cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P26: 30-Day Risk Standardized Mortality and Readmission After Ischemic Stroke by Hospital Minority Volume

Background: Risk-standardized 30-day mortality (RSMR) and readmission (RSRR) rates in part reflect hospital-based and immediate post-discharge care. Differences in rates across hospitals based on the race-ethnic composition of their patient populations may indicate disparities in care. We examined whether hospital 30-day RSMRs and RSRRs after ischemic stroke vary by the proportions of African-Americans (AA) admitted at hospitals in 1994, 2000, and 2006. Methods: We used Medicare claims data to determine the hospital-level RSMR for any cause 30 days after the index admission and RSRR for any cause within 30 days of discharge among surviving fee-for-service Medicare patients >= 65 years of age discharged with a primary diagnosis of ischemic stroke (ICD-9 433, 434, 436) in 1994, 2000, and 2006. Hierarchical regression models calculated the RSMR and RSRR for hospitals, adjusting for patient demographics and clinical characteristics. Hospitals were grouped into quartiles based on the proportion of AA admitted. Mixed models and quantile regression models examined the relationship between AA volume and outcomes. Results: The RSMR decreased as the proportion of AA increased, whereas the RSRR increased as the proportion of AA increased (figure). These relationships were consistent within each year, and the variability lessened over time. Quantile regression confirms that the relationship persists across the distribution of RSMR and RSRR. Conclusions: RSMR and RSRR varied by hospital race-ethnic volume, but differences in outcome lessened over time. Identifying factors contributing to these differences may identify opportunities to improve stroke care among the elderly. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Moberg Osteotomy Shifts Contact Pressure Plantarly in the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint in a Biomechanical Model

Background:A proximal phalangeal dorsiflexion osteotomy (Moberg osteotomy) is commonly used to treat hallux rigidus, but the mechanical explanation for its effectiveness is unclear. The purpose of ...
Computational Determination of the Modified Vortex Shedding Frequency for a Rigid, Truncated, Wall-Mounted Cylinder in Cross Flow

Flow around a rigid, truncated, wall-mounted cylinder with an aspect ratio of 5 is examined computationally at various Reynolds numbers Re to determine how the end effects impact the vortex shedding frequency. The existence of the wall and free end cause a dampening of the classical shedding frequency found for a semi-infinite, two-dimensional cylinder, as horseshoe vortices along the wall and flow over the tip entrain into the shedding region. This effect was observed for Reynolds numbers in the range of 50 to 2000, and quantified by comparing the modified Strouhal numbers to the classical (two-dimensional) solution for Strouhal number as a function of Reynolds number. The range of transition was found to be 220 < Re < 300, versus 150 < Re < 300 for the classical case. Vortex shedding started at Re ≈ 100, significantly above Re = 50, where shedding starts for the two-dimensional case.© 2014 ASME
The Role of DNA Damage in Melanogenesis: Potential Role for Telomeres

Perhaps the best-studied and most widely recognized inducer of melanogenesis (tanning) in human skin is solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Although the regulation of melanogenesis is incompletely understood, evidence suggests that UV-induced DNA is at least one of the initial signals that stimulates melanogenesis in response to UV irradiation1. First, the action spectrum for the tanning response in human skin is essentially the same as that for the induction of the major DNA photoproducts2,3. Second, enhancing DNA repair by treatment of UV-irradiated melanocyte cells with the prokaryotic DNA repair enzyme T4 endonuclease V approximately doubles the melanin content of these cells over a 4 day period as compared with irradiated cells treated with either heat- inactivated enzyme or diluent alone4.
Early T-cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ETP-ALL) in Adults: A High-Risk Subtype

Background: Early T-cell precursor (ETP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (ALL) is a recently recognized high-risk T-ALL subgroup. The optimal therapeutic approaches to adult patients with ETP-ALL are poorly characterized. In this study, we compared the outcomes of adults with ETP-ALL who received treatment on frontline regimens to those of patients with other T-ALL immunophenotypic subtypes. Methods: Patients with newly-diagnosed T-ALL who received frontline chemotherapy between the years 2000 and 2014 at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) were identified and immunophenotypically categorized into early, thymic, and mature per the EGIL/WHO classification. Patients with ETP-ALL were identified on the basis of the following immunophenotype: CD1a(-), CD8(-), CD5(-/dim), and positivity for one or more stem cell or myeloid antigens. Results: A total of 111 patients with T-ALL with adequate immunophenotype data were identified. There was no difference in the outcomes of patients based on the EGIL/WHO subtypes. A total of 19patients (17%)hadETP-ALL.The completeremission rate(CR)/ CR with incomplete platelet recovery (CRp) rate in patients with ETP-ALL wassignificantly lowerthanthatofnon-ETP-ALL patients (73% vs. 91%; p¼0.03). The median overall survival for ETP-ALL patientswas20monthsvs.notreachedforthenon-ETP-ALLpatients (p ¼ 0.008). Conclusions: ETP-ALL represents a high-risk disease subtype of adult ALL. Allogeneic stem cell transplant in CR1 should be considered. Novel treatment strategies are needed to improve treatment outcomes in this T-ALL subset. Keywords: Acute leukemia, Lymphoblastic Leukemia, T-cell, Immunophenotype, Hyper-CVAD Chemotherapy, Flow Cytometry.
Changes in renal phosphate reabsorption in the aged rat.

