cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chalcone synthase activity in sorghum mesocotyls inoculated with Colletotrichum graminicola

Abstract Changes in the activity of chalcone synthase relative to the time of accumulation of 3-deoxyanthocyanidin phytoalexins in etiolated sorghum mesocotyls inoculated with Colletotrichum graminicola were investigated. The deoxyanthocyanidin, apigeninidin, began to accumulate in tissue between 3 and 6 h after the initial increase in the level of the enzyme. The level of chalcone synthase in uninoculated tissue was not affected by exposure of the tissue to light, indicating that the increase in enzyme activity was the direct result of fungal infection. The results are discussed with reference to apparent differences between sorghum, a monocotyledon, and various dicotyledonous species where chalcone synthase is an integral factor in expression of resistance to fungal infection.
Quantum Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo methods allow us to explore the properties of interacting many-body quantum systems. Here we discuss what we have learned about (1) the 2-D XXZ spin-1/2 system and (2) superconductivity near a Van Hove singularity from simulations; and comment on future needs and prospects.
“Yes, and … *” continuing the scholarly conversation about contingent labor in higher education

In the past month, I (Dannels) was in a discussion with a long-time contingent faculty member in our college about her experiences in that role. She shared with me the following: It is kind of like...
Conversion of Adjustable Gastric Banding to Stapling Bariatric Procedures: Single- or Two-stage Approach.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the safety of single- versus two-stage conversion of adjustable gastric band (AGB) to gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA AGB patients often present for conversion to RYGB or SG. The impact of single- or two-stage approach of such conversion remains unclear. METHODS A statewide database was used to identify all patients who underwent AGB removal and concurrent (single-stage) or interval (two-stage) RYGB or SG. Propensity score matching schemes were constructed to account for differences in baseline comorbidities and demographics, allowing for matched pairs available for comparisons. RESULTS A total of 4330 patients underwent AGB conversion. Complications, readmissions, and ED visits were noted in 394 (9.1%), 278 (6.42%), and 589 (13.6%) patients, respectively. Three hundred sixty-seven matched pairs underwent RYGB; single-stage patients experienced shorter length of stay (LOS) (median difference -1 d, P < 0.0001), less complications [risk difference (RD): -8.4%, 95% confidence interval (CI), -13.4% to -3.5%], readmissions (RD: -5.2%, 95% CI, -9.6% to -0.8%), and ED visits (RD: -5.7%, 95% CI, -11.3% to -0.2%). Eight hundred seventy-five matched pairs underwent SG; single-stage patients experienced improved outcomes in all measures examined. For single-stage procedures (809 pairs), RYGB was associated with longer LOS, and more complications (RD: 3.3%, 95% CI, 0.9%-5.8%), with similar readmissions, and ED visits. CONCLUSIONS AGB conversion procedures have low morbidity. Single-stage conversion is associated with lower morbidity compared with the two-stage approach. Conversion to SG seems to be safer than RYGB.
The Effectiveness of Distinctive Information for Cancer Cell Analysis Through Big Data

In the healthcare system, a huge volume of multi-structured patient data is generated from in-hospital clinical examinations, wearable body sensors, and doctor memos. These data play a deterministic role in finding the patient’s cause of disease and corresponding cure. However, there are many challenges underlying healthcare system such as integration of different data format, appropriate selection of healthcare parameters and disease prediction. Besides these, concern whether this data is equally significant for decision making or not exists. To address these problems, we introduced the infinite latent feature selection (ILFS) to find highly informative gene from a gene pool and feed it to the classifier. We adopted a hybrid approach for gene classification. The hybrid scheme integrated two (sophisticated) algorithms: speed advantage of extreme learning machine (ELM) and accuracy advantage of sparse representation classifier (SRC). We validated our proposed model with 198 tumor samples of global cancer map (GCM) dataset and divided them into 14 common tumor categories having 11,370 expression level of genes. The performance of this system was measured using five different matrices (i.e., accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and F-score). This achieved a notable improvement of accuracies in both scenarios in selective (considering only highly expressive genes) and original genes (74.75% and 81.82% respectively).
Interference channel with one cognitive transmitter

This paper investigated the problem of interference channel with one cognitive transmitter (ICOCT) from both the noncausal and causal perspectives. For the noncausal ICOCT, which is also referred to as interference channel with degraded message sets (ICDMS), we proposed a new achievable rate region, which generalizes existing achievable rate regions for IC-DMS and coincides with Marton's broadcast channel region. For the causal ICOCT, we proposed both inner and outer bounds for the general case, strong interference case and weak interference case. The inner and outer bounds for the Gaussian ICOCT are also considered and evaluated.
Campbell, Colton C., Ed. Leadership in the U.S. Senate: Herding Cats in the Modern Era: New York, NY: Routledge, 2019. 302 pages. $149.95 (hardcover); $44.95 (softcover).

