cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A genetically encoded fluorescent reporter reveals oscillatory phosphorylation by protein kinase C

Signals transduced by kinases depend on the extent and duration of substrate phosphorylation. We generated genetically encoded fluorescent reporters for PKC activity that reversibly respond to stimuli activating PKC. Specifically, phosphorylation of the reporter expressed in mammalian cells causes changes in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), allowing real time imaging of phosphorylation resulting from PKC activation. Targeting of the reporter to the plasma membrane, where PKC is activated, reveals oscillatory phosphorylation in HeLa cells in response to histamine. Each oscillation in substrate phosphorylation follows a calcium oscillation with a lag of ∼10 s. Novel FRET-based reporters for PKC translocation, phosphoinositide bisphosphate conversion to IP3, and diacylglycerol show that in HeLa cells the oscillatory phosphorylations correlate with Ca2+-controlled translocation of conventional PKC to the membrane without oscillations of PLC activity or diacylglycerol. However, in MDCK cells stimulated with ATP, PLC and diacylglycerol fluctuate together with Ca2+ and phosphorylation. Thus, specificity of PKC signaling depends on the local second messenger-controlled equilibrium between kinase and phosphatase activities to result in strict calcium-controlled temporal regulation of substrate phosphorylation.
Endosymbiosis and population differentiation in wild and cultivated Lolium perenne (Poaceae)

 Premise of the study : Endophytic fungi are common inhabitants of cool-season grasses that can affect host growth and reproduction. One prerequisite for the expected coevolution between symbionts is that there exist variable effects of the endosymbiont on its host in different environments. Here, the impact of endophytes ( Neotyphodium lolii ) on survival, growth, and reproduction of wild populations of Lolium perenne from its native range (Italy, Morocco, Turkey, Tunisia) and two United States cultivars was explored.  Methods : Two unmanaged, common gardens 30 m apart in New Jersey, USA, were planted with endophyte-infected and uninfected plants of the six populations in August 2008. Plants were scored for tiller number and lengths, and survival in October and December 2008 and May and September 2009; fl owering tillers (spikes) were counted in spring 2009. A greenhouse experiment was designed to assess tiller production and growth of four populations.  Key results : There were signifi cant effects of population and garden on tiller number and lengths but no detectable effects of endophytes. Populations from Italy and Morocco and the two US cultivars grew well in one garden, but Tunisian plants grew the least in either garden. Overwinter survival and postfl owering survival were unaffected by endophytes. Spike production was strongly infl uenced by population. Although populations varied, there were no differences in growth between infected and uninfected plants in the greenhouse.  Conclusions : Due to the absence of unambiguous endophyte-mediated effects on growth and reproduction of these differentiated populations, putative coevolutionary relations between the endosymbiont and its native host species remain obscure in this grass – endophyte system.
Slowly balding black holes

The ``no-hair'' theorem, a key result in general relativity, states that an isolated black hole is defined by only three parameters: mass, angular momentum, and electric charge; this asymptotic state is reached on a light-crossing time scale. We find that the no-hair theorem is not formally applicable for black holes formed from the collapse of a rotating neutron star. Rotating neutron stars can self-produce particles via vacuum breakdown forming a highly conducting plasma magnetosphere such that magnetic field lines are effectively ``frozen in'' the star both before and during collapse. In the limit of no resistivity, this introduces a topological constraint which prohibits the magnetic field from sliding off the newly-formed event horizon. As a result, during collapse of a neutron star into a black hole, the latter conserves the number of magnetic flux tubes ${N}_{B}=e{\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}/(\ensuremath{\pi}c\ensuremath{\hbar})$, where ${\ensuremath{\Phi}}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}\ensuremath{\approx}2{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{2}{B}_{\mathrm{NS}}{R}_{\mathrm{NS}}^{3}/({P}_{\mathrm{NS}}c)$ is the initial magnetic flux through the hemispheres of the progenitor and out to infinity. We test this theoretical result via 3-dimensional general relativistic plasma simulations of rotating black holes that start with a neutron star dipole magnetic field with no currents initially present outside the event horizon. The black hole's magnetosphere subsequently relaxes to the split-monopole magnetic field geometry with self-generated currents outside the event horizon. The dissipation of the resulting equatorial current sheet leads to a slow loss of the anchored flux tubes, a process that balds the black hole on long resistive time scales rather than the short light-crossing time scales expected from the vacuum no-hair theorem.
Outcomes after repair or replacement of dysfunctional quadricuspid aortic valve

