cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extreme morphological divergence: phylogenetic position of a termite ectoparasite.

Species of Termitaria are lesion-forming ectoparasites occurring worldwide on a diverse group of termites. The reduced thallus consists of a basal cell layer from which haustorial cells penetrate the termite and a darkly pigmented sporodochium. One species, Termitaria snyderi, has been the subject of several morphological studies, but its phylogenetic position has remained enigmatic. Here we provide evidence of a close relationship between T. snyderi and the morphologically distinct ascomycetes, Kathistes analemmoides and K. calyculata, based on phylogenetic analysis of molecular characters derived from portions of the nuclear-encoded small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene (ssu rDNA) and supplemental evidence from the s-tubulin gene. Trees were derived using parsimony and maximum-likelihood criteria. Bayesian analysis and parsimony bootstrap methods were used to assess support for the tree nodes.
Obesity and ARDS

Obesity prevalence continues to increase globally, with figures exceeding 30% of some populations. Patients who are obese experience alterations in baseline pulmonary mechanics, including airflow obstruction, decreased lung volumes, and impaired gas exchange. These physiologic changes have implications in many diseases, including ARDS. The unique physiology of patients who are obese affects the presentation and pathophysiology of ARDS, and patients who are obese who have respiratory failure present specific management challenges. Although more study is forthcoming, ventilator strategies that focus on transpulmonary pressure as a measure of lung stress show promise in pilot studies. Given the increasing prevalence of obesity and the variable effects of obesity on respiratory mechanics and ARDS pathophysiology, we recommend an individualized approach to the management of the obese patient with ARDS.
The Big Bang Observer: High laser power for gravitational wave astrophysics

The Big Bang Observer(BBO) is a proposed space-based gravitational wave detector which will look for the stochastic background of gravitational waves from the early universe. The positions of three free test masses, 50,000 km apart, will be monitored by laser interferometry. To reduce noise, 300 W of 355 nm light obtained from frequency-tripling the output of Nd:YAG lasers will be used. These lasers and other technology necessary for BBO will require significant research before a potential launch date of 2025.
Synthesis of high-affinity, hydrophobic monosaccharide derivatives and study of their interaction with concanavalin A, the pea, the lentil, and fava bean lectins.

Concanavalin A (Con A) and agglutinins from the pea (PSA), lentil (LCH) , and fava bean (VFA) constitute a group of D-mannose/D-glucose binding legume lectins. In addition to their sugar binding specificity, these lectins also contain sites that bind hydrophobic ligands. The present study explores a class of nonpolar binding sites reportedly present adjacent to the carbohydrate binding site in PSA, LCH, and VFA. A series of 2-0and 3-O-substituted nitrobenzoyl and nitrobenzyl derivatives of methyl a-D-glucopyranoside and methyl cyD-mannopyranoside were synthesized. Evaluation of their binding to Con A, PSA, LCH, and VFA was carried out by the technique of hapten inhibition of precipitation reaction. The hapten inhibition assay results reveal that the presence of a methyl or methylene group at the O-2 or O-3 position of the sugar is essential for hydrophobic interaction with PSA, LCH, and VFA. The substitution of methyl by nitrobenzyl leads to enhanced binding (1.7-16.7 times for the 2-O-substituted compounds and 7.9-40.5 times for the 3-O-substituted compounds) with the m-nitrobenzyl group contributing to maximum binding. A hydrophobic interaction is also involved between Con A and 2-0-nitrobenzyl derivatives, resulting in enhanced binding, but the corresponding 3-O-isomers bind poorly due probably to steric reasons. These results may be rationalized on the basis of the recently published X-ray data of Con A and VFA. The nitrobenzyl derivatives, after transformation to their azido analogs, have potential applications in the photoaffinity labeling of these lectins.
Scintigraphic imaging in renal infections.

The scintigraphic imaging modality of choice in the evaluation of renal infections is renal cortical scintigraphy uti- lizing [ 99m Tc]dimercaptosuccinlc acid (DMSA). This tech- nique is able to demonstrate upper tract involvement with infection and to assess for the presence of renal cortical scarring following a urinary tract infection (UTI). There are recent publications advocating its use to determine which patients need to proceed to further investigation with cystography. It is also being utilized in the evaluation of different treatment regimes used in patients with UTI. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET and leukocyte scanning have only a minor role in the diagnosis of renal infection. Their main application is in the diagnosis of renal cyst infections in patients with polycystic renal disease.
COMMENSURATION AS A SOCIAL PROCESS

Although it is evident in routine decision-making and a crucial vehicle of rationalization, commensuration as a general social process has been given little consideration by sociologists. This article defines commensuration as the comparison of different entities according to a common metric, notes commensuration's long history as an instrument of social thought, analyzes commensuration as a mode of power, and discusses the cognitive and political stakes inherent in calling something incommensurable. We provide a framework for future empirical study of commensuration and demonstrate how this analytic focus can inform established fields of sociological inquiry.
Using the Suicide Risk Screen to Identify Suicidal Adolescents Among Potential High School Dropouts

