cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does patient compliance with preoperative bariatric office visits affect postoperative excess weight loss

Abstract Background The amount of excess weight loss (EWL) achieved after bariatric surgery has varied considerably. Reliable preoperative predictors of the postoperative %EWL do not exist. Patient compliance with the physician recommendations has generally been believed to be important for long-term success after bariatric surgery, especially after gastric banding. We hypothesized that poor preoperative patient compliance with office visits, a likely indicator of overall compliance, would be associated with lower %EWL after bariatric surgery at a teaching hospital in the United States. Methods We performed an institutional review board-approved review of prospectively collected data from all patients undergoing bariatric surgery from 2007 to 2009. The patients were categorized into 2 groups: those who had missed 25%. The average %EWL at 12 months between the 2 groups was compared using the unpaired t test separately for the gastric bypass and gastric banding patients. Results The gastric band patients with >25% missed appointments had lost 23% EWL at 12 months compared with 32% EWL for the gastric band patients who had missed P = .01). No difference was found in the %EWL for the gastric bypass patients according to the missed preoperative appointments. The postoperative compliance was significantly poorer than preoperatively. Conclusion The patients with a greater percentage of missed preoperative appointments had a lower postoperative %EWL at 1 year after gastric banding but not after gastric bypass. This information could prove useful during patient selection or when counseling patients about the type of bariatric surgery to pursue.
Abietadiene Synthase from Grand Fir (Abies grandis) cDNA ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND BACTERIAL EXPRESSION OF A BIFUNCTIONAL DITERPENE CYCLASE INVOLVED IN RESIN ACID BIOSYNTHESIS

(-)-Abietic acid, the principal diterpenoid resin acid of the wound-induced oleoresin secreted by grand fir (Abies grandis), is synthesized by the cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate to (-)-abieta-7(8),13(14)-diene, followed by sequential three-step oxidation of the C-18 methyl group of the olefin to a carboxyl function. The enzyme catalyzing the cyclization reaction, abietadiene synthase, was purified from stems of wounded grand fir saplings and was digested with trypsin. Amino acid sequence information from the resulting peptides allowed construction of degenerate oligonucleotide primers, which amplified a 551-base pair fragment from a wound-induced stem cDNA library. This hybridization probe was then utilized to screen the wound-induced stem cDNA library, from which three cDNA clones were isolated that were functionally expressed in Escherichia coli, thereby confirming that a single protein catalyzes the complex, multistep cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate to abietadiene. cDNA isolate Ac22.1, which yielded the highest expressed level of cyclase activity, was 2861 base pairs in length and encoded an 868-amino acid open reading frame that included a putative plastidial transit peptide. Deduced amino acid sequence comparison to other terpene cyclases revealed an amino-terminal region of the abietadiene synthase, which resembles those of enzymes that employ substrate double bond protonation to initiate the carbocationic reaction cascade, and a carboxyl-terminal region of the synthase, which resembles those of enzymes that employ ionization of the substrate allylic diphosphate ester function to initiate the cyclization reaction. This apparent fusion of segments of the two distinct terpenoid cyclase types is consistent with the novel mechanism of the bifunctional abietadiene synthase in catalyzing both protonation-initiated and ionization-initiated cyclization steps.
Extracting surveillance graphs from robot maps

GRAPH-CLEAR is a recently introduced theoretical framework to model surveillance tasks accomplished by multiple robots patrolling complex indoor environments. In this paper we provide a first step to close the loop between its graph-based theoretical formulation and practical scenarios. We show how it is possible to algorithmically extract suitable so-called surveillance graphs from occupancy grid maps. We also identify local graph modification operators, called contractions, that alter the graph being extracted so that the original surveillance problem can be solved using less robots. The algorithm we present is based on the generalized Voronoi diagram, a structure that can be simply computed using watershed like algorithms. Our algorithm is evaluated by processing maps produced by mobile robots exploring indoor environments. It turns out that the proposed algorithm is fast, robust to noise, and opportunistically modifies the graph so that less expensive strategies can be computed.
Modulation of cell-substrate adhesion by arachidonic acid: lipoxygenase regulates cell spreading and ERK1/2-inducible cyclooxygenase regulates cell migration in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts.

