cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Guar gum effects on plasma low-density lipoprotein and hepatic cholesterol metabolism in guinea pigs fed low- and high-cholesterol diets: a dose-response study

Guinea pigs were fed semipurified diets containing either 0% or 12.5% guar gum (GG) with 0.04% cholesterol or increasing concentrations of GG (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, and 12.5%) with 0.25% cholesterol (by wt). Compared to the 0% GG diet with 0.04% cholesterol, intake of the 12.5% GG diet with 0.04% cholesterol lowered plasma low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations, the ratio of LDL cholesteryl ester to protein, hepatic cholesterol concentrations, and the activity of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), and increased 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase activity and hepatic apo B/E receptor number (P < 0.01). Intake of GG by animals fed 0.25% cholesterol diets resulted in modest effects on hepatic cholesterol pools and plasma LDL concentrations; however, significant negative correlations were found between both plasma LDL cholesterol and hepatic free cholesterol concentrations with the amount of dietary GG (P < 0.05). Hepatic HMG-CoA reductase was suppressed by the 0.25% cholesterol intake, and GG did not reverse this suppression. In contrast, ACAT activity was negatively correlated with the amount of dietary GG (P < 0.05), and GG intake increased the number of hepatic apo B/E receptors at all intakes with the 0.25% cholesterol diets. These results demonstrate that intake of GG significantly alters endogenous cholesterol metabolism by decreasing hepatic cholesterol pools, altering hepatic cholesterol homeostasis, and reducing plasma LDL concentrations.
Indexing Network Structure with Shortest-Path Trees

The ability to discover low-cost paths in networks has practical consequences for knowledge discovery and social network analysis tasks. Many analytic techniques for networks require finding low-cost paths, but exact methods for search become prohibitive for large networks, and data sets are steadily increasing in size. Short paths can be found efficiently by utilizing an index of network structure, which estimates network distances and enables rapid discovery of short paths. Through experiments on synthetic networks, we demonstrate that one such novel network structure index based on the shortest-path tree outperforms other previously proposed indices. We also show that it generalizes across arbitrarily weighted networks of various structures and densities, provides accurate estimates of distance, and has efficient time and space complexity. We present results on real data sets for several applications, including navigation, diameter estimation, centrality computation, and clustering---all made efficient by virtue of the network structure index.
Agricultural Land Price and Agricultural Technological Progress

This paper includes the concepts of land rent from the standpoint of modern economics and accounts for the contributing factors in the formation of the agricultural land price during the pre-war and the post-war periods. It can be said the agricultural land price in the later Taisho period was conditioned by farm rent and as far as the pure farming region is concerned, the agricultural land price in the post-war period is also explained considerably by net returns per 10 ares of land, which is capitalized by an 8 percent interest rate. Furthermore, the increase in agricultural land price, based on the premises of constant return to scale and the supported price of farm products, has demonstrated that the rise in the agricultural land price is sufficiently explained by technological progress in rice production. Though various factors are considered important in the contribution to the formation of the agricultural land price in this paper the main emphasis is based upon the fact that the interior factors of agriculture considerably elucidate its formation throughout the pre-war and the post-war period. This is especially applicable to the agricultural land price in pure farming regions. I. LAND RENT In agriculture, land is the most important production factor. There are different viewpoints among Marxian, classical, and modern economists. Among Marxian economics and classical economics, land rent is considered to be derived from surplus, whereas the generally accepted idea among modern economists is that it is determined by marginal productivity of land. However, modern economists do not necessarily have a unified viewpoint on land rent. It is true that certain famous modern economists maintain that the essence of land rent is surplus. For example, Marshall (1922) is one among them. According to his opinion that the essence of land rent was surplus and he introduced the concept of quasi-rent which could be extensively applied to fixed capital exclusive of land. Likewise, Robinson (1964) asserted that the essence of the concept of land rent was surplus. Consequently surplus had to exceed the minimum income which was necessary for the operation of production factors and was obtained by a particular part of the production factors. However, these two different views on land rent among modern economists do not necessarily differ from each other completely, since the marginal productivity of land and surplus will be, in essence, equal as long as land is looked
Influence of transportation and time‐averaging in fossil assemblages from the Pennsylvanian of Oklahoma

