cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insulin resistance and improvements in signal transduction.

Type 2 diabetes and obesity are common metabolic disorders characterized by resistance to the actions of insulin to stimulate skeletal muscle glucose disposal. Insulin-resistant muscle has defects at several steps of the insulin-signaling pathway, including decreases in insulin-stimulated insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (Pl 3-kinase) activation. One approach to increase muscle glucose disposal is to reverse/improve these insulin-signaling defects. Weight loss and thiazolidinediones (TZDs) improve glucose disposal, in part, by increasing insulin-stimulated insulin receptor and IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and PI 3-kinase activity. In contrast, physical training and metformin improve whole-body glucose disposal but have minimal effects on proximal insulin-signaling steps. A novel approach to reverse insulin resistance involves inhibition of the stress-activated protein kinase Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and the protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). A different strategy to increase muscle glucose disposal is by stimulating insulin-independent glucose transport. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an enzyme that works as a fuel gauge and becomes activated in situations of energy consumption, such as muscle contraction. Several studies have shown that pharmacologic activation of AMPK increases glucose transport in muscle, independent of the actions of insulin. AMPK activation is also involved in the mechanism of action of metformin and adiponectin. Moreover, in the hypothalamus, AMPK regulates appetite and body weight. The effect of AMPK to stimulate muscle glucose disposal and to control appetite makes it an important pharmacologic target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
ITPE Technique Applications to Time-Varying Three-Dimensional Ground-Coupling Problems

Approximate analytical solutions for the three-dimensional heat transfer between slab-on-grade floors and rectangular basements under steady-periodic conditions are developed using the Interzone Temperature Profile Estimation (ITPE) method. The slab-on-grade solution is the first analytical slab-on-grade solution is the first analytical solution of the time-dependent three-dimensional problem for basements. Solutions are given for the temperature field and expressions are derived for the annual heat loss. Parametric analysis is used to emphasize the effect of geometric dimensions on the magnitude and phase of h eat loss relative to ambient temperature. The results obtained are compared with those from the two-dimensional model, and the three-dimensional characteristics of heat flow from slabs and basements are examined.
Fission process and its application in fissile material identification

In this work, prompt gamma-rays emitted by thermal neutron-induced fission decay using fast coincidence techniques are used to identify both light and heavy fragments and obtain gamma-ray signatures and radiation multiplicity. The measurements were carried out with 235U and 239Pu targets using the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) at Argonne National Laboratory. This study reports the recent results of a preliminary analysis of experimental data collected from the induced fission of 235U and 239Pu. In this paper, we discuss how these results could be used to characterize an unknown sample of fissile material.
Carbon nanotubes as catalysts for direct carbohydrazide fuel cells

Abstract As an alternative to potentially carcinogenic hydrazine for fuel cell application, carbohydrazide, which contains lone electron pairs on nitrogen atoms and readily activated N–H bonds, can be catalytically oxidized over metal-free carbon catalysts due to the high equilibrium electromotive force (1.65 V) of its oxidation reaction. Carbon nanotubes are found to electrochemically catalyze the carbohydrazide oxidation reaction more efficiently than carbon black and multi-layer graphene in alkaline media. With carbon nanotubes as the anode catalyst, anode metal-catalyst-free and completely metal-catalyst-free direct carbohydrazide anion exchange membrane fuel cells are shown here to generate a peak power density of 77.5 mW cm −2 and 26.5 mW cm −2 , respectively.
The Weinberg-Salam model and early cosmology

Abstract The consequences for cosmology of the phase transition in which SU(2)×U(1) symmetry is broken in the Weinberg-Salam model are discussed. The qualitative arguments concerning the effect of the phase transition on the baryon-to-entropy ratio that were recently posed by Witten for the case of a Coleman-Weinberg light Higgs boson are confirmed through exact numerical computations, but some quantitative disagreement is found. The computations are extended to the case in which the light Higgs boson is not of the Coleman-Weinberg type and the nature of the phase transition is discussed. Other cosmological effects are considered.
Constitutional p53 mutations associated with brain tumors in young adults

Identification of patients at risk for developing brain tumors is important for the development of preventative strategies. Because individuals with germline p53 mutations may be at increased risk, we examined DNA from brain tumor-derived cell lines and malignant and normal nervous system tissue for p53 gene mutations using the single strand conformation polymorphism assay and direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA. We found mutations in the p53 gene in eight of 22 adult glioma tissue specimens and germline mutations in two of these eight patients. In contrast, mutation of the p53 gene was not detectable in either 16 glial tumors occurring in children, glial tumor tissue from three unrelated glioblastoma multiforme patients with a familial history of cancer, or in benign meningiomas. One constitutional p53 mutation was a G to T transversion at codon 154, and the second was a C to T transition at codon 256. Both patients with germline mutations developed glioblastoma multiforme before the age of 31, although the median age for glioma patients is above 50. These findings suggest that p53 germline mutations may identify a subset of young adults predisposed to the development of high-grade astrocytic tumors.
Entry inhibitors and their use in the treatment of HIV-1 infection

