cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New Function for Adducin CALCIUM/CALMODULIN-REGULATED CAPPING OF THE BARBED ENDS OF ACTIN FILAMENTS

Adducin is a membrane skeleton protein originally described in human erythrocytes that promotes the binding of spectrin to actin and also binds directly to actin and bundles actin filaments. Adducin is associated with regions of cell-cell contact in nonerythroid cells, where it is believed to play a role in regulating the assembly of the spectrin-actin membrane skeleton. In this study we demonstrate a novel function for adducin; it completely blocks elongation and depolymerization at the barbed (fast growing) ends of actin filaments, thus functioning as a barbed end capping protein (Kcap~100 nM). This barbed end capping activity requires the intact adducin molecule and is not provided by the NH2-terminal globular head domains alone nor by the COOH-terminal extended tail domains, which were previously shown to contain the spectrin-actin binding, calmodulin binding, and phosphorylation sites. A novel difference between adducin and other previously described capping proteins is that it is down-regulated by calmodulin in the presence of calcium. The association of stoichiometric amounts of adducin with the short erythrocyte actin filaments in the membrane skeleton indicates that adducin could be the functional barbed end capper in erythrocytes and play a role in restricting actin filament length. Our experiments also suggest novel possibilities for calcium regulation of actin filament assembly by adducin in erythrocytes and at cell-cell contact sites in nonerythroid cells.
Abstract 16456: Cardiac Troponin Levels Do Not Change in Response to Exercise Stress Testing

Introduction: Exercise stress testing is commonly used to evaluate chest pain patients in the emergency department (ED). However, sensitivity is suboptimal, and the imaging component is both resource-intensive and may result in radiation exposure. A biomarker-based evaluation component for an exercise stress test would have several advantages. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) would increase from pre-exercise to post-exercise among patients undergoing exercise stress testing. We further hypothesized that these “stress-delta” values could differentiate patients with myocardial ischemia from those without. Methods: We prospectively collected demographic and clinical data, including stress test results, from 186 patients who presented to the ED with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome, had ruled out for myocardial infarction by serial contemporary TnT assays and electrocardiography, and were scheduled for exercise echocardiography. Plasma HsTnT (Roche Diagnostics) concentrations were determined at baseline (pre-exercise test) and 2 hours post-stress test. Absolute and relative changes between baseline and post-stress hsTnT values were calculated for patients with and without evidence of myocardial ischemia. All stress tests were interpreted by board-certified cardiologists blinded to stress-delta hsTNT results. Results: The median age of participants was 50 years, 45.2% were men and 41.4% were African American. Eleven patients (5.9%) had myocardial ischemia on stress echocardiography. The median baseline, 2-hour, and absolute and relative stress delta hsTnT values are shown in Table 1. Conclusions: There was no evidence of change in hsTnT values in response to exercise stress testing, regardless of the presence of myocardial ischemia by echocardiographic imaging. Future research should determine if stress-delta values of other biomarkers can identify myocardial ischemia. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
How Does Investor Sentiment Affect the Cross-Section of Returns

Broad waves of investor sentiment should have larger impacts on securities that are more difficult to value and to arbitrage. Consistent with this intuition, we find that when an index of investor sentiment takes low values, small, young, high volatility, unprofitable, non-dividend-paying, extreme growth, and distressed stocks earn relatively higher subsequent returns. When sentiment is high, the aforementioned categories of stocks earn relatively lower subsequent returns.
War and Peace: Russia, Turkey, and the Domestic Dimension of Conflict Perpetuation, Cessation, and Resolution in the Caucasus

English Abstract: The political landscape of the Caucasus region has changed dramatically since the initial eruption of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the late 1980s-early1990s. Among other changes, Turkey and Russia have experienced a rapprochement in the 2000s that places them in a strong position to influence both the political leadership and the mass publics of Azerbaijan and Armenia to open negotiations with a new willingness to consider hitherto unacceptable solutions to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. Because of the domestic political tension-ratcheting knot within both Armenia and Azerbaijan that make concessionary approaches to N-K politically suicidal, external influence is essential. It is precisely here that Turkey and Russia are now – unlike earlier – uniquely and fortuitously positioned: Turkey is arguably in as effectual a position to influence Azerbaijan as Russia is to influence Armenia. Again, the Russian-Turkish rapprochement has changed the calculus of prospective resolution decisively, if not inevitably.Turkish Abstract: Kafkasya bolgesinin siyasi iliskileri Daglik-Karabag sorununun ortaya ciktigi 1980’lerin sonu ve 1990’larin basindan gunumuze buyuk olcude degismistir. Bu degisimlerin arasinda onemli bir yer ise 2000’li yillarin basindan giderek artan Turkiye ile Rusya arasindaki yakinlasma politikasidir. Turkiye ve Rusya’yi Daglik- Karabag sorununun cozumunde ozellikli bir yere konumlandiran dinamikler ise bu iki ulkenin Azeri ve Ermeni siyasi liderligini ve kamuoyunu Daglik-Karabag sorununun cozumu dogrultusunda etkileme gucleridir. Azerbaycan ve Ermenistan’in ic siyasetinin icerisinde bulundugu kor dugum ve Daglik-Karabag sorunu etrafinda gelisen hassasiyet nedeniyle soruna uzlasmaci bir cozum yolunu dis ulkelerin mudahalesine muhtac hale getirmektedir. Tam da bu noktada Turkiye ve Rusya’nin iliskilerinin gelismesi ve Rusya’nin Ermenistan Turkiye’nin ise Azerbaycan uzerindeki etkin rolu bu iki ulkeyi gecmisin aksine cozum surecinde biricik bir konuma yerlestirmistir.
Immunologic characteristics of intestinal lymphoid cells of the guinea pig.

