cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perilipin 5–Driven Lipid Droplet Accumulation in Skeletal Muscle Stimulates the Expression of Fibroblast Growth Factor 21

Perilipin 5 (PLIN5) is a lipid droplet protein and is highly expressed in oxidative tissue. Expression of the PLIN5 gene is regulated by peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-α, fasting, and exercise. However, the effect of increased muscle PLIN5 expression on whole-body energy homeostasis remains unclear. To examine this, we developed a mouse line with skeletal muscle PLIN5 overexpression (MCK-Plin5). We show that MCK-Plin5 mice have increased energy metabolism and accumulate more intramyocellular triacylglycerol but have normal glucose and insulin tolerance. MCK-Plin5 mice fed high-fat chow manifest lower expression of inflammatory markers in their liver and increased expression of “browning” factors in adipose tissue. This muscle-driven phenotype is, at least in part, mediated by myokines; the MCK-Plin5 mice have 80-fold higher FGF21 gene expression in muscle and increased serum FGF21 concentration. The increase in FGF21 occurs mainly in muscles with a predominance of fast-twitch fibers, suggesting that fiber type–specific lipid storage may be part of the mechanism conferring metabolic protection in MCK-Plin5 mice. In conclusion, upregulating the PLIN5 level in skeletal muscle drives expression of the FGF21 gene in fast-twitch fibers and is metabolically protective. These findings provide insight into the physiology of PLIN5 and the potential contribution of its upregulation during exercise.
Theory for Endothermic Gasification of a Solid by a Constant Energy Flux

Abstract By asymptotic methods, which treat the ratio of the thermal energy to the activation energy for gasification as a small parameter, the entire temperature-time history is derived for a semi-infinite solid, whose surface is subjected to a constant energy flux. It is found that an initial stage of inert heat-conduction is separated from a final stage of transport-controlled gasification by a short transition stage, which contains reactive-diffusive and transient-diffusive zones if distributed gasification occurs. The time to onset of gasification is obtained from an analysis of the transition stage. The manner of approach to quasisteady regression is described by the perturbation analysis. The results are of interest in connection with ignition of reactive solids which experience exothermic reactions only in the gas phase. In particular, it is shown that within the accuracy to which experiments can be performed, the dependence of ignition time on heat flux for such materials is identical with the de...
A Taylor expansion approach for solving integral equations

We present an algebraic technique for solving integral equations. This technique is based on first differentiating both sides of the integral equation n times and then substituting the Taylor series for the unknown function in the resulting equation. This results in a linear algebraic system which can be solved approximately by a suitable truncation scheme. An interesting feature of this method is that we get exact solutions in many cases. We present four simple examples to illustrate this feature.
Understanding Academic Information Seeking Habits through Analysis of Web Server Log Files: The Case of the Teachers College Library Website

Transaction logs of user activity on an academic library website were analyzed to determine general usage patterns on the website. This paper reports on insights gained from the analysis, and identifies and discusses issues relating to content access, interface design and general functionality of the website.
Nature of Sulphate Retention by Acid Soils

CERTAIN soils containing oxides which occur in tropical and subtropical regions are known to retain an appreciable amount of sulphate when equilibrated with dilute solutions of sulphate salts1,4. In our earlier work we found that the cation and anion are held in about equivalent amounts, with an increase in retention occurring as the pH was lowered or the salt concentration was increased. So far as we are aware no satisfactory explanation for all the phenomena observed has yet been given.
Priests Who Abuse and Were Abused: Understanding Victimization in the Catholic Church

Abstract Little research to date has examined the relevance of abuse history for distinct types of offenders. This study compared clerics who were abused in childhood with clerics who were not abused in childhood with regard to victim, offender, and offense characteristics. Findings revealed that clergy with a history of victimization tended to have more male victims, began offending earlier in their career, offended for a longer period of time, and were more likely to have a history of substance abuse or other behavioral problems than nonvictimized clerics. Although prior research has not observed a direct relationship between victimization and future offending, these findings suggest that sexual victimization may play a role in the etiological development of distinct offending patterns.
Two components of need for approval score and their relationship to cheating following success and failure

Abstract Subjects completed a simulated “intelligence test” on which they were given bogus feedback indicating that they had either met college norms or had failed substantially to meet norms. Immediately following was a period in which subjects could modify their scores and believe that their modification would go undetected. The relationship of need for approval to “cheating” and amount of “cheating” was analyzed. The results supported an “avoidance” interpretation of approval motivation. Two separate components of need for approval score were identified and found to be differentially related to avoidance behavior for men and for women.
Novel use of acellular dermal matrix in the formation of a bioprosthetic silo for giant omphalocele coverage

A case report is presented on the utilization of an acellular dermal matrix in the formation of a biologic silo conducive to early epithelial grafting in the treatment of a giant omphalocele associated with cloacal exstrophy.
Immunochemical and biochemical characterization of purified canine interferon-γ: Production of a monoclonal antibody, affinity purification, and its effect on mixed lymphocyte culture and mixed lymphocyte kidney culture reactions

