cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tunneled Catheters in Hemodialysis Patients: Reasons and Subsequent Outcomes

Background: Reducing the use of tunneled catheters in hemodialysis patients requires concerted efforts to convert them to a usable permanent vascular access. The goal of this study is to evaluate the reasons for tunneled catheter use in our prevalent hemodialysis population and the success in converting them to a permanent vascular access. Methods: We identified all catheter-dependent hemodialysis patients at our center on a single date. These patients were followed up prospectively during a 1-year period to evaluate access procedures and conversion to permanent access use. Results: Of 458 prevalent hemodialysis patients, 108 patients (23.6%) were dialyzing through cuffed tunneled catheters: 18.5% had no further options for creation of a permanent vascular access, 28.7% had an immature access, 43.5% had access placement pending, and 9.2% had repeatedly refused access surgery. For 78 catheter-dependent patients (excluding patients with no access options and those who refused permanent access surgery), the likelihood of using a permanent access was 53% by 6 months and 80% by 1 year. In patients with an immature access, 50% were using a permanent access at 3 months, and 80%, at 6 months. Of patients with access surgery pending, 45% had access surgery performed within 3 months, and 70%, at 6 months. Finally, of all patients, the likelihood of catheter-related bacteremia was 48% at 6 months. On multivariable analysis, only duration of catheter dependence predicted subsequent use of a permanent access (hazard ratio, 3.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.70 to 5.68; P = 0.0002) for catheter dependence less than versus greater than 6 months. Conclusion: Almost one quarter of our hemodialysis population is catheter dependent. Despite concerted efforts, there remain very long delays in achieving a usable permanent access, attributable to delays in both surgical access placement and access maturation. In the interim, this patient population developed a high frequency of catheter-related bacteremia.
Aconitine-induced repetitive firing in frog skeletal muscle and the effect on cable properties

Abstract The repetitive firing in curarized frog sartorius muscle caused by aconitine was found to be associated with a dose-dependent membrane depolarization and a decrease in membrane resistance (R m ). Shortly after aconitine treatment, when repetitive discharges began to occur spontaneously in a few fibers (the pre-burst state), the muscle fibers were hypersensitive to mechanical and electrical stimulation. After a repetitive discharge (the post-burst state), the membrane potential fell to the 40–50 mV range. Cable measurements demonstrated that R m decreased by 27% in the pre-burst state and by 47% in the post-burst state. Substitution of choline for sodium in the post-burst state restored the membrane potential to normal and raised the R m toward the control level. It is proposed that aconitine's production of repetitive discharges in skeletal muscle is partly the result of maintaining the sodium conductance g Na at a higher-than-normal level once excitation has been initiated.
On the Role of Structural Holes in Requirements Identification: An Exploratory Study on Open-Source Software Development

Requirements identification is a human-centric activity that involves interaction among multiple stakeholders. Traditional requirements engineering (RE) techniques addressing stakeholders’ social interaction are mainly part of a centralized process intertwined with a specific phase of software development. However, in open-source software (OSS) development, stakeholders’ social interactions are often decentralized, iterative, and dynamic. Little is known about new requirements identification in OSS and the stakeholders’ organizational arrangements supporting such an activity. In this article, we investigate the theory of structural hole from the context of contributing new requirements in OSS projects. Structural hole theory suggests that stakeholders positioned in the structural holes in their social network are able to produce new ideas. In this study, we find that structural hole positions emerge in stakeholders’ social network and these positions are positively related to contributing a higher number of new requirements. We find that along with structural hole positions, stakeholders’ role is also an important part in identifying new requirements. We further observe that structural hole positions evolve over time, thereby identifying requirements to realize enriched features. Our work advances the fundamental understanding of the RE process in a decentralized environment and opens avenues for improved techniques supporting this process.
The Diego factor among Asiatic Indians. Apaches and West African Negroes: blood types of Asiatic Indians and Apaches.

The apparent restriction of the Diego blood factor to the Mongoloid peoples (Leyrisse and Arends, ’56) has provided the anthropologist with a tool of great potential usefulness in the evaluation of populations of mixed origin. In order to use this system to its full advantage, it is necessary to have considerable information on groups whose origin can with considerable certainty be labelled “mongolian” or “nonmongolian.” The present study, undertaken as a contribution towards expanding knowledge of the distribution of the Diego system, is concerned with the findings in 75 Asiatic Indians, 108 American Apache Indians, and 775 West African Negroes.
Dynamische Kristalle: visuell wahrnehmbare mechanochemische Lumineszenzänderungen von Gold‐ und anderen Übergangsmetallkomplexen

Ungewohnliche Lumineszenzanderung: Bei bestimmten Kristallkomplexen von Gold, Platin und Vanadium bewirkt ein Zermahlen der Kristalle deutliche Veranderungen der Lumineszenz oder Farbe. Im Bild ist die Umwandlung von farblosem [(F5C6Au)2(μ-1,4-CN2C6H4)]-Kristallpulver von einer blau emittierenden Form (λmax=415 nm) in eine gelb/grun emittierende Form (λmax=533 nm) beim Zermahlen zu sehen. Der Prozess ist reversibel.
Wood-borings in Premnoxylon: plant-animal interactions in the carboniferous

