cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic control of pungency in C. chinense via the Pun1 locus

Capsaicin, the pungent principle in hot peppers, acts to deter mammals from consuming pungent pepper pods. Capsaicinoid biosynthesis is restricted to the genus Capsicum and results from the acylation of the aromatic compound, vanillylamine, with a branched-chain fatty acid. The presence of capsaicinoids is controlled by the Pun1 locus, which encodes a putative acyltransferase. In its homozygous recessive state, pun1/pun1, capsaicinoids are not produced by the pepper plant. HPLC analysis confirmed that capsaicinoids are only found in the interlocular septa of pungent pepper fruits. Immunolocalization studies showed that capsaicinoid biosynthesis is uniformly distributed across the epidermal cells of the interlocular septum. Capsaicinoids are secreted from glandular epidermal cells into subcuticular cavities that swell to form blisters along the epidermis. Blister development is positively associated with capsaicinoid accumulation and blisters are not present in non-pungent fruit. A genetic study was used to determine if the absence of blisters in non-pungent fruit acts independently of Pun1 to control pungency. Screening of non-pungent germplasm and genetic complementation tests identified a previously unknown recessive allele of Pun1, named pun1(2). Sequence analysis of pun1(2) revealed that a four base pair deletion results in a frameshift mutation and the predicted production of a truncated protein. Genetic analysis revealed that pun1(2) co-segregated exactly with the absence of blisters, non-pungency, and a reduced transcript accumulation of several genes involved in capsaicinoid biosynthesis. Collectively, these results establish that blister formation requires the Pun1 allele and that pun1(2) is a recessive allele from C. chinense that results in non-pungency.
Antimicrobial Penetration and Efficacy in an In Vitro Oral Biofilm Model

The penetration and overall efficacy of six mouthrinse actives was evaluated by using an in vitro flow cell oral biofilm model. The technique involved preloading biofilm cells with a green fluorescent dye that leaked out as the cells were permeabilized by a treatment. The loss of green color, and of biomass, was observed by time-lapse microscopy during 60 min of treatment under continuous flow conditions. The six actives analyzed were ethanol, sodium lauryl sulfate, triclosan, chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX), cetylpyridinium chloride, and nisin. Each of these agents effected loss of green fluorescence throughout biofilm cell clusters, with faster action at the edge of a cell cluster and slower action in the cluster center. The time to reach half of the initial fluorescent intensity at the center of a cell cluster, which can be viewed as a combined penetration and biological action time, ranged from 0.6 to 19 min for the various agents. These times are much longer than the predicted penetration time based on diffusion alone, suggesting that anti-biofilm action was controlled more by the biological action time than by the penetration time of the active. None of the agents tested caused any removal of the biofilm. The extent of fluorescence loss after 1 h of exposure to an active ranged from 87 to 99.5%, with CHX being the most effective. The extent of fluorescence loss in vitro, but not penetration and action time, correlated well with the relative efficacy data from published clinical trials.
Asymmetry of Neuronal Activity During Extracellular Microelectrode Recording from Left and Right Human Temporal Lobe Neocortex During Rhyming and Line-Matching

Recordings of neuronal activity in humans have identified few correlates of the known hemispheric asymmetries of functional lateralization. Here, we examine single-unit activity recorded from both hemispheres during two delayed match-to-sample tasks that show strong hemispheric lateralization based on lesion effects; a line-matching (LM) task related to the right hemisphere, and a rhyming (RHY) task related to the left. Nineteen neuronal populations were recorded with extracellular microelectrodes from the left temporal neocortex of 11 awake patients, and 18 from the right in 9 patients during anterior temporal lobectomy for complex partial seizures under local anesthesia. All subjects were left hemisphere dominant for language. Twelve (32p) populations exhibited statistically significant changes in activity at p < .05. Although changes in firing frequency were recorded from both hemispheres during both tasks, the RHY task elicited changes in activity several hundred milliseconds earlier on the left side than on the right. The LM task, on the other hand, induced changes earlier on the right side than on the left. Both hemispheres contained units active during verbal responses regardless of which behavior elicited the response. Our results indicate that cerebral dominance is reflected in earlier neuronal activity in the anterior temporal lobe during tasks lateralized to that hemisphere.
Hydrophilic interaction 10 μm I.D. porous layer open tubular columns for ultratrace glycan analysis by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

