cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modifier genes play a significant role in the phenotypic expression of PKD11

Modifier genes play a significant role in the phenotypic expression of PKD1. Background Polycystic kidney disease type 1 (PKD1) is characterized by extreme variation in the severity and progression of renal and extrarenal phenotypes. There are significant familial phenotype differences; but it is not clear if this is due to differences in PKD1 mutations, differences in genetic background, or both. Methods A total of 315 affected relatives (83 PKD1 families) without end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were evaluated for disease markers, including renal volume, creatinine clearance, proteinuria, liver cysts, and hypertension. Of these patients, 19% progressed to ESRD within 1 to 10 years after the initial examination. Nested analysis of variance was used to investigate interfamilial and intrafamilial differences in these phenotypes. Heritability analyses were used to estimate the effect of the genetic background on phenotypic variability. The age of onset of ESRD was also analyzed with an additional 389 family members from the same PKD1 families without clinical evaluation but with data on age of onset of ESRD (or age without ESRD). Results There were significant phenotype differences between patients with the same mutation and different genetic backgrounds. The phenotypic variation between patients with different mutations and different genetic backgrounds was not significantly greater than the variation between patients with the same mutation and different genetic backgrounds. However, when the 389 family members were included, both the mutation and modifier genes had significant effects on the age of onset of ESRD. Inherited differences in genetic background were estimated to account for 18% to 59% of the phenotypic variability in PKD1 disease markers in patients prior to ESRD and in the subsequent progression to ESRD (43% heritability) in the 315 patients who were clinically evaluated. Conclusion Modifier loci in the genetic background are important factors in inter- and intrafamilial variability in the phenotypic expression of PKD1. The extreme intrafamilial phenotype differences are consistent with the hypothesis that one or a few modifier genes have a major effect on the progression and severity of PKD1.
CD44 expression identifies astrocyte-restricted precursor cells

The precise lineage between neural stem cells and mature astrocytes remains poorly defined. To examine astrocyte development, we have characterized glial precursors from neural tissue derived from early embryonic ages. We show that CD44 identifies an astrocyte-restricted precursor cell (ARP) that is committed to generating astrocytes in vitro and in vivo in both rodent and human tissue. CD44+ cells arise later in development than neuronal-restricted precursors (NRPs) or tripotential glial-restricted precursors (GRPs). ARPs are distinguished from GRP and NRP cells by their antigenic profile and differentiation ability. ARPs can be generated from GRP cells in mass or clonal cultures and in vivo after transplantation, suggesting a sequential differentiation of neuroepithelial stem cells (NEPs) to GRPs to ARPs and then to astrocytes. The properties of ARPs are different from other astrocyte precursors described previously in their expression of CD44 and S-100h and absence of other lineage markers. Using a CD44 misexpression transgenic mouse model (CNP-CD44 mouse), we show that CD44 overexpression in vivo and in vitro decreases the number of mature glia and increases the number of O4+/GFAP+ cells tenfold. Misexpression of CD44 in culture inhibits oligodendrocytes and arrests cells at the precursor state. In summary, our data provide strong evidence for the existence of a CD44+ ARP in the developing nervous system. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Utilizing custom registers in application-specific instruction set processors for register spills elimination

Application-specific instruction set processor (ASIP) has become an important design choice for embedded systems. It can achieve both high flexibility offered by the base processor core and high performance and energy efficiency offered by the dedicated hardware extensions. Although a lot of efforts have been devoted to computation acceleration, e.g., automatic custom instruction identification and synthesis, the limited on-chip data storage elements, including the register file and data cache, have become a potential performance bottleneck. In this paper, we propose a hardware/software cooperative approach and a linear scan register allocation algorithm to utilize the existing custom registers in ASIPs for eliminating register spills. The data traffic between the processor and memory can be reduced through efficient on-chip communications between the base processor core and custom hardware extensions. Our experimental results demonstrate that a promising performance gain can be achieved, which is orthogonal to improvements by any other technique in ASIP design.
Lyapunov exponents, periodic orbits, and horseshoes for semiflows on Hilbert spaces

Two settings are considered: flows on finite dimensional Riemann- ian manifolds, and semiflows on Hilbert spaces with conditions consistent with those in systems defined by dissipative parabolic PDEs. Under certain assump- tions on Lyapunov exponents and entropy, we prove the existence of geometric structures called horseshoes; this implies in particular the presence of infinitely many periodic solutions. For diffeomorphisms of compact manifolds, analogous results are due to A. Katok. Here we extend Katok’s results to (i) continuous time and (ii) infinite dimensions. Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, 251 Mercer Street, New York, New York 10012 E-mail address: lian@cims.nyu.edu Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, 251 Mercer Street, New York, New York 10012 E-mail address: lsy@cims.nyu.edu
Schema integration of distributed databases using hyper-graph data model

