cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recent trends in placenta accreta in the United States and its impact on maternal–fetal morbidity and healthcare-associated costs, 1998–2011

AbstractObjective: To describe the prevalence, trends, adverse maternal-fetal morbidities and healthcare costs associated with placenta accreta (PA) in the United States (US) between 1998 and 2011.Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of inpatient hospital discharges was conducted using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). We used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes to identify both cases of PA and of selected comorbidities. Survey logistic regression was used to assess the association between PA and various maternal–fetal outcomes. Joinpoint regression modeling was used to estimate annual percent changes (APCs) in PA prevalence during the study period.Results: The prevalence of PA from 1998 to 2011 was 3.7 per 1000 delivery-related discharges. After adjusting for known or suspected confounders, PA conferred between a 20% to over a 19-fold increased odds of experiencing an adverse outcome. This resulted in a higher mean, per-hospital...
Targeted therapy for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare, cutaneous tumor characterized by aggressive local invasion. Local recurrence after excision is common, especially when negative margins are not achieved. DFSP frequently exhibits translocation of chromosomes 17 and 22, t(17;22). This rearrangement fuses the collagen type Ia1 (COL1A1) gene to the platelet-derived growth factor B-chain (PDGFB) gene. The resultant chimeric gene causes unregulated expression of platelet-derived growth factor leading to abnormal activation of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) â tyrosine kinase through an autocrine loop. This is believed to be the critical event in DFSP tumorigenesis. Imatinib mesylate is a potent inhibitor of several protein tyrosine kinases, including the PDGFRs. Clinical evidence suggests that imatinib mesylate is a safe and effective treatment in DFSP, especially in cases of recurrent or metastatic disease. Three phase II, multicenter clinical trials are open to further investigate the role of imatinib mesylate in DFSP.
Single-session ERCP in patients with previous Roux-en-Y gastric bypass using percutaneous-assisted transprosthetic endoscopic therapy: a case series

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) remains technically challenging following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Various techniques have been described to access the excluded stomach. We describe our experience using percutaneous-assisted transprosthetic endoscopic therapy (PATENT) to perform antegrade ERCP. Balloon enteroscopy was used to access the excluded stomach. Direct retrograde percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (RPEG) was performed and an esophageal self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) was deployed within the gastrostomy tract. A duodenoscope was advanced through the SEMS and antegrade ERCP was performed. Following ERCP, a gastrostomy tube was placed through the SEMS to maintain patency. Five patients underwent successful antegrade ERCP using PATENT. All patients had a diagnosis of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Biliary sphincterotomy was performed in all patients and liver enzymes normalized in four patients with preprocedural elevations. In conclusion, antegrade ERCP employing PATENT is feasible and can be performed during a single endoscopic session in patients with previous RYGB.
A simple approach to solve boundary-value problems in gradient elasticity

We outline a procedure for obtaining solutions of certain boundary value problems of a recently proposed theory of gradient elasticity in terms of solutions of classical elasticity. The method is applied to illustrate, among other things, how the gradient theory can remove the strain singularity from some typical examples of the classical theory.
Gender Gaps in Mathematics, Science and Reading Achievements in Muslim Countries: A Quantile Regression Approach.

Using quantile regression analyses, this study examines gender gaps in mathematics, science, and reading in Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Jordan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Qatar, Tunisia, and Turkey among 15-year-old students. The analyses show that girls in Azerbaijan achieve as well as boys in mathematics and science and overachieve in reading. In Jordan, girls achieve as well as boys in all subjects. In Qatar and Turkey, girls underachieve in mathematics, achieve as well as boys in science and overachieve in reading. In Indonesia, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tunisia, girls underachieve in mathematics and science but overachieve in reading. On the basis of the analyses, two generalizations can be made. First, key country-level economic and social characteristics appear unrelated to achievement gender gaps. Second, the overachievement of girls in reading and underachievement in mathematics and science are similar to findings from non-Muslim industrialized countries.
Biomolecular engineering of intracellular switches in eukaryotes

Tools to selectively and reversibly control gene expression are useful to study and model cellular functions. When optimized, these cellular switches can turn a protein’s function “on” and “off” based on cues designated by the researcher. These cues include small molecules, drugs, hormones, and even temperature variations. Here we review three distinct areas in gene expression that are commonly targeted when designing cellular switches. Transcriptional switches target gene expression at the level of mRNA polymerization, with examples including the tetracycline gene induction system as well as nuclear receptors. Translational switches target the process of turning the mRNA signal into protein, with examples including riboswitches and RNA interference. Post-translational switches control how proteins interact with one another to attenuate or relay signals. Examples of post-translational modification include dimerization and intein splicing. In general, the delay times between switch and effect decreases from transcription to translation to post-translation; furthermore, the fastest switches may offer the most elegant opportunities to influence and study cell behavior. We discuss the pros and cons of these strategies, which directly influence their usefulness to study and implement drug targeting at the tissue and cellular level.
Guest editorial: Human ecological planning-methods and studies