OBJECTIVE: To examine the validity of the Suicide Risk Screen (SRS) for identifying suicide-risk youths among potential high school dropouts. METHOD: Five hundred eighty-one potential dropouts, aged 14 to 20 years, participated in a 3-stage case identification protocol. A potential dropout pool was created in 7 schools; students, randomly selected, completed a questionnaire containing the SRS and participated in an assessment interview. Validity measures included Reynolds' Suicide Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ-JR) and 2 clinician rating scales, the Direct Suicide Risk (DSR) and Clinical Risk Assessment (CRA). RESULTS: Suicide-risk severity was significantly associated with categorization defined by the SRS criteria. SRS sensitivity ranged from 87% to 100%, specificity from 54% to 60%. Of 7 SRS elements, depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide threats predicted all validity measures. Suicide attempts predicted the DSR and CRA, but not Reynolds' SIQ-JR. Drug involvement, though relatively weaker, consistently predicted all validity measures. No additional psychosocial indicators improved the prediction of SIQ-JR or the DSR. Family support, likelihood of dropout, and risky behaviors, however, were additional predictors of the CRA ratings. CONCLUSIONS: The SRS is an effective and pragmatic method for identifying suicide-risk youths among potential dropouts in school settings. Language: en
Health-Related Factors Associated with Mode of Travel to Work

Active commuting (AC) to the workplace is a potential strategy for incorporating physical activity into daily life and is associated with health benefits. This study examined the association between health-related factors and mode of travel to the workplace. Methods. A volunteer convenience sample of employed adults completed an online survey regarding demographics, health-related factors, and the number of times/week walking, biking, driving, and using public transit to work (dichotomized as no walk/bike/drive/PT and walk/bike/drive/PT 1 + x/week). Logistic regression was used to predict the likelihood of each mode of transport and meeting PA recommendations from AC according to demographics and health-related factors. Results. The sample (n = 1175) was aged 43.5 ± 11.4 years and was primarily White (92.7%) and female (67.9%). Respondents reported walking (7.3%), biking (14.4%), taking public transit (20.3%), and driving (78.3%) to work at least one time/week. Among those reporting AC, 9.6% met PA recommendations from AC alone. Mode of travel to work was associated with several demographic and health-related factors, including age, number of chronic diseases, weight status, and AC beliefs. Discussion. Mode of transportation to the workplace and health-related factors such as disease or weight status should be considered in future interventions targeting AC.
The Political Ecology of Watershed Depletion and Contamination in Rural Ghana

This paper uses a political ecology approach to examine the institutional drivers of watershed depletion and contamination in the Offinso North District, Ashanti region of Ghana. Perennial streams supply water to 77% of the largely rural population who lack access to piped water or boreholes. Political ecology provides a framework for identifying hierarchical social relations that govern resource use and environmental degradation (Robbins 2003). Timber firms, chainsaw operators and agricultural activities have destroyed vegetative cover around watersheds. As a consequence, small rivers have begun to dry up. Moreover, the widespread use of agro-chemicals has contaminated the water. Land is owned communally in the district. Earlier research on deforestation in rural Ghana linked indiscriminate tree cutting to loss of communal land control and traditional, sustainable use of forest resources. Land control changes in turn are tied to conflicting interests among agents and forces such as export-led development and the increasing commercialization of agriculture (Dei 1992). This paper links declining access to water to these larger institutional drivers of environmental change with interviews, surveys and GIS analysis of land cover change collected during an international university-community collaboration to support local development objectives arising from the District Medium-Term Development Plan.
Moraxella catarrhalis-produced nitric oxide has dual roles in pathogenicity and clearance of infection in bacterial-host cell co-cultures.

In humans, the free radical nitric oxide (NO) is a concentration-dependent multifunctional signaling or toxic molecule that modulates various physiological and pathological processes, and innate immunity against bacterial infections. Because the expression of bacterial genes encoding nitrite reductase (AniA) and NO reductase (NorB) is highly upregulated in biofilms in vitro, it is important to investigate whether bacterial NO-metabolism might subvert host NO signaling and play pathogenic roles during infection. The Moraxella catarrhalis AniA and NorB directly function in production and reduction of NO. Using M. catarrhalis-human bronchial epithelial cell (HBEC) co-cultures, we recently reported AniA/nitrite-dependent cytotoxic effects on HBECs, including altered protein profiles of HBECs and induced HBEC apoptosis, suggesting bacterial nitrite reduction likely dysregulates host cell gene expression. To further clarify whether nitrite reduction-derived NO or nitrite-dependent stimulation of bacterial growth was responsible for adverse effects on HBECs, we monitored bacterial nitrite reduction, levels of NO in co-cultures and resulted dynamic effects on HBEC proliferation and bacterial viability. This study demonstrated that M. catarrhalis nitrite reduction-derived NO was responsible for observed adverse effects on HBECs at mid-to-late stages of infection. More importantly, our data showed that while nitrite promoted bacterial growth and biofilm formation at early hours of infection, nitrite reduction-derived NO was toxic towards M. catarrhalis in maturing biofilms, suggesting nitrite reduction-derived NO might be a possible dualistic mechanism by which M. catarrhalis promotes diseases and spontaneous resolutions.
New developments in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer accounts for about 4% of all cancers in women in the United States, with over 23,000 cases diagnosed annually. Since patients often present with non-specific symptoms, diagnosis is generally made when disease has spread to the peritoneal cavity. Multi-modality therapy is established as the standard approach to treatment. Surgery remains a cornerstone of therapy for diagnosis, staging and treatment. Almost all patients receive some form of chemotherapy, either in the adjuvant setting or for locally advanced or advanced disease. The treatment of ovarian cancer has rapidly evolved in the past decade. Starting with the initial observation that alkylating agents were active in the treatment of this disease, new classes of agents have been rapidly incorporated in the therapeutic armamentarium. This has included the platinum compounds, taxanes and most recently, camptothecin derivatives, inhibitors of topoisomerase I. Much of the recent clinical research has revolved around how to incorporate thes...
A multiple indicator approach to blockmodeling signed networks

