cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost-effectiveness of Intensive Blood Pressure Management

Importance Among high-risk patients with hypertension, targeting a systolic blood pressure of 120 mm Hg reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared with a higher target. However, intensive blood pressure management incurs additional costs from treatment and from adverse events. Objective To evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness of intensive blood pressure management compared with standard management. Design, Setting, and Participants This cost-effectiveness analysis conducted from September 2015 to August 2016 used a Markov cohort model to estimate cost-effectiveness of intensive blood pressure management among 68-year-old high-risk adults with hypertension but not diabetes. We used the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) to estimate treatment effects and adverse event rates. We used Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Life Tables to project age- and cause-specific mortality, calibrated to rates reported in SPRINT. We also used population-based observational data to model development of heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, and subsequent mortality. Costs were based on published sources, Medicare data, and the National Inpatient Sample. Interventions Treatment of hypertension to a systolic blood pressure goal of 120 mm Hg (intensive management) or 140 mm Hg (standard management). Main Outcomes and Measures Lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), discounted at 3% annually. Results Standard management yielded 9.6 QALYs and accrued $155 261 in lifetime costs, while intensive management yielded 10.5 QALYs and accrued $176 584 in costs. Intensive blood pressure management cost $23 777 per QALY gained. In a sensitivity analysis, serious adverse events would need to occur at 3 times the rate observed in SPRINT and be 3 times more common in the intensive management arm to prefer standard management. Conclusions and Relevance Intensive blood pressure management is cost-effective at typical thresholds for value in health care and remains so even with substantially higher adverse event rates.
An interoperation framework for context-aware access control

An access control system can be defined as a set of policies, models and enforcement mechanisms that are used to restrict access to data and resources of an organization. This dissertation presents an approach for modeling and enforcing a context-aware access control model based on Role Based Access Control (RBAC) and Description Logic. In this approach, languages from the Semantic Web and ontologies are used to represent access control policies and Description Logic reasoners are used to enforce those policies. To improve reasoning efficiency, a technique for ontology modularization is also presented. In addition, this dissertation presents two models for integration of policies belonging to different organizations in collaborative environments. The first model uses a Global as View approach to integrate local RBAC policies, which are treated as local data sources to be integrated. These policies are integrated in a repository, which provides a global view over them and serves as a mediator for queries regarding availability of resources and services in the local systems. We present a practical use for this model in the context of Grid Systems and the Globus toolkit. The second model deals with data represented in XML format when access to these data is specified using the Mandatory Access Control model (MAC). As the XML schemas are integrated into a common repository, the MAC policies associated with those data are also integrated in that common repository.
Control design of hard disk drive self-servo track writing via H 2 and H ∞ control synthesis

This paper considers two novel controller synthesis methodologies for performing self-servo track writing in hard disk drives using a feed forward control structure. In the first methodology, it is assumed that a conventional track-following causal controller has been designed and a non-causal feedforward controller, which utilizes the stored error signal from writing the previous track, is designed using standard H∞, control synthesis techniques, in order to prevent the track errors from propagating and to achieve good disturbance attenuation. In the second methodology, both the track-following feedback controller and the feed forward controller are simultaneously designed via a mixed H2H∞, control scheme, which involves the solution of a set of linear matrix inequalities and achieves good disturbance attenuation while preventing the propagation of track errors from the previous tracks. Simulation results confirm that the two proposed control synthesis methodologies prevent error propagation from the previously written tracks and significantly improve self-servo track writing performance.
Osteosarcoma of the larynx: Treatment outcomes and patterns of failure analysis

The incidence of laryngeal sarcoma is exceedingly low with osteosarcomas of the larynx being rarer still, comprising less than 1% of all associated malignancies. To date, only 32 cases have been reported since this pathologic entity was first described in 1942. In this article, we discuss the most recent case of laryngeal osteosarcoma in a patient presenting with respiratory distress found to be due to a tumor mass arising from her cricoid cartilage. We further summarize current knowledge regarding the epidemiology, presentation, and diagnosis of this uncommon disease. Lastly, we synthesize all available information regarding treatment and outcomes of the 32 previously described cases of osteosarcoma of the larynx as well as the presently described case in an attempt to offer some insight regarding optimal treatment in future cases.
Physiological functions of programmed DNA breaks in signal-induced transcription

The idea that signal-dependent transcription might involve the generation of transient DNA nicks or even breaks in the regulatory regions of genes, accompanied by activation of DNA damage repair pathways, would seem to be counterintuitive, as DNA damage is usually considered harmful to cellular integrity. However, recent studies have generated a substantial body of evidence that now argues that programmed DNA single- or double-strand breaks can, at least in specific cases, have a role in transcription regulation. Here, we discuss the emerging functions of DNA breaks in the relief of DNA torsional stress and in promoter and enhancer activation.
Problems Associated with Minor and Major Amputations of Lower Limbs Suffering from Arterial Insufficiency