Abstract Populations of lymphoid cells from the gastrointestinal tract of guinea pigs were compared with splenic cells for both morphologic and functional characteristics. Gastrointestinal lymphoid cells were isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes, Peyer's patches, and also from the epithelium and lamina propria of the small intestinal mucosa. Isolated intraepithelial and lamina propria lymphocyte populations contained (a) T cells, B cells, and macrophages; (b) T cells that proliferated to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A; and (c) B cells that proliferated to bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Using inbred guinea pigs, the intraephithelial and lamina propria lymphocytes were shown to contain T cells capable of proliferating to alloantigens in mixed leukocyte culture, and also cells capable of stimulating alloreactive T cells. These studies demonstrate the presence of immunologically reactive T cells and B cells in isolated small intestinal mucosal lymphoid cells from guinea pigs.
Laboratory Recognition of Potential Xenobiotic Respiratory Sensitizers

The immune system functions to establish and maintain homeostasis to protect the body from infectious agents and certain tumours. However, the interaction between the immune system and some xenobiotics can perturb this homeostasis, resulting in adverse health events, including the development of hypersensitivity reactions in genetically predisposed individuals. The dramatic increase in protein-induced respiratory hypersensitivity in the USA and other industrialized nations over the last few decades is presumably the result of changes in environment, lifestyle and/or medical practices. This chapter provides an overview of selected laboratory methods used in the identification and health-risk assessment of potential respiratory sensitizers. We describe animal models of hypersensitivity that have been used to elucidate disease pathogenesis and hazard identification. Methods for animal exposure, sample collection and end-point assessment are also discussed. In addition to in vivo models, the development of in vitro screening techniques and the utility of technologies such as protein and gene expression microarrays, PCR and multiplexing systems in hazard screening are also described. The models and methods discussed in this chapter have been used in our laboratory and others, not only to determine the risks associated with bioaerosol exposure, but also to elucidate disease mechanism and potential intervention targets. Keywords: hypersensitivity; allergy; hypersensitivity pneumonitis; animal models; cell culture
Design and optimization of 3D multilayer balun architectures using the design of experiments technique

The design of experiments approach has been combined with full wave EM simulations for studying the feasibility of the optimization of a multilayer balun. It was found that it was not possible to obtain satisfactory amplitude and phase balances for the entire frequency band, but the optimization can be performed if less stringent requirements are imposed on the imbalances. The amount of required simulations was a small fraction (more than an order of magnitude) with respect to any other optimization approaches.
Detection of Murine Norovirus-1 by Using TAT Peptide-Delivered Molecular Beacons

A TAT peptide-delivered molecular beacon was developed and utilized to enumerate murine norovirus 1, a human norovirus (NoV) surrogate, in RAW 264.7 cells. This allowed the detection of a single infective virus within 6 h, a 12-fold improvement in time required for viral detection and quantification compared to that required by the conventional plaque assay.
Distal radius fractures

The treatment of distal radius fractures has evolved over the past few years because of both new techniques of fracture fixation and bone graft substitutes, as well as a refined appreciation of the factors that most affect functional outcome. Despite the ongoing development of new external and internal fixation devices, satisfactory motion and grip strength can be restored if certain fundamental principles of management and surgical technique are followed
Intraventricular nicardipine for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage related vasospasm: assessment of 90 days outcome.

