cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calixarene-Mediated Synthesis of Cobalt Nanoparticles: An Accretion Model for Separate Control over Nucleation and Growth.

The nucleation and growth of crystalline cobalt nanoparticles (Co NPs) under solvothermal conditions can be separated into distinct stages by using (i) polynuclear clusters with multivalent capping ligands to initiate nucleation, and (ii) thermolabile organometallic complexes with low autonucleation potential to promote crystalline growth. Both nucleation and growth take place within an amorphous accretion, formed in the presence of polyvalent surfactants. At the pre-nucleation stage, a calixarene complex with multiple Co2-alkyne ligands (Co16-calixarene 1) undergoes thermal decomposition above 130 °C to form "capped cluster" intermediates that coalesce into well-defined Co nanoclusters, but are resistant to further aggregation. At the post-nucleation stage, a monomer (pentyne-Co4(CO)10, or PTC) with a low thermal activation threshold but a high barrier to autonucleation is introduced, yielding e-Co NPs with a linear relationship between particle volume and the Co mole ratio ([Cofinal]/[Coseed]). Co nanocrystals can be produced up to 40 nm with a 10-12% size dispersity within the accretion, but their growth rate depends on the activity of the supporting surfactant, with an octapropargyl calixarene derivative (OP-C11R) providing the most efficient transport of reactive Co species through the amorphous matrix. Post-growth digestion with oleic acid releases the Co NPs from the residual accretion, which can then self-assemble by magnetic dipolar interactions into flux-closure rings when stabilized by calixarene-based surfactants. These studies demonstrate that organometallic complexes can be designed to establish rational control over the nucleation and growth of crystalline NPs within an intermediate accretion phase.
An Elementary Example of a Continuous Non-Differentiable Function

(1927). An Elementary Example of a Continuous Non-Differentiable Function. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 34, No. 9, pp. 476-478.
Optimization of Ultra High Pressure Method for Ursonic Acid Extraction from Diospyros kaki Leaves

To optimize ultra high pressure(UHP) method for extraction of ursolic acid(UA) from Diospyros kaki L.f.leaves,orthogonal test was adopted to study the effects of UHP pressure,UHP time,ethanol volume fraction and solid to liquid ratio on yield of UA which was compared with that of ultrasonic and microwave method.The result showed that the optimum processing parameters for extraction of UA were,UHP pressure,300 MPa;UHP time,4.0 min;ethanol volume fraction,95%;and solid to liquid ratio,1∶11(m/V,g∶mL).The yield of UA under these conditions was 0.43% which was 10.3% and 16.2% higher than that of ultrasonic and microwave method,respectively,indicating that UHP was a suitable method for extraction of UA in D.kaki leaves.
10 The Bioarchaeology of Pain and Suffering: Human Adaptation and Survival during Troubled Times

Ancient human remains can be analyzed with an eye toward clarifying the limits of human adaptation to many of life's hardships. Data collected from the remnants of skeletonized bodies provides information on the costs of living under trying times and the pain, suffering, and disability experienced. Focusing on the survivors of stressful conditions such as colonization, endemic warfare, climate change, or slavery provides a way to examine the experience of survival as well as the human costs of adapting to the environmental or political-economic processes creating the condition.
Thermal stability study of the bridging CO2 complex, [tBu3P-(μ-CO2)-B(C6F5)3]

The thermal stability of [{sup t}Bu{sub 3}P-(μ-CO{sub 2})-B(C{sub 6}F{sub 5}){sub 3}], a bridging CO{sub 2} complex of the bulky Lewis acid–base pair P{sup t}Bu{sub 3} and B(C{sub 6}F{sub 5}){sub 3}, was studied. This complex was found to retain its complexed CO{sub 2} after 14 weeks in air at ambient temperatures, and for 7 weeks under vacuum. The thermal loss of CO{sub 2} from the complex occurs at approximately 150 °C in inert atmosphere, suggesting that this compound may have potential for long-term gaseous CO{sub 2} storage.
American Anti-Slavery Society

By 1834 women had become so active in the petition campaign to Congress to end slavery in the District of Columbia that the AASS printed a special form for them. While this form did not explicitly assert women’s right to petition, it did argue that women’s petitions were appropriate to the political moment. Hundreds of women who signed these forms thronged to hear the Grimke sisters speak in 1836 and 1837.
Impact of a Loss-of-Function P/Q Type Ca2+ Channel Mutation on Excitatory Synaptic Control of Cerebellar Purkinje Neurons

Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels are expressed throughout the central nervous system, where they regulate Ca2+ entry in excitatory and inhibitory neurons, pre- and postsynaptic cells, and do so in distinct subcellular domains, including synaptic terminals, dendrites and cell bodies. Consequently, mutations in genes encoding these channels have the potential to generate complex phenotypes involving functional changes in multiple cell populations that impact the way cells interact in neural circuits. An excellent illustration of this concept is provided by a loss-of-function mutation (called leaner) in the gene encoding the pore-forming subunit of P/Q type Ca2+ channels, which serves as a mouse model of Episodic Ataxia Type 2 (EA2), a heritable human P/Q Ca2+ channelopathy. Previous work has shown that the leaner mutation modifies intrinsic membrane properties of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs), which play a key role in cerebellar motor control. This review describes the effects of the mutation on excitatory synaptic inputs to PCs. Even though the leaner mutation dramatically changes excitatory postsynaptic currents that can be measured in voltage clamped PCs in acute cerebellar slices, there is surprisingly little effect on evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials. This can be explained, at least in part, by effects of the mutation on intrinsic membrane properties of PCs that reduce the impact of mutation-induced changes in synaptic currents. These results exemplify the multifaceted nature of cell and circuit-level defects resulting from neuronal Ca2+ channelopathies.
Discrete least-squares finite element methods

Abstract A finite element methodology for large classes of variational boundary value problems is defined which involves discretizing two linear operators: (1) the differential operator defining the spatial boundary value problem; and (2) a Riesz map on the test space. The resulting linear system is overdetermined. Two different approaches for solving the system are suggested (although others are discussed): (1) solving the associated normal equation with linear solvers for symmetric positive-definite systems (e.g. Cholesky factorization); and (2) solving the overdetermined system with orthogonalization algorithms (e.g. QR factorization). The finite element assembly algorithm for each of these approaches is described in detail. The normal equation approach is usually faster for direct solvers and requires less storage. The second approach reduces the condition number of the system by a power of two and is less sensitive to round-off error. The rectangular stiffness matrix of second approach is demonstrated to have condition number O ( h − 1 ) for a variety of formulations of Poisson’s equation. The stiffness matrix from the normal equation approach is demonstrated to be related to the monolithic stiffness matrices of least-squares finite element methods and it is proved that the two are identical in some cases. An example with Poisson’s equation indicates that the solutions of these two different linear systems can be nearly indistinguishable (if round-off error is not an issue) and rapidly converge to each other. The orthogonalization approach is suggested to be beneficial for problems which induce poorly conditioned linear systems. Experiments with Poisson’s equation in single-precision arithmetic as well as the linear acoustics problem near resonance in double-precision arithmetic verify this conclusion. The methodology described here is an outgrowth of the discontinuous Petrov–Galerkin (DPG) methodology of Demkowicz and Gopalakrishnan (2015). The strength of DPG is highlighted throughout, however, the majority of theory presented is more general. Extensions to constrained minimization principles are also considered throughout but are not analyzed in experiments.
Endogenous Replication Stress in Mother Cells Leads to Quiescence of Daughter Cells

Mammalian cells have two fundamentally different states, proliferative and quiescent, but our understanding of how and why cells switch between these states is limited. We previously showed that actively proliferating populations contain a subpopulation that enters quiescence (G0) in an apparently stochastic manner. Using single-cell time-lapse imaging of CDK2 activity and DNA damage, we now show that unresolved endogenous replication stress in the previous (mother) cell cycle prompts p21-dependent entry of daughter cells into quiescence immediately after mitosis. Furthermore, the amount of time daughter cells spend in quiescence is correlated with the extent of inherited damage. Our study thus links replication errors in one cell cycle to the fate of daughter cells in the subsequent cell cycle. More broadly, this work reveals that entry into quiescence is not purely stochastic but has a strong deterministic component arising from a memory of events that occurred in the previous generation(s).
A review of pediatric middle ear tumors and analysis of the demographics, management, and survival of pediatric rhabdomyosarcomas of the middle ear.

Abstract Objective To examine the types of pediatric middle ear tumors and review the demographics, management, and survival of pediatric patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the middle ear. Methods Pediatric patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were included from 1973 to 2014 based on a diagnosis of middle ear tumors using the ICD O-3 code: C30.1: Middle ear primary site. Patients were included from ages 0–18 years. Results Forty pediatric middle ear tumor cases were identified. Twenty patients were female (50%). Twenty-seven (67.5%) cases were rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS). Pediatric RMS patients tended to be diagnosed in early childhood (mean age 5.30 years, standard deviation 2.9, range 1.00–13.00, 59.3% of patients were ages 5 or below). Most pediatric RMS patients received chemotherapy and radiation therapy as part of the treatment regimen (88.8%). Finally, the 5-year overall and disease-specific survival rates were 59% and 63% respectively. Conclusions Pediatric middle ear tumors are rare. Females and male pediatric patients are both at risk for middle ear tumors. RMS is the most common malignant middle ear tumor affecting pediatric patients. Despite the use of multimodality therapies, survival rates for pediatric patients with RMS of the middle ear are low. Physicians may consider including middle ear tumors on the differential diagnosis for pediatric patients with symptoms presenting similarly to non-resolving otitis media.
Mineralogy and petrology of the lead-zinc-copper sulphide ores of the Viburnum Trend, southeast Missouri, U.S.A., with special emphasis on the mineralogy and extraction problems connected with cobalt and nickel

