cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tamoxifen Modulates Protein Kinase C via Oxidative Stress in Estrogen Receptor-negative Breast Cancer Cells

Nonsteroidal agent tamoxifen (Tam), a therapeutic/chemopreventive agent for breast cancer, inhibits protein kinase C (PKC), which is considered to be one of its extra-estrogen receptor sites of action. This drug is required at higher (>100 microM) concentrations to inhibit PKC in the test tube, whereas it is required at lower (1-10 microM) concentrations to induce inhibition of cell growth in estrogen receptor-negative cell types. To identify additional mechanisms of action of Tam on PKC and cell growth, studies with MDA-MB-231, an estrogen receptor-negative breast carcinoma cell type, have been carried out. Upon treatment with 5-20 microM Tam, a cytosol to membrane translocation of PKC occurred within 30 min, which was then followed by a down-regulation of the enzyme within 2 h. A transient generation of Ca2+/lipid-independent activated form of PKC was observed during this period. Rapidly growing cells require nearly 2-3-fold lower concentrations (2-5 microM) of Tam than do confluent cells to induce changes in PKC. Furthermore, phorbol ester binding observed with intact cells also decreased in Tam-treated cells only under the conditions PKC was inactivated. Unlike phorbol esters, Tam did not directly support the membrane association of PKC. The release of arachidonic acid correlated with the PKC membrane translocation. Studies carried out with [3H]Tam revealed that Tam partitioned into the membrane, and there was no appreciable covalent association of [3H]Tam with cellular proteins within this limited time period (2 h). Various antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) inhibited all these cellular effects of Tam. Moreover, vitamin E strikingly blocked Tam-induced growth inhibition. To determine whether oxymetabolites of Tam can affect PKC permanently, OH-Tam was tested with purified PKC. In contrast to Tam, which reversibly inhibited PKC, OH-Tam permanently inactivated the enzyme by modifying the catalytic domain at lower concentrations. The vicinal thiols present within this domain were found to be required to induce this inactivation. This effect was partially blocked by various antioxidants. This is the first report showing the role of oxidative stress in mediating the actions of Tam. Taken together these results suggest that Tam, by initially partitioning into the membranes, induces a generation of transmembrane signals and an oxidative stress to elicit the membrane association of PKC, followed by an irreversible activation, and subsequent down-regulation of this enzyme, which, in part, may lead to cell growth inhibition.
The RF system for accelerator production of tritium

A high-power proton linac (linear accelerator) is being proposed for the next generation tritium source for accelerator production of tritium (APT). The proposed proton linac requires a substantial continuous wave (CW) RF system. This paper presents an overview of accelerator-based tritium production and the details of the CW RF system design. Based on the current tritium production requirement, the proposed accelerator will require in excess of 200 MW of installed CW RF power. The availability requirements for the RF system are quite high and an efficient low-cost approach to providing redundancy will be discussed. Also presented are the baseline choices for the RF sources as well as our technology development goals and how they impact the RF system design.
Specific [3H]-spiroperidol binding sites in human prefrontal cortex: potential site multiplicity and overall serotonin-like selectivity

[3H]-Spiroperidol specifically binds at sites in human prefrontal cortex. The binding of this ligand is apparently anomalous at 37 degrees C, with a substantial loss of specific binding occurring between 5 and 40 min incubation. However, at 21 degrees C, this loss of binding is not observed even at 60 min. At 21 degrees C, [3H]-spiroperidol binding in human prefrontal cortex is apparently occurring at multiple sites or multiple affinity states of single classes of sites, or at a combination of both. The overall selectivity is predominantly serotonergic, rather than dopaminergic.
What Makes a Good MR Fluid

Experience in manufacturing magnetorheological (MR) fluids for commercial application has shown that some of the greatest barriers to commercial success are not factors or conditions normally considered in the laboratory. The present paper looks at conditions found in MR fluid devices operating in real-world applications where shear rates may exceed 10 5 s -1 and devices are called upon to operate for very long periods of time. The problem of In-Use-Thickening wherein a MR fluid subjected to long-term use progressively thickens until it eventually becomes an unworkable paste is presented. The search for a solution to this heretofore unrecognized problem delayed commercial introduction of the Lord truck seat damper system for several years. Today, good fluids are able to operate for long periods with minimum in-use-thickening.
Coccidioidomycosis in African Americans

Coccidioidomycosis is caused by Coccidioides species, a fungus endemic to the desert regions of the southwestern United States, and is of particular concern for African Americans. We performed a PubMed search of the English-language medical literature on coccidioidomycosis in African Americans and summarized the pertinent literature. Search terms were coccidioidomycosis, Coccidioides, race, ethnicity, African, black, and Negro. The proceedings of the national and international coccidioidomycosis symposia were searched. All relevant articles and their cited references were reviewed; those with epidemiological, immunologic, clinical, and therapeutic data pertaining to coccidioidomycosis in African Americans were included in the review. Numerous studies documented an increased predilection for severe coccidioidal infections, coccidioidomycosis-related hospitalizations, and extrapulmonary dissemination in persons of African descent; however, most of the published studies are variably problematic. The immunologic mechanism for this predilection is unclear. The clinical features and treatment recommendations are summarized. Medical practitioners need to be alert to the possibility of coccidioidomycosis in persons with recent travel to or residence in an area where the disease is endemic.
Characterization of products from the reactions of N-acetyldopamine quinone with N-acetylhistidine.