Delayed cerebral arterial vasospasm is one of the leading causes of death and disability after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). We evaluated the safety of intraventricular nicardipine (IVN) for vasospasm (VSP) in aSAH patients, and outcomes compared with a control population. A retrospective case–control study was conducted for aSAH patients treated with IVN at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, from March 2009 to January 2011. Controls were matched by age, gender, and Fisher grade. Safety was evaluated by the incidence of intracranial bleeding and infection. Outcome was measured by Glasgow Outcome Scale at 30 and 90 days. IVN effects on VSP were evaluated by transcranial Doppler (TCD). Thirteen aSAH patients and one arteriovenous malformation (AVM)-related SAH patient received IVN for VSP and were matched with 14 aSAH patients without IVN therapy for a total of 28 cases. Median dose was 4 mg (range 3–7), and median number of doses was seven (range 1–17). Mean flow velocity decreased after IVN (120.2 and 101.6 cm/s–82.0 and 72.8 cm/s, right and left middle cerebral arteries, respectively). No significant difference was seen in clinical outcomes between controls and cases at 30 days (P = 0.443) and 90 days (P = 0.153). There were no incidences of bleeding or infection with 111 nicardipine injections. IVN appears relatively safe and effective in treating VSP by TCD, but there was no difference in clinical outcomes between nicardipine and control patients at 30 and 90 days. In the future, larger studies are needed to evaluate the clinical outcome with IVN.
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in morbidly obese children with tibia vara

Morbid obesity and its association with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome have been increasingly recognised in children. Orthopaedic surgeons are often the primary medical contact for older children with tibia vara, which has long been associated with obesity, but are unfamiliar with the evaluation and treatment of sleep apnoea in children. We reviewed all children with tibia vara treated surgically at one of our institutions over a period of five years. Thirty-seven patients were identified; 18 were nine years of age or older and 13 of these (72%) had morbid obesity and a history of snoring. Eleven children were diagnosed as having sleep apnoea on polysomnography. The incidence of this syndrome in the 18 children aged nine years or older with tibia vara, was 61%. All these patients required pre-operative non-invasive positive-pressure ventilation; tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy were necessary in five (45%). No peri-operative complications related to the airway occurred. There is a high incidence of sleep apnoea in morbidly obese patients with tibia vara. These patients should be screened for snoring and, if present, should be further evaluated for sleep apnoea before corrective surgery is undertaken.
Morphogenesis of the cranial muscles of Amblystoma punctatum

The development of the cranial musculature of Amblystoma punctatum is described in detail, for both larva and adult. In addition, a brief account of the innervation of each muscle is given. The study of normal development is supplemented by extirpation experiments performed on embryos in early stages of development. These extirpations include the mesodermal head segments, mesoderm of mandibular, hyoid, second branchial, third branchial arches, and somites 1, 2 and 3. The eye muscles are found to develop from the mesodermal head segments in precisely the same manner as in other classes of vertebrates; head segmentation of Amphibia, though less accentuated, is shown to be homologous with that of other classes. The remaining extirpation experiments corroborate, in general, the finding from normal development studies. An attempt is made to summarize in tabular form the prospective fate of the prechordal plate and parachordal mesoderm, the two earliest divisions of the head mesoderm, with regard to their complete muscle derivatives.
Numerical Simulations of Neutron Effects on Bipolar Transistors

A detailed device model that has been verified by comparisons with experimental measurements on unirradiated, state-of-the-art bipolar devices has been modified to include the effects of neutron radiation on carrier lifetimes, concentrations, and mobilities. Numerical experiments on the degradation due to neutron fluences in the dc common emitter gains for bipolar transistors with submicrometer emitter and base widths are given and compared in general terms with the few published measurements.
The effects of legal and extra-legal characteristics on organizational victim decision-making

A variety of factors influence decisions to mobilize formal social control. With few exceptions, studies considering the effects of legal (e.g., case specific) and extra legal (e.g., offender and victim characteristics) variables have concentrated on sentencing under criminal law, an outcome subject to sample selection bias given that the majority of cases never reach this stage. Analyses of earlier decision points (e.g., victim calls for service, police use of force, and arrest), have focused on street crime and single jurisdictions. A neglected research context is the organizational victim’s response to employee fraud. Using a sample of 663 fraud cases, this study applies Black’s (The behavior of law, San Diego, Academic, 1976) theory of law to victim organizations’ decisions to mobilize formal social control. Results demonstrate that extralegal characteristics weigh heavily on decisions to initiate both criminal and civil outcomes. Specifically, offenders’ education and age decreased the odds of criminal legal mobilization. Mobilization of criminal law was also more likely by government agencies. Implications for Black’s theory and directions for further research are discussed.
Noradrenergic modulation of noxious heat-evoked fos-like immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of the rat sacral spinal cord.