The ore deposits of the Viburnum Trend in the Southeast Missouri Lead District form the world’s largest lead producing district. The district is comprised of eleven mines, ten of which are currently in production. The principal minerals are few in number, simple in composition, and form simple superposition and replacement textures. The economically valuable minerals are the sulphides, galena, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite; silver is recovered from galena and cadmium from sphalerite at the lead smelter and zinc refinery. The most abundant gangue minerals are dolomite, pyrite, marcasite, calcite, and quartz. The Viburnum ores, however, contain a diverse assemblage of minerals uncommon in most Mississippi Valley-type ore deposits. These include: siegenite, bravoite, vaesite, fletcherite, nickelean Carrollite, bornite, gersdorffite, tennantite, enargite, luzonite, millerite, polydymite, chalcocite, digenite, anilite, djurleite, covellite, blaubleibender covellite, pyrrhotite, magnetite, anhydrite, and dickite.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a multinuclear noninvasive tool that offers a window into myocardial metabolism. This chapter reviews the nuclei typically studied with cardiac MRS and the magnetic resonance (MR) techniques used to acquire spatially localized cardiac spectra. We then review the clinical MRS studies of human myocardial metabolism with emphasis on common clinical conditions such as myocardial ischemia, viability, hypertrophy, and heart failure.
Hepatic mitochondrial inner-membrane properties, β-oxidation and carnitine palmitoyltransferases A and B. Effects of genetic obesity and starvation

Hepatic mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) properties, beta-oxidation of palmitoyl-CoA and membrane polarization were measured in lean and obese Zucker rats. The Vmax. of the 'outer' carnitine palmitoyltransferase ('CPT-A') increased with starvation, with no change in the Km for either carnitine or palmitoyl-CoA. The Ki for malonyl-CoA increased with starvation in lean rats, but not in obese rats. The Vmax. of the 'inner' enzyme ('CPT-B'), as measured by using inverted submitochondrial vesicles, increased with starvation in obese rats only, with no change in the Km for either carnitine or palmitoyl-CoA. The Ki for malonyl-CoA was 2-5-fold higher in inverted vesicles than in intact mitochondria, and showed no alteration with starvation. The activities of both enzymes correlated positively with each other and with beta-oxidation, and inversely with membrane polarization. Malonyl-CoA had little effect on gross membrane fluidity in the Zucker rat, as reflected by diphenylhexatriene fluorescence polarization. The results indicate that both enzymes are related and respond similarly to alterations in membrane fluidity. Membrane fluidity may provide a mechanism for co-ordinated control of CPT activity on both sides of the mitochondrial inner membrane.
Methods for the Measurement of Carbonic Anhydrase Activity

This chapter provides a summary of published methods to measure carbonic anhydrase (CA) catalysis of the reversible reactions of CO2-HCO 3 - For other reviews see references 12, 13, 31, 41, and 53.
Introduction to Stability and Bifurcation in Dynamical Systems and Fluid Mechanics

Suppose we are studying a physical system whose state x is governed by an evolution equation \(\frac{{dx}}{{dt}} = X\left( x \right)\) which has unique integral curves. Let x0 be a fixed point of the flow of X; i.e., X(x0) = 0. Imagine that we perform an experiment upon the system at time t = 0 and conclude that it is then in state x0. Are we justified in predicting that the system will remain at x0 for all future time? The mathematical answer to this question is obviously yes, but unfortunately it is probably not the question we really wished to ask. Experiments in real life seldom yield exact answers to our idealized models, so in most cases we will have to ask whether the system will remain near x0 if it started near x0. The answer to the revised question is not always yes, but even so, by examining the evolution equation at hand more minutely, one can sometimes make predictions about the future behavior of a system starting near x0. A trivial example will illustrate some of the problems involved.
Dynamical Systems and Mathematical Economics

The modern mathematical economics literature is permeated with dynamics. This starts with a simple tatonnement story of how prices adjust according to supply and demand, and it continues with the more sophisticated price adjustment models which involve speculation, etc. Dynamics arise from the Euler, or the Bellman equations, to define the optimal paths in growth models, as well as in other optimization problems. Arguments based upon dynamics are advanced to justify various forms of equilibria; here we find issues such as the accessibility of pareto points or the comparison of different bargaining solution concepts. In recent years, as manifested by several of the papers presented at this conference, dynamics has been used to explain non-stationary behavior such as business cycles.
Multilevel Factorial Designs in Intervention Development

Factorial designs are one of the many useful experimental tools that can be used to inform the construction of multicomponent behavioral, biobehavioral, and biomedical interventions. Clustering presents various challenges to investigators aiming to implement such designs. Clustering means that some or all individuals are nested in higher-level social or administrative units (e.g., schools, therapy groups). These multilevel settings generate dependency in data within clusters because individuals in one cluster tend to be more similar to each other than to individuals in other clusters. Such dependency has implications for the design of the factorial experiment, the model used to analyze the data, and the power for detecting the effects of interest. In this chapter, we discuss five classes of multilevel factorial designs that vary in terms of the nature of clustering (i.e., the process by which individuals become clustered or the reason why they are considered to be clustered), as well as the randomization scheme employed (i.e., whether randomization to experimental conditions is done at the individual level, the cluster level, or both). For each of the five classes, we discuss the scientific motivation for employing the multilevel factorial design, provide a model for analyzing data arising from employing a multilevel factorial design of this class, and offer formulas that investigators can use to calculate the expected power. Design considerations are also discussed with respect to each class. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive review to help investigators select the most suitable design given their scientific questions, target population, and available resources.
Lead Exposure and Oxidative Stress—A Life Course Approach in U.S. Adults

