cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RNA-Binding Proteins in Heart Development

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key players of posttranscriptional regulation occurring during normal tissue development. All tissues examined thus far have revealed the importance of RBPs in the regulation of complex networks involved in organ morphogenesis, maturation, and function. They are responsible for controlling tissue-specific gene expression by regulating alternative splicing, mRNA stability, translation, and poly-adenylation. The heart is the first organ form during embryonic development and is also the first to acquire functionality. Numerous remodeling processes take place during late cardiac development since fetal heart first adapts to birth and then undergoes a transition to adult functionality. This physiological remodeling involves transcriptional and posttranscriptional networks that are regulated by RBPs. Disruption of the normal regulatory networks has been shown to cause cardiomyopathy in humans and animal models. Here we review the complexity of late heart development and the current information regarding how RBPs control aspects of postnatal heart development. We also review how activities of RBPs are modulated adding complexity to the regulation of developmental networks.
Biomimetics of [NiFe]-Hydrogenase: Nickel- or Iron-Centered Proton Reduction Catalysis?

The [NiFe] hydrogenase (H2ase) has been characterized in the Ni-R state with a hydride bridging between Fe and Ni but displaced toward the Ni. In nearly all of the synthetic Ni-R models reported so far, the hydride ligand is either displaced toward Fe, or terminally bound to Fe. Recently, a structural and functional [NiFe]-H2ase mimic (Nat. Chem. 2016, 8, 1054−1060) was reported to produce H2 catalytically via EECC mechanism through a Ni-centered hydride intermediate like the enzyme. Here, a comprehensive DFT study shows a much lower energy route via an E[ECEC] mechanism through an Fe-centered hydride intermediate. Although catalytic H2 production occurs at the potential corresponding to the complex’s second reduction, a third electron is needed to induce the second proton addition from the weak acid. The first two-electron reductions and a proton addition produce a semibridging hydride with a short Fe–H bond like other structured [NiFe]-biomimetics, but this species is not basic enough to add another pro...
Soil total carbon and nitrogen and crop yields after eight years of tillage, crop rotation, and cultural practice

Abstract Information on the long-term effect of management practices on soil C and N stocks is lacking. An experiment was conducted from 2004 to 2011 in the northern Great Plains, USA to examine the effects of tillage, crop rotation, and cultural practice on annualized crop residue (stems + leaves) returned to the soil and grain yield, and soil total C (STC) and total N (STN) stocks at the 0–120 cm depth. Tillage practices were no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) and crop rotations were continuous spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (CW), spring wheat-pea (Pisum sativum L.) (W-P), spring wheat-barley (Hordeum vulgaris L.) hay-pea (W-B-P), and spring wheat-barley hay-corn (Zea mays L.)-pea (W-B-C-P). Cultural practices were traditional (conventional seed rates and plant spacing, conventional planting date, broadcast N fertilization, and reduced stubble height) and improved (variable seed rates and plant spacing, delayed planting, banded N fertilization, and increased stubble height). Crop residue and grain yield were greater with CW and W-P than W-B-P and grain yield was greater with the traditional than the improved practice. The STC at 10–20 and 90–120 cm was greater with CW or W-P than other crop rotations in CT and greater with CW than W-B-P in NT. The STN at 20–40 cm was greater with W-P than CW and W-B-P in CT. With NT and the improved cultural practice, STN at 0–5, 5–10, 20–40, and 60–90 cm was greater with W-P and W-B-C-P than other crop rotations. The STN at 0–10 cm correlated with annualized crop residue and grain yield (r = 0.94–0.97, P ≤ 0.05). Increased crop residue returned to the soil increased soil C stock with CW and W-P and N stock with W-P, but removal of aboveground crop biomass for hay decreased stocks with W-B-P. Increased soil N stock had a beneficial effect on crop grain yield.
The effects of eGFR Change on CVD, renal, and mortality outcomes in a hypertensive cohort treated with 3 different antihypertensive medications

BACKGROUND Impaired renal function is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and mortality. The impact of short-term renal function decline on outcomes is less well studied. The association of antihypertensive medications with the impact of short-term estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline is not known. METHODS We examined 20,207 hypertensive participants with baseline and 2-year creatinine levels from which eGFR changes were estimated. The associations between eGFR change with incident coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, heart failure (HF), all-cause mortality, and ESRD during 2.9 years of in-trial follow up, and with mortality during in-trial and post-trial follow-up (7.6 years), were studied. Results were assessed by primary hypertension (HTN) treatment (chlorthalidone, lisinopril, and amlodipine) and adjusted for baseline eGFR levels. RESULTS In the short run, an eGFR decline below the cohort median (-1.28 ml/minute/1.73 m2/2 years) vs. above the median, or a 5 ml/min/1.73 m2/year decline vs. no decline, was associated with significant hazard risk for CHD (1.06-1.28), HF (1.24-1.91), ESRD (2.84-6.01), and mortality (1.08-1.19), but not with stroke risk. In the long term, there was a significant association with mortality (1.11-1.34). Interaction terms for outcomes by antihypertensive treatments were not statistically significant except for ESRD between amlodipine vs. chlorthalidone (hazard ratio: 3.17 [2.59, 3.88] vs. 2.41 [1.98, 2.97]; P interaction = 0.005) for a 5 ml/min/1.73 m2/year eGFR decline. CONCLUSION Decline in eGFR over 2 years is associated with increased risk of clinical outcomes beyond the effects of baseline eGFR. These risks were the same irrespective of the primary medication used to treat HTN.
Radical Theory Creep