Abstract The sensitivity of glycan analysis using nano-liquid chromatography interfaced with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI–MS) increases with the decrease of the mobile phase flow rate, accompanied by reduced ion suppression. In this study, we describe the preparation and performance of high efficiency 10 μm I.D. amine-bonded poly(vinylbenzyl chloride-divinylbenzene) hydrophilic interaction (HILIC) porous layer open tubular (PLOT) columns operated at 20 nL/min for the separation and analysis of glycan mixtures. HILIC-PLOT columns with a uniform porous polymer layer were reproducibly prepared (∼4% RSD in retention time from column-to-column) via in situ polymerization, followed by one step modification with ethylenediamine. When coupled on-line with negative ESI–MS, low detection limits (0.3 fmol) for a 3-sialyl-tetrasaccharide were achieved using a 2.5 m × 10 μm I.D. HILIC-PLOT column. A dextran ladder standard was used to evaluate the performance of the column, and high efficiency separation was achieved with detection of the dextrans up to G22 from ∼50 fmol amounts injected. As an example of the high sensitivity of the column, MS6 characterization of glycan structures was possible from the injection of 10 fmol of a neutral and sialylated glycan. As another example of high sensitivity LC–MS analysis of 3 ng of a PNGase F digest of ovalbumin allowed 28 N-linked glycans to be confidently identified from a single analysis. High quality MS/MS spectra for each ovalbumin glycan were acquired and manually interpreted for structure analysis. The HILIC-PLOT column is a very promising approach for LC–MS analysis of glycans at the ultratrace level.
Using Amaranthus palmeri pollen to mark captured tarnished plant bugs

Wild host plants play an important role for tarnished plant bug (TPB) Lygus lineolaris, populations when cultivated crops are not flowering. Determining dispersal into/out of cropping systems and native habitats is important for managing this insect pest. Mark and capture techniques, ‘novel proteins’ or dyes to determine insect dispersal are time consuming, costly and can cause problems to insects and people. Pollen analysis of insects is easy and marking them with pollen does not injure insects or people. Although pollen has been used to determine dispersal and food sources of many insects, it has not been used for TPB. As a preliminary study, we wanted to test if pollen could be used as a marker and to determine TPB dispersal and food. Adult TPB were allowed to feed on Amaranthus palmeri flowers for 72 hours, then sacrificed at 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 96 hours. Rinsing the insects three times with 95% ethyl alcohol prior to acetolysis removed 99% of the external pollen. There was a significant reduction ...
Mild heat stress induces mitochondrial biogenesis in C2C12 myotubes

During endurance exercise, most (≈75%) of the energy derived from the oxidation of metabolic fuels and ATP hydrolysis of muscle contraction is liberated as heat, the accumulation of which leads to an increase in body temperature. For example, the temperature of exercising muscles can rise to 40°C. Although severe heat injury can be deleterious, several beneficial effects of mild heat stress (HS), such as the improvement of insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes, have been reported. However, among all cellular events induced by mild HS from physical activities, the direct effects and mechanisms of mild HS on mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle are least characterized. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) are key energy-sensing molecules regulating mitochondrial biogenesis. In C2C12 myotubes, we found that 1 h mild HS at 40°C upregulated both AMPK activity and SIRT1 expression, as well as increased the expression of several mitochondrial biogenesis regulatory genes including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and transcription factors involved in mitochondrial biogenesis. In particular, PGC-1α expression was found to be transcriptionally regulated by mild HS. Additionally, after repeated mild HS for 5 days, protein levels of PGC-1α and several mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation subunits were also upregulated. Repeated mild HS also significantly increased mitochondrial DNA copy number. In conclusion, these data show that mild HS is sufficient to induce mitochondrial biogenesis in C2C12 myotubes. Temperature-induced mitochondrial biogenesis correlates with activation of the AMPK-SIRT1-PGC-1α pathway. Therefore, it is possible that muscle heat production during exercise plays a role in mitochondrial biogenesis.
Expression of Multiple Connexins in Cultured Neonatal Rat Ventricular Myocytes

Abstract Three gap junction proteins have been identified in mammalian cardiac myocytes: connexin43 (Cx43), connexin45 (Cx45), and connexin40 (Cx40). These proteins form channels with different electrophysiological properties and have different distributions in cardiac tissues with disparate conduction properties. We characterized the expression, phosphorylation, turnover, and subcellular distribution of these connexins in primary cultures of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Cx43, Cx45, and Cx40 mRNA were specifically detected in RNA blots. Immunofluorescent staining with antibodies specific for Cx43 and Cx45 revealed punctate labeling at appositional membranes, but no immunoreactive Cx40 was detected. Double-label immunofluorescence confocal microscopy of cultured myocytes revealed colocalization of Cx43 and Cx45. Cx43 and Cx45 were both identified by immunoprecipitation from [35S]methionine-labeled cultures, but anti-Cx40 antibodies did not precipitate any radiolabeled protein. Phosphorylated forms of...
Canonical, stable, general mapping using context schemes

Motivation: Sequence mapping is the cornerstone of modern genomics. However, most existing sequence mapping algorithms are insufficiently general. Results: We introduce context schemes: a method that allows the unambiguous recognition of a reference base in a query sequence by testing the query for substrings from an algorithmically defined set. Context schemes only map when there is a unique best mapping, and define this criterion uniformly for all reference bases. Mappings under context schemes can also be made stable, so that extension of the query string (e.g. by increasing read length) will not alter the mapping of previously mapped positions. Context schemes are general in several senses. They natively support the detection of arbitrary complex, novel rearrangements relative to the reference. They can scale over orders of magnitude in query sequence length. Finally, they are trivially extensible to more complex reference structures, such as graphs, that incorporate additional variation. We demonstrate empirically the existence of high-performance context schemes, and present efficient context scheme mapping algorithms. Availability and implementation: The software test framework created for this study is available from https://registry.hub.docker.com/u/adamnovak/sequence-graphs/. Contact: anovak@soe.ucsc.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Now that reimbursement for readmission to the hospital is threatened, we are finally focused on readmissions after esophagectomy