dine; protein; sclerotization; adduct; oxidation; addition. ing reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and UV/vis spectroscopy. The two major products, 6-[N-(N-acetylhistidyl)]-N-acetyldoN-Acylcatecholamines are important catecholamine pamine and 2-[N-(N-acetylhistidyl)]-N-acetyldopammetabolites used by insects to sclerotize or harden their ine, were characterized by fast atom bombardment exoskeletons. N-Acetyldopamine (NADA) 3 and N-b- mass spectroscopy (FAB-MS), NMR spectroscopy, CV,
Stock returns and inflation: The role of the monetary sector

Abstract This paper hypothesizes that the relation between stock returns and inflation is caused by the equilibrium process in the monetary sector. More importantly, these relations vary over time in a systematic manner depending on the influence of money demand and supply factors. Post-war evidence from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany indicates that the negative stock return-inflation relations are caused by money demand and counter-cyclical money supply effects. On the other hand, pro-cyclical movements in money, inflation, and stock prices during the 1930's lead to relations which are either positive or insignificant.
Jaw function status in an elderly community sample

The purpose of this study was to assess jaw function status and disability in an elderly population. The sample consisted of 429 Medicare recipients dwelling in the community (mean age = 74.4±5 yr; 58% female and 42% male) who were enrolled in an HCFA-sponsored prevention demonstration project. An evaluation of TMJ and jaw muscle status was conducted at the completion of a general dental examination. This included assessment of joint sounds (clicking or crepitus), joint and jaw muscle tenderness to palpation, and measurement of maximum opening. Pain or disability during jaw use and history of TMD problems were assessed by self-report. The prevalence of TMJ clicking was 16%, crepitus 19%, TMJ tenderness 8%, jaw muscle tenderness 13%, and opening < 40 mm 22% Pain on jaw use was reported by 6.5%, and 12% reported a history of TMD problems. There was no significant relationship between TMD signs and symptoms and dental status. The lack of consistent relationship between TMD signs and symptoms and health status measures suggests that TMD is a localized disease process and not an extension of a general condition such as arthritis or depression, nor does it have major impact on activities of daily living. Examiner referral for treatment was low (1%) indicating that TMD was not a significant treatment concern in this sample of the elderly.
Introduction to Special Issue: Seeing Obama's Election through the Black Americas: Ethnographic Perspectives as a Mirror

Based on fieldwork in Argentina, Ecuador, Jamaica, and Martinique during the 2008 campaign and the 2009 inauguration, extended to the 2012 election cycle, these articles build on anthropological scholarship on Diaspora. Local communities’ responses to the election and inauguration provide a look “behind the mirror” (Gregory 2007). Specifically, building on insights from Kamari Maxine Clarke (2010), this transnational connection imagined and called into being networks of black linkages, what she has called “humanitarian diasporas.” The discussions, analyses, and political claims-making are examples of Gilroy's (1987; 1993) articulation of the Black Atlantic, particularly networks that transnationally or “outer-nationally” link black communities to one another. Taking ethnographic subjects’ own transnational reflection of the meanings of Obama as a starting point, these articles analyze and extend our understandings of diaspora while offering a solid understanding of the many ways blackness is being defined and redefined in particular national and regional contexts.
Correlation between serum caffeine levels and changes in cytokine profile in a cohort of preterm infants.

Objective To determine changes in cytokine levels associated with caffeine treatment in a cohort of preterm infants. Study design For this observational prospective study, we collected clinical data from 26 preterm infants (≤30 weeks gestational age). In addition to caffeine levels, cytokine profiles in peripheral blood (PB) and tracheal aspirates (TA) were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at birth, before and after (at 24 hours and 1 week) initiation of caffeine. Non-parametric statistics were applied. Results Included infants were 26.9 ± 1.7 weeks gestational age and weighed 985 ± 202 g. At birth, all cytokine concentrations were significantly greater in TA than PB. Serum caffeine levels were 11.1 μg/mL (interquartile range, 1.85) at approximately 24 hours post-load and 16.4 (8.7) μg/mL at 1 week on treatment. At approximately 24 hours post-load, interleukin (IL)-10 levels decreased by 47.5% ( P = .01) in PB and 38.5% ( P = .03) in TA, whereas other cytokine levels remained unchanged. At 1 week, caffeine levels were correlated (U-shaped) with changes in proinflammatory tumor necrosis factor-α (R 2 = 0.65; P = .0008), interleukin (IL)-1β (R 2 = 0.73; P = .0007), and IL-6 (R 2 = 0.59; P = .003), whereas inversely correlated (linear) with the anti-inflammatory IL-10 (R 2 = 0.64; P = .0008). Altogether, caffeine, at serum levels ≥20 μg/mL, was associated with a proinflammatory profile after 1 week of treatment. Conclusions Caffeine treatment for apnea of prematurity correlates with changes in cytokine profile. Caffeine levels ≥20 μg/mL are associated with a proinflammatory profile in our cohort of preterm infants.
Arginine-vasopressin in catecholamine-refractory septic versus non-septic shock in extremely low birth weight infants with acute renal injury.