Objective Quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) morphology is rare (0.008%) but often dysfunctional, manifesting early or late in life. No large series have been evaluated. Current objectives are to characterize these patients, and assess repair possibilities and outcomes. Methods From 1989 to 2010, a total of 19,722 patients underwent aortic valve surgery at Cleveland Clinic. Thirty-one (0.0016%) patients had dysfunctional QAV and underwent repair or replacement for moderate to severe aortic regurgitation (n = 21), stenosis (n = 5), or both (n = 4). One additional patient with functional QAV required excision of fibroelastoma. The mean age was 58 ± 18 years. Ascending aortic diameter was ≥4 cm in 13 (42%) patients, and 7 required ascending repair (mean diameter: 4.8 ± 0.4 cm). Three patients had anomalous origin of coronary artery, and 1 required repair. Results The aortic valve was repaired in 7 (23%) patients and replaced in 23 (73%). The decision of which procedure to use was based on intraoperative findings. The Ross procedure was performed in 1 patient who had endocarditis. Most patients in the repair group had leaflet prolapse that was repaired with accessory cusp excision and commisuroplasty. The mean gradient after repair was 14 ± 5 mm Hg. Bioprostheses were used in all replacements; median valve size was 25 mm (range: 21-27 mm). No operative mortality occurred. One patient suffered nonpermanent stroke after aortic valve replacement. There was no myocardial infarction, renal failure, respiratory failure, or reoperation for bleeding. The median follow-up time was 38 months; 1 patient required replacement 13 years after previous repair for recurrent regurgitation and stenosis. Conclusions Quadricuspid aortic valve dysfunction includes both regurgitation and stenosis; repair may be feasible in some patients with regurgitation, but most require replacement. Aortic root and ascending dilatation are frequent, and further studies are needed.
Program synthesis from Workflow-Driven Ontologies

An approach that results in the development of Workflow-Driven Ontologies (WDO) (called the WDO approach) allows domain scientists to capture process knowledge in the form of concepts as well as relations between concepts. Program synthesis techniques can be employed to generate algorithmic solutions by transforming the process knowledge expressed in the WDO as concepts and relations to variables and functions and computing unknown variables from known ones based on the process knowledge documented by the domain scientist. Furthermore, the algorithmic solutions that are generated by program synthesis potentially can support the composition of services, which result in the creation of executable scientific workflows. The ultimate goal of this work is to provide an end-to-end solution for scientists beginning with modeling the processes for creating work products in terminology from the scientist's own domains and ending with component-based applications that can be used to automate processes that can advance their scientific endeavors. These applications can exploit distributed components that are supported by current cyber-infrastructure efforts. This paper discusses extensions to the WDO approach that support program synthesis. To elucidate this scenario, an example related to earth sciences is presented.
Development and Evaluation of a System for Wearable Audio Navigation

If it is not possible to use vision when navigating through one's surroundings, moving safely and effectively becomes much harder. In such cases, non-speech audio cues can serve as navigation beaco...
Cholinesterase inhibitors in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly and afflicts an estimated 2 to 4 million people in the United States [1] ,a number that can be projected to increase to 14 million by the year 2050. It accounts for 40% to 59% of nursing home admissions [2] and imposes an expanding economic burden on patients, their families, and the nation. It is the third most expensive disease to treat in the United States behind heart disease and cancer with an overall estimated annual cost between $80 and $100 billion. Effective treatments are urgently needed. Symptomatic treatments can help delay nursing home placement and thereby reduce costs substantially as well as provide relevant benefit to patients and their families. This article provides a brief overview of the current use of cholinesterase inhibitors in the treatment of AD with a look toward new potential uses in AD and related dementias.
A Bayesian approach to reconstruction from incomplete projections of a multiple object 3D domain

An estimation approach is described for three-dimensional reconstruction from line integral projections using incomplete and very noisy data. Generalized cylinders parameterized by stochastic dynamic models are used to represent prior knowledge about the properties of objects of interest in the probed domain. The object models, a statistical measurement model, and the maximum a posteriori probability performance criterion are combined to reformulate the reconstruction problem as a computationally challenging nonlinear estimation problem. For computational feasibility, a suboptimal hierarchical algorithm is described whose individual steps are locally optimal and are combined to satisfy a global optimality criterion. The formulation and algorithm are restricted to objects whose center axis is a single-valued function of a fixed spatial coordinate. Simulation examples demonstrate accurate reconstructions with as few as four views in a 135 degrees sector, at an average signal-to-noise ratio of 3.3. >
P0-3 Focused Ultrasound-Induced Molecular Delivery through the Blood-Brain Barrier