Adhesion of cells to an extracellular matrix is characterized by several discrete morphological and functional stages beginning with cell-substrate attachment, followed by cell spreading, migration, and immobilization. We find that although arachidonic acid release is rate-limiting in the overall process of adhesion, its oxidation by lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenases regulates, respectively, the cell spreading and cell migration stages. During the adhesion of NIH-3T3 cells to fibronectin, two functionally and kinetically distinct phases of arachidonic acid release take place. An initial transient arachidonate release occurs during cell attachment to fibronectin, and is sufficient to signal the cell spreading stage after its oxidation by 5-lipoxygenase to leukotrienes. A later sustained arachidonate release occurs during and after spreading, and signals the subsequent migration stage through its oxidation to prostaglandins by newly synthesized cyclooxygenase-2. In signaling migration, constitutively expressed cyclooxygenase-1 appears to contribute ;25% of prostaglandins synthesized compared with the inducible cyclooxygenase-2. Both the second sustained arachidonate release, and cyclooxygenase-2 protein induction and synthesis, appear to be regulated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2. The initial cell attachment-induced transient arachidonic acid release that signals spreading through lipoxygenase oxidation is not sensitive to ERK1/2 inhibition by PD98059, whereas PD98059 produces both a reduction in the larger second arachidonate release and a blockade of induced cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression with concomitant reduction of prostaglandin synthesis. The second arachidonate release, and cyclooxygenase-2 expression and activity, both appear to be required for cell migration but not for the preceding stages of attachment and spreading. These data suggest a bifurcation in the arachidonic acid adhesion-signaling pathway, wherein lipoxygenase oxidation generates leukotriene metabolites regulating the spreading stage of cell adhesion, whereas ERK 1/2-induced cyclooxygenase synthesis results in oxidation of a later release, generating prostaglandin metabolites regulating the later migration stage.
Engineering Sufficiently Secure Computing

We propose an architecture of four complimentary technologies increasingly relevant to a growing number of home users and organizations: cryptography, separation kernels, formal verification, and rapidly improving techniques relevant to software defect density estimation. Cryptographic separation protects information in transmission and storage. Formally proven properties of separation kernel based secure virtualization can bound risk for information in processing. Then, within each strongly separated domain, risk can be measured as a function of people and technology within that domain. Where hardware, software, and their interactions are proven to behave as and only as desired under all circumstances, such hardware and software can be considered to not substantially increase risk. Where the size or complexity of software is beyond such formal proofs, we discuss estimating risk related to software defect densities, and emerging work related to binary analysis with potential for improving software defect density estimation.
The dual role of CXCL8 in human CNS stem cell function: Multipotent neural stem cell death and oligodendrocyte progenitor cell chemotaxis

Research into multiple sclerosis (MS) has shown that cells purportedly important to myelin repair within the CNS, namely neural stem cells (NSC) and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC), are recruited to active lesion sites during the course of the disease. However, over time these cells appear to become depleted or functionally blocked in and around lesions, accompanied by a failure of repair mechanisms. We have previously demonstrated elevated CXCL8 in patients with MS, and hypothesized that this chemokine may play a role in the pathology of this disease. Using NSC and OPC derived in vitro from human embryonic stem cells (hESC) we demonstrate here that CXCL8 has a dual role on stem cell biology in vitro. CXCL8 caused CXCR1-mediated death of NSC, but not OPC, whilst also acting as a potent chemoattractant for both cell types. These data support a context-dependent role for CXCL8 expression in the CNS in which it may drive recruitment of NSC and OPC to sites of inflammation, but as a side-effect could also contribute to the failure of myelin repair in MS.
Weight Loss Interventions to Control Blood Pressure in an Increasingly Overweight, Multi-ethnic Society

This chapter will review the epidemiology of overweight and obesity, summarize the relationship of weight with blood pressure (BP), examine the effectiveness of lifestyle intervention trials in achieving weight loss, review differences in weight loss success by racial/ethnic groups, and explore factors that might explain observed differences in racial/ethnic responses to lifestyle interventions. Worldwide, obesity is one of the most common and important public health problems. In the U.S., approximately one third of adults are obese and another third are overweight. In men, the prevalence of obesity in Whites, African-Americans, and Hispanic Americans is similar. In women, however, African-Americans are more likely to be obese compared to Whites and Hispanic Americans. Asian-Americans represent the one racial/ethnic minority group for which the prevalence of overweight and obesity does not exceed that of their white counterparts.
Kac-moody lie algebras and soliton equations: II. Lax equations associated with A1(1)

The soliton equations associated with sl(2) eigenvalue problems polynomial in the eigenvalue parameter are given a unified treatment; they are shown to be generated by a single family of commuting Hamiltonians on a subalgebra of the loop algebra of sl(2). The conserved densities and fluxes of the usual ANKS hierarchy are identified with conserved densities and fluxes for the polynomial eigenvalue problems. The Hamiltonian structures of the soliton equations associated with the polynomial eigenvalue problems are given a unified treatment.
Polycystic Kidney Disease: Lessons Learned from Caenorhabditis elegans Mating Behavior

Male worm mating requires lov-1 and pkd-2 (homologs of the human polycystic kidney disease genes, PKD1 and PKD2), which are expressed in male-specific neurons. Transcriptomic analysis of these neurons now catalogs molecules involved in signaling and ectosome biogenesis, with implications for human PKD.
Up-regulation of Rac1 by epidermal growth factor mediates COX-2 expression in recurrent respiratory papillomas.