We have advanced the hypothesis that the primary autolymphoproliferative response of dog T cells in mixed lymphocyte kidney cultures (MLKC) results from their recognition of tissue-specific (kidney-associated) antigen(s) presented in conjunction with class II MHC antigens. Lymphocyte culture-derived supernatants had been found previously to upregulate class II antigen expression on kidney cells and enhance T cell activation. In the present study we have isolated and characterized dog IFN-gamma, a class II-inducing substance that is secreted in the culture supernatant of activated T lymphocytes. Dog IFN-gamma was induced with A-23187 and PMA and purified stepwise using controlled-pore glass, Mono Q anion exchange chromatography, and Superose 6-gel filtration on FPLC. The purification resulted in two molecules of 42 Kd and 31 Kd molecular weights. An IgG1 monoclonal antibody was engendered to these molecules. With this mAb reagent, in immunochemical experiments, we have developed a sensitive ELISA and a method for purifying dog IFN-gamma by affinity chromatography. Species specificity studies indicated that purified dog IFN-gamma reacted with a polyclonal rabbit antihuman IFN-gamma, but not with a mAb to human IFN-gamma. However, the antidog IFN-gamma mAb that was generated also reacted with recombinant human IFN-gamma. In in vitro biological studies, the purified IFN-gamma (two mol. wt. species) upregulated the expression of canine class II MHC molecules on dog tubular epithelial cells and the dog kidney epithelial cell line (MDCK). The antidog IFN-gamma mAb blocked T cell proliferative response to kidney cell and, by inference, the interaction between endogenously released IFN-gamma in vitro with its cell surface receptor, thus inhibiting the induced upregulation of class II. Interestingly, although antidog IFN-gamma markedly blocked the MLKC (10 micrograms mAb/well), there was no effect on the allogeneic MLC. This observation indicates that the cytokine IFN-gamma may be a uniquely key substance amplifying the immune response of T cells to tissue-associated antigens on surrogate antigen-presenting cells that require induced upregulation of class II MHC antigen expression (MLKC), in contrast to reactions in which these antigens are already constitutively expressed on the antigen-presenting cells (mixed lymphocyte culture).
Push-type enteroscopy in occult gastrointestinal bleeding

Abstract Push-type enteroscopy (PTE) plays an important role in examining the small bowel as the presumed source of occult gastrointestinal bleeding in patients who have a nondiagnostic upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. Relative to other methods, PTE has the advantage of direct visualization of the lumen of the small intestine, permitting biopsy and therapy. After an initial negative upper endoscopy and colonoscopy, a repeat upper endoscopic examination increases the diagnostic yield. Most commonly missed lesions that are within the reach of the standard upper endoscope are erosions within large hiatal hernias (Cameron lesions), peptic ulcers, and vascular ectasias. Enteroscopy can replace repeat upper endoscopy for identification of these lesions and detection of other lesions in the small bowel. Enteroclysis may be performed after a negative PTE to increase the overall diagnostic yield. Capsule endoscopy is a promising new technique for the examination of the entire small bowel. It is quite possible that it may become the initial investigation of choice in patients after nondiagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy. However, its advantages are offset by an inability to obtain biopsies or administer therapy.
Favorable and Unfavorable Conditions for Innovation: Some Cross Country Evidence

The paper employs cross country regression analysis to estimate the effect of democracy and income inequality, adjusting for the level of income and other variables, on country innovation. It finds that both of these variables are of consequence for innovation. Different countries innovate at different rates. Some countries are very creative while other countries are not. Innovation is of vital importance to economic activity. The long term health of the economy depends on innovation, as creativity and innovation are the key drivers of economic growth. Understanding the determinants of creativity and innovation is, therefore, a serious endeavor. While it is common to study the reasons for differences in creativity and innovation across firms and countries by knowledge production function inputs such as dollar expenditure on research and development, looking for more fundamental underlying socio-political variables at the country level that may lead to a more favorable or less favorable environmental conditions for innovation is less common. National socio-political country conditions are not the direct determinants of innovation such as those at the firm level, but, rather, they are the behind the scenes forces influencing the development of these direct components. For instance, greater freedom and democracy may create individuals who are more autonomous, independent, and entrepreneurial. If, at the firm level, certain corporate cultural characteristics are the key to innovation, then some country characteristics will provide a more favorable milieu for their evolution and appearance, while others will not. The purpose of this paper is to focus on two socio-political variables, democracy and income inequality, as potential determinants of innovation. In pursuit of this undertaking, the paper is divided into five parts. The first part looks at potential theoretical reasons why democracy and income inequality and a few other country variables may have relevance for innovation. The second section discusses the measures that are employed in the empirical analysis and identifies data sources. The third part shows the outcomes of regression runs on innovation and democracy and on innovation and income inequality adjusting for the level of economic development and for other variables. The final section concludes.
Full quantum mechanically treatment of squeezed vacuum state generation through self-rotation

