cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrooptic studies on the effect of heat treatment on structure in bacteriophage f1

Abstract The effect of heat treatment on the structures of the filamentous bacteriophage f1 and its gene 3 amber mutant R4 has been studied using electric birefringence and electric dichroism. On heat treatment at various temperatures, there is a change in the packing arrangement of the B-protein subunits causing the R4 to behave as a particle having similar hydrodynamic properties to the f1. The kinetics of the heat effect indicate that R4 is stabilized relative to f1 at higher temperatures, implicating hydrophobic bonding in the interactions between subunits. Before any detectable ultrastructural damage occurs as a result of heating, there is an increase in the tilt of the DNA bases. Models for this transition not involving base unstacking are presented.
Trabecular Myocytes of the Embryonic Heart Require N-Cadherin for Migratory Unit Identity

Abstract The myocardial wall of the vertebrate heart changes from a simple epithelium to a trabeculated structure during embryogenesis. This process occurs when epithelioid cardiomyocytes migrate toward the endocardium, which we show is coincident with up-regulation of the cell adhesion molecule, N-cadherin. To study the role of N-cadherin expressed at the trabeculation stage, a replication-defective retrovirus expressing a dominant negative mutant of N-cadherin (ΔN-cadherin) was engineered. Control viruses were designed to express β-galactosidase or a full-length N-cadherin. Viruses were introduced into epithelioid presumptive myocytes at the time they initiate the epithelial–mesenchymal transformation. Individual cells infected with control viruses generated daughter myocytes which migrated toward endocardium as a tight cluster, thereby generating a clone that forms a single or at most two trabeculae. In contrast, myocytes expressing ΔN-cadherin were sparsely distributed within the myocardium and failed to form the ridge-shaped clone. Thus, in addition to its known roles in myocyte epithelialization and intercalated disc formation, N-cadherin appears to play a role in homotypic interactions between nonepithelial migratory myocytes during trabecular formation of the embryonic heart.
Steric aspects of adrenergic drugs XXII: Retention of (+)‐ and (‐)‐14c‐norepinephrine by mouse heart

After intravenous infusion (total dose 40 mcg./kg.) of the isomers of norepinephrine to normal or reserpine-pretreated mice, the initial accumulation by the heart was the same for both isomers. The injected isomers disappeared from the normal heart in a single exponential phase. The unnatural isomer disappeared faster, t1/2 2.5 hr., than the natural (-)-isomer, t1/2 7.6 hr. In mice pretreated with iproniazid, iproniazid and guanethidine, or iproniazid and α-methyl-p-tyrosine, the rate constants and the t1/2 values for the isomers were unaltered. The results indicate that retention, probably by storage vesicles, favors the natural isomer; hence, it is stereoselective. Reserpine, which inhibited the accumulation by storage vesicles, drastically reduced the accumulation of isomers, and the accumulated isomers disappeared at a similar rate constant with a t1/2 of approximately 1 hr. Racemic norepi-nephrine disappeared in two phases, each having a separate rate constant which approximate the values obtained with (+)- and (-)- norepinephrine. In the iproniazid-pretreated mice, injection of equal amounts of (-)- or (+)-14C-norepinephrine resulted in higher O-methylated products from the (+)-form.
Basic and Translational Concepts of Immune-Mediated Glomerular Diseases

Genetically modified immune responses to infections and self-antigens initiate most forms of GN by generating pathogen- and danger-associated molecular patterns that stimulate Toll-like receptors and complement. These innate immune responses activate circulating monocytes and resident glomerular cells to release inflammatory mediators and initiate adaptive, antigen-specific immune responses that collectively damage glomerular structures. CD4 T cells are needed for B cell-driven antibody production that leads to immune complex formation in glomeruli, complement activation, and injury induced by both circulating inflammatory and resident glomerular effector cells. Th17 cells can also induce glomerular injury directly. In this review, information derived from studies in vitro, well characterized experimental models, and humans summarize and update likely pathogenic mechanisms involved in human diseases presenting as nephritis (postinfectious GN, IgA nephropathy, antiglomerular basement membrane and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-mediated crescentic GN, lupus nephritis, type I membranoproliferative GN), and nephrotic syndrome (minimal change/FSGS, membranous nephropathy, and C3 glomerulopathies). Advances in understanding the immunopathogenesis of each of these entities offer many opportunities for future therapeutic interventions.
Analysis of Fundamental Limits for Partial Connectivity in Wireless Networks

We consider large, random network topologies, typical in sensor or ad hoc networks. Achieving full connectivity in these networks is hard, as it is known to asymptotically require unbounded node degrees. This certainly involves a lack of scalability, since nodes with finite resources cannot handle an unbounded neighborhood with bounded delay. It does not exclude, however, partial connectivity, which is satisfactory in many applications, such as sensor networks. Therefore, an important step in analyzing the scalability of such networks is to quantify how large part of the random topology can be still expected to belong to a connected component if the nodes are confined to some bounded degree. We investigate this issue in a very general model that contains many of the often used models as special cases. We prove a bound on the asymptotic fraction of nodes that can belong to a connected component. The bound depends on the expected node degrees and is asymptotically sharp.
Light-dependent sulfide oxidation in the anoxic zone of the Chesapeake Bay can be explained by small populations of phototrophic bacteria