Recurrent respiratory papillomas are epithelial tumors of the airway caused by human papillomaviruses. We previously reported that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in papilloma cells, that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is induced, and that COX-2 expression in primary papilloma cells requires activation of the EGFR but not Erk. Rac1, a member of the Rho family of GTPases, is a key signaling element that is known to control multiple pathways downstream of the EGFR. Here we report that Rac1 is overexpressed in papilloma cells compared with normal laryngeal epithelial cells and that the increased levels of Rac1 are mediated by EGFR activation. Transfecting cells with Rac1-specific siRNA suppressed COX-2 expression. Surprisingly, Rac1 mediated phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated kinase in papilloma cells but not normal cells, and inhibition of p38 with the specific inhibitor SB202190 suppressed COX-2 expression in papilloma cells but had no effect on low-level COX-2 expression in normal cells. Thus, the signaling cascades that regulate COX-2 expression are different in HPV-infected papilloma cells, with a significant contribution by the EGFR → Rac1 → p38 pathway.
Dreading and Ranting: The Distinct Effects of Anxiety and Anger in Online Seller Reviews

This paper explores effects of the emotions embedded in a seller review on its perceived helpfulness. Drawing on frameworks from the emotion and cognitive processing literatures, the authors propose that although emotional review content is subject to a well-known negativity bias, the effects of discrete emotions will vary, and that one source of this variance is perceptions of reviewers’ cognitive effort. We focused on the roles of two distinct, negative emotions common to seller reviews: anxiety and anger. In Study 1, actual seller reviews from Yahoo Shopping websites were collected to determine the effects of anxiety and anger on review helpfulness. In Study 2, an experiment was utilized to identify and explain the differential impact of anxiety and anger in terms of perceived reviewer effort. Our findings demonstrate the importance of examining discrete emotions in online word-of-mouth, and they also carry important practical implications for consumers and online retailers.
Open Mill Mixing vs. Internal Mixers

Abstract AT the present time about 80 per cent of all the mixing at the Miller Rubber Company is done in internal mixers. All tires, tubes, heels and in fact all stocks with the exception of highly colored bath caps, water bottles and the like are mixed on these machines. The transition from mill to internal mixer has been gradual as there were many difficulties to iron out, both in the original mixer itself as well as in the operation. Our first experience with the internal mixer dates back to 1916 when we installed a small machine. The troubles encountered with this machine were largely due to the inability of getting rid of the heat generated during the mixing operation. In 1919 we installed the first mixer with which we mixed tire tread socks with some degree of success. Our biggest difficulty at this time was not the dispersing of the powders or pigments in order to meet gravity and tensile specifications, but was rather due to the fact that the mixed stock refused to run through the calendars and tu...
From face-to-face to face-to-screen: remote management, effectiveness and accountability of humanitarian action in insecure environments

This article provides a first attempt at analysing the complex set of issues around remote management practices in insecure environments and their increased use. It looks at definitions and reviews existing published and grey literature on remote management and related practices. It tries to situate remote management in the evolving context of post-Cold War strategies of dealing with conflict and crisis. On the basis of interviews with a cross-section of aid workers, senior headquarters managerial and policy staff, donors, and research institutions, it provides an assessment of current remote management practices, with a particular focus on Afghanistan and Somalia, and their implications for the future of humanitarian action.
Reflections on a Fifty-Year Career in Organic Photochemistry: A Personal Perspective

This Perspective traces the career of the author in the area of mechanistic organic photochemistry from the primitive state of this field in the late 1950s and early 1960s until its maturity as a highly sophisticated discipline at the present time. The paper focuses on early studies carried out by the author and his associates to delineate mechanisms of basic types of photochemical reactions of small organic molecules to studies in recent years involving photoinduced electron-transfer processes occurring in nanoscale artificial photosynthetic systems in ultrashort time domains. The important role that serendipitous events played in directing key career decisions and events is emphasized. The important ways that developments in instrumentation influenced the choices, possibilities, and accomplishments of performing research in photochemistry between 1960 and the present time are emphasized. Acknowledgment is given by the author to the many people who contributed directly and indirectly to the course that his career has taken over more than half a century.
Thermal boundary conductance accumulation and interfacial phonon transmission: Measurements and theory

