cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Antidiabetic Drugs on Gut Microbiota Composition

Gut microbiota forms a catalog of about 1000 bacterial species; which mainly belong to the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla. Microbial genes are essential for key metabolic processes; such as the biosynthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA); amino acids; bile acids or vitamins. It is becoming clear that gut microbiota is playing a prevalent role in pathologies such as metabolic syndrome; type 2 diabetes (T2D); inflammatory and bowel diseases. Obesity and related diseases; notably type 2 diabetes, induce gut dysbiosis. In this review; we aim to cover the current knowledge about the effects of antidiabetic drugs on gut microbiota diversity and composition as well as the potential beneficial effects mediated by specific taxa. Metformin is the first-line treatment against T2D. In addition to its glucose-lowering and insulin sensitizing effects, metformin promotes SCFA-producing and mucin-degrading bacteria. Other antidiabetic drugs discussed in this review show positive effects on dysbiosis; but without any consensus specifically regarding the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio. Thus, beneficial effects might be mediated by specific taxa.
Active Learning in a Child Psychology Course: Observing Play Behavior at a Children’s Museum:

The primary goal of this paper is to describe an innovative active learning experience (i.e., class trip to a children’s museum) aimed at expanding child psychology students’ knowledge of the devel...
Unmanned helicopter formation flight experiment for the study of mesh stability

The authors have performed formation flights of UAVs using two of UC Berkeley’s BEAR unmanned helicopters together in realtime with a simulated leader and six simulated helicopters. The goal of this experiment was to verify the mesh stability theory. The experimental results differ from the ideal theoretical results. Upon closer examination, this discrepancy is due to the effects of having a heterogeneous formation while the theory used is meant for homogeneous formations. While much work remains to be done, we can still show that using leader information in the control law is better than not using leader information. However, a new question arises regarding how one should define mesh stability for a heterogeneous mesh.
Acute Lung Injury in the Acute Care Surgery Patient

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a spectrum of pulmonary insufficiency ranging from minor and easily correctable hypoxemia to severe refractory respiratory failure or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The American-European Consensus Conference on ARDS in 1994 defined ALI as “a syndrome of inflammation and increased permeability that is associated with a constellation of clinical, radiologic, and physiologic abnormalities that cannot be explained by, but may coexist with, left atrial or pulmonary capillary hypertension” [1]. The resultant pulmonary insufficiency can be an indirect result of a systemic inflammatory state (circulating inflammatory mediators causing reactivity and edema in the lung parenchyma), or a direct result of a localized release of inflammatory mediators from a process affecting the lung parenchyma such as blunt chest trauma, toxic inhalation, aspiration, or pneumonia. Factors increasing a patient’s likelihood of developing ALI are those that predispose a patient to massive inflammation, as well as increasing age, preexisting need for mechanical ventilation, smoke inhalation, massive transfusion, and drug overdose.
Integration of Circadian and Visual Function in Mammals and Birds: Brain Imaging and the Role of Melatonin in Biological Clock Regulation

Many physiological processes are regulated on a daily basis by an endogenous timing system. This biological clock or “circadian system” is known to reside in amniotic vertebrates in a specialized set of central nervous and neuroendocrine structures whose mutual interactions are necessary for the expression, stability and precision of rhythmic behavioral and physiological functions. These circadian system components include circadian oscillators within the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), pineal gland and perhaps retinae, and photoreceptors within the retinae and, in most species, circumventricular structures within the brain and pineal complexes. Application of brain imaging techniques have in the past been instrumental in revealing the physiological processes underlying circadian rhythmicity and are now being used to test specific hypotheses concerning the mutual interactions of system components. In particular, experiments employing 2-deoxyglucose and in vitro binding techniques to test whether the pineal hormone melatonin affects SCN oscillators directly have been successful in establishing that the SCN is a site of melatonin action. Furthermore, these experiments have revealed serendipitously the presence of other sites of melatonin action. In mammals, this includes the pars tuberalis of the adenohypophysis which may be a site of action for melatonin’s reproductive role(s). In birds, by contrast, the entire visual system appears to be sensitive to the hormone of the circadian system.
Utility and accuracy of template-directed dye-terminator incorporation with fluorescence-polarization detection for genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms.

There are little independent data available about how well single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping technologies perform in the typical molecular genetics laboratory. We evaluated the utilit...
Abstract 19302: Surgical Approach to Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Explantation: a Comparison of Outcomes