To efficiently retrieve information from heterogeneous and distributed data sources has become one of the top priorities for institutions across the business world. Information from these sources needs to be integrated into one single system such that the user can retrieve the desired information through the integrated system by a single query. In this paper, we present a design and a prototype implementation of a system for schema integration of distributed databases. The method we developed is based on the hyper-graph data model (HDM). The integration process is accomplished using the HDM operations. User's queries are submitted to the integrated schema but executed on local databases via the mapping structure that is established in the schema integration phase.
Structures and Dynamics of Quasi-2D Mesoscale Convective Systems

Abstract Recently, three distinct archetypes for midlatitude linear mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) have been identified. This article focuses on the fundamentals of two of these archetypes: convective lines with trailing stratiform (TS) precipitation and convective lines with leading stratiform (LS) precipitation. Both the TS and LS modes typically exhibit quasi-2D reflectivity patterns and quasi-2D environmental storm-relative wind fields. Ongoing work has revealed that there are three common flow structures for these quasi-2D MCSs: front-fed TS systems (which are sustained by front-to-rear storm-relative inflow), as well as front-fed LS and rear-fed LS systems (which are sustained by rear-to-front storm-relative inflow). This paper summarizes the observed structures of the front-fed TS, front-fed LS, and rear-fed LS modes, and then outlines an idealized numerical experiment in which these modes were simulated. The authors analyze the basic simulated kinematic and microphysical structures and provid...
Unimolecular dissociation of polyatomic ions by molecular beam photoionization mass spectrometry and collision-induced dissociation

6 Introduction 6 Experiment 9 Results 11 Discussion 33 Conclusion 36 References 37 n. COMBINING EXPERIMENT AND THEORY: THERMOCHEMISTRY OF SFN, SFN", AND SFN", N=1-6 40 Abstract 40 Introduction 4140 Introduction 41
Serial Echocardiographic Assessment of the Human Heart in Normal Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a physiological state that allows characterization of cardiac morphological and physiological adaptation of the human heart to chronic increase in preload and afterload. In addition, this characterization allows clinicians to detect pathological cardiac disease during early stages. Prior echocardiographic studies have described an increase in cardiac dimensions and changes in systolic and diastolic function during normal human pregnancy; however, the studies have been limited by cross-sectional design.1 It is important to develop uniformity in echocardiographic methodology, gestational age, and equipment and data collection when evaluating serial changes in pregnancy. Owing to the strong influence of age, ethnicity, and height on cardiac output and echo Doppler parameters, including tissue Doppler velocities, it is important to study serial changes in these parameters in the same cohort at each trimester of pregnancy and then in the postpartum state, to evaluate changes in cardiac structure and function during pregnancy and if and when the physiologic adaptation of the heart returns to normal. The high dropout rate during serial evaluation in pregnancy, especially during the postpartum state, makes such studies more challenging.2 Normal pregnancy-induced cardiovascular changes include an increase in stroke volume, cardiac output, and a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance.1,2 In this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, Savu et al 3 ought to be congratulated on their collaborative effort at 2 centers in collecting important data in a prospective study of normal pregnant women defining normal morphological changes in the heart during normal pregnancy. The authors still had a 38% dropout rate for the postpartum scan and compensated for this by collecting data on 10 age- and sex-matched controls. Dropout rate postpartum as high as 73% occurred in earlier studies of similar nature.2 Article see p 289 The article by Savu et al provides additional insights into physiological and morphological adaptive changes that occur
Computation of viscous transonic flow over porous airfoils

The viscous effects on transonic flow past an airfoil which contains a shallow cavity beneath a porous surface are studied numerically. The porous region occupies a small portion of the total airfoil surface, and is located near the shock. Both an interactive boundary layer (IBL) algorithm and a thin-layer Navier-Stokes (TLNS) algorithm have been modified for use in studying the outer flow, whereas a stream-function formulation has been used to model the inner flow in the small cavity. The coupling procedure at the porous surface is based on Darcy's law and on the assumption of a constant total presusre in the cavity. In addition, a modified Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model is used to consider the transpired turbulent boundary layer in the TLNS approach, and the Cebeci-Smith turbulence model is used in the IBL approach. According to the present analysis, a porous surface can reduce the wave drag appreciably, but it can also increase viscous losses. As has been observed experimentally, the numerical results indicate that the total drag is reduced at higher Mach numbers and increased at lower Mach numbers when the angles of attack are small. Furthermore, the streamline patterns of passive-shock and boundary-layer interaction are revealed in this study.
The Dignity of Job-Seeking Men Boundary Work among Immigrant Day Laborers

Drawing on interviews and comparative ethnographic fieldwork in two day labor hiring sites (a street corner labor market and a “regulated” day labor worker center), this article examines the discourses through which Latino immigrant day laborers make sense of, and find dignity within, their ongoing quest for work. My findings reveal a clear pattern of “boundary work” along the center/street divide, wherein each group of day laborers asserts its dignity and masculinity by repudiating what they construe to be the feminine submission exemplified by the other group. I argue that gender both shapes and is shaped through the articulation of these moral boundaries and show how workers' struggle to attain dignity—in this case, via strategies of social differentiation and distinction—can act against the formation of a collective identity.
Extending missing-self? Functional interactions between lectin-like NKrp1 receptors on NK cells with lectin-like ligands.