The advances in phonon spectroscopy in homogeneous solids have unveiled extremely useful physics regarding the contribution of phonon energies and mean-free paths to the thermal transport in solids. However, as material systems decrease to length scales less than the phonon mean-free paths, thermal transport can become much more impacted by scattering and transmission across interfaces between two materials than the intrinsic relaxation in the homogeneous solid. To elucidate the fundamental interactions driving this thermally limiting interfacial phonon scattering process, we analytically derive and experimentally measure a thermal boundary conductance accumulation function. We develop a semiclassical theory to calculate the thermal boundary conductance accumulation function across interfaces using the diffuse mismatch model, and validate this derivation by measuring the interface conductance between eight different metals on native oxide/silicon substrates and four different metals on sapphire substrates. Measurements were performed at room temperature using time-domain thermoreflectance and represent the first-reported values for interface conductance across several metal/native oxide/silicon and metal/sapphire interfaces. The various metal films provide a variable bandwidth of phonons incident on the metal/substrate interface. This method of varying phonons' cutoff frequency in the film while keeping the same substrate allows us to mimic the accumulation of thermal boundary conductance and thus provides a direct method to experimentally validate our theory. We show that the accumulation function can be written as the product of a weighted average of the interfacial phonon transmission function and the accumulation of the temperature derivative of the phonon flux incident on the interface; this provides the framework to extract an average, spectrally dependent phonon transmissivity from a series of thermal boundary conductance measurements. Our approach provides a platform for analyzing the spectral phononic contribution to interfacial thermal transport in our experimentally measured data of metal/substrate thermal boundary conductance. Based on the assumptions made in this work and the measurement results on different metals on native oxide/silicon and sapphire substrates, we demonstrate that high-frequency phonons dictate the transport across metal/Si interfaces, especially in low Debye temperature metals with low-cutoff frequencies.
Single-Cell Characterization of 18F-FLT Uptake with Radioluminescence Microscopy

The radiotracer 39-deoxy-39-18F-fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) is commonly used to measure cell proliferation in vivo. As a marker of cell proliferation, 18F-FLT is expected to be differentially taken up by arrested and actively dividing cells, but positron emission tomography (PET) only measures aggregate uptake by tumor cells and therefore the single-cell distribution of 18F-FLT is unknown. We use a novel in vitro radioluminescence microscopy technique to measure the differential distribution of 18F-FLT radiotracer with single-cell precision. Methods: Using radioluminescence microscopy, we image the absolute uptake of 18F-FLT in live MDA-MB-231 cells grown under different serum conditions. We then compare 18F-FLT uptake to a standard measure of cell proliferation, using fluorescence microscopy of EdU incorporation in fixed cells. Results: According to EdU staining, few cells (1%) actively cycle under serum deprivation while a majority of them (71%) do under 20% serum. The distribution of 18F-FLT reflects this dynamic. At 0% serum, uptake of 18F-FLT is heterogeneous but relatively low. At 20% serum, a subpopulation of 18F-FLT-avid cells, representing 61% of the total population, emerges. Uptake of 18F-FLT in this population is fivefold higher than in the remainder of the cells. Such a dichotomous distribution is not typically observed with other radiotracers such as 18F-FDG. Conclusion: These results suggest that increased 18F-FLT uptake by proliferating cells is due to a greater fraction of 18F-FLT-avid cells rather than a change in 18F-FLT uptake by individual cells. This finding is consistent with the fact that 18F-FLT uptake is mediated by expression of thymidine kinase 1 (TK1), which is expressed more highly in actively dividing cells. Overall, these findings suggest that, within the same patient, changes in 18F-FLT uptake reflect changes in the number of actively dividing cells, provided other parameters remain the same.
Epidemiological Features of Brucellosis in Suburb of Xi'an In Recent Years

[Objective]To monitor and analyze epidemiological features of Brucellosis so as to understand the epidemic tendency of it, and provide evidence for prevention and control guideline. [Methods] Epidemiological Analysis was made on the data collected from statements of the epidemic, the special survey and experimental test results over the years. [Results] Infections between the livestock increased, and a number of outbreaks point appeared in recent years. A total of 114 serum and 224 people monitoring showed that the RBPT positive rate was 19.3%, the difference between the years was significant. (χ2=26.6758,P0.05), 6 out of 20 SAT detections(20.7%) was positive without typical clinical manifestations, previous and present infected patients was identified by GB. [Conclusion]A trend of the epidemic fluctuations should be dynamically observed, human and livestock disease should be attracted more attention.
Rational Design of a Photoactivatable Cofilin Analog using a Novel Lov-Binding Protein

The spatial and temporal organization of protein activity is an essential but poorly understood aspect of cellular signaling. Optogenetics is emerging as a powerful tool for precise modulation of specific protein's activity within living cells and animals. For non-channel proteins, optical control of protein activity has been accomplished through light-regulated protein dimerization, oligomerization, and by light-controlled steric block of a protein or peptide active site using the LOV (light-oxygen-voltage) domain. Illumination triggers a conformational change in LOV that reversibly releases the steric block. A challenge in this approach has been the difficulty of controlling the orientation of LOV in the dark to efficiently block the protein site. Recently our lab has generated a novel LOV-binding protein based on z-affibodies, a class of engineered protein scaffold. Our z-affibody (termed Zdk) binds selectively to the dark state of LOV ( 4 μM affinity in the light). We show that Zdk can be used to control the orientation of LOV in the dark state and efficiently block the actin-binding site of cofilin in a light-dependent, reversible manner. To make photoactivatable cofilin (PA-cofilin), Zdk was fused to the N-terminus of cofilin and LOV was fused to the C-terminus. We used Rosetta-based molecular modeling to rationally design linkers that oriented the Zdk-LOV complex over the actin-binding interface and also to rationally design Zdk variants with a range of affinities for LOV. Using a Zdk of the optimum affinity for LOV was found to be critical in the design. PA-cofilin undergoes a five-fold increase in actin-binding in response to light, demonstrating the tight control of protein activity that can be achieved using Zdk. Ongoing studies using PA-cofilin to probe the role of cofilin in polarized migration will be described.
Discovery of a 150 day period in the Venus condensational clouds