In recent years, many radical/queer LGBT+ rights activists and scholars have identified pinkwashing as the act of characterizing western democracies as havens of individual rights on the grounds that they are progressive on the question of LGBT+ rights. In the process, pinkwashing demonizes as gross human rights abusers those countries—often Muslim countries—that do not have LGBT+ rights protections. There is a lot to be gained from this critique. However, in this chapter, I also suggest that this critique can sometimes slip into what I call Radical Theory Creep. This occurs when what begins as a perfectly pointed and systematic critique of one thing steadily loses its analytical rigor as the argument develops, usually as a result of it attempting to incorporate within itself a range of other strains of radical/queer critique. Consequently, each such discursive formation shores up a series of unsustainable conflations and binaries that, in turn, produce their own assimilationist injunctions.
Leading by learning: exploring the professional learning networks of instructional leaders

ABSTRACTLeaders in education are often the sole person in their particular role in a school, and have thus frequently struggled with professional isolation. In recent years, social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter have created new opportunities for educators, including instructional leaders, to expand their professional learning networks (PLN) to include a wider array of people, spaces, and tools. This manuscript presents the findings of a qualitative study of 400 instructional leaders’ perceptions of their PLNs. Instructional leaders in our sample included principals, superintendents, librarians, and technology or curriculum specialists, coaches, and facilitators. Data were collected from a convenience sample via an anonymous online survey. Respondents described diverse, multifaceted networks composed of people, spaces, and tools. They reported that their PLNs supported their growth as learners, educators, and leaders. Participants asserted that their PLN activities positively impacted their lear...
Delivery Routes for Cell Therapy in Stroke

Cells that have been used as experimental treatments in animal models of stroke have used one of three types of delivery routes – parenchymal, vascular, or ventricular, depending on the cell type transplanted, the stroke model used, the experimental question asked, and the underlying mechanism of repair. In this review, we will discuss each of these routes and their variations, including the routes chosen in ongoing or completed clinical trials.
Additional Clinical Aspects of Developmental Physiology

As noted, a major public health issue is that of preterm birth, which occurs in 10–12 % of pregnancies in the USA, an incidence which appears to be rising inexorably. Importantly, this complication of pregnancy accounts for about 75 % of perinatal mortality, and can be associated with several serious long-term developmental and health issues for the infant who survives. As noted earlier, preterm birth is defined as that <37 weeks gestation, while extremely preterm birth is that <33 weeks gestation (Reece and Hobbins 2007). Appropriate for gestational age preterm infants must be distinguished from small for gestational age infants, defined as ≤10 percentile (Zhang et al. 2010), although it is recognized that small infants are not necessarily growth restricted, and those with growth restriction are not necessarily small (Bhide 2011; Zhang et al. 2010). In part, a consequence of maternal and/or fetal infection (Abramowicz and Kass 1966; Romero et al. 1988), preterm birth has many causes, and a more clear understanding of the mechanisms of this scourge is essential to its amelioration. Also as noted earlier, several aspects of the basis for antenatal steroid therapy for pulmonary development have been established (Ballard and Ballard 1995; Ballard et al. 1980). Nonetheless, a considerable body of evidence supports the value of this modality in lessening infant morbidity and mortality (Bonanno and Wapner 2009) and a number of considerations remain to be resolved such as the ideal drug, dosage regimen, indications for retreatment, and so forth (Figs. 15.1, 15.2, and 15.3).
Minds, Machines, and Money: What Really Explains Behavior

According to a certain philosophical picture of the way mind and body are related, the mind is to intentional action what money is to the behavior of a vending machine. Just as coins are in (or get deposited in) vending machines, beliefs, desires, and intentions are in us. Just as the right coins deposited in the machine cause the machine to behave in a certain way — to yield its contents: cokes, cigarettes, or candy, as the case may be — so the right mental entities occurring in us cause us to perform various actions. Furthermore, just as what makes money money is not its intrinsic character — shape, size and density of the coins, for example — but certain extrinsic or relational facts about these coins (the fact that they possess monetary value) so too what makes a belief a belief is not its intrinsic neurobiological character, but, rather, certain extrinsic facts about it — the fact that it has a certain meaning or content, the fact that it has certain intentional properties.
Community Access Television: A Social Service Resource

Many of the issues outlined in this article reflect the conflictual feelings of the men in the fathering group, which led to their anxieties. Despite the focus here, the author would like to emphasize that in the group discussions, the men speak at length of the joys of fathering. It is enough to note that throughout these discus sions a consistent weaving in and out of positive and negative experiences takes place, thereby exemplifying the ambivalence of many men toward be coming a father.
Styrene maleic acid derivates to enhance the applications of bio-inspired polymer based lipid-nanodiscs.

Abstract Membrane mimetics are essential to study the structure, dynamics and function of membrane-associated proteins by biophysical and biochemical approaches. Among various membrane mimetics that have been developed and demonstrated for studies on membrane proteins, lipid nanodiscs are the latest developments in the field and are increasingly used for various applications. While lipid-nanodiscs can be formed using an amphipathic membrane scaffold protein (MSP), peptide, or synthetic polymer, the synthetic polymer based nanodiscs exhibit unique advantages because of the ability to functionalize them for various applications. In addition to the use of synthetic polymers to extract membrane proteins directly from the cell membranes, recent advances in the development of polymers used for nanodiscs formation are attracting new attention to the field of nanodiscs technology. Here we review the developments of novel polymer modifications that overcome the current limitations and enhance the applications of polymer based nanodiscs to a wider variety of biophysical techniques used to study membrane proteins. A summary of the functionalization of poly(Styrene-co-Maleic Acid), SMA, polymers developed by our research and their advantages are also covered in this review article.
Calculation View: multiple-representation editing in spreadsheets

Spreadsheet errors are ubiquitous and costly, an unfortunate combination that is well-reported. A large class of these errors can be attributed to the inability to clearly see the underlying computational structure, as well as poor support for abstraction (encapsulation, re-use, etc). In this paper we propose a novel solution: a multiple-representation spreadsheet containing additional representations that allow abstract operations, without altering the conventional grid representation or its formula syntax. Through a user study, we demonstrate that the use of multiple representations can significantly improve user performance when performing spreadsheet authoring and debugging tasks. We close with a discussion of design implications and outline future directions for this line of inquiry.
Prevention: Necessary But Insufficient? A 2-Year Follow-Up of an Effective First-Grade Mathematics Intervention.

We present first-grade, second-grade, and third-grade impacts for a first-grade intervention targeting the conceptual and procedural bases that support arithmetic. At-risk students (average age at pretest = 6.5) were randomly assigned to three conditions: a control group (n = 224) and two variants of the intervention (same conceptual instruction but different forms of practice: speeded [n = 211] vs. nonspeeded [n = 204]). Impacts on all first-grade content outcomes were significant and positive, but no follow-up impacts were significant. Many intervention children achieved average mathematics achievement at the end of third grade, and prior math and reading assessment performance predicted which students will require sustained intervention. Finally, projecting impacts 2 years later based on nonexperimental estimates of effects of first-grade math skills overestimates long-term intervention effects.
Making the best of a bad situation: differential predator avoidance in a diminutive woodland salamander

Predator avoidance behaviour has been observed in many species and can strongly affect trophic interactions. Animals frequently adjust their response to predators in proportion to risk; however, when they are exposed to chronic predation risk, some animals reduce their antipredator responses in favour of resource acquisition. Animals that are subjected to predation pressure from multiple predator species may have to respond to different spatial and temporal distributions of risk; how they balance these risks will affect their choice of habitat or microhabitat patches. One species that is exposed to a wide range of predators is the pygmy salamander, Desmognathus wrighti. These miniaturized terrestrial plethodontids spend their entire life on the forest floor where they are exposed to a diversity of predators. We examined pygmy salamanders' ability to avoid potential predators based on the presence of substrate-borne chemical cues. The predator species included ground beetles (Carabidae: Pterostichus), Jordan's salamanders, Plethodon jordani, and ring-necked snakes, Diadophis punctatus. The ring-necked snake is a trophic specialist feeding on salamanders while the beetles and Jordan's salamanders are generalist predators. The pygmy salamanders were also exposed to chemical alarm cues from a congeneric salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) and odours from two unfamiliar species: corn snakes (Pantherophis gutattus) and herbivorous desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii). We used a hierarchical Bayesian beta regression with a repeated measures design to model proportion of time spent in each treatment. Compared to controls, pygmy salamanders exhibited strong aversion to fed ring-necked snakes, a moderate avoidance of unfamiliar odours and a slight attraction to scents from the two common generalist predators. Our results suggest that pygmy salamanders accept modest risk from common generalist predators but avoid less common, specialist predators and unfamiliar species.
Effect of Grain Refining on Properties of a Cast Superaustenitic Stainless Steel

The goal of this study was to evaluate the industrial performance of cast high-alloy superaustenitic 19Cr-17Ni-6Mo stainless steel by refining the as-cast structure. A grain-refined, as-cast structure was achieved by the in situ inoculation with titanium nitrides (TiN) co-precipitated on previously formed spinel (MgAl2O4) inclusions, thus promoting heterogeneous nucleation of austenite during solidification. A homogenization heat treatment of the casting did not provide significant changes of the as-cast grain macrostructure in either the base or grain-refined steels. However, it was found that a combination of inoculation with heat treatment is an effective way of reducing interdendritic segregation. The industrial performance which includes the mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and machinability was evaluated in the heat-treated condition for both base and inoculated steels. Tensile testing revealed improvements in ultimate tensile strength, ductility, and yield strength of the inoculated steel. The room-temperature impact properties exhibited a slight decrease in average impact energy but showed reduced variability in the inoculated steel compared to the base steel. The machining results showed that the inoculated steel had a slight improvement in machinability. The inoculated steel exhibited a lower corrosion rate but showed an increase in mass loss due to pitting. The changes in steel performance were linked to microstructure and nonmetallic inclusion families obtained by automated ASPEX SEM/EDX analysis.
Accurate target identification for Mycobacterium tuberculosis endoribonuclease toxins requires expression in their native host.

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome harbors an unusually high number of toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems. These TA systems have been implicated in establishing the nonreplicating persistent state of this pathogen during latent tuberculosis infection. More than half of the M. tuberculosis TA systems belong to the VapBC (virulence associated protein) family. In this work, we first identified the RNA targets for the M. tuberculosis VapC-mt11 (VapC11, Rv1561) toxin in vitro to learn more about the general function of this family of toxins. Recombinant VapC-mt11 cleaved 15 of the 45 M. tuberculosis tRNAs at a single site within their anticodon stem loop (ASL) to generate tRNA halves. Cleavage was dependent on the presence of a GG consensus sequence immediately before the cut site and a structurally intact ASL. However, in striking contrast to the broad enzyme activity exhibited in vitro, we used a specialized RNA-seq method to demonstrate that tRNA cleavage was highly specific in vivo. Expression of VapC-mt11 in M. tuberculosis resulted in cleavage of only two tRNA isoacceptors containing the GG consensus sequence, tRNAGln32-CUG and tRNALeu3-CAG. Therefore, our results indicate that although in vitro studies are useful for identification of the class of RNA cleaved and consensus sequences required for accurate substrate recognition by endoribonuclease toxins, definitive RNA target identification requires toxin expression in their native host. The restricted in vivo specificity of VapC-mt11 suggests that it may be enlisted to surgically manipulate pathogen physiology in response to stress.
Errors, Misunderstandings, and Attacks: Analyzing the Crowdsourcing Process of Ad-blocking Systems

Ad-blocking systems such as Adblock Plus rely on crowdsourcing to build and maintain filter lists, which are the basis for determining which ads to block on web pages. In this work, we seek to advance our understanding of the ad-blocking community as well as the errors and pitfalls of the crowdsourcing process. To do so, we collected and analyzed a longitudinal dataset that covered the dynamic changes of popular filter-list EasyList for nine years and the error reports submitted by the crowd in the same period.Our study yielded a number of significant findings regarding the characteristics of FP and FN errors and their causes. For instances, we found that false positive errors (i.e., incorrectly blocking legitimate content) still took a long time before they could be discovered (50% of them took more than a month) despite the community effort. Both EasyList editors and website owners were to blame for the false positives. In addition, we found that a great number of false negative errors (i.e., failing to block real advertisements) were either incorrectly reported or simply ignored by the editors. Furthermore, we analyzed evasion attacks from ad publishers against ad-blockers. In total, our analysis covers 15 types of attack methods including 8 methods that have not been studied by the research community. We show how ad publishers have utilized them to circumvent ad-blockers and empirically measure the reactions of ad blockers. Through in-depth analysis, our findings are expected to help shed light on any future work to evolve ad blocking and optimize crowdsourcing mechanisms.
Focused or stuck together: multimodal patterns reveal triads' performance in collaborative problem solving

Collaborative problem solving (CPS) in virtual environments is an increasingly important context of 21st century learning. However, our understanding of this complex and dynamic phenomenon is still limited. Here, we examine unimodal primitives (activity on the screen, speech, and body movements), and their multimodal combinations during remote CPS. We analyze two datasets where 116 triads collaboratively engaged in a challenging visual programming task using video conferencing software. We investigate how UI-interactions, behavioral primitives, and multimodal patterns were associated with teams' subjective and objective performance outcomes. We found that idling with limited speech (i.e., silence or backchannel feedback only) and without movement was negatively correlated with task performance and with participants' subjective perceptions of the collaboration. However, being silent and focused during solution execution was positively correlated with task performance. Results illustrate that in some cases, multimodal patterns improved the predictions and improved explanatory power over the unimodal primitives. We discuss how the findings can inform the design of real-time interventions for remote CPS.
Primary prevention of venous thromboembolism with apixaban for multiple myeloma patients receiving immunomodulatory agents

Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) have improved survival of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and comprise the therapeutic backbone at all phases of therapy. Although well-tolerated, IMiDs increase rates of venous thromboembolism (VTE). In this phase IV, single-arm pilot study, fifty patients with MM on IMiDs received apixaban 2·5 mg orally twice daily for primary prevention of VTE and were prospectively monitored for six months. The primary safety outcomes were rates of major haemorrhage and clinically relevant non-major haemorrhage over six months. The primary efficacy outcome was the rate of symptomatic VTE over six months. IMiDs used were lenalidomide (58%) or pomalidomide (42%). During the six-month evaluation period, no patients experienced major haemorrhage or VTE. Three patients experienced clinically relevant, non-major haemorrhage which was managed medically, and all were able to resume apixaban. One patient stopped therapy shortly after initiation due to an allergic reaction to apixaban. No patients experienced stroke, myocardial infarction, or death. In this pilot study, low-dose apixaban was safe and well-tolerated as a primary prevention therapy of VTE for patients with MM receiving IMiDs. Further studies are needed to validate low-dose apixaban as a standard primary prevention anti-thrombotic strategy for patients with MM receiving IMiDs.
Online prediction of beef tenderness using a computer vision system equipped with a BeefCam module.

Four experiments were conducted in two commercial packing plants to evaluate the effectiveness of a commercial online video image analysis (VIA) system (the Computer Vision System equipped with a BeefCam module [CVS BeefCam]) to predict tenderness of beef steaks using online measurements obtained at chain speeds. Longissimus muscle (LM) samples from the rib (Exp. 1, 2, and 4) or strip loin (Exp. 3) were obtained from each carcass and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) was measured after 14 d of aging. The CVS BeefCam output variable for LM area, adjusted for carcass weight (cm 2 /kg), was correlated (P 4.5 kg) LM steak in a group classified as tender by CVS BeefCam compared with an unsorted population. Online measurements of beef carcasses by use of CVS BeefCam were useful for predicting the tenderness of beef LM steaks, and sorting carcasses using these measurements could aid in producing groups of beef carcasses with more uniform LM steak tenderness.
152-OR: Postabsorptive Splanchnic and Leg Glucagon Metabolism in Healthy Subjects: Use of 13C 15N Glucagon

Glucagon metabolism in humans is poorly understood and is currently under active investigation. We have recently developed a novel isotope dilution method using nonradioactive, stable human glucagon (Phe 6 13C9, 15N; Phe 22 13C9, 15N) tracer to measure glucagon turnover. In this study we combined this method with organ catheterization technique to estimate splanchnic and leg glucagon extraction and uptake. We present data from the first 6 healthy subjects (age 25±3.6 yrs; BMI 26.7±4.5 kg/m2; fasting glucose 4.6±0.5 mM; HbA1c 5.1±0.3%) completed thus far. After IRB approval and informed consent, subjects were admitted in the morning after an overnight fast to Interventional Radiology, where catheters were placed in the right femoral artery and vein under local anesthesia with aseptic precautions. Under fluoroscopic guidance, a hepatic venous catheter was positioned through the femoral vein. Glucagon tracer was infused intravenously and Indocyanine Green infused via the femoral artery sheath to measure splanchnic and femoral plasma flows. Plasma samples were collected periodically from femoral artery, femoral vein and hepatic vein for concentrations of glucagon tracer (Tandem Mass Spectrometry), glucagon, glucose and Indocyanine Green (Spectrophotometry) concentrations. Fractional splanchnic glucagon extraction was 24.0±12.5 % while total splanchnic glucagon uptake was 214.3±56.1 ng/kg total body weight/min. Net splanchnic glucagon balance was -34.4±10.0 ng/kg total body weight/min implying net splanchnic glucagon production. Fractional leg glucagon extraction was 13.5±3.8% while total leg glucagon uptake was 53.0±21.2 pg/kg total body weight/min. To the best of our knowledge, these initial data provide the first direct assessment of regional glucagon metabolism in healthy humans in the post absorptive fasting state. Disclosure F. Ruchi: None. Y.R. Yadav: None. D. Romeres: None. S. Sawleh: None. L.M. Benson: None. K.L. Johnson: None. C. Dalla Man: Research Support; Self; Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH. C. Cobelli: None. D.J. McCormick: None. L.R. Wilkins: None. R. Basu: Consultant; Self; GENFIT. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca. A. Basu: Consultant; Spouse/Partner; GENFIT. Research Support; Spouse/Partner; AstraZeneca. Funding National Institutes of Health (R01DK029953 to R.B.), (R01DK085516 to A.B.), (DK059637, DK020593)
Precision Medicine and Obesity

The highly variable response to obesity therapies justifies the search for treatment strategies that are best suited to individual patients to enhance their effectiveness and tolerability via precision medicine. Precision medicine development in recent years has been driven by the emergence of powerful methods to characterize patients ("omic" assays). Current available information has revealed that there are numerous intermediary processes that contribute to obesity and have provided a framework for partially comprehending the mechanisms behind the heterogeneity of obesity and its clinical consequences. Some of these processes have or are currently being targeted to individualize obesity therapy with some success.
Extended fMRI-Guided Anodal and Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Targeting Perilesional Areas in Post-Stroke Aphasia: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may enhance speech and language treatment (SLT) for stroke survivors with aphasia; however, to date, there is no standard protocol for the application of tDCS in post-stroke aphasia. We explored the safety and efficacy of fMRI-guided tDCS on functional language and cortical activity when delivered to the lesioned left hemisphere concurrently with SLT across an extended, six-week treatment period. Twelve persons with chronic, nonfluent aphasia following a single left-hemisphere stroke participated in the three-arm (anodal vs. cathodal vs. sham) single-blind, parallel, pilot trial. No serious adverse events occurred during 30 treatment sessions or in the following six weeks. All groups demonstrated functional language gains following intensive treatment; however, active tDCS resulted in greater gains in standardized, probe, and caregiver-reported measures of functional language than sham. Evidence declaring one polarity as superior for inducing language recovery was mixed. However, cathodal stimulation to the lesioned left hemisphere, expected to have a down-regulating effect, resulted in increased areas of cortical activation across both hemispheres, and specifically perilesionally. Generalization of these preliminary findings is limited; however, results are nevertheless compelling that tDCS combined with SLT can be safely applied across extended durations, with the potential to enhance functional language and cortical activation for persons with aphasia.
Impact of Spatial Targeting on Firm Performance in China

This paper examines the spatial patterns of China’s industrial encouragement policy and its distributional impact on firm productivity. To this end, I develop separate proxies to measure three popular policy instruments (subsidies, tax holidays, and preferential access to loans). I first show that China’s industrial support policies tend to exhibit a prominent spatial feature of targeting firms located in lagging cities with lower density. Taking into account potential endogeneity of industrial policy, unobserved heterogeneity and firm dynamics, quantile regression techniques show that more intense industrial support leads to: (i) a reduction in the productivity of lower-performing firms, especially in denser cities; and (ii) a small productivity gain for better performing firms but only in denser cities. Counterfactual analysis further reveals that pursuing an alternative, spaceneutral industrial encouragement policy would increase average productivity by 14-16%, in aggregate, but also contribute to significantly higher regional inequality.
Review of Working in the Virtual Stacks: The New Library & Information Science

Laura Townsend Kane. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 2011, 167 pp., ISBN 978-0-8389-1103-7, $47.00 (ALA members: $42.30). Judging by the title, you might be expecting a treatise examinin...
Opioid Prescribing Habits and Pain Management Among Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons

The opioid epidemic continues to worsen in the USA. Post-operative opioid prescriptions contribute to development of opioid use disorders, with studies showing 6% of plastic surgery patients developing new persistent use. Prescribing by surgeons is often excessive, and plastic surgery patients only consume about half of their opioid prescriptions. To date, most studies that investigate post-operative opioid prescribing rely on examining patterns of opioid fills after surgery using administrative claims data, which exclude the overwhelming majority of aesthetic surgeries. The purpose of this study is to investigate opioid prescribing habits amongst aesthetic plastic surgeons. A 20-items survey were sent out to the Aesthetic Society. The survey focussed on general pain management techniques, as well as specific opioid prescribing patterns for several common aesthetic surgeries. A total of 291 completed surveys were returned. Respondents were asked about opioid prescribing patterns for several common aesthetic surgeries. Surgeons were most likely to prescribe opioids for post-operative pain control for abdominoplasty (91%). Opioids were least likely to be prescribed for blepharoplasty (58%). For studied surgeries, the number of pills prescribed ranged from 2 to 120 pills per procedure. 45% of respondents reported being concerned that the opioid prescriptions they provide contribute to the development of an opioid use disorder. Aesthetic plastic surgeons vary widely in their opioid prescribing. Additionally, a significant number are concerned that prescriptions they provide contribute to development of opioid use disorders. This study demonstrates the need to work towards optimizing and standardizing pain management techniques in aesthetic patients. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
SILIA: software implementation of a multi-channel, multi-frequency lock-in amplifier for spectroscopy and imaging applications

Author(s): Nadgir, A; Thurston, R; Larsen, KA; Shivaram, N; Brister, MM; Slaughter, DS | Abstract: We describe a software implementation of a multi-channel, multi-frequency Lock-in Amplifier (SILIA) to extract modulated signals from noisy data distributed over multiple channels of arbitrary number and size. This software implementation emulates the functionality of a multi-channel, multi-frequency lock-in amplifier in a post-processing step following data acquisition. Unlike most traditional lock-in amplifiers, SILIA can work with any number of input channels and is especially useful to analyze data distributed over many channels. We demonstrate the versatility and performance for extracting weak signals in spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy. We also discuss more general applications and exhibit a method to automatically estimate error from a lock-in result.
Poliovirus RNA Replication and Genetic Complementation in Cell-Free Reactions

Poliovirus RNA replicates in membrane-associated replication complexes in the cytoplasm of infected cells. By using a reversible inhibitor of poliovirus RNA replication, it is possible to synchronize viral RNA replication. The processing of the viral polyprotein results in the formation of the individual viral proteins along with stable intermediates in the processing pathway. To expand the utility of the in vitro complementation assay, experiments were designed to determine if all of the viral replication proteins could be provided in trans to support the replication of mutant RNA templates. The authors engineered two transcript RNAs (DJB2 and DJB15) that contained large out-of-frame deletions in the polyprotein coding sequence. The results to date using the in vitro complementation assay indicate that the 5’ cloverleaf, the 3’ nontranslated region (NTR), and the poly(A) tail are the minimum sequences required for negative-strand synthesis. Previous studies have shown that the 5’ cloverleaf plays an important role in viral RNA replication. To investigate the role of the 5’ cloverleaf in negative-strand synthesis, the authors determined how cloverleaf mutations affected negative-strand synthesis in preinitiation RNA replication complexes. Results of these experiments showed that 5’ cloverleaf mutations dramatically diminished RNA stability and negative-strand RNA synthesis. The results of recent studies indicate that the 5’ cloverleaf is required for the initiation of negative-strand synthesis. Once the viral mRNA is cleared of translating ribosomes, it could then serve as a template for negative-strand synthesis.
Experimental Galaxy Formation

We present results from two-fluid numerical simulations modelling the formation of galaxies and larger structure in a 16 Mpc-periodic volume of a flat, cold dark matter universe with baryon fraction fib Ω b = 0.1. This simulation is the first to form galactic disks in a cosmological environment. The Tully-Fisher relation for these systems is examined, as well as their merger frequency. Other results which depend crucially on the dissipative nature of the baryonic component, namely the mass function, degree of biasing and cluster mass estimates, are presented. The role of gas dynamics in large scale structure simulations is briefly examined and future directions are outlined.
A New Analysis Method for Accurate Accounting of IC Engine Pumping Work and Indicated Work

In order to improve fuel economy, engine manufacturers are investigating various technologies that reduce pumping work in spark ignition engines. Current cylinder pressure analysis methods do not allow valid comparison of pumping work reduction strategies. Existing methods neglect valve timing effects which occur during the expansion and compression strokes, but are actually part of the gas exchange process. These additional pumping work contributions become more significant when evaluating non-standard valve timing concepts. This paper outlines a new analysis method for calculating the pumping work and indicated work of a 4-stroke internal combustion engine. Corrections to PMEP and IMEP are introduced which allow the valid comparison of pumping work and indicated efficiency between engines with different pumping work reduction strategies. Several example data sets are presented which illustrate the method and the necessity for the corrections when analyzing engines with non-standard valve timings. The upper limit potential improvement in BSFC available from PMEP reduction is presented and compared to the actual benefit obtained with three pumping work reduction strategies: 1) variable valve timing, 2) intake charge dilution (stratified lean operation) and 3) cylinder deactivation.
Information network development: Cost data for the operation of a decentralized information network: Educational resources information center

Abstract The cost data for operation of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) network are analyzed in regard to Input, Output, and Administration. The funding levels of the various clearing houses in the system make it possible to predict rough percentages of expenditures for various storage and retrieval functions. Limitations of the data are discussed.
Specificity of a Bacteriolytic Enzyme from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A bacteriolytic enzyme isolated from shake-flask cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and capable of lysing cells of Staphylococcus aureus was purified approximately 500-fold by passage through diethylaminoethyl cellulose and chromatography on carboxymethyl-cellulose. The purified enzyme was shown to act as an endopeptidase, cleaving the pentaglycine cross-bridges of the cell wall peptidoglycan at d-alanyl-glycine and glycyl-glycine linkages with the release of di−, tri−, and tetraglycine fragments. Release of NH2-alanine indicated weak N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine amidase activity, but most of the residual peptide remained attached to the glycan. No hydrolysis of the glycan occurred. The lytic spectrum of the enzyme toward a variety of other cell walls of known peptidoglycan composition indicated relatively high specificity for peptidoglycans with polyglycine bridges.
A theorem on the k-adic representation of positive integers

In this paper, a theorem on the asymptotic property of a summation of digits in a k-adic representation is presented.
Containerless vitrification of mammalian oocytes and embryos

Adapting a proven method for flash-cooling protein crystals to the cryopreservation of live cells.
Geometry in Color Perception

Of the five human senses, only two can be excited essentially instantaneously by signals from distant sources: hearing and sight. In both cases, signals propagate as waves. It is not an accident therefore that we have television but not its equivalent in the realm of smell, taste or touch. Smell for example, propagates by diffusion, a slow process which is difficult to control, while taste and touch require immediate contact with the source of the signal. There is, however, a rather fundamental difference also between hearing and sight. Hearing occurs because sound excites cells in the cochlear tube of the inner ear and each little longitudinal section of the tube is sensitive to a different frequency. Consequently, we are capable of distinguishing a very large class of ‘sound profiles’. Thus, the space of sounds that human beings are capable of hearing has a very large dimension, which, for all practical purposes, can be taken to be infinite. This is in striking contrast with sight. It turns out that the space of colors that human beings are capable of seeing is only three dimensional!
Systemic chemotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix.

Abstract Of 107 patients with recurrent or disseminated carcinoma of the cervix, 19 per cent obtained an objective response to an alkylating agent administered systemically, and 31 per cent obtained a subjective response. Patients who obtain a response to chemotherapy survive approximately 4 months longer than those who fail to do so. Whether a carcinoma of the cervix will respond to a chemotherapeutic agent cannot be determined from the age or race of the patient, or the histologic appearance of the original tumor. Cyclophosphamide is the safest and most easily administered of the chemotherapeutic agents we have employed for recurrent or disseminated carcinoma of the cervix.
Crisis and Chaos in Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Resnicow & Vaughn challenged the field of behavioral nutrition and physical activity to conduct research in new ways. They challenged the predictiveness of our models, sensitivity to initial conditions, factors predisposing to change and measurement procedures. While the predictiveness of our models will reflect the sophistication of our thinking and research, and the sensitivity to initial conditions is subsumed under the sophistication of our models, research on conditions predisposing to change (e.g. epiphanies), more longitudinal designs, refined measurement procedures and testing of critical issues can only enhance the quality of our research. Improved research quality should lead to enhanced efficacy and effectiveness of our interventions, and thereby our making meaningful contributions to mitigating the chaos in our field and the crisis from the rising epidemic of obesity.
Significance and application of melatonin in the regulation of brown adipose tissue metabolism: relation to human obesity

A worldwide increase in the incidence of obesity indicates the unsuccessful battle against this disorder. Obesity and the associated health problems urgently require effective strategies of treatment. The new discovery that a substantial amount of functional brown adipose tissue (BAT) is retained in adult humans provides a potential target for treatment of human obesity. BAT is active metabolically and disposes of extra energy via generation of heat through uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. The physiology of BAT is readily regulated by melatonin, which not only increases recruitment of brown adipocytes but also elevates their metabolic activity in mammals. It is speculated that the hypertrophic effect and functional activation of BAT induced by melatonin may likely apply to the human. Thus, melatonin, a naturally occurring substance with no reported toxicity, may serve as a novel approach for treatment of obesity. Conversely, because of the availability of artificial light sources, excessive light exposure after darkness onset in modern societies should be considered a potential contributory factor to human obesity as light at night dramatically reduces endogenous melatonin production. In the current article, the potential associations of melatonin, BAT, obesity and the medical implications are discussed.
STIM1 is required for attenuation of PMCA-mediated Ca2+ clearance during T-cell activation

T-cell activation involves a complex signalling cascade uniquely dependent on elevated cytosolic Ca2+ levels. Further, the spatiotemporal characteristics of this Ca2+ signal play a critical role in this process via selective activation of transcription factors. In T cells, store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCe) is the primary Ca2+ influx pathway; however, cytosolic Ca2+ concentration depends upon the balance between Ca2+ influx and extrusion. The plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase (PMCA) has previously been identified as a critical player in Ca2+ clearance in T cells. Here, we provide data revealing both functional and physical links between the activation of stromal interacting molecule 1 (STIM1) and PMCA-mediated Ca2+ clearance. Due to the ubiquitous expression of both STIM1 and PMCA, these findings have wide-ranging implications for Ca2+ signalling in multiple cell types.