The delivery of gadolinium through the ultrasound- induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) openings of mice was investigated. The left hippocampus of mice (n=13) was sonicated (frequency: 1.525 MHz, pressure amplitude: 0.64 MPa, duty cycle: 20%, duration: 1 minute) in vivo through the intact skin and skull after the injection of pre-formed microbubbles (SonoVuereg; 25-30 mul). The BBB opening in mice was studied using MRI (p=3) and fluorescent microscopy (q=10). High- resolution MRI (9.4 Tesla, in-plane resolution: 75 times 84 mum, scan time: 110 min) were acquired 60-90 min post-sonication before and after intraperitoneally injection of gadolinium (Omniscantrade; 0.75 ml, molecular weight: 573.7 Da). Four to ten minutes post- sonication, fluorescent dextran of various molecular weights (3,000, 70,000, and 2,000,000 Da) were delivered intravenously. MRI revealed contrast-enhancement and dextran revealed fluorescence following BBB opening. The gadolinium and dextran were nonuniformly distributed within the sonicated region. More specifically, contrast enhancement and fluorescence was more pronounced at different regions. The MRI procedure was repeated one day after opening and revealed BBB closure in the hippocampal region. In conclusion, gadolinium was deposited through the transiently opened BBB in the left hippocampus of mice using a single-element FUS transducer. The BBB opening and closing behaviors, and the size of BBB opening were dependent on the region sonicated. Molecules of smaller molecular weight were more uniformly deposited throughout the hippocampus than larger molecules.
The Index Number Problem in the Measurement of Soviet National Income

Abram Bergson's recently published The Real National Income of Soviet Russia Since I928 1 is the most keenly anticipated book to come out of the field of Soviet economics. The result of more than a decade of research on the measurement of Soviet national income and its growth, Bergson's study is the definitive work in an area which has been the subject of several other highly competent studies. Bergson's findings are in no way startling. They serve to corroborate the general picture of Soviet performance which has been built up by Western scholars, Bergson among them, during the last several years. While his results provide scant support for official Soviet growth claims, they provide equally scant comfort to Western scholars who have hoped that the apparently high rate of Soviet growth might prove a statistical illusion. Bergson concludes that the real national income of Soviet Russia since i928 has increased at an average annual rate of 4.7 or 6.7 per cent when valued by alternative measures. This amounts to an average of 3.8 or 5.7 per cent per capita. This rate of growth exceeds contemporary U. S. growth, and either matches or surpasses U. S. growth for periods during which the national incomes of the two countries were at comparable levels. If the results seem familiar, the underlying theory and methodology raise interesting problems. The two main theoretical issues involved in Bergson's computations are his use of factor cost weights and the effects of index number relativity on his final results. While Bergson's use of factor cost weights to reflect marginal rates of transformation has already been the subject of detailed discussion, the index number problems which play a major role in his results deserve further attention. This review is primarily concerned with the methodological and practical issues raised by Bergson's use of index numbers. It examines the relationship of Bergson's formal discussion of index number theory to his empirical treatment of it. Bergson relies mainly on two measures of Soviet growth, one which values output using weights of a fixed base year, 1937, and one called the composite index, which values output using weights of the given year. His composite index results in estimates of average annual growth which are consistently about 2 per cent higher than base-year estimates. Although a 2 per cent difference is sizableindeed, rival estimates of Soviet national income have contested far smaller divergences-such variation is not uncommon between measures which use different weights. Still, the divergence becomes more surprising when the series are
Using Medical Claims for Policy Effectiveness Surveillance: Reimbursement and Utilization of Abdomen/Pelvis Computed Tomography Scans.

Objective To quantify changes in private insurance payments for and utilization of abdominal/pelvic computed tomography scans (CTs) after 2011 changes in CPT coding and Medicare reimbursement rates, which were designed to reduce costs stemming from misvalued procedures. Data Sources TruvenHealth Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database. Study Design We used difference-in-differences models to compare combined CTs of the abdomen/pelvis to CTs of the abdomen or pelvis only. Our main outcomes were inflation-adjusted log payments per procedure, daily utilization rates, and total annual payments. Data Extraction Methods Claims data were extracted for all abdominal/pelvic CTs performed in 2009–2011 within noncapitated, employer-sponsored private plans. Principal Findings Adjusted payments per combined CTs of the abdomen/pelvis dropped by 23.8 percent (p < .0001), and their adjusted daily utilization rate accelerated by 0.36 percent (p = .034) per month after January 2011. Utilization rate of abdominal-only or pelvic-only CTs dropped by 5.0 percent (p < .0001). Total annual payments for combined CTs of the abdomen/pelvis decreased in 2011 despite the increased utilization. Conclusions Private insurance payments for combined CTs of the abdomen/pelvis declined and utilization accelerated significantly after 2011 policy changes. While growth in total annual payments was contained in 2011, it may not be sustained if 2011 utilization trends persist.
Endocytosis, recycling, and degradation of unoccupied FcεRI in human basophils

