cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The fine structure of the human peridental ligament

An electron microscope study was made of the human peridental ligament of the young adult. Examination of several cells which occur in this site exhibit a marked variation in number and distribution of organelles. The fibrous components made up chiefly, if not entirely, of collagen fibers averaged 600 A in diameter. These fibers usually referred to as principal fibers show an arrangement both in the peridental space proper and also at the surface of the root of a marked irregularity, more so than can be ascertained at the optical level. Our study shows that the arrangement of the principal fibers is more complex than previously described and further that many of the diverse cells present in the peridental space are in an active functional state indicative of the dynamic potential they possess in reference to fibrilogenesis, cementogenesis and osteogenesis in this area.
Carrageenan Effects on Thermal Stability of Meat Proteins

Meat myofibrillar protein (MP) gels and ground pork were used as model systems for studying thermal transition temperatures. Addition of up to 2% of κ, ι, or λ carrageenan (CGN) to MP caused a very slight change in the thermal denaturation of the meat proteins. Three transition temperatures were found in ground pork samples, which were characteristic of myosin (59.4°C), sarcoplasmic proteins (67.8°C), and actin (82.4°C). Mixtures of high ionic strength had lower thermal transition peaks. CGN did not cause major shifts in transition temperatures, suggesting that molecular interactions between CGN and meat proteins did not occur.
Regulation of Transcription in a Reduced Bacterial Genome: Nutrient-Provisioning Genes of the Obligate Symbiont Buchnera aphidicola

Buchnera aphidicola, the obligate symbiont of aphids, has an extremely reduced genome, of which about 10% is devoted to the biosynthesis of essential amino acids needed by its hosts. Most regulatory genes for these pathways are absent, raising the question of whether and how transcription of these genes responds to the major shifts in dietary amino acid content encountered by aphids. Using full-genome microarrays for B. aphidicola of the host Schizaphis graminum, we examined transcriptome responses to changes in dietary amino acid content and then verified behavior of individual transcripts using quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. The only gene showing a consistent and substantial (>twofold) response was metE, which underlies methionine biosynthesis and which is the only amino acid biosynthetic gene retaining its ancestral regulator (metR). In another aphid host, Acyrthosiphon pisum, B. aphidicola has no functional metR and shows no response in metE transcript levels to changes in amino acid concentrations. Thus, the only substantial transcriptional response involves the one gene for which an ancestral regulator is retained. This result parallels that from a previous study on heat stress, in which only the few genes retaining the global heat shock promoter showed responses in transcript abundance. The irreversible losses of transcriptional regulators constrain ability to alter gene expression in the context of environmental fluctuations affecting the symbiotic partners.
Image Emergency: A Psychogeography of Miami

The project and proposed book entitled Miami Miautre: Psychogeography of the Virtual City present a theory of a logic of images, intended to be applied to Internet practice. The project is a collaboration among four colleagues participating in a group called the Florida Research Ensemble (FRE): Gregory Ulmer (media theorist), BarbaraJo Revelle (creative photographer), William Tilson (architect) and John Craig Freeman (digital artist). Working with the premise that the Internet makes possible a new relationship among the institutions of society, the FRE established the EmerAgencyan on-line, distributed, conceptual consulting agency whose purpose is to introduce a new voice into the collective pedagogy of consulting. A practice called "testimonial" is proposed as the basis for a virtual civic sphere (a fifth estate), in response to Paul Virilio's warning that the Internet and digital technologies in general are destroying the civic sphere and thus threaten to bring about a "general accident" [1]. The invention of a practice for the Internet involves features generalizable to electracy (literacy in digital imaging) as such. An analogy to the history of writing shows that the Greek inventors of the practices of alphabetic technology invented a new kind of categorythe concept-resulting in a different way of classifying reality-metaphysics. The FRE experiment proposes to do for the photographic image what the Greeks did for the written word-
Utilization of torque wheels for active damping of flexible manipulators

Utilization of inertial actuators, such as torque wheels, for vibration damping of a single-link flexible manipulator is considered. The torque wheel is mounted at the end effector of the manipulator to provide a bending moment at the tip for vibration suppression and pointing purposes. The torque exerted by the torque wheel at the end-effector of the manipulator is achieved through controlling the velocity of the torque wheel. A decentralized control scheme is advocated in this paper for slewing and vibration suppression. The local loop around the torque wheel is closed through feedback of the accelerometer signal at the tip. Experimental results are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed method for end-effector positioning of flexible-link manipulators. Although the experimental results reported are for a single-link flexible manipulator, the results are applicable to the multi-link case. It may be shown that the dynamics from the voltage input to the torque wheel mounted at the tip to the tip position is minimum phase and hence invertible given that an inner-loop controller has been applied to stabilize the rigid-body motion. >
Constraint-based inference from image motion

We deal with the inference of environmental information (position and velocity) from a sequence of images formed during relative motion of an observer and the environment. A simple method is used to transform relations between environmental points into equations expressed in terms of constants determined from the images and unknown depth values. This is used to develop equations for environmental inference from several cases of rigid body motion, some having direct solutions. Also considered are the problems of non-unique solutions and the necessity of decomposing the inferred motion into natural components. Inference from optic flow is based upon the analysis of the relative motions of points in images formed over time. Here we deal with environmental inferences from optic flow for several cases of rigid body motion and consider extentions to linked systems of rigid bodies. Since locality of processing is very important, we attempt to determine the smallest number of points necessary to infer environmental structure for different types of motion.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae engineered for xylose metabolism exhibits a respiratory response.

