cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Achieving spectrum efficiency through signal design for ultra wide band sensor networks

In this paper, a novel approach is presented for ultra wide band signal design. The bottom up approach designs the signals that utilize the ultra wide band spectrum efficiently. 1st-6th derivative Gaussian pulses are linearly combined using a particle swarm optimization algorithm to form one single pulse. A binary PSO determines the order of the derivative of the pulses that are combined. The continuous PSO determines the time duration and amplitudes for different pulses in the composite pulse. The power spectral density (PSD) of the resultant pulse conforms to the FCC spectral mask and effectively exploits the allowable bandwidth and power. The particle swarm optimization algorithm achieves multiple orthogonal pulses. The newly designed pulses achieve higher spectral efficiencies which is shown theoretically and in simulations. The proposed method presents a flexible and effective way for generating UWB pulses that satisfy the FCC mask. The method can be generalized to design UWB pulses for any given spectral mask.
Effects of a hydrogenated form of vitamin K on bone formation and resorption

Background Hydrogenation of vegetable oils affects blood lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. However, little is known about the effects of hydrogenation on other components, such as vitamin K. Low phylloquinone (vitamin K1) intake is a potential risk factor for bone fracture, although the mechanisms of this are unknown. Objective The objective was to compare the biological effects of phylloquinone and its hydrogenated form, dihydrophylloquinone, on vitamin K status and markers of bone formation and resorption. Design In a randomized crossover study in a metabolic unit, 15 young adults were fed a phylloquinone-restricted diet (10 microg/d) for 15 d followed by 10 d of repletion (200 microg/d) with either phylloquinone or dihydrophylloquinone. Results There was an increase and subsequent decrease in measures of bone formation (P = 0.002) and resorption (P = 0.08) after dietary phylloquinone restriction and repletion, respectively. In comparison with phylloquinone, dihydrophylloquinone was less absorbed and had no measurable biological effect on measures of bone formation and resorption. Conclusion Hydrogenation of plant oils appears to decrease the absorption and biological effect of vitamin K in bone.
State case studies: improving access to dental care for the underserved.

Introduction: This article, a supplement to the work of the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Oral Health Access, examines dental access disparities, reviews societal strategies for reducing disparities, explores the relationship between state level public health and dental safety net efforts and utilization/oral health outcomes, and describes selected public health and safety net programs with special promise. Methods: Data were obtained from interviews with state dental directors and safety net leaders and a review of the literature. Findings: There is a two-fold difference in utilization rates between low- (<30 percent) and high- (56 percent) income families. The three societal strategies for reducing disparities – Medicaid, dental safety net system, and increasing the supply of dentists – all have significant limitations. The primary factor positively related to oral health is per capita income. Five promising programs for reducing access disparities include a dental home initiative for young children; a virtual dental home for school children and nursing home residents; a women, infants, and children early oral education and prevention intervention program; an enhanced Medicaid reimbursement program for educational institutions in North Carolina; and a school-based dental care system run by Connecticut Federally Qualified Health Centers. Conclusions: There are wide disparities in access to dental care, and current societal strategies to reduce disparities have significant limitations. At the state level, the primary determinant of oral health status is per capita income. Several states have promising programs to reduce disparities but most are still at the demonstration level and have not been adequately evaluated.
On geolocation accuracy with prior information in non-line-of-sight environment

Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) geolocation becomes an important issue with the fast development of mobile communications. Several methods have been proposed to address this problem. However, a comprehensive study on the best geolocation accuracy that these methods may possibly achieve is called for. Qi and Kobayashi (see The Proceeding of the 36th Annual Conference on Information Sciences and Systems (CISS 2002), Princeton University, March 2002 and IASTED International Conference on Wireless and Optical Communications (WOC 2002), Banff, Canada, July 2002) reported a unified analysis of the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) and achievable bounds applicable to NLOS geolocation, assuming no prior information on the mobile station (MS) position or NLOS induced paths is available. In practice, however, we often have some information about these parameters beforehand. In this paper, we derive a lower bound for the geolocation accuracy in the presence of such prior information, and explore its physical interpretation. Some numerical examples are discussed.
Significance of lobular intraepithelial neoplasia at margins of breast conservation specimens: a report of 38 cases and literature review