Previous studies about basophils and mast cells identified the ability of IgE to up-regulate FcepsilonRI expression by a process that depends on stabilization of the surface receptor by IgE. However, the mechanism of loss from the cell surface, when unoccupied, is not known. The current studies have examined whether unoccupied FcepsilonRI on basophils is lost by shedding or endocytosis. IgE was dissociated partially from purified human basophils to augment loss of the unoccupied receptor, and comparisons were made between basophils +/- IgE resensitization prior to 1-day culture. Incubation did not result in a detectable receptor in culture supernatants. However, in the presence of IL-3, although total cell surface expression decreased by 30% (relative to resensitized cells), FcepsilonRI from whole cell lysates was not statistically different between the two conditions. Incubation for 18 h without IL-3 resulted in the same loss from the cell surface but equivalent loss in whole cell lysates. This degradation process was reversible with Bafilomycin A. There was also evidence that the internalized receptor could be recycled. After the initial 18-h down-regulation, the receptor could be found partially restored to the cell surface if IgE were added back to the culture +/- cycloheximide. Loss of the unoccupied receptor, as well as accumulation of the receptor under the influence of IgE, was found to be insensitive to the presence of a src-family kinase inhibitor, PP1. These studies establish that the unoccupied receptor is lost by a process of endocytosis, partially recycled to the cell surface, and ultimately degraded by a lysosomal mechanism.
Sensitivity and scenario analysis for simulation metamodels

We use simple orthogonal and non-orthogonal designs to analyze a multi-tiered model for forecasting performance of a large-scale home mortgage portfolio. The experiments are used to assess the sensitivity of performance to projected changes in economic conditions as well as the sensitivity of the model to coefficients estimated from historical data. Our results attribute the variation in loan performance to variation in individual factors or factor combinations, indicating which are crucial to monitor or forecast accurately. The results are at times counter-intuitive, indicating the benefits of a systematic approach to sensitivity assessment and scenario generation.
Earth-Science Studies of a Nuclear Test Area in the Western Aleutian Islands, Alaska: An Interim Summary of Results

Recent multi-disciplinary studies by the U. S. Geological Survey conducted on and near Amchitka Island in the Aleutians have contributed much to a better understanding of the geologic, hydrologic, and tectonic environment of the island as an underground nuclear test site. The work included geologic mapping, isotopic dating, deep drilling, geophysical surveys, hydrologic investigations, and post-test effects examinations. Three distinct volcanic episodes have been distinguished and dated. A general volcanotectonic history of the arc is proposed. The islands in the vicinity of Amchitka have apparently been stable tectonically in the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Most of the gravity and magnetic data can be interpreted in terms of known structure and rock distribution. Marine geophysical data tend to confirm structural stability of the insular area and indicate a scarcity of sedimentary material in the insular slopes and shelf. Geologic effects of underground tests have been minor. (auth)
My journey compass: a preliminary investigation of a mobile tool for cancer patients

Health information management for cancer care is a challenging and personal process that changes over time based on one's needs, goals, and health status. While technologies supporting health information management appear promising, we do not fully understand how health information tools fit into patients? daily lives. To better understand the opportunities and usage barriers of these tools, we designed and deployed a mobile, tablet-based health management aid: My Journey Compass. After one month of use, we interviewed twelve breast cancer patients to investigate their initial patterns of adoption, adaptation, use and non-use. We found that developing a tool that was customizable, mobile, and integrated into the patients' healthcare system resulted in a set of surprising uses by breast cancer patients for a wide variety of tasks. Our study demonstrates the potential for health management tools to improve the cancer care experience and for HCI research to influence existing healthcare systems.
Commercial sexual exploitation of children and state child welfare systems

In several states, commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is now a reportable child abuse offense. Illinois has taken the lead in tackling the issue and the Illinois experience illuminates valuable lessons. This article delineates the protection, practice, and policy implications that evolve when CSEC falls under a state child welfare system. The specific aims are to (a) discuss CSEC, its victims, risks, harms, and challenges inherent in providing effective care; (b) use Illinois as an exemplar to explicate the consequences and implementation challenges of establishing a state reporting system that frames CSEC as a child welfare issue; (c) recommend strategies for developing effective state reporting models, and (d) demonstrate how nurses are well poised to advocate for victims of human trafficking on both state and national levels. Recommendations for improving the identification of CSEC victims and overcoming challenges to state implementation are offered.
A Wong-type oscillation theorem for second order linear dynamic equations on time scales

We obtain Wong-type oscillation theorems for second order linear dynamic equations on a time scale. The results obtained extend and are motivated by oscillation results due to Wong [15]. As a particular application of our results, we show that the difference equation is oscillatory iff |b|>1.
Cyber-physical risk modeling and mitigation for the smart grid using a game-theoretic approach

Traditional probabilistic risk assessment approaches do not capture ‘threats’ in the risk modeling. In this paper, we propose a game-theoretic approach for cyber-physical risk modeling and mitigation that allows modeling of ‘threats’ by including attacker behavior, and can be adapted for dynamic attack scenarios. We also introduce a cyber-physical cost modeling framework that captures attacker actions in the cyber layer, attack impacts on the physical layer, and defender actions both in cyber and physical layer. We provide some insights into the benefits of applying game theory for cyber-physical risk modeling and mitigation through a simple, intuitive case study on a 3-bus power system. Finally, we identify some practical challenges and limitations for applying game theory to large systems and conclude the paper with some directions for future work.
Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Desulfotomaculum reducens MI-1: Insights into the Metabolic Versatility of a Gram-Positive Sulfate- and Metal-Reducing Bacterium