Introduction The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) as a rescue therapy in catecholamine-refractory septic and non-septic shock in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants with acute renal injury. Methods Prospective assessment of AVP therapy in three ELBW infants with catecholamine-refractory septic shock and acute renal injury (mean birth weight 600 ± 30 g) and three ELBW infants with non-septic shock and acute renal injury (mean birth weight 770 ± 110 g) at a University hospital. The main outcome measures were restoration of blood pressure with adequate organ perfusion and survival at discharge. Results In all three ELBW infants with catecholamine-resistant septic shock, systemic arterial blood pressure increased substantively with restoration of urine output after AVP administration (dosage, 0.035 to 0.36 U/kg/h; length, 70 ± 21 hours). In the three ELBW infants with non-septic shock, only a transient stabilization in mean arterial pressure with restoration of urine output was observed after AVP therapy (dosage, 0.01 to 0.36 U/kg/h; length, 30 ± 16 hours). The mortality rate was 1/3 in the sepsis group versus 3/3 in the non-septic group. Conclusion AVP may be a promising rescue therapy in catecholamine-resistant shock in ELBW infants with acute renal injury. Larger prospective clinical trials are warranted to assess the efficacy and safety of AVP as a pressor adjunct in septic versus non-septic shock in ELBW infants.
Rapid beam shaping using tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction lenses

A MHz-rate device employing acoustic waves within a fluid is used to modulate an incident laser beam and form patterns including focal spots, Bessel beams, and doughnut beams. Theory, experiment, and applications are presented.
Early and late results of fresh autologous pericardial valved conduits

The objective of this study was to evaluate the early and late results of an autologous pericardial valved conduit in the pulmonary circulation. Between 1983 and 1997,86 autologous pericardial valved conduits were used to achieve venous ventricle-pulmonary artery continuity. The mean patient age at the time of implantation was 4.16 ± 4.10 years (15 days to 24 years). All patients had two-dimensional postoperative and yearly Doppler echocardiograms in which the valve function and the presence of distal, valvar, and proximal stenosis were evaluated. There were 13 early deaths (15%). Twenty-one patients (24.4%) showed trivial, 54 (62.8%) mild, nine (10.4%) moderate, and two (2.3%) severe pulmonary regurgitation in the early postoperative period. The 73 survivors were monitored from 1 to 15 years (mean, 6.5 years; median, 7.1 years). There were five late deaths. The mean conduit diameter at the time of implantation was 15.8 mm, increasing to 18.21 mm at last evaluation ( P
Heavy-tailed distributions and multi-keyword queries

Intersecting inverted indexes is a fundamental operation for many applications in information retrieval and databases. Efficient indexing for this operation is known to be a hard problem for arbitrary data distributions. However, text corpora used in Information Retrieval applications often have convenient power-law constraints (also known as Zipf's Law and long tails) that allow us to materialize carefully chosen combinations of multi-keyword indexes, which significantly improve worst-case performance without requiring excessive storage. These multi-keyword indexes limit the number of postings accessed when computing arbitrary index intersections. Our evaluation on an e-commerce collection of 20 million products shows that the indexes of up to four arbitrary keywords can be intersected while accessing less than 20% of the postings in the largest single-keyword index.
Physiologically relevant image reconstruction for small animals using optical diffusion tomography

We present experimental results for reconstructing physiologically relevant optical properties of a small animal using optical diffusion tomography.
Characterization of the spoIVB and recN loci of Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract Two independent genes, recN and spoIVB, along with their respective promoter and termination regions, were discovered and sequenced in the 3.4-kilobase region between the ahrC and spoOA genes at map position 216 in the Bacillus subtilis chromosome map. The gene encoding a 576-amino-acid protein, which maintains a high homology with the Escherichia coli recN gene product, was adjacent to ahrC. The sequence revealed a 64,472-dalton polypeptide which contained a conserved ATP-binding site and possible lexA-type regulatory binding sequences in its promoter region. A second open reading frame identified as the spoIVB gene was directly downstream of recN. It consisted of 1,275 nucleotides which coded for a 425-amino-acid polypeptide with a molecular weight of 45,976. Phenotypic, genetic, and transcriptional analyses confirmed that this gene was spoIVB. Although no chloroform-resistant spores were produced by spoIVB-inactivated strains, under microscopic examination, phase-gray forespores were visible. The spoIVB165 mutation was localized to a 200-base-pair region in the amino-terminal portion of the polypeptide, spoIVB was not transcribed until hour 2 of sporulation in wild-type B. subtilis cells, as determined by beta-galactosidase activity assays from lacZ transcriptional fusion constructions. We found no amino acid sequence homology between the spoIVB gene product and other known bacterial proteins.
Influence of Site on Diversity and Abundance of Ground- and Litter-Dwelling Coleoptera in Appalachian Oak–Hickory Forests

