cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Causal SNP regulating FAM13B expression identified for the Chr. 5q31 atrial fibrillation susceptibility loc

Rationale- Our prior RNA sequencing study found that FAM13B gene expression in human left atrial appendages was strongly associated with an atrial fibrillation (AF) susceptibility-associated variant on chr. 5q31. Objective- To identify the common genetic variant responsible for regulating FAM13B expression and the effect of FAM13B expression on cardiomyocyte gene expression in order to gain insight into the functional mechanism of the chr. 5q31 AF susceptibility locus. Methods and Results- By taking advantage of a smaller linkage disequilibrium block in African descent subjects and available chromatin conformation data, we identified the common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs17171731 as a candidate genetic variant controlling FAM13B gene expression in the left atrium. Functional analysis demonstrated that the AF risk allele of rs17171731 had less enhancer activity than the protective allele. Gel mobility shift studies determined that the risk allele bound to an additional protein that may function as a transcriptional repressor. Knockdown of FAM13B expression in stem cell-derived human cardiomyocytes (iCM) altered the expression of >1000 genes and modified the sodium current, consistent with increased susceptibility to atrial fibrillation. Transfection of GFP tagged FAM13B into iCMs demonstrated expression on the plasma membrane and at the Z-disk. Conclusions- The chr. 5q31 AF risk variant was identified as rs17171731, with the risk allele having less enhancer activity, leading to decreased expression of FAM13B, which resides on the plasma membrane and the Z-disk, and appears to play a role in the regulation of cardiomyocyte gene expression and the late sodium current.
The Long War over Party Structure: Democratic Representation and Policy Responsiveness in American Politics

A long-standing debate in American politics is about the proper structure for political parties and the relative power that should be afforded to party professionals versus issue activists. In this book, Byron E. Shafer and Regina L. Wagner draw systematically on new data and indexes to evaluate the extent to which party structure changed from the 1950s on, and what the consequences have been for policy responsiveness, democratic representation, and party alignment across different issue domains. They argue that the reputed triumph of volunteer parties since the 1970s has been less comprehensive than the orthodox narrative assumes, but that the balance of power did shift, with unintended and sometimes perverse consequences. In the process of evaluating its central questions, this book gives an account of how partisan alignments evolved with newly empowered issue activists and major post-war developments from the civil rights movement to the culture wars.
Particle nucleation and growth in dusty plasmas: On the importance of charged-neutral interactions

Particle nucleation and growth in gases involves nucleation via growth of small molecular or ionic clusters, growth by vapor deposition on nanoparticle surfaces, and coagulation due to collisions between nanoparticles. Under typical conditions that apply in low-pressure nonthermal plasmas, all three of these phenomena are dominated by interactions between negatively charged bodies (anion clusters or nanoparticles) and neutral ones (molecules or nanoparticles), with collision rates enhanced by the dipole or image potential induced in the neutral collision partner. The current understanding of these phenomena is reviewed, with a focus on silane-containing plasmas in which silicon nanoparticles nucleate and grow.Particle nucleation and growth in gases involves nucleation via growth of small molecular or ionic clusters, growth by vapor deposition on nanoparticle surfaces, and coagulation due to collisions between nanoparticles. Under typical conditions that apply in low-pressure nonthermal plasmas, all three of these phenomena are dominated by interactions between negatively charged bodies (anion clusters or nanoparticles) and neutral ones (molecules or nanoparticles), with collision rates enhanced by the dipole or image potential induced in the neutral collision partner. The current understanding of these phenomena is reviewed, with a focus on silane-containing plasmas in which silicon nanoparticles nucleate and grow.
Late onset of Syt2a expression at synapses relevant to social behavior

As they form, synapses go through various stages of maturation and refinement. These steps are linked to significant changes in synaptic function, potentially resulting in changes in behavior. Here, we examined the distribution of the synaptic vesicle protein Synaptotagmin 2a (Syt2a) during development of the zebrafish nervous system. Syt2a is widely distributed throughout the midbrain and hindbrain early during larval development but very weakly expressed in the forebrain. Later in development, Syt2a expression levels increase, particularly in regions associated with social behavior, and most intriguingly, around the time social behavior becomes apparent. We provide evidence that Syt2a localizes to synapses on socially-relevant neurons in the ventral forebrain, co-localizing with tyrosine hydroxylase, a biosynthetic enzyme in the dopamine pathway. Our results suggest a maturation step for synapses in the forebrain that are spatiotemporally related to social behavior.
Can Religious Education Change A Prison

This essay offers a glimpse into what is possible when religious educators traverse the walls of the justice system and work with students-incarcerated to curate spaces of hope, grace, and transfor...
Patient perspectives on variant reclassification after cancer susceptibility testing.