The functions of natural killer (NK) cells are clearly regulated by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Imolecules on their cellular targets. In mice, this is due to the action of MHC-specific inhibitory receptors belonging to the Ly49 family of lectin-likemolecules. The Ly49 receptors are encoded in theNKgene complex (NKC) that contains clusters of genes for other lectin-like receptors on NK cells and other hematopoietic cells. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that some of these lectin-like receptors, belonging to the Nkrp1 family, can recognize other lectin-like molecules, termed Clr, also encoded in the NKC. These genetically linked loci for receptor-ligand pairs suggest a genetic strategy to preserve this interaction and show several other contrasts with Ly49-MHC interactions. In this review, we discuss these issues and summarize recent developments concerning this non-MHC-dependent regulation of NK cell function.
Innovation That Matters - The IBM Research Way

Innovation, a principal IBM value, is becoming more interdisciplinary, more collaborative, more global, and more open. This paper discusses the essence of collaborative innovation, which is built on four pillars: people, methodology, structures, and platforms. In addition, it covers the motivation behind innovation, followed by a discussion on its changing nature. Some examples from IBM Research, including the Global Technology Outlook process and services innovation, further illustrate how IBM drives “innovation that matters to the world”. This paper focuses on IBM’s vision for a smarter planet as well as cloud computing as a collaborative innovation platform.
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) is cycle regulated in human endometrium and dysregulated in women with endometriosis

and citrate in single oocytes. To evaluate spindle and chromosome alignment, mice were injected with PMSG and hCG, sacrificed and ovulated meiosis II (MII) oocytes were collected. Mature oocytes were stained with tubulin and DAPI. Imaging was performed on a Leica confocal microscope and analysis performed blindly with ImageJ software. ANOVA, students t-tests, and chisquare analysis were used in the statistical analysis as appropriate. RESULTS: HF mice weighed significantly more than mice on the control diet (28g vs 21.7g, p<0.001). There was no difference in weight between mice receiving CoQ10 or placebo. Overall, ATP and citrate levels were lower in HF mice compared to controls (p<0.001). CoQ10 significantly increased ATP and citrate levels in control diet mice but did not improve ATP or citrate in the HF mice. Overall, CoQ10 improved the rate of normal spindle and chromosome alignment (92.3% vs 80.2%, p1⁄40.039). However, this improvement did not reach statistical significance in the subanalysis by diet. HF fed mice receiving placebo injections had the lowest proportion of normal spindles (72.2%), whereas control diet mice receiving CoQ10 injections had the highest proportion of normal spindles (94.4%). Interestingly, there was no difference in oocyte size between HF and Con diets, but the cohorts receiving CoQ10 had significantly larger oocyte diameter (75.5mm vs 82.8mm, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with CoQ10 improves oocyte metabolism and spindle and chromosome positioning. The obese maternal environment impairs oocyte metabolism, and while CoQ10 increases metabolites in controls, there was no improvement in obese mice. CoQ10 did recover spindle abnormalities in obese mice, but these results did not reach statistical significance. We propose translational and clinical studies to further investigate this mechanism as a potentially therapeutic agent to improve both fertility and pregnancy outcomes in obese women. Supported by: T32 HD040135-13 (CEB), Scientific Advisory Board of Vivere Health (CEB), American Diabetes Association (KHM).
Hashing with Graphs

Hashing is becoming increasingly popular for efficient nearest neighbor search in massive databases. However, learning short codes that yield good search performance is still a challenge. Moreover, in many cases real-world data lives on a low-dimensional manifold, which should be taken into account to capture meaningful nearest neighbors. In this paper, we propose a novel graph-based hashing method which automatically discovers the neighborhood structure inherent in the data to learn appropriate compact codes. To make such an approach computationally feasible, we utilize Anchor Graphs to obtain tractable low-rank adjacency matrices. Our formulation allows constant time hashing of a new data point by extrapolating graph Laplacian eigenvectors to eigenfunctions. Finally, we describe a hierarchical threshold learning procedure in which each eigenfunction yields multiple bits, leading to higher search accuracy. Experimental comparison with the other state-of-the-art methods on two large datasets demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed method.
The Influence of Campaign Contributors Over Elected Judges

