cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Method to Study the Expression of DNA Methyltransferases in Aging Systems In Vitro

The methylation of CpG dinucleotides located in key protein binding sites within gene regulatory regions often leads to gene silencing. A mechanism of aging is proposed whereby an accumulation of methylation at gene regulatory sites contributes to cellular senescence. DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a methyl moiety from S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) to the cytosine of a CpG dinucleotide and are responsible for establishing and maintaining methylation patterns in the genome. It is important to study not only transcription of the DNMTs, but also their protein expression because studies illustrate that it is possible for the enzymes to undergo posttranslational physical changes in response to stimulation even though gene transcription remains unchanged. Here, we discuss an in vitro method to study protein expression of DNMTs in aging systems.
CASE RECORDS of the MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL. Case 15-2016. A 32-Year-Old Man with Olfactory Hallucinations and Paresthesias.

A 32-year-old man presented with a 1-year history of olfactory hallucinations and a 6-week history of intermittent numbness and paresthesias on the left side. MRI revealed a nodular focus of enhancement in the medial right temporal lobe. A diagnostic procedure was performed.
Analysis of Amyloid Precursor Protein Function in Drosophila melanogaster.

The Amyloid precursor protein (APP) has mainly been investigated in connection with its role in Alzheimer’s disease due to its cleavage resulting in the production of the Aβ peptides that accumulate in the plaques characteristic for this disease. However, APP is an evolutionary conserved protein that is not only found in humans but also in many other species, including Drosophila, suggesting an important physiological function. Besides Aβ, several other fragments are produced by the cleavage of APP; large secreted fragments derived from the N-terminus and a small intracellular C-terminal fragment. Although these fragments have received much less attention than Aβ, a picture about their function is finally emerging. In contrast to mammals, which express three APP family members, Drosophila expresses only one APP protein called Amyloid Precursor Protein-like or APPL. Therefore APPL functions can be studied in flies without the complication that other APP family members may have redundant functions. Flies lacking APPL are viable but show defects in neuronal outgrowth in the central and peripheral nervous system in addition to synaptic changes. Furthermore, APPL has been connected with axonal transport functions. In the adult nervous system, APPL, and more specifically its secreted fragments, can protect neurons from degeneration. APPL cleavage also prevents glial death. Lastly, APPL was found to be involved in behavioural deficits and in regulating sleep/activity patterns. This review, will describe the role of APPL in neuronal development and maintenance and briefly touch on its emerging function in circadian rhythms while an accompanying review will focus on its role in learning and memory formation.
ARF1 and ARF6 regulate recycling of GRASP/Tamalin and the Rac1-GEF Dock180 during HGF-induced Rac1 activation

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent signaling factor that acts on epithelial cells, causing them to dissociate and scatter. This migration is coordinated by a number of small GTPases, such as ARF6 and Rac1. Active ARF6 is required for HGF-stimulated migration and intracellular levels of ARF6-GTP and Rac1-GTP increase following HGF treatment. During migration, cross talk between ARF6 and Rac1 occurs through formation of a multi-protein complex containing the ARF-GEF cytohesin-2, the scaffolding protein GRASP/Tamalin, and the Rac1-GEF Dock180. Previously, the role of ARF6 in this process was unclear. We have now found that ARF6 and ARF1 regulate trafficking of GRASP and Dock180 to the plasma membrane following HGF treatment. Trafficking of GRASP and Dock180 is impaired by blocking ARF6-mediated recycling pathways and is required for HGF-stimulated Rac1 activation. Finally, HGF treatment stimulates association of GRASP and Dock180. Inhibition of ARF6 trafficking pathways traps GRASP and Dock180 as a complex in the cell.
Introduction: Twenty-Five Years of the Gulf of Maine Judgment

On March 29, 1979 Canada and the United States concluded a Treaty to Submit to Binding Dispute Settlement the Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary in the Gulf of Maine Area. A Chamber of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was asked to decide “in accordance with the principles and rules of international law . . . the course of the single maritime boundary that divides the continental shelf and fisheries zones of the United States and Canada.” The resulting decision in the Case Concerning Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary in the Gulf of Maine Area (Canada/United States of America) (Gulf of Maine Case) fixed the maritime boundary between the United States and Canada in the 90,000-square-kilometer Gulf of Maine. The case would be noteworthy for many reasons, but one reason would stand out:
A microfluidic paper-based device to assess acetylcholinesterase activity

Neurotransmitters play key roles in cell-to-cell communication. These chemical messengers are involved in many functional processes, including growth, reproduction, memory, and behavior. In this communication, we describe a novel microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) to detect acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and inhibitor screening through a colorimetric analysis. The μPAD is easily fabricated via a wax printing process whereby wax is deposited onto the surface of chromatographic paper, and heated to create a hydrophobic barrier. Separate solutions of 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) and samples containing AChE and acetylthiocholine iodide (ATC) (or cysteine, Cys), respectively, are directly spotted onto the μPAD. DTNB and AChE/ATC (or Cys) flow towards each other where a reaction occurs to form the yellow colored 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoic acid anion (TNB2- ). The device is dried, scanned, and analyzed yielding a linear range of average inverse yellow intensities versus substrate concentration. An IC50 value (0.045 nM) with a known inhibitor, neostigmine bromide (NB), is obtained on the device. μPADs are low cost and easy to fabricate and have great potential to quantify neurotransmitter activity.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis — Yes or No? — Endocarditis