We present a full quantum mechanical picture of squeezed vacuum state generation via self-rotation in an X system. As a result, extra noise that is overlooked in semi-classical picture is found and its effect on the degree of squeezing is discussed.
Rialto: a bridge between description and implementation of control algorithms for wireless sensor networks

Rialto is a design framework that allows separating the description of a control application for wireless sensor networks from its physical network implementation. The methodology supported by Rialto consists of two steps:An application is described in a Rialto Model in terms of logical components queries and commands.The description is translated into an internal format called RialtoNet that is used to explore all the possible sequence of queries and commands that the application may lead to. The RialtoNet is executed and a set of constraints on the communication and sensing infrastructure is generated.The semantics of RialtoNet is based on a MoC that takes inspiration from Kahn Process Networks, but blocking rules are conveniently modified to exploit the domain specificity.Our approach offers a clear interface to the application designer as Rialto automatically bridges the gap between application and implementation. Hence, Rialto facilitates the adoption of wireless sensor networks technology in application domains, such as industrial control, where the application designer is not a communication engineer.
Assessing the Relationship between Software Assertions and Faults: An Empirical Investigation

The use of assertions in software development is thought to help produce quality software. Unfortunately, there is scant empirical evidence in commercial software systems for this argument to date. This paper presents an empirical case study of two commercial software components at Microsoft Corporation. The developers of these components systematically employed assertions, which allowed us to investigate the relationship between software assertions and code quality. We also compare the efficacy of assertions against that of popular bug finding techniques like source code static analysis tools. We observe from our case study that with an increase in the assertion density in a file there is a statistically significant decrease in fault density. Further, the usage of software assertions in these components found a large percentage of the faults in the bug database.
Analysis of quantized feedback low-frequency restoration in digital regenerators

Quantized feedback, a DC restoration technique utilizing decision feedback equalization, can be used to compensate for unavoidable low-frequency cutoff in digital regenerators. An analysis is provided of the error probability and sensitivity to timing offsets of quantized feedback for a single-pole high-pass filter regenerator characteristic. Error probability is expressed in terms of the moments of the intersymbol interference (ISI), and these moments are calculated using the Markov chain properties of the ISI. To keep degradations small, the low-frequency cutoff should be no greater than 15% of the bit rate. >
Patterns of individual adaptation across childhood

Continuity in individual patterns of adaptation and maladaptation was examined across the years from infancy to preadolescence. Forty-seven preadolescent subjects from a 15-year longitudinal study of children at risk for developmental problems participated. Subjects were intensively observed in a 4-week summer daycamp at age 10. Children were then rated on scales of agency, social skill, dependency, positive and negative affect, and ranked on emotional health. In addition, Q-sorts were performed to obtain an overall description of the child's personality, and observations were made of child-adult interactions. Significant differences were found between secure and insecure attachment groups on molar measures of adaptation including social competence and ego resiliency. Children with anxious histories were also rated higher on dependency and were found to be more frequently involved in interactions with adults than children with secure histories. In addition, differences were found in the patterns of adaptation exhibited by children with the two types of anxious attachment history. Children with resistant histories were found to be more often the recipients of adult-initiated contact, specifically support and nurturance, than were children with avoidant attachment histories. Comparison of overall personality style through correlations of composite counselor Q-sorts identified children with secure and resistant attachment histories as most like other children with the same attachment history. Results for avoidant children did not achieve significance. Patterns of contemporary child behavior revealed through counselor Q-sorts were also found to be related to theoretically derived predictions from patterns observed in infancy.
Lipoprotein nanoplatform for targeted delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic agents.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) provides a highly versatile natural nanoplatform for delivery of optical and MRI contrast agents, photodynamic therapy agents and chemotherapeutic agents to normal and neoplastic cells that over express LDL receptors (LDLR). Extension to other lipoproteins ranging in diameter from ~5-10 nm (high density lipoprotein, HDL) to over a micron (chilomicrons) is feasible. Loading of contrast or therapeutic agents has been achieved by covalent attachment to protein side chains, intercalation into the phospholipid monolayer and extraction and reconstitution of the triglyceride/cholesterol ester core. Covalent attachment of folate to the lysine side chain amino groups was used to reroute the LDL from its natural receptor (LDLR) to folate receptors and could be utilized to target other receptors. A semi-synthetic nanoparticle has been constructed by coating magnetite iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONs) with carboxylated cholesterol and overlaying a monolayer of phospholipid to which Apo A1, Apo E or synthetic amphoteric 〈-helical polypeptides were adsorbed for targeting HDL, LDL or folate receptors, respectively. These particles can be utilized for in situloading of magnetite into cells for MRI monitored cell tracking or gene therapy.
Growth and Characterization of AllnGaN/InGaN Heterostructures

