cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SpGataE, a Strongylocentrotus purpuratus ortholog of mammalian Gata4/5/6: protein expression, interaction with putative target gene spec2a, and identification of friend of Gata factor SpFog1

In the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuatus, SpGataE, an ortholog of the vertebrate zinc-finger transcription factors Gata4/5/6, occupies a key position in the gene regulatory network for endomesoderm specification. We have posited that in addition to regulating gene activity required for endomesoderm specification, SpGataE also represses the expression of the aboral ectoderm-specific spec2a gene in endomesoderm territories. Although the expression pattern of spgatae and its role in endomesoderm specification have been described in considerable detail, little is known about SpGataE protein accumulation and its interactions with target genes and coregulatory factors. Our purpose here was to gain further insight into the mechanisms by which SpGataE functions as a transcriptional regulator. To achieve this, we generated an anti-SpGataE antibody to determine the spatiotemporal expression pattern of SpGataE protein and establish whether it plays a role in repressing spec2a by binding to gata cis-regulatory elements within the endogenous spec2a enhancer. Because Gata proteins often associate with friend of Gata (Fog) coregulators, we identified an S. purpuratus fog ortholog, spfog1, and showed that SpGataE and SpFog1 physically interacted. Spfog1 transcripts were maximal by early blastula stage but continued thereafter to be expressed at low levels. Knockdown of spfog1 using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides did not produce notable effects on endomesoderm specification or spec2a enhancer activity, suggesting that SpGataE exerts these functions independently of SpFog1. In addition to providing new information on Gata and Fog proteins in sea urchins, the anti-SpGataE antibody developed here should be a useful reagent for future analysis of SpGataE function.
Gender roles and the American academe: a case study of graduate student mothers

Studies have found that motherhood is significantly associated with attrition for female graduate students in the United States. Few, however, have examined this phenomenon from the point of view of current students. Utilizing data from 30 in‐depth interviews with student mothers from a number of academic fields, this study details both the structural environments and the socio‐cultural constructs that affect the women’s daily experiences. The data highlight the fact that the symbolic nature of both roles – mother and student – is often in conflict with the structural elements around which each role is performed. Student mothers confront this dilemma through a number of strategic practices including ‘maternal invisibility’, ‘academic invisibility’, luck, and reliance on the more traditional means of economic and emotional support that come from spouses and parents. In detailing these practices, the study offers both important clues about the factors that may contribute to attrition for graduate student mo...
Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis and otitis media: Changes in pathogenicity following widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine:

Objective Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis and acute otitis media are two of the most common respiratory tract infections. The common pathogenic bacteria associated with these infections are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis , and Staphylococcus aureus . With the recent widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, there is evidence that there is a shift of both the pneumococcal serotypes and the distribution of pathogenic bacteria. The purpose of this article was to investigate whether the literature supports changes in pathogenicity of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis and otitis media after widespread use of conjugate pneumococcal vaccine. Data Sources MEDLINE search of the literature was performed between 1995 and 2007. Review Methods Literature review of changes in distribution of pathogens, resistance rates, and pneumococcal serotype changes before and after widespread use of conjugate pneumococcal vaccine. Results There is evidence that the distribution of pneumococcal serotypes has changed after the widespread use of conjugate pneumococcal vaccine. There appears to be both less invasive and noninvasive pneumococcal disease and with childhood immunization there also appears to be a protective effect on adults (herd immunity). Increases in nonvaccine serotypes, some with high levels of resistance are being identified in some communities. There is also growing evidence that there may be an increasing prevalence of Haemophilus influenzae in these infections. Conclusions Widespread use of conjugate pneumococcal vaccine has led to decreasing incidence of pneumococcal otitis media and likely also acute bacterial rhinosinusitis, which may have implications for treatment recommendations for these infections.
Type II secretion and pathogenesis.

Extracellular secretion of proteins is regarded as a major virulence mechanism in bacterial infection. Proteins destined for the extracellular environment of gram-negative bacteria have to cross two membranes during their journey across the bacterial cell envelope. This involves translocation across
Globalization, Policy Constraints, and Vote Choice

Despite much attention to global markets and domestic politics, political scientists know very little about how globalization influences the most fundamental aspect of representative democracy, the vote. This article presents a model of party choice when the capacity of elites to deliver policy is limited by the global economy. I argue that voters evaluate parties differently when elected representatives are perceived to be constrained by exogenous conditions. Voters respond to globalization by reducing the weight assigned to economic performance evaluations and to party positions on economic issues. To compensate, they increase the salience of noneconomic issues. Analyses of French and British survey data support theoretical claims. Results show that market integration carries greater consequences for domestic politics than implied by recent work on the political economy of industrial democracies.
The SNS linac high power RF system design, status, and results