Regardless of whether the focus is on algebraic structures, elaborating role structures or the simple delineation of concrete social structures, generalized blockmodeling faces a pair of vulnerabilities. One is sensitivity to poor quality of the relational data and the other is a risk of over fitting blockmodels to the details of specific networks. Over fitting blockmodels can lead to multiple equally well fitting partitions where choices cannot be made between them on a principled basis. This paper presents a method of tackling these problems by viewing (when possible) observed social relations as multiple indicators of an underlying affect dimension. Quadratic assignment methods using matching coefficients, product moment correlations and Goodman and Kruskal's gamma are used to assess the appropriateness of using the sum of observed relations as input for applying generalized blockmodeling. Data for four groups are used to show the value of this approach within which multiple equally well fitting blockmodels for single relations are replaced by unique (or near-unique) partitions of the summed data. This strategy is located also within a broader problem of blockmodeling three-dimensional networks data and suggestions are made for future work.
Negative capacitance in ferroelectric materials and implications for steep transistors

It is now well recognized that energy dissipation in microchips may ultimately restrict device scaling — the downsizing of physical dimensions that has fueled the fantastic growth of microchip industry so far. This is due to the fact that the Boltzmann distribution dictates that, to affect an order of magnitude increase in the drain current, the gate voltage needs to change by at least by 60 mV at room temperature. In practice, a voltage many times this limit of 60 mV has to be applied to obtain a good ratio of the ON and the OFF currents. In fact, the power supply voltage has been stuck at around 1 V for two decades now. On the other hand, continuous down scaling is putting an even larger number of devices in the same area thereby increasing the energy dissipation density beyond controllable and sustainable limits. It has been predicted that unless new principles are found based on fundamentally new physics, the transistors will die a thermal death [1]. In 2008, Salahuddin et al. championed the concept of negative differential capacitance, which, when used as a gate insulator in a MOSFET, could reduce the subthreshold swing below the fundamental limit of 60 mV/decade [2]. In comparison to a conventional transistor, the electrostatic gating in a negative capacitance field-effect transistor is altered in such a way that a small change in the gate voltage creates a larger change in the surface potential. The basic principle of such ‘active’ gating relies on the ability to drive the ferroelectric material away from its local energy minimum to a non-equilibirum state where its capacitance is negative and stabilizing it there by adding a series capacitance. Over the last couple of years, multiple experimental demonstrations have established this concept from both fundamental and technological point of view. In this talk, we will discuss the conceptual background and recent experimental and simulation studies regarding this concept.
The effects of an acute dose of Rhodiola rosea on exercise performance and cognitive function

Methods A total of 15 recreationally active college women (21.3 ± 0.09 y, 56.1 ± 6.3 kg; mean ± SD) participated in this study. 2–7 d after a familiarization trial subjects ingested in a double blind, random crossover manner, either R. rosea or a carbohydrate placebo 1 h prior to testing. Exercise testing consisted of a 10 minute warm-up, standardized to 80% of the average watts produced during the familiarization trial, followed by a 6 mile simulated indoor time trial on a Velotron electronic bicycle ergometer. Every 5 min during the time trial, subjects rated their level of perceived exertion using a BORG 10 pt scale. A blood sample was taken pre warm-up, 2 minutes post warm-up, and 2 minutes following completion of the time trial, and was analyzed for lactate concentration. Subjects also completed a Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire and a Stroop's color test pre-warm up and following the completion of the time trial. Subjects returned to the lab 2–7 d later to repeat the testing with the other condition.
Keeping an Eye on Guitar Skill: Visual Representations of Guitar Chords

we investigate a role for vision in skilled guitar playing, focusing on visual contributions to the representation of basic first-position root chords (C, A, G, E, D). Experiment 1 involved naming or playing guitar chords displayed in different visual formats (letter, photograph, chart) and orientations. Experiment 2 employed a Stroop-like design, involving identification of the visual or auditory dimension for congruent or incongruent pairs of chord photographs and sounds. Our results demonstrate that visual representations of guitar chords are orientation sensitive and associated with their corresponding actions and sounds. We discuss the implications of our findings for understanding the multimodal nature of musical skill, and consider how the format of visual information can impact acquisition of musical skill.
Selective XYZ factor in C57 black mammary carcinoma Eo771.