Antibiotic prophylaxis of subacute bacterial endocarditis before dental manipulations and other surgical procedures in patients with known heart disease has been widely used for over 25 years but its effectiveness has never been proved.(1) The basis of this practice is the observation that a small proportion of patients with endocarditis have a dental procedure before onset of the heart infection. However, among susceptible heart disease patients, the actual rate of development of endocarditis in association with operative procedures likely to produce bacteremia is extremely low. Therefore, it has not been possible to determine the value of antibiotic prophylaxis by clinical observation. Indeed, the presumed success of recommended antibiotics may be more due to inherently low infection rates than prophylaxis per se. Thus, even after administration of penicillin according to an approved regimen, cases of penicillin-sensitive endocarditis after tooth extractions are reported.(2) In our own hospital three such patients were seen in the past 20 years. An alternate explanation for the failure of antibiotic prophylaxis is that the “approved regimen was inadequate. This may relate to the basis for recommended schedules, namely, in vitro sensitivities of the organisms and serum concentrations achieved by the antibiotic. Although bacteremia is reduced, the frequency of lodgment and multiplication of bacteria on the endocardium under these conditions is not known. Since clinical observation cannot answer this dilemma, it recently was proposed by Durack and Petersdorf, (3) and also by Beeson, (4) that clinical recommendations be developed based on data derived from the prevention of bacterial endocarditis in a suitable animal model.
Dietary and Physical Activity Counseling Trends in U.S. Children, 2002–2011

Introduction In 2007 and 2010, Expert Committee and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines were released, respectively, urging U.S. practitioners to deliver preventive obesity counseling for children. This study determined the frequency and evaluated predictors of receiving counseling for diet and physical activity among a national sample of children from 2002 to 2011. Methods Children aged 6–17 years were used from the 2002–2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys and analyzed in 2016. Parental report of two questions assessed whether children received both dietary and exercise counseling from the provider. Children were grouped by weight category. Bivariate analyses compared the frequency of receiving counseling; logistic regression evaluated predictors of receiving counseling. Results The sample included 36,114 children; Conclusions Counseling appears more likely with greater weight and increased after both guidelines in 2007 and 2010. Overall counseling rates for children remain low. Future work should focus on marginalized groups, such as racial and ethnic minorities and rural populations.
A Personal Note: The Encyclopedia and I

For the last couple of years, during hours not spent blogging, I served as the editor-in-chief of the third edition of the Encyclopedia of Microbiology. If this sounds like a large undertaking, it is. The work consists of nearly 300 entries compiled into six volumes that weigh in toto close to 50 lbs! Fortunately for those with weak backs, this edition will also be available electronically. My contribution to this project was reduced to human dimensions because practically all the work was done by an editorial board consisting of some terrific microbiologists. They chose the authors and edited the manuscripts. To see for yourself how distinguished these people are, go to bit.ly/1XxWlGy. Did I critically read each entry from start to finish? Not on your life! (However, my curiosity was sufficiently piqued that I scanned—or more—each entry). Most of what I did was to cheer editors and authors along. I wasn’t always good at this, but finally this Gargantuan creature emerged from its womb, hale and well.
Locoregional recurrence following maxillectomy: implications for microvascular reconstruction.

Objective Reconstruction of maxillectomy defects offers potential quality-of-life improvement, although cavity coverage may impact surveillance of recurrent malignancy. We describe the pattern of postmaxillectomy locoregional recurrence. Study Design Retrospective review. Methods Patients from 2001 to 2011 at the University of California, San Francisco and the Cleveland Clinic. Results Among 75 patients with malignancy resulting in partial or total maxillectomy, 57 were treated with obturators and 18 underwent reconstructive surgery. Disease recurrence occurred primarily locally (19 of 22 cases of recurrence, 25% of the cohort) at a mean of 17 months postoperatively. Recurrence was associated with T4 disease, positive margins, and surveillance imaging. Four (5.3%) patients required flap mobilization/obturator removal to obtain biopsy. Salvage surgery was attempted in 13 of the 19 cases with recurrent disease (68%) and was successful in six (46%) patients. Of these, five patients initially had Brown type 1 or type 2 defects. The free flap had to be revised in one (1.3%) patient to achieve successful salvage. Conclusion Maxillectomy provides good long-term locoregional oncologic control, with cure being correlated to disease stage at presentation and negative margins after initial surgery. Patients with recurrent disease whose initial resection resulted in a Brown class 3 defect or greater were rarely successfully salvaged. Surveillance is best performed with a combination of physical exam and imaging. Obturator removal/flap mobilization rarely impedes the diagnosis of recurrent disease, and either modality should be offered to appropriate patients in the primary setting if significant quality-of-life improvement is likely. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 2017
Effects of bone morphogenetic proteins on neural tissues

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) were originally identified by their ability to induce ectopic bone formation [1]. However, it was subsequently found that BMPs are expressed in most, if not all, developing organs and that they profoundly alter the development of kidney [2], lung [3], blood [4], and heart [5], as well as cartilage, mesoderm and bone [1].
Phonon Softening due to Melting of the Ferromagnetic Order in Elemental Iron.

