cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stress and addiction: a dynamic interplay of genes, environment, and drug intake.

Converging lines of evidence indicate that stress increases risk of addictive behaviors (1). Early life stress and child maltreatment, chronic cumulative adversity, major life trauma and negative emotionality and impulsivity/sensation seeking traits are each associated with increasing level of drug use and abuse (1). Persistent and uncontrollable stressful experiences interacts with individual genetic susceptibility to alter synthesis, expression and signaling in stress-related pathways (e.g. corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF), glucocorticoids, norepinephrine, GABA, neuorpeptide Y, BDNF, serotonin, gluatamate and dopamine), thereby resulting in individual differences in stress responses ([2], [3]. For example, genetic variation in the serotonin transporter gene interacts with early life stress resulting in hyperresponsivity to stressors that increase vulnerability to psychiatric disorders such as major depression. Similarly, individual variation in the NPY gene is associated with anxiety and emotional reactivity (1). Chronic adversity and early life stress is also associated with altered glucocortoid gene expression, increased CRF mRNA expression in the amygdala, and changes in serotonin function ([2], [3] and [4]).
A Semi-Analytical Model of Contact Resistance from Sinusoidal Asperity or Wavy Surface Contact

All engineering surfaces have roughness that obstructs the flow of electrical current between to contacting surfaces. The peaks of roughness on the surface are modeled using the single asperity concept. In this work a 3-dimensional sinusoidal asperity is modeled as an electrical contact. A semi-analytical model of contact resistance based on pressure is obtained as a function of normal load using finite element results and analytical solutions. There is a significant difference between the sinusoidal contact model predictions and the spherical models typically used. These results could be used in rough surface contact models based on sinusoidal shaped asperities, such as recent multiscale stacked models.
Fault recovery for a distributed SP-based delay constrained multicast routing algorithm

This paper proposes a new distributed shortest path (SP) based delay constrained multicast routing algorithm which is capable of constructing a delay constrained multicast tree when node,failures occur during the tree construction period and recovering from any node failure in a multicast tree during the on-going multicast session without interrupting the running traffic on the unaffected portion of the tree. The proposed algorithm performs the failure recovery efficiently, which gives better performance in terms of the number of exchanged messages and the convergence time than the existing distributed SP-based delay constrained multicast routing algorithms in a network where node failures occur.
Performance of Quantized Congestion Notification in TCP Incast Scenarios of Data Centers

This paper analyzes the performance of Ethernet layer congestion control mechanism Quantized Congestion Notification (QCN) during data access from clustered servers in data centers. We analyze the reasons why QCN does not perform adequately in these situations and propose several modifications to the protocol to improve its performance in these scenarios. We trace the causes of QCN performance degradation to flow rate variability, and show that adaptive sampling at the switch and adaptive self-increase of flow rates at the rate limiter improve performance in a TCP In cast setup significantly. We compare the performance of QCN against TCP modifications in a heterogeneous environment, and show that modifications to QCN yield better performance.
HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN KIDNEYS OF URBAN GRAY SQUIRRELS

Concentrations of lead and zinc in the kidneys of 180 urban gray squirrels were determined by spectrophotometry and found similar for all age groups; however, concentrations of cadmium increased up to two years of age. Values for 12 rural squirrels were significantly lower than those of the urban animals. There were no differences in mean concentrations of the metals when urban squirrels were grouped by the land usage pattern of the sites in which they were captured. Grouping squirrels by human socioeconomic strata for the city revealed that squirrels in low socioeconomic areas have significantly higher levels of lead than animals residing in middle or high socioeconomic areas.
Higher-Order Modal Dispersion in Graded-Index Multimode Fiber

Previously, we proposed a field-coupling model for propagation in graded-index multimode fiber (MMF), analogous to the principal states model for polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) in single-mode fiber. That model was based on the concept of first-order principal modes, which have well-defined group delays that depend on the strength of the mode coupling. That first-order model predicts a linear relationship between the intensity waveforms at the MMF input and output. Here, we extend that model to account for higher order modal dispersion. The higher-order model predicts several effects analogous to higher-order PMD: pulse broadening, filling-in between peaks of the pulse response, depolarization and pattern blurring at the MMF output, and a nonlinear relationship between input and output intensity waveforms.
Complementary Role of Multimodality Imaging in the Evaluation of Intracardiac Lymphoma in an HIV-Infected Man

A 52-year-old homosexual male presented with a 5-month history of anorexia and malaise, a 2-week history of night sweats, pleuritic chest pain, and worsening dyspnea on exertion. A transthoracic echocardiogram to evaluate the cause of his dyspnea revealed significant pericardial effusion with evidence of tamponade physiology, bulky mass (arrowheads) within the coronary sinus (parasternal long axis, Figure 1A, Movie I), and multiple large masses in the right atrium traversing the septum into the left atrium (subcostal, Figure 1B, Movie II). The left ventricular ejection fraction was estimated to be 50%. His blood count showed 5.2×103 white cells/cm3, 39.2% hematocrit, and 279×103 platelets …
EXAMINING THE ROLE OF PANETH CELLS IN THE SMALL INTESTINE BY LINEAGE ABLATION IN TRANSGENIC MICE

