cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Imaging of Metabolic Reprograming in Mutant IDH Cells

Mutations in the metabolic enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) have recently been identified as drivers in the development of several tumor types. Most notably, cytosolic IDH1 is mutated in 70-90% of low-grade gliomas and upgraded glioblastomas, and mitochondrial IDH2 is mutated in ~20% of acute myeloid leukemia cases. Wild-type IDH catalyzes the interconversion of isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate (α-KG). Mutations in the enzyme lead to loss of wild-type enzymatic activity and a neomorphic activity that converts α-KG to 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG). In turn, 2-HG, which has been termed an "oncometabolite," inhibits key α-KG-dependent enzymes, resulting in alterations of the cellular epigenetic profile and, subsequently, inhibition of differentiation and initiation of tumorigenesis. In addition, it is now clear that the IDH mutation also induces a broad metabolic reprograming that extends beyond 2-HG production, and this reprograming often differs from what has been previously reported in other cancer types. In this review, we will discuss in detail what is known to date about the metabolic reprograming of mutant IDH cells, and how this reprograming has been investigated using molecular metabolic imaging. We will describe how metabolic imaging has helped shed light on the basic biology of mutant IDH cells, and how this information can be leveraged to identify new therapeutic targets and to develop new clinically translatable imaging methods to detect and monitor mutant IDH tumors in vivo.
Assessing the Utility of Plowed Field Surface Deposits in Pilot Research

The paper outlines a pilot project that archaeologists may use to explore the utility of analyzing surface and subsurface archaeological deposits from cultivated field sites. Surface and subsurface assemblage data are compared from the Aguas Buenas period (cal. A.D. 300–900) site of Pitti-Gonzalez in western Panama. The analyses presented here illustrate a means by which researchers can assess the validity of surface deposits and choose appropriate sampling designs. In the example considered here, the analysis of surface deposits points toward the same general interpretations as excavation data. It is argued that surface deposits retain significant utility and offer important advantages to researchers.
The Instrumental Value of Interorganizational Relations: Antecedents and Consequences of Linkage Formation

This study examines factors that enhance an agency's efforts to establish interorganizational linkages that are instrumental to the achievement of its goals. Among the findings is that high value l...
Expanding the Scope of RAFT Polymerization: Recent Advances and New Horizons

Reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) has revolutionized modern polymer chemistry over the past two decades, thus laying the groundwork for the synthesis of complex macromolecules and enabling the preparation of previously inaccessible materials. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization has emerged as one of the most promising techniques because of its functional group tolerance, applicability to a wide range of vinyl monomers, and its nondemanding experimental conditions. However, despite the promise and clearly demonstrated utility of RAFT, limitations of the method sometimes still exist, including the occasional need for extended polymerization times, limited access to high molecular weight polymers, low “livingness” due to unavoidable radical termination events, etc. This Perspective focuses on recent advances that have been specifically designed to address many of these perceived limitations to reinforce the promise of RAFT for the synthesis of complex an...
Peer support services in the behavioral healthcare workforce: State of the field.

Objective This article examines how the history and philosophy of peer support services has shaped current mental health and substance use service delivery systems. The growth of peer-run and recovery community organizations in the changing health care environment are discussed, including issues related to workforce development, funding, relevant policies, and opportunities for expansion. These initiatives are designed to increase access to recovery-promoting services. Methods We conducted an environmental scan and analysis of peer support services within the behavioral health care field in the United States, with particular attention to initiatives of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Published manuscripts, policy statements, and reports were reviewed. Findings There is abundant and growing literature illustrating how peer support services have become an integral component of behavioral health care systems in many states. Peer support services have the potential to increase access to recovery-oriented services for people with mental and substance use disorders served by the public behavioral health care system. Numerous initiatives in various states are being undertaken to build this workforce. Conclusions and implications for practice Workforce and financing challenges exist, yet opportunities, including among others those made possible by the Affordable Care Act, will continue to strengthen the peer support workforce within behavioral health service delivery systems. (PsycINFO Database Record
A non-linear haemodynamic model for the arterial pulsatile component of the intracranial pulse wave

An indication that pressure pulses in cerebral arteries may play a role in the configuration of intracranial pressure pulsations is given by the observation that vasospasm of cerebral arteries narrows the amplitude of the intracranial pressure wave. The present work develops a mathematical model for the transmission of arterial pressure pulses across the compliant arterial wall to the surrounding intracranial space. Compliance of both the arterial segment and the intracranial space are considered. So as to retain accuracy at higher values of the mean intracranial pressure, a physiological range in which pulse transmission is enhanced due to lower pressure gradients but intracranial compliance is not necessarily decreased, a logistic fit is used to model the intracranial pressure-volume relationship. A sequence of approximations (with error bounds) is obtained for the induced intracranial pressure pulse amplitude as a function of arterial pulse amplitude, mean transmural pressure, and mean intracranial pressure. It is found that at higher mean intracranial pressures, where the usual exponential assumption for the intracranial pressure-volume curve loses validity, the amplitude of the transmitted arterial pressure pulse depends non-linearly on the mean intracranial pressure.
EzGraphics: Python graphics for the classroom: conference workshop