Lead exposure and a marker of oxidative stress (gamma-glutamyl transferase—GGT), and their effects on life course variables (age, country of birth, education levels, gender, ethnicity, income, and occupation) were explored in this cross-sectional study of United States (U.S.) adults’ ≥ 20 years of age via the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2010 datasets. Country of birth, education levels, gender, ethnicity, income, and occupation showed significant differences depending on the degree of lead exposure, with higher levels of exposure resulting in worse outcomes. Age and GGT were significantly associated with lead exposure. More must be done to mitigate sources of lead exposure, to prevent it from altering the life course of at-risk populations.
Why C-luck really is a problem for compatibilism

Some philosophers have recently argued that luck at the time of decision is a problem for compatibilists and libertarians alike. But conceptual ambiguity regarding deterministic luck at the time of decision – henceforth C-luck – has obscured recognition of the problem C-luck poses to compatibilism. This paper clarifies C-luck and distinguishes it from present luck, showing that the former arises from contingent factors at the time of decision instead of presupposed free will requirements. We then argue that empirical findings confirm the existence of C-luck thereby raising a fundamental challenge to compatibilist accounts of moral responsibility.
Detecting Distracted Driving Using a Wrist-Worn Wearable

In this paper, we attempt to detect instances of distracted driving using a wrist-worn wearable embedded with an accelerometer and a gyroscope. In our experimental study, 16 adult participants were asked to drive a driving simulator that is equipped with realistic driving conditions like brakes, accelerator, steering wheel and a large screen for road scene visualization. The simulator is also programmed for drivers to experience different environmental scenarios like day time, night time, fog and rain/ snow. While driving, participants engaged in a randomized sequence of calling, texting and reading from a phone while simultaneously driving. Throughout the experiment, each subject wore a wearable watch on the wrist which recorded the resulting acceleration and rotation of the wrist via an embedded accelerometer and gyroscope. Subsequently, we extracted a selected number of features from the sensory data, and designed machine learning techniques for detecting instances of distracted driving. Our performance evaluations reveal very good Precision, Recall, and F1-Scores. We believe that our paper introduces a new and potentially important application of wristworn wearables to enhance road safety.
Molecular basis for feedback inhibition of Notch signaling by the Notch regulated ankyrin repeat protein NRARP

Abstract The Notch regulated ankyrin repeat protein (NRARP) is a negative feedback regulator of Notch signaling in higher organisms. The molecular basis for NRARP function, however, has remained elusive. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic studies show that human NRARP associates with the core Notch transcriptional activation complex (NTC), containing the RBPJ transcription factor, the Notch intracellular domain (NICD), and a Mastermind-like co-activator. Binding of NRARP is direct, requires both RBPJ and NICD, and is independent of Mastermind-like proteins or DNA. The X-ray structure of an NRARP/RBPJ/NOTCH1/DNA complex, determined to 3.75 A resolution, reveals a non-canonical mode of binding in which NRARP extends the NOTCH1 ankyrin-repeat stack by three additional repeats. Mutations of NRARP residues at the binding interface disrupt entry into complexes and suppress feedback inhibition in signaling assays. These studies establish the structural basis for NTC engagement by NRARP and provide insight into its mechanism of feedback inhibition of Notch signaling.
Real-time Detection, Tracking, and Classification of Moving and Stationary Objects using Multiple Fisheye Images

The ability to detect pedestrians and other moving objects is crucial for an autonomous vehicle. This must be done in real-time with minimum system overhead. This paper discusses the implementationof a surround view system to identify moving as well as static objects that are close to the ego vehicle. The algorithm works on 4 views captured by fisheye cameras which are merged into a single frame. The moving object detection and tracking solution uses minimal system overhead to isolate regions of interest (ROIs) containing moving objects. These ROIs are then analyzed using a deep neural network (DNN) to categorize the moving object. With deployment and testing on a real car in urban environments, we have demonstrated the practical feasibility of the solution.11The video demos of our algorithm have been uploaded to Youtube: https://youtu.be/vpoCfC724iA, https://youtu.be/2X4aqH2bMBs
Basics of continuous renal replacement therapy in pediatrics

In the last three decades, significant advances have been made in the care of children requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). The move from the use of only hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis to continuous venovenous hemofiltration with or without dialysis (continuous renal replacement therapy, CRRT) has become a mainstay in many intensive care units. The move to CRRT is the result of greater clinical experience as well as advances in equipment, solutions, vascular access, and anticoagulation. CRRT is the mainstay of dialysis in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for critically ill children who often have hemodynamic compromise. The advantages of this modality include the ability to promote both solute and fluid clearance in a slow continuous manner. Though data exist suggesting that approximately 25% of children in any PICU may have some degree of renal insufficiency, the true need for RRT is approximately 4% of PICU admissions. This article will review the history as well as the progress being made in the provision of this care in children.
Assessing child quality of life impairments following pediatric burn injuries: Rasch analysis of the children’s dermatology life quality index

