cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolation and Chemical Characterization of a β-CRF from Pig Posterior Pituitary Glands.

SummaryA basic peptide with corticotropin releasing activity, no inherent ACTH-like or MSH activity and a pressor activity of 45 u/mg was isolated from pig posterior pituitary glands by the Kamm procedure followed by chromatography on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), countercurrent distribution and rechromatography on CMC. The amino acid composition showed that the peptide is related to lysine-vasopressin, but with additional amino acids being present; the peptide belongs thus to a group designated β-CRF. The N-terminal and C-terminal amino acid sequences show sequential similarities with those of α-MSH and lysine vasopressin, respectively. This could perhaps explain inherent pressor activity of CRF and CRF activity of LVP and α-MSH analogs (α2-CRF).
Setting process control limits for enzyme tests in serum.

With the advent of much more precise laboratory equipment, the use of performance-based standard deviations for enzymes, e.g. those based on the precision of the laboratory during a period of "satisfactory performance", is not appropriate; it leads to overly rigid precision limits and unnecessary repeat assays, and is wasteful of resources. Testing for the commonly used serum enzymes does not require tight precision given how enzyme data are viewed by most clinicians. Other ways to set process control limits all have some arbitrary content; however, this need not prevent their use. Laboratorians must choose the approach that is appropriate for their laboratory and medical staff to meet medically perceived needs.
The regulation of oocyte maturation.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the signaling networks bringing about oocyte maturation of different species, emphasizing significant variability among animals at almost every level. The final development of fertilization competence of an oocyte—responsible for making it a fertilizable egg—usually occurs during the process of meiosis and is referred to as oocyte maturation. The acquisition of fertilization competence of the oocyte encompasses a number of critical events. For example, the oocyte must construct and store excessive numbers of golgi, mitochondria, and ribosomes; make specific sperm receptors; and in oviparous animals the cell must accumulate nutritional reserves sufficient for embryonic development. The maturation-inducing hormones range from a nucleotide and complex sterols to a protein, or even to the uncertainty of whether such physiological inducers even exist. The identity of the signaling mediators varies and the heterotrimeric G-proteins, which are strongly implicated in the induction of oocyte maturation in certain species, appear inhibitory to maturation in other species. To identify more common principles of oocyte maturation regulation, the chapter compares and contrasts the regulatory mechanisms present in evolutionary close organisms, which nevertheless exhibit noticeable differences in the progression of oocyte maturation.
Rational constructivism: A new way to bridge rationalism and empiricism

Recent work in rational probabilistic modeling suggests that a kind of propositional reasoning is ubiquitous in cognition and especially in cognitive development. However, there is no reason to believe that this type of computation is necessarily conscious or resource-intensive.
Growth factor expression in normal and diabetic rats during peripheral nerve regeneration through silicone tubes.

Peripheral nerve regeneration is a unique example of tissue repair when considered at the cellular level. Individual neurons must survive axotomy, restore lost cellular components and each newly formed axon must retrace an appropriate pathway to its original anatomical connection. In addition, other nonneuronal cells residing in the nerve such as the glial, vascular and connective tissue components must also re-establish their precise morphological and functional relationship with the nerve during regeneration. Thus, from a biological standpoint, nerve regeneration raises many fundamental questions regarding the general nature of cell motility, cell-cell recognition, cell survival, and cell dedifferentiation, proliferation and differentiation - to name a few. Since many of these cellular events depend on growth and trophic factors for their occurrence, an analysis of growth factor expression during nerve regeneration may provide insight not only into their role during nerve regeneration, but also during wound repair in other nonneuronal tissues where regeneration can occur.
Aberrant Toxocara canis in a red fox.

During necropsy of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) heart an adult, male Toxocara caniswas found under the pericardium at the junction of the right ventricle and right atrium. The life cycle of T. canisis complex and includes tracheal and somatic migrations of larvae, and they can be found in many tissues throughout the host's body. However, it is rare for adult ascarids to be recovered outside of the small intestine. This is the first report of an adult T. canisinside the pericardial space.
PREDATION BY RED SQUIRRELS ON THE SPRUCE BUDWORM CHORISTONEURA FUMIFERANA (CLEM.) (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

Predators of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumijerana (Clem.), include both invertebrates and vertebrates (Jennings and Crawford 1985). Birds are the best known and most extensively studied vertebrate predators, but because of their arboreal and omnivorous feeding habits, the deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus (Bangs), and the red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Bangs), often are implicated as potential predators of budworm larvae and pupae (Morris et al. 1958; Morris 1963; Otvos 1981; Welsh 1983). In laboratory feeding trials, W.F. Chesire estimated that red squirrels had a mean food capacity of 600–700 mature larvae or pupae of the spruce budworm per day (Morris 1963). R.T. Mitchell examined the stomach contents of 25 red squirrels collected during a major spruce budworm outbreak in northern Maine (Dowden et al. 1953); he found that spruce budworms made up 51% of their total food. On the basis of these results, Dowden et al. (1953) estimated that a red squirrel could eat 400–500 larvae per day.
Effects of glucagon infusions on protein and amino acid composition of milk from dairy cows