Esophagectomy, regardless of the approach or technique (degree of exposure), carries highs rate of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Large administrative databases report mortalities ranging from 2.7% to as high as 11%, with morbidity rates in many series exceeding 50%. Some of these are minor complications that do not change a patient’s long-term postoperative course; however, major morbidity (reoperation, anastomotic leak, pneumonia, reintubation, ventilation beyond 48 hours) occurs in 24% of patients in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgical Database. The average stay for a patient after esophagectomy is 10.6 days, with this increasing to a mean of 25.6 days in a patient who has had a postoperative complication. 1
The regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase in brain in vivo.

—The activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase in the brains of mice frozen in liquid nitrogen was 14·0 nmol/min per mg protein. It rose to 23·8 nmol/min per mg protein after incubation of the brain homogenate with 10mm-MgCl2 to activate (dephosphorylate) the enzyme, indicating that approx 60% of the enzyme was originally in the active form. Treatment with amobarbital or pentobarbital halved the proportion of pyruvate dehydrogenase in the active form. The proportion of pyruvate dehydrogenase in the active form increased during ischemia, activation being complete within one min. Anesthesia with amobarbital slowed the activation during ischemia but did not alter the total amount of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. The concentration of ATP, the ATP/ADP ratio and the adenylate energy charge increased as the proportion of pyruvate dehydrogenase in the active form decreased during barbiturate anesthesia, and they decreased as the proportion of pyruvate dehydrogenase in the active form increased during ischemia. After treatment with insulin, the proportion of pyruvate dehydrogenase in the active form increased by 30%. but the energy charge did not change. Treatment of mice with ether, morphine, ethanol, or diazepam did not change the proportion of pyruvate dehydrogenase in the active form although these treatments have been reported to alter pyruvate oxidation in brain in vivo. Treatments which altered pyruvate oxidation in the brain did not consistently alter the proportion of pyruvate dehydrogenase in the active form, unless they also altered energy charge.
The Nature and Prevalence of Cyber Victimization Among Elementary School Children

Despite growing concern about the impact of cyberbullying on youth, few studies to date have investigated this phenomenon among elementary school samples. Consequently, little is known about cyber victimization exposure among younger children. The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence and nature of cyber victimization among a sample of elementary school students and determine whether significant differences existed between cyber victimized and non-cyber victimized students. A total of 660 3rd–5th grade students in six schools completed an online survey on measures of traditional and cyber bullying and victimization. Descriptive statistics were used to determine prevalence, mechanism (e.g., social media), identity of the perpetrator, and whether incidents were reported to others. Fixed effects regression models, including dummy coded school variables to control for nesting, were run to assess group differences. Descriptive findings revealed that a substantial number of youth (17.7 %; n = 114) reported cyber victimization, predominantly through online games. Only 38 % (n = 43) of cyber victimized children knew the identity of the perpetrator and almost 50 % reported they did not tell anyone about the incident. Results also revealed that cyber victimized children reported significantly higher rates of traditional victimization and bullying involvement along with higher pro-bullying attitudes and lower pro-defending attitudes and self-efficacy for defending others. The results of the present study suggest the need for developmentally appropriate prevention and intervention programs implemented at the elementary school level if efforts to address this complex problem are to be successful.
Autonomous and Intelligent Radio Switching for heterogeneous wireless networks

As wireless devices continue to become more prevalent, heterogeneous wireless networks - in which communicating devices have at their disposal multiple types of radios - will become the norm. Communication between nodes in these networks ought to be as simple as possible; they should be able to seamlessly switch between different radios and network stacks on the fly in order to better serve the user. To make this a possibility, we consider the challenging problems of when two communicating devices should decide to switch to a different radio, and which radio they should choose. We design an autonomous and intelligent radio switch (AIRS) decision algorithm that uses predicted radio availability and user profiles to choose the best available radio for two adjacent devices. The decision algorithm uses several parameters to avoid switching radios too frequently. We use a simulation study to evaluate the best settings for several parameters, then show that the AIRS system performs better than several alternative algorithms. AIRS is able to provide dynamic, but stable radio switching, while balancing the competing objectives of high throughput and low power consumption.
Titration and Exchange Studies of Liver Fatty Acid-Binding Protein with 13C-Labeled Long-Chain Fatty Acids†