The Spallation Neutron Source being built at the Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee requires a 1 GeV proton linac. Los Alamos has responsibility for the RF systems for the entire linac. The linac requires 3 distinct types of RF systems: 2.5-MW peak, 402.5 MHz, RF systems for the RFQ and DTL (7 systems total); 5-MW peak, 805 MHz systems for the CCL and the two energy corrector cavities (6 systems total); and 550-kW peak, 805 MHz systems for the superconducting sections (81 systems total). The design of the SNS Linac RF system was presented at the 2001 Particle Accelerator Conference in Chicago. Vendors have been selected for the klystrons (3 different vendors), circulators (1 vendor), transmitter (1 vendor), and high power RF loads (3 different vendors). This paper presents the results and status of vendor procurements, test results of the major components of the Linac RF system and our installation progress.
NADPH oxidase: recent evidence for its role in erectile dysfunction

Important roles for reactive oxygen species (ROS) in physiology and pathophysiology have been increasingly recognized. Under normal conditions, ROS serve as signaling molecules in the regulation of cellular functions. However, enhanced ROS production as a result of the activation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase contributes significantly to the pathogeneses of vascular diseases. Although it has become evident that increased ROS is associated with erectile dysfunction (ED), the sources of ROS in the penis remain largely unknown. In recent years, emergent evidence suggests the possible role of NADPH oxidase in inducing ED. In this review, we examine the relationship between ROS and ED in different disease models and discuss the current evidence basis for NADPH oxidase-derived ROS in ED.
Standards of laboratory practice: analgesic drug monitoring

Analgesics are the most commonly consumed over-the-counter preparations in the United States. They are used in the treatment of various pain syndromes and other medical conditions. Although analgesics are generally perceived to be safe agents, serious toxicity may occur in the setting of acute overdose, chronic abuse, or overuse. The indications for therapeutic drug monitoring in patients using these medications appropriately is as yet not well defined. The emphasis of this discussion, therefore, is on recommendations for monitoring in situations where toxicity is suspected. Preanalytical, analytical, and practice issues including drug interactions, frequency of monitoring, pertinent ancillary tests, reporting, and special patient groups at risk for toxicity are reviewed. Recent information from a major manufacturer of evacuated tubes arguing against the use of gel tubes for blood collection for drug monitoring is included. Colorimetric/enzymatic/immunoassays for the routine/stat monitoring of acetaminophen and salicylate and diflunisal cross-reactivity with most of the currently used salicylate assays are presented. Achiral and chiral chromatographic assays and newly introduced columns such as restricted access media and/or automated chromatographic systems are reviewed for the analysis of ibuprofen, naproxen, and the recently introduced tramadol. Finally, concepts regarding future directions including drug chirality and chiral analysis are presented.
Recovery of presynaptic dopaminergic functioning in rats treated with neurotoxic doses of methamphetamine.

Repeated administration of methamphetamine (METH) to animals can result in long-lasting decreases in striatal dopamine (DA) content. In addition, the evoked overflow of striatal DA is reduced in rats 1 week after neurotoxic doses of METH. However, whether these functional changes in DA release are permanent or tend to recover over time has not been established. In the present study we used in vivo electrochemistry and microdialysis to examine evoked overflow of DA in the striatum of METH-treated rats at several time points after treatment to determine if DA overflow would spontaneously recover. Male Fischer-344 rats were administered METH (5 mg/kg, s.c. ) or saline four times in one day at 2 hr intervals. In vivo electrochemistry experiments in anesthetized rats, and in vivo microdialysis studies in awake rats, were carried out 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment. At 1 week after treatment there were significant decreases in potassium- and amphetamine-evoked overflow of DA, and in clearance of DA, in the striatum of the METH-treated animals. Basal extracellular levels of DA and its metabolites were also decreased. Evoked overflow had partially recovered by 1 month. By 6 months evoked overflow of DA appeared to be normal in the METH-treated rats. However, whole tissue levels of striatal DA were still significantly decreased. All parameters were back to control values by 12 months. These results suggest that presynaptic dopaminergic functioning can recover to normal levels in the striatum of METH-treated rats by 12 months after treatment.
Source seeking for a Joukowski foil model of fish locomotion

We continue with the study of fish-like underwater source seeking initiated in a companion paper where we considered a three-rigid-link fish model. In this paper we consider a more realistic fish model based on a Joukowski airfoil which has only one degree of freedom in its movement, and thus relies on vortex shedding to move through a perfect fluid. Both the propulsion problem and the source seeking problem are solved by employing the same sinusoidal perturbation input— the flapping of the fish's tail. The fish converges to the signal source despite being unaware of it's position, the source's position, and the spatial distribution of the source.
Liposome fluidity alters interactions between the ganglioside GM1 and cholera toxin B subunit

Cholera toxin is a complex protein with a biologically active protein (A subunit) and a cell targeting portion (B subunit). The B subunit is responsible for specific cell binding and entry of the A subunit. One way to limit potential toxicity of the toxin after exposure is to introduce cellular decoys to bind the toxin before it can enter cells. In this study the ganglioside GM1, a natural ligand for cholera toxin, was incorporated into liposomes and the interaction between fluorescent B subunit and the liposome determined. Liposome membrane fluidity was determined to play a major role in the binding between liposomes and the cholera toxin B subunit. Liposomes with lower fluidity demonstrated greater binding with the B subunit. The findings from this study could have important implications on formulation strategies for liposome decoys of toxins.
Slow Scale Tau-leaping Method.