Weevaluatedthefamily-levelrichness,diversity,evenness,andabundanceofground- and litter-dwelling beetles in two forested areas of southeastern Kentucky for 2 yr, and related beetle diversity to habitat characteristics in these deciduous forests. Using pitfall traps and leaf litter samples, we collected over 13,420 beetle specimens in 42 families during this 2-yr study. Carabidae, Scolytidae, and Staphylinidae were the most abundant families in pitfall traps, and Nitidulidae, Staphylinidae, and Pselaphidae were most common in litter samples. Pitfall traps captured the widest array, with 41 beetle families, whereas litter samples produced 25 families. Plots from Robinson Forest had a higher family richness but lower evenness than Kentucky Ridge Forest plots in both 1997 and 1998. The greater evenness of the families at Kentucky Ridge contributed to a higher Shannon index at Kentucky Ridge than at Robinson Forest, though these differences were significant only in 1998. Kentucky Ridge plots tended to be less rocky, with greater amounts of coarse woody debris, less dense herbaceous cover, a smaller mid-canopy component, and less deciduous cover than Robinson Forest. Family richness, diversity, evenness and abundance varied with site, plot, and sample interval, but the site variables we measured were inconsistent in their ability to predict our response variables, as was the multivariate cluster analysis. The effects of site characteristics and habitat complexity on beetle family diversity are discussed.
Hardware atomicity for reliable software speculation

Speculative compiler optimizations are effective in improving both single-thread performance and reducing power consumption, but their implementation introduces significant complexity, which can limit their adoption, limit their optimization scope, and negatively impact the reliability of the compilers that implement them. To eliminate much of this complexity, as well as increase the effectiveness of these optimizations, we propose that microprocessors provide architecturally-visible hardware primitives for atomic execution. These primitives provide to the compiler the ability to optimize the program's hot path in isolation, allowing the use of non-speculative formulations of optimization passes to perform speculative optimizations. Atomic execution guarantees that if a speculation invariant does not hold, the speculative updates are discarded, the register state is restored, and control is transferred to a non-speculative version of the code, thereby relieving the compiler from the responsibility of generating compensation code.We demonstrate the benefit of hardware atomicity in the context of a Java virtual machine. We find incorporating the notion of atomic regions into an existing compiler intermediate representation to be natural, requiring roughly 3,000 lines of code (~3% of a JVM's optimizing compiler), most of which were for region formation. Its incorporation creates new opportunities for existing optimization passes, as well as greatly simplifying the implementation of additional optimizations (e.g., partial inlining, partial loop unrolling, and speculative lock elision). These optimizations reduce dynamic instruction count by 11% on average and result in a 10-15% average speedup, relative to a baseline compiler with a similar degree of inlining.
Chondrocyte AMP-activated protein kinase activity suppresses matrix degradation responses to proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor α.

Objective Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) stimulate chondrocyte matrix catabolic responses, thereby compromising cartilage homeostasis in osteoarthritis (OA). AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which regulates energy homeostasis and cellular metabolism, also exerts antiinflammatory effects in multiple tissues. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that AMPK activity limits chondrocyte matrix catabolic responses to IL-1β and TNFα. Methods Expression of AMPK subunits was examined, and AMPKα activity was ascertained by the phosphorylation status of AMPKα Thr172 in human knee articular chondrocytes and cartilage by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Procatabolic responses to IL-1β and TNFα, such as release of glycosaminoglycan, nitric oxide, and matrix metalloproteinases 3 and 13 were determined by dimethylmethylene blue assay, Griess reaction, and Western blotting, respectively, in cartilage explants and chondrocytes with and without knockdown of AMPKα by small interfering RNA. Results Normal human knee articular chondrocytes expressed AMPKα1, α2, β1, β2, and γ1 subunits. AMPK activity was constitutively present in normal articular chondrocytes and cartilage, but decreased in OA articular chondrocytes and cartilage and in normal chondrocytes treated with IL-1β and TNFα. Knockdown of AMPKα resulted in enhanced catabolic responses to IL-1β and TNFα in chondrocytes. Moreover, AMPK activators suppressed cartilage/chondrocyte procatabolic responses to IL-1β and TNFα and the capacity of TNFα and CXCL8 (IL-8) to induce type X collagen expression. Conclusion Our findings indicate that AMPK activity is reduced in OA cartilage and in chondrocytes following treatment with IL-1β or TNFα. AMPK activators attenuate dephosphorylation of AMPKα and procatabolic responses in chondrocytes induced by these cytokines. These observations suggest that maintenance of AMPK activity supports cartilage homeostasis by protecting cartilage matrix from inflammation-induced degradation.
Diet in Experimental Atherosclerosis