Uniformly (13)C-labeled long-chain fatty acids were used to probe ligand binding to rat liver fatty acid-binding protein (LFABP), an atypical member of the fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) family that binds more than one molecule of long-chain fatty acid, accommodates a variety of diverse ligands, and exhibits diffusion-mediated lipid transport to membranes. Two sets of (1)H-(13)C resonances were found in a titration series of NMR spectra for oleate-LFABP complexes, indicating that two molecules of the fatty acid are situated in the protein cavity. However, no distinct resonances were observed for the excess fatty acid in solution, suggesting that at least one ligand undergoes rapid exchange with oleate in the bulk solution. An exchange rate of 54 +/- 6 s(-1) between the two sets of resonances was measured directly using (13)C z,z-exchange spectroscopy. In light of these NMR measurements, possible molecular mechanisms for the ligand-exchange process are evaluated and implications for the anomalous fatty acid transport mechanism of LFABP are discussed.
Heat capacity change for ribonuclease A folding

The change in heat capacity deltaCp for the folding of ribonuclease A was determined using differential scanning calorimetry and thermal denaturation curves. The methods gave equivalent results, deltaCp = 1.15+/-0.08 kcal mol(-1) K(-1). Estimates of the conformational stability of ribonuclease A based on these results from thermal unfolding are in good agreement with estimates from urea unfolding analyzed using the linear extrapolation method.
Hemorrhage, coagulation, and transfusion: a risk-benefit analysis

Abstract Transfusion risks include the possibility of ABO/ Rh incompatibility, sepsis, febrile reactions, immunosuppression, and viral transmission; incidences and consequences of these complications are reviewed. Predonation of autologous blood generally reduces the need for homologous blood by about 30% to 40%, but relatively few coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) patients predonate blood. Drug products to decrease blood use include 1-deamino-8- d -arginine vasopressin (DDAVP), tranexamic acid, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, and aprotinin. A recent study suggests that a subgroup of patients with abnormal platelet function may benefit from a platelet therapy such as DDAVP. The prophylactic use of tranexamic acid reduces cardiac surgery postoperative blood loss, as measured by chest-tube output, by about 30%; unfortunately, data demonstrating a reduction in transfusion requirements are not available. Aprotinin use is associated with major reductions in blood transfusion requirements. Aprotinin provides platelet protection during cardiopulmonary bypass. Duration of stay in the intensive care unit was not increased by use of aprotinin, thus alleviating some concerns that aprotinin might promote coronary thrombosis. A recent report cites early graft closure as a major concern with aprotinin therapy, but data from other studies show no significant differences in rates of graft closure between patients receiving and those not receiving aprotinin. Routine use of a thromboelastogram with all cardiopulmonary bypass surgery at the University of Washington Hospital has reduced use of blood products by 30%.
Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor trans-4-[4-(3-adamantan-1-yl-ureido)-cyclohexyloxy]-benzoic acid is neuroprotective in rat model of ischemic stroke

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) diminishes vasodilatory and neuroprotective effects of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids by hydrolyzing them to inactive dihydroxy metabolites. The primary goals of this stu...
US Government Mandates for Clinical and Translational Research

This commentary is germane for clinical and translational researchers. Basic scientists may face different obstacles to developing their research careers. Over the past several years, the federal government has seen reductions in funding for extramural research. It seems that under the adverse economic forecasts, things are going to get worse. It might seem logical for the federal government to stretch whatever limited resources exist, by asking the institutions to cost-share greater fractions of the actual research costs, and as an incentive, avoid the imposition of unfunded mandates. But alas, although well intended, there have been expensive requirements imposed by the government, making it difficult for investigators and institutions to adequately fund and conduct their research and for scientific journals to maintain paying subscribers. Five prominent and costly changes, which are the focus of this commentary are (1) HIPAA, (2) http://ClinicalTrials.Gov, (3) Clinical and Translational Science Awards, (4) Upcoming rule changes for IRBs, and (5) PubMedCentral, each of which will be discussed in the ensuing paragraphs.
LY-294002-inhibitable PI 3-kinase and regulation of baseline rates of Na+ transport in A6 epithelia

Blocker-induced noise analysis of epithelial Na+ channels (ENaCs) was used to investigate how inhibition of an LY-294002-sensitive phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) alters Na+transport in...
The Schedule M-3 Compliance Maze: Unanswered Questions

The depth of information required by Schedule M-3 may not have been produced in proper form by the taxpayer before introduction of the form, and some transition difficulties will arise simply with respect to delivering the needed data. Once taxpayers, their advisers, and the tax software industry iron out those difficulties, the IRS will be in a position to conduct examinations more efficiently and completely than ever before. Tax planning strategies and their results will be more transparent to the IRS. It remains to be seen what the IRS will do with all that information, and how Schedule M-3 by itself will change the U.S. tax system in coming years.
PS2-21: Using EHR Data to Quantify Within-individual Variability of Standardized Weight Measures for Youth

Background/Aims There is increasing interest in the study of preventive and therapeutic interventions for childhood obesity. Without accounting for baseline variability in children’s weight measures, however, it is difficult to accurately explore the true impact of interventions. We wanted to identify a) what percentage of children and adolescents have large longitudinal within-individual variability in their standardized weight measures and b) groups of individuals with differential growth trajectories over time. Our hypothesis is that a substantial fraction of children have large longitudinal within-individual variability and/or a non-constant growth trajectory.
A New Mechanism of the Local Regional Casing Impairment of the Index Bed of Member of the Nenjiang Formation and Its Petrology and Mineralogy in the Daqing Oilfield

