cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The New York Diabetes Association's 48th Annual Scientific Meeting, the American Diabetes Association's 48th Annual Advanced Postgraduate Course, and the meeting of the Naomi Berry Diabetes Center of Columbia University.

This report covers the New York Diabetes Association’s 48th Annual Scientific Meeting, October 2000; the Meeting of the Naomi Berry Diabetes Center of Columbia University, December 2000; and the American Diabetes Association’s 48th Annual Advanced Postgraduate Course, January 2001, New York, New York. Topics include diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, the cell biology of insulin action, and islet cell transplantation. At the 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerald J. Friedman Symposium on October 28, 2000, in New York, NY, Lloyd P. Aiello, Boston, MA, discussed potential pharmacologic treatments of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of blindness and visual loss, acting via two complications, proliferative retinopathy, which leads to retinal hemorrhage and scarring with the inevitable development of traction detachment, and that of macular edema, which is caused by abnormalities of retinal vessels. Panretinal photocoagulation, the existing treatment, is less effective for macular edema and can be expected to lead to some degree of visual loss; it may also lead to severe complications when performed incorrectly. The original hypothesis that diabetic retinopathy is caused by abnormal production of growth factors stimulated by retinal hypoxia was made more than 50 years ago by I.C. Michaelson. Growth hormone and IGFs play a permissive role, fibroblast growth factor may act synergistically, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) appears to be the major mediator. The expression of this glycoprotein is increased by hypoxia, and its levels are particularly high in patients with active proliferative retinopathy. VEGF increases retinal permeability in a dose-related fashion at levels encountered clinically in patients with retinopathy. These considerations suggest a number of potential approaches to treatment. Prevention of hypoxia with glycemic control, antioxidants, and AGE inhibitors might directly protect the retinal vessels. Angiotensin II (A2) is an important signal for VEGF secretion, with ACE inhibitors and A2 …
An elusive brain death diagnosis You can't get there from here

There are approximately 100,000 patients in the United States waiting for donated organs. Annual mortality due to insufficient organ availability is considerable. An organ donor must satisfy the “dead donor rule”: removal of organs itself cannot result in death. Therefore it is of utmost importance to be sure that a potential donor is truly brain dead. Uncertainty or delay in diagnosis reduces the availability of transplantable organs.
SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL: THE EFFECT OF UNEQUAL ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT‐BASED HEALTH INSURANCE ON SAME‐SEX AND UNMARRIED DIFFERENT‐SEX COUPLES

Employers’ health insurance coverage for legal spouses places unmarried couples at a disadvantage for obtaining coverage. Data from the Current Population Survey confirm that people with same-sex or different-sex unmarried partners are two to three times more likely to be uninsured than married people, even after controlling for factors influencing coverage. Universal partner coverage would cut that uninsured rate by as much as 50%. Employers offering domestic partner benefits would see a small enrollment increase: 0.1%–0.3% for gay and lesbian partners and 1.3%– 1.8% for heterosexual partners. We find no evidence of adverse selection. (JEL J32, J38, J71) I. INTRODUCTION For most nonelderly people in the United States, health insurance and access to health care derive from one’s own or a family member’s employment. As a matter of customary compensation practice, many employers offer employment-based health insurance to spouses of employees. Gay, lesbian, or bisexual (GLB) people are at a significant disadvantage in this route to health insurance, however, because they cannot legally marry in the United States and are unable to claim benefits for a same-sex domestic partner from most employers. Employees who have a differentsex unmarried partner are at a similar disadvantage with respect to employment benefits, although they have the option of marrying. This article assesses the consequences of compensation inequality for GLB people’s insurance status and for people with different-sex unmarried partners, as well as the impact of more equitable policies on those individuals and their employers. Although the health insurance issue plays a central role in debates about the appropriate legal status of samesex couples, we link questions about benefits for same-sex partners to unmarried differentsex partners because the two kinds of couples have been linked ethically, politically, and institutionally in the debate about employer benefits. Because 80% of nonelderly insured people in the United States receive coverage through their own employment or through the employment-based health insurance of a family member (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2002), the exclusion of domestic partners makes unmarried couples and their children likely to lack insurance at a rate higher than the 14% U.S. average for the nonelderly (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2002). No study has yet established how much access to health insurance is limited because of the structure of employee benefits, but three reports suggest that rates of being uninsured may be significantly higher for GLB people, in particular. One study pooled data from seven nonrandom surveys of lesbian and bisexual women and
Nicotine Blocks the Depressogenic Effects of Alcohol: Implications for Drinking-Smoking Co-Morbidity.