The relative effects of shell destruction, transportation, and time-averaging have been assessed in seventeen soft-bottom, benthic fossil collections from the Pennsylvanian Wewoka Formation in Hughes County, Oklahoma. Invertebrates were identified to species level, and each was subject to a taphonomic evaluation to determine whether it was in place. Species that were not deemed parautochthonous (living at the location of collection shortly before final burial) were eliminated from the faunal lists to reduce the effects of time-averaging and transportation in the fossil assemblages. Both reciprocal averaging and non-metric multidimensional scaling ordinations revealed two biofacies. These were distinguished using both presence/absence data and numerical counts of species despite an overwhelming number of taxa occurring in both biofacies. Comparison between ordinations based on entire faunal lists with those based on parautochthonous faunal lists indicates that the two biofacies faithfully reproduce differences in the living distributions of member taxa but that the two biofacies underwent different degrees of time-averaging and transportation. Time-averaging leads to accumulation of taxa over time, thereby making presence/absence composition of collections more similar. Transportation, on the other hand, homogenizes originally patchy population distributions and makes relative abundances more uniform. Based on differences in abundances and presence/absence patterns, the stratigraphically lower biofacies underwent more transportation and more time-averaging than the upper biofacies.
Increased Pelvic Vein Thrombi in Cryptogenic Stroke Results of the Paradoxical Emboli From Large Veins in Ischemic Stroke (PELVIS) Study

Cryptogenic stroke is associated with an increased prevalence of patent foramen ovale. The Paradoxical Emboli From Large Veins in Ischemic Stroke (PELVIS) study hypothesized that patients with cryptogenic stroke have an increased prevalence of pelvic deep venous thrombosis (DVT).At 5 sites, patients 18 to 60 years of age received an MRI venogram (MRV) of the pelvis within 72 hours of new symptom onset. Clinical data were then determined. Radiologists blinded to clinical data later read the scans.The 95 patients who met entry criteria were scanned. Their mean+/-SD age was 46+/-10 years, and time from stroke onset to pelvic MRV scan was 49+/-16 hours. Compared with those with stroke of determined origin (n=49), patients with cryptogenic stroke (n=46) were significantly younger, had a higher prevalence of patent foramen ovale (61% versus 19%), and had less atherosclerosis risk factors. Cryptogenic patients had more MRV scans with a high probability for pelvic DVT (20%) than patients with stroke of determined origin (4%, P<0.03), with most having an appearance of a chronic DVT.In this study of young stroke patients evaluated early after stroke, patients with cryptogenic stroke showed differences in several clinical features compared with patients with stroke of determined origin, including increased prevalence of pelvic DVT. The results require confirmation but suggest that paradoxical embolus from the pelvic veins may be the cause of stroke in a subset of patients classified as having cryptogenic stroke.
Lactation Delays Postpartum Bone Mineral Accretion and Temporarily Alters Its Regional Distribution in Women

The objective of this work was to compare long-term changes in bone mineral in lactating (L) and nonlactating (NL) women for 2 y postpartum. The 40 L women (mean duration of breastfeeding 345 +/- 177 d) and 36 NL women were enrolled during late pregnancy. Subjects were healthy and nonsmoking with a mean age of 28.8 +/- 4.1 y. Bone mineral content (BMC) was measured at 0.5, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 mo by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry set for total body scan with regional analysis. BMC adjusted for bone area, weight and height (adj-BMC) decreased in L women at the lumbar spine (-3.1%, P < 0. 001) and pelvis (-0.9%, P = 0.03) by 3 mo, and at the total body (-0. 9%, P = 0.05) by 6 mo. Losses were recovered following onset of menses. Adj-BMC at the lumbar spine, pelvis, thoracic spine and total body increased over baseline by 24 mo in L women. In NL women, adj-BMC increased over baseline within 3 mo and continued to increase thereafter. Net total-body gains were greater in the 27 NL women who completed the final measurement than in their 26 L counterparts (+2.3% vs. +0.6%, P = 0.001). Net regional gains differed at the head, legs, and ribs, but not at the lumber spine, pelvis or thoracic spine. Duration of breastfeeding, parity, onset of menses and maternal age affected bone changes in L women. These results indicate that lactation delays bone mineral accretion and temporarily alters its regional distribution in postpartum women.
Modeling effect of lightning induced EMP on wire harness in automobiles

A MoM-based EM code was applied to model the electromagnetic fields coupled to a vehicle by nearby lightning return strokes. The return stroke model was applied to investigate the effect of the lightning induced electromagnetic fields on an automobile wiring harness; the effect generates high peak current electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and potential EMI/EMC concerns regarding electrical and electronics (E/E) components. The frequency content of the lightning induced current pulse on the wire cable harness was also analyzed by fast Fourier transform (FFT).
A real introduction to supercomputing: a user training course

An introductory graduate course on supercomputing for computer science, applied science, and engineering majors is described. The interests of the students cover a broad range, from training as engineering or scientific supercomputer users to computer scientists interested in algorithmic, architectural, and statistical issues. An essential feature of this course is the use of real supercomputer time on several machines of advanced architecture. Remote supercomputer access is obtained from the national supercomputing centers. The students do several small group research projects on supercomputers, concerning performance, algorithm design, and applications. A number of techniques are used to enhance the learning environment, such as local user guides, preparation for access difficulties, and appropriate beginning problems. >
Experimental Validation of a Multi-scale Free-space Intra-chip Optical Interconnection Fabric Concept

