cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reproductive history and body mass index in black and white women.

Abstract The relationships of timing, spacing, number of births, and demographic variables to body mass index were examined in 844 white and 289 black women. Subjects were interviewed in 1978–1979 as mothers or female guardians of a stratified random sample of all Minneapolis children in grades 1–3. Results indicate that among black and white women, number of births, age at last birth, and years between first and last births were positively associated with body mass index. However, when age, education, and income were included in the regression equation for black women, none of the reproductive variables predicted body mass index. When number of births, age at last birth, and years between first and last birth were included in the same regression for white women, only number of births was independently associated with body mass index.
Abstract 5021: Native accessible ChIP: A novel approach to interrogate protein-DNA interactions in accessible chromatin

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Recently we developed novel technology for isolating accessible chromatin. When cells are permeabilized and treated with nuclease in situ, small DNA fragments, corresponding to accessible chromatin can be easily isolated and characterized. These DNA fragments, when analyzed by next-generation sequencing, provide a global map of accessible chromatin. We now report that the accessible chromatin isolated from cells is still associated with its cognate DNA-binding proteins and histones. Based on this, we developed a novel chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay that does not require protein-DNA cross-linking or DNA shearing. Using this method, termed NA-ChIP (for native accessible ChIP), we demonstrate that RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), TBP and H3K4me3 are all associated with active promoters, but are rarely detected at silenced promoters. Comparison of NA-ChIP and a standard ChIP assay shows that immunoprecipitation (IP) efficiency is similar, but IP specificity is dramatically different. To measure IP specificity we compared the ratio of active promoter DNA precipitated with RNAPII (signal) relative to inactive promoter DNA precipitated (noise). We find that NA-ChIP is highly specific with a signal-to-noise ratio >500; standard ChIP is less specific with a signal-to-noise ratio of about 9. We conclude that NA-ChIP offers significant advantages over standard ChIP, including dramatically reduced background and an easier workflow. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5021. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5021
Does the change of psychopathology during the placebo period predict the response to subsequent treatment with active medication

We examined whether deterioration in psychiatric symptoms during the placebo period predicted short-term response to subsequent treatment. Acutely exacerbated chronic schizophrenic or schizoaffective patients (n=123) received placebo for 6.2 days on average. Afterwards, fixed haloperidol plasma levels were maintained for 6 weeks. Psychopathology was evaluated on the basis of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), which was administered weekly by trained raters. The global BPRS score at the beginning of the active treatment accounted for 11% of the end-point variance of the global BPRS score (p<0.0002) and the change of psychopathology during the preceding placebo period explained additional 3.1% (p<0.053) of it. The change in most of the BPRS factor scores contributed significantly to the prediction of the end-point BPRS score. The patients who had low scores on admission to the study and high scores at the end of the placebo period showed the greatest improvement. The results suggest that in addition to the baseline severity of psychopathology, the change of psychopathology that occurs during the pretreatment placebo period can partially account for treatment response.
Dynamic characteristics of a Benchmark models program supercritical wing

The dynamic characteristics of the Benchmark Supercritical Wing are presented. The Benchmark Supercritical Wing is a rigid semi-span model with a rectangular planform and a supercritical airfoil shape. This model will be tested on a flexible mount system that provides a well defined, two-degree-of-freedom dynamic system. This paper defines the dynamic characteristics of the model/mount system as determined in a preliminary ground vibration test. A general description of the model, flexible mount system, and instrumentation are included as well as a summary of the data set which the testing of this model is intended to produce.
Antibodies to the Giardia lamblia double-stranded RNA virus major protein can block the viral infection.

The double-stranded RNA virus-like particles, found among several independent isolates and cloned strains of Giardia lamblia, have previously been reported to be spheres of 35 nm with a genome of 7 kilobase pairs and a major protein of 100 kDa. The virus is capable of infecting certain virus-free isolates of G. lamblia. Antisera raised in mice against the intact virus did not react with the double-stranded RNA, but reacted strongly with the 100 kDa protein in Western blots. Preincubation of the virus with antisera abolished viral infectivity, whereas the antisera against double-stranded RNA showed only a weak blocking effect. Inclusion of the antiviral sera in the cultures of virus-infected G. lamblia at 103-fold dilution resulted in elimination of the virus from the protozoa. Apparently, the 100 kDa protein is necessary for the initiation of viral infection and possibly subsequent assembly or replication of viral progeny particles.
Lipid structure and not membrane structure is the major determinant in the regulation of protein kinase C by phosphatidylserine.