Cichan, M. A. and Taylor, T. N., 1982. Wood-borings in Premnoxylon: Plant--animal interactions in the Carboniferous. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol., 39: 123--127. A complex system of anastomosing burrows is described from structurally preserved Lower--Middle Pennsylvanian Premnoxylon wood. The burrows are filled with small uniformly shaped coprolites. This discovery represents the oldest recorded evidence for the existence of wood-boring organisms, and indicates that a relatively specialized form of plant--animal interaction was present during the late Paleozoic. It also provides additional support for the idea that Premnoxylon, a cordaitean root, was an aerial organ.
A full-order, almost-deterministic optical matching algorithm

An algorithm was developed for beam envelope matching with fixed geometry, taking into account the full order behavior of the quadrupoles and their compounded effects. In the present approach an algorithm was employed to systematically reduce the overall dimensionality of the problem. This resulted in two algebraic systems that are independent but can be solved in tandem. At the numerical level these 2 reduced systems are input to an equation solver in Mathematica 4.0 based on Grobner-basis techniques, capable of providing global solutions to such algebraic systems. This has resulted in a robust and effective algorithm for on-line optical beam envelope matching. The global nature of the algorithm also may point to possible deficiencies in the optical system configuration. An on-line high precision transfer matrix measurement program was developed in conjunction to provide input to this algorithm. Preliminary on-line testing on the CEBAF accelerator has positively demonstrated the effectiveness of this method.
Pyk2 and Src‐family protein‐tyrosine kinases compensate for the loss of FAK in fibronectin‐stimulated signaling events but Pyk2 does not fully function to enhance FAK− cell migration

The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) links transmembrane integrin receptors to intracellular signaling pathways. We show that expression of the FAK-related PTK, Pyk2, is elevated in fibroblasts isolated from murine fak-/- embryos (FAK-) compared with cells from fak+/+ embryos (FAK+). Pyk2 was localized to perinuclear regions in both FAK+ and FAK- cells. Pyk2 tyrosine phosphorylation was enhanced by fibronectin (FN) stimulation of FAK- but not FAK+ cells. Increased Pyk2 tyrosine phosphorylation paralleled the time-course of Grb2 binding to Shc and activation of ERK2 in FAK- cells. Pyk2 in vitro autophosphorylation activity was not enhanced by FN plating of FAK- cells. However, Pyk2 associated with active Src-family PTKs after FN but not poly-L-lysine replating of the FAK- cells. Overexpression of both wild-type (WT) and kinase-inactive (Ala457), but not the autophosphorylation site mutant (Phe402) Pyk2, enhanced endogenous FN-stimulated c-Src in vitro kinase activity in FAK- cells, but only WT Pyk2 overexpression enhanced FN-stimulated activation of co-transfected ERK2. Interestingly, Pyk2 overexpression only weakly augmented FAK- cell migration to FN whereas transient FAK expression promoted FAK- cell migration to FN efficiently compared with FAK+ cells. Significantly, repression of endogenous Src-family PTK activity by p50(csk) overexpression inhibited FN-stimulated cell spreading, Pyk2 tyrosine phosphorylation, Grb2 binding to Shc, and ERK2 activation in the FAK- but not in FAK+ cells. These studies show that Pyk2 and Src-family PTKs combine to promote FN-stimulated signaling events to ERK2 in the absence of FAK, but that these signaling events are not sufficient to overcome the FAK- cell migration defects.
Iron homoeostasis in rheumatic disease

Iron is critical in nearly all cell functions and the ability of a cell, tissue and organism to procure this metal is obligatory for survival. Iron is necessary for normal immune function, and relative iron deficiency is associated with mild immunosuppression. Concentrations of this metal in excess of those required for function can present both an oxidative stress and elevate risks for infection. As a result, the human has evolved to have a complex mechanism of regulating iron and limiting its availability. This homoeostasis can be disrupted. Autoimmune diseases and gout often present with abnormal iron homoeostasis, thus supporting a participation of the metal in these injuries. We review the role of iron in normal immune function and discuss both clinical evidence of altered iron homoeostasis in autoimmune diseases and gout as well as possible implications of both depletion and supplementation of this metal in this patient population. We conclude that altered iron homoeostasis may represent a purposeful response to inflammation that could have theoretical anti-inflammatory benefits. We encourage physicians to avoid routine iron supplementation in those without depleted iron stores.
Wada testing in pediatric patients by use of propofol anesthesia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Wada testing may provide important information for surgical planning in pediatric patients with medically refractory epilepsy, but it is often not used because of the difficulties in performing the angiographic portion of the procedure in conscious children. We reviewed our experience using propofol, a short-acting IV administered anesthetic agent, for pediatric patients undergoing Wada testing. METHODS: In a retrospective review of Wada tests performed on patients younger than 18 years, we identified 24 cases in which propofol anesthesia was used. We reviewed the medical records of these patients, with particular reference to dose of propofol, physiological parameters during anesthesia, and adequacy of neuropsychological testing after emergence from anesthesia. RESULTS: Patients ranged in age from 6 to 16 years (mean age, 12.5 years). Propofol induced mild reductions in blood pressure (12.4% for systolic and 13.9% for diastolic blood pressure) and heart rate (mean reduction of 4.7%), which did not require specific treatment in any patient. Recovery from anesthesia was smooth and rapid, allowing initiation of Wada testing within 15 to 25 minutes of cessation of propofol. Wada testing was successfully accomplished in all patients. CONCLUSION: Propofol provided rapid induction of anesthesia, was administered without endotracheal intubation, and did not cause substantial changes in cardiorespiratory parameters. Propofol anesthesia allowed controlled angiography among patients as young as 6 years and did not interfere with neuropsychological testing.
Radar interferometry for measuring tidal strains across cracks on Europa