This tail-flick withdrawal reflex commonly is used to study spinal nociceptive mechanisms; noradrenergic agonists administered intrathecally inhibit the tail-flick- reflex in a dose-dependent manner. The objectives of the present study, were: (1) to use fos-like immunoreactivity as a marker for neuronal activity to examine the population of neurons in the spinal cord dorsal horn that are engaged by activation of nociceptive tail afferents, and (2) to determine whether fos-like immunoreactivity can be modulated by intrathecally administered alpha adrenoceptor agonists. Neurons demonstrating heat-evoked fos-like immunoreactivity were identified bilaterally in the sacral spinal cord in superficial and deep dorsal horn laminae. Heat-evoked fos-like immunoreactivity was inhibited dose-dependently by intrathecal norepinephrine (NE). The inhibition was attenuated significantly by: (1) phentolamine (PHEN), a nonselective alpha adrenoceptor antagonist; (2) yohimbine (YOH), an alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist; and (3) prazosin (PRAZ), an alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonist. Thus, both spinal alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoceptors mediate the inhibition of heat-evoked fos-like immunoreactivity produced by intrathecal NE. ST-91, an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, also inhibited significantly the expression of fos-like immunoreactivity; the inhibition was antagonized by YOH. In the absence of noxious heat, intrathecal NE dose-dependently evoked the expression of fos-like immunoreactivity in the superficial dorsal horn, which was antagonized by PHEN and PRAZ, but not by YOH, suggesting that the effect is mediated by spinal alpha-1 adrenoceptors. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Confocal microscopy and 3-D reconstruction of the cytoskeleton of Xenopus oocytes.

Xenopus oocytes contain a complex cytoskeleton composed of three filament systems: (1) microtubules, composed of tubulin and at least three different microtubule-associated proteins (XMAPs); (2) microfilaments composed of actin and associated proteins; and (3) intermediate filaments, composed of keratins. For the past several years, we have used confocal immunofluorescence microscopy to characterize the organization of the oocyte cytoskeleton throughout the course of oogenesis. Together with computer-assisted reconstruction of the oocyte in three dimensions, confocal microscopy gives an unprecedented view of the assembly and reorganization of the cytoskeleton during oocyte growth and differentiation. Results of these studies, combined with the effects of cytoskeletal inhibitors, suggest that organization of the cytoskeleton in Xenopus oocytes is dependent upon a hierarchy of interactions between microtubules, microfilaments, and keratin filaments. This article presents a gallery of confocal images and 3-D reconstructions depicting the assembly and organization of the oocyte cytoskeleton during stages 0-VI of oogenesis, a discussion of the mechanisms that might regulate cytoskeletal organization during oogenesis, and speculates on the potential roles of the oocyte cytoskeleton during oogenesis and axis formation. Microsc. Res. Tech. 44:388–414, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Abstract 1181: The Apoptosis repressor with a CARD domain (ARC) is a direct HIF1 target gene and promotes survival and proliferation of VHL deficient renal cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA The induction of hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) is essential for the adaptation of tumor cells to a low oxygen environment. We found that the expression of the apoptosis inhibitor ARC was induced by hypoxia in a variety of cancer cell types and its induction is primarily HIF1 dependent. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and reporter assays also indicate that the ARC gene is regulated by direct binding of HIF1 to a hypoxia response element (HRE) located at -190 bp upstream of the transcription start site. HIFs play an essential role in the pathogenesis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) under normoxic conditions, through the loss of the Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) gene. Accordingly, our results show that ARC is not expressed in normal renal tissue, but is highly expressed in 65% of RCC tumors, which also express high levels of Carbonic Anhydrase IX (CAIX), a HIF1-dependent gene. Compared to controls, ARC-deficient RCCs exhibited decreased colony formation and increased apoptosis in vitro. In addition, loss of ARC resulted in a dramatic reduction of RCC tumor growth in SCID mice in vivo. Thus, HIF-mediated increased expression of ARC in RCC can explain how loss of VHL can promote survival early in tumor formation. Citation Format: Olga V. Razorenova, Laura Castellini, Renata Colavitti, Laura E. Edgington, Monica Nicolau, Xin Huang, Barbara Bedogni, Edward M. Mills, Matthew Bogyo, Amato J. Giaccia. The Apoptosis repressor with a CARD domain (ARC) is a direct HIF1 target gene and promotes survival and proliferation of VHL deficient renal cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1181. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1181
Shadow Computing: An energy-aware fault tolerant computing model

The current response to fault tolerance relies upon either time or hardware redundancy in order to mask faults. Time redundancy implies a re-execution of the failed computation after the failure has been detected, although this can further be optimized by the use of checkpoints these solutions still impose a significant delay. In many mission critical systems hardware redundancy has traditionally deployed in the form of process replication to provide fault tolerance, avoiding delay and maintaining tight deadlines. Both approaches have drawbacks, re-execution requiring additional time and replication requiring additional resources, especially energy. This forces the systems engineer to choose between time or hardware redundancy, cloud computing environments have largely chosen replication because response time is often critical. In this paper we propose a new computational model called shadow computing, which provides goal-based adaptive resilience through the use of dynamic execution. Using this general model we develop shadow replication which enables a parameterized tradeoff between time and hardware redundancy to provide fault tolerance. Then we build an analytical model to predict the expected energy savings and provide an analysis using that model.
Analysis of a Hybrid Dual-Combustion-Chamber Solid-Propellant Gas Generator

Solid-propellantgas generators (SPGGs) have a number of aerospace applications, includingmunitionsdispersion, pilot emergency escape systems, submarinemissile launching,powering actuators and valves, and short-term power supply. Recently, the increased demand for so-called smart automotive airbags has increased the need for SPGG designs capable of real-time, tailorable output. Dual-combustion-chamber gas generators provide several distinct advantagesover single-combustor units in systems where optimumperformance is needed at several operating conditions. The objective of this work is to evaluate the attainable performance characteristics of a proposed dual-combustion-chambergas generator. The work includes a simulation of the transient, thermochemical events associated with the  ring of an SPGG. The simulations also include the dynamics of coupled events such as ignition, heterogeneous combustion, and mass discharge. The baseline gas generator being simulated in this work is a hybrid SPGG in ator with two combustion chambers. Studies are made of the distribution of propellant between combustion chambers and the times at which the propellant within each combustion chamber is  red.
Lamb wave radiation from plate termination in a liquid

Abstract The liquid wedge method is used to excite leaky Lamb waves on an aluminium plate while the plate is immersed in water. The excitation occurs near the end of the plate so that sonic energy of the excited mode radiates into the liquid. A Schlieren method is used to observe the radiation pattern and a correlation is made between the radiation lobe structure and the symmetric or antisymmetric nature of the excited mode. Theoretical calculations of the transfer of energy from the plate to the liquid are made and agreement between theory and experiment is obtained.
Electrical characteristics of diodes fabricated with organic semiconductors

Organic diodes have been fabricated using 1,4,5,8-naphthalene-tetracarboxylic-dianhydride (NTCDA), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDT), doped with poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and polypyrrole (PPy) by simple and low-cost spin coating and thermal evaporation techniques. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics have been investigated at room temperature, showing the breakdown voltages of about 9 V and the rectification ratios in excess of 4.1 × 103 for both NTCDA/PPy and NTCDA/(PEDT/PSS) diodes. The significant influence of acetone treatment on I-V characteristics is observed for NTCDA/PPy diodes.
Single-crystal electrooptic thin-film waveguide modulators for infrared laser systems.

Wideband, low power electrooptic modulators of optical waveguide structure have been developed for infrared laser applications. They allow a reduction in driver power of two orders of magnitude below that of conventional devices. The modulators are composed of very thin layers of single-crystal GaAs, bounded on both sides by evaporated films of lower refractive index material: CdTe or As2S3. Minimum propagation loss, measured at 10.6 μm, was less than 1 dB/cm for TE modes and less than 5 dB/cm for TM modes. A 20-pF modulator exhibited a pulse response rise time of 3 nsec and showed useful frequency response to beyond 200 MHz. The basic capability for advanced design modulators of this type to operate at 10 μm with driver powers of less than 25 mW/MHz for 50% modulation depth is shown.
A specific amino acid binding site composed of RNA

A specific, reversible binding site for a free amino acid is detectable on the intron of the Tetrahymena self-splicing ribosomal precursor RNA. The site selects arginine among the natural amino acids, and prefers the L- to the D-amino acid. The dissociation constant is in the millimolar range, and amino acid binding is at or in the catalytic rG splicing substrate site. Occupation of the G site by L-arginine therefore inhibits splicing by inhibiting the binding of rG, without inhibition of later reactions in the splicing reaction sequence. Arginine binding specificity seems to be directed at the side chain and the guanidino radical, and the alpha-amino and carboxyl groups are dispensable for binding. The arginine site can be placed within the G site by structural homology, with consequent implications for RNA-amino acid interaction, for the origin of the genetic code, for control of RNA activities, and for further catalytic capabilities for RNA.
Association of cardiac autonomic function measures with severity of sleep-disordered breathing in a community-based sample

The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that spectral indices of heart rate variability, such as high-frequency power (HFP), low-to-high frequency power (LHR), and their respiration-adjusted counterparts (HFPra, LHRra) are correlated with severity of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), as quantified by the respiratory disturbance index (RDI). A total of 436 subjects, non-smoking, normotensive, and free of cardiovascular disease and diabetes were selected from the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS). Of these, 288 records with sufficiently high quality electrocardiogram signals were selected for further analysis [males/females: 221/67; age: 46.1 to 74.9 years; body mass index (BMI): 21.5 to 46.4 kg m(-2); 0.3 < RDI < 85.0(-1)]. From each polysomnogram, the respiration channels (thoracic and abdominal) and R-R interval (RRI) derived from the electrocardiogram were subjected to spectral analysis and autoregressive moving average modeling in consecutive 5-min segments. After adjusting for age and BMI, mean RRI was found to be negatively correlated with RDI in men in all sleep-wake states (all P < 0.001). HFP and HFPra were negatively correlated with RDI in men only during wakefulness (all P < 0.01). In women, LHR and LHRra were not correlated with RDI during wakefulness, but were positively correlated during non-rapid eye movement Stage 1 and 2 sleep (all P < 0.01). These findings suggest that the indices of cardiac autonomic control are correlated with SDB severity, but gender and state affect the nature of these correlations. In both genders, however, vagal modulation of heart rate increases while sympathetic modulation decreases from wakefulness to sleep.
Synthetic biology: It's an analog world

The first synthetic genetic circuits to use analog computation have been developed. These circuits involve fewer components and resources, and can execute more complex operations, than their digital counterparts. See Letter p.619 The design of novel genetic control systems for synthetic biology is dominated by digital logic. This is necessarily a complex arrangement. Now Timothy Lu and colleagues have harnessed analog building-blocks found in natural cells to perform arithmetic operations in the logarithmic domain. Such analog circuits — which could be integrated with digital — should make it possible to use fewer components to implement complex computations that require wide dynamic range in biosensing.
Love imagined: Working models of future romantic attachment in emerging adults

An attachment theory perspective guided this investigation of emerging adults' (N = 174) expectations regarding relational patterns in their future long-term romantic relationships. Participants' working models of future romantic attachment were assessed by having them respond to an attachment measure with respect to an imagined future committed relationship. Dimensions of future attachment predicted participants' anticipated relationship dynamics in the imagined relationship, their focus on closeness and abandonment when writing about having a future long-term relationship, and their change in state anxiety over the course of the study. These effects of future attachment remained statistically significant after controlling for current global attachment, parental caregiving sensitivity, and conflict between parents; most of these effects were not moderated by current dating status.
Development of a New Hydraulic Power Control Course in the Mechanical Engineering Program at SDSU

The national Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam is a critical assessment measure used by some ABET-accredited Mechanical Engineering programs to evaluate quality of their programs and report to ABET. Fluid power transmission and control is one key subject area covered in the FE exam. Before 2012, there was no course in the Mechanical Engineering (ME) curriculum to address this at South Dakota State University (SDSU). This had a direct impact on the metrics used for program evaluation. An instructional project was carried out to meet this need. This paper presents design and implementation of the instructional project. The project includes development of a new hydraulic power control course and establishment of new hydraulic power control lab. The authors intend to share experiences, myths, and lessons learned during this project. The paper also presents the steps taken by the authors to accomplish this instructional project from start to the final course delivery. It includes students’ learning experiences, pedagogical concepts, development of lab assignments, difficulties faced and how they were handled, software used, and existing issues for future work.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Tracheostomy management in the chronically ventilated patient.

Patients who require long-term mechanical ventilation typically have progressed through multiple phases of an illness, each of which needs thoughtful decisions regarding airway support. Most ventilator-dependent patients first undergo respiratory stabilization with a translaryngeal endotracheal tube in a critical care setting. At some time during the course of their disease, translaryngeal tubes are converted to a tracheostomy to provide long-term airway access for ventilatory support. Once patients achieve stabilization of their critical illnesses sufficient to allow transfer to a chronic ventilator setting, the importance of expert care in airway support does not diminish. In fact, as critically ill patients improve and achieve higher levels of mentation, their need for skilled airway management to enhance comfort, mobility, and an ability to communicate increases. Such patients benefit from a systematic approach to airway management that provides the greatest opportunity for a high degree of psychologic well-being and a successful outcome of weaning from ventilatory support. This article reviews approaches to managing artificial airways for patients who require long-term mechanical ventilation.
The impact of atypia/follicular lesion of undetermined significance on the rate of malignancy in thyroid fine-needle aspiration: evaluation of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology.

Background The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (BSRTC) was developed to refine definitions and improve clinical communication and management. This study evaluates the impact of the BSRTC in a large cohort of patients undergoing thyroidectomy before and after its adoption at a single institution. Methods The records from 469 patients in the pre-BSRTC (n = 187) and post-BSRTC (n = 282) periods were reviewed. Cytologic categories in group 1 included nondiagnostic, benign, follicular/Hurthle neoplasm, suspicious for malignancy, and malignant. Atypia/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS) was included in group 2. The percentage of each fine-needle aspiration (FNA) category, malignancy rate per category, and rate of AUS/FLUS utilization were calculated. Results Group 1 FNA results included 3% (n = 6) nondiagnostic, 48% (n = 89) benign, 17% (n = 32) follicular/Hurthle, 13% (n = 25) suspicious for malignancy, and 19% (n = 35) malignant. Group 2 results included 4% (n = 11) nondiagnostic, 34% (n = 96) benign, 29% (n = 82) AUS/FLUS, 12% (n = 33) follicular/Hurthle, 10% (n = 29) suspicious for malignancy, and 11% (n = 31) malignant. The rate of cancer changed from 25% to 36% for follicular/Hurthle lesions. AUS/FLUS was utilized in 154 of 1095(14%) FNAs reviewed with a malignancy rate of 20%. Conclusion The new AUS/FLUS category was used more often than recommended (14%) with a higher than expected rate of malignancy (20%). Rigorous cytopathology to histopathology correlation is needed to accurately reflect the malignancy rates of the different BSRTC categories at each individual institution. Clinical management should be tailored based on such institutional findings.
Current status and future needs in craniofacial imaging

Authors– Mah J, Hatcher D Imaging is a keystone in understanding and delivery of craniofacial health care. Recent developments in imaging have brought forth many diverse technologies and approaches. This review provides the current status of methods in craniofacial imaging and discusses future needs and directions. New developments in three-dimensional dental and skeletal imaging, as well as three-dimensional facial image acquisition and animation of jaw movement and facial expression are reviewed. Visualization and convergence of the data from these technologies for construction of patient-specific models is described. Insights on how these technologies and approaches could impact research, education as well as the future of craniofacial health care will be discussed.
S-pixyl analogues as photocleavable protecting groups for nucleosides.

Several analogues of the 9-phenylthioxanthyl (S-pixyl) photocleavable protecting group have been synthesized, containing substituents on the 9-aryl ring and on the thioxanthyl backbone. Each analogue protected the 5‘-hydroxy moiety of thymidine in good to excellent yield. The protected substrates were deprotected in 1:1 water:acetonitrile with irradiation at 300 nm, resulting in recovered thymidine in excellent yield, except for the nitro-substituted analogues which gave substantially lower yields. Substrates with 2,7-dibromo or 3-methoxy substitution on the thioxanthyl backbone were also deprotected efficiently with irradiation at 350 nm. Shorter irradiation times were observed in the less nucleophilic solvent mixture of 1:9 trifluoroethanol:acetonitrile, with no formation of secondary photooxidation products. Photodeprotection with high yields was also achieved in the absence of solvent, with no secondary photoproducts.
Salvador Minuchin's structural family therapy and its application to multicultural family systems

The structural approach to family therapy offers a useful perspective to the nurse therapist working with families with various cultural backgrounds. Asian and Hispanic families are examined to illustrate using Minuchin's approach to family counseling. The rationale for the structural approach is explored, and specific therapeutic techniques for practice are described. Nurses who work with culturally diverse families might profit by using this approach.
BMT Outcomes for Rare Pediatric Diseases at the Medical University of South Carolina

s / Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 21 (2015) S206eS239 S225 immunosuppressants at 2 yrs post transplant). Two patients experienced graft failure within three months and a third one within 14 months post transplant (two of whom underwent successful second transplants 12 mos and 18 mos later while the third elected to not undergo retransplantation and is now transfusion dependent). 6 patients became durably engrafted and remain disease-free. Since 3 of the 9 patients rejected their grafts, the conditioning regimen was modified to include the same three agents but with alemtuzumab given between days -21 and -19. Results in five subsequent pts have yielded no instances of graft rejection. Due to its relatively long half-life (15-21 days), alemtuzumab, when given close to the day of stemcell infusion,mayreduce the likelihoodof acuteGvHDbut may also lead to in-vivo T-cell depletion of the donor graft, thereby increasing the probability of graft loss. In this small study, this latter effect outweighed the possible benefit of reducing the likelihoodof acuteGvHD.Thismaybeparticularly true in this patient populationwhich comes to transplantation with an intact, and often sensitized, immune system.
Health related quality of life assessments for patients with bladder cancer.

ABSTRACTPurpose: We review the current data regarding the impact of various therapeutic alternatives for bladder cancer on health related (HR) quality of life (QOL).Materials and Methods: A MEDLINE search of the English literature from1966 to November 2003 using the search terms “cystectomy,” “intravesical therapy” or “bladder cancer” and quality of life yielded 33 articles. Studies of metastatic disease were excluded. The method of evaluation of quality of life in each article was assessed, particularly the instruments used and the population studied.Results: The majority of these reports (20 of 33) compared the impact of different types of urinary diversion on quality of life. The reports provided conflicting data, with several studies showing no significant difference in overall QOL. Some studies revealed a greater improvement in HRQOL with time following continent diversion. Only 2 reports discussed evaluation of HRQOL during intravesical therapy. Either an established standardized QOL instrument or a...
Psychosocial Factors and Prediction of Headaches in College Adults

Migraine is a common, complex neurophysiologic headache disorder. Most migraineurs have neither been diagnosed by physicians nor effectively treated. The clinical diagnosis of migraine is based on headache characteristics and associated symptoms, particularly nausea and vomiting. Pharmacologic symptomatic treatment is aimed at reversing, aborting, or reducing pain and the accompanying symptoms of an attack. Individualization of therapy is essential in determining whether symptomatic and/or preventive treatment for migraine attacks are needed. The presence of nausea and vomiting must be considered in developing a treatment plan. The patient's priorities and preferences regarding therapy must be taken into account. The goals of symptomatic treatment are to relieve pain and the associated symptoms and to optimize the patient's ability to function normally. Multiple treatment strategies utilizing combinations of 5-hydroxytryptamine1 (5-HT1) agonists (ergotamine tartrate [ET], sumatriptan, and dihydroergotamine [DHE]) with simple analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and opiates provide effective treatment for most attacks of moderate to severe migraine. Treatment strategies are based on the frequency, nature, and severity of attacks. Patients with intractable, acute migraine may require hospitalization and aggressive parenteral treatment. Wider use of currently available diagnostic criteria and symptomatic medications should improve the diagnosis and treatment of migraine.
Teratogenicity of Hycanthone in Mice

HYCANTHONE methanesulphonate, a drug believed to be effective in the treatment of schistosomiasis, is being administered to many individuals in Africa and Brazil during extensive field studies (therapeutic doses are 3–4 mg/kg). Studies have shown that hycanthone is mutagenic in bacterial1 and mammalian cell2 systems. This demonstrated mutagenic activity, plus the daily administration of the drug to large numbers of people, suggested that hycanthone methanesulphonate be evaluated for teratogenic capabilities.
Patient-specific arterial fluid-structure interaction modeling of cerebral aneurysms

We address the computational challenges related to the extraction of the arterial-lumen geometry, mesh generation and starting-point determination in the computation of arterial fluid―structure interactions (FSI) with patient-specific data. The methods we propose here to address those challenges include techniques for constructing suitable cutting planes at the artery inlets and outlets and specifying on those planes proper boundary conditions for the fluid mechanics, structural mechanics and fluid mesh motion and a technique for the improved calculation of an estimated zero-pressure arterial geometry. We use the stabilized space-time FSI technique, together with a number of special techniques recently developed for arterial FSI. We focus on three patient-specific cerebral artery segments with aneurysm, where the lumen geometries are extracted from 3D rotational angiography.
Impurity Sources and Accumulation in Ohmically Heated ISX-B Discharges

Spectroscopic observations on the ISX-$B$ (impurity study experiment) tokamak indicate that most of the metallic impurities come from the wall in Ohmically heated discharges in which the plasma is kept centered in the vacuum chamber. These impurities appear to accumulate during the quasi-steady-state part of the discharge if the working gas is deuterium but not if it is hydrogen.
Impact of spot size on plan quality of spot scanning proton radiosurgery for peripheral brain lesions.

Purpose: To determine the plan quality of proton spot scanning (SS) radiosurgery as a function of spot size (in-air sigma) in comparison to x-ray radiosurgery for treating peripheral brain lesions. Methods: Single-field optimized (SFO) proton SS plans with sigma ranging from 1 to 8 mm, cone-based x-ray radiosurgery (Cone), and x-ray volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans were generated for 11 patients. Plans were evaluated using secondary cancer risk and brain necrosis normal tissue complication probability (NTCP). Results: For all patients, secondary cancer is a negligible risk compared to brain necrosis NTCP. Secondary cancer risk was lower in proton SS plans than in photon plans regardless of spot size (p = 0.001). Brain necrosis NTCP increased monotonically from an average of 2.34/100 (range 0.42/100–4.49/100) to 6.05/100 (range 1.38/100–11.6/100) as sigma increased from 1 to 8 mm, compared to the average of 6.01/100 (range 0.82/100–11.5/100) for Cone and 5.22/100 (range 1.37/100–8.00/100) for VMAT. An in-air sigma less than 4.3 mm was required for proton SS plans to reduce NTCP over photon techniques for the cohort of patients studied with statistical significance (p = 0.0186). Proton SS plans with in-air sigma larger than 7.1 mm had significantly greater brain necrosis NTCP than photon techniques (p = 0.0322). Conclusions: For treating peripheral brain lesions—where proton therapy would be expected to have the greatest depth-dose advantage over photon therapy—the lateral penumbra strongly impacts the SS plan quality relative to photon techniques: proton beamlet sigma at patient surface must be small (<7.1 mm for three-beam single-field optimized SS plans) in order to achieve comparable or smaller brain necrosis NTCP relative to photon radiosurgery techniques. Achieving such small in-air sigma values at low energy (<70 MeV) is a major technological challenge in commercially available proton therapy systems.