cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temporal summation to thermal stimuli is elevated in women with overactive bladder syndrome.

Introduction This study sought to provide a preliminary assessment of whether spinally mediated afferent hyperactivity (i.e., central sensitization) might contribute to manifestations of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) in women as indexed by elevated temporal summation of evoked heat pain stimuli. Methods We recruited 20 adult women with OAB who were planning to undergo interventional therapy for OAB with either onabotulinumtoxinA injection or sacral neuromodulation and 23 healthy controls without OAB symptoms to undergo quantitative sensory testing with cutaneous thermal pain temporal summation. The primary study outcome was the degree of temporal summation, as reflected in the magnitude of positive slope of the line fitted to the series of 10 stimuli at the 49°C target temperatures. Linear regression and analysis of covariance were utilized to compare the degree of temporal summation between study groups. Results The standardized slope of temporal summation trials for women with OAB was significantly higher than for controls (β = 3.43, 95% confidence interval = 0.6–6.2, P = 0.017). The adjusted means ±SE of the standardized temporal summation slopes for the full OAB and control groups were 3.0 ± 0.5 (95% confidence interval = 2.0, 4.1) and 1.7 ± 0.5 (95% confidence interval = 0.7, 2.7), respectively. Conclusion In this preliminary study, we demonstrated that women with OAB refractory to primary and secondary therapies exhibited greater thermal cutaneous temporal summation than women without OAB symptoms. This suggests that central sensitization, indexed by temporal summation, may be an underlying factor contributing to OAB in some women. Neurourol. Urodynam. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ＳＯＬＡＲ ＥＮＥＲＧＹ ＢＹ ＰＨＯＴＯＳＹＮＴＨＥＳＩＳ

Photosynthesis, both natural and as a model process, is examined as a possible annually renewable resource for both material and energy. The conversion of carbohydrate from cane, beets and other sources through fermentation alcohol to hydrocarbon may soon again become economic in the light of increasing costs of recovery of hydrocarbon from fossil sources and improved fermentation technology. Even the direct photosynthetic production of hydrocarbon from known sources (Hevea, etc.) or newly bred ones seems possible.Finally, more distantly, synthetic systems constructed on the basis of growing knowledge of the photosynthetic processes, may produce both fuel and power.
A Cross-Disciplinary Perspective on the Factors Shaping North American Adaptation Research

This chapter highlights a number of factors and inquiries shaping the development of adaptation research in North America. While some of these steering factors are unique to the institutions and geography of North America, others are poised to resonate among the global academy. In addition, this chapter provides a narrative review of the trends and trajectories of research in North America that represent unique developments for the emerging field of adaptation. While the production of North American adaptation scholarship has lagged behind the rest of the world, an emergent local academy is wrestling with the growing pains of various unresolved aspects of parallel bodies of research in disaster risk reduction and community resilience. These growing pains offer insight into the struggle to operationalize and make practical, feasible and equitable the knowledge of adaptation science.
Association of parathyroid hormone with 20-year cognitive decline: The ARIC study

Objective: We hypothesized that elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels will be independently associated with 20-year cognitive decline in a large population-based cohort. Methods: We studied 12,964 middle-aged white and black ARIC participants without a history of prior stroke who, in 1990–1992 (baseline), had serum PTH levels measured and cognitive function testing, with repeat cognitive testing performed at up to 2 follow-up visits. Cognitive testing included the Delayed Word Recall, the Digit Symbol Substitution, and the Word Fluency tests, which were summed as a global Z score. Using mixed-effects models, we compared the relative decline in individual and global cognitive scores between each of the top 3 quartiles of PTH levels to the reference bottom quartile. We adjusted for demographic variables, education, vascular risk factors, and levels of calcium, phosphate, and vitamin D. We imputed missing covariate and follow-up cognitive data to account for attrition. Results: The mean (SD) age of our cohort was 57 (6) years, 57% were women, and 24% were black. There was no cross-sectional association of elevated PTH with cognitive global Z score at baseline ( p > 0.05). Over a median of 20.7 years, participants in each PTH quartile showed a decline in cognitive function. However, there was no significant difference in cognitive decline between each of the top 3 quartiles and the lowest reference quartile ( p > 0.05). In a subset, there was also no association of higher mid-life PTH levels with late-life prevalent adjudicated dementia ( p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our work does not support an independent influence of PTH on cognitive decline in this population-based cohort study.
Probabilistic error detection and correction in switched capacitor circuits using checksum codes

