cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The α2A-Adrenergic Receptor Plays a Protective Role in Mouse Behavioral Models of Depression and Anxiety

The noradrenergic system is involved in the regulation of many physiological and psychological processes, including the modulation of mood. The α2-adrenergic receptors (α2-ARs) modulate norepinephrine release, as well as the release of serotonin and other neurotransmitters, and are therefore potential targets for antidepressant and anxiolytic drug development. The current studies were undertaken to examine the role of the α2Asubtype of α2-AR in mouse behavioral models of depression and anxiety. We have observed that the genetic knock-out of the α2A-AR makes mice less active in a modified version of Porsolt's forced swim test and insensitive to the antidepressant effects of the tricyclic drug imipramine in this paradigm. Furthermore, α2A-AR knock-out mice appear more anxious than wild-type C57 Bl/6 mice in the rearing and light–dark models of anxiety after injection stress. These findings suggest that the α2A-AR may play a protective role in some forms of depression and anxiety and that the antidepressant effects of imipramine may be mediated by the α2A-AR.
The characterization of Langmuir-Blodgett films of a non-linear optical, side chain liquid crystalline polymer

Abstract Monolayer film formation has been observed for a liquid crystalline copolymer containing a second-order non-linear optical side chain. The films were characterized on the aqueous subphase by a pressure-area per monomer unit isotherm and successfully transferred onto a glass substrate by the horizontal lifting method. The transferred Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers were characterized by surface plasmon resonance, attenuated total reflection-IR (ATR-IR) and UV-visible spectroscopy. The surface plasmon resonance study revealed the Langmuir-Blodgett films transferred at 5 dyn cm-1 to be uniform but not those at 10 and 15 dyn cm-1. The theoretical fit of the surface plasmon results for the monolayer Langmuir-Blodgett films transferred at 5 dyn cm-1 coupled with ellipsometric results on a solution-cast film yielded the values for the refractive index and the thickness of the monolayer. ATR-IR and UV-visible spectra show that the copolymer has similar conformations in the monolayer and bulk states.
A framework for realistic and systematic multicast performance evaluation

Previous multicast research often makes commonly accepted but unverified assumptions on network topologies and group member distribution in simulation studies. In this paper, we propose a framework to systematically evaluate multicast performance for different protocols. We identify a series of metrics, and carry out extensive simulation studies on these metrics with different topological models and group member distributions for three case studies. Our simulation results indicate that realistic topology and group membership models are crucial to accurate multicast performance evaluation. These results can provide guidance for multicast researchers to perform realistic simulations, and facilitate the design and development of multicast protocols.
Can gene expression profiling predict survival for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

Background Lung cancer remains to be the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Patients with similar lung cancer may experience quite different clinical outcomes. Reliable molecular prognostic markers are needed to characterize the disparity. In order to identify the genes responsible for the aggressiveness of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, we applied DNA microarray technology to a case control study. Fifteen patients with surgically treated stage I squamous cell lung cancer were selected. Ten were one-to-one matched on tumour size and grade, age, gender, and smoking status; five died of lung cancer recurrence within 24 months (high-aggressive group), and five survived more than 54 months after surgery (low-aggressive group). Five additional tissues were included as test samples. Unsupervised and supervised approaches were used to explore the relationship among samples and identify differentially expressed genes. We also evaluated the gene markers' accuracy in segregating samples to their respective group. Functional gene networks for the significant genes were retrieved, and their association with survival was tested.
Postoperative Cardiac Arrhythmias: Prevention and Management

Supraventricular arrhythmias or supraventricular tachy cardias (SVT) frequently occur after thoracic surgery and have been associated with prolonged hospital stays. The reported incidence of supraventricular ar rhythmias in this patient population ranges from 9% to 40%, with factors such as extent of surgery markedly influencing the incidence. SVT has been reported to be 12% to 16% after lobectomy, 20% to 30% after pneumo nectomy, and as much as 40% after extrapleural pneu monectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pa tients who develop SVT have a higher rate of intensive care unit admission and higher 30-day mortality. SVT occurrence appears to be an important marker of poor cardiopulmonary reserve in patients who developed significant morbidity after thoracic surgery. It is pos sible that the rate of SVT occurrence increases propor tionally with extent of neural trauma to cardiac plexus structures in older patients. The timing of SVT onset is likely related to the high adrenergic activity of the post...
Electrical Activity in the Amygdala and its Modification by Drugs. Possible Nature of Synaptic Transmitters. A Review

This paper is a biased review of the literature pertaining to the peculiarities of the electrical activity of the amygdala, and to its modification by certain chemicals. We have concerned ourselves less with what drugs in general do to the amygdala than with their use as physiological tools, so that we may begin unraveling the complexities of synaptic transmission in this locus of the brain. The reasons for our choice of place are fairly simple; it is there, and it must be of some evolutionary value as it increases in relative volume, while the hippocampus slowly shrinks and recedes into the lateral ventricle. Also, the electrical activity of the amygdala is rather peculiar, and it exhibits some fascinating relationships to overt behavior and neuroendocrine and autonomic mechanisms. It receives a variety of sensory data, and we know very little about the purpose of this convergence. It is certainly a more exciting place for physiologists than the dull striatum so heavily favored these days.
The Autism Case LaW: Administrative and Judicial Rulings

