cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Five-year course of major depression: Effects of comorbid alcoholism

Some patients enter psychiatric treatment with clear cases of both major depression and alcoholism. While assumptions are often made about the relationships of these two conditions, little empirical evidence exists on the effects of sustained remissions in alcoholism on sustained remissions in depression. 127 patients with both disorders at treatment entry were studied over a 5-year period. Survival analyses with time-dependent covariates indicating alcoholism status were used to investigate remissions and relapses in major depression. Remission in alcoholism strongly and significantly increased the chances of remission in depression and were also related to reduced chances of depression relapse, although at a weaker level.
Proximodistal Patterning in the Drosophila Leg: Models and Mutations

Limbs have a proximodistal axis that usually is not apparent early in development, a striking example of epigenesis. The proximodistal axis was the subject of experimental and theoretical study before any molecular genetic understanding emerged. As developmental genetic studies in Drosophila advanced, the descriptive polar coordinate model of the 1970s evolved into an understanding of how preexisting developmental compartments interact to express signaling molecules, including Hedgehog, Wingless, and Decapentaplegic, and how these define a proximodistal axis as limbs appear.
Efficient Sorting Using Registers and Caches

Modern computer systems have increasingly complex memory systems. Common machine models for algorithm analysis do not reflect many of the features of these systems, e.g., large register sets, lockup-free caches, cache hierarchies, associativity, cache line fetching, and streaming behavior. Inadequate models lead to poor algorithmic choices and an incomplete understanding of algorithm behavior on real machines. A key step toward developing better models is to quantify the performance effects of features not reflected in the models. This paper explores the effect of memory system features on sorting performance. We introduce a new cache-conscious sorting algorithm, R-merge, which achieves better performance in practice over algorithms that are theoretically superior under the models. R-merge is designed to minimize memory stall cycles rather than cache misses, considering features common to many system designs.
INHIBITORY SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION IN EARLY AUDITORY PROCESSING

iv INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 1. HETEROGENEOUS KINETICS AND PHARMACOLOGY OF SYNAPTIC INHIBITION IN THE CHICK AUDITORY BRAINSTEM 15 Abstract 16 16 Introduction 17 Methods 18 Results 25 Evoked IPSCs exhibit region-specific decay kinetics 25 Distinct pharmacology between the timing and intensity pathways 28 Evidence for co-release of GABA and glycine in nAng 29 Depolarizing Egly in nAng 32 Excitatory effects of GABA/glycine in nAng 33 Discussion 34 Acknowledgements 40 CHAPTER 2. INTRINSIC AND SYNAPTIC PROPERTIES OF VERTICAL CELLS OF THE MOUSE DORSAL COCHLEAR NUCLEUS. 51 Abstract 52 52 Introduction 53 Methods 54 Results 59 Heterogeneous spiking behavior in vertical cells 61
Scheduling in Unidirectional WDM Rings and Its Extensions

All-to-all personalized communication (AAPC) requires each of the N nodes in a network to send a unique message to each of the other N - 1 nodes. In this paper, we study the problem of scheduling AAPC in WDM rings with K wavelengths and T transmitter-receiver pairs per node. We first determine the theoretical lower bound on the schedule length in a unidirectional ring with negligible tuning delay. A scheduling method based on a 'recursive packing procedure' is then proposed. Two extensions of the above work are also made. First, we use a similar method to schedule AAPC in bidirectional rings with a small T, which achieves a better schedule performance than the method in reference one. Second, we modify the schedule to take into account the effects of non-negligible tuning delay. The schedules derived in this paper can achieve the minimum length for some values of K and T, and a near minimum length in other cases.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Assessing Mindfulness and Experiential Acceptance

The Guest House, a poem by Rumi (translated by Barks & Moyne, 1997) that has been utilized in mindfulness-based therapeutic approaches (e.g., Roemer & Orsillo, 2002; Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2002), conveys the essence of mindfulnessandexperiential acceptance. Such a “stance” stands in sharp contrast to the approach that many of us take toward our thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations, particularly those that we label “unwanted.” Bringing mindfulness and/or acceptance to our private experiences may fundamentally alter our relationship to these phenomena. How would we know if an individual was willing to “welcome and entertain them all” (Segal, 2003)? What might it look like to “meet them at the door laughing”? How might we measure this critical shift via self-report or experimental designs?
Empowering Adult Stem Cells for Myocardial Regeneration V2.0: Success in Small Steps