Experimental induction of atherosclerosis has been attempted in a wide variety of animals and each experimental modality can be subjected to some valid criticism (1, 2). The principal question raised about cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in the rabbit (3) is whether it may be a manifestation of a cholesterol storage syndrome in a herbivore. In 1958 Lambert et al. (4) demonstrated that atherosclerotic lesions could be induced in rabbits by feeding saturated fat. The mechanism was thought to involve essential fatty acid deficiency. However, collation of the existing literature in 1964 (5) showed that saturated fat added to stock diet never gave rise to atherosclerosis whereas addition to a semipurified diet invariably did. We showed further that the essential fatty acid content of stock diet did not protect rabbits from atherosclerosis but the fiber content did (6, 7). We devised a semipurified diet which is hyperlipoproteinemic and atherogenic for rabbits. The diet contains 40% carbohydrate, usually sucrose; 25% protein, usually casein; 15% cellulose; 14% saturated fat, usually coconut oil; 5% salt mix and 1% vitamin mix. The carbohydrate, protein and fat represent 41.5%, 25.9%, and 32.6% of calories, respectively. A major advantage of this diet is that it can be used to test nutrients within one dietary class or it can be used to examine interactions of nutrients.
Relations among Individual Differences in Reproductive Strategies, Sexual Attractiveness, Affective and Punitive Intentions, and Imagined Sexual or Emotional Infidelity

We examined relations among Mating Effort, Mate Value, Sex and individuals' self-reported responses to imagined sexual or emotional infidelity. We asked participants to describe the (1) upset or bo...
PROBING WATER DYNAMICS IN OCTAHEDRAL MOLECULAR SIEVES: HIGH SPEED 1H MAS NMR INVESTIGATIONS.

The water dynamics in molecular sieve materials are probe using high speed proton magic angle spinning NMR spectrscopy
Diseases Transmitted by Birds

Although many people these days actually work very hard at leisure time activities, diseases are most commonly acquired from birds during the course of work in the usual sense of the term, not leisure. However, travel for pleasure to areas where the diseases are highly endemic puts people at risk of acquiring some of these bird-related diseases (for example, histoplasmosis and arbovirus infections), as does ownership of birds as pets (psittacosis).
Study of aeroengine linear parameter varying modeling

Gain-scheduling control techniques based on the LPV(Linear Parameter Varying) model have increasingly been applied to aeroengine control system.This article describes two techniques of LPV modeling which are Jacobian technique and velocity-based technique,respectively.A quasi-LPV model of a turbofan engine is constructed and simulated over dynamic process.Compared with aeroengine nonlinear model,the results indicate this model has good dynamic performance.Thus,a practice method is provided for LPV gain-scheduling research of aeroengine control system.
Enteral nutritional therapy.

Patient selection, dietary formulations, techniques of intubation, and complications are discussed.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Soot from Practical Combustion Systems

The increasing study of formation and control of soot and mutagenic compounds in combustion systems is motivated by public concern and regulatory activity on suspected or known sources of carcinogens. Combustion of hydrocarbon fuels produces widely varying amounts of known carcinogens which are frequently found adsorbed on soot. While the effect on public health is unclear, more knowledge of the chemistry and physics of formation and destruction of these materials is clearly needed. Increased use of solid fuels, low hydrogen content liquids and the automotive diesel engine has the potential for increased emission of these substances. Gasoline engine and oil burning furnaces will continue to be major fuel consumers and research relevant to these devices will be of equal importance.
Disorders of platelets

Platelets are an important component in the first phase of hemostasis. This chapter gives a synoptic view of qualitative disorders of platelet function. When platelets are reduced in number, or become defective in function, bleeding may occur. Bleeding due to platelet disorders typically involves skin and mucous membranes, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The basic causes of thrombocytopenia based on platelet size are macrothrombocytes, normal size, and microthrombocytes. The pathophysiological classification of thrombocytopenia is increased platelet destruction, disorders of platelet distribution or pooling, decreased platelet production, and pseudothrombocytopenia. The major cause of thrombocytopenia is immune-mediated platelet destruction due to autoantibodies, drug-dependent antibodies, or alloantibodies. Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a syndrome characterized by: thrombocytopenia, shortened platelet survival, presence of antiplatelet antibody in the plasma, and increased megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. This condition may be acute, chronic, or recurrent. The true incidence of ITP is unknown because the disease is often transient. ITP is caused by autoantibodies against platelet membrane glycoproteins detected by the antigen capture method either on the platelets or in the plasma of patients with ITP. Therefore, ITP is still a clinical diagnosis and platelet antibody tests remain unreliable to confirm or exclude the diagnosis.
Toward large-scale crop production forecasts for global food security

Predicting crop production plays a critical role in food price forecasting and mitigating potential food shortages. Crop models may require parameters from, for example, weather, crop genotype, farm management, and soil. Sources for these data are often found in very different places. Researchers spend a significant amount of time to collect and curate them. In addition, in order to scale yield forecasts from the single-farm level up to the continental scale, crop models have to be coupled with a geospatial big data platform to provide the required data inputs. In a proof-of-concept case study, we investigate the coupling of a scalable geospatial big data platform, Physical Analytics Integrated Repository and Services (PAIRS), to the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) crop model. We envision running this system on a global scale. For geospatial analytics, PAIRS provides curation of heterogeneous data sources to simulate crop models using hundreds of terabytes of data.
Allisonella histaminiformans gen. nov., sp. nov.: A Novel Bacterium that Produces Histamine, Utilizes Histidine as its Sole Energy Source, and Could Play a Role in Bovine and Equine Laminitis

