cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The consequences of pathogenic mutations to the human prion protein

Prion diseases, in which the conformational transition of the native prion protein (PrP) to a misfolded form causes aggregation and subsequent neurodegeneration, have fascinated the scientific community as this transmissible disease appears to be purely protein-based. Disease can arise due to genetic factors only. At least 30 single point mutations have been indicated to cause disease in humans. Somehow, these mutations must influence the stability, processing and/or cellular interactions of PrP, such that aggregation can occur and disease develops. In this review, the current evidence for such effects of single point mutations is discussed, indicating that PrP can be affected in many different ways, although questions remain about the mechanism by which mutations cause disease.
Three Different Turkey Luteinizing Hormone Receptor (tLH-R) Isoforms I: Characterization of Alternatively Spliced tLH-R Isoforms and Their Regulated Expression in Diverse Tissues

Abstract Using combinations of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 5′- and 3′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends, three different, alternatively spliced, partial turkey LH receptor (tLH-R) cDNA isoforms were characterized from ovarian mRNA. The first cDNA (tLH-Rintact) showed 98% and 72–75% similarity with chicken and mammalian LH-R sequences, respectively. The second cloned cDNA isoform (tLH-Rinsert) contained an in-frame TGA stop codon within an 86-base pair insertion that was located in the extracellular domain of the seven-transmembrane region. The tLH-Rinsert isoform could encode a truncated soluble protein isoform that lacked the transmembrane region. The third cDNA isoform truncated the transmembrane region (tLH-Rtrunc) and was derived by the deletion of the last exon by incomplete splicing. Generation of multiple transcripts by alternative splicing was elucidated by partial characterization of tLH-R genomic sequences. The differentially regulated expression of the tLH-R mRNA...
Increased Persistent Sodium Current Due to Decreased PI3K Signaling Contributes to QT Prolongation in the Diabetic Heart

Diabetes is an independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death and ventricular arrhythmia complications of acute coronary syndrome. Prolongation of the QT interval on the electrocardiogram is also a risk factor for arrhythmias and sudden death, and the increased prevalence of QT prolongation is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular death in diabetic patients. The pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for this lethal complication are poorly understood. Diabetes is associated with a reduction in phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling, which regulates the action potential duration (APD) of individual myocytes and thus the QT interval by altering multiple ion currents, including the persistent sodium current INaP. Here, we report a mechanism for diabetes-induced QT prolongation that involves an increase in INaP caused by defective PI3K signaling. Cardiac myocytes of mice with type 1 or type 2 diabetes exhibited an increase in APD that was reversed by expression of constitutively active PI3K or intracellular infusion of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3), the second messenger produced by PI3K. The diabetic myocytes also showed an increase in INaP that was reversed by activated PI3K or PIP3. The increases in APD and INaP in myocytes translated into QT interval prolongation for both types of diabetic mice. The long QT interval of type 1 diabetic hearts was shortened by insulin treatment ex vivo, and this effect was blocked by a PI3K inhibitor. Treatment of both types of diabetic mouse hearts with an INaP blocker also shortened the QT interval. These results indicate that downregulation of cardiac PI3K signaling in diabetes prolongs the QT interval at least in part by causing an increase in INaP. This mechanism may explain why the diabetic population has an increased risk of life-threatening arrhythmias.
Characteristics of Antarctic stratospheric aerosols during the 1987 ozone depletion episode based on SAGE II satellite observations

The stratospheric aerosols play an important role in the formation of polar stratospheric clouds which are linked to Antarctic ozone depletion. The aerosol extinction profiles for higher latitudes have been monitored by the SAGE II (Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II) satellite. In this study, features of Antarctic stratospheric aerosols during the ozone depletion episode of October 1987 are investigated based on the SAGE II data. The study focuses on (1) inferring the aerosol size spectrum using a modified randomized minimization search technique and (2) investigating the vertical, zonal, and columnar averages of aerosol properties such as extinction coefficient, optical depth, mean and effective radii, mass loading, total number concentration, and surface area concentration, together with the ozone concentration. The aerosol size distribution is found to be bimodal in several instances. An enhanced aerosol layer of relatively larger particles at altitudes between 21 and 23 km was found in Antarctic region. The effective radius can be fitted by Angstrom coefficient using either a linear or quadratic equation. On the average, in the region below 18 km, maximum values for the parameters of mass loading, total number, and surface area concentration were found to be located just above the region of the most severe ozone depletion. As to the columnar aerosol properties, bimodal feature in the size distribution is found during the days when the peak values of optical depth are greater than 10−3. Relatively abundant population of smaller particles is associated with the region of severe ozone depletion. The distinct latitudinal gradients of these aerosol parameters suggest that the stratospheric a rosols are separated into two regimes near 62°S–63°S, probably as a result of the dynamics introduced by polar vortex. Smaller and larger particles dominate at higher and lower latitudes, respectively. The standard deviation for both mean and effective radii are about 20–25% of the mean values. The fluctuation of the mass loading is about 50% from the mean and about 90% for the total number. The mean optical depth in 15–30 km layer is of the order of 10 −3. The average columnar ozone amount is about 95 DU (Dobson unit) with the amplification of about 48 DU. It is pointed out that the reported features of the stratospheric aerosols in the Antarctic region are useful in providing insights into the mechanisms for ozone depletion.
An Analysis of Microsatellite Loci in Arabidopsis thaliana: Mutational Dynamics and Application