In the past, techniques for error detection in linear digital and analog circuits using checksum codes have been developed and shown to be highly efficient. While error detection is a solved problem, error correction has proved to be difficult due to the time and area overheads involved in diagnosing failed system states and correcting them in real-time. To solve the correction problem, real-time probabilistic correction mechanisms have been proposed for digital circuits that correct for state errors in a probabilistic manner, circumventing the process of accurate error diagnosis. Such a technique is difficult to apply to continuous-time analog circuits without altering the analog transfer function, due to the nature of error feedback mechanisms involved. However, switched-capacitor circuits offer intrinsic advantages; they replicate analog continuous-time behavior while retaining the benefits of a digital clock. In this work, we show how errors in switched-capacitor circuits can be detected and corrected, using probabilistic correction algorithms, by taking advantage of the separation in time afforded by the use of a digital clock between error-free and error-affected clock cycles of the circuit. By probabilistically correcting errors in real-time before the onset of future clock cycles, the advantages offered by digital clocks are exploited to deliver high-fidelity analog performance in switched-capacitor filters resulting in significant SNR benefits at low cost.
Metaphysical Plays of Domination and Freedom

The metaphysical plays allow Byron a chance to stage the dominant epistemology of hierarchical dualism and speculate about its psychosocial effects. Manfred, Cain, and Japhet all occupy worlds that have been structured by dualism. Manfred and Cain have both internalized dualistic epistemology which teaches them to despise their “mixed essence” of mind-body. Through the course of their dramas, both protagonists come to understand the power of human vulnerability and value the shared fragility that connects them to the earth. In contrast, Japhet already understands how shared fragility unites all living creatures in co-creating a highly diversified, self-determining world. He becomes the sole witness to God’s ecocide, the Flood, which reorganizes creation in a starkly dualistic hierarchy.
Plant and Groundwater Interactions Under Pristine Conditions

An initial understanding of plant and groundwater interactions did not follow a straightforward path. For example, it took many years and developments in forensic chemistry to elucidate that the oxygen released by plants during photosynthesis was derived from water absorbed by roots rather than from atmospheric CO2 absorbed by the leaves. Also, geochemical techniques that involved stable isotopes revealed that trees that grow on the banks of rivers tap groundwater rather than the seemingly more available source provided by surface water. Moreover, the facts that groundwater is not readily observed and that plants release invisible water vapor makes it easy to forget that plants move enormous volumes of water on a daily basis, a process that is essentially hidden in plain sight.
Effect of downhill running grade on lower extremity loading in female distance runners.

Hill running is often used as a foundational training mechanism to build strength and speed. Distance runners in particular are at an increased likelihood of encountering steep hills during trainin...
Should China Spend on UNPKOs? Findings from a Survey:

When China joined the United Nations in 1971, it viewed UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs) as an instrument for powerful countries to exploit weaker countries. Today, under Xi Jinping, China contr...
A Step toward Understanding Diet Quality in Urban African-American Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-sectional Analysis of Baseline Data from the Moving Forward Study.

Purpose: Little is known about the dietary behaviors of African-American breast cancer survivors (AABCS). We sought to describe dietary intake and quality in AABCS and examine associations with dem...
Experimental Results from the Thermal Energy Storage-2 (TES-2) Flight Experiment

Thermal Energy Storage-2 (TES-2) is a flight experiment that flew on the Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-72), in January 1996. TES-2 originally flew with TES-1 as part of the OAST-2 Hitchhiker payload on the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-62) in early 1994. The two experiments, TES-1 and TES-2 were identical except for the fluoride salts to be characterized. TES-1 provided data on lithium fluoride (LiF), TES-2 provided data on a fluoride eutectic (LiF/CaF2). Each experiment was a complex autonomous payload in a Get-Away-Special payload canister. TES-1 operated flawlessly for 22 hr. Results were reported in a paper entitled, Effect of Microgravity on Materials Undergoing Melting and Freezing-The TES Experiment, by David Namkoong et al. A software failure in TES-2 caused its shutdown after 4 sec of operation. TES-1 and 2 were the first experiments in a four experiment suite designed to provide data for understanding the long duration microgravity behavior of thermal energy storage salts that undergo repeated melting and freezing. Such data have never been obtained before and have direct application for the development of space-based solar dynamic (SD) power systems. These power systems will store energy in a thermal energy salt such as lithium fluoride or a eutectic of lithium fluoride/calcium difluoride. The stored energy is extracted during the shade portion of the orbit. This enables the solar dynamic power system to provide constant electrical power over the entire orbit. Analytical computer codes were developed for predicting performance of a space-based solar dynamic power system. Experimental verification of the analytical predictions were needed prior to using the analytical results for future space power design applications. The four TES flight experiments were to be used to obtain the needed experimental data. This paper will address the flight results from the first and second experiments, TES-1 and 2, in comparison to the predicted results from the Thermal Energy Storage Simulation (TESSIM) analytical computer code. An analysis of the TES-2 data was conducted by Cleveland State University Professor, Mounir Ibrahim. TESSIM validation was based on two types of results; temperature history of various points on the containment vessel and TES material distribution within the vessel upon return from flight. The TESSIM prediction showed close comparison with the flight data. Distribution of the TES material within the vessel was obtained by a tomography imaging process. The frozen TES material was concentrated toward the colder end of the canister. The TESSIM prediction indicated a similar pattern. With agreement between TESSIM and the flight data, a computerized representation was produced to show the movement and behavior of the void during the entire melting and freezing cycles.
Learning and memory in invertebrates: Limax