Much has changed since our survey of the landscape for myocardial regeneration powered by adult stem cells 4 years ago.(1) The intervening years since that first review has witnessed an explosive expansion of studies that advance both understanding and implementation of adult stem cells in promoting myocardial repair. Painstaking research from innumerable laboratories throughout the world is prying open doors that may lead to restoration of myocardial structure and function in the wake of pathological injury. This global effort has produced deeper mechanistic comprehension coupled with an evolving appreciation for the complexity of myocardial regeneration in the adult context. Undaunted by both known and (as yet) unknown challenges, pursuit of myocardial regenerative medicine mediated by adult stem cell therapy has gathered momentum fueled by tantalizing clues and visionary goals. This concise review takes a somewhat different perspective than our initial treatise, taking stock of the business sector that has become an integral part of the field while concurrently updating state of affairs in cutting edge research. Looking retrospectively at advancement over the years as all reviews eventually must, the fundamental lesson to be learned is best explained by Jonatan Martensson: "Success will never be a big step in the future. Success is a small step taken just now."
CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION AND PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION IN PATIENTS WITH END STAGE LIVER DISEASE

Patients with end stage liver disease (ESLD) being evaluated for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) are at increased risk if they also have coronary artery disease (CAD). The safety of cardiac catheterization and subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was assessed. Medical Records
Abstract 5251: CXCL14 as a functional determinant in a novel model of inflammatory, triple negative breast cancer progression

CXCL14 (BRAK) is a cytokine implicated in inflammatory responses, but its contribution to cancer is largely unknown. Recent studies in clinical breast cancer indicate an association between CXCL14 expression and shortened time to metastatic progression, as well as the presence of CXCL14 in a subset of breast epithelial cells with a stem-like phenotype. Using global gene expression profiling, we identified CXCL14 as the most prominently upregulated cytokine in a novel progression model of triple-negative inflammatory and metaplastic breast cancer that we generated. The model comprises tumor cells established from a locally aggressive primary tumor obtained from a patient at the time of initial surgery (TES-1), and tumor cells from the same site at the time of local failure in the chest wall after chemo and radiation therapy (TES-2b). In contrast to TES-1, TES-2b cells are tumorigenic in immuno deficient mice and can be followed and quantified by non-invasive bioluminescence imaging after injecting the F-luc tagged cancer cells into the 4th mammary fat pad. Illumina microarray analysis revealed a 66-fold increase in CXCL14 expression in TES-2b cells over TES-1 cells, ranking it as one of the top 25 genes most differentially expressed among over 25,000 identified gene transcripts. We validated CXCL14 overexpression in TES-2b cells by real time PCR (TaqMan) (64 fold), and found a significant increase in CXCL14 protein secretion in cultured TES-2b cells (3.8 fold) by immuno-capture ELISA. To address a functional role in CXCL14 in the progression of these aggressive breast cancer cells, we stably reduced CXCL14 expression in TES-2b cells by lentiviral transduction with small interfering RNA and confirmed an 80% reduction in gene expression. CXCL14 protein production was concomitantly reduced 2.7 fold. Importantly, xenograft studies revealed a critical role of CXCL14 in the in vivo growth behavior of these breast cancer cells, as the tumor growth rate in the mammary fat pad of CXCL14 knock-down cells was significantly reduced compared to scrambled control vector treated cells. After injecting 5×105 F-luc tagged tumor cells, 4/6 mice had tumors measuring 10 mm in diameter after 11 weeks (requiring sacrifice of the animals) compared with 1/6 in the CXCL14 knock-down group. These initial results indicate a critical role of tumor cell derived CXCL14 in the in vivo survival and proliferation of these breast cancer cells. Our findings provide a basis for further analyses of CXCL14 in breast cancer progression in vivo and for detailed studies of the mechanisms through which CXCL14 may promote disease progression of highly aggressive triple-negative breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5251. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5251
AN ANALYSIS OF THREE HYBRID POPULATIONS OF POCKET GOPHERS (GENUS THOMOMYS).

Zones of hybridization between populations of vertebrates have long been recognized and have been studied by numerous workers. Such studies have contributed to our understanding of evolutionary processes, particularly with regard to speciation. Yet certain aspects of hybrid zones still appear to be little understood, especially those concerned with the dynamics of these zones. Most previous studies involved birds and amphibians. Very few examples have been reported for mammals (McCarley, 1954 and Rudd, 1955). Therefore the study of certain populations of pocket gophers of the genus Thomomys which represent examples of hybrid zones is of interest. In a study of the distribution of pocket gophers in California, series of specimens were collected from three hyrid zones involving four subspecies of Thomomys bottae (Eydoux and Gervais) and Thomomys townsendii relictus Grinnell. Specimens from the first hybrid zone were collected in the Honey Lake Valley on the Garnier Ranch about 3 miles southwest of Herlong in April, 1963. Here the range of T. bottae canus Bailey comes into contact with that of T. t. relictus. Specimens from the second hybrid zone were collected in Lassen County during November, 1961, and April, 1962, at a point along Gold Run Creek where it enters the Honey Lake Valley. This point marks the contact of the ranges of T. bottae saxatilis Grinnell and T. t. relictus.
Dynamic Modeling and Control of an Active Debris Removal Small Satellite