For chemical systems involving both fast and slow-scales, stiffness presents challenges for efficient stochastic simulation. Two different avenues have been explored to solve this problem. One is the slow-scale stochastic simulation (ssSSA) based on the stochastic partial equilibrium assumption. The other is the tau-leaping method. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm, the slow-scale tau-leaping method, which combines some of the best features of these two methods. Numerical experiments are presented which illustrate the effectiveness of this approach.
A Strategic Plan for Using the Thirteenth Amendment to Protect Immigrant Workers

This article argues that the time has come to move from theoretical arguments for how the Thirteenth Amendment applies to prohibit abusive labor practices used with respect to immigrant workers to an activist strategy. It describes and draws on the successful use of the Thirteenth Amendment by the anti-trafficking movement in the United States. It then maps out a practical, strategic plan of five action items, using litigation, lobbying, public persuasion and organization to use the Amendment to help all immigrant workers.
Critical Review and Update on the Treatment of Acute and Chronic Pulmonary Embolism

Pulmonary embolism (PE), can be life-threatening without rapid appropriate therapy and often leads to chronic disease and disability. The ambiguity of symptoms makes PE difficult to diagnose, and available imaging strategies have their limitations. Treatment options for acute PE include fibrinolytics, surgical embolectomy, catheter-directed treatment, or vena cava filter placement as well as traditional parenteral anticoagulants, used alone or as a bridge to a vitamin K antagonist (VKA). The direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) rivaroxaban and apixaban allow for single drug therapy, eliminating the need for initial parenteral anticoagulation, while dabigatran and edoxaban are initiated after a short course of parenteral therapy. The DOACs serve as a viable alternative to warfarin for chronic management for PE. Pulmonary embolism provoked from transient risk factors often requires a short-term course of anticoagulation (3 months). Unprovoked events, and those that occur in the presence of continuing risk factors such as cancer, or clinical markers such as residual vein thrombosis and elevated d-dimers can predict a higher risk of recurrent events and warrant extended anticoagulation. This review evaluates current recommendations for the treatment of PE, including dosing strategies, duration of therapy, and special populations such as renal impairment, malignancy, and obesity.
Improved Techniques for Production of Tobacco Budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Eggs

An improved method for production and collection of tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), eggs is described. Small wooden cages were replaced with a larger cage constructed of metal that provided more space for moths to move and oviposit. Replacement of pupa containers with wire-mesh trays permitted emerging moths easier access to oviposition screens. Removing feeding dishes from inside the cage and placing them on top gave moths easy access to food. An antibiotic added to adult diet prevented buildup of bacteria. In 1984 we increased egg production 4-fold compared with previous years and reduced the hours of labor required from 8 to only 4 per day.
Trypsin-like inhibitor activity in mouse uteri during early gestation and delayed implantation.

SummarySpecific activities of tryptic-like inhibitors (TLI) in 27,000g supernatant solutions of mouse uterine homogenates were determined for the following conditions: nonpregnant, pregnant, and delayed implantation. Quantification of inhibitors was achieved by a fluorometric kinetic assay. Inhibitor levels in uteri from Day 4 pregnant and from delayed implantation mice were the same as non-pregnant uterine control values. A significant increase in inhibitor activity (P = 0.05) was found in uteri from Day 6 pregnant mice. This increased activity returned to control levels by Day 12 of pregnancy. Possible functions of TLI in regulating proteolytic activity associated with early development and implantation are discussed.
‘OK this is hard’: Doing emotions in social justice dialogue:

In this article, I explore emotions in relation to social justice dialogue and share vignettes to illustrate how emotions are embodied, situated and fissured, drawing upon narrative, critical sociocultural and rhizomatic theories. Data comes from a practitioner inquiry while teaching 5- and 6-year-olds in a summer enrichment program in a relatively affluent, suburban community in the southern USA. The article draws upon Micciche’s notion of doing emotions, a view that sees emotion as a verb, something we do in relationship to one another. Analysis focuses on moments of emotional collisions that prompted dialogic conversations about social injustices. I initially thought emotional collisions were off task, but upon closer analysis realize these moments were the richest discussions. Situating teaching from a critical literacy stance, the data demonstrates how children are curious to explore injustices. It is beneficial for educators to embrace the emotional collisions as productive sites of social justice d...
Changes in Pain, Function, and Gait Mechanics Two Years following Total Ankle Arthroplasty Performed with Two Modern Fixed-Bearing Prostheses

Background: Total ankle replacement (TAR) continues to grow as an alternative to arthrodesis for patients who suffer from end-stage ankle arthritis. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in gait mechanics from before surgery to 1 and 2 years after surgery in patients who received a fixed-bearing TAR. Methods: Fifty-one patients with a primary fixed-bearing TAR and no complications requiring further surgery were identified from a database and enrolled in this non-randomized study. Subjects were examined preoperatively, and at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Three-dimensional joint mechanics and ground reaction forces (GRF) were collected during level walking. The Four Square Step Test, Timed Up and Go (TUG), VAS, and the AOFAS-Hindfoot score were assessed for each subject at each time point. Results: TUG, VAS and AOFAS-Hindfoot score along with all measured kinetic parameters demonstrated significant improvements across all of the time points (p < 0.05). Four Square Step Test time was significant...
A Study and Application of Optimization Layout for Central Heating System

The optimization layout of heating system is studied.A suitable two-stage optimization layout method is raised which is made up of the position optimization(the first stage)and the multi-objective optimization of ductwork(the second stage).Not only the position optimization model and the multi-objective optimization model based on optimization theory,but also the solution adopted in this paper is fit for all system with "duck-station" network characteristics. A steering for improving the design of heating system and increasing the energy and capital saving of corporations is presented.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

The goal of the following chapter is to discuss the role of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for clinically localized prostate cancer. We review the important aspects of patient selection for this therapeutic modality as well as discuss the relevant published literature on dose escalation. Additionally, a comprehensive review of techniques and delivery of treatment are presented. Finally, we discuss both the potential acute and late toxicities associated with IMRT.
Nonlinear optical properties of oxygen-doped and photopolymerized C 60

The interest in the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the fullerenes lies in their unique structure and symmetry. Our previous studies have focused on the NLO behavior of pristine films of the fullerenes in the near-infrared1,2 and in the visible.3 Recently, C60 has been polymerized by irradiation of oxygen-free films with visible and ultraviolet light.4 It was found that oxygen plays an important role in the photochemistry of C60. In addition, we have recently reported on the photo-assisted diffusion of O2 into solid C60 as well as its photo-oxidation.5,6 The present paper addresses the effect that altering the electronic and chemical structure of C60 through photopolymerization or oxygen doping has on the NLO properties and the dynamics of the NLO response.
Coiouotion and breakdown

Twenty-five years ago we were satisfied with a simple distinction between “electric” and “thermal” breakdown which made temperature dependence the deciding feature. This standpoint became obsolete when we could show with more discerning methods that actually the alkali halides and other single crystals, while conducting thermally like iron, showed a very complex temperature dependence of the breakdown strength, quite unconnected to thermal instability. It became clear that the destruction of dielectrics under the influence of electric fields may proceed in a great variety of ways and that we will arrive at an understanding only by investigating conduction and breakdown together.
Skilled care utilization after abdominal and pelvic cancer surgery in older patients

Abstract Background and objectives Older cancer patients are less likely to return home after surgery. Utilization of post acute skilled services in this setting is associated with increased mortality. Medicare payments for post acute care continue to grow. This study aims to identify factors associated with the utilization of post acute services at hospital discharge after abdominopelvic cancer surgery. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of older cancer patients (age>75) who presented to the Geriatrics clinic at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for preoperative evaluation between October 2010 and December 2012. Sociodemographic features, pre-operative geriatric assessment, hospitalization characteristics and discharge disposition data were collected and analyzed. Results Out of 592 patients (age>75), 291 (49.2%) were discharged home without services and 301 (50.8%) were discharged home with skilled services or to a skilled nursing facility. Older age (OR 1.058, P =0.010), preoperative ADL dependency (OR 2.242, P =0.001), longer operation time (OR 1.004, P P =0.004) were independently associated with skilled care utilization. Conclusions Optimizing preoperative status, implementing delirium prevention protocols and streamlining the hospital stay may impact the discharge disposition, helping control healthcare costs and achieving a better outcome for the older surgical cancer patient.
Effect of exercise-induced muscle damage on vascular function and skeletal muscle microvascular deoxygenation.

This paper investigated the effects of unaccustomed eccentric exercise‐induced muscle damage (EIMD) on macro‐ and microvascular function. We tested the hypotheses that resting local and systemic endothelial‐dependent flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) and microvascular reactivity would decrease, ![Formula][1] would be altered, and that during ramp exercise, peripheral O2 extraction, evaluated via near‐infrared‐derived spectroscopy (NIRS) derived deoxygenated hemoglobin + myoglobin ([HHb]), would be distorted following EIMD. In 13 participants, measurements were performed prior to (Pre) and 48 h after a bout of knee extensor eccentric exercise designed to elicit localized muscle damage (Post). Flow‐mediated dilation and postocclusive reactive hyperemic responses measured in the superficial femoral artery served as a measurement of local vascular function relative to the damaged tissue, while the brachial artery served as an index of nonlocal, systemic, vascular function. During ramp‐incremental exercise on a cycle ergometer, [HHb] and tissue saturation (TSI%) in the m. vastus lateralis were measured. Superficial femoral artery FMD significantly decreased following EIMD (pre 6.75 ± 3.89%; post 4.01 ± 2.90%; P 0.05). At each progressive increase in workload (i.e., 0–100% peak), the [HHb] and TOI% responses were similar pre‐ and 48 h post‐EIMD ( P > 0.05). Additionally, ![Formula][2] was similar at pre‐ (3.0 ± 0.67 L min−1) to 48 h post (2.96 ± 0.60 L min−1)‐EIMD ( P > 0.05). Results suggest that moderate eccentric muscle damage leads to impaired local, but not systemic, macrovascular dysfunction. [1]: /embed/mml-math-2.gif [2]: /embed/mml-math-3.gif
Analog and digital cell library in high voltage GaN-on-Si Schottky power semiconductor technology

Self-heating and application related rapid rise in die temperature of GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs) poses serious reliability risk to the device during operation. To mitigate this risk, there is a need for on-chip device protection before the device reaches overheat condition. A cell library of analog and digital building blocks was designed using only depletion mode HEMTs, Schottky Barrier Diodes (SBDs) and passives in high voltage GaN-on-Si power semiconductor technology. Stand-alone small geometry HEMTs and SBDs, voltage references, comparators, a level shifter, a logic circuit and a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) circuit are designed to form the core of a novel monolithically integrated thermal shutdown circuit as a self-protection feature of a 600V power HEMT. Since complementary devices are not yet available in this technology, direct coupled diode transistor logic was used and voltage level shifting was done using diodes. SBDs are exploited to design a PTAT voltage source due to a lack of p-n junction diodes. Functionality of the thermal shutdown circuit was verified through simulation and by fabrication. Here we report the results of the first phase in which the functional building blocks are designed as individual cells. Measurement results demonstrate that each circuit works in agreement with simulation.
Procedure for Changing an Impella Device While Maintaining Guide Wire Access: A Novel Technique

Highlights We describe a novel technique to exchange an Impella over a guide-wire, preserving the arteriotomy access and to lower the risks of vascular complications. We describe this technique in the context of two interesting cases. The first case is of a young man with myocarditis and cardiogenic shock from a previously undiagnosed systemic lupus erythematous. The second case is of a woman with ST elevation myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock requiring complex percutaneous intervention. The implantation of Impella CP served as circulatory support in these cases as myocardium recovered but was complicated by access site bleeding. We were able to remove the Impella device while maintaining the access sheath to allow for adequate hemostasis prior to sheath removal. We believe the readers of the journal will find these images and technique interesting and useful in their own practice.
Exploring the Sensitivity of Photosynthesis and Stomatal Resistance Parameters in a Land Surface Model

AbstractLand surface models, like the Common Land Model component of the ParFlow integrated hydrologic model (PF-CLM), are used to estimate transpiration from vegetated surfaces. Transpiration rates quantify how much water moves from the subsurface through the plant and into the atmosphere. This rate is controlled by the stomatal resistance term in land surface models. The Ball–Berry stomatal resistance parameterization relies, in part, on the rate of photosynthesis, and together these equations require the specification of 20 input parameters. Here, the active subspace method is applied to 2100 year-long PF-CLM simulations, forced by atmospheric data from California, Colorado, and Oklahoma, to identify which input parameters are important and how they relate to three quantities of interest: transpiration, stomatal resistance from the sunlit portion of the canopy, and stomatal resistance from the shaded portion. The slope (mp) and intercept (bp) parameters associated with the Ball–Berry parameterization a...
Nitric Oxide-Induced Conformational Changes Govern H-NOX and Histidine Kinase Interaction and Regulation in Shewanella oneidensis.

Nitric oxide (NO) is implicated in biofilm regulation in several bacterial families via heme-nitric oxide/oxygen binding (H-NOX) protein signaling. Shewanella oneidensis H-NOX (So H-NOX) is associated with a histidine kinase (So HnoK) encoded on the same operon, and together they form a multicomponent signaling network whereby the NO-bound state of So H-NOX inhibits So HnoK autophosphorylation activity, affecting the phosphorylation state of three response regulators. Although the conformational changes of So H-NOX upon NO binding have been structurally characterized, the mechanism of HnoK inhibition by NO-bound So H-NOX remains unclear. In the present study, the molecular details of So H-NOX and So HnoK interaction and regulation are characterized. The N-terminal domain in So HnoK was determined to be the site of H-NOX interaction, and the binding interface on So H-NOX was identified using a combination of hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and surface-scanning mutagenesis. Binding kinetics me...
Radiology education in Europe: Analysis of results from 22 European countries

Author(s): Rehani, Bhavya; Zhang, Yi C; Rehani, Madan M; Palko, Andras; Lau, Lawrence; Lette, Miriam N Mikhail; Dillon, William P | Abstract: AimTo assess the state of radiology education across Europe by means of a survey study.MethodsA comprehensive 23-item radiology survey was distributed via email to the International Society of Radiology members, national radiological societies, radiologists and medical physicists. Reminders to complete the survey were sent and the results were analyzed over a period of 4 mo (January-April 2016). Survey questions include length of medical school and residency training; availability of fellowship and subspecialty training; number of residency programs in each country; accreditation pathways; research training; and medical physics education. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and summarize data.ResultsRadiology residency training ranges from 2-6 years with a median of 5 years, and follows 1 year of internship training in 55% (12 out of 22) European countries. Subspecialty fellowship training is offered in 55% (12 out of 22) European countries. Availability for specialization training by national societies is limited to eight countries. For nearly all respondents, less than fifty percent of radiologists travel abroad for specialization. Nine of 22 (41%) European countries have research requirements during residency. The types of certifying exam show variation where 64% (14 out of 22) European countries require both written and oral boards, 23% (5 out of 22) require oral examinations only, and 5% (1 out of 22) require written examinations only. A degree in medical physics is offered in 59% (13 out of 22) European countries and is predominantly taught by medical physicists. Nearly all respondents report that formal examinations in medical physics are required.ConclusionComparative learning experiences across the continent will help guide the development of comprehensive yet pragmatic infrastructures for radiology education and collaborations in radiology education worldwide.
Why Is History Antitheoretical

Historians and history departments generally do not teach courses that reflect on a common foundation of knowledge in their discipline. Occasional historiography courses make vague claims to a universalism, but the historiography turns out to be embedded in an area, usually Europe. The philosophy of history is clearly out. History may be about the only discipline that does not care to consider its own suppositions and may well be institutionally opposed to self-examination. As one interested in the question of how historiographical paradigms shape our understanding of China, I believe it is important to address the question of why history is antitheoretical. To be sure, and to anticipate my conclusion, an antitheoretical stance in the writing of history can be a worthy and dignified one, but not without reflecting on the role of theory.1 The missionary college at which I did my undergraduate studies, the venerable St. Stephens College in Delhi, offered a nonscience major basically three possibilities: English, economics, or history. Those with advanced math did economics, the romantic ones did English, and the rest of us in history were groomed or, more realistically, simply expected to join the civil service. That may well have been my first exposure to the bonds between history and nation building. Subsequently, I learned that the moder historical profession in academia was established precisely at the time that the moder nationstate was articulating its national mission, as for instance in France in
Modeling and Control of an Electro-Pneumatic Actuator

Abstract In this work we present the modeling, simulation and control of a pneumatic cylinder actuator driven by a high-performance pneumatic servovalve. The modeling is done via a combination of first principles and empirically identified system characteristics. A stick slip friction model in incorporated as a necessary component of the overall system description. The model is verified against experimental data and shown to be valid. An Iterative Learning Controller (ILC) is applied to the system to improve the overall tracking of a reference input. In this work, position tracking tasks are the ones under consideration. It is show via simulation and experiment that the ILC can provide an improvement in the system tracking capabilities. However, unlike many other types of systems to which ILC can be applied, the friction forces, combined with the natural system compressibility, fundamentally limit the achievable performance of the electro-pneumatic system tracking.
Renew Yourself: A Six-Step Plan for More Meaningful Work by Catherine Hakala-Ausperk

Hakala-Ausperk has a 31-year tenure in the public library arena where her work has spanned customer service to library administrator and manager. Her resume includes being a keynote speaker, adjunc...
Abstract 217: Metabolic Survival Signal Rescues Cardiac Myocytes from ER Stress-Induced Death

The hexosamine biosynthetic pathway supplies the monosaccharide donor for a unique, metabolic post-translational modification involving the beta-O-linkage of N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to Ser/Thr sites on proteins. We recently showed augmentation of such signaling can rescue cardiomyocytes from lethal injury. Because both O-GlcNAc signaling and ER stress are implicated in diabetes and heart failure, we hypothesized that they can interact and that O-GlcNAc signaling could serve as an acute survival mechanism in the context of ER stress. We initially performed dose (up to 1 ug/mL) and time course (up to 24 h) studies with two different inducers of ER stress (brefeldin A - BfA; tunicamycin) in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes (n = 4/group). There was time- and dose-dependent augmentation of O-GlcNAc signaling following induction of ER stress. To evaluate whether such augmentation in O-GlcNAc signaling was beneficial, we used an inhibitor (PUGNAc) of the enzyme that removes O-GlcNAc from proteins (i.e. O-GlcNAcase) and observed additional elevation in O-GlcNAc levels and significant (p This research has received full or partial funding support from the American Heart Association, AHA National Center.
Family and Family Satisfaction

“Family” is a common component of models of social capital constructed by experts, and this model is no exception. Here, Jones examines “family values,” including commitment, happiness, and family satisfaction. The data reveal that family commitment, as measured by a combination of marriage and parenthood, has declined substantially since the 1970s, with a more marked decline for males than females. Family satisfaction is shown to peak at midlife, with women generally exhibiting more satisfaction in family life, while marital happiness declines at midlife then recovers later. In every decade, white Americans exhibit higher mean levels of family commitment and marital happiness than do black Americans, and family satisfaction and marital happiness are greater among college graduates.
Social Network Spatial Model.

Abstract Our work is motivated by a desire to incorporate the vast wealth of social network data into the framework of spatial models. We introduce a method for modeling the spatial correlations that exist over a social network. In particular, we model attributes measured for each member of the network as a continuous process over the social space created by their connections. Our method simultaneously models the unobserved locations of network members in social space and the spatial process that exists over that space based on the observed network connections and nodal attributes. The model is evaluated through simulation studies and applied to the importance ranking for a network of emergency response organizations and the physical activity habits of teenage girls. The introduced methods incorporate network data into the spatial framework, expanding traditional models to include this often relevant source of additional information.
Well-being interventions for individuals with diabetes: A systematic review.

Abstract In patients with diabetes, psychological well-being constructs (e.g., optimism, positive affect) have been associated with superior medical outcomes, including better glucose control and lower mortality rates. Well-being interventions may be well-suited to individuals with diabetes, as they are simple to deliver, broadly applicable across a range of psychological distress, and may help increase self-efficacy and motivation for diabetes self-care. This systematic review, completed using PRISMA guidelines, examined peer-reviewed studies indexed in PubMed, PsycINFO, and/or Scopus between database inception and October 2017 that investigated the effects of well-being interventions (e.g., positive psychology interventions, mindfulness-based interventions, resilience-based interventions) on psychological and physical health outcomes in individuals with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. The search yielded 34 articles (N = 1635 participants), with substantial variability in intervention type, measures used, and outcomes studied; the majority found the intervention to provide benefit. Overall, results indicate that a range of well-being interventions appear to have promise in improving health outcomes in this population, but the literature does not yet provide definitive data about which specific interventions are most effective. The variability in interventions and outcomes points to a need for further rigorous, controlled, and well-powered studies of specific interventions, with well-accepted, clinically relevant outcome measures.
Safety and efficacy of an oncolytic viral strategy using bortezomib with ICE/R in relapsed/refractory HIV-positive lymphomas.

Abstract HIV-associated lymphomas (HALs) have high rates of latent infection by gammaherpesviruses (GHVs). We hypothesized that proteasome inhibition would induce lytic activation of GHVs and inhibit HIV infectivity via preservation of cytidine deaminase APOBEC3G, improving lymphoma control. We tested this oncolytic and antiviral strategy by using bortezomib combined with ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) alone or with rituximab (ICE/R) in relapsed/refractory HAL. A 3+3 dose-escalation design was used with a 7-day lead-in period of single-agent bortezomib. Bortezomib was administered intravenously on days 1 and 8 of each cycle at 1 of 4 dose levels: 0.7, 1.0, 1.3, or 1.5 mg/m2. ICE began day 8 of cycle 1 and day 1 of subsequent cycles. Rituximab was included on day 1 of cycles 2 to 6 for CD20+ lymphomas. Twenty-three patients were enrolled. The maximum tolerated dose of bortezomib was not reached. Grade 4 toxicities attributable to bortezomib were limited to myelosuppression. Responses occurred in 17 (77%) of 22 patients receiving any protocol therapy. The 1-year overall survival was 57%. After bortezomib alone, both patients with Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV)–positive lymphoma had more than a 1-log increase in KSHV viral load. In 12 patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)–positive lymphoma, median values of EBV viral load increased. Undetectable HIV viremia at baseline in the majority of patients limited evaluation of HIV inhibition. APOBEC3G levels increased in 75% of evaluable patients. Bortezomib combined with ICE/R in patients with relapsed/refractory HAL is feasible with response and survival comparing favorably against previously reported second-line therapies. Changes in GHV viral loads and APOBEC3G levels trended as hypothesized. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00598169.
Queryable Compression on Time-Evolving Social Networks with Streaming

Time-evolving graphs represent a set of individuals (nodes) and their edges (relationships) over time. How these graphs are represented in data structures determines what information is easy to obtain from them. Now that we have such massive social networks with dynamic lifetimes, even basic data structures are too large to fit into main memory. Clearly, this poses a problem to areas such as time-evolving graph pattern analysis. Therefore, it is an interesting field of study to design time-evolving graph compressions that can efficiently answer certain queries about the graph at any given point in time.If a single snapshot of a graph at a moment in time can be considered a 2D matrix, then can we visualize these time-evolving graphs as 3D matrices and then use a novel technique to compress the entire graph over time. Our technique is based on our previous work using compressed binary trees. In this work, we adapt our strategy to compress time-evolving graphs, rather than static ones. We manage to maintain our minimal main memory overhead by not requiring an intermediate structure (e.g. adjacency list) to compress. This compression is queryable, meaning that the data can be read without decompression. It is also streaming, meaning that the data can be changed without decompression. This includes adding/removing edges in individual frames. We test our algorithms on public, anonymized, massive, time-evolving graphs such as Flickr, Yahoo!, and Wikipedia. Our empirical evaluation is based on several parameters including time to compress, size of compressed graph, and time to execute queries. Our compression rates are highly competitive, as we achieve the smallest representation of 4.9GB on our largest dataset which only spans three days yet occupies 21.5GB of space.
CRISPR-Mediated Editing of the B Cell Receptor in Primary Human B Cells

Vaccination approaches have generally focused on the antigen rather than the resultant antibodies generated, which differ greatly in quality and function between individuals. The ability to replace the variable regions of the native B cell receptor (BCR) heavy and light chain loci with defined recombined sequences of a preferred monoclonal antibody could enable curative adoptive cell transfer. We report CRISPR-mediated homologous recombination (HR) into the BCR of primary human B cells. Ribonucleoprotein delivery enabled editing at the model CXCR4 locus, as demonstrated by T7E1 assay, flow cytometry, and TIDE analysis. Insertion via HR was confirmed by sequencing, cross-boundary PCR, and restriction digest. Optimized conditions were used to achieve HR at the BCR variable heavy and light chains. Insertion was confirmed at the DNA level, and transgene expression from the native BCR promoters was observed. Reprogramming the specificity of antibodies in the genomes of B cells could have clinical importance.
Barriers and Facilitators of PrEP Adherence for Young Men and Transgender Women of Color

We aimed to discover barriers and facilitators of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence in young men and transgender women of color who have sex with men (YMSM/TW). Short-term and sustained adherence were measured by urine tenofovir concentration and pharmacy refills, respectively. Optimal adherence was defined as having both urine tenofovir concentration consistent with dose ingestion within 48 h and pharmacy refills consistent with ≥ 4 doses per week use. Participants completed semi-structured interviews exploring adherence barriers and facilitators. Participants (n = 31) were primarily African-American (68%), mean age 22 years (SD: 1.8), and 48% had optimal adherence. Adherence barriers included stigma, health systems inaccessibility, side effects, competing stressors, and low HIV risk perception. Facilitators included social support, health system accessibility, reminders/routines, high HIV risk perception, and personal agency. Our findings identify targets for intervention to improve PrEP adherence in these populations, including augmenting health activation and improving accuracy of HIV risk perception.
Protein kinase A regulates Lewis lung carcinoma adherence to extracellular matrix components and spontaneous metastasis.

Tumor cell adhesion to and migration through the extracellular matrix (ECM) can influence their capacity to disseminate. Since prior studies with Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumors had shown metastatic clones to have more protein kinase A (PKA) activity than nonmetastatic clones, the present study assessed if PKA regulates the interaction between tumor and the ECM, and how this may be associated with the metastatic capacity of the tumor cells. This was accomplished with the use of metastatic (LLC-LN7) and nonmetastatic (LLC-C8) variants that had been stably transfected to overexpress the PKA Ca subunit or to have blocked PKA activity. Cells with increased PKA activity were less adherent to vitronectin, laminin, and collagen I, and could more readily migrate through these ECM components than could transfectants with reduced PKA activity. PKA did not regulate adhesion to or migration through fibronectin, and did not appear to be associated with changes in expression of surface integrins. In addition to modulating tumor adhesion and migration in vitro, PKA activation caused an increased formation of metastases from s.c. tumors, but did not regulate formation of experimental metastases by i.v. injected tumor cells. These results suggest that PKA signaling is important for modulating the tumor-ECM interaction and can facilitate tumor transit from the primary tumor site.
Direction-of-Arrival Estimation Using a Low-Cost, Portable, Software-Defined-Radio-Based Phase Interferometry System [Education Corner]

This article presents the design of a portable, compact radio system for locating transmitters in real time. The system is based on the concept of a multibaseline additive interferometer and has a custom interferometric antenna configuration using a single low-cost, software-defined radio (SDR) as the receiver. It can tune to frequencies within the 5 GHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band (5.725-5.875 GHz) and is capable of switching the antenna configuration between either of the two baselines or a single antenna. The system can be used to reliably locate a transmitter and compute the delay-spread profile of a received signal.