cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AERODYNAMIC DISTURBANCES FROM SUPERSONIC NOZZLE ARRAYS

Many high-power lasers require expansion of gases through an array of supersonic nozzles. Early studies1’2 of such arrays for wind-tunnel application established that they produce a decaying system of waves and wakes as depicted-on Fig. 1. The waves are caused by truncated walls, use of simple nozzle contours, or the effects of base regions; while the wakes are formed from the nozzle boundary layers and base losses. Motivated by their reappearance in gasdynamic lasers, an analysis for 2-D waves was developed from elements of sonic boom theory,3 and 2-D cavity wakes studied. The effect on kinetic performance was at first found to be minimal, and satisfactory optical quality could be maintained by aligning the optical axis perpendicular to the nozzle trailing edges. However, evolution to simple fine-scale wedge or conical nozzles,4 high-performance mixing nozzles,5 and the nozzles of the modern chemical laser have made it important to study the effects of shocks and wakes from real expansions further.
Patent Reviews: 6,639,674; 6,650,403; 6,654,184; 6,661,577; 6,674,528; 6,678,045; 6,690,024

The patent number, date of issuance by the U.S. Patent Office, and classification are shown on the first line. The filing date is that of the first application (although some patents may derive from earlier applications with earlier claim dates). Any opinions expressed are those of the reviewers and do not reflect the opinions of the organizations with which they are associated, the Optical Society of America, or this journal. Printed copies of these patents may be ordered from the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, DC 20231: telephone (703) 557-3158, URL http://patents.uspto.gov. Inquiries about patents should be addressed to the Patents Office, not to this journal or to OSA.
Hypnotic relaxation and yoga to improve sleep and school functioning

Sleep insufficiency, defined as inadequate sleep duration, poor sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness, has been linked with students' learning and behavioral outcomes at school. However, there is limited research on interventions designed to improve the sleep of school-age children. In order to promote more interest on this critical topic, we examine yoga and hypnosis as two approaches that can improve multiple aspects of sleep. Some studies have shown the benefits of hypnotic relaxation on school performance, but no controlled studies have examined sleep as an outcome in school children. The studies on school-based yoga are currently inconclusive, with effects ranging from positive to negative. Some replicated studies of yoga show modest effects on mood, but none of the published yoga studies measured sleep outcomes. Given the importance of sleep on school functioning, there is an urgent need to study the effects of hypnosis and yoga, or other promising interventions, on sleep and student performance. Ex...
OXYPHOSPHORANE MODELS FOR NUCLEOPHILIC DISPLACEMENTS AT Pα AND Pγ OF ADENOSINE-5′ TRIPHOSPHATE

Abstract The reaction of dimethylphosphorous triethylpyrophosphoric anhydride, (CH3O)2POP(O)(OC2H5)OP(O)(OC2H5)2, with hexafluorobiacetyl, CF3COCOCF3, yields 4,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)2,2-dimethoxy-2-triethylpyrophosphato-2,2-dihydro-1,3,2-dioxaphospholene. This oxyphosphorane, with a pyrophosphate group at the apical position of trigonal bipyramidal phosphorus, simulates the pentacovalent intermediate in the addition-elimination mechanism of nucleophilic displacements at the Px and Py centers of adenosine-5′ tri-phosphate. The oxyphosphorane is remarkably stable in solution, although the pyrophosphate group is easily displaced by an alkoxy group in base-catalyzed reactions with alcohols.
The Effects of Wild-Type and Disease-Linked Tau Mutants on Cargo Transport in Cells

Tau proteins are expressed abundantly in human neurons, and are known to regulate the dynamics and structures of cytoskeletal microtubule filaments. Tau mutations and misregulation can cause severe neurodegenerative dementia diseases including frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism-17, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration. We previously showed that 4RS wild-type tau proteins and 4RS tau mutants (R406W, P301L, DELTA_N296) can inhibit the efficiency of kinesin-driven cargo transport along microtubules in a simplified in vitro environment. In this study, we used a combination of biophysical tools and imaging techniques to investigate the effects of transient tau expression on lysosome transport in COS-7 African green monkey kidney tissue cells, which are natively tau-free. We found that the introduction of tau proteins (either wild-type or mutant tau) reduces the speed of lysosome translocation, and moreover, tau expression induced abnormal aggregation and bundling of microtubules within the cell. Mutant specific effects and possible links to disease will be discussed.
Surgical Technique and Clinically Relevant Resection Cavity Dynamics Following Implantation of Cesium-131 (Cs-131) Brachytherapy in Patients With Brain Metastases.