The dynamics and open loop control of a small Active Debris Removal Vehicle (ADRV) with a lightweight deployable boom used to capture and tow orbital space debris hazards out of orbit is explored in this paper. The need to remove large non-functioning satellites and debris from hazardous orbits has proven to be complex and costly. A simpli ed and low cost solution is proposed in this paper in the form of a small satellite that would require low cost and have great potential. An overview of the current Orbital Debris problem for an ADRV is given along with related work in the eld. A SmallSat ADRV concept is proposed along with key issues in the design. The nonlinear equations of motion for a two-body smallsat/debris con guration are formulated. An open loop simulation of the nonlinear equations of motion was created and results from the simulations are presented highlighting the possible advantage this concept has with inherent damping e ects in the system. A perturbation technique is applied to linearize the nonlinear equations of the multibody problem with a strategy to compare the nonlinear and linear open-loop simulations. The linearized equations of motion can be used to analyze system stability, controllability and observability. The path forward is outlined for the stability and control of the combined ADRV/debris-object multibody system with the derived linear system and a close loop control law.
Determination of melamine in milk powder by high performance liquid chromatography

Objective and Methods:To solve the problems of application on GB/T22388-2008 "Determination of melamine in raw milk and dairy products",some experiments were made.Results:Some problems were solved and techniques in the practice innovated.Conclusion:The innovated techniques can be applied.
VERTICAL AIRFLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF SQUALL-LINE HAILSTORM AT DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES

This paper analyses the squall-line hailstorm synthetically in Zhangjia-kou area on July 20th, 1980, by radar echo and meteorological factors at ground and high altitude, discusses its vertical airflow characteristics at different developmental stages, gives streamline field patterns of hailstorms at developmental and stable. It is shown that there are obvious differences between streamline field patterns of different developmental stages of squall-line hailstorm.
Development and validation of a radioimmunoassay for feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity.

OBJECTIVE To develop and validate a radioimmunoassay for feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI). PROCEDURE A double antibody radioimmunoassay for determination of fTLI was developed, using feline trypsin purified from feline pancreatic tissue antiserum against feline trypsin raised in New Zealand White rabbits, and a commercially available precipitation solution. This assay was validated by determining detection limit, linearity, accuracy, and intra- and interassay variabilities. A control range was determined from samples of 21 clinically normal cats. RESULTS The detection limit for fTLI in this assay was 1.9 micrograms/L. The linearity of the assay was evaluated by testing dilutional parallelism. Observed/expected values ranged between 95 and 127%. The accuracy of the assay was tested by measuring recovery of added trypsin. Observed/expected values ranged from 99 to 114%. Intra-assay variability ranged between 3.0 and 9.4%, and interassay variability ranged between 4.0 and 8.2%. The control range for serum fTLI was determined to be 17.1 to 48.6 micrograms/L. CONCLUSION The assay for fTLI described here is sensitive, linear, accurate, precise, and reproducible. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This assay may be of use for the diagnosis of exocrine pancreatic diseases in cats. Preliminary results of such research have been promising, and further clinical studies are in progress.
Substrate specificities of base-level and induced forms of oncofetal alkaline phosphatase in HeLa cells

HeLa65 cells contain an oncofetal form of alkaline phosphatase that exhibits an increase in catalytic activity when cultures are grown in medium containing adrenal glucocorticoid hormones such as hydrocortisone or its analogue prednisolone. The increase in alkaline phosphatase specific activity in cells grown with hormone is apparently the result of a reduced phosphate content of the enzyme which alters the transition state of the enzyme-substrate complex with an increase in catlytic efficiency. Fourteen different substrates possessing aliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic configurations were studied with respect to the initial velocities of hydrolysis catalyzed by the base-level and induced forms of the enzyme. The magnitude of increase in catalytic activity was not substantially influenced by the structure of the nonphosphoryl moiety of substrates.
Brain Glutamate Decarboxylase

Glutamate decarboxylase (glutamate 1-carboxylyase, EC 4.1.1.15, GAD)* IS the major, rate-limiting enzyme in brain for synthesizing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Total GAD activity in brain is 10-20 times greater than the observed rate of GABA synthesis (Collins, 1972; Matsui and Deguchi, 1977; Casu and Gale, 1981), indicating that GAD operates at only a fraction of its capacity. Although other routes of synthesis have been suggested, they appear to be minor (Baxter, 1976). GAD has a distinct regional distribution in brain that parallels the regional distribution of GABA (Collins, 1972; Fahn, 1976), as would be expected of a rate-Limiting biosynthetic enzyme. Because GAD appears to be the major biosynthetic enzyme for GABA, it is used as one of the principal markers for GABA neurons and presynaptic terminals; it does not appear to be present in appreciable amounts in glial cells (Schousboe et al., 1977; Wu et al., 1979). GAD is concentratedin the presynaptic endings of GABA neurons, but is also present in the cell bodies, as shown by subcellular fractionation (Salganicoff and DeRobertis, 1965; Van Kempen et al., 1965; Fonnum, 1968) and by immunocytochemistry (Saito et al., 1974; Wood et al., 1976; Ribak et al., 1978; Oertel et al., 1981c). Lesioning and immunocytochemical studies using GAD as a marker have provided evidence of long-axon, GABA neurons that project between brain regions. For example, GAD-containing Purkinje cells project from cerebellar cortex to deep cerebellar nuclei
Chapter 17 – Lowering the Fall Rate of the Elderly from Wheelchairs