Microbial sulfide oxidation in aquatic environments is an important ecosystem process, as sulfide is potently toxic to aerobic organisms. Sulfide oxidation in anoxic waters can prevent the efflux of sulfide to aerobic water masses, thus mitigating toxicity. The contribution of phototrophic sulfide-oxidizing bacteria to anaerobic sulfide oxidation in the Chesapeake Bay and the redox chemistry of the stratified water column were investigated in the summers of 2011 to 2014. In 2011 and 2013, phototrophic sulfide-oxidizing bacteria closely related to Prosthecochloris species of the phylum Chlorobi were cultivated from waters sampled at and below the oxic-anoxic interface, where measured light penetration was sufficient to support populations of low-light-adapted photosynthetic bacteria. In 2012, 2013, and 2014, light-dependent sulfide loss was observed in freshly collected water column samples. In these samples, extremely low light levels caused 2- to 10-fold increases in the sulfide uptake rate over the sulfide uptake rate under dark conditions. An enrichment, CB11, dominated by Prosthecochloris species, oxidized sulfide with a Ks value of 11 μM and a Vmax value of 51 μM min(-1) (mg protein(-1)). Using these kinetic values with in situ sulfide concentrations and light fluxes, we calculated that a small population of Chlorobi similar to those in enrichment CB11 can account for the observed anaerobic light-dependent sulfide consumption activity in natural water samples. We conclude that Chlorobi play a far larger role in the Chesapeake Bay than currently appreciated. This result has potential implications for coastal anoxic waters and expanding oxygen-minimum zones as they begin to impinge on the photic zone.
Towards terascale knowledge acquisition

Although vast amounts of textual data are freely available, many NLP algorithms exploit only a minute percentage of it. In this paper, we study the challenges of working at the terascale. We present an algorithm, designed for the teraxale, for mining is-a relations that achieves similar performance to a state-of-the-art linguistically-rich method. We focus on the accuracy of these two systems as a function of processing time and corpus size.
Teaching A Hybrid MBA Course: A Case Study In Information Technology From The Student Perspective

There is ongoing research into online, distributed, distance learning that has transitioned from mailed video tapes to fully-implemented web-based courses. Less research has been conducted on hybrid courses – those that combine face-to-face sessions with web-based sessions. This paper reports on a case study of a hybrid course that teaches Information Technology in an MBA program. Rationalization for the implementation of a hybrid course within a traditional MBA program is explained. Cautions and expectations from the literature are explored. Lessons learned from the student perspective are presented.
Bimolane: in vitro inhibitor of human topoisomerase II

Bimolane is a member of the bis(2,6-dioxopiperazine) class of drugs and has been widely used in China as an anti-neoplastic agent and for the treatment of psoriasis. Recent case reports indicate that bimolane is leukemogenic and is thought to exert its effects through the inhibition of topoisomerase II. However, there are no data showing the inhibition of topoisomerase II by this agent. In this report bimolane was shown to inhibit the activity of human topoisomerase II in vitro at concentrations of 100 microM and higher when pBR322 was used as the DNA substrate, whereas inhibition was seen at 1.5 mM when using kDNA as a substrate. The results of enzyme and DNA titration assays indicate that inhibition of topoisomerase II by bimolane occurred through interactions with DNA, similar to the mechanism seen with the epipodophyllotoxin-type inhibitors. These results provide evidence that bimolane is an inhibitor of topoisomerase II in vitro.
A Case Study on the Automatic Composition of Network Application Mashups

MaxMash is a tool that can compose select features of networked application and generate the source code for application mashups that can integrate those features. This paper presents a case study that demonstrates how MaxMash is used to combine the Jabber chatting protocol and the Microsoft Maps Web application. The composed mashup is able to answer direction queries via a chat client.
Different sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids affects apparent digestibility, tissue deposition, and tissue oxidative stability in growing female rats