Native strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae do not assimilate xylose. S. cerevisiae engineered for d-xylose utilization through the heterologous expression of genes for aldose reductase (XYL1), xylitol dehydrogenase (XYL2), and d-xylulokinase (XYL3 or XKS1) produce only limited amounts of ethanol in xylose medium. In recombinant S. cerevisiae expressing XYL1, XYL2, and XYL3, mRNA transcript levels for glycolytic, fermentative, and pentose phosphate enzymes did not change significantly on glucose or xylose under aeration or oxygen limitation. However, expression of genes encoding the tricarboxylic acid cycle, respiration enzymes (HXK1, ADH2, COX13, NDI1, and NDE1), and regulatory proteins (HAP4 and MTH1) increased significantly when cells were cultivated on xylose, and the genes for respiration were even more elevated under oxygen limitation. These results suggest that recombinant S. cerevisiae does not recognize xylose as a fermentable carbon source and that respiratory proteins are induced in response to cytosolic redox imbalance; however, lower sugar uptake and growth rates on xylose might also induce transcripts for respiration. A petite respiration-deficient mutant (ρ°) of the engineered strain produced more ethanol and accumulated less xylitol from xylose. It formed characteristic colonies on glucose, but it did not grow on xylose. These results are consistent with the higher respiratory activity of recombinant S. cerevisiae when growing on xylose and with its inability to grow on xylose under anaerobic conditions.
Construction and Enhancement of a Minimal Genetic AND Logic Gate

ABSTRACT The ability of genetic networks to integrate multiple inputs in the generation of cellular responses is critical for the adaptation of cellular phenotype to distinct environments and of great interest in the construction of complex artificial circuits. To develop artificial genetic circuits that can integrate intercellular signaling molecules and commonly used inducing agents, we have constructed an artificial genetic AND gate based on the PluxI quorum-sensing promoter and the lac repressor. The hybrid promoter exhibited reduced basal and induced expression levels but increased expression capacity, generating clear logical responses that could be described using a simple mathematical model. The model also predicted that the AND gate9s logic could be improved by altering the properties of the LuxR transcriptional activator and, in particular, by increasing its rate of transcriptional activation. Following these predictions, we were able to improve the AND gate9s logic by ∼1.5-fold using a LuxR mutant library generated by directed evolution, providing the first example of the use of mutant transcriptional activators to improve the logic of a complex regulatory circuit. In addition, detailed characterizations of the AND gate9s responses shed light on how LuxR, LacI, and RNA polymerase interact to activate gene expression.
The Genetic Basis of Developmental Abnormalities in Interpopulation Hybrids of the Moss Ceratodon purpureus

Divergent populations are intrinsically reproductively isolated when hybrids between them either fail to develop properly or do not produce viable offpring. Intrinsic isolation may result from Dobzhansky–Muller (DM) incompatibilities, in which deleterious interactions among genes or gene products lead to developmental problems or underdominant chromosome structure differences between the parents. These mechanisms can be tested by studying marker segregation patterns in a hybrid mapping population. Here we examine the genetic basis of abnormal development in hybrids between two geographically distant populations of the moss Ceratodon purpureus. Approximately half of the hybrid progeny exhibited a severely reduced growth rate in early gametophyte development. We identified four unlinked quantitative trait loci (QTL) that interacted asymmetrically to cause the abnormal development phenotype. This pattern is consistent with DM interactions. We also found an excess of recombination between three marker pairs in the abnormally developing progeny, relative to that estimated in the normal progeny. This suggests that structural differences in these regions contribute to hybrid breakdown. Two QTL coincided with inferred structural differences, consistent with recent theory suggesting that rearrangements may harbor population divergence alleles. These observations suggest that multiple complex genetic factors contribute to divergence among populations of C. purpureus.
Photoassociation of a Bose-Einstein condensate near a Feshbach resonance.

