cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flow-induced vasodilation of the human brachial artery is impaired in patients <40 years of age with coronary artery disease

The objective of this study was to determine whether abnormal flow-induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the brachial artery identifies young patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). High-resolution ultrasonography was used to measure vascular reactivity in a peripheral conduit vessel, the brachial artery, in 14 young men with CAD and in 11 age-matched, healthy, male volunteers. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was determined by measuring the change in brachial artery diameter during increases in flow induced by reactive hyperemia. Endothelium-independent vasodilation was assessed by administration of sublingual nitroglycerin. To ascertain whether flow-mediated vasodilation in humans is mediated by endothelium-derived nitric oxide, brachial artery diameter was measured during reactive hyperemia, before and during administration of the nitric oxide synthase antagonist NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). Brachial artery diameter was also measured during intraarterial infusion of acetylcholine and nitroprusside before and after administration of L-NMMA. Flow-induced vasodilation was less in patients with CAD than in healthy volunteers (1.3 +/- 1.1% vs 6.2 +/- 0.7%, p <0.05). Nitroglycerin increased brachial artery diameter similarly in each subject group (11.3 +/- 1.0% vs 15.8 +/- 1.2%, p =0.05). L-NMMA inhibited flow-mediated vasodilation and the vasodilative response to acetylcholine, but did not affect the response to nitroprusside. It is concluded that abnormal flow-induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation occurs in the brachial artery of young patients with CAD.
Inhibition of cellular cholesterol efflux by 25-hydroxycholesterol.

The effect of oxysterols on efflux of cholesterol from mouse L-cell fibroblasts, rat Fu5AH hepatoma cells, J774 macrophages, and human EA.hy 926 endothelial cells was studied. Cells were preincubated with 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OHC) either during labeling of the cells with [3H]cholesterol or during equilibration after labeling. Subsequently, the release of [3H]cholesterol into medium containing 0.2 mg HDL3/ml was measured and the fractional release of cellular [3H]cholesterol was calculated. Pretreatment with 25-OHC (1 microgram/ml) caused a 30% reduction in [3H]cholesterol efflux from L-cells during 8 h of incubation with HDL3. 25-OHC also inhibited cholesterol efflux from Fu5AH and J774 cells, but the effect was less marked. There was only a small, nonsignificant reduction of efflux from EA.hy 926 cells. The mechanisms of 25-OHC-induced inhibition of cellular cholesterol efflux was further studied in L-cells, because of their sensitivity to 25-OHC treatment. The effect of 25-OHC on cholesterol efflux was dose-dependent, with significant effects seen at 25-OHC concentrations as low as 50 ng/ml. The half-time for cholesterol efflux from 25-OHC-treated cells (5 micrograms/ml) was 13.0 +/- 3.3 h compared to 5.7 +/- 1.0 in control cells, corresponding to a 55% reduction in the rate of cholesterol release. Other oxysterols, including 7-ketocholesterol, 7 alpha- and 7 beta-hydroxycholesterol, and 22(S)-hydroxycholesterol also inhibited [3H]cholesterol efflux from L-cells significantly, but to a lesser degree. 25-Hydroxycholesterol (5 micrograms/ml) reduced efflux from both normal and cholesterol-enriched cells by 31 and 14%, respectively. Inhibition of efflux was similar when reconstituted HDL3-apolipoprotein/phosphatidylcholine particles or small unilamellar phosphatidylcholine vesicles were used as cholesterol acceptors instead of HDL3. The content of phospholipids, cholesterol and the FC/PL ratio of intact cells and from isolated plasma membrane vesicles were the same for control and 25-OHC-treated cells. Efflux of [3H]cholesterol from plasma membranes isolated from 25-OHC-treated cells was 20% less than efflux from membranes from control cells. The difference in efflux observed in intact cells is partially explained by the reduction in efflux from the plasma membrane. In conclusion, our studies suggest that oxysterols, especially 25-hydroxycholesterol, can reduce cellular cholesterol efflux in vitro. Therefore oxysterols, either endogenous or derived from the diet, may influence cellular cholesterol efflux in vivo, the first step in reverse cholesterol transport.
Familial and Metabolic Factors Related to Blood Pressure in Pima Indian Children

High blood pressure, abnormal glucose tolerance, and obesity are frequently associated with each other, but the mechanism of these associations is poorly understood. Studying them in children may help in understanding the pathogenesis of hypertension. Blood pressure, height, weight, and plasma glucose and serum insulin concentrations during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test were measured in 1,698 Pima Indian children aged 6-17 years who participated in an ongoing epidemiologic study. Weight relative to height was used as an index of obesity. The parents of many of the children were also examined. Fasting and 2-hour glucose and insulin concentrations, adjusted for age, sex, and relative weight, were positively related to systolic blood pressure but not to diastolic blood pressure. Relative weight, 2-hour glucose, and fasting insulin concentrations were independently and significantly associated with systolic blood pressure in a stepwise regression analysis that included age and sex. After parental hypertension was taken into account, maternal but not paternal non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, controlled for the child's relative weight and glucose and insulin concentrations, was significantly associated with higher blood pressure in children. The stronger association with maternal diabetes suggests a greater sharing of environmental factors between mother and child than between father and child, but familial similarities in obesity and glucose and insulin concentrations, the diabetic intrauterine milieu, and shared environmental factors probably all contribute to this association.
The MC1R and ASIP Coat Color Loci May Impact Behavior in the Horse