This empirical analysis of 290 published administrative (i.e., by hearing or revieW officer) and court decisions concerning students With autism reveals that the volume of autism litigation is on a steadily and steeply rising slope and that the outcomes of the cases across a Wide variety of issues have favored school districts to a slight extent. On the other hand, the statistically significant differences betWeen the outcomes (i.e., Which side Won) With the hearing/revieW officer and those in the judicial forum are feW. The rather dramatic groWth of these cases, the relatively balanced average of the outcomes, and the largely redundant pattern of the judicial—as compared to hearing/ revieW officer—decisions suggest that this area merits the careful and creative attention of both practitioners and researchers, With emphasis on prompt dispute resolution.
Solvent extraction and characterization of neutral lipids in Oocystis sp.

Microalgae are a favorable feedstock for bioproducts and biofuels due to their high oil content, fast growth rates and low resource demands. Solvent lipid extraction efficiency from microalgae is dependent on algal strain and the extraction solvent. Four non-polar extraction solvents were evaluated for the recovery of neutral cellular lipids from microalgae Oocystis sp. (UTEX LB2396). Methylene chloride, hexane, diethyl ether, and cyclohexane were selected as the extraction solvents. All solvent extracts contained hexadecanoic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid; accounting for 70% of total lipid content with a proportional wt% composition of the three fatty acids, except for the hexane extracts that showed only hexadecanoic acid and linoleic acid. While not statistically differentiated, methylene chloride proved to be the most effective solvent for Oocystis sp. among the four solvents tested with a total average neutral lipid recovery of 0.25% of dry weight followed by diethyl ether (0.18%), cyclohexane (0.14%) and hexane (0.11%). This research presents a simple methodology to optimize the selection of lipid specific extraction solvents for the microalgal strain selected.
The Operation and Possible Applications of Nanodielectrics

The incorporation of nanoscale particulates into host polymers to form nanocomposites has attracted substantial interest in the last 5 years since it is apparent that the insulating properties of polymers can be positively affected, and to some degree tailored, by this technology. This contribution seeks to provide an overview of the state of the art, and, through consideration of the underlying fundamental mechanisms, provide a perspective and the possibilities for duty as electrical insulation.
PROPERTIES OF POTASSIUM CURRENTS AND THEIR ROLE IN MEMBRANE EXCITABILITY IN DROSOPHILA LARVAL MUSCLE FIBERS

The larval muscle fibers of Drosophila show four outward K+ currents in addition to the inward Ca2+ current in voltage-clamp recordings. The Shaker (Sh) and the slowpoke (slo) mutations, respectively, eliminate the voltage-activated fast K+ current (IA) and the Ca2(+)-activated fast K+ current (ICF). Quinidine specifically blocks the voltage-activated delayed K+ current (IK) at micromolar concentrations. We used Sh, slo and quinidine to remove specifically one or more K+ currents, so as to study physiological properties of these currents not previously characterized, and to examine their role in membrane excitability. A linear relationship was observed between the peak ICF and the peak ICa at different membrane potentials. ICF inactivated considerably during a 140 ms pulse to +20 mV. Recovery from inactivation was not complete for up to 2 s at the holding potential of −50 mV, which is much slower than the recovery of Ca2+ current from inactivation. In addition to IA and ICF, two delayed K+ currents are also observed in these fibers, the voltage-activated IK and the Ca2(+)-activated ICS. Near the end of a 500 ms depolarizing pulse, both IA and ICF are inactivated. Ca2(+)-free and 20 mmol l-1 Ca2+ saline were used to examine the tail currents of the remaining IK and ICS. The tail currents of ICS were slower than those of IK and reversed between −30 and −50 mV in different fibers. We further studied the dose-dependence of the blockade of IK by quinidine, which did not indicate a simple one-to-one binding mechanism. Current-clamp recordings from normal, Sh, slo and the double-mutant Sh;slo fibers suggested that ICF plays a stronger role than IA in repolarization of the larval muscle membrane. Elimination of ICF facilitates the occurrence of action potentials. Further elimination of IK prolonged the action potentials to several hundred milliseconds.
Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Properties of Metallodielectric Stacks

We report simulations of nonlinear optical transmission of an optical beam through heterogeneous metallodielectric stacks under the action of nonlinear absorption. We use the finite element method (FEM) with two-dimensional transverse effects and transfer matrix method simulation techniques as complementary methods to validate the FEM approach. We find a significant nonlinear absorption effect across spectral regimes where transmission is high. We compare the results with energy and group velocity results, but the enhancement of the nonlinear response is attributed to field confinement in the metal layers.
Rehnquist and Panvasive Searches

