cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Transient Three-Dimensional Absorbing Boundary Conditions for the Modeling of Acoustic Scattering from Near-Surface Obstacles

We have recently developed absorbing boundary conditions for the three-dimensional scalar wave equation in full-space. Their applicability has been extended to half-space scattering problems where the scatterer is located near a pressure-free surface. A variational scheme was also proposed for coupling the structural acoustics equations with the absorbing boundary conditions. It was shown that the application of a Galerkin method on the variational form results in an attractive finite element scheme that, in a natural way, gives rise to a surface-only absorbing boundary element on the truncation boundary. The element — the finite element embodiment of a second-order absorbing boundary condition — is completely characterized by a pair of symmetric, frequency-independent damping and stiffness matrices, and is equally applicable to the transient and harmonic steady-state regimes. Previously, we had applied the methodology to problems involving scatterers of arbitrary geometry. In this paper, we validate our approach by comparing numerical results for rigid spherical scatterers submerged in a half-space, against a recently developed analytic solution.
Preservation via macromolecular associations during Botryococcus braunii decay: proteins in the Pula Kerogen

Abstract The green alga Botryococcus braunii was degraded for 201 days under oxic conditions in a flow-through system to test whether the macromolecular algaenan surrounding cells could protect proteins from rapid degradation. Protein loss was ∼8× slower for B. braunii than for other previously studied phytoplankton, with base extraction consistently removing only a small fraction ( 1.5 × 106 relative molecular mass (Mr) preserved in degraded material. A shift to higher Mr material during B. braunii decay and response of protein aggregates to denaturing agents identified hydrophobic and hydrogen-bond interactions as important stabilizing forces for protein preservation. Two-dimensional electrophoresis of proteins extractable from detrital material indicated the predominant presence of modified proteins. Susceptibility of the detrital organic matter to cleavage with proteolytic enzymes indicated the retention of peptide bonds, while incomplete cleavage of aggregates may be due to associations of proteins with algaenans. Using an antibody probe for RuBisCo, the large subunit was not retained in its original form (Mr 55,000), but additional cross-linked or other aggregated products (>Mr 73,000) plus a cleavage product (Mr 24,000) were observed during the decay sequence. In the 201-day-old B. braunii detritus, the large contribution of nonpolar > 2-kDa-hydrolyzable amino acids to bulk nitrogen (∼50%) suggests that encapsulation and hydrophobic associations protect a fraction of protein from bacterial degradation, and allow for preservation of their products seen as amino acids in the Pula kerogen.
Examining protective factors and risk factors in urban and rural head start Preschoolers

This study examined a comprehensive screening model within children attending Head Start programs from urban (n 5 232) and rural (n 5 231) communities. The Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA; LeBuffe & Naglieri, 1999) was used to measure socialemotional protective factors (i.e., Total Protective Factors [TPF]) and risk factors (i.e., Behavior Concerns [BC]) within children that resided in two different community settings. Children from low-income rural programs received higher scores on a subscale measuring children’s relationship to adults (i.e., Attachment subscale). Additionally, children from low-income urban programs received higher scores on children’s ability to self-regulate (i.e., Self-Control subscale). Significant differences between children from rural and urban settings were not found on the primary scales (BC or TPF) of the DECA. Statistically significant gender differences by community-type were not found. Findings contribute to the literature by illustrating that community characteristics might influence the development of different social-emotional behaviors in preschool children. C 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Compleat Angler: Observations on the Rise of Peisistratos in Herodotos (1.59–64)

The Acarnanian chrēsmologos Amphilytos spoke the verses to Peisistratos just before the battle of Pallene in 546 b.c. They contain a prediction of imminent victory for Peisistratos and total defeat for the Athenians. The Athenians will be routed and deprived of political self-determination, while the victory will restore to Peisistratos the tyranny from which he was twice forced, ‘rooting’ it once for all. Of course, all of this appears quite evident from the narrative. But as the verses form part of Herodotos' account of Peisistratos' ascent to power they amount to much more, for they constitute penultimate proof of Peisistratos' irresistibility (and his tyranny's inevitability), a recurrent theme in Herodotos' logos, but one which was undoubtedly encouraged by his Athenian sources as a means of explaining how the Athenians were forced to yield the tyranny. Indeed, the theme of irresistibility helps to excuse the Athenians for being overcome; as much of the logos, which is historically quite vague, it is a reaction to fact, not factual itself.
Sizing the streaming media cluster solution for a given workload

The goal of the proposed benchmarking and capacity planning framework is to evaluate the amount of resources needed for processing a given workload while meeting the specified performance requirements. There are two essential components in our capacity planning framework: (i) the capacity measurements of different hardware and software solutions using a specially designed set of media benchmarks; and (ii) a media service workload profiler, called MediaProf, which extracts a set of quantitative and qualitative parameters characterizing the service demand. The capacity planning tool matches the requirements of the media service workload profile, SLA and configuration constraints to produce the best available cost/performance solution. In case of a multi-node configuration, the capacity planner performs a cluster sizing evaluation by taking into account the choice of load balancing solution.
Blind source separation for extraction of target scattering centers

This paper focuses on using blind source separation of complex signals to extract scattering centers of radar targets that can then be used for target identification. The concept introduced in this paper assumes that the signal returned (or scattered) from a target is linear or convolutive mixture of several scattering centers along the body of an unknown aircraft. This information can then be used in a pattern recognition scheme for the purpose of identifying the non-cooperative unknown target. The results presented prove the concept using synthetic radar data. Work is ongoing to apply this concept to real radar data as received through an array of sensors (antennas).
THE REMOVAL OF FINE COAL PARTICLES FROM WATER BY FLOTATION

The flotation behavior of fine coal particles was investigated using batch reactor. Important factors affecting solid recovery such as coal type, pH, and surfactant types were studied. Effect of inorganic salts such as NaNO3, Ca(NO3)2 and AJ(NO3)3 on surfactant performance was also studied. Elec-trokinetic and solid recovery measurements yielded consistent results delineating the mechanism of solid removal.
Contribution of NMDA and AMPA Receptors to Temporal Patterning of Auditory Responses in the Inferior Colliculus

Although NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are associated with synaptic plasticity, they form an essential part of responses to sensory stimuli. We compared contributions of glutamatergic NMDARs and AMPA receptors (AMPARs) to auditory responses in the inferior colliculus (IC) of awake, adult mustached bats. We examined the magnitude and temporal pattern of responses to tonal signals in single units before, during, and after local micro-iontophoretic application of selective antagonists to AMPARs [NBQX (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-nitro-2,3-dioxo-benzo[f]quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide)] and NMDARs [CPP ((+/-)3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid)]. Combined blockade of AMPARs and NMDARs eliminated excitatory responses in nearly all neurons, whereas separate blockade of each receptor was quantitatively similar, causing substantial (> 50%) spike reductions in approximately 75% of units. The major result was that effects of receptor blockade were most closely related to the first-spike latency of a unit. Thus, AMPAR blockade substantially reduced spikes in all short-latency units ( or = 12 ms). NMDAR blockade had variable effects on short-latency units but reduced spikes substantially for all long-latency units. There were no distinct contributions of AMPARs and NMDARs to early and late elements of responses. Thus, AMPAR blockade reduced early (onset) spikes somewhat more effectively than NMDAR blockade in short-latency units, but NMDAR blockade reduced onset spikes more effectively in long-latency units. AMPAR and NMDAR blockade were equally effective in reducing later elements of sustained responses in short-latency units, whereas NMDAR blockade was much more effective in long-latency units. These results indicate that NMDARs play multiple roles for signal processing in adult IC neurons.
Development and validation of a Client Problem Profile and Index for drug treatment.

Summary The development of the Client Problem Profile and Index are described, and initial concurrent and predictive validity data are presented for a sample of 547 patients in outpatient methadone treatment. Derived from the TCU Brief Intake for drug treatment admissions, the profile covers 14 problem areas related to drug use (particularly cocaine, heroin/opiate, marijuana, other illegal drugs, and multiple drug use), HIV risks, psychosocial functioning, health, employment, and criminality. Analyses of predictive validity show the profile and its index (number of problem areas) were significantly related to therapeutic engagement, during-treatment performance, and posttreatment follow-up outcomes. Low moderate to high moderate effect sizes were observed in analyses of the index's discrimination.
Association of High-Level Mupirocin Resistance and Multidrug-Resistant Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus at an Academic Center in the Midwestern United States

Mupirocin is a topical antimicrobial used to eradicate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization, usually in the absence of susceptibility testing. We hypothesized that high-level (HL) mupirocin resistance was associated with multidrug resistance (MDR). To this end, unique patient isolates identified at our institution during 2008 were stratified into those resistant to ≥3 non-β-lactam antimicrobial classes (MDR) and non-MDR MRSA. HL mupirocin resistance was screened by mupA PCR on all MDR isolates (n = 191) and a 20% random sample (n = 130) of non-MDR isolates; E-testing confirmed HL resistance. We found that among MDR isolates, 13 (6.8%) carried mupA, whereas none of the non-MDR isolates did (P = 0.001). Thus, although the overall prevalence of HL mupirocin resistance is low among MRSA isolates at our institution, an association exists between mupA carriage and MDR. Using genotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility profiling, we identified nine HL mupirocin-resistant clones. Whereas the majority of mupA-negative MDR isolates had a health care-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) genotype (multilocus sequence type 5 [ST5] or SCCmec type II), the majority of mupA-positive MDR isolates had a community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) genotype (ST8 or SCCmec type IV). However, CA- and HA-MRSA genotypes were more evenly distributed among mupA-positive isolates compared to mupA-negative MDR isolates. Thus, in Chicago, mupA is circulating among both CA- and HA-MRSA backgrounds.
Do CD1-Restricted T Cells Contribute to Antibody-Mediated Immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis?

More than 100 years after the discovery of the tubercle bacillus by Robert Koch ([43][1]) and approximately 50 years after the introduction of effective antimycobacterial therapeutic agents ([3][2], [4][3], [46][4]), tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality
Firing Pattern and Rapid Modulation of Activity by Estrogen in Primate Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone-1 Neurons

We have shown previously that cultured LHRH-1 neurons, derived from monkey olfactory placode region, exhibit pulsatile LHRH-1 release at hourly intervals and spontaneous intracellular calcium oscillations, which synchronize at a frequency similar to LHRH-1 release. Brief application of estrogen induced a rapid increase in the frequency of intracellular calcium oscillations and the frequency of synchronizations. The estrogen-induced frequency of intracellular calcium oscillations was mediated by estrogen receptors (ER), whereas the frequency of synchronizations was not mediated by ER. In the present study, we further examined the rapid action of estrogen using patch-clamp recording in primate LHRH-1 neurons. Cell-attached patch-clamp recording showed that LHRH-1 neurons exhibited monophasic or biphasic action currents that were sensitive to an increase in extracellular K+ and the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin. The majority (90%) of LHRH-1 neurons showed irregular firing patterns composed of bursts and irregular beatings of action currents, which further formed a "cluster" firing pattern. Brief application of 17beta-estradiol (1 nM) increased the firing frequency and burst duration of LHRH-1 neurons with a latency of 60-120 sec for up to 25 min. ICI182,780, an ER antagonist, blocked the 17beta-estradiol-induced increase in the firing activity of LHRH-1 neurons. These results suggest that 1) primate LHRH-1 neurons exhibit complex firing patterns composed of activities with different time domains, 2) estrogen causes rapid stimulatory action of firing activity, and 3) this estrogen action is mediated by ER in primate LHRH-1 neurons.
Carbonic anhydrase II is an AP‐1 target gene in osteoclasts

c-Fos, a member of the AP-1 family of transcription factors, is necessary for osteoclast differentiation but to date, none of the osteoclast-phenotypic markers have been identified as AP-1 target genes. Here, we demonstrate that carbonic anhydrase II (CA II), an enzyme necessary for osteoclast activity, is transcriptionally upregulated by c-Fos/AP-1. A functional AP-1 binding site is present in the CA II promoter and is necessary for this regulation. Furthermore, we show that AP-1 binding activity, mainly composed of Fra-2 and JunD, is induced by treatment of bone marrow cultures with the osteoclastogenic hormone 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D(3). Fra-2 and JunD are found in mature osteoclasts as well. Thus, our data demonstrate that cFos/AP-1 can directly regulate the expression of this osteoclast marker and that AP-1 activity is upregulated in osteoclast progenitors in response to osteoclastogenic signals.
Effects of Tricaine Methanesulfonate, Hypno, Metomidate, Quinaldine, and Salt on Plasma Cortisol Levels following Acute Stress in Threespot Gourami Trichogaster trichopterus

Abstract Blood plasma cortisol concentration is an indicator of stress in fish, and anesthetics may serve to ameliorate stress and reduce the cortisol response. Previous studies have concentrated on cold- and warmwater species; little information exists for tropical fishes. Mortalities are increased after handling stress of threespot gourami Trichogaster trichopterus (Osphronemidae), a commonly cultured tropical ornamental fish. Plasma cortisol levels were evaluated in threespot gourami after a handling stressor and treatment with one of four anesthetics—tricaine methanesulfonate (TMS; 60 mg/L), metomidate (0.8 mg/L), quinaldine (5 mg/L), and Hypno (0.14 mg/L)—or salt (NaCl; 3 g/L). Fish in all anesthetic treatments had significantly lower cortisol levels than either salt-treated fish or the untreated controls. Therefore, the use of such anesthetics should be beneficial in reducing handling stress. Based on our data, further studies refining the use of anesthetics, particularly metomidate and quinaldine, ...
DEFINING WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO: CLINICAL PRACTIVE PATTERNS OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS IN MINNESOTA

The clinical practice patterns of a representative sample of marriage and family therapists (MFTs) were studied. AAMFT clinical members from Minnesota (N = 76) were surveyed for demographic characteristics, educational beckground, and practice-related issues. subjects also reported empirical data from 119 treatment cases involving 351 clients, a first in the MFT field. Among the major findings were: (a) MFTs practic relatively short-term therapy with the average case involving 11 sessions over a 4-month period; (b) therapy with families (average of 8 sessions) and couples (10 sessions) is briefer than individual therapy (14 sessions); and (c) NFTs treat a wide range of serious problems. Overall, MFT clinical practice patterns were comparable to those of other established mental health professions.
Reducing bias and quantifying uncertainty in watershed flux estimates: the R package loadflex.