[1] A major uncertainty in understanding the interaction between the surface of Europa and its ocean below is the present-day activity of fractures. Using well-constrained models for tidal strain and a force balance in a cracked shell, we estimate the shear and normal displacement of cracks that penetrate upward from the base of the shell. If more than half of the plate is fractured, then surface displacements having amplitudes of 3 to 30 cm will be localized in a band 1 to 100 km from the crack. Plate spreading will occur if more than ∼85% of the plate is fractured. The pattern of deformation is sensitive to both the percentage of plate that is cracked and the total thickness of the shell. Repeat-pass radar interferometry could easily detect and map the activity of the cracks during a short experiment from a variety of suitable orbits with repeating ground tracks.
2000 W.R. Whitney Award Lecture : Visualizing corrosion

Abstract Using a broad-range pH indicator, the corrosion of Al and Al alloys in chloride-containing agar gels was studied. Distinct changes in pH were observed at low-pH anodic sites and at high-pH cathodes. There was a definite edge effect that occurred when gels were placed directly on the metal, which dominated the pattern of corrosion. Wet-abraded surfaces initially showed a general type of corrosion, whereas dryabraded surfaces showed localized corrosion under the gel. Pure Al, AA1100 (UNS A91110), AA2024 (UNS A92024), and AA5052 (UNS A95052) all showed pitting in contact with agar gels when the edge effect was prevented. Abraded AA7075 (UNS A97075) exhibited a filiform type of corrosion caused by high concentrations of corrosion product initiating corrosion ahead of the growing site.
Probing low temperature glass dynamics by fast generation and detection of optical holes

Abstract High resolution, fast optical hole burning results are reported for the amorphous system cresyl violet in ethanol glass at 1.3 K. Holes are burned and detected using a novel technique which allows precise detection of narrow (≈ 0.03 cm−1), shallow (≈ 1%) holes 10 μ to 50 ms after their generation. The hole width is observed to change linearly when plotted against log time. Using a four point correlation model of optical hole burning, this spectral diffusion is shown to arise from a 1/R distribution of fluctuation rates. The distribution extrapolates to the value of the two pulse photon echo linewidth measured on the same system.
Exponentially Small Phenomena in the Rapidly Forced Pendulum

The rapidly forced pendulum equation with forcing δ sin t/e, where δ = δ0 ep, p = 5, for δ0, e sufficiently small, is considered. We sketch our proof that stable and unstable manifolds split and that the splitting distance d(t0) in the ẋ-t plane satisfies $$ d({t_0}) = \,2\pi \delta \;\sin \frac{1}{\varepsilon }{t_0}\sec h\frac{1}{{2\varepsilon }}\pi +0({\delta_0}\delta \exp ( - \pi /2\varepsilon )), $$ (1) and the angle of transversal intersection, ψ, in the t = 0 section satisfies $$ \tan \frac{1}{2}\psi = \,\frac{\delta }{{2\varepsilon }}\pi \sec h\frac{1}{{2\varepsilon }}\pi +0({\delta_0}\frac{\delta }{\varepsilon }\exp ( - \pi /2\varepsilon )), $$ (1) .
Motion control with process abstraction

Abstract control processes are introduced as a means of achieving robust device-independent control of articulated objects. The goal is to relax the binding between abstract motion constraints and physical actuators. The motion of a control process that encapsulates an abstract constraint on an articulated body is introduced. Logically independent constraints are represented by separate, concurrently executing processes. Embedded in the definition of a process is a specification of the resources needed to accomplish its goals. A process manager distributes resources (e.g. actuators) to active processes. The specific set of actuators controlled by a process may change from moment to moment as other processes are activated and deactivated. As an illustration of this technique, a method for balancing a multilinked figure in the Newton simulation system is presented. >
PLC-γ1 Signaling Plays a Subtype-Specific Role in Postbinding Cell Entry of Influenza A Virus