BACKGROUND Little is known about the impact of reclassification on patients' perception of medical uncertainty or trust in genetics-based clinical care. METHODS Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with 20 patients who had received a reclassified genetic test result related to hereditary cancer. All participants had undergone genetic counseling and testing for cancer susceptibility at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Hereditary Cancer Clinic within the last six years. RESULTS Most of the participants did not express distress related to the variant reclassification and only a minority expressed a decrease in trust in medical genetics. However, recall of the new interpretation was limited, even though all participants were recontacted by letter, phone, or clinic visit. CONCLUSION Reclassification of genetic tests is an important issue in modern healthcare because changes in interpretation have the potential to alter previously recommended management. Participants in this study did not express strong feelings of mistrust or doubt about their genetic evaluation. However, there was a low level of comprehension and information retention related to the updated report. Future research can build on this study to improve communication with patients about their reclassified results.
Measurement of hydrodynamic instability growth during the deceleration of an inertial confinement fusion implosion

Abstract This paper presents an exploration of potential mitigation methods for the gas fuel fill tube in Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) implosions at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), and the impact of hydrodynamic growth seeded from other target imperfections using a specialized low convergence implosion experiment. Enhanced x-ray self- emission of this experiment design allows the impact of hydrodynamic growth through the deceleration phase of the implosion to be examined. Experiments are presented comparing the perturbation visible during the implosion deceleration that are seeded by the fill tube, through varying the initial geometry in otherwise similar implosions. We further extend the experiment to explore the impact of isolated high atomic number 'dots' of 5 and 20 µm diameter. These isolated dots are compared in two different ‘High Density Carbon’ ablator designs in a gold hohlraum. The experiment series finds a correlation to number of high frequency self-emission features observed in deceleration and degradation in total Deuterium-Deuterium neutron yield.
P162 Comparative Outcome Evaluation of 3 Delivery Models for a Diabetes Prevention Education Program for Older Adults

Objective Outcome evaluation of 3 delivery models for a diabetes prevention education program for older adults. Use of Theory or Research Older adults have the highest prevalence of diabetes and have proved to benefit from prevention programs. Few community-based education programs have targeted this age group. Target Audience Community-dwelling older persons (≥60 years) in Lubbock, Texas. Program Description We modified the national Diabetes Prevention Program based on previously assessed health education needs of the elderly. Seven modules on diabetes basics, physical activity, and overall healthy diet were developed. The core elements were healthy eating within budget, enhancing self-efficacy, nutrition misconceptions, and problem-solving skills. Two community centers were randomly assigned to education by nutrition professionals (Pro, n = 23), 2 were assigned to trained peer educators (Peer, n = 27), and 2 were assigned to receive written materials (Passive, n = 26). Pro and Peer groups received 9 weekly 45-minute sessions; passive group received the written materials weekly. Evaluation Methods Nutrition and Diabetes Knowledge (NDK) questionnaire, self-efficacy for eating behaviors scale, Starting the Conversation instrument for dietary behaviors, and the Veggie Meter for Skin Carotenoid Status (SCS). We also conducted post-intervention focus group discussions. Results Regression models demonstrated a significant improvement in self-efficacy in Peer group (+0.38 ± 0.24) compared to the other 2 groups (+0.18 ± 0.32 for Pro and +0.11 ± 0.45 for Passive, P Conclusions Passive information dissemination was not an effective education model for elderly people. Peer education provided a valuable resource for diabetes education for older adults. Funding Texas Tech University.
Safety of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients undergoing carbon dioxide insufflation in extended endoscopic procedures.

Introduction: Carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation for endoscopies has been shown to be more comfortable and safe, but only in patients without underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to show that using CO2 is safe in COPD patients. Methods: Patients were retrospectively identified who underwent extended endoscopic procedures during the time period of January 2012 to December 2017. Patients were included if they also had COPD. A matched control group without COPD was created during the same timeframe. All the patients were sedated with continuous monitoring of their CO2 levels by end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2). Results: One hundred and ten patients had COPD and underwent an extended endoscopic procedure. These patients had a higher severity of their comorbidities (American Society of Anesthesiologists class 3 or 4) (93.6% [95% confidence interval [CI], 87.4%–96.9%] vs. 60.3% [95% CI, 51.1%–69.0%]; P
The fundamental rights of unaccompanied minors in EU asylum law: a dubious trade-off between control and protection

The current Common European Asylum System (CEAS) includes several measures to protect unaccompanied minors. New CEAS proposals launched in 2016 continued to expand some of the existing safeguards but also introduced a more punitive approach towards asylum-seekers, sanctioning and preventing secondary movements and possible abuse of the asylum system. These measures need to be viewed against the backdrop of the so-called ‘refugee crisis’, creating a policy climate more focussed on control and deterrence. This equally affects unaccompanied minors, who struggle to enjoy the rights granted to them, as EU member states move towards an increasingly restrictive interpretation of the CEAS.
Endowments and Parental Investments in Infancy and Early Childhood