The emission wavelength of the InxGaxN ternary system can span from the near ultraviolet through red regions of the visible spectrum. High quality double heterostructures with these lnxGa1−xN active layers are essential in the development of efficient optoelectronic devices such as high performance light emitting diodes and laser diodes. We will report on the MOCVD growth and characterization of thick and thin InGaN films. Thick InxGa1−xN films with values of x up to 0.40 have been deposited and their photoluminescence (PL) spectra measured. AIGaN/lnGaN/AIGaN double heterostructures (DHs) have been grown that exhibit PL emission in the violet, blue, green and yellow spectral regions, depending on the growth conditions of the thin InGaN active layer. Preliminary results of an AllnGaN/lnGaN/AllnGaN DH, with the potential of realizing a near-lattice matched structure, will also be presented.
Configurable software architecture in support of configuration management and software deployment

In this research article we introduce the Menage project. Menage is based on the vision that the notion of software architecture, extended with the concept of versioning, can be used as an organizing abstraction for some of the activities in the software life cycle. In particular, we are investigating how two of those activities, namely configuration management and software deployment, can benefit from the availability of an explicit architectural representation that is enhanced with versioning capabilities.
Effects of Selective Coronary Embolization on Coronary Blood Flow and Coronary Sinus Venous Blood Oxygen Saturation in Dogs

The cardiovascular effects of selective coronary embolization were studied with improved techniques in an attempt to obtain evidence for the existence of intercoronary reflexes and their role in po...
Computer vision tracking of stemness

Clinical translation of stem cell research promises to revolutionize medicine. Challenges remain toward belter understanding of stem cell biology and cost-effective strategies for stem cell manufacturing. These challenges call for novel engineering toolsets to study stem cell behaviors and the associated sternness. Towards this goal, we are developing a computer vision based system to automatically and reliably follow the behaviors of individual stem cells in expanding populations. This paper reports on significant progress in our development. In particular, we present a machine-learning approach for detecting spatiotemporal mitosis events without image segmentation. This approach not only improves tracking performance, but can also independently quantify mitoses and cellular divisions. We also employ bilateral filtering to improve cell detection performance. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this system on tracking C2C12 mouse myoblast stem cells.
Baroreflexes of the rat. VI. Sleep and responses to aortic nerve stimulation in the dmNTS

The sensitivity of the baroreflex determines its stability and effectiveness in controlling blood pressure (BP). Sleep and arousal are reported to affect baroreflex sensitivity, but the findings are not consistent across studies. After statistically correcting the effect of sleep on the baselines in chronically neuromuscular-blocked (NMB) rats, we found that sleep affects BP and heart period (HP) baroreflex gain similarly. This finding is consistent with baroreflex modulation of HP and BP before divergence of the sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways. Therefore, we hypothesized that the gain modulation occurs in the dorsal medial nucleus of the solitary tract (dmNTS). The present study used long-term dmNTS recordings in NMB rats and single-pulse aortic depressor nerve stimulation. Under these conditions, the magnitude of A-fiber evoked responses (ERs), recorded from second- or higher-order dmNTS baroreflex neurons, was reliably augmented during high-amplitude low-frequency EEG activity (slow-wave sleep) and reduced during low-amplitude high-frequency EEG activity (arousal; ΔER = 11%, t = 9.49, P < 0.001, degrees of freedom = 1,016). This result has methodological implications for techniques that use changes in HP to estimate baroreflex BP gain and general implications for understanding the relationship between sleep and cardiovascular control.
Does solvent density play a role in the keto-enol tautomerism of acetylacetone?

Abstract FTIR was used to investigate the effect of solvent and solvent density on the keto–enol tautomeric equilibrium in compressed and supercritical carbon dioxide as well as ethane. The effect of the solvent (CO2 and ethane) density on the tautomerism was found to be insignificant. These experimental results are in good agreement with modeling studies, which combine ab initio calculations of isolated acetylacetone with reactive Monte Carlo simulations of the CO2 and ethane solvation effects.
Characterization of RF Devices using Two-Tone Probe Signals

This paper describes a method for forensic characterization of RF devices using two-tone probe signals. When transmitted to an RF device, the two-tone signal is affected by nonlinear circuit components such as amplifiers or diodes. The nonlinear components cause intermodulation distortion to the input signal, which is reradiated by the device. Features of the intermodulation distortion products are used to construct a device fingerprint. The fingerprint is then used to characterize the device so that it can be identified from other RF devices.
17β-Estradiol, Its Metabolites, and Progesterone Inhibit Cardiac Fibroblast Growth

