cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An external sensor for instantaneous measurement of the internal temperature in lithium-ion rechargeable cells

Based on a four-probe electrical measurement, we have developed a Battery Internal Temperature Sensor. BITS, unlike a surface-mounted thermocouple, provides a direct measure of the internal temperature. We have demonstrate in several different rechargeable lithium-ion cells ranging in capacity from 2- to 50-Ah, the existence of an intrinsic relationship between a cell's internal temperature and a readily measurable electrical parameter. Today, container rupture and fire are the most detrimental consequences of thermal runaway in rechargeable Li-ion cells. Although storing or operating Li-ion cells in high-temperature environments is not advisable, high internal temperature has a greater potential to initiate catastrophic events. Measuring the environmental temperature at any proximity to the surface of the cell is insufficient to know or intervene with fast-rising internal heat. For example, monitoring internal temperature in real time has direct relevance to the thermal runaway caused by external and internal short circuits that may have no relevance to the external temperature. Yet, until now, there has been no simple technique to monitor the internal temperature of a single cell or multiple cells in Li-ion batteries. BITS, developed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, is a miniature instrument, with demonstrated capability to measure and report internal temperature of individual cells in a multi-cell battery pack at the rate of 200-ms/cell.
Mechanisms of microRNA-mediated gene regulation in animal cells

MicroRNAs are a large family of regulatory molecules found in all multicellular organisms. Even though their functions are only beginning to be understood, it is evident that microRNAs have important roles in a wide range of biological processes, including developmental timing, growth control, and differentiation. Indeed, recent bioinformatic and experimental evidence suggests that a remarkably large proportion of genes (>30%) are subject to microRNA-mediated regulation. Although it is clear that microRNAs function by suppressing protein production from targeted mRNAs, there is, at present, no consensus about how such downregulation is accomplished. In this review, I describe the evidence that there are multiple mechanisms of microRNA-mediated repression and discuss the possible connections between these mechanisms.
Macrodactyly, hemihypertrophy, and connective tissue nevi: Report of a new syndrome and review of the literature

Macrodactyly and hemihypertrophy have been described in association with a number of syndromes which are reviewed. We describe a child who, in addition to macrodactyly and hemihypertrophy, has extensive connective tissue nevi. He does not conform to any known entity and would appear to represent a "new" syndrome.
Effects of Population Size, Floor Space, and Feeder Space upon Productive Performance, External Appearance, and Plasma Corticosterone Concentration of Laying Hens

Effects were studied of population size, floor area, and feeder space per hen on variables associated with egg production and corticosterone level. A total of 408 White Leghorn-type laying hens was used in this study. Three treatments were observed: 5 hens per cage with 8.6 cm feeder space per hen, 5 hens per cage with 12 cm feeder space per hen, and 7 hens per cage with 8.6 cm feeder space per hen. Both 5-hen treatments had 420 cm2 of cage area per hen, while the 7-hen treatment had 300 cm2. Increased population size, reduced feeder space, and reduced floor area per hen resulted in a significant (P less than .01) decline in percent egg production. Restriction of feeder space was correlated with reduced feed consumption and mortality but not feed conversion, weight gain, and egg size. As cage space allowance increased, feed consumption and weight gain were higher, whereas mortality, feed conversion, and egg weight were lower. No significant (P greater than .05) differences in shell thickness, specific gravity, Haugh unit, throat skin ateromata, claw length, and corticosterone level were observed. Plumage condition and foot health were improved only when floor area allowances increased.
Whitman and Baudelaire

Examines the relation between Whitman and Baudelaire and contends that there is "very little doubt that Whitman knew something about Baudelaire from his reading of (George) Saintsbury," but that Baudelaire likely knew little of Whitman and that "it is doubtful that Baudelaire would have cared for the man or his poetry."
Selective Transmission of R5-Tropic HIV Type 1 from Dendritic Cells to Resting CD4+ T Cells

In an in vitro coculture model of monocyte-derived, cultured human dendritic cells (DC) with autologous CD4+ resting T cells, CCR5 (R5)-tropic strains of HIV-1, but not CXCR4 (X4)-tropic strains, were transmitted to resting CD4+ T cells, leading to prolific viral output, although DC were susceptible to infection with either strain. Macrophages, which were also infectable with either R5- or X4-tropic strains, did not transmit infection to CD4+ cells. Highly productive HIV infection in this model appeared to be a consequence of heterokaryotic syncytium formation between infected DC and T cells since syncytia formation developed only in R5-infected DC/CD4+ cocultures. These results suggested that the unique microenvironment derived from the fusion between the infected DC and CD4+ cell was highly permissive and selective for replication of R5-tropic viruses. The apparent selectivity for R5-tropic strains in such syncytia was attributable neither to differential DC-mediated activation nor to selective modulati...
Evaluation of the cure kinetics of the wood/pMDI bondline