The benefits of using graphics and image processing to help illustrate and reinforce basic programming concepts in introductory courses is well known. With the increasing use of Python in the introductory courses, however, instructors may find that the standard Python graphics package is too complex and difficult for beginning students. This workshop will introduce a new Python graphics module that can be used in the classroom to create and manipulate a wide range of graphical drawings and digital images. The EzGraphics package provides a simple yet powerful framework that makes it ideal for both the beginner and more advanced programmers. Participants will work through a variety of exercises from very basic shape drawing and user interaction to more advanced image processing and animation examples.
Choosing between alternative spellings of sounds: The role of context.

We investigated how university students select between alternative spellings of phonemes in written production by asking them to spell nonwords whose final consonants have extended spellings (e.g., ‹ff› for /f/) and simpler spellings (e.g., ‹f› for /f/). Participants' choices of spellings for the final consonant were influenced by whether they used one letter or more than one letter to spell the preceding vowel. Specifically, participants tended to use extended consonant spellings when they spelled the vowel with one letter and simple consonant spellings when they spelled the vowel with more than one letter. This held true whether the vowel was phonologically short or long. The findings pose problems for models of the spelling process according to which people use different spellings of a phoneme in accordance with the frequency of the phoneme-to-grapheme links in the vocabulary as a whole but in which the choices are not influenced by context. The findings also pose problems for models according to which phonological context but not graphic context can influence the choice among spelling options. Models that behave in this manner, including the best-developed computational model of the spelling process to date, need to be modified so as to take graphic context into account. (PsycINFO Database Record.
Gender Shrapnel Case Studies

Mayock provides here nine case studies on Gender Shrapnel, with a discussion guide. The Appendix includes sample answers as an instructor’s guide.
Oscillatory wall shear stress is a dominant flow characteristic affecting lesion progression patterns and plaque vulnerability in patients with coronary artery disease

Although experimental studies suggest that low and oscillatory wall shear stress (WSS) promotes plaque transformation to a more vulnerable phenotype, this relationship has not been examined in human atherosclerosis progression. Thus, the aim of this investigation was to examine the association between oscillatory WSS, in combination with WSS magnitude, and coronary atherosclerosis progression. We hypothesized that regions of low and oscillatory WSS will demonstrate progression towards more vulnerable lesions, while regions exposed to low and non-oscillatory WSS will exhibit progression towards more stable lesions. Patients (n = 20) with non-flow-limiting coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent baseline and six-month follow-up angiography, Doppler velocity and radiofrequency intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS) acquisition. Computational fluid dynamics models were constructed to compute time-averaged WSS magnitude and oscillatory WSS. Changes in VH-IVUS-defined total plaque and constituent areas were quantified in focal regions (i.e. sectors; n = 14 235) and compared across haemodynamic categories. Compared with sectors exposed to low WSS magnitude, high WSS sectors demonstrated regression of total plaque area (p < 0.001) and fibrous tissue (p < 0.001), and similar progression of necrotic core. Sectors subjected to low and oscillatory WSS exhibited total plaque area regression, while low and non-oscillatory WSS sectors demonstrated total plaque progression (p < 0.001). Furthermore, compared with low and non-oscillatory WSS areas, sectors exposed to low and oscillatory WSS demonstrated regression of fibrous (p < 0.001) and fibrofatty (p < 0.001) tissue and similar progression of necrotic core (p = 0.82) and dense calcium (p = 0.40). Herein, we demonstrate that, in patients with non-obstructive CAD, sectors subjected to low and oscillatory WSS demonstrated regression of total plaque, fibrous and fibrofatty tissue, and progression of necrotic core and dense calcium, which suggest a transformation to a more vulnerable phenotype.
Water insecurity in a syndemic context: Understanding the psycho-emotional stress of water insecurity in Lesotho, Africa.

