cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extending Manual Drawing Practices with Artist-Centric Programming Tools

Procedural art, or art made with programming, suggests opportunities to extend traditional arts like painting and drawing; however, this potential is limited by tools that conflict with manual practices. Programming languages present learning barriers and manual drawing input is not a first class primitive in common programming models. We hypothesize that by developing programming languages and environments that align with how manual artists work, we can build procedural systems that enhance, rather than displace, manual art. To explore this, we developed Dynamic Brushes, a programming and drawing environment motivated by interviews with artists. Dynamic Brushes enables the creation of ad-hoc drawing tools that transform stylus inputs to procedural patterns. Applications range from transforming individual strokes to behaviors that draw multiple strokes simultaneously, respond to temporal events, and leverage external data. Results from an extended evaluation with artists provide guidelines for learnable, expressive systems that blend manual and procedural creation.
Sequences Generated by Powers of the kth-order Fibonacci Recurrence Relation

Every positive sequence generated by the Fibonacci recurrence relation diverges to infinity. However, every positive sequence generated by the square root of the Fibonacci recurrence relation conve...
Religion and Suicide: New Findings

Suicide rates and risk and protective factors vary across religions. There has been a significant increase in research in the area of religion and suicide since the article, "Religion and Suicide," reviewed these issues in 2009. This current article provides an updated review of the research since the original article was published. PsycINFO, MEDLINE, SocINDEX, and CINAHL databases were searched for articles on religion and suicide published between 2008 and 2017. Epidemiological data on suicidality and risk and protective factors across religions are explored. Updated general practice guidelines are provided, and areas for future research are identified.
Suppression by dietary alcohol of resistance to Cryptosporidium during murine acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Significant immunological changes occur following LP-BM5 murine leukemia retrovirus infection as well as chronic alcohol comsumption. Retrovirus infection which has proceeded to murine AIDS permitted persistent Cryptosporidium infection, while non-retrovirus infected mice were resistant. Dietary alcohol provided until the day before parasite challenge did not affect resistance in controls, but increased the numbers of oocysts in the feces of retrovirus suppressed mice. Mortality was significant in retrovirus infected mice, and exacerbated slightly by dietary ethanol, while all controls survived parasite challenge. The retrovirus infected mice had greatly reduced numbers of intestinal CD4+ T helper cells and IgA+ B cells, which may explain their loss of intestinal resistance. Clearly, the severely immunosuppressed animals with murine AIDS were more sensitive to alcohol consumption than uninfected controls. This suggests that alcohol can synergize with murine retrovirus infection to exacerbate loss of resistance to an opportunistic pathogen common in human AIDS patients.
Meeting report on membrane transport and metabolism 4th International Congress on Amino Acids Vienna, Austria, August 7-11, 1995.

The session on Membrane Transport was a lively, interactive one with substantial audience participation in the discussion periods. Progress in this area of amino acid science is rapid as the genes encoding the transporter proteins are being cloned and characterized. The contributors to the platform session represented institutions from several countries giving the meeting a truly international flavor. Most of the participants contributed articles to this volume. The platform speakers were Dr. John McGivan (United Kingdom), Dr. Marcal Pastor-Anglada (Spain), Dr. Bruce Stephens (USA), Dr. G. Gazzola and Dr. V. Dall'Asta (Italy), Dr. Carol MacLeod (USA), Miss Maria Rivera-Correa (Puerto Rico), Dr. Ellen Closs (Germany), Dr. Manuel Palacin (Spain), Dr. Ovidio Bussolati (Italy), Dr. Suresh Tate (USA), Dr. S. Nakamura (Japan).
Enhancing Student Counselor Program Evaluation Training through Creative Community Service-Learning Partnerships

Counselors face increasing pressure to demonstrate accountability for client and agency outcomes. Despite persistent calls to embrace research and assessment, program evaluation remains relatively ...
Brigitte avant Haentjens : un engagement artistique en Ontario français

Brigitte Haentjens, bien avant la carriere montrealaise qu’on lui connait, a investi les scenes et le territoire de l’Ontario de 1977 a 1990. Elle a laisse le souvenir d’une frondeuse anti-establishment, a premiere vue anti-intellectuelle et anti-universitaire, qui pourtant maniait les idees et les mots avec precision et delectation et qui, en tres peu de temps, s’est retrouvee au coeur meme de l’institution theâtrale franco-ontarienne en prenant la direction du Theâtre du Nouvel-Ontario de 1982 a 1990 et la presidence inaugurale de l’Association nationale des theâtres francophones hors-Quebec de 1984 a 1990. Elle s’est affirmee comme une artiste animee par la communaute, mais s’en prenant resolument a ses elements rebarbatifs. L’etrangere devenue l’intime des Franco-Ontariens a demontre a sa communaute d’adoption l’importance de revendiquer non seulement une prise de parole, mais aussi une parole eloquente, determinee et qui ne se laisse pas intimider. Le present article a connotation historiographique explore cette periode charniere dans le developpement de la metteure en scene a partir de ses realisations et du discours qu’elle a porte sur la pratique theâtrale et le role de l’artiste dans la societe par le truchement de ses textes, de ses billets et de ses entrevues.
Clinton vs. Trump: Back to the Future?

President Donald Trump has often drawn parallels between himself and Andrew Jackson. Both ran as populist outsiders to the political establishment who said they would represent forgotten Americans whose concerns had been ignored by a corrupt Washington elite. In this chapter we examine the Jacksonian tradition in America and explore whether Trump and Jackson enjoyed similar geographic bases of support. We find that they did. The relationship between county-level voting in 1828 and 2016 was stronger than in all but one election up until the Sixth Party System began in 1968. Knowing how a county voted in 1828 also better predicts how it voted in 2016 than does knowing how it voted in 1976. We illustrate the connection between voting in 1828 and 2016 by examining a consummate Jackson-Trump county (Pike County, Kentucky) and a prototypical Adams-Clinton county (Hampshire County, Massachusetts).
Urinary and dietary analysis of 18,470 Bangladeshis reveal a correlation of rice consumption with arsenic exposure and toxicity

Background: Recent data suggest that rice consumption may be a source of arsenic exposure. Objective: We utilized data from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) in Araihazar, Ba...
Top Advances in Functional Genomics and Translational Biology for 2015.

During the past year, the field of cardiovascular genomics has witnessed publication of an unprecedented number of outstanding articles. In addition to large-scale investigations of original hypotheses (eg, pleiotropic effects of height loci on coronary artery disease [CAD]), our community has welcomed seminal functional genomics studies using gene editing, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), and total RNA sequencing. Taken together, these studies have produced valuable insights into mechanisms underlying the observed associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The mission of the Functional Genomics and Translational Biology (FGTB) Council of the American Heart Association (http://www.my.americanheart.org/fgtbcouncil) is to advance new discoveries in the fields of genetics, omics-based approaches, and translational biology, as well as to facilitate their application in cardiovascular health and disease. By creating a multidisciplinary collaborative environment, this Council integrates scientific knowledge from molecules to populations and contributes to the global goal of building healthier lives, free of CVDs and stroke. The Early Career Committee of the FGTB Council collectively selected studies that we believe to be the major advances published in 2015. In this Special Report, we summarize 10 articles that cover a variety of disciplines represented on the FGTB and highlight their particular significance to the cardiovascular field. Through interactions with the host genes and environmental exposures, gut bacteria have previously been shown to influence metabolic and inflammatory processes although the specific contributions to disease risk had remained elusive because of the lack of large-scale human studies. In the past year, Fu et al1 began to peel back the layers of uncertainty surrounding the role of the gut microbes in CVD. Using fecal samples from the LifeLines DEEP cohort, they have profiled the gut microbiome of 893 participants by 16s ribosomal RNA sequencing and identified novel …
Enhancing the antitumor functions of invariant natural killer T cells using a soluble CD1d-CD19 fusion protein

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells comprise a unique lineage of CD1d-restricted lipid-reactive T lymphocytes that potently kill tumor cells and exhibit robust immunostimulatory functions. Optimal tumor-directed iNKT cell responses often require expression of the antigen-presenting molecule CD1d on tumors; however, many tumor cells downregulate CD1d and thus evade iNKT cell recognition. We generated a soluble bispecific fusion protein designed to direct iNKT cells to the site of B-cell cancers in a tumor antigen-specific but CD1d-independent manner. This fusion protein is composed of a human CD1d molecule joined to a single chain antibody FV fragment specific for CD19, an antigen widely expressed on B-cell cancers. The CD1d-CD19 fusion protein binds specifically to CD19-expressing, but not CD19-negative cells. Once loaded with the iNKT cell lipid agonist α-galactosyl ceramide (αGC), the CD1d-CD19 fusion induces robust in vitro activation of and cytokine production by human iNKT cells. iNKT cells stimulated by the αGC-loaded CD1d-CD19 fusion also strongly transactivate T-, B-, and NK-cell responses and promote dendritic cell maturation. Importantly, the αGC-loaded fusion induces robust lysis of CD19 + CD1d − Epstein-Barr virus immortalized human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines that are otherwise resistant to iNKT cell killing. Consistent with these findings; administration of the αGC-loaded fusion protein controlled the growth of CD19 + CD1d − tumors in vivo, suggesting that it can “link” iNKT cells and CD19 + CD1d − targets in a therapeutically beneficial manner. Taken together, these preclinical studies demonstrate that this B cell–directed fusion protein can be used to effectively induce iNKT cell antitumor responses in vitro and in vivo .
Visceral arterial embolization prior to multivisceral transplantation in recipient with cirrhosis, extensive portomesenteric thrombosis, and hostile abdomen: Performance and outcome analysis