Abstract Micro-dielectric analysis (μDEA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to monitor cure of polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI) resin with wood strands in a saturated steam environment. A first-order autocatalyzed kinetic model was employed to determine kinetic parameters. The kinetics were found to follow an Arrhenius relation. A single ramp DSC technique and μDEA produced models that predicted similar results at higher cure temperatures, but the μDEA-based model predicts a longer cure time at low temperatures. The isothermal μDEA method yields higher activation energies and Arrhenius frequency factors than models based on single DSC ramps. A modification to ASTM E698 was made to conform to the assumption of autocatalyzed kinetics. The modified ASTM E698 method predicted an earlier end of cure than the μDEA-based models and was in agreement with DSC results obtained by partial cure experiments. The activation energies and frequency factors for the different cure monitoring methods are sensitive to different stages of cure.
5-Hydroxytryptophan reversal of reserpine enhancement of audiogenic seizure susceptibility in mice.

Abstract Increased sensitivity to audiogenic seizures by reserpine was antagonized by 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP). The antagonism was dependent upon the conversion of 5HTP to 5 hydroxytryptamine (5HT) in brain since blockade of both cerebral and extracerebral decarboxylase prevented the 5HTP effect, whereas selective blockade of extracerebral decarboxylase did not affect the 5HTP antagonism. Increased seizure susceptibility occurred when brain concentrations of 5HT were decreased, while decreased susceptibility occurred when brain concentrations of 5HT were elevated. 5HTP did not alter norepinephrine or dopamine concentrations in brain. The results of this study indicate that 5HT plays a role in modulating audiogenic seizure susceptibility.
Multilevel methods for temporal and spatial flow transition simulation in a rough channel

We investigate the instability of 2D incompressible flows in a rough planar channel by tracking the growth of the unstable mode in its early stage. We develop both second- and fourth-order finite difference methods on a staggered grid, together with a fully implicit time-marching scheme, using grid generation to accommodate fairly general geometries. A multigrid full approximation scheme based on the line-distributive relaxation method is used for fast convergence. For a 2D smooth channel, numerical results show good agreement with the analytic solution obtained from linear theory for small disturbances. Numerical results for a 2D channel with one and two roughness elements are analysed by Fourier analysis. They show how the roughness elements affect the growth of the perturbation.
Plasma levels of radioactive iodine (I131) in human tracer studies.

SummaryCurves of plasma radioactivity were determined for 25 patients after the ingestion of 100 microcuries of radioiodine. The patients were divided into 11 cases of myxedema, 5 cases of hyperthyroidism and 9 euthyroid individuals. The curves were constructed from plasma samples drawn at 30 minutes 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours. It was not possible to statistically separate, at these time intervals, the curves of the hyperthyroid and euthyroid individuals. The curves of the myxedematous patients, however, were significantly different from those of the non-myxedematous patients; thus the myxedematous curves show a later peak level, a lower peak level and a fall more delayed than do the curves of the non-myxedematous patients.
Risk score for unplanned vascular readmissions.

Objective Vascular surgery patients have high readmission rates, and identification of high-risk groups that may be amenable to targeted interventions is an important strategy for readmission prevention. This study aimed to determine predictors of unplanned readmission and develop a risk score for predicting readmissions after vascular surgery. Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for 2011 was queried for major vascular surgical procedures. The primary end point was unplanned 30-day readmissions. The data were randomly split into two-thirds for development and one-third for validation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to create and validate a point score system to predict unplanned readmissions. Results Overall, 24,929 patients were included, with 2507 readmissions (10.1%). A point-based scoring system was developed with the use of factors predictive for readmission, including procedure type; discharge destination; race; non-elective presentation; pulmonary, renal, and cardiac comorbidities; diabetes; steroid use; hypoalbuminemia; anemia; venothromboembolism before discharge; graft failure before discharge; and bleeding disorder. The point score stratified patients into 3 groups: low risk (0-3 points) with a readmission rate of 5.4%, moderate risk (4-7 points) with a readmission rate of 8.6%, and high risk (≥8 points) with a readmission rate of 16.4%. The model had a C-statistic = 0.67. Conclusions Through the use of patient, operative, and predischarge events, this novel vascular surgery-specific readmission score accurately identified patients at high risk for 30-day unplanned readmission. This model could help direct discharge and home health care resources to patients at high risk, ultimately reducing readmissions and improving efficiency.
The Development and Maintenance of Drug Addiction