In this paper, key aspects of a 3-D optoelectronic application specific interconnection fabric system are demonstrated. The approach uses an array of high-density, precisely oriented micro-prisms that are lithographically fabricated to affect an arbitrary global interconnection fabric
String analysis for x86 binaries

Information about string values at key points in a program can help program understanding, reverse engineering, and forensics. We present a static-analysis technique for recovering possible string values in an executable program, when no debug information or source code is available. The result of our analysis is a regular language that describes a superset of the string values possible at a given program point. We also impart some of the lessons learned in the process of implementing our analysis as a tool for recovering C-style strings in x86 executables.
Evaluation of models for tubular, laminar flow reactors

Significant error can result when the plug flow model is applied to the analysis or design of luminar flow reactors due to nonconstant radial profiles of velocity, composition, and temperature. An analysis and comparison of suitable models for the nonisothermal, homogeneous, first-order, irreversible, laminar, gas flow reactor has shown the finite-difference solution for radial profiles to be superior to the power-series approximation of radial temperature and composition profiles. New capabilities of the present computer solution include isothermal or adiabatic wall, dilute or concentrated feed, any stoichiometric product-to-reactant ratio. Chapman-Enskog model for gas diffusivity, calculation of both heat transfer parameters, and a correction factor to apply to plug flow calculations. The new, improved computer solution may be used in the basic design or analysis of tubular, laminar flow reactors.
Experiments in dual-arm manipulation planning

The problem of dual-arm manipulation planning is to plan the path of two cooperating robot arms to carry a moveable object from a given initial configuration to a given goal configuration amidst obstacles. The authors survey previous work in manipulation planning and relate it to this analysis. A formal configuration space presentation of the problem is given. Three implemented planners are described. These three planners operated in a two-dimensional workspace and addressed increasingly difficult versions of the dual-arm manipulation problem. They were implemented in the C language. Execution times given were obtained by running them on a DEC 5000 workstation. >
Roundoff noise reduction in IIR digital filters via parallel decomposition

The authors investigate the roundoff noise for infinite-impulse-response (IIR) digital filters realized in some canonical forms. The minimum roundoff noise realization of this class is achieved by letting the finite-impulse-response (FIR) coefficients be identical to the corresponding partial impulse response of the desired filter. When the order of the numerator of the transfer function of the desired filter is greater than or equal to that of the denominator, there is an optimal decomposition which is shown to reduce the roundoff noise without adding additional multipliers or adders. The proposed structure is applied to parallel and cascade forms, with real as well as complex arithmetic and shown to result in lower roundoff noise. By increasing the order of the FIR filter, the optimal synthesis becomes a noise reduction scheme at the cost of additional computational complexity. >
Applying psychology to help save the world: Reflections on a career in psychology.

This reflective personal account traces phases of the author's career where he saw psychology as relevant to major world problems. Chronologically, these problems included issues of international conflict, waste of energy and natural resources, human behaviors that caused environmental destruction, and the paramount threat of global climate change. Psychologists can make valuable contributions to describing, evaluating, and resolving these problems, and their vital importance should motivate the research and teaching of many psychologists. Our generation's success in achieving sustainable patterns of living on the Earth will determine whether the Earth will retain a livable environment for future generations. Brief suggestions are offered for approaches that may lead to more effective research and advocacy on crucial social issues.
An Information-Theoretic Sentence Similarity Metric

We describe an information theoretic-based metric for sentence similarity. The method uses the information content (IC) of dependency triples using corpus statistics generated by processing the Open American National Corpus (OANC) with the Stanford Parser. We define the similarity of two sentences as a function of (1) the similarity of their constituent dependency triples, and (2) the position of the triples in their respective dependency trees. We compare results of the algorithm to human judgments of similarity of 1725 sentence pairs.
Patterns of electrical activity and neural responses in canine proximal duodenum

The patterns of electrical activity and neural inputs to the proximal duodenum between the pyloric sphincter and the sphincter of Oddi were studied in muscles of the dog. Smooth muscle cells in the most proximal region were electrically quiescent, but slow waves were recorded in all regions distal to the first few millimeters. Electrical activity was recorded from circular muscle cells near the myenteric and submucosal surfaces of the circular layer, and slow wave activity was similar in both regions. The nature of neural inputs was also characterized. With electrical field stimulation, responses in cells near the submucosal surface were predominantly excitatory junction potentials (EJPs); near the myenteric border responses were either inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs) or biphasic responses (i.e., small EJPs followed by IJPs). EJPs were blocked by atropine. IJPs were nonadrenergic and noncholinergic (NANC), and several experiments suggested that nitric oxide (NO), or a NO-releasing compound, serves as the inhibitory neurotransmitter in this region. Exogenous NO caused hyperpolarization of membrane potential. IJPs and the hyperpolarization response to NO were sensitive to apamin. These data describe the myogenic mechanisms and neurogenic apparatus that appear to regulate motility in the most proximal region of the duodenum.
Cultured Neurons on Fiduciary Markers and Small Quantum Dots with Monomeric Streptavidin for Super-Resolution Microscopy