There is a need for a brief, validated measure of quality of life (QOL) for children to monitor their adjustment to burn injuries. We aimed to apply a Rasch analysis to an existing measure of QOL from the dermatology literature to a clinical sample of pediatric burn patients. The Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) was administered to pediatric burn patients (N = 253) during a standard clinic visit. Rasch analysis was used to examine psychometric properties of this measure with a burn sample. The CDLQI showed an adequate fit to the Rasch model. Test difficulty is .61 logits greater than person ability. Results of item reliability and separation analyses were sufficiently strong and indicated a unidimensional latent trait. Person reliability (.74) and separation analyses (1.64) were moderate. Finally, the CDLQI was able to moderately separate the group of respondents into low and high levels of QOL impairments related to burn injuries. The Rasch model demonstrated that the CDLQI is a reliable and valid scale that adequately measures QOL impairments in children following burn injuries.
Approach to Encephalitis in the ICU

Encephalitis refers to an inflammatory disorder of brain parenchyma, with a broad etiologic differential diagnosis. Encephalitis may present with a wide variety of associated neurologic symptoms, though most commonly presents with encephalopathy. Given the wide differential diagnosis for encephalopathy, a broad work-up is necessary to exclude alternate diagnoses. Encephalitis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality; therefore, prompt recognition and management is paramount to increasing the likelihood of a favorable outcome. Patients with encephalitis frequently require monitoring in a neurological ICU, often with prolonged admissions. This chapter will review a general approach to the care of adults with encephalitis, focusing on practical aspects of ICU management encephalitis and its complications.
Fifty Years of Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Education

Undergraduate education in biomedical engineering (BME) and bioengineering (BioE) has been in place for more than 50 years. It has been important in shaping the field as a whole. The early undergraduate programs developed shortly after BME graduate programs, as universities sought to capitalize on the interest of students and the practical advantages of having BME departments that could control their own resources and curriculum. Unlike other engineering fields, BME did not rely initially on a market for graduates in industry, although BME graduates subsequently have found many opportunities. BME undergraduate programs exploded in the 2000s with funding from the Whitaker Foundation and resources from other agencies such as the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. The number of programs appears to be reaching a plateau, with 118 accredited programs in the United States at present. We show that there is a core of material that most undergraduates are expected to know, which is different from the knowledge base of other engineers not only in terms of biology, but in the breadth of engineering. We also review the role of important organizations and conferences in the growth of BME, special features of BME education, first placements of BME graduates, and a few challenges to address in the future.
Adverse cardiac events after vascular surgery are prevalent despite negative results of preoperative stress testing

Abstract Objective Cardiac risk assessment is a critical component of vascular disease management before surgical intervention. The predictive risk reduction of a negative cardiac stress test result remains poorly defined. The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of postoperative cardiac events among patients with negative stress test results vs those who did not undergo testing. Methods We reviewed all patients who underwent elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, suprainguinal bypass, endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), carotid endarterectomy (CEA), and infrainguinal bypass within the Vascular Study Group of New England from 2003 to 2017. We excluded patients with positive stress test results (n = 3312) and studied two mutually exclusive groups: elective surgery patients with a negative stress test result and elective surgery patients with no stress test (total n = 26,910). The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital postoperative cardiac events (dysrhythmia, heart attack, heart failure) or death. Results A preoperative stress test was obtained in 66.3% of open repairs, 42.8% of suprainguinal bypasses, 37.1% of EVARs, 36.0% of CEAs, and 31.2% of infrainguinal bypasses. The proportion of patients receiving a preoperative stress test varied widely across centers, from 37.1% to 80.0%. The crude odds ratio of in-hospital postoperative cardiac event or death was 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.76) for open repair and 1.52 (CI, 1.13-2.03) for suprainguinal bypass, indicating that patients with negative stress test results before these procedures were 37% and 52% more likely to suffer a postoperative event or die compared with patients selected to proceed directly to surgery without testing. Conversely, the crude odds ratio was 0.92 (CI, 0.66-1.29) for EVAR, 0.92 (CI, 0.70-1.21) for CEA, and 1.13 (CI, 0.90-1.40) for infrainguinal bypass, indicating that patients undergoing these procedures had a similar likelihood of sustaining an event whether they had a negative stress test result or proceeded directly to surgery without a stress test. Conclusions The use of cardiac stress testing before vascular surgery varies widely throughout New England. Whereas patients are often appropriately selected to proceed directly to surgery, a negative preoperative stress test result should not assuage the concern for an adverse outcome as these patients retain a substantial likelihood of cardiac events, especially after large-magnitude procedures.
Zinc Binding by Histatin 5 Promotes Fungicidal Membrane Disruption in C. albicans and C. glabrata