The Paneth cell lineage is one of four epithelial lineages derived from the adult mouse small intestine's multipotent stem cell. Mature Paneth cells secrete antimicrobial peptides (cryptdins), growth factors, as well as two gene products, a secreted phospholipase A2 and matrilysin, that has been implicated as modifiers of adenoma formation in mice containing a mutation in the tumor suppressor Apc. Immature Paneth cells are located just above and below the cell layer, in intestinal crypts, that has been proposed to contain the multipotent stem cell. Paneth cells differentiate during a downward migration to the crypt base. The location and direction of Paneth cell migration, their high density and long residency time at the crypt base, and the nature of their secreted gene products, suggest that they may influence the structure and/or function of the stem cell niche. Paneth cell ablation can therefore be viewed as an experimental manipulation of the cellular microenvironment that purportedly contains the stem cell and its immediate descendants. Two types of ablation experiments were performed in transgenic mice. Nucleotides −6500 to +34 of the mouse cryptdin-2 gene (CR2) were used to express an attenuated diphtheria toxin A fragment. Light and electron microscopic immunohistochemical analyses of several pedigrees of postnatal day 28 to 180 animals established that ablation of Paneth cells is accompanied by an increase in the proportion of undifferentiated crypt base columnar cells. These cells normally co-exist with Paneth cells. The ablation does not produce a detectable effect on the proliferation or terminal differentiation programs of the other three lineages or on host-microbial interactions. The last conclusion is based on the ability of crypts to remain free of microbes detectable by Gram and Warthin-Starry stains and by retention of the normal crypt-villus distribution of components of the diffuse gut-associated lymphoid tissue. CR2-directed expression of simian virus 40 large T antigen also results in a loss of mature Paneth cells but produces a marked amplification of crypt cells having a morphology intermediate between Paneth and granule goblet cells. EM immunohistochemical analyses suggest that intermediate cells can differentiate to mature goblet cells but not to Paneth cells, as they migrate up the crypt-villus axis. Our findings suggest that (i) stemness in the crypt is not defined by instructive interactions involving the Paneth cell; (ii) expressing a Paneth cell fate may require that precursors migrate to the crypt base; (iii) antimicrobial factors produced by Paneth cells are not required to prevent colonization of small intestinal crypts; and (iv) this lineage does not function to maintain the asymmetric crypt-villus distribution of components of the diffuse gut-associated lymphoid tissue.
Nonequilibrium, multiple-timescale simulations of ligand-receptor interactions in structured protein systems.

Predicting the long-time, nonequi- librium dynamics of receptor-ligand interactions for structured proteins in a host fluid is a formi- dable task, but of great importance to predicting and analyzing cell-signaling processes and small molecule drug efficacies. Such processes take place on timescales on the order of milliseconds to sec- onds, so "brute-force" real-time, molecular or atomic simulations to determine absolute ligand-binding rates to receptor targets and over a statistical en- semble of systems are not currently feasible. In the current study, we implement on real protein sys- tems a previously developed 3-5 hybrid molecular dynamics/Brownian dynamics algorithm, which takes advantage of the underlying, disparate time- scales involved and overcomes the limitations of brute-force approaches. The algorithm is based on a multiple timescale analysis of the total system Ham- iltonian, including all atomic and molecular struc- ture information for the system: water, ligand, and receptor. In general, the method can account for the complex hydrodynamic, translational-orientational diffusion aspects of ligand-docking dynamics as well as predict the actual or absolute rates of ligand binding. To test some of the underlying features of the method, simulations were conducted here for an artificially constructed spherical protein "made" from the real protein insulin. Excellent compari- sons of simulation calculations of the so-called grand particle friction tensor to analytical values were obtained for this system when protein charge ef- fects were neglected. When protein charges were included, we found anomalous results caused by the alteration of the spatial, microscopic structure of water proximal to the protein surface. Protein charge effects were found to be highly significant and consistent with the recent hypothesis of Hop- pert and Mayer (Am Sci 1999;87:518 -525) for charged macromolecules in water, which involves the forma- tion of a "water dense region" proximal to the charged protein surface followed by a "dilute water region." We further studied the algorithm on a D-peptide/HIV capside protein system and demon- strated the algorithms utility to study the nonequi- librium docking dynamics in this contemporary problem. In general, protein charge effects, which alter water structural properties in an anomalous fashion proximal to the protein surface, were found to be much more important than the so-called hydro- dynamic interaction effects between ligand and re- ceptor. The diminished role of hydrodynamic inter- actions in protein systems allows for a much simpler overall dynamic algorithm for the nonequilibrium protein-docking process. Further studies are now underway to critically examine this simpler overall algorithm in analyzing the nonequilibrium protein- docking problem. Proteins 2003;52:339 -348.
Hibernia oil production platform enhances safety and efficiency with on-line electronic documentation

Through the implementation of an on-line document retrieval and viewing system, the Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. is fulfilling its commitment to safety, the environment and responsible operation of the Hibernia asset. Quick and easy access to critical technical documentation ensures Hibernia employees have the most up to date information available to them for troubleshooting, maintenance activities and research needs.
Alienation as a process: Work as a case in point.

A theoretical framework is tested predicting that the lack of perceived status recognition within a status structure promotes social psychological withdrawal from that status structure. Scales of Powerlessness, Meaninglessness, and Normlessness were used as independent variables, representing aspects of the work status structure. Self-Evaluative Involvement in work and Instrumental Work Orientation scales were employed as two indicators of social psychological withdrawal from the work role. Some empirical support for the theoretical framework is presented.
MEMCAD capacitance calculations for mechanically deformed square diaphragm and beam microstructures

A Micro-ElectroMechanical Computer-Aided Design (MEMCAD) system is being developed to make it possible for microsensor designers to perform realistic simulations easily and quickly. Carefully selected commercial software packages have been linked with specialized databases and numerical programs to allow a designer to enter a three-dimensional microsensor geometry and quickly perform both mechanical and electrical analysis. The authors briefly describe the system and demonstrate its effectiveness by accurately calculating the capacitance versus pressure (or force) curve for a square diaphragm deformed by a differential pressure and for a rectangular beam deflected by a centrally applied force. The MEMCAD system has successfully implemented the following: querying a material property database for material property insertion, combining a 3-D solid model with displacement information from the finite element method, and interfacing the 3-D solid model format with a capacitance extraction program. >
Transcriptional mapping and genomic analysis of the cardiac atria and ventricles

The atria and ventricles of the heart have distinct development, structure, and physiology. However, only a few of the genes that underlie the differences between these tissues are known. We used a murine cardiac cDNA microarray to identify genes differentially expressed in the atria and ventricles. The reliability of these findings is supported by highly concordant repetition of hybridization, recognition of previously known atrial and ventricular isoforms of contractile proteins, and confirmation of results by quantitative PCR and in situ hybridization. We examined the most differentially regulated genes for evolutionarily conserved noncoding sequences and found that atrial-expressed genes have more predicted myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) binding sites than ventricle-predominant genes. We confirmed that messages for MEF2 family members are more abundant in the atria, as are their protein products. Moreover, the activity of a transgenic reporter construct for MEF2 activity is preferentially upregulated in the atria in response to hypertrophic stimuli. This study provides a greater understanding of the molecular differences between atria and ventricles and establishes the framework for an anatomically detailed evaluation of cardiac transcriptional regulation.
Active and passive smoking in childhood is related to the development of inflammatory bowel disease

Background: The highest prevalence of smoking in the United States is in Kentucky, where smoking typically begins in childhood. The state has many patients who suffer from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The primary aim of this study was to assess whether exposure to active and/or passive tobacco smoke in childhood is related to the likelihood of developing IBD. Methods: Recruited into this prospective study were a total of 672 participants (253 patients with Crohn's disease [CD], 177 patients with ulcerative colitis [UC], and 242 controls), all of whom were asked to complete the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey modified by the addition of 4 questions on childhood passive smoke exposure. Results: Survey response rate was 84%. CD and UC patients were more likely than controls to begin smoking regularly by ages 10 and 15, respectively, suggesting that becoming a regular smoker at a younger age may be associated with a subsequent diagnosis of IBD. Smoking by age 10 was associated with an earlier age at diagnosis with UC, but not with CD. CD patients were more likely than controls to have prenatal smoke exposure (odds ratio [OR], 1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1–2.71) and were more likely to have passive smoke exposure during childhood, with 1 or both parents or other household members being smokers (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.28–3.31). Conclusions: Passive and active smoke exposure in childhood influences the development of IBD. A high incidence of this disease in a state with a high rate of cigarette smoking underscores the profound role of environmental factors in the etiology of these illnesses. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2007)
Multiport network model for microstrip patches covered with a dielectric layer

The MNM (multiport network model) method for the analysis of microstrip patches is extended for the analysis of thin patches covered with a dielectric layer. Analysis and design of one-port and two-port rectangular patches with a cover layer are reported. Experimental results verify the modeling and analysis approach. This approach is being used for computer-aided design of series-fed microstrip arrays covered with a thick dielectric layer. >
Ru(bpy)32+-mediated addition of Se-phenyl p-tolueneselenosulfonate to electron rich olefins

Abstract The addition of Se-phenyl p -tolueneselenosulfonate 1 to electron rich olefins 4a–4e upon visible light photolysis with a catalytic amount of tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) gives adducts 5 in high yield.
Incremental schema matching

The goal of schema matching is to identify correspondences between the elements of two schemas. Most schema matching systems calculate and display the entire set of correspondences in a single shot. Invariably, the result presented to the engineer includes many false positives, especially for large schemas. The user is often overwhelmed by all of the edges, annoyed by the false positives, and frustrated at the inability to see second- and third-best choices. We demonstrate a tool that circumvents these problems by doing the matching interactively. The tool suggests candidate matches for a selected schema element and allows convenient navigation between the candidates. The ranking of match candidates is based on lexical similarity, schema structure, element types, and the history of prior matching actions. The technical challenges are to make the match algorithm fast enough for incremental matching in large schemas and to devise a user interface that avoids overwhelming the user. The tool has been integrated with a prototype version of Microsoft BizTalk Mapper, a visual programming tool for generating XML-to-XML mappings.
Review-electrophoretic deposition of phosphors for solid-state lighting

Author(s): Talbot, JB; McKittrick, J | Abstract: Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is a facile method to produce phosphor particulate films for solid-state lighting applications. EPD has produced films in the conformal (deposited directly on the LED) or remote configurations (deposited on a substrate above the LED). Films of different blended phosphor compositions have been deposited to produce white emission, either by excitation with blue-emitting or near UV-emitting LEDs. Layered films of sequentially deposited phosphors have also been shown to produce white light. The key results from both experiments and theory are described and summarized, which show the utility of EPD as a phosphor particle coating method.
Operator effectiveness: The next step in improving plant performance

Presents a collection of slides covering the following topics: operator effectiveness; human performance; human factors; ASMC competency program; human attributes; fundamental human skills; and competency management.
Modern methods of analysis and computation of antenna radomes

A radome, an acronym coined from radar dome, is a structure placed over an antenna that protects the antenna from its physical environment. Ideally, the radome is radio-frequency (RF) transparent and does not degrade the electrical performance of the en-closed antenna. Today, radomes find wide applications in ground, maritime, aircraft, and missile electronic systems (Fig. 1).Very early methods of radome evaluation were cumbersome, relying on the use of a nomograph (1, 2). With the advent of the personal computer (PC), geo-metric optics approaches based on PC computers were developed (3, 4). But with recent advances in the PC speed and capabilities, physical optics based surface integration approaches that previously required a mainframe computer can now be accomplished on a PC (5).
The Power of Integrated Wireless and Mobile Communication Technologies and Their Impact on the Corporate World

This paper validates the progression and expected trends of integrated wireless and mobile communication technologies. Currently, these breakthroughs have allowed for high quality end-user experience with an acceptable level of usage and efficiency in business organizations. Forthcoming mobile broadband life creates new norms and expectations for end-users from the next business generation, who can utilize integrated wireless and mobile communication technologies in their full potential. Several scenarios from different domains illustrate the power of integrated wireless and mobile communication technologies and their impact on the corporate world. The models and scenarios show that the power of integrated wireless and mobile communication technologies is certainly in several orders of magnitude greater than the simple sum of their separate individual impacts.
Hysteresis-based optimization of data transfer throughput

The achievable throughput for a data transfer can be determined by a variety of factors such as network bandwidth, round trip time, background traffic, dataset size, and end-system configuration. For the best-effort optimization of the transfer throughput, three application-layer transfer parameters -- pipelining, parallelism and concurrency -- have been actively used in the literature. However, it is highly challenging to identify the best combination of these parameter settings for a specific data transfer request. In this paper, we analyze historical data consisting of 70 Million file transfers; apply data mining techniques to extract the hidden relations among the parameters and the optimal throughput; and propose a novel approach based on hysteresis to predict the optimal parameter settings.
Ethnicity, class, and civil war: the role of hierarchy, segmentation, and cross-cutting cleavages

AbstractWhy are some countries prone to ethno-nationalist conflict, whereas others are plagued by class conflict? This is a question that has seldom been raised and rarely been examined empirically. This paper presents a social-structural theory to account for the variable incidence of these two forms of political instability. These two types of conflict result from distinct principles of group solidarity – ethnicity and class – and since each individual is simultaneously a member of an ethnic group (or many such groups) and a particular class, these two principles vary in the degree to which they are mutually exclusive or cross-cutting. The degree of economic stratification between groups and economic segmentation within them shapes the relative salience of each principle of group solidarity in any society and is associated with a characteristic form of political mobilization. In places where between-group inequalities are high, and within-group inequalities low, ethnicity should be the dominant principl...
The Phenomenological Experience of First Responder Spouses

In this phenomenological study, the essence of being a first responder spouse was described through the lived experiences of the participants. The objective of this phenomenological study was to answer the question, “What is the experience of being the spouse of a first responder?” Participants included six spouses of first responders in the Southern United States. Five themes emerged from the data: (a) safety, (b) stress, (c) pride, (c.1) civic-mindedness, (d) identity, and (e) finances. The qualitative results identified significant barriers and stressors that exist within the first responder family system and implications for clinical practice with this population.
Distinct Functions of Argonaute Slicer in siRNA Maturation and Heterochromatin Formation.

Small-RNA (sRNA)-guided transcriptional gene silencing by Argonaute (Ago)-containing complexes is fundamental to genome integrity and epigenetic inheritance. The RNA cleavage ("Slicer") activity of Argonaute has been implicated in both sRNA maturation and target RNA cleavage. Typically, Argonaute slices and releases the passenger strand of duplex sRNA to generate active silencing complexes, but it remains unclear whether slicing of target nascent RNAs, or other RNAi components, also contributes to downstream transcriptional silencing. Here, we develop a strategy for loading the fission yeast Ago1 with a single-stranded sRNA guide, which bypasses the requirement for slicer activity in generation of active silencing complexes. We show that slicer-defective Ago1 can mediate secondary sRNA generation, H3K9 methylation, and silencing similar to or better than wild-type and associates with chromatin more efficiently. The results define an ancient and minimal sRNA-mediated chromatin silencing mechanism, which resembles the germline-specific sRNA-dependent transcriptional silencing pathways in Drosophila and mammals.
Lessons from citizen science: Assessing volunteer-collected plant phenology data with Mountain Watch

Abstract Citizen science has the potential to expand the scope of data collection, engage the public in research, and answer big scientific questions. But, the quality of volunteer-collected data is often called into question, and citizen science programs must find ways to assess the validity of this concern. Here, we review five years of volunteer-collected data from an alpine flower monitoring citizen science project and present our efforts to investigate the quality of the volunteer-collected data. We found disparity between citizen scientists' self-assessed and actual plant species identification skills, indicating error in either true plant identification or reported location, consequently limiting the use of this dataset. Citizen science programs, including this project, must assess their data, and then make adjustments — in training, data collection methods, or goals — in order to produce quality data consistent with their scientific intentions. Indeed, this project now relies only on observations from seasonal trained staff and a handful of skilled volunteers in light of these findings.
Checking the lists: A systematic review of electronic checklist use in health care

Abstract Objective We conducted a literature search to examine the effects and experiences surrounding the transition from paper to electronic checklists in healthcare settings. We explore the types of electronic checklists being used in health care, how and where they were evaluated and seek to identify the successes and failures of using electronic checklists in healthcare, including use of checklists to ensure completeness of documentation in the electronic medical record. Background Formalized checklist use as a memory and decision aid in aviation has resulted in significant increases in safety in that domain. Checklists have also been successfully introduced to reduce errors in some areas of healthcare; however, in some contexts checklists failed to provide some of the expected benefits. Adapting and integrating checklists electronically into the healthcare workflow provides opportunities and challenges that need to be better understood to make checklist adoption a success in health care. Method We conducted a literature search of the English language literature in MEDLINE using PubMed for peer-reviewed literature of implementation and use of electronic or computerized checklists related to clinical or healthcare use. We reviewed the studies and included in this review those papers that discussed in depth the development process and that conducted controlled studies to assess the effectiveness of checklists and the evaluation of their acceptance in the clinical context. Results The literature search using the keywords electronic checklist OR computerized checklist returned a total of 23 peer-reviewed papers. Out of these 15 were included in the review, with 8 excluded because they did not evaluate checklist use for patient care. Application More rigorous application of known principles and methods from Human Computer Interaction research and the behavioral sciences can provide a clearer, more comprehensive understanding of the conditions that affect the development and use of checklists.
To Serve with Honor: Doing the Right Thing in Government

No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.—Calvin Coolidge Many times we read tomes on the theoretical basis and dissected analysis of various aspe...
Polyprenyl Immunostimulant Treatment of Cats with Presumptive Non-Effusive Feline Infectious Peritonitis In a Field Study

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease with no clinically-effective treatment. This field study evaluated treatment with Polyprenyl Immunostimulant (PI) in cats with the non-effusive form of feline infectious peritonitis. Because immune suppression is a major component in the pathology of FIP, we hypothesized that treatment with an immune system stimulant would increase survival times of cats with dry FIP. Sixty cats, diagnosed with dry FIP by primary care and specialist veterinarians and meeting the acceptance criteria, were treated with PI without intentional selection of less severe cases. The survival time from the start of PI treatment in cats diagnosed with dry FIP showed that of the 60 cats with dry FIP treated with PI, 8 survived over 200 days and 4 of 60 survived over 300 days. A literature search identified 59 cats with non-effusive or dry FIP; no cat with only dry FIP lived longer than 200 days. Veterinarians of cats treated with PI that survived over 30 days reported improvements in clinical signs and behavior. The survival times in our study were significantly longer in cats who were not treated with corticosteroids concurrently with PI. While not a cure, Polyprenyl Immunostimulant shows promise in the treatment of dry form FIP but a controlled study will be needed to verify the benefit.
Deflagration and extinction of fuel droplet in a weakly-reactive atmosphere

The combustion of a fuel droplet in an oxidizing environment consisting of a small quantity of its own vapor is analyzed, in the limit of large activation energy, using matched asymptotic technique. The zeroth‐order solution yields explicit expresssions for the steady deflagration characteristics indicating that with increasing ambient fuel vapor concentration the flame size and temperature both increase whereas the droplet surface regression rate remains unchanged. The first order expansion yields the flame structure and a set of numerically‐obtained universal curves representing the extinction limits of the system.
Quantum and Classical IR Spectra of (HCOOH)2, (DCOOH)2 and (DCOOD)2 using Ab Initio Potential Energy and Dipole Moment Surfaces

An accurate quantum mechanical description of the vibrational dynamics and IR spectra of molecules is illustrated here for the formic acid dimer, (HCOOH)2 and its isotopologues (DCOOH)2 and (DCOOD)2 in full dimensionality. The calculations make use of recent full-dimensional ab initio potential energy and dipole moment surfaces and are done with the code MULTIMODE. IR spectra are reported for the three dimers and also compared to available experimental spectra. In addition, standard classical and "semiclassically prepared" quasiclassical molecular dynamics calculations of the IR spectra of these complexes are reported and compared to the quantum spectra and also experiment. These comparisons indicate good accuracy of the MD spectra for sharp bands but not for the complex O-H stretch band, where the complex molecular dynamics band is upshifted from experiments by roughly 300 cm-1. For the fully deuterated dimer (DCOOD)2, the quantum spectral band for the O-D stretch sharpens relative to the O-H spectral bands in (HCOOH)2 and (DCOOH)2; however, the molecular dynamics OD stretch band does not exhibit this sharpening.
Analogy, Homology, and Rhythmic Phylogeny: Commentary on Adrian Poole's "Comparing Timeline Rhythms in Pygmy and Bushmen Music"

In his article "Comparing Timeline Rhythms in Pygmy and Bushmen Music," Adrian Poole uses computational phylogenetic analysis to assess the similarity between canonical rhythmic patterns from two African musical cultures. He then uses these analyses to evaluate previous claims of a common origin for their (now) distinct musical practices. Poole was unable to find clear evidence of a common origin, and here I provide additional analyses of these timelines casting further doubt on such claims. Instead, I offer a perspective from convergent evolution/sociobiology which can account for the broad similarities that exist between these two sets of timelines. I conclude with a critique of the claim of Poole and others that African timelines and the musical cultures in which they appear are especially resistant to change.
The interrelationship between phosphate and magnesium metabolism.

A large body of evidence exists indicating a close interrelationship between body stores of phosphate and magnesium. In our presentation we will attempt to explore the relationship between the homeostasis of these two ions and to examine the possible mechanisms underlying these interactions.
Time-Varying Probabilities

There are many situations in which one needs to consider differential equations that contain a stochastic element, for example, equations in which the value of some coefficient depends on a measurement. The solution of the equation is then a function of the independent variables in the equation as well as of a point ω in some probability space; i.e., it is a stochastic process.
Cardiac CT: Credentialing and Accreditation

There are currently four different organizations recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as accreditors for CT imaging, including the American College of Radiology (ACR), The Joint Commission (TJC), the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC, formerly the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL)), and RadSite (https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/Accreditation-of-Advanced-Diagnostic-Imaging-Suppliers.html. Accessed 27 Oct 2016). In addition to general CT imaging accreditation, the ACR has a specific cardiac module, and the IAC has accreditation programs for coronary calcium scoring CT and coronary CTA exams. TJC and RadSite have no specific cardiac requirements for CT scanners, although RadSite requires submission of a sample cardiac case if cardiac CT is part of the clinical practice. The commonality of all four accreditors is that the CT equipment specifications and performance meet all state and federal requirements. Beyond this requirement, the criterion for equipment accreditation and the technologist credentials differs among the accreditors.
Small-pupil versus multifocal strategies for expanding depth of focus of presbyopic eyes.

Purpose To compare the visually weighted image quality and depth of focus achieved with small-pupil and multifocal strategies for expanding depth of focus of presbyopic or pseudophakic eyes. Setting School of Optometry, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA. Design Computational modeling. Methods The visual Strehl ratio was computed from monochromatic optical transfer functions over a wide range of primary spherical aberration and defocus levels for pupil diameters ranging from 1.0 mm to 7.0 mm under high photopic light levels (retinal illuminance >900 trolands) and mesopic light levels (2 candelas/m2). Results Pupil miosis and added spherical aberration were effective at reducing the impact of spherical defocus. With high light levels at which Weber's law makes neural contrast sensitivity independent of retinal illuminance, small pupils (eg, 1.0 to 3.0 mm) generated higher peak image quality and more effective expansion of depth of focus than the small-pupil multifocal model. However, under low light levels at which the reduced retinal illuminance associated with pupil miosis lowered neural contrast sensitivity, the peak image quality was lower with small pupils (1.0 to 1.5 mm) at all aberration levels. Large pupils and high levels of spherical aberration were most effective at expanding the depth of focus under mesopic light levels. Conclusions When reductions in retinal illuminance created by pupil miosis have no effect on neural contrast sensitivity, small pupils produced higher image quality and larger depth of focus than multifocal optics and large pupils. In general, the reverse was true under mesopic light conditions.
Treat-and-Release Emergency Department Utilization by Patients With Gynecologic Cancers

PURPOSE:Seventeen percent of patients with cancer visit the emergency department (ED) annually, often with nonemergent complaints. We sought to describe the burden of treat-and-release ED utilizati...
Joint Outcomes Following Surgery for Superior Tibiofibular Joint-Associated Peroneal Intraneural Ganglion Cysts.

Background Intraneural ganglion cysts are joint-connected, with the primary pathology residing in the associated joint. For peroneal intraneural ganglion cysts, the surgical strategy can include resection of the synovial surface of the superior tibiofibular joint (STFJ). However, the rate of instability postoperatively is unclear. Objective To evaluate the rate of STFJ instability, following surgery for peroneal intraneural ganglion cysts. The second goal of the study was to assess the relationship between volume of resection of the STFJ and risk of extraneural recurrence. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients with peroneal intraneural ganglion cysts. We analyzed clinical factors, including recurrence, and assessed the rate of postoperative STFJ instability. We created 3-dimensional models of the STFJ pre- and postoperatively to compare the volume of resection in recurrent cases and nonrecurrent cases using a case-control design. Results The total cohort consisted of 65 subjects. No patient had evidence of radiological or clinical instability of the STFJ postoperatively. Extraneural radiological recurrence occurred in 6 (9%) patients. No intraneural recurrences were observed. The average volume of resection for patients with recurrence was 1349 mm3 (SD = 1027 mm3) vs 3018 mm3 (SD = 1433 mm3) in controls that did not have a recurrence (P = .018). Conclusion This study supports performing an aggressive STFJ resection to minimize the risk of extraneural recurrence. Superior tibiofibular joint resection is not associated with postoperative joint instability. A smaller volume resection is correlated with recurrence risk.
Recruitment of Adult Precursor Cells Underlies Limited Repair of the Infected Larval Midgut in Drosophila

Surviving infection requires immune and repair mechanisms. Developing organisms face the additional challenge of integrating these mechanisms with tightly controlled developmental processes. The larval Drosophila midgut lacks dedicated intestinal stem cells. We show that, upon infection, larvae perform limited repair using adult midgut precursors (AMPs). AMPs differentiate in response to damage to generate new enterocytes, transiently depleting their pool. Developmental delay allows for AMP reconstitution, ensuring the completion of metamorphosis. Notch signaling is required for the differentiation of AMPs into the encasing, niche-like peripheral cells (PCs), but not to differentiate PCs into enterocytes. Dpp (TGF-β) signaling is sufficient, but not necessary, to induce PC differentiation into enterocytes. Infection-induced JAK-STAT pathway is both required and sufficient for differentiation of AMPs and PCs into new enterocytes. Altogether, this work highlights the constraints imposed by development on an organism's response to infection and demonstrates the transient use of adult precursors for tissue repair.
Patient and provider factors associated with selected measures of quality of care.

Studies assessing quality of general pediatric care are handicapped by (1) lack of explicit criteria, (2) the broad spectrum of medical needs presented, and (3) the need to distinguish between influence of patient and provider factors. In this study, part of a comprehensive study of utilization of pediatric services at five sites (three neighborhood health centers, an emergency room, and a hospital-based primary care program), we selected three measures sampling different aspects of quality of care, including (1) immunization status, (2) screening procedures, and (3) ongoing care for ten tracer conditions. Adequacy of follow-up of the tracer conditions was assessed along two dimensions: (1) whether a return appointment was scheduled, and (2) whether the patient kept the appointment ("compliance"). Results indicate that attainment of fully immunized status varies inversely with age, while for the tracer conditions, arrangement of follow-up (provider factor) was associated with site, and compliance (patient factor) was associated with both site and pattern of use. Accomplishment of follow-up was better for patients diagnosed in a primary care facility than in the emergency room and for patients with close ties to a primary care facility than for those with limited or no involvement with primary care. These findings support the value of continuity of care in a setting designed to deliver comprehensive care.
Nutrition and diabetic wound healing

Abstract Nutritional status plays a major role in determining the fate of wound healing and its complications, especially in diabetes. Nutritional factors are often ignored as a problem in the management of chronic wound patients. A wide range of macronutrients, micronutrients, and food supplements and their combinations are instrumental in orchestrating wound repair. Providing appropriate nutritional supplements may facilitate the healing of chronic wounds. Numerous studies have indicated that nutritional deficiencies can result in impairment in wound healing especially in diabetes. However, the exact role of the several nutrients and food supplements in specific stages of wound healing remains unclear. In addition, some experimental evidence in the related field is not supported by adequate clinical investigation. This chapter not only provides available data regarding the possible roles of different nutrients and supplements in wound healing, but also emphasizes the need for more randomized clinical trials in this domain.
Computational Approaches for Unraveling the Effects of Variation in the Human Genome and Microbiome

The past two decades of analytical efforts have highlighted how much more remains to be learned about the human genome and, particularly, its complex involvement in promoting disease development an...
Examining the moderating effect of anxiety sensitivity on past-month pain severity and heaviness of smoking among adult smokers experiencing homelessness.

Abstract Background Pain and cigarette smoking are reciprocally related. Domiciled smokers with higher anxiety sensitivity (AS) - the fear of behaviors/sensations associated with the experience of anxiety - consume more cigarettes and report greater tobacco dependence than smokers with lower AS. AS treatment can reduce chronic pain and facilitate smoking cessation. Here, we examine the potentially moderating role of AS in the association between past-month pain (PMP) and heaviness of smoking (HS) among smokers experiencing homelessness. Methods Participants (N = 461; 64.9% men, Mage = 43.1 ± 11.8) were smokers recruited from 6 homeless serving agencies in Oklahoma City, OK. Participants self-reported the presence and severity of PMP (“How much bodily pain have you had during the past four weeks?”), HS was measured via the heaviness of smoking index (HSI), and AS was measured via the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-III (ASI-III) and its 3 subscales: physical, cognitive, and social concerns. Linear regressions were used to examine potential ASI moderation controlling for age, sex, race, education, health insurance, perceived stress, and major depression. Results ASI-III total, cognitive, and physical concerns each significantly moderated associations of PMP and HSI (ps Conclusion Similar to research with domiciled smokers, current results suggest that smokers experiencing homelessness who have high AS may benefit from AS-based interventions to reduce the association between PMP and HS, which may facilitate smoking cessation among this vulnerable group.
Accelerated epigenetic age as a biomarker of cardiovascular sensitivity to traffic-related air pollution.

Background Accelerated epigenetic age has been proposed as a biomarker of increased aging, which may indicate disruptions in cellular and organ system homeostasis and thus contribute to sensitivity to environmental exposures. Methods Using 497 participants from the CATHGEN cohort, we evaluated whether accelerated epigenetic aging increases cardiovascular sensitivity to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure. We used residential proximity to major roadways and source apportioned air pollution models as measures of TRAP exposure, and chose peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and blood pressure as outcomes based on previous associations with TRAP. We used Horvath epigenetic age acceleration (AAD) and phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAAD) as measures of age acceleration, and adjusted all models for chronological age, race, sex, smoking, and socioeconomic status. Results We observed significant interactions between TRAP and both AAD and PhenoAAD. Interactions indicated that increased epigenetic age acceleration elevated associations between proximity to roadways and PAD. Interactions were also observed between AAD and gasoline and diesel source apportioned PM2.5. Conclusion Epigenetic age acceleration may be a biomarker of sensitivity to air pollution, particularly for TRAP in urban cohorts. This presents a novel means by which to understand sensitivity to air pollution and provides a molecular measure of environmental sensitivity.
Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification for the Detection of Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, and Histophilus somni in Bovine Nasal Samples

This work develops a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay that detects the presence of bacterial pathogens (Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, and Histophilus somni) for ...
Raman spectroscopy, mobility size and radiative emissions data for soot formed at increasing temperature and equivalence ratio in flames hotter than conventional combustion applications

Abstract The dataset presented in this article is linked to the research article titled “Evolution in size and structural order for incipient soot formed at flame temperatures greater than 2100 K” [1] . The research article discusses the systematic evolution of flame formed carbon in premixed stagnation flames with flame temperatures hotter than conventional combustion applications. The effect of the growth environment on particle size, structure, composition and properties are studied. The flame temperature (1950 K