This article tests whether parents reinforce or compensate for child endowments. We estimate how the difference in birth weight across siblings impacts specific parental investments: breast-feeding, well-baby visits, immunizations, and preschool attendance. Our results indicate that normal-birth-weight children are 5%–11% more likely to receive early childhood parental investments than their low-birth-weight siblings. Moreover, the presence of additional low-birth-weight siblings in the household increases the likelihood of investments such as well-baby visits and immunizations for normal-birth-weight children. These results suggest that parental investments in early childhood tend to reinforce endowment differences.
Abstract PS7-06: Incidence and survival of inflammatory breast cancer between 1973 - 2015 in the surveillance, epidemiology and end results (SEER) database

PurposeInflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and aggressive variant of breast cancer characterized by erythema, edema, and “peau d’orange” of the breast progressing within six months. We assessed the incidence and survival of IBC in the US currently, compared to historical results. MethodsUsing SEER*Stat, a case list of IBC patients diagnosed between 1973-2015 (n = 29,718) was extracted from the SEER 18 registries by defining IBC using a combination of morphology, stage, and extent of disease criteria. Age-adjusted incidence rates, relative survival rates, and mean survival time were calculated. Significance was determined as non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals. ResultsThe overall incidence of IBC from 1973 - 2015 is 2.76 (2.73, 2.79) cases per 100,000 people, with white patients having an incidence rate of 2.63 (2.60, 2.67), black patients 4.52 (4.39, 4.65), and patients of other race 1.84 (1.76, 1.93). The relative rate of 5-year survival for IBC patients as a whole is 40.5% (39.0%, 42.0%), with white patients having a rate of 42.5% (40.7%, 44.3%) and black patients’ survival rate 29.9% (26.6%, 33.3%) (see Table 1). White patients diagnosed in 1988-1992 have a mean survival time of 81.9 (53.5, 110.3) months, while those diagnosed in 2008-2012 have mean survival time of 101.9 (90.0, 113.7) months. In contrast black patients diagnosed in 1988-1992 have a mean survival time of 48.5 (37.5, 59.4) months, while those diagnosed in 2008-2012 have mean survival time of 84.3 (77.2, 91.4) months (see Table 2). ConclusionsOur results suggest that IBC survival has moderately increased in recent years. However, despite the overall improvement in survival for all racial groups, there remains a persistent survival disparity between white and black patients that has not narrowed over two decades. Further research is urgently needed to understand and address this disparity. Citation Format: Hannah Abraham, Yaoxuan Xia, Bhramar Mukherjee, Sofia D Merajver. Incidence and survival of inflammatory breast cancer between 1973 - 2015 in the surveillance, epidemiology and end results (SEER) database [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS7-06.
Underwater Soft Robot Modeling and Control With Differentiable Simulation

Underwater soft robots are challenging to model and control because of their high degrees of freedom and their intricate coupling with water. In this letter, we present a method that leverages the recent development in differentiable simulation coupled with a differentiable, analytical hydrodynamic model to assist with the modeling and control of an underwater soft robot. We apply this method to Starfish, a customized soft robot design that is easy to fabricate and intuitive to manipulate. Our method starts with data obtained from the real robot and alternates between simulation and experiments. Specifically, the simulation step uses gradients from a differentiable simulator to run system identification and trajectory optimization, and the experiment step executes the optimized trajectory on the robot to collect new data to be fed into simulation. Our demonstration on Starfish shows that proper usage of gradients from a differentiable simulator not only narrows down its simulation-to-reality gap but also improves the performance of an open-loop controller in real experiments.
Museum-Based Distance Learning Programs: Current Practices and Future Research Opportunities

Museums play an important role in out-of-school learning. Many museums have begun offering distance learning programs to increase their reach and the accessibility of their collections. These programs serve a wide range of audiences from pre-kindergarten to lifelong learners. This descriptive study examined the current practices in museum-based distance learning programs. Additional data was collected once museums began closing due to COVID-19 and transitioning to distance learning programs. The study found that museums offering programs before COVID-19 predominately offered school-based programs via teleconferencing software. Museums transitioning to distance learning programs following closures due to COVID-19 mainly utilized social media platforms to offer a wide range of programming for the general public. Additional information was gathered regarding how the programs were developed and who facilitated them. Museums are still determining how to respond to COVID-19 closures. This study described the current landscape and potential opportunities for research related to museum-based distance learning programs. These areas for research include establishing best practices, defining high-quality programs, opportunities to engage in instructional design, and professional development for the museum staff facilitating these programs. © 2021. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning. All Rights Reserved.
The growing complexity of the United States patent system

In this Article, we compare a data set of 1000 U.S. patents issued between 1996 and 1998 to a similarly random sample of 1000 patents issued twenty years earlier, between 1976 and 1978. By studying the differences between the groups, we can get a clear picture of how the patent system has changed over time. The results are dramatic. By almost any measure - subject matter, time spent in prosecution, number of prior art references cited, number of claims, number of continuation applications filed, number of inventors - the patents issued in the late 1990s are more complex than those issued in the 1970s. While some of these effects are attributable to the patenting of new technologies like biotechnology and software, unknown in the early 1970s, the increase in complexity is robust even across areas of technology. Further, the patent system in the 1990s is more heterogeneous than it was in the 1970s. There are far greater differences by area of technology and by nationality in how patents are being prosecuted in the 1990s than there were in the 1970s. We explore a number of possible explanations for these results, and discuss the policy implications of the lack of uniformity that now characterizes our patent system.
Single-price equilibrium with product differentiation