Background: Presence of lobular intraepithelial neoplasia (LIN) is not routinely reported as part of margin assessment in breast conservation therapy (BCT) as in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). With new emerging evidence of LIN as possible precursor lesion, the hypothesis is that LIN at the margin may increase the risk of local recurrence with BCT. The aim is to determine whether there is an increase incidence of recurrence when LIN is found at surgical margins on BCT. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a total of 1,334 BCT at a single institution in a 10 year period. Inclusion criteria are positive margin with LIN from primary BCT containing invasive and/or in situ carcinoma with comparison to the negative control group who had similar diseases with negative margin for LIN. Results: We identified 38 cases (2.8%) with LIN either lobular carcinoma in situ/atypical lobular hyperplasia (LCIS/ ALH) at a margin on initial BCT with 36% recurrence rate. Of the 38 cases: 5 (13%) were lost to follow-up, 12 (32%) had no further procedures performed and 21 (55%) had re-excision. Out of 21 patients who had re-excisions, 12 (57%) had residual invasive carcinoma or DCIS, three (14%) had pleomorphic LCIS and 4 (19%) showed residual classic type LCIS. 71% had significant residual disease (local recurrence) and 29% had no residual disease. A negative control group consisted of 38 cases. We found two patients with bone or brain metastasis and one local recurrence. Clinical follow up periods range from 1 to 109 months. Conclusions: LIN found at a margin on BCT showed a significant recurrent ipsilateral disease. Our study supports the view that LIN seen at the margin may play a role in recurrence.
SPECIFICITY OF CREATINE IN THE CONTROL OF MUSCLE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS

This study provides additional evidence that creatine, an end product of contraction unique to muscle, is involved in the control of muscle protein synthesis. Creatine is shown to stimulate selectively the rate of synthesis of two major contractile proteins, actin and myosin heavy chain, in cultures of differentiating skeletal muscle. Creatine affects only the rate of synthesis and not the rate of degradation. Several creatine analogs are as effective as creatine in stimulating muscle protein synthesis, creatinine and amino acids such as arginine and glycine are not. Creatine stimulates myosin heavy chain synthesis twofold in cultures of embryonic muscle grown in either normal or dialyzed media.
Patients' Preoperative Expectations Predict the Outcome of Rotator Cuff Repair

Background: We are not aware of any previous studies of the relationship between patients' expectations regarding rotator cuff repair and the actual outcome. We hypothesized that preoperative expectations are predictive of the outcome of rotator cuff repair. Methods: One hundred and twenty-five patients who underwent unilateral primary repair of a chronic rotator cuff tear were included in the study. All operations were performed by a single surgeon. Each patient prospectively completed the Simple Shoulder Test (SST); the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire; three visual analogue scales for shoulder pain, shoulder function, and quality of life; and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) preoperatively and at one year (mean and standard deviation, 54.1 ± 7.6 weeks) postoperatively. Preoperative expectations were quantified with use of six questions from the Musculoskeletal Outcomes Data Evaluation and Management System (MODEMS) questionnaire. Results: Greater preoperative expectations correlated with better postoperative performance on the SST, DASH, each visual analogue scale, and the SF-36 (p values ranging from <0.0001 to 0.03) as well as with greater improvement from the baseline scores on the DASH and SF-36 (p values ranging from <0.0001 to 0.018). A rigorous multivariate analysis controlling for age, gender, smoking, Workers' Compensation status, symptom duration, number of previous operations, number of comorbidities, tear size, and repair technique confirmed that greater expectations were a significant independent predictor of both better performance at one year and greater improvement on the SST, the DASH, each visual analogue scale, and the SF-36 (p values ranging from <0.001 to 0.042). Conclusions: Patients' preoperative expectations regarding rotator cuff repair are associated with their actual self-assessed outcome. Variations in patient expectations may help to explain divergent results in published series as well as among various patient populations. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The 5-GHz Airport Surface Area Channel—Part II: Measurement and Modeling Results for Small Airports

We describe results from a channel measurement and modeling campaign for the airport surface environment in the 5-GHz band. Using a 50-MHz bandwidth test signal, thousands of power delay profiles (PDPs) were obtained and processed to develop empirical tapped-delay line statistical channel models for large airports. A log-distance path loss model was also developed. The large airport surface channel is classified into three propagation regions, and models are presented for each of the regions for two values of bandwidth. Values of the median root-mean-square (RMS) delay spread range from 500 to 1000 ns for these airports, with the 90 th percentile RMS delay spreads being approximately 1.7 ms. Corresponding correlation bandwidths (i.e., correlation value 1/2) range from approximately 1.5 MHz in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) settings to 17.5 MHz in line-of-sight (LOS) settings. Two types of statistical nonstationarity were also observed: 1) multipath component persistence and 2) propagation region transitions. We provide the multipath component probability of occurrence models and describe Markov chains that are used for modeling both phenomena. Channel tap amplitude statistics are also provided, using the flexible Weibull probability density function (pdf). This pdf was found to best fit fading tap amplitude data, particularly for frequently observed severe fading, which is characterized by fade probabilities that are worse than the commonly used Rayleigh model. Fading parameters equivalent to Nakagami-m-model values of m near 0.7 were often observed (with m = 1 being Rayleigh and m < 1 being worse than Rayleigh). We also provide channel tap amplitude correlation coefficients, which typically range from 0.1 to 0.4 but occasionally take values greater than 0.7.
Cerebral Specialization and Hemispheric Performance Asymmetries in Narrative Memory

