cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“What if I make a mistake?”: Examining uncertainty-related distress when decisions may harm oneself vs. others

Abstract Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) is a key construct in the development and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Recent research has examined the Beads Task as a behavioral measure of IU in which an incorrect decision is tied to an aversive outcome. The current study aimed to increase ecological validity of the Beads Task as an analog for decisional uncertainty in OCD. Specifically, we investigated whether the aversive outcome's “victim” impacted associations between IU and distress during decision-making. Undergraduates (N = 85) completed the Beads Task either alone or with a confederate partner. They were told that errors on the task would either lead to themselves (solo condition) or their “partner” (partner condition) having to complete the Cold Pressor Task (CPT). As hypothesized, participants in the partner condition experienced the Beads Task as significantly more distressing and important than those in the solo condition. Furthermore, self-report prospective IU was associated with distress about harm befalling oneself and perceived importance of the decision (solo condition), whereas inhibitory IU was associated with distress about harm befalling others (partner condition). Clinical implications for addressing uncertainty using exposure and response prevention, and future research of decision-making in the context of responsibility for harm are discussed.
Aging impairs both primary and secondary RIG-I signaling for interferon induction in human monocytes

Adults older than 65 account for most of the deaths caused by respiratory influenza A virus (IAV) infections, but the underlying mechanisms for this susceptibility are poorly understood. IAV RNA is detected by the cytosolic sensor retinoic acid–inducible gene I (RIG-I), which induces the production of type I interferons (IFNs) that curtail the spread of the virus and promote the elimination of infected cells. We have previously identified a marked defect in the IAV-inducible secretion of type I IFNs, but not proinflammatory cytokines, in monocytes from older (>65 years) healthy human donors. We found that monocytes from older adults exhibited decreased abundance of the adaptor protein TRAF3 (tumor necrosis factor receptor–associated factor 3) because of its increased proteasomal degradation with age, thereby impairing the primary RIG-I signaling pathway for the induction of type I IFNs. We determined that monocytes from older adults also failed to effectively stimulate the production of the IFN regulatory transcription factor IRF8, which compromised IFN induction through secondary RIG-I signaling. IRF8 played a central role in IFN induction in monocytes, because knocking down IRF8 in monocytes from younger adults was sufficient to replicate the IFN defects observed in monocytes from older adults, whereas restoring IRF8 expression in older adult monocytes was sufficient to restore RIG-I–induced IFN responses. Aging thus compromises both the primary and secondary RIG-I signaling pathways that govern expression of type I IFN genes, thereby impairing antiviral resistance to IAV.
Adrienne Rich’s “Politics of Location,” US Jewish Feminism, and the Question of Palestine

(2017). Adrienne Rich’s “Politics of Location,” US Jewish Feminism, and the Question of Palestine. Women's Studies: Vol. 46, Adrienne Rich, pp. 663-683.
Aeromechanics Analysis of a Distortion-Tolerant Fan with Boundary Layer Ingestion

A propulsion system with Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI) has the potential to significantly reduce aircraft engine fuel burn. But a critical challenge is to design a fan that can operate continuously with a persistent BLI distortion without aeromechanical failure -- flutter or high cycle fatigue due to forced response. High-fidelity computational aeromechanics analysis can be very valuable to support the design of a fan that has satisfactory aeromechanic characteristics and good aerodynamic performance and operability. Detailed aeromechanics analyses together with careful monitoring of the test article is necessary to avoid unexpected problems or failures during testing. In the present work, an aeromechanics analysis based on a three-dimensional, time-accurate, Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamics code is used to study the performance and aeromechanical characteristics of the fan in both circumferentially-uniform and circumferentially-varying distorted flows. Pre-test aeromechanics analyses are used to prepare for the wind tunnel test and comparisons are made with measured blade vibration data after the test. The analysis shows that the fan has low levels of aerodynamic damping at various operating conditions examined. In the test, the fan remained free of flutter except at one near-stall operating condition. Analysis could not be performed at this low mass flow rate operating condition since it fell beyond the limit of numerical stability of the analysis code. The measured resonant forced response at a specific low-response crossing indicated that the analysis under-predicted this response and work is in progress to understand possible sources of differences and to analyze other larger resonant responses. Follow-on work is also planned with a coupled inlet-fan aeromechanics analysis that will more accurately represent the interactions between the fan and BLI distortion.
Exploring Optimal Stimulus Frequency Ratio for Measurement of the Quadratic f2-f1 Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission in Humans.

Purpose Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) are a by-product of active cochlear processes that lead to the compressive nonlinearity of healthy ears. The most commonly studied emission...
Enzymes of Glutamate and Glutamine Biosynthesis in Bacillus licheniformis

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the purification and characterization of glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamate synthase, and glutamine synthetase and an examination of the pools of ammonia assimilatory metabolites in Bacillus licheniformis . B licheniformis contains an NADP + -specific glutamate dehydrogenase that apparently serves an anabolic function. The enzyme was purified and it was found to be distinct from the glutamate dehydrogenase-like activity of glutamate synthase. The glutamate synthase from B. licheniformis was purified to apparent homogeneity and it showed to be quite similar, in physical properties, to the enzyme from E. coli and K. aerogenes . The glutamine synthetase of B. licheniformis was purified to near homogeneity and shown to be a dodecamer of 616,000 MW. In B. licheniformis , the enzymes of ammonia assimilation appear to serve biosynthetic functions only. The kinetic characteristics of the glutamate synthase and glutamine synthetase appear to be in harmony with their ability to provide relatively high pools of glutamate and glutamine under all growth conditions. Although B. licheniformis cells respond to the nitrogen source in the growth medium by altering growth rates and levels of nitrogen catabolic enzymes, glutamine synthetase does not appear to be involved in the control of these responses.
Genome Analysis in Farm Animals

Genome research provides one of the exciting new frontiers in the life sciences. It should not be surprising that the agricultural sciences, long concerned with genetic improvement, are beginning to invest in building maps and localizing important traits to chromosomal regions. The following is a brief overview of the progress and problems of genome analysis in farm animals.
Frost Formation on a Cylinder at Cryogenic Temperatures

During the course of an earlier investigation to determine the. minimum insulation that would prevent the formation of liquid air on bare cryogenic transfer lines carrying liquid hydrogen and liquid nitrogen, it was evident that ambient conditions were extremely important and that frost had some insulating value.
Drawing lines: FEMA and the politics of mapping flood zones

Flooding is the most common and damaging of all natural disasters in USA, and climate change is exacerbating the problem. Accurate flood maps are critical to communicating flood risk to vulnerable populations, to mitigating and adapting to floods, and to the functioning of the federal flood insurance program. Yet, we know little about how the mapping process works in practice. This article argues that politics can shape the remapping process in ways that leave communities vulnerable. Because mapping takes place within the context of the National Flood Insurance Program, the conversation at the local level often centers on the costs of revising the flood hazard zones rather than the risks associated with flooding. This can lead to less than optimal responses by individuals and communities, and suggests that the USA is not adequately preparing for future climate change impacts.
An Efficient Algorithm and Hardware Architecture for Maximum-Likelihood Based Carrier Frequency Offset Estimation in MIMO Systems

Carrier frequency offset (CFO), which is often caused by the mismatch between the local oscillators in transmitter and receiver, limits the performance of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication systems. This paper presents a maximum-likelihood-based CFO estimation algorithm for MIMO systems and its efficient hardware design. The proposed algorithm can accurately estimate the CFO, especially at high signal-to-noise ratio. Moreover, the Cramer–Rao lower bound of the proposed method is derived as a performance guideline. In terms of hardware implementation, an efficient pipeline architecture is presented in detail, showing that the architecture only occupies minimal hardware resources so that it can be fitted into a small field-programmable gate array. The proposed architecture can be reconfigured according to different pilot lengths, making it flexible to various frame structures.
Promoting a comprehensive understanding of the opioid epidemic

The term ‘opioid’ broadly refers to licit products, such as the prescription opioid medications that are a mainstay for pain management throughout the world, and illicit products, such as heroin. O...
Short communication: Vitamin D status and responses in dairy cows naturally infected with Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis.

ABSTRACT Serum samples were obtained from Holstein dairy control cows and cows naturally infected with Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) to evaluate the effects of disease status on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) levels. Disease status was stratified for infected cows into asymptomatic, subclinical infection (n = 25), and cows demonstrating clinical signs (n = 20), along with noninfected control (n = 12) cows for comparison. In addition, portions of the ileocecal valve were taken from a subsample of cows (n = 5 per treatment group) at necropsy and processed for RNA sequencing gene transcription studies. Genes associated with vitamin D metabolism were queried to determine any association between infection and gene expression. Serum 25OHD3 levels were significantly lower in cows in the clinical stage of disease compared with either cows in the subclinical stage and noninfected control cows. Differential expression for genes associated with the vitamin D pathway such as CYP27A1, CYP27B1, vitamin D-binding protein (DBP), and IFNG was dependent upon infection status. An upregulation of CYP27A1 was noted for cows in subclinical status, whereas CYP27B1 expression was enhanced for clinical cows. Increased expression of vitamin D-binding protein was observed for infected cattle, regardless of infection status. In summary, decreases in circulating 25OHD3 for animals with clinical disease may suggest that these cows have reduced innate immune responses, thereby influencing the ability of animals to fight infection.
166 The increasing prevalence of SLE, 2001–2011: united states nationwide population-based estimates

Background The prevalence rate of SLE in previous reports has widely varied by as much as 12-fold over the years, which is likely due to variabilities in study populations, case definitions, and case ascertainment sources. Previous studies covered relatively small populations such as city, county, state, or Medicaid. To our knowledge, there are no reports of SLE prevalence covering the entire US population. Although, elegant CDC registries covering several counties in 5 states provide valuable information on SLE prevalence, there is an important unmet need to estimate the national prevalence of SLE. Methods We used ambulatory physician visits derived from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey databases based on a multistage probability design to enumerate encounters that represent SLE using ICD-9 code 710.0. We then estimated the number of SLE patients from these encounters. SAS was used to determine the mean and 95% CI of SLE prevalence, overall and by sex, race/ethnicity, age, and geographic region. We calculated the cumulative percent change in prevalence between 2001 and 2011 (Chi-square test), modeled trends, and calculated the annual percent change using Joinpoint regression analysis. Results The overall prevalence rate of SLE during 2001–2011 is 86.4 per 1 00 000 persons (95% CI, 69.6–103.3). The annual SLE prevalence increased 6% (95% CI, 2.5–9.5) each year from 2001 through 2011, with cumulative increase of 59.4% during this period (72.2 in 2001 to 115.1 in 2011, p Conclusions Analysis of national survey data reveals an increasing trend in SLE prevalence across the US during 2001–2011, which may reflect an increased recognition of SLE, changes in physicians coding practices, decreasing mortality, or actual increases in the prevalence. Lack of verification of SLE diagnosis by rheumatologists is a major limitation of this study, especially since there is discordance even among rheumatologists as to what constitutes a diagnosis of lupus. Nevertheless, our data show demographic and regional differences in SLE prevalence across the US, with the highest prevalence in black persons and females, as reported previously, and in the West. Funding Source(s): Rheumatology Research Foundation’s Medical and Graduate Student Preceptorship Award
Associations between nucleus accumbens structural connectivity, brain function, and initiation of binge drinking.

Adolescent alcohol use is associated with increased risk for alcohol use disorders later in life; therefore, identifying biomarkers for initiation of heavy alcohol use, such as individual differences in the development of white-matter microstructure, may inform prevention strategies that improve public health. This prospective cohort study included 40 adolescents, ages 14 and 15, without substantial history of alcohol or drug use at baseline. Fractional anisotropy (FA), an index of white-matter microstructure, was assessed in pathways connecting the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) to the rest of the brain using diffusion tensor imaging. Path analyses were conducted voxel-wise within these pathways to examine direct effects of premorbid FA on number of months between baseline assessment and the onset of binge drinking and indirect effects mediated by NAcc activation during decision making assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Adolescents with lower premorbid accumbofrontal FA began binge drinking sooner, an effect which was mediated by greater NAcc activation during decision making involving greater levels of risk and reward (P < .05 corrected). An additional direct effect of FA on duration to onset of binge drinking was observed in white matter near the ventral pallidum, as adolescents with lower premorbid FA in this region began binge drinking sooner (P < .05 corrected). Findings suggest that delayed maturation of prefrontal white matter is associated with less top-down control over striatal sensitivity to reward. These factors, along with individual differences in white matter proximal to ventral pallidum, may represent premorbid risk factors for earlier initiation of heavy alcohol use.
Between State and Market: Hukou, Nonstandard Employment, and Bad Jobs in Urban China

China’s household registration system (hukou) has long divided urban and rural populations—economically, socially, and spatially. Economic reforms since the late-1970s, however, have led to increas...
Yield and curd characteristics of Cottage cheese made by the culture and direct-acid-set methods.

We compared yield and curd characteristics of cottage cheese made by the short-set culture and direct-acid-set methods using three skim milk protein concentrations. 3.1, 3.5 and 3.9 ± .1%. For each method of manufacture, approximately 380 kg of the same skim milk were set per experimental vat. Representative samples of whey, wash water and curd were analyzed and the total quantities of each were measured. Solids and protein recovered in whey, wash water and curd were related to yields for each method. The same curd samples also were used to measure curd size distribution, curd firmness and dressing retention. Analysis of variance showed highly significant differences in curd yield between the two methods when the three protein concentrations were considered. There was approximately 5% more yield when cottage cheese was made from skim milk containing 3.1 or 3.5% protein, using the direct-acid-set method. This yield advantage was less than 1% when the skim milk contained 3.9% protein. Curd firmness did not differ significantly between methods (p < .01). Curd from the 3.1% protein-skim milk, however. was firmer (p < .01) than that from either 3.5 or 3.9% protein-skim milk. Direct-acid-set curd was more uniform in size than that of the short-set culture curd. It retained dressing better only when made from 3.1% protein skim milk, and when 1.25 × the normal amount of dressing was used.
Generalized cytomegalic inclusion disease.

Summary Three patients in whom the diagnosis of cytomegalic inclusion disease was established during life are reported. The most severely involved infant died at 1 year of age. Post-mortem examination revealed hydranencephaly with cerebral calcifications and the presence of small numbers of inclusion bodies in scattered viscera. Focal infiltrates of lymphocytes in a number of viscera were noted and may represent reaction to pre-existing inclusion-bearing cells. The two surviving infants are 26 and 35 months of age at this time. Their mental and motor development has been retarded but has revealed considerable scatter, and the degree of retardation is certainly not striking. Inclusion-bearing cells were still demonstrable in the urine of one infant at 11 months of age. Similar cells were present in very small numbers in renal tubular epithelial cells at the time of necropsy in the infant who died at 1 year of age. The diagnosis may be established by examination of smears of the urinary sediment several months after birth. The disease is not always associated with severe mental and motor retardation.
Mortar: An Open Testbed for Portable Building Analytics

Access to large amounts of real-world data has long been a barrier to the development and evaluation of analytics applications for the built environment. Open datasets exist, but they are limited in their span (how much data is available) and context (what kind of data is available and how it is described). Evaluation of such analytics is also limited by how the analytics themselves are implemented, often using hard-coded names of building components, points and locations, or unique input data formats.To advance the methodology for how such analytics are implemented and evaluated, we present Mortar: an open testbed for portable building analytics, currently spanning 90 buildings and containing over 9.1 billion data points. All buildings in the testbed are described using Brick, a recently developed metadata schema, providing rich functional descriptions of building assets and subsystems. We also propose a simple architecture for writing portable analytics applications that are robust to the diversity of buildings and can configure themselves based on context. We demonstrate the utility of Mortar by implementing 11 applications from the literature.
Temperature optimization of in vivo expression from the E. coli TRP and TRP: lac promoters

We have studied the effect of temperatures between 20°C and 40°C on the activity ofE. coli promoters. TheE. coli lac UV5,trp::lac, andtrp promoters reach their maximal activity at 37°C while thetet::trp promoter reaches its maximal activity at 40°C. The addition of 5μg IAA/ml was sufficient to derepress thetrp promoter over the temperature range studied.
Adhering to antiretroviral therapy: A qualitative analysis of motivations for and obstacles to consistent use of antiretroviral therapy in people living with HIV:

Objectives:Based on the 2015 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, 40% of people living with HIV in the United States with an HIV diagnosis and 18.5% of people living with HIV in HI...
Cell cycle arrest and apoptosis are not dependent on p53 prior to p53-dependent embryonic stem cell differentiation

Previous efforts to determine whether or not the transcription factor and tumor suppressor protein p53 is required for DNA damage-induced apoptosis in pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) produced contradictory conclusions. To resolve this issue, p53+/+ and p53-/- ESCs derived by two different methods were used to quantify time-dependent changes in nuclear DNA content; annexin-V binding; cell permeabilization; and protein expression, modification, and localization. The results revealed that doxorubicin (Adriamycin [ADR]) concentrations 10 to 40 times less than commonly used in previous studies induced the DNA damage-dependent G2-checkpoint and completed apoptosis within the same time frame, regardless of the presence or absence of p53, p21, and PUMA. Increased ADR concentrations delayed initiation of apoptosis in p53-/- ESCs, but the rates of apoptosis remained equivalent. Similar results were obtained by inducing apoptosis with either staurosporine inhibition of kinase activities or WX8 disruption of lysosome homeostasis. Differentiation of ESCs by LIF deprivation revealed p53-dependent formation of haploid cells, increased genomic stability, and suppression of the G2-checkpoint. Minimal induction of DNA damage now resulted in p53-facilitated apoptosis, but regulation of pluripotent gene expression remained p53-independent. Primary embryonic fibroblasts underwent p53-dependent total cell cycle arrest (a prelude to cell senescence), and p53-independent apoptosis occurred in the presence of 10-fold higher levels of ADR, consistent with previous studies. Taken together, these results reveal that the multiple roles of p53 in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis are first acquired during pluripotent stem cell differentiation.
Prehistoric Art as a Boundary Object: Technology and Temporality of South African Petroglyphs

Decades ago I argued for the limited analytic purchase of the term “art.” I was then primarily concerned with the relatively recent invention of the present day category; the lack of local and archaeological specificity when “art” was discussed in broad classificatory lumps; and the minimal reflection on the geopolitical ground of archaeological practice. While I continue to find little analytic value in the term “art” when used to describe a broad range of prehistoric materials, I offer a defense of its transactional nature. I embrace the term “art” to show some of the classificatory work the term has done and the potential it may have if decoupled from certainty. I will show that the category “prehistoric art” has been historically controlled through networks of materials, archives, and scholars. As a contrasting point of reference, the concept of a boundary object, a productive term in science studies, might allow for a far greater flexibility and inclusion of different communities to participate in the conversation about “art.” To illustrate my point, I discuss technologies and temporalities of art at Wildebeest Kuil, Northern Cape, South Africa.
Anterior-Posterior (AP) Calcaneal Profile View: A Novel Radiographic Image to Assess Varus Malalignment.

Background:Assessing and correcting malalignment is important when treating calcaneus fractures. The Harris axial view is commonly utilized to assess varus deformity but may be inherently inaccurat...
Examining audiology students clinical reasoning skills with virtual audiology cases aided with no collaboration, live collaboration, and virtual collaboration

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in clinical reasoning skills of students when using virtual audiology cases aided with no collaboration, virtual collaboration, and live collaboration. The theoretical framework discussed five major approaches that could explain this effect; Situated Learning Theory, Social Development Theory, Scaffolding, Collaborative Learning, and Cognitive Load Theory. A quasi-experimental design was conducted at two U.S. universities to examine whether there is a significant difference in clinical reasoning skills between the three treatment groups using IUP Audiosim software. The clinical reasoning data were analyzed using One-Way ANOVA, and Tukey HSD for ANOVA. The results indicated that there was a significant difference in clinical reasoning skills between the three treatment groups. Further analyses are shown in the body of the study.
Deferral of PCI, a safe strategy in diabetic patients with chronic coronary syndromes

What is the efficacy and value of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) and, especially in patients with diab etes? This has been a subject of randomised trials since the Emory Angioplasty Surgery Trial (EAST), which was published over 25 years ago.1 EAST was too small to evaluate subgroups. The larger Bypass and Angioplasty Intervention (BARI) trial was the first to show the clinical benefit of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery compared with balloon angioplasty in long-term mortality in patients with diabetes.2 BARI was the impetus for Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation in Type 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D), which evaluated revascularisation in 2368 patients with CCS with diabetes; 1605 were randomised to PCI or medical therapy and 763 with more severe coronary artery disease (CAD) to CABG or medical therapy.3 While compared with medical therapy there was no overall advantage to revascularisation in reducing the primary endpoint of all-cause mortality, there was a decrease in the secondary composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke in the CABG (22.4%) versus medical therapy group at 5 years (30.5%, p=0.01). By contrast, in the PCI subgroup, there was a trend towards increased mortality, MI and stroke with PCI (23.0%) compared with medical therapy (21.1%, p=0.015). Thus, BARI 2D largely confirmed the results of the earlier Clinical Outcomes Utilising Revascularisation and Aggressive druG Evaluation (COURAGE) trial of 2287 patients with CCS, of whom 34% had diabetes, which showed no advantage of PCI compared with optimal medical therapy (OMT) for the primary endpoint of death or MI at 4.6 years.4 Similarly, there has been a long-standing belief that moderate or severe reversible ischaemia in patients with CCS would identify a high-risk subset which might benefit from revascularisation. Non-randomised, observational studies have suggested that with greater …
Vacation’s lingering benefits, but only for those with low stress jobs

Vacationing provides potential recovery from work stress and is associated with cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. This study considered psychological variables that might change as a ...
Anti-IgLON5 Encephalopathy: A Case Report (4352)

Objective: NA Background: First described in 2014, anti-IgLON5-related disorder represents an intriguing neurological syndrome characterized by autoimmunity and neurodegeneration, the latter in the form of neuronal deposits of hyperphosphorylated tau. This disorder spans a diverse clinical spectrum—notable for non-REM and REM parasomnias, sleep apnea, and progressive neurological symptoms—that is often refractory to treatment, with resultant high morbidity and mortality. Design/Methods: A 61-year-old male presented with progressive encephalopathy, which had started 2.5 years prior to presentation with insomnia and abnormal sleep behaviors. One year following onset, he started developing visual hallucinations, stereotyped hyperkinetic movements, cognitive impairment, gait imbalance with recurrent falls, dysarthria, dysphagia with associated weight loss, and dysautonomic symptoms. Initial exam was remarkable for dysarthria, stereotyped choreiform movements, generalized fasciculations, hyperreflexia, and gait ataxia. Results: MRI brain showed leukoaraiotic changes. Malignancy workup was negative. EMG revealed fibrillation potentials and chronic neurogenic changes in the left tibialis anterior and first dorsal interosseous muscles. EEG showed poorly-sustained posterior dominant rhythm with preservation of normal sleep architectures. Huntington gene testing was negative. Routine CSF analysis was unremarkable. The patient was treated with high-dose IV methylprednisolone and plasmapheresis. At one-month follow-up, he reported some improvement of gait, balance, and dysarthria. Autoimmune panel, sent during the hospitalization, was positive for anti-IgLON5 antibodies in both serum and CSF. He was started on rituximab for chronic immunotherapy. Conclusions: We described a rare case of anti-IgLON5-related disease, presenting with a diverse set of slowly progressive neurological symptoms. This disorder remains a diagnostic challenge given the often nonspecific or normal imaging and laboratory findings, as noted in our case. A high index of suspicion for underlying autoimmune disease is warranted in the appropriate patient population. Disclosure: Dr. Quan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Oh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Oravivattanakul has nothing to disclose.
Afterword: Phage, history and historiography

The papers in this special issue all touch on the broad problems of scientific credit and priority and the historiography of science. My remarks consider the deeper meaning of ‘discovery’, ‘priorit...
Quantitative Computed Tomography Assessment of Pectoralis and Erector Spinae Muscle Area and Disease Severity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Referred for Lung Volume Reduction

Patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) develop skeletal muscle loss (sarcopenia) that is associated with adverse clinical outcomes including mortality. We evaluated if ...
Enabling exercise prescription for survivors of cancer

Although exercise is widely recommended for survivors of cancer, readily implementable approaches for evaluating exercise tolerance enabling exercise prescriptions at appropriate levels of cardiovascular exertion are not always available. We evaluated the utility of modified Harvard Step tests within the context of a standard physical examination for fitness evaluation and exercise prescription for survivors of cancer across a range of age, BMI and exercise history. While 52% of presenting individuals with a past cancer diagnosis were able to complete a 3-min test at pace with a reduced 9-in. step, adoption of self-determined pacing, test duration and completion on a flat surface enabled relative fitness rating and appropriate exercise prescription for the remaining survivors. Younger age and more vigorous exercise histories correlated with completion of the standard 3-min test at pace, but all 9-in. formats led to exercise prescriptions more vigorous than current activity. The physical examination setting expedited inclusion of core and specific muscle group strength testing. The approach is adaptable to a range of health care settings, providers, and patients, providing a shared opportunity for providers and patients to evaluate exercise tolerance. It can be used to further expand incorporation of exercise testing and prescription into routine care.
Global Leader Self-Complexity: Conceptualization and Scale Validation:

Existing research and theory provides support for the assertion that the survival of organizations in the globalized world is contingent upon the match between their external complexity and the com...
Complications of stent loss during treatment of a heavily calcified and tortuous chronic total occlusion.

Abstract Stent loss can occur during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) and can lead to complications such as coronary occlusion, perforation or dissection. Stent retrieval is often attempted but may lead to additional complications. We describe a case of stent loss during chronic total occlusion PCI. The small balloon technique failed to retrieve the stent. The stent was snared but could still not be removed. Retrieval attempts were complicated by large vessel perforation. A covered stent was deployed covering the lost stent and successfully sealing the perforation.
Democracy and the Politics of Electoral System Choice: Engineering Electoral Dominance

1. Introduction: contradictions and ambiguities of democratization 2. Strategies of containment: the role of repression and accommodation 3. Strategies of competition: the logic of electoral system choice, single member plurality (SMP) vs. proportional representation (PR) 4. The United States: pre-industrial democratization and the origins of SMP 5. The United Kingdom: safeguarding the Reform Acts with SMP 6. France: the tumultuous path of electoral system choice in the Third Republic 7. Belgium: minimizing the existential threat with PR 8. Conclusions: rethinking democracy's determinisms Appendix: the existential threat - electoral viability and ideological radicalism.
Rhizosphere Relation to Plant Disease

Root diseases may be induced by soil-borne fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes, nematodes, or viruses, but most investigations of rhizosphere influence have focused upon fungal pathogens and this will be reflected in the present discussion. Some highlights of rhizosphere influence on pathogen behavior and root disease have been previewed (Curl 1982).
An Equation Modeling the Electric Ballast Resistor

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the equation modeling of the electric ballast resistor. The ballast resistor concerns the nature of behavior of temperature distributions. The chapter presents two new results concerning the boundedness of temperature distributions u (x, t) as the time t approaches +∞. The chapter formulates suitable mathematical relations governing u.
Nitric oxide-mediated sensitization of resistant tumor cells to apoptosis by chemo-immunotherapeutics☆

The generation of NO by the various NO synthases in normal and malignant tissues is manifested by various biological effects that are involved in the regulation of cell survival, differentiation and cell death. The role of NO in the cytotoxic immune response was first revealed by demonstrating the induction of iNOS in target cells by immune cytokines (e.g. IFN-γ, IL-1, TNF-α, etc.) and resulting in the sensitization of resistant tumor cells to death ligands-induced apoptosis. Endogenous/exogenous NO mediated its immune sensitizing effect by inhibiting NF-κΒ activity and downstream, inactivating the repressor transcription factor YY1, which inhibited both Fas and DR5 expressions. In addition, NO-mediated inhibition of NF-κΒ activity and inhibition downstream of its anti-apoptotic gene targets sensitized the tumor cells to apoptosis by chemotherapeutic drugs. We have identified in tumor cells a dysregulated pro-survival/anti-apoptotic loop consisting of NF-κB/Snail/YY1/RKIP/PTEN and its modification by NO was responsible, in large, for the reversal of chemo and immune resistance and sensitization to apoptotic mechanisms by cytotoxic agents. Moreover, tumor cells treated with exogenous NO donors resulted in the inhibition of NF-κΒ activity via S-nitrosylation of p50 and p65, inhibition of Snail (NF-κΒ target gene), inhibition of transcription repression by S-nitrosylation of YY1 and subsequent inhibition of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), induction of RKIP (inhibition of the transcription repressor Snail), and induction of PTEN (inhibition of the repressors Snail and YY1). Further, each gene product modified by NO in the loop was involved in chemo-immunosensitization. These above findings demonstrated that NO donors interference in the regulatory circuitry result in chemo-immunosensitization and inhibition of EMT. Overall, these observations suggest the potential anti-tumor therapeutic effect of NO donors in combination with subtoxic chemo-immuno drugs. This combination acts on multiple facets including reversal of chemo-immune resistance, and inhibition of both EMT and metastasis.
Cultured human vascular endothelial cells acquire adhesiveness for neutrophils after stimulation with interleukin 1, endotoxin, and tumor-promoting phorbol diesters.

Cultured human vascular endothelial cells obtained from umbilical cord veins were observed to acquire adhesive properties for purified neutrophils after exposure to IL 1, endotoxin, and tumor-promoting phorbol diesters. Adhesiveness induced by IL1 and endotoxin had similar kinetics of onset, producing no change after 30 min incubation and reaching optimal change by 4 hr of incubation. The phorbol diester TPA induced changes in adhesiveness more rapidly, with half maximal increase induced by a 15- to 30-min exposure. TPA, but not IL 1 or LPS, induced significant morphologic changes in the endothelial cell monolayer. None of the stimuli decreased endothelial cell viability. All stimuli induced increased adhesiveness at relevant concentrations, i.e., endotoxin, 0.01 to 1 microgram/ml; IL 1, 0.5 to 2 U/ml; and TPA, 1 to 30 ng/ml. Structure activity relationships among phorbol diesters indicate that the response occurs through a typical phorbol diester "receptor." A protein synthesis inhibitor (cycloheximide) and an RNA synthesis inhibitor (actinomycin D) prevented the acquisition of adhesiveness stimulated by IL 1 and endotoxin but not by TPA. In addition, TPA showed a differential temperature sensitivity in inducing adhesiveness in endothelial cells. IL 1 and endotoxin did not produce the effect with a 4-hr incubation at 22 degrees or 4 degrees C, whereas TPA was effective at these lower temperatures. Purified human IL 2 and recombinant-derived interferon-gamma failed to induce adhesiveness in vascular endothelial cells, indicating that this is not a general property of lymphokines. We conclude that endothelium may, under some circumstances, play an active role in producing a leukocyte infiltrate at a local tissue site by acquiring adhesive properties. The production of IL 1 by tissue macrophages, etc., may serve as an important initiator of an inflammatory cell infiltrate. Finally, an action of tumor-promoting phorbol diesters in increasing endothelial cell adhesiveness, combined with their known effects in activating leukocytes, may help explain the extraordinary inflammatory potency of these compounds.
What explains changing spreads on emerging market debt : fundamentals or market sentiment?

This paper analyzes data on nearly one thousand developing country bonds issued during 1991-96, a period that spans the recent episode of heavy reliance on bonded debt. Both the issue decisions of debtors and the pricing decisions of investors are considered, minimizing the potential for selectivity bias. Overall, the results confirm that measures of higher credit quality lead to a higher probability of issue and to a lower spread. Observed changes in fundamentals, however, explain only a small portion of the spread compression in the period leading up to the recent crisis in emerging markets.
The general variational formulas for capacitance parameter extraction

To obtain second order accuracy using the first order data for the capacitance parameter extraction, a set of new generalized variational formulas are presented in this paper. They are complete since they are valid not only for self-capacitances, but also for mutual capacitances. A more general variational formula is derived to account for the asymmetrical elastance matrix case. By these novel formulas the computational accuracy can be significantly improved compared to the conventional direct capacitance extraction method.
El nou règim local general i la seva aplicació diferenciada a les diferents comunitats autònomes

La recent Llei 27/2013, de 27 de desembre, de racionalitzacio i sostenibilitat de l’Administracio local (LRSAL) suscita questions importants i complexes des de la perspectiva de la validesa competencial de la propia llei i de la seva aplicacio a les diferents comunitats autonomes. Aquestes questions s’exemplifiquen, fonamentalment, en el nou regim de competencies municipals i provincials. En termes generals, la nova llei conte una notable recentralitzacio del regim local, la qual cosa pugna amb les diverses competencies autonomiques i, possiblement, excedeix de la propia competencia basica estatal ex art. 149.1.18 de la CE. D’altra banda, en espera que es clarifiqui la validesa constitucional de la nova llei, en moltes materies les administracions locals es troben amb lleis autonomiques o preceptes estatutaris obertament contradictoris amb els preceptes de la nova LRSAL. Seguint la jurisprudencia constitucional, res autoritzava les administracions locals a inaplicar amb caracter general les lleis autonomiques a favor de la LRSAL.
The role of carbohydrates in the biology of Cestodes. I. The effect of dietary carbohydrate quality on the size of Hymenolepis diminuta.

Abstract Comparisons have been made in the size attained by Hymenolepis diminuta when the hosts are given diets containing single carbohydrate components. The worms from hosts receiving dextrose or sucrose as the carbohydrate are markedly smaller than worms from hosts receiving starch as the sole carbohydrate. When dextrins-maltose, an enzymatically degraded product of starch, is substituted as the carbohydrate component, the worms are much smaller than when glucose or sucrose is substituted. Possible explanations for these effects are briefly discussed.
Does attractiveness buy happiness? “It depends on where you’re from”

Previous studies document that attractiveness predicts life outcomes, including well-being and social connectedness. This study investigates whether the attractiveness–outcomes link is especially strong in settings, such as many urban areas, that promote relationship constructions as a product of personal choice. This link may weaken in settings, such as many rural areas, that promote less voluntaristic-independent relationship constructions. Analyses of survey data from a national representative (United States) sample supported these hypotheses. Attractiveness (operationalized as waist-to-hip ratio) predicted well-being and social connectedness among urban (n = 257) but not rural (n = 330) women. Social connectedness mediated the urban–rural moderation of the attractiveness/well-being link. Findings suggest that frequently observed attractiveness effects are the product of particular, modern social contexts that promote relationship choice. Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, body-shaping apparel, body-contouring surgery—Americans spend billions of dollars every year on these and other attractiveness-enhancing products. Why do people go to such lengths (and sometimes endanger themselves) to increase attractiveness? In short, attractive people experience better social and psychological outcomes than unattractive people do (see Langlois et al., 2000, for a meta-analytic review). Research suggests that attractiveness enhances social connectedness such that attractive people experience more popularity and social interaction and less loneliness than less attractive people do (Feingold, 1992). Perhaps
Post-synthetic halide conversion and selective halogen capture in hybrid perovskites

Reaction with halogen vapor allows us to post-synthetically exchange halides in both three- (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) organic–inorganic metal-halide perovskites. Films of 3D Pb–I perovskites cleanly convert to films of Pb–Br or Pb–Cl perovskites upon exposure to Br2 or Cl2 gas, respectively. This gas–solid reaction provides a simple method to produce the high-quality Pb–Br or Pb–Cl perovskite films required for optoelectronic applications. Reactivity with halogens can be extended to the organic layers in 2D metal-halide perovskites. Here, terminal alkene groups placed between the inorganic layers can capture Br2 gas through chemisorption to form dibromoalkanes. This reaction's selectivity for Br2 over I2 allows us to scrub Br2 to obtain high-purity I2 gas streams. We also observe unusual halogen transfer between the inorganic and organic layers within a single perovskite structure. Remarkably, the perovskite's crystallinity is retained during these massive structural rearrangements.
THE EFFECTS OF PRONETHALOL AND ITS DEXTRO ISOMER UPON EXPERIMENTAL CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS.

The beta adrenergic receptor blocking agent, pronethalol, has been shown to produce an antiarrhythmic effect in a variety of experimentally induced cardiac arrhythmias. These observations had led several authors to conclude that the antiarrhythmic action of pronethalol is intimately associated with its ability to produce beta adrenergic receptor blockade. The availability of the dextro isomer of pronethalol, a compound 40 times less active than the levo isomer in producing beta adrenergic receptor blockade, has permitted an evaluation of the importance of beta adrenergic receptor inhibition in several experimentally induced cardiac arrhythmias. Cardiac arrhythmias resulting from toxic doses of ouabain or acetylstrophanthidin are readily antagonized by (+)-pronethalol under both in vivo and in vitro conditions. The effectiveness of the dextro isomer was similar to that of dl -pronethalol. Arrhythmias resulting from the combined administration of methylchloroform and epinephrine were also prevented by previous administration of (+)-pronethalol. However, (+)-pronethalol was not effective in preventing ventricular fibrillation resulting from the combined administration of U-0882 and isoproterenol. The latter arrhythmia was prevented by the beta adrenergic receptor blocking agent, dl -pronethalol. These results demonstrate that beta adrenergic receptor inhibition by pronethalol is not the mechanism through which this compound prevents digitalis or hydrocarbon-epinephrine- induced arrhythmias as has been previously suggested in the literature. That beta adrenergic receptor blockade may be of importance in the prevention of other experimentally induced arrhythmias is suggested by the different actions of (+)-pronethalol and dl -pronethalol against the U-0882-isoproterenol-induced ventricular fibrillation.
Selective killing of transformed cells in combination with inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis and S-phase specific drugs.

Abstract The objective of this study was to examine the effect of inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis on the cell cycle traverse of normal and transformed cells using α-difluoromethyl ornithine (DFMO), a catalytic irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase. The results of this study indicate that DFMO brings about a significant decrease in the intracellular levels of putrescine and spermidine followed by an inhibition of cell growth in both the normal and transformed cells. The DFMO treatment results in a differential effect on the cell cycle traverse of normal and transformed cells. A majority of the normal cells were arrested in G1 phase whereas their transformed counterparts were found to be accumulated in S phase of the cell cycle. Further, treatment of both types of cells with an S phase specific drug like Ara-C after polyamine depletion with DFMO resulted in a preferential synergistic killing of the transformed cells while the normal cells were protected from the cytotoxicity of Ara-C. These observations suggest the use of inhibitors like DFMO might help in designing better therapeutic regimens in combination with other cytotoxic drugs.