Abstract This paper discusses the effects of entry in a single-price equilibrium with product differentiation. Product differentiation is viewed mainly from consumer preferences and valuations, which in turn are expressed in consumers' perceived prices. The model includes varying consumer preferences and valuations in a preferred brand. Within this simplified framework, the paper shows that, under certain types of individual demands, entry into stable equilibria may result in higher prices. The effects of entry on profits are also discussed.
A Direct Comparison of Immunological and Clinical Effects of Interleukin 2 with and without Interferon-α in Humans

Abstract Interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon-α (IFN-α) are cytokines with synergistic antitumor effects in mouse models. The biological effects of this combination, however, have not been directly compared to each agent alone in humans. We conducted a Phase 1B trial of IL-2 plus or minus IFN-α in 38 cancer patients. The objectives of this trial were to determine which doses of IFN-α and IL-2 maximally enhanced biological responses, and to determine whether the combined administration of IFN-α and IL-2 would result in a potentiation of biological responses over IL-2 alone. Patients received 4 days of IL-2 (1.5 × 106 units/m2/day or 3.0 × 106 units/m2/day) as a continuous infusion followed by a 3-day rest period, weekly for 3 weeks, with a 3-week rest period between 2 treatment courses. IFN-α (0.5 × 106 or 5 × 106 units/m2/day) was administered s.c. on days 1–4 weekly for 3 weeks with one of the 3-week courses. Patients were randomized to receive either IL-2 alone for course 1, followed by IL-2/IFN-α for course 2, or IL-2/IFN-α in course 1, followed by IL-2 alone. Immunological parameters were evaluated before treatment, and 24 h after completion of the third week of IL-2. A statistically significant increase in the percentage of circulating natural killer cells (CD56), natural killer cells bearing the Fc receptor (CD16), and activated T cells (CD25) was observed following IL-2 alone, and following IL-2 plus IFN-α. Significant increases in lymphocyte-activated killer cell cytotoxicity, antibody cellular cytotoxicity, and serum IL-2 receptor were also observed following both IL-2 and IL-2 plus IFN-α. However, no significant differences were observed in the magnitude of the increase in the IL-2-alone group when compared to the IL-2 plus IFN-α group. The mean fluorescent intensity of monocytes positive for HLA-DR and Fc receptor expression also increased significantly in both groups, as did serum β2-microglobulin expression and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity. However, increases were not significantly different between patients receiving IL-2 alone and IL-2 plus IFN-α. No dose response effect for IFN-α was observed for any of the parameters assessed. Toxicities consisted primarily of constitutional toxicities, including fever, rigors, malaise, headache, anorexia, and a decrease in performance status. No clinically significant differences in toxicities were observed between courses consisting of IL-2 and those consisting of IFN-α and IL-2. Two patients had a partial response, and 5 patients had a minor response (partial plus minor response rate, 18%). In conclusion, we did not observe a difference in biological activity between IL-2 and IL-2 plus IFN-α in any of the immunological parameters we studied. Although this regimen was relatively well-tolerated, we cannot conclude that IFN-α adds significantly to the immunological or therapeutic activity of IL-2 alone.
Accounting for Both Random Errors and Systematic Errors in Uncertainty Propagation Analysis of Computer Models Involving Experimental Measurements with Monte Carlo Methods

A Monte Carlo method is presented to study the effect of systematic and random errors on computer models mainly dealing with experimental data. It is a common assumption in this type of models (linear and nonlinear regression, and nonregression computer models) involving experimental measurements that the error sources are mainly random and independent with no constant background errors (systematic errors). However, from comparisons of different experimental data sources evidence is often found of significant bias or calibration errors. The uncertainty analysis approach presented in this work is based on the analysis of cumulative probability distributions for output variables of the models involved taking into account the effect of both types of errors. The probability distributions are obtained by performing Monte Carlo simulation coupled with appropriate definitions for the random and systematic errors. The main objectives are to detect the error source with stochastic dominance on the uncertainty propagation and the combined effect on output variables of the models. The results from the case studies analyzed show that the approach is able to distinguish which error type has a more significant effect on the performance of the model. Also, it was found that systematic or calibration errors, if present, cannot be neglected in uncertainty analysis of models dependent on experimental measurements such as chemical and physical properties. The approach can be used to facilitate decision making in fields related to safety factors selection, modeling, experimental data measurement, and experimental design.
Inversion of multiwavelength radiometer measurements by three-dimensional filtering