At the outset, it is necessary to emphasize that the approach to the removal of a limb with gangrene due to severely compromised local arterial circulation is very different from the guidelines utilized in treating necrosis resulting from trauma or cold injury to a previously normal extremity. In the patient suffering from arteriosclerosis obliterans or thromboangiitis obliterans, there is generally a varying degree of ischemia of tissues proximal to the existing trophic lesion which could be responsible for lack of healing of the operative site; on the other hand, in the case of trauma to a normal limb, blood supply in uninjured structures is usually unaffected, a situation conducive to a subsequent successful outcome.
Natural and Anthropogenic Controls on Wood Loads in River Corridors of the Rocky, Cascade, and Olympic Mountains, USA

Wood in rivers creates habitat, shapes the morphology of valley bottoms, and acts as a pool of organic carbon (OC). Effective riverine wood management depends on a robust understanding of the spatial distribution of wood throughout river networks. This motivates the analysis of wood load in relation to both reach- and basin-scale processes. We present wood load data coupled with precipitation, forest stand characteristic, land use, and geomorphic data across four basins in the Rocky, Cascade, and Olympic Mountains of the western USA. We compare basins with differing land use within the same climatic region and basins in differing climates and statistically model intra-basin wood load variability. Wood load is a function of metrics that generally describe river corridor spatial heterogeneity, metrics that describe wood storage patterns, and, at a broader scale, metrics that relate to wood supply. From this, we generate a conceptual model to describe controls on wood load across spatial scales. We use this model to propose that spatial heterogeneity and wood storage pattern together determine reach-scale wood trapping efficiency. Trapping efficiency in turn regulates how wood supply to valley bottoms determines wood load. We also find that wood in an undisturbed basin stores significant amounts of OC, and that wood load restoration has the potential to restore significant amounts of OC to valley bottoms. This conceptual model of wood load controls may serve as a framework to guide wood load modeling and restoration at multiple scales.
Abstract 9402: Myocardial Infarction-Induced Acute Inflammation Impairs Therapeutic Efficacy of Bone Marrow Cells

Delivery of bone marrow cells (BMCs) to infarcted myocardium has been reported to be therapeutic in most animal experiments, but results in similar clinical trials of autologous BMC therapy have been less robust. We have demonstrated that donor MI impairs BMC therapeutic efficacy in mice. However, the mechanism of this impairment remains unknown. Acute MI leads to a localized host inflammatory response. We hypothesized that MI leads to an increased or activated inflammatory state in the bone marrow that impairs the therapeutic efficacy of BMCs. To investigate this, we implanted BMCs from healthy or post-MI donor mice under ultrasound guidance. Donors and recipients were subjected to MI by permanent left coronary artery ligation. MI recipients were always identical from experiment to experiment. Donor bone marrow at 3 days post-MI showed several characteristics consistent with increased inflammation, including fewer CD11c+ dendritic cells, increased MHC Class II expression on B cells, and more Ly6C high inflammatory myeloid cells. Donor BMCs harvested at varying times post-MI were increasingly impaired over the first 3 days but were less impaired when harvested after day 5, consistent with the time course of an inflammatory response (see figure). Recipient EF is shown measured at 28 days post-recipient-MI in groups injected with BMCs harvested at various times after donor MI. Serum from donors at 1 and 3 days post-MI but not 7 days showed an increase in several cytokines and related proteins including G-CSF, IL-1β, IL-1Ra, IL-6, MCP-1, TIMP-1 and TREM-1. Notably, anti-inflammatory treatment of donor mice post-MI with dexamethasone prevented the BMC impairment. BMCs harvested from sham-operated mice in which skin and bone were still wounded with no artery ligation were not substantially impaired. Our findings suggest that MI-induced acute inflammation impairs BMC therapeutic efficacy.
Performance characteristics and quality assurance considerations for displays used in interventional radiology and cardiac catheterization facilities.

Purpose While the performance of displays used for the acquisition and primary interpretation of medical images has been well-characterized, notably absent are publications evaluating and discussing the performance of displays used in Interventional Radiology (IR) suites and Cardiac Catheterization (CC) laboratories. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the performance of these displays and to consider the challenges in implementation of display quality assurance practices in this environment. Methods Ten large format displays used in IR and CC suites were evaluated. A visual inspection of available test patterns was performed followed by a quantitative evaluation of several performance characteristics including luminance ratio, luminance response function, and luminance uniformity. Additionally, the local ambient lighting conditions were evaluated. Results Luminance ratios ranged from 243.0 to 1182.1 with a mean value of 500.1 ± 289.2. The maximum deviation between the luminance response function and the DICOM Grayscale Standard Display Function ranged from 11.2% to 38.3% with a mean value of 26.2% ± 10.9%. When evaluating luminance uniformity, the mean maximum luminance deviation was 13.2% ± 3.5%. The mean value of luminance deviation from the median was 7.8% ± 1.0%. Measured values of background illuminance ranged from 29.1 to 310.0 lux with a mean value of 107.6 lux ± 80.4 lux. While no mura or bad pixels were observed during visual inspection, damage including scrapes and scratches as well as smudges was common to most of the displays. Conclusion This work provides much needed data for the characterization of the performance of the large format displays used in IR and CC laboratory suites. These data may be used as a point of comparison when implementing a display QA program.
Left Ventricular Recovery with Explantation of Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device after 5 Years of Support