I constructed an original dataset of campaign contributions and case outcomes at the state supreme court level. I coded 350 cases from the 2011-2012 terms across 14 diverse state supreme courts. I find that judges in my sample are more likely to vote with campaign contributors in both non-partisan and partisan states. However, certain electoral institutions constrain these effects. There is less of an effect in states that impose strict contribution limits and have longer term lengths. Moreover, the effects of contributions are more pronounced in states with partisan ballots.
The “stern, fearless settlers of the West”: Lynching, Region, and Capital Punishment in Early Twentieth-Century Colorado

This article explores the rhetoric of lynching articulated by whites in Colorado about three lynchings that occurred in the state, paying special attention to ideas of race, region, and the relationship between lynching and capital punishment. In 1900 crowds lynched one white man and two African American men. White Coloradans attempted to create a distinction between western vigilante-style killings, which they saw as positive responses to an inadequate system of justice, and southern white supremacist lynchings, which they described as lawless. These residents characterized the lynchings as examples of western vigilantism, asserted that race was an insignifcant factor in the killings, and argued that reinstating capital punishment, which the state had banned years earlier, would make lynching unnecessary. In 1901, largely in response to political pressure generated in the aftermath of the lynchings, the state legislature reinstated capital punishment.
Snowline Altitude and Climate in the Peruvian Andes (5-17° S) at Present and during the Latest Pleistocene Glacial Maximum

The present snowline in the Peruvian Andes (5-17°S), rises from as low as 4.7±0.1km on the eastern (windward) to more than 5.3 ± 0.1km on the western (leeward) side of the central Andes. The effect of temperature on snowline altitude is isolated from the effect of precipition by subtracting the altitude of the mean annual 0°C isotherm from the altitude of the snowline. This difference, defined as the normalized snowline altitude, increases with decreasing precipitation.The lowest late Pleistocene snowline rose from east to west and ranged in altitude from 3.2 to 4.9 (±0.1) km. Both the present and lowest late Pleistocene snowlines indicate that moisture at both times was derived principally from tropical easterly winds. An east-west precipitation gradient steeper than present is inferred for the eastern slopes of the centralAndes from the steeper late Pleistocene snowline gradient. Mean annual temperatures were 10±1.9°C cooler that today at 3.52 km, as calculated from a late Pleistocene snowline as much as 1.4±0.2 km lower than today. Mean annual precipitation was 25 to 50% less than today along the eastern side, and more than 75% less on the western side of the central Andes. These estimates of lower temperature and decreased precipitation are more extreme than previous estimates. They imply that the amount of glacial-age cooling elsewhere, such as in western North America, may also have been underestimated by previous researchers because they did not adequately consider the effect of reduced ice-age precipitation on snowline lowering.
Influence of exogenous insulin before breeding on conception rate and litter size of sows.

We conducted two experiments on commercial farms to evaluate the effect of insulin administered to primiparous sows before postweaning estrus on subsequent reproductive performance. On the day after weaning in Exp. 1, 138 crossbred primiparous sows were assigned to receive saline or insulin (.4 IU/kg BW) once daily at the time of feeding for four consecutive days. Treatment did not affect interval from weaning to estrus (5.1 +/- .2 d) or percentage in estrus by 7 d after weaning (92.6%). Farrowing rate at second parity was increased by insulin (76.7 and 92.3% for saline and insulin treatments, respectively; P < .01). Litter sizes at second parity were not affected by insulin treatment. Experiment 2 was conducted on a different commercial farm using 491 primiparous crossbred sows. They were treated similarly to those in Exp. 1 with saline or insulin after weaning, except that treatment duration of 2 d of saline or insulin was included. Treatment did not affect the interval from weaning to estrus (overall, 9.2 +/- .5 d), percentage in estrus by 7 d after weaning (79.1%) or farrowing rate (90.2%). However, the number of total pigs born in the second litter for sows mated within 7 d after weaning was increased (P < .05) by one pig in sows treated with insulin for 4 d (10.3 +/- .3 pigs) compared with 2 d (9.1 +/- .3) and with saline (2 d and 4 d grouped together: 9.3 +/- .1). Third-parity litter size was not adversely affected by treatments applied before the second litter. In conclusion, manipulation with a metabolic hormone such as insulin may improve postweaning fertility by affecting aspects of ovarian follicle development or pregnancy establishment.
Effects of in vivo cyclosporine administration on endothelium-dependent responses in isolated vascular rings

Background. Although in vitro studies suggest that cyclosporine (CSA) reduces endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR), controversy still remains regarding the erects of in vivo CSA treatment. The lack of correlation between CSA dosages and therapeutic efficacy has led to an increased emphasis on the monitoring of CSA blood levels in clinical immunosuppression. We therefore studied the erects of in vivo administration to rats of a therapeutic level of CSA on endothelium-dependent vascular reactivity using isolated vascular rings obtained from these animals
Stereoselective actions of S-nitrosocysteine in central nervous system of conscious rats.

This study examined whether the stereoselective actions of S-nitrosocysteine (SNC) in the central nervous system involves the activation of stereoselective SNC recognition sites. We examined the ef...
International Human Rights and Institutional Forensic Psychiatry: The Core Issues

Forensic patients have traditionally been hidden from view of the public, the legal system and the mental health system, a set of circumstances that has, for the most part, been fine with all parties (for a variety of reasons, none of which inure to the benefit of those institutionalised). Very little of the “civil rights revolution” that has made civil psychiatric hospitals and facilities for persons with intellectual disabilities less hidden from view (and has led to those individuals raising their voices in protest of dehumanising conditions, after decades/centuries of being silenced) has had a spillover impact on those in forensic facilities. The ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)—when read in light of the Convention Against Torture (CAT)—makes it more likely, for the first time, that attention will be paid to the conditions of confinement, worldwide, of this population, how those conditions regularly violate international human rights law and how those who are in charge of these institutions do so with impunity. In this chapter, I focus on the relationship between the CRPD and the CAT in questions related to the treatment of institutionalised forensic patients (those admitted to psychiatric institutions following involvement in the criminal justice system) and highlight some of the key issues that must be examined in this context. I argue further that shedding light on the deplorable conditions on forensic facilities and spreading awareness about the treatment in which patients are subjected is the first step in ensuring equality and reducing the stigma of mental illness. I also consider these issues in the context of the theory of therapeutic jurisprudence and conclude that the current state of affairs violates the precepts of that school of legal thought.
An investigative framework for studying the growth and evolution of complex supply networks

A Supply Network (SN) is a collection of firms that maintain local autonomy but who interact together to fulfill customer requirements. SN researchers have focused on the need to understand the reasons behind the diversity in the number and types of supply networks, as well as how these diverse networks interact, change and adapt over time. My research focuses on the dynamic growth aspect of SN's and addresses two fundamental questions: (1) how do Supply Networks grow and emerge and (2) are there simple rules and conditions that control the growth and emergence process? The dissertation presents an investigative framework for studying these and other questions concerning the growth and evolution of complex supply networks. An inductive approach is used to answer these questions. It starts by creating a new theory-based unified model of supply network (called UMSN) that incorporates four theoretical lenses, namely (1) industrial growth theory, (2) network growth theory, (3) game & market structure theory and (4) complex adaptive systems theory. The UMSN provides a holistic view for modeling growth and emergence in SNs. A generic rule-based modeling framework and a simulation-based computational framework using software agent technology was developed to operationalize and implement the UMSN. For investigating the growth phenomenon data and parameters from the US automobile industry over the last 80 years were utilized. The results and analysis show similar growth trends as empirically published data of well-structured industries such as the US automobile industry. The SN system grew and emerged as a complex adaptive system. The research also presents statistically significant results that supply networks grow and emerge based on interactive effects of local decision-making rules and environmental conditions, and that there is an underlying order to the emergence process. This research also develops chaos theory analysis techniques for predicting the SN system behavior over time; showing how such techniques can generate insights for policy makers and managers. My research contributes by extending the current state of knowledge of SN's as a dynamic system (network) and developing novel classification and analysis techniques. The insights drawn can aid managers/decision makers towards a better understanding of how SN emerge and grow.
Clinical and molecular characteristics of XPO1 mutations in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The XPO1 (exportin) gene (also referred to as chromosome region maintenance 1; CRM1) is a karyopherin that exports proteins and RNA fragments from the nucleus into the cytoplasm., The human XPO1 gene, located on chromosome 2 (2p15), is believed to encode an oncogenic protein since many of the molecules exported by XPO1 into the cytoplasm are associated with either known tumor-suppressor genes, such as TP53 or FOXO3A, or transcription factors that contribute to cell proliferation and survival such as IkB-α or STAT3 whose accumulation in the nucleus results in cell death. The binding of XPO1 to various proteins is mediated by recognizing the leucine-rich nuclear export signals (LR-NES) on the N-terminus of snurportin 1 (SNUPN) forming a nuclear pore complex or a cargo, thereby transporting proteins out of the nuclear membrane. Overexpression, deregulation, or dysfunction of XPO1 has been reported in various types of cancer. XPO1 is a therapeutic target in CLL, and selective inhibitors of nuclear transport (SINE) such as selinexor are now being investigated in clinical trials in CLL.
The effect of injury on the agonistic behavior of the Stomatopod, Gonodactylus Bredini (manning)