Alcohol and nicotine are two very commonly abused legal substances. Although various hypotheses for such co-dependence have been suggested, it is not known whether the effects of alcohol and nicotine on mood behavior may also contribute to such co-abuse. Chronic exposure to high alcohol levels may lead to various neurochemical changes and precipitate depressive-like behavior. Nicotine, on the other hand, may exert an antidepressant-like effect. Here, we sought to determine whether nicotine may also block or mitigate the "depressogenic" effects of alcohol in a rat model. Moreover, since hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been strongly implicated in mood regulation and effectiveness of antidepressants, the level of this neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus was also evaluated. Adult male Wistar rats were injected (i.p.) with alcohol (1.0 g/kg), nicotine (0.3 mg/kg) or their combination once daily for 14 days. Controls received saline. The behavior of these rats in open field locomotor activity (LMA), the forced swim test (FST), a measure of helplessness, and sucrose intake, a measure of anhedonia were evaluated 16-18 h after the last injection. Chronic alcohol did not affect LMA, but increased immobility in FST and decreased sucrose consumption, suggesting a "depressogenic" effect. Nicotine by itself did not affect any of the measured behavior but blocked alcohol-induced changes in FST and sucrose intake. Parallel to the behavioral changes, chronic alcohol resulted in a significant decrease in hippocampal BDNF, which was normalized by nicotine. These findings suggest that the opposing effects of alcohol and nicotine on depressive-like behavior may contribute to their co-abuse. Language: en
Elements That Regulate the DNA Damage Response of Proteins Defective in Cockayne Syndrome

Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a premature aging disorder characterized by developmental defects, multisystem progressive degeneration and sensitivity to ultraviolet light. CS is divided into two primary complementation groups, A and B, with the CSA and CSB proteins presumably functioning in DNA repair and transcription. Using laser microirradiation and confocal microscopy, we characterized the nature and regulation of the CS protein response to oxidative DNA damage, double-strand breaks (DSBs), angelicin monoadducts and trioxsalen interstrand crosslinks (ICLs). Our data indicate that CSB recruitment is influenced by the type of DNA damage and is most rapid and robust as follows: ICLs>DSBs>monoadducts>oxidative lesions. Transcription inhibition reduced accumulation of CSB at sites of monoadducts and ICLs, but it did not affect recruitment to (although slightly affected retention at) oxidative damage. Inhibition of histone deacetylation altered the dynamics of CSB assembly, suggesting a role for chromatin status in the response to DNA damage, whereas the proteasome inhibitor MG132 had no effect. The C-terminus of CSB and, in particular, its ubiquitin-binding domain were critical to recruitment, while the N-terminus and a functional ATPase domain played a minor role at best in facilitating protein accumulation. Although the absence of CSA had no effect on CSB recruitment, CSA itself localized at sites of ICLs, DSBs and monoadducts but not at oxidative lesions. Our results reveal molecular components of the CS protein response and point to a major involvement of complex lesions in the pathology of CS.
"Store-operated" cAMP signaling contributes to Ca2+-activated Cl- secretion in T84 colonic cells.

Apical cAMP-dependent CFTR Cl− channels are essential for efficient vectorial movement of ions and fluid into the lumen of the colon. It is well known that Ca2+-mobilizing agonists also stimulate c...
US Auto Industry Bailouts: Will Protectionist Potholes Put a Dent in Trade and Competitiveness?

In the wake of global recession, governments worldwide face increasing pressures to assist ailing domestic industries, especially companies deemed "too big to fail." The auto sector provides an excellent illustration of the tensions between the need to rescue ailing domestic producers without breaching our multilateral trade commitments. This paper analyzes how specific aspects of recent auto bailout programs may violate key provisions of the WTO Agreements, and concludes that elements of such programs potentially may distort markets, encourage proliferation of similar measures by key trading partners, lead to WTO consultation or dispute settlement, and actually inhibit the global competitiveness of domestic automakers unless such programs are limited in scope and duration.
Amine synthesis in regenerating rat liver: extremely rapid turnover of ornithine decarboxylase.

Following partial hepatectomy, there is a dramatic enhancement in the residual liver in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (L-ornithine carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.17), an enzyme involved in polyamine synthesis. This increase in enzyme activity is completely prevented by treatment of the animals with puromycin at the time of hepatectomy, or by treatment with cycloheximide at the time of hepatectomy or up to 1 hr after hepatectomy. Actinomycin D administration at the time of operation prevents the subsequent rise in ornithine decarboxylase activity, but is only partially effective when given 30 min post-hepatectomy and ineffective 1 hr after operation. When cycloheximide is administered to unoperated rats or to animals 4 or 24 hr after hepatectomy, ornithine decarboxylase activity declines rapidly, with a half-life of about 11 min. After puromycin treatment, the decline of ornithine decarboxylase activity also shows a half-life of about 11 min. These findings suggest that the turnover of hepatic ornithine decarboxylase is extremely rapid.
Epidemiological analysis and risk assessment of public health emergencies of infectious disease in schools and nurseries of Shenzhen City from 2009-2013