This study addresses the molecular basis for protein kinase C's specific activation by phosphatidylserine. Specifically, we ask whether protein kinase C's phospholipid specificity arises from specific protein/lipid interactions or whether it arises from unique membrane-structuring properties of phosphatidylserine. We measured the interaction of protein kinase C βII to membranes that differed only in being enantiomers to one another: physical properties such as acyl chain composition, membrane fluidity, surface curvature, microdomains, headgroup packing, and H-bonding with water were identical. Binding and activity measurements reveal that protein kinase C specifically recognizes 1,2-sn-phosphatidyl-l-serine, independently of membrane structure. High-affinity binding and activation are abolished in the presence of enantiomeric membranes containing 2,3-sn-phosphatidyl-l-serine, 2,3-sn-diacylglycerol, and 2,3-sn-phosphatidylcholine. Our data also show that the stereoselectivity for 1,2-sn-diacylglycerol is ...
Intervening with At-risk Mothers: Supporting Infant Language Development

At-risk young mothers and their infants (4–7 months of age) participated in an evaluation of a parenting intervention that focused largely on language stimulation. Participants assigned to the intervention group were matched with a volunteer mentor and were encouraged to attend eleven parenting sessions (five to seven participants per group) across approximately 8 months. Participants in the control group received referrals as needed and were followed across time. Results indicated that babies of the participants in the intervention group experienced more improvement in expressive language from pretest to posttest than did babies of the mothers in the control group.
A polymerase chain reaction-based method for isolation of gene-specific sequences from the interferon-α gene cluster

Abstract The interferon-α gene is a gene family of over 20 distinct genes having 80–95% homology with one another at a nucleotide level. Because of the high homology in the gene cluster, the available interferon-α gene probes can hybridize to multiple bands of different size on Southern blot analysis of restricted human genomic DNA. We used the polymerase chain reaction with the primers synthesized from Alu repetitive sequence and the conserved sequences of the interferon-α gene cluster to generate specific probes for individual interferon-α genes. The amplification products were subcloned into a plasmid vector and analyzed by DNA sequencing and Southern blotting of the restricted human placental DNA. One clone, which derived from interferon-α14 gene, produced a single 5.2-kb band in Southern blots of the HindIII-restricted human placental DNA. This stands in contrast to the 10 bands of different size that were detected with a cDNA for the interferon-αI′ gene. Our results indicate that a polymerase chain reaction-based method can be used to isolate gene-specific sequences from the interferon-α gene cluster. Since a variety of human cancers has been found to have the complete or partial deletion of the interferon-α gene cluster, the gene-specific probe generated by this method may aid in determining the breakpoints in the vicinity of the gene cluster.
Nonimaging optics and the measurement of diffuse reflectance

Nonimaging optics can be used to reduce systematic measurement errors associated with diffuse reflectance measurement instrumentation. An analysis of measurement errors related to a sample's scattering characteristics, a detector's field-of-view and the reflectometer's geometry is presented. Recent designs for hemi-ellipsoid and integrating sphere reflectometers, incorporating nonimaging optics, are reviewed.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Detection and quantification of MS lesions using fuzzy topological principles

Quantification of the severity of the multiple sclerosis (MS) disease through estimation of lesion volume via MR imaging is vital for understanding and monitoring the disease and its treatment. This paper presents a novel methodology and a system that can be routinely used for segmenting and estimating the volume of MS lesions via dual-echo spin-echo MR imagery. An operator indicates a few points in the images by pointing to the white matter, the gray matter, and the CSF. Each of these objects is then detected as a fuzzy connected set. The holes in the union of these objects correspond to potential lesion sites which are utilized to detect each potential lesion as a fuzzy connected object. These 3D objects are presented to the operator who indicates acceptance/rejection through the click of a mouse button. The volume of accepted lesions is then computed and output. Based on several evaluation studies and over 300 3D data sets that were processed, we conclude that the methodology is highly reliable and consistent, with a coefficient of variation (due to subjective operator actions) of less than 1.0% for volume.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Adaptive structural systems and compliant skin technology of morphing aircraft structures

Morphing aircraft design - the design of aircraft capable of macroscale shape change for drastic in-flight performance variation - is an extremely broad and underdefined field. Two primary means of developing new concepts in morphing exist at Cornell University: design of broad test platforms with generalized motions that can provide future insight into targeted ideas, and specifically adapted aircraft and shape change mechanisms attempting to accomplish a particular task, or hybridize two existing aircraft platforms. Working with both schools of thought, Cornell research has developed a number of useful concepts that are currently under independent analysis and experimentation, including three devices capable of drastically modifying wing structure on a testbed aircraft. Additional concerns that have arisen include the desire to implement ornithological concepts such as perching and wingtip control, as well as the necessity for a compliant aerodynamic skin for producing flight-worthy structural mechanisms.
Drug approval processes: A case study of rivaroxaban