Entry of HIV into target cells is a complex, multi-stage process involving sequential attachment and CD4 binding, coreceptor binding, and membrane fusion. HIV entry inhibitors are a complex group of drugs with multiple mechanisms of action depending on the stage of the viral entry process they target. Two entry inhibitors are currently approved for the treatment of HIV-infected patients. Maraviroc, a CCR5 antagonist, blocks interactions between the viral envelope proteins and the CCR5 coreceptor. Enfuvirtide, a fusion inhibitor, disrupts conformational changes in gp41 that drive membrane fusion. A wide array of additional agents are in various stages of development. This review covers the entry inhibitors and their use in the treatment of HIV-infected patients.
Surface Fermi contours and phonon anomalies on Pt(111)

The surface Fermi contours of Pt(111) have been determined with use of high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission. There exist two surface resonances which produce distinct Fermi contours. The first contour is an approximately hexagonal electron pocket centered in the surface Brillouin zone and is very nearly degenerate with the edge of the projection of the sixth bulk band. The other contour is a more diffuse triangular electron pocket centered at K\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}, and is loosely associated with a projected gap in the fifth bulk band. These results do not support the suggestion that anomalies observed in measurements of the Pt(111) surface-phonon dispersion relations might be caused by screening singularities associated with surface-localized states. Our contours provide a guide for future phonon measurements seaching for such anomalies.
Hybrid Kalman Filters for Very Short-Term Load Forecasting and Prediction Interval Estimation

Very short-term load forecasting predicts the loads in electric power system one hour into the future in 5-min steps in a moving window manner. To quantify forecasting accuracy in real-time, the prediction interval estimates should also be produced online. Effective predictions with good prediction intervals are important for resource dispatch and area generation control, and help power market participants make prudent decisions. We previously presented a two level wavelet neural network method based on back propagation without estimating prediction intervals. This paper extends the previous work by using hybrid Kalman filters to produce forecasting with prediction interval estimates online. Based on data analysis, a neural network trained by an extended Kalman filter is used for the low-low frequency component to capture the near-linear relationship between the input load component and the output measurement, while neural networks trained by unscented Kalman filters are used for low-high and high frequency components to capture their nonlinear relationships. The overall variance estimate is then derived and evaluated for prediction interval estimation. Testing results demonstrate the effectiveness of hybrid Kalman filters for capturing different features of load components, and the accuracy of the overall variance estimate derived based on a data set from ISO New England.
Shoulder instability in thefemale athlete

Abstract Glenohumeral instability is relatively commonly observed in the female athlete. Studies have shown an increased incidence of both asymptomatic and pathological laxity among women. Female athletes participating in sports involving repetitive use of the upper extremity may be at particular risk for developing symptoms. Shoulder instability is classified according to etiology, onset, degree, and direction. Accurate diagnosis is important to determine proper management. Female athletes presenting with symptoms of shoulder instability should be initially treated with a comprehensive rehabilitation program emphasizing strengthening of the rotator cuff and dynamic scapular stabilizing muscles. After failure of nonoperative management, satisfactory results can be obtained using either open or arthroscopic surgical techniques.
Longitudinal Perspectives on Drug Use: Analyses from the New York Longitudinal Study

The present study looked at the relationship between various early childhood and adolescent emotional and adjustment characteristics and later tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use for the 133 subjects (sixty-six males, sixty-seven females) of the New York Longitudinal Study (NYLS). Results indicated that characteristics such as high amounts of dissatisfaction and undercompliance at ages one through six were related to high amounts of tobacco use at ages ten through thirteen. Problems with coping and discipline at age five were associated with high levels of alcohol use in young adulthood, and marijuana use at ages thirteen through sixteen. During adolescence, problems with emotional expressiveness, self evaluation, school and social functioning, and implementation of goals were related to high levels of tobacco and marijuana use from age sixteen into adulthood, and alcohol use from age nineteen on. Results are discussed in relation to their implications for longitudinal research and prevention strategies.
Antibodies to rat choline acetyltransferase for immunochemistry and immunocytochemistry.

Abstract Choline acetyltransferase was purified from rat striata by several sequential column chromatographic Separations on Sepharose 4B, hydroxylapatite, Sephadex G-150 and CM-Sephadex, and finally by elution of enzymatically active protein from gel slices. Conventional rabbit and monoclonal antibodies to the enzyme were produced. Monoclonal antibodies were radiolabeled in vivo and used for specific immunoradioautographic 3ocalization of choline acetyltransferase in cholinergic neurons by light and electron microscopy.
Excretion of total phosphorus, dissolved reactive phosphorus, ammonia, and urea by Lake Michigan Mysis relicta