Many ecological insights into the function of rivers and watersheds emerge from quantifying the flux of solutes or suspended materials in rivers. Numerous methods for flux estimation have been described, and each has its strengths and weaknesses. Currently, the largest practical challenges in flux estimation are to select among these methods and to implement or apply whichever method is chosen. To ease this process of method selection and application, we have written an R software package called loadflex that implements several of the most popular methods for flux estimation, including regressions, interpolations, and the special case of interpolation known as the period-weighted approach. Our package also implements a lesser-known and empirically promising approach called the “composite method,” to which we have added an algorithm for estimating prediction uncertainty. Here we describe the structure and key features of loadflex, with a special emphasis on the rationale and details of our composite method...
Cortical Tissue Pressure in Injured Brain After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Alterations in blood-brain barrier, impaired cerebral circulation, toxic effects of extravasated blood, edema, and sudden increase in intracranial pressure are important early factors causing cerebral dysfunction after subarachnoid hemorrhage. This study examines the effects of experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage on intracranial CSF and tissue pressure, cerebral blood flow, and brain water content in order to determine how cerebrovascular homeostasis is influenced by cortical tissue pressure.
Transport of microspheres from the lung to the draining lymph nodes by inflammatory monocytes. (APP3P.106)

Inflammatory monocytes (Ly6C hi CCR2 hi ) play a critical role in steering the course of responses against microbial infections of the lung. Lung monocytes can take up live fungi or bacteria and transport them to draining mediastinal lymph nodes (mLN). How microbes are taken up and trafficked by monocytes from the pulmonary site of infection is poorly understood. To study monocyte-mediated microbial trafficking, we developed a system to trace monocytes that carry particles from the lung to mLNs. Herein, we used mice expressing GFP or the diphtheria toxin receptor under the control of the CCR2 promoter to determine the impact of intratracheally instilled toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists on trafficking of with fluorescent, polystyrene microspheres from the lung to mLNs. This system recapitulates monocyte recruitment and trafficking seen during in vivo infections. Monocytes infiltrated the interstitial space in response to TLR2 agonists. And while neutrophils were the primary cell population associated with instilled microspheres in the lung, they did not deliver them independently to mLNs. Conversely, adoptively transferred monocytes successfully delivered microspheres to mLNs of CCR2 + -cell-depleted mice. Our current system and findings empower us to further dissect the process of monocyte uptake of inhaled particles and antigen delivery to lymphocytes of mLNs, which may in turn inform novel vaccine strategies in an age of increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Urinary tract infections in pediatric oncology patients with fever and neutropenia

The relevancy of the urinary tract as a source of infection during febrile neutropenia is not known. The authors sought to determine the frequency of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in pediatric cancer patients with febrile neutropenia. Urine was collected from a mid-stream void before the administration of antibiotics. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. The frequency of UTI and usefulness of urinalysis and localizing signs in predicting UTI in pediatric cancer patients with fever and neutropenia were determined. Forty-five patients had 58 febrile neutropenic episodes eligible for study participation. No patient presented with localizing signs. The urinalysis was negative in 53 episodes and positive in 5 episodes. Four patients had 5 UTIs. The frequency of UTI was 8.6% (5 of 58 febrile neutropenia episodes). Four patients had bacteremia, none of whom had a UTI. The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of urinalysis was 40%, 94%, and 94%, respectively, and for localizing signs was undefined, 100%, and 91%, respectively. UTI is as common as bacteremia in the current pediatric cancer patients with fever and neutropenia. Urinalysis and urine culture should be obtained routinely as part of the diagnostic evaluation of patients with fever and neutropenia.
CATERPILLARS KNOW WHAT’S SHAKING

![][1] The world of insects is full of vibrations, from wind-driven fluttering to deliberate drumming. Almost everything vibrates on the insect’s scale. In recent years, researchers have studied the wide range of ways that insects use vibrations. Many communicate by leaf-borne
Analysis of plague surveillance in Jiayuguan City,Gansu Province from 2009 to 2013

Objective To analyze surveillance results of plague in Jiayuguan City of Gansu Province from 2009 to 2013,and to provide scientific basis for formulating prevention measures of plague. Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was taken to statistically analyze surveillance data of plague from 2009 to 2013. Results From 2009 to 2013, totally 898 animals were captured, with the density of marmots of 0.05/hm2, rate of infection with fleas of 47.88%, and flea index of1.38. Two hundred and three samples of marmots were collected and 4 strains of Yersinia pestis isolated. While 2 413 insects were gathered and 1 strain of Yersinia pestis was isolated. 189 sera of marmot were detected, and 8 samples was of the positive F1 antibody, with the titer from 1∶400 to 1∶12 800. Conclusions It is severe for plague prevention in Jiayuguan City.Propaganda and surveillance should be reinforced. And more attention should be paid to the epidemic development in animals so as to prevent human plague from occurrence.
A survey of implicit particle filters for data assimilation

The implicit particle filter is a sequential Monte Carlo method for data assimilation. The idea is to focus the particles onto the high probability regions of the target probability density function (pdf) so that the number of particles required for a good approximation of this pdf remains manageable, even if the dimension of the state space is large. We explain how this idea is implemented, discuss special cases of practical importance, and work out the relations of the implicit particle filter with other data assimilation methods. We illustrate the theory with six examples.
Multipotency and cardiomyogenic potential of human adipose-derived stem cells from epicardium, pericardium, and omentum

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) leads to an irreversible loss of proper cardiac function. Application of stem cell therapy is an attractive option for MI treatment. Adipose tissue has proven to serve as a rich source of stem cells (ADSCs). Taking into account the different morphogenesis, anatomy, and physiology of adipose tissue, we hypothesized that ADSCs from different adipose tissue depots may exert a diverse multipotency and cardiogenic potential. The omental, pericardial, and epicardial adipose tissue samples were obtained from organ donors and patients undergoing heart transplantation at our institution. Human foreskin fibroblasts were used as the control group. Isolated ADSCs were analyzed for adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation capacity and proliferation potential. The immunophenotype and constitutive gene expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), GATA4, Nanog, and OCT4 were analyzed. DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine was exposed to the cells to stimulate the cardiogenesis. Finally, reprogramming towards cardiomyocytes was initiated with exogenous overexpression of seven transcription factors (ESRRG, GATA4, MEF2C, MESP1, MYOCD, TBX5, ZFPM2) previously applied successfully for fibroblast transdifferentiation toward cardiomyocytes. Expression of cardiac troponin T (cTNT) and alpha-actinin (Actn2) was analyzed 3 weeks after initiation of the cardiac differentiation. The multipotent properties of isolated plastic adherent cells were confirmed with expression of CD29, CD44, CD90, and CD105, as well as successful differentiation toward adipocytes and osteocytes; with the highest osteogenic and adipogenic potential for the epicardial and omental ADSCs, respectively. Epicardial ADSCs demonstrated a lower doubling time as compared with the pericardium and omentum-derived cells. Furthermore, epicardial ADSCs revealed higher constitutive expression of ALP and GATA4. Increased Actn2 and cTNT expression was observed after the transduction of seven reprogramming factors, with the highest expression in the epicardial ADSCs, as compared with the other ADSC subtypes and fibroblasts. Human epicardial ADSCs revealed a higher cardiomyogenic potential as compared with the pericardial and omental ADSC subtypes as well as the fibroblast counterparts. Epicardial ADSCs may thus serve as the valuable subject for further studies on more effective methods of adult stem cell differentiation toward cardiomyocytes.
Development: Paleobotany at the High Table of Evo–Devo

Summary A Carboniferous root apex reiterates the importance of the fossil record and classic developmental plant anatomy for modern evo–devo perspectives on plant diversity and evolution.
Food Packaging Machinery

Packaging is an essential activity in the food system. Consequently, virtually every food product is packaged one or more times before it reaches the ultimate consumer. In most food production and distribution systems, packages are used to move products from farms to processing plants, between processing plants, and from processing plants to retail outlets and on to consumers. There are many rigid and flexible package forms including boxes, pouches, bags, cups, trays, cans, tubes, and bottles. A food package can hold processed food products, fresh food products, or other food packages. Packages perform one or more of four basic functions: containment, protection, communication, and utility.
Private-Sector Nudging: The Good, the Bad, and the Uncertain

Government has a valuable role as the “nudger of last resort,” especially when nudges can’t or shouldn’t be limited to self-aware or paying customers or when nudges replace more expensive and/or distortionary subsidies and taxes. This role is not without responsibilities, however, namely, to maintain a fiduciary duty to the consumer’s long-term preferences rather than impart value judgments of what consumers’ long-term preferences should be and to give the market a chance to nudge in a helpful manner before taking over to “fix” the situation.
False Discovery Rate Control

The multiple-testing problem arises when attempting to control a combined measure of error while performing many statistical hypothesis tests simultaneously. Traditional approaches to error control in multiple testing have focused on maximizing power while demanding stringent guarantees – such as there being no false discoveries with high probability. The false discovery rate (FDR) is an alternative error criterion representing the expected proportion of false discoveries among all rejected null hypotheses. Procedures that control this rate can get a principled bound on errors while increasing detection power over traditional multiple-testing methods. Active research on procedures to control the FDR and related criteria has led to a wide variety of methods with good theoretical and empirical properties.
Persistent Ergodicity and Stably Ergodic SRB Attractors in Equivariant Dynamics

We describe some recent analytic results on the co-existence of symmetry and chaotic dynamics in equivariant dynamics. We emphasize the case of skew-products and stably SRB attractors
Advance Directives and End-of-Life Care among Nursing Home Residents Receiving Maintenance Dialysis