When cattle and horses are fed large amounts of grain, histamine can accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract, and this accumulation can cause an acute inflammation of the hooves (laminitis). When ruminal fluid from dairy cattle fed grain supplements was serially diluted in anaerobic MRS medium containing histidine (50 mM), histamine was detected at dilutions as high as 10(-7). The histidine enrichments were then transferred successively in an anaerobic, carbonate-based medium (50 mM histidine) without glucose. The histamine producing bacteria could not be isolated from the rumens of cattle fed hay; however, histamine producing bacteria could be isolated the feces of cattle fed grain and the cecum of a horse. All of the histamine producing isolates had the same ovoid morphology. The cells stained Gram-negative and were resistant to the ionophore, monensin (25 microM). The doubling time was 110 min, and the yield was 1.5 mg cell protein per mmol histidine. The G+C content was 46.8%. Lysine was the only other amino acid used, but lysine did not allow growth if histidine was absent. Because carbohydrate and organic acid utilization was not detected, it appeared that the isolates used histidine decarboxylation as their sole mechanism of energy derivation. 16s rRNA gene sequencing indicated that the isolates were most closely related to low G+C Gram-positive bacteria (firmicutes), but similarities were < or = 94%. Because the most closely related bacteria (Dialister pneumonsintes, Megasphaera elsdenii and Selenomonas ruminantium) did not produce histamine from histidine, we propose that these histamine producing bacteria be assigned to a new genus, Allisonella, as Allisonella histaminiformans gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is MR2 (ATCC BAA610, DSM 15230).
Opioid Peptides and Protein Phosphorylation

The identification and isolation of naturally occur ring neuropeptides with morDhine-like activity was first reported by Hughes (1975) and co-workers (HUGHES, et al, 1975). These compounds were named methionine-enkephalin and leucine-enkephalin and have the amino-acid sequences of Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met and Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu, respectively. Subsequently, a 31 amino-acid peptide with similar pharmacological and biochemical properties was described (COX, et al, 1975; BRADBURv, et al, 1976; GUILLEMAN, et al, 1976). Sequential amino-acid analysis of this larger peptide, named s-endorphin, demonstrated a similarity to the C-terminal portion (#61-91) in the sequence of s-lipotropin (LI and CHUNG, 1976: see Figure 1). Using the mouse vas deferens, the guinea pig ileum, or the opiate receptor assays, it was shown that these neuropeptides act in vitro similar to alkaloid opiates like morphine (HUGHES, 1975; HUGHES, et al, 1975; LI and CHUNG, 1976; SIMANTOV and SNYDER, 1976; GRAF, et al, 1976). These endogenous opioidlike neuropeptides have been shown to interact differentially with the opiate receptors of brain (LORD, et al, 1976).
Miniature Passive Wireless Resonant Platform for Chemical Memory-Based Threshold Sensing

We present a miniature passive wireless resonant sensor and its use in a novel platform for chemical-memory-based threshold sensing. The sensors are microfabricated with polyimide passivation and utilize various customizable polymer sensor layers allowing for capacitive transduction. Sensors of $\approx 2$ -mm3 active volume and 8-mm working distance are demonstrated, with experimental data for sensing using multiple polymers in multiple solvents. The novel design with configurable sensor layers enables a versatile platform for chemical and environmental monitoring applications.
Review of terahertz photoconductive antenna technology

Photoconductive antennas (PCAs) have been extensively utilized for the generation and detection of both pulsed broadband and single frequency continuous wave terahertz (THz) band radiation. These devices form the basis of many THz imaging and spectroscopy systems, which have demonstrated promising applications in various industries and research fields. The development of THz PCA technology through the last 30 years is reviewed. The key modalities of improving device performance are identified, and literature is reviewed to summarize the progress made in these areas. The goal of this review is to provide a collection of all relevant literature to bring researchers up to date on the current state and remaining challenges of THz PCA technology.
CRT-800.07 Correlates of Successful Reduction in Residual Acute Aortic Regurgitation Post-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement with Balloon Dilation or a Second Device

Residual aortic regurgitation (rAR) post transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) that can be mitigated by balloon post-dilatation and a second device deployment. We aimed to evaluate correlates of successful reduction in rAR with balloon post-dilatation or a second device deployment. We
Population Dynamics: Poverty, Inequality, and Self-Regulating Fertility Rates

Population growth without a parallel increase in capital impoverishes any society and tends to deepen inequality. The system is dynamic because people who perceive or foresee contracting economic opportunity usually restrict family size. Worsening poverty feeds back into the loop to slow, then stop further population growth.
UWB Impulse Transmitter Design