The proteomes of the metabolically versatile and poorly characterized Gram-positive bacterium Desulfotomaculum reducens MI-1 were compared across four cultivation conditions including sulfate reduction, soluble Fe(III) reduction, insoluble Fe(III) reduction, and pyruvate fermentation. Collectively across conditions, we observed at high confidence ~38% of genome-encoded proteins. Here, we focus on proteins that display significant differential abundance on conditions tested. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first full-proteome study focused on a Gram-positive organism grown either on sulfate or metal-reducing conditions. Several proteins with uncharacterized function encoded within heterodisulfide reductase (hdr)-containing loci were upregulated on either sulfate (Dred_0633-4, Dred_0689-90, and Dred_1325-30) or Fe(III)-citrate-reducing conditions (Dred_0432-3 and Dred_1778-84). Two of these hdr-containing loci display homology to recently described flavin-based electron bifurcation (FBEB) pathways (Dred_1325-30 and Dred_1778-84). Additionally, we propose that a cluster of proteins, which is homologous to a described FBEB lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) complex, is performing lactate oxidation in D. reducens (Dred_0367-9). Analysis of the putative sulfate reduction machinery in D. reducens revealed that most of these proteins are constitutively expressed across cultivation conditions tested. In addition, peptides from the single multiheme c-type cytochrome (MHC) in the genome were exclusively observed on the insoluble Fe(III) condition, suggesting that this MHC may play a role in reduction of insoluble metals.
Dental work force strategies during a period of change and uncertainty

Both supply and demand influence the ability of the dental work force to adequately and efficiently provide dental care to a U.S. population growing in size and diversity. Major changes are occurring on both sides of the dental care market. Among factors shaping the demand for dental care are changing disease patterns, shifting population demographics, the extent and features of third-party payment, and growth of the economy and the population. The capacity of the dental work force to provide care is influenced by enhancements of productivity and numbers of dental health personnel, as well as their demographic and practice characteristics. The full impact of these changes is difficult to predict. The dentist-to-population ratio does not reflect all the factors that must be considered to develop an effective dental work force policy. Nationally, the dental work force is likely to be adequate for the next several years, but regional work force imbalances appear to exist and may get worse. Against this backdrop of change and uncertainty, future dental work force strategies should strive for short-term responsiveness while avoiding long-term inflexibility. Trends in the work force must be continually monitored. Thorough analysis is required, and action should be taken when necessary.
Strategic Bundling of Telecommunications Services: Triple-Play Strategies in The Cable TV and Telephone Industries

AbstractThis study surveys the practice of triple-play strategy and examines the roles of industry environment and firm resources in influencing the adoption of bundling strategies. It was found that both cable multiple system operators (MSOs) and telcos engage in “mixed product bundling.” The nature of the core product seems to impact how the firms market their bundled products. There appears to be a relationship between a more “focused” portfolio and success in venturing outside of the core product area.
Predicting clinical outcomes in patients with negative peripheral and positive central blood culture with coagulase negative Staphylococcus species

ABSTRACTObjectives: Clinical outcomes in patients with negative peripheral and positive central blood culture with coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) based on different treatment approach such as intravenous antibiotics, removal of CVC, combined approach or just observation are not known.Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with negative peripheral and paired positive central blood culture with CoNS admitted at our affiliated hospital between 2008 to 2013. We compared clinical outcomes such as bacteremia, catheter related blood stream infection (CRBSI), mortality and Intensive care unit (ICU) admission over the next 90 days between the 4 groups based on the treatment approach: (1) No treatment received, 2) catheter removed, no antibiotics administered, 3) antibiotics administered, catheter not removed and 4) antibiotics administered, catheter removed). Logistic regression was used to assess the association between treatment approach and outcomes after adjusting for confounding var...
Expression of Kv1.3 potassium channel of CD4~+T lymphocyte in multiple sclerosis

Objective To investigate the variety of voltage-dependent potassium channel Kv1.3 mRNA of CD4+T lymphocytes in multiple sclerosis(MS).Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) were isolated from 17 activated MS,16 INF-β-1b treated MS and 10 healthy controls,and the expression of Kv1.3 mRNA in CD4+T cells in different condition was detected by one-step reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) analysis.Results The voltage-dependent potassium channel Kv1.3 mRNA was expressed in all three groups.Both in peripheral blood CD4+T cell and in myelin special CD4+T cell,compared with healthy control,the expression of Kv1.3 mRNA in activated MS and INF-β-1b treated MS was higher(0.68±0.08) vs(0.59±0.08),(0.60±0.07) vs(0.59±0.08),(0.76±0.07) vs(0.57±0.06),(0.67±0.08) vs(0.57±0.06)(all P0.01).CD4+T cell of activated MS and INF-β-1b treated MS by myelin antigen stimulating,the expression of Kv1.3 mRNA was higher (0.76±0.07) vs(0.68±0.08),(0.67±0.08) vs(0.60±0.07)(all P0.05),but which showed no change in healthy control.Conclusion The up-regulation of voltage-dependent potassium channel Kv1.3 is accomplished at molecular transference level,which could supply a new target to treat MS through blocking the voltage-dependent potassium channel Kv1.3 of myelin-reactive CD4+T lymphocyte.
Serum lipids and lipoproteins in continuous or cyclic medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment in postmenopausal women treated with conjugated estrogens