AbstractDepletion of inorganic phosphate (Pi) reserves occurs frequently in aged animals and can result in diminished bone mineralization and osteoporosis. This altered Pi balance results from a reduction in intestinal Pi absorption and an elevation in renal Pi excretion. Since the kidney plays a central role in maintaining Pi homeostasis, we tested whether the increased phosphaturia seen with aging is a consequence of changes in the intrinsic tubular capacity to reabsorb Pi (TmPi). Male Wistar rats (12-, 18-, and 24-months-old) were acutely thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) and prepared for renal clearance studies in the presence and absence of fixed levels of parathyroid hormone (synthetic PTH-(1–34), 1U/kg/min). The maximum capacity for Pi transport (TmPi) was assessed by infusion of Pi at progressively higher rates (0–6 μmol/min) to increase the filtered load of Pi and facilitate the determination of the TmPi. TmPi declined significantly with age (3.51 ± 0.12 vs 3.04 ± 0.19 vs 2.30 ± 0.18 μmol/ml, for ...
Biological Significance of Glycosylphosphatidylinositols in Protozoan Parasites

Trypanosomatidae 族を含む寄生性原生動物は、人、家畜の病気の原因である。これら寄生虫の原形質膜に存在している糖タンパク質の大部分は、グリコシルポスファチジルイノシトール(GPI)-アンカーにより膜に結合している。加えて何種類かの原生動物の原形質膜は、タンパク質に結合していないフリーなGPIで修飾されている。高等な真核生物と比較して原生動物でのGPIの構造と生合成、また原生動物に対する化学療法のターゲットとしてのGPIの利用についても述べたい。原生動物の寄生虫が感染したり生存していく際のGPIと、GPIのついた糖タンパク質の役割の重要性について述べることが、この論文の中心である。
Referred Children's Cognitive Patterns on the WISC—R

A variety of theoretically and clinically derived WISC-R subtest regroupings have been proposed to provide clinicians with alternative methods by which to interpret children's individual cognitive profiles. The present study was conducted to examine selected subtest groupings for a sample of 105 children referred for psychological evaluation because classroom learning problems were suspected. The statistical analyses used were repeated-measures analysis of variance for comparison across a set of four subtest regroupings proposed by Bannatyne in 1974 and dependent t tests for comparisons of several dichotomous sets of subtest regroupings proposed by Kaufman in 1979. A number of significant cognitive pattern differences with these referred children showed marked similarity to learning disabled and conduct-problem children. Implications and suggestions for research are provided.
The Chicano Experience: An Alternative Perspective

Mirande offers a detailed examination of Chicano social history and culture that includes studies of: Chicano labor and the economy; the Mexican immigrant and the U.S.-Mexico border conflict; the evolution of Chicano criminality; the American educational system and its impact on Chicano culture; the tensions between the institutional Church and Chicanos; and the myths and misconceptions of "machismo.""
Treating the Borderline Patient in Psychotherapy

An attempt has been made to describe the contribution of maternal libidinal availability and withdrawal to the etiology of the borderline syndrome. The mother's vital contribution to normal ego dev...
Currency Misalignments and Industry Demands for Trade Protection

It is well known that currency misalignments lead governments to raise trade barriers. Less well known is that the protectionist response to currency misalignments varies by industry Industries with high exchange rate “pass through” (where exchange-rate changes are more fully transmitted to product prices) are more likely to be harmed by misalignments than industries with low pass-through. Similarly, industries that rely on imported intermediate inputs via global supply chains are less likely to be harmed by misalignments than industries that source domestically. I evaluate these arguments with evidence from recent U.S. legislation that would impose trade barriers on nations with misaligned currencies. I find support for the claim that exchange rates have a differential impact across industries: high pass-through industries explicitly lobbied for the legislation while industries dependent on global supply chains lobbied against it. I also show that campaign contributions from supporting (opposing) industries have meaningful effects on the likelihood that a member of Congress voted yes (no) on the legislation. Therefore, exchange rates appear to induce demands for trade barriers only in industries where competitiveness is unambiguously harmed by misalignments.
Fabrication and testing of high power cw unstable resonator semiconductor lasers

We have demonstrated cw operation of laser diodes employing on-the-chip unstable resonators (Fig. 1). Utilizing the mode selectivity provided by an unstable resonator, we effectively suppressed higher order lateral modes.
Fugitive Realities: Konrad Fiedler

The computer’s disputed aptitude to generate rather than present or represent reality revived heated discussions in and between professions concerning the production, reproduction and simulation of realities. An assessment of the effects media may or may not have on reality depends upon one’s understanding of reality’s modalities: it seems important to differentiate whether we are watching reality’s metamorphosis or whether we are metamorphosing, producing realities.
Dynamic Online Pricing with Incomplete Information Using Multiarmed Bandit Experiments