Histatin 5 (Hst 5) is an antimicrobial peptide produced in human saliva with antifungal activity for opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans. Hst 5 binds to multiple cations including dimerization-inducing zinc (Zn2+), although the function of this capability is incompletely understood. Hst 5 is taken up by C. albicans and acts on intracellular targets under metal-free conditions; however, Zn2+ is abundant in saliva and may functionally affect Hst 5. We hypothesized that Zn2+ binding would induce membrane-disrupting pores through dimerization. Through the use of Hst 5 and two derivatives, P113 (AA 4-15 of Hst 5) and Hst 5ΔMB (AA 1-3 and 15-19 mutated to Glu), we determined that Zn2+ significantly increases killing activity of Hst 5 and P113 for both C. albicans and Candida glabrata. Cell association assays determined that Zn2+ did not impact initial surface binding by the peptides, but Zn2+ did decrease cell association due to active peptide uptake. ATP efflux assays with Zn2+ suggested rapid membrane permeabilization by Hst 5 and P113 and that Zn2+ affinity correlates to higher membrane disruption ability. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the higher relative Zn2+ affinity of Hst 5 likely promotes dimerization. Together, these results suggest peptide assembly into fungicidal pore structures in the presence of Zn2+, representing a novel mechanism of action that has exciting potential to expand the list of Hst 5-susceptible pathogens.
Barriers to the Adoption of Technological Innovations in Corrections: A Review and Case Study.

Over 600,000 criminal justice involved individuals are released from state and federal prisons each year, and close to 5,000,000 former offenders are placed under some form of community-based super...
Pre-diagnostic allostatic load and health-related quality of life in a cohort of Black breast cancer survivors

To determine the association of pre-diagnostic allostatic load (AL) with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Black women with breast cancer. In a sample of 409 Black women with non-metastatic breast cancer enrolled in the Women’s Circle of Health Follow-Up Study (WCHFS), two pre-diagnostic AL measures were estimated using medical records data from up to 12 months prior to breast cancer diagnosis: AL-lipid/metabolic profile-based measure and AL-inflammatory profile-based measure. HRQOL was assessed approximately 24 months post diagnosis, using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer (FACT-B) instrument, including 5 subscale scores [presented by physical well-being (PWB), social & family well-being (SFWB), emotional well-being (EWB), functional well-being (FWB), and breast cancer-specific scale (BCS)] and 3 derived total scores [presented by trial outcome index (TOI), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) and FACT-B]. We used multivariable logistic regression models, using dichotomized AL scores (lower AL: 0–3 points, higher AL: 4–8 points), to assess the associations between the two pre-diagnostic AL measures and HRQOL. Higher pre-diagnostic AL was associated with poorer FWB and lower FACT-G, but these associations were statistically significant for the AL-inflammatory profile-based measure (FWB: OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.04, 2.56; FACT-G: OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.04, 2.54), but not the AL-lipid/metabolic profile-based measure (FWB: OR 1.45, 95% CI 0.81, 2.59; FACT-G: OR 1.33, 95% CI 0.75, 2.37). These findings suggest that higher AL, particularly when measured using the inflammatory profile-based measure, was associated with poorer HRQOL, namely FWB and FACT-G, among Black breast cancer survivors.
Designing a screening battery for exercisers with Parkinson's disease.

Develop a screening battery for persons with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) that is easily administered in a short amount of time by community exercise professionals and measures changes in function.An i...
Maneb adducts human peroxiredoxin 3 through thiol interactions

Abstract The dithiocarbamate fungicide maneb (MB) has garnered increasing concern due to its association with Parkinson's disease (PD) and the overall negative human health effects of pesticides in agriculture. As one of several environmental toxicant models of PD, MB has been shown to induce global dehydrogenase inhibition, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteostasis disruption, and delayed cell death in neuronal in vitro models. Recently, our group has reported distinct alterations in bioenergetics and energy metabolism after an acute exposure of MB to neuroblastoma cells. Additionally, this acute MB exposure in neuroblastoma also caused a disruption in peroxiredoxin 3 (Prdx3) oxidation, uncovering significant protein thiol interactions. In the current study, human recombinant Prdx3 was evaluated to evaluate direct thiol-thiol interactions between MB and Prdx3 protein. We report a direct, concentration dependent modification of Prdx3 after MB exposure in our system. Further investigation revealed that MB directly adducts Prdx3 protein through disulfide chemistry, similar to the hyperoxidation or glutathionylation of critical cysteine residues. Computational simulations confirm the disulfide bonding on both reduced monomers and oxidized dimers of Prdx3 protein by a possible MB polymer. The data presented strengthens the argument that MB can preferentially target thiol regulatory switches present in many proteins, giving further credence to the MB model of PD in which many disease-associated proteins contain these functional groups, e.g. ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase, aconitase, and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2). Furthermore, MB's ability to mimic hyperoxidation of Prdx3 protein introduces a novel dynamic of toxicity within the toxicant model that accounts for the oxidative distress that cannot be reversed by therapeutic anti-oxidants in PD.
Unilateral Periorbital and Facial Swelling with Multiple Unilateral Cranial Nerve Deficits in an Uncontrolled Diabetic (P5.9-024)