BACKGROUND Cesium-131 (Cs-131) brachytherapy is used to reduce local recurrence of resected brain metastases. In order to ensure dose homogeneity and reduce risk of radiation necrosis, inter-seed distance and cavity volume must remain stable during delivery. OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy of the "seeds-on-a-string" technique with intracavitary fibrin glue in achieving cavity volume stability. METHODS We placed intra-operative Cs-131 brachytherapy in 30 cavities post-resection of brain metastases. Seeds-on-a-string were placed like barrel staves within the cavity with fibrin glue. Serial MRI imaging occurred post-operatively. Pre-operative tumor volumes were compared with post-operative cavity volumes to evaluate volume stability. Thirty patients who underwent post-resective stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) were used as a control group for volumetric comparison. RESULTS Cs-131 and SRS patients exhibited consistent cavity shrinkage over the median 110-day follow-up (p<.001), with total median shrinkage of 56.5% (Cs-131) and 84.8% (SRS). During the first month when ~88% of Cs-131 dosage is delivered, however, there was non-significant volume decrease in the Cs-131 group (median 22.0%; p=.063), while SRS patients showed significantly more shrinkage (46.7%; p=.042). No events of radiation necrosis occurred in either group. CONCLUSION Cs-131 patients exhibited significantly less cavity shrinkage than SRS patients during the first critical month with 88% Cs-131 dose delivery. This significant difference in shrinkage suggests that the intracavitary seeds-on-a-string technique facilitates increased cavity stability, promoting more homogenous dose delivery.
International Cooperation and the IGY

(1960). International Cooperation and the IGY. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 16, No. 5, pp. 173-178.
FURTHER STUDIES ON THE HEMOLYTIC PROPERTIES OF ARBOVIRUSES.

SummaryA total of 25 arboviruses representing 5 different serogroups (A, B, C, Bunyamwera and California) were studied and found to possess hemolytic activity. With the exception of Japanese B virus, special treatment of viral antigens was necessary to demonstrate hemolytic activity by the group B viruses. The hemolytic properties appeared to be a common property of the arboviruses.
Concomitant Neuropeptide-Producing Endometrial Carcinoma and Ileal Carcinoid Tumors

The concomitant occurrence of neuropeptide-reactive endometrial carcinoma and ileal carcinoid tumor represents an observation that has been unreported until now. We have seen two patients with this rare combination of tumors. The endometrial carcinomas in these cases manifested focal immunoreactivity for neuron-specific enolase; in addition, one contained rare cells showing positive staining for gastrin, and the other displayed focal content of substance P. The carcinoid tumors seen in each case demonstrated immunocytochemical positivity for neuron-specific enolase and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and one also exhibited immunoreactivity for gastrin. Whether this association of neoplasms represents a syndromic complex or a coincidence is a matter of speculation at present.
Stability and large displacements of a heavy rotating linked chain with an end mass

Using discrete links, the axially rotating chain is mathematically modelled by nonlinear difference equations. The critical rotation rate is determined as a function of end weight and the number of links. Large nonlinear displacements are found numerically by shooting and bisection methods.
Beyond Opinion Polls: Predicting the Outcome of Scottish Independence Referendum

This paper introduces modeling assessment of preparations for Scottish independence referendum. Taking into account data retrieved from opinion polls and general elections it proposes four classes of agents communicating with each other within the framework of the Social Judgment Theory and during simulation consisting of 1460 days. The agent-based model aims to test various statements formulated by commentators of the referendum event. There are many opinions on how both pro and anti-independence campaigns should look like, what parts of electorate should they focus on and what are the real chances of independence to be chosen, facing relatively constant lack of support for the case indicated by opinion polls. The main findings are that under current distribution of agents the intensity and scope of pro-independence campaign as well as the choice of its recipients do not really matter, as there is virtually no chance for independence to be chosen.
Extraction of circulating endogenous gastrin by the small bowel.

We measured, by radioimmunoassay, the concentrations of gastrin in the aorta and the superior mesenteric vein of 8 dogs. During the basal period there was no difference between the arterial and venous serum concentration of gastrin. After elevation of the gastrin levels by stimulation of the antrum, however, 43% of endogenous gastrin was lost during transit of the small bowel. These studies suggest a threshold level for the uptake of gastrin by the small intestine. Loss of catabolic mechanisms for gastrin may be responsible, at least in part, for gastric acid hypersecretion seen frequently after massive resection of the small bowel.
Complete remission after single agent blinatumomab in a patient with pre-B acute lymphoid leukemia relapsed and refractory to three prior regimens: hyperCVAD, high dose cytarabine mitoxantrone and CLAG.

Background The current standard of care for relapsed and refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is combination chemotherapy.
Applications of Vector Spaces

This chapter uses geometrical concepts drawn from the theory of vector spaces to solve inverse problems. The model parameters are considered one point in a space of all possible model parameters, the data are considered one point in a space of all possible data, and the theory is considered a way of mapping a point in model space into a point in data space. The coordinate axes of these spaces can be rotated or transformed, without changing any of the fundamental relationships. This process suggests methods of transforming a complicated inverse problem into one that is in some sense simpler, either with a rotation that preserved length (e.g., a Householder rotation) or with one that changes the measure of length in some specifically tailored fashion. This process is shown to clarify ideas of minimum error and uniqueness and leads to the definition of the natural solution of an inverse problem (and a corresponding natural generalized inverse). Singular-value decomposition is developed as a way to identify the null subspaces associated with solutions that do not affect the prediction error and to construct the natural solution. Vector space ideas are also useful in understanding problems with inequality constraints and can be used to derive general properties of its solution, as embodied in the Kuhn-Tucker theorem. These considerations lead to several new types of inverse problem solutions, including nonnegative least squares.
Analyzing allocation behavior for multi-level memory