This study evaluates effects on serum lipids of continuous or sequential progestogens for hormonal replacement in women. Subjects received either a cyclic regimen of replacement (0.625mg/d of conjugated equine estrogens (Es) for 25days/month and 10mg medroxyprogesterone acetate [MPA] for the last 13days of E) or 0.625mg/d E along with either 5 or 10mg MPA (Provera, Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, MI). Study parameters were measured over a 24-week period. No differences in total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins I and II, sex hormone-binding globulin, or serum MPA levels were noted between the sequential and 5mg continuous group. The 10mg MPA group did not have an increase in HDL or decrease in low-density lipoprotein as did the other groups.
Noggin is required for first pharyngeal arch differentiation in the frog Xenopus tropicalis.

The dorsal ventral axis of vertebrates requires high BMP activity for ventral development and inhibition of BMP activity for dorsal development. Presumptive dorsal regions of the embryo are protected from the ventralizing activity of BMPs by the secretion of BMP antagonists from the mesoderm. Noggin, one such antagonist, binds BMP ligands and prevents them from binding their receptors, however, a unique role for Noggin in amphibian development has remained unclear. Previously, we used zinc-finger nucleases to mutagenize the noggin locus in Xenopus tropicalis. Here, we report on the phenotype of noggin mutant frogs as a result of breeding null mutations to homozygosity. Early homozygous noggin mutant embryos are indistinguishable from wildtype siblings, with normal neural induction and neural tube closure. However, in late tadpole stages mutants present severe ventral craniofacial defects, notably a fusion of Meckel’s cartilage to the palatoquadrate cartilage. Consistent with a noggin loss-of-function, mutants show expansions of BMP target gene expression and the mutant phenotype can be rescued with transient BMP inhibition. These results demonstrate that in amphibians, Noggin is dispensable for early embryonic patterning but is critical for cranial skeletogenesis.
Scientifically advanced woody media for improved water quality from livestock woodchip heavy-use areas

Overwintering cattle on pastures in many areas can damage the pasture and lead to impaired water quality. During these times, use of a woodchip heavy-use area (HUA) presents advantages such as a soft, supportive, and dry foot surface for animals and protection of the pasture and pasture soils. However, woodchip HUAs can also be a centralized source of high nutrient loads due to their drainage outflows. A column study was conducted to assess the nutrient load reduction potential of: 1) six types of wood media (including torrefied wood media and biochar) that could be used in a woodchip HUA versus a gravel control, and 2) providing a 48 h retention time within the wood media to enhance nitrogen removal through denitrification. The woody media provided significant liquid waste volume reduction compared to the gravel in simulated events (53%–61% vs. 39% reductions, respectively), and there may be additional liquid storage capacity in the woodchips not utilized during these rapid events. Substantial total nitrogen removal by the wood treatments (mean removal efficiencies >50%) was observed across the simulated events, although nitrate leaching also occurred. Nitrate removal was enhanced during the 48 h retention test which showed removal was governed by availability of labile carbon (i.e., fresh woodchips exhibited >70% nitrate removal). The retention test also indicated biochar mixtures provided some of the best total phosphorus removal, but the greatest benefits across all parameters was provided by the Mixed Hardwood treatment.
Body Image, Eating Attitudes and Breastfeeding Intention: Implications for Mental Health and Maternal Child Nurses

Body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating are often overlooked as personal factors that may affect pregnancy, postpartum, and infant feeding method. The current study compared body image, eating attitudes, and breastfeeding intention of first-time breastfeeding mothers to first-time non-breastfeeding mothers. A two-group, comparative design was used to analyze data for first-time mothers recruited through a large pediatric practice with multiple offices. Although there was no significant difference in body image scores between the groups, the literature suggests that body image dissatisfaction can affect the transition to motherhood and lead to more serious mental health issues. Prevention of psychiatric disorders such as eating disorders can be addressed early with information regarding body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Findings from this study have implications for mental health and maternal child health providers.
The resting perfusion pattern associates with functional decline in type 2 diabetes.