We study the fundamental question of the lattice dynamics of a metallic ferromagnet in the regime where the static long-range magnetic order is replaced by the fluctuating local moments embedded in a metallic host. We use the ab initio density functional theory $+$ embedded dynamical mean-field theory functional approach to address the dynamic stability of iron polymorphs and the phonon softening with an increased temperature. We show that the nonharmonic and inhomogeneous phonon softening measured in iron is a result of the melting of the long-range ferromagnetic order and is unrelated to the first-order structural transition from the bcc to the fcc phase, as is usually assumed. We predict that the bcc structure is dynamically stable at all temperatures at normal pressure and is thermodynamically unstable only between the bcc-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ and the bcc-$\ensuremath{\delta}$ phases of iron.
Man, God, and Rain: Is Aristotelian Teleology Hierarchical?

There are some passages within the Aristotelian corpus that indicate that Aristotle argued for a wider and more cosmic teleology than he is usually understood to have held. There are two interpretive camps that have been formed as a response to these passages. The first argues that Aristotle held only the internal teleology that he is commonly associated with, and the second argues that Aristotle must have defended a hierarchical teleology in which some things in the universe are meant to benefit other things. I argue that both sides are mistaken, and that the key to understanding Aristotelian teleology is through a correct interpretation of Metaphysics Λ 10.
Impact of interdisciplinary rounds in the spinal cord injury unit on relational coordination for patients with pressure injury: A pilot study.

Context/Objective: Multiple medical specialties are often involved in the management of patients with both spinal cord injuries (SCI) and pressure injuries (PIs), sometimes leading to inadequate communication. Our Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital has an interdisciplinary team for PI patients in the SCI unit. This team conducts monthly bedside rounds and journal clubs; there is no similar team for patients with PIs outside the SCI unit. This pilot study aims to determine whether such an interdisciplinary team improves care coordination among practitioners.Design: Survey-based study.Setting: VA hospital.Participants: Healthcare providers who participate in interdisciplinary SCI rounds and who also care for patients with PIs outside the SCI unit.Interventions: Interdisciplinary rounds, including monthly bedside rounds and journal clubs with variety of specialists take place within the SCI unit. There are no similar interdisciplinary rounds for patients with PIs outside of the SCI unit.Outcome Measures: The Rel...
AN ANALYTICAL METHODOLOGY FOR PREDICTING DYNAMIC BUILDING RESPONSE TO WIND

As part of an ongoing research effort in structural and wind engineering, an analytical methodology for computing the response of buildings to wind loading has been developed. This methodology, consisting of three computer implemented models, provides a new tool for simulating the structural properties of a building, modeling wind loadings for rectangular geometries, and computing the dynamic building response. The building is modeled as a multiple degree of freedom (MDOF) structural system, wind loading is treated as a multiple-random process, and response statistics are obtained as the final outcome. The methodology is briefly described and results of limited verification studies are given.
Ideatracker: an interactive visualization supporting collaboration and consensus building in online interface design discussions

With the rapid growth of open source and other geographically distributed software projects, more interface design discussions are occurring online. Participation in such discussions typically occurs via issue management systems or similar interactive discussion forums. While such systems have a low learning curve, they do not support key elements of design discussion such as comparing alternatives, maintaining awareness of the arguments for and against the alternatives, or building consensus. To better understand these and other challenges, we conducted a study of online interface design discussion. The study consisted of analyzing a large corpus of online discussion content and conducting interviews with designer and developer participants. We discuss the findings of our study and use them to motivate the implementation of an interactive visualization tool - IdeaTracker. The tool offers explicit support for tracking and comparing ideas and gaining an abstract summary of the overall discussion as well as specific alternatives. It also provides a voting system to support consensus building. The tool extracts and visualizes useful information from the discussions that would otherwise be hidden but without interfering with the current method of participation. Our tool is compatible with the issue management system of one open source project but can be extended for others. Initial user feedback is positive and confirms the need for an alternative visual representation of interface design discussions online.
Bounded Verification of Reachability of Probabilistic Hybrid Systems

