are crucial for future prosperity. In order to meet these challenges, institutions of higher education are seeking new ways to further connect their faculty, students, and outside communities in a strategic way where ideas flow, new initiatives blossom, flexibility abounds, and global reputations expand (Wood 2006, p. 1).
Liberal Arts College Faculty Reflect on Service-Learning: Steps on a Transformative Journey

In the early twentieth century Jane Addams counseled college students to “keep one foot in the library and one in the streets.” This philosophy of learning linked to community engagement characterized not only higher education in the Progressive Era but is also a hallmark of liberal arts education today. The connection between education and civic action naturally grew out of the mission of liberal arts institutions, historically committed to educating the whole person through a broad ranging curriculum. Intellectual inquiry and academic competency have served as one pillar of the liberal arts experience, while informed moral action represents another. Each is ultimately directed toward a shared goal: Preparing students for lifelong learning and joyful, humane lives.
Goals of Undergraduate Instruction in Agricultural Economics

TO ONE who considers teaching of students, both undergraduate and graduate, his major function, the decision of this Association to devote time to the discussion of the teaching function is very gratifying. A study of our Journal will indicate that of the trilogy of our major interests-teaching, research and extension-we have devoted very little space to teaching. This is true even though many of us will spend some time in front of the classroom. It also is in contrast to the American Economics
Min-Max Message Passing and Local Consistency in Constraint Networks

In this paper, we uncover some relationships between local consistency in constraint networks and message passing akin to belief propagation in probabilistic reasoning. We develop a new message passing algorithm, called the min-max message passing (MMMP) algorithm, for unifying the different notions of local consistency in constraint networks. In particular, we study its connection to arc consistency (AC) and path consistency. We show that AC-3 can be expressed more intuitively in the framework of message passing. We also show that the MMMP algorithm can be modified to enforce path consistency.
Housing Trust Funds

Common in the United States, housing trust funds rely primarily on private sector development to generate revenue for affordable housing programme. For the past 30 years, city, county, and state governments increasingly turned toward them to augment declining federal support and to finance programme more responsive to local needs. In July 2008, the U.S. Congress approved a national housing trust fund, targeting renters with extremely low incomes. While state and local trust funds do not match federal housing programme in the amount of assistance generated, number of units produced, depth of subsidy, and long-term affordability, they have addressed diverse housing needs.
Reanalysis Aspects of Movements

This chapter describes work focusing on the reanalysis of long-distance dependencies, specifically wh-questions, instead of phrase-structure reanalysis. It will show that holding all the above aspects constant, there is still a difference in reanalysis between who and which dependencies. In particular, I will show that reanalyzing a strictly grammatical dependency is more costly than reanalyzing a coindexing relation. This difference will be attributed to the type of linguistic relation that who and which enter into, namely an antecedent government chain (who) and a binding chain (which). The finding has been motivated by experimental data on Italian (cf. De Vincenzi, in press), but it also accounts for some experimental data collected in English (cf. Carlson & Tanenhaus, 1988), therefore showing the cross-linguistic validity of such a difference in reanalysis.
Structure/function relationships in the rosette cellulose synthesis complex illuminated by an evolutionary perspective

Cellulose microfibrils are a key component of plant cell walls, which in turn compose most of our renewable biomaterials. Consequently, there is considerable interest in understanding how cellulose microfibrils are made in living cells by the plant cellulose synthesis complex (CSC). This remarkable multi-subunit complex contains cellulose synthase (CESA) proteins, and it is often called a rosette due to its six-lobed shape. Each CSC moves within the plasma membrane as it spins a strong cellulose microfibril in its wake. To accomplish this biological manufacturing process, the CESAs harvest an activated sugar substrate from the cytoplasm for use in the polymerization of glucan chains. An elongating glucan is simultaneously translocated across the plasma membrane by each CESA, where the group of chains emanating from one CSC co-crystallizes into a cellulose microfibril that becomes part of the assembling cell wall. Here we review major advances in understanding CESA and CSC structure/function relationships since 2013, when ground-breaking insights about the structure of cellulose synthases in bacteria and plants were published. We additionally discuss: (a) the relationship of CSC substructure to the size of the fundamental cellulose fibril; (b) an evolutionary perspective on the driving force behind the existence of hetero-oligomeric CSCs that currently appear to dominate in land plants; and (c) how cellulose properties may be regulated by CESA and CSC activity. We also pose major questions that still remain in this rapidly changing and exciting research field.
Elevated Vancomycin Trough Levels in a Tertiary Health System: Frequency, Risk Factors, and Prognosis