This chapter presents the design of CMOS UWB tunable sub-nanosecond impulse and monocycle-pulse BPSK transmitters. The UWB impulse transmitter produces positive and negative tunable impulse signals corresponding to the high- and low-level modulation signals, respectively. The positive and negative impulse signals have amplitudes of 0.8 and 0.6 V with tunable pulse widths from 100 to 300 ps, respectively. The UWB monocycle-pulse transmitter produces monocycle pulse signals of opposite polarities having peak-to-peak amplitudes of about 0.6–0.8 V and tunable pulse widths between 100 and 300 ps. This chapter also covers the design of the CMOS impulse generator and BPSK modulator used in the UWB impulse and monocycle-pulse transmitters. The impulse generator can generate 0.95–1.05 V peak-to-peak Gaussian-type impulse signal with 100–300 ps tunable pulse duration. Moreover, this chapter includes the design of a CMOS monocycle pulse generator, which can produce 0.7–0.75 V peak-to-peak monocycle pulse with 140–350-ps tunable pulse duration.
The fetal lung-to-liver signal intensity ratio on magnetic resonance imaging as a predictor of outcomes from isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

We investigated the developmental changes in the unaffected contralateral lungs of patients with isolated left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) using signal intensity ratios on prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and determined whether these changes correlated with clinical outcomes. We performed 47 fetal MRI screens on 30 patients with isolated left-sided CDH. A cohort of 88 fetuses was selected as the control. We calculated the lung-to-liver signal intensity ratio (LLSIR) using region of interest analysis and compared LLSIR between the groups and between those in the CDH group with good and poor prognoses. In the control group, LLSIR increased as pregnancy progressed [regression line = 2.232 + 0.135 × (GW—23), r = 0.669]. In the CDH group, especially in the poor prognosis group, LLSIR did not significantly increase as pregnancy progressed [regression line for good prognosis = 1.827 + 0.092 × (gestational week—23), r = 0.733; regression line for poor prognosis = 1.731 + 0.025 × (gestational week—23), r = 0.634]. Fetal LLSIR on T2-weighted MRI is an accurate marker of fetal lung maturity that correlates with postnatal survival and can potentially be used as a prognostic parameter in CDH management.
The Politics of Widening Income Inequality in the United States, 1977 to 2014

This paper examines the impact of partisanship on growing inequality in the United States from 1977 to 2014. Drawing on Piketty and Zucman’s data on the rising share of income flowing to the top one percent and falling share of income flowing to the bottom 50 percent, we tested the impact of Republican or Democratic control of the presidency and/or Congress on the path of that redistribution. There was no statistically significant association between party control of either branch of government and the path of redistribution of national income on a pre-tax basis, suggesting that economic factors drove pre-tax redistribution. However, there were strong associations between party control and the path of redistribution of post-tax income. When Republicans held the presidency, controlled Congress, the rising share of post-tax income going to the top one percent accelerated, and the falling share going to bottom 50 percent also accelerated. The result was the opposite when Democrats held the presidency, controlled Congress, or both: The increase in the top one percent’s rising share of post-tax national slowed, as did the decline in the bottom 50 percent’s share of post-tax national income.
On the accuracy of simulating mixing by random-walk particle-based mass-transfer algorithms

Abstract Several algorithms have been used for mass transfer between particles undergoing advective and macro-dispersive random walks. The mass transfer between particles is required for general reactions on, and among, particles. The mass transfer is shown to be diffusive, and may be simulated using implicit, explicit, or mixed methods. All algorithms investigated are accurate to O ( Δ t ) . For N particles, the implicit and semi-implicit methods require inverse matrix solutions and O ( N 3 ) calculations. The explicit methods use forward matrix solves and require only O ( N 2 ) calculations. Practically, this means that naive implementations with more than about 5000 particles run more reliably using explicit methods.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Text Messaging Intervention to Promote Virologic Suppression and Retention in Care in an Urban Safety-Net Human Immunodeficiency Virus Clinic: The Connect4Care Trial.

Author(s): Christopoulos, Katerina A; Riley, Elise D; Carrico, Adam W; Tulsky, Jacqueline; Moskowitz, Judith T; Dilworth, Samantha; Coffin, Lara S; Wilson, Leslie; Peretz, Jason Johnson; Hilton, Joan F | Abstract: BackgroundText messaging is a promising strategy to support human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care engagement, but little is known about its efficacy in urban safety-net HIV clinics.MethodsWe conducted a randomized controlled trial of a supportive and motivational text messaging intervention, Connect4Care (C4C), among viremic patients who had a history of poor retention or were new to the clinic. Participants were randomized (stratified by new or established HIV diagnosis status) to receive either of the following for 12 months: (1) thrice-weekly intervention messages, plus texted primary care appointment reminders and a monthly text message requesting confirmation of study participation or (2) texted reminders and monthly messages alone. Viral load was assessed at 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was virologic suppression (l200 copies/mL) at 12 months, estimated via repeated-measures log-binomial regression, adjusted for new-diagnosis status. The secondary outcome was retention in clinic care.ResultsBetween August 2013 and November 2015, a total of 230 participants were randomized. Virologic suppression at 12 months was similar in intervention and control participants (48.8% vs 45.8%, respectively), yielding a rate ratio of 1.07 (95% confidence interval, .82-1.39). Suppression was higher in those with newly diagnosed infection (78.3% vs 45.3%). There were no intervention effects on the secondary outcome. Exploratory analyses suggested that patients with more responses to study text messages had better outcomes, regardless of arm.ConclusionsThe C4C text messaging intervention did not significantly increase virologic suppression or retention in care. Response to text messages may be a useful way for providers to gauge risk for poor HIV outcomes.Clinical trials registrationNCT01917994.
Visions in conflict: state hegemony versus plurinationality in the construction of indigenous autonomy in Bolivia