Rates of nutrient release by Mysis relicta in Lake Michigan were measured on five nights at a45-m station near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A., in the summer of 1977. Nocturnal vertical migrations of the mysids were monitored with both echosounder tracings and vertical net tows. Estimates of the total areal dry mass of the mysids ranged from 600 to 1 820 mg m−2. Rates of release of dissolved reactive phosphorus, total phosphorus, ammonia, and urea were measured in dark incubations on shipboard. Excretion experiments were initiated immediately after mysids were collected from each of several vertical net hauls. The depths of maximum mysid densities corresponded approximately with a deep phytoplankton peak located in the vicinity of the thermocline. Semiquantitative ‘demands’ for N and P by phytoplankton within this peak were obtained from 14C estimates of primary production from a previous study, assuming a constant C:N:P ratio for the algae. These algal nutrient ‘demands’ were compared to potential N and P release by the mysids to obtain a first approximation of the relative rates of nutrient supply and demand for the field phytoplankton populations. Our analysis indicates that mysids may directly supply about 1–10% of the daily N and P ‘demands’ of the phytoplankton in the deep peak. However, indirect interactions between Mysis relicta and other organisms, such as small zooplankton and fishes, could be major factors in nutrient recycling within the metalimnion and subthermocline region of Lake Michigan.
Lack of protection of monoamine oxidase B-deficient mice from age-related spatial learning deficits in the Morris water maze

Abstract Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) increases in brain in response to aging and neurodegeneration. Whether such increases represent a risk factor to further neuronal damage or simply represent epiphenomena remains unclear. L-deprenyl, an inhibitor of MAO-B, has been shown to improve learning in aged rodents. However, recent data suggests this may occur through mechanisms independent of its enzymatic inhibition. This study investigates visualspatial learning of MAO-B deficient mice and examines what effects absence of MAO-B has on age-related cognitive decline. Learning was tested in the Morris Water Maze in male transgenic MAO-B knockout mice (KO) ages 2 months (n = 9), 7 months (n = 7), and 17 months (n = 8). Performance was compared to that of wild type (WT) littermates. Animals were given four 60 second trials per day with the submerged platform in the “North” position. Animals received 7 days of learning in which they were introduced into the pool facing the wall, alternating between the “East” and “West” positions. A single probe trial followed on day 8, followed by continuation of the original learning paradigm on days 9 and 10. Subsequently, the platform position was changed to the diagonally opposite quadrant and learning continued on days 11–13, followed by a cue phase in which the platform was made visible. Total distance traveled and latency to the platform was increased in 7- and 17-month old mice, most significantly at the beginning of the acquisition phase. This effect reappeared again in 17- month old mice during the reversal phase. No predominant genotypic differences in latency or distance were observed during any phase of the experiment. Our results show that presence or absence of MAO-B does not appear to alter performance in the Morris water maze. Furthermore, presence or absence of MAO-B does not provide protection from the age-dependent deficits in spatial learning.
Cellular Responses to Interferons and Other Cytokines: The JAK–STAT Paradigm

Recently, two rare genetic disorders have been linked to abnormalities in a novel cytokine-signaling mechanism, and the growth of leukemia cells was shown to be inhibited by selective blockade of t...
X chromatin and chromosome examination in aged women.

Abstract X chromatin frequencies were compared between aged, middle-aged and young women and a statistically significant decrease in frequency was found in the aged as compared to the middle-aged and the young women. For a subsample of aged women results of chromosome examinations were also available which allowed comparison of the frequencies of X chromatin and monosomy C; no significant correlation emerged. This latter finding indicates that karyotypic analysis is necessary for the determination of monosomy C and that X chromatin counts from buccal mucosal cells cannot be substituted for the examination of karyotypes.
Prenatal depression effects on neonates

Sixty-three pregnant women (36 with depression symptoms) were recruited during their last trimester of pregnancy. The depressed mothers had higher cortisol and norepinephrine levels and lower dopamine levels. Their infants subsequently had higher cortisol and norepinephrine levels and lower dopamine levels at the neonatal stage. The neonates of depressed mothers also showed inferior performance on the orientation, reflex, excitability, and withdrawal clusters of the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment. Stepwise regression analyses revealed that the depressed mothers' prenatal norepinephrine and dopamine levels significantly predicted the newborns' norepinephrine and dopamine levels and their Brazelton scores, highlighting an early biochemical influence on neonatal outcome.
Assessing climate persistence from climatic ?noise?