There has been a popular opinion that the serious local regional casing impairment between the bottom of N_2 (member Ⅱ of the Nenjiang formation) and the upper part of N_1 (member I of the Nenjiang formation)in the Daqing Oilfield is caused by water-absorbing, and swelling and creeping of shale. However, the research presented in this article unveils a new mechanism that causes the casing impairment. According to lead impressions and multi-arm calliper results, the position of the local regional casing impairment overwhelmingly locates in the index bed of N_2 between the N_2 and N_1 Formation instead of the bottom of N_2 or the upper part of N_1. The systematical petrology and mineralogy study shows that the index bed of N_2 mainly consists of fine quartz, feldspar, shells of fossils and some clay minerals, but without montmorillonite that causes water-absorbing, swelling and creeping. The content of clay minerals of the index bed of N_2 is also less than its adjacent rock. All these show that the swelling and creeping capacity of the index bed of N_2 is very poor, which is not the principal factor causing the local regional casing impairment. On the contrary, the index bed of N_2 is a kind of hard rock, but within it there are special mechanical weak planes that result from fossils lying on the sediment beds. Rock mechanical experiments show that the tensile strength and shear strength of the mechanical weak planes are far less than that of the sediment beds with a few or no fossils. Therefore, the new mechanism explains that, once injected water reaches the index bed of N_2 , the fluid pressure and in-situ geostress will break the mechanical weak planes within the index bed of N_2. Because very poor water-absorbing and no rock swelling and creeping occur, the broken planes then quickly elongate around the weak plane, inducing the local regional casing impairment.
Respiration in Soil Response to Elevations and Grazing Intensities in the Qilian Mountains

In this study,the difference in the respiration rate of soils(soil CO2 release rate) in the Picea crassifolia forest,a scrub forest and grazing steppes with different elevations(2 500 m,2 700 m,2 850 m and 3 000 m a.s.l.),as well as the effects of grazing intensity on soil respiration rate in the Qilian Mountains was evaluated.The analysis was based on the soil respiration rate,surface temperature,ground temperature at depths of 5,10,15 and 20 cm,air temperature,and soil moisture content at depths of 0~5 cm and 5~10 cm.The results were as follows:(1) The soil respiration rate in grazing steppes before 16:00 occurred in the order of scrub forest Picea crassifolia forest steppe,but in the order of Picea crassifolia forest scrub forest steppe after 16:00;(2) A linear relationship described by the following equation was observed between the soil respiration rate and daily mean temperature: y=10.342e-0.000 2x,R2=0.000 2,and this correlation could be used to explain changes in the soil respiration rate;(3) Grazing was found to directly affect the soil moisture content,and there was a negative correlation observed between grazing intensity and the soil moisture content,but a positive correlation between the soil moisture content and the soil respiration rate.In addition,the soil moisture content and soil respiration rate occurred in the following order: severe grazing area overgrazing area extremely overgrazing area;(4) Temperature was found to be the primary factor affecting soil respiration,and it was positively correlated with the soil respiration rate.Finally,the maximum(8.92 μmol/(m2·s)) and minimum(0.37 μmol/(m2·s)) soil respiration rates occurred between June and July and in May,respectively.
Differential diagnosis of patients with abnormal serum creatine kinase isoenzymes.

Serum enzyme tests play a major role in the diagnosis of inflammatory, necrotic, and traumatic changes in tissues and organs. Creatine kinase and its isoenzymes and isoforms are of great importance in diagnosing acute injury to skeletal muscle and myocardium. CK-MB is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.
Catalan Numbers and Permutations

We turn now to a vast subject called that is currently the subject of much research. Let S n denote the set of all permutations of [n].
Impromptu micturitional flow parameters in normal boys.

AbstractNonintrusive measurement of the hydrodynamic properties of the urinary stream (uroflowmetry) has been included in many adult urological evaluations as an objective diagnostic tool. Measurement and behavioral problems interfere with practical applications in children. We describe a standard procedure for obtaining “impromptu” micturitional flow parameters in clinical pediatric practice. Statistical correlations of these flow parameters in an unselected group of 142 normal boys between 2 and 12 years old are presented. Useful linear regression equations were derived from the sample to assist the clinician in predicting deviations from normal values. Limitations of the methodology are noted.
Social Environment and Stress: A Study of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Patients and their Families

There is mounting evidence to suggest that persons subject to stress suffer less damaging effects if they receive social support. The relationship between social support and stress has been most clearly demonstrated in psychiatric disorders (Flaherty et al., 1983; Syme, 1983). Concurrently, the application of family therapy methods to treatment of psychiatric disorders has led several groups of investigators (Minuchin, 1978) to examine the relationship between certain family characteristics (i.e. lack of conflict resolution, enmeshment, rigidity, etc.), and certain conditions with psychosomatic components such as anorexia nervosa, diabetes mellitus and bronchial asthma. Thus far empirical support for these propositions is lacking and properly controlled studies are absent from the literature.
Procedural Treatments: Glaucoma Drainage Devices