Since their early days in government, and particularly since 2010, President Evo Morales and the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) in Bolivia have put forward a vision of state-centered hegemonic chan...
Exposure therapy with no exposure

fMRI and patient feedback methods reduce fear responses by changing brain patterns without conscious awareness.
Special Types of Burn-Related Injury

Carbon monoxide, a product of combustion, may occur in sufficient concentration in situations leading to flame injuries to result in elevated blood levels of carboxyhemoglobin.1 Carbon monoxide has an affinity for the hemoglobin molecule approximately 204 times greater than does oxygen. In sufficient concentration, carbon monoxide significantly limits the quantity of hemoglobin available for oxygen transport, resulting in tissue hypoxia. Dyspnea, headache, tachypnea, and tachycardia are the early presenting symptoms of exposure. If the exposure is not terminated and the patient promptly and adequately treated, coma, convulsions, bradycardia, and respiratory failure occur when the carboxy hemoglobin level exceeds 40%. Carboxyhemoglobin levels can be measured by means of a portable device containing an electrochemical cell which is reported to be easy to operate, accurate, and reliable.2 Carboxyhemoglobin concentrations which exceed 20% produce hypoxic symptoms and must be treated.
Systemic administration of TerplexDNA system: pharmacokinetics and gene expression.

Purpose. The aim of this study is to extend our previous studies to investigate the TerplexDNA synthetic gene carrier system in pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and gene expression in major organs after systemic administration.
Understanding Egypt's emerging social shoppers

This paper analyses recent preferences, motives and patterns of consumers shopping online and influenced by social media in Egypt. The emerging global trend of social commerce is rapidly disrupting the ways consumers take decisions and shop online. Egypt being the largest retail market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with the highest social media popularity among internet users, provides an example to examine social commerce in developing economies in MENA region. Through a representative sample of the market, the paper highlights key cognition, emotional, experience and personality aspects that influence consumers' decision making and orientation towards trusting electronic vendors. Also, the paper examines the variance in behaviour and perception between different demographic, cultural, geographic and behavioural consumer segments. The paper also informs electronic vendors and researchers on the processes of trust building and risk perception in social commerce.
Gender-Based Differences in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Response.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been shown to have a multitude of beneficial effects in select patients with systolic heart failure, by enhancing reverse remodeling, improving quality of life and functional status, reducing risk of heart failure admission, and most importantly, improving survival. Although women were underrepresented in the clinical trials, they were demonstrated to derive greater therapeutic benefit from CRT compared with men. Importantly, women were noted to derive benefit at a lesser degree of QRS prolongation than men, well below the now generally accepted cutoff of QRS ≥150 milliseconds.
Assessing competence in clinical ethics: are we measuring the right behaviors.

Singer et al. are to be commended for making a first attempt at developing behavioral measures of physicians’ abilities to implement an ethically justifiable course of action. Many of the objections noted above are not intrinsic to all possible OSCEs, and future adaptations of the OSCE approach may well overcome them. Moreover, by forcing faculty to articulate clearly and explicitly the goal according to which success or failure should be measured, the process of developing appropriate evaluation methods can lead to improvements in all aspects of curriculum design.
Graduate vs. Professional School

There are obviously more than two possible career paths for science majors, although very often these are lumped into either graduate, i.e., Ph.D. or professional, e.g., MD, DO, PharmD, DVM, etc. This is done because these tracks are the more conventional routes that science majors tend to go. Also, it is somewhat natural since one route entails practicing a trade, e.g., medicine, pharmacy, etc., whereas the other represents a more classical academic route that usually focuses on teaching and research. Of course there are also the combined routes, e.g., MD/PhD, MD/MPH that some choose to take. Regardless, making such a choice involves a number of considerations and, as such, once again requires mentoring, specifically from individuals who are knowledgeable and experienced with the processes involved in these attaining these degrees and embarking into these careers, especially since the student may have very little if any direct experience and/or exposure to the actual requirements and workings involved.
Overall outline of mineral composition

Abstract The fruiting bodies of mushrooms differ in their mineral composition from vegetables. The main factors affecting the composition and content of minerals in mushrooms are discussed in this chapter. There is much data available on mushroom species bioaccumulating various elements; however, the chemical and biochemical principles of these processes remain obscure. There is also only limited information on the changes in mushrooms’ mineral content during preservation processes and cooking. Data on the bioavailability of essential and detrimental elements from mushroom meals are fragmentary, at best. This chapter also briefly describes methods for the analytical determination of the mineral content of mushrooms.