In the history of the Supreme Court, William Rehnquist may have been the least friendly justice toward the view that the Fourth Amendment should be read expansively. Even he, however, might have interpreted the amendment to place more restrictions on modern law enforcement techniques than current caselaw does. Relying on a 1974 article authored by Rehnquist, this essay, written for a symposium on Rehnquist and the Fourth Amendment, describes his views on the types of requirements the Fourth Amendment imposes on the police, how decriminalization can protect privacy, and most importantly, why Rehnquist might have been willing to regulate surveillance that is “panvasive” — pervasive and widespread — even if it focuses on public activities or information surrendered to third parties.
Current security threats and prevention measures relating to cloud services, Hadoop concurrent processing, and big data

Cloud services are widely used across the globe to store and analyze Big Data. These days it seems the news is full of stories about security breaches to these services, resulting in the exposure of huge amounts of private data. This paper studies the current security threats to Cloud Services, Big Data, and Hadoop. The paper analyzes a newly proposed Big Data security system based on the EnCoRe system which uses sticky policies, and the existing security architectures of Verizon and Twilio, presenting the preventive measures taken by these firms to minimize security concerns.
Hyperspectral laser beam induced current system for solar cell characterization

We introduce a novel hyperspectral laser beam induced current (LBIC) system that uses a supercontinuum laser that can be tuned from 400nm – 1200nm with diffracted limited spot size. The solar cell is light biased while simultaneously being illuminated by a chopped laser beam at a given wavelength. Current-voltage measurements performed by measuring the current perturbation due to the laser using a lock-in amplifier allow us to extract performance metrics at a specific lateral position and depth (by tuning the wavelength of the laser) while the device is at operating conditions. These parameters are simultaneously compared to material deformations as determined from the doping density, and the built-in voltage. Concurrently we also probe lateral recombination variation by measuring the activation energy thereby providing a comprehensive and unique analysis.
Sustainability and Public Participation: Toward an Inclusive Model of Democracy

Discourses of sustainability often reserve a central place for citizen participation in the decision-making process. But the dominant inter pretation of sustainability as an incrementalist policy strategy that yields to the primacy of the market in addressing our collective problems places certain constraints on arrangements for public in volvement. Our theories of public participation fail to adequately ac count for the influence of a market ideology and socioeconomic inequalities on the democratic process. What we need are models of democratic engagement that can help us think outside the prison of the market and can attend to issues of justice and inclusion in public participation in sustainability decisions. The work of Iris Marion Young can be particularly useful in conceiving of citizen involvement models that highlight the connections between the environment and social structures of inequality and that place inclusion at the center of our attention.
Investigation of The Electrical and Chemical Properties of Plasma-Treated AlGaN

The surface properties of n-type AlxGa1−xN (x=0-0.5) exposed to inductively couple plasma were studied systematically using metal contact measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Cl2/BCl3 and Ar plasma treatment considerably increased the surface conductivity of AlxGa1−xN (x<0.3) and thus improved the characteristics of Ti/Al-based ohmic contacts, but degraded the surface and contact properties of AlxGa1−xN (x≥0.3). XPS measurements revealed a significant increase in oxygen incorporation and energy shifts of the core-level spectra in plasma-treated samples. In contrast to an upward shift of the surface Fermi level in plasma-treated GaN, the surface Fermi level moved away from the conduction band in Al0.5Ga0.5N upon plasma treatment. These findings suggest that the nature of plasma damage in AlGaN appears to be a function of the Al mole fraction. Plasma-induced defects in high-Al AlGaN may act as deep-level compensation centers, degrading the surface electrical properties and contact characteristics.
Development of afferent function of striatum in rabbits during early ontogenesis

1. Afferent cortico-striatal and nigro-striatal connections develop unidirectionally during early postnatal ontogenesis in rabbits. 2. During the functional maturation of the afferent connections of the caudate nucleus running from the cortical zones (motor, anterior and posterior limbic) and substantia nigra, the latent period and duration decline and the amplitude of the evoked potential increases in response to stimulation of the appropriate inputs from the immature (at the age of two to five days) to the definitive levels (by 30 days of age). 3. The sharpest change in the amplitude-temporal parameters of the response of the caudate nucleus, especially the latent period, was noted during the third week of the postnatal life of the rabbit. 4. On the basis of the obtained data, the period of ontogenesis occurring during the third to fourth week of rabbit life is considered as the critical period of development of the sensory mechanisms of the striatum.
Suffrage Provisions in State Constitutions

Within recent years there has been a tendency to give more careful attention to the technique of legislation. In the past proposed laws have often been prepared by legislators who knew what they wanted, but were not able to express their wishes in scientifically constructed form. It is desirable of course that representatives of the people should determine legislative policy; and yet it is not counter to any intelligent principle of democracy that the drafting of bills should be done by experts who can put in brief though adequate phrases the essence of what the technically unskilled representative may want. It should be their task to use political machinery intelligently, and to warn the overzealous advocate against using it in a vain attempt to achieve an end which mayhap cannot be secured through political machinery at all. It is right that the people, through democratic channels of popular assemblies, should determine what they want; but it is no less proper that use should be made of those with special training to formulate ways and means. Some states have already established legislative reference bureaus which do the work of bill drafting. The individual legislator goes to the bureau with a general outline of a law he has in mind. The bureau renders expert advice on the subject matter of the bill, if such advice is wanted, and proceeds to draft a measure embracing the subject in hand. The staff connected with the bureau should be prepared to offer advice as to the constitutionality of the proposed law, to cite precedents in other states if such can be found, and to express an opinion as to the probable attitude of the courts when interpreting it. Information should be at hand regarding the experience of other states, or indeed other countries, with similar legislation.
Design of Optic Cable Monitoring System for Electric Power FTTH

Electric power fiber to the home(FTTH) construction project is an important component of smart grid in the State Grid Corporation.With the continuous progress of smart grid construction,the scale of FTTH deployment will continue to expand,and the number of optic cables dramatically increases,so how to maintain these optic cables is urgent problem.Fiber monitoring system for electric power FTTH incorporated PON communication technology,optical measurement technology and geographic information system,solved the FTTx PON resource monitoring and control,and completed the monitoring of access,aggregation,backbone fiber network.By centralized auto-maintenance way,the system can timely grasp the operation state of optic cables,if the optic cables fail,the system can quickly test and accurately locate.
FATTY ACID INDUCED ALTERATIONS IN CITRIC ACID CYCLE INTERMEDIATES

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on fatty-acid-induced alterations in citric acid cycle intermediates. The finding that citrate is an inhibitor of phosphofructokinase led naturally to the question of how the level of intracellular citrate is regulated. Citrate rises very rapidly, while isocitrate rises slowly. A primary block of isocitric dehydrogenase following exposure of a rat's heart to octanoate may occur. The chapter illustrates a profile of heart extracts chromatographed for citric acid cycle intermediates. In an experiment described in the chapter, these hearts were perfused with NaHC14O3 plus or minus octanoate. A predominant amount of radioactivity was detected in citrate with the only other significant identified amount appearing in malate.
The Born transmission eigenvalue problem

In this paper we study the distribution of transmission eigenvalues in the complex plane for obstacles whose contrast is small in magnitude. We use a first order approximation of the refractive index to derive and study an approximate interior transmission problem. In the case of spherically stratified media, we prove existence and discreteness of transmission eigenvalues and derive a condition under which the complex part of transmission eigenvalues cannot lie in a strip parallel to the real axis. For obstacles with general shape, we demonstrate that if transmission eigenvalues exist then they form a discrete set.
De-extinction as Artificial Species Selection

This paper offers a paleobiological perspective on the debate concerning the possible use of biotechnology to bring back extinct species. One lesson from paleobiology is that extinction selectivity matters in addition to extinction rates and extinction magnitude. Combining some of Darwin’s insights about artificial selection with the theory of species selection that paleobiologists developed in the 1970s and 1980s provides a useful context for thinking about de-extinction. Using recent work on the prioritization of candidate species for de-extinction as a test case, the paper argues that de-extinction would be a form of artificial species selection in which humans influence which species persist vs. go extinct. This points to a serious gap in our ethical theory: Much work has been done to clarify the value(s) of biological diversity, but we also need theoretical guidance for decisions that amount to species sorting, and that will shape the macroevolutionary future.
The Growing Pains of Change: Leading Through Crisis and Conflict to Achieve Positive Results. A Case Study in Higher Education Assessment Processes

The climate of higher education has shifted attention to accountability and evidence-based planning as the centralize force for college progression. As mandated from accrediting bodies, institutions have levitated to models of continuous quality improvement mechanism and strategies. This new paradigm has brought about resistance and reluctance to change. Similar to private organizations, the slower progressing institutions are lacking in performance and in many cases this low performance has resulted in accreditation sanctions. The following report investigates the growing pains of change through the venues of crisis and conflict and provides guidance for effective leadership response. Additionally, the study reflects on a case that shows an effective transition through crisis and conflict to adopt the new changes and strategies to meet accreditation requirements.
Genetic diversity and differentiation of yellowwood [Cladrastis kentukea (Dum.Cours.) Rudd] growing in the wild and in planted populations outside the natural range

Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) grows in small, widely scattered populations in the wild, but is also a popular ornamental tree that thrives when planted in urban areas outside its natural range. Since the small native populations of yellowwood in several states are considered at risk of extirpation, the cultivated population could serve as an ex situ repository of yellowwood genetic diversity that could be used to restore lost local populations of the species. The potential value of cultivated yellowwood for conservation depends on the genetic diversity among cultivated trees compared to natural populations. Using nuclear microsatellite markers, we genotyped 180 yellowwoods from natural populations in Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, and Kentucky, along with 61 trees from urban parks and landscapes in Indiana, Ohio, and Missouri. We found that, even when statistics were adjusted based on population size, the urban “population” had higher genetic diversity than any of the wild populations sampled, indicating that commercially-grown yellowwood is most likely a mixture of genotypes from isolated wild populations. We observed strong genetic differentiation among wild populations, and evidence for inbreeding in at least one of the wild populations.
Reproducing Kernels and Interpolation of Holomorphic Functions

