cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Originality and Technical Skill as Components of Artistic Quality

Artistic quality is often thought of in terms of two components: originality and technical skill. To examine the relations between these three constructs, 35 judges rated 72 drawings on 25 survey items related to quality, technical skill, and originality. Rasch statistical analysis revealed an underlying dimension of quality. Items related to both technical skill and originality loaded highly onto this dimension, indicating that both are components of quality. All three measures were strongly inter-correlated. Technical skill and originality jointly accounted for over 90% of the variance in quality. Despite a high correlation (r = .65), technical skill and originality can be distinguished in three ways: originality items fit the underlying quality dimension better than did technical skill items, originality was more difficult to achieve than technical, and the two kinds of items loaded with opposite valences on the first factor of a factor analysis.
BRAIDS AND MOVIES

Knotted surfaces in 4-space are described by sequences of classical braids. We provide a finite set of moves to such sequences of classical braid words such that two sequences represent the same knotting if and only if they are related by a sequence of moves in this set.
Supporting Democracy in the Former Soviet Union: Why the Impact of US Assistance Has Been Below Expectations

Recent studies find that US democracy assistance has helped build new democratic regimes across the globe. Nearly two decades of democracy assistance in the former Soviet Union (FSU), however, appear to have had a negligible impact on democracy in the region. This research uses a time-series cross-sectional statistical analysis to establish that US democracy assistance efforts in the FSU have failed to enhance democracy in the region. The incentives that FSU leaders had to misrepresent their commitment to democracy and the United States' understandable misperception of these leaders' actions help to explain this failure.
Finding minimal convex nested polygons

We consider the problem of finding a polygon nested between two given convex polygons that has a minimal number of vertices. Our main result is an O(nlogk) algorithm for solving the problem, where n is the total number of vertices of the given polygons, and k is the number of vertices of a minimal nested polygon. We also present an O(n) sub-optimal algorithm, and a simple O(nk) optimal algorithm.
Designed α-sheet peptides inhibit amyloid formation by targeting toxic oligomers

The build up of very thin fibres called amyloid fibrils is known to lead to more than 40 different human diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. These diseases involve soluble proteins or peptides joining other proteins or peptides to form the fibrils, which are not soluble. However, the damage is done by the time the fibrils form because soluble intermediate structures formed by the proteins and peptides are toxic. The development of methods that can detect these toxic intermediate structures could lead to earlier interventions before significant damage. Amyloid fibrils are known to have a beta-sheet structure that is found in many protein systems. In 2004, based on computer simulations, researchers predicted that proteins and peptides that go on to form amyloid fibrils would pass through a related but less stable structure called an alpha-sheet, and that this structure would be toxic. Now Hopping et al., including some of the researchers involved in the 2004 work, have confirmed that the alpha-sheet structure is indeed involved in the formation of amyloid fibrils. To do this Hopping et al. designed peptides with alpha-sheet structures that could bind to the alpha-sheet structures predicted by their simulations. When these complementary designed peptides were added to a solution of peptide that causes Alzheimer’s Disease, or a protein that causes systemic amyloid disease, the designed peptides bound the toxic peptides or proteins and prevented the formation of fibrils. The results of Hopping et al. suggest that designed alpha-sheet compounds might be able to capture peptides and proteins that are implicated in a wide variety of amyloid diseases, independent of their composition and native structure, by targeting the intermediate alpha-sheet structure. Future challenges include showing that most proteins and peptides pass through this intermediate structure as they form fibrils, and improving the sensitivity of the binding in the hope of developing diagnostics for amyloid diseases.
C Subunits Binding to the Protein Kinase A RIα Dimer Induce a Large Conformational Change

We present structural data on the RIα isoform of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A that reveal, for the first time, a large scale conformational change within the RIα homodimer upon catalytic subunit binding. This result infers that the inhibition of catalytic subunit activity is not the result of a simple docking process but rather is a multi-step process involving local conformational changes both in the cAMP-binding domains as well as in the linker region of the regulatory subunit that impact the global structure of the regulatory homodimer. The results were obtained using small-angle neutron scattering with contrast variation and deuterium labeling. From these experiments we derived information on the shapes and dispositions of the catalytic subunits and regulatory homodimer within a holoenzyme reconstituted with a deuterated regulatory subunit. The scattering data also show that, despite extensive sequence homology between the isoforms, the overall structure of the type Iα holoenzyme is significantly more compact than the type IIα isoform. We present a model of the type Iα holoenzyme, built using available high-resolution structures of the component subunits and domains, which best fits the neutron-scattering data. In this model, the type Iα holoenzyme forms a flattened V shape with the RIα dimerization domain at the point of the V and the cAMP-binding domains of the RIα subunits with their bound catalytic subunits at the ends.
Improving implicit communication in mixed human-robot teams with social force detection