Shared signaling pathways utilized by melanocytes and neurons result in pleiotropic traits of coat color and behavior in many mammalian species. For example, in humans polymorphisms at MC1R cause red hair, increased heat sensitivity, and lower pain tolerance. In deer mice, rats, and foxes, ASIP polymorphisms causing black coat color lead to more docile demeanors and reduced activity. Horse (Equus caballus) base coat color is primarily determined by polymorphisms at the Melanocortin-1 Receptor (MC1R) and Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) loci, creating a black, bay, or chestnut coat. Our goal was to investigate correlations between genetic loci for coat color and temperament traits in the horse. We genotyped a total of 215 North American Tennessee Walking Horses for the 2 most common alleles at the MC1R (E/e) and ASIP (A/a) loci using previously published PCR and RFLP methods. The horses had a mean age of 10.5 years and comprised 83 geldings, 25 stallions, and 107 mares. To assess behavior, we adapted a previously published survey for handlers to score horses from 1 to 9 on 20 questions related to specific aspects of temperament. We utilized principle component analysis to combine the individual survey scores into 4 factors of variation in temperament phenotype. A factor component detailing self-reliance correlated with genotypes at the ASIP locus; black mares (aa) were more independent than bay mares (A_) (P = 0.0063). These findings illuminate a promising and novel animal model for future study of neuroendocrine mechanisms in complex behavioral phenotypes.
The Ordered Bicontinuous Double Diamond Structure in Binary Blends of Diblock Copolymer and Homopolymer.

We report the observation of the ordered bicontinuous double diamond (OBDD) structure in binary blends of poly(styrene-isoprene) diblock copolymer and homopolystyrene. The overall polystyrene volume fraction range is 64 - 67 PSvol% for the OBDD structure in binary blends of a lamellar diblock (SI 27/22) and a homopolymer (14.0 hPS). This composition range is approximately within the polystyrene volume fraction range established for pure diblock copolymers in the strong segregation regime having the OBDD structure. Ordered lamellae are observed at approximately 65 PSvol% when the homopolystyrene molecular weight is greater than the molecular weight of the polystyrene block of the copolymer. This observation is discussed in terms of the decreased degree of mixing between the homopolymer and the corresponding block and the resultant effect on the interfacial curvature.
Dynamics of CO2 Adsorption on Amine Adsorbents. 1. Impact of Heat Effects

The packed bed heat and mass transfer dynamics of CO2 adsorption onto a 3-aminopropylsilyl-functionalized SBA-15 silica material are reported. Concentration measurements at the outlet of the packed bed and temperature profiles inside the bed are measured simultaneously. Heat and mass transfer models in conjunction with the linear driving force rate model are used to simulate the concentration and temperature profiles in the bed. The heat and mass transfer processes in the amine adsorbent packed bed are successfully captured by the model, and comparison of isothermal and nonisothermal models reveals that isothermal models provide an accurate description of the dynamic mass transport behavior in the adsorption column under the experimental conditions used in this study. The results help establish that under certain experimental conditions, heat effects in amine adsorbent packed beds have a negligible effect on CO2 breakthrough, and simple isothermal models can be used to accurately assess adsorption kinetics.
Structural and Electronic Near Degeneracy of M3O9– (M = Cr, Mo, W)

Density functional and coupled cluster theories are used to study several near-degenerate structures/states of M3O9– (M = Cr, Mo, W). For M = Mo and W, triple-ζ basis sets are used in our CCSD(T) s...
Comparative evaluation of particulate and bacterial opsonization by plasma of normal and neoplastic individuals.

SummaryPlasma obtained from six healthy individuals was capable of promoting the phagocytosis of Staphylococcus albus and gelatinized radiolabeled lipid emulsion by human blood leukocytes. Experimental plasma derived from six patients with carcinoma manifested normal ability to opsonize S. albus when compared to the control plasma. In contrast, plasma from these patients was unable to support the phagocytosis of a gelatinized RE test lipid emulsion by either rat liver slices or human leukocytes. In comparison with normal plasma, the experimental plasma manifested an 80 and 64% reduction in lipid emulsion phagocytosis by rat liver slices and human leukocytes, respectively. These results suggest that the loss of opsonizing ability previously observed in patients with carcinoma is not a general phenomena but may be restricted to gelatin–stabilized colloids.
Analysis of etiological surveillance of hand,foot and mouth disease during 2010-2011 in Qujing