Postmenopausal women (PMW) have increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, and estrogen substitution therapy has been shown to have cardioprotective effects. Since abnormal growth of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) is associated with hypertension and myocardial infarction and estrogen inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth, it is feasible that estrogen may attenuate cardiac remodeling by inhibiting CF growth, and this possibility was investigated by using cultured CFs. 17Beta-estradiol and progesterone, but not 17alpha-estradiol, estrone, or estriol, inhibited 2.5% FCS-induced proliferation (DNA synthesis and cell number) and collagen synthesis (3H-proline incorporation) in a concentration-dependent manner and to a similar extent in male and female CFs. Compared to 17beta-estradiol, its metabolites 2-hydroxyestradiol and 2-methoxyestradiol were more potent in inhibiting FCS-induced DNA synthesis, collagen synthesis, and cell proliferation. The inhibitory effects of 17beta-estradiol and its metabolites were enhanced in presence of progesterone and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (high-affinity estrogen receptor ligand). Moreover, like estrogens, the dietary phytoestrogens biochanin A and daidzein inhibited FCS-induced growth of CFs. In conclusion, 17beta-estradiol, its metabolites, and progesterone inhibit CF growth in a gender-independent fashion. Moreover, hormone replacement therapy using 17beta-estradiol and progesterone may protect PMW against cardiovascular disease by inhibiting CF growth and cardiac remodeling; whereas estrogens that do not inhibit CF growth may be less effective in protecting PMW against cardiovascular disease. Finally, our studies provide evidence that phytoestrogens inhibit CF growth and may be clinically useful as a substitute for feminizing estrogens in preventing cardiovascular disease in both women and men.
Retrovirus glycoprotein functionality requires proper alignment of the ectodomain and the membrane-proximal cytoplasmic tail.

Nonnative viral glycoproteins, including Friend murine leukemia virus envelope (F-MLV Env) are actively recruited to HIV-1 assembly sites by an unknown mechanism. Because interactions with the lipid microenvironment at budding sites could contribute to recruitment, we examined the contribution of the hydrophobicity of the F-MLV Env membrane-spanning domain (MSD) to its incorporation into HIV-1 particles. A series of F-MLV Env mutants that added or deleted one, two, or three leucines in the MSD were constructed. All six mutants retained the ability to be incorporated into HIV-1 particles, but the −1L, −2L, −3L, +1L, and +2L mutants were not capable of producing infectious particles. Surprisingly, the +3L Env glycoprotein was able to produce infectious particles and was constitutively fusogenic. However, when the cytoplasmic tail domains (CTDs) in the Env constructs were deleted, all six of the MSD mutants were able to produce infectious particles. Further mutational analyses revealed that the first 10 amino acids of the CTD is a critical regulator of infectivity. A similar phenotype was observed in HIV-1 Env upon addition of leucines in the MSD, with +1 and +2 leucine mutations greatly reducing Env activity, but +3 leucine mutations behaving similar to the wild type. Unlike F-MLV Env (+1L and +2L), HIV-1 Env (+1L and +2L) infectivity was not restored by deletion of the CTD. We hypothesize that the CTD forms a coiled-coil that disrupts the protein's functionality if it is not in phase with the trimer interface of the ectodomain.
Curvature Processing Dynamics in Macaque Area V4

We have previously analyzed shape processing dynamics in macaque monkey posterior inferotemporal cortex (PIT). We described how early PIT responses to individual contour fragments evolve into tuning for multifragment shape configurations. Here, we analyzed curvature processing dynamics in area V4, which provides feedforward inputs to PIT. We contrasted 2 hypotheses: 1) that V4 curvature tuning evolves from tuning for simpler elements, analogous to PIT shape synthesis and 2) that V4 curvature tuning emerges immediately, based on purely feedforward mechanisms. Our results clearly supported the first hypothesis. Early V4 responses carried information about individual contour orientations. Tuning for multiorientation (curved) contours developed gradually over ∼50 ms. Together, the current and previous results suggest a partial sequence for shape synthesis in ventral pathway cortex. We propose that early orientation signals are synthesized into curved contour fragment representations in V4 and that these signals are transmitted to PIT, where they are then synthesized into multifragment shape representations. The observed dynamics might additionally or alternatively reflect influences from earlier (V1, V2) and later (central and anterior IT) processing stages in the ventral pathway. In either case, the dynamics of contour information in V4 and PIT appear to reflect a sequential hierarchical process of shape synthesis.
Patient Satisfaction with Miniature, Ambulatory, Postmenopausal Hot Flash Recorder

Although much research is underway to develop new treatments for postmenopausal hot flashes, it is hindered by a lack of suitable outcome measures. Therefore, the author invented a miniature, ambulatory hot flash recorder. The purpose of this study was to ascertain patient satisfaction with this device. Subjects were 38 postmenopausal women re- porting frequent hot flashes. They wore the recorder for 3 consecutive weeks. Patients reported that the recorder interfered minimally with their daily activities, was easy to use, and was acceptable in appearance. This device should be useful in evaluating treatments for postmenopausal hot flashes.
An electrochemical P-N junction etch-stop for the formation of silicon microstructures

An electrochemical technique allowing the protection of selected areas of silicon in ethylene diamine-based etchants is reported, and its application to the formation of silicon microstructures is described. Dissolution rates for passivated samples are less than 5 A/minute, a factor of over 3000 times less than for unpassivated silicon.
Facilitating culture-centered communication between health care providers and veterans transitioning from military deployment to civilian life.