Summary and Conclusions1. Twelve experiments were made with mouse mammary carcinoma Eo771 (C57 black origin) using 250 C57 black mice. Complementary use was made of mouse mammary carcinomata 241-5, 241-16 (C57 black origin), 15091a (Line A origin), and Barrett (C3H origin).2. A highly selective XYZ factor (entirely comparable with those described for the Brown-Pearce rabbit tumor and Bashford mouse mammary carcinoma 63), resulting in enhanced tumor growth, was found to be uniformly present in the frozen Eo771 tumor tissue. The XYZ effect was present when the XYZ factor was derived from the homologous tumor and absent when derived from a heterologous tumor, even from other mammary carcinomata of the same highly inbred C57 black strain. This high tissue selectivity of the XYZ factor was not limited or determined by the host into which the tumor cells were transplanted. The factor was equally effective in homologous or heterologous transplanted hosts, so long as the tumor cells were viable in the foreign hos...
Iridium and Lead Doped Ruthenium Oxide Catalysts for Oxygen Evolution

The performances of ruthenium oxide-based oxygen evolution catalysts fabricated by various techniques have been studied. A thermal processing technique has been identified that can produce viable iridium and lead-doped ruthenium oxide catalyst. The best oxygen evolution performance was obtained with an iridium-doped ruthenium oxide catalyst with nine molar percent iridium. The cell voltage of the Ir(9)-d-RuO2 catalyst at an applied current density of 200 mA/cm2 was 1.45 volts at 70 oC. The oxygen evolution Tafel slope for doped ruthenium oxide catalysts are in the range of 40 to 55 mV/decade, a minimum of 10 mV/decade lower than what was found for ruthenium oxide.
Infinite reflections: the opening phase of intensive psychotherapy with a chronically schizophrenic patient.

This paper focuses on a number of transference and countertransference issues in the author's psychotherapy with Allan, which was supervised by Harold Searles. One prominent feature of the work was Allan's extreme identity confusion. Among the many manifestations of his lack of a coherent identity was Allan's habit of referring to himself in the third person, as “he” rather than as “I.” As the psychotherapy unfolded, Allan began to treat me as though I were he, often addressing me as “Allan.” For his part, he consciously identified himself as my therapist. This was a dramatically overt example of what Searles has described as “the patient as therapist to his analyst,” a process that is usually far more subtle and disguised. Allan's psychotic role reversal simultaneously served several purposes–it offered him a seemingly more cohesive identity than his psychotically fragmented self; by projective identification, it informed me on an emotional level of what he was experiencing himself; it offered a commenta...
Hereditary elliptocytosis due to both qualitative and quantitative defects in membrane skeletal protein 4.1

Protein 4.1 is an important structural component of the membrane skeleton that helps determine erythrocyte morphology and membrane mechanical properties. In a previous study we identified a case of human hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) in which decreased membrane mechanical stability was due to deletion of 80 amino acids encompassing the entire 10-Kd spectrin-actin binding domain. A portion of this domain (21 amino acids) is encoded by an alternatively spliced exon that is expressed in late but not early erythroid cells. We now report a case of canine HE in which the abnormal phenotype is caused by failure to express this alternative peptide in the mature red blood cell (RBC) membrane skeleton, in conjunction with quantitative deficiency of protein 4.1. Western blotting of RBC membranes from a dog with HE showed a truncated protein 4.1 that did not react with antibodies directed against the alternative peptide. In addition, sequencing of cloned reticulocyte protein 4.1 cDNA showed a precise deletion of 63 nucleotides comprising this exon. Normal dog reticulocytes did express this exon. Expression of this 21 amino acid peptide during erythroid maturation is therefore essential for proper assembly of a mechanically competent membrane skeleton, because RBCs lacking this peptide have unstable membranes.
Some Economic Applications of Recent Advances in Random Dynamical Systems