[Objective]To conduct epidemiological analysis on public health emergencies of infectious disease in schools and nurseries of Shenzhen City from 2009-2013,and provide reference for developing infectious disease prevention and control strategies and carrying out risk assessment in schools and nurseries.[Methods]The distribution of time,region and population was used for analysis of public health emergencies of infectious disease in schools and nurseries reported in Shenzhen City from2009-2013. Risk analysis matrix was applied for risk assessment(AS/NZS 4360:1999).[Results]From 2009-2013,a total of 82 public health emergencies were reported,with 2 282 cases and average attack rate of 4.33%. The most were caused by influenza,chicken pox,HFMD and mumps(91.5%),the high incidence(75.6%) appeared in December,72.0% occurred in Longgang District,Nanshan and Bao'an District,69.5% had 6-30 cases. The risk assessment results of public health emergencies of infectious disease in schools and nurseries were 1 extremely high-risk event,3 high-risk events and 2 mind-risk event in 2014.[Conclusion]Schools and nurseries are the places which have high risk of public health emergencies of infectious disease. The main causes are respiratory disease and HFMD. Prevention and control of key infectious diseases should be strengthened.
PGC-1α Induces Human RPE Oxidative Metabolism and Antioxidant Capacity.

Purpose Oxidative stress and metabolic dysregulation of the RPE have been implicated in AMD; however, the molecular regulation of RPE metabolism remains unclear. The transcriptional coactivator, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) is a powerful mediator of mitochondrial function. This study examines the ability of PGC-1α to regulate RPE metabolic program and oxidative stress response.
A 200 MSPS reconfigurable ADC with adjacent channel narrowband blocker resiliency

A 200 MSPS reconfigurable and blocker resilient analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is presented. The system consists of a discrete-time lossy differentiator frontend and a 6-bit noise shaping, pipeline ADC backend, which enables tolerance of a <3 MHz narrowband blocker up to 40 dB stronger than the desired signal. Filtering in the presence of the blocker improves quantization by an additional 3 bits to accommodate the desired signal. With lower blocker power, the system defaults to Nyquist performance and an additional reconfiguration switch enables a 3–6 MHz, ΔΣ ADC. The system is designed in a 65 nm CMOS technology, has a total chip area of 1040 µm × 920 ×m, and consumes 6.37 mW of power. Enabling blocker resilience improves the figure-of-merit (FOM) of the system from 474 fJ/lvl to 158 fJ/lvl.
Hanle effect as a magnetic diagnostic for field-reversed configuration plasmas

Hanle effect is presented as a low magnetic-field diagnostic for field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas. The non-perturbative technique is capable of measuring not only magnetic-field profile and direction but also field-null position and its shape. Conditions and configurations for the measurement are discussed. The technique is applicable to other low magnetic-field laboratory plasmas, e.g., magnetic-cusps, where measurements of low field are desirable, and it may also be extended to measure the two-dimensional vector magnetic-field.
Abstract A58: Serum transforming growth factor-β1 and risk of pancreatic cancer in three prospective cohort studies

Background: Clinically evident chronic pancreatitis is an established, strong risk factor for pancreatic cancer. A small Japanese cohort study reported that pre-diagnostic serum transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) concentration, a potential marker of subclinical pancreatic inflammation, was associated with higher risk of pancreatic cancer. Methods: Serum TGF-β1 concentrations were measured in pre-diagnostic samples drawn from 729 pancreatic cancer cases and 907 matched controls from a cohort of Finnish male smokers (the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene (ATBC) Cancer Prevention Study) and two cohorts of U.S. men and women, the Cancer Prevention Study-II (CPS-II) and the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Results: Overall, high serum TGF-β1 concentration was associated with a marginally statistically significant increase in risk of pancreatic cancer (OR = 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.98-1.88 for highest vs. lowest quintile). This association differed significantly by follow-up time (p = 0.02). Serum TGF-β1 concentration was not associated with risk during the first 10 years of follow-up, but was associated with risk during follow-up after 10 years (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.23-3.68 for highest vs. lowest quintile). Conclusions: These results suggest that high serum TGF-β1 may be associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer after a latency period of several years. Further research examining the magnitude and timing of associations between serum TGF-β1 and other potential markers of pancreatic inflammation may be useful in clarifying the role of inflammation in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Citation Format: Eric J. Jacobs, Christina C. Newton, Debra Silverman, Leticia Nogueira, Demetrius Albanes, Satu Mannisto, Rachael Z. Stolzenberg-Solomon. Serum transforming growth factor-β1 and risk of pancreatic cancer in three prospective cohort studies. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2013 Oct 27-30; National Harbor, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2013;6(11 Suppl): Abstract nr A58.
Educación para el lucro, educación para la libertad

El articulo reune las palabras de la filosofa Martha Nussbaum al recibir el titulo Honoris Causa como Doctora en Filosofia, entregado por la Universidad de Antioquia en el 2015. Aborda el tema de la paulatina desaparicion de las artes y las humanidades de los curriculos universitarios a partir de posturas politicas que privilegian una educacion para el lucro sobre una educacion para una ciudadania incluyente. Concluye que esta tendencia amenaza la vida democratica e impide cultivar la igualdad y el respeto por otros seres humanos, y la confianza entre las naciones
Complex inter-Kingdom interactions: carnivorous plants affect growth of an aquatic vertebrate.