Mechanical circulatory support may result in sufficient myocardial recovery to allow for explantation of the left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The duration of support associated with left ventricular recovery has generally been 6-12 months. In this report, we present a patient in whom the left ventricle recovered after 5 years of support with a LVAD. Our report demonstrates that long-term monitoring for left ventricular recovery is prudent and may allow for late device explantation.
A Reformulated Architecture of Cognitive Risks for Psychopathology: Common and Specific Dimensions and Links to Internalizing Outcomes in Adolescence:

Multiple cognitive risk products (dysfunctional attitudes [DA], negative inferential style [NIS], self-criticism, dependency, rumination) predict internalizing disorders; however, an optimal struct...
How the quality of essential medicines is perceived and maintained through the pharmaceutical supply chain: A perspective from stakeholders in Nigeria.

Abstract Background Limited access to essential medicines for maternal and child health is a preventable cause of pregnancy-related deaths. This remains a predominant challenge in Nigeria, where sub-standard and falsified medications have historically been associated with maternal mortality. An in-depth understanding of perceptions surrounding quality assurance of essential medicines is pertinent for developing effective and sustainable interventions. Objective To examine stakeholder perspectives on quality control of essential medicines for maternal and child health, while characterizing pharmaceutical distribution of medicines in Nigeria. Methods Key informant interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 26 participants between January and June 2018. Eligible participants included: pharmacists, pharmaceutical sales representatives (pharm reps), supply chain employees of pharmaceutical industries and regulatory agency personnel, working in the public or private health sector in either of the four states: Lagos, Enugu, Imo or Port-Harcourt. A 6-item survey was administered to collect demographic information on the participants. This was followed by 15 semi-structured questions to gather qualitative data on the subject matter. Results Verifying vendor credibility and use of identifiable regulatory markers were the most common methods adopted by pharmacists and pharm reps with the intent to control quality of medicines. Key challenges in assuring quality included: inefficiency of regulatory agencies, illicit sales of prescription medicines by patent medicine vendors, existence of open markets and failed policy implementation. While pharmacists and pharm reps solicited improved regulations and policy implementation; NAFDAC personnel primarily recommended an increased government funding to improve their efficiency. Conclusion Beyond stakeholder recommendations, a fervent and consistent commitment on the part of the government is needed to improve quality assurance in Nigeria's pharmaceutical system. Public-private partnerships should be explored to address funding limitations to quality assurance. Future studies need to examine challenges and opportunities surrounding policy implementation, and regulatory enforcement in pharmaceutical distribution.
Basin Analysis via Simulation

We illustrate simulated basins of attraction for four example objective functions applying the same four different numerical methods to each (coordinate-search, and steepest-descent with three different line-searches). We define basin size and basin entropy (quantifying basin complexity) and compute each for our examples. We apply the Nelder–Mead method to all four example functions in a separate section because its iterate-multisets are non-singleton, which requires more complicated illustrations. We use the same tools to investigate the practical significance of two well-known counterexamples to good convergence behavior in numerical minimization: the canoe function with coordinate-search and McKinnon’s function (McKinnon, SIAM J. Optim. 9, 148–158 (1998)) with Nelder–Mead. We use our notions of basin size and basin entropy to quantify the extent to which initial data are likely to lead to undesirable consequences.
Radiation Protection in Pediatric Nuclear Medicine

The practice of pediatric nuclear medicine requires attention to detail with regard to radiation protection of the health professionals involved in acquiring the studies, the patients, and their families. Since performance of the studies may entail a more hands-on approach, particularly in very small children, those involved in acquiring the studies often need to be closer to the patient than would be the case in adult nuclear medicine. For example, a bone scan in a smaller child may require two technologists where one helps with the immobilization of the patient while the other acquires the study. In this instance, not only are two technologists involved with a single patient, but one may need to hold the radioactive patient in order to acquire the required view to make the clinical decision. In addition, if sedation or anesthesia is necessary to complete the study, other health professionals such as nurses and anesthesiologists may need to be in the imaging room with the radioactive patient. Lastly, there may be some studies such as ictal brain SPECT where the patient is injected remotely from the nuclear medicine clinic which may present unique radiation protection considerations.
The Structural Basis for the Production of Cancer and Detoxification by Oxidized Metabolites of Mesoanthracenic Methylated and Non-Methylated Polynuclear Hydrocarbons: a Paradigm Shift