The analysis of resource allocation over time under conditions of uncertainty occupies a central place in economics. A very widely used framework for the study of such dynamic resource allocation problems is one where stocks of “capital” or other assets accumulate over time through investment, and the accumulation process is subject to random “shocks.” Important economic problems studied in this framework include economic growth under productivity shocks, household accumulation of wealth with uncertain returns on savings, depletion of renewable and other natural resources whose natural growth is subject to environmental or climate related shocks, and the growth of pests and other invasive biological species whose expansion rates are affected by uncertainty. Though the economic models used to study these problems can be fairly elaborate, they often generate random dynamical systems where the intertemporal transition of capital or a related stock variable is determined by a “transition” function that depends on the previous period’s capital as well as the realizations of an exogenously specified stochastic process of “shocks.” The important problem for the economist is to then understand the asymptotic or limiting behavior of this dynamical system and how it depends on initial conditions, the nature of the transition function and the distribution of shocks. This naturally leads to the question of existence and (local or global) stability of a stochastic steady state i.e., an invariant distribution of the random dynamical system. Economists tend to view the limiting stochastic steady state of the dynamical system as a long run “equilibrium.” The rate of convergence to the limiting steady state is important for the strength of predictions made on the basis of this long run equilibrium. It is also important to be able to estimate the long run distribution of capital or resource stocks on the basis of finite data. Finally, whether or not similar economic systems that differ only in initial conditions may exhibit very different long run behavior depends on global stability of the steady state.
Hydrophobic interaction chromatography of proteins: I. The effects of protein and adsorbent properties on retention and recovery

The contributions of protein and adsorbent properties to retention and recovery were examined for hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) using eight commercially available phenyl media and five model proteins (ribonuclease A, lysozyme, α-lactalbumin, ovalbumin and BSA). The physical properties of the adsorbents were determined by inverse size exclusion chromatography (ISEC). The adsorbents examined differ from each other in terms of base matrix, ligand density, porosity, mean pore radius, pore size distribution (PSD) and phase ratio, allowing systematic studies to understand how these properties affect protein retention and recovery in HIC media. The proteins differ in such properties as adiabatic compressibility and molecular mass. The retention factors of the proteins in the media were determined by isocratic elution. The results show a very clear trend in that proteins with high adiabatic compressibility (higher flexibility) were more strongly retained. For proteins with similar adiabatic compressibilities, those with higher molecular mass showed stronger retention in Sepharose media, but this trend was not observed in adsorbents with polymethacrylate and polystyrene divinylbenzene base matrices. This observation could be related to protein recovery, which was sensitive to protein flexibility, molecular size, and conformation as well as the ligand densities and base matrices of the adsorbents. Low protein recovery during isocratic elution could affect the interpretation of protein selectivity results in HIC media. The retention data were fitted to a previously published retention model based on the preferential interaction theory, in terms of which retention is driven by release of water molecules and ions upon protein-adsorbent interaction. The calculated number of water molecules released was found to be statistically independent of protein retention strength and adsorbent and protein properties.
Fever-Induced Paroxysmal Weakness and Encephalopathy, a New Phenotype of ATP1A3 Mutation.

Abstract Background We identified a group of patients with ATP1A3 mutations at residue 756 who display a new phenotype, distinct from alternating hemiplegia of childhood, rapid-onset dystonia-parkinsonism, and cerebellar ataxia, areflexia, pes cavus, optic atrophy, sensorineural hearing loss syndromes. Methods Four patients with c.2267G>A (R756H) mutations from two families and two patients with c.2267G>T (R756L) mutations from one family are described and compared with the previously reported patients with mutations resulting in R756H and R756C protein variants. Results Patients with ATP1A3 R756H have onset in childhood of infrequent, fever-triggered paroxysms of encephalopathy and weakness with slowly improving but persistent deficits. Motor findings of weakness are mostly generalized, and patients may also have bulbar or oculomotor problems. Longer-term outcomes range from mild motor apraxia with near-normal function to persistent dysphagia, dysarthria, cognitive deficit, motor apraxia, and inability to walk because of ataxia. Patients with ATP1A3 R756L have a similar phenotype that includes paroxysmal, stepwise progression of ataxia associated with infections. Conclusions ATP1A3 mutations affecting residue 756 result in a clinical syndrome, separate from those associated with previously described ATP1A3 mutations, which consists chiefly of fever-induced paroxysmal weakness and encephalopathy (FIPWE). Patients with R756L and R756C protein variants display more prominent ataxia, overlapping with the relapsing encephalopathy with cerebellar ataxia syndrome previously described in a patient with the c.2266C>T (R756C) mutation. All patients reported with mutations at residue 756 to date have had a similar episodic course and clinical features. Patients with mutations of ATP1A3 residue 756 appear to have a distinct clinical phenotype compared with patients with other ATP1A3 mutations, with fever-induced encephalopathy as key differentiating feature.
Weight management in rural health clinics: The Midwest diet and exercise trial