In this paper, we consider the problem of bounded reachability analysis of probabilistic hybrid systems which model discrete, continuous and probabilistic behaviors. The discrete and probabilistic dynamics are modeled using a finite state Markov decision process (MDP), and the continuous dynamics is incorporated by annotating the states of the MDP with differential equations/inclusions. We focus on polyhedral dynamical systems to model continuous dynamics. Our broad approach for computing probabilistic bounds on reachability consists of the computation of the exact minimum/maximum probability of reachability within k discrete steps in a polyhedral probabilistic hybrid system by reducing it to solving an optimization problem with satisfiability modulo theory (SMT) constraints.
Examining the temporal associations between self-reported memory problems and depressive symptoms in older adults

Objectives: Older adults commonly report problems with their memory which can elicit sadness and worry about future development of cognitive impairment. Conversely, ongoing depressive symptoms can ...
A Faithful Braid Group Action on the Stable Category of Tricomplexes

Bicomplexes of vector spaces frequently appear throughout algebra and geometry. In Section 2 we explain how to think about the arrows in the spectral sequence of a bicomplex via its indecomposable summands. Polycomplexes seem to be much more rare. In Section 3 of this paper we rethink a well-known faithful categorical braid group action via an action on the stable category of tricomplexes.
Addressing Deep Uncertainty in Space System Development through Model-based Adaptive Design

When developing a space system, many properties of the design space are initially unknown and are discovered during the development process. Therefore, the problem exhibits deep uncertainty. Deep uncertainty refers to the condition where the full range of outcomes of a decision is not knowable. A key strategy to mitigate deep uncertainty is to update decisions when new information is learned. In this paper, the spacecraft development problem is modeled as a dynamic, chance-constrained, stochastic optimization problem. The Model-based Adaptive Design under Uncertainty (MADU) framework is presented, in which conflict-directed search is combined with reuse of information to solve the development problem efficiently in the presence of deep uncertainty. The framework is built within a Model-based Systems Engineering (MBSE) paradigm in which a SysML model contains the design, the design space, and information learned during search. The development problem is composed of a series of optimizations, each different than the previous. Changes between optimizations can be the addition or removal of a design variable, expansion or contraction of the domain of a design variable, addition or removal of constraints, or changes to the objective function. These changes are processed to determine which search decisions can be preserved from the previous optimization. The framework is illustrated on a case study drawn from the thermal design of the REgolith X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (REXIS) instrument. This case study demonstrates the advantages of the MADU framework with the solution found 30% faster than an algorithm that doesn't reuse information. With this framework, designers can more efficiently explore the design space and perform updates to a design when new information is learned. Future work includes extending the framework to multiple objective functions and continuous design variables.
Quantitative [18F]florbetapir PET/CT may identify lung involvement in patients with systemic AL amyloidosis

The clinical diagnosis of pulmonary involvement in individuals with systemic AL amyloidosis remains challenging. [18F]florbetapir imaging has previously identified AL amyloid deposits in the heart and extra-cardiac organs. The aim of this study is to determine quantitative [18F]florbetapir pulmonary kinetics to identify pulmonary involvement in individuals with systemic AL amyloidosis. We prospectively enrolled 58 subjects with biopsy-proven AL amyloidosis and 9 control subjects (5 without amyloidosis and 4 with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis). Pulmonary [18F]florbetapir uptake was evaluated visually and quantified as distribution volume of specific binding (Vs) derived from compartmental analysis and simpler semiquantitative metrics of maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax), retention index (RI), and target-to-blood ratio (TBR). On visual analysis, pulmonary tracer uptake was absent in most AL subjects (40/58, 69%); 12% (7/58) of AL subjects demonstrated intense bilateral homogeneous tracer uptake. In this group, compared to the control group, Vs (median Vs 30-fold higher, 9.79 vs. 0.26, p 3-fold higher Vs compared to the control group (median 0.99 vs. 0.26, p < 0.001). Vs was independently related to left ventricular SUVmax, a marker of cardiac AL deposition, but not to ejection fraction, a marker of cardiac dysfunction. Also, intense [18F]florbetapir lung uptake was not related to [11C]acetate lung uptake, suggesting that intense [18F]florbetapir lung uptake represents AL amyloidosis rather than heart failure. [18F]florbetapir PET/CT offers the potential to noninvasively identify pulmonary AL amyloidosis, and its clinical relevance warrants further study.
Effect of temperature and humidity conditioning on copper leadframe/mold compound interfacial delamination