Host signaling pathways and cellular proteins play important roles in the influenza viral life cycle and can serve as antiviral targets. In this study, we report the engagement of host phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase γ1 (PLC-γ1) in mediating cell entry of influenza virus H1N1 but not H3N2 subtype. Both PLC-γ1-specific inhibitor and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) strongly suppress the replication of H1N1 but not H3N2 viruses in cell culture, suggesting that PLC-γ1 plays an important subtype-specific role in the influenza viral life cycle. Further analyses demonstrate that PLC-γ1 activation is required for viral postbinding cell entry. In addition, H1N1, but not H3N2, infection leads to the phosphorylation of PLC-γ1 at Ser 1248 immediately after infection and independent of viral replication. We have further shown that H1N1-induced PLC-γ1 activation is downstream of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. Interestingly, both H1N1 and H3N2 infections activate EGFR, but only H1N1 infection leads to PLC-γ1 activation. Taking our findings together, we have identified for the first time the subtype-specific interplay of host PLC-γ1 signaling and H1N1 virus that is critical for viral uptake early in the infection. Our study provides novel insights into how virus interacts with the cellular signaling network by demonstrating that viral determinants can regulate how the host signaling pathways function in virally infected cells.
Interferon alpha in the therapy of CML

This paper summarizes the experience with interferon alpha (IFN alpha) as single-agent therapy and in combination gathered at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. It also covers some of the laboratory research associated with these clinical studies.
CMOS MEMS oscillator for gas chemical detection

The paper presents the fabrication and demonstration of a CMOS/MEMS electrostatically self-excited resonator gas detector under various gas exposures. The cantilever resonator includes a 100 /spl mu/m square platform for the chemically sensitive layer, polystyrene. Polymer is deposited using a drop-on-demand inkjet. The electrostatically actuated resonator has approximately 967 pico-grams of polystyrene which was deposited in a 2 mg/ml 1 toluene:1 xylene solution. An on-chip preamplifier converts the high impedance sensor output to a voltage usable off-chip. External feedback electronics complete a free-running oscillator at the mechanical resonant frequency of 5475 Hz with 40 dB SNR, a calculated 23.6 pg/Hz sensitivity, and a 1 Hz 3 dB width in a 1 Hz resolution measurement bandwidth. Initial tests demonstrate sensitivity to using an external bubbler with 1 l/min N/sub 2/ flow. Frequency shift when the polystyrene is saturated with methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, and acetone was 8.2, 8.0, 5.2 and 25.7 Hz, respectively.
Calcium homeostasis and bone metabolic responses to high-protein diets during energy deficit in healthy young adults: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Although consuming dietary protein above current recommendations during energy deficit (ED) preserves lean body mass, concerns have been raised regarding the effects of high-protein diets on bone health. Objective: The objective was to determine whether calcium homeostasis and bone turnover are affected by high-protein diets during weight maintenance (WM) and ED. Design: In a randomized, parallel-design, controlled trial of 32 men and 7 women, volunteers were assigned diets providing protein at 0.8 [Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)], 1.6 (2 3 RDA), or 2.4 (3 3 RDA) g $ kg 21 $ d 21 for 31 d. Ten days of WM preceded 21 d of ED, during which total daily ED was 40%, achieved by reduced dietary energy intake (w30%) and increased physical activity (w10%). The macronutrient composition (protein g $ kg 21 $ d 21 and % fat) was held constant from WM to ED. Calcium absorption (ratio of 44 Ca to 42 Ca) and circulating indexes of bone turnover were determined at day 8( WM) and day 29 (ED). Results: Regardless of energy state, mean (6SEM) urinary pH was lower (P , 0.05) at 2 3 RDA (6.28 6 0.05) and 3 3 RDA (6.23 6 0.06) than at the RDA (6.54 6 0.06). However, protein had no effect on either urinary calcium excretion (P . 0.05) or the amount of calcium retained (P . 0.05). ED decreased serum insulin-like growth factor I concentrations and increased serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations (P , 0.01). Remaining markers of bone turnover and whole-body bone mineral density and content were not affected by either the protein level or ED (P . 0.05). Conclusion: These data demonstrate that short-term consumption of high-protein diets does not disrupt calcium homeostasis and is not detrimental to skeletal integrity. This trial was registered at www. clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01292395. Am J Clin Nutr 2014;99:400‐7.
The fate of alien conifers in long-term plantings in the USA

For more than 100 years, non-native conifers have been introduced into habitats in the USA that already support native conifers. These introductions have yielded few naturalizations and even less evidence of invasions. We investigated the specific fates of nine non-native conifers in an array of introduction sites across the USA (Priest River, Idaho, Wind River, Washington, Cedar Creek, Minnesota, and Nantucket Is. and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts) through tree-ring analyses, comparisons of growth with adjacent native conifer populations, and surveys for regeneration and spread. Most of the original non-native tree plantings have died (e.g. Abies veitchii , Pinus densiflora , and Pinus halepensis at Wind River, WA); a few have survived but display low vigour and are not regenerating (e.g. Larix decidua , Pinus mugo , and Picea abies stands at Priest River, ID). Pinus sylvestris recruitment is apparent at all sites examined. Pinus thunbergii appears to be invasive on Nantucket Is., although the native Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (pinewood nematode) causes high mortality in mature trees. Non-native Pinus spp. at the Eddy Arboretum, California and Pack Forest, Washington also experienced high mortality. Dendroclimatic analyses revealed no difference in the effect of climate on the annual growth of native and non-native conifers. Plantations of introduced conifers in the south-eastern USA have died en masse (e.g. Harrison Experimental Forest, Mississippi, Olustee Arboretum, Florida). Such widespread extirpations are in sharp contrast to the fate of native conifers in adjacent stands as well as the multiple cases of large-scale conifer invasions in the Southern Hemisphere. Given the diversity of alien plant species that have invaded the USA, the circumstances surrounding the lack of persistence of introduced conifers becomes an important line of inquiry for understanding the factors and circumstances that facilitate or thwart biological invasions.
Activating transcription factor 3, a stress sensor, activates p53 by blocking its ubiquitination

Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) is rapidly induced by diverse environmental insults including genotoxic stress. We report herein that its interaction with p53, enhanced by genotoxic stress, stabilizes the tumor suppressor thereby augmenting functions of the latter. Overexpression of ATF3 (but not a mutated ATF3 protein (Δ102–139) devoid of its p53-binding region) prevents p53 from MDM2-mediated degradation and leads to increased transcription from p53-regulated promoters. ATF3, but not the Δ102–139 protein, binds the p53 carboxy-terminus and diminishes its ubiquitination and nuclear export. Genotoxic-stressed ATF3-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts, or cells in which ATF3 was reduced by small interference RNA, show inefficient p53 induction and impaired apoptosis compared with wild-type cells. ATF3-null cells (but not wild-type cells), which poorly accumulate p53, are transformed by oncogenic Ras. Thus, ATF3 is a novel stress-activated regulator of p53 protein stability/function providing the cell with a means of responding to a wide range of environmental insult, thus maintaining DNA integrity and protecting against cell transformation.
ADOLESCENT TOBACCO USE AND CESSATION

Over one third of high school students in the United States smoke cigarettes, and close to 10% use spit tobacco. Tobacco use clusters with alcohol use, other substance abuse, and other health risk behaviors among teenagers. Public health and law enforcement policy changes, combined with effective substance use prevention programs in both elementary and middle school, are needed to prevent the early age of onset of tobacco use by youth. Primary care providers can play a key role in identifying children and adolescents who smoke or use spit tobacco and helping them discontinue their tobacco use.
Lighter-than-air platforms (blimps and aerostats) for oceanographic and atmospheric research and monitoring

Lighter-than-air platforms (airships and aerostats) have been flown in a variety of research applications for more than a decade. The capabilities offered by these platforms are both unique and complementary to existing oceanographic and atmospheric research platforms. The addition of these platform types to the national aircraft research fleet is envisioned as a multi-agency, multi-user program based on the UNOLS or UCAR models. The identification of cost options, mission requirements, and user community is underway.
The development of aggressive and marking behavior in intact and castrated male hamsters.

Abstract In pairs consisting of two intact or two castrated male hamsters, the level of aggressive and flank-marking behavior increased with age. Dominance relationships were established early and remained stable. Castration prevented the appearance of the flank gland but did not alter the development of aggression, dominance, and marking. After the formation of intact-castrate pairs, the level of performance of the intacts was significantly higher than the castrates only for marking behavior. In a second experiment involving 49 intact-castrate pairs, there were no differences between intacts and castrates for any behavioral variables measured. Although testicular integrity may influence agonistic behavior in certain situations, these data indicate that it must be only one of several influences in determining the occurrence and outcome of an agonistic encounter.
Reduction of lipoxidative load by secretory phospholipase A2 inhibition protects against neurovascular injury following experimental stroke in rat

In animal models, ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury triggers membrane lipid degradation and accumulation of lipoxidative exacerbations in neurovascular unit, leading to blood brain barrier (BBB) damage and neurologic deficits. In this study, we investigated whether impeding membrane lipid breakdown by inhibiting secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) activity reduces BBB leakage, leading to neuroprotection and functional recovery. Focal cerebral IR injury was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in adult male rats. A sPLA2 inhibitor, 7,7-dimethyleicosadienoic acid (DEDA), was administered following IR injury. DEDA-treated animals were compared with vehicle-treated in terms of BBB leakage, edema, infarct volume, and neurological deficit. Membrane lipid degradation and the expression/activity of sPLA2 were also assessed. The role of one of the sPLA2 products, arachidonic acid (AA), on the morphology of the differentiated neuronal cell PC12 was examined by light microscopy. Treatment with DEDA after IR injury not only reduced BBB leakage but also decreased infarct volume and improved neurologic function. The treatment attenuated both the activity of sPLA2 and the levels of sPLA2-derived oxidized products. The metabolites of lipid oxidation/peroxidation, including the protein carbonyl, were reduced as well. The treatment also restored the levels of glutathione, indicating attenuation of oxidative stress. In vitro treatment of PC12 cells with DEDA did not restore the AA-mediated inhibition of neurite formation and the levels of glutathione, indicating that effect of DEDA is up stream to AA release. sPLA2-derived oxidative products contribute to significant neurovascular damage, and treatment with sPLA2 inhibitor DEDA ameliorates secondary injury by reducing exacerbations from lipoxidative stress.
3D facial expression recognition based on automatically selected features