Numerous health benefits associated with increased omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) consumption has lead to an increasing variety of available n-3 PUFA sources. However, sources differ in the type, amount, and structural form of the n-3 PUFAs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of different sources of ω-3 PUFAs on digestibility, tissue deposition, eicosanoid metabolism, and oxidative stability. Female Sprague-Dawley rats (age 28 d) were randomly assigned (n = 10/group) to be fed a high fat 12% (wt) diet consisting of either corn oil (CO) or n-3 PUFA rich flaxseed (FO), krill (KO), menhaden (MO), salmon (SO) or tuna (TO) oil for 8 weeks. Rats were individually housed in metabolic cages to determine fatty acid digestibility. Diet and tissue fatty acid composition was analyzed by gas chromatography and lipid classes using thin layer chromatography. Eicosanoid metabolism was determined by measuring urinary metabolites of 2-series prostaglandins (PGs) and thromoboxanes (TXBs) using enzyme immunoassays. Oxidative stability was assessed by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) using colorimetric assays. Gene expression of antioxidant defense enzymes was determined by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Rats fed KO had significantly lower DHA digestibility and brain DHA incorporation than SO and TO-fed rats. Of the n-3 PUFA sources, rats fed SO and TO had the highest n-3 PUFAs digestibility and in turn, tissue accretion. Higher tissue n-3 LC-PUFAs had no significant effect on 2-series PG and TXB metabolites. Despite higher tissue n-3 LC-PUFA deposition, there was no increase in oxidation susceptibility indicated by no significant increase in TBARS or decrease in TAC and gene expression of antioxidant defense enzymes, in SO or TO-fed rats. On the basis that the optimal n-3 PUFA sources should provide high digestibility and efficient tissue incorporation with the least tissue lipid peroxidation, TO and SO appeared to be the most beneficial of the n-3 PUFAs sources evaluated in this study.
A Review of “Choosing Web 2.0 Tools for Learning and Teaching in a Digital World”

This book offers librarians an overview of a number of Web 2.0 tools of use to students working on school library and classroom assignments. Each chapter opens with essential questions and examples...
Improved superconducting properties of SmBa2Cu3O7−δ films using YBa2Cu3O7−δ buffer layers

Abstract We report the fabrication of SmBa2Cu3O7−δ (Sm123) films on YBa2Cu307−δ(Y123) buffer layers 10–20nm thick using pulsed-laser deposition. Significant improvement in the superconducting properties of Sm 123 such as Tc and Jc has been observed when Y123 buffer layers are used on various substrates (LaAlO3, SrTiO3, NdGaO3 and CeO2/(yttrium-stabilized zirconia)). The buffered Sm 123 films have a high Tc of 93.1 K and a high Jc of 1.9 × 106 Acm−2 at 75 K in zero magnetic field. Compared with Y123, the buffered Sm123 samples have com-parable microwave surface resistance values and pinning characteristics with reduced anisotropy measured by the angle-dependent Ic. The effects of the Y123 buffer layer on the superconducting properties of Sm 123 are investigated and discussed in relation to the initial film growth chemistry and the substitution of Sm on Ba sites.
The mass of the electron neutrino: Monte Carlo studies of SN 1987A observations

Abstract Monte Carlo simulations of a wide class of possible neutrino emission models are used to assign statistical significance to the limits set on the mass of the electron neutrino by observations of SN 1987A. Using the combined Kamiokande II and IMB data sets, we reject neutrino masses greater than 16 eV at the 5% significance level.
Snapshot Hemodynamics and Clinical Outcomes in Hypertension Precision in the Measurements Is Key

The recent publication of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) inks the latest chapter in the evolving history of blood pressure management.1 The trial randomized 9361 nondiabetic hypertensive patients aged >50 years with at least one cardiovascular risk factor (not including stroke) to intensive or standard control (systolic blood pressure <120 or <140 mm Hg, respectively). The main conclusion from this large trial was that targeting a systolic blood pressure of <120 mm Hg when compared with <140 mm Hg resulted in lower rates of fatal and nonfatal major cardiovascular events and death from any cause, although significantly higher rates of some adverse events were observed in the intensive treatment group.1 It is also informative to focus on the blood pressure difference achieved between the groups and not just the absolute blood pressure targets. What was accomplished in terms of the independent variable, systolic blood pressure, was a difference of 13.1 mm Hg between the 2 groups, which was sustained after the first year of treatment. Importantly, the observed difference in systolic blood pressure was accomplished, whereas the intensive group and the standard group took on average <3 and 2 antihypertensive medications, respectively. This supports the argument that lowering blood pressure can be achieved without an excessive pill burden. This is a relevant practical point, particularly when dealing with people whose systolic blood pressure at study baseline was only moderately elevated on average, 139.7 and 139.7 mm Hg in each group. It should be noted, however, that people with difficult-to-control blood pressure were excluded in SPRINT. This important clinical trial, therefore, raises the critical question of whether we need to be more aggressive than ever before in our blood pressure treatment goals. There is increasing evidence in favor of lower is better from the recent meta-analysis of …
Discriminant Function and Hierarchial Grouping Analysis of Karate Participants' Personality Profiles'

Abstract Seventy-one amateur karate participants were studied with the Cattell sixteen personality factor questionnaire. Multiple discriminant analysis revealed no significant profile differences between the advanced (N=17), intermediate (N=25), or novice classifications (N=29). Since original criterion groups were formed on the basis of belt classification and length of participation, a hierarchial grouping analysis of the 71 personality profiles was performed as a means of eliciting alternate classification criteria. None were suggested. It was concluded that on the basis of the 16 PF test and the sample studied no profile components or patterns were found which differentiated between (a) levels of karate participation and proficiency, or (b) karate participants and the normal population.
Adapting usability investigations for agile user-centered design