Summary Coexistence of organisms in nature is more likely when phenotypic similarities of individuals are reduced. Despite the lack of similarity, distantly related taxa still compete intensely for shared resources. No larger difference between organisms that share a common prey could exist than between carnivorous plants and animals. However, few studies have considered inter-Kingdom competition among carnivorous plants and animals. In order to evaluate interactions between a carnivorous plant (greater bladderwort, Utricularia vulgaris) and a vertebrate (bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus) on a shared prey (zooplankton), we conducted a mesocosm experiment. We deployed two levels of bladderwort presence (functional and crushed) and measured bluegill responses (survival and growth). Zooplankton abundance was reduced the greatest in bluegill and functional bladderwort treatments. Bluegill survival did not differ among treatments, but growth was greatest with crushed bladderwort. Thus, bluegill growth was facilitated by reducing interference competition in the presence of crushed bladderwort. The facilitating effect was dampened, however, when functional bladderwort removed a shared prey. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies to experimentally demonstrate interactions between a carnivorous plant and a fish. Our data suggest that carnivorous plants may actively promote or reduce animal co-occurrence from some ecosystems via facilitation or competition.
Analysis of the Humoral Immune Repertoire in Patients with Cancer

In the mid-1950’s Foley (1), and later Prehn (2), showed that mice could respond to antigens expressed by chemicallyinduced tumors in a biologically significant way. Prehn also found that each tumor expressed completely unique tumorspecific antigens, even if the tumors were developed in the same animal.
Modality matters: understanding the design of introductory programming environments

In the last 12 months, Chicago, New York City, and San Francisco have all announced major initiatives to bring computer science classes and computational thinking into every high school in their cities. Chicago, with its CS4All program, takes this one step further, planning to make computer science a graduation requirement for all high school students by 2018. Having made these commitments, attention now shifts towards how best to teach computer science to diverse populations of high school students who grew up in the age of smart phones, iPads, and Facebook. An increasingly popular strategy being employed is the use of graphical, blocks-based programming environments like Scratch, Snap! and Alice. While these environments have been found to be effective at broadening participation with younger learners, open questions remain about their suitability in high school contexts. In this talk, I will present findings from a two-year study looking at how the design of introductory programming environments affects learners' emerging understandings of computer science concepts and their perceptions of the field of computer science. I will also discuss the affordances of blocks-based programming environments relative to more conventional text-based alternatives.
State Tobacco Policies as Predictors of Evidence-Based Cessation Method Usage: Results From a Large, Nationally Representative Dataset.

Introduction Evidence-based cessation methods including nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), non-NRT medications, quitlines, and behavioral treatments are underutilized by smokers attempting to quit. Although a number of studies have demonstrated a relationship between state-level tobacco policies (eg, taxation, appropriations) and cessation, whether such state-level factors influence likelihood of using an evidence-based treatment is unclear. Accordingly, the aims of the present study were: (1) to describe evidence-based cessation method utilization by state and (2) to examine the effect of state-level factors on cessation method utilization above and beyond individual-level predictors. Methods Data were utilized from the 2010-2011 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS). Participants included 9232 smokers who reported a past-year quit attempt. Data on 11 state-level predictors were collated from national datasets. Analyses were based on: (1) descriptive characterization of quit method usage, (2) logistic regression models to determine state-level factors as predictors of quit method utilization, controlling for individual-level predictors, (3) cluster analyses grouping states with similar state-level factors, and (4) examination of cluster as a predictor of cessation method. Results Tobacco control appropriations significantly predicted NRT, quitline, and behavioral treatment utilization. Additional state-level factors that demonstrated significant relationships included Medicaid coverage of non-NRT medications and behavioral treatment, tobacco tax rate, smoking prevalence, and percentage of population uninsured. State clustering significantly predicted quit method across all four methods. Conclusions State-level factors influence the likelihood of residents utilizing evidence-based quit methods. Results are discussed in terms of implications for tobacco policy at the state level. Implications Results from the present study highlight state tobacco control appropriations as a robust predictor of evidence-based cessation method utilization. Other significant state-level predictors of evidence-based cessation method utilization included Medicaid coverage of non-NRT medications and behavioral treatment, tobacco tax rate, smoking prevalence, and percentage of population uninsured. Moreover, state-level predictors clustered together to significantly predict evidence-based cessation method utilization. Thus, increasing tobacco control appropriations, extending health insurance coverage, maximizing revenue from tobacco taxation and tobacco settlements, and ultimately decreasing smoking prevalence are important targets for individual states to promote utilization of evidence-based cessation methods.
Statistical Inferences with Model Selection Criteria