Objective: To discuss cavernous sinus thrombosis as a complication of invasive fungal sinusitis. Background: This patient is a 45-year-old female with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus. Neurology was consulted to evaluate unilateral findings of periorbital and facial edema with cranial neuropathies. She presented with four days of progressive left facial numbness, edema, and purulent nasal drainage. On neurological exam, she had left periorbital edema with unreactive pupil, no light perception, grade II papilledema, and ophthalmoplegia of her left eye. Muscles of facial expression remained intact. An eschar was found on her left inferior turbinate. Her hemoglobin A1c was found to be 13% and her WBC count was 19.4 k/uL. These findings prompted concern for complicated invasive fungal sinusitis. Initial CT venography was inconclusive, but MRI revealed cavernous sinus thrombosis. Nasal cultures showed Rhizopus species. Treatment with antifungal drugs and heparin were insufficient, so she underwent orbital exoneration, durotomy, and hemimaxillectomy. Design/Methods: NA Results: NA Conclusions: Invasive fungal sinusitis progresses rapidly in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes. Neurologists must keep a high clinical suspicion in at risk patients. Clinical features include fever, facial pain and swelling, nasal congestion, and epistaxis. Cranial nerve testing is vital, as specific deficits increase suspicion for cavernous sinus thrombosis. Findings include facial numbness from involvement of the first two branches of the trigeminal nerve and ophthalmoplegia from involvement of the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves. In this clinical context, CT or MRI is indicated to assess for cavernous sinus thrombosis. Nasal mucosa should be evaluated for necrosis, as definitive diagnosis of invasive fungal sinusitis must be made by histopathology. Empiric treatment with amphotericin B and debridement of infected tissues is indicated to prevent further invasion. Even in septic cavernous sinus thrombosis, such as with this patient, the addition of anticoagulation may be indicated to prevent contralateral cavernous sinus thrombosis. Disclosure: Dr. Dicken has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ali has nothing to disclose. Dr. Odago has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ebong has nothing to disclose.
An Empirical Examination on the Severity of Lone-Actor Terrorist Attacks:

Lone-actor terrorists have increasingly attracted the attention of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners alike. Despite this enhanced interest, few studies have compared the outcomes of lone...
A Uniformly Consistent Estimator of non-Gaussian Causal Effects Under the k-Triangle-Faithfulness Assumption.

Kalisch and Buhlmann (2007) showed that for linear Gaussian models, under the Causal Markov Assumption, the Strong Causal Faithfulness Assumption, and the assumption of causal sufficiency, the PC algorithm is a uniformly consistent estimator of the Markov Equivalence Class of the true causal DAG for linear Gaussian models; it follows from this that for the identifiable causal effects in the Markov Equivalence Class, there are uniformly consistent estimators of causal effects as well. The $k$-Triangle-Faithfulness Assumption is a strictly weaker assumption that avoids some implausible implications of the Strong Causal Faithfulness Assumption and also allows for uniformly consistent estimates of Markov Equivalence Classes (in a weakened sense), and of identifiable causal effects. However, both of these assumptions are restricted to linear Gaussian models. We propose the Generalized $k$-Triangle Faithfulness, which can be applied to any smooth distribution. In addition, under the Generalized $k$-Triangle Faithfulness Assumption, we describe the Edge Estimation Algorithm that provides uniformly consistent estimates of causal effects in some cases (and otherwise outputs "can't tell"), and the \textit{Very Conservative }$SGS$ Algorithm that (in a slightly weaker sense) is a uniformly consistent estimator of the Markov equivalence class of the true DAG.
Genetic and Environmental Factors Influence the Pleomorphy of LRRK2 Parkinsonism.

Missense mutations in the LRRK2 gene were first identified as a pathogenic cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in 2004. Soon thereafter, a founder mutation in LRRK2, p.G2019S (rs34637584), was described, and it is now estimated that there are approximately 100,000 people worldwide carrying this risk variant. While the clinical presentation of LRRK2 parkinsonism has been largely indistinguishable from sporadic PD, disease penetrance and age at onset can be quite variable. In addition, its neuropathological features span a wide range from nigrostriatal loss with Lewy body pathology, lack thereof, or atypical neuropathology, including a large proportion of cases with concomitant Alzheimer’s pathology, hailing LRRK2 parkinsonism as the “Rosetta stone” of parkinsonian disorders, which provides clues to an understanding of the different neuropathological trajectories. These differences may result from interactions between the LRRK2 mutant protein and other proteins or environmental factors that modify LRRK2 function and, thereby, influence pathobiology. This review explores how potential genetic and biochemical modifiers of LRRK2 function may contribute to the onset and clinical presentation of LRRK2 parkinsonism. We review which genetic modifiers of LRRK2 influence clinical symptoms, age at onset, and penetrance, what LRRK2 mutations are associated with pleomorphic LRRK2 neuropathology, and which environmental modifiers can augment LRRK2 mutant pathophysiology. Understanding how LRRK2 function is influenced and modulated by other interactors and environmental factors—either increasing toxicity or providing resilience—will inform targeted therapeutic development in the years to come. This will allow the development of disease-modifying therapies for PD- and LRRK2-related neurodegeneration.
On Decentralized Minimax Control with Nested Subsystems