Abstract We investigated the relationships between cerebral blood flow (CBF), cognitive, and mobility decline in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) over a 2-year period. Seventy-three participants (41 T2DM and 32 controls) were evaluated using volumetric CBF with arterial spin labeling perfusion magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and at the 2-year follow-up. Regions with significant CBF differences between T2DM participants and controls at baseline were detected using voxel-wise analysis. Correlation analysis was performed to investigate the association between regional CBF and cognitive or mobility performance over the 2-year span. Compared to controls, participants with T2DM had decreased CBF in the resting-state default mode, visual, and cerebellum networks. Greater decrease in longitudinal CBF values at these regions over a 2-year span was associated with worse gait, memory and executive functions, and higher baseline insulin resistance and worse baseline cognitive performance. In T2DM, impairment of resting regional perfusion is closely related to worse cognitive and mobility performance. Insulin resistance may further contribute to regional perfusion deficit in T2DM.
A note on a parameter bound for global stability in the 2D Coupled Ricker equation

AbstractIn prior work on the coupled 2D Ricker Map, a conjecture was made concerning an upper bound on parameters that would guarantee injectivity of the map in a certain region of the plane. This injective property was used to show global asymptotic stability of the coexistent fixed point. In this short note, we find an explicit formula for the optimum upper bounds.
Hepatitis in a Man on Hemodialysis

A 35-year-old man with chronic renal failure on dialysis was found to have a positive result on routine hepatitis C (HCV) antibody screening on 3 February 2009. His last routine HCV antibody screening was 1 year ago (5 February 2008) and the result was negative. He had received many transfusions, having failed to respond to erythropoietin injections for anemia due to chronic renal failure. The renal consultant asks for the patient’s transfusions to be investigated as a possible source of HCV infection.
Predictive value of presuperior cavopulmonary anastomosis cardiac catheterization at increased altitude

Objective Infants with single ventricle physiology typically undergo cardiac catheterization prior to superior cavopulmonary anastomosis (SCPA) to assess operative suitability. Predictors of poor outcome at sea level include elevated pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), indexed pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRi), age <3 months, significant atrioventricular valve regurgitation, among others. Increased altitude has vasoconstrictive effects on the pulmonary vasculature, which may affect pre-SCPA hemodynamics and outcomes. The goal of this study was to determine the predictive value of pre-SCPA catheterization data with regard to reaching Fontan palliation at altitude. Design A retrospective review revealed 150 patients who underwent pre-SCPA catheterization over a 10-year period. Subjects were grouped by progression to Fontan vs aborted palliation, heart transplant or death. Statistics included t-tests, logistic regression and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results Independent predictors of failure to achieve Fontan operation at increased altitude include decreased ventricular function, increased mPAP, increased PVRi, and prolonged hospitalization, after adjusting for ventricular morphology and sex. Conclusions Our data indicate that decreased ventricular function most strongly predicts failure to reach Fontan palliation. Additionally, mPAP and PVRi play an important role in determining outcomes at increased altitude. Prolonged hospitalization is likely a marker of increased medical complexity or more problematic physiology.
Fair Testing and the Role of Accessibility

Psychometricians who agree that fairness is a desirable goal in testing may disagree regarding whether scores from a particular testing program provide the basis for fair inferences about test takers. Most psychometricians do agree that fairness is a fundamental validity issue that should be addressed from the very conception of a new test or testing process. One commonly adopted position is that fair interpretations of test results are based on scores that have comparable meaning for all individuals in the intended population and that fair test score interpretations do not cause an advantage or disadvantage due to characteristics of individual test takers that are irrelevant to the construct the test is intended to measure. An important concept associated with fairness in testing is the concept of an accessible assessment. We approach from a practical standpoint (a) how to create accessible assessments with a focus on the design and development of the construct, content, format, response mode, and score reports, (b) how assistive technology can be used to increase accessibility and fairness for some groups of test takers, (c) what happens if assessments continue to present barriers to some groups of test takers in spite of efforts to make them accessible, and (d) the need for test accommodations and modifications including how to form policies for accommodations. Finally, we provide suggestions for how to evaluate the fairness and accessibility of an assessment.
Political Advertising Online and Offline

Despite the rapid growth of online political advertising, the vast majority of scholarship on political advertising relies exclusively on evidence from candidates’ television advertisements. The relatively low cost of creating and deploying online advertisements and the ability to target online advertisements more precisely may broaden the set of candidates who advertise and allow candidates to craft messages to more narrow audiences than on television. Drawing on data from the newly released Facebook Ad Library API and television data from the Wesleyan Media Project, we find that a much broader set of candidates advertises on Facebook than television, particularly in down-ballot races. We then examine within-candidate variation in the strategic use and content of advertising on television relative to Facebook for all federal, statewide, and state legislative candidates in the 2018 election. Among candidates who use both advertising media, Facebook advertising occurs earlier in the campaign, is less negative, less issue focused, and more partisan than television advertising.
Trekonomics: The Economics of Star Trek

‘Tea, Earl Grey, hot!’ While only dedicated fans may be familiar with this quote from Jean-Luc Picard, captain of the USS Enterprise, most people who have sporadically watched episodes of Star Trek...
Influence of privacy priming and security framing on mobile app selection