During the first decade of the twenty-first century, the United States Senate avoided triggering the “nuclear option” to reform its rules of debate. As we near the end of the century’s second decad...
Impact of Tricuspid Regurgitation on Postoperative Outcomes After Non-Cardiac Surgeries

Objective Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity has known adverse implications, its impact on patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery (NCS) remains unclear. We sought to determine the impact of TR on patient outcomes after NCS. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study in patients undergoing NCS. Outcomes in patients with moderate or severe TR were compared with no/trivial TR after adjusting for baseline characteristics and revised cardiac risk index (RCRI). The primary outcome was defined as 30-day mortality and heart failure (HF), while the secondary outcome was long-term mortality. Results Of the 7064 patients included, 312 and 80 patients had moderate and severe TR, respectively. Thirty-day mortality was higher in moderate TR (adjusted OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.25 to 4.76) and severe TR (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.04 to 7.79) compared with no/trivial TR. There was no difference in 30-day HF in patients with moderate TR (OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.90 to 2.44) or severe TR (OR 1.42, 95% CI 0.60 to 3.39). The adjusted HR for long-term mortality in moderate TR was 1.55 (95% CI 1.31 to 1.82) and 1.87 (95% CI 1.40 to 2.50) for severe TR compared with no/trivial TR. Conclusion Increasing TR severity has higher postoperative 30-day mortality in patients undergoing NCS, independent of RCRI risk factors, ejection fraction or mitral regurgitation. Severity of TR should be considered in risk stratification for patients undergoing NCS.
Cause-Specific Mortality of Type B Aortic Dissection and Assessment of Competing Risks of Mortality

Abstract Objective Natural history studies of type B aortic dissection (TBAD) commonly report all-cause mortality. Our aim was to determine cause-specific mortality in TBAD and to evaluate the clinical characteristics associated with aorta-related and nonaorta-related mortality. Methods Clinical and administrative records were reviewed for patients with acute TBAD between 1995 and 2017. Demographics, comorbidities, presentation, and initial imaging findings were abstracted. Cause of death was ascertained through a multimodality approach using electronic health records, obituaries, social media, Social Security Death Index, and state mortality records. Causes of death were classified as aorta related, nonaorta related, or unknown. A Fine-Gray multivariate competing risk regression model for subdistribution hazard ratio was employed to analyze the association of clinical characteristics with aorta-related and nonaorta-related mortality. Results A total of 275 individuals met inclusion criteria (61.1 ± 13.7 years, 70.9% male, 68% white). Mean survival after discharge was 6.3 ± 4.7 years. Completeness of follow-up Clark C index was 0.87. All-cause mortality was 50.2% (n = 138; mean age, 70.1 ± 14.6 years) including an in-hospital mortality of 8.4%. Cause-specific mortality was aorta related, nonaorta related, and unknown in 51%, 43%, and 6%, respectively. Compared with patients with nonaorta-related mortality, patients with aorta-related mortality were younger at acute TBAD (69.5 ± 11.2 years vs 61.6 ± 15.5 years; P = .001), underwent more descending thoracic aortic repairs (19.4% vs 45.8%; P = .002), and had a shorter survival duration (5.7 ± 3.9 vs 3.4 ± 4.5 years; P = .002). There was clear variation in cause of death by each decade of life, with higher aorta-related mortality among those younger than 50 years and older than 70 years and a stepwise increase in nonaorta-related mortality with each increasing decade (P 4 cm was associated with an increase in hazard of aorta-related mortality by 84% (subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-3.28) on multivariate competing risk regression analysis. Conclusions TBAD is associated with high 10-year mortality. Those at risk for aorta-related mortality have a clinical phenotype different from that of individuals at risk for nonaorta-related mortality. This information is important for building risk prediction models that account for competing mortality risks and to direct optimal and individualized surgical and medical management of TBAD.
Emerging evidence for noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of vestibular migraine.

Vestibular migraine (VM) is a disorder characterized by episodes of vestibular symptoms causally related to migraine. It is diagnosed based on the 2012 International Headache Society-Barany Society...
Disgusting Face, Disease-ridden Place?: Emoji Influence on the Interpretation of Restaurant Inspection Reports.

Every year, millions of Americans get sick from foodborne illness and it is estimated half of all reported instances occur at restaurants. To protect the public, regulators are encouraged to conduct restaurant inspections and disclose reports to consumers. However, inspection reporting format is inconsistent and typically contains information unclear to most consumers who often misinterpret the inspection results. Additionally, consumers are increasingly searching for this information in a digital context. Limited research explores inspection reports as communication tools. Using affect-as-information and ELM as theoretical frameworks, this experiment investigated how discrete emotions (e.g., disgust) conveyed through pictorial cues (i.e., emojis) influenced consumers' processing of inspection reports. Participants, recruited from Amazon's MTurk, were randomly assigned to one of six experimental conditions in a 3 (emoji: smiling vs. disgusted vs. none) x 2 (violation level: low vs. high) between-subjects design. Then, participants completed a questionnaire regarding perceptions and cognitive processing of the message. Results revealed that, compared to text, disgusted face emoji increased risk perceptions and avoidance behavior. In terms of emotion, smiling face emoji motivated participants to feel more emotions related to sanitation. In turn, positive feelings decreased elaboration likelihood. As predicted by ELM, involvement also predicted elaboration, such that participants who were highly involved with inspection reports elaborated more than those less involved. Involvement also moderated the relationship between emoji presented and elaboration. Practical implications are also discussed.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptors in the Central Nervous System: Phosphorylation Events and Cellular Mediators of Biological Function

A complex pattern of growth and development in the nervous system would seem inherent in consideration of its morphological design for control of physiological processes and psychological phenomena. Yet in spite of this tangled design it would appear reasonable that certain basics tenets must be preserved in development and growth in the cellular world. Using such reasoning, the complex mechanisms responsible for growth and development in the nervous system have begun to acquire a very rudimentary definition. It has become increasingly apparent that a functional family of peptides termed growth factors are basic to the regulation of growth and development in peripheral cell populations (Daughaday, 1989). Recent research addressing nervous system growth and development points at these same peptide factors as important determinants in the generation and maintenance of the distinct cell types that comprise the brain, peripheral nerves, and organs of neural ectodermal origin.
Stability of 4 Intravenous Drug Formulations in Prefilled Syringes Stored Frozen for Up to 60 Days

Purpose: Prefilled drug syringe use may reduce the cost of routine antibiotic drug delivery. Storage of prefilled syringes frozen (−20°C) or refrigerated (4°C-5°C), can optimize the use of robotic ...
Techno-economic Assessment of a Novel SmCo Permanent Magnet Manufacturing Method

Abstract Rare earth elements (REEs) are becoming ever more important and broadly used in rare earth permanent magnets (REPMs) for electric vehicles, wind turbines, cell phones, etc. While neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets are very popular, samarium cobalt (SmCo) magnets are increasingly being viewed as an alternative REPM option due their better resistance to corrosion and oxidation. These properties position SmCo for wide use in high temperature and extreme working environments. As is well known, the availability of REEs for many applications is subject to substantial risk owing to the dependence on China for REE containing ores and processing. Though recycling end-of-life (EOL) magnets would help alleviate the supply chain crisis, lowering the failure rate during manufacturing will more effectively utilize the resources that are available. Techno-economic assessments (TEAs) were performed for a traditional and a novel process to manufacture SmCo magnets. The results show that the novel process is economically feasible and more resistant to the vagaries of market price changes.
Sources of flavoured e-cigarettes among California youth and young adults: associations with local flavoured tobacco sales restrictions.

Purpose This study compares access to flavoured JUUL and other e-cigarettes from retail, online and social sources among underage and young adult e-cigarette users who live in California jurisdictions that restrict sales of flavoured tobacco with the rest of the state. Methods An online survey used social media advertisements to recruit participants (n=3075, ages 15–29) who lived in one of nine jurisdictions that restrict sales (n=1539) or in the rest of state, and oversampled flavoured tobacco users. Focusing on past-month e-cigarette users (n=908), multilevel models tested whether access to flavoured JUUL and other e-cigarettes from retail, online and social sources differed by local law (yes/no) and age group (15–20 or older), controlling for other individual characteristics. Results The percent of underage users who obtained flavoured JUUL and other e-cigarettes in the past month was 33.6% and 31.2% from retail, 11.6% and 12.7% online, and 76.0% and 70.9% from social sources, respectively. Compared with underage and young adult users in the rest of California, those in localities that restrict the sales of flavoured tobacco were less likely to obtain flavoured JUUL from retail sources (Adjusted OR=0.54, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.80), but more likely to obtain it from social sources (Adjusted OR=1.55, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.35). The same pattern was observed for other brands of flavoured e-cigarettes. Conclusion Although local laws may reduce access to flavoured e-cigarettes from retail sources, more comprehensive state or federal restrictions are recommended to close the loopholes for online sources. Dedicated efforts to curtail access from social sources are needed.
Simulating Synchronization Issues on a Multiprocessor Embedded System for Testing

Embedded systems are commonly used to meet the rapid growth in processing requirements of today's embedded system applications that range from simple home appliances to complex big architecture systems. An embedded system consisting of multiple processing elements (PEs) linked together using various types of interfaces. Many complicated tasks can be accomplished by them in different working environments. Synchronization is the typical problem with which embedded software are confronted. The processing elements require synchronization to preserve system integrity while performing the applications. Testing multi PEs-based embedded system is a challenging task; where most of the intricacies lie in testing realtime interprocessor communication i.e. synchronous or asynchronous in term of accuracy and timing. This paper is intended to provide an outline of issues affected by the need for considering synchronization on multi PEs embedded system. The paper proposes an approach that simulates possible synchronization issues across multi PEs in real-time communication. The results show that the simulation of synchronization issues on a multi PEs embedded system is a valuable approach towards creating a testing framework for embedded systems.
Courtship behavior of the meadow jumping mouse ( Zapus hudsonius )

We describe the first recorded observations of courtship behavior of the meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius) made in wild-caught and captive-reared animals. Male meadow jumping mice performed a series of courtship behaviors upon approach to the female, including rapid fanning of the muzzle with the forelimbs, self-grooming, muzzle fanning, retreat, and eventual mounting attempts. During courtship, female jumping mice may retreat, ignore the courting male, or bat at the male with forelimbs until the male retreats. Active rejection of courting males by the female is suggestive of female mate choice in this species.
Free three-dimensional carborane carbanions

Carbon atom functionalization via generation of carbanions is the cornerstone of carborane chemistry. In this work, we report the synthesis and structural characterization of free ortho-carboranyl [C2B10H11]−, a three-dimensional inorganic analog of the elusive phenyl anion that features a “naked” carbanion center. The first example of a stable, discrete C(H)-deprotonated carborane anion was isolated as a completely separated ion pair with a crown ether-encapsulated potassium cation. An analogous approach led to the isolation and structural characterization of a doubly deprotonated 1,1′-bis(o-carborane) anion [C2B10H10]22−, which is the first example of a discrete molecular dicarbanion. These reactive carbanions are key intermediates in carbon vertex chemistry of carborane clusters.
Endothelial cell polarity and extracellular matrix production rely on functional ATP6AP2 during developmental and pathological angiogenesis

The (Pro)renin receptor ((P)RR), also known as ATP6AP2, is a single-transmembrane protein that is implicated in a multitude of biological processes. However, the exact role of ATP6AP2 during blood vessel development remains largely undefined. Here, we use an inducible endothelial cell (EC)-specific Atp6ap2 knockout mouse model to investigate the role of ATP6AP2 during both physiological and pathological angiogenesis in vivo. We observed that postnatal deletion of Atp6ap2 in ECs results in cell migration defects, loss of tip cell polarity and subsequent impairment of retinal angiogenesis. In vitro, Atp6ap2 deficient ECs similarly displayed reduced cell migration, impaired sprouting, and defective cell polarity. Transcriptional profiling of ECs isolated from Atp6ap2 mutant mice further indicated regulatory roles in angiogenesis, cell migration and extracellular matrix composition. Mechanistically, we showed that expression of various extracellular matrix components is controlled by ATP6AP2 via the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Furthermore, Atp6ap2 deficient retinas exhibited reduced revascularization in an oxygen induced retinopathy model. Collectively, our results demonstrated a critical role of ATP6AP2 as a regulator of developmental and pathological angiogenesis.
New conditional, scenario-based, and non-conditional cumulative absolute velocity models for subduction tectonic settings

The PEER NGA-Sub ground-motion intensity measure database is used to develop new conditional ground-motion models (CGMMs), a set of scenario-based models, and non-conditional models to estimate the...
Early Menopause and the Risk of Myocardial-Infarction

Abstract We evaluated the relation between age at menopause and the risk of nonfatal mycardial infarction (MI) among 121,964 nurses who responded to a mail questionnaire. Of 279 women who reported having been hospitalized for MI, 123 (44%) were postmenopausal (i.e., no longer menstruating) at the time of hospitalization, compared with 1,859 (33%) of 5,580 age-matched control subjects. Among women who became menopausal because of bilateral oophorectomy, the estimated relative risk of MI increased with decreasing age at menopause, and women who underwent bilateral oophorectomy before age 35 were estimated to have a risk of hospitalization for MI approximately 7.2 times (95% confidence interval, 4.5 to 11.4) that of premenopausal women. Hysterectomy without the removal of both ovaries was only weakly associated with an increased risk. The data support the hypothesis that premature cessation of ovarian function increases the risk of nonfatal MI.
Antioxidant and trypsin inhibition activity of dioscorin influenced by yam cultivars and eluent pH

Summary The total antioxidant activity (TAA) and trypsin inhibition activity (TIA) of storage protein dioscorin from six yam cultivars (Dashan, Hualien No. 3, Keelung, Mingchien, Tainong No. 2, and Japanese yam) were demonstrated. Japanese yam had the highest TAA and the lowest calculated EC50 at any purification stage. Following gel permeation, dioscorins purified from Hualien No. 3 and Japanese yam showed the highest TIA and lowest calculated IC50. Dioscorin with higher TIA apparently possesses better TAA. The pIs of dioscorin from all yam species were in the range of 5.94–4.33 indicating acidic protein in nature. Results from isoelectric focusing chromatography showed regardless of species higher TIA for dioscorin eluted at lower pH.
Targeting DNA damage and repair by curcumin.

Curcumin is a compound with anti-tumor effects in a tolerable dose. A recent paper by Rowe et al described that curcumin induced DNA damage in triple negative breast cancer cells and regulated BRCA1 protein expression and modification. Related research and potential use of curcumin will be discussed in this article.
Hydroxycobalamin[c-lactam] Increases Total Coenzyme A Content in Primary Culture Hepatocytes by Accelerating Coenzyme A Biosynthesis Secondary to Acyl-CoA Accumulation

Hydroxycobalamin[c-lactam] (HCCL) treatment in rats results in decreased hepatic L-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase activity and increased hepatic total CoA content. To test the hypothesis that HCCL increases hepatic CoA biosynthesis secondary to propionyl- and methylmalonyl-CoA accumulation. CoA homeostasis was studied in primary culture rat hepatocytes. Conversion of [14C]pantothenic acid to [14C]CoA in the primary culture system was accelerated to rates 3-5 times control by acute incubation with the acyl-CoA-generating carboxylic acids pivalate (10 mmol/L) or propionate (10 mmol/L). HCCL (1 mg/L included from 24 to 72 h of culture) had no affect on the distribution of the hepatocyte CoA pool or total CoA content. However, culture in the presence of HCCL and propionate (2 mmol/L) resulted in accumulation of methylmalonyl-CoA and a 59% increase in total CoA content. The combination of HCCL (1 mg/L) and propionate (0.5 mmol/L), but not HCCL alone, increased the rate of [14C]pantothenic acid conversion to [14C]CoA by 150%. Degradation of [14C]CoA in the primary culture hepatocyte system was unaffected by chronic exposure to 2 mmol/L propionate, but was increased 90% by the combination of HCCL and 2 mmol/L propionate. Thus, in the presence of a source of propionyl-CoA, HCCL treatment results in methylmalonyl-CoA accumulation and accelerated CoA biosynthesis. The increased CoA biosynthesis leads to increased hepatocyte total CoA content, which may contribute to cellular metabolic homeostasis under conditions of acyl-CoA accretion.
Caring for military spouses in primary care

Purpose To provide primary care providers with knowledge of unique challenges faced by military families. By understanding how military families cope with military lifestyle and deployment, providers can be more effective in their care of these patients and offer assistance in optimizing their health. Data sources Research articles, World Wide Web search of resources for military families and Department of Defense documents. Conclusions Military families are faced with many challenges and hardships such as frequent geographic relocations, social isolation, periodic deployments and separations, and risk of injury and death. Unique stressors associated with deployment include assumption of single parent role, altered finances, change in social support from family and friends, and concerns for the safety of the service member. Ineffective coping with stressors can manifest both physically and/or psychologically. Implications for practice Healthcare providers should routinely inquire about a patient's possible military affiliation. Military spouses need to be assessed for current stress levels and coping behaviors used in order to provide the most appropriate recommendations and referrals. As healthcare providers, understanding the unique demands of the military lifestyle is necessary to provide effective quality care with optimal health outcomes in this population.
Differentiation of human monocytes in vitro with granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor and macrophage colony-stimulating factor produces distinct changes in cGMP phosphodiesterase expression

Abstract The cytokines macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) promote differentiation of monocytes into macrophages with distinct phenotypes and unique functional abilities. In this report, we characterize how monocytes and macrophages differentiated from monocytes with M-CSF and GM-CSF regulate their cGMP levels by controlling which phosphodiesterases (PDEs) and guanylyl cyclases (GCs) are expressed. We find that PDE1B and PDE2A are expressed at low levels in monocytes, but are the major cGMP PDEs expressed in macrophages. M-CSF differentiation triggers increased expression of PDE1B and PDE2A, while GM-CSF causes a large increase only in PDE1B. Based on PDE expression, we identified THP-1 and U937 cell lines as possible models for studying the roles of PDE1B and PDE2A in macrophage function. We additionally characterized changes in expression of GCs upon differentiation. We found that GM-CSF differentiation triggers a small decrease in soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) and a large increase in GC-A, while M-CSF significantly decreases sGC.
Assessing, understanding, and supporting students with ADHD at school: Contemporary science, practice, and policy.

Over the past 3 decades, there has been an unprecedented increase in students identified as eligible for special education as a result of students meeting criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The increasing number of students with ASD in the schools presents significant challenges to teachers, school psychologists, and other school professionals working with this population. Although there is considerable research addressing assessment, identification, and support services for children with ASD, there is a need for further research focused on these topics within the school context. Employing a diverse array of methodologies, the articles in this special topic section address several gaps in the literature, including (a) the application of evidence-based programs within the school context, (b) the social validity of well-established evidence-based practices with both parents and educators, (c) the assessment of social communication, (d) intervention and assessment of spatial and body awareness for children with ASD, (e) the use of peer-mediated discreet trial training, and (f) discrepancies across informants for both externalizing and internalizing symptoms associated with ASD. The results of these studies provide school psychologists and other education professionals with specific directions for advocacy and service delivery that aim to enhance school outcomes for students with ASD. (PsycINFO Database Record
Safe Upper Limits for Oxygen Enrichment of Room Air at High Altitude

Oxygen enrichment of room air at high altitude has been shown to improve mental performance, sleep quality, and work capacity. Until now, the usual strategy has been to use an oxygen concentration that reduces the equivalent altitude to about 3000 m, where the equivalent altitude is that which gives the same inspired PO2 during air breathing. However, standards adopted by the National Fire Protection Association allow considerably higher oxygen concentrations without introducing a fire hazard. For example, by raising the oxygen concentration to 31.5% at an altitude of 5000 m, the equivalent altitude can be safely reduced to less than 2000 m. At the extreme altitude of 8000 m, the equivalent altitude can be reduced to less than 4000 m without increasing the fire hazard. These increased levels of oxygen enrichment are feasible in practice using oxygen concentrators. They may be useful if lowlanders need to ascend rapidly and stay at high altitude, or for treating people with high altitude illnesses.
Following bibliometric footprints: the ACM digital library and the evolution of computer science

Using bibliometric methods, this exploratory work shows evidence of transitions in the field of computer science since the emergence of HCI as a distinct sub-discipline. We mined the ACM Digital Library in order to expose relationships between sub-disciplines in computer science, focusing in particular on the transformational nature of the SIG Computer-Human Interaction (CHI) in relation to other SIGs. Our results suggest shifts in the field due to broader social, economic and political changes in computing research and are intended as a prolegomena to further investigations.
Acetaminophen-Induced Proliferation of Estrogen-Responsive Breast Cancer Cells Is Associated with Increases in c-myc RNA Expression and NF-κB Activity

Studies reported here tested the hypothesis that acetaminophen stimulates proliferation of E2-responsive cells by inducing expression of E2-regulated genes. Ribonuclease protection assays compared the effects of acetaminophen and E2 on expression of selected genes (c-myc, c-fos, cyclin D1, bcl-2, bax, gadd45, mcl-1, p53, p21(CIP1/WAF1), and bcl-xL) in E2-responsive breast cancer (MCF-7) and endometrial adenocarcinoma (Ishikawa) cells as well as in E2-nonresponsive (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. Acetaminophen and E2 increased c-myc RNA levels in MCF-7 cells, consistent with a mitogenic activity of these compounds in MCF-7 cells. However, the magnitude and time course of acetaminophen and E2 induction of c-myc differed. Neither acetaminophen nor E2 induced c-myc in MDA-MB-231 cells, whereas E2, but not acetaminophen, weakly induced c-myc expression in Ishikawa cells. Furthermore, in these 3 cell types, the expression patterns of the other genes differed dramatically in response to acetaminophen and to E2, indicating that acetaminophen does not activate ER as a transcription factor in the same manner as does E2. Additionally, gel shift assays demonstrated that in MCF-7 cells, acetaminophen increased NF-kappaB activity approximately 40% and did not alter AP-1 activity, whereas E2 increased AP-1 activity approximately 50% and did not increase NF-B activity. These studies indicate that acetaminophen effects on gene expression and cell proliferation depend more on cell type/context than on the presence of ER.
A modular PMAD system for small spacecraft

Current trends in satellite design are focused on developing small, reliable, and inexpensive spacecraft. To that end, a modular power management and distribution system (PMAD) is proposed which will help transition the aerospace industry towards an assembly line approach to building spacecraft. The modular system is based on an innovative DC voltage boost converter called the Series Connected Boost Regulator (SCBR). The SCBR uses existing DC-DC converters and adds a unique series connection. This simple modification provides the SCBR topology with many advantages over existing boost converters. Efficiencies of 94-98%, power densities above 1,000 We/kg, and inherent fault tolerance are just a few of the characteristics presented. Limitations of the SCBR technology are presented, and it is shown that the SCBR makes an ideal photovoltaic array regulator. A modular design based on the series connected boost unit is outlined and functional descriptions of the components are given.
Expression of Linear and Novel Circular Forms of an INK4/ARF-Associated Non-Coding RNA Correlates with Atherosclerosis Risk

Human genome-wide association studies have linked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome 9p21.3 near the INK4/ARF (CDKN2a/b) locus with susceptibility to atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD). Although this locus encodes three well-characterized tumor suppressors, p16INK4a, p15INK4b, and ARF, the SNPs most strongly associated with ASVD are ∼120 kb from the nearest coding gene within a long non-coding RNA (ncRNA) known as ANRIL (CDKN2BAS). While individuals homozygous for the atherosclerotic risk allele show decreased expression of ANRIL and the coding INK4/ARF transcripts, the mechanism by which such distant genetic variants influence INK4/ARF expression is unknown. Here, using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and analysis of next-generation RNA sequencing datasets, we determined the structure and abundance of multiple ANRIL species. Each of these species was present at very low copy numbers in primary and cultured cells; however, only the expression of ANRIL isoforms containing exons proximal to the INK4/ARF locus correlated with the ASVD risk alleles. Surprisingly, RACE also identified transcripts containing non-colinear ANRIL exonic sequences, whose expression also correlated with genotype and INK4/ARF expression. These non-polyadenylated RNAs resisted RNAse R digestion and could be PCR amplified using outward-facing primers, suggesting they represent circular RNA structures that could arise from by-products of mRNA splicing. Next-generation DNA sequencing and splice prediction algorithms identified polymorphisms within the ASVD risk interval that may regulate ANRIL splicing and circular ANRIL (cANRIL) production. These results identify novel circular RNA products emanating from the ANRIL locus and suggest causal variants at 9p21.3 regulate INK4/ARF expression and ASVD risk by modulating ANRIL expression and/or structure.
Phytoplankton dynamics within a discrete water mass off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina: the Lagrangian experiment

Abstract As part of the Department of Energy Ocean Margins Program, we examined the spatial and temporal variability in primary production and phytoplankton pigments during two cruises to the shelf waters between the Chesapeake Bay and Cape Hatteras. The first cruise was conducted in March 1996, reflecting well-mixed conditions just prior to the spring transition, while the second cruise was conducted during July 1996 when the water column was more stratified. During each cruise, primary production and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) pigments for the whole community and In March, production ranged from 0.50 to 0.65 g C m−2 d−1, with 52–62% of the production attributed to the smaller size fraction. About 50% of the total chlorophyll a (chl a) was found in the >8-μm size fraction. Pigment composition was dominated by chlorophylls a, c1 and c2, and fucoxanthin, indicating the importance of diatoms. In July, production was more variable, ranging from 0.38 to 2.09 g C m−2 d−1, with 41–83% of production attributed to the
Glycerol and microwave preservation of annual statice (Limonium sinuatum Mill.)

Abstract Stems of annual statice ( Limonium sinuatum Mill.) were harvested from the field in 1982 and soaked in varying concentrations of glycerol:water solutions for 24 and 48 h and then microwaved for 0, 1, 3 or 5 min. Half of the branch stems were measured for flexibility, with the remainder being assessed 1 year later. Stems harvested in 1983 were wet- and dry-stored at 3°C for varying lengths of time and then preserved. Preservation was best when statice was preserved immediately. Cold storage decreased preserved statice flexibility, but was better than air-drying. Fresh cut statice stems, up to 34 cm long, should be preserved by soaking in a 1:2 or 1:3 glycerol:water solution for 48 h followed by microwaving for 1 min at medium-high (34°C).
Technical change in Senegal's irrigated rice sector: impact assessment under uncertainty

Abstract This paper addresses the prospects for technical change in the irrigated rice sector of Senegal, and measures ex-ante the economic returns to recent research efforts. In 1994, three new rice varieties were released to farmers in the Senegal River Valley (SRV), the major irrigated rice region in Senegal. The productivity advantage of the new varieties is based primarily on early maturity, which permits double-cropping. (The seeds are also higher yielding than existing cultivars.) We use a conventional [Akino and Hayami (1975), Am. J. Agric. Econ. 57, 1–10] partial-equilibrium model adapted to the Senegalese situation, to assess the social benefits of research and compare those to its costs in calculating the internal rate of return (IRR). To account for uncertainty regarding the future values of model variables we use simulation which allows us to generate a distribution of all possible outcomes of the IRR. We find that rice research is almost certain to have a very high payoff over the 1995–2004 period. The expected value of the IRR is calculated to be 121% per year, with a 97.5% probability that it lies above annual capital costs of 18%.
Kinship and incompatibility between colonies of the acacia ant Pseudomyrmex ferruginea

The effect of kinship on incompatibility between colonies of the acacia-ant Pseudomyrmex ferruginea was examined. Colonies were reared on a clone of Acacia hindsii in a standard environment. A slight but significant reduction in intercolony incompatibility was obtained within two inbred lineages, compared with the observed frequency of rejection for unrelated colonies. These results indicate that the relevant odor differences between colonies are probably not determined at a single gene locus. The ‘gestalt’ model for recognition pheromones does not apply to P. ferrugnea, since nestmates are often treated differently upon introduction to a second colony. However, the resulting intermediate rejection frequencies (30–100%) fail to converge on the 50% level predicted by single locus models for recognition pheromones.
Correlation between motor and phosphene thresholds: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has become a common tool for the brain mapping of a wide variety of cognitive functions. Because TMS over cortical regions of interest other than motor cortex often does not produce easily observable effects, the ability to calibrate TMS intensity for stimulation over nonmotor regions can be problematic. Previous studies reported no correlation between motor thresholds (MT) over the motor cortex and phosphene thresholds (PT) over the visual cortex. However, different thresholding methods, lighting, and eye-closure conditions were used to determine MT and PT. We investi- gated the correlation between resting MT (rMT), active MT (aMT), and PT in 27 dark-adapted healthy vol- unteers. All thresholds were measured with eyes-open in the dark and determined by gradually reducing stimulation intensity downward. All subjects had aMT and rMT; 21 subjects had measurable PT. rMT was 70.4% 6 9.8% (mean 6 SD of maximum stimulator output); aMT was 61.1% 6 7.9%; PT was 82.2% 6 10.1%. A significant positive correlation was found between aMT and PT (r ¼ 0.53; P ¼ 0.014) with a trend toward correlation between rMT and PT (r ¼ 0.43; P ¼ 0.052). Our results suggest that sensitivity to TMS over visual and motor cortices may be correlated under similar thresholding procedures. They also provide a rationale for the use of easily obtained aMT to calibrate TMS intensities in brain mapping studies that employ TMS in cortical regions besides motor cortex. Hum Brain Mapp 29:662-670, 2008. V C 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Exchange-correlation energy of the non-uniformly scaled hydrogen atom☆

Abstract The exchange-correlation energy Exc of density functional theory is studied for the hydrogen atom subject to a non-uniform coordinate scaling, and its analytic dependence on the scaling parameter is derived. The exact result is compared with numerical results from the local spin density and a popular generalized gradient approximation. Also, a general relationship is presented which relates the exchange energy of a non-uniformly scaled density in one coordinate to that of the corresponding non-uniformly scaled density in the other two coordinates.
Efficacy of clip-wrapping in treatment of complex pediatric aneurysms