In this paper, the problem of person-independent facial expression recognition from 3D facial shapes is investigated. We propose a novel automatic feature selection method based on maximizing the average relative entropy of marginalized class-conditional feature distributions and apply it to a complete pool of candidate features composed of normalized Euclidean distances between 83 facial feature points in the 3D space. Using a regularized multi-class AdaBoost classification algorithm, we achieve a 95.1% average recognition rate for six universal facial expressions on the publicly available 3D facial expression database BU-3DFE [1], with a highest average recognition rate of 99.2% for the recognition of surprise. We compare these results with the results based on a set of manually devised features and demonstrate that the auto features yield better results than the manual features. Our results outperform the results presented in the previous work [2] and [3], namely average recognition rates of 83.6% and 91.3% on the same database, respectively.
How business relationship modelling supports quality assurance of business objects

Many claims have been made for the benefits of software reuse, in terms of enhanced quality as well as productivity. Widely reused objects are supposed to possess several desirable characteristics, such as reliability and flexibility as well as efficiency. But reusable objects may be used for unpredicted purposes in unpredicted contexts. Furthermore, in an open distributed world, technical, geographical, organizational and other boundaries, as well as significant time lags, may separate the software developer from the publisher, and the software librarian from the user. From these premises we argue that responsibility for the quality of reusable software artefacts cannot be taken by the developer (or development organization) alone, but must be shared between developer and other agents. Recent work in enterprise modelling for open distributed processing has led to new techniques for modelling responsibilities across organizational boundaries, and these techniques are introduced here as a way of determining and clarifying effective structures for the quality assurance of reusable business objects.
Midnight Rulemaking and the Administrative Presidency of George W. Bush

Recent presidential transitions have experienced assertive attempts by outgoing administrations to cement legacies through interregnum rulemaking, especially in the policy areas of the environment, health and safety. This paper examines the strategic use of interregnum rulemaking by analyzing three case studies of regulations initiated by federal agencies as President George W. Bush prepared to leave office. Those initiatives include proposals to deregulate strip mining in Appalachian valleys and to change risk assessment procedures making it easier for employers to challenge restrictions on toxic chemicals in the workplace. A third proposal, to ease restrictions on air pollution in national parks, was withdrawn before President Obama's inauguration. In all three cases, the Bush Administration delayed the rulemaking until very late in its second term. The focus on last-minute rulemaking illuminates a little-understood complication of bureaucratic policymaking. Specifically, it explores the reasons why recent elections were followed by bureaucratic policy changes in the opposite direction expressed by the will of the voters.
Dissociation kinetics of an enzyme-inhibitor system using single-molecule force measurements.

We report on an improved method to interpret single molecule dissociation measurements using atomic force microscopy. We describe an easy to use methodology to reject nonspecific binding events, as well as estimating the number of multiple binding events. The method takes nonlinearities in the force profiles into account that result from the deformation of the used polymeric linkers. This new method is applied to a relevant enzyme—inhibitor system, latent matrix metalloprotease 9 (ProMMP-9, a gelatinase), and its inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases 1 (TIMP 1), which are important players in cancer metastasis. Our method provides a measured kinetic off-rate of 0.010 ± 0.003 s -1 for the dissociation of ProMMP9 and TIMP1, which is consistent with values measured by ensemble methods.
Optic disk drusen in children.

Abstract Optic disk drusen occur in 0.4% of children and consist of acellular intracellular and extracellular deposits that often become calcified over time. They are typically buried early in life and generally become superficial, and therefore visible, later in childhood, at the average age of 12 years. Their main clinical significance lies in the ability of optic disk drusen, particularly when buried, to simulate true optic disk edema. Misdiagnosing drusen as true disk edema may lead to an invasive and unnecessary workup for elevated intracranial pressure. Ancillary testing, including ultrasonography, fluorescein angiography, fundus autofluorescence, and optical coherence tomography, may aid in the correct diagnosis of optic disk drusen. Complications of optic disk drusen in children include visual field defects, hemorrhages, choroidal neovascular membrane, nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, and retinal vascular occlusions. Treatment options for these complications include ocular hypotensive agents for visual field defects and intravitreal anti–vascular endothelial growth factor agents for choroidal neovascular membranes. In most cases, however, children with optic disk drusen can be managed by observation with serial examinations and visual field testing once true optic disk edema has been excluded.
Gene expression of Lactobacillus plantarum and the commensal microbiota in the ileum of healthy and early SIV-infected rhesus macaques

Chronic HIV infection results in impairment of gut-associated lymphoid tissue leading to systemic immune activation. We previously showed that in early SIV-infected rhesus macaques intestinal dysfunction is initiated with the induction of the IL-1β pathway in the small intestine and reversed by treatment with an exogenous Lactobacillus plantarum strain. Here, we provide evidence that the transcriptomes of L. plantarum and ileal microbiota are not altered shortly after SIV infection. L. plantarum adapts to the small intestine by expressing genes required for tolerating oxidative stress, modifying cell surface composition, and consumption of host glycans. The ileal microbiota of L. plantarum-containing healthy and SIV+ rhesus macaques also transcribed genes for host glycan metabolism as well as for cobalamin biosynthesis. Expression of these pathways by bacteria were proposed but not previously demonstrated in the mammalian small intestine.
Noninvasive ventilation was cost-effective for reducing in-hospital mortality in COPD.