Given the sub-diffraction limited size of neuronal synapses, it is desirable to image them with nanometer-scale super-resolution fluorescence microscopy. Here we image live cultured neurons with a highly stable small quantum dots, attached to a glutamatergic receptor via a new monofunctional streptavidin. On single synapses, it is able to achieve < 10 nm accuracy in 3 dimensions over the course of 15 minutes or more. Simultaneously, we have imaged a post-synaptic protein using a photoactivatable fluorescent protein, with a resolution of < 20 nm in x-y and <50 nm in z. By using a fiduciary pattern, passivated with poly-lysine and Laminin, the neuron was stable. Stage-drift could be corrected to < 1 nm in x and y, and < 15 nm in z-dimension. Chromatic aberration could be corrected to ∼ 3 nm. Small quantum dots, 85% likelihood, in contrast to commercially available quantum dots, which can only label synaptic glutamatergic receptors to <15%. The use of monofunctional streptavidin ensures that problems with cross-linking of receptors don’t occur. The use of super-resolution of small quantum dots argues that the role of inter-synaptic diffusion has been significantly over-stated.
Input-to-State Stability of Switched Systems with Time Delays

This chapter deals with the input-to-state stability of switched nonlinear systems with time delays. The proposed results demonstrate a connection between small-gain arguments in the context of input-to-state stability and the traditional Lyapunov-Razumikhin method for switched systems. By using the notion of average dwell time, it is shown that a switching among ISS systems with compatible Lyapunov-Razumikhin functions will not destroy the stability property if the switching is not too fast on average. Particularly, it is shown that the existence of a common Razumikhin function is sufficient to guarantee input-to-state stability for time-delayed systems under arbitrary switching.
Pediatric liver transplantation: predictors of survival and resource utilization

We sought to identify factors associated with increased resource utilization and in-hospital mortality for pediatric liver transplantation (LT). Kids’ Inpatient Database (1997–2009) was used to identify cases of LT in patients <20 years old. Overall, 2905 cases were identified, with an in-hospital survival of 91 %. LT was performed most frequently in < 5 year olds (61 %), females (51 %), and Caucasians (56 %). LT was performed at urban teaching hospitals (97 %) and facilities with children’s units (51 %). Indications included pathologic conditions of the biliary tract (44 %) and inborn errors of metabolism (34 %), though unspecified end stage liver disease was the most common (75 %). Logistic regression found higher mortality in children undergoing LT for malignant conditions (odds ratio: 4.8) and acute hepatic failure (OR 3.4). Cases complicated by renal failure (OR 7.7) and complications of LT (OR 2.7) had higher mortality rates. Resource utilization increased for children with renal failure and those with hemorrhage as a complication of LT, p < 0.05. Hospital survival is predicted by indication and complications associated with LT. Resource utilization increased with renal failure and complications related to LT. Admission length was sensitive to payer status, hospital characteristics, and UNOS region, whereas total costs were unaffected by payer status or hospital type.
Effect of Gravity on Human Lung Deformation

The effect of gravity is considered on biomechanical modeling of human lung deformation for radiotherapy application. The lung is assumed to behave as a poro-elastic medium with spatially dependent property. Finite element simulation is performed on a three-dimensional (3D) lung geometry reconstructed from four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scan dataset of real human patient. The spatially-dependent Young’s modulus (YM) values are estimated using inverse analysis from a linear elastic deformation model. First, the gravity-generated deformation in the lung is calculated. Next, inlet pressure loading is applied at the hilium from an initial stress-free resting volume. Then, the lung model is preloaded by its weight, followed by prescription of the inlet pressure. In each case the maximum and minimum deformation of selected landmarks are monitored with and without gravity. The results show that gravity indeed significantly affects the magnitude and distribution of lung deformation. The maximum displacement increases by 54% in the direction of gravity when it is considered in the model.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Simulation research on microgrid with flywheel and diesel generators combined energy storage system

Due to the disadvantages of poor electrical characteristics and poor maintainability,the energy storage battery could not meet the demand of the intelligent microgrid in the future.The flywheel and diesel generators combined energy storage system is proposed to be applied in the microgrid.The flywheel,owing to the ability of high power and unlimited full power cycle,is used to stabilize the power fluctuations of micro sources and the load.Diesel generators,which are low cost,can provide uninterrupted backup power supply.When the fault occurs in the grid,the power shortage in the microgrid is temporarily provided by the flywheel and the most of the load is normally working waiting for the reclosing of the main grid.If the fault is permanent,the electrical controller starts diesel generators.Theoretical analysis and simulation show that the flywheel and diesel generators combined energy storage system applied in the microgrid is feasible and efficient,and can improve the anti-accident ability of the microgrid.
Conductive paths through polycrystalline BaTiO3: Scanning probe microscopy study

The microstructural features determining the leakage current through polycrystalline BaTiO3 films are investigated using Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy. Grain boundaries are found to be the dominant conductive paths compared to the conduction through the grains. Grain boundary currents are observed to reversibly rise with the increase of the applied DC voltages, indicating that the current is controlled by a field-activated charge transport process.
Dynamic control of gene regulatory logic by seemingly redundant transcription factors.