Abstract Microelectronic packages continue to become smaller and more complex. Interfacial delamination is a common failure mechanism present in microelectronic packages due to the mismatch in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between different materials. Epoxy Molding Compound (EMC)/copper is a common interface found in microelectronic packages and is susceptible to delamination due to CTE mismatch. This work analyzes interfacial delamination of an EMC/copper interface and the impact of temperature and humidity conditioning on interfacial fracture energy using a double cantilever beam test. The critical interfacial fracture energy is obtained for as-received, thermally-aged, and humidity-conditioned samples. These experimental results can be used in models to predict delamination in an EMC/copper interface and how these interfaces are affected by factors such as time, temperature, and humidity conditioning.
Evaluation of Copper Alloy Surfaces for Inactivation of Tulane Virus and Human Noroviruses.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the efficacy of copper alloy surfaces for inactivation of Tulane virus (TV), assessed by plaque assay and porcine gastric mucin-conjugated magnetic bead (PGM-MB) binding assay, followed by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (PGM-MB-RT-qPCR assay). In addition, the efficacy of a copper surface for inactivation of human norovirus (HuNoV) GII.4 Sydney and GI.3B Potsdam strains was evaluated by PGM-MB-RT-qPCR assay. Results of time-dependent inactivation of viruses on copper, bronze, and brass coupons revealed that 15 min of surface treatments of each of the copper and copper alloys achieved >4-log reduction of purified TV, as assessed by plaque assay, while up to 20 min of copper alloy surface treatments only achieved ∼2-log reduction, as assessed by PGM-MB-RT-qPCR assay. As assessed by PGM-MB-RT-qPCR assay, 10 min of copper surface treatments achieved reductions of 3 and 4 log units for HuNoVs GII.4 Sydney and GI.3B Potsdam, respectively. Results from this study suggest that even though PGM-MB-RT-qPCR assay underestimated the efficacy of copper alloy surface inactivation of TV, copper alloy surfaces were able to effectively inactivate TV and HuNoVs. Therefore, copper alloys can be used as a preventive measure to prevent HuNoV infection and are an effective surface treatment for HuNoVs. HIGHLIGHTS
Robotic Inguinal Hernia Repair for Incarcerated Hernias.

Purpose: This is the first study to investigate clinical outcomes after robotic emergent inguinal hernia repair (rEIHR). Methods: Data were retrospectively analyzed from patients who underwent rEIH...
From F-Bombs to Kissing Students: Media Framing of Male and Female Professors Accused of Sexual Harassment:

This constructionist framing analysis identified media frames in news coverage of four tenured professors, two men and two women, accused of sexual harassment at research-intensive universities: Jo...
Inverting an interval Hessian of a factorable function

For twice-differentiable factorable functions, a new computer code provides the Hessian matrix as the sum of outer products of vectors and an interval Hessian as the sum of outer products of interval vectors. A practical method for inverting an interval Hessian of a factorable function which exploits this special structure is presented. Computational experience with this method and other inversion techniques is reported.
Underreporting of energy intake in weight loss maintainers

BACKGROUND Individuals with overweight or obesity commonly underreport energy intake (EI), but it is unknown if the tendency to underreport persists in formerly obese individuals who lose significant weight and maintain their weight loss over long periods of time. OBJECTIVE Assess the accuracy of self-reported EI in successful weight loss maintainers (WLM) compared with controls of normal body weight (NC) and controls with overweight/obesity (OC). METHODS Participants for this case-controlled study were recruited in 3 groups: WLM [n = 26, BMI (in kg/m2) 24.1 ± 2.3; maintaining ≥13.6 kg weight loss for ≥1 y], NC (n = 33, BMI 22.7 ± 1.9; similar to current BMI of WLM), and OC (n = 32, BMI 34.0 ± 4.6; similar to pre-weight loss BMI of WLM). Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) was measured over 7 d using the doubly labeled water (DLW) method, and self-reported EI was concurrently measured from 3-d diet diaries. DLW TDEE and self-reported EI were compared to determine accuracy of self-reported EI. RESULTS WLM underreported EI (median, interquartile range) (-605, -915 to -314 kcal/d) to a greater degree than NC (-308, -471 to -68 kcal/d; P < 0.01) but not more than OC (-310, -970 to 18 kcal/d; P = 0.21). WLM also showed a greater degree of relative underreporting (-25.3%, -32.9% to -12.5%) compared with NC (-14.3%, -19.6% to -3.1%; P = 0.02) but not OC (-11.2%, -34.1% to -0.7%; P = 0.16). A greater proportion of WLM was classified as underreporters (30.8%) than NC (9.1%; P = 0.05) but not OC (28.1%; P = 1.00). CONCLUSIONS WLM underreported EI in both absolute and relative terms to a greater extent than NC but not OC. These findings call into question the accuracy of self-reported EI in WLM published in previous studies and align with recent data suggesting that WLM rely less on chronic EI restriction and more on high levels of physical activity to maintain weight loss. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03422380.
Purely sequential estimation problems for the mean of a normal population by sampling in groups under permutations within each group and illustrations

Purely sequential estimation for unknown mean ( μ ) in a normal population having an unknown variance ( σ 2 ) when observations are gathered in groups has been recently discussed in Mukhopadhyay an...
Arachidonoyl-specific diacylglycerol kinase.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes an assay system and a chromatographic technique for separating the arachidonoyl-diacylglycerol kinase (DG kinase) from the nonspecific enzymes. The importance of the choice of detergent used in the assay for detecting the substrate preference of the arachidonoyl-DG kinase is also discussed. Three different assay systems for measuring DG kinase activity are described. In each case, the amount of [32P]phosphatidic acid ([32P]PA) formed from DG and [32P]ATP is measured. The most extensively used assay system is performed in the presence of deoxycholate, which solubilizes DG and activates the soluble DG kinases. In another assay system, DG is suspended in buffer in the absence of detergent. Both these assays are effective for measuring the activity of the soluble DG kinases. However, the arachidonoyl-DG kinase requires a third assay system in which octylglucoside micelles containing DG and phosphatidylscrine (PS) are mixed with octylglucoside micelles containing the enzyme. The chapter discusses the separation of arachidonoyl-specific diacylglycerol kinase from nonspecific diacylglycerol kinases.
A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Experimental Sleep Restriction on Youth’s Attention and Hyperactivity