The stomatopod Gonodactylus bredini is a predatory, aggressive crustacean possessing powerful raptorial appendages capable of inflicting serious injury on conspecifics. These weapons are readily employed during contests for cavities in coral rubble. In this study, we document the incidence of wounds in a population of G. bredini from Panama, determine the influence such injuries have on the behavior and fighting ability of individuals when competing for cavities, and examine associated costs of injury. A major consequence of injury in G. bredini is a severe reduction in fighting ability which in turn can alter the outcome of contests for cavities and the behaviors used by injured animals during such contests. A less immediate, but potentially costly consequence of injury due to increased chances of cannibalism and predation and lost breeding opportunities, is an acceleration in the onset of molt cycles in animals missing raptorial appendages.
PL-PatchSurfer2: Improved Local Surface Matching-Based Virtual Screening Method That Is Tolerant to Target and Ligand Structure Variation

Virtual screening has become an indispensable procedure in drug discovery. Virtual screening methods can be classified into two categories: ligand-based and structure-based. While the former have advantages, including being quick to compute, in general they are relatively weak at discovering novel active compounds because they use known actives as references. On the other hand, structure-based methods have higher potential to find novel compounds because they directly predict the binding affinity of a ligand in a target binding pocket, albeit with substantially lower speed than ligand-based methods. Here we report a novel structure-based virtual screening method, PL-PatchSurfer2. In PL-PatchSurfer2, protein and ligand surfaces are represented by a set of overlapping local patches, each of which is represented by three-dimensional Zernike descriptors (3DZDs). By means of 3DZDs, the shapes and physicochemical complementarities of local surface regions of a pocket surface and a ligand molecule can be concise...
131I Treatment of Distant Metastases

131I has been used for many years for the therapy of patients who have distant metastases derived from differentiated thyroid cancer (Seidlin et al. JAMA 132:838–847, 1946). This chapter presents an overview of the literature regarding the efficacy of 131I therapy in the treatment of distant metastases and discusses the approaches to select the prescribed activity (dosage) of 131I for these therapies.
Smart Instrumentation for Shoulder and Hip Replacement

Accurate implant placement is important to the success of joint replacement surgery. Three dimensional pre-operative planning optimizing the ability to define the anatomy and select the desired implant and its location. Linking this information into implant and patient specific instrumentation has been termed smart instrumentation. Single use instruments contain the patient9s topographical boney anatomy and implant information. This same information can be placed within a bone model and a reusable instrument placed onto the bone model can be adjusted to capture the information originally in the planning software. This instrument can then be placed into the surgical site, registered to the bone surfaces and used to modify the bone surfaces to replicate the surgical plan. These concepts, technology and devices have been developed and clinically tested in randomized clinical trials for shoulder arthroplasty.
Sexual violence perpetrated against women in India: the role of forensic evidence

In response to the upsurge in acts of sexual violence against women in India, Parliament passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act of 2013, amending existing statutes and rules of evidence relating t...
Climate Change and People Change: Dancing the Dialectic

The fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2014) says that accelerated climate change is occurring because of enhanced release of greenhouse gases. It is pr...
Dual channel security

Defying attacks and vulnerabilities has been a challenge since the beginning of modern technology and especially after the gigantic leap of the online market system. Developers tend to aim at protection against theft in a new binary world that opened up a vast field for hacking and breaching personal information. In this study, we propose a dual channel security (DCS) model which is a novel key agreement protocol designed to overcome vulnerabilities and attacks that are arising from well-known protocols. It targets the weaknesses of communication mechanisms commonly used in Diffie-Hellman key exchange (DH), transport layer security (TLS) and near field communication (NFC). Moreover, it eliminates the arduous and costly processes of establishing a secure structure as in public key infrastructure (PKI) and is suitable for two kinds of applications: point of sale terminals (POS) and short-range wireless interconnection of mobile devices (D2D).
The role of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate in prevention of penile adhesions after circumcision: A prospective, randomized trial

Abstract Purpose Penile adhesions are the most common complication after circumcision, although strategies to decrease them are poorly studied. We conducted a prospective, randomized trial comparing the use of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (glue) skin adhesive to hydrophobic ointment after circumcision. Methods Patients Results From 11/2012 through 7/2016, 409 patients were enrolled. Adhesion data were available on 243 patients. There was no difference between glue (16.8%) and those with antibiotic ointment (15.2%) ( p =0.88) or in parental satisfaction across all areas measured. 165 patients were lost to follow-up, evenly distributed between the two groups (38% vs. 42%, p =0.49). Conclusion The placement of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate skin adhesive does not decrease the rate of postoperative penile adhesions after circumcision. Parent satisfaction outcomes are similar. Type of study Treatment study. Level of evidence Level II.
XtalFluor-E® mediated proto-functionalization of N-vinyl amides: access to N-acetyl N,O-acetals