Cells respond to environmental signals by activating proteins called transcription factors. These bind to the DNA that is stored in the cell nucleus and turn on specific genes to make gene products. Many of these transcription factors move in and out of the nucleus once activated. Different environmental signals affect the amount of transcription factor that appears in the nucleus in different ways, and this is important in determining which genes should be turned on and how many copies of gene products should be made. Many transcription factors co-exist with a similar version of themselves in the same cell. These closely related proteins, called homologous transcription factors, respond to the same signals and bind to the same place on the DNA to turn on the same genes. It was not clear what advantages the cells gain from having two molecules that perform the same roles. Two homologous transcription factors called Msn2 and Msn4 are found in baker's yeast. These transcription factors respond to a wide variety of environmental stresses by moving rapidly into the nucleus, where they remain for a short time to turn on hundreds of target genes that are needed for the cell to survive. AkhavanAghdam, Sinha, Tabbaa et al. investigated the roles of Msn2 and Msn4 by tracking where the proteins localized to and which genes they switched on inside the same single cell. Genes that can be turned on quickly could be activated by either Msn2 or Msn4, and both factors activated the genes to a similar extent. By contrast, both Msn2 and Msn4 were required to activate those genes that take a long time to be turned on. In these cases, Msn2 served as a 'switch' that governed the 'on' and 'off' state of the genes, while Msn4 behaved as a 'rheostat' to tune how much gene product was made. This cooperation between the two transcription factors is equivalent to a design commonly found in electrical circuits and may help the cell to survive in rapidly changing environments. Further studies are now needed to investigate the mechanisms that provide Msn2 and Msn4 with distinct roles in gene regulation. Technological advances that allow the full genetic material of a single cell to be analyzed could also determine whether other homologous transcription factors regulate their target genes in similar ways.
Gs-DREADD Knock-In Mice for Tissue-Specific, Temporal Stimulation of Cyclic AMP Signaling

Hundreds of hormones and ligands stimulate cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling in different tissues through the activation of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Although the functions and individual effectors of cAMP signaling are well characterized in many tissues, pleiotropic effects of GPCR agonists limit investigations of physiological functions of cAMP signaling in individual cell types at different developmental stages in vivo To facilitate studies of cAMP signaling in specific cell populations in vivo, we harnessed the power of DREADD (designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs) technology by creating ROSA26-based knock-in mice for the conditional expression of a Gs-coupled DREADD (rM3Ds-green fluorescent protein [GFP], or "GsD"). After Cre recombinase expression, GsD is activated temporally by the administration of the ligand clozapine N-oxide (CNO). In the same allele, we engineered a CREB-luciferase reporter transgene for noninvasive bioluminescence monitoring of CREB activity. After viral delivery of Cre recombinase to hepatocytes in vivo, GsD is expressed and allows CNO-dependent cAMP signaling and glycogen breakdown. The long-term expression of GsD in the liver results in constitutive CREB activity and hyperglycemia. ROSA26-Gs-DREADD mice can be used to study the physiological effects of cAMP signaling, acute or chronic, in liver or any tissue or cell type for which transgenic or viral Cre drivers are available.
The etiology and antibiotics-resistance of the bacteria isolated from cerebrospinal fluid in 36 children with purulent meningitis

Objective To analyze the clinical features,etiology and antibiotics-resistance in purulent meningitis cases identified in our hospital during the recent 5 years.Methods Clinical data were collected and the etiology and antibiotics-resistance were analyzed in 36 children with purulent meningitis during Jan 2007 to Oct 2011,and all cases were identified by a positive cerebrospinal fluid culture.Results There were 2 267 cerebrospinal fluid samples cultured and only 36 samples showed positive results and the rate was 1.6％,and 27 strains (75.0％,27/36) were Gram positive cocco bacteria.The most common bacterium was coagulase negative Staphylococcus and the ratio was 50.0％ (18/36),followed by Escherichia coli ( 13.9％,5/36),Streptococcus pneumonia ( 11.1％,4/36) and Staphylococcus aureus ( 8.3％,3/36).Drug sensitive test showed that 95.2％ of the Staphylococcus was β-lactamase positive and resistant to penicillin,and 33.3％ were sensitive to oxacillin.The death rate was 13.9％ (5/36).Conclusion Staphylococcus,Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pneumonia are the top three pathogens causing purulent meningitis in children in our hospital,and clinicians should choose antibiotics according to the result of drug sensitive test. Key words: Purulent meningitis; Drug resistance; Children
Matrix Mechanics Influence Fibroblast–Myofibroblast Transition by Directing the Localization of Histone Deacetylase 4