Microsatellite loci are among the most commonly used molecular markers. These loci typically exhibit variation for allele frequency distribution within a species. However, the factors contributing to this variation are not well understood. To expand on the current knowledge of microsatellite evolution, 20 microsatellite loci were examined for 126 accessions of the flowering plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Substantial variability in mutation pattern among loci was found, most of which cannot be explained by the assumptions of the traditional stepwise mutation model or infinite alleles model. Here it is shown that the degree of locus diversity is strongly correlated with the number of contiguous repeats, more so than with the total number of repeats. These findings support a strong role for repeat disruptions in stabilizing microsatellite loci by reducing the substrate for polymerase slippage and recombination. Results of cluster analyses are also presented, demonstrating the potential of microsatellite loci for resolving relationships among accessions of A. thaliana.
Equivalence of expressions for the acoustic scattering of a progressive high-order bessel beam by an elastic sphere

The exact analytical solution for the acoustic scattering of a high-order (commonly known as generalized) Bessel beam (HOBB) by an elastic sphere immersed in an ideal fluid and centered along the beam axis is revisited. The far-field acoustic scattering field is expressed as a partial wave series involving the scattering angle relative to the beam axis, the order, and the half-conical angle of the wave number components of the generalized Bessel beam. Using an appropriate grouping of terms, the expressions for the incident and scattered pressures, as well as the scattering (complex) form function provided in a recent work are transformed into expressions involving the partial wave series starting from the order m of the generalized Bessel beam. In this new formulation, the scattering coefficients for a HOBB are found to equal those obtained from the study of sound scattering of plane progressive waves by an elastic sphere. This suggests that the (complex) form function presented here may be used to advantage toward studying the acoustic scattering of a HOBB by spherical shells, coated spheres, and coated spherical shells using their corresponding scattering partial wave coefficients available in standard and recent literature texts.
A Pairwise Reduced Kernel-based Multi-classification Tikhonov Regularization Machine

This paper presents a reduced kernel-based classification model for multi-category discrimination of sets or objects. The proposed model is based on the Tikhonov regularization scheme. This approach extends Mangasarian reduced support vector machine (RSVM) model in a least square framework for the case of multi-categorical discrimination. The dimension reduction of the kernel matrix is achieved by selecting random subsets of the training set. Advantages of this formulation include explicit expressions for the classification weights of the classifier(s), its ability to incorporate several classes in a single optimization problem, and computational tractability in providing the optimal classification weights for multi-categorical separation. Computational results are also provided for two-phase flow data.
Dancing Around Death Hospitalist–Patient Communication About Serious Illness

Hospital physicians care for most seriously ill patients in the United States. We employed dimensional analysis to describe communication about death and dying in audio-recorded admission encounters between seriously ill patients and hospitalists. Acknowledging or not acknowledging the possibility of dying emerged as a key process. Acknowledgment was rare, and depended on synergistic communication behaviors between patient and physician. Facilitators included patients cuing for information and disclosing emotional distress, and physicians exploring the patient's understanding of his or her illness and emotional distress. When hospitalists focused on acute issues, stated that they were awaiting test results, and deferred to other physicians, discussion moved away from acknowledgment. Meaningful discussion of end-of-life issues, including goals and values, fears about death and dying, prognosis, and options for palliative care followed open acknowledgment. This acknowledgment process can serve as a guide for providers to sensitively and honestly discuss essential end-of-life issues.
Renal denervation attenuates the sodium retention and hypertension associated with obesity

Abstract Recent studies have indicated that obesity is associated with hypertension, sodium retention, and increased sympathetic nervous system activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of renal nerves in mediating the sodium retention and hypertension associated with obesity. We determined the hemodynamic and renal excretory responses to a high-fat diet in control (n=6) and bilaterally renal-denervated (n=7) chronically instrumented dogs. After a control period of 8 days, dogs were placed on a high-fat diet for 5 weeks. In response to a high-fat diet, body weight increased from 19.9±2.2 to 29.9±2.4 kg in the control group and from 21.1±2.0 to 32.4±1.9 kg in the bilaterally renal-denervated group. Heart rate increased from 81±8 to 113±7 beats per minute in the control group and from 79±7 to 103±8 beats per minute in the bilaterally renal-denervated group. Arterial pressure increased significantly from 95±2 to 109±4 mm Hg in the control group. In contrast, 5 weeks of a high-fat diet in the bilaterally renal-denervated group did not significantly increase arterial pressure (which went from 87±3 to 90±4 mm Hg). Furthermore, the decrease in sodium excretion in response to the high-fat diet was significantly greater in the control group than in the bilaterally renal-denervated group. After 5 weeks of a high-fat diet, cumulative sodium retention was 455±85 mmol in the control group and only 252±47 mmol in the bilaterally renal-denervated group. Similar increases in glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow occurred in both groups in response to the high-fat diet. The results of this study indicate that the renal nerves play an important role in mediating the sodium retention and hypertension associated with obesity in dogs.
Westinghouse AP1000 advanced passive plant