Objective:To analyze the etiological characteristics of hand,foot and mouth disease(HFMD) in Qujing from 2010 to 2011,and provide basis for further control and prevention.Methods:Feces,throat-swab specimens and fluid from blisters were collected from patients with HFMD in different medical institutions,and the enterovirus nuclear acid detection and typing identification were done by real-time RT-PCR.Results:235 specimens were tested positive for enterovirus from 284 specimens,the total positive rate was 82.75% from May 2010 to Dec.2011.In all cases,116 samples(49.36%) were EV71 type and 119 samples(50.64%) were CoxA16.Mostcases(92.96%) were children under 5 years old.Enterovirus positive rate(90.67%) in feces was higher than that in fluid from blisters which was 88.89%.Conclusion:The major causative pathogens for HFMD in Qujing were CoxA16 in 2010 and EV71 in 2011.Children under 5 years old were high risk population.EV71 was the pre-dominant type which led to serious conditions.
Rhythmic movement control of flapping-wing flying based on CPG

The flapping-wing flying of living things is essentially a kind of rhythmic movement possessing the symmetry of time and space and is produced and controlled by central patterned generator.According to the principle of flapping-wing flying of insect this paper designed a flapping-wing mechanism with 2 degree of freedoms.On the basis of constructing the flapping-wing fly CPG model based on nonlinear oscillator,the response of system was studied,and the influence on the systematic properties affected by the variation of each parameter in the model was analyzed.Through the engineering simulation on the controlling model of flapping-wing flying,the first ordered modality vibration of the system was selected,and let the flapping-wing aircraft to realize different flying pattern by adjusting every parameter.This kind of bionic controlling strategy enhanced the kinematic ability and controlling level of flappingwing flying and explored new train of thought on the generation and control of flapping-wing rhythmic movement.
Physiological models I: Fitting density functions and diffusion tensors to three-dimensional drug transport within brain tissue

A common method for researching how the brain works consists in injecting a drug into a part of an animal's brain, and then observing how the subject's behaviour changes. Besides information about how the brain works, such experiments may provide means for understanding, treating, and perhaps curing certain brain disorders. Yet, correlating the drug, the brain, and the behavioural changes requires a quantitative procedure for assessing accurately the location, extent, and orientation of the region of the brain affected by the drug. Such a quantitative estimate must usually rely upon additional assumptions, because the data available from the experiment often fail to cover the entire region of interest. In the present context, the additional assumptions may specify the nature of the transport processes undergone by the drug, for example diffusion and absorption. The solution of the diffusion-absorption equation thus gives a theoretical model for the spatial distribution of the drug in the brain tissue, in effect, a combination of multivariate Gaussian density functions. Then a non-linear least-squares regression may fit a diffusion tensor (the covariance matrix) to the data, whose eigenvalues and eigenvectors yield the required quantitative estimates of extent and orientation. Finally, the residuals of the regression provide confidence regions for the fitted parameters and give a global evaluation of the quality of the model. This work was entirely supported by a grant from the Northwest Institute for Advanced Study, an organ of Eastern Washington University.
Clinical features of dysplastic nevi.

The clinical features of 100 dysplastic nevi were tabulated. Although certain characteristics were present in most or all of these melanocytic nevi, there was a marked heterogeneity of other clinical features. The preponderant type of large (≥, 8 mm) melanocytic nevus in patients with classic dysplastic nevi is a papule or plaque with the following characteristics: multicoloration (various shades of tans, browns, reds, or black); slightly raised height for its broad diameter; mamillated surface; and lack of hypertrichosis. An atlas illustrates some of the clinical varieties of melanocytic nevi in this syndrome.
Scanning Electron and Light Microscopy of the Equine Seminiferous Tubule

Changes within the equine seminiferous tubules during the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium were studied with light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Once observed with SEM, tubules were sectioned and staged using light microscopy. As viewed by SEM, the weblike, spongy cytoplasm of germ cells or Sertoli cells in stages I and II extended over the entire height of the germinal epithelium. The cytoplasm of the basal portion of the germinal epithelium in stages III to VIII was similar to that in stages I and II. However, the cytoplasm which occupied the luminal third of the epithelium in stages III to VII was smooth in appearance. The smooth-surfaced, periluminal cytoplasm diminished in stage VIII. Principal pieces of flagella from spermatids extended into the tubular lumina in all stages, whereas the middle pieces extended into the lumen only in stage VIII. Later in stage VIII, the middle pieces, which were thickened with cytoplasm, were connected to the germinal epithelium by stalks. After spermiation, the diameter of the middle pieces was similar to that of ejaculated spermatozoa. Thus, the cytoplasm within the thickened middle pieces contributed to the formation of the cytoplasmic droplets.
Leukemia and ABC transporters.