Rivaroxaban, a Xa inhibitor, was recently approved (March 2013) in the setting of post-acute coronary syndromes (ACS) by the European Medicine Agency. This is in contrast to not being approved by the Food and Drug Agency in the United States for the same indication in 2012 and 2013. The FDA's decision was based on a lack of follow-up data for the patients enrolled in the study based on the pivotal Anti-Xa Therapy to Lower Cardiovascular Events in Addition to Standard Therapy in Subjects with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ATLAS-ACS 2-TIMI 51) trial. While both agencies have similar roles when functioning as drug regulatory bodies and goal of granting approval of safe and efficacious drugs, the difference in approval outcome in the case of rivaroxaban highlights the differences in drug review process when both agencies are presented with the same Phase 3 data to review.
Organization of motoneurons in the dorsal hypoglossal nucleus that innervate the retrusor muscles of the tongue in the rat

This anatomical investigation was prompted by the incomplete knowledge of the myotopic organization of the dorsal subdivison of the hypoglossal nucleus. Intrinsic muscle motoneurons were not segregated and labeled previously with regard to the lateral division of the hypoglossal nerve. Also, motoneuron number and cell size, in relation to the individual retrusor tongue musculature, were rarely addressed previously. Retrograde labeling of retrusor muscle motoneurons in the dorsal subdivision of the rat hypoglossal nucleus was done. Cholera toxin conjugate horseradish peroxidase (CTHRP) was injected into the retrusor tongue muscles with only the lateral division of the hypoglossal nerve intact. The dorsal subdivision of the hypoglossal nucleus contained approximately 800 motoneurons ranging in cell body size from 19 to 41 μm. When either the styloglossus, hyoglossus, superior longitudinal, or inferior longitudinal muscle was isolated and injected with CTHRP, a separate motoneuron pool for each muscle was seen. The extrinsic muscle motoneurons, styloglossus and hyoglossus, were found rostrolateral and caudolateral respectively. In contrast, the intrinsic superior and inferior longitudinal muscle motoneurons were found more central and medial in the nucleus. Extrinsic muscle motoneurons were larger (≈30 μm) than intrinsic muscle motoneurons (≈26 μm; P < .0001). Intrinsic muscle motoneurons account for a great majority of the motoneurons in the dorsal aspect of the hypoglossal nucleus and their axons have been shown to be contained in the lateral (retrusor) division of the hypoglossal nerve. This study revealed the myotopic organization of the retrusor subdivision of the rat hypoglossal nucleus. Anat Rec 254:222–230, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Embedded Weingarten tori in S3

Abstract In this paper, we show that an embedded Weingarten surface in S 3 of genus 1 must be rotationally symmetric, provided that certain structure conditions are satisfied. The argument involves an adaptation of our proof of Lawson's Conjecture for embedded minimal tori.
Controller design for plants with structured uncertainty

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of designing feedback controllers to achieve good performance in the presence of structured plant uncertainty and bounded but unknown disturbances. A general formulation for the performance robustness problem is presented and exact computable conditions are furnished. These conditions are then utilized for synthesizing robust controllers which involves solving l1 optimization problems. These solutions are computed using the duality theory of Lagrange multipliers. Approximations and computational issues are discussed.
Curation and recycling: Estimating Paleoindian endscraper curation rates at Nobles Pond, Ohio, USA

Abstract Reduction, recycling, and other changes that stone tools experienced during their use lives reflect design, circumstance and opportunity. The result is discarded artifacts whose sizes and shapes are plain to see and easy to measure. If we can infer their original size, we also can determine tools' degree of reduction from first use to that discard. The difference between original and discarded size reflects curation, which itself subsumes the concept and practice of recycling. Endscrapers are a common retouched-tool type both in North American Paleoindian and Old World Paleolithic assemblages. In this pilot study, we estimate degree of reduction in a sample of unifacial endscrapers from the Nobles Pond Paleoindian site in Ohio, USA. Also, we demonstrate how resulting curation measures can be fitted to the Weibull and other statistical models, not for the sake of mere mathematical virtuosity but to compare curation rate and implicate different failure processes between data sets. Compared to an experimental known, failure in Nobles Pond endscrapers is characterized by attrition, thus fits a Weibull model whose shape parameter β > 1. This result is useful for comparison between assemblages and for modeling how the record formed. The better we can estimate original size of discarded retouched tools, the better we can gauge curation and exploit the value of this theoretical concept.
Laptops in the classroom- Let's take charge