Abstract The Westinghouse AP1000 Program is aimed at making available a nuclear power plant that is economical in the US deregulated electrical power industry in the near-term. The AP1000 is a two-loop 1000 MWe pressurizer water reactor (PWR). It is an uprated version of the AP600. Passive safety systems are used to provide significant and measurable improvements in plant simplification, safety, reliability, investment protection and plant costs. The AP1000 uses proven technology, which builds on over 35 years of operating PWR experience. The AP1000 received Final Design Approval from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission in September 2004; the AP1000 has also received Design Certification by the USNRC in December 2005. The AP1000 and its predecessor AP600 are the only nuclear reactor designs using passive safety technology licensed anywhere in the world. The safety performance of AP1000 has been verified by extensive testing, safety analysis and probabilistic safety assessment. AP1000 safety margins are large and the potential for accident scenarios that could jeopardize public safety is extremely low. Simplicity is a key technical concept behind the AP1000. It makes the AP1000 easier and less expensive to build, operate, and maintain. Simplification also provides a hedge against regulatory driven operations and maintenance costs by eliminating equipment subject to regulation. The AP1000's greatly simplified design complies with NRC regulatory and safety requirements and the EPRI advanced light water reactor (ALWR) utility requirements document. Plans are being developed for implementation of the AP1000 plant. Key factors in this planning are the economics of AP1000 in the de-regulated US electricity market, and the associated business model for licensing, constructing and operating these new plants.
Statistical cataloging of archival data for luminosity class IV-V stars. I. The epoch 2001 temperature catalog

This paper is one of a pair in which temperatures and metallicity catalogs for class IV-V stars are considered. The temperature catalog described here is derived from a calibration based on stellar angular diameters. If published calibrations of this kind are compared by using color-index transformations, temperature-dependent dierences among the calibrations are commonly found. However, such dierences are minimized if attention is restricted to calibrations based on Johnson V K.A calibration of this sort from Di Benedetto (1998) is therefore tested and adopted. That calibration is then applied to spectroscopic and photometric data, with the latter predominating. Cousins R I photometry receives special attention because of its high precision and low metallicity sensitivity. Testing of temperatures derived from the calibration suggests that their accuracy and precision are satisfactory, though further testing will be warranted as new results appear. These temperatures appear in the catalog as values of 5040=T (eective). Most of these entries are accompanied by measured or derived values of Cousins R I. Entries are given for 951 stars.
Mask loss-of-function rescues mitochondrial impairment and muscle degeneration of Drosophila pink1 and parkin mutants

PTEN-induced kinase 1 (Pink1) and ubiquitin E3 ligase Parkin function in a linear pathway to maintain healthy mitochondria via regulating mitochondrial clearance and trafficking. Mutations in the two enzymes cause the familial form of Parkinson's disease (PD) in humans, as well as accumulation of defective mitochondria and cellular degeneration in flies. Here, we show that loss of function of a scaffolding protein Mask, also known as ANKHD1 (Ankyrin repeats and KH domain containing protein 1) in humans, rescues the behavioral, anatomical and cellular defects caused by pink1 or parkin mutations in a cell-autonomous manner. Moreover, similar rescue can also be achieved if Mask knock-down is induced in parkin adult flies when the mitochondrial dystrophy is already manifested. We found that Mask genetically interacts with Parkin to modulate mitochondrial morphology and negatively regulates the recruitment of Parkin to mitochondria. We also provide evidence that loss of Mask activity promotes co-localization of the autophagosome marker with mitochondria in developing larval muscle, and that an intact autophagy pathway is required for the rescue of parkin mutant defects by mask loss of function. Together, our data strongly suggest that Mask/ANKHD1 activity can be inhibited in a tissue- and timely-controlled fashion to restore mitochondrial integrity under PD-linked pathological conditions.
Magnetoelectric characterization techniques

Techniques for the measurements of the direct and converse magnetoelectric (ME) effects are discussed in this chapter. The direct-ME (DME) measurement techniques, that is, the sample response to an applied magnetic field, include voltage response of the composite to an applied bias magnetic field and a low-frequency ac magnetic field, DME at bending and electromechanical resonance, static magnetic field induced polarization, and magneto-dielectric effects. For the converse–ME effects (CME), one could utilize techniques such as measurements on remnant magnetization in an electric field and static electric field tuning of electromechanical or ferromagnetic resonance. For nanocomposites, scanning probe techniques, such as piezo-force microscopy under a static magnetic field or magnetic force microscopy in a static magnetic field, are used.
Designing and Testing the Feasibility of a Multi-level Intervention to Treat Adolescent Obesity in the Pediatric Primary Care Setting

Objective: To describe the development steps and feasibility test of a multi-level adolescent obesity intervention for delivery in pediatric primary care settings. Method: To understand the target setting and population (i.e., perceptions of and receptivity to various intervention components), focus groups were conducted with clinicians, adolescents, and parents (N=58). Findings informed the development of a multi-level intervention (i.e., office support systems, brief clinician-delivered counseling, and nutritionist-led adolescent group sessions) targeting overweight and obese adolescents (N=22). The intervention was pilot-tested for feasibility using a single group pre- and post-test comparison. Results: Families and clinicians agreed on the importance of developing approaches to address adolescent obesity in the pediatric primary care setting, and favored family involvement. The pilot-study showed that it was feasible to implement office system changes to support obesity treatment. All but one component of the cliniciandelivered counseling algorithm were feasible. Adolescents participating in the intervention reported dietary improvements and movement toward the action stage for decreasing sedentary behavior. Conclusion: Multi-level interventions for adolescent obesity in the pediatric primary care setting are feasible. Research to test the effectiveness of such interventions is warranted.
Numerical Modeling of the Phosphorus Cycle in a Shallow Oxbow Lake

A three-dimensional model was developed for simulating the phosphorus concentration in a shallow oxbow lake. The processes of mineralization, settling, adsorption, desorption, bed release (diffusion), growth and death of phytoplankton, etc, were considered, and the concentration of organic phosphorus, orthophosphate and phytoplankton were simulated. The adsorption and desorption of phosphorus from suspended sediment particles, as well as its release from bed sediment were verified using results obtained from laboratory experiments. The model was calibrated and applied to Deep Hollow Lake in the Mississippi alluvial plain. Simulated trends and magnitudes are generally in good agreement with field observations. Simulation indicates strong interactions between sediment-related processes and phosphorus concentration.
The Effect of Light Intensity, Temperature, and Diet on Growth in Red-Legged Partridge

Abstract Three hundred Red-legged partridge chicks (Alectoris graeca) were divided into two groups and fed starter diets calculated to contain 24.5 and 24.9% crude protein and 2646 and 2662 kcal/kg metabolizable energy, respectively. One diet consisted of 5% fish meal while the other contained all vegetable protein. One-half of the birds on each diet were grown under fluorescent light intensity of 300 lx; the remainder received 5 lx. The results indicated that neither the source of protein nor intensity of light had an effect on the rate of growth to 8 weeks of age. At 8 weeks of age, the birds were randomly divided among three climatic chambers and kept under a constant temperature of either 18.3, 23.9, or 29.5 C. At 12 weeks of age, one-half of the birds in each chamber were fed a 20% turkey grower diet; the remainder received equal parts by weight of the turkey grower diet and whole milo. Individual body weights and feed consumption were measured biweekly. Best growth was obtained in birds kept at 29.5 C and fed equal parts of turkey grower and milo from 12 to 30 weeks of age.
Numerical Simulations of Strong Shock and Disturbance Interactions Using High-Order Shock-Fitting Algorithms

High order methods that can solve flows involving interactions of flow-disturbances with shock waves are critical for reliable numerical simulation of strong-shock and turbulence interaction problems. Such problems are not well understood due to limitations of numerical methods. For numerical simulation of compressible flows, shock capturing schemes have been the most popular choice. However, most of such methods are inherently dissipative and may incur numerical oscillations near the shock. Present paper focuses on developing and implementing new algorithms based on shock-fitting and front-tracking methodology which can solve the flow with high-order accuracy near as well as away from the shocks. The shock-fitting algorithm avoids dissipation and possible numerical oscillations incurred in shock-capturing methods by treating shocks sharply. We explore two ways for shock-fitting: conventional moving grid set-up and a new fixed grid set-up with front tracking. Conventionally, shock fitting is implemented on moving grid while shock forms a boundary of the computational domain. However, shock-fitted grid generation can be tedious for large and complex motions of the shock-front. Hence, we have also worked on developing a fixed grid set-up for shock-fitting method where shock is tracked using Lagrangian points and is free to move across underlying fixed grid. Using these shock-fitting algorithms we have solved one and two dimensional interactions of shock and vorticity/entropy disturbance waves and results have been found to be very satisfactory. We have also carried out a rate of convergence study to establish that, unlike shock-capturing schemes, the shock-fitting methods are high-order accurate near the shock. Although problems considered in this paper are relatively simple, the quality of results obtained from shock-fitting method provides good motivation to pursue it further for the problems of shock-turbulence interactions. In future, fixed grid shock-fitting methodology will be further developed with Immersed interface method of Zhong [1, 2] and more robust front-tracking algorithms so that more complex shock-turbulence interaction problems can be considered.
Contributions, Lobbying, and Committee Voting in the U.S. House of Representatives

Lobbying efforts and campaign contributions from coalitions of groups are used to explain representatives' voting decisions within the U.S. House Ways and Means and Agriculture Committees. Information about which groups worked together on two controversial issues and which representatives they lobbied was obtained through personal interviews and a mail survey of professional lobbyists. The analysis reveals that committee-level voting, particularly in the Ways and Means Committee, is best explained by the total number of lobbying contacts representatives received from groups on each side of the issue. Campaign contributions proved somewhat useful for explaining groups' lobbying patterns; but it appears to be lobbying, not money, that shapes and reinforces representatives' policy decisions.
Can Do: Training Lawyers to Be Effective Counselors to Entrepreneurs - Report to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

This Report is the result of a grant to the University of Missouri-Kansas City from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to research and describe current methods of training law students and lawyers destined to represent entrepreneurs, and to identify promising pedagogy in pursuit of the goal of educating effective counselors to entrepreneurial clients. Entrepreneurs clearly need help in dealing with a multitude of increasingly complex laws and regulations. They may also require counsel in obtaining financing and negotiating their transactions, within the bounds of the applicable rules, to achieve their goals. The research reflected in this Report indicates that there are many accomplished educators dedicated to training their students to be effective, problem-solving legal counselors to entrepreneurs, and many examples of outstanding pedagogy in that pursuit. Moreover, the Report suggests that recent trends in legal education should facilitate further refinement and expansion of law and entrepreneurship programs, with particular focus on honing practical skills through experiential learning. The increasing emphasis on "apprenticeship" approaches will better enable law students to effectively and productively apply the substantive laws they have studied and the analytical skills they have developed in the classroom as they set out to work in teams with business clients and their other advisors. At the same time, there are certainly some impediments to widespread establishment of some of the more promising opportunities to prepare law students and lawyers to be exceptionally valuable counselors to entrepreneurs. In particular, there is much work to be done to overcome obstacles to the implementation of significant interdisciplinary initiatives. This Report addresses such challenges and includes recommendations for promoting throughout legal education in the United States more widespread use and expansion of the innovative teaching described in the Report and its appendices that is presently blossoming at several U.S. law schools.
Comparison of Rates of Hospitalization and Emergency Department Visits Using Self-Report and South Carolina Administrative Billing Data Among a Population-Based Cohort With Spinal Cord Injury.

Abstract Objective To compare self-report and South Carolina administrative billing data documentation of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in the past 12 months among a population-based cohort of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design Cross-sectional study. Setting SCI surveillance system in South Carolina. Participants Persons (N=605) sustaining a traumatic SCI between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2011 in South Carolina who, at the time of study assessment, were adults, were >1 years postinjury, and had not made a complete recovery. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Hospitalizations and ED visits in the past 12 months. Results There was a significantly higher rate of reporting >1 hospitalizations in the past year for self-report (36%) as compared with South Carolina administrative billing data (26%) ( P 1 ED visits (48% vs 45%; P =.11). Decreased physical health and increased injury severity were associated with higher reporting rates of hospitalization. Physical health and injury severity were predictive of both self-report and South Carolina administrative billing data of hospitalizations, whereas years postinjury and race were also predictors of South Carolina administrative billing data hospitalizations. Conclusions Our comparison of self-report and South Carolina administrative billing data hospitalizations and ED visits showed a significantly higher rate of reporting of hospitalizations using self-report, specifically among those with poor physical health and higher injury severity. Future work should look at different ways of asking about health care utilization and compare with South Carolina administrative billing data documentation to identify the best ways to assess through self-report.
Maternal Treatment Acceptability and Preference of Room Time-Out and Deferred Time-Out Escape Contingencies

ABSTRACTMaternal preference and acceptability were examined for two methods of addressing time-out escape behavior: room time-out (RTO) and deferred time-out (DTO). With respect to preference, mothers were split about evenly. Spanking frequency and previous effectiveness using privilege removal were associated with preference for DTO while previous effectiveness using RTO was associated with preference for RTO. Child age was negatively associated with acceptability for either treatment and lax parenting style was negatively associated with acceptability for DTO. Results suggest that DTO could provide an alternative escape contingency for mothers who spank their children or who have been unsuccessful using RTO.
Private Record Linkage: Comparison of Selected Techniques for Name Matching

The rise of Big Data Analytics has shown the utility of analyzing all aspects of a problem by bringing together disparate data sets. Efficient and accurate private record linkage algorithms are necessary to achieve this. However, records are often linked based on personally identifiable information, and protecting the privacy of individuals is critical. This paper contributes to this field by studying an important component of the private record linkage problem: linking based on names while keeping those names encrypted, both on disk and in memory. We explore the applicability, accuracy and speed of three different primary approaches to this problem along with several variations and compare the results to common name-matching metrics on unprotected data. While these approaches are not new, this paper provides a thorough analysis on a range of datasets containing systematically introduced flaws common to name-based data entry, such as typographical errors, optical character recognition errors, and phonetic errors.
Toddler physical activity study: laboratory and community studies to evaluate accelerometer validity and correlates

Toddlerhood is an important age for physical activity (PA) promotion to prevent obesity and support a physically active lifestyle throughout childhood. Accurate assessment of PA is needed to determine trends/correlates of PA, time spent in sedentary, light, or moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA), and the effectiveness of PA promotion programs. Due to the limited availability of objective measures that have been validated and evaluated for feasibility in community studies, it is unclear which subgroups of toddlers are at the highest risk for inactivity. Using Actical ankle accelerometry, the objectives of this study are to develop valid thresholds, examine feasibility, and examine demographic/ anthropometric PA correlates of MVPA among toddlers from low-income families. Two studies were conducted with toddlers (12–36 months). Laboratory Study (n = 24)- Two Actical accelerometers were placed on the ankle. PA was observed using the Child Activity Rating Scale (CARS, prescribed activities). Analyses included device equivalence reliability (correlation: activity counts of two Acticals), criterion-related validity (correlation: activity counts and CARS ratings), and sensitivity/specificity for thresholds. Community Study (n = 277, low-income mother-toddler dyads recruited)- An Actical was worn on the ankle for > 7 days (goal >5, 24-h days). Height/weight was measured. Mothers reported demographics. Analyses included frequencies (feasibility) and stepwise multiple linear regression (sMLR). Laboratory Study- Acticals demonstrated reliability (r = 0.980) and validity (r = 0.75). Thresholds demonstrated sensitivity (86 %) and specificity (88 %). Community Study- 86 % wore accelerometer, 69 % had valid data (mean = 5.2 days). Primary reasons for missing/invalid data: refusal (14 %) and wear-time ≤2 days (11 %). The MVPA threshold (>2200 cpm) yielded 54 min/day. In sMLR, MVPA was associated with age (older > younger, β = 32.8, p girls, β = −11.21, p = 0.032), maternal MVPA (β = 0.44, p = 0.002) and recruitment location (suburban > urban, β = 19.6, p Black, β = 18.5, p = 0.001). No association with toddler weight status. Ankle accelerometry is a valid, reliable, and feasible method of assessing PA in community studies of toddlers from low-income families. Sub-populations of toddlers may be at increased risk for inactivity, including toddlers that are younger, female, Black, those with less active mothers, and those living in an urban location.
A Molecular Dynamics Study of the Effects of V2+ and V3+ on the Local Structure of Hydrated Nafion

Because Nafion is a commonly employed membrane in vanadium redox flow batteries, we have undertaken classical molecular dynamics simulations to understand the effects of absorbed V2+ and V3+ on the local structure of the ionomer. The simulations reveal that at low hydration the vanadium ions directly interact with the sulfonate groups forming contact ion pairs. As the water content is increased to nearly fully hydrated conditions (18 H2O/SO3–), the probability for direct interaction is significantly reduced because of solvation of the cations by the water molecules. Surprisingly, V3+ showed less affinity to the SO3– groups than did V2+, as demonstrated by fewer V3+ around the SO3– groups. This is attributed to the stronger attraction of the first hydration shell water molecules to V3+. Despite the inhomogeneity of the system, the population in the first hydration shell is similar to that observed in bulk water. The pair correlation function between the SO3– groups and the H3O+ cations is strongly affected...
Arterial Calcification in Cardiovascular Risk Prediction: Should We Shift the Target for Screening Beyond the Coronaries?

There is considerable controversy regarding the most effective means to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although traditional metrics, such as the Pooled Cohort atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk equation, remains essential in providing a comprehensive assessment of CVD risk,1 there is also a well-established body of evidence on the utility of noninvasive imaging. Accordingly, imaging has been frequently applied to detect subclinical atherosclerosis and differentiate among at-risk individuals those who would benefit from more intensive therapies in the primary prevention of CVD.2 Specifically, advanced imaging modalities have been used to target well-defined subcomponents of atheromatous disease, such as coronary artery calcification (CAC), as a means to further improve detection of high risk individuals. See Article by Bos et al CAC scoring, in particular, has been shown to provide significant value in estimating CVD events with higher strata of Agatston scores corresponding with increasing elevations of risk.3 Importantly, the development of atherosclerotic disease is not exclusive to the coronary arteries but rather is a systemic process that develops in heart valves, throughout the aorta, and peripheral arteries. Differential rates and patterns of plaque development exist within each vascular bed mediated by clinical, genetic, and comorbid factors associated with atherosclerosis.4 Thus, given the heterogeneous distribution and variable degrees of atherosclerotic progression, the utility of imaging the coronaries alone is expectedly suboptimal for estimating the total burden of CVD risk. Current evidence for the prognostic significance of extracoronary calcification, in particular as it relates to added prognostic value above CAC …
A constant conflict