Abstract Objective To investigate the frequency of, risk factors for, and outcomes after elevated levels of vancomycin. Patients and Methods We identified hospitalizations among 21,285 individuals in which intravenous vancomycin was given between August 29, 2007, and October 10, 2014. We investigated frequency and risk factors for elevated vancomycin levels (trough levels >30 mg/L) as well as associations with subsequent acute kidney injury (AKI), length of stay, and in-hospital mortality. Results Among the 21,285 patients, the mean age was 62.9 years, and 10,478 (49.2%) were female. Trough levels of vancomycin were checked in 7422 patients, and 755 elevated levels were detected. Compared with patients with trough levels checked but no elevated levels found, those with elevated levels had longer duration of vancomycin therapy (median, 6.0 days vs 3.4 days; P Conclusion In this study, elevated vancomycin levels were common, particularly in patients with higher body mass index and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, and were associated with greater subsequent AKI and length of stay.
Poly(arylenevinylene)s through Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization of an Unsymmetrical Donor-Acceptor Cyclophane

Reported are well-defined donor-acceptor alternating copolymers prepared using ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Unsymmetrical cyclophanedienes comprising electron-donating (4-methoxy-1-(2-ethylhexyl)oxy)benzene (MEH) and electron-accepting benzothiadiazole (BT) rings were synthesized from the corresponding [3.3]dithiaparacyclophanes. ROMP of the strained unsymmetrical and "electronically-ambiguous" cyclophanedienes proceeded in a controlled manner in the presence of either Hoveyda-Grubbs II or Grubbs II initiator in wake of both steric and electronic encumbrance. The resulting polymers, comprising alternating BT and MEH-PPV units, are achieved in molecular weights exceeding 20k with Đ values ranging from 1.1-1.4. The living nature of the polymerization is verified through the formation of rod-coil and rod-rod block copolymers. Our strategy to develop previously unrealized polymers from functional building blocks featuring a locked-in D-A unit is significant in a field striving to achieve well-defined and sequence-specific materials.
Recharacterizing the Murine Chronic Angiotensin II Infusion Model of Cardiovascular and Renal Injury

The chronic angiotensin II (AngII) infusion model is one of the most commonly used to study cardiovascular and kidney injury. However, the dosages of AngII used to induce cardiovascular or renal in...
The Effects of a Decision-Protocol Informed Toilet Training Intervention for Preschoolers with Disabilities

We describe a decision protocol for choosing among potentially efficacious toilet training interventions and tested its effects with 3 preschool participants with disabilities. We utilized a decision protocol (Keohane and Greer 2005) to determine whether to initially implement interval or rapid training interventions as well as to determine whether adequate progress was being made with a particular toilet training intervention. We utilized the decision protocol to individualize toilet training procedure and evaluated its effects in a delayed multiple baseline design. Results indicated that the toileting skills of all participants improved with increased numbers of target voids on the toilet and decreased numbers of accidents as a result of individualized training procedures.
Mollā Nasreddin and the creative Cauldron of Transcaucasia

In the early 20th century, a group of artists and intellectuals in Transcaucasia reinterpreted a Middle Eastern trickster figure to construct a reformist and anti-colonial Muslim discourse with a s...
A fatal human case of rabies following the bite of a rabid bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans). Isolation and identification of the virus from vector and victim.