What is the defining property of addiction? We dust off a several-decades-long debate about the relative importance of two forms of reinforcement—positive reinforcement, subjectively linked to drug-induced euphoria, and negative reinforcement, subjectively linked to the alleviation of pain—both of which figure importantly in addiction theory; each of these forms has dominated addiction theory in its time. We agree that addiction begins with the formation of habits through positive reinforcement and that drug-opposite physiological responses often establish the conditions for negative reinforcement to come into play at a time when tolerance, in the form of increasing reward thresholds, appears to develop into positive reinforcement. Wise’s work has tended to focus on positive-reinforcement mechanisms that are important for establishing drug-seeking habits and reinstating them quickly after periods of abstinence, whereas Koob’s work has tended to focus on the negative-reinforcement mechanisms that become most obvious in the late stages of sustained addiction. While we tend to agree with each other about the early and late stages of addiction, we hold different views as to (i) the point between early and late at which the diagnosis of ‘addiction’ should be invoked, (ii) the relative importance of positive and negative reinforcement leading up to this transition, and (iii) the degree to which the specifics of negative reinforcement can be generalized across the range of addictive agents.
Studies on the Amino Acid and Vitamin Composition of Feather Meal

Abstract Considerable interest has developed in the use of chicken feather meal as a potential source of protein for feed use. Binkley and Vasak (1950), and Mayer (1955) have described a method for the production of a friable feather meal in a dry-rendering type cooker. This type of process is now in general use for the production of feather meal, and samples of such material have been used by Wilder, Ostby and Gregory (1955) in experimental chick rations. These feeding tests have indicated that feather meal is a valuable supplement when used with meat and bone scrap in a practical type ration. Since the feather meal in itself did not appear to be a complete protein for feed use, it was of importance to determine its amino acid and vitamin composition. Analysis of feather protein was reported by Block (1939), and by Graham, Waitkoff and Hier (1949). These analyses were, however, …
Direct determination of cadmium in urine by tungsten-coil inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry using palladium as a permanent modifier.

Cadmium is determined in urine samples collected from patients with age-related diseases. The urine is simply diluted 1:1 with water and placed on a tungsten coil electrothermal vaporizer treated with 200 μg of a permanent Pd modifier. A straightforward vaporization program is used to deliver the Cd vapor to an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer. A high resolution spectrometer and a charge coupled device detector provide spectra across a 4.8 nm window encompassing two separate Cd emission lines: 226.5 and 228.8 nm. The limit of detection is 0.2 μg/L at each wavelength, and the linear dynamic range spans three orders of magnitude. The accuracy as measured with a urine standard reference material is 94%. The Pd modifier continues to be effective even after 150 vaporization cycles. Direct analysis of urine with the Pd modifier using simple aqueous calibration solutions provides results that are comparable to those observed after a much more complex method: chelation, extraction, and internal standardization without the modifier. The mean concentrations found by the two techniques differ by only 9%. The permanent Pd modifier allows direct analysis of limited sample volumes with decreased risks of contamination.
Mandibular fracture severity and patient health status are associated with postoperative inflammatory complications.

Purpose To identify risk factors associated with postoperative inflammatory complications (POICs) after treatment of mandibular fractures. Patients and Methods The investigators designed a case–control study and enrolled a sample of patients treated for mandibular fractures at Massachusetts General Hospital between August 2004 and January 2010. Subjects who developed POICs after fracture management were categorized as cases. A POIC was defined as 1) recurrent swelling, fever, increased pain, or trismus; 2) wound dehiscence with purulent drainage; 3) exposed or infected hardware; 4) abscess formation; 5) radiographic evidence of osteomyelitis; and/or 6) presence of a fistula. Controls had no complications. For each case, 2 controls were selected. Predictor variables were categorized into the following sets: demographic, fracture-specific, and perioperative. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with POICs. Results During the study interval, 575 subjects with mandible fractures were evaluated and treated. The study sample consisted of 44 cases and 88 controls. In the multiple regression model, an increasing Mandibular Injury Severity Score (odds ratio = 1.4; 95% confidence interval 1.2-1.6) and a positive medical history (odds ratio = 1.4; 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.8) were significantly (P Conclusion Fracture severity assessed using the Mandibular Injury Severity Score and pre-existing medical problems were associated with increased risk for postoperative inflammatory complications following treatment of mandibular fractures.
Differences in salivary flow rates in elderly subjects using xerostomatic medications.

Abstract Stimulated whole salivary flow rate (SWSFR) was measured in a group of elderly subjects who were examined for the use of xerostomia-inducing medications. SWSFR was significantly reduced in elderly subjects using one of these medications when compared with control subjects (0.94 vs 1.52 ml/min). Increasing use of up to four different xerostomia-inducing medications did not result in additional significant reduction of stimulated salivary flow rate. Psychotropic and diuretic agents were the most commonly used xerostomatic medications, and these were almost equally potent in reducing mean flow rate (0.79 vs 0.84 ml/min). The use of potentially xerostomatic medications did not affect decayed, missing, or filled surface scores or unstimulated whole saliva pH values. A weak, statistically significant, positive correlation ( r = 0.39, p
Test-beam results of a prototype position sensitive towerless calorimeter