Source Citation Plant PK, Owen JL, Parrott S, Elliott MW. Cost effectiveness of ward based non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: economic analys...
The neural retina in retinopathy of prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a neurovascular disease that affects prematurely born infants and is known to have significant long term effects on vision. We conducted the studies described herein not only to learn more about vision but also about the pathogenesis of ROP. The coincidence of ROP onset and rapid developmental elongation of the rod photoreceptor outer segments motivated us to consider the role of the rods in this disease. We used noninvasive electroretinographic (ERG), psychophysical, and retinal imaging procedures to study the function and structure of the neurosensory retina. Rod photoreceptor and post-receptor responses are significantly altered years after the preterm days during which ROP is an active disease. The alterations include persistent rod dysfunction, and evidence of compensatory remodeling of the post-receptor retina is found in ERG responses to full-field stimuli and in psychophysical thresholds that probe small retinal regions. In the central retina, both Mild and Severe ROP delay maturation of parafoveal scotopic thresholds and are associated with attenuation of cone mediated multifocal ERG responses, significant thickening of post-receptor retinal laminae, and dysmorphic cone photoreceptors. These results have implications for vision and control of eye growth and refractive development and suggest future research directions. These results also lead to a proposal for noninvasive management using light that may add to the currently invasive therapeutic armamentarium against ROP.
Strengthening Early Intervention for Very Preterm Infants

In this issue of Pediatrics , Spittle et al1 provide an important follow-up report at 8 years to their randomized trial of early intervention for very preterm infants. The intervention was delivered over 9 sessions during the first year of life and was based on a strong theoretical approach. The well-defined set of services aimed to enhance caretakers’ ability to foster the development of their children and to reduce parental stress.2 At planned follow-up assessments at 2 and 4 years of age,3,4 the authors found no difference between the intervention and control groups in the children’s cognitive, language, and motor scores. They did observe a persistent effect of the intervention on decreased mental health symptoms in caretakers at both points. The current follow-up was undertaken based on the relationship between child development and parental mental health, with the expectation that the persistent advantage in the intervention group would result in better child outcomes. The authors employed an expanded test battery to go beyond intelligence to examine specific domains of child cognitive development, attention, … Address correspondence to Marie C. McCormick MD, ScD, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: mmccormi{at}hsph.harvard.edu
Rural Minority Students’ Perceptions of Ms. An, The Robot Teaching Assistant, as a Social Teaching Tool:

We present a socially interactive robotic teaching assistant to engage 5th grade rural minority students in practicing multiplication. In this research we use a NAO humanoid robot as a robotic teac...
Liver Transplantation for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Downstaging Without Up-Front Stage Restrictions

Background The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) continues to increase dramatically worldwide. Liver transplantation (LT) is now the standard and optimal treatment for patients with HCC in the setting of cirrhosis, but only for tumors within Milan criteria. In patients presenting beyond Milan criteria, locoregional therapy (LRT) can downstage to within Milan criteria for consideration for LT. Although controversial, the current study aims to evaluate the outcomes of LT in patients presenting with advanced-stage HCC who underwent downstaging and compare these outcomes with those of patients who met Milan criteria at presentation. Study Design Our protocol does not set a priori limitations as long as HCC is confined to the liver. In this retrospective study between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2014, we reviewed outcomes associated with 284 patients who presented within Milan criteria and patients who presented with more-advanced stage tumor who were potential transplantation candidates. The patients with advanced disease were then subdivided into those who were within or beyond University of California San Francisco criteria. Imaging, details of LRT, recurrence, and survival were compared between the groups. Results Sixty-three of 210 (30%) eligible patients were downstaged and underwent transplantation; 14 additional downstaged and listed patients were withdrawn for the following reasons: death while waiting (n = 4), disease progression (n = 8), development of other malignancy (n = 1), and declined LT (n = 1). Twelve patients underwent resection after downstaging and did not require LT. Survival for patients who were downstaged was similar to those who were within Milan criteria initially. Recurrence of HCC at 5 years was similar between groups (10.9% vs 10.8%; p = 0.84). Conclusions Patients with beyond–Milan criteria HCC who are otherwise candidates for LT should undergo aggressive attempts at downstaging without a priori exclusion. This highly selective approach allows for excellent long-term results, similar to patients presenting with earlier-stage disease.
Chemoproteomics-enabled covalent ligand screen reveals a cysteine hotspot in reticulon 4 that impairs ER morphology and cancer pathogenicity