We propose an alternative dynamic price experimentation policy that extends multiarmed bandit (MAB) algorithms from statistical machine learning to include microeconomic choice theory.
Evaluation of the Lumipulse G TP-N Chemiluminescent Immunoassay as a Syphilis Screening Test

A syphilis diagnosis is often aided by the detection of treponemal and nontreponemal antibodies. Automated treponemal antibody detection systems enable high-volume clinical laboratories to perform syphilis screening at a faster pace with lower labor costs. The Lumipulse G TP-N chemiluminescent immunoassay is an automated system that qualitatively detects IgG and IgM antibodies against Treponema pallidum antigens in human serum and plasma. To assess performance characteristics and workflow efficiency, the Lumipulse G TP-N assay was compared to the Bioplex 2200 Syphilis IgG multiplex flow immunoassay. Among the 4,134 routine and HIV samples tested by the two automated assays, the percentage of agreement was excellent at 99.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 98.6% to 99.2%; κ, 0.89), with the Lumipulse G TP-N having a shorter time to first and subsequent results. All specimens with reactive syphilis screening results were further tested by rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TP·PA) testing (n = 231). The results from the RPR-reactive samples (n = 82) showed complete concordance with the two automated assays, while the TP·PA assay displayed some discrepancies. The positive percent agreement (PPA) and negative percent agreement (NPA) between the TP·PA test and the Lumipulse G TP-N test were 98.9% and 77.3%, respectively. The Bioplex 2200 Syphilis IgG immunoassay displayed a similar PPA (100%) but a substantially lower NPA (15.9%). Patient chart reviews of discrepant results suggested that the Lumipulse G TP-N assay produced 27 fewer falsely reactive results and can reduce the amount of additional confirmatory RPR and TP·PA testing needed. The analogous performance characteristics of the two automated systems indicate that the Lumipulse G TP-N assay is suitable for high-throughput syphilis screening.
Use of Time-Variant Spectral Characteristics of Nonstationary Random Processes in the First-Passage Problem for Earthquake Engineering Applications

In this work, the spectral characteristics of non-stationary random processes are applied to the time-variant first-passage problem in structural reliability. The first-passage problem consists in computing the probability of a response quantity exceeding a deterministic threshold in a given interval of time when the parameters defining the structural system and/or the loading are random quantities. The Vanmarcke and modified Vanmarcke approximations of the failure probability are expressed herein as integrals in time of the closed-forms of the corresponding hazard functions. These closed-forms refer to linear elastic systems subjected to a time-modulated coloured noise base excitation and are obtained using the corresponding closed-form solutions for the time-variant bandwidth parameter of the system response processes. These approximate solutions to the first-passage problem are compared with the classical Poisson approximation and Monte Carlo simulation results for an idealized linear elastic model of a three-story one-bay shear-type steel building. The retrofit of this benchmark structure with viscous dampers is also considered, allowing (1) to illustrate the use of the newly available closed-form approximations of the failure probability for non-classically damped linear elastic systems and (2) to show an example of practical use in structural engineering of the presented analytical derivations. The earthquake base excitation is modelled as a filtered white noise process defined by the well-known Kanai-Tajimi equation and time-modulated by the widely-used Shinozuka and Sato modulating function. The failure condition is expressed in terms of interstory drifts outcrossing specified deterministic thresholds. The results presented in this study show that the two Vanmarcke approximations can improve considerably the estimates of the failure probability for the first-passage problem when compared with the simpler Poisson approximation.
Next-generation lineage discovery: A case study of tuberous Claytonia L.

Premise of the study Species formation is an intuitive endpoint of reproductive isolation, but circumscribing taxa that arise during speciation can be difficult because of gene flow, morphological continuity, hybridization or polyploidization, and low sequence variation among newly diverged lineages. Nonetheless, species complexes are ubiquitous, and their classification is essential for understanding how diversity influences ecosystem function. Methods We used modern sequencing technology to identify lineages of perennial Claytonia L. and assessed correspondence between genetic lineages and morphological/ecological variation. Subsets of 18 taxa from 63 populations were used for (a) lineage discovery using network and coalescent analyses, (b) leaf shape analyses using elliptical Fourier analysis and ordination, and (c) ecological analyses (soil chemistry, climate) using ANOVA and ordination. Key results Samples mainly aggregated into groups representing each of the previously recognized species in each of the genetic data sets. Compared to the double-digest restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing data set, genome skimming data provided more resolution and further opportunity to probe into patterns of nuclear and chloroplast genome diversity. Morphological and ecological associations are significantly different (albeit intergrading) among the taxa investigated. A new species, Claytonia crawfordii, is described based on morphological data presented here. Conclusions Genetic data presented in this study provide some of the first insights into phylogenetic relationships among recently diverged perennial Claytonia and are suggestive of past hybridization among caudicose and tuberous species. Given prior difficulties in understanding species boundaries among newly diverged plant lineages, this case study demonstrates the revolutionary breakthrough for systematics research that high throughput sequencing represents.
Aging effects on the Achilles tendon moment arm during walking.