Since the principle goal of tube shunt surgery is to lower IOP, the answer to this question easily could be considered the main factor in selecting a device. However, no one shunt has become the predominant choice of glaucoma surgeons, yet. The reason for this may be that there is not a clearly superior design with regards to IOP, that there is a superior design but the available evidence does not reveal this fact, or that factors other than IOP lowering ability influence a surgeons’ selection of device.
Activity for Diabetic Polyneuropathy (ADAPT): Study Design and Protocol for a 2-Site Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Half of all patients with diabetes develop diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a complication leading to reduced mobility and quality of life. Although there are no proven pharmacologic approaches to reduce DPN risk or slow its progression, evidence suggests that physical activity may improve symptoms and enhance peripheral nerve regeneration. Objective The aim of the study will be to determine the impact of an intense lifestyle intervention on neuropathy progression and quality of life in individuals with DPN. Design The study will be a randomized controlled trial. Setting The study will be conducted at 2 academic medical centers. Participants The participants will be 140 individuals with type 2 diabetes and mild to moderate DPN. Intervention The intervention group will receive 18 months of supervised exercise training, actigraphy-based counseling to reduce sedentary behavior, and individualized dietary counseling. Control group participants will receive diet and activity counseling at baseline and at 9 months. Measurements The primary outcomes are neuropathy progression as measured by intraepidermal nerve fiber density in a distal thigh skin biopsy and the Norfolk Quality of Life-Diabetic Neuropathy score. Secondary outcomes include pain, gait, balance, and mobility measures. Limitations Due to the combined intervention approach, this protocol will not be able to determine which intervention components influence outcomes. There also may be difficulty with participant attrition during the 18-month study intervention. Conclusions The Activity for Diabetic Polyneuropathy (ADAPT) protocol resulted from a collaboration between physical therapists and neurologist researchers that includes as primary outcomes both a quality-of-life measure (NQOL-DN) and a physiologic biomarker (IENFD). It has the potential to demonstrate that an intensive lifestyle intervention may be a sustainable, clinically effective approach for people with DPN that improves patient outcomes and can have an immediate impact on patient care and future clinical trials.
Snowlines and Treelines in the Tropical Andes

Examination of the dynamism of snowlines and treelines could provide insights into environmental change processes affecting land cover in the tropical Andes Mountains. Further, land cover at these ...
Towards a Tropical Hodge Bundle

The moduli space \(\mathop{\mathrm{M}}\nolimits _{g}^{\text{trop}}\) of tropical curves of genus g is a generalized cone complex that parametrizes metric vertex-weighted graphs of genus g. For each such graph Γ, the associated canonical linear system | K Γ | has the structure of a polyhedral complex. In this article, we propose a tropical analogue of the Hodge bundle on \(\mathop{\mathrm{M}}\nolimits _{g}^{\text{trop}}\) and study its basic combinatorial properties. Our construction is illustrated with explicit computations and examples.
On the Use of Certain Properties of Stiffness Matrices in Finite Element Methods

The stiffness matrices encountered in the analysis of elastic systems using finite element methods possess certain properties the use of which in the solution procedures reduces the computer time and increases the accuracy of the results. The presentation places emphasis on the application of the theory to skeletal systems using one dimensional elements. Reference, however, has been made to two and three dimensional finite elements.
Acquisition and Retention of Response Patterns in Compound Classical Conditioning

The acquisition and long-term retention of overt response patterns were recorded during compound conditioning with mice. A 10-sec light + tone compound was terminated by a food pellet unconditioned stimulus, with the subject’s relative location tracked by computer during control and stimulus intervals. Compound conditioning elicited a variety of response patterns, including uniformly brief orienting responses to the localized light and tone intermixed with variable duration responses to the food cup. The response patterns resulted in both a complementary inhibition and a sequential dependence between responses that remained relatively stable for 120 to 180 days following initial conditioning. The compound conditioned stimuli elicited a molecular or within-trial “overshadowing” effect, with food cup responses differentially dependent upon the prior occurrence of orienting responses to either the light or tone. Both the concurrent inhibition and sequential elicitation of responses in Pavlovian conditioning are consistent with previous analyses of response patterns in experimental schedules.
High circulating adiponectin level is associated with poor clinical outcome after catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Aims Circulating adiponectin is known to have anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the predictive value of adiponectin in cardiovascular disease has been reported to be contradictory ('adiponectin paradox') and its relationship with atrial fibrillation (AF) is controversial. We hypothesized that pre-procedural plasma level of adiponectin would have prognostic value in patients who underwent AF catheter ablation. Methods and results This observational cohort study included 874 patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) (73.0% male, mean age 57.6 ± 11.2 years) who underwent catheter ablation. Quartile analyses of plasma level of adiponectin were performed to determine AF-related clinical factors. Patients in the highest quartile of plasma adiponectin were more likely to be older (P < 0.001), female (P < 0.001), and have a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score (P < 0.001) than patients in the other three quartiles. Plasma level of adiponectin was independently associated with female gender (B 2.92 [1.84∼4.00], P < 0.001), older age (B 0.06 [0.03∼0.10], P < 0.001), lower body mass index (B - 0.22 [-0.42∼-0.03], P = 0.025), and greater LA volume index (B 0.05 [0.01∼0.08], P = 0.005). During the 29.9 ± 18.0 months of follow-up, plasma adiponectin level (HR 1.17 [1.02∼1.35], P = 0.022) was independently associated with clinical recurrence of AF, and the clinical recurrence rate was significantly higher in the highest quartile of adiponectin group than the others (log rank P = 0.029), especially in age <65 years (log rank P = 0.038), but not in age ≥65. Conclusion High circulating adiponectin is independently associated with AF recurrence after catheter ablation for PAF, especially younger than 65 years old.
Visual and Multi-modal In-vehicle Collision Warnings