Syndemics occur when populations experience synergistic and multiplicative effects of co-occurring epidemics. Proponents of syndemic theory highlight the importance of understanding the social context in which diseases spread and cogently argue that there are biocultural effects of external stresses such as food insecurity and water insecurity. Thus, a holistic understanding of disease or social vulnerability must incorporate an examination of the emotional and social effects of these phenomena. This paper is a response to the call for a renewed focus on measuring the psycho-emotional and psychosocial effects of food insecurity and water insecurity. Using a mixed-method approach of qualitative interviews and quantitative assessment, including a household demographic, illness, and water insecurity scale, the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, and the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25, this research explored the psycho-emotional effects of water insecurity, food insecurity, and household illness on women and men residing in three low-land districts in Lesotho (n = 75). Conducted between February and November of 2011, this exploratory study first examined the complicated interaction of water insecurity, food insecurity and illness to understand and quantify the relationship between these co-occurring stresses in the context of HIV/AIDS. Second, it sought to separate the role of water insecurity in predicting psycho-emotional stress from other factors, such as food insecurity and household illness. When asked directly about water, qualitative research revealed water availability, access, usage amount, and perceived water cleanliness as important dimensions of water insecurity, creating stress in respondents' daily lives. Qualitative and quantitative data show that water insecurity, food insecurity and changing household demographics, likely resulting from the HIV/AIDS epidemic, are all associated with increased anxiety and depression, and support the conclusion that water insecurity is a critical syndemic dimension in Lesotho. Together, these data provide compelling evidence of the psycho-emotional burden of water insecurity.
Abstract 025: Oxidative-stress Mediates Apoptosis in a Human Model of Danon Disease and Heart Failure

Emerging evidence has highlighted the importance of autophagy, an intracellular recycling pathway, in regulating cardiomyocyte bioenergetics, function, and survival. However, the mechanisms responsible for cellular dysfunction and death in cardiomyocytes with impaired autophagic flux remain unclear. Danon disease is a familial cardiomyopathy associated with impaired autophagy due to mutations in the gene encoding lysosomal associated membrane protein type 2 (LAMP-2). To investigate the pathogenesis of Danon disease, we created iPS cells from a patient with a mutation in LAMP-2 who expired from heart failure. Danon iPS-derived cardiomyocytes recapitulated key features of the disease in vitro, including impaired autophagic flux, increased cell size, abnormal calcium handling, and increased expression of natriuretic peptides. Danon cells were noted to have significant amounts of mitochondrial oxidative stress and apoptosis, both of which could be abrogated by treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. These results implicate mitochondrial oxidative stress and apoptosis in the pathogenesis of Danon disease. They also provide the basis for the use of antioxidants for Danon disease and other autophagy-related human diseases such as heart failure, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders.
On the Possibility of Rational Free Action

L'A. rejette la these de G. Strawson selon laquelle il est impossible pour un agent d'agir librement et rationnellement, parce qu'il est impossible pour un humain d'etre strictement causa sui. Reconnaissant l'incompatibilite de la liberte et du determinisme, l'A. defend l'idee d'une explication rationnelle des evenements dont la cause est non-deterministe, d'une part, et propose une conception leibnizienne de la volonte libre qui rend possible a la fois une action libre et le controle de l'agent, d'autre part
Mass and. beta. decay of the new isotope /sup 5/7Cr

The new isotope $^{57}\mathrm{Cr}$ was produced via the $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}(^{11}\mathrm{B},pn)^{57}\mathrm{Cr}$ reaction at $E(^{11}\mathrm{B})=21$ MeV. Delayed singles $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ spectra, and $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidences were measured, using large Ge(Li) detectors and a plastic scintillator. The half-life of $^{57}\mathrm{Cr}$ was measured to be 21.1 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 1.0 s, and its ground-state spin and parity have been assigned as 3/${2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$. Spin restrictions have been placed on a number of levels in the daughter nucleus $^{57}\mathrm{Mn}$. The mass excess of $^{57}\mathrm{Cr}$ was determined to be -52.39 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.10 MeV. The measured $^{57}\mathrm{Cr}$ mass excess is compared with various predictions.RADIOACTIVITY $^{57}\mathrm{Cr}$ [from $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}(^{11}\mathrm{B},pn)$]; measured ${T}_{\frac{1}{2}}$, ${E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$, ${I}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$, $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coin, ${E}_{\ensuremath{\beta}}$, $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coin; deduced decay scheme, $log\mathrm{ft}$ values, ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$, mass excess. $^{57}\mathrm{Mn}$ deduced levels, ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ restrictions. Enriched targets, multiple rabbit, helium jet, Ge(Li) and plastic detectors.
Bandwidth Optimization Through On-Chip Memory Restructuring for HLS

High-level synthesis (HLS) is getting increasing attention from both academia and industry for high-quality and high-productivity designs. However, when inferring primitive-type arrays in HLS designs into on-chip memory buffers, commercial HLS tools fail to effectively organize FPGAs' on-chip BRAM building blocks to realize high-bandwidth data communication; this often leads to sub-optimal quality of results. This paper addresses this issue via automated on-chip buffer restructuring. Specifically, we present three buffer restructuring approaches and develop an analytical model for each approach to capture its impact on performance and resource consumption. With the proposed model, we formulate the process of identifying the optimal design choice into an integer non-linear programming (INLP) problem and demonstrate that it can be solved efficiently with the help of a one-time C-to-HDL (hardware description language) synthesis. The experimental results show that our automated source-to-source code transformation tool improves the performance of a broad class of HLS designs by averagely 4.8x.
Predicting future urban impervious surface distribution using cellular automata and regression analysis