Changes in climate are generally defined as differences between means. The autocorrelation usually encountered in geophysical series and the implied ‘persistence’, or reduced number of independent observations, tend to render significance tests of mean differences inconclusive until a considerable amount of data has accumulated, by which time a climatic change could be well under way. A more efficient alternative approach is provided by small-sample variances. Under slightly idealized conditions their frequency distribution is of the chi-square type with a number of degrees of freedom that measures the persistence in the series and can be monitored on a short time scale with a sequential sampling procedure.
Analysis of End-to-End SOA Security Protocols with Mobile Devices

Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is an architectural style that provides agility to align technical solutions to a modular business Web Services (WS) that are well decoupled from their consumers. This agility is extended to the Cloud model. To achieve a high level of security and a degree of decoupling, SOA encourages the use of standardized transport schemes such as SOAP/HTTP(s) with WS family of standards specifications (commonly referred to as WS-* (WS-star)) to ease the interoperability complexity and security concerns in enterprise networks, which have medium/high bandwidth and reliable/wired networks. However, these protocol standards are ill suited for mobile devices due to their limited computational capabilities, low bandwidth, and intermittent connectivity. In this paper, we present an analysis of WS-* standards, classifying and discussing their inter-dependencies to provide a basis for determining the limitation of mobile device use in SOA and for establishing an architectural consideration baseline for selecting appropriate security mechanisms.
A new puncture needle for arteriography

A new needle design for percutaneous vascular access incorporates a unique stylet configuration into a butterfly cannula. Anterior wall femoral artery puncture was achieved in 39 of 50 patients (78%). Design characteristics promote the appropriate use of force for arterial puncture. A balanced shorter needle improves accuracy and results in a central alignment of cannula and the vessel lumen.
SOME COMPUTATIONAL ISSUES IN LARGE STRAIN ELASTO-PLASTIC ANALYSIS

Abstract The stress integration procedure proposed by Eterovic and Bathe [Int. J. numer. Meth. Engng 30, 1099–1114 (1990).] is studied in detail. The elasto-plasticity formulation is based on the use of the total logarithmic strains and Cauchy stresses, and the Euler backward method of time integration. The accuracy of the procedure is assessed in the solution of various analysis problems and is compared with the accuracy of other schemes. Two important conclusions are reached. First, for a selected level of accuracy, the use of the total strain formulation, in general, allows larger time steps than the use of a stress-rate based formulation (such as a formulation based on the Jaumann stress rate). Second, the original procedure of Eterovic and Bathe can be improved in accuracy by using the trapezoidal rule with a measure to limit the magnitude of the elasto-plastic strain increment per step. This improvement allows for the change of principal stress directions during the incremental step. This capability seems to be unique to this formulation and time integration.
Outcome and socioeconomic aspects of suspected child abuse scald burns.

Fifty-two children suffering from abuse-related scald burns were admitted between January 1, 1986, and June 30, 1991. Their clinical and socioeconomic aspects were compared with those of 50 nonabused scalded children. Patients were matched for age, total body surface area burn, and percentage of full-thickness burn. Patient characteristics and initial nutritional parameters were similar except for race; a higher percentage of black children were in the abused group. A significantly longer length of hospital stay was found in the abused children after using analyses of covariance to control for percentages of total and full-thickness body surface area burn. The number of operations and frequency of complications were increased in the abused group, but not significantly so. Several significant differences were found in the socioeconomic characteristics of the two groups. Children suspected of being scalded intentionally were more likely to be part of a broken home, belong to a single parent, and have a younger mother than were children in the control group. The majority of the parents of abused children were unemployed, and all but two earned less than $20,000/year. All but one of the abused children were discharged with a person other than their parents, and compliance with rehabilitation follow-up was significantly worse than with the control group. The person suspected of performing the abuse was always a family member, except in cases where the baby-sitter was the suspected abuser. Child abuse hurts not only the child but also society by increasing the need for resources to pay for extended hospital admissions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Language: en
FORAMINIFERS AS HARD SUBSTRATES: AN EXAMPLE FROM THE WASHINGTON (USA) CONTINENTAL SHELF OF SMALLER FORAMINIFERS ATTACHED TO LARGER, AGGLUTINATE FORAMINIFERS

This study from the continental shelf offshore from Washington, USA, describes an occurrence of attached foraminifers using other, larger foraminifers as their hard substrate. Isolated instances of such associations have been illustrated in a few publications; however, the example documented here is of an extensive relationship between smaller attached foraminifers and their substrate species. Host foraminifers were unusually large (4 mm to 5 cm) specimens of the agglutinate species Ammodiscus pacificus , Haplophragmoides canariensis , Rhabdammina linearis and Bathysiphon filiformis . The attached foraminifers were Cibicides pseudoungerianus , Tritaxis fusca and Cibicides refulgens . In addition to the attached foraminiferal tests, several attachment scars were evident, some of which can be attributed to epibiont foraminifers that became detached from the host. There are several possible reasons these smaller foraminifers colonized the larger ones in this area. Most likely, the host foraminifers provided a stable platform for feeding. In addition, if the host was living, its motility could have prevented the smaller foraminifers from being smothered in this high sediment accumulation setting. Thus, these larger foraminifers act as convenient “benthic islands” (Taylor and Wilson, 2003) for their epibionts.
Introducing strong metal-binding sites onto surfaces of proteins for facile and efficient metal-affinity purifications

Abstract Recombinant DNA methodologies are used to introduce strongly binding, metal-chelating sites onto the surfaces of bovine and porcine somatotropin in such a way that biological activity and protein stability are maintained. Binding to immobilized metals is sufficiently strong and selective that pure variant proteins are efficiently recovered from concentrated or dilute crude cell lysates in one or two purification steps. Chemically robust immobilized metal-affinity matrices are tolerant to repeated use and frequent cleaning and possess high protein-binding capacities. In addition to the preparative uses, immobilized metal-affinity chromatography is a sensitive tool for probing the structures of somatotropin surfaces near metal-binding residues. General principles underlying metal-protein interactions, immobilized metal-affinity chromatography, and variant design are discussed and illustrated.
From plants to man: the GPCR "tree of life".