Pediatric aneurysms (PAs) are distinct from their adult counterparts with respect to typical location, aneurysm type, and known predisposing risk factors. Many strategies have been employed to treat PAs, but although it has been used frequently in adults, clip wrapping in pediatric patients has only been reported once. We present a series of pediatric patients that underwent clip wrapping and discuss this strategy as an effective means of treating unclippable PAs. Pediatric patients with clip-wrapped aneurysms over a 5-year period were retrospectively identified. Clinical presentation, surgical management, and clinical and radiological outcome of the patients were evaluated. Five pediatric patients with aneurysms were treated with clip wrapping during the specified period. Three had traumatic pseudoaneurysms, with two subarachnoid hemorrhages from aneurysm rupture. One patient presented with mycotic pseudoaneurysm rupture causing a large intraparenchymal and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Another patient had a dissecting complex saccular lenticulostriate aneurysm with four perforating vessels arising from the dome. Four patients had good clinical results, with Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores of 5 after at least 1-year follow-up (mean 24.2); one patient had a GOS score of 5 at discharge, but no additional follow-up. Postoperative neuroimaging demonstrated vessel patency after clip wrapping with no recurrent hemorrhages or increase in aneurysm size; however, one had progressive occlusion of the artery in a delayed fashion and had a small clinical ischemic event from which she fully recovered. Clip wrapping appears to be an effective underutilized technique for treatment of pediatric complex aneurysms that cannot be treated with conventional methods.
Cluster Thinning Reduces the Economic Sustainability of Riesling Production

Crop levels of 1 (low), 1.5 (medium), and 2 (high) clusters per shoot established by cluster thinning (CT) were compared to nonthinned (control) Riesling vines over a three-year period. Yields ranged from 5.2 to 12.4 t/ha in 2008 and from 4.0 to 9.3 t/ha in 2009, while crop loads (yield/pruning weight) ranged from 2.9 to 8.7 in 2008 and 2.9 to 9.9 in 2009. By 2010, yield and crop load (yield/pruning weight) did not differ among treatments. Cluster weight was unaffected by CT in 2008 and 2009 but in 2010 control clusters weighed 39% less than low crop. There was little or no CT effect on berry size, pH, titratable acidity, pruning weight, cluster light exposure, or bud cold hardiness. Soluble solids at harvest ranged from 18.2 Brix in control to 22.3 Brix in low crop in 2008, from 18.9 to 22.1 Brix, respectively, in 2009, and from 20.5 to 22.0 Brix, respectively, in 2010. A consumer wine aroma sorting trial revealed that the low crop wine, and the low and medium crop wines, differed in aromatic attributes from the other treatments in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Grower financial net return per hectare ranged from $2,832 in low crop to $16,055 in control in 2008, from −$115 to $8,596, respectively, in 2009, and from $1,938 to $4,242, respectively, in 2010. Financial losses associated with CT could be recouped only by increases of up to 143% over base market price for grapes.
Casimir force between a small dielectric sphere and a dielectric wall

The possibility of repulsive Casimir forces between small metal spheres and a dielectric half-space is discussed. We treat a model in which the spheres have a dielectric function given by the Drude model, and the radius of the sphere is small compared to the corresponding plasma wavelength. The half-space is also described by the same model, but with a different plasma frequency. We find that in the retarded limit, the force is quasioscillatory. This leads to the prediction of stable equilibrium points at which the sphere could levitate in the Earth's gravitational field. This seems to lead to the possibility of an experimental test of the model. The effects of finite temperature on the force are also studied, and found to be rather small at room temperature. However, thermally activated transitions between equilibrium points could be significant at room temperature.
Pediatricians' attitudes, experience and referral patterns regarding complementary/alternative medicine: a national survey

To assess pediatricians' attitudes toward & practice of Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM) including their knowledge, experience, & referral patterns for CAM therapies. An anonymous, self-report, 27-item questionnaire was mailed nationally to fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics in July 2004. 648 of 3500 pediatricians' surveyed responded (18%). The median age ranged from 46–59 yrs; 52% female, 81% Caucasian, 71% generalists, & 85% trained in the US. Over 96% of pediatricians' responding believed their patients were using CAM. Discussions of CAM use were initiated by the family (70%) & only 37% of pediatricians asked about CAM use as part of routine medical history. Majority (84%) said more CME courses should be offered on CAM and 71% said they would consider referring patients to CAM practitioners. Medical conditions referred for CAM included; chronic problems (headaches, pain management, asthma, backaches) (86%), diseases with no known cure (55.5%) or failure of conventional therapies (56%), behavioral problems (49%), & psychiatric disorders (47%). American born, US medical school graduates, general pediatricians, & pediatricians who ask/talk about CAM were most likely to believe their patients used CAM (P < 0.01). Pediatricians' have a positive attitude towards CAM. Majority believe that their patients are using CAM, that asking about CAM should be part of routine medical history, would consider referring to a CAM practitioner and want more education on CAM.