The dissection of the molecular mechanisms of associative learning in Limax, particularly higher-order conditioning, promises to shed light on the network and cellular properties of learning and memory storage in both mammals and mollusks. This has already started with the identification of two gene products involved in Limax learning that have homology to molecular elements of mammalian neural pathways. Computational analysis of neuronal dynamics during learning and search for the cellular substrates of synaptic interactions suggested by dynamical models are strategies equally applicable to molluskan and mammalian networks.
Iatrogenic Gallstone Pancreatitis Complicated by Cholangitis: Post-Cholecystectomy Clip as a Nidus for Common Bile Duct Stone Formation

Cholecystectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in clinical practice. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the gold standard for the management of symptomatic gallstone disease due to its minimally invasive nature and safety with quoted complication rates of under 5%. Surgical clip migration into the bile duct with resultant stone formation is a rare complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Here we present a case of cholangitis in addition to gallstone pancreatitis as a result of surgical clip migration into the bile duct leading to stone formation.
Multiple health risk behaviors in young adult smokers: Stages of change and stability over time

Background Health risk behaviors (HRBs) are common, yet not well understood in young adult smokers. Purpose We examined HRB profiles over 12 months in young adult smokers participating in a Facebook smoking cessation intervention clinical trial. Methods Participants (N = 500; age M = 20.9 years; 54.6% women) were recruited online and randomized to receive either a 3-month Facebook smoking cessation intervention or referral to Smokefree.gov (control). A Health Risk Assessment determined risk for 10 behaviors at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months. Latent class analysis (LCA) and latent transition analysis (LTA) were used to identify patterns of HRBs and changes over time. Results At baseline, participants reported an average of 5.4 (standard deviation [SD] = 1.7) risk behaviors, including smoking (100%), high-fat diet (84.8%), poor sleep hygiene (71.6%), and low fruit and vegetable intake (69.4%). A 3-class model fit the data best at baseline and all follow-up time points: low risk (28.8% at baseline) with low likelihood of risk on all behaviors except smoking, substance use risk (14.0% at baseline) characterized by heavy episodic drinking, cannabis use, and other illicit drug use, and metabolic risk (57.2% at baseline), with a high percentage of members at risk for a low fruit and vegetable intake, high-fat diet, inactivity, stress, and poor sleep hygiene. Classes were very stable at 3, 6, and 12 months, with few participants transitioning between classes. Conclusions Most young adult smokers engaged in multiple risk behaviors, with meaningful clustering of behaviors, and demonstrated stability over a year's time. In addition to smoking, targets for intervention are co-occurring substance use and metabolic risk behaviors. Clinical trials registration NCT02207036.
Irradiance and temperature considerations in the design and deployment of high annual energy yield perovskite/CIGS tandems

The annual energy yields for metal halide perovskite/copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) tandem photovoltaics have been calculated for 16 different bandgap combinations, using both 2 terminal and 4 terminal device designs, with fixed-tilt mounting as well as 1- and 2-axis tracking. Measured complex index of refraction data were used for the materials comprising the devices, and hourly irradiance data were extracted from Version 3 of the National Solar Radiation Database. Simulations were performed for Toledo OH, Golden CO, Phoenix AZ, and New Orleans LA, and the effect of local temperature variation was also considered. The combination of irradiance and temperature variations throughout the year cause different devices to be optimal at different times of the year. Interestingly, devices constructed to maximize AM1.5 photoconversion efficiency do not necessarily maximize the annual energy yield. A detailed analysis of the monthly energy yields at the different locations reveals the interplay between the changing light and temperature conditions. Over the course of the year these effects average to some degree so that annual energy yields that are close to the maximum possible value can be achieved by several different tandem device designs. The conclusions are valid for devices made with relatively thin perovskite layers, such as those used in champion efficiency devices. When the perovskite layers are thicker, however, the device is less tolerant to variation. Our results show that close matching of bandgap pairs is not essential for the fabrication of high-performance tandems. These findings should allow manufacturing efforts to proceed without the need for precise compositional control during formation of the absorber layers.
Inflammation up-regulates cochlear expression of TRPV1 to potentiate drug-induced hearing loss