Multivisceral transplant (MVT) for cirrhosis, and portomesenteric vein thrombosis (PVT), is fraught with life-threatening thrombo-hemorrhagic complications. Embolization of native viscera has been attempted in a handful of cases with mixed results. We carried out a comparative analysis of angiographic, intra-operative, and pathological findings in three recipients of MVT who were deemed exceptionally high hemorrhagic risk and therefore underwent preoperative visceral embolization. All recipients were male with cirrhosis, PVT, and a surgical history indicative of diffuse visceral adhesions; status post-liver transplantation (n = 2) and proctocolectomy (n = 1). The first patient had two Amplatzer II embolization plugs placed 2 cm from the origins of celiac and superior mesenteric (SMA) arteries. Distal migration of the celiac plug into gastroduodenal artery (GDA) and ensuing ischemia reperfusion injury, presumably contributed to severe disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and intra-operative mortality. In the other two recipients, distal Gelfoam embolization of the SMA, GDA, and splenic arteries was performed, and although remarkable hemorrhage and coagulopathy occurred, embolization, undoubtedly, facilitated exenteration and improved outcomes. Pathologic examination in these cases confirmed ischemic necrosis of eviscerated bowel. In conclusion, liver-sparing, preoperative distal embolization of native viscera with Gelfoam is beneficial, but entails several pitfalls. It should currently be reserved for MVT recipients who otherwise are at unacceptably high risk.
Using Real-World Data to Predict Findings of an Ongoing Phase IV Cardiovascular Outcome Trial: Cardiovascular Safety of Linagliptin Versus Glimepiride

OBJECTIVE Using real-world data (RWD) from three U.S. claims data sets, we aim to predict the findings of the CARdiovascular Outcome Trial of LINAgliptin Versus Glimepiride in Type 2 Diabetes (CAROLINA) trial comparing linagliptin versus glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) at increased cardiovascular risk by using a novel framework that requires passing prespecified validity checks before analyzing the primary outcome. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Within Medicare and two commercial claims data sets (May 2011–September 2015), we identified a 1:1 propensity score–matched (PSM) cohort of T2D patients 40–85 years old at increased cardiovascular risk who initiated linagliptin or glimepiride by adapting eligibility criteria from CAROLINA. PSM was used to balance >120 confounders. Validity checks included the evaluation of expected power, covariate balance, and two control outcomes for which we expected a positive association and a null finding. We registered the protocol (NCT03648424) before evaluating the composite cardiovascular outcome based on CAROLINA’s primary end point. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CIs were estimated in each data source and pooled with a fixed-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS We identified 24,131 PSM pairs of linagliptin and glimepiride initiators with sufficient power for noninferiority (>98%). Exposure groups achieved excellent covariate balance, including key laboratory results, and expected associations between glimepiride and hypoglycemia (HR 2.38 [95% CI 1.79–3.13]) and between linagliptin and end-stage renal disease (HR 1.08 [0.66–1.79]) were replicated. Linagliptin was associated with a 9% decreased risk in the composite cardiovascular outcome with a CI including the null (HR 0.91 [0.79–1.05]), in line with noninferiority. CONCLUSIONS In a nonrandomized RWD study, we found that linagliptin has noninferior risk of a composite cardiovascular outcome compared with glimepiride.
Quantification of Trace-Level Fissile Samples via Short-Lived Delayed Gamma Spectroscopy

We describe a generalized means of isotopic assay and quantification of multicomponent fissile mixtures based on the observation of short-lived fission-product gamma signatures. Given that the characteristic mass yield curves differ for individual fissile species, this can be used to construct an overdetermined system of equations corresponding to the observed photopeak yields, the solution of which yields information on the individual isotopic masses of parent fissile isotopes within the system. This method is then demonstrated for single-isotope samples of 233U, 235U, and 239Pu; binary fissile mixtures of U and Pu; and trace fissile samples contained within intact typical environmental sampling media, each irradiated and measured using the High Flux Isotope Reactor at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Our findings indicate that this method can reliably be used to quantify nanogram-level fissile masses in binary mixtures with uncertainties on the order of 2%–7%. Finally, observed discrepancies with individual fission-product indicators and likely sources of bias are discussed.
Binary and analog variation of synapses between cortical pyramidal neurons

Learning from experience depends at least in part on changes in neuronal connections. We present the largest map of connectivity to date between cortical neurons of a defined type (L2/3 pyramidal cells), which was enabled by automated analysis of serial section electron microscopy images with improved handling of image defects. We used the map to identify constraints on the learning algorithms employed by the cortex. Previous cortical studies modeled a continuum of synapse sizes (Arellano et al., 2007) by a log-normal distribution (Loewenstein, Kuras and Rumpel, 2011; de Vivo et al., 2017; Santuy et al., 2018). A continuum is consistent with most neural network models of learning, in which synaptic strength is a continuously graded analog variable. Here we show that synapse size, when restricted to synapses between L2/3 pyramidal cells, is well-modeled by the sum of a binary variable and an analog variable drawn from a log-normal distribution. Two synapses sharing the same presynaptic and postsynaptic cells are known to be correlated in size (Sorra and Harris, 1993; Koester and Johnston, 2005; Bartol et al., 2015; Kasthuri et al., 2015; Dvorkin and Ziv, 2016; Bloss et al., 2018; Motta et al., 2019). We show that the binary variables of the two synapses are highly correlated, while the analog variables are not. Binary variation could be the outcome of a Hebbian or other synaptic plasticity rule depending on activity signals that are relatively uniform across neuronal arbors, while analog variation may be dominated by other influences. We discuss the implications for the stability-plasticity dilemma.
Poster: IoT SENTINEL - An ABAC Approach Against Cyber-Warfare In Organizations

Recently, Internet of Things (IoT) devices and applications are becoming increasingly popular among users in various IoT domains, such as Wearable IoT, Smart Cities, Smart Home, and Smart Industry. With a range of IoT devices, cyber attack surface has hugely expanded from traditional user workstations to small autonomous devices connected to the Internet. In today's connected world, every user owns multiple connected smart devices which seamlessly connect to their organization's network. Therefore, secure and fine-grained access control policies need to be implemented at the organizational level to defend against such attacks. In this paper, we propose an Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) approach to defend against cyber attacks in the context of an organization environment which are launched through compromised IoT devices owned by various legitimate users. For example, a wearable IoT device of an employee of an organization which can connect to the organization's network and compromise the whole network and lack of secure access control mechanism will enable IoT Warfare in the future. Therefore, secure and fine-grained ABAC access control mechanisms and policies need to be employed for access control and authorization requirements of IoT devices.
Trends in Manufacturer-Reported Nicotine Yields in Cigarettes Sold in the United States, 2013-2016.

INTRODUCTION A gradual reduction of cigarette nicotine content to nonaddictive levels has been proposed as an endgame strategy to accelerate declines in combustible tobacco smoking. We assessed manufacturer-reported nicotine yield in cigarettes sold in the United States from 2013 to 2016. METHODS We merged machine-measured nicotine yield in cigarette smoke and pack characteristics obtained from reports filed by tobacco manufacturers with the Federal Trade Commission for 2013-2016 with monthly Nielsen data on US cigarette sales. Manufacturer-reported, sales-weighted, average annual nicotine yield was assessed, as were nicotine yield sales trends by quartile: markedly low (0.10-0.60 mg/stick), low (0.61-0.80 mg/stick), moderate (0.81-0.90 mg/stick), and high (0.91-3.00 mg/stick). Trends in overall, menthol, and nonmenthol pack sales, by nicotine yield quartiles over the study period and by year, were determined by using Joinpoint regression. RESULTS During 2013-2016, average annual sales-weighted nicotine yield for all cigarettes increased from 0.903 mg/stick (95% CI, 0.882-0.925) in 2013 to 0.938 mg/stick (95% CI, 0.915-0.962) in 2016 (P < .05). For menthol cigarettes, yield increased from 0.943 mg/stick in 2013 (95% CI, 0.909-0.977) to 1.037 mg/stick in 2016 (95% CI, 0.993-1.081), increasing 0.2% each month (P < .05). Most pack sales occurred among high (41.5%) and low (30.7%) nicotine yield quartiles. Cigarette sales for the markedly low quartile decreased by an average of 0.4% each month during 2013-2016 (P < .05). CONCLUSION During 2013-2016, manufacturer-reported, sales-weighted nicotine yield in cigarettes increased, most notably for menthol cigarettes. Continued monitoring of nicotine yield and content in cigarettes can inform tobacco control strategies.
Magnetic Position Tracking using Inductor Coils and IMU

Position tracking finds its application in the areas of medicine, sports and training, gaming and in general, Human Computer Interface (HCI). The system described here achieves 3 dimensional position and orientation tracking. The system mainly consists of a single-axis magnetic field transmitting inductor coil, tri-axis receiving inductor coil Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) and microcontroller units (MCUs).With a fixed frequency AC magnetic field, a closed form solution has been proposed to find the position of the receiver (Rx) coil relative to the transmitter (Tx) coil. The system achieves a position jitter of less than 1mm up to a tracking distance of 1m.
Older Listeners' Perception of Speech With Strengthened and Weakened Dynamic Pitch Cues in Background Noise

Purpose Dynamic pitch, which is defined as the variation in fundamental frequency, is an acoustic cue that aids speech perception in noise. This study examined the effects of strengthened and weake...
Trade Structure, Industrial Structure, and International Business Cycles

This paper examines the extent to which the composition of a country's production and trade differs among its trade partners. For example, does the US export the same bundle of goods to the UK as it does to Japan? If we find high dispersion in a country's export and import bundles with its various trading partners, can this be linked to identifiable country characteristics? These findings are important for two reasons. First, they enrich our empirical understanding of the nature of trade. Second, they will stand as a guide for further development of economic theories of the international transmission of business cycles.
Lyapunov Exponents: Recent Applications of Ḟurstenberg’s Theorem in Spectral Theory

We discuss the phenomenon of Anderson localization and a new proof of it in one space dimension. This proof is due to V. Bucaj, D. Damanik, J. Fillman, V. Gerbuz, T. VandenBoom, F.Wang, Z. Zhang, and it is centered around the positivity of and large deviation estimates for the Lyapunov exponent — a strategy originally developed in non-random settings by J. Bourgain, M. Goldstein, W. Schlag.
Do Actions Speak Louder Than Words? Party Rewards for Loyal Speech and Voting Behavior in the US House of Representatives

Parties seek to hold their members accountable for their actions, but we know little of how this functions outside of voting behavior. We create a measure of how well each member’s floor speeches fit with those of their party — speech fit — and compare it to a similar measure of voting fit in order to study how parties hold members accountable for both floor speeches and votes. Using evidence from the 97th-108th United States Congresses, we show that parties reward members whose speech behavior fits with the party by providing them more resources related to the party’s electoral goals, and that parties reward members based on a similar measure of how well their voting behavior fits with that of the party with resources more related to electoral goals. We discuss implications for Congressional research and text research, where our approach has broad applications.
Enhancement of cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking by acute total sleep restriction in male Wistar rats.

Abstract Clinical studies suggest that sleep impairment is a barrier to successful treatment in alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients, with sleep disruption associated with relapse to alcohol taking. To date, no preclinical study has evaluated the relationship between impaired sleep and alcohol relapse. In the present study, we used a self-administration model to investigate the effects of sleep restriction on reinstatement induced by alcohol-paired environmental cues. Using a sucrose fading protocol, male Wistar rats (N = 8) were trained to self-administer alcohol under a fixed-ratio 2 schedule of alcohol delivery such that completion of every second response resulted in the delivery of the alcohol solution and activation of the alcohol-paired cue light. Once self-administration was stable, behavior was extinguished by omitting delivery of the alcohol solution and the alcohol-paired cues. When responding reached low, stable levels, alcohol seeking was induced by re-presentation of the alcohol-paired cues but with no alcohol solution available for self-administration. To evaluate the effects of sleep restriction on cue-induced alcohol seeking, reinstatement tests were conducted after 6-h of total (slow wave + rapid eye movement [REM]) sleep restriction using the gentle handling method or after 6-h of REM sleep-only restriction using the flower pot method. Relevant control conditions also were evaluated. The results showed that acute restriction of total sleep, but not REM sleep primarily, significantly augmented cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking. This increase was specific to total sleep restriction conditions and cannot be attributed to differences in alcohol intake, responding, or days to extinction. Our findings imply that acute slow wave sleep restriction is necessary and/or sufficient for the enhancement of cue-induced alcohol seeking and, further, suggest that decreased slow wave sleep in AUD patients places individuals at a unique risk for relapse.
Fuzzy Decision Making Assisted Model Predictive Direct Power Controller for a Grid-Interlinking Converter of a Battery Energy Storage System

In this paper, a fuzzy decision making (FDM) assisted model predictive direct power controller (fuzzy-MPDPC) is derived for a three-phase grid-connected converter that interlinks battery energy storage system (BESS) to the grid. The controller combines fuzzy logic and MPDPC theories to control bidirectional active, reactive power flow of the inverter based on grid requirements and state of BESS. Rather than using a layered control architecture for BESS scheduling and grid feed control, this paper proposes an improved model predictive controller with fuzzy-goal, fuzzy-constraint based objective function which dynamically adjusts according to external conditions. The operability of the proposed controller is verified using Matlab Simulink simulation models. Simulations are carried out to evaluate the performance in both charging and discharging modes and a fast convergence to the commanded power levels is observed.
Crafting a Talk

This chapter reviews a series of steps to take prior to slide creation, including asking questions about your learners, identifying core concepts, and selecting appropriate teaching strategies. It details the dangers of using inherited slides, and considerations for crafting effective beginnings, middles, and ends of presentations. Healthy presentations are defined as appropriately targeted to the audience, designed to advance specific learning objectives, and conveyed in a way that facilitates comprehension and retention. Readers are encouraged to practice “instructional empathy” as part of learner-centered presentation development.
Survivin Expression Is Differentially Regulated by a Selective Cross-talk between RBM38 and miRNAs let-7b or miR-203a

RNA-binding motif 38 (RBM38) is a member of a protein family with a highly conserved RNA-binding motif and has been shown to regulate mRNA processing, stability, and translation. Survivin is an essential modulator of apoptotic and nonapoptotic cell death as well as a stress responder. Survivin mRNA is the fourth most frequently overexpressed transcript in the human cancer transcriptome, and its aberrant expression is associated with chemo-/radioresistance and poor prognosis. In this study, we examined whether survivin expression is regulated by RBM38. RBM38 bound to survivin 3′-untranslated region and suppressed miRNA let-7b from binding to and degrading survivin mRNA, leading to increased survivin expression. RBM38 interacted with argonaute-2 (AGO2) and facilitated miR-203a–mediated degradation of survivin mRNA, leading to decreased survivin expression. Due to the abundance of let-7b over miR-203a, RBM38 ultimately increased survivin expression in HCT116 and MCF7 cells. In addition, Ser-195 in RBM38 interacted with Glu-73/-76 in AGO2, and Pep8, an eight-amino acid peptide spanning the region of Ser-195 in RBM38, blocked the RBM38–AGO2 interaction and inhibited miR-203a–mediated mRNA degradation, leading to enhanced survivin expression. Furthermore, Pep8 cooperated with YM155, an inhibitor of survivin, to suppress tumor spheroid growth and viability. Pep8 sensitized tumor cells to YM155-induced DNA damage in an RBM38-dependent manner. Together, our data indicate that RBM38 is a dual regulator of survivin and that Pep8/YM155 may be therapeutically explored for tumor suppression. Significance: These findings show that RBM38 exerts opposing effects on survivin expression via two miRNAs, and disruption of the RBM38–AGO2 complex by an eight-amino acid peptide sensitizes tumor spheroids to survivin inhibitor YM155.
Liver function from Y to Z: The guidance of William Jakoby.

Abstract In the 1960s, my lab was interested in understanding how bilirubin and other organic anions are transferred from the plasma through the liver cell and into the bile. We performed gel filtration of liver supernatants and identified two protein fractions, designated Y and Z, which bound organic anions including bilirubin, and thus we proposed that they were involved in hepatic uptake of organic anions from plasma. Subsequently, the Y and Z proteins responsible for this binding activity were purified, cloned, and sequenced. With Bill Jakoby, we identified Y protein as a member of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) protein family. In separate studies, Z was found to be a member of the fatty acid–binding protein (FABP) family. These proteins have since been shown to have additional surprising roles, but understanding of their full role in physiology and disease has not yet been achieved. In the 1960s, bilirubin metabolism was a “hot” topic. Along with other groups, my lab was studying various forms of inheritable jaundice in an effort to dissect the mechanism of bilirubin’s transfer from plasma into the hepatocyte and its role in intracellular metabolism and biliary secretion. These processes were eventually identified and found to be related to the basic mechanisms whereby the liver handles many anionic drugs, metabolites, and hormones. Because the mechanism of hepatic uptake of bilirubin was unknown, A.J. Levi, Z. Gatmaitan, and I took advantage of advances in gel permeation chromatography to study this process. In 1969, we described two hepatic cytoplasmic protein fractions, designated Y and Z, that bound bilirubin and various organic anionic dyes in vivo and in vitro and, based on tissue distribution, abundance, and effects of genetic and pharmacologic models, were proposed to participate in organic anion uptake ( 1 ). In the decades since then, the Y and Z proteins have been identified as members of large protein families that were cloned and sequenced. Several surprising functions emerged, whereas others are proposed based on binding properties. Many challenges remain in understanding the full role of these proteins in physiology and disease.
Sedimentation Studies in the Western Gulf States

Summary of reservoir sedimentation surveys made by Soil Conservation Service; analysis made of existing suspended sediment and reservoir sedimentation records in 7-state region which includes 26 physiographic areas; methods used in determining sediment yields; effect of watershed protection measures, including floodwater retarding structures in reducing sediment yield from watersheds.
Stress Analysis of B-52b and B-52h Air-Launching Systems Failure-Critical Structural Components

The operational life analysis of any airborne failure-critical structural component requires the stress-load equation, which relates the applied load to the maximum tangential tensile stress at the critical stress point. The failure-critical structural components identified are the B-52B Pegasus pylon adapter shackles, B-52B Pegasus pylon hooks, B-52H airplane pylon hooks, B-52H airplane front fittings, B-52H airplane rear pylon fitting, and the B-52H airplane pylon lower sway brace. Finite-element stress analysis was performed on the said structural components, and the critical stress point was located and the stress-load equation was established for each failure-critical structural component. The ultimate load, yield load, and proof load needed for operational life analysis were established for each failure-critical structural component.
Landscapes of Struggle: Politics, Society, and Community in El Salvador

(2004). Landscapes of Struggle: Politics, Society, and Community in El Salvador. History: Reviews of New Books: Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 19-19.
Ultrastructural Aspects of Antibody Plaque-Forming Cells from Clinically Normal and Overtly Autoimmune NZB Mice

Quantitative differences, in terms of antibody plaque-forming cells per mg. spleen, were observed in young and old animals of the BALB/c and NZB mouse strains. Ultrastructurally, antibody-producing cells from spleens of immunologically hyperactive young NZB mice appeared relatively similar to those from overtly autoimmune old NZB mice showing depressed immune responsiveness. There was more extensive dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum in cells of older mice, with some of these cells manifesting increased fragility. Viruslike particles, observed to be located intracisternally, lacked an electron dense nucleoid and were not seen budding from plasma membranes; they were thus unlike the murine leukemia type-C particles reported to be found in organs of NZB mice. Additionally, since these viruslike particles were observed in antibody-producing cells of young and old nonautoimmune BALB/c mice as well as in those of the NZB strain, it is probable that they do not represent the agent responsible for development of autoimmune disease or malignancy.
Reconceptualizing the Member Check Interview

The member check has been heralded as an important component of validation in qualitative research. Traditionally, the member check has been used in order to assess the accuracy with which a researcher has represented a participant’s subjectivity. Some theorists, however, have argued that change, rather than representation, should be sought as a primary goal for qualitative research. The difference between using representation or change as a marker of validity has been described as a transactional/transformation divide. I argue that the member check can be utilised to span this divide in order to support a holistic view of validity. In particular, I assert that researchers should not expect participant subjectivities to remain static throughout the research process. Examples of the member check used in this manner are provided.
Epicardial perivascular adipose tissue as a therapeutic target in obesity-related coronary artery disease