In-vehicle forward collision warnings (FCWs) can be presented in visual, auditory or tactile modalities. Across several experiments, unimodal and bimodal warning combinations were compared. Audiovisual and visuotactile FCWs hold promise for improving traffic safety.
Randomized trial comparing the Franseen and Fork-tip needles for EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy sampling of solid pancreatic mass lesions

Background and Aims Recently, a 3-plane symmetric needle with Franseen geometry and a Fork-tip biopsy needle have been developed for histologic tissue procurement. We compared 22-gauge Franseen and 22-gauge Fork-tip needles in patients undergoing EUS-guided sampling of pancreatic masses. Methods Fifty patients underwent sampling using both 22-gauge Franseen and 22-gauge Fork-tip needles, with randomization of needle order. Two dedicated passes were performed using both needles for cell block. Subsequent passes were performed for rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE) using both needles alternately until diagnosis was established. The main outcome was to evaluate for histologic core tissue by comparing area of total tissue, tumor, desmoplastic fibrosis, and rate of retained tissue architecture between cohorts. Other outcomes were rates of diagnostic cell block and diagnostic adequacy at ROSE. Results Final diagnosis was pancreatic cancer in 44 patients, neuroendocrine tumor in 2, lymphoma in 1, and chronic pancreatitis in 3. There was no significant difference in area of total tissue (median 6.1 [interquartie range {IQR}, 3.5-10.5] vs 8.2 mm 2 [IQR, 4.0-13.0], P = .50), tumor (median .9 [IQR .3-2.8] vs 1.0 mm 2 [IQR .4-2.7], P = .33), desmoplastic fibrosis (median 4.3 [IQR, 2.0-6.7] vs 5.2 mm 2 [IQR, 1.7-6.1], P = .71), retained architecture (100% vs 83%, P = .25), diagnostic cell block (96.0% vs 92.0%, P = .32), and diagnostic adequacy at ROSE (94.0% vs 98.0%, P = .32) between Franseen and Fork-tip needles, respectively. Conclusions There was no significant difference between Franseen and Fork-tip needles in yielding histologic tissue. Given their ability to yield diagnostic cell block in greater than 90% of patients, the new-generation fine-needle biopsy needles may obviate the need for ROSE. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT02910960.)
The N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP) Effect in Iron-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling with Simple Ferric Salts and MeMgBr.

The use of N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) as a co-solvent in ferric salt catalyzed cross-coupling reactions is crucial for achieving the highly selective, preparative scale formation of cross-coupled product in reactions utilizing alkyl Grignard reagents. Despite the critical importance of NMP, the molecular level effect of NMP on in situ formed and reactive iron species that enables effective catalysis remains undefined. Herein, we report the isolation and characterization of a novel trimethyliron(II) ferrate species, [Mg(NMP)6 ][FeMe3 ]2 (1), which forms as the major iron species in situ in reactions of Fe(acac)3 and MeMgBr under catalytically relevant conditions where NMP is employed as a co-solvent. Importantly, combined GC analysis and 57 Fe Mossbauer spectroscopic studies identified 1 as a highly reactive iron species for the selective formation generating cross-coupled product. These studies demonstrate that NMP does not directly interact with iron as a ligand in catalysis but, alternatively, interacts with the magnesium cations to preferentially stabilize the formation of 1 over [Fe8 Me12 ]- cluster generation, which occurs in the absence of NMP.
Association of Clinical Outcomes With Surgical Repair of Hip Fracture vs Nonsurgical Management in Nursing Home Residents With Advanced Dementia.