Remote sensing data from satellites typically have three dimensions: scan position, spacecraft position, and wavelength. Inversion of the radiometric data to infer geophysical parameters is a filtering problem in which the dimension of wavelength (or channel number) is transformed into a dimension of geophysical parameters, and the most general solution is a three-dimensional filter. Linear filters have the advantages of computational speed and easily described transfer functions; but often the measurements are nonlinear functions of the parameters to be inferred. To the extent that the nonlinear inversion problem is overdetermined, it can be modeled by a critically determined linear problem. As an example, inversion of Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) data by means of a three-dimensional Wiener Filter is described. Atmospheric water vapor content, rain liquid water content, surface wind speed and surface temperature are the parameters inferred from the measurements. Nonprecipitating liquid water and water vapor scale height are also modeled but not retrieved. The a priori statistics on which the filter is trained have the effect of governing the selection of a trade-off point of noise as a function of resolution (in all three retrieval dimensions).
Distributed scheduling algorithms for wavelength convertible WDM optical interconnects

Optical communication is attracting more and more attention because of its huge bandwidth to meet the ever increasing demand of emerging computing/networking applications. In this paper we study distributed scheduling algorithms to resolve output contentions in WDM optical interconnects with wavelength conversion ability. We consider the general case of limited range wavelength conversion, including the full range wavelength conversion. Two types of limited range wavelength conversions, circular symmetrical and non circular symmetrical, are studied. We introduce the request graph and show that finding the largest group of contention-free connection requests to achieve maximum network throughput is equivalent to finding a maximum matching in the request graph. Compared with the existing algorithm for finding a maximum matching in an arbitrary bipartite graph with time complexity O(N/sup 3/2/ k /sup 3/2/d), the algorithms we present have time complexity of O(k) and O(dk) (independent of interconnect size N) for non-circular symmetrical and circular symmetrical wavelength conversion, respectively, where k is the number of wavelengths per fiber and d is the conversion degree. In addition, our algorithms can be easily implemented in hardware, and used for time slotted WDM optical interconnects where connections hold for different number of time slots.
The isomorphic conjecture fails relative to a random oracle

Summary form only given, as follows. L. Berman and H. Hartmanis (1977) conjectured that there is a polynomial-time computable isomorphism between any two languages m-complete (Karp complete) for NP. D. Joseph and P. Young (1985) discovered a structurally defined class of NP-complete sets and conjectured that certain of these sets (the K/sub f//sup k,/s) are not isomorphic to the standard NP-complete sets for some one-way functions f. These two conjectures cannot both be correct. The present authors introduce a new family of strong one-way functions, the scrambling functions. If f is a scrambling function, then K/sub f//sup k/ is not isomorphic to the standard NP-complete sets, as Joseph and Young conjectured, and the Berman-Hartmanis conjecture fails. In fact, if scrambling functions exist, then the isomorphism conjecture fails for essentially all natural complexity classes above NP, e.g. PSPACE, EXP, NEXP, and RE. As evidence for the existence of scrambling functions, much more powerful one-way functions-the annihilating functions-are shown to exist relative to a random oracle. >
THE UNCIVIC POP CULTURE

Based on a discourse analysis of the fan-audience discussions found in the National Taiwan University and Soochow University Bulletin Board Systems, this case study discovers that the Taiwanese youth in fact draw on Japanese TV dramas as a springboard for reflexive discussions of their own social and political conditions in post-authoritarian Taiwan. The Japanomania fan discourse played a crucial role in Taiwan's democratization and nationhood-building in the 1990s. This paper argues that fan discussion networks are ‘pre-political’ because they create social conditions and alternative discourses that could prepare media users for potential social changes. I contend that foreign media are not necessarily the most immediate oppressors and could become the source of subversive symbols and new meanings for local resistance. Further research is called for to illuminate the shaping of identity by the global media in non-Western contexts.
Manual Thrombectomy in Myocardial Infarction: Aspiring for Better

Advances in stent technology, procedural technique, and interventional processes of care have contributed to step‐wise improvement in outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).[1][1] Beyond early restoration of epicardial blood
The Xenopus oocyte: A model for studying the metabolic regulation of cancer cell death

Abnormal metabolism and the evasion of apoptosis are both considered hallmarks of cancer. A remarkable biochemical model system, the Xenopus laevis oocyte, exhibits altered metabolism coupled to its apoptotic machinery in a similar fashion to cancer cells. This review considers the theory that these two hallmarks of cancer are coupled in tumor cells and provides strong proof that the Xenopus laevis oocyte system is an appropriate model in which to dissect the biochemical events underlying the connection between the two hallmarks. By further elucidating the mechanisms through which metabolism suppresses apoptotic machinery, we may gain a better understanding about how normal cells transform into cancer cells.
Spatial relationships between fibroblasts during the growth of rat-tail tendon