Objective: Weaning and explanation of selected patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF LVADs) has been shown to be feasible. Clinical outcomes are poorly described regarding the various operative approaches employed, which differ primarily in the degree of retained pump material. We evaluate the impact of CF LVAD explant surgical approach on early and late clinical events. Methods: A single-center, retrospective review was performed, evaluating all patients who underwent explanation of a CF LVAD (2006-2014). Descriptive univariate statistics, multivariate regression and survival analysis were performed. Patients were stratified by surgical approach, and censored by transplant, device re-implantation or death. Results: A total of 27 patients were identified (25 HeartMateII, 2 HeartWare); characteristics and outcomes are listed in Figure 1a. Four approaches were used: complete pump and outflow excision with ventriculotomy closure (n=13 ; 48%), pump excision and ligation of inflow and outflow grafts (n=7 ; 26%), ligation of outflow graft and driveline transection (n=5 ; 19%), or driveline transection alone (n=2 ; 7%). Primary incisions were subcostal (n=19, 70%) or subxiphoid (n=5, 19%), with 1 conversion to sternotomy (n=1, 7%). Mean duration of CF support prior to explant was 532±424 days (range 42-1937 days), while post-explant survival (defined as time preceding transplant, device re-implantation, or death) was 1116±927 days (range 127-2877 days). Survival stratified by surgical approach is shown in Figure 1b. Overall time-to-event and survival analyses showed no significant difference in postoperative length of stay (p=0.7), stroke (p=0.12), reoperation (p=0.4), or total survival (p=0.12) between surgical approaches. Conclusions: This is the largest description of CF LVAD explantation by surgical approach. While technical difficulty varies, all are feasible with similar early and late survival and clinical outcomes.
The Filmmaker is Present: Performance, Ethos, and Politics in In viaggio con Cecilia and Io sto con la sposa

This article focuses on documentary filmmakers’ presence on screen and their performance in front of the camera. More specifically, it investigates the relational and self-conscious dimension of th...
Non-stoichiometric grain-growth in ZnSe ceramics for χ (2) interaction

Random quasi-phase-matching is a nonlinear scheme for three-wave mixing in transparent ceramics of non-centrosymmetric cubic materials. This process is controlled by the grain-size distribution of the ceramic and the nonlinear conversion efficiency is maximized when the average grain-size matches the coherence length. In this work, solid-state grain-coarsening is used to fabricate ZnSe ceramics with a desired grain-size. The effect of heat-treatment atmospheres (excess selenium vapor, zinc vapor or vacuum) on the grain-size distribution is investigated at 850°C and 1000°C and as a function of the heat-treatment time. The effect of these grain-size distributions on the efficiency of second-harmonic generation process by random quasi-phase-matching is analyzed theoretically.
A Haptic Object to Quantify the Effect of Feedback Modality on Prosthetic Grasping

Upper limb prostheses do not provide proprioceptive cues to their users, which impedes performance in grasp and manipulation tasks. Various sensory substitution methods have been developed to provide prosthesis users with a sense of the device's position, orientation, and terminal device aperture. However, the impact of these technologies on manipulation dexterity has not been systematically assessed and these technologies have not been widely adopted by prosthesis users. Researchers have previously used visually rendered virtual objects and virtual prostheses, which do not provide cues associated with physical interactions involved in grasping and manipulation. Other studies use a physical object and a physical prosthesis, but these methods lack the benefit of programmable conditions, systematic experiment setup, and direct evaluation of performance in addition to issues of consistent application across different types of prostheses. In order to address these concerns, we suggest a new method to evaluate different types of feedback with the use of a haptic device that renders physical properties through motors to a hand or a physical prosthesis. Ten users without amputation were asked to match hand aperture to a target using various feedback modalities (visual, vibration, and soft force-wall feedback). Participants interacted with the haptic device either through their natural hand or using a body-powered prosthetic emulator. In addition, three prosthesis users were recruited to complete the same task, each using their own prosthesis. Trials performed under conditions with visual and vibration feedback showed similar improvements in position accuracy, compared to trials without feedback.
Oriented Cell Divisions Are Not Required for Drosophila Wing Shape.

Summary Formation of correctly shaped organs is vital for normal function. The Drosophila wing has an elongated shape, which has been attributed in part to a preferential orientation of mitotic spindles along the proximal-distal axis [ 1 , 2 ]. Orientation of mitotic spindles is believed to be a fundamental morphogenetic mechanism in multicellular organisms [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. A contribution of spindle orientation to wing shape was inferred from observations that mutation of Dachsous-Fat pathway genes results in both rounder wings and loss of the normal proximal-distal bias in spindle orientation [ 1 , 2 , 7 ]. To directly evaluate the potential contribution of spindle orientation to wing morphogenesis, we assessed the consequences of loss of the Drosophila NuMA homolog Mud, which interacts with the dynein complex and has a conserved role in spindle orientation [ 8 , 9 ]. Loss of Mud randomizes spindle orientation but does not alter wing shape. Analysis of growth and cell dynamics in developing discs and in ex vivo culture suggests that the absence of oriented cell divisions is compensated for by an increased contribution of cell rearrangements to wing shape. Our results indicate that oriented cell divisions are not required for wing morphogenesis, nor are they required for the morphogenesis of other Drosophila appendages. Moreover, our results suggest that normal organ shape is not achieved through locally specifying and then summing up individual cell behaviors, like oriented cell division. Instead, wing shape might be specified through tissue-wide stresses that dictate an overall arrangement of cells without specifying the individual cell behaviors needed to achieve it.
The Family, Socio-Economic Development and Suicide: A 52 Nation Comparative Study

Empirical studies of the family and suicide are few, while comparative studies of family structure and suicide are rare. Past cross-national comparative studies of suicide rates and family variable...
Self Manipulated Cervical Spine Leads to Posterior Disc Herniation and Spinal Stenosis.

The authors report a case in which a 38-year-old male who presented himself to the emergency department with a chief complaint of cervical neck pain and paresthesia radiating from the right pectoral region down his distal right arm following self-manipulation of the patient’s own cervical vertebrae. Initial emergency department imaging via cervical x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without contrast revealed no cervical fractures; however, there was evidence of an acute cervical disc herniation (C3–C7) with severe herniation and spinal stenosis located at C5–C6. Immediate discectomy at C5–C6 and anterior arthrodesis was conducted in order to decompress the cervical spinal cord. Acute traumatic cervical disc herniation is rare in comparison to disc herniation due to the chronic degradation of the posterior annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus. Traumatic cervical hernias usually arise due to a very large external force causing hyperflexion or hyperextension of the cervical vertebrae. However, there have been reports of cervical injury arising from cervical spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) where a licensed professional applies a rotary force component. This can be concerning, considering that 12 million Americans receive SMT annually (Powell, F.C.; Hanigan, W.C.; Olivero, W.C. A risk/benefit analysis of spinal manipulation therapy for relief of lumbar or cervical pain. Neurosurgery 1993, 33, 73–79.). This case study involved an individual who was able to apply enough rotary force to his own cervical vertebrae, causing severe neurological damage requiring surgical intervention. Individuals with neck pain should be advised of the complications of SMT, and provided with alternative treatment methods, especially if one is willing to self manipulate.
Respiratory failure secondary to congenital pulmonary arterial thrombus with lung dysplasia

Respiratory failure requiring extracorporeal membranous oxygenation in the newborn is commonly seen secondary to severe pathology such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia, meconium aspiration syndrome, pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary hypoplasia. However, atypical causes of respiratory failure, such as pulmonary arterial thrombi, are often refractory to traditional management and require careful multidisciplinary evaluation. We report a case of respiratory failure secondary to congenital pulmonary arterial thrombosis of unknown aetiology in an otherwise healthy neonate. We discuss the abnormal anatomy and pathophysiology that presented in our patient secondary to this condition and discuss our diagnostic process, management and outcomes. Additionally, we review the literature for reported cases and discuss current hypotheses on the development of congenital pulmonary arterial thrombi. Given the rare occurrence of this event, we hope to contribute to the understanding of future similar cases and emphasise the importance of keeping pulmonary arterial thrombi in the clinical differential.
Reinforcement Learning and Formal Requirements

Reinforcement learning is an approach to controller synthesis where agents rely on reward signals to choose actions in order to satisfy the requirements implicit in reward signals. Oftentimes non-experts have to come up with the requirements and their translation to rewards under significant time pressure, even though manual translation is time consuming and error prone. For safety-critical applications of reinforcement learning a rigorous design methodology is needed and, in particular, a principled approach to requirement specification and to the translation of objectives into the form required by reinforcement learning algorithms.
A Hartian Account of Genuine Theoretical Disagreement

In Law’s Empire, Ronald Dworkin raised what he called a new objection to Hart’s positivist theory of law. Dworkin contended that Hartian legal positivism cannot account for the genuine possibility of theoretical disagreement in the law, because, according to the positivists, law reduces to a question about social facts. This means that if there is a question about what the criteria of legal validity are, it must be resolved by answers to empirical questions, like how in fact the officials are acting, and not theoretical questions. In response, Leiter and Shapiro proffer ways of defusing the problem for the positivist. Leiter questions the face value of theoretical disagreements by showing that the prototypical examples of theoretical disagreement are disingenuous or erroneous. Shapiro shows that the positivist can account for theoretical disagreement, by looking at competing interpretive methodologies, but answering the question this way requires sacrificing the conventionality thesis of Hartian legal positivism. In this piece, I set forth a new response on behalf of the Hartian legal positivist. Specifically, I contend that the Hartian legal positivist can respond to the problem of theoretical disagreement in a way that both vindicates the face value of theoretical disagreement and maintains its critical commitments, specifically the separability thesis, the social facts thesis, and the conventionality thesis. To do so, I contend that we must attend to the role of inference and the norms of reasoning in legal discourse. Consistent with the Hartian picture, participants in a theoretical disagreement can agree about all the ground facts about the law, but disagree about the grounds of the law because they arrive at their positions by differing legal inferences and reasoning.
Capital Markets Integration and Economic Growth in the European Union

Abstract This paper argues that a deeper integration of capital markets in the European Union is necessary to support accelerated economic growth. Further integrated equity and bond markets will provide access to capital funding improve the allocation of capital, help mitigate market and systemic risks, and ultimately foster a counter-cyclical, sustained real economy growth. The paper provides evidence that the increases in both total portfolio equity and debt to GDP ratios in the euro area actively contribute to real GDP growth.
Outcomes of post-chemotherapy robot-assisted retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in testicular cancer: multi-institutional study.

To evaluate the perioperative and oncological outcomes after post-chemotherapy robot-assisted retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RARPLND). We retrospectively reported the perioperative and oncological outcomes of all the patients with testicular cancer who underwent PC-RARPLND at three tertiary teaching centers. Descriptive statistical measures were used to report demographic, clinical, intraoperative, postoperative and oncological outcomes. There were 43 consecutive patients who underwent PC-RARPLND at the participating institutions. Mean patient age was 29.2 years (± 8.2), BMI was 26.6 kg/m2 (± 6.2). The mean size of retroperitoneal mass was 4.1 cm (± 3.5). Full bilateral template dissection was performed in 38 (88.3%) patients. Nerve sparing was attempted in 19 (44.1%) patients. Mean operative time was 374 min (± 132) and estimated blood loss was 292 ml (± 445.6). The mean postoperative LOS was 2.8 days (± 5.9). There was a total of 12 complications in 10 patients (Clavien grade I = 5, II = 3, III = 3 and IV = 1). Postoperative pathology demonstrated 24 patients (55%) with necrosis/fibrosis, 16 (37%) with teratoma and 3 (7%) with viable tumor. Mean lymph node (LN) yield was 26.5 LNs (SD ± 16.1). Patients were followed for a mean of 30.7 months (± 24.7). No deaths were documented during follow-up and 2 pulmonary recurrences were identified. Antegrade ejaculation was preserved in 70.6% of patient who underwent nerve sparing. Limitations included retrospective nature and limited follow up. PC-RAPLND is safe and technically reproducible. It provides improved morbidity and less convalescence.
Hypomethylating Chemotherapeutic Agents as Therapy for Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Prevention of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDSs) affect the elderly and can progress to Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Epigenetic alterations including DNA methylation and chromatin modification may contribute to the initiation and progression of these malignancies. DNA hypomethylating agents such as decitabine and azacitidine are used as therapeutic treatments and have shown to promote expression of genes involved in tumor suppression, apoptosis, and immune response. Another anti-cancer drug, the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, is used as a chemotherapeutic treatment for multiple myeloma (MM). Phase III clinical trials of decitabine and azacitidine used alone and in combination with other chemotherapeutics demonstrated their capacity to treat hematological malignancies and prolong the survival of MDS and AML patients. Although phase III clinical trials examining bortezomib's role in MDS and AML patients are limited, its underlying mechanisms in MM highlight its potential as a chemotherapeutic for such malignancies. Further research is needed to better understand how the epigenetic mechanisms mediated by these chemotherapeutic agents and their targeted gene networks are associated with the development and progression of MDS into AML. This review discusses the mechanisms by which decitabine, azacitidine, and bortezomib alter epigenetic programs and their results from phase III clinical trials.
Kinetic Projectile Injuries Treated During Civil Protests in Los Angeles: A Case Series.

Author(s): Pearl, Rachel C.; Torbati, Sam; Geiderman, Joel M. | Abstract: Introduction: During protests following the death of George Floyd, kinetic impact projectiles (KIP) were used by law enforcement as a method of crowd control. We describe the injuries seen at a single Level 1 trauma center in Los Angeles over a two-day period of protests to add to the collective understanding of the public health ramifications of crowd-control weapons used in the setting of protests.Case Series: We reviewed the emergency department visits of 14 patients who presented to our facility due to injuries sustained from KIPs over a 48-hour period during civil protests after the death of George Floyd.Conclusion: Less lethal weapons can cause significant injuries and may not be appropriate for the purposes of crowd control, especially when used outside of established guidelines.
Small Molecule Disruption of T-box Regulated Transcription

T-boxes are gram positive specific riboswitches that sense the charged status of tRNAs to regulate­ transcription of operons containing corresponding tRNA synthetase, amino acid metabolism and amin...
Heterogeneous distribution of hydrogen and bicarbonate ions during complete brain ischemia.

Publisher Summary H + exists in a nonequilibrium distribution between cells and the interstitial space in a number of tissues under normal conditions. Several methods have been used to calculate intracellular [H + ] ([H + I i ) including the distribution of weak acids and bases, colorimetry or fluorometry with H + -sensitive dyes, and 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance. When the brain is perturbed from a resting state, functional changes may induce a heterogeneity in [H + ] i among different cell types because of the varying abilities to generate or remove excess H + . The enhancement by hyperglycemia of brain damage after severe incomplete ischemia is thought to result from excessive lactic acidosis in the tissue. The results reveal an abrupt alteration in the brain H + -buffering mechanisms at levels of lactate accumulation that has correlated with the transition from ischemic neuronal damage to brain infarction. An inability of excess H + to escape from the brain cells may be a fundamental step in the genesis of irreversible ischemic brain injury.
The Preparticipation Physical Exam

The preparticipation evaluation (PPE) is a necessary, yet controversial and regulated, function that serves several purposes for athletic participants. At its core, the PPE is a screening tool used to identify potentially life-threatening or debilitating conditions that may manifest as a result of athletic participation. However, there are many other objectives of the PPE that are of great importance and less controversial. This chapter will discuss the pertinent details in performing an adequate PPE with special attention to the most common life-threatening conditions. Examples of medical history questions, exam techniques, and clearance issues will be provided.
Bitter tasting compounds dilate airways by inhibiting airway smooth muscle calcium oscillations and calcium sensitivity

Background and Purpose While selective, bitter tasting, TAS2R agonists can relax agonist-contracted airway smooth muscle (ASM), their mechanism of action is unclear. However, ASM contraction is regulated by Ca2+ signalling and Ca2+ sensitivity. We have therefore investigated how the TAS2R10 agonists chloroquine, quinine and denotonium regulate contractile agonist-induced Ca2+ signalling and sensitivity. Experimental Approach Airways in mouse lung slices were contracted with either methacholine (MCh) or 5HT and bronchodilation assessed using phase-contrast microscopy. Ca2+ signalling was measured with 2-photon fluorescence microscopy of ASM cells loaded with Oregon Green, a Ca2+-sensitive indicator (with or without caged-IP3). Effects on Ca2+ sensitivity were assessed on lung slices treated with caffeine and ryanodine to permeabilize ASM cells to Ca2+. Key Results The TAS2R10 agonists dilated airways constricted by either MCh or 5HT, accompanied by inhibition of agonist-induced Ca2+ oscillations. However, in non-contracted airways, TAS2R10 agonists, at concentrations that maximally dilated constricted airways, did not evoke Ca2+ signals in ASM cells. Ca2+ increases mediated by the photolysis of caged-IP3 were also attenuated by chloroquine, quinine and denotonium. In Ca2+-permeabilized ASM cells, the TAS2R10 agonists dilated MCh- and 5HT-constricted airways. Conclusions and Implications TAS2R10 agonists reversed bronchoconstriction by inhibiting agonist-induced Ca2+ oscillations while simultaneously reducing the Ca2+ sensitivity of ASM cells. Reduction of Ca2+ oscillations may be due to inhibition of Ca2+ release through IP3 receptors. Further characterization of bronchodilatory TAS2R agonists may lead to the development of novel therapies for the treatment of bronchoconstrictive conditions.
The Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse in the Care of Organ Transplant Recipients

The role of the advanced practice nurse (APN) in transplantation has evolved from the role of the clinical transplant coordinator. This report attempts to define the credentials, practice domains, barriers to practice, and reimbursement issues related to APN practice while contrasting the role with that of clinical transplant coordinator. The nephrology APN working in a collaborative transplant practice can be an integral part of a multidisciplinary health care team. The APN's education and credentials empower them to provide a wider scope of services than transplant coordinators who are "experts by experience." These services can include providing primary care and performing procedures such as percutaneous transplant biopsies, insertion of peripheral and central venous catheters, and wound debridement as well as management of patients along their continuum of transplant care. Patient education and advocacy also are key components of APN practice. In addition, the services the APN provides generally are reimbursable and therefore can provide revenue for the practice.
NF-κB/Rel Participation in the Lymphokine-Dependent Proliferation of T Lymphoid Cells

Proliferative responses of lymphoid cells to IL-2 and IL-4 depend on activation of the cells, but the mechanism(s) by which activation enhances cellular competence to respond to cytokines is not fully understood. The NF-κB/Rel family represents one signal transduction pathway induced during such activation. We show in this study that inhibition of NF-κB through the expression of an IκBα (inhibitory protein that dissociates from NF-κB) mutant refractory to signal-induced degradation (IκBα(ΔN)) interfered with the acquisition of competence to proliferate in response to IL-4 as well as IL-2. Thymocytes and T cells from IκBα(ΔN) transgenic mice expressed normal levels of IL-2R subunits. However, transgenic cells exhibited a dramatic defect in Stat5A activation treatment with IL-2, and a similar defect was observed for IL-4-induced Stat5. In contrast, T lymphoid cells with inhibition of NF-κB showed normal insulin receptor substrate-2 phosphorylation and only a modest decrease in Stat6 activation and insulin receptor substrate-1 phosphorylation after IL-4 stimulation. These results indicate that the NF-κB/Rel/IκBα system can regulate cytokine receptor capacitation through effects on the induction of downstream signaling by the Stat transcription factor family.
A CMOS low-jitter phase frequency detector for giga-bit/s clock recovery

The PFD consists of a bang-bang Frequency Detector (FD) and a Phase Detector (PD) with analog outputs. The frequency acquisition range is over /spl plusmn/30%. The bang-bang FD disconnects itself from the loop once lock acquisition is achieved. The PFD was fabricated in a 0.5 /spl mu/m CMOS process for 1 Gbit/s clock recovery. RMS jitter in the recovered 1 GHz clock is 7.4 ps.
Formation and cleavage of the oxygen ring in sugars.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the formation and cleavage of the oxygen ring in sugars, and discusses some aspects of the interconversion of the cyclic forms of a carbohydrate to their acyclic forms and to each other. In general, the stability of the ring structure and the reactivity of a cyclic sugar are materially affected by the steric strain of its molecule. On the other hand, the formation of cyclic compounds from those acyclic carbohydrate derivatives having a number of competing hydroxyl groups is likewise of considerable interest. In the reversible reactions of this nature, an ultimate equilibrium is established that results in the predominant formation of the less strained, more stable ring-structures. In the irreversible reactions, such as the deamination of acyclic amino sugars with nitrous acid, the resulting cyclic products usually contain the strained, nearly planar, five-membered ring-structure.
Geometric linear discriminant analysis

When it becomes necessary to reduce the complexity of a classifier, dimensionality reduction can be an effective way to address classifier complexity. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is one approach to dimensionality reduction that makes use of a linear transformation matrix. The widely used Fisher's LDA is "sub-optimal" when the sample class covariance matrices are unequal, meaning that another linear transformation exists that produces lower loss in discrimination power. We introduce a geometric approach to linear discriminant analysis (GLDA) that can reduce the number of dimensions from n to m for any number of classes. GLDA is able to compute a better linear transformation matrix than Fisher's LDA for unequal sample class covariance matrices and is equivalent to Fisher's LDA when those matrices are equal or proportional. The classification problems we present demonstrate and strongly suggest that geometric LDA can generate the, "optimal" classifier in a lower dimension.
Regulation of intermediary metabolism by nucleotides: The mechanism of action of insulin

Abstract Certain pathways of biosynthesis require the provision of energy by specific nucleoside triphosphates (e.g. uridine triphosphate for glycogen synthesis, guanosine triphosphate for protein synthesis, and cytidine triphosphate for synthesis of phospholipids), and the rate of synthesis may be controlled by the amount of the specific nucleoside triphosphate available at the time. It is postulated that certain peptide hormones act on the nucleotide transphosphorylases and, by regulating the relative quantities of nucleoside triphosphates in the cell, indirectly control intermediary metabolism. Insulin appears to act by accelerating the transfer of high energy phosphate from ATP to all the non-adenosine nucleoside diphosphates, thus causing a general increase in rate of synthesis and storage in the cell. A possible single site for this action is on the enzyme, nucleoside diphosphokinase.
Sexually Transmitted Infections and Associated Conditions Among Women Who Have Sex with Women

Available data support that women who have sex with women (WSW) are at risk for a variety of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and vaginitis. Risk of STI transmission in this group depends on the specific STI under consideration and the sexual practices involved. Data demonstrates that WSW receive less standard gynecologic screening than their heterosexual counterparts. This may be due, in part, to provider and patient assessment of risk. Based on available evidence, there is a need to increase provider education on the sexual health of WSW. Moreover, enhancement of STI screening guidelines that specifically mention WSW, particularly for cervical cancer and infections caused by C. trachomatis, are essential.
Economic Crises and Public Spending on Mental Health Care

The current economic crisis poses severe challenges for the provision of mental health services around the world. At the very time when a severe recession increases many people's need for mental he...
Body proportions, skeletal allometry and locomotion in the hadar hominids: a reply to Wolpoff

Wolpoff, 1983a , Wolpoff, 1983b ) has challenged the interpretation of relative limb proportions and locomotion offered by Jungers (1982) for Australopithecus afarensis in comparison to modern humans of similar body size. In this reply, we demonstrate that Wolpoff's conclusions are based on several misconceptions about the biomechanics and energetics of bipedalism and a misapplication of the allometric approach. Compared with modern humans (pygmies) of comparably small size (measured as cstimated body weight and as a linear variable correlated to body weight in modern humans), “Lucy” (AL 288-1) possesses very short hindlimbs outside of the known human range and which are proportioned most similarly to small-bodied African apes. By contrast, relative humerus length of Lucy can be matched precisely in a skeletal sample of human pygmics. A similar combination of relative limb lengths appears to exist in the larger individuals of A. afarensis and probably characterizes all gracile australopithecines (including STS 14). The functional implications of interlimb proportions, relative fore-and hindlimb lengths and relative foot length for locomotor biomechanics in A afarensis are also examined. The original interpretations put forth by Jungers (1982) are reaffirmed and strengthened by new data and appropriate analyses.
The use of nicotine replacement therapy during hospitalization

Recent findings suggest that smokers who are hospitalized experience significant craving for cigarettes. Thus, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) may be a particularly important tool for use during hospitalization. The goal of this study is to evaluate the utilization of the transdermal nicotine patch and/or nicotine gum by hospitalized smokers. The data represented in this article are from 580 smokers who participated in a study of a motivational intervention for smoking cessation that was delivered during hospitalization. The primary outcome for this analysis was use of NRT during hospitalization. The results revealed that, among the entire sample, only 7.1% of the overall sample used NRT during hospitalization; 6% of the hospitalized smokers used the transdermal nicotine patch, and 1.1% used nicotine gum. Use of NRT was significantly greater among patients who reported that they were doing anything to help themselves quit smoking at the time of admission (OR = 4.1), those who were seriously planning to quit smoking within the next 30 days (OR = 2.36), those who were nicotine dependent (OR = 2.81), and those for whom a physician had ever offered to prescribe NRT (OR = 1.9). The finding that there is a very low rate of NRT use during hospitalization provides important information to hospital-based care providers and smoking cessation intervention planners. Barriers to NRT use among hospitalized patients should be identified, and strategies designed to maximize use when appropriate. The AHCPR Guideline on Smoking Cessation recommends routine use of NRT in health care settings. Further research is needed to determine why NRT use was so low. In addition, these data suggest that efforts to increase NRT use during hospitalization are needed.
Electron microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction of native thin filaments reveal species-specific differences in regulatory strand densities

Throughout the animal kingdom striated muscle contraction is regulated by the thin filament troponin-tropomyosin complex. Homologous regulatory components are shared among vertebrate and arthropod muscles; however unique protein extensions and/ or components characterize the latter. The Troponin T (TnT) isoforms of Drosophila indirect flight and tarantula femur muscle for example contain distinct C-terminal extensions and are ~20% larger overall than their vertebrate counterpart. Using electron microscopy and three-dimensional helical reconstruction of native Drosophila, tarantula and frog muscle thin filaments we have identified species-specific differences in tropomyosin regulatory strand densities. The strands on the arthropod thin filaments were significantly larger in diameter than those from vertebrates, although not significantly different from each other. These findings reflect differences in the regulatory troponin-tropomyosin complex, which are likely due to the larger TnT molecules aligning and extending along much of the tropomyosin strands’ length. Such an arrangement potentially alters the physical properties of the regulatory strands and may help establish contractile characteristics unique to certain arthropod muscles.
The role of methylene in prompt NO formation

Abstract We address the plausibility of singlet methylene ( 1 CH 2 ) in the prompt NO formation mechanism via examination of experimental species profiles and kinetic flame modeling of several low-pressure methane–oxygen–nitrogen flames. Existing kinetic models assuming CH as the only prompt NO precursor greatly underpredict NO formation under very fuel-lean conditions. We have constructed a kinetic pathway initiated by the recombination of singlet CH 2 with molecular nitrogen to form diazomethane, CH 2 N N, early in the flame. Although the majority of the diazomethane is predicted to react with flame radicals to regenerate N 2 , a small percentage (approximately 10%) is predicted to react via cleavage of the N N bond leading to NO formation. This leads to accurate prediction of the experimental measurements of NO formation in lean, low-pressure flames. Assuming reasonable kinetic parameters for the reactions of CH 2 , the large underprediction of NO under lean conditions can be rectified by the inclusion of the 1 CH 2 prompt NO pathway in the kinetic mechanism.
Acute effects of combined burn and smoke inhalation injury on carboxyhemoglobin formation, tissue oxygenation, and cardiac performance

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) formation, global oxygen transport, and cardiac performance in the acute phase of combined burn and smoke inhalation injury. Following a third degree burn of 20% of the total body surface area, adult sheep were subjected to cotton smoke (4 × 12 breaths) according to an established protocol. Compared with baseline (BL), the burn injury led to an immediate and sustained COHb-independent depression in myocardial contractility. Despite a progressive increase in COHb formation, up to a maximum of 78 ± 3% (P
Projective equivalence of Finsler and Riemannian surfaces

Abstract In this paper we ask when a Finsler surface is projectively equivalent to a given Riemannian surface and when is a Finsler surface projectively equivalent to some Riemannian surface in general. We obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for projective equivalence in both cases. We then consider the latter condition in terms of the Christoffel symbols of the Riemannian metric and investigate when six functions of two variables are the Christoffel symbols of a Riemannian metric. We employ an exterior differential system to analyze when four functions of two variables are the four projective quantities of a Riemannian metric. We end the paper with a theorem which applies the necessary and sufficient condition to 2-dimensional Randers metrics.
Novel zebrafish model reveals a critical role for MAPK in lymphangiogenesis

Abstract Purpose Lymphatic disorders are poorly understood with few animal models. We designed a novel assay to measure lymphatic development using transgenic zebrafish with fluorescently labeled endothelial cells. Two major branches of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) signaling pathway were examined: the MAPK and PI3K pathways. Methods Direct visualization of lymphatic development was performed in control embryos or under chemical inhibition. Treatment involved a 6-hour pulse of inhibitor at 3 days postfertilization. Fish were analyzed for the presence of the thoracic duct (TD) at 4 days postfertilization (n > 100 specimens). Results Thoracic duct formation was prevented using selective inhibitors against kinases (MAPK, PI3K/TOR, or VEGFR). These kinases were important for TD formation because the lymphatic vessel failed to form in most of treated animals. Remarkably, MAPK pathway inhibition most robustly reduced lymphangiogenesis, demonstrated by a lack of lymphatic endothelial cells. Conclusion We conclude that MAPK pathway function downstream of the VEGFRs is crucial at the early stages of TD development. This study provides a novel animal model and a potential target pathway for further investigation. We suggest further examination of MAPK pathway deregulation as a potential mechanism underlying lymphatic disease in humans.
The eye of the beholder: parents' view on sex of newborns.

Thirty pairs of primiparous parents, fifteen with sons and fifteen with daughters, were interviewed within the first 24 hours postpartum. Although male and female infants did not differ in birth length, weight, or Apgar scores, daughters were significantly more likely than sons to be described as little, beautiful, pretty, and cute, and as resembling their mothers. Fathers made more extreme and stereotyped rating judgments of their newborns than did mothers. Findings suggest that sex-typing and sex-role socialization have already begun at birth.
Uses of multiband remote sensing in forest and range inventory

Abstract The term remote sensing pertains to the detection and identification of objects through the use of aerial cameras or other sensing devices that are situated at an appreciable distance from the objects being investigated. Until recently, conventional panchromatic and infrared aerial photographs were the only records obtainable by remote sensing that could be used in forest and range inventory. This article considers additional kinds of information that can be obtained by using imagery obtained in the thermal infrared and radar bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, in conjunction with conventional aerial photography.
Abstract 2981: Association of a BRCAness profile with outcome and molecular aberrations involving homologous recombination in the TCGA ovarian cancer dataset

A subset of sporadic epithelial ovarian cancer (EOCs) may harbor a “BRCAness” phenotype characterized by improved outcome and enhanced responsiveness to platinum analogues and PARP inhibitors, similar to their BRCA1/2 mutated counterparts. This BRCAness phenotype may be due, in part, to defective homologous recombination (HR) related to various mechanisms, including BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation, somatic mutation of BRCA1/2 genes, or loss of function mutations in other HR pathway genes. We recently defined a gene expression profile of BRCAness that correlates with chemotherapy response and outcome in EOC. Here, we used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) EOC dataset to evaluate the association of the BRCAness profile with outcome, chemotherapy response and specific molecular aberrations that may underlie defective HR. We accessed data from 265 advanced stage high grade serous EOCs for which there was available gene expression, DNA copy number, promoter methylation and whole-exome DNA sequencing information. Patients were characterized as having a BRCAness phenotype (BL profile) or not (NBL profile) based on our BRCAness signature. BL patients were associated with improved median overall survival (OS) compared to NBL patients (59 vs 41 months respectively, log-rank p=0.008). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that the BRCAness profile maintained an independent association with OS (HR=1.72, p=0.024). BL patients had a longer median platinum free interval compared to NBL patients (17 vs 11 months, p=0.024) and improved median disease free survival (18 vs 14 months, p=0.055). BRCAness profile was associated with molecular events affecting BRCA1/2 function such as BRCA1/2 mutations, BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation and EMSY amplification (47% in BL patients vs 27% in NBL patients, two-sided Fisher9s exact p=0.007). Furthermore, BL patients had higher frequency of homozygous PTEN deletion compared to NBL patients but this did not reach statistical significance (12% vs 6% respectively, two-sided Fisher9s exact p=0.14). Conversely, BRCAness profile was not associated with molecular events affecting the function of other Fanconi Anemia (FA) genes (FANCA/B/C/D2/E/F/G/I/J/L/M, PALB2) or DNA damage response genes involved in HR (ATM, ATR, CHEK1, CHEK2) although the overall incidence of these molecular events was very low (5% and 3% respectively). In conclusion, the BRCAness profile may identify patients with improved outcome, responsiveness to chemotherapy, and those who harbor certain molecular aberrations involving HR. Efforts to improve the predictive ability of the BRCAness profile using gene expression data from the TCGA dataset are underway. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2981. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2981
Negative Double Jeopardy revisited: A longitudinal analysis

The Double Jeopardy concept indicates that strong brands have many advantages over weak brands. However, strong brands might also have some disadvantages over weak brands, which were recently conceptualized as Negative Double Jeopardy (NDJ), on the Internet (Kucuk, 2008a). With the advent of the Internet, today's consumers started to re-brand corporate brand meanings on their websites, blogs or social networking spaces, as a part of rising online consumer power. However, previous NDJ and anti-branding studies predominantly focused on anti-brand websites rather than anti-brand blogs and social networking spaces. In addition, although previous studies revealed that there might be a negative link between the levels of consumer-organized anti-branding activities and corporate brand values, this link has not been studied extensively, specifically longitudinally – over an extended time period, such as last 4 years (2005–2009). Thus, this study revisits the NDJ phenomenon with newly developing anti-branding blogs, social networking sites as well anti-branding websites, and tests the validation of previous NDJ studies. In this context, the study is the first of its kind, discussing how such consumer-generated anti-branding activities changed in the last 4 years, with a set of longitudinal analyses in order to address some solutions for better functioning markets.