Changing the composition of milk proteins and AA affects the nutritional and physical properties of dairy products. Intravenous infusions of glucagon decreases milk protein production and concentration by promoting the use of gluconeogenic blood AA for hepatic glucose synthesis. Little is known about how the diversion of AA to gluconeogenesis affects the composition of milk proteins and AA. The objective was to quantify changes in composition of milk protein and AA in response to i.v. glucagon infusions. Three separate experiments were used: 1) 8 Holstein cows were fed ad libitum and infused with glucagon at 10 mg/d for 14 d, 2) 7 Holstein cows were feed restricted and infused with glucagon at 10 mg/d for 14 d, and 3) 4 Brown Swiss cows were infused with glucagon at 5 and 10 mg/d for 2 d each. Milk and milk component yields and milk protein and amino acid composition of samples, collected with blood samples at the first and last day of the glucagon infusion period, were compared with those collected 1 d before and after the glucagon infusion period. Glucagon infusions decreased milk protein production and concentration in each experiment by at least 0.2 +/- 0.05 kg/d and 4 +/- 0.4 g/L, respectively. The decrease was accompanied by changes in milk protein composition, the most consistent being an increase in kappa-casein (1.68 +/- 0.27%). Overall, glucagon infusions resulted in higher proportions of kappa-casein and alpha(S2)-casein (1.34 +/- 0.51%) and smaller proportions of alpha(S1)-casein (-3.83 +/- 1.75%) and alpha-lactalbumin (-0.91 +/- 0.32%). Glucagon had little impact on milk AA composition except an increase in glycine (0.26 +/- 0.11%). The results suggest that milk protein synthesis is regulated by many factors including AA and glucose availability.
The Structure of the β-Catenin/E-Cadherin Complex and the Molecular Basis of Diverse Ligand Recognition by β-Catenin

As a component of adherens junctions and the Wnt signaling pathway, beta-catenin binds cadherins, Tcf family transcription factors, and the tumor suppressor APC. We have determined the crystal structures of both unphosphorylated and phosphorylated E-cadherin cytoplasmic domain complexed with the arm repeat region of beta-catenin. The interaction spans all 12 arm repeats, and features quasi-independent binding regions that include helices which interact with both ends of the arm repeat domain and an extended stretch of 14 residues which closely resembles a portion of XTcf-3. Phosphorylation of E-cadherin results in interactions with a hydrophobic patch of beta-catenin that mimics the binding of an amphipathic XTcf-3 helix. APC contains sequences homologous to the phosphorylated region of cadherin, and is likely to bind similarly.
Multipath mitigation in the frequency domain

The GPS measurements can be modeled as true range plus other error sources such as orbit and clock biases, ionosphere, troposphere, multipath, and receiver noise. All of these errors have different frequency spectrum components. Ionosphere and troposphere errors are of low frequency, and the receiver noise has high frequency components. Orbit errors are typically bias terms, and multipath errors have low/medium frequency components. Since these errors have different frequency components, the methodology is presented whereby the multipath error can be mitigated through frequency domain processing. In this method, firstly, a validated multipath model provides the multipath frequency spectrum analysis, which is used to bound the frequency domain region for mitigation. Secondly, a code-minus-carrier (CmC) analysis provides the major code multipath error and its frequency spectrum; Thirdly, a code multipath correction is formed and applied to mitigate the multipath error in the GPS pseudorange measurement. Fourthly, a CmC analysis is performed on the multipath mitigated measurements to illustrate a reduction in the multipath error. Lastly, a compression ratio is defined which is used as a final metric to assess the net improvement in the standard deviation of the multipath mitigated CmC, as compared to the un-mitigated CmC, on a percentage basis. This technique does rely on an estimate of the peak frequency component of the multipath to be mitigated. Additionally, real test data shows the code multipath is mitigated without carrier phase aiding. Therefore, both the multipath mitigated pseudorange measurement and carrier phase measurement can be utilized for the user solution, which improves both accuracy and integrity.
Plaintiphobia in State Courts Redux? An Empirical Study of State Court Trials on Appeal: Plaintiphobia in State Courts Redux?

Two findings dominate prior empirical studies of federal civil appeals. First, appeals courts are more likely to disrupt jury verdicts than bench decisions. Second, trial court defendants fare better than plaintiffs on appeal. But federal cases are limited by subject matter and comprise a small fraction of the nation's civil litigation activity. This study, which exploits a uniquely comprehensive database of state court trials and civil appeals, presents the first statistical models of the appeals process for a comprehensive set of state court civil trials. Using data from 46 large counties consisting of 8,038 trials and 549 concluded appeals, we find that state court appellate reversal rates for jury trials and appeals by defendants exceed the reversal rates for bench trials and appeals by plaintiffs. The reversal rate for trials appealed by plaintiffs is 21.5% compared to 41.5% for trial outcomes appealed by defendants. The reversal rate for jury trials is 33.7% compared to 27.5% for judge trials. Both descriptive analyses as well as more formal selection models point to appellate judges' attitudes toward trial-level adjudicators as an important explanation for these asymmetric outcomes of civil appeals in state courts. Our results are generally consistent with prior research on federal court appeals but also suggest a higher reversal rate of trial outcomes in state court compared to federal court.
Delivery and Expression of Functional Viral RNA Genomes In Planta by Agroinfiltration