Abstract We have analyzed the long-term regional and global variation of emitted radiance in 1.74 µ m and 2.30 µ m near infrared spectral windows in the Venus atmosphere using the medium resolution, infrared channel of the Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS-M-IR) on the Venus Express spacecraft. We find a periodic variation in the 1.74 µ m radiance that is most pronounced at mid-latitudes ( 30 ∘ − 60 ∘ latitude). This oscillation has a period of approximately 150 days, and is shown to be unlikely to be driven by variations in viewing geometry, nor by variations in instrumental characteristics such as spectrometer temperature. The oscillation has an amplitude at least as large as that of the typical day-to-day variations observed. The decay and recovery timescales are consistent with response of the cloud vertical structure to the radiative-dynamical feedback. It remains unclear why this variation would be seen only at mid-latitudes, but some hypotheses to guide future modeling testing are suggested.
Research Issues Relating to Structure, Competition, and Performance of Small Technology-Based Firms

The role that small firms play in industrial organization has evolved considerably since the second world war. This paper seeks to document how and why small business plays a very different role in industrial organization research today than it did some three decades ago.
CMOS nanoelectrode array for all-electrical intracellular electrophysiological imaging

Developing a new tool capable of high-precision electrophysiological recording of a large network of electrogenic cells has long been an outstanding challenge in neurobiology and cardiology. Here, we combine nanoscale intracellular electrodes with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits to realize a high-fidelity all-electrical electrophysiological imager for parallel intracellular recording at the network level. Our CMOS nanoelectrode array has 1,024 recording/stimulation 'pixels' equipped with vertical nanoelectrodes, and can simultaneously record intracellular membrane potentials from hundreds of connected in vitro neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. We demonstrate that this network-level intracellular recording capability can be used to examine the effect of pharmaceuticals on the delicate dynamics of a cardiomyocyte network, thus opening up new opportunities in tissue-based pharmacological screening for cardiac and neuronal diseases as well as fundamental studies of electrogenic cells and their networks.
Latino Immigrant Youth and Interrupted Schooling: Dropouts, Dreamers and Alternative Pathways to College

Research and the mainstream media have contributed to the stereotype of Latino/a immigrant youth and young adults as high school dropouts. Marguerite Lukes nuances this idea by examining the comple...
Environmental Drivers of the Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Spawning Blue Crabs Callinectes sapidus in the Western Gulf of Mexico

AbstractThe blue crab Callinectes sapidus is an economically important shellfish found in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere. Recent declines in abundance of this species have driven progressive management actions throughout its range, including protection of spawning females by establishing “no-take” zones on the Atlantic coast. To date, no-take zones have not been established in the western Gulf of Mexico, although annual closures associated with mitigation of derelict traps exist in both Texas and Louisiana. In this study, we used long-term data acquired via fishery-independent sampling by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to assess spatial and seasonal distribution of spawning females in order to inform future evaluations of no-take areas. The presence of spawning females was modeled statistically by using water quality and spatial variables as predictors. Distance to the nearest Gulf pass was the most reliable predictor of presence, accounting for over 43% of the deviance observed in models from ...
Melanocytic Proliferations and Other Pigmented Lesions

This chapter reviews pigmented skin lesions of varied etiology. Some are acquired while others are present at birth or inherited as part of a genetic syndrome.
Fixed-Interval Performance in Humans: Sensitivity To Temporal Parameters When Food is The Reinforcer

Human sensitivity to temporal parameters of fixed-interval and fixed-time schedules was examined using traditional operant procedures employing food reinforcers. Subjects exhibited one of three forms of behavior: (a) high, constant rates of responding which followed short postreinforcement pauses and were insensitive to variation in the parameters of both types of schedules; (b) low rates of responding generated by few responses and a lengthy postreinforcement pause; and (c) gradually accelerating rates of responding following a moderate postreinforcement pause, i.e., a “scalloped” pattern of responding. Responding of the final variety was found to be highly sensitive to the differences in schedule type. The adaptive characteristics of each type of responding and suggestions for the reliable production of fixed-interval performance resembling that of animal subjects are also discussed.
Trends in Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Cardiovascular Health Among US Adults From 1999–2012

BackgroundIn the United States, there are persistent racial and ethnic disparities in cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. National efforts have focused on reducing these disparities; ho...
Improvement in lipids after switch to boosted atazanavir or darunavir in children/adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV on older protease inhibitors: results from the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study.