Sections of tendons from the base of the tail of rats were taken at eight time intervals from 18 days in utero until 244 days after birth and were examined in the electron microscope. For each time period, measurements were made of the relative area of fibroblasts, collagen and interstitial material, of the number of fibroblasts per unit area of tendon and of the average area of individual fibroblasts. The spatial arrangement of fibroblasts in the tendon sections was described quantitatively using the “nearest neighbor” method. Initially there was a rapid increase in the area of collagen accompanied by a decrease in the area occupied by fibroblasts but after 104 days of age these values changed very little. The numbers of fibroblasts per unit area decreased steadily from the embryo until 104 days whereas the average size of each cell increased to reach a maximum area at 40 days of age and then declined. At all time intervals cells were arranged in a regular, dispersed pattern across the tendon fascicles. Growth in width of the rat tail appears to involve the secretion of collagen and other intercellular material symmetrically around each fibroblast, so as to gradually separate the cells until a stage is reached at which cells are sufficiently far apart that there is little contact between adjacent cell processes. This may interfere with the integration of metabolic activity in the tissue. As a consequence, there is shrinkage of the cell bodies and a reduction in secretory activity so that, between 55 and 104 days of age, the tendon enters a period of terminal senescence.
Effects of perfluorodecanoic acid on hepatic indices of thyroid status in the rat

Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) alters the circulating level of thyroid hormones, but the physiological significance of this change at the target tissue remains to be defined. To this end, the activities of thyroid-responsive hepatic enzymes were examined in adult male rats 1 week after treatment with a single dose of PFDA (20, 40 or 80 mg/kg). Since PFDA treatment caused a dose-related reduction in feed intake, vehicle-treated rats pair-fed to their counterparts receiving PFDA were used to determine if any of the PFDA-induced alterations in enzyme activity were secondary to hypophagia. Following the administration of PFDA, L-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, a liver mitochondrial enzyme sensitive to thyroid status, exhibited a modest increase in activity, whereas that of succinate dehydrogenase, a constitutive mitochondrial marker enzyme, was similar in both PFDA-treated rats and their pair-fed counterparts at all dose levels examined. Activity of cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase was also augmented modestly in livers of rats receiving PFDA. In contrast, activity of cytosolic malic enzyme, a thyroid-responsive enzyme, was increased markedly in PFDA-treated rats. Hepatic activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which also responds to alterations in thyroid status, exhibited a modest increase with 20 and 40 mg/kg PFDA but was similar in both PFDA-treated rats and their pair-fed counterparts at the 80 mg/kg dose level. Absolute and relative liver mass was elevated in PFDA-treated rats at all dose levels in comparison to the appropriate vehicle-treated pair-fed animals. Total hepatic content of DNA was maintained in PFDA-treated rats at all dose levels, whereas a significant decrease in liver DNA was found in the vehicle-treated rats pair-fed to animals receiving 80 mg/kg PFDA. Following administration of PFDA, protein content per total liver was similar to that of their pair-fed counterparts. Thus, the pattern of activity of thyroid-responsive hepatic enzymes was not compatible with a functional shift toward a lessened thyroid status in rats treated with PFDA.
Post Buckling Behavior of Axially Compressed Core-Filled Cylinders

The post buckling behavior of an axially compressed corefilled circular cylindrical shell is presented. The soft elastic core is represented by the Pasternak foundation model which is a Winkler foundation model with shear interactions. The Ritz energy method is employed to obtain the load-deformation relationship. The stabilizing effect of soft core on the buckling strength of shell is illustrated. Es wird das Verhalten einer axial zusammengedruckten kreis-zylindrischen Schale mit Kernfullung nach dem Beulen untersucht. Der weiche, elastische Kern wird durch das Grundmodell von Pasternak dargestellt, das ein Winklersches Grundmodell mit Schubwechselwirkungen ist. Mittels der Ritzschen Energiemethode werden die Beziehungen fur die Deformation unter Last gewonnen. Die stabilisierende Wirkung des weichen Kerns auf die beulende Kraft der Schale wird illustriert.
Relationship between membrane physical properties and secretory phospholipase A2 hydrolysis kinetics in S49 cells during ionophore-induced apoptosis.

During apoptosis, changes occur in lymphocyte membranes that render them susceptible to hydrolysis by secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2). To study the relevant mechanisms, a simplified model of apoptosis using a calcium ionophore was applied. Kinetic and flow cytometry experiments provided key observations regarding ionophore treatment: the initial rate of hydrolysis was elevated at all enzyme concentrations, the total amount of reaction product was increased fourfold, and adsorption of the enzyme to the membrane surface was unaltered. Analysis of these results suggested that susceptibility during calcium-induced apoptosis is limited by availability of substrate rather than adsorption of enzyme. Fluorescence experiments identified three membrane alterations during apoptosis that might affect substrate access to the sPLA2 active site. First, intercalation of merocyanine 540 into the membrane was improved, suggesting an increase in lipid spacing. Second, laurdan detected increased solvation of the lower headgroup region of the membrane. Third, the rate at which fluorescent lipids could be removed from the membrane by albumin was enhanced, implying greater vertical mobility of phospholipids. Thus, it is proposed that the membranes of apoptotic cells become susceptible to sPLA2 through a reduction in lipid-neighbor interactions that facilitates migration of phospholipids into the enzyme active site.
Alkaline-earth vanadium (IV) oxides having the AVO3 composition