Deficiency in the empirical applications of asset pricing models leads research toward some model selection criteria to justify the search. Unfortunately, with criteria that either emphasize the forecastability of models or impose a penalty for the increase of dimensionality (or complexity), the search for empirical asset pricing models tends to ignore the necessary role of the identified variables or factors to portrait the systematic and intrinsic commonality for all asset returns. That is to say, the coherence or strength of this systematic and intrinsic commonality in asset returns should be emphasized—in addition to the dimensionality and complexity. (Asymptotic) non-diversifiability, for instance, is an obvious requirement. In addition, almost all of this field of research into model selection of asset returns assumes that there exists a “true” (or correct) factor-pricing model in the data generating mechanism. Although robustness in asymptotic arguments are all provided in these studies, little discussion is provided for the soundness of such an assumption.
Helping Others to Help Themselves?: Giving Voice to Those Who Should Have It but Don't

In an ideal world, status hierarchies in organizations would benefit organizational performance. The people with the greatest potential to help the organization would rise to the top, and, once there, they would use their status and voice in pro-social ways. Reality, unfortunately, is often far from this ideal. Together, the five talks in this symposium document how and why high-status actors may act in ways that are bad for organizations, and suggest solutions for these destructive status dynamics. We show how, by directing simple behaviors–such as showing deference, amplifying others' ideas, and voicing opinions–even toward those in low status positions, people can help fellow group members who should have influence, but don't." Motivations for Voice Behavior: The Roles of Power and Status in Determining the Content of Voice Presenter: Taeya Howell; Brigham Young U. Presenter: Nicholas Hays; Michigan State U. Is it Worse to Lose Power or to Lose Status? A Social Rejection Account of Losing Hierarchical ...
Media/Marketing Influences on Adolescent and Young Adult Substance Abuse

We describe the state of research on substance use portrayals in marketing and media, considering exposure to tobacco, alcohol, e-cigarette, and marijuana content. Putative mechanisms are offered, and recommendations are made for effective prevention strategies for mitigating the influence of these portrayals. There is consistent evidence that adolescents and young adults are highly exposed to substance use portrayals and that these portrayals are associated with subsequent substance use. Exposure via new media (social networking sites, brand Websites) has risen rapidly. Social norms and cognitions appear to at least partially account for the effects of portrayals on youth substance use. Digital media has surpassed traditional marketing, which is concerning because youth have on-demand access to content and are active consumers of digital media. Developmentally appropriate media literacy interventions that include a parenting component and target multiple substances and media domains are recommended.
A Computational Cardiac Model for the Adaptation to Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in the Rat

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) imposes pressure overload on the right ventricle (RV), leading to RV enlargement via the growth of cardiac myocytes and remodeling of the collagen fiber architecture. The effects of these alterations on the functional behavior of the right ventricular free wall (RVFW) and organ-level cardiac function remain largely unexplored. Computational heart models in the rat (RHMs) of the normal and hypertensive states can be quite valuable in simulating the effects of PAH on cardiac function to gain insights into the pathophysiology of underlying myocardium remodeling. We thus developed high-fidelity biventricular finite element RHMs for the normal and post-PAH hypertensive states using extensive experimental data collected from rat hearts. We then applied the RHM to investigate the transmural nature of RVFW remodeling and its connection to wall stress elevation under PAH. We found a strong correlation between the longitudinally-dominated fiber-level adaptation of the RVFW and the transmural alterations of relevant wall stress components. We further conducted several numerical experiments to gain new insights on how the RV responds both normally and in the post-PAH state. We found that the effect of pressure overload alone on the increased contractility of the RV is comparable to the effects of changes in the RV geometry and stiffness. Furthermore, our RHMs provided fresh perspectives on long-standing questions of the functional role of the interventricular septum in RV function. Specifically, we demonstrated that an inaccurate identification of the mechanical adaptation of the septum can lead to a significant underestimation of RVFW contractility in the post-PAH state. These findings show how integrated experimental-computational models can facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the cardiac remodeling events during PAH.
Cardio-light: nitric oxide uncaged.

Photobiomodulation (PB) is a utilization of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the far red (R) to near infrared (NIR) spectrum (600–1000 nm) to wield its therapeutic effects. To explore the therapeutic potential of biomodulation of different tissues, LLLT has been extensively researched, especially in the light of its very low side effect profile. We believe there is an opportunity to unearth its dynamic effects on the coronaries which can be promising for the patients with chronic stable angina. NIR treatment of the heart may be protective on patients after acute myocardial infarction or on ischemic heart conditions that are not accessible to current revascularization procedures.
Analysis of the Statement of Income

There are two types of income statement: (i) the single-step income statement and (ii) the multiple-step income statement. A single-step income statement uses just one subtraction. This is done by subtotaling all the revenues and gains together at the top of income statement and subtotaling all the expenses and losses together below revenues. The sum of expenses and losses is then subtracted from the sum of revenues and gains to arrive at net income. Multi-step income statement involves more than one subtraction to arrive to a net income and provides more information than a single-step income statement.
Towards precision medicine: Cataloging FDA-approved actionable mutations in The Cancer Genome Atlas.