Abstract The problem of characterizing restrictions to small sets of holomorphic functions satisfying certain norm estimates, is studied from the point of view of functional Hilbert spaces and reproducing kernels. Characterizations are obtained for boundary value distributions of various Hilbert spaces of holomorphic functions along certain thin subsets of the boundary of the unit ball. In addition, boundary values of bounded holomorphic functions along certain thin subsets of the boundary are characterized by an analogue of the classical Pick-Nevanlinna condition.
Group selection in behavioral evolution.

Abstract How may patterns of behavior change over an organism’s lifetime? The answer is that they evolve (behavioral evolution) as species evolve over generations (biological evolution). In biological evolution, under certain conditions, groups of cooperative organisms would be selected over groups of non-cooperative organisms, even when cooperation imposes a cost to individuals. Analogously, in behavioral evolution, patterns of acts may be selected even when each individual act in the pattern is costly. Although there is considerable debate among biologists whether the conditions for group selection are met in biological evolution, it is argued here that they are met in behavioral evolution (as well as in cultural evolution). The article shows how selection of patterns can explain the learning of self-control and altruism.
Determining Surface Roughness in Erosion Testing Using Digital Photogrammetry

Surface roughness is an imporant characteristic in numerical and physical geotechnical soil models. The methods for measuring surface roughness are currently operator dependent, time consuming, or require highly specialized equipment. The objective of this study was to develop a method to measure the roughness on soil samples in erosion tests and reduce the operator dependency. A stereophotogrammetry computational program was developed in which three-dimensional (3D) soil surface coordinates were derived from digital stereo pair images of soil samples following erosion tests. The 3D coordinates were then used to calculate a measure of surface roughness for the soil samples. A validation study showed that the stereophotogrammetry system was able to measure the roughness of the sample within 0.09 mm of a high-density scan taken using a structured light scanner. This stereophotogrammetry system is automated and yields more precise, repeatable roughness measurements, and the results are less variable than the traditional caliper method.
Comparison of nutrient intakes in South Asians with type 2 diabetes mellitus and controls living in the United States.

Abstract Aims Despite having a high risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), little is known about the relationship between nutrient intakes and T2DM in South Asians (SA) in the U.S. In addition, the available data are limited to a few macronutrients and collected using subjective measures. Therefore, we compared macro- and micro-nutrient intakes of SA migrants with and without T2DM using an objective measure. Methods SA in the U.S. with T2DM (n = 44) and controls (n = 33) reported their dietary intake using image-assisted dietary assessment method. They took pictures of all foods/drinks consumed on two weekdays and one weekend day. Age, gender distribution, and body mass index were similar across the two groups. Results SA with T2DM, as compared to controls, consumed less total energy (mean difference: 499 kcal/d; p Conclusions SA with T2DM, compared to controls, consume less total energy and have lower consumption of many nutrients associated with reduced risk of T2DM. Dietary interventions to reduce risk for T2DM are warranted in SA.
Direct generation of solitons with a reversed soliton step in a microresonator pumped by a phase-modulated laser

We demonstrate direct generation of Kerr-microresonator solitons with measured 100 percent success rate using an increasing-frequency scan of a phase-modulated pump laser. A reversed soliton step is observed. The phase modulation controls the solitons' properties.
5-day dosing schedule of temozolomide in relapsed sensitive or refractory small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and methyl-guanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) analysis in a phase II trial.

7052 Background: MGMT promoter methylation and loss of MGMT activity are associated with improved sensitivity to alkylating agents. We recently reported that the oral alkylating agent temozolomide is active in 2nd- and 3rd-line treatment of relapsed SCLC at 75mg/m2/day for 21 out of 28 days (Pietanza et al, Clin Can Res 2012). Here we evaluate the 5-day dosing schedule of temozolomide in a second cohort of patients and analyze MGMT activity in both cohorts of patients on the same study. Methods: Patients with disease progression after 1 or 2 prior chemotherapy regimens received temozolomide at 200mg/m2/day for 5 out of 28 days (n=25). Those with sensitive (S-SCLC, n=16) and refractory (R-SCLC, n=9) disease were enrolled to assess safety. Available tumor tissue from patients treated according to either schedule was assessed for MGMT promoter methylation status by PCR and MGMT expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: An overall response rate of 12% was noted (3 partial responses: 1 S-SCLC, 2 R-SCL...
Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Improve the Renal Microvasculature in Metabolic Renovascular Disease in Swine.