Urban impervious surfaces are considered as key indicator of urbanization intensity and environmental quality. Due to their significant impact on surface runoff, flood frequency, and water quality, impervious surfaces have been identified as an important indicator for examining the hydrological impact of urbanization. The amount and distribution of impervious surfaces have been estimated using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques. Little research, however, has been conducted to predict future impervious surface distributions. To address this problem, we developed an integrated residential/commercial growth and impervious surface distribution model to predict urban impervious surface distribution. Taking Milwaukee River Basin, Wisconsin as a case study, we simulated future residential and commercial developments using a CA model. Further, we developed a linear regression model to predict impervious surface distributions in residential and commercial land uses. Analysis of results suggests that the proposed model performs significantly better than the traditional approaches.
Biological events and molecular signaling following MLKL activation during necroptosis.

Necroptosis is a form of programmed necrotic cell death mediated by the kinase RIPK3 and its substrate MLKL. MLKL, which displays plasma membrane (PM) pore-forming activity upon phosphorylation, functions as the executioner during necroptosis. Thus, it was previously assumed that MLKL phosphorylation is the endpoint of the necroptotic signaling pathway. Here, we summarize several events that characterize the dying necroptotic cells after MLKL phosphorylation, including Ca2+ influx, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, PM repair by ESCRT-III activation, and the final compromise of PM integrity. These processes add several unexpected regulatory events downstream of MLKL signaling. We have also observed that CoCl2, which may mimic hypoxia, can induce necroptosis, which suggests that in vivo triggers of necroptosis might include a transient lack of O2.
Academic Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric Faculty at Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric Research Network Sites: Changing Composition and Interests.

ABSTRACT:Objective:To obtain and review workforce data, given the critical demand for developmental pediatricians (DPs).Methods:Survey of demographics and professional activities of DP physician faculty at Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric (DBP) Research Network fellowship training sites.Results:Of
Migraine Throughout the Female Reproductive Life Cycle

By the end of their reproductive life cycle, roughly 40% of women have experienced migraine. Women have certain times of vulnerability for migraine that relate to abrupt declines in estrogen levels. Specifically, the prevalence of migraine is higher after menarche, during menstruation, during the postpartum period, and during perimenopause, but it is commonly lower during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and the postmenopausal years. Therapeutic strategies for migraine management include hormonal manipulation aimed at eliminating or minimizing the decreases in estrogen that trigger the especially severe menstrual-related attacks. This article reviews special considerations for triptan use in pregnant and lactating women and in women with high risk for cardiovascular disease. Health care professionals caring for women throughout their life span should be aware of these important sex-based differences in migraine and migraine management.
The Liminal Time of Friendship: Narrative Delay in Hannah Webster Foster’s The Coquette

While many scholars have analyzed friendship’s role in The Coquette, scant attention has been paid to friendship’s tendency to slow the novel’s plot. By impeding plot progression, Eliza Wharton’s friendships allow her to linger in a liminal state. In this way, she defers a future (both personal and national) determined by Republican Motherhood—a role that required wives in the early republic to reproduce ideologies that perpetuated their own subordination. Yet friendship’s remedy is temporary at best. Ultimately, the novel presents friendship as a relationship predicated on formal equality; The Coquette suggests that class and gender differences render friendship unsustainable. Thus, friendship proves unable to replace marriage as a model for more equitable sociopolitical relations. Still, in spite of these failings, friendship in The Coquette works to repurpose seduction fiction by inscribing the desire for a more expansive feminine self into a genre that often sought to contain such desires.
Salmonella enterica growth and biofilm formation in flesh and peel cantaloupe extracts on four food-contact surfaces.

Abstract Salmonella enterica is responsible for the highest number of foodborne disease outbreaks pertaining to cantaloupe industry. The objective of this study was to examine the growth and biofilm formation by outbreak strains of S. enterica ser. Poona (S. Poona), S. enterica ser. Stanley (S. Stanley) and S. enterica ser. Montevideo (S. Montevideo) on different food-contact processing surfaces in cantaloupe flesh and peel extracts at 22 °C and 10 °C. The generation time of all S. enterica strains tested was shorter in the high concentration (50 mg/ml) of cantaloupe extract and high temperature. In 50 mg/ml of cantaloupe flesh or peel extract, the populations of S. enterica were increased by 5 log CFU/ml in 24 h at 22 °C and 1 log CFU/ml in 72 h at 10 °C. In 2 mg/ml of cantaloupe flesh or peel extracts, the populations of S. enterica were increased by 3.5 log CFU/ml in 56 h at 22 °C, but there were no changes in 72 h at 10 °C. The biofilm production of S. enterica was greater at 50 mg/ml of cantaloupe extract and 22 °C, but no major differences (P ≥ 0.05) were found among the strains tested. In 50 mg/ml cantaloupe extract, S. enterica produced 5–6 log CFU/cm2 biofilm in 4–7 d at 22 °C and approximately 3.5–4 log CFU/cm2 in 7 d at 10 °C. In 2 mg/ml of cantaloupe extract, S. enterica produced 4–4.5 log CFU/cm2 biofilms in 4–7 d at 22 °C and 3 log CFU/cm2 in 7 d at 10 °C. Biofilm formation by S. Poona (01A4754) was lowest on buna-n rubber compared to stainless steel, polyethylene and polyurethane surfaces under the majority of conditions tested. Overall, these findings show that S. enterica strains can grow rapidly and form biofilms on different cantaloupe processing surfaces in the presence of low concentrations of cantaloupe flesh or peel extracts.
Can concurrent speed and directness of travel indicate purposeful encounter in the yellow baboons (Papio hamadryas cynocephalus) of Ruaha National Park, Tanzania?