Abstract We present test-beam results obtained with a detector designed to measure the energy and lateral position of both electromagnetic and hadronic showers initiated by high energy particles. The detector is a lead/liquid-scintillator “shishkebab” type calorimeter read out by wavelength-shifting fibers arranged in a pixel-type towerless geometry suitable for “calorimetric tracking” of particles in the forward region of collider experiments.
Asymptotic performance analysis of the conjugate gradient reduced-rank adaptive detector

We consider an adaptive reduced-rank CG-AMF detector, obtained by using the conjugate gradient (CG) algorithm to solve for the weight vector of the adaptive matched filter (AMF). We examine the output signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) of the CG-AMF detector in the presence of strong clutter/interference. An asymtotic expression of the probability density function of the output SINR is obtained. Numerical results show that for a fixed training size, the CG-AMF detector often reaches its peak output SINR with a lower rank compared with the other reduced-rank detectors, which implies that the CG-AMF detector has lower computational complexity and less training requirement.
846 Importance of echocardiography in early assessment and follow up in surgically treated patients with ventricular septal defect after acute myocardial infarction

Objective: Rupture of the left ventricle wall (VSD) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) is severe and often life threatening complication. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of early surgical treatment in this group of patients, outcome and long term prognosis using echocardiography and clinical data. Material and methods: Clinical and echocardiographic parameters were analyzed in 14/17 patients operated due to VSD which was confirmed by echocardiography and angiography before the operation (11 men, 3 women, mean age 63.2±7.9). The following clinical parameters were analyzed: NYHA class, heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), cardiac rhythm, ECG. The following echocardiographic parameters were measured: left atrium diameter (LA), end-diastolic (EDD), and end-systolic (ESD), left ventricle diameter, ejection fraction (EF), severity of mitral (MR) and tricuspid (TR) regurgitation. The pressure gradient on the site of VSD and systolic pressure of the right ventricle (RVSP) were also measured. Results: All patients were in NYHA III class, in sinus rhythm with average heart rate 86±18/min. LA and LV diameters were normal and average EF assessed by Simpson was decreased (32.9±7.5%). In 6 patients with inferior MI, VSD was located in the basal segment of the inferior LV wall, in 4 patients with anteroseptal MI at the site of interventricular septum and in 4 patients at the posterior wall of the LV. All patients had significant left-toright shunt whereas in 2 patients small right-to-left shunt also existed. Pressure gradient at the site of VSD was 75.25±27 mm Hg. All patients had mild MR and TR. RVSP was moderately increased (48.8±22.1 mm Hg). Dacron patch was placed on the VSD site in the majority of patients (12/14) with additional coronary artery by-pass grafting in 7 patients. In two patients direct suture was done. Haemodinamically insignificant residual shunt was detected immediately after operation in only two patients. One patient died immediately after operation and one 42 months after the operation. Conclusion: Patients with VSD after acute MI could be successfully surgically treated with good early as well as long term prognosis. Although these are high risk patients, in our study group surgical intervention was found to be justified and efficient treatment with good results. Echocardiography as non-invasive technique is a method of choice for early assessment for precise localization of the ruptured site and haemodinamic parameters as well as for early and late postoperative follow up.
The effects of various levels of calcium carbonate upon certain physical properties of flexible PVC

The effect of various levels of calcium-carbonate filler on the physical properties of flexible PVC ranges from no effect on volume resistivity to a dramatic effect on processability. The effects are dependent upon the mean particle size and coating of the filler. Processors need to recognize the quantitative relationship between levels of calcium carbonate in flexible PVC and the resin's physical properties.
The effect of thermodynamic variables on polymer chain dynamics

The dynamics of polymer chains are examined in terms of their relationship to the local segmental relaxation process. Although the differing responses to changes in temperature and pressure cause breakdown of time-temperature and time-pressure superpositioning near the glass transition, a recently discovered scaling law can be applied to both relaxation modes. This scaling yields master curves of the global chain relaxation times and the local segmental relaxation times, which can be used to determine the dynamics at high pressure from ambient pressure measurements. The scaling relation also provides a measure of the steepness on the intermolecular potential in the vicinity of the distance of closest approach between segments.
Low cell pH depresses peak power in rat skeletal muscle fibres at both 30°C and 15°C: implications for muscle fatigue