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury and death among the 160 million seniors currently residing in Europe and the United States. Existing technologies focus on detecting falls instead of preventing them; however, notification after a fall has taken place does nothing to lower the fall rate among the elderly. This chapter examines a system architecture and simple algorithmic strategy that show promise at indicating that an unattended elderly occupant of a wheelchair is about to get out of the chair without assistance, risking a fall. Our cloud-based framework provides a real-time notification mechanism that is scalable, redundant, and capable of handling a large amount of network traffic across multiple facilities, each with several monitored wheelchairs. We also explain how multidimensional notification technologies are used to alert remote, busy, and distracted caregivers.
Authorization of Programs the Policy Organs

The first step in any budget process is that of formulating the goals of the institutions and the activities which shall be undertaken in pursuit of those goals. The broad and basic policy outlines may be determined by the psychological, social, economic, political, and institutional environment within which the organization functions, but there must be some procedures and arrangements whereby the amorphous and general objectives are converted into specific and concrete programs. In most modern governments, that budgetary conversion is the result of some combination of executive and legislative initiative and approval. But in the United Nations this conversion rarely approximates that executive-legislative combination; programs and activities of the Organization are almost totally initiated and adopted by the member governments as represented in the Assembly, the Councils, and their sub-units. The Secretary-General and his Secretariat merely implement the policy decisions of the governments, and might therefore be called the “administration,” but never the “executive branch.” This is not to say, however, that the Secretary-General is so powerless that, to paraphrase his frequent complaint, he can do nothing but convert the policy decisions of the organs into salaries, rent, and documentation. As will be noted throughout this study, the administration has discovered and perfected techniques of policy as well as budgetary influence, often with the encouragement of the national delegations and almost always with the support of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions.
Network coding efficiency in the presence of an intermittent backhaul network

In infrastructure-lacking environments, like military areas of operation, the intermittent availability of backhaul networks leads to greater reliance on peer to peer data exchange. In such settings, mobile nodes use Delay Tolerant Network (DTN) protocols for exchanging location specific data. High transmission delay, packet loss and intermittent connectivity increases the need for efficient data transmission in such scenarios. In this paper, we evaluate network coding for efficient data exchange between mobile wireless nodes under the presence of an intermittent backhaul network, like a satellite or cellular link. We analyze the upper bound of savings achievable with network coding for single-hop packet transmission, and introduce a network coding algorithm focused on reducing the required number of packet transmissions in such a setting. Evaluation of our proposed data exchange protocol shows how network coding can be applied to reduce transmission delay and minimize the dependency on an intermittent backhaul network in a communication scenario typical of a military environment.
Determining the Provenience of Garnet Beads Using LA-ICP-MS

Stone and glass beads have been found at Iron Age (500 bc–ad 500) sites across Southeast Asia and are often assumed to be indicators of contact with South Asia. However, recent research on glass, agate, and carnelian beads indicates there may have also been local production of these materials. In Cambodia, two different types of garnet beads have been identified at several Iron Age sites. The first type is spherical, well-polished, and appears to have been drilled with a diamond drill, a drilling technique that is strongly associated with Indian bead production. The second type of garnet bead is unpolished, unshaped, and drilled using a variety of different drilling methods. Based on these initial differences, it was hypothesized that there were two different bead-making traditions represented amongst the garnet beads, and that the second type of garnet bead may have been locally produced. To investigate this question more thoroughly the garnet beads were analyzed using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) in order to determine their chemical composition. Geological source samples from a variety of garnet sources across South and Southeast Asia were also analyzed using LA-ICP-MS. Results indicate that LA-ICP-MS is an excellent tool for differentiating between garnet sources and analyzing archaeological garnet artifacts with minimal damage. Furthermore, the results of the study confirm that the two types of beads were made from distinctly different garnet sources, although the locations of these sources remain unknown.
Class in a Capitalist Society: A Study of Contemporary Britain

(1977). Class in a Capitalist Society: A Study of Contemporary Britain. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 155-157.
The impact of monomer sequence and stereochemistry on the swelling and erosion of biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) matrices.