I used components of baboon foraging behavior (concurrent fast and direct travel) to categorize core dry-season foods as purposefully or randomly encountered. I then compared the categorized foods to published, a priori predictions for core dry-season foods. Using focal-animal techniques on 6 males from two baboon troops, I collected precise locational data with a differentially corrected Global Positioning System (GPS) over 6 mo. The data analysis yielded the speed and directness of baboon travel between a food-handling event and a prior location. To distinguish purposefully encountered foods from randomly encountered foods, I calculated the average speed and the average observed deviation from straight-line travel exhibited to each resource type. A linear regression describes the relationship between these variables for each resource type. Baboons demonstrate both relatively high speeds and direct travel towards 3 food types: Combretum obovatum, impala, and baobab trees. Baboons were hypothesized a priori to encounter these resources purposefully. Baboons were also hypothesized a priori to encounter corms and perhaps Commiphora paniculatum purposefully, however, they travel neither quickly nor directly to these resources. I interpret this finding in terms of the costs accrued by traveling quickly and directly to fall-back resources. I discuss the ability of concurrent speed and directness to distinguish purposefully encountered foods from randomly encountered foods.
Automatic analysis of global spinal alignment from spine CT images

Purpose: A method for automatic computation of global spinal alignment (GSA) metrics is presented to mitigate the high variability of manual definitions in radiographic images. The proposed algorithm segments vertebral endplates in CT as a basis for automatic computation of metrics of global spinal morphology. The method is developed as a potential tool for intraoperative guidance in deformity correction surgery, and/or automatic definition of GSA in large datasets for analysis of surgical outcome. Methods: The proposed approach segments vertebral endplates in spine CT images using vertebral labels as input. The segmentation algorithm extracts vertebral boundaries using a continuous max-flow algorithm and segments the vertebral endplate surface by region-growing. The point cloud of the segmented endplate is forward-projected as a digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR), and a linear fit is computed to extract the endplate angle in the radiographic plane. Two GSA metrics (lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis) were calculated using these automatically measured endplate angles. Experiments were performed in seven patient CT images acquired from Spineweb and accuracy was quantified by comparing automatically-computed endplate angles and GSA metrics to manual definitions. Results: Endplate angles were automatically computed with median accuracy = 2.7°, upper quartile (UQ) = 4.8°, and lower quartile (LQ) = 1.0° with respect to manual ground-truth definitions. This was within the measured intra- observer variability = 3.1° (RMS) of manual definitions. GSA metrics had median accuracy = 1.1° (UQ = 3.1°) for lumbar lordosis and median accuracy = 0.4° (UQ = 3.0°) for thoracic kyphosis. The performance of GSA measurements was also within the variability of the manual approach. Conclusions: The method offers a potential alternative to time-consuming, manual definition of endplate angles for GSA computation. Such automatic methods could provide a means of intraoperative decision support in correction of spinal deformity and facilitate data-intensive analysis in identifying metrics correlating with surgical outcomes.
Spectrophotometric determination of α-hydroxytropolone pKa values: A structure-acidity relationship study.

Abstract α-Hydroxytropolones (αHTs) have a wealth of biological activity owing to their ability to serve as metal-binding fragments for many therapeutically valuable dinuclear metalloenzymes. They also have the potential to exist in as many as 4 protonation states under aqueous acidic or basic conditions. The following details how UV absorption can be used to generate pKa values on a series of αHTs. The studies also provide some knowledge into how the acidity and basicity change with some different functional groups. These studies thus provide new strategies and knowledge that could be valuable in leveraging αHTs as metal-binding fragments in drug-development pursuits.
Safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants for venous thromboembolism and stroke prophylaxis in patients with hematologic malignancies.