UNLABELLED Adipose tissue is an active endocrine and paracrine organ that may influence the development of atherosclerosis and vascular disease. In the setting of obesity, adipose tissue produces a variety of inflammatory cytokines (or adipokines) that are known to modulate key mechanisms of atherogenesis. In particular, adipose tissue located on the surface of the heart surrounding large coronary arteries (i.e. epicardial perivascular adipose tissue) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. The present review outlines our current understanding of the cellular and molecular links between perivascular adipose tissue and atherosclerosis with a focus on potential mechanisms by which epicardial perivascular adipose tissue contributes to obesity-related coronary disease. The pathophysiology of perivascular adipose tissue in obesity and its influence on oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and vascular reactivity is addressed. In addition, the contribution of specific epicardial perivascular adipose-derived adipokines (e.g. leptin, adiponectin) to the initiation and expansion of coronary disease is also highlighted. Finally, future investigative goals are discussed with an emphasis on indentifying novel therapeutic targets and disease markers within perivascular adipose tissue. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Fat and Vascular Responsiveness. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2012.165.issue-3.
Dreams And Nightmares: The New Theory on the Origin and Meaning of Dreams

The Nature of Dreaming: Overview The Clearest Case: Dreams after Trauma Dreams in Stressful Situations, in Pregnancy, and in Other Defined Situations The Role of Emotion in Producing Dreams The Nets of the Mind Metaphor The Functions of Dreaming The Uses of Dreams: Self-Knowledge, Dreamworking and Psychotherapy Dreams, Problem-Solving, Science and Art This View and Freud's View The Biology of Dreaming The Evolution of Dreaming: Dreams of Our Ancestors Dreams of Our Children Dreams of Animals Dream People and Thought People: Individual Differences Dreams, Myth, Religion and Culture Appendix: The Boundary Questionnaire.
“Host Shutoff” Function of Bacteriophage T7: Involvement of T7 Gene 2 and Gene 0.7 in the Inactivation of Escherichia coli RNA Polymerase

The "host shutoff" function of bacteriophage T7 involves an inactivation of the host Escherichia coli RNA polymerase by an inhibitor protein bound to the enzyme. When this inhibitor protein, termed I protein, was removed from the inactive RNA polymerase complex prepared from T7-infected cells by glycerol gradient centrifugation in the presence of 1 M KCl, the enzyme recovered its activity equivalent to about 70 to 80% of the activity of the enzyme from uninfected cells. Analysis of the activity of E. coli RNA polymerase from E. coli cells infected with various T7 mutant phages indicated that the T7 gene 2 codes for the inhibitor I protein. The activity of E. coli RNA polymerase from gene 2 mutant phage-infected cells, which was about 70% of that from uninfected cells, did not increase after glycerol gradient centrifugation in the presence of 1 M KCl, indicating that the salt-removable inhibitor was not present with the enzyme. It was found that the reduction in E. coli RNA polymerase activity in cells infected with T7(+) or gene 2 mutant phage, i.e., about 70% of the activity of the enzyme compared to that from uninfected cells after glycerol gradient centrifugation in the presence of 1 M KCl, results from the function of T7 gene 0.7. E. coli RNA polymerase from gene 0.7 mutant phage-infected cells was inactive but recovered a full activity equivalent to that from uninfected cells after removal of the inhibitor I protein with 1 M KCl. E. coli RNA polymerase from the cells infected with newly constructed mutant phages having mutations in both gene 2 and gene 0.7 retained the full activity equivalent to that from uninfected cells with or without treatment of the enzyme with 1 M KCl. From these results, we conclude that both gene 2 and gene 0.7 of T7 are involved in accomplishing complete shutoff of the host E. coli RNA polymerase activity in T7 infection.
Myocardial infarction: diagnosis and vital status prediction using neural networks

Neural networks (NNs) have been found useful in many biomedical applications. The authors' purpose is to apply NNs to two specific problems in cardiology, namely, diagnosis of echocardiograms for myocardial infarction and prediction of vital status of patients that suffered such. The authors used NNs to discriminate between normal and infarcted myocardium, by looking at intensity changes. The intensities of selected regions are used for training and testing. In predicting the vital status of patients that have suffered acute myocardial infarction, the authors used a large database (MIDAS) with follow-ups. The NN in this case has two hidden layers with 18 patient variables from the MIDAS dataset as inputs. The NN was again trained with the feedback algorithm ALOPEX and tested with unknown data. >
Peripheral T-cell subsets in asymptomatic hepatitis B-virus carriers.

Abstract To ascertain whether the abnormalities of circulating T-cell subsets in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related chronic liver diseases represent the primary immunological process or are secondary to liver disease process, peripheral T-cell subsets were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies against total T cells (OKT3), T helper/inducer cells (OKT4) and T suppressor/cytotoxic cells (OKT8), in 30 asymptomatic HBV carriers without biochemical or histological evidence of liver disease and the results were compared to 15 HBV-induced chronic active liver diseases. The results revealed that OKT4/OKT8 ratios were significantly reduced in 15 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive asymptomatic carriers as compared with controls, with decreased OKT4-positive cells and increased OKT8-positive cells, while T-cell subsets and ratios were normal in 15 hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe)-positive asymptomatic carriers. The changes of circulating T-cell subsets in 15 HBeAg-positive asymptomatic carriers showed no significant difference from those of 15 HBeAg-positive patients with chronic active liver diseases. These findings suggest that the deranged T-cell subsets in chronic HBV infection are not secondary to liver cell damage, but might represent the underlying immunological abnormalities which are closely related to HBeAg/anti-HBe status and that the pathogenetic mechanism of liver cell damage in chronic HBV infection may not be simply related to circulating T-cell subsets.
Improving Uniformity of Care for Colorectal Cancers Through National Quality Forum Quality Indicators at a Commission on Cancer–accredited Community Based Teaching Hospital

The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) provides feedback on adherence to National Quality Forum (NQF)-endorsed measures to promote best outcomes in colorectal cancer. We examined the care delivered to patients with colorectal cancer at our institution and developed a protocol to enhance nodal retrieval and to ensure that patients with fewer than 12 nodes are considered for adjuvant chemotherapy. Few patients met the NQF criteria for adjuvant radiation. A protocol was developed to address this issue, and this provides a model for use in a multidisciplinary effort to improve adherence to measures associated with best outcomes in colorectal cancer.
Urinary concentrations of 2,5-dichlorophenol and diabetes in US adults.

Para-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB) products are widely used in the home and public buildings, leading to exposure to this chemical in indoor environments. In this study, we explored potential relationships between p-DCB exposure and diabetes in US adults by analyzing a nationally representative subsample of 3063 adult participants aged 20–79 years randomly selected for measurement of urinary concentrations of 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), the major metabolite of p-DCB, in the 2007–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Median urinary 2,5-DCP concentration was 7.0 μg/l (interquartile range: 2.1–29.9). Of the participants, 560 (13.6%) were diabetic. A dose-dependent increase in the prevalence of diabetes was observed in the study participants across quartiles of urinary 2,5-DCP (P-trend<0.0001). After adjusting for potential confounders, individuals in the highest quartile of urinary 2,5-DCP had an increased odds of diabetes (OR=1.59 (95% CI: 1.06, 2.40)) compared with individuals with the lowest quartile. The highest quartile of urinary 2,5-DCP was also positively associated with insulin resistance (adjusted β=0.75; 95% CI: 0.27, 1.24). This study demonstrated a potential association between exposure to p-DCB, measured as urinary concentrations of 2,5-DCP, and diabetes in US adults. Additional epidemiologic and mechanistic studies would further explore these interactions.
Dimensions of Imperial Control: The Vijayanagara Capital

Etude du controle imperial de Vijayanagara dans la cite capitale concernant l'ideologie, le militarisme et la production et la distribution economique a travers l'archeologie. Les dirigeants ont tente d'exercer un controle important dans les deux premiers domaines : une capitale - place sacree et centre militaire, une architecture imperiale en relation avec les interets ideologiques et defensifs des dirigeants qui recherchaient aussi l'appui des chefs locaux. L'intervention des dirigeants dans la production et la distribution economique visait a faciliter les affaires en utilisant des institutions deja existantes plutot qu'a les gerer directement
Influence of atmospheric and soil environmental parameters on the diurnal fluctuations of leaf water status of barley

Abstract The effect of environmental parameters on the diurnal trend of leaf water status was determined on spring barley grown in soil near field capacity and near the permanent wilting point on a cool, mostly cloudy day and a warm, mostly clear day. Leaf relative water content and leaf water potential varied inversely to diurnal trends of air vapor pressure deficit, air temperature, soil surface temperature, wind velocity, pan evaporation, solar radiation, and net radiation. Leaf relative water content, leaf water potential and leaf temperatures were influenced by soil moisture content and day type. Vapor pressure deficit was negatively correlated with leaf relative water content. The correlation was −0.912 for pooled data with soil moisture near field capacity, and −0.943 for pooled data with soil moisture near the permanent wilting point. Highest correlation coefficients involving leaf water potential were obtained with soil surface temperature. The correlation was −0.862 with soil moisture near field capacity and −0.917 with soil moisture near the permanent wilting point. Leaf temperature and soil surface temperature were higher when soil moisture was near the permanent wilting point than when it was near field capacity. Leaf temperature appeared to be a sensitive indicator of plant water stress.
Loss-of-primary-flow-without-scram tests: Pretest predictions and preliminary results☆

Abstract A series of tests in the Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 2 (EBR-II) has been concluded that investigated the effects of a complete loss of primary flow without scram. The development and preliminary study of these events is first discussed, including the test limits and controlling parameters. The results of two of the tests, SHRT 39 and 45, are examined in detail, although a compact summary of all the tests is included. The success in meeting the objectives of the test program served to verify that natural processes will shut down the reactor and maintain adequate cooling without control rod or operator intervention. The good comparison between predicted and measured results confirms that such events can be analyzed without elaborate codes if the basic processes are understood. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that the EBR-II results are characteristic of new innovative LMR designs being pursued in the U.S. that incorporate metallic driver fuel.