Each semester brings a new group of students with everadvancing technology in tow. For many years, we could look out over our classes and at the most see one or two computers in use. Not today, it is almost the complete reverse; we may see one or two students without computers in use. Admittedly, many of us in nursing education today are the poster children for the graying of nursing education phenomenon (Hinshaw, 2001). In recent years, we have experienced a steep and rapid learning curve in integrating technology into our own lives and practices, let alone staying up with the rapidly changing and expanding nature of personal technologies we now see in our classrooms. How many of us still have a few old transparencies still in use or feel as though we are the end-all–be-all of technology if we have animation in our PowerPoint presentations? Finally, and this really is the biggest concern, how do we best use technology in our classrooms and still focus, facilitate, and foster a learning culture and environment? Many of today's college students have been using computers in the classroom since grade school. Gulek and Demirtas (2005) reported that 98% of our nation's schools have Internet access. In addition, a survey conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project (Rainie & Hitlin, 2005) found that roughly 21 million youth between the ages of 12 and 17—approximately 87% of the entire age bracket—use the Internet. Of those 21 million online teens, 78% (about 16 million students) say they use the Internet at school. The survey also found that most teens believe that the Internet helps them do better in school (86% of teens). Clearly, we are outnumbered, and we must rise to
Effect of darglitazone on glucose clearance and lipid metabolism in obese cats.

Objective—To examine the effect of darglitazone, a compound of the thiazolidinedione class, on glucose clearance and lipid metabolism in obese cats. Animals—18 obese and 4 lean adult neutered female cats. Procedure—IV glucose tolerance tests with measurements of glucose, insulin, and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were performed before and 42 days after daily administration of darglitazone (9 obese cats) or placebo (9 obese and 4 lean cats). Additionally, cholesterol, triglyceride, leptin, and glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations were measured. Results—Darglitazone-treated cats had significantly lower cholesterol, triglyceride, and leptin concentrations, compared with placebo-treated obese cats. A significant decrease in the area under the curve for NEFAs, glucose, and insulin during an IV glucose tolerance test was seen in darglitazone-treated cats. The drug was well tolerated. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The response of obese cats to darglitazone was similar to the response to t...
Evaluation of Fung double tube test for Clostridium perfringens and EasyPhage test for F-specific RNA coliphages as rapid screening tests for fecal contamination in recreational waters of Hawaii.

The previously reported Fung double tube (FDT) for Clostridium perfringens and the newly developed EasyPhage test for F-specific RNA coliphages were evaluated as screening tests for fecal contamination of fresh and marine recreational waters in Hawaii. These two tests were used to analyze water samples from marine swimming beaches, streams, nonswimming coastal waters and raw sewage. The major advantages of the FDT test include formation of anaerobic conditions without the need of anaerobic chamber systems and enumeration of colonies of C. perfringens in the tubes within 6 h. The results showed that 5 mL of water sample and 20 mL of 2× Shahidi Ferguson Perfringens medium were the best combination for the enumeration of C. perfringens in 5–6 h at 42C. This is a candidate, rapid beach monitoring method which can be used to close the beach on the same day the water samples were collected. The major advantages of the EasyPhage method include the rapid formation of gel without the use of heat, and addition of streptomycin and ampicillin to control interfering bacterial contamination. These two test methods allow most water laboratories to monitor environmental waters for C. perfringens and F-specific RNA coliphages as indicators of fecal contamination. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Monitoring fecal contamination in water around the world is of great importance in public health. This paper presents rapid and efficient methods to monitor Clostridium perfringens and F-specific RNA coliphages in waters in Hawaii, USA. The 6-hour Fung-Double Tube (FDT) system for enumeration of C. perfringens in water by use of SFP agar and incubation at 42C was perfected. The EasyPhage method by Scientific Methods, LLC (Grander, IN) for enumeration of FRNA coliphages in water using an ingenious nonthermal gelling system incubated for 12–16 h at 35C was tested. A Fung/Fujioka Scale (I = uncontaminated, acceptable, II = nonpoint contamination, III = sewage contamination, and VI = elevated sewage contamination, unacceptable) was developed to group the contamination level of recreational water for Hawaii. Forty-six water samples were evaluated by both methods with excellent information concerning C. perfringens and FRNA phage in water in Hawaii.
Comet rendezvous mission

A National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) advisory team has selected a bright, short-period comet named Kopff as the target for a comet rendezvous/asteroid flyby mission to be launched in 1990. The rendezvous is the third in a series of “core missions”-along with the Venus Radar Mapper and a Mars orbiter—to be proposed following recommendations by the agency's Solar System Exploration Committee (SSEC) two years ago (Eos, November 9, 1982, p. 852.) It is planned as a new start in the fiscal year 1987 budget. The mission will be the first to use the new Mariner Mark II spacecraft derived from earlier vehicles such as Voyager and Viking and intended for deep space reconnaisance. Following a July 1990 space shuttle launch, the spacecraft will fly by and take close looks at the main-belt asteroids Namaqua and Lucia on its way to a rendezvous with Kopff in 1994.
Sedative effects of hydromorphone or oxymorphone with or without acepromazine in dogs.

Hydromorphone is an agonist opioid with potency approximately five times that of morphine and half that of oxymorphone. The purpose of this study was to compare hydromorphone with oxymorphone, with or without acepromazine, for sedation in dogs, and to measure plasma histamine before and after drug administration. Ten dogs received IM hydromorphone (H; 0.2 mg kg−1), oxymorphone (O; 0.1 mg kg−1), hydromorphone with acepromazine (H; 0.2 mg kg−1, A; 0.05 mg kg−1) or oxymorphone with acepromazine (O; 0.1 mg kg−1, A; 0.05 mg kg−1) in a randomized Latin-square design. Sedation score, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and SpO2 were recorded at baseline and every 5 minutes after drug administration up to 25 minutes. Plasma histamine was measured at baseline and at 25 minutes post-drug administration. Data were analyzed with repeated measures anova. Mean ± SD body weight was 21.62 ± 1.54 kg. Mean ± SD age was 1.07 ± 0.19 years. Sedation score was significantly greater for OA after 5 minutes than O alone (4.1 ± 3.5 versus 1.9 ± 1.5) and for HA after 15 minutes than H alone (8.6 ± 2.9 versus 5.9 ± 2.5). There was no significant difference in sedation between H and O at any time point. There was no significant difference between groups at any time with respect to heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure or SpO2. Mean ± SD plasma histamine (nM ml−1) for all groups was 1.72 ± 2.69 at baseline and 1.13 ± 1.18 at 25 minutes. There was no significant change in plasma histamine concentration in any group. Hydromorphone is effective for sedation in dogs and does not cause measurable increase in histamine. Sedation with hydromorphone is enhanced by acepromazine.
A convergent dynamic window approach to obstacle avoidance

The dynamic window approach (DWA) is a well-known navigation scheme developed by Fox et al. and extended by Brock and Khatib. It is safe by construction, and has been shown to perform very efficiently in experimental setups. However, one can construct examples where the proposed scheme fails to attain the goal configuration. What has been lacking is a theoretical treatment of the algorithm's convergence properties. Here we present such a treatment by merging the ideas of the DWA with the convergent, but less performance-oriented, scheme suggested by Rimon and Koditschek. Viewing the DWA as a model predictive control (MPC) method and using the control Lyapunov function (CLF) framework of Rimon and Koditschek, we draw inspiration from an MPC/CLF framework put forth by Primbs to propose a version of the DWA that is tractable and convergent.
Evaluation of myocardial function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using strain imaging by speckle-tracking echocardiography

Objectives Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), although strategies to detect subclinical CVD are poorly characterised. The purpose of this study was to assess myocardial function by speckle-tracking echocardiography strain imaging in patients with RA without known CVD. Methods Eighty-seven patients with RA selected from a population-based sample underwent echocardiography. Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) longitudinal peak systolic strain were measured. A subset of 59 patients with RA was compared with 59 age-, gender- and race-matched subjects with normal echocardiography and no CVD or risk factors. Results The mean ± SD age of the patients with RA and the normal patients was 55.7±12.1 and 54.5±12.2 years (p=0.42), respectively, with 45 (76%) women in each group. Global LV strain (−15.7±3.2% vs −18.1±2.4%, p Conclusions Global longitudinal LV and RV strain is reduced in patients with RA compared with healthy patients. Strain abnormalities correlate with RA disease severity. Strain imaging by echocardiography may detect early myocardial dysfunction in RA.
Regulation of Hyperoxia-induced NADPH Oxidase Activation in Human Lung Endothelial Cells by the Actin Cytoskeleton and Cortactin

Although the actin cytoskeleton has been implicated in the control of NADPH oxidase in phagocytosis, very little is known about the cytoskeletal regulation of endothelial NADPH oxidase assembly and activation. Here, we report a role for cortactin and the tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin in hyperoxia-induced NADPH oxidase activation and ROS production in human pulmonary artery ECs (HPAECs). Exposure of HPAECs to hyperoxia for 3 h induced NADPH oxidase activation, as demonstrated by enhanced superoxide production. Hyperoxia also caused a thickening of the subcortical dense peripheral F-actin band and increased the localization of cortactin in the cortical regions and lamellipodia at cell-cell borders that protruded under neighboring cells. Pretreatment of HPAECs with the actin-stabilizing agent phallacidin attenuated hyperoxia-induced cortical actin thickening and ROS production, whereas cytochalasin D and latrunculin A enhanced basal and hyperoxia-induced ROS formation. In HPAECs, a 3-h hyperoxic exposure enhanced the tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin and interaction between cortactin and p47phox, a subcomponent of the EC NADPH oxidase, when compared with normoxic cells. Furthermore, transfection of HPAECs with cortactin small interfering RNA or myristoylated cortactin Src homology domain 3 blocking peptide attenuated ROS production and the hyperoxia-induced translocation of p47phox to the cell periphery. Similarly, down-regulation of Src with Src small interfering RNA attenuated the hyperoxia-mediated phosphorylation of cortactin tyrosines and blocked the association of cortactin with actin and p47phox. In addition, the hyperoxia-induced generation of ROS was significantly lower in ECs expressing a tyrosine-deficient mutant of cortactin than in vector control or wild-type cells. These data demonstrate a novel function for cortactin and actin in hyperoxia-induced activation of NADPH oxidase and ROS generation in human lung endothelial cells.
The Determinants of HIV Treatment Costs in Resource Limited Settings

Background: Governments and international donors have partnered to provide free HIV treatment to over 6 million individuals in low and middle-income countries. Understanding the determinants of HIV treatment costs will help improve efficiency and provide greater certainty about future resource needs. Methods and Findings: We collected data on HIV treatment costs from 54 clinical sites in Botswana, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, and Vietnam. Sites provided free HIV treatment funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), national governments, and other partners. Service delivery costs were categorized into successive sixmonth periods from the date when each site began HIV treatment scale-up. A generalized linear mixed model was used to investigate relationships between site characteristics and per-patient costs, excluding ARV expenses. With predictors at their mean values, average annual per-patient costs were $177 (95% CI: 127–235) for pre-ART patients, $353 (255–468) for adult patients in the first 6 months of ART, and $222 (161–296) for adult patients on ART for .6 months (excludes ARV costs). Patient volume (no. patients receiving treatment) and site maturity (months since clinic began providing treatment services) were both strong independent predictors of per-patient costs. Controlling for other factors, costs declined by 43% (18–63) as patient volume increased from 500 to 5,000 patients, and by 28% (6–47) from 5,000 to 10,000 patients. For site maturity, costs dropped 41% (28–52) between months 0–12 and 25% (15–35) between months 12–24. Price levels (proxied by percapita GDP) were also influential, with costs increasing by 22% (4–41) for each doubling in per-capita GDP. Additionally, the frequency of clinical follow-up, frequency of laboratory monitoring, and clinician-patient ratio were significant independent predictors of per-patient costs. Conclusions: Substantial reductions in per-patient service delivery costs occur as sites mature and patient cohorts increase in size. Other predictors suggest possible strategies to reduce per-patient costs.
2-Hydrazinoquinoline as a derivatization agent for LC-MS-based metabolomic investigation of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Short-chain carboxylic acids, aldehydes and ketones are products and regulators of many important metabolic pathways. Their levels in biofluids and tissues reflect the status of specific metabolic reactions, the homeostasis of the whole metabolic system and the wellbeing of a biological entity. In this study, the use of 2-hydrazinoquinoline (HQ) as a novel derivatization agent was explored and optimized for simultaneous liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of carboxylic acids, aldehydes and ketones in biological samples. The formation of carboxylic acid derivative is attributed to the esterification reaction between HQ and a carboxyl group, while the production of aldehyde and ketone derivatives is through the formation of Schiff bases between HQ and a carbonyl group. The compatibility of HQ with biological samples was demonstrated by derivatizing urine, serum and liver extract samples. Using this HQ-based approach, the kinetics of type 1 diabetes-induced metabolic changes was characterized by the LC-MS-based metabolomic analysis of urine samples from streptozotocin (STZ)-treated mice. Subsequently, carboxylic acid, aldehyde and ketone metabolites associated with STZ-elicited disruption of nutrient and energy metabolism were conveniently identified and elucidated. Overall, HQ derivatization of carboxylic acids, aldehydes and ketones could serve as a useful tool for the LC-MS-based metabolomic investigation of endogenous metabolism.
A local boundary integral equation (LBIE) method in computational mechanics, and a meshless discretization approach

The Galerkin finite element method (GFEM) owes its popularity to the local nature of nodal basis functions, i.e., the nodal basis function, when viewed globally, is non-zero only over a patch of elements connecting the node in question to its immediately neighboring nodes. The boundary element method (BEM), on the other hand, reduces the dimensionality of the problem by one, through involving the trial functions and their derivatives, only in the integrals over the global boundary of the domain; whereas, the GFEM involves the integration of the “energy” corresponding to the trial function over a patch of elements immediately surrounding the node. The GFEM leads to banded, sparse and symmetric matrices; the BEM based on the global boundary integral equation (GBIE) leads to full and unsymmetrical matrices. Because of the seemingly insurmountable difficulties associated with the automatic generation of element-meshes in GFEM, especially for 3-D problems, there has been a considerable interest in element free Galerkin methods (EFGM) in recent literature. However, the EFGMs still involve domain integrals over shadow elements and lead to difficulties in enforcing essential boundary conditions and in treating nonlinear problems. The object of the present paper is to present a new method that combines the advantageous features of all the three methods: GFEM, BEM and EFGM. It is a meshless method. It involves only boundary integration, however, over a local boundary centered at the node in question; it poses no difficulties in satisfying essential boundary conditions; it leads to banded and sparse system matrices; it uses the moving least squares (MLS) approximations. The method is based on a Local Boundary Integral Equation (LBIE) approach, which is quite general and easily applicable to nonlinear problems, and non-homogeneous domains. The concept of a “companion solution” is introduced so that the LBIE for the value of trial solution at the source point, inside the domain Ω of the given problem, involves only the trial function in the integral over the local boundary Ω s of a sub-domain Ω s centered at the node in question. This is in contrast to the traditional GBIE which involves the trial function as well as its gradient over the global boundary Γ of Ω. For source points that lie on Γ, the integrals over Ω s involve, on the other hand, both the trial function and its gradient. It is shown that the satisfaction of the essential as well as natural boundary conditions is quite simple and algorithmically very efficient in the present LBIE approach. In the example problems dealing with Laplace and Poisson's equations, high rates of convergence for the Sobolev norms ||·||0 and ||·||1 have been found. In essence, the present EF-LBIE (Element Free-Local Boundary Integral Equation) approach is found to be a simple, efficient, and attractive alternative to the EFG methods that have been extensively popularized in recent literature.
Effects of invasive Pacific red lionfish Pterois volitans versus a native predator on Bahamian coral-reef fish communities

The recent irruption of Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans) on Caribbean and Atlantic coral reefs could prove to be one of the most damaging marine invasions to date. Invasive lionfish are reach- ing densities much higher than those reported from their native range, and they have a strong negative effect on the recruitment and abundance of a broad diversity of native coral-reef fishes. Otherwise, little is known about how lionfish affect native coral-reef communities, especially compared to ecologically similar native predators. A controlled field experiment conducted on small patch-reefs in the Bahamas over an 8-week-period demonstrated that (1) lionfish caused a reduction in the abundance of small native coral-reef fishes that was 2.5 ± 0.5 times (mean ± SEM) greater than that caused by a similarly sized native piscivore, the coney grouper Cephalopholis fulva (93.7 vs. 36.3 % reduction); (2) lionfish caused a reduction in the species richness of small coral-reef fishes (loss of 4.6 ± 1.6 species), whereas the native piscivore did not have a significant effect on prey richness; (3) the greatest effects on the reef-fish community, in terms of both abundance and richness, occurred when both native and invasive predators were present; and (4) lionfish grew significantly faster ((6 times) than the native predator under the same field conditions. These results suggest that invasive lionfish have stronger ecological effects than similarly sized native piscivores, and may pose a substantial threat to native coral-reef fish communities.
Pharmacological and Genetic Targeting of the PI4KA Enzyme Reveals Its Important Role in Maintaining Plasma Membrane Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate and Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate Levels

Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase type IIIα (PI4KA) is a host factor essential for hepatitis C virus replication and hence is a target for drug development. PI4KA has also been linked to endoplasmic reticulum exit sites and generation of plasma membrane phosphoinositides. Here, we developed highly specific and potent inhibitors of PI4KA and conditional knock-out mice to study the importance of this enzyme in vitro and in vivo. Our studies showed that PI4KA is essential for the maintenance of plasma membrane phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate pools but only during strong stimulation of receptors coupled to phospholipase C activation. Pharmacological blockade of PI4KA in adult animals leads to sudden death closely correlating with the drug's ability to induce phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate depletion after agonist stimulation. Genetic inactivation of PI4KA also leads to death; however, the cause in this case is due to severe intestinal necrosis. These studies highlight the risks of targeting PI4KA as an anti-hepatitis C virus strategy and also point to important distinctions between genetic and pharmacological studies when selecting host factors as putative therapeutic targets.
All sail, no anchor II: Acceptable high-end PKI

The conflict between accepted modern cryptographic approaches to digital signatures and the venerable traditions of the law of signatures and the law of contracts has been well expounded over the last few years. During this year, hardware progress in public-key encryption has made it possible largely to bridge the gap between these two realms. This paper shows one way to do so. This is a promising time for cryptographic work on digital signatures, as well as for joint legal/cryptographic consideration of outstanding signature issues.
End Point Selection in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Clinical Trials: Economic End Points

The selection of economic end points in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) clinical trials requires prospectively planned evaluations that are developed in tandem with clinical end points. Integrating economic end points with concrete clinical outcomes postdischarge will provide meaningful data to evaluate a treatment's incremental value in the setting of ADHF.
HIC: an operating system for hierarchies of servo loops

A description is given of HIC (hierarchical control system), an operating system specifically for hierarchies of servo loops often found in robot controllers. It uses the simple nature of servos (as processes) to its advantage. Key features of HIC are a simple and efficient scheduler for servos and asynchronous events and a (nominally) nonblocking message-passing structure, the periodic data buffer. The system is implemented and running in the NYU controller for the Utah/MIT hand. >
CATEGORICAL EQUIVALENCE OF ALGEBRAS WITH A MAJORITY TERM