This Perspective focuses on the article by Fredriksson and Schioth in the May [corrected] 2005 issue of Molecular Pharmacology. Their article describes the expansion and evolution of G protein-coupled receptors during the nematode-to-chordate split.
Carcinoid syndrome associated with hyperserotoninemia and normal 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid excretion

Abstract A case of primary carcinoid tumor of the ileum, with hepatic metastases, attacks of flushing over a three-year period, elevated serum serotonin and normal 5-HIAA in the urine is described. No significant deviation from the usual pathway of serotonin metabolism was demonstrated, suggesting that in certain cases of carcinoid, with comparatively small production of serotonin by the metastases, hyperserotoninemia may be demonstrated before excessive amounts of 5-HIAA are excreted in the urine.
Gender Differences in Sexual Harassment and Coercion in College Students Developmental, Individual, and Situational Determinants

Differences in male (N = 148) and female (N = 278) college students' use of sexually harassing and coercive behaviors were investigated. Men were twice as likely to be sexually harassing and 3 times more likely to be sexually coercive as women. Among men, sexual harassment was predicted by child sexual abuse, hostility, adversarial heterosexual beliefs, and alcohol expectancy, with the latter mediating the effects of aggression. Sexual coercion was predicted by adult sexual victimization and alcohol expectancy, with alcohol expectancy again mediating the effect of aggression. Among women, sexual harassment was predicted by adult sexual victimization, adversarial heterosexual beliefs, aggression, and alcohol expectancy, with aggression mediating the effect of adversarial heterosexual beliefs and alcohol expectancy mediating the effect of aggression. Sexual coercion was predicted by a hostile personality, which mediated the effects of both child and adult sexual victimization. These findings suggest both gender similarities and differences in determinants of sexual aggression.
A Cyanobacterial Circadian Clockwork

Cyanobacteria have become a major model system for analyzing circadian rhythms. The temporal program in this organism enhances fitness in rhythmic environments and is truly global--essentially all genes are regulated by the circadian system. The topology of the chromosome also oscillates and possibly regulates the rhythm of gene expression. The underlying circadian mechanism appears to consist of both a post-translational oscillator (PTO) and a transcriptional/translational feedback loop (TTFL). The PTO can be reconstituted in vitro with three purified proteins (KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC) and ATP. These three core oscillator proteins have been crystallized and structurally determined, the only full-length circadian proteins to be so characterized. The timing of cell division is gated by a circadian checkpoint, but the circadian pacemaker is not influenced by the status of the cell division cycle. This imperturbability may be due to the presence of the PTO that persists under conditions in which metabolism is repressed. Recent biochemical, biophysical, and structural discoveries have brought the cyanobacterial circadian system to the brink of explaining heretofore unexplainable biochemical characteristics of a circadian oscillator: the long time constant, precision, and temperature compensation.
Effects of Delayed Auditory Feedback and Pronounceability on Immediate Recall and Key Pressing

Nonsense syllable trigrams representing three levels of verbal pronounceability were read by 84 subjects under conditions of either delayed or simultaneous auditory feedback. Results indicated that...
Diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic breast masses in the pediatric population

Between 1980 and 1993, 74 children and adolescents were referred for surgical evaluation of palpable breast masses. Thirty-two were managed nonoperatively for unilateral thelarche (26), fibroadenoma (3), gynecomastia (2), or hemorrhagic cyst (1). The other 42 children had surgical intervention for giant or painful fibroadenomas (19), breast abscesses (5), painful gynecomastia (6), metastatic disease (4), or other conditions (8). No instances of primary breast malignancy were noted. Physical examination and minimal (selective) diagnostic testing can conserve health care dollars in cases of pediatric patients with breast masses.
Effects of acidification and alkalinization on a periphytic algal community in an Alaskan wetland