Abstract A fatal case of human rabies following the bite of a silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans , a free-living insectivorous species, is reported. This is believed to be the first instance in which evidence for a cause and effect relationship of bite to infection is complete, since the virus was recovered from both the vector and the victim. The patient succumbed to infection despite prophylactic treatment with rabies hyperimmune serum and a complete course of rabies vaccine, duck embryo type.
International institutional design and human rights: The case of the Inter-American Human Rights System:

Most studies examining the effectiveness of international human rights law treat international human rights institutions as equally (un)influential on state behavior. I argue that institutional des...
Mucosal antibody quantity but not avidity predicts likelihood of Salmonella infection in red‐eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta)

Natural antibodies (NAbs) are polyreactive, have low avidity, and are a product of B-1 cells. Evidence suggests that NAbs may play a key role in immune defense in turtles, as increased total mucosal antibodies are associated with a decreased number of extracellular intestinal parasites. However, it is unknown if this trend extends to other types of pathogens and if avidity of the NAb to the pathogen is a factor in protection. We examined the relationship between a common intracellular bacteria in turtles-Salmonella-and NAbs. Plasma and mucosal samples were taken from red-eared slider turtles. We measured levels and avidity of antibodies that bound to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of Salmonella cell wall. We examined the relationship between these measures and the ability of plasma to kill Salmonella as well as infection status. Higher mucosal antibody levels were significantly associated with a decrease in likelihood of infection with Salmonella; however, plasma antibody levels were not. There was a trend for bactericidal ability of the plasma to be positively correlated with plasma antibody levels bound to LPS, but not mucosal antibody levels. Avidity was not significantly related to either killing capacity or likelihood of infection suggesting that only increased quantity and not better binding is responsible for the decreased likelihood of infection. These findings suggest that NAb regulation was sufficient to isolate the infection to the gastrointestinal tract of the turtles, allowing it to be cleared with the mucus layer. Our results add further evidence that turtles use a general, nonspecific NAb response to combat pathogens.
Electrostatic effects in proteins are governed by pH-redistribution of the conformational ensemble

The imperative for charges to be hydrated is one of the most important organizing principles in biology, responsible for the general architecture of biological macromolecules and for energy storage in the form of electrochemical gradients. Paradoxically, many functional sites in proteins have buried ionizable groups1. These groups are tolerated because they are usually buried in the neutral state2. However, when they become charged they can drive structural transitions to open states in which the charge can be stabilized, mostly through interactions with water3. This coupling between the ionization of a buried group and conformational reorganization is precisely the mechanism used by proteins to perform energy transduction4,5,6. By applying this principle to a family of 25 variants of staphylococcal nuclease with internal Lys residues, it was possible to characterize in detail the range of localized partial unfolding events that even a highly stable protein that unfolds cooperatively can undergo in response to H+-binding. Conformational states that constitute vanishingly small populations of the equilibrium native state ensemble of this protein were identified by correlation of structural and thermodynamic data, providing a map of the conformational landscape of this protein with unprecedented detail. The data demonstrate that the apparent pKa values of buried ionizable residues are not determined by the properties of their microenvironment but by the intrinsic propensity of the protein to populate open states in which internal charged residues can be hydrated. The role of buried residues in functional sites in proteins relies on their ability to tune the conformational ensemble for redistribution in response to small changes in pH. These results provide the physical framework necessary for understanding the role of pH-driven conformational changes in driving biological energy transduction4, the identification of pH-sensing proteins in nature7, and for the engineering of pH-sensitive dynamics and function in de novo designed proteins8.
On the problem of comparing Covid-19 fatality rates

Understanding Covid-19 lethality and its variation from country to country is essential for supporting governments in the choice of appropriate strategies. Adopting correct indicators to monitor the lethality of the infection in the course of the outbreak is a crucial issue. This works highlights how far the time-dependent case fatality rate is a misleading indicator for estimating the fatality in the course of the outbreak, even if our attention is only restricted to the subset of confirmed cases. Our analysis proves that the final case fatality ratio for several major European countries is bound to largely exceed 10%. The largely discussed difference in the fatality ratio between Italy and other major European countries, is to be mostly attributed (except for the case of Germany) to the more advanced stage of the Italian epidemic.