Historically, an increase in intracellular H(+) (decrease in cell pH) was thought to contribute to muscle fatigue by direct inhibition of the cross-bridge leading to a reduction in velocity and force. More recently, due to the observation that the effects were less at temperatures closer to those observed in vivo, the importance of H(+) as a fatigue agent has been questioned. The purpose of this work was to re-evaluate the role of H(+) in muscle fatigue by studying the effect of low pH (6.2) on force, velocity and peak power in rat fast- and slow-twitch muscle fibres at 15 degrees C and 30 degrees C. Skinned fast type IIa and slow type I fibres were prepared from the gastrocnemius and soleus, respectively, mounted between a force transducer and position motor, and studied at 15 degrees C and 30 degrees C and pH 7.0 and 6.2, and fibre force (P(0)), unloaded shortening velocity (V(0)), force-velocity, and force-power relationships determined. Consistent with previous observations, low pH depressed the P(0) of both fast and slow fibres, less at 30 degrees C (4-12%) than at 15 degrees C (30%). However, the low pH-induced depressions in slow type I fibre V(0) and peak power were both significantly greater at 30 degrees C (25% versus 9% for V(0) and 34% versus 17% for peak power). For the fast type IIa fibre type, the inhibitory effect of low pH on V(0) was unaltered by temperature, while for peak power the inhibition was reduced at 30 degrees C (37% versus 18%). The curvature of the force-velocity relationship was temperature sensitive, and showed a higher a/P(0) ratio (less curvature) at 30 degrees C. Importantly, at 30 degrees C low pH significantly depressed the ratio of the slow type I fibre, leading to less force and velocity at peak power. These data demonstrate that the direct effect of low pH on peak power in both slow- and fast-twitch fibres at near-in vivo temperatures (30 degrees C) is greater than would be predicted based on changes in P(0), and that the fatigue-inducing effects of low pH on cross-bridge function are still substantial and important at temperatures approaching those observed in vivo.
Molecular mechanisms of reduced sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ uptake in human failing left ventricular myocardium

Abstract Background: Human failing heart due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy is associated with decreased sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ uptake. However, it is unknown as to which mechanism leads to this abnormality. Methods: Immunodetectable sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins (phospholamban [PLB], phosphorylated PLB at serine-16 or threonine-17, calsequestrin and Ca 2+ -ATPase levels), the activities of Ca 2+ -calmodulin-dependent protein kinase and protein phosphatase and Ca 2+ uptake at varying Ca 2+ concentrations were determined in left ventricular specimens from the same 7 failing hearts (ejection fraction 20 ± 2%) due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and 5 non-failing explanted control donor hearts. Results: In failing hearts, compared with control donors, decreased maximal velocity and affinity of Ca 2+ uptake for Ca 2+ were found to be associated with reduced expression levels of Ca 2+ -adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), PLB and phosphorylated PLB at serine-16, but not of calsequestrin and phosphorylated PLB at threonine-17. In contrast, protein phosphatase activity increased significantly and the activity and protein expression level of the δ isoform of Ca 2+ -calmodulin-dependent protein kinase remained unchanged in failing hearts compared with control donors. Conclusions: The impaired maximal velocity of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ uptake may be due in part to reduced protein expression level of Ca 2+ -ATPase, whereas the reduced affinity may be due in part to the reduced ratio of Ca 2+ -ATPase to PLB and reduced PLB phosphorylation at serine-16 in failing hearts. The latter abnormality may be due in part to increased protein phosphatase activity. These results suggest that selective enhancement of Ca 2+ uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum by pharmaceutical agents, or by molecular tools that inhibit phosphatase activity, would be a valuable therapeutic approach for treating, or at least retarding, the process of heart failure.
Operating Room Pooling and Parallel Surgery Processing Under Uncertainty

Operating room (OR) scheduling is an important operational problem for most hospitals. In this study, we present a novel two-stage stochastic mixed-integer programming model to minimize total expected operating cost given that scheduling decisions are made before the resolution of uncertainty in surgery durations. We use this model to quantify the benefit of pooling ORs as a shared resource and to illustrate the impact of parallel surgery processing on surgery schedules. Decisions in our model include the number of ORs to open each day, the allocation of surgeries to ORs, the sequence of surgeries within each OR, and the start time for each surgeon. Realistic-sized instances of our model are difficult or impossible to solve with standard stochastic programming techniques. Therefore, we exploit several structural properties of the model to achieve computational advantages. Furthermore, we describe a novel set of widely applicable valid inequalities that make it possible to solve practical instances. Based on our results for different resource usage schemes, we conclude that the impact of parallel surgery processing and the benefit of OR pooling are significant. The latter may lead to total cost reductions between 21% and 59% on average.
A terahertz grid frequency doubler

We present a 144-element terahertz quasi-optical grid frequency doubler. The grid is a planar structure with bow-tie antennas as a unit cell, each loaded with a planar Schottky diode. The maximum output power measured for this grid is 24 mW at 1 THz for 3.1-/spl mu/s 500-GHz input pulses with a peak input power of 47 W. An efficiency of 0.17% for an input power of 6.3 W and output power of 10.8 mW is measured. To date, this is the largest recorded output power for a multiplier at terahertz frequencies. Input and output tuning curves are presented and an output pattern is measured and compared to theory.
BIOCHEMICAL RECURRENCE AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY IN BLACK AND WHITE AMERICAN MEN WITH A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE FAMILY HISTORY OF PROSTATE CANCER