Abstract Obesity prevalence is higher in rural compared to urban residents. Rural health clinics offer a potential venue for delivery of weight management. However, traditional programs require travel to attend on-site meetings which is impractical or inconvenient for rural residents. Clinic staff in most rural settings are unlikely to be trained to provide effective weight management. Remote delivery using group phone conferences (GP) or individual phone calls (IP), by staff associated with rural clinics eliminates the need for travel to attend on-site meetings. The effectiveness of these approaches will be the focus of this trial. Staff at five primary care clinics, serving primarily rural residents, will be trained to deliver GP and IP interventions and an enhanced usual care (EUC), (i.e., individual face-to-face meetings (~45 min) at clinic site, four times across 18 mos.). Two hundred overweight/obese adults (BMI ≥ 25.0–45.0 kg/m 2 , age ≥ 21 yrs.) will be recruited through each clinic and randomized to GP (n = 80), IP (n = 80), or EUC (n = 40) to compare weight loss (0–6 mos.), weight maintenance (7–18 mos.), and weight change during a 6 mo. no contact follow-up (19–24 mos.) between intervention arms. The GP and IP interventions will be identical in lesson plan content, diet, and physical activity. The only difference between groups will be the delivery format (group vs. individual) and session duration (GP ~45 min/session; IP ~15 min/session). Primary (body weight) and secondary outcomes (waist circumference, energy/macronutrient intake, physical activity) will be assessed at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 mos. Cost and contingent valuation analyses will also be completed. NCT registration NCT02932748 .
Population genetic evidence for positive and purifying selection acting at the human IFN-γ locus in Africa.

Despite its critical role in the defense against microbial infection and tumor development, little is known about the range of nucleotide and haplotype variation at IFN-γ, or the evolutionary forces that have shaped patterns of diversity at this locus. To address this gap in knowledge, we examined sequence data from the IFN-γ gene in 1461 individuals from 15 worldwide populations. Our analyses uncovered novel patterns of variation in distinct African populations, including an excess of high frequency-derived alleles, unusually long haplotype structure surrounding the IFN-γ gene, and a “star-like” genealogy of African-specific haplotypes carrying variants previously associated with infectious disease. We also inferred a deep time to coalescence of variation at IFN-γ (~ 0.8 million years ago) and ancient ages for common polymorphisms predating the evolution of modern humans. Taken together, these results are congruent with a model of positive selection on standing variation in African populations. Furthermore, we inferred that common variants in intron 3 of IFN-γ are the likely targets of selection. In addition, we observed a paucity of non-synonymous substitutions relative to synonymous changes in the exons of IFN-γ in African and non-African populations, suggestive of strong purifying selection. Therefore, we contend that positive and purifying selection have influenced levels of diversity in different regions of IFN-γ, implying that these distinct genic regions are, or have been, functionally important. Overall, this study provides additional insights into the evolutionary events that have contributed to the frequency and distribution of alleles having a role in human health and disease.
Predictions of the standard model for B +/- c weak decays

The semileptonic (inclusive and some exclusive) and nonleptonic (inclusive and two-body) ${B}_{c}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ decays are discussed in detail. All these decay widths are estimated by use of spectator-model dominance. The most promising two-body decay channels for searching for ${B}_{c}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ are also discussed.
Editoren in APL2

Der Benutzer von APL2 hat zur Definition von Funktionen und Operatoren in der Regel mehrere Editoren zur Auswahl: 1. Den APL2-Zeiieneditor EDITOR1. Er erlaubt zeilenweises Eingeben und Andern von APL2-Anweisungen. Er wird mit dem APL2-System mitgeliefert und steht immer zur Verfugung. 2. Den APL2-Seiteneditor EDITOR2. Er erlaubt die gleichzeitige Bearbeitung mehrerer Zeilen auf einer Bildschirmseite. Er wird ebenfalls mit dem APL2-System mitgeliefert, steht aber nur dann zur Verfugung, wenn das Bildschirm-Unterstutzungssystem GDDM installiert ist. 3. Einen beliebigen Editor des Wirtssystems, sofern er die Eingabe von APL2-Zeichen gestattet (oft ist dazu das Erteilen einer Editor-Anweisung wie SET APL ON oder Ahnliches erforderlich).
Abstract WP17: Endovascular Therapy for Large Vessel Occlusion Acute Stroke in Nonagenarians versus Octogenarians

Background: Little is known on the outcomes of nonagenarians treated with endovascular therapy for acute large vessel occlusion stroke. It is unclear whether they have worse clinical outcomes than ...
End of life for patients with left ventricular assist devices: Insights from INTERMACS.

BACKGROUND Trial and registry data have reported mortality rates and causes of death in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs); however, a more granular description is needed of end of life, including location of death and quality of life (QOL), to better guide expectations and care. METHODS To identify where patients with an LVAD died, characterize QOL before death, and cause of death over time, we evaluated patients in the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) implanted with a continuous-flow LVAD. RESULTS From 18,733 patients implanted with an LVAD during the period 2008 to 2016, 4,916 patients were known to have died, of whom 98% had a recorded location of death. Overall, 76.9% died in the hospital, with progressively more patients dying outside of the hospital further post-LVAD implant: 12 months, 37.4%. In a multivariable analysis, increased age (RR (risk ratio) 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02 to 1.12, p = 0.01) and destination therapy indication (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.28, p = 0.01) increased the likelihood of dying outside the hospital. Comparing 3 months post-implant with 6 months before death in a subset of patients, QOL remained clinically stable (EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale [mean ± SD]: 68.3 ± 22.2 to 66.7 ± 21.7, p = 0.11; KCCQ: 61.0 ± 22.2 to 57.8 ± 23.2, p = 0.003). The most common cause of death 1 month post-implant it was neurologic dysfunction (28.2%). CONCLUSIONS Most patients with an LVAD died in the hospital. QOL remained stable months before death and causes of death were varied, but increasingly dominated by stroke. By understanding death with an LVAD in place, clinicians are in a better position to educate patients and caregivers about what to expect and provide to support tailored to patient and caregiver needs.
Understanding and Responding to Constituent Opinion on Capitol Hill