Experimental research examining how algal communities respond to changes in pH is sparse in the wetland literature. In this study, we used a mesocosm experiment to examine the response of a periphytic algal community to a wide range of pH levels, both decreased to pH 5 (acid treatment) and increased to pH 9 (alkaline treatment) from ambient conditions (pH 7) in an Alaskan marsh. We examined algal communities growing on stems of Equisetum fluviatile (L.) after 24 days of colonization at experimental pH levels. Alkalinization resulted in a two-fold increase in concentrations of inorganic nutrients (dissolved inorganic N, soluble reactive P, SiO2) and a significant increase in algal accrual relative to the control. There were distinct shifts in euglenoid taxa in the alkaline treatment, including a significant increase of Trachelomonas and a significant decrease of Euglena relative to the control. Acidification resulted in an increase of Mougeotia (Chlorophyta, Zygnemataceae) and a decrease in overall taxa richness, which coincided with a significant reduction in concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon. Trends observed in our study indicate that alkalization may significantly alter algal community structure and loosen nutrient restraints on algal productivity, while acidification may reduce algal diversity in boreal wetlands.
Assessing a mini-application as a performance proxy for a finite element method engineering application

The performance of a large-scale, production-quality science and engineering application 'app' is often dominated by a small subset of the code. Even within that subset, computational and data access patterns are often repeated, so that an even smaller portion can represent the performance-impacting features. If application developers, parallel computing experts, and computer architects can together identify this representative subset and then develop a small mini-application 'miniapp' that can capture these primary performance characteristics, then this miniapp can be used to both improve the performance of the app as well as provide a tool for co-design for the high-performance computing community. However, a critical question is whether a miniapp can effectively capture key performance behavior of an app. This study provides a comparison of an implicit finite element semiconductor device modeling app on unstructured meshes with an implicit finite element miniapp on unstructured meshes. The goal is to assess whether the miniapp is predictive of the performance of the app. Single compute node performance will be compared, as well as scaling up to 16,000 cores. Results indicate that the miniapp can be reasonably predictive of the performance characteristics of the app for a single iteration of the solver on a single compute node. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Epicardial Mapping of Chronic Atrial Fibrillation in Patients. Preliminary Observations

Background— The mechanisms of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) are not well understood. We performed epicardial mapping of chronic AF in patients undergoing open heart surgery to test the hypothesis that chronic AF is due to a left atrial “driver” with a regular, short cycle length, resulting in fibrillatory conduction to the rest of the atria. Methods and Results— Nine patients with chronic AF (1 month to >15 years’ duration) were studied at open heart surgery, 8 before and 1 during cardiopulmonary bypass. During AF, atrial electrograms (AEGs) were recorded for 1 to 5 minutes from 404 epicardial electrodes arranged in bipoles along with ECG lead II or ventricular electrogram. Four-second segments of each bipolar AEG were also subjected to fast Fourier transform analysis. Two patterns of atrial activation were present during AF. In pattern 1 (7/9 patients), AEGs from parts of the atria demonstrated a short, regular cycle length with identical beat-to-beat morphology, and the rest of the atria were activat...
Public Accountability and Reporting: What Should Be the Public Part of Accreditation?.

Electronic institutional portfolios provide access to information on student learning outcomes and institutional accountability and thus respond to the public nature of information for accreditation. These portfolios are the focus of this chapter, discussed in the context of a national project involving six urban universities.
Placental Deiodination of the Thyroid Hormones

Deiodination of the thyroid hormones in peripheral tissues is a well established phenomenon which affects both the tissue and plasma concentrations of these hormones and their action at the cellular level. For example, the rate of 5f or outer ring PIU sensitive type I deiodination of T4 is a major factor in the regulation of the plasma triiodothyronine (T3) concentration in the euthyroid state and PIU insensitive Type II 5’-deiodination of T4 plays a major role in the generation of nuclear T3 in brain, pituitary and brown adipose tissue (BAT).1 Inner ring or 5’-deiodination of T4 and T3 is present in highest concentrations in the placenta and brain and serves primarily to inactivate T4 and T3 by generating iodothyronines with little or no known metabolic activity.1 Since the placenta is intimately related to the transport of iodothyronines from mother to fetus and receives a relatively large proportion of the fetal cardiac output, it seemed likely that the placenta would play important roles in regulating the passage of thyroid hormones across the placenta, in fetal thyroid hormone metabolism and action, and in determining the concentration of thyroid hormones in amniotic fluid. In 1981 and 1982, we first reported that the rat and human placentas are rich in 5-deiodinase activity2,3 and have continued to be concerned with the possible importance of this activity in affecting maternal and fetal thyroid hormone metabolism and those factors which might regulate the enzyme’s activity.
Antihypertensive efficacy of hydrochlorothiazide as evaluated by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antihypertensive efficacy of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) by ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Background HCTZ is the most commonly prescribed antihypertensive drug worldwide. More than 97% of all HCTZ prescriptions are for 12.5 to 25 mg per day. The antihypertensive efficacy of HCTZ by ambulatory BP monitoring is less well defined. Methods A systematic review was made using Medline, Cochrane, and Embase for all the randomized trials that assessed 24-h BP with HCTZ in comparison with other antihypertensive drugs. Results Fourteen studies of HCTZ dose 12.5 to 25 mg with 1,234 patients and 5 studies of HCTZ dose 50 mg with 229 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The decrease in 24-h BP with HCTZ dose 12.5 to 25 mg was systolic 6.5 mm Hg (95% confidence interval: 5.3 to 7.7 mm Hg) and diastolic 4.5 mm Hg (95% confidence interval: 3.1 to 6.0 mm Hg) and was inferior compared with the 24-h BP reduction of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (mean BP reduction 12.9/7.7 mm Hg; p Conclusions The antihypertensive efficacy of HCTZ in its daily dose of 12.5 to 25 mg as measured in head-to-head studies by ambulatory BP measurement is consistently inferior to that of all other drug classes. Because outcome data at this dose are lacking, HCTZ is an inappropriate first-line drug for the treatment of hypertension.
Leading complex change with post‐conventional consciousness

Purpose – This paper aims to document how leaders with a highly‐developed meaning‐making system design and engage in sustainability initiatives.Design/methodology/approach – In total, 32 leaders and change agents were assessed for their meaning‐making system, or action logic, using a variation of the Washington University Sentence Completion Test; 13 were identified as holding the three rarest and most complex action logics able to be measured. Semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews explored their behavior and actions as related to complex change initiatives.Findings – These leaders appear to: design from a deep inner foundation, including grounding their work in transpersonal meaning; access non‐rational ways of knowing, and use systems, complexity, and integral theories; and adaptively manage through “dialogue” with the system, three distinct roles, and developmental practices. Fifteen leadership competencies and developmental stage distinctions for three dimensions of leadership were identified.Research ...
Iterative equalization/decoding of LDPC code transmitted over MIMO fading ISI channels

We propose a spectrum efficient and robust space-time-frequency code system for a (N/sub t/, N/sub r/) MIMO, (L+1)-tap, fading channel. The LDPC (low-density parity-check) code is employed at the transmitter and iterative maximum a posteriori (MAP) equalizers are used at the receiver. We propose a novel, reduced-complexity iterative decoding and equalization scheme in which we combine the message-passing decoder, on the bipartite graph for the LDPC code, with an iterative MAP equalizer in a turbo-like manner. First, we consider a full-complexity vector MAP equalizer which runs the forward/backward algorithm on the trellis which has M/sup Nt/spl times/L/ states with M/sup Nt/ transitions from each state when an M-ary constellation is used. Second, we replace the full MAP with the bank of N/sub t/ per-antenna MAP (PAMAP) equalizers - each works on an M/sup L/ state trellis - and evaluate the performance loss due to the use of the reduced complexity scheme. The simulation results show that the performance of the PAMAP-bipartite equalization/decoding scheme is very close to the full complexity vector MAP-bipartite. In addition, in the fast fading case, the performance of the proposed space-time-frequeney system with N/sub t/ = 2, N/sub r/ = 2 and L = 2 is very close, within 0.5 dB, to the results of the LDPC code on AWGN channels.
Power level management in an IA32 microprocessor

The power delivery system of a recent IA32 microprocessor is described. The microprocessor takes advantage of voltage positioning and selects its own operating voltage dynamically to optimize performance while maintaining reliability. This capability is used by the processor to change its operating voltage and frequency during normal operation.
A wavelength dependent investigation of the indole photophysics via ionization and fragmentation pump–probe spectroscopies

A wavelength dependent study investigating the low-lying 1La and 1Lb states, both possessing 1ππ* character, and the 1πσ* state in the deactivation process of indole is presented here. Relaxation dynamics following excitation at 241, 250, 260, 270, 273, and 282 nm are examined using three gas-phase, pump–probe spectroscopic techniques: (1) hydrogen atom (H-atom) time-resolved kinetic energy release (TR-KER), (2) time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TR-PES), and (3) time-resolved ion yield (TR-IY). Applied in combination, a more complete picture of the indole relaxation dynamics may be gleaned. For instance, TR-PES experiments directly observe all relaxation pathways by probing the evolution of the excited states following photoexcitation; whereas, TR-KER measurements indirectly, yet specifically, probe for 1πσ*-state activity through the detection of H-atoms eliminated along the indole nitrogen–hydrogen (N–H) stretch coordinate—a possible outcome of 1πσ*-state relaxation in indole. In addition, mass information obtained via TR-IY monitors fragmentation dynamics that may occur within the neutral electronically excited and/or cationic states. The work herein assesses the onset and importance of the 1πσ* state at various pump wavelengths by systematically tuning across the ultraviolet absorption spectrum of indole with a particular focus on those pump wavelengths longer than 263 nm, where the involvement of the 1πσ* state is under current debate. As far as this experimental work is concerned, there does not appear to be any significant involvement by the 1πσ* state in the indole relaxation processes following excitation at 270, 273, or 282 nm. This investigation also evaluates the primary orbital promotions contributing to the 1La, 1Lb, and 1πσ* transitions based on ionization preferences observed in TR-PES spectra. Relaxation time constants associated with dynamics along these states are also reported for excitation at all of the aforementioned pump wavelengths and are used to pinpoint the origin of the discrepancies found in the literature. In this context, advantages and disadvantages of the three experimental techniques are discussed.
Infectious RNA transcripts from full-length dengue virus type 2 cDNA clones made in yeast