Abstract Monomer sequence is demonstrated to be a primary factor in determining the hydrolytic degradation profile of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)s (PLGAs). Although many approaches have been used to tune the degradation of PLGAs, little effort has been expended in exploring the sequence-control strategy exploited by nature in biopolymers. Cylindrical matrices and films prepared from a series of sequenced and random PLGAs were subjected to hydrolysis in a pH 7.4 buffer at 37 °C. Swelling ranged from 107% for the random racemic PLGA with a 50:50 ratio of lactic (L) to glycolic (G) units to 6% for the sequenced alternating copolymer poly LG. Erosion followed an inverse trend with the random 50:50 PLGA showing an erosion half-life of 3–4 weeks while poly LG required ca. >10 weeks. Stereosequence was found to play a large role in determining swelling and erosion; stereopure analogs swelled less and were slower to lose mass. Molecular weight loss followed similar trends and increases in dispersity correlated with the onset of significant swelling. The relative proportion of rapidly cleavable G-G linkages relative to G-L/L-G (moderate) and L-L (slow) correlates strongly with the degree of swelling observed and the rate of erosion. The dramatic sequence-dependent variation in swelling, in the absence of a parallel hydrophilicity trend, suggest that osmotic pressure, driven by the differential accumulation of degradation products, plays an important role.
Histopathology of Oral Cavity Cancer and Potentially Malignant Disorders

Oral carcinoma is a devastating disease with only minimal improvement in survival in the last decades despite progress made both in the understanding of molecular alterations involved and in the array of therapeutic options available. The most common malignant neoplasm is squamous cell carcinoma comprising over 90 % of oral cancers. Squamous cell carcinoma is an extremely heterogeneous neoplasm and probably in no other oncologic field collaboration between various specialties (surgeon, dentist, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, pathologist) is as critical for the correct diagnosis, staging, and accurate characterization of the tumor essential for the appropriate management with the best chance for cure.
Intestinal epithelial barrier and mucosal immunity

The mucosal immune system maintains a delicate balance between providing robust defense against infectious pathogens and, at the same time, regulating responses toward innocuous environmental and food antigens and commensal microbes. The Peyer’s patch (PP) has been studied in detail as a major inductive site for mucosal immunity within the small intestine. While the mechanisms responsible for the induction of mucosal immunity versus tolerance are not yet fully understood, recent studies have highlighted mucosal dendritic cells (DCs) as regulators of the immune responses to orally administered antigens. Here we discuss recent studies that describe the role of PP DCs in immune induction and speculate on the mechanism by which the resident DCs regulate T cell and immunoglobulin A (IgA) responses in the gastrointestinal mucosa.
Identification of a Ligand-Binding Site on the Staphylococcus aureus DnaG Primase C-Terminal Domain

The interface between the DnaG primase C-terminal domain (CTD) and the N-terminal domain of DnaB helicase is essential for bacterial DNA replication because it allows coordinated priming of DNA synthesis at the replication fork while the DNA is being unwound. Because these two proteins are conserved in all bacteria and distinct from those in eukaryotes, their interface is an attractive antibiotic target. To learn more about this interface, we determined the solution structure and dynamics of the DnaG primase CTD from Staphylococcus aureus, a medically important bacterial species. Comparison with the known primase CTD structures shows there are two biologically relevant conformations, an open conformation that likely binds to DnaB helicase and a closed conformation that does not. The S. aureus primase CTD is in the closed conformation, but nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) dynamic studies indicate there is considerable movement in the linker between the two subdomains and that N564 is the most dynamic resid...
A phase II study of eribulin mesylate in combination with trastuzumab and pertuzumab in patients (pts) with metastatic, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer.

TPS668 Background: As a single agent, eribulin is associated with prolonged overall survival compared to treatment of physician’s choice in pts with heavily pre-treated metastatic breast cancer (MB...
Writing and the Modern Stage: Theater beyond Drama

It is time to change the way we talk about writing in theater. This book offers a new argument that reimagines modern theater's critical power and places innovative writing at the heart of the experimental stage. While performance studies, German Theaterwissenschaft, and even text-based drama studies have commonly envisioned theatrical performance as something that must operate beyond the limits of the textual imagination, this book shows how a series of writers have actively shaped new conceptions of theater's radical potential. Engaging with a range of theorists, including Theodor Adorno, Jarcho reveals a modern tradition of 'negative theatrics,' whose artists undermine the here and now of performance in order to challenge the value and the power of the existing world. This vision emerges through surprising new readings of modernist classics - by Henry James, Gertrude Stein, and Samuel Beckett - as well as contemporary American works by Suzan-Lori Parks, Elevator Repair Service, and Mac Wellman.
Guest Editorial: Magnetospheric Imagery and Atmospheric Remote Sensing

This PDF file contains the editorial “Guest Editorial: Magnetospheric Imagery and Atmospheric Remote Sensing-Part 2” for OE Vol. 33 Issue 02
Amyloid Beta Peptide Folding in Reverse Micelles.

Previously published experimental studies have suggested that when the 40-residue amyloid beta peptide is encapsulated in a reverse micelle, it folds into a structure that may nucleate amyloid fibril formation (Yeung, P. S.-W.; Axelsen, P. H. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 6061). The factors that induce the formation of this structure have now been identified in a multi-microsecond simulation of the same reverse micelle system that was studied experimentally. Key features of the polypeptide–micelle interaction include the anchoring of a hydrophobic residue cluster into gaps in the reverse micelle surface, the formation of a beta turn at the anchor point that brings N- and C-terminal segments of the polypeptide into proximity, high ionic strength that promotes intramolecular hydrogen bond formation, and deformation of the reverse micelle surface to facilitate interactions with the surface along the entire length of the polypeptide. Together, these features cause the simulation-derived vibrational spectrum to...
Towards improving wildland firefighter situational awareness through daily fire behaviour risk assessments in the US Northern Rockies and Northern Great Basin

Wildland firefighters must assess potential fire behaviour in order to develop appropriate strategies and tactics that will safely meet objectives. Fire danger indices integrate surface weather conditions to quantify potential variations in fire spread rates and intensities and therefore should closely relate to observed fire behaviour. These indices could better inform fire management decisions if they were linked directly to observed fire behaviour. Here, we present a simple framework for relating fire danger indices to observed categorical wildland fire behaviour. Ordinal logistic regressions are used to model the probabilities of five distinct fire behaviour categories that are then combined with a safety-based weight function to calculate a Fire Behaviour Risk rating that can plotted over time and spatially mapped. We demonstrate its development and use across three adjacent US National Forests. Finally, we compare predicted fire behaviour risk ratings with observed variations in satellite-measured fire radiative power and we link these models with spatial fire danger maps to demonstrate the utility of this approach for landscape-scale fire behaviour risk assessment. This approach transforms fire weather conditions into simple and actionable fire behaviour risk metrics that wildland firefighters can use to support decisions that meet required objectives and keep people safe.
Generating Arm-Swing Trajectories in Real-Time Using a Data-Driven Model for Gait Rehabilitation With Self-Selected Speed

Gait rehabilitation is often focused on the legs and overlooks the role of the upper limbs. However, a variety of studies have demonstrated the importance of proper arm swing both during healthy walking and during rehabilitation. In this paper, we describe a method for generating proper arm-swing trajectories in real time using only measurements of the angular velocity of a person’s thighs, to be used during gait rehabilitation with self-selected walking speed. A data-driven linear time-invariant transfer function is developed, using frequency-response methods, which captures the frequency-dependent magnitude and phase relationship between the thighs’ angular velocities and the arm angles (measured at the shoulder, in the sagittal plane), using a data set of 30 healthy adult subjects. We show that the proposed method generates smooth trajectories for both healthy individuals and patients with mild to moderate Parkinson disease. The proposed method can be used in future robotic devices that integrate arm swing in gait rehabilitation of patients with walking impairments to improve the efficacy of their rehabilitation.
Neurologic Complications of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Despite significant advances since the first human bone marrow transplant in the 1950s, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is still associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This chapter focuses on the main neurologic complications associated with HSCT, including encephalopathy, seizures, central nervous system infections, and neurologic conditions directly associated with graft versus host disease. The underlying causes of the neurologic complication are numerous, including chemoradiotoxicity, medication toxicity, metabolic abnormalities, organ failure, graft versus host disease, infection, pancytopenia, and platelet dysfunction. The timing since transplant occasionally dictates which neurologic complications are more likely to occur.
Robotics-inspired biology

ABSTRACT For centuries, designers and engineers have looked to biology for inspiration. Biologically inspired robots are just one example of the application of knowledge of the natural world to engineering problems. However, recent work by biologists and interdisciplinary teams have flipped this approach, using robots and physical models to set the course for experiments on biological systems and to generate new hypotheses for biological research. We call this approach robotics-inspired biology; it involves performing experiments on robotic systems aimed at the discovery of new biological phenomena or generation of new hypotheses about how organisms function that can then be tested on living organisms. This new and exciting direction has emerged from the extensive use of physical models by biologists and is already making significant advances in the areas of biomechanics, locomotion, neuromechanics and sensorimotor control. Here, we provide an introduction and overview of robotics-inspired biology, describe two case studies and suggest several directions for the future of this exciting new research area.
Avascular Necrosis of the Metacarpal Head: A Review of 4 Cases

Purpose To report on 4 cases of avascular necrosis of the metacarpal head. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 4 patients who received a diagnosis of avascular necrosis of the metacarpal head and were treated from 2000 to 2016. Results All patients were males with involvement of the dominant hand. Three patients had a history of trauma and/or fractures in another finger and one had a history of fracture in the same finger. The diagnosis was confirmed on regular x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging. Nonsurgical management was offered to all patients (rest, placement of an orthosis, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for 3 to 6 months. Two patients responded well to nonsurgical management and improved in their symptoms. One patient refused surgical intervention and continued to have persistent pain. The other patient was treated with curettage and bone graft and had total resolution of pain symptoms with full active range of motion. Conclusions A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose and treat avascular necrosis of the metacarpal head correctly. Treatment options are numerous and require further studies to investigate their effectiveness in the treatment of this rare disease. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic V.
Robust Radiation from Photonic Topological Insulators