When our company chose to adopt an Agile development process for new products, our User Experience Team took the opportunity to adjust, and consequently improve, our user-centered design (UCD) practices. Our interface design work required data from contextual investigations to guide rapid iterations of prototypes, validated by formative usability testing. This meant that we needed to find a way to conduct usability tests, interviews, and contextual inquiry---both in the lab and the field---within an Agile framework. To achieve this, we adjusted the timing and granularity of these investigations, and the way that we reported our usability findings. This paper describes our main adaptations. We have found that the new Agile UCD methods produce better-designed products than the "waterfall" versions of the same techniques. Agile communication modes have allowed us to narrow the gap between uncovering usability issues and acting on those issues by incorporating changes into the product.
The Sociological Reformation: Immolation or Rebirth?

Sociology is one of many disciplines which have had their academic decorum ruffled by a variety of raucous happenings. The Union of Radical Students of Political Science in Behavior Today calls for the smashing of political science as now practiced in this 'facist' country" (1970b:2). The 1970 program of the annual meeting of the Association of Humanistic Psychology bears a stern warning from a finger-wagging Hilton Hotel chain that if their nude frolics of 1969 are repeated, their 1971 contract will be cancelled (Behavior Today, 1970a:2). The Insurgent Sociologist, describing a regional conference, reports happily that " . . .older 'establishment* sociologists were not deferred to as they pontificated upon the 'true' and 'eternal' nature of the profession . . ." (1970:5), while Alvin Gouldner provides the radical sociologists with political strategies and avuncular pats on their collective head (1970). Clearly, some strange sounds are reverberating through the halls of ivy. "Establishment sociology" is under attack, both in the dignified language of the learned journals and in the sometimes raucous and oc casionally obscene publications and handbills of our radical student critics. Establishment sociology is accused of (1) adhering to a cowardly and self-serving image of sociology as a value-free, objective science; and, flowing from this fundamental error, establishment sociology has (2) neglected the study of social problems, social change, and social ac tion; (3) served the status quo and aided in the preservation of injustice and oppression; and (4) abdicated its responsibility for the consequences of its research and teaching. Let us consider these accusations. It is undeniable that, for several decades, sociologists have over whelmingly viewed their discipline as an empirical value-free science.
Marketing in Poland in the 1970s: Significant Progress:

Poland's internal trade system has evolved into a modern marketing system in which profitability for the socialized enterprise is deemed important.
Midgut fungal and bacterial microbiota of Aedes triseriatus and Aedes japonicus shift in response to La Crosse virus infection.

Understanding how midgut microbial communities of field-collected mosquitoes interact with pathogens is critical for controlling vector infection and disease. We used 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer sequencing to characterize the midgut bacterial and fungal communities of adult females of Aedes triseriatus and Aedes japonicus collected as pupae in tree holes, plastic bins and waste tires and their response to La Crosse virus (LACV) infection. For both mosquito species and across all habitat and virus treatments, a total of 62 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from six phyla and 21 fungal OTUs from two phyla were identified. The majority of bacterial (92%) and fungal (71%) OTUs were shared between the mosquito species; however, several OTUs were unique to each species. Bacterial and fungal communities of individuals that took either infectious or noninfectious bloodmeals were less diverse and more homogeneous compared to those of newly emerged adults. Interestingly, LACV-infected A. triseriatus and A. japonicus had higher bacterial richness and lower fungal richness compared to individuals that took a noninfectious bloodmeal, suggesting that viral infection was associated with an increase in bacterial OTUs and a decrease in fungal OTUs. For both mosquito species, several OTUs were identified that had both high fidelity and specificity to mosquito midguts that were infected with LACV. Overall, these findings demonstrate that bacterial and fungal communities that reside in mosquito midguts respond to host diet and viral infection and could play a role in modulating vector susceptibility to LACV.
Improving outcomes for adolescents with learning disabilities.

The problems faced by adolescents with disabilities or adolescents at risk for academic failure trying to succeed within the rigorous secondary curriculum are great but not insurmountable. While the “performance gap” between what students are expected to do and what they can do is depicted in this chapter, the authors outline three categories of support beyond current supports that have been found critical in helping to close the “gap”. Each category: (1) instructional supports; (2) professional learning supports; and (3) system supports is comprised of a variety of components that necessitate effort on the part of various stakeholders within the school community to implement in a coordinated fashion, over sustained time and with fidelity.
Comparative Embryo Sac Morphology at Anthesis of Cultivated and Wild Species of Arachis

Introgression of germplasm from wild to cultivated species of Arachis is severely impeded because abortion processes often occur as a prepeg-, peg-(gynophore), or postpeg-elongation event. A comparative study of embryo sac morphology at anthesis was undertaken to determine if observable differences were present that could possibly explain abortion prior to peg tip swelling following soil penetration. Two wild Arachis species (A. duranensis and A. stenosperma) plus A. hypogaea cultivars NC 6 and Argentine were studied
Dynamics of Blood Flow and Thrombus Formation in a Multi-Bypass Microfluidic Ladder Network