This meta-analysis examined the effect experimental sleep restriction has on youth's attention and hyperactivity outcomes. Thirteen published studies containing 17 independent samples were included (N = 496). Random- and fixed-effects models were used to estimate pooled effect sizes and moderator effects, respectively. Results indicate that sleep-restricted youth had significantly worse attention outcomes than youth with extended sleep, but no differences were evident regarding hyperactivity. Significant moderators of this effect included age and sex. These results have important implications for both the prevention and treatment of attention problems, highlighting the need for health professionals to screen for and treat underlying sleep issues.
Protein Kinase and Phosphoproteins of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus

Abstract Protein kinases of similar but not identical activity were found associated with vesicular stomatitis (VS) virions grown in mouse L cells, primary chicken embryo (CE) cells, and BHK-21 cells, as well as being present in VS virions grown in HeLa and Aedes albopictus cells. The virion kinase preferentially phosphorylated the nucleocapsid NS protein in vitro and to a lesser extent the envelope M protein. Other virion proteins were phosphorylated in vitro only after drastic detergent treatment. Partial evidence that the virion kinase is of cellular origin was obtained by finding reduced enzyme activity in virions released from cells pretreated with actinomycin D and cycloheximide. Selective detergent and detergent-salt fractionation of VS virions revealed that the kinase activity was present in the envelope but not the spikes. The virion kinase activity in a Triton-salt-solubilized envelope fraction could be separated from M and G proteins and partially purified by phosphocellulose column chromatography. Virions released from L, CE, and BHK-21 cells infected in the presence of [32P]orthophosphate were labeled almost exclusively in the NS protein. Both soluble and nucleocapsid-associated NS phosphoprotein were present in cytoplasmic extracts of VS viral-infected L cells. The origin and function of the NS phosphoprotein remain to be elucidated.
Tryptic Soy Bile-Kanamycin Test for the Identification of Bacteroides fragilis

A simple and practical test for the identification of Bacteroides fragilis is described. It utilizes two well-known properties of this species, i.e., stimulation of growth by bile and resistance to kanamycin. The test media are a tryptic-soy bile agar plate and a supplemented blood agar plate on which a kanamycin 1,000-mug/ml disk is placed. Incubation is for 24 h at 37 C in GasPak. The results of screening 190 strains, mostly clinical isolates, indicate that B. fragilis can be easily and reliably distinguished from other Bacteroides and from Fusobacterium species by its growth on tryptic-soy bile agar and resistance to kanamycin.
The Sources of Agency: An Empirical Examination of United States Attorneys

A theoretical model relates case mix, staffing, and monitoring to the likelihood of a plea agreement. Analysis of federal drug trafficking cases in fiscal years 1993 through 1996 leads to the following conclusions: There are fewer pleas in districts that are understaffed and are facing more severe crimes. Further, there are fewer pleas in United States Attorney districts with many or with few prosecutors, and there are more pleas in United States Attorney districts with an average number of prosecutors. The explanation for the latter results is that prosecutors may take cases to trial to acquire human capital unless they are closely monitored. Estimation of the monitoring technology shows that it exhibits increasing returns to scale for small districts, and decreasing returns to scale for large districts. Given such a monitoring technology, the relationship between the number of monitors and the level of monitoring is consistent with an optimal allocation of resources between monitoring and prosecution.
Older Adults’ Recognition of Trade-Offs in Healthcare Decision-Making

Objectives To examine older persons’ understanding of healthcare decision-making involving trade-offs. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Primary care clinics. Participants Community-living persons aged 65 and older (N = 50). Measurements After being primed to think about trade-offs with a focus on chronic disease management, participants were asked to describe a decision they had made in the past involving a trade-off. If they could not, they were asked to describe a decision they might face in the future and were then given an example of a decision. They were also asked about communication with their primary care provider about their priorities when faced with a trade-off. Results Forty-four participants (88%) were able to describe a healthcare decision involving a trade-off; 25 provided a decision in the past, 17 provided a decision they might face in the future, and two provided a future decision after hearing an example. One participant described a nonmedical decision, and two participants described goals without providing a trade-off. Of the healthcare decisions, 26 involved surgery, seven were end-of life decisions, seven involved treatment of chronic disease, and four involved chemotherapy. When asked whether their providers should know their health outcome priorities, 44 (88%) replied yes, and 35 (70%) believed their providers knew their priorities, but only 18 (36%) said that they had had a specific conversation about priorities. Conclusion The majority of participants were able to recognize the trade-offs involved in healthcare decision-making and wanted their providers to know their priorities regarding the trade-offs. Despite being primed to think about the trade-offs involved in day-to-day treatment of chronic disease, participants most frequently described episodic, high-stakes decisions including surgery and end-of-life care.
A wide bandwidth, low noise xenon lamp ballast