Abstract Objective To describe returning veterans’ transition experience from military to civilian life and to educate health care providers about culture-centered communication that promotes readjustment to civilian life. Methods Qualitative, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 17 male and 14 female Iraq and Afghanistan veterans were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Grounded Practical Theory. Results Veterans described disorientation when returning to civilian life after deployment. Veterans’ experiences resulted from an underlying tension between military and civilian identities consistent with reverse culture shock . Participants described challenges and strategies for managing readjustment stress across three domains: intrapersonal, professional/educational, and interpersonal. Conclusions To provide patient-centered care to returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, health care providers must be attuned to medical, psychological, and social challenges of the readjustment experience, including reverse culture shock . Culture-centered communication may help veterans integrate positive aspects of military and civilian identities, which may promote full reintegration into civilian life. Practice implications Health care providers may promote culture-centered interactions by asking veterans to reflect about their readjustment experiences. By actively eliciting challenges and helping veterans’ to identify possible solutions, health care providers may help veterans integrate military and civilian identities through an increased therapeutic alliance and social support throughout the readjustment process.
Robust carbon-nanotube-based nano-electromechanical devices: understanding and eliminating prevalent failure modes using alternative electrode materials.

The International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS [ 1 ] ) identifi es emerging technologies with the potential to sustain Moore’s Law. A necessary succession from planar CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductors) to nonplanar/dual-gate CMOS, and ultimately to novel architectures such as carbon nanotube (CNT)-based nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS) is envisioned. The ITRS also identifi es critical roadblocks currently precluding advances beyond CMOS. Primary among the roadblocks to NEMS are poor reliability and manufacturing challenges. Here we investigate the prevalent failure modes of CNT-based NEMS that hamper reliability through a combined experimental–computational approach. We fi rst identify their point of onset within the design space through in situ electromechanical characterization, highlighting the extremely limited region in which failure is avoided. We use dynamic multiphysics models to elucidate the underlying causes of failure, then return to the experimental characterization to show that the usable design space expands dramatically when employing novel electrode materials such as diamondlike carbon. Finally, we demonstrate the effi cacy of this solution through 100 successive actuation cycles without failure and applications to volatile memory operations. The immense potential of CNT-based NEMS is emergent in theoretical and experimental demonstrations of up to 100-GHz switching, [ 2 ] low leakage, and high ON–OFF ratios, [ 3 ] and outstanding current-carrying capacity. [ 4 , 5 ] To date however, individual demonstrations of performance such as these have been a primary focus, with limited reports of repeated actuation beyond a few cycles. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ] This is due
Adaptive wavelet filter design for optimized image source encoding

Despite intensive research being conducted on the topic of adaptive filter design in general, adaptive filter design in the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) domain with specific constraints is still an active research area. We have developed a method for the design of a 2-channel perfect-reconstruction adaptive wavelet filter which is optimized under minimum energy constraints in specific bands. The optimal 2-channel conjugate quadrature filter (CQF) bank has been designed using sequential quadratic programming techniques for nonlinear, nonconvex functions in general, although finding a global minimum is not guaranteed. However, such a filter can be effectively used with a wavelet based image encoder for high fidelity transmission of large image data sets at low bit rates.
Distance Vector-based Advance Reservation with Delay Performance Guarantees

We explore and demonstrate the feasibility of implementing distributed solutions for advance reservation of network resources. We introduce a new distributed, distance-vector algorithm, called Distributed Advance Reservation (DAR), that provably returns the earliest time possible for setting up a connection between any two nodes. Our main findings are the following: (i) we prove that widest path routing and path switching (i.e, allowing a connection to switch between different paths) are necessary to guarantee earliest scheduling; (ii) we propose and analyze a novel approach for loop-free distributed widest path routing, leveraging the recently proposed DIV framework. Our routing results directly extend to on-demand and inter-domain QoS routing problems.
Architecture of the human renal inner medulla and functional implications