XtalFluor-E® has been extensively used in a broad range of reactions in the past few years. Here we report its use with protic nucleophiles in a catalytic manner for the in situ generation of protons that lead to the proto-functionalization of activated olefins. Utilizing the latter protocol, proto etherification of enamides gives rise to N,O-acetals in nearly quantitative yields.
Surface State Electrons: Transport Through Dangling Bonds on Silicon, and Scattering and Confinement on Metals

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) [1] continue to find new applications. They are currently used to probe at the atomic scale, metals, semiconductors, superconductors, molecular and biological systems, and adsorbed layers [2]. Here we present two new applications in the study of two-and lower-dimensional electron systems involving electrons in surface states of semiconductors and metals. First, STM tip-sample electrical point-contacts are used to probe for electron transport among the dangling-bond states of Si(111)-7x7, and study the electrical properties of model nanostructures. Then, we show how one can take advantage of the wave character of the electron and use electron interference effects to study the interaction of the quasi-two-dimensional free-electron gas (2DFEG) formed by Shockley metal surface states with individual surface steps and adsorbed atoms. We use spatiallyresolved surface state spectroscopy to probe: the electronic structure of the steps, bulk-surface state mixing near them, the nature of the images of adsorbed atoms, and their interaction with surface states. Finally, we use the fact that surface steps act as barriers for electrons to confine them, form lowerdimensionality structures, and observe quantum size effects at room temperature.
Optimization of Supercritical Airfoil Design with Buffet Effect

In transonic flight within a certain range of Mach number and angle of attack, the flowfield becomes unstable, and it produces an oscillating aerodynamic force: a phenomenon commonly known as trans...
Learning to predict single-wall carbon nanotube-recognition DNA sequences

DNA/single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) hybrids have enabled many applications because of their special ability to disperse and sort SWCNTs by their chirality and handedness. Much work has been done to discover sequences which recognize specific chiralities of SWCNT, and significant progress has been made in understanding the underlying structure and thermodynamics of these hybrids. Nevertheless, de novo prediction of recognition sequences remains essentially impossible and the success rate for their discovery by search of the vast single-stranded DNA library is very low. Here, we report an effective way of predicting recognition sequences based on machine learning analysis of existing experimental sequence data sets. Multiple input feature construction methods (position-specific, term-frequency, combined or segmented term frequency vector, and motif-based feature) were used and compared. The transformed features were used to train several classifier algorithms (logistic regression, support vector machine, and artificial neural network). Trained models were used to predict new sets of recognition sequences, and consensus among a number of models was used successfully to counteract the limited size of the data set. Predictions were tested using aqueous two-phase separation. New data thus acquired were used to retrain the models by adding an experimentally tested new set of predicted sequences to the original set. The frequency of finding correct recognition sequences by the trained model increased to >50% from the ~10% success rate in the original training data set.
Curricular Development and Implementation of a Longitudinal Integrative Medicine Education Experience for Trainees and Health-Care Professionals at an Academic Medical Center.

A growing number of patients and consumers are seeking integrative medicine (IM) approaches as a result of increasing complex medical needs and a greater emphasis on prevention and health promotion...
Superplastic Metal Forming

During the past ten years, superplastic metal forming has progressed from a laboratory curiosity to a practical, economical manufacturing technique. The chapter, describing that progression, consists of three parts: the development of the relationships between stress and strain rate of superplastic alloys, and the effects of strain hardening and softening; a description of the relationships between mechanical properties and the behavior of these materials in laboratory thermoforming equipment; and a description of commercial manufacturing tools and techniques, and the characteristics of parts now manufactured by this process.
An irritable state: the contingent politics of science and suffering in anti-cancer campaigns in South India (1940–1960)

This article traces the making of anti-cancer campaigns in South India. Set at the cusp of decolonization, it explores how provincial physicians and women activists framed cancer care in the 1940s and 1950s. It offers insights into the argumentative, contingent ways in which public health concerns were framed and mobilized in Indian cities between a middle class public, medical experts and state agency. These cancer campaigns and local health debates have been neglected because historians have tended to focus on national level, political visions of health, on debates regarding international aid, transfer of medical technology, and targeted disease control programs. This has also shaped and limited how we have understood the complex, changing meanings and expectations of health and development in newly decolonized societies such as India. Analyzing the activist campaigns and writings of Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddi an influential physician, renowned Women’s Indian Association leader, and legislator, and tracing the making of urban, anti-cancer networks, I argue that cancer care campaigns both invoked and challenged nationalist and developmental priorities, and questioned assumptions about what were termed as ‘normative’ diseases and health risks in India. Even though they spoke of the curative, technoscientific and specialized aspects of cancer treatment and urged its provision in local hospitals, they also encouraged the state and philanthropists to assume moral responsibilities for care and chronic suffering. They built on contemporary social and political metaphors, especially Tamil cultural representations of women. These ideas created emerging spaces for debates through multiple discursive ambits that emerged while trying to articulate and balance ‘needs’ that were seen as dichotomous and competing between managing population wide, curable diseases and the needs of a vocal, minority of advocates supporting cancer care. These debate were no doubt also limited by the visions of middle-class women, urban philanthropy, and engagements with male political leaders, and health officials.
Clostridium septicum-infected aortic aneurysm or graft is a deadly diagnosis.

Abstract Background Clostridium septicum is an anaerobic, motile, spore-forming, toxin-producing gram-positive bacillus that can lead to rapidly progressive gas gangrene due to the release of alpha toxin. Aortic aneurysm secondary to C. septicum infection is a rare condition with 60 cases reported in the literature; however, we have recently treated several patients with the condition in our large tertiary care and aortic center. Methods Blood and tissue culture results collected between January 2005 and January 2018 and maintained in the microbiology laboratory database at the Cleveland Clinic were reviewed to identify those with C. septicum reported. Each was reviewed to determine radiographic or histopathologic correlation with aortic disease. Results Seven cases of C. septicum aortitis were reviewed. Underlying malignant disease was found in four cases and a history of remote malignant disease in one case. The most common location for infection was the infrarenal abdominal aorta. Vascular surgery had previously been performed in three of the cases. Five of the seven patients underwent operative repair. All patients were treated with β-lactam antibiotics. The two patients who did not undergo an operation died, which is consistent with the 100% mortality described in the literature. Of the five patients who underwent an operation, there was only one documented survivor and one was lost to follow-up. Conclusions In the largest reported case series, only a small percentage of patients with C. septicum-infected aortic aneurysms survived >1 year. In the patients described, those who did not receive an operation had 100% mortality. Earlier recognition and prompt operation with appropriate antimicrobial therapy are needed to improve the outcome of patients diagnosed with this rare infection.
Is PDT-based metastatic reduction a consequence of local tumor control or a true abscopal effect in immunodeficient mice? (Conference Presentation)

Despite the concept of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) being over a century old and regulatory approvals being worldwide for limited indications, PDT is not as broadly used for cancer treatment as promising pre-clinical observations might indicate. One of reasons maybe that it is primarily viewed as a local therapy, yet it is used in patients with advanced disease often in the palliative setting and with metastatic disease. The effect of PDT on metastatic disease has not been studied in any detail. We have reported both an increase and a decrease of metastatic burden. Increased survival in tumor bearing mice along with a decrease in metastatic burden has been demonstrated in both immune competent and immune deficient mice. While in immune competent mice this observation has been attributed to the activation of the mouse immune system, the explanation is less clear in immune suppressed mice (patients?).
The Influence of an Eddy in the Success Rates and Distributions of Passively Advected or Actively Swimming Biological Organisms Crossing the Continental Slope

AbstractThe Lagrangian characteristics of the surface flow field arising when an idealized, anticyclonic, mesoscale, isolated deep-ocean eddy collides with continental slope and shelf topography ar...
Legal Battles: Transgender Inmates’ Rights

Challenging binary gender norms and common conceptions of the differences between sexes, transgender individuals are misunderstood, feared, and often subjected to stigma. As a result, transgender i...
The Association of Lactation Duration with Visceral and Pericardial Fat Volumes in Parous Women: The CARDIA Study.

BACKGROUND Lactation is associated with lower risks for cardiovascular disease in women. Organ-related adiposity, which plays significant roles in the development of cardiometabolic diseases, could help explain this observation. We evaluated the association of lactation duration with visceral (VAT) and pericardial (PAT) fat volumes in women. METHODS Data were obtained from 910 women enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study (1985-1986) without diabetes prior to pregnancy who had ≥1 birth during 25 years of follow-up and had VAT and PAT measured from computed tomographic scans in 2010-2011. Cumulative lactation duration across all births since baseline was calculated from self-reports collected at periodic exams. RESULTS At baseline, the average age of women (48% black, 52% white) was 24 ± 3.7 years. After controlling for baseline age, race, smoking status, body mass index, fasting glucose, family history of diabetes, fat intake, total cholesterol, physical activity, and follow-up covariates (parity, gestational diabetes), the mean fat volumes across categories of lactation [none (n = 221), 1-5 months (n = 306), 6-11 months (n = 210), and ≥12 months (n = 173)] were 122.0, 113.7 105.0, and 110.1 cm3 for VAT and 52.2, 46.7, 44.5, and 43.4 cm3 for PAT, respectively. Changes in body weight from the first post-baseline birth to the end of follow-up mediated 21% and 18% of the associations of lactation with VAT and PAT, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In this prospective study, longer cumulative lactation duration was associated with lower VAT and PAT volumes, with weight gain partially mediating these associations.