The reaction dynamics of a complex mixture of cells and proteins, such as blood, in branched circulatory networks within the human microvasculature or extravascular therapeutic devices such as extracorporeal oxygenation machine (ECMO) remains ill-defined. In this report we utilize a multi-bypass microfluidics ladder network design with dimensions mimicking venules to study patterns of blood platelet aggregation and fibrin formation under complex shear. Complex blood fluid dynamics within multi-bypass networks under flow were modeled using COMSOL. Red blood cells and platelets were assumed to be non-interacting spherical particles transported by the bulk fluid flow, and convection of the activated coagulation factor II, thrombin, was assumed to be governed by mass transfer. This model served as the basis for predicting formation of local shear rate gradients, stagnation points and recirculation zones as dictated by the bypass geometry. Based on the insights from these models, we were able to predict the patterns of blood clot formation at specific locations in the device. Our experimental data was then used to adjust the model to account for the dynamical presence of thrombus formation in the biorheology of blood flow. The model predictions were then compared to results from experiments using recalcified whole human blood. Microfluidic devices were coated with the extracellular matrix protein, fibrillar collagen, and the initiator of the extrinsic pathway of coagulation, tissue factor. Blood was perfused through the devices at a flow rate of 2 µL/min, translating to physiologically relevant initial shear rates of 300 and 700 s-1 for main channels and bypasses, respectively. Using fluorescent and light microscopy, we observed distinct flow and thrombus formation patterns near channel intersections at bypass points, within recirculation zones and at stagnation points. Findings from this proof-of-principle ladder network model suggest a specific correlation between microvascular geometry and thrombus formation dynamics under shear. This model holds potential for use as an integrative approach to identify regions susceptible to intravascular thrombus formation within the microvasculature as well as extravascular devices such as ECMO.
Restored mutant receptor:Corticoid binding in chaperone complexes by trimethylamine N-oxide

Without a glucocorticoid (GC) ligand, the transcription factor glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is largely cytoplasmic, with its GC-binding domain held in high affinity conformation by a cluster of chaperones. Binding a GC causes serial dis- and re-associations with chaperones, translocation of the GR to the nucleus, where it binds to DNA sites and associates with coregulatory proteins and basic transcription complexes. Herein, we describe the effects of a potent protective osmolyte, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), on a conditions-dependent "activation-labile" mutant GR (GRact/l), which under GR-activating conditions cannot bind GCs in cells or in cell cytosols. In both cells and cytosols, TMAO restores binding to GRact/l by stabilizing it in complex with chaperones. Cells bathed in much lower concentrations of TMAO than those required in vitro show restoration of GC binding, presumably due to intracellular molecular crowding effects.
The Nature of Error Consistency in Individuals With Acquired Apraxia of Speech and Aphasia.

Purpose The primary characteristics used to define acquired apraxia of speech (AOS) have evolved to better reflect a disorder of motor planning/programming. However, there is debate regarding the f...
Hybrid Systems in Classical Mechanics

Abstract A theory of hybrid systems has been developed in response to problems arising in computer control, biological motor control, etc. When applied to problems in robotics, the dynamics of the device being controlled are often a dominant factor. This makes it necessary to model problems in classical mechanism involving discontinuous behavior arising from collisions, loss of contact, etc. In this paper we discuss techniques for modeling such problems.
Adequacy of Depression Treatment in Spouses of Cancer Survivors: Findings From a Nationally Representative US Survey

Background Recent research suggests that mental health problems in spouses of cancer survivors are associated with worse mental health in the survivors themselves. Adequately treating spousal mental health problems therefore represents an opportunity to improve outcomes for both cancer survivors and their co-surviving family members.
Reconsidering Return-to-Play Times: A Broader Perspective on Concussion Recovery:

Background:Return-to-play protocols describe stepwise, graduated recoveries for safe return from concussion; however, studies that comprehensively track return-to-play time are expensive to administer and heavily sampled from elite male contact-sport athletes.Purpose:To retrospectively assess probable recovery time for collegiate patients to return to play after concussion, especially for understudied populations, such as women and nonelite athletes.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Medical staff at a military academy logged a total of 512 concussion medical records over 38 months. Of these, 414 records included complete return-to-play protocols with return-to-play time, sex, athletic status, cause, and other data.Results:Overall mean return to play was 29.4 days. Sex and athletic status both affected return-to-play time. Men showed significantly shorter return to play than women, taking 24.7 days (SEM, 1.5 days) versus 35.5 days (SEM, 2.7 days) (P < .001). Intercollegiate athletes a...
Retinal pH and Acid Regulation During Metabolic Acidosis.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Changes in retinal pH may contribute to a variety of eye diseases. To study the effect of acidosis alone, we induced systemic metabolic acidosis and hypothesized that the retina would respond with altered expression of genes involved in acid/base regulation.Methods: Systemic metabolic acidosis was induced in Long–Evans rats for up to 2 weeks by adding NH4Cl to the drinking water. After 2 weeks, venous pH was 7.25 ± 0.08 (SD) and [HCO3−] was 21.4 ± 4.6 mM in acidotic animals; pH was 7.41 ± 0.03 and [HCO3−] was 30.5 ± 1.0 mM in controls. Retinal mRNAs were quantified by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Protein was quantified with Western blots and localized by confocal microscopy. Retinal [H+]o was measured in vivo with pH microelectrodes in animals subjected to metabolic acidosis and in controls.Results: NH4Cl in drinking water or given intravenous was effective in acidifying the retina. Cariporide, a blocker of Na+/H+ exchange, further acidified the retina. Me...
Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders in the Neonatal ICU: Experiences and Beliefs Among Staff.

OBJECTIVES Studies in adult patients have shown that do-not-resuscitate orders are often associated with decreased medical intervention. In neonatology, this phenomenon has not been investigated, and how do-not-resuscitate orders potentially affect clinical care is unknown. DESIGN Retrospective medical record data review and staff survey responses about neonatal ICU do-not-resuscitate orders. SETTING Four academic neonatal ICUs. SUBJECTS Clinical staff members working in each neonatal ICU. INTERVENTIONS Survey response collection and analysis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Participating neonatal ICUs had 14-48 beds and 120-870 admissions/yr. Frequency range of do-not-resuscitate orders was 3-11 per year. Two-hundred fifty-seven surveys were completed (46% response). Fifty-nine percent of respondents were nurses; 20% were physicians. Over the 5-year period, 44% and 17% had discussed a do-not-resuscitate order one to five times and greater than or equal to 6 times, respectively. Fifty-seven percent and 22% had cared for one to five and greater than or equal to 6 patients with do-not-resuscitate orders, respectively. Neonatologists, trainees, and nurse practitioners were more likely to report receiving training in discussing do-not-resuscitate orders or caring for such patients compared with registered nurses and respiratory therapists (p < 0.001). Forty-one percent of respondents reported caring for an infant in whom interventions had been withheld after a do-not-resuscitate order had been placed without discussing the specific withholding with the family. Twenty-seven percent had taken care of an infant in whom interventions had been withdrawn under the same circumstances. Participants with previous experiences withholding or withdrawing interventions were more likely to agree that these actions are appropriate (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Most neonatal ICU staff report experience with do-not-resuscitate orders; however, many, particularly nurses and respiratory therapists, report no training in this area. Variable beliefs with respect to withholding and withdrawing care for patients with do-not-resuscitate orders exist among staff. Because neonatal ICU patients with do-not-resuscitate orders may ultimately survive, withholding or withdrawing interventions may have long-lasting effects, which may or may not coincide with familial intentions.
Neurobiology of Agency: “Conatograms” and the Ghost in the Machine?

Our objective in this volume was to present an accessible, axiomatic, and functional conception of human agency and its relevance as a focused topic for further exploration in psychology. This part in particular was devoted to addressing the neurobiology of agency. As such, our contributors examined agency broadly in animals as a process that developed evolutionarily with increased neural complexity, eventually to the point of consciousness and will in humans. Unfortunately, over time agency has had various operational definitions. The intent of this chapter is to synthesize and integrate some of the more salient points from our contributors and relate their suggestions to additional empirical evidence, where appropriate. Including the neurobiology in this volume was an essential requirement for full consideration of agency. From the neuroscience perspective, scientists seek an elusive “conatogram” within the recesses of the brain as the neural correlates or representations of agency, much in the same way as Lashley started seeking the “engram” for memory in the 1920s. Alternatively, others believe the evidence demonstrates that there is no ghost in the machine and that consciousness and will are illusions. Regarding agency, the empirical and theoretical considerations addressed suggest that “agency” is not a singular concept and use of the terminology requires some differentiation. However, the commentators conclude that agency provides a useful concept for consideration of behavior produced by animals. The commentators express hope that we can use the axioms and propositions discussed for further critical analysis and research into the topic.
Context-dependent functions of KLF4 in cancers: Could alternative splicing isoforms be the key?

Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is an important transcription factor that is expressed in a variety of tissues and regulates many critical physiologic and cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, stem cell reprogramming, maintenance of genomic stability, and normal tissue homeostasis. KLF4 has both tumor suppressive and oncogenic functions in gastrointestinal and other cancers. These functions are thought to be context dependent, but how KLF4 exerts these differential functions and the molecular mechanisms behind them remain poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that the KLF4 gene undergoes alternative splicing, and the protein products of certain transcripts antagonize wild-type KLF4 function, suggesting an additional layer of regulation of KLF4 function. Therefore, detailed study of KLF4 alternative splicing may not only provide new insights into the complexity of KLF4 functions but also lead to rational targeting of KLF4 for cancer prevention and therapy.
A Latent Structure Analysis of Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression in Adolescence