One of the hallmarks of development is the transition of an agent from novice learner to able partner to experienced instructor. While most machine learning approaches focus on the first transition, we are interested in building an effective learning and development system that allows for the complete range of transitions to occur. In this paper, we present a mechanism enabling such transitions within the context of collaborative social tasks. We present a cooperative robot system capable of learning a hierarchical task execution from an experienced human user, collaborating safely with a knowledgeable human peer, and instructing a novice user based on the explicit inclusion of a feature within the planning and skill execution subsystems we've termed social force. We conclude with an evaluation of this feature's flexibility within a collaborative construction task, changing a robot's behaviors between student, peer, and instructor through simple manipulations of this feature's treatment within the planning subsystem.
A Strategy for Examining the Validity of Job Analysis Data

A strategy for examining the validity of job analysis inventory data is introduced. This strategy involves the testing of hypotheses regarding expected consistencies within the data, and between the data and independent sources of information. Although the purpose of the job analysis is to obtain an empirical description of work patterns, some relationships among the data can be predicted with a high degree of confidence, and these predictions can then be used to test the validity of the job analysis data. An example investigates the validity of data collected as part of a job analysis for nurses. Licensure examinations (e.g., teacher certification) involve high stakes decisions about new graduates seeking to enter the professions. Such examinations can therefore have a strong impact on the institutions that prepare these graduates as well as on the settings in which they subsequently work. Empirical job analyses support claims for the validity of score interpretations for licensure and certification examinations by linking the content domain of the test directly to what is done in practice. The chapter on licensure and certification examinations in the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, & National Council on Measurement in Education, 1985) states that, "a rationale should be provided to support a claim that the knowledge or skills being assessed are required for competent performance in an occupation" (p. 64) and that "Job analyses provide the primary basis for defining the content domain" (p. 64).
To keep them from injustice: Reflections on the care of unauthorized immigrants with cancer

Estimates from 2010 suggest that more than 11 million unauthorized immigrants reside in the United States. Many oncologists have struggled with how to fulfill their perceived obligation to treat unauthorized immigrant patients with cancer and no access to financial resources. Because of current realities in medical economics and reimbursement policies, there is simply not a large enough profit margin in most practices to offer free care to everyone who needs it. In this article, I attempt to clarify why we feel such an obligation to do so and whether the reasons behind this sense of obligation point us toward a consistent stance we should have toward unauthorized immigrant patients who seek treatment from us.
A state-space model of fatigue crack growth

This paper proposes a nonlinear dynamic model of fatigue crack growth in the state-space setting based on the crack closure concept under cyclic stress excitation of variable amplitude and random loading. The model state variables are the crack length and the crack opening stress. The state-space model is capable of capturing the effects of stress overload and underload on crack retardation and acceleration, and the model predictions are in fair agreement with experimental data on the 7075-T6 aluminum alloy. Furthermore, the state-space model recursively computes the crack opening stress via a simple functional relationship and does not require a stacked array of peaks and valleys of stress history for its execution; therefore, savings in both computation time and memory requirement are significant. As such, the state space model is suitable for real-time damage monitoring and control in operating machinery.
Inhibition of Hedgehog signaling sensitizes NSCLC cells to standard therapies through modulation of EMT-regulating miRNAs

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor- tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) benefit Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and an EGFR-TKIi erlotinib, is approved for patients with recurrent NSCLC. However, resistance to erlotinib is a major clinical problem. Earlier we have demonstrated the role of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling in Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal transition (EMT) of NSCLC cells, leading to increased proliferation and invasion. Here, we investigated the role of Hh signaling in erlotinib resistance of TGF-β1-induced NSCLC cells that are reminiscent of EMT cells. Methods: Hh signaling was inhibited by specific siRNA and by GDC-0449, a small molecule antagonist of G protein coupled receptor smoothened in the Hh pathway. Not all NSCLC patients are likely to benefit from EGFR-TKIs and, therefore, cisplatin was used to further demonstrate a role of inhibition of Hh signaling in sensitization of resistant EMT cells. Specific pre- and anti-miRNA preparations were used to study the mechanistic involvement of miRNAs in drug resistance mechanism. Results: siRNA-mediated inhibition as well as pharmacological inhibition of Hh signaling abrogated resistance of NSCLC cells to erlotinib and cisplatin. It also resulted in re-sensitization of TGF-β1-induced A549 (A549M) cells as well the mesenchymal phenotypic H1299 cells to erlotinib and cisplatin treatment with concomitant up-regulation of cancer stem cell (CSC) markers (Sox2, Nanog and EpCAM) and down-regulation of miR-200 and let-7 family miRNAs. Ectopic up-regulation of miRNAs, especially miR-200b and let-7c, significantly diminished the erlotinib resistance of A549M cells. Inhibition of Hh signaling by GDC-0449 in EMT cells resulted in the attenuation of CSC markers and up-regulation of miR-200b and let-7c, leading to sensitization of EMT cells to drug treatment, thus, confirming a connection between Hh signaling, miRNAs and drug resistance. Conclusions: We demonstrate that Hh pathway, through EMT-induction, leads to reduced sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs in NSCLCs. Therefore, targeting Hh pathway may lead to the reversal of EMT phenotype and improve the therapeutic efficacy of EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC patients.
A combination optimisation method for the estimation of material parameters for viscoelastic solids

In the current work, we propose a two-step optimisation method to determine the coefficients of the Prony series expansion for a viscoelastic constitutive model by combining the benefits of particle swarm optimisation and linear least square solver. The entire fitting progress is decoupled and divided into two portions. Each optimisation approach is used for obtaining one set of parameters. This method overcomes the usual difficulties of original function determinations and could find the global optimal solution with a high precision. The quality of the developed method is verified by three examples on both time-domain and frequency-domain experimental data. Simulation results are consistent with corresponding experimental data, showing that the new technique is valid and applicable for estimating structural properties of viscoelastic materials.
Spray-Freezing Freeze Substitution (SFFS) of Cell Suspensions for Improved Preservation of Ultrastructure

Some unicellular organisms present challenges to chemical fixations that lead to common, yet obvious, artifacts. These can be avoided in entirety by adapting spray-freezing technology to ultrarapidly freeze specimens for freeze substitution. To freeze specimens, concen- trated suspensions of cells ranging in diameter from 0.5-30 µm were sprayed with an airbrush at 140-200 kPa (1.05-1.5 torr; 20.3-29.0 psi) into a nylon mesh transfer basket submerged in liquid propane.After freezing, the mesh basket containing the frozen sample was lifted out of the chamber, drained and transferred through several anhydrous acetone rinses at 188 K (285°C). Freeze substitution was conducted in 1% tannic acid/1% anhydrous glutaraldehyde in acetone at 188 K (285°C), followed by 1% OsO4/acetone at 277 K (4°C). Freeze substitution was facilitated using a shaking table to provide gentle mixing of the substitution medium on dry ice. High quality freezing was observed in 70% of spray-frozen dinoflagellate cells and in 95% of spray-frozen cyanobacterial cells. These could be infiltrated and observed directly; however, overall ultrastructural appearance and membrane contrast were improved when the freeze-substituted cells were rehydrated and post-fixed in aqueous OsO4, then dehydrated and embedded in either Spurr's or Epon resin. Ultrastructural preservation using this ultrarapid freezing method provided specimens that were consistently superior to those obtainable in even the best comparable chemical fixations. Microsc. Res. Tech. 38:315-328, 1997. r 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Gordon Wilson Lecture. Lessons about the control of glucose homeostasis and the pathogenesis of diabetes from knockout mice.

Abstract The painstaking process of generating constitutive and conditional knockout mice has paid off handsomely. The roles of the insulin receptor and its intracellular substrates in insulin action has been established and begun to shed light onto some of the proteins less obvious functions. We have learned how genetic predisposition plays itself out in the oligogenic and heterogeneous pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and how the balance of proteins can affect the efficiency of signaling both positively and negatively. The IRS knockout mice have taught us how these proteins provide unique and complementary signals in insulin action. From the tissue specific knockouts we have learned that [figure: see text] different tissues contribute uniquely to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, but not always in the predicted way; that insulin resistance at different levels in the same tissue may produce different phenotypes; that tissues possess mechanisms of communication such that resistance in one tissue affects insulin signaling or metabolism in others; and that insulin has important effects in tissues not previously considered insulin responsive, including the brain and beta-cells. The result of this work has led us to develop new hypotheses about the nature of the insulin action network.
High-bandwidth optical tomography

Optical tomography has recently demonstrated the potential for deep imaging of tissue oxygenation and blood volume, non- invasively, using relatively simple and inexpensive instrumentation. Prior demonstrations of this form of tomography have relied on scanning and data collecting methods limited to imaging bandwidths of Hz or slower. Here we report on an approach that significantly accelerates the imaging rate of optical tomographs based on time-domain methods to well beyond the kHz range. Such high bandwidths are critical for extending the capabilities of optical tomographs to include deep imaging of blood flow and neural activity.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A comparison of two disturbance reduction methods for discrete time systems

A comparison is made between disturbance accommodation control (DAC) and model reference control (MRC) with regard to their effectiveness in reducing the effects of certain known waveform-type disturbances acting on linear systems. Simulation results are presented. From these results, it appears that MRC's performance is better than that of DAC. DAC seems to be easier than MRC to apply; this conclusion is based on the difficulty of manipulating the external disturbances into the DARMA (deterministic autoregressive moving average) system model. >
The D-SCRIBE Process for Building a Scalable Ontology

In this paper, we describe the D-SCRIBE process used to build ontologies that are expected to have significant domain expansion after their initial introduction and whose coverage of concepts needs to be validated for a series of related applications. This process has been used to build SCRIBE, a very modular, ambitious ontology for the information about events triggered by both humans or nature, response activities by agencies that provide public services in cities by using resources and assets (land parcels, buildings, vehicles, equipment) and their communication (requests, work orders, sensor reports). SCRIBE reuses concepts from previously existing ontologies and data exchange standards, and D-SCRIBE retains traceability to these source influences.
Cellular Systems for Studying Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas

The human oral squamous epithelium plays an important role in maintaining a barrier function against mechanical, physical, and pathological injury. However, the self-renewing cells residing on the basement membrane of the epithelium can give rise to oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), now the sixth most common cancer in the developed world, which is still associated with poor prognosis. This is due, in part, to the limited availability of well-defined culture systems for studying oral epithelial cell biology, which could advance our understanding of the molecular basis of OSCC. Here, we describe methods to successfully isolate large cultures of human oral epithelial cells and fibroblasts from small pieces of donor tissues for use in techniques such as three-dimensional cultures and animal grafts to validate genes suspected of playing a role in OSCC development and progression. Finally, the use of isolated oral epithelial cells in generating iPS cells is discussed which holds promise in the field of oral regenerative medicine.
Abdominal and Gastrointestinal Emergencies

Abdominal pain remains one of the most common reasons for an acute visit to a health care professional. While many patients will not receive a specific diagnosis as the cause of their symptoms, a systematic approach to each patient is imperative as life-threatening processes present with gastrointestinal complaints. In this issue of Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, we have brought together a group of articles that provides such a systematic approach. Many of us approach the abdomen in an anatomic fashion, considering the abdomen as a series of interconnected boxes that house unique disease pathology with localizing symptoms. This issue has articles divided in just such a manner. In addition, we have dedicated articles to common symptom presentations, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or gastrointestinal hemorrhage. As previously mentioned, the abdomen houses a number of life-threatening conditions. One article delves into the vascular catastrophes, those conditions that require action that is measured in minutes rather than hours or days. Special populations are discussed as well, including pediatric patients, geriatric patients, immunocompromised patients, and those patients that have undergone bariatric surgery. Today’s expert clinicians are expected to practice medicine in an evidence-based fashion. With this thought in mind, we have added an article on the evidence-based approach to a patient with abdominal pain. Keeping in mind the age-old adage that “the diaphragm is not a brick wall,” we have also included an article on nonabdominal causes of abdominal pain. It has been our privilege assembling this talented group of authors. We have learned a tremendous amount through their efforts, and it is our hope that you will as well.
Synthetic Approaches To Obtain Amino Acid Adducts of 4,4′-Methylenediphenyl Diisocyanate

4,4′-Methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) is the most important isocyanate used in the chemical industry. Lung sensitization and asthma are the main types of damage after exposure to MDI. Albumin a...
Withanolide artifacts formed in methanol.

Methanol solutions of the main withanolides (6–8) naturally present in Physalis longifolia yielded five artificial withanolides (1–5), including three new compounds (1–3). Withanolides 1 and 2 were...
POD based models of self-sustained oscillations in the flow past an open cavity

The goal of this work is to provide accurate dynamical models of oscillations in the flow past a rectangular cavity, for the purpose of bifurcation analysis and control. We have performed an extensive set of direct numerical simulations which provide the data used to derive and evaluate the models. Based on the method of Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) and Galerkin projection, we obtain low-order models (from 6 to 60 states) which capture the dynamics very accurately over a few periods of oscillation, but deviate for long time.
Modeling the Moisture Content of a Pharmaceutical Tablet in a Blister Package by Finite Difference Method: Program Development:

A simulation model to estimate the moisture content of a blister-packaged, moisture-sensitive pharmaceutical tablet was developed. The model was based on the unsteady state mass transfer of water between the package, the tablet, and external environment at constant temperature. The product's moisture content as well as that of the packaging material were given as a function of storage time, environmental conditions (temperature and humidity), and package design parameters (material, area, and thickness). A computer program was written to solve the equations using the finite difference method. Computer results are presented for several values of diffusion coefficient, solubility of water in the packaging material, and diffusion coefficient of water in the tablet.
Current Status and Trend of US Military UA Communication System

Unmanned aircraft(UA)communication system is one of the vitally important factors affecting the efficiency of unmanned aircraft system( UAS).Tracking the current status and evolving trend of the US military UA communication system can provide reference for the development of domestic UA communication system.Starting from the history of US military UA communication system,this paper describes in detail the current status of some representative UA communication systems,then analyzes and summarizes the typical configurations,functions and characteristics of these systems.Finally,the developing trend of US military UA communication system is predicted.The author hopes that this paper could offer some references for those engaged in UAV communication field.
Holocaust Child Survivors' Memoirs as Reflected in Appelfeld's The Story of a Life

In her article "Holocaust Child Survivors' Memoirs as Reflected in Appelfeld's The Story of a Life" Dana Mihailescu identifies characteristics of child survivors' memoirs in Aharon Appelfeld's writing. Mihailescu addresses the following main question: is the structure of child survivors' memoirs similar to that of Holocaust memoirs written by adult survivors or is there a tendency to focus on certain aspects given the young age some had at the time? Mihailescu argues that unlike regular autobiographies by Holocaust adult survivors, child survivors' memoirs are less constructed around factual events of private and public relevance and that they concentrate instead on deeply-entrenched sensations and the imminence of the death of parents and loss children experienced during World War II. Further, Mihailescu argues that it is important to recognize that in the case of a child survivor turned author like Appelfeld, the act of deferred mourning is inscribed in the technique of memoir construction via the continuous interruption of straightforward chronological organization. Dana Mihailescu, "Holocaust Child Survivors' Memoirs as Reflected in Appelfeld's The Story of a Life" page 2 of 7 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 17.3 (2015): Thematic Issue Life Writing and the Trauma of War. Ed. Louise O. Vasvari and I-Chun Wang
Quantitation of 25-OH-Vitamin D (25OHD) Using Liquid Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS-MS)

25-OH-vitamin D (25OHD) is ordered and interpreted clinically in light of calcium balance and homeostasis. Various methodologies including immunoassay and chromatography are described for the measurement of 25OHD in biological fluids. It is well reported that all existing methods are challenging and require a high level of technical expertise. While this is also true of the methods using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS), the technique is gaining favor in various laboratories because it offers advantages of greatly improved specificity and sensitivity.
Immunologic and biologic activity of oxytocin in midtrimester pregnancy

Immunologic and biologic activity of oxytocin (OT) were studied by simultaneous monitoring of plasma OT measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and uterine contractility measured by recording of intrauterine pressures during the step-up rate of infusion of synthetic OT. The results in 11 patients with midtrimester pregnancy and step-up increase of OT infusion by 20 mU. showed a positive correlation of the increase of plasma OT and uterine contractility only at the plasma OT levels of 20 to 60 μU. per milliliter and only with hypertonic contractility but no correlation at plasma levels below and above this range. The lack of correlation of “dose and response” either prior to OT infusion or during low or very high rate of infusion suggests that other factors than merely the quantity of plasma OT are involved in determining the degree of uterine response.
Contingent Labeling after Infants' Pointing Helps Infants Learn Words.

Previous studies provide suggestive evidence that infants’ pointing gesture is associated with language development, but cannot verify a causal role of pointing in word learning. The present study thus experimentally manipulated infants’ production of pointing, and responses to pointing, to investigate the role of pointing in infants’ performance of forming novel word-object associations. Sixteen-month-olds were introduced to pairs of novel objects, and then heard the labels after they had pointed to an object, or when they were just looking at it, or at a predetermined time schedule. Results showed that children learned the labels the best when the labels were provided contingently after their pointing gesture. These results suggest that offering information in response to infants’ pointing gestures may lead to better word learning.
Ammoniagenesis by cultured human renal cortical epithelial cells: study with 15N

The metabolic fate of 15N-labeled glutamine and glutamate in cultured human renal cortical epithelial cells was investigated. The main goal was to elucidate the major pathways of ammoniagenesis depending on varying H+ concentration. Incubations at pH 7.4 or 6.8 were conducted with either 1 mM [5-15N]glutamine, [2-15N]glutamine, [15N]glutamate, or L-[2-15N]-gamma-glutamylmethylamide. The results demonstrate that acute acidosis had little effect on total ammonia generation from glutamine. However, 15NH3 formation from [5-15N]glutamine was significantly higher at pH 7.4 compared with pH 6.8. Conversely, at pH 6.8, 15NH3 production from either [2-15N]-glutamine or [15N]glutamate was twofold higher than at pH 7.4. Thus the observations indicate that acute acidosis had little effect on net ammonia production from glutamine due to decreased flux through glutaminase and concomitant increased flux through glutamate dehydrogenase. When L-[2-15N]-gamma-glutamylmethylamide was utilized as the sole substrate, signific...
Role of Relative Stability in Self-Repair and Self-Maintenance

This chapter opens with a discussion of relative stability, from the point of view of the physics of information storage. Bistable elements that store information are of two kinds: (1) static devices with performance resembling that of particles occupying either one of several energy (potential) wells in a field; (2) dynamic systems consisting of structures that by energy conversions and dissipations hold one of several possible steady states. The latter, dynamic type is examined here.
Caught in the Web of Words

I have two goals in this paper. The first speaks directly to the comparative vision underlying this volume and is relatively clear cut: to delineate several central themes in everyday theories of emotional experience in a rural Fiji Indian conmmnunity. These ethnopsychological views contrast strikingly with conventional western perspectives. Highlighting the interpersonal dimensions of emotional practice, Bhatgaon villagers downplay the role of the individual’s inner life, focusing rather upon those social events in which shared feelings are jointly engendered. While purely personal experience is not denied, it is clearly seen as secondary and in some ways fortuitous. My contribution in this regard will fill the common anthropological role of providing a comparative test case: how might a more general theory of the emotions take account of and respond to a particular and quite different local theory?
Cardiac Mitochondrial Respiratory Dysfunction and Tissue Damage in Chronic Hyperglycemia Correlate with Reduced Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-2 Activity.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) 2 is a mitochondrial isozyme of the heart involved in the metabolism of toxic aldehydes produced from oxidative stress. We hypothesized that hyperglycemia-mediated decrease in ALDH2 activity may impair mitochondrial respiration and ultimately result in cardiac damage. A single dose (65 mg/kg; i.p.) streptozotocin injection to rats resulted in hyperglycemia with blood glucose levels of 443 ± 9 mg/dl versus 121 ± 7 mg/dl in control animals, p<0.0001, N = 7–11. After 6 months of diabetes mellitus (DM) induction, the rats were sacrificed after recording the functionality of their hearts. Increase in the cardiomyocyte cross sectional area (446 ± 32 μm2 Vs 221 ± 10 μm2; p<0.0001) indicated cardiac hypertrophy in DM rats. Both diastolic and systolic dysfunctions were observed with DM rats compared to controls. Most importantly, myocardial ALDH2 activity and levels were reduced, and immunostaining for 4HNE protein adducts was increased in DM hearts compared to controls. The mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR), an index of mitochondrial respiration, was decreased in mitochondria isolated from DM hearts compared to controls (p<0.0001). Furthermore, the rate of mitochondrial respiration and the increase in carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP)-induced maximal respiration were also decreased with chronic hyperglycemia. Chronic hyperglycemia reduced mitochondrial OXPHOS proteins. Reduced ALDH2 activity was correlated with mitochondrial dysfunction, pathological remodeling and cardiac dysfunction, respectively. Our results suggest that chronic hyperglycemia reduces ALDH2 activity, leading to mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction and consequently cardiac damage and dysfunction.
USE OF THE POSTERIOR PREDICTIVE DISTRIBUTION AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL FOR MIXED MODELS

The posterior predictive distribution (the distribution of data simulated from a model) has been used to flag model-data discrepancies in the Bayesian literature, and several approaches have been developed. The approach taken here differs from the others both conceptually and as realized. It works by comparing the "distance" between the data and model (as represented by pseudo-data simulated from a model) with "distance" within the model. The distance within the model is calculated by generating pseudo-data from it, using each set of these pseudo-data to reestimate the model, and then generating pseudo-data from them, matching the way the original data are used to generate pseudo-data. "Distances" are calculated as the log of sums-of-squares, following ranking, and the test from comparing a mean distance to a distribution of mean distances. The power of this method compares favorably with those of standard methods, e.g. ttests, but it is more general since it can be used for most models in the GLMM framework, whether estimated using traditional or Bayesian methods. A new kind of plot, where the distribution of the ranked pseudo-data is compared to the original data at each ranked datum, is useful for determining the region of the data where the model fails.
89. Expanding the Toolkit of Protease-Activatable Viruses to Optimize Their Versatility and Efficiency

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has emerged as a promising gene delivery vector because of its non-pathogenicity, simple structure and genome, and low immunogenicity compared to other viral vectors. However, its wide adoption as a safe and effective gene therapy treatment for disease may rely on targeting the vector to deliver transgenes to desired cell populations. To this end, our group has developed a protease-activatable virus (PAV) based on AAV that responds to elevated protease activity commonly found in many diseased tissue microenvironments. Small peptide “locks” were inserted into the viral capsid near its primary receptor binding domain, interfering with the virus-cell receptor interaction and preventing binding and transduction. The peptide locks are flanked by two proteolytically cleavable peptides, which are cleaved off in the presence of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), restoring virus-receptor interaction and allowing transduction to resume. Cleavage sequences were chosen from literature based on well-characterized linear peptide substrates. Initial testing demonstrated the desired MMP-activated cellular binding and transduction behavior, but it was discovered that cleavage efficiency and transduction activity of the PAV variants were uncorrelated with the reported specificity constants of the cleavage sequences. We therefore devised several ways to tune the sensitivity and specificity of our PAV. For example, by controlling the ratio of wild type to MMP-activatable protein subunits in the self-assembling 60-mer capsid, we can modulate the level of transduction achieved by the PAVs to attain targeted gene delivery to a range of human pathologies. A new lock format was also designed to allow for more predictable kinetics. This new “linearizable” lock format is modified by replacing one of the two flanking MMP cleavage motifs with the enterokinase cleavage motif, DDDDK, on the C-terminal side of the lock. When the enterokinase-linearized PAVs (ePAVs) are pretreated with enterokinase, the peptide locks are cleaved on one side, allowing the peptides to assume a more flexible conformation protruding from the capsid. The newly linearized peptide locks are cleaved with greater efficiency and kinetics that more closely correlate with expected activity. The PAV platform was also expanded into several AAV serotypes to allow for more diverse clinical applications. Our PAVs have demonstrated targeted delivery to several cancer models, including ovarian and pancreatic cancers, as well as ischemic tissue resulting from myocardial infarction.
Comment on "Magnetotransport signatures of a single nodal electron pocket constructed from Fermi arcs"

We comment on the recent work [N. Harrison, \textit{et al.} Phys. Rev. B {\bf 92}, 224505 (2015)] which attempts to explain the sign reversal and quantum oscillations of the Hall coefficient observed in cuprates from a single nodal diamond-shaped electron pocket with concave arc segments. Given the importance of this work, it calls for a closer scrutiny. Their conclusion of sign reversal of the Hall coefficient depends on a non-generic rounding of the sharp vertices. Moreover, their demonstration of quantum oscillation in the Hall coefficient from a single pocket is unconvincing. We maintain that at least two pockets with different scattering rates is necessary to explain the observed quantum oscillations of the Hall coefficient.
Nano-Photoelectrochemical Cell Arrays with Spatially Isolated Oxidation and Reduction Channels

Photoelectrochemical conversion of solar energy is explored for many diverse applications but suffers from poor efficiencies due to limited solar absorption, inadequate charge carrier separation, redox half-reactions occurring in close proximity, and/or long ion diffusion lengths. We have taken a drastically different approach to the design of photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) to spatially isolate reaction sites at the nanoscale to different materials and flow channels, suppressing carrier recombination and back-reaction of intermediates while shortening ion diffusion paths and, importantly, avoiding mixed product generation. We developed massively parallel nano-PECs composed of an array of open-ended carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with photoanodic reactions occurring on the outer walls, uniformly coated with titanium dioxide (TiO2), and photocathodic reactions occurring on the inner walls, decorated with platinum (Pt). We verified the redox reaction isolation by demonstrating selective photodeposition of mangan...
Endothelial Dimethylarginine Dimethylaminohydrolase 1 Is an Important Regulator of Angiogenesis but Does Not Regulate Vascular Reactivity or Hemodynamic Homeostasis

Background—Asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) enzymes are responsible for ADMA breakdown. It has been reported that endothelial DDAH1 accounts for the majority of ADMA metabolism. However, we and others have shown strong DDAH1 expression in a range of nonendothelial cell types, suggesting that the endothelium is not the only site of metabolism. We have developed a new endothelium-specific DDAH1 knockout mouse (DDAH1En−/−) to investigate the significance of endothelial ADMA in cardiovascular homeostasis. Methods and Results—DDAH1 deletion in the DDAH1En−/− mouse was mediated by Tie-2 driven Cre expression. DDAH1 deletion was confirmed through immunocytochemistry, whereas Western blotting showed that DDAH1 remained in the kidney and liver, confirming expression in nonendothelial cells. Plasma ADMA was unchanged in DDAH1En−/− mice, and cultured aortas released am...
Impact of linear correlation on construction project performance using stochastic linear scheduling

In the construction industry, the productivity of all trades is directly impacted by uncertainty and variability. For repetitive projects, smooth work flow of productive resources is necessary to minimize or eliminate interruptions and idle time with the objective of reducing costs. An ideal or near optimal solution requires careful planning of the sequence, timing and resource allocations for each activity. Earlier research has demonstrated that uncertainty in the duration of repeated activities can have a significant impact on what is determined to be the optimum project plan. This suggests that correlation in the duration of repeated activities (where durations are stochastic) may also be important in determining the most favorable plan. This study assesses the significance of correlation in this respect, using a Linear Scheduling framework for modeling repetitive construction work. Numerical and graphical results are used in a case study to evaluate and compare the optimal solution derived for both deterministic and stochastic environments. For the stochastic environment, a range of levels of correlation are considered using linear correlation between immediate successor repetitions of an activity. The results provide insight into the effects of different degrees of correlation on the expected project duration, cost, crew and equipment idle times and interruptions. The correlation level has effects that translate into performance tradeoffs depending on the initial plan assumptions applied to the activities. The impact of full correlation on the optimality of a project plan was found, on average, to introduce idle time to crews equal to 7% of their active time, and to cause avoidable delays to the completion of a project equal to 12% of the project duration. The authors believe these inefficiencies justify further investigation of the impact of correlation on construction projects, including the development of more sophisticated models of correlation.
Navigating high-risk surgery: protocol for a multisite, stepped wedge, cluster-randomised trial of a question prompt list intervention to empower older adults to ask questions that inform treatment decisions

Introduction Older patients frequently undergo operations that carry high risk for postoperative complications and death. Poor preoperative communication between patients and surgeons can lead to uninformed decisions and result in unexpected outcomes, conflict between surgeons and patients, and treatment inconsistent with patient preferences. This article describes the protocol for a multisite, cluster-randomised trial that uses a stepped wedge design to test a patient-driven question prompt list (QPL) intervention aimed to improve preoperative decision making and inform postoperative expectations. Methods and analysis This Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute-funded trial will be conducted at five academic medical centres in the USA. Study participants include surgeons who routinely perform vascular or oncological surgery, their patients and families. We aim to enrol 40 surgeons and 480 patients over 24 months. Patients age 65 or older who see a study-enrolled surgeon to discuss a vascular or oncological problem that could be treated with high-risk surgery will be enrolled at their clinic visit. Together with stakeholders, we developed a QPL intervention addressing preoperative communication needs of patients considering major surgery. Guided by the theories of self-determination and relational autonomy, this intervention is designed to increase patient activation. Patients will receive the QPL brochure and a letter from their surgeon encouraging its use. Using audio recordings of the outpatient surgical consultation, patient and family member questionnaires administered at three time points and retrospective chart review, we will compare the effectiveness of the QPL intervention to usual care with respect to the following primary outcomes: patient engagement in decision making, psychological well-being and post-treatment regret for patients and families, and interpersonal and intrapersonal conflict relating to treatment decisions and treatments received. Ethics and dissemination Approvals have been granted by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Wisconsin and at each participating site, and a Certificate of Confidentiality has been obtained. Results will be reported in peer-reviewed publications and presented at national meetings. Trial registration number NCT02623335.
Preoperative Right-Sided Cardiac Congestion Is Associated with Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients with Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Large scale data on preoperative risk stratification for gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) following continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation are scarce. To identify independent predictors for GIB following CF-LVAD implantation. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive 243 patients who underwent CF-LVAD implantation (HeartMateII) from January 2009 to March 2015 at the University of Chicago Medical Center. GIB was defined as the presence of overt bleeding or occult GIB with ≥ 2 g/dl drop in hemoglobin (Hgb) from recorded baseline values and hemoccult-positive stool. The preoperative and postoperative data were reviewed. Within a median follow-up duration of 408 (IQR 113–954) days, 83 (34%) patients developed GIB after a median of 149 (IQR 27–615) days after implantation of CF-LVAD. There were no significant differences between the groups of GIB and non-GIB with respect to preoperative demographics and comorbidity except for ethnicity. The source of bleeding was identified in 39 (47%) patients and arteriovenous malformation or submucosal streaming vessel was the most frequent cause of bleeding (18/39, 46%). Multivariate-adjusted analysis demonstrated preoperative central venous pressure (CVP) ≥ 18 mmHg (HR 3.56; 95% CI 1.16–10.9; p = 0.026), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPA) ≥ 36 mmHg (HR 4.14; 95% CI 1.35–12.7; p = 0.013), and the presence of moderate/severe tricuspid valve disease (HR 1.01; 95% CI 1.01–3.86; p = 0.046) were associated with the risk of GIB. In this study, preoperative right-sided cardiac congestion (i.e., increased CVP, mPA and the presence of moderate/severe tricuspid valve disease) was associated with GIB in patients with CF-LVAD.
Redoing Gender, Redoing Religion:

This article advances a critical gender lens on the sociology of religion by arguing that “doing gender” and “doing religion” function as intertwined systems of accountability. To demonstrate the i...
CRITICAL DYNAMICS IN CLUSTER-CLUSTER AGGREGATION

A scaling theory is presented for the model of cluster growth by diffusion-limited aggregation of clusters. The cluster size distribution n s (t) is studied as a function of the cluster size s and the time t. A dynamic scaling function of the form n S ( t ) ~ t − w s − τ f ( s / t z ) , is proposed and is shown to lead to the scaling relation w = (2-τ) z between the static critical exponent τ and the dynamic exponents w and z. Two dimensional Monte-Carlo simulation results for a size-independent cluster diffusivity support this scaling law.
Representing sex workers in video games: feminisms, fantasies of exceptionalism, and the value of erotic labor

This article critiques the representation of sex workers in “AAA” video games, with a focus on the devaluing of erotic labor. Existing feminist commentary has interpreted these representations as e...