Constituent opinion is recognized as an important influence on the legislative behavior of members of Congress, although to date little attention has been paid to how representatives and their staf...
Fundamental formulation of light-matter interactions revisited

The basic physics disciplines of Maxwell's electrodynamics and Newton's mechanics have been thoroughly tested in the laboratory, but they can nevertheless also support nonphysical solutions. The unphysical nature of some dynamical predictions is demonstrated by the violation of symmetry principles. Symmetries are fundamental in physics since they establish conservation principles. The procedures explored here involve gauge transformations that alter basic symmetries, and these alterations are possible because gauge transformations are not necessarily unitary despite the widespread assumption that they are. That gauge transformations can change the fundamental physical meaning of a problem despite the preservation of electric and magnetic fields is a universal proof that potentials are more basic than fields. These conclusions go to the heart of physics. Problems are not evident when fields are perturbatively weak, but the properties demonstrated here can be critical in strong-field physics where the electromagnetic potential becomes the dominant influence in interactions with matter.
Quantifying the effects of hyperthermal atomic oxygen and thermal fatigue environments on carbon nanotube sheets for space-based applications

Abstract The effects of atomic oxygen and thermal fatigue on two different types of carbon nanotube sheets were studied. One set was treated with nitric acid, while the other set was left untreated. Monotonic tensile tests were performed before and after exposure to determine the effects of either exposure type on the sheets’ mechanical properties. Electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference measurements were recorded to determine the effects of AO-exposure and thermal cycling on the sheets’ electrical properties. Neither exposure type affected the sheets’ specific strengths. Both exposure types increased the sheets’ specific stiffnesses and decreased the sheets’ strains at failure. The electrical conductivity of both sheets decreased due to the different exposure types, while the EMI shielding effectiveness was unaffected. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe any changes in the sheets’ surface morphologies, while energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used to determine the effects of AO on the sheets’ chemical makeup.
Intermediacy of Copper(I) under Oxidative Conditions in the Aerobic Copper-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Thiolation of Benzoic Acids

An experimental mechanistic study of the aerobic copper-catalyzed decarboxylative thiolation of benzoic acids with arenethiols is reported. For the model reaction, the findings support the correspo...
Pharmacogenetics /Genomics (PGX) to Optimize Endocrine Therapy

ABSTRACT Endocrine therapy of breast cancer is associated with substantial variability between patients in terms of efficacy, adverse events and end organ effects indicating genetic variability. This discussion will consider the host (germline) genome and consider SERMs and 3rd generation AIs. In of terms of single gene studies, most of the work has been done with CYP2D6 and tamoxifen efficacy (first reported by our group in 2005) but the results have been mixed, related (in this author's opinion) to a series of flawed retrospective studies. Additional studies focusing on tamoxifen have examined polymorphisms in phase II (conjugating) enzymes (UGTs, SULTs), ESR1 and ESR2, but results remain preliminary. Our group conducted the largest PGx GWAS to date in women receiving tamoxifen or raloxifene on NSABP P-1 and P-2 and identified SNPs associated with development of breast cancer and SNP-dependent mechanisms underlying SERM and estrogen-dependent regulation of BRCA1 expression. Considering AIs, substantial research has occurred relating to the aromatase gene CYP19. Our group has conducted GWAS in postmenopausal women with baseline hormone levels as the phenotype and identified SNPs related to estradiol levels, that achieved genome-wide significance, with one SNP creating an estrogen response element (ERE), and regulation by these SNPs of estrogen-dependent TSPYL5 induction and CYP19 adipose promotors induction. We also identified a genome-wide significant non-synonymous SNP in SLCO1B1 associated with estrone-conjugate levels. We have completed a GWAS in women receiving AIs with musculoskeletal adverse events (MS-AE) as the phenotype and identified a SNP that created an ERE, was associated with estrogen-dependent TCL1A expression, which in turn altered interleukin (IL) 17 receptor (R) A expression, IL-17, IL-12, IL-RB2, and IL-1R2 expression, as well as NF-κB transcriptional activity. These finding provide a pharmacological explanation for MS-AE in women treated with AIs. To date, PGx studies have not produced changes in clinical practice of endocrine therapy for breast cancer. In several instances they have served as discovery tools that provided direction for research that has led to new knowledge of the biology underlying endocrine therapy. Disclosure The author has declared no conflicts of interest.
Evidence-based telehealth clinical pathway for pediatric tympanostomy tube otorrhea.