Abstract The preparation and properties of the perovskite-type metavanadates, CaVO3 and SrVO3 are reported. The calcium phase has orthorhombic symmetry while the strontium phase has the cubic perovskite structure. They are both metallic conductors and exhibit Pauli paramagnetic behavior. The BaVO3 composition was only obtained at high pressure and may be nonstoichiometric. Single crystal data indicate that the predominant phase has a 14-layer hexagonal stacking sequence, previously observed in the BaCrO3 system. Curie-Weiss magnetic behavior was observed on this phase above 77°K.
The Government of the Fabian Socialist Commonwealth

I. The need of reform in the government of Great Britain. II. The Webbs' novel plan, 434. — The Political and Social Parliaments, 438. — Revival of the separation of powers, 440. — III. A new system of checks and balances; its defects, 441. — IV. The "bureaucratization" of politics, 447; the dictatorship of the "Intellectuals," 451. — Analogies in the Sankey and Plumb plans, 454. — V. The collapse of capitalism, 456; Fabianism vs. Communism, 459.
Causes of death in patients with hepatitis B: A natural history cohort study in the United States

The natural history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a U.S. population has not been well described. We identified the causes of death in 6,689 health plan members infected with HBV who were followed between March 1, 1996 and December 31, 2005. Causes of death were grouped into HBV-related (subdivided into decompensated cirrhosis [DCC] and hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]), cancer, cardiovascular, and other/unknown. The study cohort included 3,244 females and 3,445 males; 68.3% were of Asian-Pacific Islander (API) descent, 11.8% were white (non-Hispanic), and 19.9% were of other or unknown race. Exposure to HBV antivirals and preexisting comorbidities were uncommon. Males had higher overall 10-year death rates than females, both for total deaths (8.9% versus 4.1%) and for HBV-related deaths (4.8% versus 1.2%). The death rate rose markedly with increasing age, and approximately 40% of all deaths in subjects over the age of 40 were HBV related. The death rate from HCC was twice that of DCC. HCC deaths represented 70% of cancer deaths in males and 37% in females. On multivariable analysis, when subjects with antecedent HCC and DCC were excluded, the only significant predictor of HBV mortality in both sexes was age. Conclusion: HBV was the cause of death in over 40% of those who died during the study, and the mortality increased markedly with increasing age over 40 in males and over 50 in females. HBV-related mortality was four times more common in males than in females and was as common in non-Asians as in those of API origin. HBV-related deaths were twice as common from HCC as from DCC. (HEPATOLOGY 2013)
Coproducts and decomposable machines

The crucial discovery reported here is that the free monoid U^* on the input set U does not yield a sufficiently rich set of inputs when algebraic structure is placed on the machine. For group machines, the appropriate structure is the coproduct U^& of an infinite sequence of copies of U. U^& reduces to a reasonable facsimile of U^* in the Abelian case. A structure theorem for monoids of linear systems reveals the R monoid of Give'on and Zalcstein as appropriate only when no distinct powers of the statetransition matrix have the same action.
Nuclear localization signals and human disease

In eukaryotic cells, the physical separation of the genetic material in the nucleus from the translation and signaling machinery in the cytoplasm by the nuclear envelope creates a requirement for a mechanism through which macromolecules can enter or exit the nucleus as necessary. Nucleocytoplasmic transport involves the specific recognition of cargo molecules by transport receptors in one compartment followed by the physical relocation of that cargo into the other compartment through regulated pores that perforate the nuclear envelope. The recognition of protein cargoes by their transport receptors occurs via amino acid sequences in cargo proteins called nuclear targeting signals. Both nuclear import and export of proteins are highly regulated processes that control, not only what cargo can enter and/or exit the nucleus, but also when in the cell cycle and in what cell type, the cargo can be transported. Deregulation of the nuclear transport of specific cargoes has been linked to numerous cancers and developmental disorders highlighting the importance of understanding the mechanisms underlying nucleocytoplasmic transport and particularly the modulation of the specific interactions between transporter receptors and nuclear targeting signals within target cargo proteins. © 2009 IUBMB IUBMB Life 61(7): 697–706, 2009
Long-path supercontinuum absorption spectroscopy for measurement of atmospheric constituents

A supercontinuum source has been proposed as a new tool for measurement of minor species concentrations on long paths through the atmosphere. The present work describes results from recent experiments that demonstrate the potential for Differential Absorption Spectroscopy (DAS) and Spectral Pattern Recognition Differential Absorption Lidar (SPR-DIAL) measurements utilizing a supercontinuum source. As an initial example of this measurement approach, the results include the quantification of water vapor concentration through indoor and outdoor path absorption measurements using a collimated supercontinuum source. Experimental spectra are compared with equivalent simulations from MODTRAN??? versions 4 and 5 to examine the water vapor band between 1300 and 1500 nm to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach.
Betamethasone in pregnancy: influence of maternal body weight and multiple gestation on pharmacokinetics.