Let A be a finite algebra with a majority term. We characterize those algebras categorically equivalent to A. The description is in terms of a derived structure with universe consisting of all subalgebras of A×A, and with operations of composition, converse and intersection. ¶ The main theorem is used to get a different sort of characterization of categorical equivalence for algebras generating an arithmetical variety. We also consider clones of co-height at most two. In addition, we provide new proofs of several characterizations in the literature, including quasi-primal, lattice-primal and congruence-primal algebras.
Void growth and interaction experiments: Implications to the optimal straining rate in superplastic forming

In this work, a set of parametric experiments was conducted on a superplastic material (eutectic tin–lead alloy) with one or more pre-drilled holes in each specimen. The small-sized holes were for simulating microvoids that occur and grow during superplastic forming. All holes were axially aligned with the tensile axis. The results revealed an increase in ductility with the number of holes up to 10 holes and a decrease thereafter. The ductility enhancement was explained based on the m-curve as due to a rise in the strain rate sensitivity locally around the holes. The decrease was explained due to strong void interaction that resulted in shear failure. This was further verified by a separate set of experiments of only two interacting voids with various interspacing. Finally, the void size versus applied strain was fully characterized and the results supported the ductility observations.
The First Year Just Surviving or Thriving at an HSI

Minority retention models have identified student needs that may or may not be addressed by institutional first-year experience (FYE) programming at Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs). Qualitativ...
Molecular neuroimaging: the basics.

Molecular Imaging uses imaging technology to demonstrate molecular and cellular events in living organisms. This is in contradistinction to traditional imaging modalities such as CT, which rely on such attributes as physical density to create images. Molecular Imaging is very attractive to both physicians and researchers, as it allows investigation into more basic aspects of disease than traditional modalities. In both research and clinical applications, Molecular Imaging has yielded great insights into disease mechanisms, and allowed patient care to be improved. All Molecular Imaging technologies rely on the same basic model. There is: a) a probe or imaging agent (sometimes endogenous), that b) interacts with the molecular or cellular process of interest, and c) provides signal that is usually amplified in some way, that can d) be used to create an image. This basic model has been adapted in countless ways to investigate biological questions in nearly every area of medicine. Each application typically requires problems to be overcome centered around the fundamental areas of probe design, biological interaction and image generation, with considerable expertise in a variety of fields required to create a useful imaging system. In this review, focusing on Molecular Neuroimaging, we will show examples of such applications in the nervous system. We will successively deal with: Receptors, Neurons, Stem Cells, Tumor Cells, Migroglia, Marker genes, Bioluminescence and Alzheimer related proteins and show examples of each application.
Comparison of “rap” groups with traditional group therapy in the treatment of Vietnam combat veterans

An estimated 500,000–700,000 veterans suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder characterized by mental flashbacks of the war, recurrent dreams of the trauma, repetitive, intrusive thoughts of the war, irritability, generalized anxiety and difficulty relating to others. For many years, these individuals went undiagnosed and, except for rap groups, untreated. The rap groups were formed to talk about the war in a general debriefing process during the early 1970s. Rap groups failed to focus on the individual pathology, but, instead, provided a forum to refashion value and meaning in the veterans' lives. Recently, more traditional forms of group therapy have been used to help treat individuals suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder secondary to the Vietnam war. This paper discusses the unique features of traditional group therapy with Vietnam veterans.
Crystalline ZnO thin film by hydrothermal growth

In this work, we have successfully synthesised ZnO crystal thin film with a high quality from hydrothermal reaction on sapphire substrate. The growth mechanism is clarified based on an extensive XTEM study. In addition, electrical and optical properties of the crystal thin film, which can be controlled by impurities, are characterized. The synthesis technique provides fairly high quality and cost-effective substrates for optoelectronic and renewable energy applications.
College students with tattoos and piercings: Motives, family experiences, personality factors, and perception by others

The motives, family experiences, and personality characteristics of 341 college students with and without tattoos or piercings were studied. Participants completed Lippa's 1991 measures of the Big Five personality factors, a shortened version of the Body Cathexis Scale, a series of questions about their childhood experiences, and questions about risk-taking behaviors. In addition, reasons to have or not have body modifications and the perceptions of people with body modifications were investigated. Of the 116 men and 186 women, 25% and 33%, respectively, had at least one tattoo or body piercing. There were very few differences in the childhood experiences or personality characteristics of people with or without body modifications. Although people with body modifications did not differ from people without modifications on the Big Five personality measures, people without modifications perceived people with modifications as much different from themselves on these measures. These results indicate that tattoos and piercings in college students are associated with significantly more risk-taking behavior, greater use of alcohol and marijuana, and less social conformity. However, the traditional stereotype that body modifications are indicators of social or personal pathology does not describe contemporary college students.