Agroinfiltration is a simple, efficient, and powerful approach for transient expression of viral genes as well as DNA-based expression of full-length RNA genomes of plant viruses for studies leading to understanding of replication, movement, and assembly. Most importantly, it results in synchronous delivery of Agrobacterium transformants to a majority of cells encompassing the infiltrated area and is therefore ideal for examining the biological activities of viruses having multipartite genomes. Because of the high transformation rate and efficient accumulation of mRNAs, the method is also ideal for analyzing biological activities of viral genomes with defective replication and cell-to-cell movement characteristics. Keywords: Agrobacterium tumefaciens; agroinfiltration; transient expression; expression of functional viral genes; Tiplasmid; viral genomes; RNA
Laparoscopic repair of bilateral inguinal hernias in a patient with müllerian agenesis.

Abstract Objective: To report a case of laparoscopic repair of bilateral inguinal hernias in a patient with mullerian agenesis. Design: Case report. Setting: Hospital. Patient(s): An 18-year-old woman with mullerian agenesis who presented with symptomatic inguinal hernias containing ovaries. Intervention(s): Laparoscopic repair of bilateral inguinal hernias. Main Outcome Measure(s): Hernia repair was accomplished laparoscopically. Result(s): Outpatient laparoscopic repair of bilateral inguinal hernias with reduction of ovaries was performed using an extraperitoneal approach without complication. Conclusion(s): Laparoscopic approach of inguinal hernias can be an option for surgical repair in patients with mullerian agenesis even when the hernias contain ovaries.
Improving the preoperative prediction of the anterior pseudophakic distance for intraocular lens power calculation.

Purpose To establish a new formula for intraocular (IOL) power calculation. Setting Private practice, Lynwood, California, USA. Design Retrospective observational and prospective evaluation. Methods In this 2-part retrospective observational study followed by a prospective evaluation, the postoperative anterior pseudophakic distance (APD) was correlated with the ante-nucleus distance (AND), the nucleus thickness (NT) of the cataractous lens, and the axial length. An estimated APD (EAPD) equation was established and used prospectively in a new formula on eyes scheduled for cataract surgery. Results Correlations were made in 90 operated eyes, and the EAPD equation was used in a new formula on 110 eyes scheduled for cataract surgery. Using the new IOL power formula, the median absolute error was 0.28 D with 82.7% of the eyes within ±0.50 D and 100% within ±1.00 D. Conclusions The new IOL power formula with its incorporated EAPD equation performed well. Financial Disclosure H.J.S. has a pending patent on this system and method for determining IOL lens power.
Utilization of free medication samples in the United States in a nationally representative sample: 2009-2013.

Abstract Background Manufacturers provide free sample medications as a means to increase use of branded medications. Sample use varies year-to-year as branded product patents expire and new products come to market. Objective This study sought to describe the use of sample medications during 2009–2013 and assess individual characteristics associated with sample use. Methods Data from the 2009–2013 U.S. Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) were used. MEPS asks participants whether they received each medication they are taking as a sample. The top 10 medications and medication classes used each year by volume were identified as well as the proportion of people who used at least one sample medication. The proportion of new initiators of medications were also classified as the percent who received a sample for the specific medication. Logistic regression was used to assess individual demographics, insurance, and medication characteristics associated with use. Results Prevalence of sample use ranged from 9.3% in 2009 to 6.2% in 2013. The most widely used sample medications included statins during 2009–2011, which changed to inhaled β-agonists in 2012–2013, as atorvastatin became available as a generic. The overall volume of the top 10 free sample medications decreased by one-third over this study period. In 2013, 12.6% of new insulin analog users and 11.0% of new oral contraceptive users receive these medications through samples. Regression analysis showed that U.S. Medicaid- and Medicare-insured persons were less likely to use samples compared to those with private insurance. Conclusions Sample medication use has decreased as generic medications are becoming more used in the U.S.
Observation versus Resection for Small Asymptomatic Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Matched Case–Control Study

To analyze the natural history of small asymptomatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNET) and to present a matched comparison between groups who underwent either initial observation or resection. Management approach for small PanNET is uncertain. Incidentally discovered, sporadic, small (<3 cm), stage I–II PanNET were analyzed retrospectively between 1993 and 2013. Diagnosis was determined either by pathology or imaging characteristics. Intention-to-treat analysis was applied. A total of 464 patients were reviewed. Observation was recommended for 104 patients (observation group), and these patients were matched to 77 patients in the resection group based on tumor size at initial imaging. The observation group was significantly older (median 63 vs. 59 years, p = 0.04) and tended towards shorter follow-up (44 vs. 57 months, p = 0.06). Within the observation group, 26 of the 104 patients (25 %) underwent subsequent tumor resection after a median observation interval of 30 months (range 7–135). At the time of last follow-up of the observation group, the median tumor size had not changed (1.2 cm, p = 0.7), and no patient had developed evidence of metastases. Within the resection group, low-grade (G1) pathology was recorded in 72 (95 %) tumors and 5 (6 %) developed a recurrence, which occurred after a median of 5.1 (range 2.9–8.1) years. No patient in either group died from disease. Death from other causes occurred in 11 of 181 (6 %) patients. In this study, no patient who was initially observed developed metastases or died from disease after a median follow-up of 44 months. Observation for stable, small, incidentally discovered PanNET is reasonable in selected patients.
Comparison of Two Microvalve Designs Fabricated in Mild Steel

Researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) are currently interested in creating a microcompressor for various miniature energy and chemical systems (MECS) applications. One approach to microcompression involves the use of miniature check valves. Requirements for a check valve design include one-way flow and major dimensions less than 3 mm in size. Two microvalves were created using a microlamination process. A prerequisite to the creation of a microflapper valve was a capability for selective bonding so as not to bond the flapper mechanism to the valve orifice. A microprojection welding process was developed to meet this requirement. A microfloat valve was also fabricated consisting of five laminates. A prerequisite for creating the microfloat valve was the capability for preassembly. A capacitive dissociation process was developed to separate the small disk from within the valve body. Pressure drop tests were performed across each valve as a function of mass flow rate. Results indicate that the microfloat valve performed best with a theoretical orifice size of 0.629 mm for a 1.5 mm valve opening and an average diodicity ratio of 11.2. A variety of reasons are presented for improper sealing within the microflapper valves including the formation of an ejecta ridge around the valve seat during the laser forming process.
Psychological Dimensions of Consumer Decision

Motivational research and psychological research are not identical. The author believes that failure to differentiate between motivational research and psychological research has been largely respo...
Differentiation of Bovine and Porcine Strains of Brucella abortus Based on Dissociation.

Throughout the previous work1 on dissociation in the Brucella group, the possibility of using this phenomenon as a means of differentiating the members of this group has been constantly in mind. In a preliminary communication,2 the differences in the agglutininabsorbing capacity of the R variants of bovine and porcine strains of Br. abortus were reported. Marshall and Jared 3 discussed the possibility of using the variants as a means of separating the species, and Zdrodowsky, Brenn and Voskressenski 4 suggested that the terms "paramelitensis" and "parabortus" be abandoned, and that these strains be designated by the letter D (dissociable or dissociate). Although minor differences in the appearance and actions of the variants of the bovine and porcine types have been noted from time to time, these have, for the most part, been transient or have, on further investigation, been found to be common to several strains in each group. In one particular, however, a difference has been noted which, on closer scrutiny, has proved to be constant and to have no exceptions in the strains used. The characteristic referred to is the size relation of
Oscillatory states of mitochondria

Abstract A damped oscillatory state of swelling under conditions of energized ion transport in EDTA-treated rat liver mitochondria is described. The period of oscillation is dependent upon pH and temperature, and the oscillatory state requires: (a) EDTA and high pH, which are related to an effect of divalent cations; Mg ++ , Ca ++ , and Sr ++ inhibit the oscillatory state but not swelling under steady-state conditions; (b) an energy source; either electron flow through various segments of the respiratory chain, or ATP is effective; (c) a permeant anion; lithium and sodium salts of anions like acetate, propionate, or phosphate are most effective; (d) appropriate conditions of osmolarity; and (e) for initiation either substrate, ATP, permeant anion, or O 2 . After a train of 2–3 oscillations has faded away, oscillations can be reinitiated by O 2 , ATP, or permeant anion. Oscillations in mitochondrial swelling are paralleled by changes in electron and energy transfer parameters. The shrinkage phase is associated with increased respiration, a more highly oxidized state of pyridine nucleotides, a stimulation of ATP hydrolysis, an inhibition of proton production, and stimulation of cation production. When the swelling phase reoccurs, these changes are reversed and show evidence of damping. It is concluded that the oscillatory states of electron and energy transfer pathways may be under the control of mitochondrial swelling and ion transport by a feedback mechanism.
FALLACY OF A SINGLE MODEL FOR SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT: Considerations for Ethnicity

Ethnicgrouipdifferences in schoolachievement, often restilting in life cycle andgenerational ctimilative disadLaniitages in stratified societies, are apparent in elementary education. Socioeconiomtiic, famiiily, and school factors affecting school achievemenit are frequientily assiumed to be eqiially applicable across ethnic groups. This stiudy quiestionis if a single model for school achievement, zwhere the effect of socioeconiomiiic factors is mnediated by/ family processes, triily represen1ts the processes occiurring for different ethnic grouips. Resiults shozw, that the proposed theoretical model for school achieve- ment fits blacks, Chicanios, and whites differenitly. The model best predicts school achievement for Chicanios. Socioeconiomic statius alone plays a smnall direct role in school achievement for wL'hites biut it is mnediated by the intervening fanmily socializationi, school conitact, anid child study-time fac- tors for Chicanos and blacks. The intervening factors also affect school achievement differently for blacks atid Chicanos. The onily ethnic simiilarity is that increased child stiudy-timne directly improves school achievement.
Efficient Software for Multi-marker, Region-Based Analysis of GWAS Data

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have associated many single variants with complex disease, yet the better part of heritable complex disease risk remains unexplained. Analytical tools designed to work under specific population genetic models are needed. Rare variants are increasingly shown to be important in human complex disease, but most existing GWAS data do not cover rare variants. Explicit population genetic models predict that genes contributing to complex traits and experiencing recurrent, unconditionally deleterious, mutation will harbor multiple rare, causative mutations of subtle effect. It is difficult to identify genes harboring rare variants of large effect that contribute to complex disease risk via the single marker association tests typically used in GWAS. Gene/region-based association tests may have the power detect associations by combining information from multiple markers, but have yielded limited success in practice. This is partially because many methods have not been widely applied. Here, we empirically demonstrate the utility of a procedure based on the rank truncated product (RTP) method, filtered to reduce the effects of linkage disequilibrium. We apply the procedure to the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC) data set, and uncover previously unidentified associations, some of which have been replicated in much larger studies. We show that, in the absence of significant rare variant coverage, RTP based methods still have the power to detect associated genes. We recommend that RTP-based methods be applied to all existing GWAS data to maximize the usefulness of those data. For this, we provide efficient software implementing our procedure.
Angiotensin and cerebral blood flow.

1.General properties of the cerebral circulation. 2.Cerebral blood flow autoregulation in hypertension, in stroke, and during the aging process. 3.The Angiotensin system. 4.Angiotensin receptor subtypes. 5.Angiotensin receptors and actions of Angiotensin II in the brain: interactions between the brain and circulating Angiotensin II. 6.The cerebrovascular Angiotensin system. 7.Effects of Angiotensin II on cerebrovascular reactivity. 8.Angiotensin and cerebrovascular flow. 9.Effects of therapeutic modulation of the Angiotensin II system on cerebrovascular regulation in health and disease. 10.Conclusions.
C–CN Bond Cleavage Using Palladium Supported by a Dippe Ligand

The (dippe)palladium(0) fragment generated from [(dippe)Pd(μ-H)]2 (1) has been shown to form an intermediate η2-nitrile complex with acetonitrile (dippe)Pd(η2-C,N-CH3CN-BEt3) (2a) in the presence of BEt3 [(dippe = bis-diisopropylphosphino)ethane)]. On introducing a solution of 2a to 1 equiv of BPh3, rapid formation of (dippe)Pd(η2-C,N-CH3CNBPh3) (2a′) is observed. Heating 2a′ at 100 °C in THF-d8 results in the C–CN activation product 3a′, (dippe)Pd(CH3)(CNBPh3). Reaction of 1 with benzonitrile in the presence of BEt3 gives the C–CN activation product (dippe)Pd(Ph)(CN-BEt3) (3b) exclusively. The complexes 2a, 2a′, 3a′, and 3b were characterized by 1H, 31P{1H}, and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction.
Bombesin-like peptides induce Ca2+-activated K+ conductance increases in mouse fibroblasts

Peptide receptor-activated membrane currents were studied in two mouse fibroblast cell lines, Swiss and Balb/c 3T3 cells, using a patch-electrode voltage-clamp technique. About 50% of the Swiss 3T3...
The Natural Fibration over the Spectrum

Let E be a vector space, p a seminorm on E. We shall denote by E(𝖕)the “seminormed” space (E, 𝖕); this space carries the topology defined by the single seminorm 𝖕. The space E(𝖕) is Hausdorff if and only if 𝖕 is a norm. In any case, we denote by E𝖕 the associated normed space, that is, the quotient space $$ {E_{(\mathfrak{p})}}/Ker\mathfrak{p} $$ with the norm $$ \parallel \dot x{\parallel _\mathfrak{p}} = \mathfrak{p}(x) $$ where x∈E is any representative of the class mod Ker 𝖕, ẋ.
Glomerular hemodynamics in cell-free and erythrocyte-perfused isolated rat kidney.

The cell-free isolated perfused kidney (IPK) is characterized by normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and very low filtration fraction (FF). Addition of erythrocytes to the perfusate (IEPK) increases FF while maintaining "normal" GFR levels. Micropuncture studies were performed in IPK and IEPK to establish the determinants of the glomerular ultrafiltration process responsible for low FF in IPK and to evaluate the impact of the addition of erythrocytes on these determinants. Nephron filtration rate was similar in IPK and IEPK (40 +/- 4 vs. 39 +/- 4 nl/min), whereas nephron perfusate flow was significantly higher in IPK (1,247 +/- 100 vs. 112 +/- 13 nl/min), leading to a superficial nephron FF of 3.4 +/- 0.2% in IPK and 36 +/- 2% in IEPK. Glomerular hydrostatic pressure (PG) and transcapillary hydrostatic pressure gradient (delta P) were 53 +/- 2 and 33 +/- 1 mmHg, respectively, in IPK and 51 +/- 3 and 34 +/- 2 mmHg in IEPK, all normal values. Glomerular arteriolar resistances were significantly lower in IPK than in IEPK, and the glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient (LpA) was significantly lower in IPK (0.053 +/- 0.010 vs. 0.100 +/- 0.020 nl.s-1.mmHg-1), but both values are within the normal in vivo range. These results demonstrate that low FF in IPK is not due to decreased delta P or LpA values but to the high renal perfusion rate required to maintain normal PG and delta P values. Addition of erythrocytes increases glomerular arteriolar resistances and restores glomerular hemodynamics to a pattern nearly identical to in vivo conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Novel Peritonsillar Abscess Simulator

IntroductionIn response to the growing demand for a peritonsillar abscess simulator, we developed a novel model to teach needle aspiration as well as incision and drainage of this common oropharyngeal disorder. The objectives of this study were to describe the construction of the simulator and to as
Patients Willing to Wait: Arrival Time, Wait Time and Patient Satisfaction in an Ambulatory Urology Clinic

AbstractIntroduction: We evaluated the relationship of patient satisfaction to arrival and wait times. We also sought to determine factors that patients considered important to the visit experience...
Nature of the cubic to tetragonal phase transition in methylammonium lead iodide perovskite

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites, as well as the perovskites in general, are known for their phase complexity evidenced by the stabilization of different polymorphs, and thus an understanding of their regions of stability and transitions can be important for their photovoltaic and optoelectronic technologies. Here we use a multiscale approach based on first-principles calculations with van der Waals corrections and classical force-field molecular dynamics to determine the finite-temperature properties of the tetragonal and cubic phases of CH3NH3PbI3. Temperature effects are implicitly included using the quasi-harmonic approximation that can describe anharmonic behavior due to thermal expansion through the dependence of the harmonic frequencies on structural parameters. Our finite-temperature free-energy surfaces predict the lattice and elastic moduli evolution with temperature, and show in particular that the calculated lattice parameters of the cubic and tetragonal phases are to within 1% of experimental values. Further, our results show that the phonons are the major contributing factor for stabilizing the cubic phase at high temperatures mainly due to the low-energy phonon modes that are associated with the inorganic lattice. On the other hand, the configurational entropy due to CH3NH3+ rotational degrees of freedom is slightly more favored in the cubic phase and amounts to less than 0.2% of the T = 0 K free-energy difference between the two phases.
Closing the loop with inexpensive microcontrollers

The feasibility of using a commercially available microcontrollers for time-critical applications that require response times on the order of tens-of-milliseconds is addressed. A common type of positioning system with a desired response time of 60 milliseconds is analyzed with respect to the requirements imposed upon the microcontroller. Various means of digital compensation are compared, and it is shown that a simple control law can be very effective. The resulting difference equation is implemented on the Motorola MC68HC16 microcontroller in order to obtain system timing. The results of the study indicate that the newer generation of microcontrollers can be effectively used for all but the most demanding of control tasks. >
Myeloperoxidase-mediated Protein Lysine Oxidation Generates 2- aminoadipic acid and Lysine nitrile in vivo

Recent studies reveal 2-aminoadipic acid (2-AAA) is both elevated in subjects at risk for diabetes and mechanistically linked to glucose homeostasis. Prior studies also suggest enrichment of protein-bound 2-AAA as an oxidative post-translational modification of lysyl residues in tissues associated with degenerative diseases of aging. While in vitro studies suggest redox active transition metals or myeloperoxidase (MPO) generated hypochlorous acid (HOCl) may produce protein-bound 2-AAA, the mechanism(s) responsible for generation of 2-AAA during inflammatory diseases are unknown. In initial studies we observed that traditional acid- or base-catalyzed protein hydrolysis methods previously employed to measure tissue 2-AAA can artificially generate protein-bound 2-AAA from an alternative potential lysine oxidative product, lysine nitrile (LysCN). Using a validated protease-based digestion method coupled with stable isotope dilution LC/MS/MS, we now report protein bound 2-AAA and LysCN are both formed by hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and the MPO/H2O2/Cl- system of leukocytes. At low molar ratio of oxidant to target protein Ne-lysine moiety, 2-AAA is formed via an initial Ne-monochloramine intermediate, which ultimately produces the more stable 2-AAA end-product via sequential generation of transient imine and semialdehyde intermediates. At higher oxidant to target protein Ne-lysine amine ratios, protein-bound LysCN is formed via initial generation of a lysine Ne-dichloramine intermediate. In studies employing MPO knockout mice and an acute inflammation model, we show that both free and protein-bound 2-AAA, and in lower yield, protein-bound LysCN, are formed by MPO in vivo during inflammation. Finally, both 2-AAA and to lesser extent LysCN are shown to be enriched in human aortic atherosclerotic plaque, a tissue known to harbor multiple MPO-catalyzed protein oxidation products. Collectively, these results show that MPO-mediated oxidation of protein lysyl residues serves as a mechanism for producing 2-AAA and LysCN in vivo. These studies further support involvement of MPO-catalyzed oxidative processes in both the development of atherosclerosis and diabetes risk.
Intrinsic Disorder in the Highly-Ordered Circadian Clock

The circadian clock, our internal molecular time keeper, regulates everything from blood pressure levels to sleep. Through the ideal programming of behavior, it is believed that the clock enhances fitness by ensuring that many organismal functions are optimally timed with the phase of the circadian day. Conversely, due to the extent of circadian regulation, disruptions of the clock can be harmful; chronic disturbance of the clock leads to an increased risk for heart attack, cancer, diabetes, and mental health disorders among a host of other maladies. The highly conserved mechanism which regulates circadian timing is a molecular transcription-translation negative feedback loop. The core clock complex in the clock model organism Neurospora crassa consists of two sets of protein pairs, the positive arm (comprised of the White Collar 1/ White Collar 2 Complex or WCC) and the negative arm (comprised of the Frequency (FRQ)/Frequency-Interacting RNA Helicase (FRH) complex or FFC). The WCC drives the expression of the FFC, which then regulates its own transcription by inhibiting the activity of the WCC. The FFC is then targeted for degradation, allowing for the reactivation of the WCC, restarting the cycle. My work has shown that intrinsic protein disorder is essential for the proper functioning of this circadian circuit. I have demonstrated that FRQ is an Intrinsically Disordered Protein (IDP); currently, the reason for the IDP nature of FRQ is unknown. In complex with FRQ, FRH stabilizes FRQ and mediates the interactions between the core clock proteins using its disordered N-terminus. All core clock genes in Neurospora, as well as in higher eukaryotes, are predicted to be intrinsically disordered in some proportion and my labs seeks to identify the reason for the conservation of a high level of protein disorder in the circadian clock.
"I Write, Therefore I Belong: The Inevitable Process of Social Media Writers’ Identification"

Although extensive theory and research has explored employees’ organizational identification, scholars have paid little attention to people with liminal relationships who might identify with organi...
Social and Relational Aspects of Comprehending in One Fourth Grader’s Unaided and Illustration-Aided Picturebook Retellings: Retelling as Co-Authoring

In this article, we present one fourth grader’s unaided and illustration-aided retellings of The Other Side. Using a qualitative clinical case study approach, we examine comprehending activity in t...
In cirrhotic patients variceal bleeding is more frequent in the evening and correlates with severity of liver disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It has been observed that the portal pressure in cirrhotic patients shows circadian variation and is at a maximum at night. Our aims in this study were a) to evaluate the frequency of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding from esophageal/gastric varices or portal congestive gastropathy during the day, evening or night shift, and b) to correlate the frequency of bleeding during various shifts with severity of liver disease. METHODOLOGY: At our institution, during the period from January 1997 to June 1995, 15,000 gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic reports and consultations were evaluated. Episodes of bleeding due to portal hypertension (PH), i.e., esophageal varices, gastric varices or congestive gastropathy, were noted. The time of occurrence of bleeding from PH in various shifts, e.g., day shift (DS), evening shift (ES) or night shift (NS) was determined. The severity of liver disease was classified as A, B or C according to Child's classification. RESULTS: There were 221 episodes of UGI bleeding due to PH in 144 patients. 75.5% of patients presented with hematemesis, whereas 24.5% presented with melena (p < 0.025). Bleeding started during the DS in 39/221 (17.6%), during the ES in 122/221 (55.2%), and during the NS in 60/221 (27.1%). There were 29 (13.1%) patients in Child's A, 75 (33.9%) in Child's B, and 117 (52.9%) in Child's C. Among the 122 bleeders during ES, 85 (69.6%) were in category C. It seems that in these patients UGI bleeding is more frequent during the ES compared to DS and NS (p < 0.0001; chi square; 95% CI: 0.52-0.58). Child's C patients are more likely to bleed during ES compared to Child's A or B patients (p < 0.0001; Odds Ratio: 4.8%; 95% CI: 2.7-8.5). CONCLUSIONS: 1) The majority of the cirrhotic patients with PH who develop UGI bleeding present with hematemesis rather than melena. 2) The bleeding in these patients is more likely to occur during the ES. 3) Child's C patients are more likely to bleed during the ES.
Acoustic emission source modeling in a plate using buried moment tensors

Acoustic emission is a widely used and efficient method for structural damage monitoring. Analytical modeling of wave propagation due to dislocations by considering the source as a self-equilibrating moment tensor is a commonly used approach is seismology. In this paper the acoustic emission source definition using moment tensor approach is studied and tried to implement it in thin plates with micro crack acoustic emission source. Depending upon the characteristic of micro crack formed the moment tensor excitation also changes. A study has done to identify the moment tensor components for mod 1, mode 2 or mode 3 like fracture micro crack formation from the classical definition of moment tensor.
Views on Exercise.

Introduction:There is a large prevalence of asthma, particularly among Hispanic children. Although physical activity is a good way to manage asthma, more Hispanic children with asthma lack activity...
Intersection of trauma and identity

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people have made major advances toward equality in recent years. However, they continue to encounter victimization at alarming rates. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the intersection of trauma and identity among LGBT individuals. First, we review criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and then discuss how current conceptualizations of trauma overlook associations between non-traumatic events and PTSD-like disorder. Next, we discuss minority stress, the developmental impact of homophobia and transphobia, and the connection between PTSD and traumatic and non-traumatic events. Finally, we conclude with a case example to illustrate the concepts discussed in this chapter.
EVALUATION OF EFFECTS OF COLLABORATIVE PATTERNS ON THE EFFICIENCY OF SCIENTIFIC NETWORKS USING SIMULATION

The objective of this work is to investigate the role of individual scientists and their collaborations in knowledge creation networks. In order to study the networks in their dynamic context, an agent-based simulation model is developed using real data based on the Canadian biotechnology publications. We observe that while the repetitiveness of the collaborative relationships among scientists shows negative effects, the presence of the gatekeepers is found to be critical for the overall efficiency of the network. We also find positive impact of star scientists on the network productivity, but their negative effects on the flow of knowledge are detected as well.
Structural Learning of Multivariate Regression Chain Graphs via Decomposition

We extend the decomposition approach for learning Bayesian networks (BNs) proposed by (Xie et. al.) to learning multivariate regression chain graphs (MVR CGs), which include BNs as a special case. The same advantages of this decomposition approach hold in the more general setting: reduced complexity and increased power of computational independence tests. Moreover, latent (hidden) variables can be represented in MVR CGs by using bidirected edges, and our algorithm correctly recovers any independence structure that is faithful to an MVR CG, thus greatly extending the range of applications of decomposition-based model selection techniques. Simulations under a variety of settings demonstrate the competitive performance of our method in comparison with the PC-like algorithm (Sonntag and Pena). In fact, the decomposition-based algorithm usually outperforms the PC-like algorithm except in running time. The performance of both algorithms is much better when the underlying graph is sparse.
Non-Primate Models of Normal Brain Aging

Dogs, cats, and several mammals other than rodents and nonhuman primates develop cognitive, behavioral, and neuropathological changes with age that parallel declines in normal and pathological human aging. The dog is the only mammal that has been extensively studied in this regard and is the main focus of this article. The data suggest that the dog is an innovative model for studying cognitive, behavioral, and brain aging. The study of various mammals may provide valuable insight into the aging process not available from any single animal model alone.
A hybrid method of the sequential Monte Carlo and the Edgeworth expansion for computation of very small p-values in permutation tests:

Permutation tests are very useful when parametric assumptions are violated or distributions of test statistics are mathematically intractable. The major advantage of permutation tests is that the procedure is so general that it is applicable to most test statistics. The computational expense is, however, impractical in high-dimensional settings such as genomewide association studies. This study provides a comprehensive review of existing methods that can compute very small p-values efficiently. A common issue with existing methods is that they can only be applied to a specific test statistic. To fill in the knowledge gap, we propose a hybrid method of the sequential Monte Carlo and the Edgeworth expansion approximation for a studentized statistic, which is applicable to a variety of test statistics. The simulation results show that the proposed method performs better than competing methods. Furthermore, applications of the proposed method are demonstrated by statistical analysis on the genomewide association studies data from the Study of Addiction: Genetics and Environment (SAGE).
Applying Artificial Intelligence to Address the Knowledge Gaps in Cancer Care

Background Rapid advances in science challenge the timely adoption of evidence-based care in community settings. To bridge the gap between what is possible and what is practiced, we researched approaches to developing an artificial intelligence (AI) application that can provide real-time patient-specific decision support. Materials and methods The Oncology Expert Advisor (OEA) was designed to simulate peer-to-peer consultation with three core functions: patient history summarization, treatment options recommendation, and management advisory. Machine-learning algorithms were trained to construct a dynamic summary of patients cancer history and to suggest approved therapy or investigative trial options. All patient data used were retrospectively accrued. Ground truth was established for approximately 1,000 unique patients. The full Medline database of more than 23 million published abstracts was used as the literature corpus. Results OEA's accuracies of searching disparate sources within electronic medical records to extract complex clinical concepts from unstructured text documents varied, with F1 scores of 90%-96% for non-time-dependent concepts (e.g., diagnosis) and F1 scores of 63%-65% for time-dependent concepts (e.g., therapy history timeline). Based on constructed patient profiles, OEA suggests approved therapy options linked to supporting evidence (99.9% recall; 88% precision), and screens for eligible clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov (97.9% recall; 96.9% precision). Conclusion Our results demonstrated technical feasibility of an AI-powered application to construct longitudinal patient profiles in context and to suggest evidence-based treatment and trial options. Our experience highlighted the necessity of collaboration across clinical and AI domains, and the requirement of clinical expertise throughout the process, from design to training to testing. Implications for practice Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital advisors such as the Oncology Expert Advisor have the potential to augment the capacity and update the knowledge base of practicing oncologists. By constructing dynamic patient profiles from disparate data sources and organizing and vetting vast literature for relevance to a specific patient, such AI applications could empower oncologists to consider all therapy options based on the latest scientific evidence for their patients, and help them spend less time on information "hunting and gathering" and more time with the patients. However, realization of this will require not only AI technology maturation but also active participation and leadership by clincial experts.