Objectives Dyslipidaemia is common in perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV) youth receiving protease inhibitors (PIs). Few studies have evaluated longitudinal lipid changes in PHIV youth after switch to newer PIs. Methods We compared longitudinal changes in fasting lipids [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and TC:HDL-C ratio] in PHIV youth enrolled in the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS) Adolescent Master Protocol (AMP) study who switched to atazanavir/ritonavir (ATV/r)- or darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) from an older PI-based ART and those remaining on an older PI. Generalized estimating equation models were fitted to assess the association of a switch to ATV/r- or DRV/r-based ART with the rate of change in lipids, adjusted for potential confounders. Results From 2007 to 2014, 47 PHIV children/adolescents switched to ATV/r or DRV/r, while 120 remained on an older PI [primarily lopinavir/r (72%) and nelfinavir (24%)]. Baseline age ranged from 7 to 21 years. After adjustment for age, Tanner stage, race/ethnicity, and HIV RNA level, a switch to ATV/r or DRV/r was associated with a more rapid annual rate of decline in the ratio of TC:HDL-C. (β = -0.12; P = 0.039) than remaining on an older PI. On average, TC declined by 4.57 mg/dL/year (P = 0.057) more in the switch group. A switch to ATV/r or DRV/r was not associated with the rate of HDL-C, LDL-C, or TG change. Conclusions A switch to ATV/r or DRV/r may result in more rapid reduction in TC and the TC:HDL-C ratio in PHIV youth, potentially impacting long-term cardiovascular disease risk.
DOE’s National Fuel Cell Vehicle Learning Demonstration Project: NREL’s Data Analysis Results

This chapter presents the National Fuel Cell Vehicle Learning Demonstration Project of the U.S. Department of Energy which seeks to validate vehicle and infrastructure systems using hydrogen as a transportation fuel for light-duty vehicles. The role of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in this project is to generate the maximum value for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the automobile industry from the data produced in the project. Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and hydrogen refueling infrastructure under real-world conditions are validated by using multiple sites, varying climates, and a variety of sources for hydrogen. The specific objectives of the project include validating hydrogen vehicles with more than a 250-mile range, 2,000 h fuel cell durability, and a $3 per gasoline gallon equivalent hydrogen production cost (based on modeling for volume production). The four industry teams for the project include Chevron/Hyundai-Kia, Daimler/BP, Ford/BP, and GM/Shell. The five geographic regions in the United States selected for the project include the San Francisco to Sacramento region (California), the Los Angeles metropolitan area (California), the Detroit metropolitan area (Michigan), the Washington, D.C., to New York region (Northeast U.S.), and the Orlando metropolitan area (Florida). The findings suggest that the fuel cell system efficiency for both first- and second-generation systems was close to or exceeded the targets.
Clinical Outcomes Observed among Biopsy Proven Lupus Nephritis Patients Treated with Mycophenolate Mofetil as First-line Therapy.

Background and objective The rate of end-stage renal disease from lupus nephritis has not declined, in spite of recent advances in therapeutics, such as mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). To provide insight into rates of the clinical outcomes in current practice after biopsy-proven lupus nephritis, we used a prospective cohort of the patients with newly diagnosed lupus nephritis, treated with MMF and observed their outcomes. Method Twenty systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients who began mycophenolate mofetil shortly after a biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of lupus nephritis were included in the analysis. There were five patients with class III, nine with class IV, four with class III-V, one with class IV-V and two with class V lupus nephritis. The initial dose of mycophenolate mofetil was 1000 mg twice daily. If no improvement was observed, the dose was increased to 1500 mg twice daily after one month. We estimated the survival function for the time until the urine protein/creatinine reached 0.50 grams or less, after starting MMF by using an approach that accommodated interval-censored data. We also evaluated the treatment response using five different sets of criteria for the response that have previously been used in the clinical trials. These included the Bristol Myers-Squibb (BMS), the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), the lupus nephritis assessment with rituximab (LUNAR ), the Aspreva Lupus Management Study (ALMS), and the Abatacept and Cyclophosphamide Combination Efficacy and Safety Study (ACCESS). Result We estimated that 52% of the SLE patients reached 0.50 grams of proteinuria within 51 days of starting mycophenolate mofetil (95% confidence interval 29%-74%) and 77% reached 0.50 grams or less within 260 days (95% confidence interval 57%-97%). The probability of response at 90 and 180 days was 5% and 33% (the Bristol Myers-Squibb), 26% and 57% (the American College of Rheumatology), and 11% and 28% (the lupus nephritis assessment with rituximab, the Aspreva Lupus Management Study and the Abatacept and Cyclophosphamide Combination Efficacy and Safety Study). Conclusion The complete renal response ranged from 28% to 57% at six months in the routine clinical practice, mirroring the results in randomized clinical trials. Regardless of the response measures, the complete renal response was slow and, by most indices, reached in only a minority of the patients by the end of six months of the induction therapy. This indicates the urgent need for the faster and more effective lupus nephritis treatments.
New (and Old) Proof Systems for Lattice Problems

We continue the study of statistical zero-knowledge (SZK) proofs, both interactive and noninteractive, for computational problems on point lattices. We are particularly interested in the problem \(\textsf {GapSPP}\) of approximating the \(\varepsilon \) -smoothing parameter (for some \(\varepsilon < 1/2\)) of an n-dimensional lattice. The smoothing parameter is a key quantity in the study of lattices, and \(\textsf {GapSPP}\) has been emerging as a core problem in lattice-based cryptography, e.g., in worst-case to average-case reductions. We show that \(\textsf {GapSPP}\) admits SZK proofs for remarkably low approximation factors, improving on prior work by up to roughly \(\sqrt{n}\). Specifically: There is a noninteractive SZK proof for \(O(\log (n) \sqrt{\log (1/\varepsilon )})\)-approximate \(\textsf {GapSPP}\). Moreover, for any negligible \(\varepsilon \) and a larger approximation factor \(\widetilde{O}(\sqrt{n \log (1/\varepsilon )})\), there is such a proof with an efficient prover. There is an (interactive) SZK proof with an efficient prover for \(O(\log n + \sqrt{\log (1/\varepsilon )/\log n})\)-approximate coGapSPP. We show this by proving that \(O(\log n)\)-approximate \(\textsf {GapSPP}\) is in \(\mathsf {coNP} \).
Gastroesophageal Reflux and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a specific form of chronic and progressive fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown cause. IPF is the most common form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) and accounts for 50–60% of these diseases. Even though the cause of IPF is unknown, various exposures such cigarette smoking, metal/wood dust, certain drugs and importantly gastroesophageal reflux (GER) have been associated with IPF. There is an increasing body of literature regarding the relationship between GER and IPF, particularly over the last decade. This has culminated in anti-acid medications receiving a conditional recommendation for use in patients with IPF in the most recent American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society/Japanese Respiratory Society and Latin American Thoracic Associate guidelines for the treatment of IPF. This chapter will explore the proposed pathologic relationship between IPF and GER as well as treatments, outcomes and future directions.
Propensity score matching for surgical outcomes with observational data

PROPENSITY SCORE MATCHING FOR SURGICAL OUTCOMES WITH OBSERVATIONAL DATA Robert M. Cannon, 3/26/2012 Because of limitations in randomized controlled trials, medical researchers are often forced to rely upon studies of observational data. Confounding is a major difficulty encountered in such studies that can create considerable bias in estimates of treatment effects. Propensity score analysis was developed by Rosenbaum & Rubin in 1983 to overcome these difficulties. In essence, a propensity score allows balance to be achieved on confounding covariates in treatment and control groups, thus creating a 'quasi-randomized' trial from observational data. In this study, I illustrate the use of propensity matching to demonstrate that African American race is a significant risk factor for receiving a lower quality donor kidney using a national database on transplantation. I then use propensity matching to demonstrate the benefits of laparoscopic resection for hepatic colorectal metastases. In doing so, the great value of propensity matching in reducing bias in observational studies is demonstrated.
Light Signal Transduction Mediated by Phytochromes

Light signal transduction in plants is mediated by the concerted interaction of UV-B, blue/UV-A, and red-light photoreceptors. The physiological effects of the activation of these photoreceptors are dramatically illustrated by comparing the morphologies of dark grown seedlings to those exposed to ambient light (Fig. 1). Dark-grown (etiolated) seedlings are typically white in color, have elongated stems, and lack leaves and flowers. Exposure to light induces photomorphogenesis, which is characterized by a rapid inhibition of stem elongation and the development of leaves and photo synthetically competent chloroplasts, which results in greening (de-etiolation).
Fiscal effects of municipal annexation: Evidence from a large national sample of urban municipalities

This paper examines the relationship between annexation and municipal finance and addresses a gap in the literature by studying the role of revenue structure and fiscal constraints. Using a large national sample of urban municipalities, the analysis shows that territorial expansion by itself does not influence municipal fiscal outcomes with the exception of large single parcels annexations which increase spending. We also observe negative effects of population changes on revenues and spending per capita. Since population changes typically accompany annexation, we conclude that annexing cities tend to use their added tax base to spread the revenue burden more widely rather than to increase the size of government. An important implication of this study is that state‐imposed fiscal constraints do not hamper annexation success and that comprehensive urban development policies may be needed to accommodate growth and development after annexation.
Comparative analysis of intracellular and extracellular antibiotic resistance gene abundance in anaerobic membrane bioreactor effluent