The dengue virus type 2 genomic RNA was amplified by reverse transcription-PCR and cloned as four cDNA fragments. We could not assemble these four fragments into full-length cDNA in Escherichia coli. The full-length dengue virus cDNA was constructed by homologous recombination in yeast, either as part of a yeast artificial chromosome or in a yeast-E. coli shuttle vector. Full-length cDNA clones were propagated once in E. coli to prepare useful quantities of DNA. In vitro transcription of these clones produced full-length RNA transcripts. Introduction of these transcripts into LLC-MK2 cells produced typical dengue infection, as judged by cytopathic effects and indirect immunofluorescence. Infectivity was sensitive to RNase digestion and was dependent on the presence of cap analog in the transcription reaction mixture. Virus in the medium was passaged on C6-36 cells to produce stocks, and these stocks had titers and plaque morphologies similar to those of the parental dengue virus type 2. Intracellular dengue virus RNA from cells infected with transcript-derived virus contained an introduced BstEII site, proving that infectivity was derived from RNA transcripts and not from contamination with parental dengue virus. Transcript-derived virus was comparable to dengue virus type 2 for growth and protein expression in tissue culture cells. Sequence analysis of the dengue virus cDNA in one full-length clone revealed only one unexpected silent mutation. By using yeast technology, it will be easy to introduce specific mutations into the dengue virus cDNA, allowing analysis of the virus phenotype in cells transfected with mutant transcripts.
Use of an Anastomotic Coupling Device for the Creation of Spliced Autogenous Grafts in Lower Extremity Revascularization.

Introduction:Despite a recent rise in popularity of endovascular techniques, open bypass surgery is still required for treating many lower extremity vascular lesions. Greater saphenous vein (GSV) of adequate length and caliber for successful infrainguinal lower extremity bypass is unavailable in 15% to 45% of patients. To overcome limitations imposed by absent vein due to prior use, short vessel length, or sclerotic segments, both alternate (ie, basilic and cephalic) and GSV conduits may be “spliced” together in series via venovenostomy. Although vascular surgeons typically perform a hand-sewn venovenostomy, device-based venous coupling has been performed by plastic surgeons for many years. We therefore sought to review our experience with venous coupling for segmental lower extremity bypass graft assembly.Methods:A retrospective review was performed in all patients who underwent lower extremity revascularization using autogenous vein grafts spliced together with the Synovis (Birmingham, Alabama) anastomo...
Progenitor/stem cells give rise to liver cancer due to aberrant TGF-β and IL-6 signaling

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are critical for the initiation, propagation, and treatment resistance of multiple cancers. Yet functional interactions between specific signaling pathways in solid organ “cancer stem cells,” such as those of the liver, remain elusive. We report that in regenerating human liver, two to four cells per 30,000–50,000 cells express stem cell proteins Stat3, Oct4, and Nanog, along with the prodifferentiation proteins TGF-β-receptor type II (TBRII) and embryonic liver fodrin (ELF). Examination of human hepatocellular cancer (HCC) reveals cells that label with stem cell markers that have unexpectedly lost TBRII and ELF. elf+/− mice spontaneously develop HCC; expression analysis of these tumors highlighted the marked activation of the genes involved in the IL-6 signaling pathway, including IL-6 and Stat3, suggesting that HCC could arise from an IL-6-driven transformed stem cell with inactivated TGF-β signaling. Similarly, suppression of IL-6 signaling, through the generation of mouse knockouts involving a positive regulator of IL-6, Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor-heavy chain-4 (ITIH4), resulted in reduction in HCC in elf+/− mice. This study reveals an unexpected functional link between IL-6, a major stem cell signaling pathway, and the TGF-β signaling pathway in the modulation of mammalian HCC, a lethal cancer of the foregut. These experiments suggest an important therapeutic role for targeting IL-6 in HCCs lacking a functional TGF-β pathway.
Control of Attributions about the Self Through Self-handicapping Strategies: The Appeal of Alcohol and the Role of Underachievement

Explores the hypothesis that alcohol use and underachievement may serve as strategies to externalize the causation of poor performance and to internalize the causation of good performance. Such a strategy may be prominently used especially by those who have a precarious but not entirely negative sense of self-competence. The etiology of this strategic preference may follow either of two scenarios. The child may attach desperate importance to this competence image because competence is the condition for deserving parental love. Or the child may have been rewarded for accidental attributes or performances that do not predict future success, thus leaving him in a position of one who has reached a status he fears he cannot maintain through his own control. The linkage of alcohol appeal to underachievement strategies is stressed; both are seen as expressions of the same overconcern with competence.
Prognostic implications of the magnetic resonance imaging appearance in papillary renal cell carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the prognostic implications of the MRI appearance and pathological features of papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC).