cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of Functional Genomics to Pathway Optimization for Increased Isoprenoid Production

Producing complex chemicals using synthetic metabolic pathways in microbial hosts can have many advantages over chemical synthesis but is often complicated by deleterious interactions between pathway intermediates and the host cell metabolism. With the maturation of functional genomic analysis, it is now technically feasible to identify modes of toxicity associated with the accumulation of foreign molecules in the engineered bacterium. Previously, Escherichia coli was engineered to produce large quantities of isoprenoids by creating a mevalonate-based isopentenyl pyrophosphate biosynthetic pathway (V. J. J. Martin et al., Nat. Biotechnol. 21:796-802, 2003). The engineered E. coli strain produced high levels of isoprenoids, but further optimization led to an imbalance in carbon flux and the accumulation of the pathway intermediate 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA), which proved to be cytotoxic to E. coli. Using both DNA microarray analysis and targeted metabolite profiling, we have studied E. coli strains inhibited by the intracellular accumulation of HMG-CoA. Our results indicate that HMG-CoA inhibits fatty acid biosynthesis in the microbial host, leading to generalized membrane stress. The cytotoxic effects of HMG-CoA accumulation can be counteracted by the addition of palmitic acid (16:0) and, to a lesser extent, oleic acid (cis-Δ9-18:1) in the growth medium. This work demonstrates the utility of using transcriptomic and metabolomic methods to optimize synthetic biological systems.
Metaphors Matter: Disaster Myths, Media Frames, and Their Consequences in Hurricane Katrina

It has long been understood by disaster researchers that both the general public and organizational actors tend to believe in various disaster myths. Notions that disasters are accompanied by looting, social disorganization, and deviant behavior are examples of such myths. Research shows that the mass media play a significant role in promulgating erroneous beliefs about disaster behavior. Following Hurricane Katrina, the response of disaster victims was framed by the media in ways that greatly exaggerated the incidence and severity of looting and lawlessness. Media reports initially employed a “civil unrest” frame and later characterized victim behavior as equivalent to urban warfare. The media emphasis on lawlessness and the need for strict social control both reflects and reinforces political discourse calling for a greater role for the military in disaster management. Such policy positions are indicators of the strength of militarism as an ideology in the United States.
A new 1-2 GeV/ c separated beam for BNL

Abstract A 1–2 GeV/c beam line has been constructed at the Brookhaven National Laboratory alternating gradient synchrotron (BNL AGS). The beam line is optimized to deliver an intense clean beam of 1.8 GeV/c negative kaons for an H particle search experiment and incorporates two stages of velocity selection with the magnetic optics corrected to third order. Details of the beam line design as well as results of the commissioning will be discussed.
A new unsupervised hierarchical segmentation algorithm for textured images

An unsupervised hierarchical segmentation method is described, and its application to tissue classification in magnetic resonance (MR) images of the human brain is demonstrated. The images are modeled as a mosaic of homogeneous subimages where each subimage is modeled as a first-order Gauss-Markov random field (GMRF) with unknown parameters. The segmentation goal is to group the pixels into regions which, under a suitable hypothesis, are homogeneous GMRFs. The image is represented by a quadtree, and its segmentation is achieved by splitting and merging the image, followed by a step-wise maximum likelihood agglomerative clustering procedure. The difficulty of evaluating the likelihood for irregularly shaped regions is overcome using a highly accurate approximation for the determinant of the covariance matrix based on eigenanalysis. >
Generalized Perceptual Features for Vocalization Analysis Across Multiple Species

This paper introduces the Greenwood function cepstral coefficient (GFCC) and generalized perceptual linear prediction (GPLP) feature extraction models for the analysis of animal vocalizations across arbitrary species. These features are generalizations of the well-known mel-frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC) and perceptual linear prediction (PLP) approaches, tailored to take optimal advantage of available knowledge of each species' auditory frequency range and/or audiogram data. Illustrative results are presented comparing use of the GFCC and GPLP features versus MFCC features over the same frequency ranges
Osmolarity and pH Growth Conditions Regulate fim Gene Transcription and Type 1 Pilus Expression in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

A comparative study was performed to determine the effects of pH, osmolarity, and human urine on the transcription of several fim genes, as well as the overall expression of type 1 pili. Several fim-lacZYA fusions were constructed on single-copy plasmids to test a range of pHs and a range of osmolarities. Growth in acidic medium slightly reduced expression from all of the fim promoters (fimA, fimB, and fimE). Increased osmolarity in neutral-pH medium repressed fimA and fimB transcription by approximately 50% when 400 mM NaCl was used and nearly threefold when 800 mM NaCl was used, whereas fimE transcription rose slightly as the osmolarity increased. This effect was more pronounced in high-osmolarity acidic media; fimB and fimA expression decreased fivefold in growth media containing 800 mM NaCl compared to expression in growth media without added NaCl. Moreover, fimE expression doubled under the same high-osmolarity conditions compared to expression in a low-osmolarity acidic environment. When a fimB-lacZ or fimE-lacZ fusion was inserted into the chromosome of strain AAEC189, fimE expression changed slightly as the osmolarity increased, but fimB expression decreased by 50% in a low-pH high-osmolarity environment. When strain AAEC189 with either a plasmid-borne fimB-lacZ fusion or a plasmid-borne fimE-lacZ fusion was grown in human urine, similar changes in the levels of fimB and fimE expression were observed. Limiting-dilution reverse transcription-PCR confirmed that these changes in fim expression occurred in clinical isolates of uropathogenic Escherichia coli grown in media with different pHs and different osmolarities. Furthermore, the invertible switch region in uropathogenic strain NU149 shifted from favoring the phase-on position in a neutral-pH low-osmolarity environment to favoring the phase-off position in a low-pH high-osmolarity environment. Results obtained with an ompR mutant strain demonstrated that fimB expression was derepressed and that OmpR may neutralize repression by an acid response regulator of fimE expression in a low-pH environment. In addition, H-NS was verified to be important in regulation of fimB, but it had only a slight effect on fimE under the specific pH and osmotic growth conditions tested. Enzyme immunoassays with anti-type 1 pilus antibody and hemagglutination assays showed that fewer type 1 pili were detected with cells in a low-pH high-osmolarity environment. Together, these observations demonstrate that a combination of low pH and high osmolarity regulates the transcription of fim genes, which favors a shift in the invertible element to the phase-off orientation and a loss of type 1 pilus expression. Taken together, our data suggest that the environmental cues that we tested may regulate expression of type 1 pili in specific in vivo niches, such as murine kidneys and possibly human kidneys.
Targeting HER2 in breast cancer: beyond trastuzumab

Trastuzumab has altered the natural history of HER2+ breast cancer. In the metastatic setting, it has improved progression-free and overall survival. In patients with operable breast cancer, adjuvant trastuzumab, when added to chemotherapy, has improved disease-free and overall survival. Unfortunately, virtually all patients with metastatic breast cancer develop disease that is at least partially resistant to trastuzumab. In these patients, there is still value in continuing trastuzumab in combination with other treatments, but trastuzumab alone is unable to fully suppress tumor growth. Multiple mechanisms of resistance to trastuzumab have been suggested including activation of other growth factor receptors, preferential finding of HER2 to HER3, loss of the extracellular domain of HER2, and activation of the PI3 kinase pathway as a result of PTEN loss or a PIK3CA mutation. It is unknown to what extent these mechanisms are relevant in individual patients, but it is probable that many different mechanisms of resistance are clinically important. Over the past decade, a number of treatments have been developed for patients with trastuzumab-resistant disease. At present, only lapatinib, a small-molecule inhibitor of HER1 and HER2, is commercially available. It is active when administered with either chemotherapy or trastuzumab. A variety of other therapies are under investigation in phase III clinical trials. Pertuzumab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits HER2-HER3 heterodimers, appears to be effective when combined with trastuzumab ± chemotherapy. T-DM1, an antibody-drug conjugate, has also displayed remarkable activity in the setting of refractory disease and has limited toxicity. It is presently under investigation in multiple randomized trials. Neratinib is an oral irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets HER1, HER2, and HER4. As a single agent, it appears to be more active than lapatinib, but is associated with more significant toxicity. It, too, is under evaluation in phase III trials in the adjuvant and metastatic settings. A variety of other agents are under active study including the mTOR inhibitors, the PI3kinase inhibitors, angiogenesis inhibitors, and IGFR antagonists. It is likely that a number of new agents will be available for the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer in the next several years, and outcomes for this group of patients will continue to improve.
The tragedy of the cocoa pod: rent-seeking, land and ethnic conflict in Ivory Coast

Many people have been surprised by the eruption of ethnic conflict and civil war in Ivory Coast. The country had gained a reputation as a relatively stable and economically prosperous agricultural republic in a region known for ethnic conflict, economic decline and civil war. The underlying factors that have led to the ethnic violence, the flight of immigrants from neighbouring countries, and the division of the country into a predominantly Muslim north and largely Christian south have been known for some time. The country's property rights regime that encouraged easy access to a forest rent - as long as cheap migrant labour and virgin forested land were available - was a recipe for future conflict. As available land declined and labour costs increased, a cycle of sharpening conflicts over these assets contributed to the current situation of ethno-regional division and civil war.
TASKS OF EVALUATION IN AN EXPERIMENTAL ECONOMICS COURSE1

One set of ideas to be tested consists of assumptions about the nature of economics as a discipline. The basic assumption is that economics has a logic of its own, an inner structure, the major components of which are scarcity (including economic decisions); flows (of goods and services and of income); and coordination of economic activity (that is, of decisions and flows). These three major divisions of the subject, together with two analytical themes that run through the subject-(a) marginal analysis and (b) the use of institutions-comprise the structure of economics (Lovenstein, 1960). The major objectives quite properly follow from the conception of the discipline as having a logic of its own. In our effort, the major objective for the student is to grasp this inner structure, to see economics as a unified and usable system of thought. Of course there will be other objectives but they will be auxiliary or subordinate to this. It seems clear to me that the validation of assumptions such as these concerning the logic of a discipline is properly left to the philosophers and economists; they are the ones who bear primary responsibility for the types of analysis and logical evaluation required. The contribution of evaluation, in the sense of the data-gathering phase of curriculum development, would be incidental here. We also assume that one does not really understand a discipline until its structure has been laid bare (its basic concepts and relationships revealed); that a subject is easier to learn then; and that it is also easier to teach. These assumptions, which are obviously related to teaching and learning, imply comparisons with alternative courses of instruction and thus require comparative evidence. They will be treated in detail later.
Joint torques and powers are reduced during ambulation for both limbs in patients with unilateral claudication

Objectives Symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) results in significant gait impairment. In an attempt to fully delineate and quantify these gait alterations, we analyzed joint kinematics, torques (rotational forces), and powers (rotational forces times angular velocity) in patients with PAD with unilateral claudication for both the affected and nonaffected legs. Methods Twelve patients with unilateral PAD (age, 61.69 ± 10.53 years, ankle-brachial index [ABI]: affected limb 0.59 ± 0.25; nonaffected limb 0.93 ± 0.12) and 10 healthy controls (age, 67.23 ± 12.67 years, ABI >1.0 all subjects) walked over a force platform to acquire gait kinetics, while joint kinematics were recorded simultaneously. Data were collected for the affected and nonaffected limbs during pain free (PAD-PF) and pain induced (PAD-P) trials. Kinetics and kinematics were combined to quantify torque and powers during the stance period from the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Results The affected limb demonstrated significantly ( P P P P Conclusion Patients with PAD with unilateral claudication demonstrate significant gait impairments in both limbs that are present even before they experience any claudication symptoms. Overall, our data demonstrate significantly reduced ankle plantar flexion torque and power during late stance with reduced knee power during early and mid stance for the affected limb. Further studies are needed to determine if these findings are dependent on the location and the severity of lower extremity ischemia and whether the changes in the nonaffected limb are the result of underlying PAD or compensatory changes from the affected limb dysfunction.
Creating Interactive Media on CD-ROM

The Department of Geography at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is developing a research oriented, visual database of North American Indian maps on a CD-ROM. This project is funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Division of Research Programs. The CD-ROM will contain maps, extensive descriptions, and catalog information about the maps. The digital maps and text will be linked through a hypermedia interface. This archival database is intended to function as a research tool for scholars studying the cartography, landscape perception, cognition, art, and history of Native Americans. This paper presents an overview of the project, a brief discussion of the technology used, sample images and data
MORAL FICTIONS AND MEDICAL ETHICS

Conventional medical ethics and the law draw a bright line distinguishing the permitted practice of withdrawing life-sustaining treatment from the forbidden practice of active euthanasia by means of a lethal injection. When clinicians justifiably withdraw life-sustaining treatment, they allow patients to die but do not cause, intend, or have moral responsibility for, the patient's death. In contrast, physicians unjustifiably kill patients whenever they intentionally administer a lethal dose of medication. We argue that the differential moral assessment of these two practices is based on a series of moral fictions - motivated false beliefs that erroneously characterize withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in order to bring accepted end-of-life practices in line with the prevailing moral norm that doctors must never kill patients. When these moral fictions are exposed, it becomes apparent that conventional medical ethics relating to end-of-life decisions is radically mistaken.
CT computer-optimized high-dose-rate brachytherapy with surface applicator technique for scar boost radiation after breast reconstruction surgery

Abstract Purpose Immediate breast reconstruction has become increasingly prevalent after mastectomy for breast cancer. Postoperative scar boost radiation for the reconstructed breast presents many planning challenges due to the shape, size, and curvature of the scar. High-dose-rate (HDR) surface applicator brachytherapy is a novel and effective method of delivering scar boost radiation. Two cases, one with a saline implant and one with a transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap reconstruction, illustrate the method and advantages of HDR optimization of surface applicators. Methods and materials For 2 patients a mold of the breast was made with Aquaplast sheets. A reproducible system was used for arm positioning. Skin fiducials, including tattoos from external beam planning, were matched to fiducials on the mold. HDR catheters were sited on the mold at 1 cm intervals, with the central catheter situated along the scar. Topographically, both scars demonstrated extreme curvature in both craniocaudal and mediolateral directions. A CT computer-optimized HDR plan was developed, with the reference dose prescribed at the skin surface. The dosimetry was compared to single-field and matched-field electron plans. Results This surface applicator technique provided a uniform skin dose of 100% to the entire clinical target volume (CTV) without hot spots in both patients. The patient position and surface applicator setup were consistently reproducible. The patients tolerated the treatment well with minimal skin erythema. In the single-field electron plan, skin dose was decreased to 50% at the periphery of the scar. Matching fields addressed this depth dose decrement, but resulted in large localized hot spots of more than 200% centrally in each field. Conclusion CT computer-optimized HDR surface applicator brachytherapy provided a reproducible homogeneous method of treating highly curved scars on the reconstructed breast. Electron beam treatment would result in longer and more complex treatments yet still provide a less homogeneous dose than this surface applicator technique.
Primase structure and function

Primase is the ssDNA-dependent RNA polymerase that synthesizes RNA primers during DNA replication. In common with all DNA and RNA polymerases, primase has structural and functional features involved in polymer elongation. As RNA polymerase, it has structural and functional features for initiating chain synthesis. As a primase, it has structural and functional features for initiating chain synthesis on ssDNA. Using amino acid sequence analysis the structure of Escherichia coli primase responsible for binding zinc, at least three magnesium, and DnaB helicase has been identified. One of the magnesium binding motifs resembles the ?active magnesium? motif found in all DNA and RNA polymerases. This motif can be considered to be involved in phosphodiester bond formation. The region with the putatuve zinc binding motif is the most highly conserved portion, including more than 25% of identical residues among bacterial primases. The function of the zinc finger may be to bind ssDNA in a sequence-specific manner. Primase has ?RNAP? motif, a sequence found in all RNA polymerases which may be involved in chain initiation. Many of the observations concerning primer synthesis initiation in vivo have been reproduced by several of the in vitro assay systems. Important among these is that Okazaki fragments are initiated in vivo from d(CTG) most of the time. This trinucleotide initiation specificity has been shown to be an intrinsic property of pure primase in vitro. Using artificial ssDNA templates, primase has been shown to be the slowest and most error-prone polymerase yet studied. The rate-determining step is the first phosphodiester bond formed. Any protein which can influence either the dinucleotide synthesis rate or primase-ssDNA binding affinity will also play a key role in the regulation of primer synthesis initiation.
The Terpsichorean Poem

To modern ears, the resonating metaphor in the phrase “the orchestration of the arts” is exclusively musical, but when we remember that “orchestra” derives from orcheisthai, the ancient Greek verb meaning “to dance,” we realize that to orchestrate the arts is also to invoke the Muse of dance, Terpsichore. Terpsichore’s central role in the coordinated interplay of human creative activity has never flagged, but her continuing relation to her sister Erato, the Muse of lyric poetry, has largely been ignored by scholars, philosophers, and critics. The phrase “the sister arts,” for example, has historically been used to refer only to the arts of poetry and painting. Horace’s memorable locution, ut pictura poesis (as in painting, so in poetry), has often been cited and discussed at length, as has a famous remark attributed by Plutarch to Simonides of Ceos, that poetry is “a speaking picture” and painting “a silent [or mute] poem.”1 Rarely cited or examined, however, are the many comparable statements of creative exchange between poetry and dance, ranging from the common practice of calling something graceful “poetry in motion” to the pronouncements of artists, such as Mallarme’s description of dance as a poem “freed of all the apparatus of writing”2 or Gordon Craig’s assertion that “dance [is] the poetry of action.”3 Inverting the metaphor from “dance is a poem” to “a poem is a dance,” Ezra Pound defined the ideational (as opposed to the musical or visual) proclivities of the poetic mind as “the dance of the intellect among words,”4 and Paul Valery proposed that a poem, when recited, is “a verbal dance.”5 What all these formulations suggest is the existence of fundamental, life-affirming synergies between poetry and dance. Their multiple correlations deserve sustained attention beyond the scope of an introductory paper. A good place to begin, however, is with what should be an obvious parallel: ekphrastic poems (that is, poems that take visual works of art as their subject matter) have their counterpart in poems that take dance as their subject matter. For want of an existing term, I will call such poems “terpsichorean.” Through close readings of selected terpsichorean poems, we may consider three ways in which the poetic art attempts to capture the fullness of life made manifest in the art of dance.
Screening for intimate partner violence in an oncology population.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is most broadly defined as behavior that is abusive and perpetrated by someone who is in a current or previous relationship with the victim (Nelson, Bougatsos, & Blazina, 2012); see Table 1. Intimate partner violence may occur on a continuum ranging from isolated incidents described as situational couple violence to intimate terrorism encompassing multiple aspects of psychological and physical abuse (Johnson, 2008). Although few studies have focused solely on the oncology population, a 2006 study by Modesitt and colleagues states that a staggering 75% of women under treatment for breast, ovarian, endometrial, or ovarian cancer report having experienced some form of intimate partner abuse during adulthood (Modesitt et al., 2006). Results from a 2002 National Violence Against Women Survey confirmed this high rate of incidence (Canady, Naus, & Babcock, 2010).
Mixed Statements: The Safe Harbor's Rocky Shore

In this essay, the author analyzes how to apply the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act’s safe harbor for forward-looking statements to “mixed statements” – in which statements about the past or present are intertwined with statements about the future. The author identifies three categories of mixed statement that are the subject of frequent litigation, demonstrates the courts’ disagreement about their treatment, and – drawing from the statutory text and policy rationales – recommends how the safe harbor should apply to each category of statement. In particular, the author argues that (1) statements of historical or current fact that underlie predictions should not be protected by the safe harbor; (2) statements about the present that necessarily incorporate predictions should be protected by the safe harbor; and (3) statements that contain both present and future components should be bifurcated, with the safe harbor protecting only those portions that predict.
Wrinkling and Collapse of Girth-Welded Lined Pipe Under Bending

Pipelines and flowlines that carry corrosive hydrocarbons are often protected by lining them internally with a thin layer of a corrosion resistant material. In the most economic method, the liner is brought in contact with a carbon steel carrier pipe by mechanical expansion. In applications involving severe plastic bending, such as reeling, such a liner can wrinkle and collapse while the carrier pipe remains intact. A numerical framework for establishing the extent to which lined pipe can be bent before liner collapse was presented in [1,2]. This framework, suitably extended is used here to examine the effect of girth welds on liner collapse. The modeling starts by simulating the expansion process that plastically deforms the two tubes bringing them into contact. Bending plastically the composite structure leads to differential ovalization of the two tubes and detachment of the liner. The girth weld locally prevents this detachment creating a periodic boundary effect in the liner. With increasing bending this local disturbance grows leading eventually to a diamond-shaped liner collapse mode. The problem is first investigated using a 12-inch carrier pipe base case followed by a parametric study of the factors that influence collapse.© 2014 ASME
MRI IN PATIENTS WITH IMPLANTABLE CARDIAC DEVICES AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF A STANDARDIZED PROTOCOL: A QUALITY INITIATIVE PROVIDING PATIENT SAFETY

To investigate the safety of performing MRI examinations in patients with implantable cardiac devices IRB approved HIPAA compliant study following implementation of a standardized protocol including 42 consecutive patients (Mean age 69 years; 61.9% males, 38.2% females) with implantable cardiac
Partial purification and properties of lupus erythematosus cell promoting factor.

SummaryPartial purification of the L-E cell promoting factor from gamma globulin has been achieved with the aid of a cationic cellulose exchanger. The fraction containing L-E activity is eluted at a pH of approximately 7 and a salt concentration of 0.15M. In the process of purification, total protein nitrogen content was reduced 97% nitrogen to phosphorus ratio was reduced from 44 to 14.3 without notable reduction in biologic activity. This fraction possesses the electrophoretic, sedimentation and immunologic properties of a normal gamma globulin.
Gender and Politics in the Henrician Court: The Douglas-Howard Lyrics in the Devonshire Manuscript (BL Add 17492)*

BL Additional MS 17492, the so-called Devonshire Manuscript of Henrician courtly verse, is a prime example of how social and cultural phenomena contributed to early modern manuscript culture. Among the treasures of the Devonshire MS is a series of lyrics that chronicles a fascinating courtly intrigue of the 1530s: the illicit, clandestine marriage of Lord Thomas Howard and Lady Margaret Douglas, the headstrong niece of Henry VIII. After unpacking this historical drama, this essay advances the first substantial literary analysis of these poems by exploring the textual strategies through which Howard and Douglas attempted to negotiate the crown's insistent management of their erotic life. This treatment of the Douglas-Howard lyrics provides new opportunity to consider how the Devonshire MS reflects and refracts the gender dynamics of the contemporary Henrician court.
Cathepsin B Degradable Star-Shaped Peptidic Macromolecules for Delivery of 2-Methoxyestradiol

2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME), a natural metabolite of estradiol, has antiproliferative and antiangiogenic activity. However, its clinical success is limited due to poor water solubility and poor pharmacokinetic parameters suggesting the need for a delivery vehicle. In this study we evaluated cathepsin B degradable star-shaped peptidic macromolecules (SPMs) that can potentially be used to create higher generation and high molecular weight peptidic polymer as delivery vehicle of 2ME. Two peptidic macromolecules having positively charged amine (ASPM) or negatively charged carboxyl surface groups (CSPM) were synthesized and evaluated for their degradation in the presence of cathepsin B and stability in the presence of neutral or acidic buffer and serum. Both ASPM and CSPM degraded rapidly in the presence of cathepsin B. Both were stable in neutral and acidic buffer whereas only CSPM exhibited substantial stability in the presence of serum. Both macromolecules were nontoxic toward breast cancer cells whereas 2ME-containing macromolecules exhibited antiproliferative activity in the micromolar range. Overall, results from the current study indicate that tetrapeptide GFLG can be used to create star-shaped macromolecules that are degraded in the presence of cathepsin B and have the potential to be developed as delivery vehicles of 2ME.
CT Perfusion and MR Perfusion Weighted Imaging in Evaluating the Effect of Vascular Reconstruction on Short-term Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients with Moyamoya Disease

Objective To study CT perfusion(CTP) and MR perfusion(PWI) weighted imaging in evaluating the effect of vascular reconstruction on short-term cerebral blood flow in patients with moyamoya disease. Methods 47 patients with unilateral vascular reconstruction confirmed by DSA in the hospital were selected as the research objects and all received vascular reconstruction. All the patients received CTP and PWI examination before and after operation to obtain parameters, such as cerebral blood volume(CBV), cerebral blood flow(CBF), mean transit time(MTT) and time to peak(TTP). The preoperative and postoperative distribution of cerebral middle artery(MCA) and ipsilateral cerebellar perfusion parameters in control part(r CBF, r CBV, r MTT and r TTP) were compared as well as the differences in preoperative and postoperative relative value of CTP and PWI perfusion parameters. Results Postoperative CT perfusion image showed that CBF, CBV, MTT and TTP in the right distribution area of MCA significantly changed, compared with those before operation. Postoperative PWI perfusion image showed that CBF, CBV, MTT and TTP significantly significantly changed, compared with those before operation. After operation, r CBF and r CBV values in the distribution area of operation side MCA and the control ares were significantly higher than those before operation(P0.05) while r MTT and r TTP were significantly lower than those before operation(P0.05). Conclusion Both of CT perfusion and MR perfusion weighted imaging are the effective observation methods to observe the changes of cerebral blood flow in patients with moyamoya disease, which can be used in clinic.
The HOPS/Class C Vps Complex Tethers High‐Curvature Membranes via a Direct Protein–Membrane Interaction

Membrane tethering is a physical association of two membranes before their fusion. Many membrane tethering factors have been identified, but the interactions that mediate inter-membrane associations remain largely a matter of conjecture. Previously, we reported that the homotypic fusion and protein sorting/Class C vacuolar protein sorting (HOPS/Class C Vps) complex, which has two binding sites for the yeast vacuolar Rab GTPase Ypt7p, can tether two low-curvature liposomes when both membranes bear Ypt7p. Here, we show that HOPS tethers highly curved liposomes to Ypt7p-bearing low-curvature liposomes even when the high-curvature liposomes are protein-free. Phosphorylation of the curvature-sensing amphipathic lipid-packing sensor (ALPS) motif from the Vps41p HOPS subunit abrogates tethering of high-curvature liposomes. A HOPS complex without its Vps39p subunit, which contains one of the Ypt7p binding sites in HOPS, lacks tethering activity, though it binds high-curvature liposomes and Ypt7p-bearing low-curvature liposomes. Thus, HOPS tethers highly curved membranes via a direct protein-membrane interaction. Such high-curvature membranes are found at the sites of vacuole tethering and fusion. There, vacuole membranes bend sharply, generating large areas of vacuole-vacuole contact. We propose that HOPS localizes via the Vps41p ALPS motif to these high-curvature regions. There, HOPS binds via Vps39p to Ypt7p in an apposed vacuole membrane.
Polyamines: Small Molecules with a Big Role in Promoting Virus Infection.

Polyamines play important roles in a range of cellular processes. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Mounce et al. (2016) link polyamine metabolism to the interferon response and demonstrate proviral effects for polyamines. The study points to the pathway as a potential novel pan-viral therapeutic target.
Internet-delivered, family-based treatment for early-onset OCD: A pilot randomized trial

Objective Despite advances in supported treatments for early onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), progress has been constrained by regionally limited expertise in pediatric OCD. Videoteleconferencing (VTC) methods have proved useful for extending the reach of services for older individuals, but no randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have evaluated VTC for treating early onset OCD. Method RCT comparing VTC-delivered family based cognitive-behavioral therapy (FB-CBT) versus clinic-based FB-CBT in the treatment of children ages 4-8 with OCD (N = 22). Pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6-month follow-up assessments included mother-/therapist-reports and independent evaluations masked to treatment condition. Primary analyses focused on treatment retention, engagement and satisfaction. Hierarchical linear modeling preliminarily evaluated the effects of time, treatment condition, and their interactions. "Excellent response" was defined as a 1 or 2 on the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement Scale. Results Treatment retention, engagement, alliance and satisfaction were high across conditions. Symptom trajectories and family accommodation across both conditions showed outcomes improving from baseline to posttreatment, and continuing through follow-up. At posttreatment, 72.7% of Internet cases and 60% of Clinic cases showed "excellent response," and at follow-up 80% of Internet cases and 66.7% of Clinic cases showed "excellent response." Significant condition differences were not found across outcomes. Conclusions VTC methods may offer solutions to overcoming traditional barriers to care for early onset OCD by extending the reach of real-time expert services regardless of children's geographic proximity to quality care. (PsycINFO Database Record
Incentive Mechanisms for Device-to-Device Communications in Cellular Networks with Adverse Selection

The proliferation of highly capable mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, coupled with the introduction of resource demanding mobile services has exponentially increased the demand for wireless access.
Genetic vulnerabilities to prenatal alcohol exposure: Limb defects in sonic hedgehog and GLI2 heterozygous mice.

Background Genetic factors influence the physical and neurobehavioral manifestations of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Animal models allow the investigation of specific genes that confer vulnerability to, or protection from, birth defects associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). The objective of the present experiments was to determine if genetic alterations in the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathways affect the vulnerability to PAE-induced skeletal defects involving the forelimbs and/or hindlimbs. Method Wild-type C57BL/6J female mice were bred with males in which one copy of the Shh or Gli2 genes had been knocked out, to produce litters with both wild-type (+/+) and heterozygous (+/−) embryos. Alcohol doses (two injections of 2.9 g/kg, 4 hours apart) or vehicles were administered starting at gestational day (GD) 9.25, 9.5, or 9.75, a critical exposure time for inducing limb defects. Limb defects were examined at GD 17 using a dysmorphology scale based on abnormalities ranging from increased interdigital spacing to the deletion of multiple fingers and the ulna. Results Alcohol treatment caused a high incidence of forelimb defects, particularly on the right side, that was higher in Shh+/− and Gli2+/− fetuses compared to wild-type fetuses. Dysmorphology scores were also significantly higher in the Shh+/− and Gli2+/− mice. Conclusions These results extend previous findings demonstrating enhanced sensitivity to PAE-induced craniofacial dysmorphology and support the hypothesis that genetic alterations in the Shh signaling pathway influences the vulnerability to alcohol-induced birth defects. Moreover, these results emphasize the importance of understanding the interactions between genes and prenatal exposure to alcohol or other teratogens. Birth Defects Research, 2017.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Posteriori Theory of Covalent Bonding

The self-consistent charge distribution in covalently bonded crystals and molecules is divided into two components, an atomic and a bonding part. Both can be calculated in elemental crystals from macroscopic dielectric properties. The theory is easily generalized to treat heteropolar and anisotropic effects, lattice vibrations, dipole and quadrupole moments, and bond lengths in large molecules.
Spinal Cord Injury

The estimated annual incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI) in the USA is 12,000. Complete versus incomplete injury is determined by the presence or absence of bowel, bladder control function as well as sensory and motor function remaining intact. The level of the SCI can be determined by indentifying the sensory level as well as the most distal functioning muscle. Imaging studies including computerized axial tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are essential to determine the degree of the boney and soft tissue injuries. Management of patients with spinal cord injury requires the diligent work of a multidisciplinary team that includes emergency medical service at the scene, emergency room, spine surgery, and rehabilitation. The main goal of management is to prevent any further damage of the spinal cord and to maximize the remaining sensory and motor functions. Depending on the level of injury, patients can be ventilator dependent (C1–3), dependent in daily living activities (C1–5), and independent in daily living and able to self-transfer and drive a manual car (C6), household ambulation (L1–L2), and community ambulation (L3–5).
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators in chronic kidney disease.

A recent observational study reports that implantable cardioverter defibrillators were not associated with improved survival in patients with heart failure, reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and chronic kidney disease. Further studies are needed to identify which of these high-risk patients are most likely to benefit from this potentially life-saving therapy.
Judaism and its Relevance to Modern Problems

The question we are considering (The Relevance of the World’s Religions) in the form in which we are considering it, already bears the stamp of a secular age. It implies that the scale in which we weigh our respective religions is the scale of contemporary problems. Religions then stand or fall by virtue of their ability to supply answers to problems which are not of their own making and which, indeed, they might not choose to consider as the preeminent problems of human existence. Another age might have faced the question in precisely the opposite way — have accepted the religi¬ous outlook as beyond argument and employed it as a scale in which to weigh contemporary problems.
T-cell function in aging: mechanisms of decline.

There are numerous medical problems that become more prevalent with increasing age. Among these are increased incidence of cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune syndromes (Makinodan & Kay, 1980). The increase in all three of these conditions can be explained by changes in regulation of immune response. Changes in immune response with increasing age have been observed and confirmed repeatedly since 1967 (Pisciotta et al., 1967). These changes include atrophy of the site of maturation of the T cell—the thymus (Weksler et al., 1978), decreased ability to mount a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to various stimuli including tuberculin (Girard et al., 1977), and a generalized decreased ability of lymphocytes to respond to foreign stimuli as exemplified by reduced proliferation (Sohnle et al., 1982). An excellent review article outlining the history of these studies was written by Makinodan and Kay (1980). Although the decreases in T-cell immunity observed in animal models, particularly mice, are fairly consistent, there are a number of conflicting reports in humans, however. There are some scientifically sound explanations for these conflicts. First, the health of the subjects may be a major factor. Changes observed in the elderly may reflect the effects of underlying disease rather than of the aging process. Unless careful consideration is given to the health of individuals, the effect of “age” on immune parameters cannot be evaluated.
Public attitudes toward threatened and endangered species and management options in the Southeastern United States

Abstract Amid rapid population growth, the fate of many threatened and endangered (TE and species attitudes, beliefs about involvement of local communities, and support for the ESA significantly influenced perceptions about HCPs. We conclude that HCPs represent an opportunity to capitalize on support for T&E species and rebuild trust in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by engaging the public in endangered species management.
Modeling wellbore heat exchangers: Fully numerical to fully analytical solutions

Abstract The successful modeling of wellbore heat exchangers requires tight coupling between the formation heat conduction and the wellbore thermal dynamics. In this paper, we developed three representative solutions: a fully numerical solution that treats both formation and wellbore numerically, a semi-numerical solution that treats formation analytically and wellbore numerically and a fully analytical solution that treats both formation and wellbore analytically. The outlet temperature, pressure, and heat flow rate predicted by the three solutions are compared. The results of this comparison indicate that the fully numerical solution is the only accurate solution for the early transient time. After the system reaches quasi-steady state, temperature and heat flow estimated from all three solutions are in very good agreement. The analysis of transient fluid properties and mass flow rates revealed that constant fluid property model cannot accurately estimate the pressure loss for the system. The newly proposed fully analytical solution is applied in an economic analysis problem for calculating the optimal insulation thickness and mass flow rate to minimize the cost of generated power.
The Bully’s Face: Using Art to Understand Bullying in Gifted Children:

This article discusses bullying among the author’s gifted sixth graders within their general education classes, in situations where the gifted were both victim and bully. There are few studies of t...
Final outcomes of radial nerve palsy associated with humeral shaft fracture and nonunion

Little evidence regarding the extent of recovery of radial nerve lesions with associated humerus trauma exists. The aim of this study is to examine the incidence and resolution of types of radial nerve palsy (RNP) in operative and nonoperative humeral shaft fracture populations. Radial nerve lesions were identified as complete (RNPc), which included motor and sensory loss, and incomplete (RNPi), which included sensory-only lesions. Charts were reviewed for treatment type, radial nerve status, RNP resolution time, and follow-up time. Descriptive statistics were used to document incidence of RNP and time to resolution. Independent-samples t-test was used to determine significant differences between RNP resolution time in operative and nonoperative cohorts. A total of 175 patients (77 operative, 98 nonoperative) with diaphyseal humeral shaft injury between 2007 and 2016 were identified and treated. Seventeen out of 77 (22.1%) patients treated operatively were diagnosed preoperatively with a radial nerve lesion. Two (2.6%) patients developed secondary RNPc postoperatively. Eight out of 98 (8.2%) patients presented with RNP postinjury for nonoperatively treated humeral shaft fracture. All patients who presented with either RNPc, RNPi, or iatrogenic RNP had complete resolution of their RNP. No statistically significant difference was found in recovery time when comparing the operative versus nonoperative RNPc, operative versus nonoperative RNPi, or RNPc versus RNPi patient groups. All 27 (100%) patients presenting with or developing radial nerve palsy in our study recovered. No patient required further surgery for radial nerve palsy. Radial nerve exploration in conjunction with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) appears to facilitate speedier resolution of RNP when directly compared with observation in nonoperative cases, although not statistically significantly so. These findings provide surgeons valuable information they can share with patients who sustain radial nerve injury with associated humerus shaft fracture or nonunion. Level III treatment study.
Rural Livelihood Challenges: Moving out of Agriculture

In this chapter, we deliberate upon the role of the non-farm sector in the food systems. We argue that livelihood diversification in rural India would lead to an overall economy-wide increase in productivity, and facilitate swifter structural transformation and poverty reduction. We highlight the role of the non-farm sector for job creation in rural areas, especially along the rural-urban continuum for structural transformation to take place. Policy has not yet leveraged the potential of small towns and the peri-urban spaces as a means to create new job opportunities. We focus on these blurring of the rural-urban distinction which provide an opportunity to diversify the portfolio of economic opportunities available to rural households, thereby enabling greater rural income and improved access to food and nutrition.
A deep learning approach to the Synthetic and Measured Paired and Labeled Experiment (SAMPLE) challenge problem

Convolutional neural networks (CNN) are tremendously successful at classifying objects in electro-optical images. However, with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, off-the-shelf classifiers are insufficient because there are limited measured SAR data available and SAR images are not invariant to object manipulations. In this paper, we utilize the Synthetic and Measured Paired and Labeled Experiment (SAMPLE) dataset to present an approach to the SAR measured and synthetic domain mismatch problem. We pre-process the synthetic and measured data using Variance-Based Joint Sparsity despeckling, quantization, and clutter transfer techniques. The t-SNE (stochastic neighborhood embedding) dimensionality reduction method is used to show that pre-processing the data in the proposed way brings the two-dimensional manifolds represented by the measured and synthetic data closer. A DenseNet classification network is trained with unprocessed and processed data, showing that when no measured data are available for training, it is beneficial to pre-process SAR data with the proposed technique.