The growing practice of wastewater reuse poses a significant risk to further dissemination of antibiotic resistance due to the abundance of antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater effluents. Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) are an emerging wastewater treatment technology capable of reducing the total ARGs and ARB load discharged to receiving environments compared to conventional aerobic treatment processes. While size exclusion is effective at retaining ARB and its associated intracellular ARGs, the abundance and fate of extracellular ARGs in an AnMBR effluent have not been examined. This study elucidates the effect of combined antibiotics loading (ampicillin, erythromycin, and sulfamethoxazole) on the abundance of intracellular and extracellular ARGs in an AnMBR effluent over a period of five weeks. Quantification of targeted genes revealed an overall enrichment of intracellular ARGs (iARGs) and depletion of extracellular (exARGs) in response to antibiotics addition, which suggests exARG uptake as a significant mode of horizontal gene transfer in AnMBR effluents. Comparison of the iARG and exARG abundance profiles showed a potential bias for exARG uptake located on small plasmids compared to large plasmids.
Efficacy and safety of gamma knife radiosurgery for posterior cranial fossa meningioma: a systematic review.

The management of posterior cranial fossa meningioma [PCFM] is challenging and many neurosurgeons advise gamma knife radiosurgery [GKRS] as a modality for its upfront or adjuvant treatment. Due to the varying radiosurgical response based on lesion location, tumor biology, and radiation dosage, we performed a pioneer attempt in doing a systematic review analyzing the treatment efficacy and safety profile of GKRS for PCFM based on current literature. A systematic review was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses [PRISMA] guidelines. A thorough literature search was conducted on PubMed, Web of science, and Cochrane data base; articles were selected systematically based on PRISMA protocol, reviewed completely, and relevant data was summarized and discussed. A total of 18 publications pertaining to GKRS for PCFM were included with a pooled sample size of 2131 patients. The median pre-GKRS tumor volume ranged from 2.28 to 10.5 cm [3]. Primary GKRS was administered in 61.1% of the pooled study cohorts, adjuvant treatment in 32.9%, and salvage therapy in 6.5% patients. Majority of the meningiomas were WHO grade 1 tumors (99.7%). The pooled mean marginal dose in the studies was 13.6 Gy (range 12–15.2 Gy) while the mean of maximum doses was 28.6 Gy (range 25–35 Gy). Most studies report an excellent radiosurgical outcome including the tumor control rate and the progression-free survival [PFS] of over 90%. The tumor control, PFS, and adverse radiation effect [ARE] rates in author’s series were 92.3%, 91%, and 9.6%, respectively. The favorable radiosurgical outcome depends on multiple factors such as small tumor volume, absence of previous radiotherapy, tumor location, elderly patients, female gender, longer time from symptom onset, and decreasing maximal dose. GKRS as primary or adjuvant treatment modality needs to be considered as a promising management strategy for PCFM in selected patients in view of the growing evidence of high tumor control rate, improved neurological functions, and low incidence of ARE. The use of multiple isocenters, 3-D image planning, and limit GKRS treatment to tumors less than 3.5 cm help to avoid complications and achieve the best results. The treatment decisions in PCFM cases must be tailored and should consider the factors such as radiological profile, symptom severity, performance level, and patient preference for a good outcome.
Teaching Helping Babies Breathe via Telehealth: A New Application in Rural Guatemala.

Background: Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) is a neonatal resuscitation curriculum that teaches life-saving interventions utilized in the first minutes after birth, reducing morbidity and mortality. Traditionally, it requires in-person facilitators for didactic and hands-on training. Objectives: The aim of this study was to offer HBB to nurses and nursing students in Guatemala, with the lead facilitator presenting concepts via telehealth and in-person facilitators providing hands-on demonstration. Methods: Learners completed pre- and post-tests that included the standard HBB knowledge check, as well as an assessment of the course teaching model. Learners also completed the standard Objective Structured Clinical Evaluations (OSCEs). Results: Eighteen learners were included in the analysis. All but one learner (94%) passed the course, and the average percent improvement from the pre- to post-test was 12%. All learners achieved passing scores on the OSCEs. Learners responded positively to questions regarding the technology, connection with the instructor, and ability to ask questions. Ninety-four percent of the learners agreed with the statement “this lecture was as good via telehealth as in person.” A cost analysis demonstrated approximately USD 3,979.00 in savings using telehealth compared to a standard in-person course. Conclusions: The telehealth model was successful in delivering course material to the learners and was well received. This model represents a cost-effective way to improve access to HBB. This study may not be generalizable to other populations, and the ability to use telehealth requires reliable internet connectivity, which may not be available in all settings. Further study and expansion of this pilot are needed to assess success in other settings.