Purpose: We investigated the impact of a family history of prostate cancer on predicting biochemical recurrence in black and white American men.Material and Methods: Between January 1991 and December 1996, 910 men underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer, of whom 676 had data available on prostate cancer family history. Statistical analysis was performed to identify any correlation among the known predictors of biochemical outcome and family history in each race.Results: Median followup was 34 months (range 2 to 103). We identified 355 (52%) and 321 (48%) white and black American men, respectively, for whom data were available on prostate cancer family history, including 177 (26%) with a positive and 499 (74%) with a negative history. Family history was positive in 94 black (29%) and 83 white (23%) men. No significant difference was noted in the incidence of familial prostate cancer in the 2 races (p = 0.10). In black men the biochemical failure rate was 32% and ...
Conserved intergenic elements and DNA methylation cooperate to regulate transcription at the il17 locus

Naive CD4(+) T cells can differentiate into distinct lineages with unique immune functions. The cytokines TGFβ and IL-6 promote the development of Th17 cells that produce IL-17, an inflammatory cytokine not expressed by other T helper lineages. To further understand how IL-17 production is controlled, we studied an ~120-kb genomic region containing the murine il17a and il17f genes and seven evolutionarily conserved, intergenic noncoding sequences. We show that the +28-kb noncoding sequence cooperates with STAT3, RORγt, and Runx1 to enhance transcription from both il17a and il17f promoters. This enhancer and both promoters exhibited Th17 lineage-specific DNA demethylation, accompanied by demethylation of lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27) and increased H3K4 methylation. Loss of DNA methylation tended to occur at STAT3 consensus elements, and we show that methylation of one of these elements in the il17a promoter directly inhibits STAT3 binding and transcriptional activity. These results demonstrate that TGFβ and IL-6 synergize to epigenetically poise the il17 loci for expression in Th17 cells, and suggest a general mechanism by which active STAT3 may be epigenetically excluded from STAT3-responsive genes in non-Th17 lineages.
Management of Lung Transplant Rejection

Using current immunosuppressive protocols, rejection is common after lung transplantation. Most recipients have at least one episode of acute rejection, and approximately 25 percent of recent long-term survivors have developed chronic rejection. Acute rejection has usually been reversible with treatment, but chronic rejection has responded poorly, relapsed frequently, and been one of the leading causes of late morbidity and mortality. Appropriate management of rejection is predicated on timely, accurate diagnosis. Clinical criteria for the diagnosis of acute rejection are useful but nonspecific, and TBB has emerged as the procedure of choice for diagnosing acute rejection and infection. Chronic rejection is manifested by OB and is characterized physiologically by the development of airflow obstruction. Although histologic confirmation is preferable, the sensitivity of TBB for the detection of OB has been inconsistent, and the specificity has been low. Lung transplantation has indeed come of age, but understanding the immunopathogenesis and improving the clinical management of rejection remain major challenges for the next decade.
Sexual Differentiation, Pregnancy, Calorie Restriction, and Aging Affect the Adipocyte-Specific Secretory Protein Adiponectin

Adiponectin or adipocyte complement-related protein of 30 kDa (Acrp30) is a circulating protein produced exclusively in adipocytes. Circulating Acrp30 levels have been associated with insulin sensitivity in adult mice and humans, yet the Acrp30 profile over the lifespan and its hormonal regulation in vivo have not been previously described. Hence, we set forth to determine whether hormonal and metabolic changes associated with sexual maturation, reproduction, aging, and calorie restriction affect Acrp30. In mice, Acrp30 levels increase during sexual maturation by 4-fold in males and 10-fold in females. Neonatal castration (CX) allows Acrp30 of adults to reach female levels. CX in adults does not lead to female Acrp30 levels unless glucocorticoid exposure is elevated simultaneously by implant. Ovariectomy of infant mice does not interfere with the pubertal rise of Acrp30. However, ovariectomy in adults increases Acrp30. Estrogen suppressed Acrp30 in mice and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In parallel to changes in estrogen action, Acrp30 decreased in late gestation but increased in both calorie-restricted and old (anovulatory) mice. The reduction of Acrp30 in lactating dams is consistent with a suppressive effect of prolactin and a stimulating effect of bromocriptine. In summary, Acrp30 levels in serum are under complex hormonal control and may play a key role in determining systemic insulin sensitivity under the respective conditions.
CENTERING THE EDGE: Addressing Institutional Racism and Habitual Exclusion in the Academy, A Response to Kathryn Takara

Kathryn Takara's “A View from the Academic Edge” is a commendable effort to speak to the unique problems confronted by Black women in academia. Many of the concerns raised by the author are elaborations of arguments made by other Black feminist intellectuals, who highlight the ways in which race and gender intersect to produce experiences that alienate and stigmatize Black women in academic settings. Takara relies heavily on these previous works at times, which may lead some to ask exactly what her original contribution to this body of knowledge is supposed to be. While she defines her primary focus as “the institutional features of the academy which help to explain the particularly bad situation of Black females in the academy,” the greatest strength of the essay is its attention to forms of racism and exclusion that are both institutional and interpersonal. Though the author does not explicitly make this distinction herself, the coexistence and interdependence of both institutional racism and habitual, interpersonal race/gender-based exclusion is what motivates her to write this piece, and it is the need to address both of these areas that makes the message of “A View from the Academic Edge” valuable.
Second- and Foreign-Language Variation in Tense Backshifting in Indirect Reported Speech.

This study examined how English learners in second-language (SL) and foreign-language (FL) contexts employ tense backshifting in indirect reported speech. Participants included 35 international students in the United States, 37 Bulgarian speakers of English, 38 Bosnian speakers of English, and 41 native English speakers. The instrument involved speech scenarios in two time settings—immediate and delayed report—and questions about the participants’ reasons for backshifting tenses or not. The results revealed that FL environments foster the acquisition of backshifting as an automatically applicable grammatical rule, whereas SL contexts facilitate awareness of pragmatic and semantic aspects of tense backshifting.
Implementation and Generalization of Peer Support Arrangements for Students With Severe Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms

Although research suggests peer support arrangements can be an effective practice for improving social outcomes for students with severe disabilities, additional efforts are needed to refine training and implementation approaches to increase the replicability and sustainability of this intervention. We tested a promising teacher-delivered training model using a multiple-probe-across-participants design. Four paraprofessionals received training to facilitate peer support arrangements for four middle school students with severe disabilities in general education classrooms. Teacher-delivered training enabled paraprofessionals to facilitate peer support arrangements that increased support from peers and interactions for students with disabilities. In addition, three of four students with disabilities demonstrated growth on individualized goals. We discuss implications for research and practice, highlighting approaches for improved implementation of peer support arrangements.
Foliar Fertilization of Cotton

Proper plant nutrition for optimal crop productivity in cotton requires that nutrient deficiencies be avoided. However, deficiencies often occur for a variety of reasons, most of which can be rectified by timely application of the deficient nutrient. In crop production, this usually entails a soil application, or foliar applications may be appropriate after canopy closure or when a specific nutrient is urgently required. Furthermore, foliar fertilization may lead to less concern about groundwater and surface water contamination, with nitrates in particular, and less scrutiny of the use of commercial fertilizers. This is particularly important because of current attention being focused on environmental protection. Farmers in the USA and elsewhere are using more commercial fertilizer than 20 years ago and major improvements have been made in how these fertilizers are managed. Foliar application of specific nutrients is a method used to improve the efficiency of fertilizer use and increase yields.
Inventory control for returnable transport items in a closed-loop supply chain

An inventory control model for returnable transport items (RTI) where the manager selects the optimal length for inspection, repair, and purchase cycles is described. Repaired and newly obtained RTI are used in combination to satisfy current production requirements. Uncertain returns are incorporated into the model by determining a satisfactory safety stock level to buffer the inventory of used and repairable containers. The minimum cost solution is obtained when inspection and repair runs begin simultaneously. Cycle times are a function of the expected return rate and repairable percentage, while variability in these random assumptions affects the required safety stock.
Abstract 210: Progressive Mitochondrial Protein Acetylation and Microsteatosis is Associated with Diastolic Dysfunction in a Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Model

We tested the hypothesis that increased mitochondrial protein acetylation is associated with impaired fatty acid metabolism and diastolic dysfunction in Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA). FRDA results from deficiency of the mitochondrial protein, frataxin (FXN), and causes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. FRDA hearts show decreased ATP production. We previously showed that FXN loss results in loss of activity of the NAD+-dependent mitochondrial deacetylase, sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), and cardiac mitochondrial protein hyperacetylation in a mouse model of FRDA. Long-chain and medium chain acyl CoA dehydrogenases (LCAD, MCAD) are targets of SIRT3, suggesting that abnormal acetylation may alter fatty acid metabolism. A cardiac specific mouse model with conditional deletion of FXN in heart and skeletal muscle (FXN MCK-Cre-/-) was compared to healthy controls (FXNfl/fl). Mice underwent echocardiogram and left heart catheterization in vivo at age 30 and 65 days. Heart lysate was examined for overall lysine acetylation at ages 30, 45 and 70 days, and acetylated LCAD and MCAD. Myocardial cells were stained with oil red to detect lipids. Hearts of FXN MCK-Cre-/- animals showed mitochondrial hyperacetylation, increased LCAD and MCAD acetylation, and microsteatosis compared to controls. Diastolic dysfunction was evident in FXN MCK-Cre-/- at day 65 by increased mitral valve E/A ratios and IVRT (p
Estate of Strangi II: IRS Wins Another Battle in Its War Against FLPs

In Estate of Strangi (Strangi II) the Tax Court held, on remand, that the value of property transferred by a decedent to a family limited partnership (FLP) was includible in the decedent's gross estate under section 2036(a). As of this writing, Strangi II is the latest in a series of estate tax cases in which the government has successfully attacked an FLP under section 2036(a). Section 2036(a) provides that the value of property transferred inter vivos by a decedent for less than adequate and full consideration in money or money's worth is included in the decedent's gross estate if the decedent retained for life or for any period not ascertainable without reference to the decedent's death or for any period which does not in fact end before the decedent's death (1) the possession or enjoyment of, or the right to the income from, the property, or (2) the right, either alone or in conjunction with any person, to designate the persons who shall possess or enjoy the property or the income therefrom. Strangi II is the first case in which a court has held that property transferred to an FLP for less than adequate and full consideration was included in the decedent's gross estate under section 2036(a)(2) because the decedent retained the right, in conjunction with other persons, to designate the persons who would possess or enjoy the property or the income therefrom. If the Strangi II court's analysis under section 2036(a)(2) is affirmed on appeal, the FLP is likely to lose much of its attraction as an estate planning tool. This article discusses the opinion in Strangi II and offers some suggestions for avoiding adverse estate tax consequences under section 2036(a).
Scalable and Anonymous Group Communication with MTor

This paper presents MTor, a low-latency anony- mous group communication system. We construct MTor as an extension to Tor, allowing the construction of multi-source multicast trees on top of the existing Tor infrastructure. MTor does not depend on an external service to broker the group communication, and avoids central points of failure and trust. MTor's substantial bandwidth savings and graceful scalabil- ity enable new classes of anonymous applications that are currently too bandwidth-intensive to be viable through tradi- tional unicast Tor communication—e.g., group file transfer, collaborative editing, streaming video, and real-time audio conferencing. We detail the design of MTor and then analyze its performance and anonymity. By simulating MTor in Shadow and TorPS us- ing realistic models of the live Tor network's topology and recent consensus records from the live Tor network, we show that MTor achieves a 29% savings in network bandwidth and a 73% reduction in transmission time as compared to the base- line approach for anonymous group communication among 20 group members. We also demonstrate that MTor scales gracefully with the number of group participants, and allows dynamic group composition over time. Importantly, as more Tor users switch to group communication, we show that the overall performance and utilization for group communication improves. Finally, we discuss the anonymity implications of MTor and measure its resistance to traffic correlation.
Does Routine Midazolam Administration Prior to Nasogastric Tube Insertion in the Emergency Department Decrease Patients' Pain? (A Pilot Study).

OBJECTIVES Patients report pain and discomfort with nasogastric tube (NGT) intubation. We tested the hypothesis that premedication with midazolam alleviates pain during NGT placement in the emergency department (ED) by > 13 on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). METHODS We performed a double-blind randomized controlled pilot study, assigning ED patients requiring NGT placement to midazolam or placebo. All patients received intranasal cophenylcaine; additionally, they received an intravenous (IV) dose of the study drug, either 2 mg of IV midazolam or saline control. Nurses placed NGTs while observed by research staff, who then interviewed subjects to determine the primary outcome of pain using a VAS. Additional data collected from patients and their nurses included discomfort during the procedure, difficulty of tube insertion, and complications. RESULTS We enrolled 23 eligible patients and obtained complete data in all: 10 midazolam and 13 controls. We found a significant reduction in mean pain VAS score of -31 (95% confidence interval = -53 to -9 mm) with 2 mg of midazolam (mean ± SD = 52 ± 30 mm), compared to placebo (mean ± SD = 21 ± 18 mm), more than double the effect size considered clinically relevant. Treatment did not impact ease of placement and there were no serious adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS Premedication with 2 mg of IV midazolam reduces pain of NGT insertion in ED patients without the need for full procedural sedation.
Neutrophil elastase produces 52-kD and 30-kD glucocorticoid receptor fragments in the cytosol of human leukemia cells

Characterization of glucocorticoid receptors in leukemia cells is important to understand mechanisms of glucocorticoid resistance but has been impeded by receptor fragmentation in cytosol extracts. We recently found that formation of 52- and 30-kilodalton (kD) glucocorticoid receptor fragments in cytosol of leukemia cells is due to proteolysis and is blocked by diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP). In the present study, we identify a 28-kD serine protease in cytosol of leukemia cells that binds [3H]DFP and correlates with the formation of 52- and 30-kD receptor fragments. This protease is immunoprecipitated by antiserum to neutrophil elastase. Limited digestion of [3H]dexamethasone-21-mesylate- labeled receptors by purified neutrophil elastase produces 52- and 30- kD receptor fragments. Receptor fragmentation in the cytosol of leukemia cells in inhibited by methoxysuccinyl-alanyl-alanyl-prolyl- valyl-chloromethylketone, a highly specific inhibitor of neutrophil elastase. The addition of as few as 5% neutrophils to a lymphoid cell suspension provides sufficient elastase to produce receptor fragmentation. Our findings indicate that neutrophil elastase is responsible for receptor fragmentation in the cytosol of leukemia cells. The neutrophil elastase may be endogenous to the leukemia cells or may come from neutrophils that contaminate leukemia cell suspensions.