In this paper, we investigate a decentralized control problem with nested subsystems, which is a general model for one-directional communication amongst many subsystems. The noises in our dynamics are modelled as uncertain variables which take values in finite sets. The objective is to minimize a worst-case shared cost. We demonstrate how the prescription approach can simplify the information structure and derive a structural form for optimal control strategies. The structural form allows us to restrict attention to control strategies whose domains do not grow in size with time, and thus, this form can be utilized in systems with long time horizons. Finally, we present a dynamic program to derive the optimal control strategies and validate our results with a numerical example.
Chapter 5. Dopamine Receptors and Dopaminergic Agents

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the recent developments in the field of dopamine (DA) receptors and dopaminergic agents. Classification of DA receptors has been simplified considerably. Earlier receptor binding studies had indicated the existence of four distinct receptor subtypes, identified as D-1, D-2, D-3, and D-4. Evidence now indicates that both the D-1 and D-2 receptors exist in high affinity and low affinity states. DA autoreceptors are located on the axon terminals and on the cell body and dendrites of the DA neuron, and have a high affinity for both DA and neuroleptics. Activation of DA autoreceptors inhibits the synthesis and release of DA. The somatodendritic autoreceptor has been shown to be responsive to all dopamine agonists studied to date. The autoreceptors appear to have higher affinity for dopamine agonists than do the postsynaptic D-2 receptors. A large number of agonists have been shown to stimulate the autoreceptors at doses below those that elicit postsynaptic effects. A wide variety of tests have been developed to determine the activity and degree of selectivity of compounds at the DA receptor subtypes. With the advent of agonists and antagonists selective for the D-1 receptor, the D-1 receptor has been shown to be involved in some behavioral responses. A characteristic common to all drugs that are effective neuroleptics in man is the ability to block D-2 receptors. In addition, many neuroleptics are also D-1 antagonists. An important consideration for the development of neuroleptics with low side effect profiles may be the selectivity of drugs for specific brain regions. Several new compounds have been synthesized that exhibit potent and, in some cases, selective D-2 agonist activity.
Structure and conformation of some saturated four-membered rings, CH2CH2CH2X⎵

Abstract Complete geometry optimizations of the ground state of three four-membered molecules with structures known from experiment (oxetane. silacyclobutane and thietane) have been carried out by ab initio SCF calculations at the 6-31G level. Additionally, calculations were made for two similar compounds CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 X ⎵ H (X = B, Al) not yet studied experimentally. Although comparison with available experimental data confirms that this level of theory somewhat underestimates both the dihedral angles in these molecules and the barriers to ring planarity, this study fills the gaps previously existing in structural investigations of four-membered ring molecules at a consistent level of theory, making possible the development of a uniform picture of seven monosubstituted heterocyclic compounds together with the parent molecule cyclobutane. Seven structural relationships common to all four-membered rings are systematized and discussed giving emphasis to the changes of C-C bond lengths and angular deformations around tetrahedral carbon and silicon atoms.
Gleason pattern 5 is the strongest pathologic predictor of recurrence, metastasis, and prostate cancer–specific death in patients receiving salvage radiation therapy following radical prostatectomy

BACKGROUND The presence of Gleason pattern 5 (GP5) at radical prostatectomy (RP) has been associated with worse clinical outcome; however, this pathologic variable has not been assessed in patients receiving salvage radiation therapy (SRT) after a rising prostate-specific antigen level. METHODS A total of 575 patients who underwent primary RP for localized prostate cancer and subsequently received SRT at a tertiary medical institution were reviewed retrospectively. Primary outcomes of interest were biochemical failure (BF), distant metastasis (DM), and prostate cancer–specific mortality (PCSM), which were assessed via univariate analysis and Fine and Grays competing risks multivariate models. RESULTS On pathologic evaluation, 563 (98%) patients had a documented Gleason score (GS). The median follow-up post-SRT was 56.7 months. A total of 60 (10.7%) patients had primary, secondary, or tertiary GP5. On univariate analysis, the presence of GP5 was prognostic for BF (hazard ratio [HR] 3.3; P < .0001), DM (HR:11.1, P < .0001), and PCSM (HR:8.8, P < .0001). Restratification of the Gleason score to include GP5 as a distinct entity resulted in improved prognostic capability. Patients with GP5 had clinically worse outcomes than patients with GS8(4+4). On multivariate analysis, the presence of GP5 was the most adverse pathologic predictor of BF (HR 2.9; P < .0001), DM (HR 14.8; P < .0001), and PCSM (HR 5.7; P < .0001). CONCLUSION In the setting of SRT for prostate cancer, the presence of GP5 is a critical pathologic predictor of BF, DM, and PCSM. Traditional GS risk stratification fails to fully utilize the prognostic capabilities of individual Gleason patterns among men receiving SRT post-RP. Cancer 2013;119:3287–94. © 2013 American Cancer Society.