Importance The decision whether to surgically repair a hip fracture in nursing home (NH) residents with advanced dementia can be challenging. Objective To compare outcomes, including survival, among NH residents with advanced dementia and hip fracture according to whether they underwent surgical hip fracture repair. Design, Setting, and Participants We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 3083 NH residents with advanced dementia and hip fracture, but not enrolled in hospice care, using nationwide Medicare claims data linked with Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2013. Methods Residents with advanced dementia were identified using the MDS. Medicare claims were used to identify hip fracture and to determine whether the fracture was managed surgically. Survival between surgical and nonsurgical residents was compared using multivariable Cox proportional hazards with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). All analyses took place between November 2015 and January 2018. Among 6-month survivors, documented pain, antipsychotic drug use, physical restraint use, pressure ulcers, and ambulatory status were compared between surgical and nonsurgical groups. Results Among 3083 residents with advanced dementia and hip fracture (mean age, 84.2 years; 79.2% female [n = 2441], 28.5% ambulatory [n = 879]), 2615 (84.8%) underwent surgical repair. By 6-month follow-up, 31.5% (n = 824) and 53.8% (n = 252) of surgically and nonsurgically managed residents died, respectively. After IPTW modeling, surgically managed residents were less likely to die than residents without surgery (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79-0.98). Among 2007 residents who survived 6 months, residents with surgical vs nonsurgical management had less docmented pain (29.0% [n = 465] vs 30.9% [n = 59]) and fewer pressure ulcers (11.2% [n = 200] vs 19.0% [n = 41]). In IPTW models, surgically managed residents reported less pain (aHR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.61-0.99) and pressure ulcers (aHR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.47-0.86). There was no difference between antipsychotic drug use and physical restraint use between the groups. Few survivors remained ambulatory (10.7% [n = 55] of surgically managed vs 4.8% [n = 1] without surgery). Conclusions and Relevance Surgical repair of a hip fracture was associated with lower mortality among NH residents with advanced dementia and should be considered together with the residents’ goals of care in management decisions. Pain and other adverse outcomes were common regardless of surgical management, suggesting the need for broad improvements in the quality of care provided to NH residents with advanced dementia and hip fracture.
Is glycosylation of aquaporins important for their membrane localization in gray treefrogs

In freeze-tolerant Hyla chrysoscelis, cold acclimation and freezing involve accumulation of glycerol and distribution of glycerol and water among tissues and body fluids. Aquaporins, including HC-1...
Fragile Families and Family Law

Family law reforms concerning paternity, child support, illegitimacy, and domestic violence have helped fragile families over the past 50 years. Yet fragile families remain invisible to much of family law because historically lawmakers have focused on the problems of the middle and upper classes. Also, the law still enshrines some confining stereotypes, thus encouraging the poor to enter into unstable, dysfunctional relationships. Strengthening the culture of marriage in society and providing marriage skills training may help fragile families. This is the approach taken in a number of welfare reforms, including the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and President Bush’s marriage initiatives. Because the law performs channeling and expressive functions in addition to regulatory functions, these marriage initiatives may be judged a success insofar as they have changed the public discourse and raised concerns about marriage as a social good for the underprivileged. Finally, prevention may be more effective than cure when it comes to helping fragile families via the law.
Sources of Dietary Iodine in Industrialized Countries

People in developing countries, particularly in rural areas, obtain most of their iodine from local food sources. In contrast, food in industrial countries frequently comes from distant geographical areas and may be extensively altered by additives, processing, preservatives, and packaging. Also, people in industrialized countries consume variable amounts of supplements, tonics, and drugs, each of which may contain iodine. Thus, the major factors to consider in assessing dietary iodine intake are: (1) the “natural” iodine content of foods; (2) the iodine added in food processing; (3) the amount and type of food consumed; (4) iodine supplements, e.g., iodized salt and various medicinal tonics; and (5) other ingesta, e.g., iodine-containing medicines.
Evaluation of non-invasive biomonitoring of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in saliva.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential for non-invasive biomonitoring of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in saliva. Using an in vitro rat salivary gland epithelial cell (SGEC) system, a collection of experiments investigating chemical protein binding, temporal and directional transport, as well as competitive transport with para-aminohippuric acid (PAH), a substrate for renal organic anion transporters, was conducted to identify cellular transport parameters required to computationally model salivary transport of 2,4-D. Additionally, a physiological protein gradient was implemented to mimic physiologically relevant concentrations of protein in rat plasma and saliva, and under these conditions the transfer of 2,4-D was markedly slower, driven by increased protein binding (i.e. reduced free 2,4-D species available to cross salivary barrier). The rate of transfer was directly proportional to the amount of unbound 2,4-D and demonstrated no indication of active transport. An in vivo assessment of 2,4-D exposure in rats revealed non-linear protein binding in plasma, indicating saturated protein binding and increased levels of unbound 2,4-D species at higher doses. A strong correlation between 2,4-D concentrations in saliva and unbound 2,4-D in plasma was observed (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.95). Saliva:plasma 2,4-D ratios measured in vivo (0.0079) were consistent within the linear protein binding range and expected 2,4-D levels from occupational exposures but were significantly different than ratios measured in vitro (physiological conditions) (0.034), possibly due to 2,4-D concentrations in saliva not being at equilibrium with 2,4-D concentrations in blood, as well as physiological features absent in in vitro settings (e.g. blood flow). We demonstrated that 2,4-D is consistently transported into saliva using both in vitro and in vivo models, making 2,4-D a potential candidate for human non-invasive salivary biomonitoring. Further work is needed to understand whether current sensor limits of detection are sufficient to measure occupationally relevant exposures.