Abstract The philosophy of Ecological Planning is outlined, with special emphasis on the interactions of Man and the landscape. The papers included concern methods of analysis from a variety of fields which may help increase the understanding of the interactions within a populated landscape.
A CRY-DASH-type photolyase/cryptochrome from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum mediates minor UV-A-specific effects on development

Abstract Apothecial development is the multicellular, sexual reproduction phase in the developmental life cycle of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This development begins within the sclerotium, a compact aggregation of vegetative hyphae contained within a melanized rind layer. Upon germination from the sclerotium, the apothecial stipe requires exposure to UV-A wavelengths of light to develop a fertile disc. We have identified a gene, cry1 from S. sclerotiorum that is most closely related to photolyase/cryptochrome proteins in the CRY-DASH family. We characterized this CRY-DASH ortholog from S. sclerotiorum and observed significant transcript accumulation only after exposure to UV-A and not in response to other wavelengths of light. Tissue-specific expression studies revealed that cry1 transcripts accumulate to low levels in vegetative mycelia and to higher levels in all light-exposed stages of apothecia development. Maximal cry1 transcript accumulation occurs in stipes between 2 and 6 h of continuous UV-A exposure. Mutant strains carrying a deletion of cry1 exhibited a decrease in sclerotial mass and displayed greater numbers of pigmented hyphal projections on apothecial stipes under UV-A treatment but are otherwise developmentally normal. Tissue level localization of Cry1-GFP protein accumulation expressed from the native cry1 promoter was consistent with transcript localization. This study suggests that cry1 may have a function during UV exposure but is not essential for completing the developmental life cycle under laboratory conditions.
Integration on campus and in the community: a comprehensive approach to learning.

For learning to be effective, it must have its greatest impetus in early preschool years with concern for the whole child. How can we help the infant and young child achieve his highest potential u...
Solvable two-dimensional models and the Virasoro algebra

The Poisson brackets of various solvable two-dimensional models are specified by the Virasoro algebra. As a result, their equations of motion result from appropriate evolution equations. These models share an infinite number of conserved quantities and the same central charge and are related by suitable changes of dynamical variables. In the quantum version, the conserved quantities are modified differently but the central charge is common.
Applications of hidden Markov models to detecting land mines with ground-penetrating radar

Algorithms for detecting land mines using the GEO-CENTERS, Vehicle-Based Energy Focusing Ground Penetrating Radar (EFGPR) are presented. The algorithms rely on the use of hidden Markov models to model the time-varying signatures produces by the interaction of the EFGPR and the landmines as the vehicle moves. Results are presented on isolated land mine signatures isolated from calibration lane data from Fort A.P. Hill in the summer of 1998.
Adult hippocampal neurogenesis and c-Fos induction during escalation of voluntary wheel running in C57BL/6J mice.

Voluntary wheel running activates dentate gyrus granule neurons and increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Average daily running distance typically increases over a period of 3 weeks in rodents. Whether neurogenesis and cell activation are greater at the peak of running as compared to the initial escalation period is not known. Therefore, adult C57BL/6J male mice received 5 days of BrdU injections, at the same age, to label dividing cells during the onset of wheel access or after 21 days during peak levels of running or in sedentary conditions. Mice were sampled either 24 h or 25 days after the last BrdU injection to measure cell proliferation and survival, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was performed on brain sections to identify the numbers of proliferating BrdU-labeled cells, and new neurons (BrdU/NeuN co-labeled) in the dentate gyrus. Ki67 was used as an additional mitotic marker. The induction of c-Fos was used to identify neurons activated from running. Mice ran approximately half as far during the first 5 days as compared to after 21 days. Running increased Ki67 cells at the onset but after 21 days levels were similar to sedentary. Numbers of BrdU cells were similar in all groups 24 h after the final injection. However, after 25 days, running approximately doubled the survival of new neurons born either at the onset or peak of running. These changes co-varied with c-Fos expression. We conclude that sustained running maintains a stable rate of neurogenesis above sedentary via activity-dependent increases in differentiation and survival, not proliferation, of progenitor cells in the C57BL/6J model.
Periodic Limb Movements during Sleep and Cardiac Arrhythmia in Older Men (MrOS Sleep)

Study Objectives:To determine if periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) are associated with nocturnal cardiac arrhythmia.Methods:2,793 community-dwelling older men underwent polysomnography wi...
Chaos Theory, Self-Organization, and Industrial Accidents: Crisis Communication in the Kingston Coal Ash Spill

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) discovered myriad failures leading up to the Kingston Coal Ash Spill in December of 2008. This study analyzes the TVA's response to the crisis from the perspective of chaos theory. Specifically, the changes announced by Tom Kilgore, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Tennessee Valley Authority, during his testimony before Congress are analyzed as organizational rhetoric intended to initiate self-organization. The study reveals that Kilgore's rhetoric did address the bifurcation of the crisis, appropriately called for employee freedom in responding to fractal data, and allowed a new network for strange attractors to flourish. The degree to which self-organization is actually achieved, however, can only be known through observable changes at the TVA in the long term.
Understanding the Alteration and Decline of a Music Scene: Observations from Rave Culture1

The sociological study of scenes—music and otherwise—has flourished in the latter twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Most research has documented a scene’s origins or its “evolution” into mainstream culture. Fewer studies have systematically addressed what leads to a scene’s alteration and decline, although many scholars have partially addressed it in authenticity studies anchored in the Frankfurt School’s claims about culture and economics. Are culture industries sufficient in explaining music scene transformation? The present article attempts to explain the cultural transformation of the Philadelphia rave scene and to articulate its relevance for other kinds of social worlds. Using a multimethod ethnographic approach, I show that five forces (generational schism, commercialization, cultural otherness/deviance and self destruction, social control, and genre-based scene fragmentation) help explain the alteration and decline of the rave scene from its high point in the mid to late 1990s to its diminished and fragmented state presently. In describing these forces, I hope to move beyond culture industry narratives toward a broader explanation of cultural change, one that is lacking not only in music scene studies, but also in literatures on many other kinds of social worlds.
Messenger RNA synthesis during early ascidian development.

Abstract RNA synthesis during early embryogenesis of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis was studied. Embryonic polyribosomes labeled with uridine from 5 to 7 hr after fertilization were isolated and the labeled RNA species were characterized by oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography and sucrose gradient sedimentation analysis. Since at least 50% of the labeled RNA was polyadenylated and all of it sedimented heterogeneously, it was concluded that mRNA was synthesized during the labeling period. Further, the synthesis of heterogeneously sedimenting, polyadenylated RNA at various stages of development from midcleavage to metamorphosis indicated that gene activity and perhaps mRNA synthesis occurred at earlier and later stages of development as well. Autoradiographic studies showed that the embryonic genome was the site of this activity, since uridine incorporation was localized in embryonic cells and not in accessory cells. Finally, under the labeling conditions employed (2-hr pulses), rRNA synthesis was not detected until larvae hatched.
"Built-In" Action/Issues Tracking and Post-Ops Analysis Tool for Real-time Console Operations

At Marshall Space Flight Center's (MSFC) Payload Operations Integration Center (POIC) for the International Space Station (ISS), the Payload Communications Manager (PAYCOM) team, whose members speak directly with the ISS onboard crew with respect to NASA payload operations, has found a creative way to reformat a mandatory daily report to organize action items, standing reminders, significant events, and other comments. While the report keeps others apprised of PAYCOM's current activities and issues, very brief summaries of the items are put into a "roll off matrix", including start and stop dates, resolution, and possible applicability to future ops. The matrix provides accountability for all action items, gives direct insight into issues regarding payloads, control center operations, and methods, yields indirect information on PAYCOM priorities and processes, and provides a roadmap for locating extensive details if needed. This paper describes how the daily report and roll off matrix are organized, used, and inter-related to each other and the PAYCOM operations log. While the application is for a manned vehicle, the concepts could apply in a wide spectrum of operational settings.
Multipacting electron signal behavior

Abstract Electron multipacting in a coaxial waveguide of the cold part of TTF-III power coupler has been observed at SLAC to be correlated with vacuum pressure growth and delayed with respect to the start of the rf power pulse. Analysis of the electron signal, gas pressure and rf power has been performed. It is found that at a given rf power level, the multipacting electron saturation current is proportional to the Kth power of gas pressure, where K is positive and only determined by the applied rf power and gas species. The K value is found much larger at the resonant mulipacting power than that at the non-resonant power. A model of the physics explains the delay time of the electron signal. All of the model predictions have been experimentally demonstrated.
Expanded-spectrum antibiotics with preterm premature rupture of membranes.

Objective: To compare maternal infection rates, neonatal sepsis rates, and bacterial resistance patterns in cases of neonatal sepsis for three antibiotic protocols for women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Methods: From January 1, 1988 to February 28, 1998, women with preterm PROM not requiring immediate delivery were treated according to one of three antibiotic protocols. During three distinct periods, patients received no antibiotics, intravenous ampicillin for 48 hours followed by oral amoxicillin, or intravenous ticarcillin-clavulanic acid for 48 hours followed by oral amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Rates of chorioamnionitis, endometritis, and neonatal sepsis were compared, as were antimicrobial resistance patterns. Statistical analysis was done using χ2 analysis, Fisher exact test, and the log-likelihood ratio test. The Bonferroni correction was used for multiple comparisons. Results: During the three periods, preterm PROM was diagnosed in 1695 women. The incidence of endometritis was lower during the third (5.3%) compared with the first (15.1%, P < .001) and second (11.6%, P < .001) protocols. Chorioamnionitis rates were 13.6%, 12.7%, and 15.6% (P = .34) for the first, second, and third periods, respectively, and neonatal sepsis rates were 2.2%, 0.6%, and 1.1% (P = .08), respectively. Neonatal sepsis with gram-negative (P = .02) and ampicillin-resistant (P = .04) organisms was more likely when mothers received antepartum ampicillin or ticarcillin-clavulanic acid. Conclusion: Antibiotic therapy for patients with preterm PROM was associated with a decrease in the rate of endometritis and a trend toward less neonatal sepsis but an increase in the proportion of gram-negative and ampicillin-resistant organisms causing neonatal sepsis.
Resisting Federal–Local Immigration Enforcement Partnerships: Redefining ‘Secure Communities’ and Public Safety

Constructing undocumented immigrants as a security threat has allowed the US government to justify extraordinary measures that have pushed immigration enforcement increasingly inward from the border to states, counties, municipalities, and sheriff and police departments. The Secure Communities program, which integrates federal criminal and immigration databases to identify and deport undocumented immigrants, represents only the latest attempt. Most of the academic literature on local immigration enforcement has elaborated on the diffuse, ubiquitous and often paralyzing nature of the biopolitical power of the state vis-a-vis undocumented immigrants. In contrast, in this article, we focus on the contestations that challenge and go beyond repressive state power. We conceive of these not simply as a reaction to state techniques of power, but as productive and affirmative power that promotes alternative imaginaries and institutional change. As the Obama administration has sought to roll out the program to ever...
Detection of Lesch‐Nyhan Syndrome Carriers: Analysis of hair roots for HPRT by agarose gel electrophoresis and autoradiography

Flat agarose gel electrophoresis and autoradiography were used to analyze HPRT and APRT activity in individual hair roots collected from the scalps of females to determine the presence of HPRT-deficient cells. Autoradiographs of hair-root lysates of normal homozygous females contained two well-separated dark zones representing HPRT and APRT activities. In contrast, some hair roots from carriers of HPRT deficiency contained two zones of activity with the same relative proportion of APRT and HPRT as hair roots of normal homozygotes, while others contained decreased amounts of HPRT activity. These hair roots consisted of HPRT+ and HPRT- cells. In addition, some hair roots from heterozygous carriers contained APRT but no HPRT activity. Such hair roots consisted of HPRT- cells only.
Magnetic field effects in optically encoded second harmonic generation in germanosilicate glasses

Magnetic fields in the 2–3 T regime resulted in increased saturated values of the effective x(2) produced in highly doped germanosilicate fiber preforms by simultaneous irradiation at 532 nm and 1.06 μm. When IR intensities of the order of 0.3 GW/cm2 were used to prepare the material, the magnetic fields slowed self erasure.
Morphologic analysis of the pulmonary vascular bed in congenital left-sided diaphragmatic hernia.

The contribution of an abnormal pulmonary vascular bed to right-to-left shunting in patients with congenital left-sided diaphragmatic hernia and alveolar hypoplasia has not been defined. In three infants we analyzed lungs fixed by perfusion. Left lung volumes (ml/kg birth weight) were 1.7, 6.5, and 4.0 respectively (control=11.7) and right lung volumes 5.7, 11.7, and 9.8 respectively (control=14.3). Serial sections were prepared and fifth generation (resistance) vessels identified. Compared to control the medial widths were increased in all lungs and the medial width/external diameter ratios were increased in the left lungs of two patients and the right lung of one. The m/d ratio in the left lung was greater than that in the right lung in two of the three patients. There were fewer pulmonary vessels/cm 2 lung tissue in the study lungs than in the control lung, and there were significantly fewer pulmonary vessels/cm 2 lung tissue in the left than in the right lung in two of the three patients. Although there was increased smooth muscle in resistance vessels, intravenous therapy with tolazoline HCl did not improve systemic oxygenation. We conclude that this was probably due to the decreased total size of the pulmonary vascular bed and the decreased number of pulmonary vessels per unit lung tissue, causing a fixed high pulmonary vascular resistance.
IGSTK: a software toolkit for image-guided surgery applications

Abstract The Image-Guided Software Toolkit (IGSTK: pronounced IGstick) is a high-level open-source component based software toolkit. The toolkit is currently under development and is intended to make it easy for researchers to prototype and develop image-guided surgery applications. The toolkit has been used to develop an example application incorporating electromagnetic tracking of a surgical needle. This paper presents the development approach, the requirements defined, the components identified and the example application.
In situ identification of normal visceral tissues using contact telescopic microscopy.

Objectives: To improve the intraoperative anatomic identification of normal tissues during surgery using histologic-like criteria. Study Design: A contact telescope was used to identify normal visceral tissues in an animal model using pigs and dogs during routine human surgical procedures. Methods: Tissues that could be identified grossly were stained topically with methylene blue and then examined with the contact telescope. The histologic appearance of these tissues with the contact telescope was correlated with routine histologic hematoxylin and eosin stains obtained after such tissues were excised. Results: Normal tissues, such as fat, blood vessels, muscle, and parathyroid tissue, can be identified reliably in animals and humans. The contact telescope appears to be able to differentiate between a variety of visceral tissues in the neck and may become useful for practical differentiation between tissues during surgery.
The effect of rankings on honesty in budget reporting

Abstract We conduct an experiment to investigate the effect of rankings, which are pervasive in practice, on the honesty of managers’ budget reports, which is important for sound decision making in organizations. Participants in our experiment are ranked in one of four ways: (1) firm profit, (2) own compensation, (3) both firm profit and own compensation, and (4) randomly, which serves as our baseline condition. None of the rankings affect participants’ remuneration. Compared to our baseline (random rankings) setting, where participants indeed exhibit honesty concerns, we find that rankings based on firm profit significantly increase honesty and that rankings based on own compensation significantly decrease honesty. Participants who received both rankings were significantly more honest than participants in the own compensation rankings condition. We did not, however, find significant differences in honesty between the both rankings and firm profit rankings conditions. As such, participants in the both rankings condition seemed to focus more on the firm profit metric than on the financially congruent own compensation metric. We also find that our results are stable across periods, suggesting that the effects of rankings neither increased nor dissipated over time. We discuss the contributions of our study and concomitant findings to accounting research and practice.
THE INFLUENCE OF TRAINEE ATTITUDES ON TRAINING EFFECTIVENESS: TEST OF A MODEL

Studies of the influence of trainee characteristics on training effectiveness have focused on the ability level necessary to learn program content. Motivational and environmental influences on training effectiveness have received little attention. The purpose of this study was to test an exploratory model describing the influence on trainee career and job attitudes on training outcomes (learning, behavior change, performance improvement). Results of the study suggest that job involvement and career planning are antecedents of learning and behavior change. Future research directions and practical implications of the results are discussed. Training can be defined as a planned learning experience designed to bring about permanent change in an individual's knowledge, attitudes, or skills (Campbell, Dunnette, Lawler, & Weick, 1970). Training effectiveness is usually determined by assessing some combination of the criteria presented in Kirkpatrick's (1967) hierarchical model of training outcomes. This hierarchy is composed of four levels of training effects: trainees' reactions to the program content and training process (reaction), knowledge or skill acquisition (learning), behavior change (behavior), and improvements in tangible individual or organizational outcomes such as turnover, accidents, or productivity (results). A number of training evaluation studies have provided support for the hierarchical model (e.g., Clement, 1978; Fromkin, Brandt, King, Sherwood, & Fisher, 1975; Latham, Wexley, & Purcell, 1975).
What can transgenic and gene-targeted mouse models teach us about salivary gland physiology?

Thousands of genetically modified mice have been developed since the first reports of stable expression of recombinant DNA in this species nearly 20 years ago. This mammalian model system has revolutionized the study of whole-animal, organ, and cell physiology. Transgenic and gene-targeted mice have been widely used to characterize salivary-gland-specific expression and to identify genes associated with tumorigenesis. Moreover, several of these mouse lines have proved to be useful models of salivary gland disease related to impaired immunology, i.e., Sjogren's syndrome, and disease states associated with pathogens. Despite the availability of genetically modified mice, few investigators have taken advantage of this resource to better their understanding of salivary gland function as it relates to the production of saliva. In this article, we describe the methods used to generate transgenic and gene-targeted mice and provide an overview of the advantages of and potential difficulties with these models. Finally, using these mouse models, we discuss the advances made in our understanding of the salivary gland secretion process.
Scene and Unscene: Revealing the value of the local music scene in Savannah, Georgia

Throughout human history, music has been central to the fabric of society. Music is a powerful form of communication, it helps us relate to one another, make sense of the world, and commemorate moments together. Yet, music is often perceived as an extraneous element in a local economy (Markusen 2003), and the occupation “musician”—with the rare exceptions of those who achieve mainstream recognition—often conjures images of the starving artist or delinquent idler. What if the value of a local music scene could be made clear from an economic and cultural perspective? What is the value of a local music scene in establishing an identity of place? How can a city facilitate the conditions for a local music scene to exist and thrive? Although music plays a key role in a city's creative and cultural life, a local music scene is too often overlooked as a driver for economic and community development. Through ethnographic research, this study uncovers the collective needs and vision for the future of the local music scene in Savannah, Georgia and proposes a framework for action.
Hypoxia-inducible Factor 1 Activation by Aerobic Glycolysis Implicates the Warburg Effect in Carcinogenesis

Cancer cells display high rates of aerobic glycolysis, a phenomenon known historically as the Warburg effect. Lactate and pyruvate, the end products of glycolysis, are highly produced by cancer cells even in the presence of oxygen. Hypoxia-induced gene expression in cancer cells has been linked to malignant transformation. Here we provide evidence that lactate and pyruvate regulate hypoxia-inducible gene expression independently of hypoxia by stimulating the accumulation of hypoxia-inducible Factor 1α (HIF-1α). In human gliomas and other cancer cell lines, the accumulation of HIF-1α protein under aerobic conditions requires the metabolism of glucose to pyruvate that prevents the aerobic degradation of HIF-1α protein, activates HIF-1 DNA binding activity, and enhances the expression of several HIF-1-activated genes including erythropoietin, vascular endothelial growth factor, glucose transporter 3, and aldolase A. Our findings support a novel role for pyruvate in metabolic signaling and suggest a mechanism by which high rates of aerobic glycolysis can promote the malignant transformation and survival of cancer cells.
A point mutation in the ectodomain-transmembrane 2 interface eliminates the inhibitory effects of ethanol in P2X4 receptors.

J. Neurochem. (2010) 112, 307–317. Abstract ATP-gated P2X4 receptors (P2X4R) are abundantly expressed in the CNS. However, little is known about the molecular targets for ethanol action in P2X4Rs. The current investigation tested the hypothesis that the ectodomain-transmembrane (TM) interface contains residues that are important for the action of ethanol in P2X4Rs. Wild type (WT) and mutant P2X4R were expressed in Xenopus oocytes. ATP concentration–response curves and ethanol (10–200 mM)-induced changes in ATP EC10-gated currents were determined using two-electrode voltage clamp (−70 mV). Alanine substitution at the ectodomain-TM1 interface (positions 50–61) resulted in minimal changes in ethanol response. On the other hand, alanine substitution at the ectodomain-TM2 interface (positions 321–337) identified two key residues (D331 and M336) that significantly reduced ethanol inhibition of ATP-gated currents without causing marked changes in ATP Imax, EC50, or Hill’s slope. Other amino acid substitutions at positions 331 and 336 significantly altered or eliminated the modulatory effects of ethanol. Linear regression analyses revealed a significant relationship between hydropathy and polarity, but not molecular volume/molecular weight of the residues at these two positions. The results support the proposed hypothesis and represent an important step toward developing ethanol-insensitive receptors for investigating the role of P2X4Rs in mediating behavioral effects of ethanol.
Adaptive control of a class of multivariable nonlinear systems and convergence analysis

Adaptive control is discussed of a class of multivariable nonlinear systems which can be characterized by a stochastic multivariable Hammerstein model whose linear part possesses an arbitrary interactor matrix. A simple suboptimal control law is derived which provides an efficient way to control a multivariable Hammerstein model whose linear part is not necessarily minimum phase. A direct adaption scheme is presented to implement the control law, and the global convergence of the algorithm is established. >
KAr geochemistry of carnallite from salt-cycle six of the Paradox Formation in Utah, U.S.A.

Abstract A technique was developed which yielded KAr apparent ages for whole-rock evaporite specimens and KAr apparent ages for carnallite which was too finely disseminated to be separated from the evaporite-mineral matrix. Camallite was selectively decomposed within the evaporite-mineral matrix by controlled heating. Water and radiogenic Ar released on carnallite decomposition were measured and used to calculate an apparent age. Whole-rock apparent ages, based on the total radiogenic Ar and on the K content, could be calculated following vaporization of the entire specimen. This technique was applied to selected specimens from three levels in salt-cycle six of the Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation. Apparent ages of dated evaporite specimens from salt-cycle six of the Paradox Formation in Utah range from 5 to 53 Ma. Most of the whole-rock apparent ages as well as the older half of the carnallite apparent ages range from 17 to 30 Ma. This apparent-age range overlaps with radiometric apparent ages of 17 to 31 Ma from rocks associated with igneous activity near the Colorado Plateau. This overlap suggests closure of some of the evaporites with respect to radiogenic Ar following a period of steepened geothermal gradient associated with regional igneous activity. The younger half of the carnallite apparent ages indicates that not all of the carnallite has been closed to radiogenic Ar since the thermal event. No age can be assigned to a thermal event affecting the evaporites of salt-cycle six based on data presented here. However, the data do suggest that KAr whole-rock apparent ages of carnallite-bearing evaporite specimens as well as apparent ages of carnallite can be sensitive indicators of periods of disturbance in an evaporite body.
Understanding venue popularity in Foursquare

Recently, social media has become an increasingly important part of business and marketing. More and more businesses use social media as part of their marketing platforms. Moreover, the fast development of the 4th generation mobile network and the ubiquity of the advanced mobile devices in which GPS modules are embedded promote the location-based services. Location-based social networks (LBSNs), as the combination of mobile, location-based service and social media, have been changing the way customers interact with the physical location of a business. Foursquare is one of such popular LBSNs in which a user can check in at his current location, leave tips about the venue, explore discounts around his current location, add other people as his friends and so on. These services provide more information to users on where to eat, shop and go for entertainment, as well as a platform to share their activities with their friends. In this paper, we analyze the Foursquare data pertaining to greater Pittsburgh area to investigate several interesting features that could impact venue popularity. By extracting various information in LBSNs, we investigate which are the popular venues, what kind of venues are popular, and what makes them popular. In particular, we study the local hot spots that indicate users' preferences of venues. We also explore if the special offers and web presence help venues become more popular in general. We also analyze trending venues (i.e., very popular venues at a certain time) to investigate the influence of these features on venue popularity over time. Our quantitative analysis could be used to help business owners to design better marketing strategies in LBSNs.
Thomas Hunt Morgan and the problem of natural selection

At the beginning of the present century a number of prominent biologists were voicing strong doubts about the Darwinian theory of natural selection. Despite some historians' statements to the contrary,' the literature of this period indicates that the idea of natural selection had by no means gained wide or whole-hearted acceptance even as late as 1915. Among the particularly outspoken critics were a number of experimental biologists, including William Bateson, T. H. Morgan, Ross G. Harrison, and E. G. Conklin. Members of a younger generation born after 1860, these men viewed the theory of natural selection as incomplete and of little value in understanding the origin of species. Both a failure to solve some of the long-standing problems which Darwin had left behind, as well as the appearance of new evidence which threw doubt on some of the basic assumptions of natural selection, were the chief causes for this growing skepticism. By the 1930's, however, through new work in heredity, plant and animal systematics, and morphology, many of the doubts were resolved, and a new, more comprehensive concept of natural selection emerged. The present paper will indicate some of the arguments brought to bear against Darwin's theory during the early years of the present century, and suggest, through a specific case study, some of the factors which may have been responsible for its ultimate acceptance. The version of Darwianian theory with which most biologists
Setting Up Copernicus? Astronomy And Natural Philosophy In Giambattista Capuano Da Manfredonia’s Expositio On The Sphere

In 1499, while Copernicus studies in Bologna, the commentary on Sacrobosco's Sphere by the Padua master Francesco Capuano da Manfredonia first appears in print. It will be revised and reprinted several times thereafter. Like Copernicus, Capuano has a high view of astronomy and mingles astronomical and physical considerations (flies moving on wheels, men on ships, impetus, comets, raptus). Also, Capuano offers a flawed argument against a two-fold (diurnal and zodiacal) motion of the Earth. Multiple thematic resonances between Capuano's commentary and De revolutionibus, I, 5-11, suggest the hypothesis that Copernicus is answering Capuano, whose work was owned by Joachim Rheticus, if not Copernicus himself.
On Rhetorical Agency and Disclosing Disability in Academic Writing

Disability disclosures in academic scholarship raise questions about possibilities of rhetorical agency. This article engages performances of disability disclosure and recent theories of rhetorical agency to show such disclosures as the culmination of recurring processes in which past experiences are brought to bear on a present moment as people recognize opportune moments for action.
Defining the alcoholic liver transplant population: implications for future research.

For almost 2 decades, clinical researchers have been reporting on outcomes of patients who undergo transplantation for alcohol-related liver disease. The results of a majority of these studies have helped dispel misconceptions about these patients, as well as show the success of transplantation in this population. Overall short-term survival is as good or better than that for patients who undergo transplantation for other types of liver disease.1,2 In addition, studies show that by 5 years posttransplantation, the rates of return to drinking for these patients can be low (20% to 30%) compared with the rates of alcohol relapse after alcohol rehabilitation in alcohol-dependent persons (60% to 80%).3,4 Because the literature shows consensus regarding survival and relapse in this patient population, we propose moving beyond these fundamental outcomes toward the investigation and prediction of posttransplantation alcoholrelated events. Standardization of psychiatric diagnoses has resulted in improvements not only in the clinical diagnosis of mental illness, but in accurate diagnosis for research purposes. Investigations of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and transplantation would also benefit from the use of standardized diagnoses. For transplant physicians and clinicians, 2 diagnoses must be simultaneously considered when examining a patient with a history of excessive alcohol use: the pathophysiological diagnosis of ALD and the psychiatric diagnosis of alcoholism. Clarifying these diagnoses is essential to accurately investigating outcome data. The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of this distinction, as well as methods to establish these diagnoses and how to implement them in a research setting. Pathological Versus Psychiatric Diagnoses
The APIB, an assessment of functional competence in preterm and full-term newborns regardless of gestational age at birth: II

Abstract This study shows that the APIB can be used to cluster healthy preterm and full-term infants into distinct subgroups defined by behavioral competence regardless of the infant's gestational age at birth. The APIB system data on 98 newborns—33 PPTs, or pre-preterms (27–32 weeks), 31 PTs, or preterms (33–37 weeks), and 34 FTs, or full-terms (38–41 weeks), presented in the preceding paper, were subjected to cluster analysis. First, a split-half training-set test-set replication was performed with 49 newborns in each set. Three distinct clusters emerged in each of the split-half samples, and assignment to the test-set based on the discrimination rules of the training-set had on 89.8% accuracy (44 out of 49). Subsequent total sample clustering (N = 98) also yielded three clusters. The clusters were rank-ordered and referred to as nimbuloids, with Nimbuloid I being comprised of the most well-organized infants and Nimbuloid III the least well organized. Each of the three nimbuloids contained infants from all three gestational age groups. None of the demographic variables investigated showed significant nimbuloid status effects. Thus, it appears that the APIB provides a means of grouping newborns based on behavioral competence, independent of the infant's gestational age at birth. This affords an opportunity to investigate the predictive validity of APIB cluster membership to later age points.
DNA synthesis in rat sarcoma and liver: the effect of starvation.

Abstract Starvation in tumor-bearing rats results in augmentation of DNA synthesis as measured by tritiated thymidine incorporation into tumor DNA as compared to normally fed tumor-bearing control animals. Liver DNA synthesis fell to 20% of control with starvation. Acute fasting may result in increased tumor growth as reflected by this index.
ETHOGRAM OF BEHAVIOR WITH EMPHASIS ON MATING FOR THE TANNER CRAB CHIONOECETES BAIRDI RATHBUN

Laboratory observations of mating behavior of the Tanner crab Chionoecetes bairdi are described and compared with similar phenomena in other brachyuran crabs. Twenty-seven distinct actions were performed by C. bairdi during 133 matings. Seven actions-carapace caressing, bouncing, body lifting, palpating, sternum-to-sternum positioning, intromission, and pull-up-were unique to reproduction. Grasping, antennule flicking, sternum-to-sternum positioning, vigorous moving of mouthparts, and intromission were common to every complete copulation. Most primiparous females mated shortly after their maturity molt while in a new, soft-shelled condition. However, other primiparous females mated in a semihard-shelled condition as late as 21 days after the maturity molt and still produced viable zygotes. Multiparous females were able to fertilize eggs with sperm stored in their spermathecae during the preceding breeding season. Breeding recurred when males were present at the time multiparous females were receptive (during and shortly after the hatching of their eggs). Courtship, which is subtly developed, entails precopulatory attendance of the female by the male and performance of actions (body lifting, beating, and kicking) which quiet the female if she attempts to escape. Ungentle male-female interactions were infrequent when the female's exoskeletal condition was new and soft, more frequent when the female had a new semirigid exoskeleton, and prevalent when the female had an old, hard exoskeleton. In consequence, both the ability of the females to thwart breeding attempts by small and/or weak males and the occurrence of grasping marks on female exoskeletons directly increased with exoskeletal hardness. In some instances more than one male copulated with individual females. The brachyuran crab Chionoecetes bairdi Rathbun is widely distributed in the northern North Pacific Ocean between the central
Titanacyclobutadiene: Structure, Properties, and Relative Stability

Abstract The structure, energy, and magnetic properties of titanacyclobutadiene are compared with cyclobutadiene, silacyclobutadiene, benzene, and silabenzene to determine the nature of the aromaticity using Hartree–Fock and density functional theory. According to isodesmic and homodesmotic reaction energies, titanacyclobutadiene has a significant stability attributed to resonance delocalization. Nucleus-independent chemical shift indicates that a diatropic ring current dominates the π space of the molecule and indicates titanacyclobutadiene to be aromatic. Titanacyclobutadiene is also compared with titanatetrahedrane and found to be the more stable of the two.
Clonal restriction boundaries in Xenopus embryos shown with two intracellular lineage tracers

It has been proposed that clonal restriction boundaries develop in Xenopus embryos between clones initiated at the 512-cell stage, and that these boundaries result in formation of morphological compartments, each populated by progeny of a group of ancestral cells. Although this hypothesis has gained some acceptance, it has also been criticized because the use of only one cell lineage tracer was not a conclusive test of the hypothesis. However, the critical experiment, an assessment of the extent of mingling between two labeled clones in the same embryo, has now been performed. A model of the proposed arrangement of the ancestral cell groups in the 512-cell embryo predicted that the two clones would remain separate in 49% of cases and intermingle in 51% of cases. In fact, there was a bimodal distribution, in which separation of the clones occurred in 46% of embryos and extensive interclonal mingling was observed in 54%. These results are not compatible with hypotheses in which a unimodal distribution of mingling would be predicted but are consistent with the compartment hypothesis.