cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ca2+ store depletion causes STIM1 to accumulate in ER regions closely associated with the plasma membrane.

Stromal interacting molecule 1 (STIM1), reported to be an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ sensor controlling store-operated Ca2+ entry, redistributes from a diffuse ER localization into puncta at the cell periphery after store depletion. STIM1 redistribution is proposed to be necessary for Ca2+ release–activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channel activation, but it is unclear whether redistribution is rapid enough to play a causal role. Furthermore, the location of STIM1 puncta is uncertain, with recent reports supporting retention in the ER as well as insertion into the plasma membrane (PM). Using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy and patch-clamp recording from single Jurkat cells, we show that STIM1 puncta form several seconds before CRAC channels open, supporting a causal role in channel activation. Fluorescence quenching and electron microscopy analysis reveal that puncta correspond to STIM1 accumulation in discrete subregions of junctional ER located 10–25 nm from the PM, without detectable insertion of STIM1 into the PM. Roughly one third of these ER–PM contacts form in response to store depletion. These studies identify an ER structure underlying store-operated Ca2+ entry, whose extreme proximity to the PM may enable STIM1 to interact with CRAC channels or associated proteins.
Allostery in Protein Domains Reflects a Balance of Steric and Hydrophobic Effects

Allosteric conformational change underlies biological function in many proteins. Allostery refers to a conformational event in which one region of a protein undergoes structural rearrangement in response to a stimulus applied to a different region of the same protein. Here, I show for a variety of proteins that a simple, phenomenological model of the dependence of protein conformation on hydrophobic burial energy allows one to compute low-energy conformational fluctuations for a given sequence by using linear programming to find optimized combinations of sequence-specific hydrophobic burial modes that satisfy steric constraints. From these fluctuations one may calculate allosteric couplings between different sites in a protein domain. Although the physical basis of protein structure is complex and multifactorial, a simplified description of conformational energy in terms of the hydrophobic effect alone is sufficient to give a mechanistic explanation for many biologically important allosteric events.
A MALDI, TGA, TG/MS, and DEA study of the irradiation effects on PMMA

Abstract Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (Mw=6.4×103, PD=1.06) was irradiated under vacuum. The constant dose rate was 1.66×104 rad/min at doses between 10 and 100 Mrad using a cobalt-60 source. The samples were then analyzed by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), hyphenated thermogravimetric/mass spectrometry (TG/MS), and dielectric analysis (DEA), all novel methods for the analysis of polymers damaged by radiation. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were also used for analysis. This study evidenced main chain scission, the removal of ester side groups, and the production of monomer as a result of ionizing radiation.
Attributes and Amenities of Highway Systems Important to Tourists

Eleven road segments in Minnesota were examined in a user survey that addressed road travelers' preferences for physical characteristics, aesthetics, and amenities of that segment. The user survey was based on earlier focus group work. Results indicated that road travelers were able to differentiate between physical and socially derived attributes and amenities associated with a particular roadway. Roads do have character, and users are able to identify and evaluate characteristics specific to each road segment. Many roadway features related to maintaining scenic and environmental qualities were highly valued. Users are not supportive of additional business development along some roadways and prefer instead that activity be clustered in communities located on the road segment. Results also indicated that even though a particular roadway may not have had official scenic designation, user evaluations were similar to those with such designation or even more focused on scenic qualities.
Purity, Soul Food, and Sunni Islam: Explorations at the Intersection of Consumption and Resistance

ABSTRACT Contemporary African American followers of Sunni Islam are self-consciously articulating a form of eating that they see as liberating them from the heritage of slavery, while also bringing them into conformity with Islamic notions of purity. In so doing, they participate in arguments about the meaning of “soul food,” the relation between “Western” materialism and “Eastern” spirituality, and bodily health and its relation to mental liberation. Debates within the African American Muslim community show us how an older anthropological concern with food taboos can be opened up to history and to the experience of the past reinterpreted in terms of the struggles of the present.
The Integrity of the Intellect

It is characteristic of today that the intellect should require such humble allegiance as that which I offer in this lame and halting discourse. “But yesterday the word of Reason might Have stood against the world; now lies it there, And none so poor to do it reverence.”
High-Speed Factorization Architecture for Soft-Decision Reed-Solomon Decoding

Reed-Solomon (RS) codes are among the most widely utilized error-correcting codes in modern communication and computer systems. Among the decoding algorithms of RS codes, the recently proposed Koetter-Vardy (KV) soft-decision decoding can achieve substantial coding gain, while has a polynomial complexity. One of the major steps of the KV decoding is the factorization. The root computation involved in each iteration level of the factorization is traditionally implemented by exhaustive search. A fast factorization architecture has been proposed to circumvent the exhaustive root search from the second iteration level by using a root-order prediction scheme. However, the root computation in the first iteration level is still carried out by exhaustive search, which accounts for a significant part of the overall factorization latency. In this paper, a novel iterative prediction scheme is proposed to compute the roots in the first iteration level. The proposed scheme can substantially reduce the average latency of the factorization, while only incurs negligible area overhead. Applying this scheme to a (255, 239) RS code, a speedup of 36% can be achieved.
Assessing Quality of Care: The Limitation Imposed by Condorcet Paradox

Condorcet paradox can be used to illustrate the mathematical impossibility of consistently ranking societal choices that are based on individual values. Quality-of-care measures reflect the values and interests of individuals (for example, physicians, patients, and payers) with differing perspectives of health care. Accordingly, appropriate decision making, technical performance, patient satisfaction, outcome, and cost-effectiveness are all valid examples of quality measures. Any attempt to prioritize or combine quality measures should be resisted if Condorcet paradox is to be avoided. The most consistent strategy is to strive to increase quality in each and every facet of its assessment.
Patients' perceptions regarding oral anticoagulation therapy and its effect on quality of life.

ABSTRACTObjective: Anticoagulation clinics have improved the time spent within therapeutic range and decreased hemorrhagic complications and costs in chronic oral anticoagulation. Whether these benefits correlate to patients’ quality of life (QOL) remains to be determined. The impact of patients’ perceptions about anticoagulation on QOL has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate prospectively patients’ perceptions and quality of life in patients chronically anticoagulated.Research design and methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the prevalence of positive and negative perceptions about oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) and to identify vulnerable groups. Patients anonymously completed the SF-36 survey and a questionnaire that focused on patients’ perceptions of protection from thrombotic complications or fear of haemorrhage due to the anticoagulation. We related those perceptions to the General Health SF-36 score, to the patient's characteristics, the absolu...
Metabolism of 1,3-di-{4-[N-(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)sulphamoyl]phenyl}triazene (DDPSPT) in the rat

1. Six hours after rats were orally dosed with 1,3-di-{4-[N-(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)sulphamoyl][U-14C]phenyl},triazene (14 approx. 81% of the 14C remained in the gastrointestinal tract (gut) and less than 3% was excreted in the urine.2. Six hours after dosing, more than half of the 14C in the gut was present as DDPSPT. 14C-Labelled metabolites in the gut included 4-amino-N-{4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)-benzenesulphonamide (Sulmet), N4-glucosyl-N-(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)ben-zenesulphonamide (N4-gluc-Sulmet), 4-acetamido- N-(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)ben-zenesulphonamide (N4acetyl-Sulmet), and [N-4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)ben-zenesulphonamide] (desamino-Sulmet).3. 14C-Labelled compounds in the blood, liver and skeletal muscle included DDPSPT. Sulmet, N4-gluc-Sulmet, N4-acetyl-Sulmet and desamino-Sulmet.4. There was little or no reaction of DDPSPT with cysteine, bovine serum albumin. AMP, GMP, or calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid in vitro (pH 3, 5, 7 or 8).
Phosphorylation at Ser 26 in the ATP-binding site of Ca 2 + /calmodulin-dependent kinase II as a mechanism for switching off the kinase activity

Synopsis CaMKII (Ca 2 + /calmodulin-dependent kinase II) is a serine/threonine phosphotransferase that is capable of longterm retention of activity due to autophosphorylation at a specific threonine residue within each subunit of its oligomeric structure. The γ isoform of CaMKII is a significant regulator of vascular contractility. Here, we show that phosphorylation of CaMKII γ at Ser 26 , a residue located within the ATP-binding site, terminates the sustained activity of the enzyme. To test the physiological importance of phosphorylation at Ser 26 , we generated a phosphospecific Ser 26 antibody and demonstrated an increase in Ser 26 phosphorylation upon depolarization and contraction of blood vessels. To determine if the phosphorylation of Ser 26 affects the kinase activity, we mutated Ser 26 to alanine or aspartic acid. The S26D mutation mimicking the phosphorylated state of CaMKII causes a dramatic decrease in Thr 287 autophosphorylation levels and greatly reduces the catalytic activity towards an exogenous substrate (autocamtide-3), whereas the S26A mutation has no effect. These data combined with molecular modelling indicate that a negative charge at Ser 26 of CaMKII γ inhibits the catalytic activity of the enzyme towards its autophosphorylation site at Thr 287 most probably by blocking ATP binding. We propose that Ser 26 phosphorylation constitutes an important mechanism for switching off CaMKII activity.
Prevalence of unrecognized diabetes, prediabetes and metabolic syndrome in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) and metabolic syndrome are important targets for secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease. However, the prevalence in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention is not well defined. We aimed to analyse the prevalence and characteristics of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with previously unrecognized prediabetes, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Methods Data were collected from 740 patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention between November 2010 and March 2013 at a tertiary referral center. Prevalence of DM and prediabetes was evaluated using Haemoglobin A1c (A1c ≥ 6.5% for DM, A1c 5.7–6.4% for prediabetes). A modified definition was used for metabolic syndrome [three or more of the following criteria: body mass index ≥30 kg/m2; triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL; high density lipoprotein <40 mg/dL in men and <50 mg/dL in women; systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 mmHg and/or diastolic ≥ 85 mmHg; and A1c ≥ 5.7% or on therapy]. Results Mean age was 67 years, median body mass index was 28.2 kg/m2 and 39% had known DM. Of those without known DM, 8.3% and 58.5% met A1c criteria for DM and for prediabetes at time of percutaneous coronary intervention. Overall, 54.9% met criteria for metabolic syndrome (69.2% of patients with DM and 45.8% of patients without DM). Conclusion Among patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention, a substantial number were identified with a new DM, prediabetes, and/or metabolic syndrome. Routine screening for an abnormal glucometabolic state at the time of revascularization may be useful for identifying patients who may benefit from additional targeting of modifiable risk factors. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quality guidelines for systemic lupus erythematosus: slow but steady progress.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) places a significant burden on the US economy. It is estimated to be responsible for $10 billion to $20 billion in direct and indirect costs each year, costing the average patient with SLE an annual $10,000–$20,000 in accrued healthcare-related expenses1. These figures do not take into account the effects of loss of productivity and of disability, and that at least 10,000 people succumb directly to SLE annually (the psychological and societal effects of the disease). In part because of the pleomorphic presentation of SLE and its many symptoms, signs, and laboratory abnormalities, it is difficult to make recommendations as to how often patients should be evaluated and monitored. In 1999, an American College of Rheumatology Ad Hoc Committee formulated guidelines for the management of SLE in adults2. Although these eminence-based suggestions were prescient and well grounded, they are unfortunately now totally obsolete, in that they did not include targeted therapies, updated disease criteria, and newer insights garnered from biomarkers, imaging, clinical trials, and observational cohort studies. In 2010, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) made suggestions for monitoring patients with SLE in clinical practice and observational studies3. A total of 10 recommendations were presented based on Delphi …
A vegetally localized T-box transcription factor in Xenopus eggs specifies mesoderm and endoderm and is essential for embryonic mesoderm formation

Pattern formation in early embryogenesis is guided by maternal, localized determinants and by inductive interactions between cells. In Xenopus eggs, localized molecules have been identified and some, such as Vg1 and Xwnt-11, can specify cell fates by functioning as inducers or patterning agents. We have used differential screening to identify new Xenopus genes that regulate mesodermal patterning, and we have isolated a new member of the T-box family of transcription factors. This gene, named Brat, is expressed maternally and its transcripts are localized to the vegetal hemisphere of the egg. During early embryonic cleavage, Brat mRNA becomes partitioned primarily within vegetal cells that are fated to form the endoderm. Zygotic expression of Brat begins at the onset of gastrulation within the presumptive mesoderm of the marginal zone. Consistent with its zygotic expression pattern, Brat induces, in a dose-dependent manner, a full spectrum of mesodermal genes that mark tissues across the dorsal-ventral axis, from the blood through the Spemann organizer. Brat also induces endoderm, consistent with its vegetal localization, making Brat a good candidate for a maternal determinant of the endoderm. We tested whether endogenous Brat is required for mesoderm formation by expressing a dominant-negative, transcriptional repressor form of Brat in embryos. This treatment inhibited mesoderm formation and severely disrupted normal development, thereby establishing that Brat plays a critical role in embryonic mesoderm formation and body patterning.
Flexibility of Axially-Loaded Nonuniform Members

A simple scheme is devised to calculate the stiffness, carry-over factor, and fixed-end moment of nonuniform members under axial load either in tension or in compression. Based on the concept that the influence of the axial load and the non-uniformity of the cross section may be accounted for separately, it permits rapid determination of these constants by using existing design aids. The results of this investigation strongly indicate that the proposed method can be expected to yield satisfactory results in most practical cases.
Influence of the Parathyroids on Composition of Rat Milk.

Summary1. The effect of parathyroidectomy on the composition of rat milk was studied in animals maintained on diets varying in calcium and protein content. 2. The main effect of parathyroidectomy on milk composition was an increase in the total milk solids. However, maintenance of the plasma calcium at the control level by removal of litters and provision of dietary calcium abolished this effect. 3. The effect of parathyroidectomy on the calcium content of the milk solids depended on the magnitude of the decrease in plasma calcium and on the availability of dietary calcium and protein.
Barley Without Enzyme Supplementation in Broiler Grower and Finisher Diets

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of barley used in broiler chicken diets fed after 21 days of age. Experiment 1 was conducted in batteries and Experiment 2 in floor pens. None of the experimental diets in these studies used enzymes. Four varieties of barley were investigated in Experiment 1, all six-row cultivars. Body weight gain and feed conversion were not affected by barley variety or level of barley inclusion. In this experiment, broiler chicks were reared on basal starter diets to 21 days of age and then transferred to their respective grower battery units. The grower diet contained either 0, 10, 20, or 30% barley in least-cost formulated isocaloric diets. Experiment 2 was conducted in floor pens on pine shavings. The grower and finisher diets contained either 0, 10, 20, or 30% barley in least-cost formulated isocaloric diets. Only one barley variety, Callao, was used in this experiment. Each treatment consisted of eight replicate pens of 81 birds per pen. Body weight, feed conversion, and yield wee not different for barley fed and control birds. Litter conditions, as measured by litter caking, were used adversely affected only in pens where 30% barley was fed. Therefore, barley could be used without enzyme supplementation at up to 20% of the diet in broiler grower and finisher diets that were least-cost formulated.
Hemodynamic effects of an angiotensin II antagonist in rabbits with perinephritis hypertension.

SummaryRabbits with cellophane peri-nephritis and hypertension had lower cardiac output values than normotensive rabbits, and the elevated arterial pressure was maintained by pronounced increases in total peripheral resistance. Plasma renin activity was decreased in the perinephritic hypertensive rabbits compared to the values in normotensive controls. Infusion of the angi-otensin II antagonist, l-sarcosine-8-alanine angiotensin II, failed to lower the arterial pressure or to decrease the peripheral vascular resistance in the perinephritic hypertensive rabbits, which was a strong indication that angiotensin II was not involved in maintaining the hypertension.The excellent technical assistance of Ms. Omalou McBride and Mr. Jerry Benedict was sincerely appreciated. The authors are extremely grateful to Dr. Alan W. Castellion of Norwich Pharmacal Co. for providing the l-sarcosine-8-alanine angiotensin II (Saralasin) used in these experiments. The cellophane used in these studies was supplied by E. I. du Pont...
Mechanisms of atherosclerosis: role of LDL oxidation.

There is now extensive evidence suggesting that atherosclerosis begins with the formation of foam cells (the initial stage of the fatty streak) underneath an intact endothelial layer (1). An early step in foam cell formation is the adherence of monocytes to the endothelium overlying an initial accumulation of cholesterol. Subsequently, the monocytes enter the artery wall through cell gap junctions, presumably attracted by a variety of chemoattractants. Within the subendothelial space, monocytes differentiate into macrophages which may then take up lipoproteins (smooth muscle cells may also take up lipoproteins, although to a lesser extent) forming foam cells. The fatty streak, through a series of poorly defined steps, may develop into complex atherosclerotic lesions, called fibrous plaques, which may eventually lead to clinically apparent coronary artery disease (CAD). The fibrous plaques are covered by a thick cap of connective tissue and smooth muscle cells and overlay a core of necrotic cellular debris and lipid. Plaques may eventually grow large enough that they can project into the lumen of the artery, reducing blood flow. Most clinical events, such as myocardial infarctions, appear to be due to ruptures, in the margins of the fibrous plaques, which are macrophage-enriched, leading to hemorrhage into the plaque with subsequent thromboses and acute occlusion of the vessel.
Preparing for Peritoneal Dialysis

Preparing the CKD patient for PD requires a balanced presentation of information by an informed dialysis staff member or members so the patient may use a systematic decision process to choose the RRT modality. Age, independence, physical and mental capability, presence of family or community assistants, co-morbidities, quality of life, body size, residual renal function, nutrition, and the anticipated lifespan of the patient are all factors that must be taken into account in selecting a modality of RRT. With the choice of PD, planning for catheter placement by a competent surgeon and close follow-up by the dialysis staff are the next steps to ensure a smooth transition to ESRD.
The Brain-Network Paradigm: Using Functional Imaging Data to Study How the Brain Works

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is highly suited for studying patterns and relationships in whole-brain activity. A network-based paradigm for analyzing large volumes of fMRI data is a promising framework to understand brain function, but challenges in data analytics must be addressed to enable neuroscience breakthroughs.
Naturally good: Front-of-package claims as message cues

Excess bodyweight is a significant public health problem in the United States, increasing the risk of adverse health conditions including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Americans are consuming more calories than their bodies need each day and making purchasing decisions using heuristic cues, rather than caloric information. A recent trend in food and beverage labeling is the placement of a natural claim on a product's package. Unfortunately, the United States has not established clear requirements for natural claims and manufacturers are using this term liberally. Using models of information processing as a framework, the goal of this study was to predict the effects of natural claims on message processing and evaluations. It was predicted that natural claims would be perceived as heuristics for healthfulness. A 6 (product) x 2 (claim) experimental design was carried out. Support for the prediction that natural labeled products are evaluated as more healthful was found. Despite the fact that natural products contained the same number of calories as their regular counterparts, participants estimated that natural products contained 18% fewer calories. Implications of these findings for food labeling and public health are discussed.
Evaluation of digital radiography practice using exposure index tracking

Some digital radiography (DR) detectors and software allow for remote download of exam statistics, including image reject status, body part, projection, and exposure index (EI). The ability to have automated data collection from multiple DR units is conducive to a quality control (QC) program monitoring institutional radiographic exposures. We have implemented such a QC program with the goal to identify outliers in machine radiation output and opportunities for improvement in radiation dose levels. We studied the QC records of four digital detectors in greater detail on a monthly basis for one year. Although individual patient entrance skin exposure varied, the radiation dose levels to the detectors were made to be consistent via phototimer recalibration. The exposure data stored on each digital detector were periodically downloaded in a spreadsheet format for analysis. EI median and stan-dard deviation were calculated for each protocol (by body part) and EI histograms were created for torso protocols. When histograms of EI values for different units were compared, we observed differences up to 400 in average EI (representing 60% difference in radiation levels to the detector) between units nominally cali-brated to the same EI. We identified distinct components of the EI distributions, which in some cases, had mean EI values 300 apart. Peaks were observed at the current calibrated EI, a previously calibrated EI, and an EI representing computed radiography (CR) techniques. Our findings in this ongoing project have allowed us to make useful interventions, from emphasizing the use of phototimers instead of institutional memory of manual techniques to improvements in our phototimer calibration. We believe that this QC program can be implemented at other sites and can reveal problems with radiation levels in the aggregate that are difficult to identify on a case-by-case basis.
Influence of Group on Individual Subject Maps in SPM Voxel Based Morphometry

Voxel based morphometry (VBM) is a widely utilized neuroimaging technique for spatially normalizing brain structural MRI (sMRI) onto a common template. The DARTEL technique of VBM takes into account the spatial intensity distribution of sMRIs to construct a study specific group template. The group template is then used to create final individual normalized tissue maps (FINTM) for each subject in the group. In this study we investigate the effect of group on FINTM, i.e., we evaluate the variability of a constant subject’s FINTM when other subjects in the group are iteratively changed. We examine this variability under the following scenarios: (1) when the demographics and conditions for the iterative groups are similar, (2) when the average age of the iterative groups is increased and (3) when the number of subjects with a brain disorder (here we use subjects with autism) is increased. Our results show that when subject demographics of the group remains similar the mean standard deviation (SD) of FINTM gray matter (GM) of the constant subject was around 0.01. As the average age of the group is increased, mean SD of GM increased to around 0.03 and at certain brain locations variability was as high as 0.23. A similar increase of variability was observed when the number of autism subjects in the group was increased where mean SD was around 0.02. Further, we find that autism versus control GM differences are in the range of -0.05 to +0.05 for more than 97% of the voxels and note that the magnitude of the differences are comparable to GM variability. Finally, we report that opting not to modulate during normalization or increasing the size of the smoothing kernel can decrease FINTM variability but at the loss of subject-specific features. Based on the findings of this study we outline precautions that should be considered by investigators to reduce the impact of group on FINTM and thereby to derive meaningful group differences when comparing two cohorts of subjects.
The impact of modeling paradigms on the outcome of simulation studies: an experimental case study

We explore the impact of using different modeling paradigms on the outcome of simulation studies. Modeling paradigms, once implemented, follow different computational rules regarding how calculations are made and are sequenced during runtime. To test the effects of computational differences on a simulation's outcomes, we implement a simple queuing system as a Discrete Event Simulation model, a System Dynamics model, an Agent-based Model, and a Multi-paradigm Model. Our findings show that paradigm selection does play a role in the generation of outcomes, as the System Dynamics model produces a significantly different set of outcomes than the other models for the selected output variables. This paper serves as a first step in examining how the selection of a paradigm affects the outcome of the simulation.
Applying the Unified Protocol Transdiagnostic Treatment to Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Co-Occurring Emotional Disorders: A Case Illustration.

This article presents the use of a transdiagnostic, emotion-focused treatment with a young woman with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The patient also presented with subclinical depressive, posttraumatic stress, and eating disorder symptoms. The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (Barlow et al., 2011), a cognitive-behavioral intervention designed to be applicable across anxiety, depressive, and related disorders with strong emotional components, was used to address the range of Laura's presenting concerns. After 16 individual treatment sessions, Laura experienced significant reductions in NSSI (and urges to engage in NSSI) as well as observable improvements in her self-reported ability to respond more adaptively to intense emotion. She also reported moderate reductions in her anxiety disorder symptoms. This case illustration demonstrates how a short-term, transdiagnostic treatment approach can be flexibly applied to a variety of problems maintained by aversive and avoidant reactions to intense emotion.
Co-authors in History

Engerman focuses on substitutes and complements in the nature of collaboration. The former explains why some co-authors prefer to be theoretical and some empirical. The latter explains why some prefer to pool their skills, which can result in substantial economies of scale. While some co-authors may prefer a division of labor, others might just want to duplicate scholarly inputs.
On reachable set estimation for discrete-time switched linear systems under arbitrary switching

This paper addresses the problem of reachable set estimation for discrete-time switched systems under arbitrary switching. By introducing a novel conception called M-step sequence which is capable of characterizing all possible subsystem activation orders during M discrete-time steps, a Lyapunov function based approach is proposed to derive a set of bounding ellipsoids to estimate the reachable set. The proposed approach can cover the previous switched Lyapunov function approach and yields less conservativeness. Moreover, it can be shown that the M-step sequence method can also reduce the conservativeness in stability analysis for discrete-time switched systems under arbitrary switching in contrast to switched Lyapunov function method. Several numerical examples are provided to illustrate our approach.
Flat Drops, Elastic Sheets, and Microcapsules by Interfacial Assembly of a Bacterial Biofilm Protein, BslA.

Protein adsorption and assembly at interfaces provide a potentially versatile route to create useful constructs for fluid compartmentalization. In this context, we consider the interfacial assembly of a bacterial biofilm protein, BslA, at air–water and oil–water interfaces. Densely packed, high modulus monolayers form at air–water interfaces, leading to the formation of flattened sessile water drops. BslA forms elastic sheets at oil–water interfaces, leading to the production of stable monodisperse oil-in-water microcapsules. By contrast, water-in-oil microcapsules are unstable but display arrested rather than full coalescence on contact. The disparity in stability likely originates from a low areal density of BslA hydrophobic caps on the exterior surface of water-in-oil microcapsules, relative to the inverse case. In direct analogy with small molecule surfactants, the lack of stability of individual water-in-oil microcapsules is consistent with the large value of the hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB n...
On the Origin of Pandemic Influenza Viruses

Influenza continues to be one of the major epidemic diseases of man and is, in fact, his only remaining pandemic disease (Beveridge, 1969). This is largely because influenza virus undergoes extreme antigenic variation, the mechanism of which is still poorly understood. Two kinds of antigenic variation occur in influenza viruses, antigenic drift and major antigenic shifts; both involve changes in the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigens on the surface of the virus.
Information Center (IC) Bei IBM Deutschland

Das Potential zur Steigerung von Effizienz und Effektivitat im Buro ist nach wie vor enorm gros, denn bis zum Anfang der 80er-Jahre hat die Datenverarbeitung (DV) am Arbeitsplatz entweder nur reine Verwaltungs- und Routinearbeiten schneller gelost und damit Buropersonal entlastet oder aber einigen wenigen DV-Experten, besonders in Finanz- oder Planungsfunktionen, Hilfsmittel fur komplexe Rechenvorgange an die Hand gegeben.
Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity and Morphology of Chick Embryos Exposed to 60 Hz Magnetic Fields during Neurulation

The results presented here demonstrate that a 4 µT, 60 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field (MF) significantly enhances ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity during the first peak in the time course (15 hours - which corresponds to gastrulation), and diminishes the second peak (23 hours - which corresponds to neurulation). It is also shown that the superposition of a weak, temporally incoherent MF on a 60 Hz MF inhibits the 60 Hz induced alteration in ODC activity in both activity peaks. In another set of experiments, slightly older (48 hour) embryos were analyzed for gross morphology. The abnormality rate among MF-exposed embryos was approximately three times that of control embryos - with the vast majority of malformations being neural tube abnormalities. When embryos with morphological abnormalities were assayed separately from those which were morphologically normal, it was found that the ODC activity in the abnormal group was significantly less than that in the normal group. It was also found that there was no difference between the ODC activity of control normal embryos and those nor mal embryos which had been MF-exposed, and similarly there was no difference between the ODC activity of control abnormal embryos and MF-exposed abnormal embryos. It seems reasonable to presume that the modifications of a critical growth related enzyme such as ODC could be an important part of the biochemical basis by which neural tube abnormalities in chick embryos are induce by exposure to magnetic fields.
Student difficulties during structure-function problem solving

Protein structure-function is a key concept in biochemistry. We used the perspective of domain-specific problem-solving to investigate students' solutions to a well-defined protein structure-function problem. We conducted think-aloud interviews with 13 undergraduate students and performed qualitative content analysis to examine the differences in the domain-general and domain-specific knowledge among correct and incorrect solutions. Our work revealed that students used domain-general and domain-specific knowledge in their problem solving. We also identified difficulties for students with the amino acid backbone, amino acid categorization, and causal mechanisms of noncovalent interactions. Using the identified difficulties, we make recommendations for the design of instructional materials targeted to improve protein structure-function problem solving in the biochemistry classroom. © 2018 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 46(5):453-463, 2018.
Low-Level Parasite Persistence Drives Vasculitis and Myositis in Skeletal Muscle of Mice Chronically Infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.

ABSTRACT In chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection, the cause of Chagas disease, life-threatening inflammatory diseases develop over time in the heart, esophagus, and colon of some patients. C57BL/6 mice infected with the myotropic Colombiana strain of T. cruzi model many of the immunological and parasitological features of human infection but succumb to chronic paralyzing myositis and skeletal muscle vasculitis, not cardiomyopathy or gastrointestinal disease. Here we show that T cell depletion in the chronic phase of this model increased tissue parasitism to acute-phase levels and induced neutrophilic skeletal muscle inflammation. Conversely, after daily treatment with the trypanocide benznidazole for 8 weeks during the chronic phase, viable parasites were no longer detectable, myositis completely resolved, vasculitis was ∼80% reduced, fibrosis was reduced, and myofiber morphology normalized. After the drug was discontinued, parasitism rebounded, and immunopathology recurred. The parasite load was statistically strongly correlated with the severity of inflammation. Thus, both T cell immunity and trypanocidal pharmacotherapy suppress to very low levels, but do not cure, T. cruzi infection, which is necessary and possibly sufficient to induce crippling chronic skeletal muscle myositis and vasculitis in the model.
‘I’m looking for people who want to do disruption work’: Trans* academics and power discourses in academic conferences

ABSTRACTIn the United States, the academic discipline of higher education has emerged as a site in which transgender scholars have begun to engage. Transgender scholars have begun to disrupt the no...
Unravelling the band crossings in 68 Se and 72 Kr : The quest for T = 0 pairing

High-spin band crossings in $N=Z$ nuclei have been suggested to contain information on $T=0$ neutron-proton pairing correlations. Several experiments that produced high angular momentum states in the $N=Z$ nuclei ${}_{34}^{68}\mathrm{Se}$ and ${}_{36}^{72}\mathrm{Kr}$ have been carried out. Levels in these neutron deficient nuclei were populated through heavy-ion fusion reactions and their subsequent $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ decay was measured with Gammasphere. The combination of these data allowed the level sequence in yrast and near yrast bands to be firmly established, extended to higher spin, and has resolved some previously published discrepancies. The yrast sequence in ${}^{68}\mathrm{Se}$ was extended to spin $J=26$ and a new band crossing observed. In ${}^{72}\mathrm{Kr},$ the ground state band was found to fork into three bands, each of which has irregularities in its moment of inertia. Differential Doppler shift measurements indicate that the two high-spin bands have very different shapes. Similar, sharp band crossings were established in both nuclei. A comparison of these data with recent measurements of $N=Z+2$ nuclei ${}^{70}\mathrm{Se}$ and ${}^{74}\mathrm{Kr}$ allowed the issue of ``delayed alignments'' to be addressed in detail. No clear-cut evidence for any delay was found.
Sarcopenia as a predictor of survival and chemotoxicity in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer receiving platinum and taxane-based chemotherapy

Abstract Objectives Severe skeletal muscle loss (sarcopenia) is associated with poor cancer outcomes, including reduced survival and increased treatment toxicity. Our goal was to evaluate if sarcopenia was associated with worse survival outcomes and chemotoxicity in EOC patients undergoing primary platinum and taxane-based chemotherapy. Methods EOC patients diagnosed between 06/2000 and 02/2017 who received treatment with platinum and taxane-based chemotherapy were included. CT abdominal images closest to the time of diagnosis were retrospectively evaluated for skeletal muscle area at the 3rd lumbar vertebrae. Measurements were obtained with use of TomoVision® radiological software (SliceOmatic – version 5.0, Quebec, Canada). Sarcopenia was defined as Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) ≤ 41. Data analysis included Kaplan-Meier plots to assess survival, and unpaired t-tests were used to compare the means by groups. Results 201 EOC patients were evaluated. Sixty-four percent (128/201) met criteria for sarcopenia (SMI ≤ 41) at time of diagnosis. The mean overall survival did not differ between patients with SMI > 41 and SMI ≤ 41 (36.5 vs 40.8 months, p = 0.4, respectively). No difference in frequency of dose reduction, dose delay, hospital admissions, changes in regimen, blood transfusion, or toxicity was noted. There was no difference in distribution of toxicity grade. Conclusion Sarcopenia was not associated with worse survival outcomes or chemotoxcity in EOC patients receiving first-line platinum and taxane-based chemotherapy in this cohort. Future prospective studies should focus on interventions to prevent or reverse sarcopenia and possibly increase ovarian cancer survival, performance status, and quality of life.
De novo variants in exomes of congenital heart disease patients identify risk genes and pathways

Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects ~ 1% of live births and is the most common birth defect. Although the genetic contribution to the CHD has been long suspected, it has only been well established recently. De novo variants are estimated to contribute to approximately 8% of sporadic CHD. CHD is genetically heterogeneous, making pathway enrichment analysis an effective approach to explore and statistically validate CHD-associated genes. In this study, we performed novel gene and pathway enrichment analyses of high-impact de novo variants in the recently published whole-exome sequencing (WES) data generated from a cohort of CHD 2645 parent-offspring trios to identify new CHD-causing candidate genes and mutations. We performed rigorous variant- and gene-level filtrations to identify potentially damaging variants, followed by enrichment analyses and gene prioritization. Our analyses revealed 23 novel genes that are likely to cause CHD, including HSP90AA1, ROCK2, IQGAP1, and CHD4, and sharing biological functions, pathways, molecular interactions, and properties with known CHD-causing genes. Ultimately, these findings suggest novel genes that are likely to be contributing to CHD pathogenesis.
Cultural Differences in Tweeting about Drinking Across the US.

Excessive alcohol use in the US contributes to over 88,000 deaths per year and costs over $250 billion annually. While previous studies have shown that excessive alcohol use can be detected from general patterns of social media engagement, we characterized how drinking-specific language varies across regions and cultures in the US. From a database of 38 billion public tweets, we selected those mentioning “drunk”, found the words and phrases distinctive of drinking posts, and then clustered these into topics and sets of semantically related words. We identified geolocated “drunk” tweets and correlated their language with the prevalence of self-reported excessive alcohol consumption (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; BRFSS). We then identified linguistic markers associated with excessive drinking in different regions and cultural communities as identified by the American Community Project. “Drunk” tweet frequency (of the 3.3 million geolocated “drunk” tweets) correlated with excessive alcohol consumption at both the county and state levels (r = 0.26 and 0.45, respectively, p < 0.01). Topic analyses revealed that excessive alcohol consumption was most correlated with references to drinking with friends (r = 0.20), family (r = 0.15), and driving under the influence (r = 0.14). Using the American Community Project classification, we found a number of cultural markers of drinking: religious communities had a high frequency of anti-drunk driving tweets, Hispanic centers discussed family members drinking, and college towns discussed sexual behavior. This study shows that Twitter can be used to explore the specific sociocultural contexts in which excessive alcohol use occurs within particular regions and communities. These findings can inform more targeted public health messaging and help to better understand cultural determinants of substance abuse.
Development of relationship between bronchial asthma and polymorphisms of interlenkin-4 receptor α chain Q576R gene

Interleukin-4 receptor(IL-4R) plays a key role in the development of bronchial asthma (asthma). IL-4 connects with IL-4R, which in stimulates signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) phosphorylationed to be a dipolymer. This dipolymer goes to nucleolus from cytochylema which induces the transcription of the cytokine of helper T cell 2 ,leading the symptom of asthma. There is a Q576R polymorphism in IL-4Rα chain gene. R576 is related to the susceptivity of asthma,which may be a candidate gene of susceptivity of childhood asthma. IL-4R α chain 576 plays an important role in the serum IgE level. Reports about the relativity between R576 and the total serum IgE level are not the same. The polymorphisms of other genes are also related to asthma, the interaction between gene and gene has been concerned. This report summarizes the development of the relationship between asthma and polymorphisma of IL-4R α chain Q576R gene. Key words: Asthma; Interleukin-4 receptor; Q576R; Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6
Everyday discrimination and subsequent cognitive abilities across five domains.

Objective Previous research suggests that everyday discrimination is associated with worse concomitant performance in several cognitive domains, as well as faster subsequent declines in episodic memory. This study aimed to extend knowledge on the specificity, durability, and mechanisms of associations between everyday discrimination and cognition by using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and a longitudinal mediation design. Method Participants included 3,304 older adults in the Health and Retirement Study Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol. Discrimination was assessed using the Everyday Discrimination Scale. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the 8-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Vascular diseases were quantified as the self-reported presence of hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to estimate episodic memory, executive functioning, processing speed, language, and visuoconstruction across a battery of 13 neuropsychological tests. Structural equation models controlled for sociodemographics and baseline cognition ascertained 2 to 4 years prior. Results Discrimination was associated with more depressive symptoms and vascular diseases. Depressive symptoms mediated negative effects of discrimination on subsequent functioning across all 5 cognitive domains. Vascular diseases additionally mediated negative effects of discrimination on processing speed. After accounting for mediators, direct negative effects of discrimination remained for executive functioning and visuoconstruction. Conclusions This national longitudinal study in the United States provides evidence for broad and enduring effects of everyday discrimination on cognitive aging, which appear to be partially mediated by mental and physical health. Future research should examine additional mechanisms as well as moderators of these associations to better understand points of intervention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).