Abstract Introduction As healthcare moves away from volume-based to value-based delivery models, evidence based clinical pathways detail essential steps in patient care to reduce the costs and utilization of health care resources. Ideal pathways lead towards standardized, patient-centered care through an algorithm that is evidence-based, interventions with criteria-based progression, and measurable endpoints or quality indicators. Using these standards, a clinical pathway for managing tympanostomy tube otorrhea beginning with phone triage was developed in accordance with AAO-HNSF Guidelines. Methods A retrospective case series of all consecutive patients calling the otolaryngology nurse's line at a tertiary pediatric hospital 3/2018-11/2018 regarding otorrhea was performed. Nurses completed a standardized and evidence-based form based on parent responses regarding purulence, tympanostomy tubes/perforation, fever>102°, ear redness, bacterial rhinosinusitis, sore throat, and immunodeficiency, which was sent to the advanced practice providers (APPs) to assess for antibiotic drops. Otorrhea form information and tympanostomy tube history, subsequent phone calls, clinic visits, and antibiotic prescriptions for otorrhea were extracted. Results Eighty-two patients were included. Median child age at phone call was 2.5 years (range 0.3–20.2 years), and 45.1% were female. All patients had prior tubes and active purulent otorrhea. No parents reported cellulitis or immunodeficiency. One patient had symptoms of bacterial rhinosinusitis and a sore throat but had already been seen by their primary care provider (PCP) for systemic antibiotics. Antibiotic drops were prescribed by an APP in 96.3% of cases [ofloxacin (n = 57), ciprofloxacin (n = 17), or ciprofloxacin with dexamethasone (n = 5)]. The remaining patients already had drops (2.5%) or were referred to their PCP (1.2%). Twenty (24.4%) received another antibiotic prescription and 17.1% had a subsequent clinic or urgent care visit for otorrhea. Conclusions This pathway obviated clinic visits in 82.9% of patients with a 75.6% treatment cure.
Citrus Production Guide: Plant Growth Regulators

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are a tool used to manipulate vegetative and reproductive growth, flowering, and fruit growth and development. PGRs have been successfully used in agriculture for decades to amend plant growth characteristics to maximize yield and grower profit. This new 4-page fact sheet discusses auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, ethylene, new classes of plant hormones, use of PGRs for HLB-affected trees, and general considerations for PGR use in Florida citrus groves. Written by Tripti Vashisth, Chris Oswalt, Mongi Zekri, Fernando Alferez, and Jamie D. Burrow, and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department, February 2018. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1310
Single-Protein Collapse Determines Phase Equilibria of a Biological Condensate

Recent advances in microscopy of living cells have established membraneless organelles as critical elements of diverse biological processes. The body of experimental work suggests that formation of such organelles is driven by liquid-liquid phase separation, a physical process that has been studied extensively for both simple liquids and mixtures of polymers. Here, we combine molecular dynamics simulations with polymer theory to show that the thermodynamic behavior of one particular biomolecular condensate-fused in sarcoma (FUS)-can be quantitatively accounted for at the level of the chain collapse theory. First, we show that a particle-based molecular dynamics model can reproduce known phase separation properties of a FUS condensate, including its critical concentration and susceptibility to mutations. Next, we obtain a polymer physics representation of a FUS condensate by examining the behavior of a single FUS protein as a function of temperature. We use the chain collapse theory to determine the thermodynamic properties of the condensate and to characterize changes in the single-chain conformation at the onset of phase separation. Altogether, our findings suggest that the phase behavior of FUS condensates can be explained by the properties of individual FUS proteins and that the change in the FUS conformation is the main force driving for the phase separation.
HCV genotypes distribution of 107 HIV/HCV co-infection individuals in Hunan province

Objective To investigate the HCV genotypes distribution of 107 HIV/HCV co-infection individuals in Hunan province. Methods HCV antibodies positive plasma samples were collected from HIV-1 antibodies positive plasma bank in Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention and carried out the nucleic acid amplification, the PCR products were used for the HCV genotypes analysis. Results For 107 samples, 77.5%(83/107) were from intravenous drug users and 25.2%(27/107) were underwent spontaneous clearance of HCV. The HCV genotypes distribution varied greatly in different routes of HIV infection. The non-1/non-2 types exceeded 70% in intravenous drug use and unknown route of transmitted infection populations, while the types 1 and 2 mainly occurred in blood transfusion or aphaeresis plasma populations, accounted for 83.3%. There was no statistical significant differences of immune and liver function among the three groups. Conclusions Among 107 HIV/HCV co-infection individuals in Hunan province, most of them were intravenous drug users and the distribution of HCV genotypes varied greatly in different routes of HIV infection. Key words: Hepatitis C virus; Human immunodeficiency virus; Route of infection; Genotype
Cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen during transition from wakefulness to sleep measured with high temporal resolution OxFlow MRI with concurrent EEG

During slow-wave sleep, synaptic transmissions are reduced with a concomitant reduction in brain energy consumption. We used 3 Tesla MRI to noninvasively quantify changes in the cerebral metabolic ...