PurposeLow-molecular-weight heparins are currently the recommended antithrombotic therapy for treatment and prevention of malignancy-related venous thromboembolism. Currently, the evidence evaluati...
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss as a presenting symptom in superior semicircular canal dehiscence

Abstract Purpose To provide new insights into a potential mechanism of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SCD). Materials and methods This study is a retrospective case series of three adult subjects who presented with acute SSNHL and vestibular symptoms, with computed tomography (CT) findings suggestive of SCD. Subjects were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) imaging of the temporal bone along with audiometric and vestibular testing. Appropriate medical intervention was offered, and surgical intervention was discussed with all patients. Main outcome measures included clinical symptoms, audiometry, vestibular testing, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, and imaging. Results All three patients had sudden onset of symptoms, with audiometry consistent with SNHL and imaging demonstrating SCD. One patient recovered normal hearing after intratympanic steroid injections. Conclusions These cases represent an unusual presentation of possible SCD and may represent a new, unrecognized etiology of SSNHL. These cases suggest that there may be utility in offering CT scans of the temporal bone in the setting of sudden hearing loss when MRI is negative and vestibular symptoms persist. Rupture of the underlying membranous labyrinth may provide a plausible explanation for the presentation of SSNHL with the onset of SCD symptoms.
The nature of the faint Chandra X-ray sources in the galactic center

Recent Chandra X-Ray Observatory observations have revealed a large population of faint X-ray point sources in the Galactic center. The observed population consists of 2000 faint sources in the luminosity range ~1031-1033 ergs s-1. The majority of these sources (70%) are described by hard spectra, while the rest are rather soft. The nature of these sources still remains unknown. Belczynski & Taam demonstrated that X-ray binaries with neutron star or black hole accretors may account for most of the soft sources, but are not numerous enough to account for the observed number and X-ray properties of the faint hard sources. A population synthesis calculation of the Galactic center region has been carried out. Our results indicate that the numbers and X-ray luminosities of intermediate Polars are consistent with the observed faint hard Galactic center population.
Utility of a smartphone based system (cvrphone) to accurately determine apneic events from electrocardiographic signals.

BACKGROUND Sleep disordered breathing manifested as sleep apnea (SA) is prevalent in the general population, and while it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality risk in some patient populations, it remains under-diagnosed. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of respiration-rate (RR) and tidal-volume (TV) estimation algorithms, from body-surface ECG signals, using a smartphone based ambulatory respiration monitoring system (cvrPhone). METHODS Twelve lead ECG signals were collected using the cvrPhone from anesthetized and mechanically ventilated swine (n = 9). During ECG data acquisition, the mechanical ventilator tidal-volume (TV) was varied from 250 to 0 to 750 to 0 to 500 to 0 to 750 ml at respiratory rates (RR) of 6 and 14 breaths/min, respectively, and the RR and TV values were estimated from the ECG signals using custom algorithms. RESULTS TV estimations from any two different TV settings showed statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) regardless of the RR. RRs were estimated to be 6.1±1.1 and 14.0±0.2 breaths/min at 6 and 14 breaths/min, respectively (when 250, 500 and 750 ml TV settings were combined). During apnea, the estimated TV and RR values were 11.7±54.9 ml and 0.0±3.5 breaths/min, which were significantly different (p<0.05) than TV and RR values during non-apnea breathing. In addition, the time delay from the apnea onset to the first apnea detection was 8.6±6.7 and 7.0±3.2 seconds for TV and RR respectively. CONCLUSIONS We have demonstrated that apnea can reliably be detected using ECG-derived RR and TV algorithms. These results support the concept that our algorithms can be utilized to detect SA in conjunction with ECG monitoring.
Newer Techniques in Vision Restoration and Rehabilitation

The World Health Organization estimates that 1.3 billion people worldwide suffer from visual impairment, defined as visual acuity worse than 20/40; at least 217 million have moderate (20/60) or severe (20/200) impairment [1]. Although the majority (80%) of these individuals could be helped with either simple refractive correction, surgical intervention for cataract, or general health maintenance, there remains a sizable population of patients with vision loss that cannot be corrected with standard eye care. Because visually impaired individuals lose the ability to function independently, they often require constant assistance from friends or family members who themselves become constrained in their daily activities [2]. Thus, the goals of visual rehabilitation and restoration are to permit visually impaired individuals to perform as many activities of daily living as possible while enhancing their personal safety and well-being alone and in social interactions. Damage to the pre- and post-chiasmal visual pathways may result in different types of visual and functional impairment, and the strategies to treat affected individuals vary for both vision restoration and rehabilitation efforts. We describe current and emerging technologies that may be of benefit to patients in whom disease or trauma precludes normal visual function.
Buffer or Blade: Perceived relationship closeness in couples navigating Alzheimer's.