Background:Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) mediate their paracrine effect, but their efficacy to protect the microcirculation of the kidney is unkno...
Taurine and the Oxidative Metabolism of Cysteine

Plants and microorganisms synthesize Cys. In animals, Cys is derived from the diet, from breakdown of protein, or from Met via transsulfuration. Metabolic pathways available for it involve oxidation, or utilization at the same oxidation state for protein synthesis or the synthesis of other thiol components, such as GSH. Cys metabolism is outlined on Figure 4-1, with the sections listed in which various branches are discussed in detail (Kun, 1969; Jocelyn, 1972; Greenberg, 1975; Cooper, 1983). The major pathways of oxidation branch from CSA and lead to sulfate or taurine (Figure 4-1). These are the major excreted metabolites of sulfur in mammals. Other, quantitatively minor, routes of oxidation involve transamination of Cys itself, and oxidation to sulfate by a route not involving CSA. An indication of the significance of the various routes of sulfur excretion is given by the data of Table 4-1 on urinary excretion of sulfur metabolites in humans (Sorbo et al., 1980). Metabolites arising from 3-mercaptopyruvate by reduction or via the sulfane pool account for less than 0.5% of total sulfur excretion. N-Acetylcysteine presumably arises from mercapturic acid (Green and Elce, 1975).
THE FLAME CHEMISTRY OF ALKALI AND ALKALINE EARTH METALS

Abstract The alkali and alkaline earth metals display both oxide and hydroxide formation in clean flames. The behavior of these metals, although having some similarities, is quite different for the two groups. Fuel type, be it hydrogen based or a fossil fuel, is not a factor other than its control over temperature, burning velocity and radical concentration levels. For the alkalis, there is a sensitivity to fuel stoichiometry and, under fuel lean conditions they display a complex chemistry involving MOH, MO2, MO and M. However, if fuel rich, the alkali is mainly atomic with only small amounts of hydroxide. The kinetics in these systems are sufficiently fast at atmospheric pressure to attain steady state distributions that track the radical decay. These distributions can be perturbed by halogens, sulfur, boron, cyanides, phosphorus and other elements that can efficiently produce molecules of sufficient stabilities. The nature of these interactions is reviewed and an appraisal made of the current level of understanding. The stabilities of the alkaline earth oxides and hydroxides are such that these species are dominant even under fuel rich flame conditions and display distributions typically involving MO, MOH, M(OH)2 and M. Kinetic rate data generally are not available for these species, but at atmospheric pressure the system is reasonably well described by a partial equilibrium distribution. Except for halogens, flame interactions have not yet been examined but sufficient thermochemical data are now available to permit predictive assessments for such alkaline earth systems. Ionization processes for the two metal groups are compared and their interplay with the neutral chemistry is seen to be in sharp contrast.
Mitochondrial oxidative stress and metabolic alterations in neurodegenerative disorders

Publisher Summary Mitochondria are primary sites of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, generating superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide by the electron transport chain (ETC), monoamine oxidase, and mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase respectively. Elevations in calcium and ROS have been implicated as being key events in the neurodegenerative process. It is likely that calcium and ROS cooperatively mediate neurodegeneration. Because mitochondria are involved in both calcium and ROS homeostasis, it is likely that they play a pivotal role in mediating neuron death. The density and localization of mitochondria within a neuron likely influence the involvement of mitochondria in neuronal calcium and ROS homeostasis.
On wavelet analysis

The objective of this paper is to introduce and classify various classes of wavelets and to discuss some of their basic properties. In particular, an identity of Littlewood-Paley type is given and is used to partially characterize wavelets and their duals.
Strategies Addressing Quality of Life: Management of Patient-Reported Outcomes and Symptoms

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are an attempt to capture patient experiences often missed with response rates, toxicity data, and survival figures. In this chapter we show why PROs are important, and how physicians treating castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients incorporate PROs into clinical trials and day-to-day practice. We start with an explanation of PROs, illustrate what is currently known about their use in various facets of treatment, and then make recommendations for future use. Rather than providing an exhaustive review of the literature, we highlight the PROs and patient-reported outcome metrics (PROMs) that clinicians may encounter. The chapter then moves to a discussion of measuring pain, common pain syndromes, and evaluation and treatment strategies for pain in CRPC patients. We close with a discussion of treatment strategies for other PROs commonly seen in CRPC patients, including anxiety, depression, fatigue, urination problems, and weight loss.
Addressing advance directive completion rates on an inpatient oncology unit.

147Background: Advanced directives (ADs), particularly heath care power of attorney (HC-POA), are not always obtained or documented for patients with cancer. Hospitalized cancer patients may become too ill to complete them, making treatment decisions difficult. Understanding patients’ end-of-life preferences and providing care congruent with their values is fundamental to quality care. Completing ADs is an important aspect of this process. However, AD rates for oncology patients are typically under 40%. Our team sought to measure and increase our oncology inpatient AD rates. Methods: An interdisciplinary group including oncology and palliative medicine physicians, nurses, social workers, care managers and quality leaders convened to address ADs on our inpatient oncology services as a quality improvement project. We completed a current state analysis, evaluated areas of wasted or redundant workflow and performed a root cause analysis, identifying 4 countermeasures: 1) educating patients and staff re the va...
Obese Peers' Influence on Students' BMI: Heterogeneity in Race and Sex.