e22198 Background: A major goal of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) is to identify actionable mutations using next generation genomic data. There are currently 7 actionable mutations across 6 cancer ...
Planning and Implementing a Mutually Beneficial International University Partnership in Educational Leadership Between U.S. and Middle Eastern Institutions

Responding to the forces of internationalization and globalization, universities are partnering across national borders to expand their outreach, increase capacity, expand research possibilities, a...
The Aerospace Corporation’s Compendium of Recent Single Event Effect Results

Single Event Effect testing using heavy ions and protons was performed on several commercial components to determine the response of these components to the space radiation environment.
Blockchain, wikis, and the Ideal Science Machine: with an example from genomics

Until now we have lacked a technology that could well capture the processes of science in a way that preserves every step, and creates a full audit trail. Combining wiki technologies and blockchain provides us with a new opportunity: to create a “science machine” that folds all processes together, from instrument to publication, and enabling science to proceed as never before with greater transparency, accountability, and reproducibility. Here I discuss the theory and method that might be combined to create such a science machine with special reference to the nature of genomic science.
Adaptive weighted log subtraction based on neural networks for markerless tumor tracking using dual-energy fluoroscopy

PURPOSE To present a novel method, based on convolutional neural networks (CNN), to automate weighted log subtraction (WLS) for dual-energy (DE) fluoroscopy to be used in conjunction with markerless tumor tracking (MTT). METHODS A CNN was developed to automate WLS (aWLS) of DE fluoroscopy to enhance soft tissue visibility. Briefly, this algorithm consists of two phases: training a CNN architecture to predict pixel-wise weighting factors followed by application of WLS subtraction to reduce anatomical noise. To train the CNN, a custom phantom was built consisting of aluminum (Al) and acrylic (PMMA) step wedges. Per-pixel ground truth (GT) weighting factors were calculated by minimizing the contrast of Al in the step wedge phantom to train the CNN. The pretrained model was then utilized to predict pixel-wise weighting factors for use in WLS. For comparison, the weighting factor was manually determined in each projection (mWLS). A thorax phantom with five simulated spherical targets (5-25 mm) embedded in a lung cavity, was utilized to assess aWLS performance. The phantom was imaged with fast-kV dual-energy (120 and 60 kVp) fluoroscopy using the on-board imager of a commercial linear accelerator. DE images were processed offline to produce soft tissue images using both WLS methods. MTT was compared using soft tissue images produced with both mWLS and aWLS techniques. RESULTS Qualitative evaluation demonstrated that both methods achieved soft tissue images with similar quality. The use of aWLS increased the number of tracked frames by 1-5% compared to mWLS, with the largest increase observed for the smallest simulated tumors. The tracking errors for both methods produced agreement to within 0.1 mm. CONCLUSIONS A novel method to perform automated WLS for DE fluoroscopy was developed. Having similar soft tissue quality as well as bone suppression capability as mWLS, this method allows for real-time processing of DE images for MTT.
Self-Reported Depression and Duodenal Cortisol Biomarkers Are Related to Weight Loss in Young Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Patients

Background: Abnormal cortisol and serotonin concentrations are reported in obese, anxious, and/or depressed individuals. We examined how duodenal levels of these hormones correlated with self-repor...
Androgen-Influenced Polarization of Activin A-Producing Macrophages Accompanies Post-pyelonephritic Renal Scarring

Ascending bacterial pyelonephritis, a form of urinary tract infection (UTI) that can result in hospitalization, sepsis, and other complications, occurs in ~250,000 US patients annually; uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) cause a large majority of these infections. Although UTIs are primarily a disease of women, acute pyelonephritis in males is associated with increased mortality and morbidity, including renal scarring, and end-stage renal disease. Preclinical models of UTI have only recently allowed investigation of sex and sex-hormone effects on pathogenesis. We previously demonstrated that renal scarring after experimental UPEC pyelonephritis is augmented by androgen exposure; testosterone exposure increases both the severity of pyelonephritis and the degree of renal scarring in both male and female mice. Activin A is an important driver of scarring in non-infectious renal injury, as well as a mediator of macrophage polarization. In this work, we investigated how androgen exposure influences immune cell recruitment to the UPEC-infected kidney and how cell-specific activin A production affects post-pyelonephritic scar formation. Compared with vehicle-treated females, androgenized mice exhibited reduced bacterial clearance from the kidney, despite robust myeloid cell recruitment that continued to increase as infection progressed. Infected kidneys from androgenized mice harbored more alternatively activated (M2) macrophages than vehicle-treated mice, reflecting an earlier shift from a pro-inflammatory (M1) phenotype. Androgen exposure also led to a sharp increase in activin A-producing myeloid cells in the infected kidney, as well as decreased levels of follistatin (which normally antagonizes activin action). As a result, infection in androgenized mice featured prolonged polarization of macrophages toward a pro-fibrotic M2a phenotype, accompanied by an increase in M2a-associated cytokines. These data indicate that androgen enhancement of UTI severity and resulting scar formation is related to augmented local activin A production and corresponding promotion of M2a macrophage polarization.
61. IMPROVING THE APPROACH TO FELLOWSHIP TRAINEE FEEDBACK