Abstract The Achilles tendon (AT) moment arm transforms triceps surae muscle forces into a moment about the ankle which is critical for functional activities like walking. Moreover, the AT moment arm changes continuously during walking, as it depends on both ankle joint rotation and triceps surae muscle loading (presumably due to bulging of the muscle belly). Here, we posit that aging negatively effects the architecturally complex AT moment arm during walking, which thereby contributes to well-documented reductions in ankle moment generation during push-off. We used motion capture-guided ultrasound imaging to quantify instantaneous variations in the AT moment arms of young (23.9 ± 4.3 years) and older (69.9 ± 2.6 years) adults during walking, their dependence on triceps surae muscle loading, and their association with ankle moment generation during push-off. Older adults walked with 11% smaller AT moment arms and 11% smaller peak ankle moments during push-off than young adults. Moreover, as hypothesized, these unfavourable changes were significantly and positively correlated (r2 = 0.38, p
A lentivirus-based system for Cas9/gRNA expression and subsequent removal by Cre-mediated recombination

A major concern of CRISPR and related genome engineering technologies is off-target mutagenesis from prolonged exposure to Cas9 and related editing enzymes. To help mitigate this concern we added a loxP site to the 3'-LTR of an HIV-based lentiviral vector capable of expressing Cas9/gRNA complexes in a wide variety of mammalian cell types. Transduction of susceptible target cells yields an integrated provirus that expresses the desired Cas9/gRNA complex. The reverse transcription process also results in duplication of the 3'-LTR such that the integrated provirus becomes flanked by loxP sites (floxed). Subsequent expression of Cre recombinase results in loxP-to-loxP site-specific recombination that deletes the Cas9/gRNA payload and effectively prevents additional Cas9-mediated mutations. This construct also expresses a gRNA with a single transcription termination sequence, which results in higher expression levels and more efficient genome engineering as evidenced by disruption of the SAMHD1 gene. This hit-and-run CRISPR approach was validated by recreating a natural APOBEC3B deletion and by disrupting the mismatch repair gene MSH2. This hit-and-run strategy may have broad utility in many areas and especially those where cell types are difficult to engineer by transient delivery of ribonucleoprotein complexes.
Acrylamide Content of Experimental Flatbreads Prepared from Potato, Quinoa, and Wheat Flours with Added Fruit and Vegetable Peels and Mushroom Powders

Flatbreads are a major food consumed worldwide. To mitigate an undesirable safety aspect of flatbreads that might be associated with the potentially-toxic compound acrylamide, we recently developed recipes using a variety of grains that resulted in the production of low-acrylamide flatbreads. To further enhance the functionality of flatbreads, we have developed, in this work, new experimental flatbreads using potato, quinoa, and wheat flours supplemented with peel powders prepared from commercial nonorganic and organic fruits and vegetables (apples, cherry tomatoes, melons, oranges, pepino melons, sweet potato yams), potato peels, and mushroom powders (Lion’s Mane, Hericium erinaceus; Reishi, Ganoderma lucidum; and Turkey Tail, Trametes versicolor). These additives have all been reported to contain beneficial compositional and health properties. The results of fortification of the baked flatbreads showed either no effect or increases in acrylamide content by unknown mechanisms. Since the additives did not increase the acrylamide content of the quinoa flour flatbreads for the most part, such supplemented quinoa flatbreads have the potential to serve as a nutritional, gluten-free, low-acrylamide, health-promoting functional food. Mushroom powder-fortified wheat flatbreads with relatively low acrylamide content may also have health benefits.
FGFR1 Amplification Mediates Endocrine Resistance but Retains TORC Sensitivity in Metastatic Hormone Receptor-Positive (HR+) Breast Cancer.

Purpose: While FGFR1 amplification has been described in breast cancer, the optimal treatment approach for FGFR1-amplified (FGFR1+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remains undefined. Experimental Design: We evaluated clinical response to endocrine and targeted therapies in a cohort of patients with hormone receptor–positive (HR+)/HER2− MBC and validated the functional role of FGFR1-amplification in mediating response/resistance to hormone therapy in vitro. Results: In the clinical cohort (N = 110), we identified that patients with FGFR1+ tumors were more likely to have progesterone receptor (PR)-negative disease (47% vs. 20%; P = 0.005), coexisting TP53 mutations (41% vs. 21%; P = 0.05), and exhibited shorter time to progression with endocrine therapy alone and in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitor, but not with a mTOR inhibitor (everolimus), adjusting for key prognostic variables in multivariate analysis. Furthermore, mTOR-based therapy resulted in a sustained radiological and molecular response in an index case of FGFR1+ HR+/HER2− MBC. In preclinical models, estrogen receptor–positive (ER+)/FGFR1-amplified CAMA1 human breast cancer cells were only partially sensitive to fulvestrant, palbociclib, and alpelisib, but highly sensitive to everolimus. In addition, transduction of an FGFR1 expression vector into ER+ T47D cells induced resistance to fulvestrant that could be overcome by added TORC1 inhibition, but not PI3K or CDK4/6 inhibition. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings suggest that while FGFR1 amplification confers broad resistance to ER, PI3K, and CDK4/6 inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors might have a unique therapeutic role in the treatment of patients with ER+/FGFR1+ MBC.
Fluorescence converts for Nd:glass zigzag slab lasers