We numerically demonstrate how a photonic topological insulator can be exploited to feed an antenna array, resulting in robust radiation performance free from unwanted interferences, mutual coupling and matching challenges among feed points.
miR15a regulates NLRP3 inflammasome proteins in the retinal vasculature

We have previously published that miR15a can reduce inflammatory cytokines, which could be key to diabetic retinal pathology. In this work, we wanted to investigate whether miR15a altered NLR pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) proteins. Whole retinal lysates from both miR15a overexpressing mice and endothelial cell specific miR15a/16 knockout mice were used to investigate protein levels of forkhead box protein O1 (Foxo1), NLRP3, cleaved caspase 1 and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). Primary human retinal endothelial cells (REC) were cultured in normal and high glucose followed by transfection with a miR15a mimic for protein analyses. miR15a expression was verified by quantitative PCR, and a luciferase binding assay was used to examine whether miR15a directly bound Foxo1. In mouse retinal lysates, loss of miR15a increased Foxo1, IL-1β, NLRP3, and cleaved caspase 1 levels. REC grown in high glucose transfected with the miR15a mimic had decreased levels of Foxo1 and NLRP3. miR15a directly binds to Foxo1. miR15a regulates NLRP3 actions in the retinal vasculature. Work in mice showed that loss of miR15a increased NLRP3 pathway signaling and Foxo1. miR15a mimics decreased levels of Foxo1 and NLRP3. Taken together, miR15a reduced inflammasome proteins and Foxo1 levels in the retinal vasculature.
An analysis of the impacts of household size and composition on food expenditure in Haiti

In this study, the problem of malnutrition in Haiti is examined from a food expenditure perspective. Using data from the Haiti household consumer expenditure survey, first a tabular analysis is done to describe the food expenditure patterns. Then, the effects of household size and composition, and total expenditure on food expenditures are examined by estimating Engel relationships. Household composition is introduced in the general and specific scales, and household size effects models. Income elasticities and weights for six age-sex categories are calculated from the parameter estimates. The empirical findings are used to describe the impacts of household size and composition and total expenditure on food expenditures in terms of income elasticities, weights of the six age sex categories, and in terms of economies of scale with respect to the age sex categories.
Implementation of an Alternative Pathway for Patients Seeking Care for Low Back Pain: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Background In the United States, low back pain (LBP) is among the most common symptoms prompting a health care visit. Patients can receive escalated care, such as advanced imaging or invasive procedures, before guideline-recommended options offered by physical therapists. A guideline-concordant alternative care pathway (RapidAccess) that emphasized early physical therapy for patients with LBP before they consulted a physiatrist was implemented. Evaluating the implementation of care pathways, such as RapidAccess using the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) framework, provides a broader understanding of the barriers to implementation. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of a guideline-concordant care pathway for patients with LBP using a RE-AIM framework. Design This study used a prospective observational cohort design. Methods Patients with a chief complaint of LBP who were scheduling a new appointment with physiatry were eligible. Eligible patients chose whether or not to participate in RapidAccess before a consultation with a physiatrist. Implementation outcomes were evaluated using the RE-AIM framework. Results During the study period, 1556 patients with LBP called to schedule a new visit with a physiatrist. Of these, 400 (25.7%) were eligible for RapidAccess, and 124 (31% of those eligible) participated in the program (reach). Of the 400 eligible patients, 225 (56.3%) were offered RapidAccess (adoption). Compared with patients who were managed in physical therapy following a consultation with a physiatrist, RapidAccess participants demonstrated improvement in physical function with physical therapist management (effectiveness); 58.9% cancelled their physiatrist visit (implementation), and rates of imaging and injections were lower (effectiveness). Reach and adoption (maintenance) trended downward beyond the first 6 months of the project. Limitations The results are from a single health system and might not be broadly generalizable. Conclusions The RE-AIM framework was useful in evaluating the implementation of RapidAccess. Factors influencing reach and adoption must be further examined.
Characterizing Permethrin and Etofenprox Resistance in Two Common Laboratory Strains of Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae)