Narrowing down the value of the Hubble constant has been problematic — probably a manifestation of the dark-energy mystery, writes Barbara Ryden.
Do kinematic metrics of walking balance adapt to perturbed optical flow

Abstract Visual (i.e., optical flow) perturbations can be used to study balance control and balance deficits. However, it remains unclear whether walking balance control adapts to such perturbations over time. Our purpose was to investigate the propensity for visuomotor adaptation in walking balance control using prolonged exposure to optical flow perturbations. Ten subjects (age: 25.4 ± 3.8 years) walked on a treadmill while watching a speed-matched virtual hallway with and without continuous mediolateral optical flow perturbations of three different amplitudes. Each of three perturbation trials consisted of 8 min of prolonged exposure followed by 1 min of unperturbed walking. Using 3D motion capture, we analyzed changes in foot placement kinematics and mediolateral sacrum motion. At their onset, perturbations elicited wider and shorter steps, alluding to a more cautious, general anticipatory balance control strategy. As perturbations continued, foot placement tended toward values seen during unperturbed walking while step width variability and mediolateral sacrum motion concurrently increased. Our findings suggest that subjects progressively shifted from a general anticipatory balance control strategy to a reactive, task-specific strategy using step-to-step adjustments. Prolonged exposure to optical flow perturbations may have clinical utility to reinforce reactive, task-specific balance control through training.
Quark, Quark-like Products, and Concentrated Yogurts

Quark and similar soft paste-like cheeses are fermented dairy products produced by acidification of milk with lactic acid bacteria to ∼pH 4.6 to induce gelation with the aid of small amounts of rennet. The soft gel mass is mechanically separated by gravity or centrifugation into a paste-like curd and acid whey. The yield and composition of the finished paste-like product depends on the total solids (TS)/dry matter (DM) content of the starting milk, heat treatment given to milk, and efficient recoveries of the milk components by the mechanical separation techniques employed. The distinct flavor of the paste-like cheese is determined by the fermentation conditions dictated by use of mesophilic or thermophilic starters. This chapter describes some of the manufacturing methods of Quark and other paste-like cheeses and dairy products.
The evolution of the deformation substructure in a Ni-Co-Cr equiatomic solid solution alloy

Abstract The equiatomic NiCoCr alloy exhibits an excellent combination of strength and ductility, even greater than the FeNiCrCoMn high entropy alloy, and also displays a simultaneous increase in strength and ductility with decreasing the testing temperature. To systemically investigate the origin of the exceptional properties of NiCoCr alloy, which are related to the evolution of the deformation substructure with strain, interrupted tensile testing was conducted on the equiatomic NiCoCr single-phase solid solution alloy at both cryogenic and room temperatures at five different plastic strain levels of 1.5%, 6.5%, 29%, 50% and 70%. The evolution of deformation substructure was examined using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD), conventional transmission electron microscopy (CTEM), diffraction contrast imaging using STEM (DCI-STEM) and atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy. While the deformation substructure mainly consisted of planar dislocation slip and the dissociation of dislocations into stacking faults at small strain levels (≤6.5%), at larger strain levels, additional substructures including nanotwins and a new phase with hexagonal close packed (HCP) lamellae also appeared. The volume fraction of the HCP lamellae increases with increasing deformation, especially at cryogenic temperature. First principles calculations at 0 K indicate that the HCP phase is indeed energetically favorable relative to FCC for this composition. The effects of the nanotwin and HCP lamellar structures on hardening rate and ductility at both cryogenic and room temperature are qualitatively discussed.
miRNA-Mediated RNA Activation in Mammalian Cells

MicroRNA (miRNA or miR) is a small noncoding RNA molecule ~22 nucleotides in size, which is found in plants, animals, and some viruses. miRNAs are thought to primarily down regulate gene expression by binding to 3′ untranslated regions of target transcripts, thereby triggering mRNA cleavage or repression of translation. Recently, evidence has emerged that miRNAs can interact with the promoter and activate gene expression. This mechanism, called RNA activation (RNAa), is a process of transcriptional activation where the direct interaction of miRNA on the promoter triggers the recruitment of transcription factors and RNA-Polymerase-II on the promoter to activate gene transcription. To date, very little is known about the mechanism by which miRNA regulates RNA activation (RNAa) and their role in tumor progression. This is an emerging field in RNA biology. In this chapter, we describe the mechanisms utilized by miRNAs to activate transcription.
Postdural puncture headache

AbstractPurpose of reviewPostdural puncture headache remains the most frequent complication of neuraxial anesthesia. It can occur following uncomplicated spinal anesthesia as well as unintended dural puncture during epidural anesthesia.Recent findingsThe incidence following accidental dural puncture
Firm Turnover and the Return of Racial Establishment Segregation

Racial segregation between U.S. workplaces is greater today than it was a generation ago. This increase happened alongside declines in within-establishment occupational segregation, on which most p...
Increased hospice enrollment and decreased neurosurgical interventions without changes in mortality for older Medicare patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.