Background and objectives Little is known about the relation between the content of advance directives and downstream treatment decisions among patients receiving maintenance dialysis. In this study, we determined the prevalence of advance directives specifying treatment limitations and/or surrogate decision-makers in the last year of life and their association with end-of-life care among nursing home residents. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Using national data from 2006 to 2007, we compared the content of advance directives among 30,716 nursing home residents receiving dialysis to 30,825 nursing home residents with other serious illnesses during the year before death. Among patients receiving dialysis, we linked the content of advance directives to Medicare claims to ascertain site of death and treatment intensity in the last month of life. Results In the last year of life, 36% of nursing home residents receiving dialysis had a treatment-limiting directive, 22% had a surrogate decision-maker, and 13% had both in adjusted analyses. These estimates were 13%–27%, 5%–11%, and 6%–13% lower, respectively, than for decedents with other serious illnesses. For patients receiving dialysis who had both a treatment-limiting directive and surrogate decision-maker, the adjusted frequency of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, intensive procedures, and inpatient death were lower by 13%, 17%, 13%, and 14%, respectively, and hospice use and dialysis discontinuation were 5% and 7% higher compared with patients receiving dialysis lacking both components. Conclusions Among nursing home residents receiving dialysis, treatment-limiting directives and surrogates were associated with fewer intensive interventions and inpatient deaths, but were in place much less often than for nursing home residents with other serious illnesses.
Not Enough Data?: Joint Inferring Multiple Diffusion Networks via Network Generation Priors

Network Inference, i.e., discovering latent diffusion networks from observed cascades, has been studied extensively in recent years, leading to a series of excellent work. However, it has been observed that the accuracy of existing methods deteriorates significantly when the number of cascades are limited (compared with the large number of nodes), which is the norm in real world applications. Meanwhile, we are able to collect cascades on many different topics or over a long time period: the associated influence networks (either topic-specific or time-specific) are highly correlated while the number of cascade observations associated with each network is very limited. In this work, we propose a generative model, referred to as the MultiCascades model (MCM), to address the challenge of data scarcity by exploring the commonality between multiple related diffusion networks. MCM builds a hierarchical graphical model, where all the diffusion networks share the same network prior, e.g., the popular Stochastic Blockmodels or the latent space models. The parameters of the network priors can be effectively learned by gleaning evidence from a large number of inferred networks. In return, each individual network can be inferred more accurately thanks to the prior information. Furthermore, we develop efficient inference and learning algorithms so that MCM is scalable for practical applications. The results on both synthetic datasets and real-world datasets demonstrate that MCM infers both topic-specific and time-varying diffusion networks more accurately.
Biliary Atresia and the Ductal Plate

Biliary atresia (BA) is a unique neonatal disease, presenting with complete obstruction of the extrahepatic biliary tree within the first 3 months of life. Current therapy requires a hepatic portoenterostomy within the first months of life; however, progressive intrahepatic bile duct injury, sclerosis, and obstruction lead to cirrhosis and the need for liver transplantation in the majority of patients. Medical treatments are inadequate largely because the pathogenesis of BA is poorly understood. Two major forms of BA have been described. The embryonic form is associated with other congenital malformations and presumably represents failure of normal bile duct formation. Mutations or epigenetic modifications in genes involving laterality and bile duct morphogenesis or ductal plate regression are proposed to be involved. The perinatal form is not associated with other malformations and is proposed to be caused by an immune or an autoimmune response to a perinatal insult (e.g., cholangiotropic viral infection). There is conflicting evidence for the role of several viruses, although the mouse rhesus rotavirus model of BA makes human rotavirus and reovirus intriguing candidates. Future investigations in coming years are anticipated to unlock the mysteries surrounding the etiology of BA with the promise of new therapeutic strategies and potential prevention.
Thyroid dysfunction in children with autism spectrum disorder is associated with folate receptor α autoimmune disorder

Folate receptor α (FRα) autoantibodies (FRAAs) are prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). FRAAs disrupt folate transport across the blood-brain barrier by binding to the FRα. Thyroid dysfunction is frequently found in children with ASD. We measured blocking and binding FRAAs and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (T4) (FT4), total triiodothyronine (T3) (TT3), reverse T3 (rT3), thyroid-releasing hormone (TRH) and other metabolites in 87 children with ASD, 84 of whom also underwent behaviour and cognition testing and in 42 of whom FRAAs, TSH and FT4 were measured at two time points. To better understand the significance of the FRα in relation to thyroid development, we examined FRα expression on prenatal and postnatal thyroid. TSH, TT3 and rT3 were above the normal range in 7%, 33% and 51% of the participants and TRH was below the normal range in 13% of the participants. FT4 was rarely outside the normal range. TSH concentration was positively and the FT4/TSH, TT3/TSH and rT3/TSH ratios were inversely related to blocking FRAA titres. On repeated measurements, changes in TSH and FT4/TSH ratio were found to correspond to changes in blocking FRAA titres. TSH and the FT4/TSH, TT3/TSH and rT3/TSH ratios were related to irritability on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist and several scales of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), whereas TT3 was associated with SRS subscales and TRH was related to Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale subscales. The thyroid showed significant FRα expression during the early prenatal period, although expression decreased significantly in later gestation and postnatal thyroid tissue. The results of the present study suggest that thyroid dysfunction in ASD may be related to blocking FRAA. The high expression of FRα in the early foetal thyroid suggests that foetal and neonatal exposure to maternal FRAAs could affect the development of the thyroid and may contribute to the pathology in ASD.
Human and Swine Dental Pulp Stem Cells Form a Vascularlike Network after Angiogenic Differentiation in Comparison with Endothelial Cells: A Quantitative Analysis.

Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to quantify vascular network formation capacity after angiogenic induction of human and swine dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in comparison with endothelial cells. Methods Primary human DPSCs or swine DPSCs were induced in endothelial growth medium for 7 days. The expression of the endothelial marker von Willebrand factor was determined by immunostaining. Induced DPSCs (iDPSCs) and noninduced DPSCs (niDPSCs) were seeded at different cell numbers onto Matrigel (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA) for vascular network formation assays and analyzed after 4, 8, 12, and 18 hours in comparison with human microvascular endothelial cells (hMECs). Quantitative analysis of vascular tubule formation was performed using ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD). The vascular network formation was also conducted by coculturing of niDPSCs and iDPSCs. Results Von Willebrand factor was detected by immunofluorescence in both niDPSCs and iDPSCs (human and swine). Time-lapse microscopic observation showed that the vascular network was formed by iDPSCs but not niDPSCs. After 4 hours, iDPSCs showed vascular network formation, whereas niDPSCs started to aggregate and formed clusters. Human iDPSCs displayed a similar capacity to form vascular networks in Matrigel compared with hMECs based on quantitative analysis. Swine iDPSCs had a higher capacity compared with human iDPSCs or hMECs ( P Conclusions Our findings indicate that iDPSCs in combination with their noninduced counterparts may be used as a future clinical strategy for enhancing angiogenesis during the process of pulp-dentin regeneration.
Supplementation of glycerol or fructose via drinking water to grazing lambs on tissue glycogen level and lipogenesis.

Lambs ( = 18; 40.1 ± 7.4 kg BW) were used to assess supplementation of glycerol or fructose via drinking water on growth, tissue glycogen levels, postmortem glycolysis, and lipogenesis. Lambs were blocked by BW and allocated to alfalfa paddocks (2 lambs/paddock and 3 paddocks/treatment). Each paddock within a block was assigned randomly to drinking water treatments for 30 d: 1) control (CON), 2) 120 g fructose/L of drinking water (FRU), or 3) 120 g glycerol/L of drinking water (GLY). Lambs grazed alfalfa with free access to water treatments for 28 d and then were fasted in indoor pens for a final 2 d with access to only water treatments. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with water treatment and time (when appropriate) in the model. During the 28-d grazing period, ADG was greater ( 0.05). Liver glycogen content was over 14-fold greater ( < 0.05) for GLY compared with FRU or CON. Liver free glucose was greater ( < 0.05) for GLY than for CON, whereas liver lipid content was higher ( < 0.05) for CON than for GLY. Supplementation with GLY increased ( < 0.05) odd-chain fatty acids in LM, subcutaneous fat (SQ), and the liver. Stearic acid (C18:0) concentrations were reduced in LM ( = 0.064) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SQ; = 0.018), whereas oleic acid (C18:1 -9) concentration tended to be increased ( = 0.066) in SQ with FRU and GLY. Linolenic acid (C18:3 -3) was reduced ( = 0.031) and all long-chain -3 fatty acid (eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid) concentrations were increased ( < 0.05) with FRU and GLY compared with CON. Glycerol supplementation upregulated ( < 0.05) stearoyl-CoA desaturate () and fatty acid synthase () mRNA by over 40-fold in the SQ and 5-fold in the liver. Glycerol supplementation also upregulated ( < 0.05) glucose transporters and glycogen branching enzyme in the liver. Overall, glycerol supplementation improved growth, reduced BW shrink during fasting, increased glycogen content in muscle and the liver, and stimulated de novo lipogenesis.
ORAI Calcium Channels

In this review article, we discuss the different gene products and translational variants of ORAI proteins and their contribution to the makeup of different native calcium-conducting channels with distinct compositions and modes of activation. We also review the different modes of regulation of these distinct calcium channels and their impact on downstream cellular signaling controlling important physiological functions.
Evaluation of three intravenous injectable anaesthesia protocols in healthy adult male alpacas.

Few studies have investigated the effects of intravenous injectable anaesthesia in alpacas. The objective of this study was to evaluate three intravenous injectable anaesthesia protocols in healthy adult alpacas exposed to noxious stimulation. A prospective randomised crossover study was done using six healthy adult male alpacas. Cardiopulmonary variables including heart rate, respiratory rate, mean arterial pressure, end-tidal pCO2 and haemoglobin oxygen saturation were collected immediately after and every two minutes following induction of each of three anaesthesia protocols in six male castrated alpacas. A hoof tester was used to apply consistent pressure every two minutes after induction and the response was recorded. Time from induction to muscle contraction and leg withdrawal were recorded, as well as time from induction to extubation, sternal recumbency and standing. There was no significant difference in duration of anaesthesia or cardiopulmonary variables among the three anaesthesia protocols. Total duration of anaesthesia was approximately 20 minutes for each protocol. Hypoxaemia and mild hypercarbia were common among all protocols. Induction and recovery scores were excellent.
Cultivating the STEM pipeline by translating glucose sensor research into a hands-on outreach activity

