cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased Epinephrine and Skeletal Muscle Responses to Hypoglycemia in Non-Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract We evaluated skeletal muscle counterregulation during hypoglycemia in nine subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (HbA1c 9.4 +/- 0.5%, nl < 6.2%) compared with six normal controls, matched for age (51 +/- 3 and 49 +/- 5 yr, respectively) and body mass index (27.3 +/- 1.2 and 27.0 +/- 2.1 kg/m2). After 60 min of euglycemia (plasma insulin approximately 140 microU/ml), plasma glucose was lowered to 62 +/- 2 mg/dl by 120 min. Hypoglycemia induced a 2.2-fold greater increase in plasma epinephrine in NIDDM (P < 0.001), while the plasma glucagon response was blunted (P < 0.01). Hepatic glucose output ([3H-3]glucose) suppressed similarly during euglycemia, but during hypoglycemia was greater in NIDDM (P < 0.005). Conversely, glucose uptake during euglycemia was 150% greater in controls (P < 0.01) and remained persistently higher than in NIDDM during hypoglycemia. In NIDDM, plasma FFA concentrations were approximately fivefold greater (P < 0.001), and plasma lactate levels were approximately 40% higher than in controls during hypoglycemia (P < 0.01); the rates of glycolysis from plasma glucose were similar in the two groups despite a 49% lower rate of glucose uptake in NIDDM (3.4 +/- 0.9 vs. 6.9 +/- 1.3 mg/kg per minute, P < 0.001). Muscle glycogen synthase activity fell by 42% with hypoglycemia (P < 0.01) in NIDDM but not in controls. In addition, glycogen phosphorylase was activated by 56% during hypoglycemia in NIDDM only (P < 0.01). Muscle glucose-6-phosphate concentrations rose during hypoglycemia by a twofold greater increment in NIDDM (P < 0.01). Thus, skeletal muscle participates in hypoglycemia counterregulation in NIDDM, directly by decreased removal of plasma glucose and, indirectly, by providing lactate for hepatic gluconeogenesis. Consequently, in addition to inherent insulin resistance in NIDDM, the enhanced plasma epinephrine response during hypoglycemia may partially offset impaired glucagon secretion and counteract the effects of hyperinsulinemia on liver, fat, and skeletal muscle.
Super-sequence frequent pattern mining on sequential dataset

Due to the importance of Frequent Pattern Mining (FPM) in bioinformatics, web mining, social networks and so on, researchers have been paying significant attention to FPM and its various forms. In this study, we introduce a new form that we call super-sequence pattern mining. In contrast to frequent sub-sequence pattern mining studied significantly in the literature, frequent super-sequence mining requires to identify super-sequences that may contain sequential parts from different sequences and that have the total support larger than a given threshold. In essence, finding frequent super-sequence patterns turns out to be related to the well-known NP-hard longest path problem in graphs. Accordingly, we transform a given sequential dataset into a sequence graph and formulate the problem as k-hop longest path problem. We then propose a heuristic algorithm using dynamic programming techniques. The running time of our solution is depending on the number of different items in the sequence set but not on the size of the dataset. Through experiments, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed solution. We also illustrate its use on an actual web log dataset and find out some interesting facts based on the identified frequent super-sequences on the web log dataset.
The interaction of calcium and ryanodine with cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum

The binding of [3H]ryanodine with cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles depends on the calcium concentration. Binding in the absence of calcium appears to be non-specific because it shows no saturation up to 20 μM ryanodine. The apparent Km value for calcium varied between 2 and 0.8 μM when the ryanodine concentration varied between 10 and 265 nM. The Hill coefficient for the calcium dependence of [3H]ryanodine binding was near two. Scatchard analysis of ryanodine binding indicated a high-affinity site with a Bmax of 5.2 ± 0.4 pmol/mg with a Kd of 6.8 ± 0.1 nM. Preincubation under conditions in which the high-affinity sites were saturated did not result in stimulation of the calcium uptake rate indicative of closure of the calcium channel. Stimulation of calcium uptake rate occurred only at higher concentrations of ryanodine (apparent Km = 17 μM). This stimulation of the calcium uptake rate also required calcium in the submicromolar range. The data obtained support the hypothesis that ryanodine binding to the low-affinity site (Km about 17 μM) is responsible for closure of the calcium release channel and the subsequent increase in the calcium uptake rate of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Because the number of ryanodine-binding sites is much less than the number of calcium transport pumps the channel is probably distinct from the pump.
Las instituciones supremas de auditoría y las iniciativas de anticorrupción

This article begins with a review of the effect of public sector corruption and its causes. It explains the role of supreme audit institutions (SAI) in anti-corruption initiatives. The author ends with strategic recommendations for anti-corruption initiatives within SAIs including reducing the opportunities and incentives for corruption, increasing the cost of corrupt behavior and changing public expectations that cases of corruption will be successfully prosecuted.
A nanofluidic railroad switch for DNA.

We present a metamaterial consisting of a two-dimensional, asymmetric lattice of crossed nanochannels in fused silica, with channel diameters of 80 nm to 140 nm. When DNA is introduced, it is stretched and linearized. We show that the asymmetry in channel dimensions gives rise to a preferred direction for DNA orientation and a preferred direction for transport under dc electrophoresis. Interestingly, the preferred axis of orientation and transport can be switched by 90° through application of an ac voltage. We explain the results in terms of an energy landscape for polyelectrolytes that consists of entropic and dielectrophoretic contributions and whose strength and sign can be tuned by changing the ac field strength.
Human monoclonal antibodies derived from memory B cells following live attenuated dengue virus vaccination or natural infection exhibit similar characteristics

The immunopathogenesis of severe dengue is poorly understood, but there is concern that induction of cross-reactive nonneutralizing antibodies by infection or vaccination may increase the likelihood of severe disease during a subsequent infection. We generated a total of 63 new human monoclonal antibodies to compare the B-cell response of subjects who received the National Institutes of Health live attenuated dengue vaccine rDEN1Δ30 to that of subjects following symptomatic primary infection with DENV1. Both infection and vaccination induced serum neutralizing antibodies and DENV1-reactive peripheral blood B cells, but the magnitude of induction was lower in vaccinated individuals. Serotype cross-reactive weakly neutralizing antibodies dominated the response in both vaccinated and naturally infected subjects. Antigen specificities were very similar, with a slightly greater percentage of antibodies targeting E protein domain I/II than domain III. These data shed light on the similarity of human B-cell response to live attenuated DENV vaccine or natural infection.
Tests for Parameter Instability in Regressions With I(1) Processes

This article derives the large-sample distributions of Lagrange multiplier (LM) tests for parameter instability against several alternatives of interest in the context of cointegrated regression models. The fully modified estimator of Phillips and Hansen is extended to cover general models with stochastic and deterministic trends. The test statistics considered include the SupF test of Quandt, as well as the LM tests of Nyblom and of Nabeya and Tanaka. It is found that the asymptotic distributions depend on the nature of the regressor processes—that is, if the regressors are stochastic or deterministic trends. The distributions are noticeably different from the distributions when the data are weakly dependent. It is also found that the lack of cointegration is a special case of the alternative hypothesis considered (an unstable intercept), so the tests proposed here may also be viewed as a test of the null of cointegration against the alternative of no cointegration. The tests are applied to three data se...
What makes users rate (share, tag, edit...)?: predicting patterns of participation in online communities

Administrators of online communities face the crucial issue of understanding and developing their user communities. Will new users become committed members? What types of roles are particular individuals most likely to take on? We report on a study that investigates these questions. We administered a survey (based on standard psychological instruments) to nearly 4000 new users of the MovieLens film recommendation community from October 2009 to March 2010 and logged their usage history on MovieLens. We found that general volunteer motivations, pro-social behavioral history, and community-specific motivations predicted both the amount of use and specific types of activities users engaged in after joining the community. These findings have implications for the design and management of online communities.
Contents and correlates of whites' and blacks' racial attitudes

Abstract Whites' and Blacks' intergroup attitudes were examined across four samples. Participants wrote essays describing their racial attitudes that were later coded for recurring themes. Coding revealed that Whites and Blacks had similar positive themes, but diverged for negative themes. White participants' most frequently expressed negative attitudes were consistent with the tenets of modern racism theory (McConahay, 1986). These essay themes, as well as modern racism scores, were more strongly related to antiegalitarian sentiments than to the Protestant ethic. Black participants' negative attitudes were described in terms of reactions to perceived racism, and their essay themes were unrelated to both egalitarianism and the Protestant ethic. Discussion focuses on the salient contents of intergroup attitudes, measurement issues, and the potentially different underlying roots of Whites' and Blacks' racial attitudes.
Leukocyte infiltration across the blood-spinal cord barrier is modulated by sleep fragmentation in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

We have recently shown that mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) have increased sleep fragmentation (SF) and reduced sleep efficiency, and that the extent of SF correlates with the severity of disease. It is not yet clear whether and how sleep promotes recovery from autoimmune attacks. We hypothesized that SF promotes leukocyte infiltration across the blood-spinal cord barrier, impairs immune regulation, and thus worsens EAE. Three groups of C57 mice were studied: Resting EAE; SF EAE with the mice subjected to the SF maneuver 12 h /day during zeitgeber time (ZT) 0–12 h; and naive controls with neither EAE nor SF. Besides monitoring of the incidence and severity of EAE, the immune profiles of leukocytes in the spinal cord as well as those in the spleen were determined. When analyzed 16 days after EAE induction, at which time the SF was terminated, the SF group had a greater number of CD4+ T cells and a higher percent of CD4+ cells among all leukocytes in the spinal cord than the resting EAE group. When allowed to recover to 28 days after EAE induction, the SF mice had lower EAE scores than the resting EAE group. EAE induced splenomegaly and an increase of Gr1+CD11b+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the splenocytes. However, SF treatment had no additional effect on either peripheral splenocytes or granulocytes that reached the spinal cord. The SF maneuver facilitated the migration of encephalopathic lymphocytes into the spinal cord. Paradoxically, these mice had a better EAE score after cessation of SF compared with mice without SF.
LET estimate improvements for the CRaTER instrument using HETC-HEDS

NASA launched a robotic mission to Earth's moon called the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), in June 2009. 12LRO's objectives are to find potential safe landing sites, locate potential resources for in situ use, and characterize the lunar radiation environment. The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) instrument, which is on the LRO, is directly measuring the Linear Energy Transfer (LET) spectra in the vicinity of the moon. This is necessary for the safe return to the moon of future astronauts. The galactic cosmic ray spectrum has many charged particle components, but particles heavier than helium are a major radiation concern because of their high LET values. They are able to fragment target materials and to fragment themselves, depositing large quantities of energy locally in small volumes. In this work, the radiation transport code HETC-HEDS (High Energy Transport Code - Human Exploration and Development in Space) is used to investigate the LET distributions of primary and secondary particles of the types that are expected to be seen by the CRaTER instrument during the LRO mission.
Eliminating Rightward Movement: Extraposition as Flexible Linearization of Adjuncts

We propose an account of adjunct extraposition that does not invoke rightward movement. Instead, the noncanonical placement of adjuncts at the right edge of a sentence arises from the very same mechanisms that allow adjuncts to behave flexibly with respect to basic constituency tests and to avoid reconstruction. The system we propose naturally explains the locality restrictions on extraposition and certain interactions between extraposition and movement, and dovetails with an analysis of how adjuncts semantically compose with their hosts.
The Impact of Catecholamines on Defibrillation Threshold in Patients with Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillators

Objectives: To determine the effect of physiologic catecholamine concentrations on the defibrillation threshold (DFT) in patients with implanted cardioverter defibrillators. Background: DFT is the minimum energy delivered by an implanted cardioverter defibrillator that successfully converts ventricular fibrillation. DFT testing is performed under conscious sedation. Since activities of daily living enhance sympathetic tone substantially over these nadir levels, it is important to explore the impact of catecholamines on DFT. Methods: In this double-blind study, we determined DFT by the step-down method. Patients (n = 50) were stratified by beta-blocker use and then randomized to a 7-minute infusion of epinephrine, norepinephrine, or placebo. After study infusion, DFT testing was repeated. Changes in DFT with different study medications were compared. Subgroup analyses of the effects of catecholamines on DFT, based on beta-blocker use, were also performed. Results: Norepinephrine reduced DFT from baseline measurements by 22.6% (P = 0.008). Neither epinephrine nor placebo impacted DFT (P = 0.999, P = 0.317, respectively). In the subgroup analyses, DFT was reduced with norepinephrine regardless of beta-blocker use, while epinephrine reduced DFT among those receiving beta-blockers. No change in DFT was observed in either of the placebo subgroups. Conclusions: Elevation of plasma norepinephrine concentrations reduces the DFT, while elevations in epinephrine had no effect. Norepinephrine seems to reduce DFT regardless of beta-blocker therapy but epinephrine's effects are beta-blocker dependent.
Enhancing Interdisciplinary Instruction in General and Special Education Thematic Units and Technology

This article discusses interdisciplinary thematic units in the context of special and general education curricula and focuses on ways technology can be used to enhance interdisciplinary thematic units. Examples of curriculum integration activities enhanced by technology are provided in the context of productivity tools, presentation and multimedia tools, contextual themed software, and Web-based activities.
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES IN VERTEBRATE OLFACTORY TRANSDUCTION

▪ Abstract A number of controversial issues in olfactory transduction are discussed including the matter of multiple transduction pathways, with a new experiment proposed. Evidence is reviewed concerning the fact that cyclic AMP is the only pathway mediating olfactory transduction. Two knockout mice have been produced: a knockout for a cyclic nucleotide-gated channel and a Golf knockout. The results obtained with both mice are consistent with cyclic AMP being the only second messenger. The evidence for gaseous second channel messengers is also reviewed. Slow gating kinetics of the cyclic nucleotide-gated channel and the detection of single-odorant molecules are reviewed. A new phenomenon in which odorants can block odorant responses is discussed.
Eleven-years inversion of the green corona emission

A cross correlation analysis of coronal green line intensity (5303A) and interplanetary magnetic field polarity for the period 1947-1970 shows that the coronal features are organized in a constant pattern with respect to the 4-sector structure through the solar cycle. A sudden inversion of the coronal pattern with respect to the sector structure takes place at the solar minima. The high emission regions of the green corona are located near the solar magnetic sector boundaries having polarities (-,+), (+,-), (-,+) during cycles 18, 19, 20 respectively in the Northern Hemisphere, and (+,-), (-,+), (+,-) in the Southern Hemisphere.
Sedation and Its Association With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After Intensive Care

Overuse of sedation in patients treated with mechanical ventilation can increase duration of ventilation, duration of delirium, and time to discharge. Although current principles of care include implementation of sedation protocols and/or daily interruptions in sedation to improve patients' outcomes, these strategies remain underused. Historically, a barrier to use of protocols has been a perception that being awake and aware while intubated is intrinsically distressing and could cause psychological harm. Evidence of a link between lighter sedation and decreased signs and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder has partially dispelled these fears and even prompted the adoption of no-sedation (eg, analgosedation) strategies. Published studies on posttraumatic stress disorder and sedation are limited by small sample size, heterogeneous sedation practices, and inadequate follow-up. Despite limitations, current data suggest contemporary sedation practices to keep patients calm and comfortable but awake, as appropriate, are not associated with increased rates or severity of posttraumatic stress disorder.
Analysis of spike electrogenesis of Eel electroplaques with phase plane and impedance measurements.

Eel electroplaques provide experimental conditions in which registration of phase plane trajectories (dV/dt vs. V) and impedance measurements with an AC Wheatstone bridge, in conjunction with spike electrogenesis describe quantitatively the ionic processes of the electrogenesis. Thus, these data employing as they do measurements of transients, permit an independent test of the validity of the assumptions which underlie the Hodgkin-Huxley equivalent circuit: independent ionic channels with fixed ionic batteries and exhibiting time-variant conductance changes with different kinetics for the different channels. The analysis accords with earlier findings on voltage-clamped electroplaques and this agreement confirms the validity of the equivalent circuit despite the fact that the current-voltage characteristics of the axons and electroplaques differ profoundly. As for squid axons, the equivalent circuit of the electroplaques has four branches: a capacity and three ionic channels. One of the latter is an invariant leak channel (GL) of high conductance. A K channel (GK) is fully open at rest, but rapidly undergoes inactivation when the cell is depolarized by more than 40 mv. GL and GK have a common inside negative emf (EK). A Na channel (GNa) with an inside positive emf (ENa) is closed at rest, but opens transiently upon depolarization.
Combining ecology, human demands, and philosophy into the management of northern pike in Michigan

Northern pike (Esox lucius Linnaeus) are a common sportfish native to most waters in Michigan. Early use of northern pike was unregulated consumptive harvest. Pike anglers today vary from those interested in intense harvest, to winter spear fisheries, to those interested in catching trophy fish. Michigan pike are now managed within three ecological groupings: 1. High density and slow growing populations, managed to increase harvest and reduce density (managed with a daily bag limit of 5 fish and no size limit). 2. Moderate density populations with normal growth (most populations, managed with a 61-cm (24-in) size limit and creel of 2 fish per day). 3. Low density and rapid growing populations (managed for trophy fisheries with a 76-cm (30-in) size limit and restricted take). Recent management challenges also include loss of wetland-spawning habitat, driving a need for stocking to supplement natural reproduction. Michigan has managed spawning marshes and other habitat to produce northern pike from natural waters, and recent demand has led to hatchery production of fry. Technology for hatchery production has moved from extensively growing pike and stocking at a small size to the current system using pelleted feed, growing fish to a larger size at a lower density. Future plans for pike management in Michigan are even more focused on using ecology as a means to manage lakes and streams, but will require much more research to be feasible.
Continued DNA Synthesis in Replication Checkpoint Mutants Leads to Fork Collapse

Hydroxyurea (HU) treatment activates the intra-S phase checkpoint proteins Cds1 and Mrc1 to prevent replication fork collapse. We found that prolonged DNA synthesis occurs in cds1Δ and mrc1Δ checkpoint mutants in the presence of HU and continues after release. This is coincident with increased DNA damage measured by phosphorylated histone H2A in whole cells during release. High-resolution live-cell imaging shows that mutants first accumulate extensive replication protein A (RPA) foci, followed by increased Rad52. Both DNA synthesis and RPA accumulation require the MCM helicase. We propose that a replication fork "collapse point" in HU-treated cells describes the point at which accumulated DNA damage and instability at individual forks prevent further replication. After this point, cds1Δ and mrc1Δ forks cannot complete genome replication. These observations establish replication fork collapse as a dynamic process that continues after release from HU block.
The Dynamics of Mergers and Acquisitions in Oligopolistic Industries

This article embeds an oligopolistic industry structure in a real options framework in which synergy gains of horizontal mergers arise endogenously and vary stochastically over time. We find that (i) mergers are more likely in more concentrated industries; (ii) mergers are more likely in industries that are more exposed to industrywide shocks; (iii) returns to merger and rival firms arising from restructuring are higher in more concentrated industries; (iv) increased industry competition delays the timing of mergers; (v) in sufficiently concentrated industries, bidder competition induces a bid premium that declines with product market competition; and (vi) mergers are more likely and yield larger returns in industries with higher dispersion in firm size.
Measuring quality improvement in public health: the development and psychometric testing of a QI Maturity Tool.

There is growing interest and investment in improving the quality of public health services and outcomes. Following the lead of other sectors, efforts are underway to introduce systematic quality i...
Intradevice interaction in a dual chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator preventing ventricular tachyarrhythmia detection.

Intradevice Interaction in Dual Chamber ICD. Failure to detect ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation by implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) is a rare but serious problem. We report a case of failure to detect an episode of indueed ventricular tachycardia by a dual cbamber ICD, due to abbreviation of ventricular detection window secondary to programmed pacing parameters and a rate-smoothing algorithm. In this patient, the intradevice interaction was corrected by programming rate-smoothing off. This report highlights the potentially lethal consequences of critical timing relationships among the pacing function, arrhythmia detection, and the characteristics of the arrhythmia when using a modern dual chamber ICD. Physicians responsible for patients with ICDs must be aware of such interactions.
Sleep Terrors and Confusional Arousals in Children and Adolescents

Confusional arousals and sleep terrors are common parasomnias and fall on the opposite ends of arousal parasomnia spectrum. Confusional arousals begin with moaning and proceed to movements which may sometimes be complex. Sleep inertia and sexsomnia are considered subtypes of confusional arousal. Sleep terrors are intense and most dramatic of the parasomnias and are associated with loud scream, cry, complex motor movements, and intense autonomic activation. In both the parasomnia, inability to arouse the child, amnesia for the event, and worsening of agitation with attempt to awaken the child are seen. Both the disorders are common in children and resolve by adolescence. There is a strong family history of parasomnia in most cases. Obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and periodic limb movements are precipitating factors. Separation anxiety is associated with sleep terrors, whereas mental disorders are sometimes associated with adolescent and adults with confusional arousal. Dissociation of wakefulness and sleep, and nonrapid eye movement (NREM) instability are suggested as pathophysiological mechanisms. Differentiation from nocturnal seizures is important. Video EEG and polysomnography facilitate differential diagnoses and rule out precipitating factors. Behavioral therapies as well as improving sleep quality are essential in controlling the events. There is limited evidence on pharmacological treatments, but benzodiazepine and tricyclic antidepressants are commonly used. Legal and societal implications are vital to note due to complexity of the motor movements involved with the parasomnia.
Southern and Eastern Africa Middle Stone Age

RELATIVE TIME PERIOD: Follows and partially overlaps with the Achulean tradition, precedes the Southern and Eastern Africa Later Stone Age tradition.
Investigating the role of mucin in the delivery of nanoparticles to cellular models of human cancer disease: an in vitro study

Mucin, a glycosylated protein, is aberrantly overexpressed in a variety of tumor cells. The glycoprotein mesh decreases the rate of intracellular drug uptake and effectiveness. We investigated the influence of the mucin mesh on the cellular uptake of anti-MUC1 antibody and nanoparticles by fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy. A glycosylation inhibitor (benzyl-α-GalNAc) was employed to regulate mucin glycosylation events. In our panel of pancreatic cell lines, only PANC-1 cells exhibited a significant increase in the uptake of liposomes following glycosylation inhibition, resulting in improved cytotoxicity of gemcitabine-loaded liposomes. Interestingly, areas devoid of liposome uptake were observed for pancreatic cancer cell lines PANC-1, Capan-1, and Capan-2; however, these restricted regions could be diminished for PANC1 cells only. In conclusion, investigating the reason(s) for differential cellular uptake of nanoparticles, in association with the production of mucin glycosylation mesh, should provide valuable leads to the future development of nanomedicine for cancer treatment.
Serum lactic dehydrogenase and serum transaminase in human leukemia.

1. Serum lactic dehydrogenase (SLD) was measured in 66 patients with leukemia. Elevated levels were observed in 23 (77 per cent) of 30 adults with acute leukemia; in 7 (70 per cent) of 10 children with acute leukemia; in 15 (94 per cent) of 16 patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia, and in 6 (60 per cent) of 10 subjects with chronic lymphatic leukemia. 2. The degree of SLD elevation appeared to be significantly greater in the chronic myelocytic than in the chronic lymphatic group. 3. Serial determinations of SLD were performed for periods of from 1 to 82 weeks in 55 patients, of whom 43 had elevated levels at one time or another. Fair to good correlation between SLD and conventional parameters of leukemic activity was noted in 7 (33 per cent) of adult acute leukemias; in 2 (40 per cent) of child leukemias; in 8 (67 per cent) of chronic myelocytic leukemias; and in 1 (20 per cent) of the chronic lymphatic group. 4. Possible sources of enzymes are discussed. At the present time the mechanism of SLD elevation in leukemia remains an unsolved problem. 5. Serum transaminase (SGOT) levels were studied in 61 subjects. Levels greater than 100 units were seen in only 8 patients, of whom 7 had either viral or toxic hepatitis and 1 had terminal septicemia. Other types of liver impairment, including leukemic infiltration, were associated with normal or slightly elevated SGOT.
Cardiac operations in patients over 80 years of age.

Twenty-five patients between 80 and 89 years of age underwent a variety of cardiac surgical procedures. Operative mortality was 4%. Perioperative complications were frequent and resulted in an increased hospital stay postoperatively (mean 19.5 days). At a mean followup of 29.1 months, 21 patients (84%) are alive, with improvement in functional class from 3.4 to 2.0 (p
Testing myrmecochory from the ant’s perspective: The effects of Datura wrightii and D. discolor on queen survival and brood production in Pogonomyrmex californicus

Interspecific interactions are often assumed to be mutualistic if one species appears to benefit. However, most studies do not test whether both participants benefit. Myrmecochory, or seed dispersal by ants, is characterized by a lipid-rich appendage, or elaiosome, on a seed. Typically, ants gather the diaspores (i.e., seeds with elaiosomes), carry them to the nest, consume the elaiosome, and discard the seed unharmed either inside the nest or on a refuse pile. The benefit to the ants is presumably the nutritional content of the elaiosome, whereas benefits to the plant include dispersal from the parent plant, protection from predators, reduced seedling competition, protection from fire, or transportation to nutrient-rich microsites. Most studies of myrmecochory focus on potential benefits to the plants and simply assume that ants receive a benefit from consuming elaiosomes. I tested whether Pogonomyrmex californicus benefits from consuming Datura wrightii and D. discolor elaiosomes by raising newly-mated queens (i.e., foundresses) on different diets and measuring their survival and brood production. Foundresses reared solely on D. wrightii or D. discolor had similar probabilities of surviving and producing brood as foundresses fed a standard diet, but the number and developmental stage of the brood produced was severely reduced. Because the initial number of brood produced is critical for successful colony establishment, the future fitness of foundresses consuming only Datura is likely reduced. In addition, adding Datura to a standard diet did not increase queen survival or brood production. Although it is possible that Datura may help sustain a colony through periods of scarcity, P. californicus do not appear to receive nutritional benefits from myrmecochorous interactions with Datura in the northern Sonoran Desert.
Draft Genome Sequences of Four Virulent Aeromonas hydrophila Strains from Catfish Aquaculture.

ABSTRACT Since 2009, a clonal group of virulent Aeromonas hydrophila strains has been causing severe disease in the catfish aquaculture industry in the southeastern United States. Here, we report draft genomes of four A. hydrophila isolates from catfish aquaculture that represent this clonal group.
Psychology of Animals

Although animal psychology is sometimes viewed as the behavioristic study of learning in a few laboratory species, I present it as composed of six interacting threads: zoological psychology, behavioristic psychology, physiological psychology, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, and mentalistic psychology. Although interest in animal behavior can be traced well back in history, impetus for an animal psychology came from Darwin and other 19th-century British scientists. I trace the development of the field between 1879 and WWI, between the two world Wars, and since WWII. There appears to be a trend in which the six threads have become more differentiated with increasing specialization during the 20th century.
Introduction: Audible Hope

This is a book about the collective and utopian impulses in everyday capitalist life that gather around technological innovations. It is written for anyone who has ever marveled at the technological wonders of our time and all of the New that it promises, and who is yet struck by the fact that somehow the New never quite arrives as wished for or even as advertised. It is written for those who turn to technological products, consciously or unconsciously, full of wishes and hopes—that one’s quality of life will improve; that one will have more leisure time, will be forced to struggle less, and will be happier; even that social conditions will improve; or that the world will become more equal and filled with less suffering—only to find that promising new technologies, while able to transform some areas of our lives, nonetheless fail to change the essential things about which people hope and wish. Our modes of production have generated such material abundance and such remarkable capabilities that by reason and by any stretch of the imagination they should already have changed the world in these essential ways by now, but still have failed to do so. We now possess so many things that people in the past used to dream about as futuristic and, to the extent that the future can be imagined as discovering and embracing a better way of life, as utopian.1 Something tells us that given the things we are able to make and do, we should all live lives of extraordinary leisure and plenty, yet very few of us do. We feel that there is something wrong.
Commissioning of upgrade forward hadron calorimeters of CMS

The CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN is upgrading the photodetector and readout system of the forward hadron calorimeter. During Long Shutdown 1, all of the original photomultiplier tubes were replaced with multi-anode, thin window photomultipliers. At the same time, the back-end electronics were upgraded to μTCA-based readout. Here we report on the commissioning, operations and near future plans of the forward hadron calorimeters Phase I Upgrade.
Autophagy inhibition overcomes multiple mechanisms of resistance to BRAF inhibition in brain tumors

Kinase inhibitors are effective cancer therapies, but tumors frequently develop resistance. Current strategies to circumvent resistance target the same or parallel pathways. We report here that targeting a completely different process, autophagy, can overcome multiple BRAF inhibitor resistance mechanisms in brain tumors. BRAFV600Emutations occur in many pediatric brain tumors. We previously reported that these tumors are autophagy-dependent and a patient was successfully treated with the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine after failure of the BRAFV600E inhibitor vemurafenib, suggesting autophagy inhibition overcame the kinase inhibitor resistance. We tested this hypothesis in vemurafenib-resistant brain tumors. Genetic and pharmacological autophagy inhibition overcame molecularly distinct resistance mechanisms, inhibited tumor cell growth, and increased cell death. Patients with resistance had favorable clinical responses when chloroquine was added to vemurafenib. This provides a fundamentally different strategy to circumvent multiple mechanisms of kinase inhibitor resistance that could be rapidly tested in clinical trials in patients with BRAFV600E brain tumors.
Strategies for Increasing Pancreatic Tumor Immunogenicity.

Immunotherapy has changed the standard of care for multiple deadly cancers, including lung, head and neck, gastric, and some colorectal cancers. However, single-agent immunotherapy has had little effect in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Increasing evidence suggests that the PDAC microenvironment is comprised of an intricate network of signals between immune cells, PDAC cells, and stroma, resulting in an immunosuppressive environment resistant to single-agent immunotherapies. In this review, we discuss differences between immunotherapy-sensitive cancers and PDAC, the complex interactions between PDAC stroma and suppressive tumor-infiltrating cells that facilitate PDAC development and progression, the immunologic targets within these complex networks that are druggable, and data supporting combination drug approaches that modulate multiple PDAC signals, which should lead to improved clinical outcomes. Clin Cancer Res; 23(7); 1656-69. ©2017 AACRSee all articles in this CCR Focus section, "Pancreatic Cancer: Challenge and Inspiration."
Communication of Contrast in the Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon with Other Pedal Tendons at the Master Knot of Henry.

It is important to have a full appreciation of lower-extremity anatomical relationships before undertaking diabetic foot surgery. We sought to evaluate the potential for communication of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon with other pedal tendons and plantar foot compartments at the master knot of Henry and to provide cadaveric images and computed tomographic (CT) scans of such communications. Computed tomography and subsequent anatomical dissection were performed on embalmed cadaveric limbs. Initially, 5 to 10 mL (1:4 dilution) of iohexol and normal saline was injected into the FHL sheath as it coursed between the two hallux sesamoids. Subsequently, CT scans were obtained in the axial plane using a multidetector CT scanner with sagittal and coronal reformatted images. The limbs were then dissected for specific evaluation of the known variable intertendinous connections between the FHL and flexor digitorum longus (FDL) and quadratus plantae (QP) muscles. One cadaver demonstrated retrograde flow of co...
Embryo production by superovulation and dual siring in alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

Abstract Alpacas can only produce one offspring per year. In order to accelerate the genetic gain of a herd, superovulation and embryo transfer can be used to produce multiple embryos from superior females. We hypothesized that the use of dual siring with superovulation would result in the production of multiple embryos sired by different males. After administration of the superovulation protocol, receptive females were bred to two proven males (A and B) 8–12 h apart and ovulation was induced by gonadotropin at the time of the first breeding. Growth of multiple dominant follicles was successfully achieved in 95% of cycles. Females that were receptive after FSH treatment and were bred with both males (order A–B or B–A). Embryo collections were performed 8–9 days post-breeding on 15 cycles and 73% of collections recovered ≥1 embryo. A total of 46 embryos, were recovered for an average of 3.13 ±3.1 (range 0–10) embryos/flush. Parentage analysis was performed for 23 embryos (6 from A to B, 17 from B to A). Twenty-two of the 23 embryos were determined to be sired by male B, being six embryos from breeding A-B and 16 embryos from breeding B-A. A single embryo from breeding B-A was sired by male A. In conclusion, FSH administered at decreasing doses can be used to promote superovulation resulting in collection of multiple embryos per cycle. However, slight differences in male fertility may affect the frequency of embryos sired by each male.
Perceptions of Family Problems and Pessimism Among Latina and Non-Latina White Mothers Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

To address the limited research on diverse families of children with ASD, we examined the impact of ASD on 46 Latina and 56 non-Latina White mothers from a resiliency perspective. We explored perceptions of family problems, optimism and pessimism among mothers of child with ASD between 1 and 22 years old. Mothers were recruited through support groups and listservs. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results indicated fewer perceived family problems and less pessimism about the child’s future among Latina mothers. We found maternal optimism and family cohesion were associated with perceived family problems and mother’s pessimism about the child’s future. Understanding the impact of ASD among diverse families will aid in developing appropriate services that enhances family strengths.
Gene Therapeutic Approaches for β-Cell Replacement

In this chapter, special emphasis is placed on human cells as potential cell-based insulin delivery systems in type 1 diabetes. At this time, the only viable alternative for cell therapy in diabetes is the use of isolated human islets, either fresh or cryopreserved, as is utilized in clinical transplantation protocols. A recent review of islet transplantation for patients with type 1 diabetes concluded that although there are some important reasons for optimism, the treatment remains experimental (1) and the current outcome of the procedure is quite negative. Of a total of 305 patients receiving islet transplants between 1974 and 1996, only 10% of recipients were insulin-free at one year and of those, only one patient remained insulin-independent for more than five years. Of the many obstacles to successful islet transplantation, two remain of paramount importance: islet destruction by immune processes (either allo-or autoimmune), and the shortage of tissue for islet isolation. As more islet transplantation centers are being developed, the scarcity of tissue will become more acute, and the need for innovative methods to increase existing cell supplies will become more relevant. Thus, in this chapter we will focus on efforts to develop cell-based strategies to obtain physiologic insulin replacement.
Risk Assessment for Pressure Ulcers: An Adaptation of the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel Risk Factors to Spinal Cord Injured Patients

ABSTRACTTo estimate risk factors for pressure ulcers, we developed quantitative definitions for each of the nine general areas of risk outlined by the 1989 National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) and evaluated each of these factors in a group of spinal cord injured patients by means of a retrospective chart review at a spinal cord injury referral center serving the New England area. All patients (n=364) admitted to the spinal cord injury service between January 1, 1989 and December 31, 1990 were studied.We identified a pressure ulcer in 81 of 364 patients (22.3 percent). In the univariate analyses, pressure ulcers were associated with Frankel groups A to B with an odds ratio (OR) of 5.7 (95 percent confidence interval 2.8 to 11.9), low albumin with an OR of 4.9 (95 percent confidence interval 2.8 to 8.6), low hemoglobin with an OR of 2.5 (95 percent confidence interval 1.5 to 4.1), age ≥60 years with an OR of 1.9 (95 percent confidence interval 1.2 to 3.2) and three independent measures of co-morbi...
China as a Case Study of Systemic Educational Reform

Over the last 30 years or so, China has engaged in a series of systemic educational reforms. These reforms aimed to “improve the quality of the citizenry, produce more talents, and produce high quality talents” (MOE, 1985) through actions in all domains of education: governance and management, financing, teacher preparation, curriculum, and assessment. As a highly centralized political society, these reforms were always initiated by the central government and naturally their intended impacts were system-wide. However, not all reforms met with the same level of success. Some of them were much more fruitful than others.
Metal Carbonyl Catalysis of Carbon Monoxide Reactions

An important raw material for modern industrial processes is carbon monoxide (CO) which can be manufactured readily from steam and coal by the water gas reaction. In order to minimize the energy requirements of processes using CO as a raw material it is important to develop homogeneous catalysts which allow reactions with CO to proceed under the mildest possible conditions. Such catalysts use transition metal complexes and involve metal carbonyIs as intermediates. Understanding the formation and reactivity of metal carbonyl derivatives in the presence of excess CO is important for the development of new and improved homogeneous catalysts capable of facilitating industrially important reactions of CO.
Visibility Graph Analysis of Alaska Crustal and Aleutian Subduction Zone Seismicity: An Investigation of the Correlation between b Value and k–M Slope

Statistical methods are useful tools to aid the recognition of patterns and extract information from a large amount of data available through resources such as earthquake catalogs. Visibility graph analysis is one of these relatively new statistical techniques that can be applied on data in the form of time series, and map them into a graph of nodes and connections, which makes it possible to use network theory for characterizing the original data. We present a study applying visibility graph analysis to a seismicity catalog for the Alaska crust and the Aleutian subduction zone. The catalog is gathered from the United States Geological Survey database, for the years between 1900 and mid 2017. A history of several earthquakes and a variety in seismic features, both near surface and at depth, make this region one of the richest areas to investigate possible seismic patterns and correlations. The focus here is on examining the previously suggested correlation between b value of the Gutenberg–Richter relation and the k–M slope from a visibility graph analysis. The visibility graph method defines a k degree or connectivity degree for each event according to its magnitude and position in time series. The k–M slope represents the slope of the regression line of these pairs of magnitude and connectivity degree, as a single number for each zone. We calculate the k–M slope for selected zones for Alaska and the Aleutians and add it to the data from previous worldwide studies and the results verify and improve the linear universal relationship between b value and k–M slope suggested by past studies, which indicates that the visibility graph analysis can work as an alternative approach for studying earthquake sequence.
Data-Driven Synthetic Cerebrovascular Models For Validation Of Segmentation Algorithms

We introduce a novel method to generate biologically grounded synthetic cerebrovasculature models in a datadriven fashion. First, the centerlines of vascular filaments embedded in an acquired imaging volume are obtained by a segmentation algorithm. That imaging volume is reconstructed from a graph encoding of the centerline (i.e., generating the model’s ground truth) and the segmentation algorithm is applied to the resultant volume. As the location and characteristics of the vasculature embedded in this volume are known,theaccuracyofthesegmentationalgorithmcanbeassessed. Moreover, because the synthetic volume was reconstructed directly from biological data, an assessment is made on embedded filaments that are representative of the topologicalandgeometricalcharacteristicsofthedataset. Webelieve thatsuchmodels will provide the means necessary for the enhanced evaluation of vascular segmentation algorithms.