Anopheles gambiae Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) is the most prolific malaria vector in sub-Saharan Africa, where widespread insecticide resistance has been reported. An. gambiae laboratory strains are commonly used to study the basic biology of this important mosquito vector, and also in new insecticide discovery programs, where insecticide-susceptible and -resistant strains are often used to screen new molecules for potency and cross-resistance, respectively. This study investigated the toxicity of permethrin, a Type-I pyrethroid insecticide, and etofenprox, a non-ester containing pyrethroid insecticide, against An. gambiae at three life stages. This characterization was performed with susceptible (G3; MRA-112) and resistant (Akdr; MRA-1280) An. gambiae strains; the Akdr strain is known to contain the L1014F mutation in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel. Surprisingly, etofenprox displays a lower level of resistance than permethrin against all stages of mosquitoes, except in a headless larval paralysis assay designed to minimize penetration factors. In first-instar An. gambiae larvae, permethrin had significant resistance, determined by the resistance ratio (RR50 = 5), but etofenprox was not significantly different (RR50 = 3.4) from the wild-type strain. Fourth-instar larvae displayed the highest level of resistance for permethrin (RR50 = 108) and etofenprox (RR50 = 35). Permethrin (PC50 = 2 ppb) and etofenprox (PC50 = 9 ppb) resulted in headless larval paralysis (5-h), but resistance, albeit lower, was still present for permethrin (RR50 = 5) and etofenprox (RR50 = 6.9). In adult female mosquitoes, permethrin displayed higher resistance (RR50 = 14) compared to etofenprox (RR50 = 4.3). The level of etofenprox resistance was different from that previously reported for a similar Akron An. gambiae laboratory strain (MRA-913). The chemical synergists piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and diethyl maleate (DEM) were able to synergize permethrin, but not etofenprox in the resistant strain (Akdr). In conclusion, multiple mechanisms are likely involved in pyrethroid resistance, but resistance profiles are dependent upon selection. Etofenprox is an effective insecticide against An. gambiae in the lab but will likely suffer from resistance in the field.
Interval Kernels for Combining Biometric Measurements from Multiple Prostate Samples per Patient in Prognostic Models with Transductive Semi-Supervised Support Vector Regression

Prostate cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer and second most common form of cancer deaths among men in the United States. Physicians work with patients to make difficult treatment decisions. They are often aided by a multitude of prognostic models to assess risk and predict outcomes. These survival analysis models may analyze features characterizing biomolecular and histomorphic properties of the solid tumor sample. Commonly, multiple samples per patient are analyzed and features are combined in some way to generate a single result, such as by taking the median measurement. Recently, support vector regression approaches paired with a semi-supervised transduction framework have proven powerful in building such prognostic models. Separately, there has been work presenting the use of interval kernels to capture the range of measurements across multiple samples as an “interval” via the Hausdorff distance within a kernel based support vector approach. This paper presents the first results in exploring a combination of these two concepts. Namely, using an interval kernel based support vector approach within the aforementioned transduction framework to build prognostic models leveraging information from multiple tumor samples per patient. The results show that interval kernels yield more accurate prognostic models, and the semi—supervised transduction framework further improves performance. This suggests that this novel combination of unique recent advances can help build better prognostic models and improve the treatment of prostate cancer.
Biodiversity of the endangered coastal beetle Scarites laevigatus: is the northern Adriatic population a geographical subspecies or a case of introgressive hybridisation? (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

The ground beetle Scarites laevigatus Fabricius, 1792 is a specialized predator occurring in the Mediterranean sandy shores, currently threatened with disappearance due to the widespread modification of beach ecosystems. The present study purposes a morphological analysis of the northern Adriatic form, described by Puel in 1938 as a subspecies with the name venetianus, in comparison with the typical form of this taxon and S. terricola. The examination of pronotum, elytra, body shape, male genitalia and wing development, suggests that the studied population is different from the nominotypical form and might originate from the introgressive hybridisation of S. terricola with the north Adriatic populations of S. laevigatus. This hypothesis is discussed in the light of current knowledge of the systematics and ecology of the putative parent species.
Flexible lignin-derived carbon nanofiber substrates functionalized with iron (III) oxide nanoparticles as lithium-ion battery anodes

Abstract To develop high-performance flexible anodes has become an emerging technological demand for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this study, flexible substrates consisting of randomly overlaid electrospun carbon nanofibers (ECNFs) with fiber diameters of ∼200 nm and BET specific surface area of ∼583 m2∙g−1 were made from lignin and polyvinyl alcohol by electrospinning followed by stabilization in air and carbonization in argon. After surface-functionalization with Fe2O3 nanoparticles, the resulting flexible ECNF/Fe2O3 nanostructures/electrodes exhibited enhanced lithiation/delithiation performance. Specifically, in lithium-ion half-cells with ∼35 wt% Fe2O3 nanoparticles deposited on ECNF surfaces, the discharge capacities of ∼951 mA∙h∙g−1 in the first cycle and ∼715 mA∙h∙g−1 after 80 cycles were observed. This study presents a new approach for the fabrication of flexible LIB anodes by eliminating commonly used organic binders, metal substrates, and electrode slurries; furthermore, lignin that is a waste byproduct of cellulose industry has been successfully utilized in this approach.
Abstract 722: Evaluation of Peripheral Calcium Score as a Measure of Peripheral Artery Disease Severity

The current gold standard for diagnosing PAD is Ankle Brachial Index (ABI). However, vascular calcification can falsely elevate ABI. No studies have compared the diagnostic value of peripheral calc...
Out-of-Flatness Effect on Flexural Strength of Steel Bridge Girders:

This numerical study determines the effects of out-of-flatness on flexural strength at the onset of yielding in continuous I-shaped and tub (box) steel highway bridge girders. This moment at onset ...