Abstract Background Hospice improves quality and value of end of life care (EOLC), and enrollment has increased for older patients dying from chronic medical conditions. It remains unknown if the same is true for older patients who die after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI). Methods Subjects included Medicare beneficiaries (≥65 years) who were hospitalized for msTBI from 2005 to 2011. Outcomes included intensity and quality of EOLC for decedents within 30 days of admission, and 30-day mortality for the entire cohort. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between year of admission, mortality, and EOLC. Results Among 50,342 older adults, 30-day mortality was 61.2%. Mortality was unchanged over the study period (aOR 0.93 [0.87–1.00], p = 0.06). Additionally, 30-day non-survivors had greater odds of hospice enrollment, lower odds of undergoing neurosurgery, but greater odds of gastrostomy. Conclusion Between 2005 and 2011, hospice enrollment increased, but there was no change in 30-day mortality.
Labels of aberrant Clusters of Differentiation gene expression in a compendium of systemic lupus erythematosus patients

This author manuscript serves as an extended annotation of gene expression for all known clusters of differentiation (CD) within a compendium of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. The overarching goal for this line of research is to enrich the CD transcriptome with perspectives of upstream gene expression features. Within our study, CD gene expression features (n=351) were labeled as 'aberrant' or 'non-aberrant, with 'aberrant' being further delineated as 'low' or 'high'. Gene expression was stratified at 20 and 80 percentiles, with low expression being between 0 and 20, average between 20 and 80, and high between 80 and 100. Some CDs required minor shifting of two-tailed thresholds, while others required binary transformation to characterize the CD feature. Detailed labelling of aberrance for all CD features (n=351) identified within the SLE Compendium is provided, including histograms of CD gene expression distribution and descriptive statistics of expression and variation.
Routine surveillance imaging following mild traumatic brain injury with intracranial hemorrhage may not be necessary

Abstract Background Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) comprises the majority of pediatric traumatic brain injury. Children with mTBI even with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (tICH) rarely experience a clinically significant neurologic decline (CSND). The utility of routine surveillance imaging in the pediatric population also remains controversial, especially owing to concerns about the risks of radiation exposure at a young age. This study aims to identify demographic or injury-related characteristics that may facilitate recognition of children at risk of progression with mTBI. Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients Minor Head Injury Algorithm . We reviewed each chart with emphasis on patient demographics, injury specific data, and radiographic or clinical progression. Results 154 patients met inclusion criteria with mean age of 4 [0–16]; 116 sustained an tICH and 38 patients had isolated skull fractures. Repeat neuroimaging was obtained in 68 patients (59%). Only 9 patients (13%) with tICH had radiographic progression, none of which resulted in CSND. In addition, 9 patients experienced CSND, leading to neurosurgical intervention in 6 patients. Notably, none of these patients had repeat imaging prior to their neurologic changes. Both CSND and need for intervention were significantly higher in patients with epidural hematomas than other types of tICH (19.2% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.002). Of 154 patients, 19 did not have documented follow-up, 135 were seen as outpatients and 65 (48%) had follow up neuroimaging. All patients who had surveillance imaging in the outpatient setting had stable or resolved tICH. Conclusion Few children with mTBI and tICH experience clinical decline. Importantly, all patients that required neurosurgical intervention were identified by clinical changes rather than via repeat imaging. Our study suggests that in the vast majority of cases, clinical monitoring alone is safe and sufficient in patients in order to avoid exposure to repeat radiographic imaging. Level of Evidence Level III, prognostic and epidemiological.
Anti-Angiogenic and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of Dietary Restriction in Experimental Brain Cancer: Role of Glucose and Ketone Bodies

Angiogenesis involves neovascularization or the formation of new capillaries from existing blood vessels and is associated with the processes of tissue inflammation, wound healing, and tumorigenesis. Recent studies from this laboratory show that moderate restriction of dietary energy intake (dietary restriction, DR) has powerful anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic effects against the CT-2A experimental mouse astrocytoma. DR reduces blood glucose levels while elevating ketone bodies. As most brain tumour cells are dependent on glycolysis for energy due to mitochondrial defects, they are unable to switch from glucose to ketone bodies for energy. An energy source shift from glucose to ketone bodies will enhance the bioenergetic potential of normal brain cells while reducing tumour cell growth and tissue inflammation. It is suggested that cancer therapeutics that reduce tumour growth, while also reducing food intake and body weight, may operate in large part through the anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic effects of DR.