The recent renaissance in research on new solid-state laser materials has made several new fluorescent materials available. Many of these materials may be considered for fluorescence converters to improve the flashlamp-pumping efficiency of Nd lasers. The subject of this paper is restricted to solid fluorescence converter materials for Nd-doped phosphate glass zigzag slab lasers. Both theoretical and small-scale experimental studies have been performed.
From the archive: Clarence King’s Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada (1871 and 1902):

Clarence King’s Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada, based on exploration and mountaineering exploits undertaken in the 1860s and 1870s, is a somewhat forgotten piece of literature that is worthy o...
Cardiotoxicity and heart failure in patients receiving chemotherapy: A nationwide analysis.

e19097Background: Cardiotoxicity resulting in heart failure (HF) is one of the most common complications of chemotherapy which significantly impacts patient care and results in poor clinical outcom...
I Still Think of You.

No abstract available Keywords: GBM; Gloiblastoma multiforme; ICU; cancer; poetry; process; therapy.
Lupus-like autoimmunity and increased interferon response in patients with STAT3-deficient hyper-IgE syndrome

We report on patients with STAT3 loss-of-function (LOF) mutations who developed lupus-like autoimmunity. Immune dysregulation seen in STAT3 LOF patients suggests a susceptibility to systemic autoimmunity with important implications in monitoring and management of these patients.
Naming errors and dysfunctional tissue metrics predict language recovery after acute left hemisphere stroke.

Abstract Language recovery following acute left hemisphere (LH) stroke is notoriously difficult to predict. Global language measures (e.g., overall aphasia severity) and gross lesion metrics (e.g., size) provide incomplete recovery predictions. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the types of naming errors patients produce, combined with dysfunctional brain tissue metrics, can provide additional insight into recovery following acute LH stroke. One hundred forty-eight individuals who were hospitalized with a new LH stroke completed clinical neuroimaging and assessments of naming and global language skills. A subset of participants again completed language testing at subacute, early (5–7 months post-stroke), and late (≥11 months post-stroke) chronic phases. At each time point, we coded naming errors into four types (semantic, phonological, mixed and unrelated) and determined error type totals and proportions. Dysfunctional tissue measures included the percentage of damage to language network regions and hypoperfusion in vascular territories. A higher proportion of semantic errors was associated with better acute naming, but higher proportions of other error types was related to poorer accuracy. Naming and global language skills significantly improved over time , but naming error profiles did not change. Fewer acute unrelated errors and less damage to left angular gyrus resulted in optimal naming and language recovery by the final testing time point, yet patients with more acute errors and damage to left middle temporal gyrus demonstrated the greatest increases in language over time. These results illustrate that naming error profiles, particularly unrelated errors, add power to predictions of language recovery after stroke.
Experimental 3-dimensional tracking of the dynamics of a single electron in the Fermilab Integrable Optics Test Accelerator (IOTA)

We present the results of experimental studies on the transverse and longitudinal dynamics of a single electron in the IOTA storage ring. IOTA is a flexible machine dedicated to beam physics experiments with electrons and protons. A method was developed to reliably inject and circulate a controlled number of electrons in the ring. A key beam diagnostic system is the set of sensitive high-resolution digital cameras for the detection of synchrotron light emitted by the electrons. With 60--130 electrons in the machine, we measured beam lifetime and derived an absolute calibration of the optical system. At exposure times of 0.5~s, the cameras were sensitive to individual electrons. Camera images were used to reconstruct the time evolution of oscillation amplitudes of a single electron in all 3~degrees of freedom. The evolution of amplitudes directly showed the interplay between synchrotron-radiation damping, quantum excitations, and scattering with the residual gas. From the distribution of measured single-electron oscillation amplitudes, we deduced transverse emittances, momentum spread, damping times, and beam energy. Estimates of residual-gas density and composition were calculated from the measured distributions of vertical scattering angles. Combining scattering and lifetime data, we also provide an estimate of the aperture of the ring. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the dynamics of a single electron is tracked in all three dimensions with digital cameras in a storage ring.
A Role for the 5-HT 2B Receptor in the Neurobiology of Schizophrenia

It has been shown that several atypical antipsychotic drugs have affinity over the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 2B (5-HT2B) receptor. Thus, it is theorized that this receptor subtype may play a unique role in both their antipsychotic mechanism of action and in the neurobiology of schizophrenia. In the current book chapter, we review recent genetic and pharmacological experimental evidence from our group and others that support a role for the 5-HT2B receptor in the pathophysiology and treatment of psychosis. Future research aiming at discerning the developmental and the pharmacological effects of the 5-HT2B receptor on the regulation of the brain’s intricate neurochemical systems may help establish a novel druggable molecular target that could lead to more effective pharmacotherapies for the treatment of psychosis and other devastating brain disorders.
Applied AI matters: AI4Code: applying artificial intelligence to source code

The marriage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to problems surrounding the generation, maintenance, and use of source code has come to the fore in recent years as an important AI application area1. A large chunk of this recent attention can be attributed to contemporaneous advancements in Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques and sub-fields. The naturalness hypothesis, which states that "software is a form of human communication" and that code exhibits patterns that are similar to (human) natural languages (Devanbu, 2015; Hindle, Barr, Gabel, Su, & Devanbu, 2016), has allowed for the application of many of these NLP advances to code-centric usecases. This development has contributed to a spate of work in the community --- much of it captured in a survey by Allamanis, Barr, Devanbu, and Sutton (2018) that focuses on classifying these approaches by the type of probabilistic model applied to source code. This increase in the variety of AI techniques applied to source code has found various manifestations in the industry at large. Code and software form the backbone that underpins almost all modern technical advancements: it is thus natural that breakthroughs in this area should reflect in the emergence of real world deployments.
Drawdown of Atmospheric pCO2 via Variable Particle Flux Stoichiometry in the Ocean Twilight Zone

The strength of the biological soft tissue pump in the ocean critically depends on how much organic carbon is produced via photosynthesis and how efficiently the carbon is transferred to the ocean ...
Evaluation of adjuvant carboplatin chemotherapy in the management of surgically excised anal sac apocrine gland adenocarcinoma in dogs

There is no widely accepted standard of care for canine anal sac apocrine gland adenocarcinoma (ASAGAC). Surgery alone is inadequate in many cases, but the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy is not well established. The primary objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the role of carboplatin chemotherapy in the post-operative management of ASAGAC. Seventy-four dogs with naturally occurring ASAGAC underwent surgery. Forty-four dogs received adjuvant carboplatin and 30 did not. Median overall survival (OS) was 703 days. Median time to progression (TTP) was 384 days. Only primary tumour size and lymph node metastasis at diagnosis significantly impacted the outcome. Differences in OS and TTP, between the dogs that received adjuvant carboplatin and those that did not, failed to reach statistical significance. Treatment of progressive disease, whilst not limited to chemotherapy, significantly prolonged the survival. This study shows that adjuvant carboplatin chemotherapy is well tolerated and may have a role in the management of dogs with ASAGAC.
Self-tuning in graph-based reference disambiguation

Nowadays many data mining/analysis applications use the graph analysis techniques for decision making. Many of these techniques are based on the importance of relationships among the interacting units. A number of models and measures that analyze the relationship importance (link structure) have been proposed (e.g., centrality, importance and page rank) and they are generally based on intuition, where the analyst intuitively decides a reasonable model that fits the underlying data. In this paper, we address the problem of learning such models directly from training data. Specifically, we study a way to calibrate a connection strength measure from training data in the context of reference disambiguation problem. Experimental evaluation demonstrates that the proposed model surpasses the best model used for reference disambiguation in the past, leading to better quality of reference disambiguation.
Incoherent negatively curved groups

In part 1, a construction of Rips is modified so that it produces a CAT(-1) group instead of a small-cancellation group. Thus, many of the applications of Rips' construction to small-cancellation groups may be applied to CAT(-1) groups as well. Part 2 offers a simple way of producing incoherent groups.
Abstract MP13: N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) and Risk of Hypertension in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Introduction: Increased plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration reflects cardiac overload and is used to diagnose and stage congestive heart failure. While NT-proBNP exhibits beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system via vasodilatation and diuresis, increased amounts of circulating NT-proBNP also promote release of norepinephrine, which is known to affect blood pressure. Cross-sectional studies report positive associations of NT-pro-BNP with blood pressure, but the prospective association of increased NT-proBNP with risk of hypertension is not well characterized. Thus, the study aim was to evaluate the association of NT-proBNP with incident hypertension in the community-based ARIC Study. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort analysis of 3,849 participants aged 53-75 years with measured NT-proBNP at ARIC Visit 4 (1996-98) and normal blood pressure; participants with a history of hypertension (medication use or measured BP ≥140/90 mmHg), cardiovascular disease, or heart failure at baseline were excluded. Incident hypertension was defined based on diagnosis or antihypertensive medication use reported during annual follow-up. Results: During a median follow-up of 9 years, there were 2,157 new hypertension cases. There was a significant independent positive association between NT-proBNP levels and risk of hypertension. A 10% increased risk of hypertension was observed per log-unit increase in NT-proBNP (Table). This association was similar among individuals who were normotensive and pre-hypertensive at baseline [HR (95 % CI): 1.08 (1.01-1.15) and 1.11 (1.00-1.24), respectively]. Participants in the highest quartile for NT-proBNP were at 26% increased risk compared to those in the lowest quartile. Conclusions: NT-proBNP is positively associated with incident hypertension in this community-based cohort of middle-aged and older adults. In spite of the vasodilatory effects of increased NT-proBNP, elevated levels predict the development of hypertension.
Enduring Nations: Native Americans in the Midwest

Review of: "Enduring Nations: Native Americans in the Midwest," edited by R. David Edmunds.
Lesbian parents and work: Stressors and supports for the work-family interface

SUMMARY Twenty-one lesbian parents, representing 15 families, were interviewed to examine the work-family issues experienced by the women. Seventy percent of the interviewees were satisfied with their employment situations and characterized the relationships between their households and the workplace as positive. Qualitative analysis of the interview data revealed work-related stressors and supports, and strategies for balancing work and family. Themes included instrumental support, interpersonal support, integration of work and family, and creative responses to work-family tensions. Implications for social work policy and direct practice are discussed.
A new mutagenic and genotoxic response of the flame retardant tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)phosphate. Activation by singlet oxygen.

Abstract Illumination of tris(2,3-dibromopropyl)phosphate with visible light in the presence of riboflavin resulted in the formation of a stable product with greatly enhanced genetic and DNA-modifying activities. Because illumination of riboflavin results in the formation of short-lived singlet oxygen, it is assumed that the mutagenic and genotoxic chemical results from a reaction between the flame retardant and singlet oxygen. Since the polluted urban atmosphere is conducive to the generation of this species of oxygen, the present results may, therefore, be relevant to an assessment of the health hazard posed by such an environment.
Chitin and Chitosan

Chitin is a structural polysaccharide widely found in nature. It occurs as highly ordered microfibrils in many species such as yeast, fungi, insects, and marine invertebrates. Chitin is a homopolymer of 1-4 linked 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranose, although some of the glucopyranose residues are deacetylated and occur as 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranose. When chitin is deacetylated to more than 50% of the free amine form, it is referred to as chitosan. Biopolymerization of chitin is by the activated monomer N-acetyl-uridine diphosphate-glucosamine by synthase enzymes. The isolation of chitin is commonly from the shell fish waste of the shrimp and crab industries. Chitin is insoluble in most common solvents, whereas chitosan dissolves in many common aqueous acid solutions. Industrially, chitin is mainly used as a powder and as a precursor to chitosan. Applications of chitosan are found in many primary industries such as agriculture, paper, textiles, and wastewater treatment. Chitosan has good film and fiber forming properties. Many medical and pharmaceutical uses of chitosan have been described. It has also become a popular nutritional dietary additive. Keywords: chitin; chitosan; exoskeleton; synthase enzyme; chitinase; chitosanase; unit cell; polyelectrolyte; grafting; film; fiber; gel; antifungal; ion removal; chelation; biodegradable; biopolymer; microfibril; nontoxic; amine; amide; oligomer
"Grow-Your-Own"--A Model for Selecting Administrators.

A grow-your-own model for identi fying administrators is being favored in one midwestern city. As the significance of the princi palship has been verified by dis trict experience, and as the litera ture on research reflects the importance of the principal as instructional leader, the old "I- can-tell-from-an-interview" relia bility is in question.
Regulation of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C

Eleven distinct isoforms of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC), which are grouped into four subfamilies (beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon), have been identified in mammals. These isozymes catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol in response to the activation of more than 100 different cell surface receptors. All PLC isoforms contain X and Y domains, which form the catalytic core, as well as various combinations of regulatory domains that are common to many other signaling proteins. These regulatory domains serve to target PLC isozymes to the vicinity of their substrate or activators through protein-protein or protein-lipid interactions. These domains (with their binding partners in parentheses or brackets) include the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain [PtdIns(3)P, beta gamma subunits of G proteins] and the COOH-terminal region including the C2 domain (GTP-bound alpha subunit of Gq) of PLC-beta; the PH domain [PtdIns(3,4,5)P3] and Src homology 2 domain [tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, PtdIns(3,4,5)P3] of PLC-gamma; the PH domain [PtdIns(4,5)P2] and C2 domain (Ca2+) of PLC-delta; and the Ras binding domain (GTP-bound Ras) of PLC-epsilon. The presence of distinct regulatory domains in PLC isoforms renders them susceptible to different modes of activation. Given that the partners that interact with these regulatory domains of PLC isozymes are generated or eliminated in specific regions of the cell in response to changes in receptor status, the activation and deactivation of each PLC isoform are likely highly regulated processes.
Pathologic Lymph Node Ratio Is a Predictor of Survival in Esophageal Cancer

Background A ratio between pathologic and examined lymph nodes may have predictive relevance in esophageal cancer. We sought to determine the prognostic value of lymph node ratio (LNR) compared with TNM and N stage using the seventh edition American Joint Commission on Cancer and International Union Against Cancer criteria. Methods We abstracted data from 347 consecutive patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer between 1999 and 2010 at our institution. Patients were stratified into surgery alone or induction therapy followed by surgery. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models estimated the survival function using LNR as a continuous variable or categorized into 0, more than 0.0 to less than 0.1, 0.1 to less than 0.2, 0.2 to less than 0.3, and 0.3 or greater. The influence of LNR on survival was assessed by the Wald χ 2 statistic and survival plots. Results A total of 173 patients (49.9%) underwent induction therapy. The pathologic complete response rate was 55 of 173 (32%). The median number of examined nodes in surgery alone was 14 (interquartile range, 8 to 21), and induction was 12 (interquartile range, 7 to 17). Patients with nodal disease (n = 137) had a median LNR of 0.2 with equivalent survival regardless of induction therapy. Examination of LNR as a continuous variable demonstrated that LNR is an independent predictor of survival in both groups. After categorization, LNR contributed more toward estimating survival than pN stage in both groups. Conclusions Lymph node ratio is an independent predictor of survival in patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. The LNR makes a greater contribution in estimating overall survival than pN stage, regardless of the utilization of induction therapy.
Polarographic and electrochemical studies of some aromatic nitro compounds: Part VII. Polarographic, voltammetric, and controlled potential electrolytic reduction of meta‐ and para‐nitrobenzaldehyde