Background Giving and receiving feedback are difficult but necessary skills in medical training. We identified a need for improved feedback based on decreased learner satisfaction on our annual ACGME survey. In an anonymous survey, 2018-19 infectious disease fellows reported receiving formal feedback from 52.4% of their inpatient clinical experiences with faculty. Aim Statement Increase the occurrence of feedback to fellows by faculty during clinical service rotations from 52.4% to >90.0% in 6 months utilizing a standardized method. Interventions A Feedback Card (Figure 1), was developed by fellows and faculty. Both parties were instructed to use the card at the beginning of their clinical service time to discuss weekly goals and barriers. At the end of the clinical period time was set aside to revisit the Feedback Card. PDSA 1: Feedback Card was provided to fellows and faculty. Fellows were surveyed monthly regarding the number of feedback sessions per clinical week. An anonymous survey was sent to faculty and fellows following 3 months of use. Responses indicated a need for a specific location/reminder for the card. PDSA 2: Feedback Cards were moved to the daily huddle board; monthly data were displayed. PDSA 3: Attending/fellow dyads with only one service day were excluded given limited interactions. Measures Fellows were anonymously surveyed at the end of each month to determine the number of feedback sessions per clinical service time. Results The percentage of feedback sessions between fellows and faculty increased following implementation of the Feedback Card from an average of 52.4% in 2018-19 to 95.0% in 2019-20. (Figure 2) Conclusions and Next Steps Feedback is an essential part of clinical teaching and learning, yet it is often perceived as difficult to do, especially in busy clinical settings. Actively engaging in feedback-seeking is an effective way for fellows to learn within the working environment. Our project demonstrates that a structured method for feedback improved frequency of feedback sessions between faculty and fellowship trainees. Future PDSA cycles will assess the quality of feedback provided.
The impact of socioeconomic status and race on the outcomes of congenital heart disease.

Purpose of review Studying the outcomes of congenital heart disease and their associations allows paediatric cardiologists and intensivists to improve the care and health equity of their patients. This review presents the most recent literature discussing the socioeconomic and racial disparities that pervade the outcomes of patients with congenital heart disease in every facet of treatment. The outcomes of congenital heart disease discussed are prenatal detection, maintenance of care, quality of life, neurodevelopment and mortality. Recent findings Historically, it has been documented that patients with congenital heart disease who are of racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately experience poor outcomes. Recently, the association between racial minorities and mortality has been traced to underlying socioeconomic disparities emphasizing that race and ethnicity are not independent determinants of health. Summary The effect of socioeconomic status on the outcomes of congenital heart disease is profound and reaches beyond the association with racial and ethnic minorities. Changes to address these disparities in outcomes must be made at the individual, institutional, community and system levels.
Sequencing a protein by X-ray crystallography: II. Refinement of yeast hexokinase B Co-ordinates and sequence at 2.1 Å resolution

Although the amino acid sequence of yeast hexokinase B has not been determined by chemical means, crystallographic refinement of the hexokinase monomer was carried out at 2.1 A resolution to improve both the atomic co-ordinates and the amino acid sequence, which had been obtained from a 2.5 A electron density map. The atomic co-ordinates were adjusted by real-space refinement into a multiple isomorphous replacement map, followed by automated difference Fourier refinement, and restrained parameter structure factor least-squares refinement. The amino acid sequence was altered periodically after visual inspection of (Fo − Fc) difference electron density maps. Evidence of the improvement in the amino acid sequence was provided by the better agreement between the X-ray and chemically derived amino acid compositions, and most importantly by the ability to locate two short peptides which had been chemically sequenced. While only 6 out of the 18 residues in these two peptides agree with the sequence of the original model, 12 residues agree with the sequence of the refined model and the others differ by only an atom or two. The refined model contains 3293 of of the 3596 non-hydrogen atoms expected from the amino acid composition and 152 bound water molecules. The crystallographic R factor at 2.1 A is 0.25. We show that there are several advantages to refining the structure of even a protein of unknown sequence. (1) Improved phases can be obtained to the resolution limit of the diffraction pattern starting with a model derived from a 2.5 A map. (2) The accuracy of the amino acid sequence derived by X-ray methods alone can be substantially improved. (3) Functionally important residues can be identified before chemical sequence information is available. (4) The improved X-ray sequence should greatly reduce the effort required to obtain a chemical sequence; since peptides as short as eight or nine residues can be located in the refined X-ray sequence, peptides do not need to be overlapped by chemical means.
Movement of the retinylidene Schiff base counterion in rhodopsin by one helix turn reverses the pH dependence of the metarhodopsin I to metarhodopsin II transition