We measure the effect of a magnetic Feshbach resonance (FR) on the rate and light-induced frequency shift of a photoassociation resonance in ultracold $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$. The photoassociation-induced loss-rate coefficient ${K}_{p}$ depends strongly on magnetic field, varying by more than a factor of ${10}^{4}$ for fields near the FR. At sufficiently high laser intensities, ${K}_{p}$ for a thermal gas decreases with increasing intensity, while saturation is observed for the first time in a Bose-Einstein condensate. The frequency shift is also strongly field dependent and exhibits an anomalous blueshift for fields just below the FR.
The Rat Adrenal Medulla

Adult adrenal medullary cells, in many strains of rats, develop diffuse and nodular hyperplasia and neoplasia under a variety of conditions. Both endogenous and exogenous factors affect the development of these proliferative changes. The former include the animals' strain, age, and sex. The latter include drugs and other environmental agents, diet, and perhaps stress. Adrenal medullary neoplasms which arise under diverse circumstances often closely resemble each other both morphologically and functionally, and exhibit characteristics of immature chromaffin cells. Recent data indicate that normal, mature-appearing epinephrine- and norepinephrine-type chromaffin cells are able to divide, and suggest that signals which regulate chromaffin cell function also regulate cell proliferation. Prolongation of these signals or superimposed abnormalities might initiate pathological proliferative states. It remains to be determined whether the mechanisms which promote or prevent cell proliferation in the adult adrenal are related to those involved in normal development.
Public Policy Foundations for Positive Behavioral Interventions, Strategies, and Supports

This article examines precedents that justify Congress in creating a preference for positive behavioral interventions, strategies, and supports over other interventions in the 1997 Amendments to th...
On the electrophysiological response of bone cells using a Stokesian fluid stimulus probe for delivery of quantifiable localized picoNewton level forces.

A Stokesian fluid stimulus probe (SFSP), capable of delivering quantifiable pN level hydrodynamic forces, is developed to distinguish the electrophysiological response of the cell process and cell body of osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cells without touching the cell or its substrate. The hydrodynamic disturbance is a short lived (100 ms), constant strength pressure pulse that propagates nearly instantaneously through the medium creating a nearly spherical expanding fluid bolus surrounding a 0.8 µm micropipette tip. Laboratory model experiments show that the growth of the bolus and the pressure field can be closely modeled by quasi-steady Stokes flow through a circular orifice provided the tip Reynolds number, Ret<0.03. By measuring the deflection of the dendritic processes between discrete attachment sites, and applying a detailed ultrastructural model for the central actin filament bundle within the process, one is able to calculate the forces produced by the probe using elastic beam theory. One finds that forces between 1 and 2.3 pN, are sufficient to initiate electrical signaling when applied to the cell process, but not the much softer cell body. Even more significantly, cellular excitation by the process only occurs when the probe is directed at discrete focal attachment sites along the cell process. This suggests that electrical signaling is initiated at discrete focal attachments along the cell process and that these sites are likely integrin-mediated complexes associated with stretch-activated ion channels though their molecular structure is unknown.
SINGLE BOOK REVIEWS

Social Life in Northwest Alaska: The Structure of Inupiaq Eskimo Nations. Ernest S. Burch Jr. Fairbanks: University of Alaska Press, 2006. 478 pp.
Clustering Bed Sets from the Barnett Shale using Diffusion Map Attributes

Considerable effort has been invested in developing methods for classifying and identifying facies from well logs. However, identifying facies at individual measurement points tells us little about the processes that gave rise to these individual facies. In this paper, we propose a method for clustering and analyzing bed sets from well logs. The main innovation is the use of a nonlinear method for manifold learning based upon interpoint distances. We then apply this method to gamma ray logs from the Barnett Shale and show the results. Finally, we discuss how this method may be used in workflows for hydrocarbon exploration and development.
A new low ionic strength test for assessment of pretransfusion compatibility. Studies in vitro and in vivo.

A new simple low ionic strength antiglobulin test (LIS-AGT) is presented for use in the antibody screening phase of pretransfusion tests. The ionic strength during the incubation phase of LIS-AGT is held between 15-17% of that of indirect ACT, and 8 mM EDTA is added to serum to inhibit falsepositive tests. The prevalence of false-positive LIS-AGT was determined to be approximately two times higher than that observed with the indirect AGT. The new test was superior to the indirect AGT in detecting antibodies specific to Rh, Duffy, Kidd, and MNSs antigens, while the indirect AGT was superior in detecting antibodies specific to K and Lewis antigens. On the basis of three 5lCr red blood cell (RBC) survival studies, it was shown that antibodies reactive with LIS-AGT only decreased the long-term survival of incompatible erythrocytes, although the one-hour recovery was not affected. It appeared that antibodies reactive by LIS-AGT only can cause delayed rather than acute hemolytic transfusion reactions. The data shown indicate that the LIS-AGT is a simple and valuable addition to the pre-transfusion antibody screening test.
Mortality of range caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) exposed to various combinations of insecticides and piperonyl butoxide

A laboratory study tested three pyrethroid insecticides separately and in combination with piperonyl but oxide (PB) at ratios of 1 part insecticide to 4 and 8 parts PB. Third-in star range caterpillar, Hemileuca oliviae Cockerell, were exposed to treated filter paper to determine toxicity and synergistic effects between the binary mixtures. Mortality was recorded at 48 h after treatment. All three insecticides were highly toxic when used alone. PB synergized cypermethrin at both ratios; however, PB had little or no synergistic effect on permethrin or fenvalerate. Combinations of cypermethrin and PB may merit testing in field situations.
Lakota women leaders: Getting things done quietly

In Western society, the foundation of what was once a more traditional way of thinking about leadership has been replaced by focusing more on gaining and using power, influencing people, and maintaining an appearance of control. These paradigms that often advise management policies, practices, and decisions have generally reflected the structures and cultures from a more White, heterosexual male perspective. This perpetrates the systemic issue in that minorities in the United States continue to remain underrepresented, and this is particularly true for Indigenous peoples. Unfortunately cross-cultural research has not helped the problem in that differences have often been ignored or negated. Adding gender differences to the mix complicates things even further, as leadership has traditionally been studied using masculine norms as behavioral standards. In addition, colonization is acknowledged as having had a destructive effect on indigenous gender relations and cultural dynamics. Therefore, to address this ...
Alone on the Inside: The Impact of Social Isolation and Helping Others on AOD Use and Criminal Activity

Because addiction is a socially isolating disease, social support for recovery is an important element of treatment planning. This study examines the relationship between social isolation, giving and receiving social support in Alcoholics Anonymous during treatment, and post-treatment outcomes among juvenile offenders court-referred to addiction treatment. Adolescents (N = 195) aged 14 to 18 years were prospectively assessed at treatment admission, treatment discharge, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment discharge. The influence of social isolation variables on relapse and severe criminal activity in the 12-months post-treatment was examined using negative binomial logistic regressions and event history methods. Juveniles entering treatment with social estrangement were significantly more likely to relapse, be incarcerated, and commit a violent crime in the 12-months post-treatment. Giving help to others in Alcoholics Anonymous during treatment significantly reduced the risk of relapse, incarceration, and violent crime in the 12-months post-treatment whereas receiving help did not.
Thermal pretreatment of microalgae for biomethane production: experimental studies, kinetics and energy analysis

BACKGROUND Microalgae grown on wastewater are promising feedstocks for biomethane production by anaerobic digestion. However, the hemicellulose composition of the microalgae cell wall inhibits hydrolysis of intracellular substances and limits their anaerobic digestibility. This study investigated enhancement of biomethane production rates during anaerobic digestion of Chlorella sp. using thermal pretreatment at varying temperatures. Experimental data were fitted to three simplified kinetic models and an energy analysis was performed to gain insights into this potential application of thermal pretreatment. RESULTS Methane yields from untreated algae were 155 mL g−1 VSadd, while thermal pretreatment at 70 °C and 90 °C for 0.5 h increased the methane yield by 37% and 48%, respectively. Thermal pretreatment at 121 °C for 0.3 h resulted in the highest methane yield (322 mL g−1 VSadd), which is 108% higher than the untreated algae. Data from digestion of thermally pretreated microalgae were best described by a first-order kinetic model. However, for untreated microalgae the Gompertz model, which includes a lag phase, provided the best fit to the methane production data. CONCLUSIONS Thermal pretreatment improved the maximum methane production rate and shortened the lag period during anaerobic digestion. However, the energy balance indicated that pretreatment of microalgae could not achieve a positive energy balance compared with anaerobic digestion of untreated microalgae. Co-digestion with other biomass or increasing the solids concentration of anaerobic digestion could be used to increase the overall energy efficiency. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Analyzing on Pre-marriage Checkup Mediterranean Sea Anemia of Huangpu District

OBJECTIVE Understands the Huangpu area Mediterranean Sea anemia the occurrence situation. METHODS Carries on the Huangpu area 2 958 example pre-marital physical examination crowd poor looks up,determines patient’s red blood cell brittleness and the average red blood cell volume,to sieves unusuality suggestion pre-marital physical examination both sides to carry on the agarose gelation hemoglobin electrophoresis,determination exceptionally Hb,HbA2 and the HbF content,simultaneously carries on the blood corpuscle shape examination and the Henry small body inspection. RESULTS In 2 958 example patients,picks out the red blood cell brittleness exceptionally 283 examples,occupies patientis 9.57%,MCV exceptionally 315 examples,occupies the patient is 10.65%.To carry on the agar electrophoresis 562 examples,picks out exceptionally the Hb 269 examples,alpha the poor 181 examples,occupy are examined population 6.12%;Beta the poor 81 anemia disease incidence rate was high. CONCLUSION Carries on the pre-marriage checkup extremely to be important.
Abstract IA01: Molecular basis of T cell exhaustion: Insights for immunotherapy

T cell exhaustion is common during chronic infections, cancer and prevents optimal immunity. Exhausted T cells are defined by the loss of ability to perform effector functions efficiently, low proliferative capacity and poor survival following antigen stimulation. In addition, it has become clear that exhausted T cells co-express multiple inhibitory receptors that negatively regulate their function. Indeed, receptors such as PD-1 have become major targets of clinical immunotherapies in cancer and infectious disease aimed at re-invigorating exhausted T cells. Our work has recently defined transcriptional networks of T cell exhaustion and has focused on the role of key transcription factors, including T-bet and Eomesodermin (Eomes) in controlling the sustainability and terminal differentiation of exhausted T cell populations. We have found a key role for T-bet in sustaining a progenitor pool of exhausted CD8 T cells during chronic infection, while the related transcription factor Eomes governs terminal differentiation. Our new data indicates that PD-1, the major current target of immunotherapy approaches dramatically regulates these subsets of exhausted T cells and modulating PD-1 signals may have long-term impact on lineage dynamics of exhausted T cell populations. One key observation from these studies is that a key surrogate of reivingoration of exhausted CD8 T cell responses is a population of EomesHi PD-1Hi exhausted CD8 T cells. The use of this subset of CD8 T cells as a biomarker is explored. Ultimately, a more precise molecular understanding of T cell exhaustion should lead to novel and more robust clinical interventions to reverse exhaustion in settings of persisting infections and cancer. Citation Format: E. John Wherry. Molecular basis of T cell exhaustion: Insights for immunotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy: A New Chapter; December 1-4, 2014; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2015;3(10 Suppl):Abstract nr IA01.
Effects of virus mutations caused by passages on vaccinal immunogenicity

The live attenuated viral vaccines are developed by adapting viruses in the different culture conditions or in the different hosts through several passages. Success of adaptations is based on the viral nature that viruses mutate easily. Once the vaccine strain is established, it should be maintained stably. Since the property that viral genome mutates easily is a survival strategy of viruses, it is inevitable for viruses to generate mutants at random in replication step. It is possible that mutations occurred in the vaccine strain during the passages influence on attenuation property or on immunogenicity of the vaccine. Therefore, vaccines should be produced according to the fixed operation protocol within the limited passages. In addition, some vaccines are requested to be measured the percentage of mutants in the bulk material. If the mutants more than approved are detected, the bulk material is controlled not to be used for the vaccine.
An analysis of sentiments on Facebook during the 2016 U.S. presidential election

Social networking sites (SNS), such as Facebook and Twitter, are important spaces for political engagement. SNS have become common elements in political participation, campaigns, and elections. However, little is known about the dynamics between candidate posts and commentator sentiment in response to those posts on SNS. This study enriches computational political science by studying the 2016 U.S. elections and how candidates and commentators engage on Facebook. This paper also examines how online activity might be connected to offline activity and vice versa. We extracted 9,700 Facebook posts by five presidential candidates (Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz, and John Kasich) from their official Facebook pages and 12,050,595 comments on those posts. We employed topic modeling, sentiment analysis, and trends detection using wavelet transforms to discover topics, trends, and reactions. Our findings suggest that Republican candidates are more likely to share information on controversial events that have taken place during the election cycle, while Democratic candidates focus on social policy issues. As expected, commentators on Republican candidate pages express negative sentiments toward current public policies as they seldom support decisions made by the Obama administration, while commentators on democratic candidate pages are more likely to express support for continuation or advancement of existing policies. However, the significance (strong/weak) and nature (positive/negative) of sentiments varied between candidates within political parties based on perceived credibility of the candidate's degree of credibility on a given issue. Additionally, we explored correlation between online trends of comments/sentiment and offline events. When analyzing the trend patterns, we found that changes in online trends are driven by three factors: 1) popular post, 2) offline debates, and 3) candidates dropping out of the race.
Is previous nonarthroplasty surgery a risk factor for periprosthetic infection in primary shoulder arthroplasty

Background The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of periprosthetic infection after primary shoulder arthroplasty (SA) in patients undergoing previous nonarthroplasty shoulder surgery compared with those without previous surgery. Materials and methods All patients undergoing primary SA at our institution between 1970 and 2012 were included in this study. The cohort consisted of 4577 patients treated with 2890 total SAs, 1233 hemiarthroplasties, and 454 reverse SAs; 813 (18%) patients had undergone prior nonarthroplasty shoulder surgery on the operative side. Patients with and without previous surgery were compared for postoperative periprosthetic infection. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used. Results Deep postoperative infection of the shoulder was diagnosed in 68 patients (1.49%). Of the 813 patients who had undergone previous surgery, 20 (2.46%) developed a deep postoperative infection. However, of the 3764 patients who did not have previous shoulder surgery, 48 patients (1.28%) sustained deep shoulder infection. This difference was significant in both the univariate ( P = .0094) and multivariate analyses ( P = .0390). In addition, older age and female gender were significantly associated with a lower risk of deep postoperative infection ( P = .0150 and P = .0074, respectively). A higher number of previous surgeries was also significantly associated with an increased risk of deep postoperative infection ( P = .0272). Conclusions The risk of infection after primary SA is significantly higher in patients with a history of prior non–arthroplasty-related surgery. This finding should be discussed with the patients before their surgery, and potential preoperative and intraoperative workup should be undertaken to identify at-risk patients.
Flow-IEG enables programmable thermodynamic properties in sequence-defined unimolecular macromolecules

Monodisperse oligomers are important intermediates for studying structure–property relationships in soft materials but are traditionally laborious to synthesize. A semi-automated synthetic system that combines the benefits of telescoped reactions in continuous flow with iterative exponential growth (IEG) greatly expedites this process and makes the rapid synthesis of structurally diverse oligomer libraries practical. Herein, the coupling chemistry in the Flow-IEG system has been upgraded and expanded to include both 1,4- and 1,5-triazole linkages between monomers through an improved copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) and a newly-optimized ruthenium-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (RuAAC), respectively. Improvements to the Flow-IEG framework enabled the library synthesis of monodisperse oligomers with variations in triazole connectivity. These discrete oligomers allowed the systematic evaluation of the consequences of triazole sequence on material properties. The crystallization properties of these macromolecules were highly dependent on both their monomer sequence and triazole substitution pattern.
Low Prevalence of Hip and Knee Arthritis in Active Marathon Runners.

Background:Existing evidence on whether marathon running contributes to hip and knee arthritis is inconclusive. Our aim was to describe hip and knee health in active marathon runners, including the prevalence of pain, arthritis, and arthroplasty, and associated risk factors.Methods:A hip and knee he
Auswirkungen extrinsischer Denervierung auf die NANC-Innervation mit Substance P und VIP in der longitudinalen Muskulatur des Jejunums in der Ratte

Introduction: Extrinsic denervation of the transplanted small bowel could play a substantial role in enteric motor dysfunction of the transplanted gut. The aim of this study was to determine effects of extrinsic denervation on motor function mediated by the nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) neurotransmitters Substance P (Sub P) and Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Methods: Jejunal longitudinal muscle strips were obtained from 6 groups of Lewis rats (n > 6/group): NC (naive controls); SC (sham operated rats); 1 and 8 weeks after jejunal and ileal intestinal transection/anastomosis to disrupt enteric myoneuronal continuity (TA-1 and TA-8), and after syngeneic jejunoileal transplantation (SBT-1 and SBT-8). We studied the effect of exogenous Sub P and VIP (10−8; 10−7; 10−6M) on spontaneous contractile activity under NANC-conditions and evaluated antagonistic properties of [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]-Sub P (Sub P antagonist) and [D-p-Cl-Phe6,Leu17]-VIP (VIP antagonist) with and without NO-synthase inhibitor L-NG-nitro arginine (L-NNA). Data are Mean ± SEM in [%] of baseline contractile activity (defined as 100%). Results: Spontaneous contractile activity did not differ between groups. Sub P dose-dependently increased contractile activity in all groups, greater in NC compared to SBT-8 (355 ± 40 % vs. 177 ± 16 %; p < 0.01). Response to Sub P (10−6M) was less in SBT-8 compared with SBT-1 (177 ± 16 % vs. 322 ± 22 %; p = 0.001). [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]-Sub P actually stimulated contractile activity in the NC, SBT-1, and SBT-8 (130 ± 3 %, 124 ± 4 %, and 132 ± 5 %, resp.; p < 0.01) but did not block the effect of 10−7M Sub P. VIP dose-dependently decreased contractile activity in all groups 1 week postoperatively (SC: 63 ± 8 %; TA-1: 57 ± 7 %; SBT-1 55 ± 9 %; p < 0.01); effect of VIP was greater in SBT-1 vs. SBT-8 (55 ± 9 % vs. 93 ± 7 %; p < 0.01). L-NNA reduced the inhibitory effect of VIP (10−6M) in all groups where VIP had an effect, especially in TA-1 (57 ± 4 % vs. 83 ± 6 % (with L-NNA); p=0.001). In muscle strips precontracted with 10−7M Sub P, VIP (10−6M) markedly reduced contractile activity in all groups (13 ± 2 % to 21 ± 5 %; p < 0.01). The percentage inhibition caused by VIP (10−6M) was greater than the inhibition of spontaneous contractile activity (p < 0.01). In precontracted muscle strips, [D-p-Cl-Phe6,Leu17]-VIP reversed the inhibition of VIP in SC, TA-1, TA-8, and SBT-8 (71 ± 5 % to 84 ± 6 %; p < 0.005); without precontraction [D-p-Cl-Phe6,Leu17]-VIP had no effect. Conclusions: Chronic extrinsic denervation causes a decrease in contractile response to Sub P in rat jejunal longitudinal muscle. Abdominal operations increase VIP sensitivity, which is reversible after 8 weeks. Precontraction with Sub P increases inhibitory effects of VIP. Effect of VIP seems mediated in part by NO.
Open Boundary Conditions: Fact and Fiction

Many atmospheric and oceanic phenomena occur in a localized region. When numerically simulating such phenomena it is not practical to include all of the surrounding fluid in the numerical domain. As a case in point, one would not simulate an isolated thunderstorm with a global atmospheric model just to avoid possible problems at the lateral boundaries of a limited domain. Moreover, in a fluid such as the atmosphere there is no distinct upper boundary, and most numerical representations of the atmosphere’s vertical structure terminate at some arbitrary level.
About the Possibility of a Cartesian Theory Upon Systems, Information and Control

A variety of studies such as operational research, control theory, information theory, calculate relevant sides of system operations. They although cover small and separed areas, and provide a feeble support to engineers who need an ample theoretical framework. This paper illustrates an axiomatic theory that attempts to cover and integrate three ample topics: systems, information and control. We comment the reasons which steered this study and the significance of some formal results that have been achieved.
Pathophysiology of Thrombocytopenia and Anemia in Mice Lacking Transcription Factor NF-E2

Expression of the p45 subunit of transcription factor NF-E2 is restricted to selected blood cell lineages, including megakaryocytes and developing erythrocytes. Mice lacking p45 NF-E2 show profound thrombocytopenia, resulting from a late arrest in megakaryocyte differentiation, and a number of red blood cell defects, including anisocytosis and hypochromia. Here we report results of studies aimed to explore the pathophysiology of these abnormalities. Mice lacking NF-E2 produce very few platelet-like particles that display highly disorganized ultrastructure and respond poorly to platelet agonists, features consistent with the usually lethal hemorrhage in these animals. Thrombocytopenia was evident during fetal life and was not corrected by splenectomy in adults. Surprisingly, fetal NF-E2-deficient megakaryocyte progenitors showed reduced proliferation potential in vitro. Thus, NF-E2 is required for regulated megakaryocyte growth as well as for differentiation into platelets. All the erythroid abnormalities were reproduced in lethally irradiated wild-type recipients of hematopoietic cells derived from NF-E2-null fetuses. Whole blood from mice lacking p45 NF-E2 showed numerous small red blood cell fragments; however, survival of intact erythrocytes in vivo was indistinguishable from control mice. Considered together, these observations indicate a requirement for NF-E2 in generating normal erythrocytes. Despite impressive splenomegaly at baseline, mice lacking p45 NF-E2 survived splenectomy, which resulted in increased reticulocyte numbers. This reveals considerable erythroid reserve within extra-splenic sites of hematopoiesis and suggests a role for the spleen in clearing abnormal erythrocytes. Our findings address distinct aspects of the requirements for NF-E2 in blood cell homeostasis and establish its roles in proper differentiation of megakaryocytes and erythrocytes.
Overview of Fermi National Accelerator Lab Control System

Various facets of the control of the Fermilab accelerators, in particular the Tevatron, are presented. Since Fermilab contains a superconducting machine and a sophisticated injection complex, much of the controls functionality will of necessity be the same at the SSC. The various functions required at a large laboratory are discussed; these include computer-based fire and security alarms and a cable television system, as well as computer networks connected to accelerator hardware components. A description is given of that hardware, of which much is Camac but with considerable computer backplane bus equipment also present. A large fraction of the controls hardware has access to high precision real-time clocks. Our various networks are introduced, with the physical layer being a combination of copper and more modern optic cables, with the primary intercomputer link being Token Ring. A description of the computers is presented - basically these consist of operators’ consoles, host VAXs, and link driving front ends. The software effort is detailed, with emphasis on consoles and microprocessors where the majority of effort has been placed. Future plans for the system are presented briefly.
The ELLPACK Language

An ELLPACK program should be interpreted like the main program of a Fortran job. The basic blocks of statements in an ELLPACK program aresegments. The segments that define the elliptic problem and options are like declarations: they must come first and they are not executed. The other segments (except END) are executed and the flow of the computation is controlled, as in Fortran, by placing them in the proper sequence. Ordinary Fortran statements may be interspersed among the executable segments to provide DO-loops, IFs, etc. There is also a facility to specify Fortran subprograms.
ComPaSS-GWAS: A method to reduce type I error in genome-wide association studies when replication data are not available

Results from association studies are traditionally corroborated by replicating the findings in an independent data set. Although replication studies may be comparable for the main trait or phenotype of interest, it is unlikely that secondary phenotypes will be comparable across studies, making replication problematic. Alternatively, there may simply not be a replication sample available because of the nature or frequency of the phenotype. In these situations, an approach based on complementary pairs stability selection for genome-wide association study (ComPaSS-GWAS), is proposed as an ad-hoc alternative to replication. In this method, the sample is randomly split into two conditionally independent halves multiple times (resamples) and a GWAS is performed on each half in each resample. Similar in spirit to testing for association with independent discovery and replication samples, a marker is corroborated if its p-value is significant in both halves of the resample. Simulation experiments were performed for both nongenetic and genetic models. The type I error rate and power of ComPaSS-GWAS were determined and compared to the statistical properties of a traditional GWAS. Simulation results show that the type I error rate decreased as the number of resamples increased with only a small reduction in power and that these results were comparable with those from a traditional GWAS. Blood levels of vitamin pyridoxal 5'-phosphate from the Trinity Student Study (TSS) were used to validate this approach. The results from the validation study were compared to, and were consistent with, those obtained from previously published independent replication data and functional studies.
Mining User-Generated Content: A Study of Ranking Systems of TripAdvisor.com (Withdrawn by Author 4/5/12) (WITHDRAWN)

Technological advances over the past decades have led to the proliferation of consumer review websites where consumers exchange their service and product experience. One of the most salient example...
The thermodynamics of guest complexation to octa-acid and tetra-endo-methyl octa-acid: reference data for the sixth statistical assessment of modeling of proteins and ligands (SAMPL6).

Although computer-aided drug design has greatly improved over time, its application in the pharmaceutical industry is still limited by the accuracy of association constant (Ka) predictions. Towards...
Multivitamins in breast, prostate, and lung cancer: Is the case closed?

e20696 Background: Despite being a billion dollar industry, the role of multivitamin and supplement use in different cancers is largely unknown. A publication in the Annals of Internal Medicine dec...
Targeted interventions to prevent transitioning from acute to chronic low back pain in high-risk patients: development and delivery of a pragmatic training course of psychologically informed physical therapy for the TARGET trial

Low back pain (LBP) is a public health concern because it is highly prevalent and the leading cause of disability worldwide. Psychologically informed physical therapy (PIPT) is a secondary prevention approach that first aims to identify individuals at high risk for transitioning to chronicity and then provides tailored treatment to reduce that risk. Training models that are feasible to implement with acceptable training quality are needed to improve scalability for widespread implementation of PIPT. This manuscript describes the PIPT training program that was developed for training physical therapists providing PIPT in the TARGET trial. The PIPT training program was developed, tested, and modified using an iterative process. Content development consisted of stakeholder engagement, beta testing, modification of training, and confirmation of final course objectives. Methods of delivery consisted of a website that included brief online educational modules followed by a live 8-h workshop that included video-based mock case scenarios and case-based role playing. Attitudes, beliefs, and confidence in implementing PIPT principles were assessed before and immediately after training to measure training quality and impact. Early stakeholder engagement and beta testing indicated the need for increased emphasis on experiential learning opportunities and patient-centered communication training. Booster training varied extensively across TARGET sites with involvement of ‘clinician champions’ providing brief follow-up sessions identified as best practice. Favorable post-training changes in physical therapist attitudes and beliefs toward biopsychosocial treatment orientation and increased confidence in implementing PIPT principles were observed. PIPT training for provider participation in the TARGET trial was feasible to deliver. Course content was acceptable to physical therapists and resulted in improved beliefs and confidence in applying PIPT skills during clinical practice. Ongoing consultation and site-based continuing education were methods by which specific TARGET sites maintained or augmented PIPT skill training; however, implementing ongoing training was challenging in general. Due to the pragmatic nature of the TARGET trial, it was not possible to directly measure the effect of PIPT training on treatment fidelity, which was a limitation of our approach. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02647658 . Registered on 6 January 2016.
Risk of reoperative valve surgery for endocarditis associated with drug use.

Abstract Background We aimed to quantify incidence and operative risks associated with reoperative valve surgeries (RVS) in patients with drug-associated infective endocarditis in a multi-center setting. Methods We formed a registry of patients with drug-associated infective endocarditis who underwent valve surgeries at 8 US centers between 2011 and 2017. Outcomes of first-time valve surgery (FVS) and RVS were compared. Multivariable logistic regression models related RVS to 30-day mortality. Poisson regression models were fitted to evaluate temporal trends in overall case volume and proportions of patients undergoing RVS. Results The cohort consisted of 925 patients with drug-associated infective endocarditis who underwent a valve surgery, of which 652 were FVS and 273 were RVS. Patients undergoing FVS had fewer comorbidities than those undergoing RVS. Overall case volume increased from 108 in 2012 to 229 cases in 2017 (P Conclusions An increasing proportion of valve surgery for drug-associated infective endocarditis is for RVS. Despite being young and harboring few comorbidities, the RVS cohort is still susceptible to increased risk of 30-day mortality compared with those undergoing FVS.