Abstract This report describes a hands-on outreach activity for middle school students on the topic of glucose sensing. The activity was formulated from a research project to develop a carbon nanofiber (CNF) sensor for glucose detection. The objective of the activity was to translate glucose sensor research to middle school outreach in order to increase the students’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through engaging and scientifically relevant activities. Over a two year period, eight groups totaling 150 students conducted a hands-on investigation using commercially available glucose sensors and glucose testing strips with lab-prepared glucose solutions. As the activity evolved, later groups had content that addressed adopted science standards and developments in the area of glucose sensing, including using carbon nanofiber electrodes. The results suggested that, overall, the activity increased the participants’ interest in STEM and knowledge of the activity topics which included sensors, diabetes management and differentiation of a solute.
Preferences for multigene panel testing for hereditary breast cancer risk among ethnically diverse BRCA-uninformative families

Until recently, genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer has primarily focused on pathogenic variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA) genes. However, advances in DNA sequencing technologies have made simultaneous testing for multiple genes possible. We examined correlates of interest in multigene panel testing and risk communication preferences in an ethnically diverse sample of women who tested negative for BRCA mutations previously but remain at high risk based on their family history (referred to as “BRCA-uninformative”) and their at-risk female family members. Two-hundred and thirteen women with a previous breast cancer diagnosis and a BRCA-uninformative test result and their first-degree relatives completed a survey on interest in multigene panel testing, communication preferences, and sociodemographic, psychological, and clinical factors. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with testing interest. Chi-square analyses were used to test differences in risk communication preferences. Interest in multigene panel testing was high (84%) and did not considerably differ by cancer status or ethnicity. In multivariable analysis, factors significantly associated with interest in genetic testing were having had a mammogram in the past 2 years (odds ratio (OR) = 4.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.80–9.02) and high cancer worry (OR = 3.77, 95% CI 1.34–10.60). Overall, the most commonly preferred genetic communication modes were genetic counselors, oncologists, and print materials. However, non-Hispanic women were more likely than Hispanic women to prefer web-based risk communication (p < 0.001). Hispanic and non-Hispanic women from BRCA-uninformative families have a high level of interest in gene panel testing. Cancer-related emotions and communication preferences should be considered in developing targeted genetic risk communication strategies.
The Epidemiology of Coping in African American Adults in the Jackson Heart Study (JHS)

Differences in coping within the African American population are not well understood, yet these differences may be critical to reducing stress, improving health, and reducing racial health disparities. Using a descriptive, exploratory analysis of the Jackson Heart Study (N = 5301), we examine correlations between coping responses and associations between coping and demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and neighborhood factors. Overall, coping responses were not strongly correlated and patterns of associations between covariates and coping responses were largely inconsistent. The results suggest that coping varies substantially within this African American population and is driven mainly by psychosocial factors such as spirituality and interpersonal support. Understanding these complex relationships may inform strategies by which to intervene in the stress process to mitigate the effects of stress on health and to identify vulnerable subgroups of African Americans that might need targeted interventions to reduce exposure to stressors and improve coping capacities.
Cell Stiffness Governs Its Adhesion Dynamics on Substrate Under Shear Flow

We develop an efficient numerical method to study adhesion dynamics of a single cell on a substrate under shear flow. This method is based on the coupling of Lattice Boltzmann fluid and coarse-grained cell models through immersed boundary method, and a probabilistic model is adopted to capture dynamics of ligand-receptor binding for adhesion. With such a model at hand, a phase diagram of the adhesion dynamics in terms of adhesion strength $\text{Ad}$ and stiffness of cell $\text{Ca}$ is established. Four types of motion, including free motion, stable rolling, stop-and-go, and firm adhesion, are found through our numerical simulations, depending on the adhesion strength $\text{Ad}$ and stiffness of cell $\text{Ca}$ . In addition, demargination behavior of the cell occurs when reducing the adhesion strength $\text{Ad}$ in the regime of soft cells (high $\text{Ca}$ ). Such a demargination behavior is induced by the deformability of cell, resulting in a wall-induced lift force in the shear flow. Lastly, a scaling relation of a number of ligand-receptor bonds is obtained under the synergistic effect of $\text{Ad}$ and $\text{Ca}$ . The present effort provides a robust and efficient way to understand the adhesion dynamics of cells on substrate in shear flow. The obtained results are useful in understanding the biological adhesion process and developing adhesion-based microfluidic technologies.
The Impact of Funding on Part C Systems: Is the Tail Wagging the Dog?:

The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of Part C programs and how funding has impacted the quality of services for children and families given ongoing budgetary concerns. Perc...
Socioeconomic factors associated with diet quality and meeting dietary guidelines in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the Southeast United States.

Objective: To examine diet quality and dietary intake among residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods in the Southeast United States (U.S.) and to examine associations between dietary and socioecono...