Aminoglycoside antibiotics are essential for treating life-threatening bacterial infections, despite the risk of lifelong hearing loss. Infections induce inflammation and up-regulate expression of candidate aminoglycoside-permeant cation channels, including transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1). Heterologous expression of TRPV1 facilitated cellular uptake of (fluorescently tagged) gentamicin that was enhanced by agonists, and diminished by antagonists, of TRPV1. Cochlear TRPV1 was immunolocalized near the apical membranes of sensory hair cells, adjacent supporting cells, and marginal cells in the stria vascularis. Exposure to immunostimulatory lipopolysaccharides, to simulate of bacterial infections, increased cochlear expression of TRPV1 and hair cell uptake of gentamicin. Lipopolysaccharide exposure exacerbated aminoglycoside-induced auditory threshold shifts and loss of cochlear hair cells in wild-type, but not in heterozygous Trpv1+/− or Trpv1 knockout, mice. Thus, TRPV1 facilitates cochlear uptake of aminoglycosides, and bacteriogenic stimulation upregulates TRPV1 expression to exacerbate cochleotoxicity. Furthermore, loss-of-function polymorphisms in Trpv1 can protect against immunogenic exacerbation of aminoglycoside-induced cochleotoxicity.
Estimates of Investment Functions and Some Implications for Productivity Growth

My original assignment was first to evaluate Larry Summers’ paper as a description of the current state of the art regarding investment behavior and second to determine the adequacy of the investment sector of Michael Evans’ econometric model (Evans, 1980) in light of Summers’ paper. The late arrival of Larry’s paper forced me to alter my strategy, and it is just as well. Summers’ investment function is a very long-run relationship that does not purport to explain cyclical movements in business investment outlays, while Evans’ relationship is a more traditional analysis of quarterly expenditures.1 Moreover, Summers is concerned with only corporate investment, while Evans deals with all of domestic fixed investment. My revised strategy was to employ two papers recently presented at Brookings Conferences (Hendershott, 1980, and Hendershott and Hu, 1981) as the standard with which to contrast Evans’ work.
Associations between poor sleep and glucose intolerance in prediabetes.

Abstract Objectives A cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the association between sleep quality and glucose metabolism among people with prediabetes, and to explore the potential pathways linking poor sleep to glucose intolerance. Methods One hundred fifty-five females and males, Caucasians and African Americans, aged 19–70 completed the study for data analysis. All participants were assessed for sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Fasting glucose and 2-h glucose levels were collected via a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and used to define prediabetes. Participants provided blood samples for measuring inflammatory markers. Associations were conducted using Pearson’s correlation with adjustments for gender, age, and body mass index (BMI). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was applied to compare the two groups, prediabetes group versus the control group, after controlling for gender, age, and BMI. Regression was used to investigate predictive power of sleep subscales for inflammatory factors and glucose levels. Results More people with prediabetes suffered from poor sleep than in the normal glucose group (62% vs. 46%). The OGTT measures, i.e. fasting glucose and 2-h glucose levels, correlated with PSQI measures, but these associations did not maintain statistical significance after adjusting for gender, age, and BMI. The C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were greater in the prediabetes group than the normal glucose group (0.37 ± 0.07 vs. 0.18 ± 0.06 mg/L). Additionally, there was a positive correlation between sleep disturbance and CRP levels (r = 0.30, p = 0.04). Regression analysis found that sleep disturbance predicted CRP levels and significance remained after adding covariates (β = 0.20, p = 0.04). No significant difference was observed in other measured inflammatory factors, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), between the two groups. Conclusion Prediabetes is positively associated with poor sleep. Increased CRP levels may be a potential underlying mechanism of this association between prediabetes and poor sleep which warrants further study. Our findings highlight the importance for clinicians to evaluate sleep quality as part of preventing the onset of future diabetes in this particular population.
Foundations of Arrogance: A Broad Survey and Framework for Research.

We consider the topic of arrogance from a cross-disciplinary viewpoint. To stimulate further research, we suggest three types of arrogance (individual, comparative, and antagonistic) and six compon...
Optimal sensor design for secure cyber-physical systems

Abstract The vision of secure cyber-physical systems requires to develop a new array of tools to prevent, monitor for, and recover from a wide variety of potential attacks to a system. We contribute to this vision here by addressing the problem of optimal sensor design for detection of injection attacks. More precisely, we consider an attack in which a sensor output is corrupted, and we have at our disposal a sensor deployed in an ad-hoc fashion and thus is secure. How to design the sensor so that we maximize the probability of detection of such an injection attack? We pose the problem here as an hypothesis test, describe an optimization problem that the optimal sensor needs to satisfy, and furthermore obtain the analytic solution in a particular case.
THE IMPACT OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION BURDEN ON CRYOBALLOON ABLATION OUTCOMES FOR PAROXYSMAL ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is an effective therapy for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) refractory to drug therapy. However, initial CBA is successful in only 70% of patients. Over time, greater AF burden leads to irreversible electro-anatomical changes in the left atrium. However,
Object Surface Estimation from Radar Images

In this paper we develop a deep neural network (DNN) method for estimating the object surface from radar 2D image (azimuth-range). The DNN is designed to maintain the input image angular resolution and produces two outputs per each angle, which are a classification bit and a regression value. The classification bit determines whether there is a reflection point per each angle, and the regression value is the estimated reflection range. We have developed a statistical simulation model that approximates the statistics of the radar image, and trained the network with synthetically generated examples from the simulation model. The network showed good performance on radar images that were obtained from real radar measurements, and also showed to outperform the common CFAR reference method.
Leadership in the Early Childhood Years: Opportunities for Young Leadership Development in Rural Communities