This paper presents a low noise lamp ballast with a 10 kHz control bandwidth for a xenon lamp. The ballast features a universal 90 to 250 Volt, 50 to 60 Hz input. Power is delivered to a 750-Watt xenon lamp with 80 db attenuation of line frequency harmonics. The ballast provides a 38 kV ignition pulse to strike the lamp with lamp current regulated by the control loop. Lamp current is adjustable manually or from an external analog signal from 30 to 50 Amps. The power circuitry and loop design to achieve these goals are presented here.
The Art of Shepard Fairey: Questioning Everything

Given the recent erosion of the United States’ moral reputation and economic status as a super power, the social and political criticism of Shepard Fairey’s street art becomes more poignant. Fairey is a street artist who speaks out against the abuse of power and militarism while supporting people of color and women who seek equity. Abandoned buildings, empty wall spaces, and streets have become his blank canvas and target to raise his voice and pose questions. During the summer of 2007, the Jonathan Levine Gallery introduced Shepard Fairey in his first New York City solo exhibition. Thousands of viewers saw his works at the gallery in Chelsea and the D.U.M.B.O. Installation Space in Brooklyn, New York. The title of the exhibition, “E Pluribus Venom” (out of many, poison), parodied the Great Seal of “E Pluribus Unum” (out of many, one) which appears on US currency. Public interest in Fairey’s works and the magnetic power of his persuasive visual rhetoric created great interest in the younger generation of art enthusiasts, critical reviewers, and collectors. Fairey’s first New York City solo exhibition was sold out.
Patterns of care and treatment outcomes for elderly women with cervical cancer

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is common in the elderly. The authors examined the patterns of care, treatment, and outcomes of elderly women with cervical cancer. METHODS: Women with cervical cancer diagnosed between 1988 and 2005 and registered in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database were analyzed. Patients were stratified by age: <50, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and ≥80 years. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to examine treatment; cancer-specific survival was examined using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: A total of 28,902 women were identified, including 2543 women 70 to 79 years old and 1364 ≥80 years. For women with early stage (IB1-IIA) tumors, primary surgery was performed in 82.0% of women 80 years old were less likely to undergo radical hysterectomy (odds ratio [OR], 0.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.07-0.14) and lymphadenectomy (OR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.08-0.16) and to receive adjuvant radiation therapy (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01-0.35). Among women with stage IIB-IVA disease, use of brachytherapy declined with age (P < .0001). For women with stage IB1-IIA tumors, the hazard ratio for death from cancer was 1.35 (95% CI, 1.16-1.58) for women 70 to 79 years old and 2.08 (95% CI, 1.72-2.48) for those ≥80 years old compared with younger women. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly women with cervical cancer are less likely to undergo surgery, receive adjuvant radiation, and receive brachytherapy. After adjusting for treatment disparities, cancer-specific mortality is higher in older women. Cancer 2012;3618–3626. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Every Proposition is a Counterfactual

I present and discuss two logical results. The first shows that a non-trivial counterfactual analysis exists for any contingent proposition that is false in at least two possible worlds. The second result identifies a set of conditions that are individually necessary and jointly sufficient for the success of a counterfactual analysis. I use these results to shed light on the question whether disposition ascribing propositions can be analyzed as Stalnaker-Lewis conditional propositions. The answer is that they can, but, in order for a counterfactual analysis to work, the antecedent and consequent must be related in a particular way, and David Lewis’s Time’s Arrow constraints on comparative world similarity must be relaxed. The upshot is that counterfactual analyses are easy to come by, in principle, even if not in practice. In that sense, it’s easy to be iffy.
Clinical Research Information Systems

Clinical Research Information Systems (CRISs) are a type of specialized software application which are designed to support clinical research. The use of CRISs can reduce the costs of research studies. Information systems can also ­support a host of functions and activities within clinical research enterprises. In this chapter, we look at the various CRIS vendor models, including new open-source systems. We consider issues and workflows unique to clinical research that mandate the use of a Clinical Research Information System and distinguish its functionality from that provided by Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Systems. We also discuss the considerations involved in deciding whether to build, lease, or purchase a vendor model. Some significant quality-control issues are also highlighted, including ­double data entry (DDE) and random audits. We then describe the operations of a CRIS during different phases of a study, including determining patient recruitment and eligibility, protocol management, patient monitoring and safety, and analysis and reporting. Included here is role of informaticians in working with investigators and biostatisticians to make systematic requirements analysis and to provide costs ­estimates for informatics components of studies. We finally discuss briefly the issues of ­standards and certification and look at usability and user-centered designed as ­evaluative criteria for CRISs.
Formation of a K-region arene oxide by intramolecular 0 atom transfer

Abstract Intramolecular reaction of the carbonyl oxide 1-benzoylphenanthrene oxide leads to the K-region oxide 1-benzoyl-9,10-epoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene.
Analysis of Total Platinum Derived from Cisplatin in Tissue

Abstract A method is described for determining total platinum in tissues of animals receiving cisplatin. The method is based on total combustion of the tissue, leaving a platinum residue devoid of organic material that can be dissolved in aqua regia and analyzed by carbon-rod furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Combustion eliminates matrix effects in final read-out, providing a means for precisely and reproducibly analyzing a variety of tissues. Platinum levels of 200 ng/0.5 g of sample can readily be analyzed with recoveries from all tissues approaching 100%. The validity of the method is demonstrated by giving rats intravenous doses of cisplatin and subsequently measuring tissue levels of platinum.
Factors affecting the optimization of the Stirling cycle for use as a heat pump

This report discusses the effects of variations of the phase-angle, cylinder volumes, dead space, cylinder heat transfer, working fluid, and temperature on capacity and performance of a Stirling cycle heat pump through the use of a relatively simple computer model. Shortcomings in predicting the coefficient of performance for heating (COP /SUB H/ ) via ideal analysis are identified. A comparison of the simulated COP /SUB H/ with experimental data is presented for one particular nonoptimum machine.
Late-time dissipation of primordial baryon-number fluctuations and nucleosynthesis.

Author(s): Alcock, CR; Dearborn, DS; Fuller, GM; Mathews, GJ; Meyer, BS | Abstract: Primordial baryon-number fluctuations can be damped at temperatures 20 keV when the photon mean free path becomes larger than the high-density-region length scale. This dissipation process may result in mixing of the high- and low-density material on a time scale comparable to or shorter than that of the universal expansion. The nucleosynthesis yields in inhomogeneous cosmologies can be altered by this process for any ©b. Li7 can be reduced to an abundance consistent with observations of Population II halo stars and the abundances of Be9 and B10 can be reduced by several orders of magnitude. © 1990 The American Physical Society.
Estimation of failure intensity for the Weibull process

A Weibull process/non-homogeneous Poisson process is commonly used to analyze the failure behavior of repairable systems. The object of the present study is to obtain exact estimates of the failure intensity of this model at the time of n failures. The resulting MLE estimate is biased and the corrected version for biasedness along with some approximate estimates is given. An analytical and numerical comparison of the relative efficiencies of the MLE of the exact biased, approximated biased, exact unbiased and approximated unbiased of the intensity function is presented. It will be shown that for small n (n < 30) there is quite a large relative difference between the mean squared errors of the exact and approximate estimates of the intensity function. Real failure data are used to illustrate the difference between the exact and approximate estimates of the intensity function.
Plasmodium falciparum biology: analysis of in vitro versus in vivo growth conditions

Recent studies of Plasmodium falciparum isolated directly from infected patients indicate that alternative parasite biological states occur in the natural host that are not observed with in vitro cultivated parasites. Variation in host substrates, immune responses and other factors probably induce modifications in parasite biology. These biological states could have important implications for pathogenesis, transmission and therapy. We review the differences between P. falciparum in vitro culture systems and in vivo host environments, as well as evidence that host conditions can alter pathogen biology. For select biological questions, the incorporation of naturally occurring conditions into in vitro experimental manipulation of microbes may provide novel insight into pathogen biology.
Detection of Worm Parasites in Chicken Eggs by Candling

Abstract Several worm parasites have been detected within market eggs. The intestinal nematode (Ascaridia galli) has been reported most frequently. Cecal worms (Heterakis spp.), oviduct flukes (Prosthogonimus spp.) and a tapeworm (Cestoda) also have been recovered from eggs. Descriptions of 102 such inclusions are reviewed or reported for the first time. After some training, candlers can recognize A. galli through the unopened egg shell. Detection and removal of such eggs from marketing channels is highly desirable both for consumers and egg producers. Worm control in poultry flocks to prevent such eggs from reaching commercial markets is also reviewed.
Circulation and dynamics of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea; quasi-synoptic data-driven simulations

Abstract Three nearly synoptic hydrographic data sets, sampled on a fine general circulation grid, are assimilated into a quasigeostrophic model to provide absolute flow from hydrographic data plus dynamics. Dynamically adjusted fields are obtained throughout the water column after about 2 weeks of model integration, and data gaps are dynamically interpolated. Simulations of 45 day duration performed for both the Levantine and the full Eastern Mediterranean basins indicate the robustness and stability of the sub-basin scale general circulation features and provide fields for investigating the relative importance of internal dynamical processes and external forcings. The effects of topography are essential for the vorticity balance and the maintenance of the features. Mesoscale meandering and oscillations occur, and rings can form. During periods of 1–2 months direct wind forcing is relatively unimportant but evolutionary tendencies are identified.