The environment of the retinylidene Schiff base in bovine rhodopsin has been studied by movement of its carboxylic acid counterion from position 113 to position 117 by site-specific mutagenesis. Replacement of the counterion at position 113 by a neutral amino acid residue has been shown to produce a lowering of the Schiff base acidity constant (pKa) from > 8.5 to about 6. The aim of the present work was to change the position of the counterion without causing a significant effect on the Schiff base pKa. A triple replacement mutant (Glu113-->Ala/Ala117-->Glu/Glu122-->Gln) was designed to move the position of the counterion by one helix turn in the third putative transmembrane helix (helix C). The mutant bound 11-cis-retinal to form a chromophore with a visible absorbance maximum (lambda max) of 490 nm which was independent of pH in the range of about 5-8.5. Upon illumination under conditions in which rhodopsin was converted to the active metarhodopsin II (MII) photoproduct, the mutant was converted to a metarhodopsin I (MI)-like species (lambda max = 475 nm). Furthermore, the effect of pH on the photobleaching behavior of the mutant was the reverse of that reported for rhodopsin. In the mutant, acidic pH favored the formation of the MI-like photoproduct, and basic pH favored the formation of an MII-like photoproduct (lambda max = 380 nm). The MII-like photoproduct of the mutant pigment was able to activate the guanine nucleotide-binding protein, transducin. We conclude that the Schiff base counterion in rhodopsin can be repositioned to form a pigment with an apparently unperturbed Schiff base pKa. Furthermore, a specific amino acid residue that acts as a Schiff base proton acceptor is not strictly required for photoconversion of rhodopsin to its active MII form.
Branched-Chain and Other Amino Acids in Tissues of Rats Fed Leucine-Limiting Amino Acid Diets Containing Norleucine

Amino acid concentrations were measured in plasma, brain, muscle and liver from rats fed leucine-limiting diets containing varying proportions of other indispensable amino acids (IAA), the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and norleucine, a BCAA analog known to compete with large neutral amino acids (LNAA) for transport into tissues. Leucine was low and other IAA were high when dietary IAA were 125% and leucine was 65% of requirements; higher leucine and lower IAA concentrations occurred when dietary IAA were 75% of requirements. Tissue leucine was high and isoleucine and valine were low in rats fed excess leucine. Norleucine induced dose-dependent reductions in BCAA, especially in brain and muscle in which isoleucine or valine were sometimes undetectable. Leucine was not depressed further when control values were low as in the rats fed 125% IAA. Norleucine frequently prevented the high BCAA found after feeding additional BCAA. Other LNAA tended to be low in the brain and muscle of rats fed norleucine. Lysine was high only in the tissues of rats fed 75% IAA and norleucine; this effect was prevented when added leucine was given. Brain tryptophan, but not always serotonin, was low in rats fed norleucine. The results show transport-related, selective and usually marked depletions of tissue BCAA in rats fed norleucine; this suggests norleucine may be an aid in the treatment of clinical conditions involving excesses of BCAA.
Reliability of Current Reinforced Concrete Designs

Recent trends in design standards development have encouraged the use of probabilistic limit states design concepts. This is in order to simplify the design process and render it consistent for different materials and construction technologies. The development of such criteria requires that a large amount of data be gathered for perusal by standards writing organizations. These data should provide a measure of performance or reliability of existing designs so that the standards group has a perspective of where different construction technologies stand with respect to one another. This paper contributes to the data base by assessing reliabilities associated with existing reinforced concrete designs and providing a brief comparison with steel designs.
Research Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis

PART I: WHAT IS APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS RESEARCH? PART II: RESEARCH METHODS IN APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR THE NEW RESEARCHER Step 1: Select Your General Topic, Find a Good Setting & Choose Appropriate Participants Step 2: Narrow Down Your Research Question Step 3: Decide on Your Dependent & Independent Variables Step 4: Establish Social Validity Step 5: Create Your Data Collection Systems Step 6: Pilot Test Your Key Variables Step 7: Identify the Appropriate Research Design Step 8: Conduct an Ethics Check Step 9: Carry Out Your Research Project: A Daily & Weekly Checklist for Success / Step Step 10: Analyze & Graph Your Data PART III: GOING PUBLIC References Index
Media Representations of Race Cue the State of Media Opening in Brazil

This study examines non-white candidate textual and visual framing (Reese, 2003) in the context of a local election, as informed by print national press and a telenovela, to assess the current state of media opening in Brazil. It analyzes a sample of 313 newspaper and newsmagazine reports and 292 photos concurrent with when municipal campaigns were gearing up for October 2008 elections to determine how Brazilian leaders and local election candidates are framed. Likewise, this study examines 31 episodes of the concurrent TV Globo 8 p.m. telenovela Duas Caras to understand telenovela local election candidate portrayal. Two salient latent frames surface: One is Brazilian democracy is more social than racial. The other is Black men can succeed. Together, these two frames indicate that telenovelas are more progressive storytellers than print national news.