Objectives In this study, we investigate peer influence on obesity, with a focus on race and sex. Methods We conducted econometric analysis of longitudinal health data of 277,566 public school students, ages 5-13 years. Results A percentage point increase in the proportion of obese students within the same grade increased a student's BMI z-scores by about 4 one-thousandths of a standard deviation. On racial peers, the standard deviation increase in BMI z-score is 3.9 one-thousandths for Hispanics or Caucasians and 4.9 one-thousandths for African Americans. Influence of obese peers is nearly identical for boys and girls. Conclusions Such a small magnitude of obese peers' estimate suggests that classroom peers do not play a substantial role in weight gain or loss in elementary schools.
Social Stigmatization: Effects of Emotional Loneliness and Social Integration

The current study examined the effects of loneliness and social integration on social stigmatizations, in order to understand negative perceptions placed on people. The study was a 2 x 2 within-subjects, a factorial design that involved participants to read and rate scenarios. The participants were 16 University of California, Los Angeles student’s, 14 females and two males. Loneliness had two levels, lonely or not lonely, operationally defined as satisfaction, or dissatisfaction, with target person’s current relationships. Social integration had two levels, high or low, operationally defined as being involved, or not, in school-related activities with peers. The dependent variable was social stigmatization, operationally defined as the ratings of psychological attributes given by the participant. Consistent with our data, there were two significant main effects of social integration and loneliness p’s < .001. However, no significant interaction was found p = .905. Keywords: loneliness, social integration, perception, social stigmatization
Sentinel lymph node biopsy in Merkel cell carcinoma: Predictors of sentinel lymph node positivity and association with overall survival.

Background Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy with high rates of recurrence and metastasis. Objective To evaluate predictors of sentinel lymph node (SLN) positivity in MCC using the National Cancer Database. Methods The National Cancer Database, from 2012 to 2014, was used to identify 3048 patients with MCC, of whom 1174 received an SLN biopsy. Predictors of SLN positivity were evaluated using logistic regression. Overall survival was evaluated using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results Of patients who underwent SLN biopsy, those with primary lesions on the trunk (odds ratio, 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-3.17; P = .004), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (odds ratio, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.01-2.46; P = .04), or lymphovascular invasion (odds ratio, 3.45; 95% CI, 2.51-4.76; P Limitations Lack of disease-specific survival and potential selection bias from a retrospective data set. Conclusions Truncal MCC, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and presence of lymphovascular invasion were independent predictors of positive SLNs. Overall survival was negatively affected by advancing age, male sex, immunosuppression, and SLN positivity.
Acute Kidney Injury, Heart Failure, and Health Outcomes

Acute kidney injury in acute decompensated heart failure leads to increased readmissions regardless of being transient or sustained at the time of discharge. Timely identification of acute kidney injury and worsening heart failure in patients with acute decompensated heart failure is of utmost importance to optimize different components of heart failure treatment. Acute kidney injury is a strong predictor of poor outcomes and early death in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension and acute right-sided heart failure. Extracorporeal ultrafiltration should not be used as an initial or alternative to diuretic therapy. It should be reserved for diuretic-resistant individuals.
A shared genetic basis of mimicry across swallowtail butterflies points to ancestral co-option of doublesex.

Uncovering whether convergent adaptations share a genetic basis is consequential for understanding the evolution of phenotypic diversity. This information can help us understand the extent to which shared ancestry or independent evolution shape adaptive phenotypes. In this study, we first ask whether the same genes underlie polymorphic mimicry in Papilio swallowtail butterflies. By comparing signatures of genetic variation between polymorphic and monomorphic species, we then investigate how ancestral variation, hybridization, and independent evolution contributed to wing pattern diversity in this group. We report that a single gene, doublesex (dsx), controls mimicry across multiple taxa, but with species-specific patterns of genetic differentiation and linkage disequilibrium. In contrast to widespread examples of phenotypic evolution driven by introgression, our analyses reveal distinct mimicry alleles. We conclude that mimicry evolution in this group was likely facilitated by ancestral polymorphism resulting from early co-option of dsx as a mimicry locus, and that evolutionary turnover of dsx alleles may underlie the wing pattern diversity of extant polymorphic and monomorphic lineages. Polymorphic mimicry in Papilio swallowtail butterflies is thought to have had multiple independent origins. Here, the authors show that the gene doublesex controls mimicry across multiple species, but with distinct alleles that may have originated from an ancestral polymorphism.
A Synthesized Global Neutron Map

We have synthesized a global neutron map showing relative neutron fluxes at locations all over the world based on the effects of elevation, geomagnetic rigidity, solar cycle, and the presence of ground moisture and/or bodies of water. The modeled values show good agreement with measured data, indicating that the considered factors represent the largest effects on local neutron flux. This synthesized map helps address one of the challenges of reliably sensing potential nuclear threats - the variability of the natural neutron background with location and time.
Three-dimensional potential energy surfaces of ArNO (X̃ 2Π).

Until now, the potential energy surfaces (PESs) of the ArNO complex found in the literature were two-dimensional, with the NO interatomic distance being fixed. In this work, we present the first accurate three-dimensional ground state X 2Π PESs (both A′ and A″) of ArNO computed at the CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory. The equilibrium geometries and the well depths (De) are compared to several other electronic structure methods. We found that using the multireference method, MRCI-F12 makes the surfaces much shallower (by 25%) and the depth of the surfaces does not agree with experimental data. The explicitly correlated coupled-cluster method underestimates the well depth as well. Analytic representations for both A′ and A″ surfaces were fit to 4380 ab initio points to within 2.71 cm−1. A three-dimensional Numerov propagator method in Delves coordinates is used to compute the bound state spectrum up to Jtot = 6.5. The recommended dissociation energies are D0 = 97.2 cm−1 for the adiabatic ground state and De = 133.7 (128.1) cm−1 for A′ (A″).
Osteoarthritis of the hip: are degenerative tears of the acetabular labrum predictable from features on hip radiographs?

BackgroundA common feature of hip arthritis is the presence of labra tears. Recent literature suggests against the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients aged >45 years for the assessm...
Tidal Volume Overdose in Pressure Control Modes: An Observational Study

Background: Studies confirm that excessive tidal volume (VT) increases the risk of ventilator induced lung injury. A previous model study by Chatburn et al (Comput Biol Med 2016;75:235-242) showed that VT measurement error may occur during pressure control ventilation (PCV) with preset inspiratory time (TI). Some ventilators calculate VT as integral of flow over TI or expiratory time (TE). For a passive patient during PCV, this calculation is accurate. However, an inspiratory effort increase then relaxation results in expiratory flow during TI. Integration of expiratory flow results in volume deducted from the calculated VT (see figure). Hence the displayed volume is lower than the peak value of the volume waveform, the true VT. The displayed VT will be inaccurately low, possibly leading to inadvertent tidal volume over-dosage. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of two main outcome variables: VT error and VT over-dosage (ie, VT >8 mL/kg) during routine mechanical ventilation with PCV modes in our ICUs. Methods: All patients in medical and neuro ICUs with active inspiratory efforts, in PCV modes, using Medtronics PB840 or GE Carescape R860 ventilators were included. Volume (V) waveforms were observed for at least 10 breaths per patient. Waveforms with downward V deflection (see figure) during TI were deemed to have VT error present. If error was present, error size was calculated by subtracting the digital display of VT from the peak value of the V waveform. Results: We recorded data for 50 patients. A VT error was present in 32% of patients. Average error was -1.2 mL/kg (range -0.6 to -2.6). However, 75% of the time the error was too small to calculate. VT over-dosage occurred in one patient whose displayed VT was 7.9 mL/kg but true VT was 10.4 mL/kg. This patient also had the longest TI (1.2 s). Conclusions: In this small pilot study, we observed that VT error is present in a substantial portion of patients during PCV, with the largest error being associated with the longest TI as expected from the previous study. Results of this study warrant the need to monitor V waveforms for patients receiving PCV with an active exhalation valve feature to ensure patients are receiving VT in the range of 6-8 mL/kg of ideal body weight
Arabidopsis ACINUS is O-glycosylated and regulates transcription and alternative splicing of regulators of reproductive transitions

O-GlcNAc modification plays important roles in metabolic regulation of cellular status. Two homologs of O-GlcNAc transferase, SECRET AGENT (SEC) and SPINDLY (SPY), which have O-GlcNAc and O-fucosyl transferase activities, respectively, are essential in Arabidopsis but have largely unknown cellular targets. Here we show that AtACINUS is O-GlcNAcylated and O-fucosylated and mediates regulation of transcription, alternative splicing (AS), and developmental transitions. Knocking-out both AtACINUS and its distant paralog AtPININ causes severe growth defects including dwarfism, delayed seed germination and flowering, and abscisic acid (ABA) hypersensitivity. Transcriptomic and protein-DNA/RNA interaction analyses demonstrate that AtACINUS represses transcription of the flowering repressor FLC and mediates AS of ABH1 and HAB1, two negative regulators of ABA signaling. Proteomic analyses show AtACINUS O-GlcNAcylation, O-fucosylation, and association with splicing factors, chromatin remodelers, and transcriptional regulators. Some AtACINUS/AtPININ-dependent AS events are altered in the sec and spy mutants, demonstrating a function of O-glycosylation in regulating alternative RNA splicing.