In acidic media, at pH 7, the formylhydroxylamine condenses rapidly to form a nitrone, which is further reduced to two two-electron steps, for the derivative of meta-nitrobenzaldehyde overlap. The addition of ortho- to para-nitrobenzaldehyde results in cross-condensation.
Receptor Number and Caveolar Co-localization Determine Receptor Coupling Efficiency to Adenylyl Cyclase *

Recent evidence suggests that many signaling molecules localize in microdomains of the plasma membrane, particularly caveolae. In this study, overexpression of adenylyl cyclase was used as a functional probe of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) compartmentation. We found that three endogenous receptors in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes couple with different levels of efficiency to the activation of adenylyl cyclase type 6 (AC6), which localizes to caveolin-rich membrane fractions. Overexpression of AC6 enhanced the maximal cAMP response to beta(1)-adrenergic receptor (beta(1)AR)-selective activation 3.7-fold, to beta(2)AR-selective activation only 1.6-fold and to prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) not at all. Therefore, the rank order of efficacy in coupling to AC6 is beta(1)AR > beta(2)AR > prostaglandin E(2) receptor (EP(2)R). beta(2)AR coupling efficiency was greater when we overexpressed the receptor or blocked its desensitization by expressing betaARKct, an inhibitor of G protein-coupled receptor kinase activation, but was not significantly greater when cells were treated with pertussis toxin. Assessment of receptor and AC expression indicated co-localization of AC5/6, beta(1)AR, and beta(2)AR, but not EP(2)R, in caveolin-rich membranes and caveolin-3 immunoprecipitates, likely explaining the observed activation of AC6 by betaAR subtypes but lack thereof by PGE(2). When cardiomyocytes were stimulated with a betaAR agonist, beta(2)AR were no longer found in caveolin-3 immunoprecipitates; an effect that was blocked by expression of betaARKct. Thus, agonist-induced translocation of beta(2)AR out of caveolae causes a sequestration of receptor from effector and likely contributes to the lower efficacy of beta(2)AR coupling to AC6 as compared with beta(1)AR, which do not similarly translocate. Therefore, spatial co-localization is a key determinant of efficiency of coupling by particular extracellular signals to activation of GPCR-linked effectors.
Alcohol, Opium, and the Methodists in Singapore: The Inculturation of a Moral Crusade

Abstract The Methodist Episcopal Church was strongly committed to the temperance movement in nineteenth-century America. This commitment rested on assumptions about the negative impacts of alcohol and was expressed through campaigns for personal moral reform and political prohibition. When Methodist missionaries arrived in Singapore in the late nineteenth century, they encountered a society in which opium was the most commonly abused drug. In this new context, Methodist missionaries adapted their concerns about alcohol and their methods of opposing the liquor trade and applied these concerns and methods to opium and the opium trade instead. This case study raises important questions about the inculturation of morality as an aspect of the missionary enterprise, a topic which is insufficiently addressed in literature on theological inculturation.
Holter Monitoring and Arrhythmia Management

The ambulatory ECG (AECG) or Holter monitor has been available for decades. Historically, this device has been used to assess individuals with complaints of palpitations or with other signs or symptoms of frequent arrhythmia. Advancements in the field have expanded the use of AECG as a tool for assessing risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). This discussion will address the presence and quantification of ventricular arrhythmias, long-term heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate turbulence (HRT), and modified-moving average T-wave alternans (TWA) and their use in non-invasive risk stratification for SCD. Emphasis will be placed on trial data and clinical utility of these measures along with a discussion of general challenges of non-invasive risk stratification.
Chemical Energy Release in Several Recently Discovered Detonation and Deflagration Flows

Several recent experiments on complex detonation and deflagration flows are analyzed in terms of the chemical energy release required to sustain these flows. The observed double cellular structures in detonating gaseous nitromethane–oxygen and NO2–fuel (H2, CH4, and C2H6) mixtures are explained by the amplification of two distinct pressure wave frequencies by two exothermic reactions, the faster reaction forming vibrationally excited NO* and the slower reaction forming highly vibrationally excited N2**. The establishment of a Chapman-Jouguet (C-J) deflagration behind a weak shock wave, the C-J detonation established after a head-on collision with a shock front, and the C-J detonation conditions established in reactive supersonic flows are quantitatively calculated using the chemical energy release of a H2 + Cl2 mixture. For these three reactive flows, these calculations illustrate that different fractions of the exothermic chemical energy are used to sustain steady-state propagation. C-J detonation calcul...