Research into young children’s leadership skills is sparse and focuses on leadership in early childhood classroom contexts. Understanding of leadership development in young children can be expanded by studying parents’ perceptions of children’s leadership development as it is enacted in contexts outside of the school. This qualitative study examined beliefs, practices, and contextual relationships of families with young children who were identified by teachers within their schools as having strong leadership skills. Student leaders were identified according to the Leadership subscale of the Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students, 3rd ed. Four mothers and three fathers of identified first graders who met gender and ethnic selection criteria participated. Interviews were conducted with structured and unstructured open-ended questions, and parent journals were collected from participants. Using Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model of human development as a guide, parental perceptions of contextual influences on young children’s leadership development were investigated. Findings indicate that parents were intentional in trying to develop characteristics and dispositions in their children to help them become good citizens but did not necessarily consider their actions as also building early leadership skills. Information concerning contextual situations, relationships, tools, and characteristics of early leadership development is shared. As parents discussed opportunities for their first graders to develop leadership skills, an unexpected theme emerged regarding benefits of rural living for young leadership development.
Correction to: The Essence of Myth

In the original article published, the Greek term “μυθολογίαa” for muthologia is incorrect. The correct term is “μυθολογία”.
Analyses of Biomarker Traits in Diverse UK Biobank Participants Identify Associations Missed by European-centric Analysis Strategies

Abstract Despite the dramatic underrepresentation of non-European populations in human genetics studies, researchers continue to exclude participants of non-European ancestry, even when these data are available. This practice perpetuates existing research disparities and can lead to important and large effect size associations being missed. Here, we conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of 31 serum and urine biomarker quantitative traits in African (n=9354), East Asian (n=2559) and South Asian (n=9823) UK Biobank participants ancestry. We adjusted for all known GWAS catalog variants for each trait, as well as novel signals identified in European ancestry UK Biobank participants alone. We identify 12 novel signals in African ancestry and 3 novel signals in South Asian participants (p
Provision of ready-to-drink protein following bariatric surgery: An evaluation of tolerability, body composition, and metabolic rate.

Summary Background & aims It is recommended that patients consume at least 60 g of dietary protein per day to attenuate loss of fat-free mass (FFM) following bariatric surgery. To date, research on the effectiveness and tolerability of protein supplementation in bariatric patients is limited. The purpose of the current study was to determine if provision of 12-weeks of daily protein supplementation was an effective and tolerable method of facilitating higher protein intakes in bariatric surgery patients. A secondary aim was to evaluate the effects of protein supplementation on body composition, metabolic rate, and functional outcomes. An exploratory aim was to compare body composition estimates from bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Methods Bariatric surgery patients (n = 49; 88% female) (mean ± standard deviation; Age: 43.7 ± 10.7 yrs; BMI: 51.2 ± 13.7 kg m−2) were provided with either a 12-week supply of ready-to-drink protein shakes (PRO; n = 25) or instructed to follow standard-of-care recommendations (SOC; n = 24) following surgery. Patients completed measures of body composition (fat mass [FM], percent body fat [%BF], FFM; bioelectrical impedance [BIS] and/or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry [DXA]), resting metabolic rate (RMR; indirect calorimetry), a 30-s chair stand, and 3-day food logs prior to surgery (base), 3-weeks, 12-weeks, and 24-weeks post-surgery. Results About 80% of all patients achieved the recommended intake of 60 g per day, with no significant differences in protein intake between groups (p 0.05). The number of sit-to-stand trials increased at each testing session after the first 3 weeks (p Conclusions Patients were able to achieve the recommended 60 g of protein per day post-surgery, but the provision of ready-to-drink protein shakes may help bariatric patients achieve higher post-surgery protein intakes. Both groups experienced significant decreases in weight, BMI, and body composition; results varied depending on the method of body composition used. Changes in FFM measured by BIS may reflect greater changes in TBW as opposed to actual muscle mass. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov , ID#NCT02951663.
Dual-emissive, oxygen-sensing boron nanoparticles quantify oxygen consumption rate in breast cancer cells.

Significance Decreasing the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of tumor cells is a powerful method for ameliorating tumor hypoxia. However, quantifying the change in OCR is challenging in complex experimental systems. Aim We present a method for quantifying the OCR of two tumor cell lines using oxygen-sensitive dual-emissive boron nanoparticles (BNPs). We hypothesize that our BNP results are equivalent to the standard Seahorse assay. Approach We quantified the spectral emissions of the BNP and accounted for external oxygen diffusion to quantify OCR over 24 h. The BNP-computed OCR of two breast cancer cell lines, E0771 and 4T07, were compared with their respective Seahorse assays. Both cell lines were also irradiated to quantify radiation-induced changes in the OCR. Results Using a Bland-Altman analysis, our BNPs OCR was equivalent to the standard Seahorse assay. Moreover, in an additional experiment in which we irradiated the cells at their 50% survival fraction, the BNPs were sensitive enough to quantify 24% reduction in OCR after irradiation. Conclusions Our results conclude that the BNPs are a viable alternative to the Seahorse assay for quantifying the OCR in cells. The Bland-Altman analysis showed that these two methods result in equivalent OCR measurements. Future studies will extend the OCR measurements to complex systems including 3D cultures and in vivo models, in which OCR measurements cannot currently be made.
Copper(I) and silver(I) chemistry of vinyltrifluoroborate supported by a bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligand

Although unsaturated organotrifluoroborates are common synthons in metal–organic chemistry, their transition metal complexes have received little attention. [CH2(3,5-(CH3)2Pz)2]Cu(CH2CHBF3), (SIPr)Cu(MeCN)(CH2CHBF3) and [CH2(3,5-(CH3)2Pz)2]Ag(CH2CHBF3) represent rare, isolable molecules featuring a vinyltrifluoroborate ligand on coinage metals. The X-ray crystal structures show the presence of three-coordinate metal sites in these complexes. The vinyltrifluoroborate group binds asymmetrically to the metal site in [CH2(3,5-(CH3)2Pz)2]M(CH2CHBF3) (M = Cu, Ag) with relatively closer M–C(H)2 distances. The computed structures of [CH2(3,5-(CH3)2Pz)2]M(CH2CHBF3) and M(CH2CHBF3), however, have shorter M–C(H)BF3 distances than M–C(H)2. These molecules feature various inter- or intra-molecular contacts involving fluorine of the BF3 group, possibly affecting these M–C distances. The binding energies of [CH2CHBF3]− to Cu+, Ag+ and Au+ have been calculated at the wB97XD/def2-TZVP level of theory, in the presence and absence of the supporting ligand CH2(3,5-(CH3)2Pz)2. The calculation shows that Au+ has the strongest binding to the [CH2CHBF3]− ligand, followed by Cu+ and Ag+, irrespective of the presence of the supporting ligand. However, in all three metals, the supporting ligand weakens the binding of olefin to the metal. The same trends were also found from the analysis of the σ-donation and π-backbonding interactions between the metal fragment and the π and π* orbitals of [CH2CHBF3]−.
The Geography of World Theatre History

Theatre historians habitually rely on continents and nation-states when discussing theatre’s geographical dimension. This chapter argues that for world theatre history, a more useful geographic unit is the world region, with each region defined in terms of its “complex” of interacting theatre forms: Europe is one such region, while East Asia and South Asia are among the others. For regions such as North America and Australasia, it uses Alfred W. Crosby’s concept of “Neo-Europes,” which acknowledges the regions’ association with European theatre while recognizing their independence from it. After surveying the world’s theatre regions, the chapter addresses the scalability of the regional unit. The smaller units are the subregion and the theatre center; the larger unit is the megaregion, the most notable of which encompasses the many regions of Eurasia and helps explain the surprising synchronicity of major theatrical change across that landmass for the past thousand years.
Onset of grain motion in eroding subaqueous bimodal granular beds

The effect of grain size on the critical shear stress required to initiate sediment transport in erodible granular beds is typically described by the Shields number which compares the hydrodynamic stress to the particle weight. Although this framework works well for beds composed of grains of the same size, we find that it does not capture the behavior of polydisperse beds. In particular, we find that larger grains are mobilized by nominally subcritical stresses when small grains are present. Our results highlight the importance of granular contact and force networks in controlling the onset of sediment transport.
A Molecular Algorithm for Path Self-Assembly in 3 Dimensions

A molecular algorithm is a set of molecular interactions that carry out a particular task. We describe a molecular algorithm for self-assembling a path between two stationary points when the locations of these points are not known in advance. While efficient path finding algorithms for electronic robots exist, molecules lack the centralized memory or computing power to implement them. The algorithm takes advantage of the inherent physics at the molecular scale, and unlike other biomimetic algorithms for path finding, is designed to work in an unstructured environment and does not require complex molecular components. Designed molecules self-assemble a DNA nanotube starting from a “seed” molecule attached to the start point. During growth, the DNA nanotube’s end diffuses through space, and this diffusion is harnessed as a search process: when the DNA nanotube’s end contacts the destination, it attaches to it and stops growing, forming a stable path. We use simulations and analysis to predict that paths of up 10 microns are formed with more than 99% probability if the destination is larger than 500 nanometers in diameter, making it practical. However, the probability of the DNA nanotube missing the destination is highly dependent on destination distance and size. It increases as exp ˆ
Global Expansion at Sanford C. Bernstein (C)

Sanford C. Bernstein, a premier sell-side research firm, is expanding globally, and has recently opened an office in Hong Kong. Global Director of Research Robert van Brugge must consider how best to organize the firm's research department to enhance cross-sector and cross-geography collaboration among the senior research analysts in order to adapt to the challenging realities of global expansion in the financial services industry.Learning Objective: To discuss and analyze the leadership challenges of building and leveraging a global platform, the challenges of driving organizational change, and the role of leaders in creating a supportive environment for collaborative work from the perspective of the leader.
Alpha-adrenergic potentiation of beta-adrenergic stimulation of rat pineal N-acetyltransferase: Studies using cirazoline and fluorine analogs of norepinephrine

Abstract Recent evidence indicates that melatonin production is controlled by norepinephrine acting via alpha 1 -and beta 1 -adrenoceptors on pinealocytes; activation of alpha 1 -adrenoceptors appears to potentiate the effects of beta 1 -adrenoceptor activation. However, alpha-adrenergic potentiation of beta 1 -adrenergic activation has been demonstrated with only one alpha-adrenergic agonist. For this reason, this issue was reinvestigated using two other alpha-adrenergic agonists, 6-fluoronorepinephrine and cirazoline. Both compounds, which were found to have a high affinity for pineal alpha 1 -adrenoceptors, potentiated the stimulatory effects of isoproterenol on pineal N -acetyltransferase. 6-Fluoro-norepinephrine also potentiated the stimulation of N -acetyltransferase activity produced by another beta-adrenergic agonist, 2-fluoronorepinephrine. These findings support the hypothesis that pineal N -acetyltransferase activity is regulated by norepinephrine acting through both alpha 1 -and beta 1 - adrenoceptors.
Educators Challenging Poverty and Latino Low Achievement: Extending and Enriching the School Day.

Latino students, as children of historically underachieving populations, often have their academic success in jeopardy. For many schools, after-school programs complement the regular school day, with more than half of the 49,700 U.S. elementary schools having one or more on-site programs. Such programs vary in intent, purposes, and resources and typically emphasize remediation rather than developing interests or competencies in curricular areas beyond language arts and math. This qualitative case study explores the practices of one dual language elementary school in a high poverty Latino community and its academic/enrichment extended day program. Wenger’s (1998) community of practice framework captures the mutual engagement, joint enterprise, and shared repertoire of practices tightly woven between the regular school day’s classroom teachers and the after-school instructional assistants. This investigation provides insight into collaborative efforts that can counter the isolation, segregation, and mediocrity of school experiences that children in poverty often experience and provide points for offering dual language and cultural experiences through an extension of the school day.
World Population Growth: An International Dilemma

During all but the most recent years of the centuries of his existence man must have lived, reproduced, and died as other animals do. His increase in number was governed by the three great regulators of the increase of all species of plants and animals — predators, disease, and starvation — or, in terms more applicable to human populations — war, pestilence, and famine. One of the most significant developments for the future of mankind during the first half of the 20th century has been his increasing ability to control pestilence and famine. Although he has not freed himself entirely from the force of these two regulators of population increase, he has gained sufficient control of them so that they no longer effectively govern his increase in number.
Texting while driving as impulsive choice: a behavioral economic analysis

The goal of the present study was to examine the utility of a behavioral economic analysis to investigate the role of delay discounting in texting while driving. A sample of 147 college students completed a survey to assess how frequently they send and read text messages while driving. Based on this information, students were assigned to one of two groups: 19 students who frequently text while driving and 19 matched-control students who infrequently text while driving but were similar in gender, age, years of education, and years driving. The groups were compared on the extent to which they discounted, or devalued, delayed hypothetical monetary rewards using a delay-discounting task. In this task, students made repeated choices between $1000 available after a delay (ranging from 1 week to 10 years) and an equal or lesser amount of money available immediately. The results show that the students who frequently text while driving discounted delayed rewards at a greater rate than the matched control students. The study supports the conclusions that texting while driving is fundamentally an impulsive choice made by drivers, and that a behavioral economic approach may be a useful research tool for investigating the decision-making processes underlying risky behaviors.
The evaluation of selected parameters of immune function in asthmatics after long-term corticosteroid therapy.

Summary The availability of inhaled beclomethasone diproprionate permitted the discontinuation of continuous, long-term systemic corticosteroid therapy (SCT) in a group of asthmatics who had previously required SCT to control their asthma. Twelve patients had been on SCT for a period of 2–22 years with an average duration of 7 years. To determine whether this previous long-term SCT and the current use of inhaled beclomethasone diproprionate had an effect on leucocyte functions, a variety of studies reflecting T lymphocyte, B lymphocyte and granulocyte function was done. The results were compared with those of twelve asthmatic patients of similar age ranges who had never received steroids. Results showed that the two patient populations could not be differentiated on the basis of phytohaemagglutinin stimulation of lymphocytes, sheep erythrocyte rosette formation, IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE concentrations or granulocyte bactericidal activity. Delayed skin reactivity was present in both groups, with more positive reactions in the non-SCT group. Polymorphonuclear adherence values were slightly lower in the SCT female population using beclomethasone diproprionate. The latter two minor differences may be due to the previous SCT, the use of beclomethasone diproprionate or the limited population of patients studied. We conclude from these studies that the long-term use of SCT at the low doses required for control of asthma resulted in little permanent effect on the variety of lymphocyte and granulocyte functions tested.
Increased collagenase and gelatinase activities in keratoconus.

Abstract A series of biochemical analyses were carried out with keratoconus and normal corneas to determine the amount of stromal collagen, degree of posttranslational modification of collagen and the solubility of collagen. Our results revealed there was no obvious alteration in the degree of posttranslational modification of collagen in keratoconus corneas. However, the amount of collagen decreases and solubility of collagen increases in keratoconus corneas. It was also found that keratoconus corneas in organ culture produce substantially more collagenase and gelatinase activities than normal corneas. Our results suggest that keratoconus may represent a collagenolytic disease.
The insertion and extrusion of heterosulfur bridges. XVI. Synthesis of triphenyleno[1,12‐bcd:4,5‐b'c'd']dithiophene

Triphenyleno[1,12-bcd]:4,5-b′c′d′]dithiophene (3) is synthesized in low yield (2.5% maximum) from a mixture of triphenylene (1) and triphenyleno[4,5-bcd]thiophene or from 1 alone by means of heterogeneously catalyzed sulfur bridging by hydrogen sulfide at 500–550°. Compound 3 is characterized by spectral and other properties. Huckel molecular orbital calculations for the formation and reaction of 3 are presented.
Androgen-deprivation Therapy and Risk for Biliary Disease in Men with Prostate Cancer

Abstract Background Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) by either a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist or bilateral orchiectomy improves disease-related outcomes of men with prostate cancer but has a variety of adverse metabolic effects including obesity, increased abdominal girth, increased triglycerides, and insulin resistance. Each is a risk factor for gallstone disease. Additionally, GnRH agonist treatment was recently shown in metabolomic analyses to increase plasma levels of some bile acids. Objective To assess the relationship between ADT and the incidence of biliary disease in men with prostate cancer. Design, setting, and participants We studied 183 842 men >65 yr of age living in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results regions who were diagnosed with prostate cancer from 1992 to 2007 and followed through 2009. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis We calculated incidence rates for biliary disease during treatment with GnRH agonists, orchiectomy, or no therapy. We used Cox proportional hazard models to assess the association of ADT with biliary disease. Results and limitations Among 183 842 men with locoregional prostate cancer, 48.4% received GnRH agonist treatment and 2.2% underwent bilateral orchiectomy during follow-up. GnRH agonist treatment was associated with a significantly higher incidence of biliary disease compared with no treatment (15.7 vs 13.4 cases per 1000 person-years; p p Conclusions GnRH agonist treatment may be associated with a greater risk of incident biliary disease.
Using a multifaceted approach to improve the follow-up of positive fecal occult blood test results.

Using a Multifaceted Approach to Improve the Follow-Up of Positive Fecal Occult Blood Test Results
Fetal Echocardiography in Conjunction with Routine Obstetric Examninatons

The purpose and benefits of fetal echocardiography are discussed. Early management in the event of a cardiac abnormality is imperative. Success in conducting fetal echocardiography begins with a complete understanding of cardiac embryoloy and fetal anatomy and physiology. Indications for fetal echocaidiography include maternal, familial, and 'fetal risk factors. An explanation of general scantning methods and routine echocardiographic views enables the sonographer to perform fetal echocardiography during routine obstetric examinations.
Exploring the Leo II Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy. I. The Variable Star Content

We present the first comprehensive catalog of variable stars in the Leo II dwarf spheroidal galaxy. We have identified 148 RR Lyrae type variables, of which 140 were amenable to derivation of variability parameters with our data. We have also confirmed the existence of four anomalous Cepheids as identified in previous studies. The average period of the RR Lyrae ab variables (0.62 days), the fraction of c variables (0.24), and the minimum period of the RR Lyrae ab variables (0.51 days) all define Leo II as an "Oosterhoff intermediate" galaxy. We have used the properties of these variables to derive a metallicity for Leo II of approximately [Fe/H] = -1.9. We attempt to resolve discrepancies between this value and those determined by previous efforts. The presence of longer period, higher amplitude RR Lyrae variables implies a metallicity distribution that extends to as poor as [Fe/H] = -2.3. Leo II's location on the period-metallicity relation of clusters, like that of other "Oosterhoff intermediate" objects, falls between the Oosterhoff class I and Oosterhoff class II clusters. The properties of the variable populations of these objects are consistent with the idea that the Oosterhoff "dichotomy" is a continuum. The gap between the classes seems to be explained by the horizontal branch of Galactic globular clusters shifting away from the instability strip at intermediate metallicities. However, Leo II, as well as other Oosterhoff intermediate objects, has a second-parameter effect strong enough to leave horizontal-branch stars in the instability strip.