cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of the ryanodine receptor of skeletal muscle in excitation-contraction coupling.

In skeletal muscle, contraction is initiated by a depolarization of the transverse tubular membrane (t-tubule), which in turn signals the release of Ca from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). A key protein involved in this process is the ryanodine receptor, an SR membrane protein of MW 450,000 that binds the alkaloid ryanodine with nanomolar affinity and is present exclusively at the junction between t-tubule and SR membranes. The ryanodine receptor plays a dual role: Functionally, it is the putative Ca-release channel of the SR, and structurally, it is the major protein responsible for forming “bridges” or “feet” that anatomically connect t-tubule and SR. Here we demonstrate that the ryanodine receptor is steeply gated by both voltage and protons, and for the first time in vitro, we measured nonlinear capacitance (charge movement) that may be involved in the gating of this channel protein. We recently identified the 450,000-Da ryanodine receptor-feet protein (FIG. 1A) as the Ca-release channel of native SR. This was achieved using the planar bilayer recording technique and by comparing ligand-dependent gating, ionic selectivity, and pharmacology of purified ryanodine receptors to that of native Ca-release channels. Voltage dependence was a gating property notoriously absent in our study and in studies by others that followed. Its inconspicuousness in our earlier work is related to the effect of protons. At pH 7.4 (FIG. 1B) the channel dwells in a fast gating mode (p = 0.38). A drop to pH 7.2 drives the channel into an almost closed condition (p = 0.08) and at pH 7.0 the channel never opens (p < 0.01). Reversibility is shown in the last record of FIGURE 1 where alkalinization from pH 7.0 to pH 7.6 reopens the channel, resulting in a higher level of activity (p = 0.72) than seen at pH 7.4. Over this narrow range of pH, slope conductance is not affected (FIG. 2C, inset), and the kinetics remain fast, with a mean open event duration of approximately 100 μsec. Thus for all practical purposes, a change of 0.6 unit in solution pH from 7.6 to 7.0 units is sufficient to make the channel switch from an almost all-open to an almost all-closed conformation. The fitted Hill coefficient for data in FIGURE 1 was n = 6.8 and the apparent pK a was 7.5. FIGURE 2 describes the ensuing changes in voltage
Applications and Trends of High Performance Computing for Electric Power Systems: Focusing on Smart Grid

Over the last 15 years, significant changes have occurred in the areas of electric power systems and high performance computing (HPC). HPC has seen the maturation of cluster computing, the advent of multi-core computing, the creation of grid and cloud computing, and the sudden rise of the graphics processing unit (GPU) for general purpose computing. These changes have also been coupled with the slow ending of Moore's law. Electric power systems have also undergone many changes including the introduction of the advanced metering infrastructure and other advanced technologies for data collection, the inclusion of renewable/distributed power generation, and the addition of electric vehicles as stochastic loads. Clear goals have also been set for the development of the smart grid-a unique cyber-physical system (CPS) that requires the interaction of the electric power system and HPC. As such, this work explores the many ways in which HPC will be used in the smart grid and its CPS in the future including real-time and off-line analysis, data mining/storage, intelligent coordination, security, simulation, and visualization.
A model of the proton translocation mechanism of complex I

Despite decades of speculation, the proton pumping mechanism of complex I (NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is unknown and continues to be controversial. Recent descriptions of the architecture of the hydrophobic region of complex I have resolved one vital issue: this region appears to have multiple proton transporters that are mechanically interlinked. Thus, transduction of conformational changes to drive the transmembrane transporters linked by a "connecting rod" during the reduction of ubiquinone (Q) can account for two or three of the four protons pumped per NADH oxidized. The remaining proton(s) must be pumped by direct coupling at the Q-binding site. Here, we present a mixed model based on a crucial constraint: the strong dependence on the pH gradient across the membrane (ΔpH) of superoxide generation at the Q-binding site of complex I. This model combines direct and indirect coupling mechanisms to account for the pumping of the four protons. It explains the observed properties of the semiquinone in the Q-binding site, the rapid superoxide production from this site during reverse electron transport, its low superoxide production during forward electron transport except in the presence of inhibitory Q-analogs and high protonmotive force, and the strong dependence of both modes of superoxide production on ΔpH.
The Reliability and Validity of the Instructional Climate Inventory-Student Form.

The increased focus on school climate as a causative factor in dropping out of school has led to the development of a number of instruments intended to measure perceived school climate. This study examined the reliability and validity of the Instructional Climate Survey-Form S (ICI-S; Braskamp & Maehr, 1988), a 20-item instrument that measures school climate as seen by students. The internal consistency and factor structure of the ICI-S were examined, as well as the ability of the instrument to classify students from different educational settings. Three hundred and twenty-eight students representing three programs rated programs they attended using the ICI-S. Factor analysis indicated that ICI-S was best explained by one factor. The reliability coefficients of the total score were within the acceptable range (above .80) for all three programs, and the total score correctly classified 57% of the students. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Inferring functional connectivity in MRI using Bayesian network structure learning with a modified PC algorithm

Resting state functional connectivity MRI (rs-fcMRI) is a popular technique used to gauge the functional relatedness between regions in the brain for typical and special populations. Most of the work to date determines this relationship by using Pearson's correlation on BOLD fMRI timeseries. However, it has been recognized that there are at least two key limitations to this method. First, it is not possible to resolve the direct and indirect connections/influences. Second, the direction of information flow between the regions cannot be differentiated. In the current paper, we follow-up on recent work by Smith et al. (2011), and apply PC algorithm to both simulated data and empirical data to determine whether these two factors can be discerned with group average, as opposed to single subject, functional connectivity data. When applied on simulated individual subjects, the algorithm performs well determining indirect and direct connection but fails in determining directionality. However, when applied at group level, PC algorithm gives strong results for both indirect and direct connections and the direction of information flow. Applying the algorithm on empirical data, using a diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) structural connectivity matrix as the baseline, the PC algorithm outperformed the direct correlations. We conclude that, under certain conditions, the PC algorithm leads to an improved estimate of brain network structure compared to the traditional connectivity analysis based on correlations.
Federalism and the Regulation of Agricultural Biotechnology in the United States and European Union

Abstract The United States and European Union have pursued markedly different paths in the development of policies toward genetically modified foods and crops. In considering the sources of these policy differences, this article explores the influence of federal arrangements on agricultural biotechnology policy. Two dimensions of federalism shape policy: an administrative component that shapes the distribution of regulatory authority across multiple levels of government, and a representative component that influences the degree to which constituent units have a formal voice in policy decisions taken at the federal level. This representative component most clearly distinguishes policymaking in the United States and European Union, and contributed to the distinct styles of decision-making in biotechnology on either side of the Atlantic.
The isomap algorithm and topological stability.

Tenenbaum et al . ([1][1]) presented an algorithm, Isomap, for computing a quasi-isometric, low-dimensional embedding of a set of high-dimensional data points. Two issues need to be raised concerning this work. First, the basic approach presented by Tenenbaum et al . is not new, having been
A Firsthand Comparison of a System Office to a College Office.

A veteran researcher offers his observations about the similarities and differences between a system office and a college office for institutional research.
Activation of AKT by O-Linked N-Acetylglucosamine Induces Vascular Calcification in Diabetes Mellitus

Rationale: Vascular calcification is a serious cardiovascular complication that contributes to the increased morbidity and mortality of patients with diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemia, a hallmark of diabetes mellitus, is associated with increased vascular calcification and increased modification of proteins by O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAcylation). Objective: We sought to determine the role of protein O-GlcNAcylation in regulating vascular calcification and the underlying mechanisms. Methods and Results: Low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice exhibited increased aortic O-GlcNAcylation and vascular calcification, which was also associated with impaired aortic compliance in mice. Elevation of O-GlcNAcylation by administration of Thiamet-G, a potent inhibitor for O-GlcNAcase that removes O-GlcNAcylation, further accelerated vascular calcification and worsened aortic compliance of diabetic mice in vivo. Increased O-GlcNAcylation, either by Thiamet-G or O-GlcNAcase knockdown, promoted calcification of primary mouse vascular smooth muscle cells. Increased O-GlcNAcylation in diabetic arteries or in the O-GlcNAcase knockdown vascular smooth muscle cell upregulated expression of the osteogenic transcription factor Runx2 and enhanced activation of AKT. O-GlcNAcylation of AKT at two new sites, T430 and T479, promoted AKT phosphorylation, which in turn enhanced vascular smooth muscle cell calcification. Site-directed mutation of AKT at T430 and T479 decreased O-GlcNAcylation, inhibited phosphorylation of AKT at S473 and binding of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 to AKT, and subsequently blocked Runx2 transactivity and vascular smooth muscle cell calcification. Conclusions: O-GlcNAcylation of AKT at 2 new sites enhanced AKT phosphorylation and activation, thus promoting vascular calcification. Our studies have identified a novel causative effect of O-GlcNAcylation in regulating vascular calcification in diabetes mellitus and uncovered a key molecular mechanism underlying O-GlcNAcylation–mediated activation of AKT. # Novelty and Significance {#article-title-52}
The Road Not Yet Taken: A Transactional Strategies Approach to Comprehension Instruction

Previous research indicates that a transactional strategies instruction (TSI) approach to teaching comprehension strategies improves students' reading on standardized tests and other reading measures. However, to date, TSI is not prevalent in schools. The purpose of this article is to provide a more detailed description of the approach, to report research on instructional differences between TSI and non-TSI teachers, and to explain how teachers can integrate the approach and their current reading instruction.
Cancer Stem Cells in Radiation Resistance

Highly tumorigenic subpopulations of several solid cancers share characteristics with somatic stem cells. We showed recently that cancer stem cells, or tumor-initiating cells, derived from human glioblastoma surgical specimens and xenografts display resistance to radiation due to increased activation of the DNA damage checkpoint. We additionally showed that these same tumor subpopulations promote tumor angiogenesis through increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor. These studies and subsequent reports from other researchers support critical roles for cancer stem cells in determining tumor response to therapy. Hypoxia and stem cell maintenance pathways may provide therapeutic targets to sensitize cancer stem cells to cytotoxic therapies to improve cancer patient treatments.
Design and simulation of resonant cavity enhanced corrugated quantum well infrared photodetectors

The dipole selection rule limits the maximum achievable efficiency in corrugated quantum well infrared photodetectors (C-QWIPs) to 50%. We consider what is believed to be a novel design that utilizes a resonant cavity enhancement technique to increase the efficiency beyond 50% by rotating the photon polarization at each pass around the cavity. Simulation results show that the quantum efficiency of this device can be enhanced up to 38% compared to that of the standard C-QWIP device.
Global Analysis of Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase Genes in Neurospora crassa

Serine/threonine (S/T) protein kinases are crucial components of diverse signaling pathways in eukaryotes, including the model filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. In order to assess the importance of S/T kinases to Neurospora biology, we embarked on a global analysis of 86 S/T kinase genes in Neurospora. We were able to isolate viable mutants for 77 of the 86 kinase genes. Of these, 57% exhibited at least one growth or developmental phenotype, with a relatively large fraction (40%) possessing a defect in more than one trait. S/T kinase knockouts were subjected to chemical screening using a panel of eight chemical treatments, with 25 mutants exhibiting sensitivity or resistance to at least one chemical. This brought the total percentage of S/T mutants with phenotypes in our study to 71%. Mutants lacking apg-1, an S/T kinase required for autophagy in other organisms, possessed the greatest number of phenotypes, with defects in asexual and sexual growth and development and in altered sensitivity to five chemical treatments. We showed that NCU02245/stk-19 is required for chemotropic interactions between female and male cells during mating. Finally, we demonstrated allelism between the S/T kinase gene NCU00406 and velvet (vel), encoding a p21-activated protein kinase (PAK) gene important for asexual and sexual growth and development in Neurospora.
Monte Carlo POMDPs

We present a Monte Carlo algorithm for learning to act in partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) with real-valued state and action spaces. Our approach uses importance sampling for representing beliefs, and Monte Carlo approximation for belief propagation. A reinforcement learning algorithm, value iteration, is employed to learn value functions over belief states. Finally, a sample-based version of nearest neighbor is used to generalize across states. Initial empirical results suggest that our approach works well in practical applications.
Fault tolerant energy aware data dissemination protocol in sensor networks

In this paper we present a data dissemination protocol for efficiently distributing data through a sensor network in the face of node and link failures. Our work is motivated by the SPIN protocol which uses metadata negotiation to minimize data transmissions. We propose a protocol called shortest path minded SPIN (SPMS) in which every node has a zone defined by its maximum transmission radius. A data source node advertises the availability of data to all the nodes in its zone. Any interested node requests the data and gets sent the data using multi-hop communication via the shortest path. The failure of any node in the path is detected and recovered using backup routes. We build simulation models to compare SPMS against SPIN. The simulation results show that SPMS reduces the delay over 10 times and consumes 30% less energy in the static failure free scenario. Even with the addition of mobility, SPMS outperforms SPIN by energy gains between 5% and 21%. An analytical model is also constructed to compare the two protocols under a simplified topology.
A Portable Memory Access Framework on Reconfigurable Computers

Current reconfigurable computers (RCs) do not share a unified architectural model, which presents a challenge to any developer who intends to port hardware designs across different RC platforms. In this paper, we propose a portable memory access framework that gives the user a unified memory view combining the host memory and the local memory of FPGA. Three memory access modes are provided, and the hardware cost and performance impact have been measured on three major RCs: SRC-6, SGI RC-100 and Cray XD1. Under current implementation, the penalty to hardware resource utilization and performance of applying this framework is reduced to minimum.
Interactive Evolution for Designing Motion Variants

We present an intuitive method for novice users to interactively design custom populations of stylized, heterogeneous motion, from one input motion. The user sets up lattice deformers which are used by a genetic algorithm to manipulate the animation channels of the input motion and create new motion variants. Our interactive evolutionary design environment allows the user to traverse the available space of possibilities, presents the user with populations of motion, and gradually converges to a satisfactory set of solutions. Each generated motion can undergo a filtering process subject to user-specified, high-level metrics to produce a result crafted to fit the designer’s interest. We demonstrate application to both character animation and particle systems.
Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Middle-aged and Older Women

The authors investigated the relation between physical activity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women by following 1,564 University of Pennsylvania alumnae (mean age, 45.5 years), initially free of CVD, from 1962 until 1993. Energy expenditure was estimated from the daily number of flights of stairs climbed and blocks walked as well as the sports played and was categorized into approximate thirds ( or = 1,000 kcal/week). During 35,021 person-years, 181 CVD cases were identified. After adjustment for coronary risk factors, the relative risks of CVD were 0.99 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69, 1.41) and 0.88 (95% CI: 0.62, 1.25) for women who expended 500-999 and > or = 1,000, respectively, compared with or = 10 blocks/day, respectively. Finally, an interaction (p = 0.023) between body mass index and physical activity on CVD risk was observed, with an inverse association only for leaner ( or = 10 blocks/day (approximately 6 miles (9.7 km)/week) was associated with a 33% decreased risk. One explanation for this finding may be that walking was reported more precisely than other kinds of activities.
The Date of the Composition of the English Wyclifite Collection of Sermons

THIS article attempts to clear the ground for determination of the authorship of the English Wyclifite tracts and sermons, which in turn will involve a study of the early centers of Lollardy other than Oxford. The pertinence of the date of the composition of the English Wyclifite sermon collection to the canon of Wyclif's English works is obvious. E. P. Jones, in the only study devoted solely to the canon of Wyclif's English works, believes the 294 sermons of the collection to have been written by Wyclif and uses, for the most part, their syntactical peculiarities to determine whether Wyclif wrote some of the English didactic and polemical works ascribed to him.' The only edition of the entire collection, which, of course, Jones used, follows the sermon compilation in MS. Bodl. 788,2 since the individual sermons, in that collection as well as the groups of sermons,3 are more complete than those in the other twenty manuscripts. However, Bodl. 788, in contrast to some of the other manuscripts, is probably a comparatively late compilation,4 since its sermons, as this article shows, were written, or at any rate enlarged, over a period of years from ca 1377 to ca 1412. Since there is nothing in the style or dialect of those sermons which distinguishes the earlier portions from other portions, or from later tropological additions, some other method of ascribing English works to Wyclif must be found. Jones's work, moreover, and the work upon which it is based, Thomas Arnold's ascription of the sermons to Wyclif,s are the only considerations of the authorship of these sermons which can not be considered obiter dicta. Gotthard Lechler suggests that a large number of the sermons were preached by Wyclif in the last years of his life and that Purvey transcribed, collected, and preserved many of them.6 F. D. Matthews agrees with Arnold.7 H. B. Workman considers some of
A Unified Gradient-Descent/Clustering Architecture for Finite State Machine Induction

Although recurrent neural nets have been moderately successful in learning to emulate finite-state machines (FSMs), the continuous internal state dynamics of a neural net are not well matched to the discrete behavior of an FSM. We describe an architecture, called DOLCE, that allows discrete states to evolve in a net as learning progresses. DOLCE consists of a standard recurrent neural net trained by gradient descent and an adaptive clustering technique that quantizes the state space. DOLCE is based on the assumption that a finite set of discrete internal states is required for the task, and that the actual network state belongs to this set but has been corrupted by noise due to inaccuracy in the weights. DOLCE learns to recover the discrete state with maximum a posteriori probability from the noisy state. Simulations show that DOLCE leads to a significant improvement in generalization performance over earlier neural net approaches to FSM induction.
A canonical dynamic extension for noninteraction with stability for nonlinear systems

The problem of noninteracting control with stability via dynamic feedback is considered for nonlinear systems with two inputs and two outputs. Given a system which may not be capable of decoupling via static state feedback but is capable of decoupling via dynamic feedback, a canonical dynamic extension is constructed. It is shown that every dynamic extension contains this canonical one. Hence, the Delta /sub mix/ dynamics as defined by K. Wagner (1989) of the canonical extension is contained in every other dynamic extension. Following Wagner's result, the stability of this Delta /sub mix/ dynamics is necessary for noninteraction with internal stability. The results obtained show that in the investigation of noninteraction with stability one can assume without loss of generality that the system is capable of decoupling via static state feedback. >
Low-rank plus sparse matrix decomposition for accelerated dynamic MRI with separation of background and dynamic components.

Purpose To apply the low-rank plus sparse (L+S) matrix decomposition model to reconstruct undersampled dynamic MRI as a superposition of background and dynamic components in various problems of clinical interest. Theory and Methods The L+S model is natural to represent dynamic MRI data. Incoherence between k-t space (acquisition) and the singular vectors of L and the sparse domain of S is required to reconstruct undersampled data. Incoherence between L and S is required for robust separation of background and dynamic components. Multicoil L+S reconstruction is formulated using a convex optimization approach, where the nuclear norm is used to enforce low rank in L and the l1 norm is used to enforce sparsity in S. Feasibility of the L+S reconstruction was tested in several dynamic MRI experiments with true acceleration, including cardiac perfusion, cardiac cine, time-resolved angiography, and abdominal and breast perfusion using Cartesian and radial sampling. Results The L+S model increased compressibility of dynamic MRI data and thus enabled high-acceleration factors. The inherent background separation improved background suppression performance compared to conventional data subtraction, which is sensitive to motion. Conclusion The high acceleration and background separation enabled by L+S promises to enhance spatial and temporal resolution and to enable background suppression without the need of subtraction or modeling. Magn Reson Med 73:1125–1136, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sapphire-bonded photonic Crystal microcavity lasers and their far-field radiation patterns

Room-temperature continuous-wave lasing was demonstrated in photonic crystal microcavities with diameters of approximately 3.2 /spl mu/m. Far-field radiation patterns of these lasers were experimentally measured and compared with numerical simulation predictions.
Labor Union Leadership And Career Advancement In Major Nigerian Oil Companies

Labor related issues in the upstream sector of the Nigerian oil industry started to emerge soon after the discovery of petroleum in commercial quantities within the Niger Delta area mid- 1950’s (Shell, 2000). Different groups within and outside the oil industry formed opinions about union leaders in the most strategic industry in the country. This was in part the case because the work force became better educated than their predecessors. One group among the industry’s stakeholders believe labor union leaders have been ill treated, penalized, and stagnated, over the years by their managements. Supervisors and managers, it is alleged, act repulsively and harassingly towards union leaders in order to suppress their activities. Others believe the union leaders have been pampered and favorably treated by the managements of these companies in order to maintain peace. This study sets out to discover whether or not these notions about labor union leaders in the major oil companies in Nigeria are true. In this regard, ten null hypotheses were tested to accept or reject the notion that union leaders are not favored, are not educationally qualified, are not productive, are not militant, are not loyal, are not penalized for holding labor union leadership positions, cannot progress beyond executive status and cannot score more than 70 percentile on the researcher’s charismatic and superior leadership scale. One of the hypotheses was tested using ANOVA, two were tested using Kruskal-Wallis, and seven were tested using Chi-Square. The research findings highlighted some areas that the management of major oil companies and the federal government of Nigeria need to look into. Management of these companies need to look into the issue of the small group of managers and supervisors in the companies who still view labor unionism in negative light and consider labor union leaders as mere loafers and trouble makers. Training programs in labor unionism need to be carried out on regular basis for union leaders, managers, and supervisors in these companies. Further, the federal government of Nigeria needs to look into the perennial labor-related conflicts between the major oil companies and their host communities.
Applying trait-function relationships for microbial plant decomposition to predict medium longevity in pollution control biofilters

Biofilters, bioreactors used for pollution control, can effectively treat a variety of odorous and hazardous emissions, but uncertain medium longevities and associated costs limit biofilter adoption. To improve medium-life estimations for biofilter end-users, litter bags were used to compare decay rates of common biofilter medium types and test the effects of nitrogen (N) enrichment and livestock production emissions on medium decay in a full-scale biofilter over a 27-month period. Generally, "by-product" media (mulch, corn cobs) decayed faster than hardwood media, with decay of softwood media the slowest. Analysis showed nutrient content was the best predictor of early-stage decay, while carbon fractions and nutrient content best predicted medium longevity. N amendments and N-rich barn emissions were found to hasten medium decay. By identifying decay rates and rate predictors specific for biofilter media, we provide biofilter engineers and farmers with a quantitative way to improve medium selection based on the trade-offs between medium cost and replacement frequency.
Characteristics of the distribution of hamming distance values between multidimensional assignment problem solutions

The Multidimensional Assignment Problem (MAP) is a combinatorial optimization problem that arises in many important practical areas including capital investment, dynamic facility location, elementary particle path reconstruction, multiple target tracking and sensor fusion. Since the solution space of the MAP increases exponentially with the problem parameters, and the problem has exponentially many local minima, only moderate-sized instances can be solved to optimality. We investigate the combinatorial structure of the solution space by extending a concept of Hamming distance. The results of numerical experiments indicate a linear trend for average Hamming distance to optimal solution for the cases where one of the parameters is fixed.
An empirical examination of currency ETFs tracking error

In this paper, I study on intradaily basis six currency ETFs' tracking error volatility around the Great Recession - 12/30/2002 to 04/05/2013. I study the Australian Dollar ETF (FXA), the British Pound ETF (FXB), the Canadian Dollar ETF (FXC), the Euro ETF (FXE), the Swiss Franc ETF (FXF) and the Japanese Yen ETF (FXY). I find that the FXA, FXB and FXE tracking errors are non-stationary, whereas FXC, FXF and FXY tracking errors are stationary. The FXC, FXF and FXY ETFs tracking errors which are stationary and do not exhibit clustering of volatility are best described by a simple AR(1) model specification. The FXA, FXB and FXE ETFs tracking errors which are non-stationary and exhibit ARCH effects are best described by a AR(1)-GARCH(1,1) model. An arbitrageur can use these models to forecast these six currency ETFs tracking errors and identify a signal for an arbitrage opportunity.
BM-17FINAL RESULTS OF A RANDOMIZED TRIAL TO IDENTIFY THE OPTIMAL PLANNING TARGET VOLUME IN IMAGE-GUIDED STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY OF BRAIN METASTASES

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to identify an optimal margin for SRS of brain metastases, minimizing toxicity and local recurrence. METHODS: Adult patients with 1-3 brain metastases, no previous brain radiotherapy and KPS >70 were eligible for this IRB-approved trial. Individual lesions were randomized to 1 or 3mm uniform expansion of the gross tumor volume (GTV) defined on MRI. The resulting planning target volume (PTV) was treated to 24, 18 or 15Gy marginal dose for PTV diameters 0.05 for all measures). CONCLUSION: SRS was well-tolerated with low rates of LR in both cohorts. Given the higher potential risk of RN, a 1mm margin appears more appropriate.
Refugees and Human Rights in Costa Rica: The Mariel Cubans

Historically, Costa Rican refugee policies have reflected a broad human rights perspective consistent with international principles. However, the reception and subsequent treatment of Mariel Cubans...
Potential Clinical and Economic Impact of Switching Branded Medications to Generics

Switching branded to generic medications has become a common cost-containment measure. Although this is an important objective for health care systems worldwide, the impact of this practice on patient outcomes needs to be carefully considered. We reviewed the literature summarizing the potential clinical and economic consequences of switching from branded to generic medications on patient outcomes. A literature search of peer-reviewed articles published 2003-2013 using key words of "generic switching" or "substitution" was conducted using PubMed, OvidSP, and ScienceDirect. Of 30 articles identified and reviewed, most were related to the diseases of the central nervous system, especially epilepsy. Based on our review, potential impacts of switching fell into 3 broad categories: patient attitudes and adherence, clinical and safety outcomes, and cost and resource utilization. Although in many cases generics may represent an appropriate alternative to branded products, this may not always be the case. Specifically, several studies suggested that switching may negatively impact medication adherence, whereas other studies found that generic switching was associated with poorer clinical outcomes and more adverse events. In some instances, switching accomplished cost savings but did so at increased total cost of care because of increased physician visits or hospitalizations. Although in many cases generics may represent an appropriate alternative, mandatory generic switching may lead to unintended consequences, especially in certain therapeutic areas. Although further study is warranted, based on our review, it may be medically justifiable for physicians and patients to retain the right to request the branded product in certain cases.
Introduction to Micro-Systems and to the Techniques for Their Fabrication

This chapter presents an introduction to the main manufacturing processes for micro-systems. After a brief historical overview of the field of microsystems, their main manufacturing techniques are reviewed. These include substrate preparation, photolithography, oxidation and diffusion, thin-film deposition, and wet and dry etching techniques. MEMS-specific processes including bulk- and surface-micromachining, LIGA, soft-lithography, and anodic bonding are also presented. The material is illustrated with multiple examples of process parameter calculation. Examples of MEMS devices fabricated in the laboratory of the author are also provided.
Supporting Proactive Application Event Notification to Improve Sensor Network Performance

As wireless sensor networks gain in popularity, many deployments are posing new challenges due to their diverse topologies and resource constraints. Previous work has shown the advantage of adapting protocols based on current network conditions (e.g., link status, neighbor status), in order to provide the best service in data transport. Protocols can similarly benefit from adaptation based on current application conditions. In particular, if proactively informed of the status of active queries in the network, protocols can adjust their behavior accordingly. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to provide such proactive application event notification to all interested protocols in the stack. Specifically, we use the existing interfaces and event signaling structure provided by the X-Lisa (Cross-layer Information Sharing Architecture) protocol architecture, augmenting this architecture with a Middleware Interpreter for managing application queries and performing event notification. Using this approach, we observe gains in Quality of Service of up to 40% in packet delivery ratios and a 75% decrease in packet delivery delay for the tested scenario.
Balancing comfort and function in textiles worn by medical personnel

Abstract: Wear comfort, including psychological and physiological comfort, is of particular concern to the surgical personnel, whose efficiency needs to be supported rather than impaired. Improvements in protective performance of medical apparel products often are achieved at the expense of comfort, making wearers less likely to comply with universal precaution guidelines. This chapter focuses on issues involved in balancing the comfort and function of textile products worn by medical personnel. The discussion will identify factors which influence the comfort and function of surgical gowns, nursing uniforms, gloves, and masks and consider the needs/concerns of government agencies, researchers, manufacturers and users in guiding comfort improvements.
Researching Our Way

Five years ago, after 10 years as a classroom teacher I decided to return to school to pursue a doctoral degree. While going through my academic journey, I continued teaching since my primary goal was to find meaningful and innovative ways to improve my practice and student learning.
Both the H2S biosynthesis inhibitor aminooxyacetic acid and the mitochondrially targeted H2S donor AP39 exert protective effects in a mouse model of burn injury

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exerts beneficial as well as deleterious effects in various models of critical illness. Here we tested the effect of two different pharmacological interventions: (a) inhibition of H2S biosynthesis using the cystathionine-beta-synthase (CBS)/cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) inhibitor aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) and the mitochondrially targeted H2S donor [10-oxo-10-[4-(3-thioxo-3H-1,2-dithiol-5-yl)phenoxy]decyl]triphenyl-phosphonium (AP39). A 30% body surface area burn injury was induced in anesthetized mice; animals were treated with vehicle, AOAA (10mg/kg i.p. once or once a day for 6days), or AP39 (0.3mg/kg/day once or once a day for 6days). In two separate groups, animals were sacrificed, at 24h post-burn or on Day 7 post-burn, blood and lungs were collected and the following parameters were evaluated: myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in lung homogenates, plasma cytokines (Luminex analysis) and circulating indicators of organ dysfunction (Vetscan analysis). Lung MPO levels (an index of neutrophil infiltration) and MDA levels (an index of oxidative stress) were significantly increased in response to burn injury both at 24h and at 7days; both AOAA and AP39 attenuated these increases. From a panel of inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, MIP-2, VEGF and IFNγ) in the plasma, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were markedly elevated at 24h and VEGF was slightly elevated. IL-6 remained highly elevated at 7days post-burn while IL-10 levels decreased, but remained slightly elevated over baseline 7days post-burn. The changes in cytokine levels were attenuated both by AP39 and AOAA at both time points studied. The burn-induced increases in the organ injury markers ALP and ALT, amylase and creatinine were reduced by both AOAA and AP39. We conclude that both H2S biosynthesis inhibition (using AOAA) and H2S donation (using AP39) suppresses inflammatory mediator production and reduces multi-organ injury in a murine model of burn injury, both at an early time point (when systemic H2S levels are elevated) and at a later time point (at which time systemic H2S levels have returned to baseline). These findings point to the complex pathogenetic role of H2S in burns.
Abstract 3720: Diabetes and prostate cancer (CaP): Clinical characteristics and disparity in outcomes

Introduction: Disparities in prostate cancer (CaP) outcomes are poorly understood, but are likely caused by multiple factors. The presence of comorbidities may contribute to disparate outcomes in at least two ways: by altering the biological course of disease, and by influencing overall survival probabilities that impact treatment decisions. Diabetes has been associated with CaP in a variety of settings, and there is evidence that AA men suffer from diabetes at a higher rate than men of other races. We examined whether presence of diabetes is related to prostate cancer recurrence measured by post-prostatectomy biochemical (PSA) failure (BF). Materials and methods: A prospective cohort of 554 European Americans (EA) and 184 African American (AA) CaP cases from the University of Pennsylvania were studied. We performed survival analysis for BF to evaluate the effect of diabetes on using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for age, race, obesity, and Kattan score. Median post-prostatectomy follow-up was 40 months. Results: Prevalence of diabetes was 6.3% overall (12% in AA and 5% in EA, p Conclusions. Being diabetic at time of CaP diagnosis increased the risk of prostate cancer recurrence, even after accounting for obesity and age. This effect was significant for both AA and EA, but the effect of diabetes appeared to be greater in AA. Diabetes may an important predictor of post-prostatectomy CaP outcomes. Citation Format: Elaine Spangler, Charnita Zeigler-Johnson, Jonathan Mitchell, Timothy Rebbeck. Diabetes and prostate cancer (CaP): Clinical characteristics and disparity in outcomes. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3720. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3720
A Multivariate Algorithm for Gene Selection Based on the Nearest Neighbor Probability

Experiments performed with DNA microarrays have very often the aim of retrieving a subset of genes involved in the discrimination between two physiological or pathological states (e.g. ill/healthy). Many methods have been proposed to solve this problem, among which the Signal to Noise ratio (S2N ) [5] and SVM-RFE [6]. Recently, the complementary approach to RFE, called Recursive Feature Addition (RFA ), has been successfully adopted. According to this approach, at each iteration the gene which maximizes a proper ranking function *** is selected, thus producing an ordering among the considered genes. In this paper an RFA method based on the nearest neighbor probability, named NN-RFA , is described and tested on some real world problems regarding the classification of human tissues. The results of such simulations show the ability of NN-RFA in retrieving a correct subset of genes for the problems at hand.
Minimally Invasive Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases

This chapter provides an overview on the minimally invasive approach to hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer. We detail the workup and preoperative planning of minimally invasive hepatectomy. The multidisciplinary management of metastatic colorectal cancer is discussed. We review existing data regarding the feasibility, safety, and oncologic outcomes following minimally invasive hepatic resection for malignancy.
Groundwater Withdrawals Under Drought: Reconciling GRACE and Land Surface Models in the United States High Plains Aquifer

Advanced Land Surface Models (LSM) offer a powerful tool for studying hydrological variability. Highly managed systems, however, present a challenge for these models, which typically have simplified or incomplete representations of human water use. Here we examine recent groundwater declines in the US High Plains Aquifer (HPA), a region that is heavily utilized for irrigation and that is also affected by episodic drought. To understand observed decline in groundwater and terrestrial water storage during a recent multi-year drought, we modify the Noah-MP LSM to include a groundwater irrigation scheme. To account for seasonal and interannual variability in active irrigated area, we apply a monthly time-varying greenness vegetation fraction (GVF) dataset within the model. A set of five experiments were performed to study the impact of groundwater irrigation on the simulated hydrological cycle of the HPA and to assess the importance of time-varying GVF when simulating drought conditions. The results show that including the groundwater irrigation scheme improves model agreement with ALEXI ET data, mascon-based GRACE TWS data and depth-to-groundwater measurements in the southern HPA, including Texas and Kansas, and that accounting for time-varying GVF is important for model realism under drought. Results for the HPA in Nebraska are mixed, likely due to the model's weaknesses in representing subsurface hydrology in this region. This study highlights the value of GRACE datasets for model evaluation and development and the potential to advance the dynamic representations of the interactions between human water use and the hydrological cycle.
A treatment strategy for KRAS-driven tumors.

Studies in KRAS-mutant lung and pancreatic adenocarcinoma and in KRAS-amplified gastric carcinoma reveal that SHP2 inhibition augments the antitumor effect of MEK inhibitor treatment.
Role of Synchrotron Techniques in USEPA Regulatory and Remediation Decisions

Abstract Synchrotron techniques are powerful tools in environmental research. In relation to regulatory development, the quality and impact of synchrotron data is beginning to show its merit. The momentum of synchrotron research in the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is leading to a robust approach to site and risk assessment to understand bioavailability of metals as well as remedial design at contaminated sites. The continuous success of synchrotron studies to address complex environmental issues will lead to more acceptance by those in the regulatory community, resulting in well-informed policy decisions. We encourage our national and international peers to produce high-quality outputs utilizing synchrotron techniques and push these capabilities to the limit to address important future issues. USEPA researchers understand the vital impact of synchrotron research in reducing the uncertainty and dynamic nature of scientific knowledge. We will continue to educate risk assessors and decision makers on the value of synchrotron data and its importance in protecting human health and the natural environment.
Rous Sarcoma Virus Gag Gene Sequences Affect Viral RNA Splicing and Stability

A feature common to the life cycles of all retroviruses is the incomplete splicing of the primary viral RNA transcript. While splicing of a subset of the primary transcripts is necessary to generate subgenomic mRNAs (including env mRNA and additional mRNAs in the more complex retroviruses), a major fraction of the RNA transcripts are transported to the cytoplasm in an unspliced form, where they serve both as mRNA and as genomic RNA (Coffin, 1990; Stoltzfus, 1989).
Evidence-based medicine in orthopaedic surgery--a way to the future.

"We are in this business to serve people, and that means not only maintaining and restoring their health, but doing it without violating the budget they are willing to spend . . . The unifying principle is that when we run into a tough choice, we should try to resolve it by reference to the people we serve: what is important to them and how they weight the different consequences." David Eddy, MD, PhD.1
The Current Controversy in Childbirth Care

Because young adults of childbearing age are exposed almost daily to opinions and “data” from the proponents of the various childbirth schools of thought (whether in the electronic and print media or through family and social contacts), there tends to be a sense of uncertainty about what is best for them and their infant-to-be. How they arrive at decisions about what kind of care is most appropriate for them has been discussed in the preceding chapter. Many of the arguments have become so emotionally charged that the mental health consultant may find a more dispassionate (if that is possible) exposition of the issues useful in working with families and caregivers. That is the basic purpose of this chapter. As is often the case, it is best to begin by letting the actors in the “drama” speak for themselves. The following are verbatim excerpts from tape-recorded interviews that I have conducted over the past few years.
The dynamic stress-strain relation of annealed 2S aluminum under compression impact

This thesis presents the results of a study of the stress-strain relation of a metal when subjected to compression impact. An annealed 2S aluminum is used for this investigation. Two methods of securing the dynamic stress-strain curve are considered; namely, from the measurement of impact stress and of maximum plastic strain as functions of the impact velocity from 3.15 to 125 ft/sec. The dynamic stress-strain relations obtained by these methods are compared with the static stress-strain curve. Both of the dynamic stress-strain relations lie considerably above the static curve. However, the two dynamic relations are not coincident which indicates that a single dynamic stress-strain curve cannot properly describe the behavior of the material for all impact velocities. A family of stress-strain curves is postulated in order to explain the difference between these two relations. Each curve of the family depends upon the final strain or impact velocity. It is further concluded that the rise of the stress-strain curve under dynamic loading cannot be induced by moderate loading rates.