Abstract Given the paucity of support from the welfare state, the lion's share of care for American seniors with memory loss is shouldered by their spouses who tend to be older and sometimes are frail themselves. Previous research has bifurcated attention to either accounts from diagnosed individuals or carers rather than understanding the experience within a socio-relational context of sometimes half-century long relationships. The present study was a qualitative investigation of 11 community-dwelling dyads (N = 22) living in the Greater Boston Area to understand how married heterosexual couples experience Alzheimer's. They were predominately white, highly educated individuals with mild to moderate AD and their spouses. Grounded theory methodologies were used to collect, code, and analyze all narrative study data. The data from these spousal dyads reveal that most couples approached AD as a joint challenge and were committed to maintaining their prior roles and lives for as long as possible, including shared outlooks, approaches, and activities. By showing how some couples navigate AD together rather than separately, these data provide an important counter narrative to the burden-based framing of AD in our social imagination. Regardless of perceptions of relationship closeness, all dyads employed strategies to live life positively with Alzheimer's. Despite being a highly privileged sample, or an “ideal type,” these data reveal the importance of studying AD as a coupled or family event; that is, a social and relational matter, rather than simply an individual medical problem. They also highlight the importance of relationship-centered care in meeting families “where they are” in terms of existing social roles. Universalizing all AD experiences leads to an over-reliance on reductionist tropes such as “stress” and “burden” and exacerbates the very real threat to social disenfranchisement.
A History of the American Civil Rights Movement through Newspaper Coverage: The Race Agenda, Vol. II: By Steve Hallock, New York, Peter Lang, 2020, 493 pp

All forms of news media have undergone dramatic changes since the decades of the civil rights movement, but, as Steve Hallock shows, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The second ...
Toward Neural Network Models to Model Multi-phase Solids

In this study, a neural network model is developed to describe the large deformation response of a multi-phase material, i.e., a two-dimensional perforated plate. Using the finite element, virtual experiments are performed to generate stress–strain data for monotonic biaxial loading paths. Subsequently, a combination of fully connected and recurrent neural network models are trained and validated using the results from the virtual experiments. The predictions of a network show a remarkable good agreement with all the experimental data. The suggested neural network-based constitutive model does provide a robust solution to the problem at hand, providing a fully anisotropic, three-dimensional material model capable of covering all physical material properties. The suggested procedure promises to be generally applicable to any material class and can be paired with any numerical method.
MTHFR single nucleotide polymorphism associated with working memory in pediatric medulloblastoma survivors

Background Associations have been found between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MTHFR gene and cognitive outcomes in cancer survivors. Prior research has demonstrated that the presence of MTHFR SNPs (rs1801131 and rs1801133) in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) corresponds to impairments in attention and executive functioning. The current study examines the associations between rs1801131 and/or rs1801133 SNPs and cognitive performance in long-term survivors of medulloblastoma. Procedure: Eighteen pediatric medulloblastoma survivors, on average 12.42 years post-diagnosis, completed the Digit Span Forward, Digit Span Backward, California Verbal Learning Test Trial 1, and Auditory Consonant Trigrams tests. MTHFR SNPs were detected using whole genome sequencing data and custom scripts within R software. Results: Survivors with a rs1801131 SNP performed significantly worse on Digit Span Backward than survivors without this SNP exhibiting a large effect (p = 0.049; d = 0.95). Survivors with a rs1801131 SNP performed worse on Digit Span Forward (d = 0.478) and the CVLT Trial 1 (d = 0.417) with medium effect sizes. In contrast to rs1801131, relationships were not identified between a rs1801133 SNP and these performance measures. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate the potential links between MTHFR SNPs and cognitive outcomes following treatment in brain tumor survivors. The current findings establish a novel relationship between rs1801131 and working memory in medulloblastoma. Increases in homocysteine levels and oxidative damage from radiation may lead to adverse long-term outcomes. This establishes the need to look beyond leukemia and methotrexate treatment to consider the risk of MTHFR SNPs for medulloblastoma survivors.
Hormonal Regulation of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase Gene Expression

Glucose homeostasis in all vertebrates involves the integration of a number of metabolic processes that are under hormonal control. A key element in this process is hepatic and renal gluconeogenesis, which provides the major source of blood glucose during starvation.(1) Tissues such as the red blood cells, brain, and kidney medulla are metabolically dependent on a continued source of glucose, a fact that underlines the importance of proper regulation of gluconeogenesis for the survival of the organism. It is not therefore surprising that a number of hormones, including insulin, glucagon, glucocorticoids, and thyroid hormone, all play a role in coordinating glucose homeostasis by controlling gluconeogenesis.
Effects of gonadal hormones on plasma renin activity and aldosterone excretion rate.

We have reported elsewhere (1) that the administration of ethinyl estradiol increased plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone excretion rate. We were led to make these observations because of the findings of a markedly increased PRA in a normal subject who was taking Orthonovum for contraceptive purposes. Her PRA decreased to normal after the oral contraceptive was discontinued.
Partitioning Country of Origin Effects: Consumer Evaluations of a Hybrid Product

Recent cases in strategic alliances observed in the U.S. automobile and numerous other consumer product industries point up an important area of research that has not received enough attention in the literature. Complex products involving multiple country affiliations have become much more common.
Strategies and requirements for the detection of RNA editing in G protein coupled-receptor RNA.