Whether cognitive vulnerability to depression exists along a continuum of severity or as a qualitatively discrete phenomenological entity has direct bearing on theoretical formulations of risk for depression and clinical risk assessment. This question is of particular relevance to adolescence, given that cognitive vulnerability appears to coalesce and rates of depression begin to rise markedly during this period of development. Although a dimensional view is often assumed, it is necessary to submit this assumption to direct empirical evaluation. Taxometric analysis is a family of statistical techniques developed directly to test such assumptions. The present study applied taxometric methods to address this question in a community sample of early adolescents (n = 485), drawing on three indices of cognitive vulnerability to depression (i.e., negative inferential style, ruminative response style, self-referent information processing). The results of three taxometric analyses (i.e., mean above minus below a cut [MAMBAC], maximum eigenvalue [MAXEIG], and latent mode [L-Mode]) were consistent in unambiguously supporting a dimensional conceptualization of this construct. The latent structure of the tested indices of cognitive vulnerability to depression in adolescence appears to exist along a continuum of severity rather than as a discrete clinical entity.
A Note on the Presence of Spurious Pseudo-Guessing Parameters for Three-Parameter Logistic Models in Heterogeneous Populations.

This note raises caution that a finding of a marked pseudo-guessing parameter for an item within a three-parameter item response model could be spurious in a population with substantial unobserved ...
Detection of hiatal hernias: comparison of high-resolution manometry and physician reported in an obese-predominant population.

Background The diagnosis of a hiatal hernia (HH) can be made by barium oesophagram or upper endoscopy. Data regarding the ability of high-resolution manometry (HRM) with oesophageal pressure topography (OPT) to identify HH remains limited. We aim to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the automated localisation on high-resolution manometry compared with physician visual interpretation on the detection of HH. Methods Patients (n=181) from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Ohio, undergoing HRM with OPT from 1 January 2015 to 1 December 2017 were reviewed. The BMIs of this patient population are of the highest in the USA. Demographics, presenting symptoms, laboratory data, endoscopic findings, radiographic findings, and HRM findings were collected. Diagnosis of HH through HRM automated identification of oesophageal landmarks were compared with diagnosis by physician visual interpretation of OPT. Results Automated identification of HH using HRM had high specificity (99.1%), but low sensitivity (11.4%). Physician visual interpretation of OPT similarly had high specificity (82.9%, 83.8%), but low sensitivity (30.0%, 28.6%). Automated identification of HH had a greater positive predictive value (88.9%) compared with physician visual interpretation (52.5%, 52.6%) but was found to have a similar negative predictive value (63.9%) as physician visual interpretation (65.3%, 65.0%). Conclusion Compared with physician visual interpretation of OPT, automated identification of HH was more specific, but less sensitive in the diagnosis of HH. Use of automated identification of HH using HRM alone may lead to an increased number of false negatives, and subsequent underdiagnosis of this condition.
Structural Studies of Human Hemopexin

Abstract The primary structure of human hemopexin (Hpx) is being deduced from sequence analysis of a series of peptides obtained from chemical and enzymatic digests of the protein. Human Hpx consists of about 440 amino acid residues. It has five sites of attachment of GlcN oligosaccharides at the signal sequence of Asn-X-Thr/Ser. A unique structural feature is the virtual blocking of the N-terminal threonine residue which is O-linked to a GalN oligosaccharide that has not previously been identified in this protein. Two of the five GlcN oligosaccharides are present in a histidine-rich sequence, in which the histidines flank beta-turns presumably at the surface of Hpx. Clusters of tryptophan residues occur in four regions, each of which contains three or four tryptophan residues separated by O to 9 other residues. This clustering is significant because both histidine and tryptophan have been implicated in the binding of heme in Hpx and other heme proteins. Limited tryptic digestion of Hpx to define the heme binding domain split the protein into two fragments with Mr=15,000 and 45,000; these are connected by a disulfide bridge. The heme-binding site is probably in the 45,000-dalton fragment because a histidine-rich sequence in the fragment showed some homology with that of the heme-binding site of cytochrome c.
Multi-response based personalized treatment selection with data from crossover designs for multiple treatments

AbstractIn this work we propose a novel method for treatment selection based on individual covariate information when the treatment response is multivariate and data are available from a crossover ...
A Dozen Reasons for Including Conceptual Physical Education in Quality Secondary School Programs.