The propagation of mechanochemical signals from the extracellular matrix to the cell nucleus has emerged as a central feature in regulating cellular differentiation and de-differentiation. This process of outside-in signaling and the associated mechanotransduction pathways have been well described in numerous developmental and pathological contexts. However, it remains less clear how mechanotransduction influences the activity of chromatin modifying enzymes that direct gene expression programs. The primary objective of this study was to explore how matrix mechanics and geometric confinement influence histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity in fibroblast culture. Polyacrylamide hydrogels were formed and functionalized with fibronectin patterns using soft lithography. Primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were cultured on the islands until confluent, fixed, and immunolabeled for microscopy. After 24 h MEFs cultured on soft hydrogels (0.5 kPa) show increased expression of class I HDACs relative to MEFs cultured on stiff hydrogels (100 kPa). A member of the class II family, HDAC4 shows a similar trend; however, there is a pronounced cytoplasmic localization on soft hydrogels suggesting a role in outside-in cytoplasmic signaling. Pharmacological inhibitor studies suggest that the opposing activities of extracellular related kinase 1/2 (ERK) and protein phosphatase 2a (PP2a) influence the localization of HDAC4. MEFs cultured on the soft hydrogels show enhanced expression of markers associated with a fibroblast–myofibroblast transition (Paxillin, αSMA). We show that the phosphorylation state and cellular localization of HDAC4 is influenced by matrix mechanics, with evidence for a role in mechanotransduction and the regulation of gene expression associated with fibroblast–myofibroblast transitions. This work establishes a link between outside-in signaling and epigenetic regulation, which will assist efforts aimed at controlling gene regulation in engineered extracellular matrices.
Overview of School Performance Problems

The second most frequent behavioral problem encountered by primary-health-care professionals is the child who presents with impaired learning or school achievement. It has been estimated that at least 20% of school-aged children have difficulty maintaining age-appropriate academic performance. When a young patient presents with school problems, the primary-care physician should consider difficulties in five potential areas: (1) intelligence, (2) academic achievement, (3) attention/concentration, (4) perceptual (visual—motor) function, and (5) behavioral. Two major contributors to poor academic achievement are learning disabilities (LDs) and mental retardation (MR).
Securing cyber-physical systems with adaptive commensurate response

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) are ubiquitous in power systems, transport and medical systems, and critical infrastructures. Current protocols and applications allow significant changes to a system to take place within a short time or small network footprint, which can be exploited by attackers to cause a great impact on the physical systems. This paper proposes adaptive Commensurate Response (CR) to narrow down the asymmetry between the cost of attacks and their impact through enforcing command footprints to be commensurate with their impact on the system. Such impact is measured by the change of the setpoint (change-driven CR) or the distance between the operating state and the critical state (criticality-driven CR). Change-driven CR is effective for setpoint attacks with big setpoint changes, and criticality-driven CR can be used to combat both setpoint attacks and actuation attacks. Our case study on automobile cruise control demonstrates that CR can effectively improve the system resilience and attack survivability while satisfying QoS requirements.
Spatial patterns of the frog Oophaga pumilio in a plantation system are consistent with conspecific attraction.

The conspecific attraction hypothesis predicts that individuals are attracted to conspecifics because conspecifics may be cues to quality habitat and/or colonists may benefit from living in aggregations. Poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) are aposematic, territorial, and visually oriented-three characteristics which make dendrobatids an appropriate model to test for conspecific attraction. In this study, we tested this hypothesis using an extensive mark-recapture dataset of the strawberry poison frog (Oophaga pumilio) from La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Data were collected from replicate populations in a relatively homogenous Theobroma cacao plantation, which provided a unique opportunity to test how conspecifics influence the spatial ecology of migrants in a controlled habitat with homogenous structure. We predicted that (1) individuals entering a population would aggregate with resident adults, (2) migrants would share sites with residents at a greater frequency than expected by chance, and (3) migrant home ranges would have shorter nearest-neighbor distances (NND) to residents than expected by chance. The results were consistent with these three predictions: Relative to random simulations, we observed significant aggregation, home-range overlap, and NND distribution functions in four, five, and six, respectively, of the six migrant-resident groups analyzed. Conspecific attraction may benefit migrant O. pumilio by providing cues to suitable home sites and/or increasing the potential for social interactions with conspecifics; if true, these benefits should outweigh the negative effects of other factors associated with aggregation. The observed aggregation between migrant and resident O. pumilio is consistent with conspecific attraction in dendrobatid frogs, and our study provides rare support from a field setting that conspecific attraction may be a relevant mechanism for models of anuran spatial ecology.
Reciprocal Relations Between Parental Problem Drinking and Children's Sleep: The Role of Socioeconomic Adversity.

Reciprocal relations between parental problem drinking (PPD) and children's sleep were examined longitudinally, and socioeconomic status was considered as a moderating variable. At Wave 1, 280 children (Mage = 10.33) and their parent(s) participated, and 275 families returned 1 year later. At both waves, parent(s) reported on PD and children wore actigraphs that measured established sleep parameters. After controlling for autoregressive effects, fathers' PD predicted reduced sleep duration and efficiency in children over time. Supportive of reciprocal effects, more frequent long wake episodes predicted greater PPD. Fathers' PD was a more robust risk factor for lower than higher income children. Results build on a growing literature that has considered children's sleep in a family context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract 4968: Tumor innate immunity primed by specific interferon stimulated endogenous retroviruses

Introduction: Tumor cell heterogeneity is a key determinant of cancer progression and drug resistance, which is often mediated by mesenchymal cell subpopulations. While these subclones can secrete growth factors, chemokines and cytokines, the immune signaling networks that fuel this pro-tumorigenic state remain incompletely defined. Elucidating what underlies this state would provide insights into tumor biology and inform clinical strategies to improve anti-cancer therapies. Methods: Because of their well-defined nature, we used the phenotypically distinct H69M and H69AR Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) mesenchymal subclones to uncover a novel mechanism of dysregulated innate immune signaling as compared with parental neuroendocrine H69 cells. Analysis of gene signatures across TCGA and CCLE databases, functional studies in additional cell lines, and ex vivo testing of patient-derived organotypic tumor spheroids (PDOTS) were conducted to determine the broader relevance across human cancers. Results: We discovered a novel epigenetically regulated subclass of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) that engages innate immune signaling in mesenchymal cancer subpopulations. Stimulated 3 Prime Antisense Retroviral Coding Sequences (SPARCS) are oriented inversely in 39UTRs of certain interferon-inducible genes and silenced by EZH2. De-repression of these loci resulted in dsRNA generation following IFNγ exposure due to bi-directional transcription from the STAT1-activated gene promoter and the 59 LTR of the antisense ERV. We found that dsRNA sensing preferentially by MAVS fuels activation of TBK1, IRF3, and STAT1 signaling, sustaining a positive feedback loop. SPARCS induction across specific human tumors and cell lines is tightly associated with downregulation of chromatin modifying enzymes, including EZH2, a mesenchymal AXL positive cell state, and B2M and MHC class 1 antigen expression. SPARCS high tumors were marked by immune infiltration, but also exhibited multiple features of tumor immune suppression. IFNγ treatment of PDOTS with de-repressed SPARCS markedly enhanced CXCL10 production and sensitized them to PD-1 blockade. Conclusions: Together, these data unveil a novel subclass of ERVs whose de-repression triggers pathologic innate immune signaling in cancer, with potentially important implications for cancer immunotherapy. Citation Format: David A. Barbie. Tumor innate immunity primed by specific interferon stimulated endogenous retroviruses [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4968.
BANK CAPITAL, THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S TERM AUCTION FACILITY, AND BANK BORROWING DURING THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 2007–2008

During the financial crisis of 2007–2008, the Federal Reserve System created emergency lending facilities to address the liquidity problem in financial markets and alleviate the stigma attached to borrowing from its traditional lending facility, the discount window. The most important and commonly used facility was the Term Auction Facility (TAF) announced December 12, 2007. Using event‐study methodology, we find that stock prices of TAF participating banks experienced a significant −2.84% average cumulative abnormal return around the announcement date. The negative abnormal returns correlated with the peak loan balances reached on average 416 days after the announcement.
Flipping the Paradigm: Studying Up and Research for Social Justice

Social justice research most often focuses on the voices, experiences, and practices of underserved and marginalized groups. While this focus produces important insights, it disregards the actions of those in power who create and maintain systems of inequality and injustice in the first place. To address this gap, this chapter examines methodological approaches for studying up or researching the powerful. It describes the challenges faced by researchers who study those in power, such as problems of access, interview pitfalls, dangers in data analysis and interpretation, ethical concerns, and dissemination of findings. The chapter also provides suggestions for how researchers can address those challenges. The significance of this chapter lies in a systematic presentation of methodological tools necessary for studying the powerful in research for social justice.
Treatment of Refractory Anti-HMG-CoA Reductase Myopathy: A Role for Rituximab?

Anti-hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR) myopathy is a subtype of myositis characterized by proximal muscle weakness, elevated serum creatine kinase (CK) levels, and autoantibodies recognizing HMGCR1. While statins are an established risk factor for developing anti-HMGCR myopathy in older patients, some individuals develop this condition without a known statin exposure2,3. To date, effective treatment strategies have not been established in clinical trials. Nonetheless, many patients with anti-HMGCR myopathy improve with immunosuppressive therapy, and current expert opinion guidelines recommend initiating treatment with corticosteroids, methotrexate, and/or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)1. Unfortunately, a significant number of patients with anti-HMGCR myopathy have persistently active disease despite aggressive treatment with these and other agents. Indeed, a study including 50 patients with anti-HMGCR myopathy treated for 2 years or more found that 30% continued to have weakness and elevated muscle enzymes4. This underscores the importance of finding more effective treatment modalities for these patients. A number of observations suggest the possibility that autoantibodies may play a pathogenic role in anti-HMGCR myopathy. For example, anti-HMGCR titers have been … Address correspondence to Dr. A.L. Mammen, National Institutes of Health, 50 South Drive, Room 1141, Building 50, MSC 8024, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. E-mail: andrew.mammen{at}nih.gov.
Before the Rescue Squad Arrived: Community Sponsorship of Exceptional African-American Children in Poor Communities.

This paper presents the results of a small qualitative study of the social origins of black physicians from poor urban and southern communities. The study examines contextual factors in the commu­nities of these high achievers that help to explain their great aca­demic and professional success as young adults. We argue that it was the community that identified and nurtured these gifted children, thus making it possible for them to attend college and professional school. Within many communities there were indigenous traditions and resources that were mobilized for star students.
Poststroke Fatigue Is Related to Motor and Cognitive Performance: A Secondary Analysis.

Background and purpose Poststroke fatigue (PSF) is a common debilitating and persistent symptom after stroke. The relationship between PSF and motor and cognitive function remains inconclusive partly due to lack of control for effects of depression and use of insensitive measures. We examined the relationship between PSF and motor and cognitive performance using a comprehensive set of behavioral measures and excluding individuals with depression. Methods Fifty-three individuals poststroke (16 female) were included (median age: 63 years, median months poststroke: 20 months). Poststroke fatigue was quantified using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and cognitive performance was measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, simple and choice reaction time (SRT and CRT) tasks. Lower extremity motor performance included Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment, 5 times sit-to-stand test (5 × STS), Berg Balance Scale, Functional Ambulation Category, and gait speed. Upper extremity motor performance was indexed with Fugl-Meyer, grip strength, and Box and Block test. Spearman correlation and stepwise linear regression analyses were performed to examine relationships. Results Two motor performance measures, Berg Balance Scale and Functional Ambulation Category, were significantly correlated with FSS (ρ = -0.31 and -0.27, respectively) while all cognitive measures were significantly correlated with FSS (ρ = -0.28 for Montreal Cognitive Assessment, 0.29 for SRT, and 0.29 for CRT). Regression analysis showed that Berg Balance Scale was the only significant determinant for FSS (R = 0.11). Discussion and conclusions Functional gait, balance, and cognitive performance are associated with PSF. Fatigue should be considered when planning and delivering interventions for individuals with stroke. Future studies are needed to explore the potential efficacy of balance and cognitive training in PSF management.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A287).
Increasing evidence that risk scores underperform in predicting sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains the most common cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people, underscoring the need for accurate selection of patients for primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy.1 Since 2014, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has promoted a quantitative risk score, composed of seven disease-related features that can be imputed on a smart phone (ESC Risk Score App) to predict sudden death events over 5 years.2 The ESC risk score ascribes management recommendations for primary prevention ICDs based on whether a patient falls into one of three risk categories: low (<4%, ICD not indicated), intermediate (4%–6%, ICD could be considered) or high (≥6%, ICD should be considered). Of note, the ESC risk score excludes children and adolescent patients with HCM, a subgroup traditionally considered at particularly high risk for SCD. Prior investigations of this risk score have included only a small number of Asian patients with HCM2 3 and therefore the primary aim of the present Heart study by Choi et al ,4 was to determine the efficacy of the HCM Risk-SCD calculator in a cohort of Korean patients with HCM. In this observational cohort study, 730 Korean patients with HCM were followed for 4288 person-years for the primary endpoint of SCD events. Over the follow-up, 11 patients died suddenly and six experienced appropriate ICD shocks for ventricular tachyarrythmias, including seven patients with low ESC risk score, three with intermediate scores and six with high-risk scores. Of particular importance was the observation that …
New treatments for obstructive sleep apnea in children

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has a prevalence of up to 5% in children and 50% in obese children. OSA is associated with various comorbidities in the general population and in the perioperative period. In this review, we will provide background of OSA and insights into the available treatment options both surgically and medically. Unlike adults, most pediatric OSA is treated with adenotonsillectomy. Continuous positive airway pressure therapy is the commonly used medical treatment. Management of pediatric OSA is multidisciplinary. We will discuss the surgical options and medical options of managing pediatric OSA.