Publisher Summary RNA editing is broadly defined as any RNA processing event (excluding RNA splicing) that generates an RNA message with a nucleotide sequence that differs from the corresponding genomic DNA. Mammalian RNA editing generally occurs by either cytidine-to-uridine (C-to-U) or adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) deamination. C-to-U editing is best represented by the conversions found within apolipoprotein B RNA and is mediated by a cytidine deaminase in conjunction with additional cellular machinery. This chapter describes strategies aimed at the identification of new A-to-I RNA editing events within mammalian RNA substrates, with a focus on RNA molecules encoding G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). It has been estimated that one IMP molecule is present for every 17,000 ribonucleotides in the brain; in addition, IMP has been detected in poly(A+) RNA from a variety of tissues such as lung, thymus, and heart. Coupled with the widespread expression of adenosine-to-inosine editing enzyme family members, these results suggest that a potentially large number of RNAs are targets for substitutional A-to-I editing. It is anticipated that the number of edited substrates will continue to grow, further substantiating the role of RNA editing in the modulation of cellular diversity.
A channelized DSSS ultra-wideband receiver

Critical to the design of a digital ultra-wideband (UWB) receiver is the ability for the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to efficiently sample and digitize the UWB signal of several gigahertz. Designing a single ADC to operate at such frequencies is impractical, and parallel ADC architectures with each ADC operating at a fraction of the effective sampling frequency need to be devised. A parallel receiver architecture that efficiently samples and processes the UWB signal at a fraction of the chip frequency is proposed. The received signal is channelized in the frequency domain by employing a bank of mixers and lowpass filters. After sampling at a much reduced frequency, digital filters then operate directly on the sampled signals in each subband channel to optimally estimate multiple spread codes in parallel.
Reactive canonical Monte Carlo : a new simulation technique for reacting or associating fluids

A new simulation technique is developed for calculating the properties of chemically reactive and associating (hydrogen bonding, charge transfer) systems. We call this new method reactive canonical Monte Carlo (RCMC). In contrast to previous methods for treating chemical reactions, this algorithm is applicable to reactions involving a change in mole number. Stoichiometrically balanced reactions are attempted in the forward and reverse directions to achieve chemical equilibrium. The transition probabilities do not depend on the chemical potentials or chemical potential differences of any of the components. We also extend RCMC to work in concert with the isothermal-isobaric ensemble for simulating chemical reactions at constant pressure, and with the Gibbs ensemble for simultaneous calculation of phase and chemical equilibria. Association is treated as a chemical reaction in the RCMC formalism. Results are presented for dimerization of simple model associating fluids. In contrast to previous methods, the re...
An annulus diffeomorphism with non-Denjoy minimal sets

We construct an annulus diffeomorphism with the property that a countably dense set of irrational rotation numbers are represented only by pseudocircles on which the, diffeomorphism acts minimally but is not semiconjugate to rigid rotation on the circle. This answers a question of Boyland about whether such behavior is possible only at the maximum or minimum of the rotation set. INTRODUCTION We begin with two notions, rotation number and rotation set, central to the study of annulus homeomorphisms. Given an annulus homeomorphism, the rotation number, p, of a point is the limiting average angular displacement of the point under iteration, if the limit exists. For an introduction to rotation numbers see, among others, [D]. The rotation set, p(f), of a homeomorphism f is the set of numbers realized as rotation numbers. For each member of the rotation set we can ask about the smallest closed invariant sets (minimal sets) with this rotation number. In the case of area preserving monotone twist maps the Aubry-Mather theorem provides an answer to this question. Monotone twist maps are those where points closer to the inner circle of the annulus have a smaller (or larger) angular displacement than points closer to the outer circle of the annulus. (For a complete definition see [Bd].) We state here only the part of the theorem concerning irrational rotation numbers. Theorem (Aubry-Mather). Let f be an area preserving monotone twist map of the annulus. Then for all a E p(f) with a (' Q, f has a monotone, minimal set X with p(fjX) = a and fjX is semiconjugate to rigid rotation on the circle. An example of Handel [H] shows that the Aubry-Mather theorem does not extend when the monotone twist condition is removed. Handel constructs a C? area preserving diffeomorphism of the annulus with an irrational in the rotation set whose only minimal set (for this irrational) is the pseudocircle [B1], [B2], [F]. This minimal set is not monotone, and the diffeomorphism restricted to the pseudocircle is not semiconjugate to rigid rotation on the circle. Boyland notes that in Handel's construction the irrational rotation number is the maximum of the rotation set and poses Question 3.3 in [Bd]. Received by the editors June 25, 1996 and, in revised form, November 1, 1996. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 58F13. (@1998 American Mathematical Society 1851 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.55 on Tue, 23 Aug 2016 05:37:31 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms