cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BK and CaV1.3 Channels Organize in Clusters that Control Excitability in Neurons

BK channels are calcium-dependent potassium channels that couple to voltage-gated calcium channels. Because of their calcium dependence, activation curves of BK channels reflect activation curves of their coupling partners. CaV1.3 channels are low-voltage activated voltage-gated calcium channels. We hypothesized that coupling of BK and CaV1.3 channels allows BK channels to activate with small depolarizations. This hypothesis assumes that BK and CaV1.3 channels are organized in nanodomains, with < 20 nm separation that achieve high concentrations of calcium next to BK channels. We studied the electrophysiological properties of BK and CaV1.3 channels in an expression system and assessed the distance between them using single-molecule localization (GSD) microscopy. We found that BK channels indeed start activating at −40 mV when coexpressed with CaV1.3 channels. Imaging showed that only 3% of CaV1.3 channels are at < 20 nm from BK channels. We did not find evidence to support a 1:1 ratio of BK and CaV1.3 clusters in nanodomains. Instead we observed a pattern of 4-6 CaV1.3 channels surrounding BK channels within 80 nm, as if BK and CaV1.3 channels were organized in a multichannel complex. Similar distributions are observed in neurons. Our results suggest an alternative hypothesis, domains of multiple channels, to explain coupling of BK and CaV1.3 channels. For comparison, we coexpressed BK channels with high-voltage activated CaV2.2 channels. Now, BK channels activated at higher-voltages. Electrophysiological and GSD experiments revealed that, unlike CaV1.3 channels, CaV2.2 channels localize further away from BK channels and with no special spatial distribution. Supported by NIH grants R37NS008174 (BH), R01HL085686, and R01HL085870 (LFS).
Questions of substance, questions that count

Historical archaeology, while amassing a large body of data, is currently proceeding without benefit of organizing theory. As a consequence, both methodology and data synthesis have suffered, often leading to the testing of hypotheses with the same data used to form them. The result of over 20 years of research is a mixed bag of contributions, ranging from obvious answers to naive and self-evident questions to the testing of hypotheses concerning complex intersite relationships and cultural dynamics. In this paper I examine both the strengths and weaknesses of the discipline, and I provide examples of studies dealing with questions of substance. Finally, specific suggestions for future research are offered.
El uso de las redes sociales y la cultura popular para una mejor comprensión intercultural

Si bien vivimos en una sociedad global, los educadores se enfrentan a numerosos desafios a la hora de hallar formas significativas de conectar a los alumnos con gente de otras culturas. Este articulo muestra un caso practico de colaboracion entre profesores de los Estados Unidos y Turquia, en el que alumnos de septimo grado interactuaron entre si a traves de las redes sociales con el fin de promover la comprension cultural. Al analizar una unica actividad de aprendizaje hallamos que los alumnos tenian la oportunidad de compartir ideas informalmente a traves de las redes sociales, usando su voz digital para compartir significados mediante la escritura online, publicacion de imagenes e hipervinculos. Este estudio hallo que los alumnos valoraban la oportunidad de relacionarse entre si y tendian a compartir su interes comun en peliculas de Hollywood, actores, famosos, videojuegos y programas de television. Sin embargo, no todos los profesores valoraban el uso de la cultura popular como medio para la busqueda de puntos en comun. En efecto, los profesores tenian perspectivas muy distintas sobre el valor de esta actividad. Mediante la comunicacion informal en torno a la cultura popular en una actividad de conocimiento mutuo, los propios alumnos descubrieron que sus conocimientos en comun tendian a estar centrados en los Estados Unidos, en tanto en cuanto los alumnos americanos no tenian acceso a la cultura popular turca. Sin embargo, la actividad de aprendizaje permitio a los propios alumnos reconocer las dinamicas de poder asimetrico que existen en la cultura mediatica global.
Opposing Affective and Cognitive Effects of Prevention Focus on Counterproductive Work Behavior

Regulatory focus is a crucial self-regulation variable that influences employee workplace behavior. However, research findings to date have been equivocal with respect to the relation of prevention focus with counterproductive work behavior (CWB). On the one hand, prevention focus sensitizes people to experience high activation negative emotions. Such emotions prompt aggressive behavior, suggesting a positive relation of prevention focus with CWB through this affective route. On the other hand, prevention focus also sensitizes people to fulfill obligations and abide by rules. Such obligations align employee behavior with organizational norms, suggesting a negative relation of prevention focus with CWB through this cognitive route. To better understand the nature of this prevention focus–CWB relationship, we examined these underlying affective and cognitive mechanisms simultaneously in two multi-wave studies. In study 1, data were collected from 151 full-time employees across two time points, and the results showed that prevention focus was positively related to both deviant behavior and withdrawal. In study 2, data were collected from 199 full-time employees across four time points, and we found that prevention focus has a significant negative indirect effect on withdrawal via felt obligation. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings for the regulatory focus and CWB literatures.
Trial Registration and Public Access to Data

Clinical trial registration is an important component of clinical trial administration and provides a variety of benefits to investigators, participants, potential participants, referring physicians, institutional review boards (IRBs), journal editors, and the medical community at large. Trial registration has been mandated by several national and international authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), World Health Organization (WHO), and International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. This chapter discusses specific issues related to clinical trial registration including responsible parties, timeliness of registration, and reporting of data. We briefly present issues associated with public access to data such as privacy rights, intellectual property issues, and legitimization of non-peer-reviewed results.
Pseudolymphoma in a cat on phenobarbital treatment

A two-year-old female spayed domestic shorthair cat was presented with apathy, inappetence and generalised lymphadenomegaly. Anamnestic data included a generalised seizure disorder and phenobarbital treatment started one month before presentation. Routine blood analysis revealed only mild abnormalities and FeLV and FIV tests were negative. Both popliteal lymph nodes were aspirated and cytology was consistent with reactive lymph node hyperplasia. PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement testing diagnosed a polyclonal cell population. In the absence of another cause, lymphadenomegaly was attributed to an adverse drug reaction and phenobarbital was discontinued. The cat's condition improved and lymph node size normalised over the next 10 days. The retrospective diagnosis was phenobarbital-induced pseudolymphoma.
Novel Ideas and Team Approach to Improve Outpatient Diabetes Control in a Large Hospital System

IN BRIEF “Quality Improvement Success Stories” are published by the American Diabetes Association in collaboration with the American College of Physicians, Inc. (ACP), and the National Diabetes Education Program. This series is intended to highlight best practices and strategies from programs and clinics that have successfully improved the quality of care for people with diabetes or related conditions. Each article in the series is reviewed and follows a standard format developed by the editors of Clinical Diabetes . The following article describes an initiative aimed at reducing the percentage of patients with an A1C >9% in outpatient settings within a large Pennsylvania health care system.
Lineage-Specific Functionality of an Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 Lupus Risk Haplotype: Lack of B Cell Intrinsic Effects

Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) is widely recognized as a risk locus for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Risk gene and IRF5 activation is triggered through toll-like receptor signaling. In myeloid cells, this leads to production of type I interferon and inflammatory cytokines, with enhanced production in cells of individuals harboring IRF5 risk alleles. Mouse models have also demonstrated the importance of IRF5 in B cell function, particularly plasma cell differentiation and isotype switching. Here, we evaluated the major SLE risk haplotype of IRF5 on the functional attributes of freshly isolated B cells from human subjects who do not have evidence of SLE or other forms of autoimmunity. We took this approach to avoid the complications of studying genotype-phenotype relationships in B cells that have been chronically exposed to an inflammatory disease environment before isolation. We focused on B cell endophenotypes that included gene expression, antibody secretion, class switching, and apoptotic susceptibility. We performed IRF5 overexpression studies, genetic reporter assays and electro-mobility shift assays on B and myeloid cell lines. Somewhat surprisingly, the results of our analyses indicate that IRF5 risk genotypes do not have a B cell intrinsic effect on these B cell functions. By contrast, we confirmed that the IRF5 risk and non-risk haplotypes exert differential effects in myeloid cells, including an increased susceptibility to apoptosis conferred by the risk haplotype. We also demonstrated an increased binding of the transcription factor specificity protein 1 to an insertion/deletion present in the risk haplotype. Our findings raise the specter that genetic risk alleles can have complex and unexpected lineage-specific effects, and these must be carefully considered when guiding or developing therapies based on understanding disease risk haplotypes.
Ontologies in the Time of Linked Data

This paper discusses some of the methodological issues one encounters when creating and using ontologies in the rapidly expanding Linked Open Data (LOD) landscape. Over the years the notion of applied ontologies has transitioned from that of a logically formalized knowledge system with varying degrees of inferencing power to that of a lightweight knowledge representation tool. This shift is reflected in the current lexicon where different actors in the LOD community use the term ontology interchangeably with more generic terms like vocabulary or even namespace or data schema. Applied ontologies have been a key area of research in the context of Semantic Web initiative since the late 1990s. The Semantic Web has recently found a new stream of development in the Linked Data initiative, which is considered its natural evolution (Allemang and Hendler, 2011). While a good deal of literature has been devoted to investigating ontology engineering for the Semantic Web, not enough attention has yet been paid to understanding the nature and role that ontologies play in the linked data context, especially from the lens of knowledge organization research. Based on our ongoing work creating Linked Open Data applications and services for digital resources in the domain of the performing arts, we describe methodological steps and lessons learned in line with the spirit of the linked data initiative, where an agile and pragmatic approach to development is combined with the practice of learning from one another.
Disfluency prompts analytic thinking--but not always greater accuracy: response to Thompson et al. (2013).

Abstract In this issue of Cognition , Thompson and her colleagues challenge the results from a paper we published several years ago (Alter, Oppenheimer, Epley, & Eyre, 2007). That paper demonstrated that metacognitive difficulty or disfluency can trigger more analytical thinking as measured by accuracy on several reasoning tasks. In their experiments, Thompson et al. find evidence that people process information more deeply—but not necessarily more accurately—when they experience disfluency. These results are consistent with our original theorizing, but the authors misinterpret it as counter-evidence because they suggest that accuracy (and even confidence) is a measure of deeper processing rather than a contingent outcome of such processing. We further suggest that Thompson et al. err when they discriminate between “perceptual fluency” and “answer fluency,” the former of which is an element of the latter. Thompson et al. advance research by adding reaction time as a measure of deeper cognitive processing, but we caution against misinterpreting the meaning of accuracy.
Field Diagnostics and Seasonality of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in Wild Snake Populations

Snake fungal disease (SFD) is an emerging disease caused by the fungal pathogen, Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola. Clinical signs of SFD include dermal lesions, including regional and local edema, crusts, and ulcers. Snake fungal disease is widespread in the Eastern United States, yet there are limited data on how clinical signs of SFD compare with laboratory diagnostics. We compared two sampling methods for O. ophiodiicola, scale clip collection and swabbing, to evaluate whether collection method impacted the results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, we evaluated the use of clinical signs to predict the presence of O. ophiodiicola across seasons, snake habitat affiliation (aquatic or terrestrial) and study sites. We found no significant difference in PCR results between sampling methods. Clinical signs were a strong predictor of O. ophiodiicola presence in spring and summer seasons. Snakes occupying terrestrial environments had a lower overall probability of testing positive for O. ophiodiicola compared to snakes occupying aquatic environments. Although our study indicates that both clinical signs of SFD and prevalence of O. ophiodiicola vary seasonally and based on habitat preferences of the host, our analysis suggests that clinical signs can serve as a reliable indicator of O. ophiodiicola presence, especially during spring and summer.
Durability and safety of David V valve-sparing root replacement in acute type A aortic dissection

Abstract Background Valve-sparing root replacement (VSRR) is an attractive option in type A aortic dissection (TAAD) repair for a young patient with normal cusp anatomy, but conventional root replacement using a composite valved-conduit (ROOT) remains the gold standard in this emergent clinical setting. We examine the long-term safety and durability of the David V VSRR compared with ROOT in TAAD repair. Methods From March 2004 to April 2017, 136 patients underwent repair of acute TAAD using either ROOT (n = 77; 56.6%) or VSRR (n = 59; 43.4%). Annual echocardiograms were performed for follow-up in VSRR patients. Univariable regression, Kaplan–Meier, and competing risk analyses were performed. Results Preoperative characteristics were similar between groups, except that VSRR patients were younger (mean age 43.5 ± 11.4 years VSRR vs 50.4 ± 3.0 years ROOT; P = .001). Both groups had similar rates of preoperative malperfusion or shock (29.3% VSRR vs 37.0% ROOT; P = .35) and ≥3+ aortic insufficiency (63% VSRR vs 76.8% ROOT). Thirty-day mortality in the VSRR group was 2/59 (3.4%) and 11/77 in the ROOT group (14.3%; P Conclusions In highly-selected patients, the David V VSRR provides a safe repair of acute TAAD with concomitant root pathology and valve insufficiency. In our center, the incidence of valve-related reintervention at long-term follow-up is low after emergent repair.
Rational “Error Elimination” Approach to Evaluating Molecular Barcoded Next-Generation Sequencing Data Identifies Low-Frequency Mutations in Hematologic Malignancies

The emergence of highly sensitive molecular diagnostic approaches, such as droplet digital PCR, has allowed the accurate identification of low-frequency variant alleles in clinical specimens; however, the multiplex capabilities of droplet digital PCR for variant detection are inadequate. The incorporation of molecular barcodes or unique IDs into next-generation sequencing libraries through PCR has enabled the detection of low-frequency variant alleles across multiple genomic regions. However, rational library preparation and sequencing data analytic strategies that integrate molecular barcodes have rarely been applied to clinical settings. In this study, we evaluated the parameters that are crucial in the use of molecular barcodes in next-generation sequencing for genotyping clinical specimens from patients with hematologic malignancies. The uniform incorporation of molecular barcodes into DNA templates through PCR was found to be crucial, and the extent of uniformity was governed by multiple interdependent variables. An error elimination strategy was developed for removing sequencing background errors by using molecular barcode sequence information as an alternative to the conventional error correction approach. This approach was successfully used to identify mutations with frequencies as low as 0.15%, and the clonal heterogeneity of hematologic malignancies was revealed. These findings have implications for elucidating heterogeneity and temporal and spatial clonal evolution, evaluating response to therapy, and monitoring relapse in patients with hematologic malignancies.
Combined Amplification and Molecular Classification for Gene Expression Diagnostics

RNA expression profiles contain information about the state of a cell and specific gene expression changes are often associated with disease. Classification of blood or similar samples based on RNA expression can thus be a powerful method for disease diagnosis. However, basing diagnostic decisions on RNA expression remains impractical for most clinical applications because it requires costly and slow gene expression profiling based on microarrays or next generation sequencing followed by often complex in silico analysis. DNA-based molecular classifiers that perform a computation over RNA inputs and summarize a diagnostic result in situ have been developed to address this issue, but lack the sensitivity required for use with actual biological samples. To address this limitation, we here propose a DNA-based classification system that takes advantage of PCR-based amplification for increased sensitivity. In our initial scheme, the importance of a transcript for a diagnostic decision is proportional to the number of molecular probes bound to that transcript. Although probe concentration is similar to that of the RNA input, subsequent amplification of the probes with PCR can dramatically increase the sensitivity of the assay. However, even slight biases in PCR efficiency can distort weight information encoded by the original probe set. To address this concern, we developed and mathematically analyzed multiple strategies for mitigating the bias associated with PCR-based amplification. We evaluate these amplified molecular classification strategies through simulation using two distinct gene expression data sets and associated disease categories as inputs. Through this analysis, we arrive at a novel molecular classifier framework that naturally accommodates PCR bias and also uses a smaller number of molecular probes than required in the initial, naive implementation.
Development of a Dementia-Focused End-of-Life Planning Tool: The LEAD Guide (Life-Planning in Early Alzheimer's and Dementia).

Background and objectives To address the unique characteristics of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) that complicate end-of-life (EOL), we created, refined, and validated a dementia-focused EOL planning instrument for use by healthy adults, those with early-stage dementia, family caregivers, and clinicians to document EOL care preferences and values within the current or future context of cognitive impairment. Research design and methods A mixed-method design with four phases guided the development and refinement of the instrument: (1) focus groups with early-stage ADRD and family caregivers developed and confirmed the tool content and comprehensiveness; (2) evaluation by content experts verified its utility in clinical practice; (3) a sample of healthy older adults (n = 153) and adults with early-stage ADRD (n = 38) completed the tool, whose quantitative data were used to describe the psychometrics of the instrument; and (4) focus groups with healthy older adults, family caregivers, and adults with early-stage ADRD informed how the guide should be used by families and in clinical practice. Results Qualitative data supported the utility and feasibility of a dementia-focused EOL planning tool; the six scales have high internal consistency (α = 0.66-0.89) and high test-rest reliability (r = .60-.90). On average, both participant groups reported relatively high concern for being a burden to their families, a greater preference for quality over length of life, a desire for collaborative decision-making process, limited interest in pursuing life-prolonging measures, and were mixed in their preference to control the timing of their death. Across disease progression, preferences for location of care changed, whereas preferences for prolonging life remained stable. Discussion and implications The LEAD Guide (Life-Planning in Early Alzheimer's and Dementia) has the potential to facilitate discussion and documentation of EOL values and care preferences prior to loss of decisional capacity, and has utility for healthy adults, patients, families, providers, and researchers.
Design and modeling of subpicosecond all-optical modulator using the nonlinear response of indium tin oxide

We report the design of an all-optical modulator based on the ultrafast nonlinear optical response of indium tin oxide (ITO) combined with the sharp spectral features of a high-Q resonant grating structure. Under optical excitation, a thin layer of ITO exhibits an ultrafast, reversible, and large intensity-dependent change in its refractive index. The grating structure provides rapid variation of the transmission coefficient, which is tuned to the epsilon-near-zero spectral region of ITO. The proposed design achieves all-optical modulation with a response time of 650 fs (speed >1.5 THz) using a simple design with a compact footprint.
81 Why do patients with concomitant HF and COPD return to hospital? risk factors and reasons for short-term readmission

Background COPD is one of the most frequent comorbidties in HF and COPD exacerbations are a competing cause of hospitalisation in this patient group. We evaluated the causes and predictors of 30-day readmission in a large population of patients hospitalised for HF with comorbid COPD. Methods We identified 54,953 patients hospitalised for HF with a comorbid diagnosis of COPD in the National Readmissions Database in the United States, in 2012. Using Cox proportional hazards regressions we evaluated factors associated with 30-day all-cause, respiratory and cardiovascular (CV)-related readmissions. The primary cause of readmission was identified using ICD–9CM codes. Results The most common cause for readmission was CV (50.5%), while the most frequent cause for non-CV readmission was respiratory disease (13%). Factors associated with 30-day all-cause readmission included: Renal failure (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.19 - 1.30), anaemia (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.09 - 1.19), weight loss (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05 - 1.24), diabetes (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04 - 1.14), and index hospitalisation length of stay over 10 days (HR 1.45, 95%CI 1.36 - 1.55, Figure 1). Respiratory-related readmission was positively associated with recent weight loss (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.09 - 1.71), depression (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.02 - 1.44), obesity (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.02 - 1.36) and length of stay over 10 days (HR 1.86, 95% CI 1.54 - 2.25). Major risk factors for CV readmission were renal failure (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.33 - 1.51), coronary artery disease (HR 1.18, 95%CI 1.11 - 1.26) and diabetes (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.10 - 1.24). Conclusion In patients hospitalised for HF with comorbid COPD, most readmissions are still due to a CV cause; however, several non-cardiac risk factors significantly contribute to readmission risk. These data highlight an opportunity to better assess and treat non-cardiac comorbidities in order to reduce readmissions in this high-risk population. Conflict of Interest None
A Rare Etiology of Drug Rash in a Patient Receiving Anti-Tuberculosis Treatment

Anti-tuberculosis medications can cause various side effects, including drug rash. When a patient on anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) develops rash, we usually stop all medicines, rechallenge the patient with medications individually, and find the offending agent. It should be mentioned that drug rash can be also a manifestation of other diseases. Herein, we report a case of tuberculosis who developed rash while on ATT regimen but was later diagnosed to be concomitantly suffering from leprosy.
Tailoring Binder Melting Temperature to Study the Binder Melt Layer Flow in Ammonium Perchlorate Composite Propellants

Understanding the melt layer of composite solid propellants is crucial to theoretically model the combustion mechanism. Numerous studies on the melt layer flow have determined that the melting temp...
NELF Regulates a Promoter-Proximal Step Distinct from RNA Pol II Pause-Release

Summary RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) is generally paused at promoter-proximal regions in most metazoans, and based on in vitro studies, this function has been attributed to the negative elongation factor (NELF). Here, we show that upon rapid depletion of NELF, RNA Pol II fails to be released into gene bodies, stopping instead around the +1 nucleosomal dyad-associated region. The transition to the 2nd pause region is independent of positive transcription elongation factor P-TEFb. During the heat shock response, RNA Pol II is rapidly released from pausing at heat shock-induced genes, while most genes are paused and transcriptionally downregulated. Both of these aspects of the heat shock response remain intact upon NELF loss. We find that NELF depletion results in global loss of cap-binding complex from chromatin without global reduction of nascent transcript 5′ cap stability. Thus, our studies implicate NELF functioning in early elongation complexes distinct from RNA Pol II pause-release.
A Tale of Two Brothers: Familial Voltage-Gated Potassium Channel Autoimmune Encephalitis

This is the first reported case of familial voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) autoimmune encephalitis. The symptoms of autoimmune encephalitis can mimic infectious encephalitis with headache, fatigue, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Autoimmunity is emerging as a distinct cause of encephalitis in the children. Prompt recognition, diagnosis, and treatment are important to prevent brain damage. Two brothers presented two years apart with different symptoms. The explanation for their distinct symptoms lies in the multifactorial development of autoimmunity. The presentation of autoimmune encephalitis can depend on the offending antibodies. The most common are antibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor and the VGKC complex. Antibodies to the VGKC complex are divided into three different groups depending on their antigenic target: leucine-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1), contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2), or neither. Anti-VGKC antibodies in children are associated with neuroinflammation and encephalitis. Autoimmunity to LGI1 and CASPR2 antigens is associated with distinct human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles. Different HLA isotypes are involved in antigen processing and presentation and can lead to a genetic predisposition to autoimmunity. VGKC autoimmune encephalitis can present with memory changes, psychiatric symptoms, and motor abnormalities. Both brothers presented with these symptoms in their own unique way. Efficient diagnosis and immunosuppression helped improve their outcomes.
Vector multiplications using memristive devices and applications thereof

Abstract Advances in computing power have historically been driven by transistor scaling, commonly known as Moore’s law. However, transistor scaling is now close to an end as device sizes approach fundamental physical limits. In the meantime, demands in the application space have been evolving, often requiring processing large amounts of data at high throughput and low energy today and become increasingly constrained by limits of the conventional von Neumann computing architecture. New device technologies such as resistive random-access memory (memristor) devices have attracted broad interest as promising candidates to improve future memory and computing performance. By utilizing physical laws to perform analog operations at the device level, memristive crossbars offer an extremely efficient means to achieve in-memory matrix operations, where same devices are used simultaneously for data storage and processing. In this chapter, we discuss how memristive systems can be used to perform vector–matrix multiplication operations for a broad range of tasks, starting from basic vector arithmetic operations to hardware accelerators for artificial neural network and complex scientific and engineering simulation problems.
Peripherally Acting μ-Opioid Receptor Antagonists in the Management of Postoperative Ileus: a Clinical Review

Postoperative ileus (POI) and constipation are common secondary effects of opioids and carry significant clinical and economic impacts. μ-Opioid receptors mediate opioid analgesia in the central nervous system (CNS) and gastrointestinal-related effects in the periphery. Peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) block the peripheral effects of opioids in the gastrointestinal tract, while maintaining opioid analgesia in the CNS. While most are not approved for POI or postoperative opioid-induced constipation (OIC), PAMORAs have a potential role in these settings via their selective effects on the μ-opioid receptor. This review will discuss recent clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of PAMORAs, with a focus on alvimopan (Entereg®) and methylnaltrexone (Relistor®) in patients with POI or postoperative OIC. We will characterize potential factors that may have impacted the efficacy observed in phase 3 trials and discuss future directions for the management and treatment of POI.
Zumba Instructor Strategies: Constraining or Liberating for Women Participants?

Prior work documents how instructors can make fitness empowering or disempowering for women; it has not addressed instructors of Zumba, advertised to be distinct from other group fitness and of whi...
Perioperative Management of Pulmonary Hypertension

Any form of pulmonary hypertension (PH) uniformly increases the perioperative risks of both cardiac and noncardiac surgery. Specific perioperative management of PH patients is dependent upon the etiology and severity of disease as well as the planned operation. A detailed understanding of right ventricular (RV) physiology and the impact of chronic as well as acute-on-chronic PH is paramount to decisions on selection for surgery, preoperative preparation, anesthetic plan and postoperative care. The highest risk PH patients should be referred to PH centers where a multidisciplinary approach to patient care can be planned and where expertise exists in using a multitude of inhaled and systemic pulmonary vasodilators, as well as pharmacological and emergent mechanical interventions for right ventricular failure. This chapter is intended to be a guide for all physicians managing the perioperative care of patients with pulmonary hypertension, with an emphasis on noncardiac surgery.
Evolution of the Vacuum Rabi Splitting Into a Single Peak for a Bistable Optical Cavity

One of the most powerful spectroscopic methods available is the study of the transmission of a medium as the excitation frequency varies. The results give direct information on the energy structure of the sample and its dynamics. We have investigated the transmission characteristics of a quantum optical system formed by a collection of twolevel atoms coupled to a single mode of a high finesse cavity. The present work explores the evolution of the transmitted spectrum as the intensity of the driving field varies. The system is intrinsically sensitive to the intensity of the driving field since it is the realization of the canonical model for optical bistability [1].
Swift trust in global virtual teams: Trusting beliefs and normative actions.

Ad hoc global virtual teams are associated with swift trust – a unique form of trust in temporary systems. Cognitive components of swift trust render it fragile and in need of reinforcement and calibration by actions. Action components of swift trust are undertheorized as are the links to team performance. We elaborate on the normative action processes of swift trust and their relationship to performance, and then report results from a longitudinal quasi-experimental study of 68 temporary virtual teams with no face-to-face interaction. Results provide support for our theory about how the normative action processes involve setting and monitoring performance norms that are supported by early trusting beliefs and that increase late trusting beliefs and consequently team performance in virtual teams.
HPLC Methods for Analysis of Porphyrins in Biological Media

Changes in porphyrin concentrations in biological media may serve as biological indicators of exposure and toxicity from a wide variety of drugs and chemical agents. This unit describes procedures for quantitative extraction of porphyrins from urine, feces, blood, and biological tissues as well as their separation and analysis by HAPLY spectrofluorometrc techniques.
On a variational theorem for incompressible and nearly-incompressible orthotropic elasticity

Abstract A mixed variational theorem for linear orthotropic thermoelastic solids is presented. The mechanical state variables are taken to be the displacement vector and a scalar stress variable. The Euler equations of the variational principle are the displacement equations of equilibrium and a condition relating the stress variable to strain and temperature change. An important feature of the principle is that the field equations for both compressible and incompressible solids may be generated. In connection with applications to the development of finite element computer algorithms for the solution of boundary value problems a well-conditioned system of equations is obtained for nearly-incompressible solids.
Probing Neuropeptide Signaling at the Organ and Cellular Domains via Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) has evolved to be a promising technology due to its ability to detect a broad mass range of molecular species and create density maps for selected compounds. It is currently one of the most useful techniques to determine the spatial distribution of neuropeptides in cells and tissues. Although IMS is conceptually simple, sample preparation steps, mass analyzers, and software suites are just a few of the factors that contribute to the successful design of a neuropeptide IMS experiment. This review provides a brief overview of IMS sampling protocols, instrumentation, data analysis tools, technological advancements and applications to neuropeptide localization in neurons and endocrine tissues. Future perspectives in this field are also provided, concluding that neuropeptide IMS would greatly facilitate studies of neuronal network and biomarker discovery.
Coupling of Butyl Bromide on Hot Magnesium

A report of the formation of octane when butyl bromide is passed over magnesium turnings at high temperatures should be amended. Such coupling does take place over pure magnesium at more moderate temperatures but yields 3-methylheptane and sec-butyl bromide in addition to octane. Sec-butyl bromide itself forms no coupling product under such conditions but admixed with butyl bromide markedly increases the 3-methyl-heptane:octane ratio in the product.
The Effects of Chronic Fluoxetine Treatment on Chronic Mild Stress-Induced Cardiovascular Changes and Anhedonia

Background Depression has a complex bidirectional association with heart disease. Previously we have shown notable cardiovascular changes in the chronic mild stress (CMS) rodent model of depression. Here we investigated the effects of a serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor on a behavioral index of depression (anhedonia) and cardiac function in rats exposed to CMS. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to either 4 weeks of control conditions or CMS, consisting of unpredictable periods of mild stressors, while being treated concurrently with 4 weeks of daily fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, sc) or vehicle. Results Chronic fluoxetine treatment prevented anhedonia in rats exposed to CMS, versus the CMS group treated with vehicle. However, treatment with fluoxetine in the CMS group only partially prevented specific cardiovascular changes associated with CMS, including elevated resting heart rate (HR), exaggerated pressor and HR responses to air jet stress, reduced cardiac output and stroke volume, and HR exaggerated responses to β-adrenergic receptor blockade. Conclusions These findings provide evidence that 4 weeks of fluoxetine treatment can prevent behavioral responses and can partially prevent cardiovascular changes associated with CMS, providing insight into the role of serotonin in the link between depression and cardiovascular dysfunction.
Thermodynamic analysis of hydrate-based pre-combustion capture of CO2

Abstract This paper presents the phase equilibria of quaternary CO 2 + H 2 + cyclopentane ( CP ) + water systems containing gas hydrates and proposes a staged-separation scheme based on the thermodynamic data. The phase equilibria of HLLV of quaternary CO 2 + H 2 + CP + water systems are determined by using a high-pressure differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The equilibrium dissociation pressures are dependent on the vapor composition and they shift to lower values with the increase in the CO 2 mole fraction. The difference in the dissociation pressures between various CO 2 fractions vanishes as the temperature approaches the melting point of CP hydrates at 0.1 MPa. The hydrate dissociation enthalpy is independent of vapor compositions and it is 144 kJ mol ( gas ) - 1 over the temperature range. Experimental data are compared to the calculated ones from John–Holder's three-shell model. The prediction matches well with experimental data. The presence of CP reduces the operation pressure of a hydrate-based CO 2 capturing process from the pre-combustion stream. Two equilibrium stages of hydrate crystallization and dissociation can enrich CO 2 in the vapor-phase significantly from 0.4 of CO 2 mole fraction to 0.98 at 282 K. This thermodynamic analysis provides a conceptual design for developing a new process of pre-combustion CO 2 capture in IGCC plants.
Quality of life and coronary artery bypass surgery patients

Abstract A sample of 95 coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS) patients was studied in order to examine the relationship between quality of life and CABS. Quality of life is studied through measures of social situation, physical limits, and work status. Findings indicate that quality of life improvement is a function of the patient's post-operative experience and perception of their physical limits, which, in turn, is likely to influence their desire to work. Retirement rates are high, particularly among patients over 55 years of age. Unemployment rates are high among those patients between 49–54 years of age. However, surprisingly few patients saw themselves as physically limited, a reflection of the high overall satisfaction with surgical outcome. The discussion focuses upon the use of productivity rather than work status measures as indicators of CABS success. The importance of the affiliative experience leads to specification of conditions under which life quality can be improved as a result of CABS. Surgery is discussed as a part of a complex interplay of physical and social experiences which influence individual and social benefits.
Improving regional I-O models: Evidence against uniform regional purchase coefficients across rows

Most non-survey input-output methods, either implicitly or explicitly, attempt to identify the regional component of the direct requirements coefficient. The major non-survey methods, LQ, supply-demand pool, Stevens' RPC and RAS, define the regional component to be the same across a row: that is, all industries requiring input i will buy the same proportion of it within the region as other industries purchasing input i. In this paper, primary data is used to estimate the regional component of manufactured input purchases for several different industries in each row. This allows the hypothesis of uniformity for several sectors' regional purchases of an input to be evaluated.
Grain Growth Behavior of Bismuth Titanate Thin Film on Metallic Silicon Substrates

Bismuth titanate (Bi4Ti3O12) thin films were produced from acetate precursors by spin coating deposition followed by crystallization using rapid thermal processing (RTP)‥ Crystallographic orientation was characterized by x-ray diffraction, and indicated that it varied with the number of coating layers for the films deposited on single crystal silicon wafers. Cross sectional samples were prepared and studied by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The results showed that grains randomly nucleated at the interface where a thin amorphous silica layer was naturally formed. Grains nucleated in the [020] direction or near this direction showed a faster growth rate than that in the other directions, and eventually dominant in determining the grain orientation of the film. Preferential orientation in the [020] direction observed by TEM is identical to the XRD results for the multilayer thin films. The thickness and grain size of thin film were also investigated.
The role of cell-mediated immunity in candidiasis

Clinical observations and animal models show that cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is an important host defense mechanism against Candida albicans infections. In HIV-infected patients, a switch from TH1- to TH2-type CMI responses correlates with the progression to AIDS, and may also increase susceptibility to mucosal candidiasis.
Mode Switching Kinetics Produced by a Naturally Occurring Mutation in the Cytoplasmic Loop of the Human Acetylcholine Receptor ε Subunit

Abstract We describe the genetic and kinetic defects in a congenital myasthenic syndrome caused by heteroallelic mutations of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) e subunit gene. The mutations are an in-frame duplication of six residues in the long cytoplasmic loop (e1254ins18) and a cysteine-loop null mutation (eC128S). The e1254ins18 mutation causes mode switching in the kinetics of receptor activation in which three modes activate slowly and inactivate rapidly. The e1245ins18-AChR at the endplate shows abnormally brief activation episodes during steady state agonist application and appears electrically silent during the synaptic response to acetylcholine. The phenotypic consequences are endplate AChR deficiency, simplification of the postsynaptic region, and compensatory expression of fetal AChR that restores electrical activity at the endplate and rescues the phenotype.
The effect of process and polymer variables on the light transmission properties of polypropylene tubular blown films

An extensive experimental study of the effect of processing and resin variables on the light transmission of polypropylene tubular blown film is reported. The resin variables investigated include melt flow rate (average molecular weight), molecular weight distribution, and the addition of a nucleating agent. Processing variables studied include blow-up and draw down ratios, and frost line height (cooling rate). Increasing the draw down and blowup ratios and decreasing the frost line height generally lead to increased light transmission. Decreasing the resin melt flow rate, narrowing the molecular weight distribution, and the addition of a nucleating agent also improve light transmission. The overall light transmission properties of the films are dominated by their surface roughness characteristics, while the internal morphology of the films plays a secondary role. The changes in light transmission of the films in response to changes in processing or resin variables were traced to their effect on the surface texture and internal morphology.
Formation and stabilization of persistent free radicals

We demonstrate that stable and relatively unreactive “environmentally persistent free radicals (PFRs)” can be readily formed in the post-flame and cool-zone regions of combustion systems and other thermal processes. These resonance-stabilized radicals, including semiquinones, phenoxyls, and cyclopentadienyls, can be formed by the thermal decomposition of molecular precursors including catechols, hydroquinones and phenols. Association with the surfaces of fine particles imparts additional stabilization to these radicals such that they can persist almost indefinitely in the environment. A mechanism of chemisorption and electron transfer from the molecular adsorbate to a redox-active transition metal or other receptor is shown through experiment, and supported by molecular orbital calculations, to result in PFR formation. Both oxygen-centered and carbon-centered PFRs are possible that can significantly affect their environmental and biological reactivity.
Spacetime encodings. IV. The relationship between Weyl curvature and Killing tensors in stationary axisymmetric vacuum spacetimes

The problem of obtaining an explicit representation for the fourth invariant of geodesic motion (generalized Carter constant) of an arbitrary stationary axisymmetric vacuum spacetime generated from an Ernst potential is considered. The coupling between the nonlocal curvature content of the spacetime as encoded in the Weyl tensor, and the existence of a Killing tensor is explored and a constructive, algebraic test for a fourth-order Killing tensor suggested. The approach used exploits the variables defined for the Backlund transformations to clarify the relationship between Weyl curvature, constants of geodesic motion, expressed as Killing tensors, and the solution-generation techniques. A new symmetric noncovariant formulation of the Killing equations is given. This formulation transforms the problem of looking for fourth-order Killing tensors in 4D into one of looking for four interlocking two-manifolds admitting fourth-order Killing tensors in 2D.
The isolation of temperament dimensions in dogs

Forty-two somatic and behavioral measures representative of diverse behaviors were made on 101 dogs in standard test situations and under reasonably normal conditions. The dogs were about equally divided among five pure breeds. The correlations were factor analyzed with simple structure attained through oblique rotation, revealing at least ten meaningful temperament factors, five of them reasonable matches to those previously found in dogs. The factors were interpreted as Exuberance, Aggressive Excitation, Physical Size, Emotionality, Self-Sufficiency, Obedient Cooperation, Competence, Timidity, Calmness, Aloofness, and Apprehension. It is suggested that further use of these factors be made in learning experiments and genetic studies and more factor analyses be conducted with animals.