Abstract Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease caused by aberrant proliferation and/or differentiation of myeloid progenitors. However, only ~ 65% of AML patients respond to induction chemotherapy and the overall survival rate for AML remains low (~ 24% for 5-year survival). The conventional view suggests that ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters contribute to treatment failure due to their drug-effluxing capabilities. This might be overly simplistic. Some ABC transporters export endogenous substrates that have defined roles in normal hematopoietic progenitors. It is conceivable that these substances also provide an advantage to leukemic progenitors. This review will highlight how certain endogenous substrates impact normal hematopoietic cells and suggest that ABC transporters facilitate export of these substances to affect both normal hematopoietic and leukemic progenitors. For example, the ability to export certain endogenous ligands may facilitate leukemogenesis by modifying leukemic progenitor cell proliferation or survival. If so, the addition of ABC transporter inhibitors to traditional chemotherapy might improve therapeutic efficacy by not just increasing intracellular drug accumulation but also blocking the beneficial effects ABC transporter ligands have on cell survival.
Crystal structure of anhydrous tripotassium citrate from laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data and DFT comparison

The crystal structure of anhydrous tripotassium citrate, [K3(C6H5O7)]n, has been solved and refined using laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. The three unique potassium cations are 6-, 8-, and 6-coordinate (all irregular). The [KOn] coordination polyhedra share edges and corners to form a three-dimensional framework, with channels running parallel to the c axis. The only hydrogen bond is an intra­molecular one involving the hy­droxy group and the central carboxyl­ate group, with graph-set motif S(5).
Estimate of disease heritability using 4.7 million familial relationships inferred from electronic health records

Heritability is a fundamental characteristic of human disease essential to the development of a biological understanding of the causes of disease. Traditionally, heritability studies are a laborious process of patient recruitment and phenotype ascertainment. Electronic health records (EHR) passively capture a wide range and depth of clinically relevant data and represent a novel resource for studying heritability of many traits and conditions that are not typically accessible. In addition to a wealth of disease phenotypes, nearly every hospital collects and stores next-of-kin information on the emergency contact forms when a patient is admitted. Until now, these data have gone completely unused for research purposes. We introduce a novel algorithm to infer familial relationships using emergency contact information while maintaining privacy. Here we show that EHR data yield accurate estimates of heritability across all available phenotypes using millions familial relationships mined from emergency contact data at two large academic medical centers. Estimates of heritability were consistent between sites and with previously reported estimates. Inconsistencies were indicative of limitations and opportunities unique to EHR research. Critically, these analyses provide a novel validation of the utility of electronic health records in inferences about the biological basis of disease.
In vitro effects of prostaglandins upon melanosome dispersion in the skin of black goldfish, Carassius auratus L.☆

Abstract Prostaglandins affect physiologic changes in teleosts as demonstrated by in vitro evocation of melanosome dispersion in dermal melanophores of the skin of black goldfish, Carassius auratus L. The prostaglandins (10 to 100 μg/ml) induce dose dependent increases in melanosome dispersion which are reversed by epinephrine (10 μg/ml). Prostaglandins A2 and B2 are the most effective in eliciting melanosome dispersion while prostaglandin F1α and F2α are least effective. The presence of a C-9 carbonyl group appears to be important in prostaglandin induced melanosome dispersion. The prostaglandins may evoke their response by dissociating a calcium-ATP complex in the membrane allowing ATP to serve as a substrate for adenyl cyclase.
Gene Regulation: A Genomic Perspective

Regulatory elements control the anatomic and cellular contexts, timing, and magnitude of gene expression patterns. Under the ENCODE and Roadmap Epigenomics Projects, human regulatory DNA has been mapped using a variety of approaches in over 300 cell and tissue types and developmental states. Collectively, the human genome encodes several million regulatory elements, most of which are located at some distance from promoters. The vast majority of these elements exhibit exquisite cell-and lineage-selective activation patterns, providing novel insights into the coordination of gene expression patterns. Genomic footprinting is a new and powerful technology that enables simultaneous profiling of the occupancy of hundreds of sequence-specific transcription factors within regulatory regions. These profiles in turn enable construction of transcription factor regulatory networks that are providing new insights into how cell-and lineage-specific gene expression programs arise. Hundreds of genetic variants associated with a wide range of hematological traits and disorders localize within regulatory regions. Many such variants disrupt specific transcription factor-DNA interactions, exposing pathophysiologically relevant transcriptional regulatory pathways. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
WHOSE CITY? KYIV AND ITS RIVER AFTER SOCIALISM

This article looks at changing land use along the banks of the Dnipro River (formerly Dnieper River) in Kyiv, Ukraine (formerly Kiev) as an example of rising social inequality since the collapse of...
Interacting particle systems

Most mathematical models introduced in the life and social sciences literature that describe inherently spatial phenomena of interacting populations consist of systems of ordinary differential equations or stochastic counterparts assuming global interactions such as the logistic growth process and the Moran model. These models, however, leave out any spatial structure, while past research has identified the spatial component as an important factor in how communities are shaped, and spatial models can result in predictions that differ from nonspatial models.
Effects of Elevated CO2 on the Swainsonine Chemotypes of Astragalus lentiginosus and Astragalus mollissimus

Rapid changes in the Earth’s atmosphere and climate associated with human activity can have significant impacts on agriculture including livestock production. CO2 concentration has risen from the industrial revolution to the current time, and is expected to continue to rise. Climatic changes alter physiological processes, growth, and development in numerous plant species, potentially changing concentrations of plant secondary compounds. These physiological changes may influence plant population density, growth, fitness, and toxin concentrations and thus influence the risk of toxic plants to grazing livestock. Locoweeds, swainsonine-containing Astragalus species, are one group of plants that may be influenced by climate change. We evaluated how two different swainsonine-containing Astragalus species responded to elevated CO2 concentrations. Measurements of biomass, crude protein, water soluble carbohydrates and swainsonine concentrations were measured in two chemotypes (positive and negative for swainsonine) of each species after growth at CO2 levels near present day and at projected future concentrations. Biomass and water soluble carbohydrate concentrations responded positively while crude protein concentrations responded negatively to elevated CO2 in the two species. Swainsonine concentrations were not strongly affected by elevated CO2 in the two species. In the different chemotypes, biomass responded negatively and crude protein concentrations responded positively in the swainsonine-positive plants compared to the swainsonine-negative plants. Ultimately, changes in CO2 and endophyte status will likely alter multiple physiological responses in toxic plants such as locoweed, but it is difficult to predict how these changes will impact plant herbivore interactions.
Role of pazopanib (PZ) in modulating hormone resistance in advanced breast cancer (ABC).

529 Background: Hormone resistance develops in nearly all patients (pts) with hormone receptor positive (HR+) ABC. Preclinical data suggests that higher levels of vascular endothelial growth factor...
Electromagnetic enhanced ignition

Abstract Here, we investigate how EM radiation affects the thermal decomposition pathway in HMX. The experiment used an external heat source (CO2 laser) to rapidly heat the surface of HMX and observe the response upon application of EM energy that, on its own, is not enough power to induce heating or ignition. We hypothesize that charged intermediate decomposition species and free radicals in the gas phase interact strongly with EM energy, leading to plasma formation. These gas phase species form as a result of HMX sublimation and decomposition, and will act as “virtual antennas” and strongly couple to EM energy. The rapid absorption of EM energy during this coupling event is observed in the measured reflected power data. Ignition and plasma formation were monitored using both visible and IR photodiode probes, as well as imaged using a high-speed video camera. These observations support the hypothesis that the presence of an EM field will perturb the thermal decomposition pathway of HMX, and cause ignition to occur at a lower temperature than what is predicted under typical thermal conditions. This intense interaction results in electrically excited molecules that propagate the energy and surpass the activation barrier for ignition before the predicted ignition temperature of the bulk sample has been reached. Understanding the decomposition of energetic materials under the influence of EM energy is important to understand and predict material response under a variety of environmental conditions.
Using advanced metering infrastructure to characterize residential energy use

Abstract Decades of effort have been dedicated to understanding precisely where energy is consumed in residences to help consumers, device manufacturers, utilities, and policymakers better manage this consumption. We review and classify the three most prevalent methods currently used to build this understanding. We then compare two prominent studies, and make recommendations for how existing datasets can inform estimates of device-level energy consumption in the U.S.
The Achilles Heel of Democracy: Judicial Autonomy and the Rule of Law in Central America

Featuring the first in-depth comparison of the judicial politics of five under-studied Central American countries, The Achilles Heel of Democracy offers a novel typology of 'judicial regime types' based on the political independence and societal autonomy of the judiciary. This book highlights the under-theorized influences on the justice system - criminals, activists, and other societal actors - and the ways that they intersect with more overtly political influences. Grounded in interviews with judges, lawyers, and activists, it presents the 'high politics' of constitutional conflicts in the context of national political conflicts as well as the 'low politics' of crime control and the operations of trial-level courts. The book begins in the violent and often authoritarian 1980s in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and spans through the tumultuous 2015 'Guatemalan Spring'; the evolution of Costa Rica's robust liberal judicial regime is traced from the 1950s.
After Arbaugh: Neither Claim Submission, Certification, Nor Timely Appeal are Jurisdictional Prerequisites to Contract Disputes Act Litigation

As we approach the fortieth anniversary of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 (CDA), this foundational waiver of sovereign immunity continues to be riddled with the tell-tale signs of repeated “drive-by jurisdictional rulings.” This unfortunate state of affairs shocks the conscience when considered in light of the Supreme Court’s systematic efforts to root out such travesties by directing lower courts to reassess prior jurisdictional classification of statutory requirements. To guide this effort, the Court — through a nascent series of opinions dating back to the 2006 decision in Arbaugh v. Y&H Corporation — has provided a bright-line rule that a statutory requirement is only jurisdictional if Congress has expressed a clear intent that the requirement carries jurisdictional weight. Heeding the Supreme Court’s call, in 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued its Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation v. United States decision, holding that the CDA’s statute of limitations is a nonjurisdictional claim processing requirement — despite the Circuit’s prior precedent treating the deadline as jurisdictional. Notwithstanding this step in the right direction, the Federal Circuit continues to reflexively treat the CDA’s claim submission requirements as jurisdictional prerequisites to CDA litigation. Applying the Supreme Court’s new bright-line rule to other CDA requirements that have been traditionally classified as jurisdictional, this article demonstrates that neither claim submission, certification, nor timely appeal requirements are jurisdictional prerequisites to CDA litigation. It concludes by urging contractors and their counsel to raise the arguments herein before the Federal Circuit and provides practical suggestions for doing so.
Capitalism and the Special Economic Zone, 1590–2014

This paper compares the network of free ports that developed in Italy between 1650 and 1750 with the modern special economic zone, which is such a central aspect of contemporary capitalism. It argues that despite substantial differences in commercial function, both types of zones raise comparable problems of the politics of privilege: they both entrench capitalist elites that the state has difficulty controlling.
Single-cell epigenetics – Chromatin modification atlas unveiled by mass cytometry

Modifications of histone proteins are fundamental to the regulation of epigenetic phenotypes. Dysregulations of histone modifications have been linked to the pathogenesis of diverse human diseases. However, identifying differential histone modifications in patients with immune-mediated diseases has been challenging, in part due to the lack of a powerful analytic platform to study histone modifications in the complex human immune system. We recently developed a highly multiplexed platform, Epigenetic landscape profiling using cytometry by Time-Of-Flight (EpiTOF), to analyze the global levels of a broad array of histone modifications in single cells using mass cytometry. In this review, we summarize the development of EpiTOF and discuss its potential applications in biomedical research. We anticipate that this platform will provide new insights into the roles of epigenetic regulation in hematopoiesis, immune cell functions, and immune system aging, and reveal aberrant epigenetic patterns associated with immune-mediated diseases.
Rethinking Mobile Devices' Energy Efficiency in WLAN Management Services

With the rapid popularization of large data stream mobile applications, wireless local area networks (WLANs) have been a top choice for mobile users (MUs), because of the high data rate and low monetary cost. However, the battery life of mobile devices, which is the most concerned feature of MUs, may suffer from WLAN management services, such as mobility management and load balancing services. Unfortunately, few existing WLAN systems take into account both the energy efficiency of mobile devices and the performance of management services. Even worse, to improve the performance of WLAN management services, various existing management mechanisms sacrifice mobile devices' energy. In this paper, we propose BELL, a novel WLAN system that provides two energy-efficient management services for its associated MUs by reproducing and scheduling the beacons broadcast from access points (APs). We name them BELL- handoff and BELL-2M services. We have implemented the proposed BELL-handoff using commercial Wi-Fi adapters. The experimental results reveal that BELL-handoff significantly decreases both mobile devices' energy consumption and latency during handoffs, compared with the commercial WLAN mobility management service. Furthermore, we conduct extensive simulations to evaluate APs' load and mobile devices' battery life within a large-scale deployment of BELL. Simulation results demonstrate that BELL not only balances the load among APs, but also prolongs the battery life of mobile devices.
CHARACTER ASSESSMENT: AN EXAMINATION OF LEADERSHIP LEVELS

This paper discusses character assessment from a leadership level perspective. The organization studied is developing a leadership model for the next century. One of the leadership traits identified as essential was character. Approximately one thousand managers in the company were given two character assessment instruments via a Web-based medium. Significant differences were found between early-, mid-, and mature-level managers with an increasing trend in character traits across the levels. This research is consistent with Katz and Kahn's (1976) levels of leadership research.
A Schizophrenic Woman Who Heard Voices of the Gods

Sally Cremer was 31 years old at the time of sampling. The sampling experience had been suggested to her by her psychiatrist, whom she had been seeing regularly for two and a half years. She had been diagnosed as schizophrenic four years earlier, primarily due to the fact that she frequently heard voices. The voices did occur frequently during sampling, but there were no other overt linguistic characteristics of schizophrenia (no pressure of speech, no flight of ideas, etc.) during our conversations. She was a native Dutch speaker but, as her English was fluent, the sampling conversations were carried out entirely in English.
Canada's Foreign Policy on Nuclear Technology Development and Proliferation

Canada has followed an ambiguous path with respect to its policy on nuclear weapons as a result of maintaining a Nuclear Division within its Foreign Affairs Department – which promotes disarmament and non-proliferation – while simultaneously, selling nuclear technology, such as that produced by Candu Energy Inc., that might be used for weapons production. There is a need to understand the rationale for this approach to Canada’s foreign policy on disarmament and non-proliferation and for why Canada continues to support the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This major research paper analyzes whether a contradiction between policy and action exists, and what approach best explains the presence or absence of a contradiction. The central argument is that Canada’s foreign policy framework is based in a realist position, wherein Canada’s successive leaders have recognized the inherent risk in being geographically situated next to a hegemon. No political contradiction between Canada’s economic interests and the country’s ongoing support for the NPT was observed, predominantly due to its requirements to meet its own economic obligations in a changing world, and to ensure that its foreign policies are aligned with those of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). A unique Canadian strategic vision was identified, in that, the country is able to subsume its own identity in order to support the identities of other nations as the government of Canada has seen fit. Presently, it serves Canada well to maintain its staunch position on disarmament and non-proliferation, as it can and does rely heavily on the deterrence factor of the American armament.
Collaborative Songwriting Intervention for Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Objectives: Given that veterans are significantly more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), depression, and anxiety than civilians, yet current...
Culprit or correlate? An application of the Bradford Hill criteria to Vitamin E acetate

Vitamin E acetate (VEA) has come under significant scrutiny due to its association with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). In 1965, Sir Austin Bradford Hill proposed a set of criteria used to critically assess an association for causality. In this article, we apply the Bradford Hill causation criteria to VEA and the EVALI outbreak to clarify what further areas of study are needed to strengthen the causal argument. Additionally, we highlight the need for systematized approaches to rapidly identify the cause of mass poisoning events of unknown etiology.
Role of V-V dimers on structural, electronic, magnetic, and vibrational properties of VO 2 by first-principles simulations and Raman spectroscopic analysis

We investigate the vibrational properties of $\mathrm{V}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, particularly the low-temperature M1 phase by first-principles calculations using the density functional theory as well as Raman spectroscopy. In the theoretical aspect, the phonon calculation requires structure optimization and force calculations on a large supercell to obtain an accurate result, and strong correlation effects in $\mathrm{V}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ make this task very challenging. We perform the structural optimization using SCAN meta-GGA functional and obtain the optimized crystal structures with the correct energy hierarchy as well as correct electronic properties for the rutile and ${\mathrm{M}}_{1}$ phases of $\mathrm{V}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ including both the nonmagnetic (NM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin ordering. We show both the NM-${\mathrm{M}}_{1}$ and AFM-${\mathrm{M}}_{1}$ are insulators, whereas NM-R and AFM-R are metals. However, FM-R and FM-${\mathrm{M}}_{1}$ are found be same as energetically favorable and becomes half-metal. Based on the harmonic approximation around the optimized structures obtained from the NM calculations at zero temperature, we reproduce the phonon softening in the rutile phase as well as the phonon stiffening in the ${\mathrm{M}}_{1}$ phase. Our phonon calculations reveal that both the NM-${\mathrm{M}}_{1}$ phase and AFM-${\mathrm{M}}_{1}$ are dynamically stable, whereas FM-${\mathrm{M}}_{1}$ is found to be dynamically unstable. In addition, we perform Raman experiment on $\mathrm{V}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ thin films which stimulate enormous interests in the field of thin-film engineering for transition metal oxides. We demonstrate from the comparison between theoretical calculations and Raman measurements that the subtle change of the V-V dimer due to the strain effect can be reliably detected by the Raman spectroscopy, which could be a new framework to determine the subtle change of crystal structure for transition metal oxide thin films.
An increase in multi-site practices: The shifting paradigm for gynecologic cancer care delivery.

Abstract Objective To assess whether the number of practice sites per gynecologic oncologist (GO) and geographic access to GOs has changed over time. Methods This is a retrospective repeated cross-sectional study using the 2015–2019 Physician Compare National File. All GOs in the 50 United States and Washington, DC, who had completed at least one year of practice were included in the study. All practice sites with complete addresses were included. Linear regression analyses estimated trends in GOs' number of practice sites and geographic dispersion of practice sites. Secondary analyses assessed temporal trends in the number of geographic areas served by at least one GO. Results Although there was no significant change in the number of GOs from 2015 to 2019 (n = 1328), there was a significant increase in the number of practice sites (881 to 1416, p = 0.03), zip codes (642 to 984, p = 0.03), HSAs (404 to 536, p = 0.04), and HRRs (218 to 230, p = 0.03) containing a GO practice. The mean number of practice sites (1.64 versus 2.13, p Conclusions Between 2015 and 2019, an increasing number of GOs have multi-site practices, and more geographic regions contain a GO practice. Improvements in geographic access to GOs may represent improved access to care for many women in the US, but its effect on patients, physicians, and geographic disparities is unknown.
Dispersion relations for γ ∗ γ ∗ → ππ: helicity amplitudes, subtractions, and anomalous thresholds

We present a comprehensive analysis of the dispersion relations for the doubly-virtual process γ∗γ∗ → ππ. Starting from the Bardeen-Tung-Tarrach amplitudes, we first derive the kernel functions that define the system of Roy-Steiner equations for the partial-wave helicity amplitudes. We then formulate the solution of these partial-wave dispersion relations in terms of Omnes functions, with special attention paid to the role of subtraction constants as critical for the application to hadronic light-by-light scattering. In particular, we explain for the first time why for some amplitudes the standard Muskhelishvili-Omnes solution applies, while for others a modified approach based on their left-hand cut is required unless subtractions are introduced. In the doubly-virtual case, the analytic structure of the vector-resonance partial waves then gives rise to anomalous thresholds, even for space-like virtualities. We develop a strategy to account for these effects in the numerical solution, illustrated in terms of the D-waves in γ∗γ∗ → ππ, which allows us to predict the doubly-virtual responses of the f2(1270) resonance. In general, our results form the basis for the incorporation of two-meson intermediate states into hadronic light-by-light scattering beyond the S-wave contribution.
A case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum in a patient with severe SARS-CoV-2 and a review of the literature

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is defined as having an etiology that is not related to surgery, trauma, or mechanical ventilation. Precipitating causes of spontaneous pneumomediastinum include coughing, exercise, vomiting, infection, underlying lung diseases such as asthma, and illicit drugs. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and dysphagia. A 54-year-old man presented with 2 weeks of shortness of breath, cough, and fever. He was admitted for severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and acute hypoxic respiratory failure requiring non-rebreather mask. Chest imaging on admission showed bilateral peripheral consolidations and pneumomediastinum with subcutaneous emphysema. No precipitating event was identified. He did not require initiation of positive pressure ventilation throughout his admission. On hospital day 7, chest imaging showed resolution of pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema, and he was successfully discharged on oxygen therapy. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is typically benign and self-limiting, requiring only supportive treatment.
External Beam Radiation Therapy for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

Radiation therapy is used in approximately one-third of patients newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. External beam radiotherapy alone to doses of 75.6 Gy or higher is appropriate for patients with low risk disease (T1, GS < 7, PSA ≤ 10 ng/ml). For intermediate or high risk disease, numerous randomized trials indicate that outcomes are improved by addition of androgen deprivation. In the postoperative setting, Level I evidence supports the use of adjuvant radiotherapy for certain pathologic feature’s (pathologic T3 or positive surgical margins) but debate continues whether early salvage radiotherapy (post-operative PSA <0.5 ng/ml) will be just as effective. Radiation technology continues to improve, with both intensity-modulated and image-guided radiotherapy commonly available. These techniques allow significant reduction in dose to normal tissues, lowering the risk of radiation toxicities. Additionally, this technology has allowed for hypofractionation (fewer, larger treatment fractions) which significantly shorten treatment courses.
Coming Out, Coming Home: Helping Families Adjust to a Gay or Lesbian Child by Michael LaSala

While it may be encouraging to envision Western society as increasingly accepting of homosexuality, the necessity of the “coming out” process and the potential turmoil that may result serve as self...
Peripheral plasma progesterone levels during human pregnancy and labor.

Abstract Circulating plasma progresterone levels have been measured in 12 hospitalized, obstetrically normal, nulliparous patients during the last 7 weeks of gestation and spontaneous labor. A total of 92 blood samples were collected sequentially and analyzed by 3 independent investigators using the protein-binding method. Plasma progesterone reached peak values at different times during the last 4 weeks of gestation in individual patients but subsequently decreased slightly with the onset of clinical labor. This finding may be significant, in that it indicates a terminal failure in increased placental progesterone genesis, at a time when thecontinued increase in uterine volume promotes myometrial activity through a stretch effect.
A simple method to extract key maternal data from neonatal clinical notes

Knowledge about maternal history is critical for guiding certain aspects of newborn clinical care as well as for research on neonatal issues. However, often the only maternal history available in the newborn record is in the clinical notes. We are using data from the MIMIC-II database for a clinical study on newborns admitted to the intensive care unit. Important maternal data were only available in the newborn notes, so we developed a simple algorithm to extract those data. We manually derived patterns for maternal age, gravida/para status, and laboratory results by reviewing a small set of notes. Using regular expressions and specific filters for notes and results, we extracted maternal data with recall of 0.91-0.99 and precision of 0.95-1.0 for the 289 infants in our study. Our methods could be used with other research datasets and with clinical documentation systems to extract maternal data into a more useful, structured format.
Diamondoid Hydrocarbons--Delving into Nature's Bounty

Small diamondoids-hydrocarbon molecules with a three-dimensional structure whose carbon-carbon framework constitutes the fundamental repeating unit in the diamond lattice-were first synthesized in the 1950s. However, synthetic methods were unable to produce larger diamondoids. In his Perspective, Marchand highlights the report by Dahlet al., who have isolated such higher diamondoids from crude oil. The work should rekindle interest in these unusual materials, which may find use in pharmaceutical and nanotechnological applications.