Managing multi-level memories will require different policies from those used for cache hierarchies, as memory technologies differ in latency, bandwidth, and volatility. To this end we analyze application data allocations and main memory accesses to determine whether an application-driven approach to managing a multi-level memory system comprising stacked and conventional DRAM is viable. Our early analysis shows that the approach is viable, but some applications may require dynamic allocations (i.e., migration) while others are amenable to static allocation.
p16INK4a suppresses BRCA1-deficient mammary tumorigenesis

// Alexandria Scott 1, 2 , Feng Bai 1 , Ho Lam Chan 1 , Shiqin Liu 1 , Jinshan Ma 1 , Joyce M Slingerland 3 , David J. Robbins 1, 4 , Anthony J. Capobianco 1, 4 , Xin-Hai Pei 1, 2, 4 1 Molecular Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA 2 The Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA 3 Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute, Sylvester Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA 4 Sylvester Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA Correspondence to: Xin-Hai Pei, email: xhpei@med.miami.edu Keywords: p16 INK4a , senescence, brca1, breast cancer Received: June 30, 2016 Accepted: October 25, 2016 Published: November 02, 2016 ABSTRACT Senescence prevents the proliferation of genomically damaged, but otherwise replication competent cells at risk of neoplastic transformation. p16 INK4A (p16), an inhibitor of CDK4 and CDK6, plays a critical role in controlling cellular senescence in multiple organs. Functional inactivation of p16 by gene mutation and promoter methylation is frequently detected in human breast cancers. However, deleting p16 in mice or targeting DNA methylation within the murine p16 promoter does not result in mammary tumorigenesis. How loss of p16 contributes to mammary tumorigenesis in vivo is not fully understood. In this article, we reported that disruption of Brca1 in the mammary epithelium resulted in premature senescence that was rescued by p16 loss. We found that p16 loss transformed Brca1-deficient mammary epithelial cells and induced mammary tumors, though p16 loss alone was not sufficient to induce mammary tumorigenesis. We demonstrated that loss of both p16 and Brca1 led to metastatic, basal-like, mammary tumors with the induction of EMT and an enrichment of tumor initiating cells. We discovered that promoter methylation silenced p16 expression in most of the tumors developed in mice heterozygous for p16 and lacking Brca1. These data not only identified the function of p16 in suppressing BRCA1-deficient mammary tumorigenesis, but also revealed a collaborative effect of genetic mutation of p16 and epigenetic silencing of its transcription in promoting tumorigenesis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first genetic evidence directly showing that p16 which is frequently deleted and inactivated in human breast cancers, collaborates with Brca1 controlling mammary tumorigenesis.
Inflammatory biomarkers as predictors of heart failure in women without obstructive coronary artery disease: A report from the NHLBI-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE)

Background Women with signs and symptoms of ischemia, no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) often have diastolic dysfunction and experience elevated rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including heart failure (HF) hospitalization with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We evaluated the predictive value of inflammatory biomarkers for long-term HF hospitalization and all-cause mortality in these women. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis to investigate the relationships between inflammatory biomarkers [serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA)] and median of 6 years follow-up for all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization among women with signs and symptoms of ischemia, non-obstructive CAD and preserved EF. Multivariable Cox regression analysis tested associations between biomarker levels and adverse outcomes. Results Among 390 women, mean age 56 ± 11 years, median follow up of 6 years, we observed that there is continuous association between IL-6 level and HF hospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 2.5 [1.2–5.0], p = 0.02). In addition, we found significant association between IL-6, SAA levels and all-cause mortality AHR (1.8 [1.1–3.0], p = 0.01) (1.5 [1.0–2.1], p = 0.04), respectively. Conclusion In women with signs and symptoms of ischemia, non-obstructive CAD and preserved EF, elevated IL-6 predicted HF hospitalization and all-cause mortality, while SAA level was only associated with all-cause mortality. These results suggest that inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of development of HFpEF, as well all-cause mortality.
Artemisinin permeability via Caco-2 cells increases after simulated digestion of Artemisia annua leaves.

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Artemisia annua has been used for > 2000 yrs to treat fever and is more recently known for producing the important antimalarial drug, artemisinin. Aim of the study Artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) are effective for treating malaria, but are often unavailable to those in need. Dried leaves of A. annua (DLA) have recently been studied as a cost effective alternative to traditional ACTs. DLA was shown to dramatically increase oral bioavailability compared to pure artemisinin, so more investigation into the mechanisms causing this increased bioavailability is needed. Materials and methods In this study, we used a simulated digestion system coupled with Caco-2 cell permeability assays to investigate the intestinal permeability of DLA compared to pure artemisinin. We also determined the effects of different phytochemicals (7 flavonoids, 3 monoterpenes, 2 phenolic acids, scopoletin and inulin) and the cytochrome P450 isoform CYP3A4 on artemisinin intestinal permeability. Results Artemisinin permeability, when delivered as digested DLA, significantly increased by 37% (P app = 8.03 × 10 −5 cm s −1 ) compared to pure artemisinin (P app = 5.03 × 10 −5 cm s −1 ). However, none of the phytochemicals tested or CYP3A4 had any significant effect on the intestinal permeability of artemisinin. We also showed that essential oil derived from A. annua negatively affected the intestinal permeability of artemisinin, but only after simulated digestion. Finally, we showed that A. annua essential oil reduced the transepithelial electrical resistance of Caco-2 monolayers, but only in the presence of bile. Although also reduced by essential oils, artemisinin P app subsequently recovered in the presence of plant matrix. Conclusions These results shed light on the mechanisms by which DLA enhances the oral bioavailability of artemisinin.
Abstract 211: Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 Regulates Cardiac Remodeling and Function and T Cell Recruitment to the Heart in Pressure Overload Induced Heart Failure

Background: Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and Heart Failure (HF) are associated in humans with systemic inflammation, including increased circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Endothelial ICAM-1 regulates leukocyte recruitment into tissues, which in the heart can result in altered cardiac function. We hypothesize that ICAM-1 regulates cardiac remodeling by mediating leukocyte recruitment to the LV and thus contributing to worsening of cardiac function during pressure overload induced HF. Methods and results: We used the mouse model of Thoracic Aortic Constriction (TAC) to induce LV remodeling and HF in WT and ICAM-1 deficient mice (ICAM-1 -/- ). Immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, qPCR, echocardiography and hemodynamics were used to investigate leukocyte infiltration into the LV, cardiac function, hypertrophy and fibrosis mechanisms taking place in response to TAC. Endothelial ICAM-1 was upregulated in WT mice in response to TAC as compared to Sham, correlating with LV T cell infiltration. In contrast, CD3+ and CD4+ T cell recruitment into the LV was significantly reduced in response to TAC in ICAM-1 -/- mice as compared to WT mice. Further, indices of sistolic and diastolic function were preserved in ICAM-1 -/- mice (dP/dt max = WT TAC 5,627±549 vs. ICAM-1 -/- TAC 8,396±1,495 ; dP/dt min = WT TAC -5,614±1,195 vs. ICAM- 1-/- TAC -8,832±2,274) and the End Diastolic Pressure was significantly lower than in WT TAC mice (31.0±7.0mmHg in WT TAC vs 8.1±7.8mmHg in ICAM-1 -/- TAC). Despite increased LV weight, ICAM-1 -/- did not develop fibrosis in response to TAC, with blunted collagen deposition and lack of mRNA upregulation of fibrotic markers Collagen-I, TGFβ and SMAα four and ten weeks after TAC when dilated cardiomiopathy is established in WT mice. Conclusion: Our data indicate that ICAM-1 regulates LV T cell infiltration, cardiac function and fibrosis in HF induced by TAC. Further studies will determine whether ICAM-1 contributes to HF pathogenesis exclusively by regulating T cell interactions with the LV endothelium or participating in novel mechanisms regulating cardiac cell function, which could represent new targets for the treatment of this deadly syndrome.
Learning to Advocate: Evaluating a New Course

The authors share the formative evaluation of a counseling elective, Social Justice Advocacy. Researchers used thematic analysis to code student weekly reflection journals. Emergent themes included (a) redefining social justice and advocacy, (b) reflecting on privilege, (c) expanding from advocacy for to advocacy with, and (d) shifting into action. The findings have implications for counselor educators interested in developing a similar course and value for professional counselors who wish to improve their advocacy for clients.
The experience of donating bone marrow to a relative.

Purpose/objectives To describe and understand the experience of donating bone marrow to a relative. Design Exploratory, descriptive, and qualitative. Setting An urban comprehensive cancer center. Sample Twelve donors were interviewed--eight women and four men. The average age was 47, and the average length of time since donation was nine months. At the time of the interview, seven recipients were living and five had died. Methods Open-ended, face-to-face, or telephone interviews were conducted within one year of bone marrow donation using an interview guide. Main research variables Psychosocial consequences of donating bone marrow to a relative. Findings The main theme was Doing What It Takes When a Family Member Has Cancer. This goal guided the decision-making process, psychological responses, and family relationships once transplantation was necessary. Six subthemes emerged: Dealing With the Donation Procedure, Informational Needs, Psychological Impact of the Donor Role, Managing Family Relationships, Monitoring One's Own Health Before Donation, and Adjusting to the Transplant Recipient's Medical Condition. Conclusions Subjects expressed little or no reluctance to donate bone marrow, and all would repeat the experience. Subjects felt deep personal satisfaction and gratitude for an opportunity to donate. Stressful aspects of the experience related to unanticipated pain after the procedure, negative transplant outcomes, and relationships with the bone marrow recipients' family. Implications for nursing practice Predonation assessment should identify donors' need for information as well as types and sources of information, how donors and families have coped with previous crises, and discussions of potential negative transplantation outcomes and impact on donors. Donors' coping and adjustment should be monitored throughout the transplantation process, particularly when coping problems or potential problems are identified or with negative transplantation outcomes. Formal donor support programs should be considered.
On the limitations of 2D CFD for thin-rectangular fluidized bed simulations

Abstract Thin rectangular fluidized beds enable detailed optical diagnostics providing high quality data for validating numerical simulations. Because of their lower computational costs, 2D CFD continues to be employed despite the high wall surface-area to bed-volume ratio characterizing this geometric setup. 2D simulations do not resolve the gas and solids flow in the third (spanwise) direction nor the true boundary condition along the front and back walls, both of which are critical because the hydrodynamics are significantly affected by the presence these walls whose surface area is often much larger than the walls modeled in 2D analyses. Through highly-resolved simulations of three independent experimental setups, we show that 2D CFD may not capture, even qualitatively, the fluidization hydrodynamics because (a) bubble rise and coalescence mechanisms along the spanwise direction are not resolved, and (b) solids momentum and energy dissipation are under-predicted, and bubble rise velocities are over-predicted, because effects of the front and back walls are not modeled. 3D simulations with suitable wall boundary conditions predict bubbling dynamics and solids mixing in excellent agreement with experimental observations without further tuning of model parameters. Overall, we recommended that 3D numerical simulations be employed to model thin lab-scale setups for model development and validation purposes.
Gait dynamics in Parkinson’s disease: Short gait trials ‘stitched’ together provide different fractal fluctuations compared to longer trials

The fractal analysis of stride-to-stride fluctuations in walking has become an integral part of human gait research. Fractal analysis of stride time intervals can provide insights into locomotor function and dysfunction, but its application requires a large number of strides, which can be difficult to collect from people with movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. It has recently been suggested that ‘stitching’ together short gait trials to create a longer time series could be a solution. The objective of this study was to determine if scaling exponents from ‘stitched’ stride time series were similar to those from continuous, longer stride time series. Fifteen young adults, fourteen older adults, and thirteen people with Parkinson’s disease walked around an indoor track in three blocks: one time fifteen minutes, five times three minutes and thirty times thirty seconds. Stride time intervals were determined from gait events recorded with instrumented insoles, and the detrended fluctuation analysis was applied to each stride time series of 512 strides. There was no statistically significant difference between scaling exponents in the three blocks, but intraclass correlation revealed very low between-blocks reliability of scaling exponents. This result challenges the premise that the stitching procedure could provide reliable information about gait dynamics, as it suggests that fractal analysis of stitched time series does not capture the same dynamics as gait recorded continuously. The stitching procedure cannot be considered as a valid alternative to the collection of continuous, long trials. Further studies are recommended to determine if the application of fractal analysis is limited by its own methodological considerations (i.e., long time series), or if other solutions exists to obtain reliable scaling exponents in populations with movement disorders.
NMDA Receptors and Development

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptor (NMDAR) is highly expressed in young brains and used to couple neuronal activity to refinement of neural circuits. NMDARs translate presynaptic glutamate release into postsynaptic calcium-dependent messages that modify synaptic strength and effect structural change at the level of synapses, axons, and dendrites. Postsynaptic protein complexes channel receptor activity toward diverse outcomes depending on the receptor subunit composition, the kinetics of receptor currents, and the signaling molecules present. All of these components are regulated by synaptic activity and sensory experience, creating a tunable complex throughout development.
Medications and the older driver.

Geriatric patients frequently take medications that affect the central nervous system, which may adversely affect driving safety. Following a review of evidence from experimental studies of psychomotor function and epidemiologic studies of traffic violations and motor vehicle crashes, the authors conclude that (1) benzodiazepines (particularly in high doses and those with long half-lives) probably impair driving: (2) cyclic antidepressants seem to impair driving, but more studies of the effects of depression are needed; and (3) there is a basis for concern that hypoglycemic and other sedative drugs impair driving, but further study is needed. These conclusions underscore the need to prescribe psychoactive drugs cautiously for elderly patients.
Role of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) extract in prevention of renal toxicity induced by crude petroleum contaminated diets in rats.

The efficacy of Vernonia amygdalina against chemical toxicity has attracted attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective potentials of Vernonia amygdalina methanol extract (BLME) against petroleum toxicity. Thirty six male albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were redistributed randomly into six groups of six rats each and fed with growers feed for a period of 30 days according to the following description: Group A = Feed; Group B = Feed + 100 mg kg−1 body weight of BLME; Group C = Feed + 200 mg kg−1 body weight of BLME; Group D = Feed (100 g Feed + 4 mL crude petroleum); Group E = Feed (100 g Feed + 4 mL crude petroleum) + 100 mg kg−1 body weight of BLME; Group F = Feed (100 g Feed + 4 mL crude petroleum) + 200 mg kg−1 body weight of BLME. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the experimental period and the serum and kidney were harvested for biochemical and histological analysis following standard procedures. The data generated were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The study revealed that crude petroleum stimulated alterations in kidney dysfunction makers: urea, creatinine and serum electrolytes which were significantly (P < 0.05) ameliorated by BLME administration relative to control. Oxidative stress markers, lipid peroxidation and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant profiles (MDA levels, GSH, Vitamin C. FRAP, CAT, SOD, GPx, GSTs) as well as oxidase enzymes (AO, SO, MO and XO) induced changes by crude petroleum were positively modulated by BLME administration. The study concluded that crude petroleum contaminated diets are injurious to animal health and BLME is able to prevent the renal dysfunction induced by crude petroleum contaminated diets.
Famine Irish and the American Racial State

“It’s the will o’ God,” he said to his wife at the last. “We musht give in to her an’ let her marry her nagur.”1Thus speaks McGuinness, an Irish-American character from the pen of priest and author...
Cropping system history and crop rotation phase drive the abundance of soil denitrification genes nirK, nirS and nosZ in conventional and organic grain agroecosystems

Abstract While nitrogen fertilizers have helped increase crop yields substantially, they have also contributed to several environmental problems, including an increasing atmospheric concentration of nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas (GHG) and catalyst of stratospheric ozone decay. The dominant source of atmospheric N2O in many agricultural soils is denitrification, a process carried out by soil microbes containing the genes for nitrate reductase (Nar), nitrite reductase (Nir), nitric oxide reductase (Nor) and/or nitrous oxide reductase (Nos). We monitored the abundance of soil nirK, nirS, and nosZ genes during the summer growing season. We sampled replicated field plots from a long-term agricultural research site that includes agroecosystems with corn/soybean/wheat/legume rotations: two tilled-organic systems (Org3 and Org6), and two conventional systems, one using a chisel plow for primary tillage (CT) and one using no-tillage (NT). We demonstrate that nirK copy number in soil was affected primarily by the phase of the crop rotation and secondarily by time of year, regardless of cropping system. In contrast, nosZ gene copy number was primarily driven by cropping system. Soil N2O emissions during the sampling period were highest in Org3 and lowest in NT. However, gene quantities did not correspond to N2O emissions patterns, indicating that quantitative PCR of key denitrification genes measured at the temporal resolution reported here is not a good predictor of soil N2O emissions. These results, nonetheless, show that cropping system management can affect microbial community composition, gene quantity of nir and nos genes and N2O emissions. We found cropping system and time of year captured variation in gene abundance among microbial denitrifier populations in these agricultural soils.
Heart rate measures from the Apple Watch, Fitbit Charge HR 2, and electrocardiogram across different exercise intensities

This study compared heart rate (HR) measurements for the Fitbit Charge HR 2 (Fitbit) and the Apple Watch devices with HR measurements for electrocardiogram (ECG). Thirty young adults (15/15 females...
Analyzing Distinct Binding Modes of Diaminotriazole-Based Spastin Inhibitors Through Biochemical Resistance

Drug-like inhibitors are often designed by mimicking cofactor or substrate interactions with enzymes. However, as active sites are comprised of conserved residues, it is difficult to identify the critical interactions needed to design selective inhibitors. We are developing an approach, named RADD (Resistance Analysis During Design), which involves engineering point mutations in the target to generate active alleles and testing compounds against them. Mutations that alter compound potency identify residues that make key interactions with the inhibitor and predict target-binding poses. Here, we apply this approach to analyze how diaminotriazole-based inhibitors bind spastin, a microtubule-severing AAA (ATPases associated with diverse activities) protein. The distinct binding poses predicted for two similar inhibitors were confirmed by a series of x-ray structures of inhibitor-spastin complexes. Importantly, our approach not only unravels how selective inhibition of the target can be achieved but also identifies resistance-conferring mutations at the early stages of the design process.
Aortic Trauma in Children

Aortic diseases frequently seen in the adult include the acquired aortic lesions, such as the aortic aneurysms, aortic occlusive disease, aortic dissections, and aortic trauma. Each of these adult acquired lesions is uncommon in the pediatric age group; thus, individual series are uncommon and only report on a few patients. A review of our patients, under the age of 21 years, with aortic trauma revealed a number of patients with varied etiologies and results, including gunshot wound, aortic trauma, and penetration wounds. These patients, their treatment, and their results are herein reported.
The current clinical approach to newly diagnosed uterine cancer

Uterine cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy, although fortunately, 75% of women present with early-stage disease. A major area of controversy regarding the management of the disease co...
Human Factors Principles of Surgery

This chapter serves as the introduction to the Human Factors section of this book and provides a broad overview of human factors as it relates to surgery. The authors define the science of human factors; describe a brief history of its use; and discuss various system factors (e.g., humans, tools/technology, tasks, environments, and organizations) and their role in the efficiency, safety, and well-being of surgeons and surgical patients.
A replication of are machine learning cloud APIs used correctly

This artifact aims to provide benchmark suite, data, and script used in our study "Are Machine Learning Cloud APIs Used Correctly?". We collected a suite of 360 non-trivial applications that use ML cloud APIs for manual study. We also developed checkers and tool to detect and fix API mis-uses. We hope this artifact can motivate and help future research to further tackle ML API mis-uses. All related data are available online.
Agricultural Displacement and Deforestation Leakage in the Brazilian Legal Amazon

Does environmental policy aiming to reduce deforestation induce displacement of existing agricultural activities? To shed light on this question, we exploit a difference-in-differences strategy with a distance-based treatment to examine whether two policies in the Brazilian Amazon, the Soy Moratorium and the Zero-Deforestation Cattle Agreements, have displaced production or deforestation into neighboring regions. Our results show evidence that the Soy Moratorium induced soy spillovers onto previously cleared land—mainly pasture—in the less regulated ecosystem. The spillovers from the Cattle Agreements, three years after the Soy Moratorium, resulted in increased deforestation.
The retromer complex regulates C. elegans development and mammalian ciliogenesis

Abstract The mammalian retromer is comprised of subunits VPS26, VPS29 and VPS35, and a more loosely-associated sorting nexin (SNX) heterodimer. Despite known roles for the retromer in multiple trafficking events in yeast and mammalian cells, its role in development is poorly understood, and its potential function in primary ciliogenesis remains unknown. Using CRISPR-Cas9 editing, we demonstrated that vps-26 homozygous knockout C. elegans have reduced brood sizes and impaired vulval development, as well as decreased body length which has been linked to defects in primary ciliogenesis. Since many endocytic proteins are implicated in the generation of primary cilia, we addressed whether the retromer regulates ciliogenesis in mammalian cells. We observed VPS35 localized to the primary cilium, and depletion of VPS26, VPS35 or SNX1/SNX5 led to decreased ciliogenesis. Retromer also coimmunoprecipitated with the capping protein, CP110, and was required for its removal from the mother centriole. Herein, we characterize new roles for the retromer in C. elegans development and in the regulation of ciliogenesis in mammalian cells, and suggest a novel role for the retromer in CP110 removal from the mother centriole.
Inviable Seed Set Affects Arthropod Damage to Seeds of Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis)

Retention and development of fruits containing inviable seeds has been considered anomalous, because such seeds cannot contribute to plant fitness. Although trees in the genus Juniperus are conifers and thus not true fruiting plants, junipers package seeds within fruit-like female cones commonly referred to as “berries,” and juniper seeds often exhibit high levels of inviability. We tested the prediction that inviable seeds in western juniper (J. occidentalis) reduce levels of pre-dispersal seed predation by arthropods. From 2009 to 2014 we assessed production of berries and seeds in two northeast California populations of western juniper and documented presence of four arthropods (three seed predators, one fruit predator) as well as condition of seeds. The number of inviable seeds per juniper berry was directly associated with numbers of the pulp-feeding frugivore in berries collected both in fall and spring, suggesting that trees may abort seeds within berries experiencing heavy frugivore damage. Consistent with the hypothesis that inviable seeds can reduce seed predation, numbers of a granivorous mite were inversely related to numbers of inviable seeds in fall berry collections. However, the pattern switched to a direct relationship between mites and inviable seeds in spring-collected berries, perhaps due to the timing of mite infestation during berry development. Inviable seeds occurred most frequently during a year of mast production of juniper berries, and the lowest levels of seed damage by a granivorous chalcid wasp occurred during the mast year. The following year saw the greatest levels of seed damage by granivorous moths and mites, possible hold-over effects from large populations built during the mast year. The production of inviable seeds, together with satiating granivores through masting, may represent complementary mechanisms for reducing pre-dispersal seed predation.
Is it Possible to Make

Is it Possible to Make ‘Easy’ Cuts to Human Services Spending by Attacking Waste, Fraud, and Abuse? Elizabeth T. Powers, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs February 18, 2014. The Health and Social Service area of the state of Illinois’ budget has comprised roughly 40 percent of state expenditures in recent years. When leaders decide to cut the state budget, this area is inevitably on the chopping block. This area includes Medicaid, child-care subsidies, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), services for persons with developmental disabilities, and mental health services, to name a few. Spending took an enormous bump down in FY 2012 (just over 15 percent) and a hefty 5.6 percent cut for good measure in FY 2013 before an uptick in 2014. When viewed in a longer historical context, these cuts fit into a long-term downward trend. Indeed, the state has cut human services in the past decade by nearly one-quarter in inflation-adjusted, per capita terms. In the context of an already-squeezed Human Services budget, policymakers may find strategies of acrossthe-board or program cuts decreasingly palatable. Nearly all the programs left in the human services system today have survived multiple rounds of tough programmatic cuts. Examples of such cuts are eliminating specific services, withdrawing services from the slightly better off, and imposing or increasing co-payments. As programs have been whittled down, individuals who remain eligible tend to have a more acute need for them. Policymakers eventually reach a point where wringing further savings from human services programs through cuts threatens to distort the original programs beyond recognition. Thus, an appealing alternative to program cuts is to get tougher on waste, fraud, and abuse.
Mechanism of chloroform nephrotoxicity: III. Renal and hepatic microsomal metabolism of chloroform in mice☆