The architecture of the inner stripe of the outer medulla of the human kidney has long been known to exhibit distinctive configurations; however, inner medullary architecture remains poorly defined. Using immunohistochemistry with segment-specific antibodies for membrane fluid and solute transporters and other proteins, we identified a number of distinctive functional features of human inner medulla. In the outer inner medulla, aquaporin-1 (AQP1)-positive long-loop descending thin limbs (DTLs) lie alongside descending and ascending vasa recta (DVR, AVR) within vascular bundles. These vascular bundles are continuations of outer medullary vascular bundles. Bundles containing DTLs and vasa recta lie at the margins of coalescing collecting duct (CD) clusters, thereby forming two regions, the vascular bundle region and the CD cluster region. Although AQP1 and urea transporter UT-B are abundantly expressed in long-loop DTLs and DVR, respectively, their expression declines with depth below the outer medulla. Transcellular water and urea fluxes likely decline in these segments at progressively deeper levels. Smooth muscle myosin heavy chain protein is also expressed in DVR of the inner stripe and the upper inner medulla, but is sparsely expressed at deeper inner medullary levels. In rodent inner medulla, fenestrated capillaries abut CDs along their entire length, paralleling ascending thin limbs (ATLs), forming distinct compartments (interstitial nodal spaces; INSs); however, in humans this architecture rarely occurs. Thus INSs are relatively infrequent in the human inner medulla, unlike in the rodent where they are abundant. UT-B is expressed within the papillary epithelium of the lower inner medulla, indicating a transcellular pathway for urea across this epithelium.
Increased myocardial native T1 and extracellular volume in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) cardiomyopathy is a progressive disease for which there is no cure. Disease-specific therapies are needed that can be initiated before irreversible myocardial damage ensues. In order to evaluate therapeutic efficacy, surrogate endpoints other than ejection fraction must be found. The hypothesis of this study is that T1 and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) mapping using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) can detect diffuse extracellular matrix expansion in DMD patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and without myocardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Thirty-one DMD and 11 healthy control participants were prospectively enrolled. CMR using a modified Look-Locker (MOLLI) sequence was performed in all participants before and after contrast administration. T1 and ECV maps of the mid left ventricular myocardium were generated and regions of interest were contoured using the standard 6-segment AHA model. Global and segmental values were compared between DMD and controls using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The DMD participants had significantly higher mean native T1 compared with controls (1045 ms vs 988 ms, p = 0.001). DMD participants with normal LVEF and without evidence of LGE also demonstrated elevated mean native T1 (1039 ms vs 988 ms, p = 0.002, and 1038 ms vs 988 ms, p = 0.011). DMD participants had a significantly greater mean ECV than controls (0.31 vs 0.24, p < 0.001), even in the settings of normal LVEF (0.28 vs 0.24, p < 0.001) and negative LGE (0.29 vs 0.24, p = 0.001). DMD participants have elevated LV myocardial native T1 and ECV, even in the setting of normal LVEF and in the absence of LGE. T1 and ECV mapping in DMD have potential to serve as surrogate cardiomyopathy outcome measures for clinical trials.
Direct Y-STR amplification of body fluids deposited on commonly found crime scene substrates.

Body fluids detected on commonly found crime scene substrates require extraction, purification and quantitation of DNA prior to amplification and generation of short tandem repeat (STR) DNA profiles. In this research Y-STR profiles were generated via direct amplification of blood and saliva deposited on 12 different substrates. These included cigarette butts, straws, grass, leaves, woodchips and seven different types of fabric. After depositing either 0.1 μL of blood or 0.5 μL of saliva, each substrate containing the dry body fluid stain was punched using a Harris 1.2 mm micro-punch. Each of these punched substrates, a total of 720 samples, containing minute amount of blood or saliva was either amplified directly without any pre-treatment, or was treated with one of the four washing reagents or buffer. In each of these five experimental groups the substrates containing the body fluid remained in the amplification reagent during the thermal cycling process. Each sample was amplified with the three direct Y-STR amplification kits; AmpFlSTR(®) Yfiler(®) Direct, Yfiler(®) Plus Amplification Kits and the PowerPlex(®) Y23 System. Complete and concordant Y-STR profiles were successfully obtained from most of these 12 challenging crime scene objects when the stains were analyzed by at least one of the five experimental groups. The reagents and buffer were interchangeable among the three amplification kits, however, pre-treatment with these solutions did not appear to enhance the quality or the number of the full profiles generated with direct amplification. This study demonstrates that blood and saliva deposited on these simulated crime scene objects can be amplified directly.
Intestinal Microbiota Changes in Left Ventricular Assist Device Supported Patients with Gastrointestinal Bleeding

s S249 and 113 (47.1%) as destination therapy (DT). Effect of reoperation for bleeding on outcomes was assessed. Results: Bleeding requiring reoperation occurred in 33 (13.8%) patients, 42.4% had a prior sternotomy, and 30.3% had previous temporary mechanical support. Survival was 95.2%, 85.7%, 84.5%, and 66.2%, respectively, at 30-days, 6-months, 12-months, and 24-months for patients who required reoperation, versus 92.1%, 88.0%, 80.4%, and 76.1%, respectively, for patients who did not (p= 0.237). The incidence of postoperative infection, stroke, right ventricular failure, renal failure, and/or device thrombosis was similar (p= NS). Conclusion: Reoperation for bleeding did not adversely impact survival or development of other LVAD-related complications. It therefore may be prudent to re-explore a bleeding patient early to limit transfusions and avoid potential consequences, such as right ventricular failure and prolonged ventilation. Patient Demographics and Comorbidities Variable Total (n= 240) Reop For bleeding (n= 33) No Reop For bleeding (n= 207) p-value Age 54.5 ± 12.1 yrs 55.9 ± 13.0 yrs 54.3 ± 12.0 yrs 0.279 Female 25.0% 24.2% 25.1% 0.914 African American 44.6% 50.0% 43.8% 0.510 NIDCM 62.1% 57.6% 62.8% 0.516 DM 46.7% 51.5% 45.9% 0.548 HTN 84.6% 84.9% 84.5% 0.961 CRI 43.3% 48.5% 42.5% 0.520 COPD 19.6% 12.1% 20.8% 0.245 PVD 10.8% 6.1% 11.6% 0.546 AFib 32.5% 27.3% 33.3% 0.490 Vented 4.6% 9.1% 3.9% 0.180 Liver Biopsy 5.0% 0% 5.8% 0.381 Previous Cardiac Surgery 34.2% 42.4% 32.9% 0.282 MCS at Time of VAD 24.6% 30.3% 23.7% 0.411 Creatinine 1.41 ± 0.59 1.39 ± 0.41 1.41 ± 0.62 0.344 AST 47.8 ± 76.5 35.5 ± 17.3 49.8 ± 82.0 0.680 Bilirubin 1.47 ± 1.45 1.28 ± 0.76 1.50 ± 1.53 0.815 Pre VAD CVP 10.1 ± 5.7 8.7 ± 4.8 10.4 ± 5.8 0.178 Pre VAD PAPs 51.3 ± 13.8 47.3 ± 15.2 51.9 ± 13.5 0.122
How should states be shaped? Contiguity, compactness, and territorial rights