Data on cerebral specialization derived from studies of human head-injuries have long implicated the left hemisphere's critical role in speech processing and verbal memory. We report a relatively simple paradigm which demonstrates an analogous asymmetry in narrative recall performance in normal subjects when either one hemisphere or the other is concurrently engaged with control of a secondary motor task. Caution in generalizing these data to performance asymmetries in brain-injured patients is nevertheless required.
IS THE RADIO CORE OF BL LACERTAE PRECESSING

Stirling et al. recently reported the discovery of a 2.3 yr periodic variation in the structural position angle of the parsec-scale radio core in the blazar BL Lac. We searched for independent confirmation of this periodic behavior using 43 GHz images of the radio core during 10 epochs overlapping those of Stirling etal. Ourmaps are consistent with several periodicities, including one near the period reported by Stirling et al. By comparing our position angle measurements with those of Stirling et al., we find strong, consistent evidence for position angle variations of the inner core during the observed epochs. However, the claim of periodic variation is not convincing, especially when the most recent epochs (2000.60‐2003.78) are included. A definitive resolution will require continued monitoring of the core structure over several periods. Subject headingg BL Lacertae objects: individual (BL Lacertae) — galaxies: active — galaxies: jets
Pain Management in Patients with Substance Abuse: Treatment Challenges for Pain and Addiction Specialists

The current epidemic of prescription opioid abuse in the United States has fostered interest in the relationship between chronic pain and substance abuse, as detailed in a recent article by Sigmon....
Existentialism, Self Theory and the Existential Self

Self theory is reductionistic: it brackets off “real” reality and leaves it in metaphysical realms. Existentialism views both subjective and external reality as contained in existence. Rogers' theory is deterministic to the extent that it is built on causal constructs. The non-deterministic, holistic, and teleological assumptions of the existentialists may help strengthen self theories. For example the term existential self would combine self-as-doer and self-as-object, making such constructs as self-concept, self structure, individual, and organism unnecessary. The individual's experience or perception would not have to be caused by a self-definition, but would be for the purpose of something, i.e., his intentions or goals.
Signaling techniques using solitons

Solitons and the nonlinear evolution equations that support them arise in the description of a wide range of nonlinear physical phenomena including shallow water waves, piezoelectrics, and optical transmission in nonlinear fibers. Although such systems are nonlinear, they are exactly solvable and possess a class of remarkably robust solutions, known as solitons, which satisfy a nonlinear form of superposition. By exploiting the properties of solitons, such nonlinear systems may be attractive for a variety of signal processing problems including multiple access communications, private or low power transmission, and multiresolution transmission. We outline a number of modulation techniques using solitons, and explore some of the properties of such systems in the presence of additive channel corruption. We also discuss the use of a nonlinear LC network (transmission line model) and its soliton solutions for signal synthesis in a variety of modulation techniques.
Stimulant Medications and Sleep for Youth With ADHD: A Meta-analysis

CONTEXT: Mixed findings exist on whether stimulant medications alter youth sleep. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of stimulant medications on sleep. DATA STUDIES: Studies published through March 2015 were collected via CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PubMed. References of retrieved articles were reviewed. STUDY SELECTION: Eligibility criteria included studies with children/adolescents who had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), random assignment to stimulants, and objective sleep measurement. Studies that did not include information about key variables were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: Study-level, child-level, and sleep data were extracted by 2 independent coders. Effect sizes were calculated by using random effects models. Potential moderators were examined by using mixed effect models. RESULTS: A total of 9 articles (N = 246) were included. For sleep latency, the adjusted effect size (0.54) was significant, indicating that stimulants produce longer sleep latencies. Frequency of dose per day was a significant moderator. For sleep efficiency, the adjusted effect size (−0.32) was significant. Significant moderators included length of time on medication, number of nights of sleep assessed, polysomnography/actigraphy, and gender. Specifically, the effect of medication was less evident when youth were taking medication longer. For total sleep time, the effect size (−0.59) was significant, such that stimulants led to shorter sleep duration. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include few studies, limited methodologic variability, and lack of unpublished studies. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulant medication led to longer sleep latency, worse sleep efficiency, and shorter sleep duration. Overall, youth had worse sleep on stimulant medications. It is recommended that pediatricians carefully monitor sleep problems and adjust treatment to promote optimal sleep.
Integrated Cooling for Optoelectronic Devices

Active refrigeration of optoelectronic components through the use of thin film solid state coolers based on III-V materials is proposed and investigated. Enhanced cooling power comparing to the thermoelectric effect of the bulk material is achieved through thermionic emission of hot electrons over a heterostructure barrier layer. It is shown that these heterostructures can be monolithically integrated with other devices made from similar materials. Experimental analysis of an InP p-i-n diode monolithically integrated with a heterostructure thermionic cooler is performed. Cooling performance is investigated for various device sizes and ambient temperatures. Several important non-ideal effects are determined such as contact resistance, heat generation in the wire bonds, and the finite thermal resistance of the substrate. These non-ideal effects are studied both experimentally and analytically, and the limitations induced on performance are considered. The experimental results are then used to predict the improved performance of better designed coolers. These micro- refrigerators can provide control over threshold current, power output, wavelength, and maximum operating temperature in diode lasers. Heterostructure integrated thermionic cooling is demonstrated to provide cooling power densities of several 100's W/cm2.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The distributive politics of tax expenditures: how parties use policy tools to distribute federal money to the rich and the poor

In this paper, I theorize and show that Democrats and Republicans both distribute money to their core class consistencies through the selection of different types of tax breaks, formally referred to as tax expenditures. The popularity of tax expenditures allows each political party to distribute federal money to unpopular constituencies in ways that reflect the economic ideology of their members. I expect and find that Democratic Party control of the White House results in an increase in the generosity of tax credits that target the working poor, and Republican Party power produces a large expansion of tax deductions, which disproportionately benefit the rich. These results have implications for distributive politics and the partisan politics of income inequality.
Cl- channels in basolateral renal medullary memnbranes: III. Determinants of single-channel activity

We evaluated the effects of vawrying aqueous Cl− concentrations, and of the arginyl- and lysyl-specific reagent phenylglyoxal (PGO), on the properties of Cl− channels fused from basolaterally enriched renal medullary vesicles into planar lipid bilayers. The major channel properties studied were the anion selectivity sequence, anionic requirements for, channel activity. and the efects of varying Cl− concentrations and/or PGO on the relation between holding voltageVH-mV) and open-time probability (Po).
Outcomes assessment of patients treated with osseointegrated dental implants at the University of Washington Graduate Prosthodontic Program, 1988 to 2000.

PURPOSE The purpose of this retrospective study was to review and assess the outcomes of subjects treated with dental implants at the University of Washington Graduate Prosthodontic Program from 1988 to 2000. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review and an outcomes assessment were conducted of patients treated with osseointegrated implants between 1988 and 2000 at the University of Washington Graduate Prosthodontic Program. Patients were treated by graduate students. All included patients had a prosthesis that had been in service for at least 5 years. Implants and prostheses were assessed by chart review, phone survey, and clinical review. Clinical review consisted of mobility testing, soft tissue evaluation, and occlusal evaluation. Specific success criteria were used and life table analyses of implants and prostheses were performed. RESULTS Of a total of 114 patients treated, 69 subjects (60.5% of those treated) participated in the assessment; 103 prostheses supported by 273 implants were reviewed clinically. The estimated cumulative survival rate was 96.3% for all implants and 85.4% for all prostheses. CONCLUSIONS A retrospective review of 69 subjects who were treated in the University of Washington Graduate Prosthodontic Program between the years 1988 and 2000 showed an implant survival rate of 96.3% and a prosthesis survival rate of 85.4%. Prostheses showed higher failure rates than implants.
Implementation of an emergency department-based clinical pharmacist transitions-of-care program.

Purpose The implementation of an emergency department (ED)–based clinical pharmacist transitions-of-care (TOC) program is described. Summary The intervention program consisted of collaboration between ED and ambulatory care pharmacists to provide patient-specific comprehensive medication review and education in the ED setting and to help ensure a coordinated transition to the ambulatory care setting by scheduling an ambulatory pharmacy clinic or home-based visit. Patients who sought care at an adult ED for an exacerbation of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or congestive heart failure (CHF) were assessed for issues with medication adherence or administration technique, patient-specific concerns regarding medication use, access to medications at discharge, the need for modification of chronic therapy, contraindicated medications, and vaccination status, if applicable. The pharmacist then referred the patient to follow up in an ambulatory care pharmacy clinic or with the home-based medication management (HBMM) program. Of the 18 program participants who were referred to follow-up care, 5 successfully followed up with a pharmacist after ED discharge. The mean time from the ED visit to follow-up for these 5 patients was 16.6 ± 8.6 days. In addition, 5 patients followed up with their primary care provider within 30 days of the initial ED visit; 2 of these patients also followed up with a pharmacist. Within 30 days of the initial ED encounter, 4 patients had ED revisits. Conclusion A TOC pharmacist-led program targeting patients who arrived at the ED with the chief complaint of asthma exacerbation, COPD, or CHF provided interventions from an ED or ambulatory care pharmacist as well as follow-up opportunities at outpatient clinics or an HBMM program.
Fractionation of Condensed Distillers Solubles and Compositional Characterization of Its Co-Products

Condensed distillers solubles (CDS) was fractionated into a protein-mineral fraction and a glycerol fraction by a chemical method; protein and glycerol-mineral fractions by a physical method; and protein, mineral, and glycerol fractions by a physicochemical method. The co-products from each method, along with CDS, were characterized for concentrations of key constituents (protein, oil, ash, glycerol and other carbohydrates), mineral profile, and amino acid composition. Recovery of mass and main constituents was also investigated. With the chemical method, about two-third of the mass went to the protein-mineral fraction, while by the physical method the equal amounts of mass went to the protein and glycerol-mineral fractions. Protein, minerals, and glycerol were mostly recovered into their respective fractions. CDS and its fractions contained six major minerals (Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, and S) and four trace ones (Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn). Both chemical and physical treatments caused significant reduction of mineral contents (dry matter basis) in the protein or glycerol fraction. Several amino acids differed significantly in percent relative to total amino acids among fractions but the extent was not substantial for protein-rich fractions. These changes resulting from CDS fractionation are favorable for value added utilization of the new co-products.
Validation of quantitative trait loci for grain quality-related traits in a winter wheat mapping population

Validating positions and effects of putative quantitative trait loci (QTL) is an important step before employing linked markers in marker-assisted selection (MAS) or conducting finer-scale mapping. Previously, QTL for grain quality traits were identified in a population of 185 doubled haploid (DH) winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lines developed from the cross CO940610/’Platte’. Clusters of QTL for grain quality traits were detected on chromosomes 1B, 6B, and 7B. Our objectives were to (1) confirm the previously identified QTL, using recombinant inbred line (RIL, n = 186) and BC3F2:3 (n = 35) populations developed from the same parents; and (2) test the effects of combinations of alleles at three marker loci in the target chromosome regions. Field trials were conducted in two Colorado environments for the RIL population in 2009/10 and three environments for the BC3F2:3 population in 2012/13. Most QTL previously detected for grain quality traits on 1B, 6B, and 7B were repeated in either the RIL or BC3F2:3 populations, although these QTL were not robust across populations and environments. However, the QTL for grain ash concentration (Gac) on 7B was detected in all environments and populations, with Platte contributing the higher value allele. The BC3F2:3 lines with the allelic combination predicted to have higher grain protein concentration (Gpc) surpassed the lowest predicted combination in one of three environments investigated. Based on these evaluations, marker Bx7-MAR on 1B and the regions around markers Xwmc182a on 6B and Xwmc182b on 7B are recommended for further research for improving grain quality traits.
TP53 Modulates Oxidative Stress in Gata1+ Erythroid Cells

Metabolism of oxidative stress is necessary for cellular survival. We have previously utilized the zebrafish as a model of the oxidative stress response. In this study, we found that gata1-expressing erythroid cells contributed to a significant proportion of total-body oxidative stress when animals were exposed to a strong pro-oxidant. RNA-seq of zebrafish under oxidative stress revealed the induction of tp53. Zebrafish carrying tp53 with a mutation in its DNA-binding domain were acutely sensitive to pro-oxidant exposure and displayed significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) and tp53-independent erythroid cell death resulting in an edematous phenotype. We found that a major contributing factor to ROS was increased basal mitochondrial respiratory rate without reserve. These data add to the concept that tp53, while classically a tumor suppressor and cell-cycle regulator, has additional roles in controlling cellular oxidative stress.
Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Therapies (CAIT)

Many Americans, nearly 40 %, use health-care approaches outside of mainstream Western, or conventional, medicine to treat specific conditions, treat side effects of conventional medicine, and improve health or overall well-being [1–3]. It has been estimated that two-thirds of individuals that suffer from arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders have used complementary and alternative treatments to control their symptoms [4].
Investigations on mixed agreement: polite plurals, hybrid nouns and coordinate structures

This article investigates complex agreement patterns with the polite plural pronoun vi and so-called ‘hybrid nouns’ in Serbian. I show how many curious agreement phenomena are to a great extent determined by the inability of an agreement target to simultaneously agree with an exclusively semantic and an exclusively formal φ-feature of an agreement controller. Consequently, in some cases (e.g., the polite plural pronoun vi) masculine emerges as the default gender value, as a result of an independently motivated mechanism. I argue that an analysis based on these two factors allows for wider empirical coverage than the analysis developed in Wechsler and Hahm (2011) and Wechsler (2011) based on an Agreement Marking Principle. I also discuss the so-called ‘different pronoun hypothesis’, which Wechsler and Hahm (2011) propose to explain different types of agreement triggered by the polite plural pronoun. In light of some new facts, however, I argue that the ‘different adjective hypothesis’ in fact might be on the right track. Along the way, I also develop an analysis of gender agreement with coordinated phrases consisting of singular number conjuncts and suggest that gender in Serbian should be represented in terms of binary features [±masculine] and [±feminine].
Cultural and Institutional Antecedents of Country Risk

This study explores the effects of cultural and institutional factors on country risk. We use the 2004 Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness Research study’s estimations of nine cultural dimensions, as well as measures of democracy and gender empowerment, in a sample consisting of 55 countries. The results indicate that gender empowerment, humane orientation, and institutional collectivism have a larger impact on country risk than democracy, uncertainty avoidance, and gender egalitarianism. The interdependency of some cultural dimensions suggests that cultural and institutional differences could be used to predict mean country risk ratings.
Energy Storage, Expenditure, and Utilization: Components and Influencing Factors

Humans consume and expend energy daily. This chapter focuses on how the changes in food consumption and expenditure influence overall energy stores, which are represented by total body mass (weight). Mathematically this relationship can be expressed by the energy balance equation (EBE), which accounts for factors that control the relationship among consumption (energy intake), storage (energy storage), and expenditure (energy output) in the calculation of EBE. Major influences on each of these factors are detailed, with a focus on physical activities and exercise. The crossover concept—the divergence of the relative contributions by lipids and carbohydrates to energy production as the intensity of exercise increases—is explained in the framework of its impact on energy expenditure.
Hot water extracts from broccoli sprouts trigger induction of carcinogen-detoxification enzymes in prostate tissues.

3149 Intake of vegetables, particularly cruciferous vegetables, reduces prostate cancer risks.1 Sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate present in cruciferous vegetables, may protect against cancer development by inducing the expression of carcinogen-detoxification enzymes, such as glutathione S- transferases (GSTs).2,3 Upon consumption of glucosinolate compounds in cruciferous vegetables, isothiocyanates can be released during chewing via exposure of the glucosinolates to the plant enzyme myrosinase (thioglucoside glucohydrolase). In order to test whether sulforaphane and other isothiocyanates in broccoli sprouts can elevate the expression of chemoprotective enzymes in prostate tissues, both purified sulforaphane and a hot water extract of broccoli sprouts (broccoli sprout tea) were administered to adult male Fisher 344 rats, prone to develop prostate cancer when exposed to heterocyclic amine carcinogens,4 by gastric gavage. To monitor carcinogen-detoxification enzyme expression, RNA- and protein-containing extracts were prepared from liver, intestine, spleen and prostate tissues recovered 48 hours after treatment. GST activity was assessed using a CDNB assay.5 The expression of mRNAs encoding other chemoprotective enzymes was evaluated via hybridization to Affymetrix expression arrays. The results were that while both sulforaphane and broccoli sprout tea triggered increases in GST activity in the liver and the intestine, in a dose dependent manor, only the broccoli sprout tea caused increased GST activity in the prostate. mRNA expression profiling confirmed an induction of transcripts encoding chemoprotective enzymes in the different tissues. These findings suggest that consumption of cruciferous vegetables, containing glucosinolates, may effectively augment carcinogen defenses both in major metabolic organs, such as the liver and the intestine, as well as in cancer-prone organs, such as the prostate. References: 1Cohen JH et al. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 92:61-68 (2000). 2Fahey JW et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 94:10367-10372 (1997). 3Talalay P et al. Adv Enzyme Regul., 43:121-134 (2003). Shirai T et al. Cancer Res. 57:195-198 (1997). 5Habig WH et al. J. Biol. Chem. 249:7130-7139 (1974).
Scale-invariance and scale-breaking in parity-invariant three-dimensional QCD

We present a numerical study of three-dimensional two-color QCD with $N=0$, 2, 4, 8 and 12 flavors of massless two-component fermions using parity-preserving improved Wilson-Dirac fermions. A finite volume analysis provides strong evidence for the presence of $Sp(N)$ symmetry-breaking bilinear condensate when $N\ensuremath{\le}2$ and its absence for $N\ensuremath{\ge}8$. A weaker evidence for the bilinear condensate is shown for $N=4$. We estimate the critical number of flavors below which scale-invariance is broken by the bilinear condensate to be between $N=4$ and 6.
In silico Predicted Glucose-1-phosphate Uridylyltransferase (GalU) Inhibitors Block a Key Pathway Required for Listeria Virulence.

Peptidoglycan walls of gram positive bacteria are functionalized by glycopolymers called wall teichoic acid (WTA). In Listeria monocytogenes, multiple enzymes including the glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GalU) were identified as mandatory for WTA galactosylation, so that the inhibition of GalU is associated with a significant attenuation of Listeria virulence. Herein, we report on a series of in silico predicted GalU inhibitors identified using structure-based virtual screening and experimentally validated to be effective in blocking the WTA galactosylation pathway in vitro. Several hits such as C04, a pyrimidinyl benzamide, afforded promising experimental potencies. This proof-of-concept study opens new perspectives for the development of potent and selective GalU inhibitors of high interest to attenuate Listeria virulence. It also underscores the high relevance of using molecular modeling for facilitating the identification of bacterial virulence attenuators and more generally antibacterials.
Preoperative steroids do not improve outcomes for intramedullary spinal tumors: a NSQIP analysis of 30-day reoperation and readmission rates

Background: Intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs) account for 8–10% of all spinal cord tumors and affect patients of all ages. Although uncommon, IMSCTs carry risk of neurological morbidity and mortality, with 5-year survival rates ranging from 50% to 80%. In this study, we utilize the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database to determine the effect of steroid administration on 30-day outcomes following surgery for IMSCTs. Methods: ACS-NSQIP data for patients undergoing surgery for intramedullary tumors from 2005 to 2015 was reviewed. Patients were selected based on current procedural terminology (CPT) codes 63285 (Laminectomy, intradural, intramedullary, cervical), 63286 (Laminectomy, intradural, intramedullary, thoracic), and 63287 (Laminectomy, intradural, intramedullary, thoracolumbar). ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes were chosen based on the diagnosis of a tumor. The 30-day clinical outcome data, including reoperations and readmission rates, were collected and compared. Results: A total of 259 patients were reviewed. 181 patients had benign intramedullary tumors and 78 had malignant intramedullary tumors. The majority of IMSCTs were at the thoracic level (n=100), followed by the cervical (n=99), and thoracolumbar (n=39) levels. Thirty-one patients were on corticosteroid therapy prior to surgery. Patients with preoperative steroid administration had no significant difference in reoperation and readmission rates. No significant differences were noted between steroid vs. non-steroid therapy for discharge destination, length of hospital stay, or other postoperative complications. Conclusions: Contrary to previous reports, corticosteroid use prior to surgery for IMSCTs does not have a significant impact on 30-day risk of readmission, reoperation, and risk of postoperative complications.
Arbeit und Belastung

In der Arbeitssoziologie bezieht sich der Begriff Belastung auf Arbeitsanforderungen und -bedingungen, durch die die Arbeitenden beeintrachtigt werden. Alternativ und erganzend zum Begriff Belastung werden solche Aspekte von Arbeit auch als Restriktionen, Gefahrdungen oder Risiken bezeichnet.
Behavioral and cellular dopamine D1 and D3 receptor-mediated synergy: Implications for L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia.

Abstract Individually, D1 and D3 dopamine receptors (D1R and D3R, respectively) have been implicated in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID). Of late, direct D1R-D3R interactions have been linked to LID yet remain enigmatic. Therefore, the current research sought to characterize consequences of putative D1R-D3R interactions in dyskinesia expression and in LID-associated downstream cellular signaling. To do so, adult male Sprague-Dawley hemi-parkinsonian rats were given daily L-DOPA (6 mg/kg; s.c.) for 2 weeks to establish stable LID, as measured via the abnormal voluntary movements (AIMs) scale. Thereafter, rats underwent dose-response AIMs testing for the D1R agonist SKF38393 (0, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 mg/kg) and the D3R agonist, PD128907 (0, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 mg/kg). Each agonist dose-dependently induced dyskinesia, implicating individual receptor involvement. More importantly, when threshold doses were co-administered, rats displayed synergistic exacerbation of dyskinesia. Interestingly, this observation was not mirrored in general locomotor behaviors, highlighting a potentially dyskinesia-specific effect. To illuminate the mechanisms by which D1R-D3R co-stimulation led to in vivo synergy, levels of striatal phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2) were quantified after administration of SKF38393 and/or PD128907. Combined agonist treatment synergistically drove striatal pERK1/2 expression. Together, these results support the presence of a functional, synergistic interaction between D1R and D3R that manifests both behaviorally and biochemically to drive dyskinesia in hemi-parkinsonian rats.
Introduction to Plasma Sources

The ideal plasma generator would excel in all of the following characteristics, but some compromises are always necessary. Advanced plasma tools are in production that satisfy these criteria quite well. What is important , however, is the combination of the tool and the process. For instance, etching SiO2 requires both a source and a procedure. The commercial product is often not just the tool but the process, including the source, the settings, and the timing developed to perform a given task.
Review Essay: Politics, Discontents, Hopes: 1968 East and West

Three recently published books on the dramatic events of 1968 in Europe, North America, and elsewhere provide a useful opportunity to look back at that year and ask what caused such passions. Violent protesters in the democratic West claimed to be acting on behalf of a wider cause, but most of them paid little heed to those in Czechoslovakia and Poland who were seeking to ease the oppressiveness of Communist rule. Newly available archival sources and the passage of more than four decades facilitate a reexamination of that momentous year, but many aspects of the events remain nearly as inscrutable today as they were at the time.
Retrovirus-mediated gene transfer to photocoagulation-induced choroidal neovascular membranes.

PURPOSE To determine the feasibility of experimental gene transfer to laser-induced choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) in rats, with a retroviral vector containing the reporter construct beta-galactosidase (beta-gal). METHODS Laser photocoagulation was used to induce CNVM in rats. To ascertain the duration of beta-gal expression in the CNVM, 23 rats received 10 burns (75 microm, 100 mW, 0.1 seconds) in their right eyes, and beta-gal expression was examined from day 3 to 4 months. In addition, 14 pigmented rats were treated with 3 photocoagulation burns in their right eyes. beta-gal vector was injected into the vitreous or subretinal space 2 days later. On day 14, fluorescein angiography was performed to detect choroidal neovascularization. Then, beta-gal expression in each photocoagulation-induced CNVM was examined by observing the exposed fundus of the eyes stained with the beta-gal substrate X-Gal. RESULTS beta-gal expression was identified in the CNVM induced by photocoagulation from day 5 (16.2% +/- 6.8% of the lesions) to 4 months (3.7% +/- 2.4%). Histopathologic examination revealed beta-gal-transduced macrophages and spindle-shaped cells, which amounted to 1.12% +/- 0.58% (at 2 weeks) of the total cells in the CNVM. beta-gal expression was restricted to the CNVM, and there was no beta-gal transduction in surrounding normal retinochoroidal tissue. There was no correlation between choroidal neovascularization formation and beta-gal expression. CONCLUSIONS The feasibility of gene transduction targeted to the photocoagulation-induced CNVM was demonstrated using retroviral vectors. By transducing functional genes, this model could be useful for investigating the possibility of gene therapy to inhibit formation of the CNVM in age-related macular degeneration.
Peptides and the Blood-Brain Barrier: Enhancing Peptide Bioavailability to the Brain

The growth of the biotech industry over the last decade has resulted in an exponential increase in the number of drugs developed to treat neurological disorders. Despite the obvious importance of peptides in modulating physiological function, the number of peptide neuropharmaceuticals remains small. The primary reason for this is the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a unique membranous barrier, which regulates the delivery of substances to the brain. Peptides generally have limited transport across the BBB for a number of reasons, based principally on the biochemical nature of the peptides. Peptides are generally metabolized enzymatically and are taken up avidly by peripheral organs, thus further reducing availability to be transported to the brain. This chapter describes a number of strategies that have proven effective in the experimental delivery of peptides to the central nervous system, which can be utilized for neuropharmaceutical development.
Multi-unit relations among neural, self-report, and behavioral correlates of emotion regulation in comorbid depression and obesity

Depression is a leading cause of disability and is commonly comorbid with obesity. Emotion regulation is impaired in both depression and obesity. In this study, we aimed to explicate multi-unit relations among brain connectivity, behavior, and self-reported trait measures related to emotion regulation in a comorbid depressed and obese sample (N = 77). Brain connectivity was quantified as fractional anisotropy (FA) of the uncinate fasciculi, a white matter tract implicated in emotion regulation and in depression. Use of emotion regulation strategies was assessed using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). We additionally measured reaction times to identifying negative emotions, a behavioral index of depression-related emotion processing biases. We found that greater right uncinate fasciculus FA was related to greater usage of suppression (r = 0.27, p = 0.022), and to faster reaction times to identifying negative emotions, particularly sadness (r = −0.30, p = 0.010) and fear (r = −0.35, p = 0.003). These findings suggest that FA of the right uncinate fasciculus corresponds to maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and emotion processing biases that are relevant to co-occurring depression and obesity. Interventions that consider these multi-unit associations may prove to be useful for subtyping and improving clinical outcomes for comorbid depression and obesity.
Correction: Biologically anchored knowledge expansion approach uncovers KLF4 as a novel insulin signaling regulator.

One of the biggest challenges in analyzing high throughput omics data in biological studies is extracting information that is relevant to specific biological mechanisms of interest while simultaneously restricting the number of false positive findings. Due to random chances with numerous candidate targets and mechanisms, computational approaches often yield a large number of false positives that cannot easily be discerned from relevant biological findings without costly, and often infeasible, biological experiments. We here introduce and apply an integrative bioinformatics approach, Biologically Anchored Knowledge Expansion (BAKE), which uses sequential statistical analysis and literature mining to identify highly relevant network genes and effectively removes false positive findings. Applying BAKE to genomic expression data collected from mouse (Mus musculus) adipocytes during insulin resistance progression, we uncovered the transcription factor Krueppel-like Factor 4 (KLF4) as a regulator of early insulin signaling. We experimentally confirmed that KLF4 controls the expression of two key insulin signaling molecules, the Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 (IRS2) and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 (TSC2).
Healthcare Opportunities: Experts' Perspectives on Integrating Technology into Prehabilitation

Habilitation services, notably prehabilitation and rehabilitation, are important components of patients' surgical care. Contrary to traditional reactive healthcare models, proactive healthcare in the form of prehabilitation has shown promise in facilitating surgical patients' recoveries beyond rehabilitation alone. This study examines prehabilitation from the perspective of seven healthcare professionals, and relies on their interviews to better understand prehabilitation and how technology can be integrated into its processes to aid patient-clinician communication. Specifically, we offer a descriptions for why patients participate in prehabilitation, how clinicians deliver prehabilitation, and how technology could be utilized during these processes.