Abstract Mobile apps have the potential to request access to private information. Given the far-reaching negative consequences that misuse of this kind of information can lead to, interventions that may encourage safer app downloading behaviors need to be investigated. Participants were recruited through a crowdsourcing service to participate in two separate experiments designed to determine the impact of presenting safety-related priming material before selecting mobile apps. Participants completed a simulated app selection task where apps were given overall safety or risk rankings. In Experiment 1 participants were assigned to a (1) control, (2) self-relevant priming, or (3) factual priming condition. In the latter conditions participants were presented eight privacy priming items prior to the app selection task, differing in whether they were to rate their disagreement/agreement with privacy statements or to read and demonstrate understanding of eight mobile app permissions. Experiment 2 was similar to Experiment 1 but with only a single priming item presented. The obtained results showed that although the participants relied heavily on user ratings to guide their app selections, both the self-relevant and factual priming items induced the participants to take safety more into account. Further, we showed that priming can be accomplished with a single item, which holds promise for real-world applications.
Pediatric perioperative management

Children are excellent candidates for ambulatory (outpatient) surgery. Most children are healthy, and most surgical procedures performed on children are simple and associated with prompt recovery.1 It is not surprising, therefore, that up to 70% of pediatric surgery in this country is performed on an ambulatory basis. In fact, in many cases, ambulatory surgery is now synonymous with elective surgery. Avoiding hospitalization is particularly advantageous for preschool children who benefit from minimizing separation from parents and for infants who are spared the exposure to a potentially contaminated hospital environment.
Orthognathic Surgery in the Presence of Temporomandibular Dysfunction: What Happens Next?

One of the most well-known yet perhaps controversial conditions affecting temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) and the signs and symptoms of facial pain and clinical outcomes after orthognathic surgery procedures is temporomandibular joint internal derangement. This article provides an overview of the mutual relationship between orthognathic surgery and TMD, with especial consideration to internal derangement. The existing literature is reviewed and analyzed and the pertinent findings are summarized. The objective is to guide oral and maxillofacial surgeons in their clinical decision making when contemplating orthognathic surgery in patients with preexisting TMD.
Islet Precursor Cells in Adult Pancreatic Islets

The search for new sources of β cells is driven by the shortage of islets of Langerhans suitable for replacement therapy for type I diabetes. Recent advances in stem cell research, described in other sections of this book, have led to promising sources of insulin-producing cells (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). In addition, significant progress in the elucidation of the molecular program that guides the differentiation of islet cells during development (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22) will certainly provide tools to expand the population of embryonic β-precursor cells and promote their differentiation into mature, insulin-producing cells. The adult pancreas is another potential source of β-precursor cells. The existence of islet progenitor cells in mature pancreas can be inferred from the fact that new islets are normally formed during postnatal life (23,24) and that a dramatic increase in islet number occurs in response to various stimuli (25, 26, 27). The presence of “endocrine stem/progenitor cells” could not only provide a source of cells suitable for transplantation, but also could replenish the β-cell population that has been depleted by injury or disease.
Chronic fatigue syndrome in the emergency department.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in the emergency department Christian R Timbol,* James N Baraniuk* Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA *Both authors contributed equally to this work Purpose: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating disease characterized by fatigue, postexertional malaise, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbances, and widespread pain. A pilot, online survey was used to determine the common presentations of CFS patients in the emergency department (ED) and attitudes about their encounters.Methods: The anonymous survey was created to score the severity of core CFS symptoms, reasons for going to the ED, and Likert scales to grade attitudes and impressions of care. Open text fields were qualitatively categorized to determine common themes about encounters.Results: Fifty-nine percent of respondents with physician-diagnosed CFS (total n=282) had gone to an ED. One-third of ED presentations were consistent with orthostatic intolerance; 42% of participants were dismissed as having psychosomatic complaints. ED staff were not knowledgeable about CFS. Encounters were unfavorable (3.6 on 10-point scale). The remaining 41% of subjects did not go to ED, stating nothing could be done or they would not be taken seriously. CFS subjects can be identified by a CFS questionnaire and the prolonged presence (>6 months) of unremitting fatigue, cognitive, sleep, and postexertional malaise problems.Conclusion: This is the first investigation of the presentation of CFS in the ED and indicates the importance of orthostatic intolerance as the most frequent acute cause for a visit. The self-report CFS questionnaire may be useful as a screening instrument in the ED. Education of ED staff about modern concepts of CFS is necessary to improve patient and staff satisfaction. Guidance is provided for the diagnosis and treatment of CFS in these challenging encounters. Keywords: patient satisfaction, orthostatic intolerance, postexertional malaise, myalgic encephalomyelitis, systemic exertion intolerance disease, SEID
Fouling and Its Effects on Air-cooled Condensers in Split System Air Conditioners (RP-1705)

This paper describes research into the effects of air side fouling on the performance of air-cooled condensers used in unitary air-conditioning equipment. It takes a novel approach by using field-f...