Although many attempts have been made since 1930 to explain the production of cancer in experimental animals by oxidized metabolites of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) with either molecular structure types ArCH2X or ArX, the simplest interpretation is that one type must function in experimental animals to produce cancer, whereas the other structural type prevents the production of cancer by formation of detoxification products. The specific predictions of the Unified Theory of carcinogenesis by PAH or PACs (Polynuclear Aromatic Compounds) depends on the validity of the predictions for the production of cancer by PACs with structural types ArCH2X or ArX. These two structural types have been adopted as crucial models for PAC metabolites by Flesher, Sydnor and colleagues since the 1970s. We were aided by the experiments and strong inferences of Professors Fieser, Fried, Boyland, Sims, and Huggins, and the theoretical studies of a possible structure of the ultimate carcinogen for 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene and closely related hydrocarbons by Brookes and Dipple together with the calculations of Dewar that predict the most reactive centers for substitution reactions in unsubstituted hydrocarbons. Shear in the late 1930s and 1940s was the first to show that meso-aldehydes and meso-methyl-substituted hydrocarbons function as precursors to active compounds with structure type ArCH2X. The discoveries by Flesher, Sydnor and coworkers demonstrated that biological methylation must take place at the most reactive center in non-methylated hydrocarbons catalyzed by cytosolic SAM-dependent methyltransferases, and the methyl group must subsequently be hydroxylated and conjugated with a good leaving group, if the PAC is to be carcinogenic. This is precisely the same site of special reactivity required for methylation by chemical synthesis as calculated by the Dewar molecular orbital approach. Blocking the reactive center in the aromatic nucleus (in the form of products as ArX) with the same groups attached to the meso-methyl group of methyl-substituted hydrocarbons (in the form ArCH2X) which produces cancer typically abolishes the production of cancer. Consequently, no theory relating ring oxidation to the production of cancer can account for the fact that substitution of reactive centers in non-methylated hydrocarbons with hydroxy or acetoxy groups, while simultaneously blocking methylation, also abolish its carcinogenic activity. If alternative hypotheses or theories do not cite the fundamental studies of Fieser and of Shear and Leiter there is little possibility that the alternative theory is correct. It seems obvious that most, if not all, hypotheses or theories that attempt to relate ring oxidized metabolites of PAH to the production of cancer have been disproved.
162 – Tolloid (Drosophila)

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the activity, specificity and structural chemistry of Drosophila tolloid. The Drosophila tolloid (tld) and tolloid-related (tlr) genes code for Tolloid and Tolloid-related enzymes of the astacin family of metalloproteases. The Tld and Tlr are highly homologous, and are encoded by contiguous genes that appear to have arisen by a gene duplication event. Both proteins are synthesized as proenzymes that are 1057 and 1465 residues long, respectively, and have predicted signal sequences at their N-termini. The difference in overall length of these two proteins resides primarily in the pro domain that is much longer for Tlr. Following the pro domain, each protein contains an astacin-like protease motif which is in turn followed by five CUB protein-protein interaction domains interspersed with two Ca-binding epidermal growth factor-like motifs. At the blastoderm stage, tld and decapentaplegic are expressed in the dorsal half of the Drosophila embryo while sog is expressed in ventral lateral cells. Phenotypic analysis of tld mutants suggests that its primary function is to help augment Dpp activity.
Etomidate Induced Seizure: Adverse Drug Event Case Report.

Objective/purpose:To report a case of etomidate induced seizure in a patient that received 0.15 mg/kg of etomidate for a procedural sedation which resolved without intervention.Summary:A 68-year-ol...
Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy (MHAA) for Youth: An evaluation of a college-based mental health literacy curriculum

Abstract Purpose College students’ mental health issues are a growing concern on campuses across the United States. With traditional face-to-face therapy services often being overburdened, university systems have invested resources into prevention based, health education approaches to decreasing students’ mental health issues. Despite investment, there is not, to our knowledge, an evidence-based curriculum taught as part of a degree seeking program that addresses increasing students’ mental health literacy (MHL). Accordingly, the Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy (MHAA) curriculum was created and evaluated in a college student population. Methods A total of 161 college students (n = 89 control; n = 71 treatment) participated in a quasi-experimental comparison X treatment X modality design. MHL (The Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy Assessment Tool and other related MHL measures) was assessed at two time points (beginning/end of semester). Generalized linear mixed effect models were used to analyze outcomes. Results Results of the pilot study indicated that students taking the MHAA curriculum, both in-person and online modalities, significantly increased key components of MHL (knowledge and self-efficacy) compared to the control group. MHL behaviors did not change in either group. There were no significant modality differences. Conclusion We conclude that the MHAA curriculum is useful in increasing students’ mental health literacy with no significant differences between online and in-person modalities. Future curriculum iterations may benefit from more strategically targeting MHL behaviors to further enhance effects of the course on prevention of mental health issues.
Differentiation of IL-17–Producing Effector and Regulatory Human T Cells from Lineage-Committed Naive Precursors

A subset of human regulatory T cells (Tregs) secretes IL-17 and thus resembles Th17 effector cells. How IL-17(+) Tregs differentiate from naive precursors remains unclear. In this study, we show that IL-17-producing T cells can differentiate from CCR6(+) naive T cell precursors in the presence of IL-2, IL-1β, TGF-β, and IL-23. CCR6(+) naive T cells are present in adult peripheral and umbilical cord blood and in both conventional T naive and FOXP3(+) naive Treg subsets. IL-17(+) cells derived from CCR6(+) naive Tregs (referred to as IL-17(+) Tregs) express FOXP3 but not HELIOS, another Treg-associated transcription factor, and these cells display suppressor capacity and a surface phenotype resembling memory Tregs. Remarkably, the IL-17(+) Treg compartment was preferentially reduced relative to the canonical Th17 and Treg compartments in a subset of HIV(+) subjects, suggesting a specific perturbation of this subset during the course of disease. Our findings that CCR6(+) naive precursors contain a predetermined reservoir to replenish IL-17-secreting cells may have implications in balancing the Th17 and IL-17(+) Treg compartments that are perturbed during HIV infection and potentially in other inflammatory diseases.
Flexible Class Loader Framework: Sharing Java Resources in Harness System

Harness is a Java-centric, experimental metacomputing system based on the principle of dynamic reconfigurability, not only in terms of the computers and networks that comprise the virtual machine, but also in the capabilities of the VM itself. These characteristics may be modified under user control via a "plug-in" mechanism that is the central feature of the system. This "plug-in" mechanism relies on the underlying class loader services which enable loading and accessing Java classes and resources from a set of software repositories. However, the specific class loading requirements imposed by Harness cannot be satisfied by any of the class loaders provided as a part of Java platform. In this paper we describe new, flexible, class loading techniques which are primarily intended to improve plug-in management and security aspects in the Harness system but can also benefit other applications, especially those collaboratively accessing shared Java resources.
Andersen-Tawil and Timothy Syndromes

This chapter summarizes two relatively new ion channelopathies, Andersen-Tawil and Timothy syndromes. Both disorders are pleiotropic in nature, with multiple clinical manifestations outside the cardiovascular system. While both Andersen-Tawil and Timothy syndromes are disorders of ventricular repolarization, their unique clinical phenotype distinguishes them from the traditional forms of long QT syndrome (LQTS). The degree of QT prolongation in each disorder is directly related to the contribution of the disordered ion channel to the various phases of the cardiac action potential. This chapter discusses the most recent genetic, cellular, and clinical data underlying these unique ion channelopathies.
Advertising, Ethics of

The economic importance of advertising and its social visibility brings it under great public scrutiny. Advertising is by definition, one-sided persuasive communications using mass media to promote a product or service. Critics argue that it violates the principle of fairness by depriving consumers of unbiased input necessary to make an informed decision. Supporters contend that the vast majority of advertisers provide useful information allowing consumers to glean facts that enhances the efficiency of the product selection process. Government regulation and controls, industry self-regulation, and the inherent professional ethic in the industry all serve to mitigate the most obvious forms of deception and unfairness. Keywords: ethics of advertising; deception; Federal Trade Commission; mass media marketing
SNAMP: Secure namespace mapping to scale NDN forwarding

Named Data Networking (NDN) is a proposed information-centric design for the future Internet architecture, where application names are directly used to route requests for data. This key component of the architecture raises concerns about scalability of the forwarding system in NDN network, i.e., how to keep the routing table sizes under control given unbounded nature of application data namespaces. In this paper we apply a well-known concept of Map-and-Encap to provide a simple and secure namespace mapping solution to the scalability problem. More specifically, whenever necessary, application data names can be mapped to a set of globally routable names that are used to retrieve the data. By including such sets in data requests, we are informing (more precisely, hinting) the forwarding system of the whereabouts of the requested data, and such hints can be used when routers do not know from where to retrieve the data using application data names alone. This solution enables NDN forwarding to scale with the Internet's well-understood routing protocols and operational practice, while keeping all the benefits of the new NDN architecture.
The Meek amidst the Mighty: Factors in the Rare Occurrence of Clergy in Municipal Elective Office

The political activity of ordained clergy has been examined in many ways, but few studies have investigated the prevalence of, and rationale for, clergy involvement in political office. Although the phenomenon might be rare, there is little known about the factors that are associated with the incidence of clergy who hold public office, particularly factors of the social, political, or economic context. This study utilizes data from a national survey of U.S. municipalities to identify the main contextual factors that serve as predictors of clergy serving in local public office. Results from bivariate and regression analyses indicate that the contextual factors of race, region, and form of representation are most prominent in the incidence of clergy as municipal officeholders.
MBO Financing Risks And Managers' Use Of Anti- Takeover Measures

In a management buyout (MBO) offer, managers have an incentive to offer stockholders a price low enough to compensate them for the risks of increasing their equity ownership in a highly leve- raged buyout firm. As these risks increase, managers are more likely to combine their offer with an anti-takeover measure. These measures do not protect a low offer, but do result in a higher takeover price when managers are unwilling to match a competitive offer. Such measures, then, benefit shareholders.
Cauchy’s Theorem, First Part

Let [a, b] be a closed interval of real numbers. By a curve γ (defined on this interval) we mean a function $$ \gamma :\left[ {a,b} \right] \to C $$ which we assume to be of class C1.
Drosophila Lame duck, a novel member of the Gli superfamily, acts as a key regulator of myogenesis by controlling fusion-competent myoblast development

A hallmark of mature skeletal muscles is the presence of multinucleate muscle fibers. In Drosophila, the formation of muscle syncytia requires the cooperative participation of two types of myoblasts, founder cells and fusion-competent myoblasts. We show that a newly identified gene, lame duck (lmd), has an essential regulatory role in the specification and function of fusion-competent myoblasts. Embryos that lack lmd function show a loss of expression of two key differentiation and fusion genes, Mef2 and sticks-and-stones, in fusion-competent myoblasts and are completely devoid of multinucleate muscle fibers. By contrast, founder cells are specified and retain their capability to differentiate into mononucleate muscle cells. lmd encodes a novel member of the Gli superfamily of transcription factors and is expressed in fusion-competent myoblasts and their precursors in a Wingless- and Notch-dependent manner. The activity of the Lmd protein appears to be additionally controlled by its differential cytoplasmic versus nuclear localization. Results from an independent molecular screen for binding factors to a myoblast-specific Mef2 enhancer further demonstrate that Lmd is a direct transcriptional regulator of Mef2 in fusion-competent myoblasts.
Loss of material from liquid metal collector surfaces during sputter deposition of gold

Abstract We have investigated the loss of both sputtered atoms and substrate atoms from liquid Ga-In alloy collector surfaces exposed to sputtered Au by analyzing the composition and angular distribution of material deposited on a graphite collector surrounding the alloy. Ga, In and Au atoms were all detected on the graphite collector. The angular distribution of Au was strongly peaked toward the surface normal of the alloy collector, consistent with specular reflection of Au atoms incident on the alloy surface. The presence of In and Ga on the graphite surface indicates that sputtering of the alloy collector surface occurs during sputter deposition. The broad angular distributions obtained for these elements are consistent with this conclusion. Deposited Au was not subject to resputtering because it did not remain on the liquid alloy surface after deposition. Our results suggest that, for more conventional solid collectors, resputtering of deposited material and direct reflection of incident atoms are both significant mechanisms for the loss of material and the redistribution of material during sputter deposition. Re-examination of the results of many collection-type sputtering experiments should be considered in the light of these results.
Towards a distributed hyperheuristic deploy architecture

The hyperheuristic term is known in the optimization field as an automated methodology for selecting or generating heuristics to solve hard computational search problems. From the design perspective, it is based on decoupling the solving intelligence from the domain expertise, allowing to reuse the same solver for multiple, usually related problem domains. There are few works in which hyperheuristics have been designed and evaluated in distributed environments. In this paper, we propose a conceptual design of a distributed hyperheuristic architecture, from the problem domain deploying perspective, which allows to communicate different optimization environments (such as solver and domain) and to offering a "solving service". Different problems domains could be addressed using an encapsulated hyperheuristic solver, and through well defined interfaces, users can provide different heuristic components to perform the optimization process. The proposed architecture is only an initial step for which different modeling, design and implementation issues must be addressed. Such research should be focused on defining how conceptual design contributions must be leveraged to implement well defined interfaces, capable of connecting hyperheuristic solvers and problem domains within distributed environments.
Hydrogen bonding. Part 79. FT-NMR study of hydration of N,N-dimethyl-1-adamantamine-hydrogen fluoride and N,N-dimethyl-1-adamantylammonium chloride

Abstract N , N -Dimethyl-1-adamantamine-hydrogen fluoride (2MAAHF) is a crystalline molecular species with a three-center covalent N–H–F bond; it can be recovered unchanged from aqueous solution. The saturated solution is a liquid pentahydrate; this quantity of H 2 O is insufficient to form a clathrate cage around 2MAAHF. Incremental increase of H 2 O content results in dramatic changes in the NMR spectrum of 2MAAHF. This behavior differs from that observed with the ionic salt 2MAAH + Cl − . The saturated solution of 2MAAH + Cl − contains 11.5 mol equiv. H 2 O, the amount required for formation of a clathrate cage about such cations, and essentially no change in the NMR spectrum takes place on dilution. Even in dilute solutions, the spectra of 2MAAHF and 2MAAH + Cl − are not the same. The NMR spectral properties of 2MAAHF cannot be explained by effect of either F − or 2MAAH + alone, but must result from the combined effects of both. This leads us to assume that 2MAAHF remains as an unionized molecular species in aqueous solution.
Anaerobic phenanthrene mineralization by a carboxylating sulfate-reducing bacterial enrichment

Information on the susceptibility of higher molecular weight polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons to anaerobic biodegradation is relatively rare. We obtained a sulfate-reducing bacterial enrichment capable of phenanthrene metabolism from a hydrocarbon-contaminated marine sediment. Phenanthrene degradation was in stoichiometric agreement with the theoretically expected amount of sulfate reduction and inhibited by molybdate. Mineralization of (14)C-phenanthrene by the enrichment was confirmed by the recovery of the expected amount of (14)CO(2). Stable isotope studies with protonated or deuterated phenanthrene resulted in the detection of the correspondingly labeled phenanthrene carboxylic acid by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Comparison of the metabolite profile with a synthesized standard confirmed that the parent molecule was carboxylated at the C-2 position. Incorporation of (13)C-bicarbonate into the carboxyl group implicated a direct carboxylation of phenanthrene as a likely key initial reaction. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of the enrichment showed only two major bands and 16S rRNA sequences obtained by cloning clustered with known hydrocarbon-degrading sulfate-reducing delta-proteobacteria, indicating their possible involvement in the anaerobic oxidation of phenanthrene via carboxylation as the initial activation reaction.
Magnetic x-ray scattering measurements on MnF2.

We report the results of a high-resolution synchrotron x-ray scattering study of the magnetic scattering from Mn${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$. The temperature dependence of the magnetic order parameter was obtained from the intensity of the direct magnetic scattering of x rays from the ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ spins. The intense, highly collimated synchrotron beam allowed for a clear, extinction-free separation of the Bragg component from the diffuse scattering even very close to the N\'eel temperature ${T}_{N}$. The excellent magnetic scattering signal-to-noise ratio should allow for the observation of critical scattering for temperatures within 1 mK of ${T}_{N}$.
Geometric perturbations in multiheaded papillary tip positions associated with acute ovine ischemic mitral regurgitation.

Abstract Background Novel surgical approaches are focusing on the "ventricular disease" of ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR), to correct altered papillary muscle (PM) tip positions (apical displacement) and ameliorate leaflet tethering. Due to the anatomic complexity of the subvalvular apparatus, however, the precise geometric perturbations of the multiheaded PM tips associated with IMR remain uncharacterized. Methods In 6 adult sheep, we implanted 3 markers on each PM. To specifically identify distinct PM tips, 1 marker was placed on the PM origin of the dominant chord to the anterior, posterior, and commissural leaflets. Nine markers were placed on the edge of the posterior mitral leaflet, and 5 on the edge of the anterior mitral leaflet. Eight markers were sewn around the mitral annulus. Animals were studied immediately postoperatively, with biplane videofluoroscopy and transesophageal echocardiography, before and during acute snare occlusion of the proximal left circumflex coronary artery, to induce IMR. Papillary muscle tip and leaflet edge geometry was expressed as the orthogonal distance of each respective marker to the least-squares mitral annulus plane at end-systole. In addition, the distance from each PM tip marker to the mitral annulus "saddle horn" was calculated. Results Acute left circumflex occlusion significantly increased mitral regurgitation from a baseline of 0.7 ± 0.3 to 2.5 ± 0.5 ( P Conclusions During acute ischemia, no apical displacement of any PM tip was observed. Posterior PM movement away from the annular saddle horn, and toward the annulus, was associated with IMR and leaflet prolapse near the posterior commissure, and with restriction near the valve center. These data may help guide development of surgical interventions aimed at PM repositioning.
First-Year College Women's Motivations for Hooking up: A Mixed-Methods Examination of Normative Peer Perceptions and Personal Hookup Participation

ABSTRACT. This study used content analysis techniques to explore 221 first-year college women's perceptions of female peers’ reasons (i.e., normative perceptions) for hooking up. Data on personal participation in hooking up were also collected. The well-established Drinking Motives Questionnaire (Cooper, 1994) was used as a framework for coding positive (enhancement or social) and negative (coping or conformity) normative hookup motivations. Participants most commonly indicated that enhancement reasons motivated peers’ hookup behaviors (69.7%). Coping (23.5%), external (21.7%), social (19.5%), and conformity (16.3%) motives were cited less frequently. Furthermore, women who had hooked up since matriculating into college (61.5%, n = 136) were significantly more likely to state that their female peers hook up for enhancement reasons (a positive motive), but they were significantly less likely to perceive that typical female peers hook up for coping or conformity reasons (negative motives) (ps < .001). Findi...
Least Restrictive Environment Understanding the Direction of the Courts

A clear understanding of judicial opinions is essential to individuals responsible for providing children with disabilities with an appropriate program within a least restrictive environment (LRE). To assist in achieving this understanding, the purpose of this paper was twofold: (a) to identify and delineate the LRE standards established within federal circuit courts and (b) to create an alternative, more comprehensive, standard that reflects the explicit mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990. In addition to a current overview of LRE court decisions and specific legal issues, the similarities and differences of four standards are discussed.
Twice Removed: King Islanders' Experience of "Community" through Two Relocations

The relocation and displacement of indigenous peoples due to Western colonization and natural disasters is common throughout the world, with detrimental effects on cultural cohesion, maintenance of tradition, and physical and psychological health. This article examines the special case of the King Island Native Community for whom displacement and relocation happened twice in 20 years: the first a gradual relocation from their island home in the Bering Strait to a shanty town east of Nome, Alaska, in the mid-20th century and the second due to a storm surge that destroyed their homes at East End. While outsiders might predict that leaving their island home was worse than moving to Nome, King Islanders instead remember East End as a place of community closeness and cohesion. This article examines King Islanders' sense of community. We argue that policymakers should allow communities to decide for themselves what the most important elements of their "community" are, especially since climate change may cause d...
The Costs of Urban Sprawl: Some New Evidence:

A large national sample from the US 1977 Nationwide Personal Transportation Study is analyzed in order to test the transport economies that may result from the dispersion of work trip-ends. Based on indirect evidence that the largest metropolitan areas have the largest proportion of noncentral-city work trip-ends, we associate a variety of work-trip results for such cities with a polycentric urban form hypothesis. We claim that these results also suggest that decentralized settlement (‘sprawl’?) is not necessarily uneconomical.
Enantioseparation of 3-phenylacetylamino-2,6-piperidinedione and related chiral compounds

This paper reports HPLC methodology for the first successful enantiomeric separations of 3-phenylacetylamino-2,6-piperidinedione (PAP), a naturally occurring peptide derivative used for inhibiting the growth of cancer tissues. The chiral separation of four related hydrolysates is also described. A commercially available tris-4-methylbenzoate cellulose (Chiralcel OJ) column was used as the chiral stationary phase, operated in the normal-phase mode. The results demonstrated that hydrolyzed products of PAP, each of which has a carboxylic acid functionality present in its structure, eluted in a reasonable time and are enantiomerically resolved only when a trace amount of organic acid is present in the mobile phase. Different alcohols (ethanol and isopropanol) and acid additives (trifluoroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid and acetic acid) were evaluated. In general, for the separation of the acidic enantiomers, ethanol is superior to isopropanol and stronger acids enhance the resolution more effectively. However, chiral separation of PAP could only be accomplished with isopropanol in the mobile phase and no acidic additive was needed.
A Developmental Study of a New Species of Ophiodothella

This organism has been observed growing on the leaves of Vaccinium arboreum Marsh, in Georgia and other Southern States, and, being a leaf parasite, it has proven especially productive in a study of the development of a peculiar type of perithecium. The asexual stage begins in middle summer and continues throughout the fall, followed by the development of a perfect stage, with perithecia in the mesophyll of the leaf, beginning the latter part of September. At frequent intervals, the infected leaves have been gathered and sectioned, and the development of the organism studied. Both stages are apparently new and are so described in this paper. This type of organism has been placed in the Phyllachoraceae of the Dothideales on the basis of having no true perithecial walls, but the ontogenetic studies here show a definite wall which places this in the Sphaeriales. On the basis of examinations of type specimens the writer here transfers the genus Ophiodothella from the Dothideales to the Sphaeriales.
Directions in Near-Death Research.

Abstract In the past decade, medical and behavioral scientists have published reports of over 3,000 documented cases of near-death experience. The scientific study of near-death, circumthanatology, has progressed from the collection and description of the raw data on the near-death experience to more sophisticated data collection and analysis, new study techniques, and the formulation of concepts, generalizations, and theories. Beginning the decade of the 1980s, near-death research is moving in three directions. The major thrust is toward ongoing accumulation of knowledge on the near-death experience through scientifically derived studies. The most controversial and least supported of the other two directions is the movement toward the examination of the question of postmortem survival. The third direction is the movement toward the clinical application of the findings of near-death research.