In vitro studies with male ICR mouse renal cortical slices have indicated that chloroform (CHCl3) is metabolized by the kidney to a nephrotoxic intermediate, possibly by a cytochrome P-450-dependent mechanism similar to that occurring in the liver. In this investigation, metabolism of 14CHCl3 by microsomes prepared from renal cortex and liver provided definitive evidence for a role of cytochrome P-450 in the renal metabolism and toxicity of CHCl3. 14CHCl3 was metabolized to 14CO2 and covalently bound radioactivity by male renal cortical microsomes; metabolism required oxygen, a NADPH regenerating system, was dependent on incubation time, microsomal protein concentration, and substrate concentration, and was inhibited by carbon monoxide. Consistent with the absence of CHCl3 nephrotoxicity in female mice, little or no metabolism of 14CHCl3 by female renal cortical microsomes was detected. CHCl3 produced a type I binding spectrum with oxidized male renal cortical and hepatic microsomes. Incubation of glutathione with microsomes and 14CHCl3 increased the amount of aqueous soluble metabolites detected with a concomitant decrease of metabolism to 14CO2 and covalently bound radioactivity, suggesting the formation of a phosgene conjugate as has been described for hepatic CHCl3 metabolism. These data support the hypothesis that renal cytochrome P-450 metabolizes CHCl3 to a nephrotoxic intermediate.
Markov Chain Monte Carlo

The Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) revolution sweeping statistics is drastically changing how statisticians perform integration and summation. In particular, the Metropolis algorithm and Gibbs sampling make it straightforward to construct a Markov chain that samples from a complicated conditional distribution. Once a sample is available, then any conditional expectation can be approximated by forming its corresponding sample average. The implications of this insight are profound for both classical and Bayesian statistics. As a bonus, trivial changes to the Metropolis algorithm yield simulated annealing, a general-purpose algorithm for solving difficult combinatorial optimization problems.
Avionic data switches for the scalable coherent interface

The Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) program is applying the IEEE Standard 1596 Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) to next-generation avionic systems. Avionic architects can apply SCI in a number of ways. Previous work examined a solution appropriate for a new avionic suite: a unified data network providing virtually all network functions. This paper addresses another important application area: upgrades suitable for PAVE PILLAR derived architectures. Potential incremental upgrades are discussed, with emphasis on the switch characteristics, and the requirements implied by the application.
Quantitative characterization of membrane binding of peripheral proteins by spin-label EPR spectroscopy

Key enzymes involved in transmembrane signaling and lipid metabolism (e.g., protein kinase C and phospholipases A2, C, and D) are activated by binding to cellular membranes. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of these peripheral membrane proteins requires detailed characterization of their interactions with membrane lipids. Previously, EPR studies on protein−membrane interactions have been analyzed using a formalism for integral membrane proteins, permitting determination of the lipid-to-protein stoichiometry (N) and the relative affinity of the labeled versus unlabeled lipids for the protein (Kr). Here, a formalism is developed that permits a comprehensive description of the membrane binding of peripheral proteins. The interaction of an interfacially activated enzyme, secretory phospholipase A2 (PLA2), with membranes containing spin-labeled lipids is studied by EPR spectroscopy. Under noncatalytic conditions, binding of PLA2 to fluid membranes (order parameter Szz ≈ 0.24) causes the formation of a s...
Interdiffusion of H2O and CO2 in metamorphic fluids at ∼490 to 690°C and 1 GPa

Interdiffusion coefficients have been determined for H 2O-CO2 mixtures by quantifying the flux of CO2 between two fluid-filled chambers in a specially designed piston-cylinder cell. The two chambers, which are maintained at 1.0 GPa and at temperatures differing by 100°C, each contain the XCO2-buffering assemblage calcite quartz wollastonite, in H2O. The positive dependence of XCO2 on temperature results in a down-temperature, steady-state flux of CO 2 through a capillary tube that connects the two chambers. This flux drives the wollastonite calcite quartz equilibrium to the right in the cooler chamber, producing a measurable amount of calcite that is directly related to CO2-H2O interdiffusion rates. Diffusivities calculated from seven experiments range from 1.0 10 8 to 6.1 10 8 m 2 /s for mean capillary temperatures between 490 and 690°C. The data set can be approximated by an Arrhenius-type relation: D 4.7 10 -6 exp-4560/T m 2 /s (T in K), which yields values within a factor of 2 of, but slightly lower than, diffusivities estimated by application of the Stokes-Einstein relation. Because rates of H2O and CO2 interdiffusion approach (within 1 to 2 orders of magnitude) rates of heat conduction in rocks, rapid CO2-H2O interdiffusion should be expected in deep-seated fluids wherever gradients in XCO2 are imposed by contrasting mineral assemblages. Considering the small-scale heterogeneity of the crust, strong gradients in XCO2 are probably quite common, particularly where different carbonate- bearing assemblages are juxtaposed or where they are interlayered with carbonate-absent rocks. Cross-layer, diffusive mass transfer of CO2 and H2O may play an important role in driving dehydration and decarbonation reactions, even in the absence of fluid flow. Copyright © 2004 Elsevier Ltd