Objective The goals of the study were to estimate the pharmacokinetic parameters of standard dose betamethasone in a large obstetrics population and evaluate the effect of maternal body size and multiple gestation on the pharmacokinetic parameters and their observed variability. Study Design This was a prospective pharmacokinetic study. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry was used to measure betamethasone plasma concentrations. Pharmacokinetic parameters and significant clinical covariates were estimated with mixed effect modeling. Bootstrap analysis confirmed validity of the model. Results Two hundred seventy-four blood samples from 77 patients were obtained. The greatest effect on pharmacokinetic variability was observed with maternal lean body weight (LBW). The relationship between the pharmacokinetic parameters and LBW remained linear over a wide range of maternal body sizes. Multiple gestations did not affect the pharmacokinetic parameters. Conclusion Individualization of betamethasone dosing by maternal LBW reduces variability in drug exposure. Mutiple gestations do not require betamethasone dosing adjustment, because pharmacokinetics are the same as singleton gestations.
Composite indirect-direct method for fabricating multiple-unit provisional restorations ☆ ☆☆ ★

This article describes a method for fabricating multiple-unit provisional restorations by use of the indirect-direct method without the need for abutment preparation on diagnostic casts. Composite is used with fiber reinforcement to create a provisional shell in a vinyl polysiloxane matrix. This method reduces chair time, as well as laboratory time required to fabricate provisional restorations. Control of restoration contours and incisal edge position is also enhanced.
Screening of Metal Matrix Composites Using Ultrasonic C-Scans

Ultrasonic C-scans can be used to find some types of defects in continuous fiber-reinforced metal matrix composites such as boron/aluminum composites. These defects are related to the fatigue behavior and fracture location of each inspected specimen. The C-scan technique determined the relative amount of defects in boron/aluminum composites. The defects were primarily identified as gaps in the fiber spacing. Those specimens with higher defect densities had shorter fatigue lives, lower fatigue endurance limits, and greater reductions in the elastic unloading modulus (that is, stiffness) because of fatigue cycling. This type of data could be used to set accept/reject levels for a composite panel based on C-scan indications.
Structural and computational features of four highly polar quinolin-2(1H)-ylidene derivatives: Equilibrium preference for enaminothione, enamine, and enaminone tautomeric structures

Abstract The coupling of the active methylene compounds 2-cyanothioacetamide, malononitrile, and ethyl cyanoacetate with quinoline-N-oxide and 6-methoxyquinoline-N-oxide has been investigated, and the compounds (2Z)-2-cyano-2-quinolin-2(1H)-ylidene-ethanethioamide (1a), 6-methoxyquinolin-2(1H)-ylidene-propanedinitrile (1b), ethyl (2Z)-cyano-6-methoxyquinolin-2(1H)-ylidene-ethanoate (1c), and (2Z)-2-cyano-2-(6-methoxyquinolin)-2(1H)-ylidene-ethanethioamide (1d) have been isolated. Compounds 1a–d have been characterized by a combination of IR and NMR spectroscopies, combustion and X-ray diffraction analyses. The solid-state structure of each molecule is found to be almost planar and contains a hydrogen atom attached to the quinoline nitrogen. The observed pattern of exocyclic bond lengths signifies the existence of strong conjugation between quinoline fragment and the electron-withdrawing substituent situated at C-1. The C S bond distance of 1.708(1) and 1.704(1) A in 1a and 1d, respectively, is intermediate in length between C S and C S bond distances. The C O bond distance in 1c displays a similar elongation [1.237(2) A] relative to the C O bond distance in non-conjugated organic carbonyl compounds. All four structures exhibit an exocyclic C C bond between the heterocycle and the electron-withdrawing substituent that is elongated to 1.400 A, a feature consistent with significant C C bond contribution. Strong intramolecular H-bonds in 1a, 1c, and 1d help promote molecular conjugation of the heterocycle and exocyclic appendage defined by the atoms H N C C C S/O into flat six-membered rings. In the crystals of 1a and 1b, the molecules are aligned in head-to-head stacks, while in the crystalline lattice of 1c and 1d the molecules exhibit a motif involving head-to-tail stacks. Intermolecular H-bonds link molecules 1a, 1b, and 1d into centrosymmetric dimers, while in the crystal of 1c weak intermolecular C H⋯N H-bonds orient molecules into zigzag chains. The bonding in 1a–d has been examined by electronic structure calculations, and these data are discussed with respect to the X-ray diffraction structures and the equilibrium preference for the enaminothione (1a and 1d), enamine (1b), and enaminone (1c) tautomers.
High-resolution XPS spectra of Ir, Pt and Au valence bands

Abstract Structural features in the valence band XPS spectra vary from Ir ( Z = 77) to Au ( Z = 79)as expected on the basis of 5d6s band filing.