This article examines the role of spatial shape in the justification, practice, and study of territorial claims, focusing in particular on the concepts of contiguity and compactness. A territory is contiguous if all parts are connected to all other parts, and a territory is compact if all its parts are closely joined or densely packed spatially. Shaping territories to be contiguous and compact is often implicitly taken to be a worthwhile goal, in both empirical and normative assessments of territorial claims. This article focuses directly on these two concepts, taking a novel approach to the study of territory by raising questions about these foundational, but often unexamined, background assumptions. Interrogating territorial shape thus provides a useful means of examining arguments about the justice or legitimacy of the territorial rights attributed to states or peoples. The contingent origins of the concepts of contiguity and compactness suggest that evaluations of territorial shape have sometimes been based on an implicit affective ‘feel’ or emotional reaction as much as on logical or empirical argument. This conclusion allows us to rethink some of our unstated assumptions about the shapes of states and other political territories, and thus to reconsider the justice or legitimacy attributed to those claims.
Lipoprotein secretion: It takes two to TANGO

An unsolved mystery in cell biology is how unusually large secretory cargoes are exported from the endoplasmic reticulum. In this issue, Santos et al. (2016. J. Cell Biol http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201603072) report the function of a Mia2/cTAGE5 transcript fusion, named TALI, in the endoplasmic reticulum export of chylomicrons and very low-density lipoproteins, but not collagen XII.
Thresholds of Behavioral Flexibility and Environmental Turbulence for Group Success.

Agent adaptability – the ability of agents to change behavioral strategies when it is beneficial to do so – is presumed to be an important part of the robustness of complex adaptive systems (CAS). But, determining when changing behaviors is advantageous for agents has proven quite challenging in CAS research, as sometimes behavioral change is necessary, but other times it can impose costs that exceed benefits. I present the results from experiments using an agent-based model (ABM) designed to discover thresholds after which behavioral flexibility leads to improved societal-level outcomes in groups of agents in dynamic environments. The first major result is that there are thresholds in both levels of flexibility in agent behavior and in levels of turbulence in the environment below and above which there are marked differences in utility gains for agents. In particular, relatively high flexibility leads to lower overall utility scores, as well as, surprisingly, decreased diversity and increased inequality between agents. The second result is that at very high levels of environmental turbulence, the effects of the environment alone on agent utility overshadow any benefits to agents from flexible behavior strategies. This suggests, counter-intuitively, that the best strategy for agents in very dynamic environments is simply to keep behavior constant. The third major result is that there is an interaction between agent behavior and the environment: high flexibility of other agents can effectively make an environment more “dynamic”, which just fuels more flexibility, and leads to a scramble between different strategies with no utility gain. A final theoretical contribution of the paper is that the model is able to show drawbacks to flexibility without relying on costs to changing behavior, as is done in much of the literature on strategy change.
Generation and Purification of Catalytically Active Recombinant Sirtuin5 (SIRT5) Protein

Sirtuin-family deacylases promote health and longevity in mammals. The sirtuin SIRT5 localizes predominantly to the mitochondrial matrix. SIRT5 preferentially removes negatively charged modifications from its target lysines: succinylation, malonylation, and glutarylation. It regulates protein substrates involved in glucose oxidation, ketone body formation, ammonia detoxification, fatty acid oxidation, and ROS management. Like other sirtuins, SIRT5 has recently been linked with neoplasia. Therefore, targeting SIRT5 pharmacologically could conceivably provide new avenues for treatment of metabolic disease and cancer, necessitating development of SIRT5-selective modulators. Here we describe the generation of SIRT5 bacterial expression plasmids, and their use to express and purify catalytically active and inactive forms of SIRT5 protein from E. coli. Additionally, we describe an approach to assay the catalytic activity of purified SIRT5, potentially useful for identification and validation of SIRT5-specific modulators.