Chemical genetics has arisen as a powerful approach for identifying novel anti-cancer agents. However, a major bottleneck of this approach is identifying the targets of lead compounds that arise from screens. Here, we coupled the synthesis and screening of fragment-based cysteine-reactive covalent ligands with activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) chemoproteomic approaches to identify compounds that impair colorectal cancer pathogenicity and map the druggable hotspots targeted by these hits. Through this coupled approach, we discovered a cysteine-reactive acrylamide DKM 3-30 that significantly impaired colorectal cancer cell pathogenicity through targeting C1101 on reticulon 4 (RTN4). While little is known about the role of RTN4 in colorectal cancer, this protein has been established as a critical mediator of endoplasmic reticulum tubular network formation. We show here that covalent modification of C1101 on RTN4 by DKM 3-30 or genetic knockdown of RTN4 impairs endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear envelope morphology as well as colorectal cancer pathogenicity. We thus put forth RTN4 as a potential novel colorectal cancer therapeutic target and reveal a unique druggable hotspot within RTN4 that can be targeted by covalent ligands to impair colorectal cancer pathogenicity. Our results underscore the utility of coupling the screening of fragment-based covalent ligands with isoTOP-ABPP platforms for mining the proteome for novel druggable nodes that can be targeted for cancer therapy.
Exploiting LF/MF signals of opportunity for lower ionospheric remote sensing

We introduce a method to diagnose and track the D–region ionosphere (60−100 km). This region is important for long distance terrestrial communication, and is impacted by a variety of geophysical phenomena, but it is traditionally very difficult to detect. Modern remote sensing methods used to study the D-region are predominately near the Very Low Frequency (VLF, 3−30 kHz) band, with some work also done in the High Frequency and Very High Frequency bands (HF/VHF, 3−300 MHz). However, the frequency band between VLF and HF has been largely ignored as a diagnostic tool for the ionosphere. In this paper, we evaluate the use of 300 kHz radio reflections as a diagnostic tool for characterizing the D-region of the ionosphere. We present radio receiver data, analyze diurnal trends in the signal from these transmitters, and identify ionospheric disturbances impacting LF/MF propagation. We find that 300 kHz remote sensing may allow a unique method for D-region diagnostics compared to both the VLF and HF/VHF frequency bands, due to a more direct ionospheric reflection coefficient calculation method with high temporal resolution without the use of forward modeling.
Performable Case Studies in Ethics Education

Bioethics education often includes the study of short stories, novels, plays, and films, because such materials present case examples that can highlight relevant issues and questions especially vividly for a wide range of students. In addition, creative writing is widely used in the education of health professional students and in continuing education settings for health professionals. There are very few academic or professional disciplines that do not use case studies, but the case study in dialogic form has not been standard practice for thousands of years. Dramatic arts casuistry—the creation and performance of short case studies designed specifically to raise bioethics issues for discussion—represents an application of literature and the medical humanities that is both unique and uniquely valuable. This essay describes the development and history of a course that has been successfully taught to medical students and graduate bioethics students, in which the class researches, writes, and performs a case study designed to elicit reflection and discussion about a topic and set of bioethics issues of current interest to both academic and general audiences. The model is also suited to the presentation and discussion of existing case studies, both live and via on-demand audio.
Introduction to Diversity Intelligence

Langston Hughes (1938), in his great poem “Let America Be America Again,” suggests that we, the people, must redeem our nation together. However, when certain citizens are, or perceive themselves to be, excluded, marginalized, ignored, and prevented from achieving their full potential, a nation and, subsequently, its organizations suffer. When did the need to redeem our nation begin? Why is there such controversy when the word “diversity” is mentioned in American society and/or the workplace?
Changing indications for cataract surgery

Despite the fact that two community-based surgeons switched from routine intracapsular cataract extraction to planned extracapsular cataract surgery and routine implantation of posterior chamber lenses, they did not materially increase the size of their surgical load or change their indications for cataract surgery. In contrast a similar change in surgical technique by two high-referral hospital-based surgeons was associated with a marked increase in operative rates and increased preoperative acuity. A significant proportion of this change appeared to represent reduced reluctance toward monocular cataract surgery. By eliminating the aniseikonia of monocular aphakic and visual distortion of aphakic spectacle correction, use of IOLs appears to have contributed to changing indications for cataract surgery among some ophthalmologists. A larger, more comprehensive study would be needed to determine the full extent of these trends.
Competing Priorities of Infrastructure Investment and Military Expansion in Late Meiji Japan

The slogan “rich country, strong military” (fukoku kyohei) famously guided modernization efforts in Meiji Japan, but debates among business leaders and government officials highlighted the contested nature of this formulation. This chapter examines Shibusawa Eiichi’s criticism of policies he saw detrimental to business interests including the transition of Japan’s currency to the Gold Standard and rapid increases in military expenditures, which came at the expense of civilian infrastructure investment. Feeling a Confucian obligation to remonstrate against mistaken government policies, Shibusawa consistently recommended frugality in spending to allow for increased investment in the conviction that a prosperous economy leads to strength where reckless militarism leads to a poor economy and needles hostility from potential trading partners.