cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alternatively Spliced Lipin Isoforms Exhibit Distinct Expression Pattern, Subcellular Localization, and Role in Adipogenesis

We recently identified mutations in the Lpin1 (lipin) gene to be responsible for lipodystrophy in the fatty liver dystrophy (fld) mouse strain. Previous studies revealed that lipin plays a critical role in adipogenesis, explaining the adipose-deficient phenotype of the fld mouse. In the current study, we demonstrate that alternative mRNA splicing generates two lipin isoforms, lipin-α and lipin-β, which are differentially expressed during adipocyte differentiation. Lipin-α expression peaks at day 2 of 3T3-L1 cell differentiation, after which its levels gradually decrease. In contrast, lipin-β expression is transiently elevated at 10 h, followed by a drop to background levels at 20 h and a gradual increase between days 2 and 6 of differentiation. The two lipin isoforms also exhibit differences in subcellular localization. Lipin-α is predominantly nuclear, whereas lipin-β is primarily located in the cytoplasm of 3T3-L1 adipocytes, suggesting distinct cellular functions. Using primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts expressing either lipin-α or lipin-β, we demonstrate functional differences between the two isoforms. Whereas lipin-α is required for adipocyte differentiation, the predominant effect of lipin-β expression is the induction of lipogenic genes. In vivo, overexpression of lipin-β specifically in mature adipocytes leads to elevated expression of lipogenic genes and adipocyte hypertrophy, confirming a role of lipin-β in the regulation of lipogenesis. In conclusion, our data suggest that the two lipin isoforms have distinct, but complementary, functions in adipogenesis, with lipin-α playing a primary role in differentiation and lipin-β being predominantly involved in lipogenesis.
The Influence of Lattice Vibrations on Surface Self Diffusion

The vibrational free energy contributions in self diffusion on the (100) surfaces of Ag, Cu, and Ni and for step descent on Ag(100) via the exchange and the hopping mechanism are calculated using interaction potentials from the Embedded Atom Method. These contributions are found to be significant and lead to good agreement with experimental data where available.
Overview of the Lymphoid Neoplasms

Lymphomas comprise a diverse array of neoplasms that arise from lymphoid cells. It is now widely accepted that distinct subtypes of lymphoma arise from and correlate with subsets of normal lymphocytes at discrete points in lymphocyte development or maturation. Molecular mechanisms of lymphoma pathogenesis also correlate with lymphoid cell physiology deregulated by identifiable genetic events. Better understanding of the pathogenesis of lymphomas has led to advances in their classification and treatment outcomes. The WHO classification of lymphoid malignancies was updated in 2008 and is based on histologic features, immunophenotype, cytogenetics, and epidemiologic/etiologic factors. The major clinical groupings include non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), Hodgkin lymphomas (HL), and plasma cell neoplasms. Given the intimate relationship between the basic concepts of immunobiology and lymphomagenesis, the first portion of this chapter is devoted to an overview of the fundamentals of the Immune System. The second portion of this chapter discusses the clinical aspects of lymphoma and includes brief descriptions of the common subtypes of lymphoma.
The msaABCR operon regulates resistance in vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus strains

Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) strains present an increasingly difficult problem in terms of public health. However, the molecular mechanism for this resistance is not yet understood. In this study, we define the role of the msaABCR operon in vancomycin resistance in three clinical VISA strains, i.e., Mu50, HIP6297, and LIM2. Deletion of the msaABCR operon resulted in significant decreases in the vancomycin MIC (from 6.25 to 1.56 μg/ml) and significant reductions of cell wall thickness in strains Mu50 and HIP6297. Growth of the mutants in medium containing vancomycin at concentrations greater than 2 μg/ml resulted in decreases in the growth rate, compared with the wild-type strains. Mutation of the msaABCR operon also reduced the binding capacity for vancomycin. We conclude that the msaABCR operon contributes to resistance to vancomycin and cell wall synthesis in S. aureus.
The Hin recombinase assembles a tetrameric protein swivel that exchanges DNA strands

Most site-specific recombinases can be grouped into two structurally and mechanistically different classes. Whereas recombination by tyrosine recombinases proceeds with little movements by the proteins, serine recombinases exchange DNA strands by a mechanism requiring large quaternary rearrangements. Here we use site-directed crosslinking to investigate the conformational changes that accompany the formation of the synaptic complex and the exchange of DNA strands by the Hin serine recombinase. Efficient crosslinking between residues corresponding to the ‘D-helix’ region provides the first experimental evidence for interactions between synapsed subunits within this region and distinguishes between different tetrameric conformers that have been observed in crystal structures of related serine recombinases. Crosslinking profiles between cysteines introduced over the 35 residue E-helix region that constitutes most of the proposed rotating interface both support the long helical structure of the region and provide strong experimental support for a subunit rotation mechanism that mediates DNA exchange.
Aircraft weapon budgeting

This article considers the problem of allocating a fixed budget among alternative air-to-ground weapons. The weapon-budgeting problem is high-dimensional, involving all feasible combinations of aircraft, weapons, and targets. The decision maker's utility function is defined over kills of the various target types, but it is unrealistic to expect him to write down the mathematical formula for this function. The article suggests two procedures for reducing the dimension of the maximization problem and operating without exact knowledge of the utility function. The first procedure uses successive linear approximations to generate the set of “efficient” or undominated weapon allocations. The second procedure applies separability restrictions to the utility function, thereby reducing the overall maximization problem to a sequence of low-dimensional subproblems.
The evolution of social play by learning to cooperate

Social play is common in mammals but its adaptive significance is not well understood. A commonly held hypothesis is that social play allows juveniles to learn skills and rules for cooperation as adults. On this view, the adaptive benefit of social play derives from the benefits of cooperation as adults. However, cooperation is only beneficial if it is used in populations of predominantly cooperators; otherwise, it is a costly strategy. We investigated the latter problem by modeling the link between social play and subsequent adult cooperation using an agent-based model. In our model, agents had a play gene with allelic social play states i.e., play or not play. Juveniles with a play gene learned to cooperate by successfully engaging in social play with another juvenile agent with a play gene. As adults, agents played the stag hunt game with other adults to obtain resources for reproduction. Those that learned to cooperate by playing as juveniles cooperated in the stag hunt game. When agents aggregated into small groups, we found that social play could evolve by facilitating the learning of cooperation. Our theoretical results also show that social play is a novel mechanism for the indirect evolution of cooperation.
Adjunctive Therapy for Long-Term Support of Cognitive Impairment

HAART has altered the expression of dementia associated with HIV, and the nosology for HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) has recently changed to reflect these differences from pre- to post-HAART era (7) . The new criterion has been shown to be more sensitive to diagnosis and better reflective of the state of the brain in patients with HAND (8) .
The role of hydroxyl radical as a messenger in Cr(VI)-induced p53 activation

The present study investigates whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in p53 activation, and if they are, which species is responsible for the activation. Our hypothesis is that hydroxy...
Towards elimination of anode effect and PFC emissions via current shunting

Cyclic voltammetry, stepped-current chronopotentiometry, and stepped-potential chronoamperometry on stationary and rotatingdisk carbon electrodes have shown that at potentials exceeding ~3.5 V vs Al/Al 3+ in a laboratory cell the current drops off precipitously. Furthermore, if the potential on the anode falls below ~3.0 V vs Al/Al 3+ the current is quickly restored to values it held previously. The mechanism at work is speculated to be a highly resistive surface film whose formation is strictly potentialdependent. To demonstrate the relevance of these findings to industrial operations, controlled-current electrolysis was conducted in a laboratory cell where it was found that the anode effect and, hence, PFC generation can be completely avoided by simply stepping down cell current in small increments, i.e., by several per cent, whenever cell voltage reaches a critical value.
Establishment of drug discrimination and drug reinforcement in different animal strains: some methodological issues.

The study of drug reinforcement and drug discrimination in different animal strains raises some methodological issues. Potential problems are discussed, and some possible solutions are mentioned. A distinction is made between establishment of drug reinforced behavior and the maintenance of drug reinforced behavior. A similar distinction holds for the establishment and maintentance of drug discriminations. Strain differences may arise during either the establishment of maintenance phases. Interpretation of findings of strain differences is also discussed. Laslty, a distinction is made between drug self-administration and drug reinforcement.
Task-Orientation, Persistence, and Anxiety of Mental Hospital Patients with High and Low Motivation

Much emphasis is now being given to the rehabilitation of the chronic hospitalized mental patient. One of our efforts involves the use of a Vocational Rehabilitation Unit. Approximately half of the patients in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program have been in the hospital for 2 yr. or more. Perhaps one of their crucial problems is motivation. The present study explores whether certain tests can discriminate between patients of high motivation (HM) and those of low motivation (LM) in this program. Two Vocational Rehabilitation Instructors were asked to select independently 14 HM and 14 LM patients from 29 available male and female patients who had been in the program from 2 to 7 mo. HM patients were defined as chose who worked hardest, who displayed the most drive, who were steady and persistent in their work, and who would stick with tasks until completed. The mlo instructors agreed on 13 of 14 cases for each group (93% agreement). The 13 HM Ss had a mean age of 35 yr. (range was from 23 to 55 yr.) , while those in the LM group had a mean age of 33 (range was from 21 to 53 yr.). Also, each rater was asked to rank Ss in each group for motivation from 1 to 13. A rho of .59 was found between raters for the HM group and a rho of .56 for the LM group (p = .05). The Orientation Inventory (Bass, 1962) and the Sixteen Personality Factor Quesrionnaire (Cattell & Stice, 1957) were administered to the two groups. Three test variables were studied: task orientarion (orientation toward completing tasks and solving problems) from the Orientation Inventory, the "G" factor (persistence, conscientiousness) from the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 P.F.), and the second-order anxiety factor from the 16 P.F. It was hypothesized that HM patients would be appreciably higher in task orientation, persistence, and anxiety than the LM group. The results revealed that the HM group was significantly higher in task orientation than the LM groups (t = 2.09, df = 24, p =.05; rll~~rl = 32.1, IWL~I = 27.3). Differences in persistence and anxiety were not statistically significant, but they were in the expected direction. The present results suggest thac a follow-up study with an increased N would be profirable, particularly if more clearly distinct motivation levels were employecl and if predictive validity were the aim rather than concurrent validity.
An Algorithm for the Minimal Polynomial of a Matrix

(1983). An Algorithm for the Minimal Polynomial of a Matrix. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 90, No. 1, pp. 43-44.
Growth in Oral Reading Fluency of Spanish ELL Students With Learning Disabilities

The process of learning to read is difficult for many children, and this is especially true for students with learning disabilities (LD). Reading in English becomes even more difficult when a stude...
Microstructure evolution ofAl-20%Si alloy with ultrasonic standing wave treatment

A hypereutectic Al-20%Si alloy was treated by ultrasonic standing wave and the microstructure evolution of Al-20%Si alloy was studied under different ultrasonic powers. The course of crystallization and mechanism of microstructural refinement for the ultrasonic treated alloy were also discussed. The results show that the precipitation of primary silicon is inhibited while the segregation and growth of primary silicon are promoted because of acoustic radiation force under the ultrasonic standing waves treatment. The morphology of eutectic Si is obviously changed after ultrasonic standing wave treatment, varying from flake to fiber shape. Eutectic Si is changed into fine fiber shape with many branches. With the increase of ultrasonic power, the morphological change of eutectic Si from flake to fiber shape is more obvious. Ultrasonic standing wave can be used in the modification of hypoeutectic Al-Si alloy.
Reservoir-Forming Conditions of Shale Gas in Ziliujing Formation of Yuanba Area in Sichuan Basin

According to the ideas of exploration and the reservoir accumulation characteristics of shale gas,we have collected shale gas data in Ziliujing Formation from a batch of exploratory wells in Yuanba area of Sichuan basin.And industrial gas flow has been discovered in three wells of the exploratory wells.Research shows that Ziliujing Formation in Yuanba area is formed in shallow lake-semi-deep lake environment.Thick dark shale,high content of organic carbon and moderate thermal maturity of organic matter which is at the peak of gas production are developed in Ziliujing Formation.Moreover,quartz content is generally more than 60% in the mineral composition of shale,while clay content is below 30%.Gas content is high in shale of Ziliujing Formation,which is the basic condition for the formation and exploration of shale gas.And Ziliujing Formation is the favorable strata for the shale gas exploration.
Daydreaming with Intention: Scalable Blending-Based Imagining and Agency in Generative Interactive Narrative.

This paper presents recent development of a blending-based system that generates interactive narrative output. Besides expanding the GRIOT system to dynamically reconfigure discourse, we introduce a novel construct called a “scale of intentionality.” As a cultural production, the first application of these advances is an interactive narrative of a character’s daydreamed memories, intertwined within a story world. Our approach is technically grounded in algebraic semiotics, conceptual blending theory, computational narrative research, and is informed by the notion of critical technical practice of AI research.
Isabela Mares, From open secrets to secret voting: democratic electoral reforms and voter autonomy

In the context of growing interest in subnational politics—particularly rigorous applications of quantitative analysis of electoral dynamics at lower levels of disaggregation—a monograph on elector...
Directed Assembly of Quantum Dots Using Brush Block Copolymers for Well-Ordered Nonlinear Optical Nanocomposites

We report the directed assembly of quantum dots (QDs) within well-ordered photonic nanocomposites using a family of (polynorbornene-graft-poly(styrene))-block-(polynorbornene-graft-poly(ethylene oxide)) (PS-b-PEO) brush block copolymers (BBCPs). Cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanoparticles (NPs) modified with 11-mercaptoundecylhydroquinone are selectively incorporated within the PEO domains of the self-assembled BBCPs via strong hydrogen-bonding interactions between the ligands on QDs and PEO brushes of the BBCPs. Well-ordered QD arrays were readily created within a periodic lamellar polymer matrix, or one-dimensional photonic crystal, with a widely tunable lattice spacing ranging from 46.2 to up to 145 nm. The loading concentration of the QDs can be up to 30 wt % (15 vol %) while maintaining a well-ordered lamellar morphology, providing an optical gain material platform for the systematic investigation of optical properties. Strong photoluminescence and third harmonic generation from the well-ordered QD arrays ...
Studying the viral growth of a connective action network using information event signatures

The Arab spring and Occupy Wall Street movements demonstrated that networks of individuals who share interests or grievances could quickly form on social media. There is a reciprocal relationship between the growth of these networks and the information that flows through them. This study examines this relationship by using viral information event signatures, which show the changing rate of sharing of a specific message over a period of time. The Occupy movement and the digital interactions of its participants provides a context and rich corpus of data from which to study the relationship between the signatures of information flows and the growth the Occupy network. Using exploratory data analysis and multivariate regression to analyze Occupy related tweets drawn from a corpus of over 64 million tweets, this study first provides a parameterized signature model and then uses regression to show that a relationship exists between the shape of the signature and the rate at which key actors gain followers. This work also finds a quadratic decline, over the life cycle of the movement, in the rate at which the actors gain followers. The contributions of this work include the parameterized signature model, a demonstration of its usefulness, and a new perspective on the growth of the Occupy movement.
Denormalize and Delimit

There are many legitimate reasons why standards for formatting of biomedical research data are lengthy and complex (Souza, Kush, & Evans, 2007). However, the common scenario of a biostatistician simply needing to import a given dataset into their statistical software is at best under-served by these standards. Statisticians are forced to act as amateur database administrators to pivot and join their data into a usable form before they can even begin the work that they specialize in doing. Or worse, they find their choice of statistical tools dictated not by their own experience and skills, but by remote standards bodies or inertial administrative choices. This may limit academic freedom. If the formats in question require the use of one proprietary software package, it also raises concerns about vendor lock-in (DeLano, 2005) and stewardship of public resources.The logistics and transparency of data sharing can be made more tractable by an appreciation of the differences between structural, semantic, and syntactic levels of data interoperability. The semantic level is legitimately a complex problem. Here we make the case that, for the limited purpose of statistical analysis, a simplifying assumption can be made about structural level: the needs of a large number of statistical models can often be met with a modified variant of the first normal form or 1NF (Codd, 1979). Once data is merged into one such table, the syntactic level becomes a solved problem, with many text based formats available and robustly supported by virtually all statistical software without the need for any custom or third-party client-side add-ons. We implemented our denormalization approach in DataFinisher, an open source server-side add-on for i2b2 (Murphy et al., 2009), which we use at our site to enable self-service pulls of de-identified data by researchers.
The Changing World of Psychiatric Education: Challenges and Opportunities

This special section of the journal focuses on the expanding horizons, challenges, and opportunities for the psychiatric educators. In the six papers that comprise this special section, the authors have covered a broad range of topics in both undergraduate medical education and graduate medical education including topics such as accreditation, technology, how providers can locate education resources, how trainees are taught about professionalism in the digital age, telepsychiatry, manualized psychotherapy treatments, and cultural competence. We hope that psychiatric educators, and others interested in this field, will find these papers helpful.
Contextual factors affecting health information system strengthening.

ABSTRACTAt the turn of the century, several major efforts were initiated to combat HIV/AIDS and other major epidemics affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). They were accompanied by initiatives to enable recipient countries to collect and use data to guide their public health programmes. These health information systems (HIS) typify systems in that they have multiple interacting components, and they are embedded within larger systems. Components of a larger system act as the context for all lower-level systems. Their effects can be pervasive, and thus be taken for granted or regarded as unchangeable. We identify four contextual factors that affect efforts to strengthen HIS: hierarchical roles, aid funding, corruption, and competing priorities. We provide examples of each as experienced by those working to strengthen HIS in LMICs. Each of these contextual factors can seriously diminish the effectiveness of HIS strengthening efforts and their long-term sustainability. We propose research questi...
Swimming performance of a hybrid unmanned air-underwater vehicle

An unmanned vehicle has been developed for high-speed aerial ingress to a target shallow water environment after which it transitions to underwater low-speed operations. This paper describes the computational analysis and experimental results for the final phase of vehicle operations, underwater swimming. Building on previous research, the vehicle employs a unique bio-inspired propulsion and control system for underwater operations. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results estimate hydrodynamic characteristics, and experimental data demonstrate swimming performance for two versions of the vehicle. Results and analysis validate the underwater operational capabilities of a hybrid vehicle designed for long-range flight and low-speed swimming.
Postsocialism, Social Value, and Identity Politics among Albanians in Macedonia

In this article, Vasiliki P. Neofotistos analyzes the reappropriation of the term Siptar, a derogatory Macedonian term for Albanians, by male members of the Albanian community in the Republic of Macedonia. Neofotistos shows how the reappropriation of the ethnic slur reflects constellations of social value, that is to say, larger systems of meaning and action concerning who and what is valued in life, that have emerged with Macedonian independence. Albanian men tap into familiar divisions found in the larger Macedonian society and create meaningful forms of collectivity as they deal with rapid social, economic, and political change in the context of Macedonia's postsocialist transformation of social practices and ideals. This case study of Macedonia sheds light on the dynamics of social relations within socially marginalized groups.
Andean Metallurgy in Prehistory

The past four decades of research reveal the Andean zone of South America as a heartland of metallurgy in the prehistoric world. Complex metallurgy developed in what are today Colombia (northern Andes), Ecuador and Peru (central Andes), and Bolivia and northwest Argentina (south-central Andes). This chapter follows the central and south-central Andean contributions to this prehistoric development from its inception to its political use within the Inca state. The pan-Andean nature of metallurgy through time constitutes a major focus of the chapter with respect to extractive and production technologies and to the deeply rooted cultural components of the technologies. Distinctions between the central Andean preference for working metal and the south-central tradition of casting, or the simultaneous developments of arsenic bronze in the center and tin bronze in the south, arose within a shared framework for the appropriate social arenas in which metallurgy and its products performed: as indicators of social status, of political power, as manifestations of religious, and ritual behaviors and awe.
Selective Fabrication of SiC/Si Heterojunction Diodes by Local Laser Annealing Process for Microwave Circuit Applications

This paper presents the RF characterization of SiC/Si heterojunction diodes fabricated using a novel localized laser process. Selective growth of SiC on Si is carried out by utilizing excimer laser-based annealing in the presence of carbon source. Use of ambient conditions (atmospheric pressure and room temperature) during growth makes this process simple and low cost. The Si wafer is first coated with carbon rich film and then locally annealed using high power laser which causes dissociation of solid carbon sources and a simultaneous melting of the silicon leading to the growth of SiC. The Raman spectrum shows peaks for acoustical and optical phonon modes for ${\beta }$ -SiC between 940 and 980 cm $^{-1}$ . The fabricated diodes show high breakdown voltage (>200 V) and low leakage current density of 3- $5~\mu \text{A}$ /cm2 (−5 V). Experimental results for the dc characteristics, microwave rectification and frequency multiplication are presented. The measured results show good RF rectification (e.g., 21 V/W at 3 GHz) up to 6 GHz using a large diode ( $70\times 70\mu \text{m}^{2}$ ). The diodes also work well as frequency doublers over a wide frequency range of 2–6 GHz. The diode area can be scaled down to design circuits operating at higher frequencies.
Synucleins and Gene Expression: Ramblers in a Crowd or Cops Regulating Traffic?

Synuclein family consists of three members, alpha, beta and gamma-synuclein which are thoroughly investigated for almost 30 years, because of their involvement in human diseases. Since the first synuclein discovery in the brain of the electric ray Torpedo californica, members of this family have been identified in all vertebrates, and comparative studies have indicated that synucleins are evolutionary conserved. They are small naturally unfolded proteins prone to aggregate, easily change their conformation and bind to membranes. The genes for alpha, beta and gamma-synuclein have different chromosomal localization and have a well preserved general organization composed of five coding exons of similar size. Three genes encoding synucleins are present in the majority of vertebrates, however, a variable number of synuclein genes are described in fishes of different species. The biggest question in the field is regarding their normal physiological function in cells and tissues. alpha-Synuclein is implicated in the regulation of synaptic activity through regulation of synaptic vesicle release, while the physiological functions of two other members of the family is less clear. Here we discuss recent results describing their role in the regulation of protein expression.
Relational Spirituality and Transformation: Risking Intimacy and Alterity:

We extend a relational model of spirituality and transformation based on Shuts’ and Sandage's previous interdisciplinary work in Transforming Spirituality. Spirituality is conceptualized based on a...
Effects of heavy rainfall in different light conditions on crash severity during Arizona's monsoon season

Environmental factors, including adverse weather and light conditions, have been widely recognized as contributing factors to crash severity and frequency. Heavy downpours occur during the monsoon ...
Charting Urban Travelers 24–7 for Disaster Evacuation and Homeland Security

Major shifts in urban regions’ population distribution occur throughout the 24-hour day and the seven-day week. On weekday mornings, the population of residential zones declines and the population of educational, commercial, and employment zones increases. Weekday evening hours see a reverse of this pattern. The differences of population distribution throughout the urban region, especially the differences between night and day distributions, are extreme in most cities, and, therefore, of great importance to a variety of public officials, including transportation planners, highway patrol, and public service officials. The location of resident (night) population is documented through the U.S. census of population. Local metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) usually update such statistics for their own purposes at least every five years. On a typical weekday between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., most people are not at home, but have relocated themselves elsewhere in the urban region for a variety of activities. Zonal counts are required for 24–7 disaster preparedness. No such methods exist to target 24–7 population concentra-tions until now. The approach employed here provides ninety-five percent accurate zonal population counts across the urban region for each hour of the day and for each day of the week based on dynamic trip generation and trip distribution models and a GIS.
The population burden of heart failure attributable to modifiable risk factors: the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study.

Objectives The goal of this study was to estimate the population burden of heart failure and the influence of modifiable risk factors. Background Heart failure is a common, costly, and fatal disorder, yet few studies have evaluated the population-level influence of modifiable risk factors. Methods From 14,709 ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study participants, we estimated incidence rate differences (IRD) for the association between 5 modifiable risk factors (cigarette smoking, diabetes, elevated low-density lipoproteins, hypertension, and obesity) and heart failure. Potential impact fractions were used to measure expected changes in the heart failure incidence assuming achievement of a 5% proportional decrement in the prevalence of each risk factor. Results Over an average of 17.6 years of follow-up, 1 in 3 African American and 1 in 4 Caucasian participants were hospitalized with heart failure, defined as the first hospitalization with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision discharge codes of 428.x. Of the 5 modifiable risk factors, the largest IRD was observed for diabetes, which was associated with 1,058 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 787 to 1,329) and 660 (95% CI: 514 to 805) incident hospitalizations of heart failure/100,000 person-years among African-American and Caucasian participants, respectively. A 5% proportional reduction in the prevalence of diabetes would result in approximately 53 and 33 fewer incident heart failure hospitalizations per 100,000 person-years in African-American and Caucasian ARIC participants, respectively. When applied to U.S. populations, this reduction may prevent approximately 30,000 incident cases of heart failure annually. Conclusions Modest decrements in the prevalence of modifiable heart failure risk factors such as diabetes may substantially decrease the incidence of this major disease.
Calcium Oxalate Differentiates Human Monocytes Into Inflammatory M1 Macrophages.

Purpose: A number of hyperoxaluric states have been associated with calcium oxalate (CaOx) deposits in the kidneys. In animal models of stone disease, these crystals interact with circulating monocytes that have migrated into the kidney as part of innate immunity. Similarly, macrophages surround CaOx crystals in kidneys of patients excreting high levels of oxalate. We investigate the effect of this exposure and subsequent human immunological response in vitro. Materials and Methods: Primary human monocytes were collected from healthy donors and exposed to CaOx, potassium oxalate, and zinc oxalate. Cytokine production was measured with a multiplex ELISA. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was done to validate the mRNA profile expression. M1 macrophage phenotype was confirmed with immunofluorescence microscopy. Results: Both primary monocytes and THP-1 cells, a human monocytic cell line, respond strongly to CaOx crystals in a dose-dependent manner producing TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-10 transcripts. Exposure to CaOx followed by 1h with LPS had an additive effect for cytokine production compared to LPS alone, however, LPS followed by CaOx led to significant decrease in cytokine production. Supernatants taken from monocytes that were previously exposed to CaOx crystals enhance M2 macrophage crystal phagocytosis. CaOx, but not potassium or zinc oxalate, promotes monocyte differentiation into inflammatory M1-like macrophages. Conclusions: In our in vitro experiment, human monocytes were activated by CaOx and produced inflammatory cytokines. Monocytes recognized CaOx crystals through a specific mechanism that can enhance or decrease the innate immune response to LPS. CaOx promoted M1 macrophage development. These results suggest that monocytes have an important role promoting CaOx-induced inflammation.
HOTCHIPS 17: Tutorial 1, part 2

This article consists of a collection of slides from the author's conference presentation. Virtual machines have emerged as a powerful tool for computer systems designers. They can be used to enhance software interoperability, mobility, and security, as well as providing means for effective hardware resource management. We survey the spectrum of VM architectures and their applications. These range from the HLL VMs as exemplified by Java, to process VMs that permit cross-platform execution of conventional binaries, to system VMs which support multiple OS environments on a single platform. We then look at some of the important VM architectures and discuss their implementations and features. We will emphasize architecture and hardware mechanisms that provide efficient support for VMs. Several case studies will be discussed, chosen from both commercial implementations and research project
What Are the Optimal Liver Transplantation Criteria for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

To maximize survival benefit, the LT community should consider reducing (or eliminating) priority for the 10% to 20% of patients with HCC with very long wait‐list life expectancy (e.g., Child‐Pugh A, low MELD and AFP, and single tumor up to 3 cm with complete response to LRT). On the other end of the tumor burden spectrum, some determination of tumor biology should be obtained in patients presenting beyond Milan criteria (in addition to AFP). Reasonable approaches include LRT for tumor down‐staging, measuring novel biomarkers such as AFP‐L3 and DCP, and PET scan. Results from the various proposed pre‐LT models (Table ​(Table3)3) that include such criteria have suggested that acceptable post‐LT outcome can be achieved in selected patients with HCC beyond Milan criteria. Although it is impossible to compare all of these selection models, the optimal LT criteria should be center specific, taking into account the availability of donor organs and what post‐LT outcome is considered acceptable. Centers performing primarily LDLT may be willing to accept lower 5‐year post‐LT survival rates by using less restrictive criteria than centers with significant organ shortages, where post‐LT outcome for patients with or without HCC should be similar.
Segmenting Bone Structures in Ultrasound Images with Locally Weighted SLSC (LW-SLSC)Beamforming

The process of registering ultrasound (US)images to computed tomography (CT)images relies on accurate segmentation of bony structures in US images. However, segmentation of US images often suffers from the presence of speckle noise, clutter, and acoustic shadowing. We propose to improve the US bone segmentation process with a novel Locally Weighted SLSC (LW-SLSC)beamforming method, which is based on the minimization of the total variation of a spatial coherence weighted sum. Application of this beamformer to an ex vivo human vertebra resulted in a 911% contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR)increase in LW-SLSC images (CNR=23.66)when compared to traditional delay-and-sum (DAS)images (CNR=2.34)created from the same channel data. Application to an ex vivo caprine vertebra with surrounding tissue intact similarly resulted in a 55.8% CNR increase in the LW-SLSC images (CNR=2.01)compared to DAS images (CNR=1.29)created from the same channel data. Bone boundaries in the caprine vertebra were segmented from the US and CT images, and the LW-SLSC beamformer enabled approximately 5.5 mm thinner boundary lines than the DAS beamformer when compared to segmentation results based on CT images. Similarly, the location error of boundary lines was also reduced with 70% of the total spatial error within ±1 mm in LW-SLSC images compared to 47% in DAS images. These results demonstrate that LW-SLSC imaging provides improved bone segmentation over traditional DAS imaging, which has promising implications for real-time segmentation of bone boundaries during spinal fusion surgeries and other procedures that may benefit from accurate US-based bone segmentation.
A Critical Appreciation

I hope you will not mind my phrasing these remarks in the form of a letter. You and I have become acquainted through correspondence. Now that I am to have the pleasure of meeting you at last and hearing your reply in person, I find it difficult reverting to the impersonal style of a formal paper. Instead I would like to celebrate our converging histories of “focal” inquiry, pursued in books and letters, by sustaining the personal idiom of address to which I have become happily accustomed.
PCET-Enabled Olefin Hydroamidation Reactions with N-Alkyl Amides.

Olefin aminations are important synthetic technologies for the construction of aliphatic C–N bonds. Here we report a catalytic protocol for olefin hydroamidation that proceeds through transient ami...
PGY1 resident research projects: Publication rates, project completion policies, perceived values, and barriers.

Abstract Purpose To assess the publication rates of PGY1 pharmacy residents and to determine the beliefs of pharmacy residency program directors (RPDs) regarding PGY1 residency research projects, the residency-specific policies on publishing, and the perceived barriers to publishing for PGY1 residents. Methods The 2013 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting resident poster presentation roster was used to compile the list of PGY1 residents who submitted an abstract. The Web of Science database was searched using the PGY1 residents' name and research title to determine if a publication resulted from the abstract by December 2016. Publication rates were calculated using several demographic subcategories. The PGY1 RPDs identified from the ASHP website ( n = 1220) were surveyed to determine how they value the research project, policies regarding publishing at their institution, and potential barriers to publication. Results Out of 1419 abstracts from PGY1 residents, 26 (1.8%) resulted in a publication by 2016. Of the 369 RPDs who responded, the majority complimented their programs as favorable environments for completing research, 55% stating that their institutions offered formal research training, 65% stating that they have preceptors specifically assigned for research, and 83% stating that they provide dedicated time to residents to complete their research. The common barriers to publication were difficulty in completing the project in one year and lack of continuity after residency completion. Conclusion Despite pharmacy residency programs requiring residents to complete a research project, most residents end the residency without a publication. Further research is needed to identify the residents' barriers to publications and resources needed to publish the research projects.
Initial tree regeneration response to natural-disturbance-based silviculture in second-growth northern hardwood forests

Northern hardwood stands in the Great Lakes region are often managed using single-tree selection, which generally favors regeneration of shade-tolerant species, especially sugar maple (Acer sacchar...
“Second Line to Bury White Supremacy”: Take 'Em Down Nola, monument removal, and residual memory

As Lost Cause statues come down across the country, communities are forced to reckon with monumental absences. While the rhetorical significance of monuments is well-established in scholarly litera...
A consistent test of independence and goodness-of-fit in linear regression models

We propose a new approach to simultaneously test the assumptions of independence and goodness-of-fit for a multiple linear regression model Y=β′X+W, say H0, vs. H1: H0 is false. Our approach is bas...
Abstract P443: Association of Peripheral Neuropathy With All-cause and Cardiovascular Mortality in US Adults

Background: Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is common in the general US adult population, especially in older adults even in the absence of diabetes. However, the clinical sequelae of PN have not been q...
Impact of a nutrition education programme on preschool children's willingness to consume fruits and vegetables.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of a preschool-based nutrition education programme consisting of twelve 'hands on' nutrition education lessons delivered during the school year on young children's willingness to consume fruits and vegetables. DESIGN Quasi-experimental, pre-post design including the collection of plate waste evaluation data at the start and end of the 2015-2016 school year within two groups: (1) randomly selected classrooms receiving the intervention and (2) within conveniently sampled preschool classrooms not receiving the intervention serving as a comparison group. SETTING Centre-based preschool programmes serving low-income families in the Denver metro area. PARTICIPANTS Three- to five-year-old children in preschool classrooms participating in the intervention during the 2015-2016 school year (n 308) and children enrolled in comparison classrooms (n 215). RESULTS Repeated-measures logit models assessed whether increases in the odds of consuming small samples of fruits and vegetables between Time 1 (pre-intervention) and Time 2 (post-intervention) were different for children within the intervention group compared with the comparison group. Analyses showed that the change over time in consumption of the three vegetable samples varied by intervention status with greater change occurring among children within the intervention group (edamame: P = 0·001; cauliflower: P ≤ 0·0001 and red pepper: P ≤ 0·0001). Unlike vegetables, the change over time in consumption of the two fruit samples was not different between children within the intervention and comparison groups. CONCLUSIONS An experiential-learning nutrition education programme can positively influence eating behaviours of low-income preschoolers in a centre-based setting by increasing willingness to consume vegetables.
A Case of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome Diagnosed in Infancy after Evaluation of Palpable Gonads.

Abstract Background Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is defined as incomplete development of Mullerian structures (uterus, fallopian tubes, proximal vagina) in an otherwise phenotypic female individual. MRKH syndrome typically presents in adolescence with primary amenorrhea, but has been diagnosed in younger patients who present with other associated abnormalities, most commonly renal and skeletal. Case Here we describe a 46,XX female infant with prenatally diagnosed renal anomalies who was found to have bilateral inguinal ovarian hernias at 1 month of age. Imaging of the genitourinary system revealed absence of the uterus and proximal vagina, consistent with MRKH syndrome. Summary and Conclusions This case highlights the importance of a thorough physical examination and an interdisciplinary team evaluation of infants with genitourinary anomalies, particularly when there is concern for differences in sexual development.
Revisiting peptidoglycan sensing: interactions with host immunity and beyond

The interaction between host immunity and bacterial cells plays a pivotal role in a variety of human diseases. The bacterial cell wall component peptidoglycan (PG) is known to stimulate an immune response, which makes PG a distinctive recognition element for unveiling these complicated molecular interactions. Pattern recognition receptor (PRR) proteins are among the critical components of this system that initially recognize molecular patterns associated with microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. These molecular patterns are mostly embedded in the bacterial or fungal cell wall structure and can be released and presented to the immune system in various situations. Nonetheless, detailed knowledge of this recognition is limited due to the diversity among the PG polymer and its fragments; the subsequent responses by multiple hosts add more complexity. Here, we discuss how our understanding of the role and molecular mechanisms of the well-studied PRR, the NOD-like receptors (NLRs), in the human immune system has evolved in recent years. We highlight the instances of other classes of proteins with similar behavior in the recognition of PG that have been identified in other microorganisms such as yeasts. These proteins are particularly interesting because a network of cellular interactions exists between human host cells, bacteria and yeast as a part of the normal human flora. To support our understanding of these interactions, we provide insight into the chemist's toolbox of peptidoglycan probes that aid in the investigations of the behaviors of these proteins and other biological contexts relevant to the sensing and recognition of peptidoglycan. The importance of these interactions in human health for the development of biomarkers and biotherapy is highlighted.
Measuring the size and decay dynamics of the HIV-1 latent reservoir.

Measuring HIV-1 latent reservoir is essential for HIV-1 cure strategies. Levy et al.1 developed a multiplex droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay—5-target intact proviral DNA assay—to detect multiple regions of HIV-1 proviral genome and increase accuracy.