As outlined in this article, conceptual physical education (CPE) uses a text and classroom sessions to teach healthy lifestyle concepts and principles as well as self-management skills that promote...
The Importance of MMR Immunization in the United States

Despite the established safety and efficacy of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine after almost 50 years of widespread use, the United States is encountering higher levels of measles and mumps disease than has occurred for years. Return of disease threatens the health of those who remain unimmunized by choice as well as those who are immunized appropriately but experience loss of vaccine-induced immunity. The solution to continued threats of illness caused by these untreatable but readily preventable diseases is compliance with recommendations for administration of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Here we examine trends in the epidemiology of measles, mumps, and rubella in recent years and consider the consequences of loss of protective immunity within our country.
Imitation of success leads to cost of living mediated fairness in the Ultimatum Game

Abstract In this paper, we analyze a social imitation model that incorporates internal energy caches (e.g., food/money savings), cost of living, death, and reproduction into the Ultimatum Game. We show that when imitation (and death) occurs, a natural correlation between selfishness and cost of living emerges. However, in all societies that do not collapse, non-Nash sharing strategies emerge as the de facto result of imitation. We explain these results by constructing a mean-field approximation of the internal energy cache informed by time-varying distributions extracted from experimental data.
Setting Limits on Two-Photon Absorption Cross Sections in Common Fluorescent Molecules with Entangled Photon Pairs Excitation

We present a detailed study of two-photon absorption in some common fluorescent molecules with excitation by entangled photon pairs. Using fluorescence and transmittance measurements, we set an upper bound on the absorption cross sections.
A Case Report on Spinal Cord Stimulation in an Atrophic Spinal Cord: What Exactly Are We Stimulating?

Introduction We present a patient with paraplegia secondary to anterior spinal cord infarct below T6, with subsequent development of chronic low-back and bilateral lower-extremity neuropathic pain with an atrophic cord. In this patient with reduced spinal cord mass and modified neuroanatomy, spinal cord stimulation was surprisingly very effective. Objectives The primary objective of this report is to describe a case in which a patient benefited from spinal cord stimulator therapy in a way that is not explained by the traditionally accepted mechanism of action. Methods A spinal cord stimulator was implanted with two 16-contact leads placed in series starting at the top of T6. Results He reported complete resolution of low-back pain and about 50% resolution of bilateral lower-extremity pain. Conclusion Traditionally accepted mechanisms of action of dorsal column stimulation and suppression of wide-dynamic-range neurons are unlikely to explain the relief obtained in our patient with an atrophic spinal cord. No single consensus has been reached on the primary mechanism through which spinal cord stimulation renders its therapeutic effects. Spinal cord stimulator therapy is promising, and the future direction of its study is discussed.
Collective Efficacy Theory and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

Collective efficacy theory is based on a group’s belief that they can jointly protect and help their community, overcoming barriers to create change (Bandura, Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. Freeman, 1997). Through strong attachment ties to one another and the community at large, citizens work together toward a specific goal. In the children’s television show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’s, generations of children visited the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, where citizens embraced collective needs and developed social ties that enabled the activation of high levels of collective efficacy. By examining story arcs within the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, this chapter seeks to show the importance of collective efficacy and informal social control in the protection of the Neighborhood and the collective aid the citizens work together to provide. In showing children how communities can function harmoniously and toward a common goal, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood set the foundation for future strong communities and productive neighborhoods.
Design of a mm-Wave Double-Sided Substrate Blass Matrix Beamforming Network

This work presents a multilayer Blass matrix architecture for mm-Wave applications. Three main problems of the original Blass matrix are tackled with the proposed topology. First, the spurious excitation problem, which is caused by multiple signal paths and degrades the matrix performance, is reduced. Second, our design approach ensures the design of a Blass matrix with the minimum possible losses. Third, directional slot couplers are designed eliminating the crossovers. The proposed design shows a remarkably constant phase difference in the K a frequency band.
Image-guided volumetric-modulated arc therapy of total body irradiation: An efficient workflow from simulation to delivery.

INTRODUCTION Using multi-isocenter volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for total body irradiation (TBI) may improve dose uniformity and vulnerable tissue protection compared with classical whole-body field technique. Two drawbacks limit its application: (1) VMAT-TBI planning is time consuming; (2) VMAT-TBI plans are sensitive to patient positioning uncertainties due to beam matching. This study presents a robust planning technique with image-guided delivery to improve dose delivery accuracy. In addition, a streamlined sim-to-treat workflow with automatic scripts is proposed to reduce planning time. MATERIALS Twenty-five patients were included in this study. Patients were scanned in supine head-first and feet-first directions. An automatic workflow was used to (1) create a whole-body CT by registering two CT scans, (2) contour lungs, kidneys, and planning target volume (PTV), (3) divide PTV into multiple sub-targets for planning, and (4) place isocenters. Treatment planning included feathered AP/PA beams for legs/feet and VMAT for the body. VMAT-TBI was evaluated for plan quality, planning/delivery time, and setup accuracy using image guidance. RESULTS VMAT-TBI planning time can be reduced to a day with automatic scripts. Treatment time took around an hour per fraction. VMAT-TBI improved dose coverage (PTV V100 increased from 76.8 ± 10.5 to 88.5 ± 2.6; p < 0.001) and reduced lung dose (lung mean dose reduced from 10.8 ± 0.7 Gy to 9.4 ± 0.8 Gy, p < 0.001) compared with classic AP/PA technique. CONCLUSION A VMAT-TBI sim-to-treat workflow with robust planning and image-guided delivery was proposed. VMAT-TBI improved the plan quality compared with classical whole-body field techniques.