cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Toxic Effects With Antiangiogenic Agents Plus Stereotactic Body Radiation in Ultracentral Lung Tumors.

This case series analyzes the association between antiangiogenic agents plus stereotactic body radiation for ultracentral lung tumors and toxic effects.
A Commentary on the Globalization of Foreign Corrupt Practices Law

Foreign and domestic corrupt practices are embedded in many nations of the world. The law of foreign corrupt practices owes its origins primarily to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA). Two decades later, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) adopted a Convention combating bribery of foreign public officials largely applicable to developed nations. In 2005, the United Nations Convention against Corruption expanded the anti-corruption campaign to much of the globe. The British Bribery Act of 2010 eclipsed these forerunners in severity and scope. The OECD and U.N. Conventions, and the British Bribery Act, alleviate the lonely U.S. position on corruption, and magnify the need for extensive compliance programs. Law and practice on foreign corrupt practices has gone global.
Older Adults with Lowest Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes: Results from a Large and Diverse US Cohort (2003–2016) (OR22-06-19)

High rates of early obesity substantially increase lifetime risk of developing diabetes. The objective of this research is to examine the impact of this shift on type-2 diabetes risk and aging in a large and diverse U.S. cohort. A nationally sampled, longitudinal survey, the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study (2003–2007), a collection of sociobiological data, were observed through 2013–2016. We included black and white men and women aged ≥45 without diabetes at baseline for whom follow-up data was available. To assess incident diabetes as a function of age, we used the R package Segmented and examined whether this risk was constant over the whole range of age or whether the risk was non-linear with a threshold inflection value. After inspection of the data, age as a continuous variable appeared to have a piecewise relationship with incidence diabetes. A logistic model to see the effect of age on incident diabetes adjusting for sex and race was run. We estimated changes in odds for developing diabetes in ten years by age using restricted cubic spline knots. We estimated the breakpoint statistically using the psi argument in ‘segmented’. Odds ratios for developing diabetes on both sides of the breakpoint were calculated. Baseline age appeared to show a non-linear association with future diabetes incidence with a breakpoint at age 55 (P = 0.005). After 55 years, incident diabetes declined (slope at age 45–54.9: 0.06; CI: 0.02, 0.10; slope age ≥55: −0.02; CI −0.04, −0.01). Odds ratio for developing diabetes in ten years for those 45–55 years (OR: 1.18, 95% CI 1.02–1.37, P = 0.024) confirm this relationship – those 45–55 years have 18% higher odds of developing diabetes than those over 55. This model estimated an age breakpoint of roughly 55 years of age when younger individuals were observed to have a progressive increase in incident diabetes while those 55 and older had a declining risk. Between 1992 and 2010, mean BMI in the US increased, resulting primarily from accelerated weight gain among persons initially normal and overweight - our findings argue for a careful data driven approach in considering the effects of age on incident diabetes to derive a more accurate prediction for diabetes. Lua Wilkinson is supported in part by NIH grant T32 DK062710.
Optimizing channel selection for seizure detection

Interpretation of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals can be complicated by obfuscating artifacts. Artifact detection plays an important role in the observation and analysis of EEG signals. Spatial information contained in the placement of the electrodes can be exploited to accurately detect artifacts. However, when fewer electrodes are used, less spatial information is available, making it harder to detect artifacts. In this study, we investigate the performance of a deep learning algorithm, CNN-LSTM, on several channel configurations. Each configuration was designed to minimize the amount of spatial information lost compared to a standard 22-channel EEG. Systems using a reduced number of channels ranging from 8 to 20 achieved sensitivities between 33% and 37% with false alarms in the range of [38, 50] per 24 hours. False alarms increased dramatically (e.g., over 300 per 24 hours) when the number of channels was further reduced. Baseline performance of a system that used all 22 channels was 39% sensitivity with 23 false alarms. Since the 22-channel system was the only system that included referential channels, the rapid increase in the false alarm rate as the number of channels was reduced underscores the importance of retaining referential channels for artifact reduction. This cautionary result is important because one of the biggest differences between various types of EEGs administered is the type of referential channel used.
Socioeconomic, Behavioral, and Clinical Characteristics of Persons Living with HIV Who Experience Homelessness in the United States, 2015-2016.

Homelessness is a substantial barrier to consistent, recommended HIV care, access and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and sustained viral suppression, thus increasing the risk for morbidity and transmission. We used data from the Medical Monitoring Project for June 1, 2015–May 31, 2017 to estimate the weighted prevalence of homelessness among persons with diagnosed HIV (PWH) (N = 7665) overall and by selected sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics. Prevalence of homelessness was 8.5%. PWH experiencing homelessness were > 3 times as likely to have needed and not received shelter or housing services (32% vs. 10%), > 4 times as likely to inject drugs (9% vs. 2%), and > 7 times as likely to engage in exchange sex (10% vs. 1%), respectively, compared with PWH who did not experience homelessness. Homelessness was associated with lower HIV care retention, ART dose adherence, and sustained viral suppression. This analysis demonstrates substantial need for enhanced treatment, care, and service delivery for PWH experiencing homelessness. Research has demonstrated that housing assistance programs improve HIV-related outcomes and diminish HIV risk behaviors; therefore, housing assistance for PWH should be prioritized in public health policies and practice.
N-acyl-homoserine lactone-mediated gene regulation in biological control by fluorescent pseudomonads: Current knowledge and future work

An emerging area within biological control is the role of N-acyl-homoserine lactones (N-acyl-HSL's) in the regulation of competitive fitness and pathogen suppression. N-acyl-HSL regulatory systems utilize two conserved proteins which belong to the LuxR/LuxI regulatory family: one is a transcriptional regulator and the second produces the N-acyl-HSL signal. These signals regulate the expression of a diverse range of bacterial traits involved in microbe-microbe and host-microbe interactions. Several fluorescent pseudomonads important in biological control produce N-acyl-HSL signals which regulate genes that encode products involved in pathogen suppression. In contrast to pathogenic bacteria, little is known regarding N-acyl-HSL-mediated gene regulation in biological control bacteria. This minireview will focus on the current status of the role of N-acyl-HSL's in the regulation of phenazine antibiotic and rhamnolipid production in biological control by fluorescent pseudomonads. The potential relevance of this type of regulation in biological control of plant diseases, and areas requiring further research will be addressed.
Low Neuroactive Steroids Identifies a Biological Subtype of Depression in Adults with Human Immunodeficiency Virus on Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy.

Author(s): Mukerji, Shibani S; Misra, Vikas; Lorenz, David R; Chettimada, Sukrutha; Keller, Kiana; Letendre, Scott; Ellis, Ronald J; Morgello, Susan; Parker, Robert A; Gabuzda, Dana | Abstract: BackgroundThe prevalence and mortality risk of depression in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) is higher than in the general population, yet biomarkers for therapeutic targeting are unknown. In the current study, we aimed to identify plasma metabolites associated with depressive symptoms in people with HIV receiving ART.MethodsThis is a prospective study of ART-treated HIV-infected adults with or without depressive symptoms assessed using longitudinal Beck Depression Inventory scores. Plasma metabolite profiling was performed in 2 independent cohorts (total n = 99) using liquid and gas chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry.ResultsParticipants with depressive symptoms had lower neuroactive steroids (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [DHEA-S], androstenediols, and pregnenolone sulfate) compared with those without depressive symptoms. The cortisol/DHEA-S ratio, an indicator of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis imbalance, was associated with depressive symptoms (P l .01) because of low DHEA-S levels, whereas cortisol was similar between groups. The odds of having depressive symptoms increased with higher cortisol/DHEA-S ratios (adjusted odds ratio, 2.5 per 1-unit increase in z score; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-4.7), independent of age and sex. The kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio showed no significant associations.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that altered neuroactive steroid metabolism may contribute to the pathophysiological mechanisms of depression in ART-treated HIV-infected adults, representing a potential biological pathway for therapeutic targeting.
Targeted DNA sequencing analysis to reveal genetic diversity and androgen-receptor alteration in advanced EGFR mutant lung adenocarcinoma.

9526Background: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of death from cancer around the world. Several oncogenic drivers have been identified from large cancer genome projects focused mainly on profi...
Commercial insurance delays direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C kidney transplantation into uninfected recipients.

Introduction The advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has created an avenue for transplantation of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected donors into uninfected recipients (D+/R-). The donor transmission of HCV is then countered by DAA administration during the post-operative period. However, initiation of DAA treatment is ultimately dictated by insurance companies. Methods A retrospective chart review of 52 D+/R- kidney recipients who underwent DAA treatment post-transplant was performed. Patients were grouped according to their prescription coverage plans, managed by either commercial or government pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Results Thirty-nine patients had government PBMs and 13 had commercial PBMs. Demographics were similar between the two groups. All patients developed HCV viremia, but cleared the virus after treatment with DAA. Patients with government PBMs were treated earlier compared to those with commercial PBMs (11 days vs 26 days, P = .01). Longer time to DAA initiation resulted in higher peak viral loads (β = 0.39, R2 = .15, P = .01) and longer time to HCV viral load clearance (β = 0.41, R2 = .17, P = .01). Conclusions D+/R- transplantation offers patients an alternative strategy to increase access. However, treatment can be profoundly delayed by a third-party payer authorization process that may be subjecting patients to unnecessary risks and worsened outcomes.
Variability of glenohumeral positioning and bone-to-tendon marker length measurements in repaired rotator cuffs from longitudinal computed tomographic imaging.

Background To address the need for more objective and quantitative measures of tendon healing in research studies, we intend to use computed tomography (CT) with implanted radiopaque markers on the repaired tendon to measure tendon retraction following rotator cuff repair. In our small prior study, retraction at 1-year follow-up averaged 16.1± 5.3 mm and exceeded 10.0 mm in 12 of 13 patients, and thus tendon retraction appears to be a common clinical phenomenon. This study's objectives were to assess, using 5 longitudinal CT scans obtained over 1 year following rotator cuff repair, the variability in glenohumeral positioning because of pragmatic variations in achieving perfect arm repositioning and to estimate the associated measurement variability in bone-to-tendon marker length measurements. Methods Forty-eight patients underwent rotator cuff repair with intraoperative placement of radiopaque tendon markers at the repair site. All patients had a CT scan with their arms at the side on the day of surgery and at 3, 12, 26, and 52 weeks postoperatively. Glenohumeral position (defined by the orientation and distance of the humerus with respect to the scapula) and bone-to-tendon marker lengths were measured from each scan. Within-patient variation in glenohumeral position measurements was described by their pooled within-patient standard deviations (SDs), and variation in bone-to-tendon marker lengths by their standard errors of measurement (SEMs) and 95% confidence level minimally detectable distances (MDD95) and changes (MDC95). Results The mean glenohumeral orientation from the 5 longitudinal CT scans averaged across the 48 patients was 12.6° abduction, 0.4° flexion, and –0.1° internal rotation. Within-patient SDs (95% confidence intervals) of glenohumeral orientation were 3.0° (2.7°-3.4°) in extension/flexion, 5.2° (4.6°-5.8°) in abduction/adduction, and 8.2° (7.3°-9.2°) in internal/external rotation. The SDs of glenohumeral distances were less than 1 mm in any direction. The estimated SEMs of bone-to-tendon lengths were consistent with a common value of 2.4 mm for any of the tendon markers placed across the repair, with MDD95 of 4.7 mm and MDC95 of 6.7 mm. Conclusion Apparent tendon retraction of 5 mm or more, when measured as the distance from a tendon marker's day of surgery location to its new location on a volumetrically registered longitudinal CT scan, may be considered above the usual range of measurement variation. Tendon retraction measured using implanted radiopaque tendon markers offers an objective and sufficiently reliable means for quantifying the commonly expected changes in structural healing following rotator cuff repair.
A computational investigation of the interstitial oxidation thermodynamics of a Mo-Nb-Ta-W high entropy alloy beyond the dilute regime

High entropy alloys (HEAs) are promising candidates for high-temperature structural material applications. Oxidation is a major factor that must be accounted for when designing such materials and it is thus important to study the oxidation behavior of HEAs to enable the optimum design of next generation materials. In this study, the thermodynamic behavior of interstitial oxygen in a Mo-Nb-Ta-W high entropy alloy was explored beyond the dilute limit. This was accomplished by sampling configurations of the HEA and HEA-oxygen systems from an isothermal–isobaric ensemble using a series of first-principle-based Monte Carlo simulations. It was found that the interstitial oxygen had comparable stability at tetrahedral (T) sites and octahedral (O) sites. The stability of the interstitial oxygen was correlated with the composition of the surrounding local metallic environment. The O-site interstitial oxygen was further found to arrange in ordered clusters and was associated with enhanced mechanical properties as demonstrated by an increase in the bulk modulus with increasing oxygen content. Finally, the solubility of the interstitial oxygen in the alloy was found to decrease with temperature.
Undergraduate Materials Research Initiative: Providing Active Research Experience

The Materials Research Society’s Undergraduate Materials Research Initiative (UMRI) is a program designed to introduce undergraduates to research and the excitement of discovery in materials science and engineering. Through an open competition process modeled after federal funding agencies, participants gain an understanding of the research process from proposal to final report. Each awardee receives a grant for the cost of a moderate research project (maximum $750). In addition, the student researcher receives an award of $250 upon completion of the project. The MRS awarded 20 grants for research performed during the inaugural 1998/99 academic year, and it has awarded 40 grants this academic year. In addition to financial assistance, the MRS also provides positive exposure for both the UMRI undergraduate researchers and their advisors in order to highlight the importance of an active research experience. Past and present UMRI awardees have been invited to present their work in a poster session during this meeting. The educational impact of the program will be explored in terms of applicant demographics and survey responses from awardees. The review process, international aspects, and suggested research timeframes will also be discussed. The basic operating principles of this program have potential application to any academic, industrial or governmental program designed to increase faculty and student interest in undergraduate research. Such programs address the need to attract and retain talented individuals to technical careers.
Rapid stress hardening in the Antarctic midge improves male fertility by increasing courtship success and preventing the decline of accessory gland proteins following cold exposure

Rapid hardening is a process that quickly improves animal performance following exposure to a potentially damaging stress. Features of reproduction can be improved by rapid hardening, but little is known about how rapid hardening may contribute to physiological responses in the cold environment of Antarctica. In this study of the Antarctic midge, Belgica antarctica (Diptera, Chironomidae), we examine how rapid hardening in response to dehydration (RDH) or cold (RCH) improves male pre- and post-copulatory function related to fertility when the insects are subsequently subjected to a damaging cold exposure. Neither RDH nor RCH improved survival in response to lethal cold stress, but male activity following sublethal cold exposure was enhanced. Both RCH and RDH improved mating success of males compared to those subjected directly to a sublethal bout of cold. Egg viability decreased following direct exposure to sublethal cold, but improved following RCH and RDH. Sublethal cold exposure reduced expression of four accessory gland proteins, while expression remained high in males exposed to RCH. Though rapid hardening may be cryptic in males, this study shows that it can be revealed by pre- and post-copulatory interactions with females.
Implementation of Virtual Multiple Mini-Interviews for Fellowship Recruitment.

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-CoV Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has upended health care systems and one of the casualties has been the trainee recruitment process since social distancing and travel restrictions make an in-person experience improbable. At the University of California, Davis (UCD), our Pain Division transitioned our internally validated multiple mini-interview (MMI) process to a virtual environment. METHODS: Applicants signed a confidentiality agreement prior to their interviews and were invited to watch a series of videos orienting them to the process and to the program itself. All faculty raters interviewed candidates using a total of 6 non-medical MMI scenarios with corresponding questions and scoring rubrics through the Zoom platform. Applicants were then welcomed to voluntary informal conversations with the current fellow trainees and faculty. An optional survey was sent to the applicants post-interview to assess their overall satisfaction with the virtual process. RESULTS: The survey analyzed the following using a 5 point Likert scale: Overall Satisfaction, Video Overview Program, Interview Day Details, Video Tour, Web-Based Interviews, Process was Fair, and finally a question on Informed Decision regarding receiving sufficient information to formulate their rank list. All respondents (80% response rate) reported being either satisfied or very satisfied with each of the aspects of the interview process detailed above. CONCLUSIONS: While technical difficulties and confidentiality issues are of concern when offering an entirely web based recruitment, our group was able to transition traditional in-person MMI to a virtual platform using a similar structure which was well-received by applicants.
Accurately predicting optical properties of rare-earth, aluminate scintillators: influence of electron–hole correlation

A theoretical and computational analysis of two approaches to simulate luminescent profiles of rare-earth perovskite scintillators is given. This work establishes the importance of many-particle corrections in the prediction of the principal excitation wavelength, revealing that they lead to differences of nearly one hundred nanometers from the standard Δ-SCF approach. We show the electronic structure of this class of materials uniquely necessitates a many-particle treatment because, in contrast to traditional semiconductors, rare-earth scintillator materials are weakly screened and relatively few bands dominate the radiative decay channels. This makes accounting for long-range electron–hole correlations a central issue in accurate predictions, and we discuss the trade-off between accuracy and performance of various popular approaches. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of available theoretical tools will help define search parameters for new scintillator development.
Prevalence and Quantification of Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Hospitalized Children <6 Years of Age.

OBJECTIVES: Using caregiver report and urinary cotinine measures, we defined the prevalence of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among young, hospitalized children and compared exposure among those hospitalized with pneumonia versus those with acute, nonrespiratory illnesses. METHODS: Children aged RESULTS: Overall, 36% of the 239 enrolled children had reported home SHS exposure, although 77% had detectable levels of urinary cotinine, including 59% with heavy exposure. The highest urinary cotinine level was among children exposed to indoor smoking (7.78 ng/mL, interquartile range 2.93–18.65; P CONCLUSIONS: Among hospitalized young children, reported home SHS exposure was common but substantially underestimated when compared with urinary cotinine levels. The highest urinary cotinine levels were among children exposed to indoor smoking. Future public health interventions, as well as more robust SHS exposure screenings on hospital admission, are needed to reduce the prevalence of SHS exposure among young children.
Age-Related Heterochronicity Of Brain Morphometry May Bias Voxelwise Findings

Increased age has arguably one of the largest known effects on brain structure in healthy adult populations, often affecting different brain regions at different rates, and showing numerous interactions. Modeling age appropriately can be challenging. Tensor-based morphometry produces voxelwise maps of regional inter-subject differences in the brain, often in relation to a single study-specific (3D) template. In studies with a wide age range, this single template may not be sufficient. Here, we create age-specific templates within smaller age bins (4D) to compare to the standard 3D model and evaluate the potential biases. We analyzed the morphological changes of nearly 26,000 subjects from the UK Biobank. We found that age-related biases that existed with a 3D template were minimized with the 4D template. For effective modeling of age across the lifespan, a single template appears suboptimal.
Defibrotide inhibits antiphospholipid antibody-mediated NET formation and venous thrombosis.

Objectives Defibrotide is a heterogenous mixture of polyanionic oligonucleotides currently approved for treatment of transplant-associated veno-occlusive disease. While defibrotide has a known role in limiting endothelial cell activation, some studies have also demonstrated anti-leukocyte properties. We recently revealed a role for neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the thrombotic complications of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Here, we hypothesized that defibrotide might act to mitigate APS-relevant NET formation in vitro and in mouse models. Methods We used in vitro assays and a mouse model to determine mechanisms by which defibrotide inhibits NET formation and venous thrombosis in APS. Results At doses ranging from 1 to 10 μg ml-1 , defibrotide significantly suppressed NET formation from control neutrophils stimulated with IgG isolated from APS patients. Defibrotide increased levels of intracellular cyclic AMP in neutrophils, and its suppressive effects on NET formation were mitigated by blocking adenosine A2A receptor or by inhibiting the cyclic AMP-dependent kinase, protein kinase A. Defibrotide at doses ranging from 15 to 150 mg/kg/day inhibited NET formation and venous thrombosis in a model of antiphospholipid antibody-accelerated thrombosis-an effect that was reduced in adenosine A2A receptor knockout mice. Conclusion This study is the first to demonstrate mechanisms by which defibrotide counteracts neutrophil-mediated thrombo-inflammation inherent to APS.
Macromolecules in Solution

The solvent–solute structure in aqueous solutions of small polar and nonpolar molecules has been described. The view presented of the disturbance of the normal hexagonal structure of liquid water by these small solutes can serve as a model for solutions of macromolecules, which, to a reasonable approximation, may be treated as a chain of small solute molecules attached to each other. Such molecules are polymers. Polymers of a single component or monomer are called homopolymers (A n ). Copolymers are comprised of two or more monomers. Copolymers can be random (AAABBABBBA…) or ordered (ABABABAB or ABCABCABC). Polymers of these types are mainstays of the chemical industry, and their solubility or insolubility in aqueous environments can now be predicted with a high degree of accuracy, allowing proper formulation of the polymerizing mixture.
Modernization Of Tax Administration In Low Income Countries: The Case Of Nepal

Tax administrations in many low-income countries are weak, corrupt, and nontransparent. This inefficiency reflects both the mix of taxes and the faulty design in their structure and in their operational systems. The tax administration is also affected by policies relating to the salary, the attitude, and the reward and punishment system of personnel. The tax administration in low-income countries is driven by detailed revenue targets and not by the tax laws and accounting records. The tax officials are allowed both to earn money ad still meet their revenue targets. Many things are done through negotiation rather than on the basis of information processing. Since the organized business sector provides the bulk of the tax revenue, it is the sector that is hindered by such a system. The development of the modern business sector and globalization of business activities have generated pressure for tax administration reform.
Anomalous penetrant transport in glassy polymers. VII. Overshoots in cyclohexane uptake in crosslinked polystyrene.

Transport of liquid cyclohexane through well characterized, initially glassy, crosslinked polystyrene slabs was investigated as a function of time at 20, 30, 40, and 50 ° C. The samples used were produced by bulk polymerization of styrene and divinyl benzene using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator at 90 ° C for 48 hrs. The samples tested had initial crosslinking ratios, X, between 0.005 and 0.0250 mol DVB/mol styrene, their thickness varied from 0.025 to 0.180 cm, and the aspect ratio was maintained above 10 to achieve one-dimensional transport. A cyclohexane uptake overshoot was observed as a function of time. This overshoot was analyzed as a function of crosslinking ratio and geometric characteristics of the samples and it was attributed to molecular changes of polystyrene during swelling.
Una comparación e interpretación de la relación de los animales en los eventos cosmogónicos relatados en los textos sagrados del Huarochirí y el Popol Vuh

The sacred text Popol Vuh (Mayan) and the Huarochiri (Andean) present structural similarities which are possible to analyze and to interpret, in spite of cultural geographic and historical differences in which the sacred texts were originated. The general role of the animals in the cosmogony evenst described in both texts is similar. Although the animals are invested with a magical character and of connection between the divine and the earthly sphere, its role of subordination under men is clear from the beginning of the times.
Real-time control of a robotic arm by neuronal ensembles

Chapin and colleagues demonstrate that simultaneous recordings from ensembles of cortical and thalamic neurons can be decoded in real time to allow a rat to control a robotic arm. These results may ultimately lead to the design of brain-operated prosthetic devices for human patients.
Privacy Protection and Face Recognition

In this chapter, we describe the privacy issues surrounding the proliferation of digital imagery, particularly of faces, in surveillance video, online photo-sharing, medical records and online navigable street imagery. We highlight the growing capacity for computer systems to process, recognize, and index face images and outline some of the techniques that have been used to protect privacy while supporting ongoing innovation and growth in the applications of digital imagery.
Highly active eddies

The observation that biological activity in eddies can be very high may help explain why measurements of ocean productivity have varied widely.
Computational coupling of moisture diffusion and mechanical deformation in polymer matrix composites

A computationally efficient multiscale–multiphysics model aimed at predicting mechanical response of thermoplastic composites subjected to different levels of moisture was developed. The mathematical model of the coupled moisture-diffusion–mechanical-deformation phenomenon was stated at the microscale, based on the observed experimental data, and then upscaled using a mathematical homogenization approach. A two-way coupling between moisture diffusion and mechanical deformation was introduced by which diffusivity was enhanced by hydrostatic strain, whereas strength and stiffness were assumed to degrade because of moisture ingression, which also gives rise to swelling. The computational complexity of analyzing the two coupled physical processes at multiple scales was reduced via a model reduction scheme for multiple physical processes. The model was validated for 30% by weight filled glass fiber and carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites. The moisture conditioning and uniaxial tension experiments were utilized to identify diffusion and mechanical properties at a fine scale. The identified properties were then used to validate the formulation in the three-point bending test. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antibody production and immunofluorescent characterization of actin and contractile proteins.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses ways of obtaining antibodies to actin and other structural proteins and their use in immunofluorescence microscopy to determine their cytoplasmic distribution. The possibility of obtaining secondary antibodies to proteins contaminating the original antigen preparation can be minimized by purification of the antigen protein by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis prior to immunization. Because proteins migrate on such a gel system primarily according to their molecular weight, the possibility of obtaining antibodies with a molecular weight different from that of the desired antigen is minimized. Using this approach, antibodies are prepared against actin purified from a clone of SV40-transformed 3T3 cells, calf thymus actin, and chicken gizzard actin. These antibodies are then used in direct or indirect immunofluorescence to determine the cytoplasmic distribution of actin. The immunofluorescence technique used to determine the localization of actin is used, unaltered or with minor modifications, to determine the distribution of a number of other cytoplasmic structural proteins, microtubules, and intermediate filaments.
Cardiovascular Professionalism and Ethics in the Modern Era

The health care professions have always enjoyed special trust and position in our society. Patients trust health care professionals (HCPs) to guard their health, inform them, and put a patient's interests above any other consideration. This is one definition of “professionalism.” When HCPs deal with human subjects in research there are basic ethical principles, articulated in the classic Belmont Report of 1979, that have been accepted by all (1). We believe from our experience that the members and staff of the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and the American Heart Association (AHA) strive to do “good” for society in general and for patients specifically. They put patients' interests first, above their own, in an overwhelming majority of situations. There are virtually hundreds of thousands of patient-HCP encounters daily in the U.S. It is assumed that HCPs are trying their utmost to benefit their patients even when the outcome is not optimal or when disease progression cannot be effectively treated. Complications of therapy occur despite the best of intentions. Clinician-scientists and the medical industry develop new therapies to improve the lives of patients living with cardiovascular disease, and society has seen the benefits of this effort over the past several years. Everything in this system works well until or unless a conflict between the HCP's interests and those of the patient results in actions that harm the patient. Then it is assumed that there has been a breach of that respected patient-HCP trust. Many modern situations exist in which the personal interest of the HCP may not be aligned with that of the patient. Ethical choices must be made by the HCP in these situations. Examples include:
Risk Factors for the Development of BK Virus Nephropathy in Renal Transplant Recipients.

The BK polyoma virus has, in recent years, become a significant cause of renal allograft dysfunction and failure. Among 260 adult kidney transplant recipients, those with biopsy-proven BK virus nephropathy (BKVN) were compared with those without BKVN with regard to gender, age, race, rejection episodes, time on dialysis, number of organs transplanted, HLA match, live donor versus deceased donor, cold ischemia time, delayed graft function, cytomegalovirus (CMV) serostatus of donor and recipient, induction therapy, and maintenance immunosuppression. Episodes of rejection (35.7% of patients with BKVN vs 8.5% of patients without BKVN; P = .01), transplantation of >1 organ (35.7% of patients with BKVN vs 9.0% of patients without BKVN; P = .01), positive CMV serology in both donor and recipient (71.4% of patients with BKVN vs 41.1% of patients without BKVN; P = .03), and a greater cumulative dose of daclizumab use at the time of induction (2.24 ± 0.05 mg/kg in patients with BKVN vs 2.03 ± 0.14 mg/kg in patients without BKVN; P = .04) were statistically significant risk factors for the development of BKVN. Those who developed BKVN received a higher mean cumulative dose of rabbit antithymoglobulin for induction therapy, but that difference failed to achieve statistical significance (P = .07).
Protein washdown as a defense mechanism against myocardial edema.

Myocardial edema occurs in many pathological conditions. We hypothesized that protein washdown at the myocardial microvascular exchange barrier would change the distribution of interstitial protein...
Renewal Process Approach to the Theory of Genetic Linkage: Case of No Chromatid Interference

Models are presented in which the distribution of crossovers at a four-four-strand stage of meiosis results from a renewal process. Probability distributions are obtained for the number of crossover events on a meiotic bivalent and for the number of exchange points in random meiotic products. These distributions are found to fit the observed distribution of these variables reasonably well. Using these distributions and assuming no chromatid interference, relations between map distance and the recombination fraction are obtained. These relations give either better or equivalent fit to data when compared to relations that are designed to account for both chromatid and chiasma interference.
Dolichoectasia diagnostic methods in a multi-ethnic, stroke-free cohort: results from the northern Manhattan study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Dolichoectasia (DE) is a vasculopathy that consists of abnormal elongation and dilatation of arteries. The objective of this study is to evaluate the frequency of DE in an unselected population and assess different diagnostic methods. METHODS The Northern Manhattan Study is a multiethnic population based cohort of stroke-free participants. The definition proposed for DE was total cranial volume (TCV)-adjusted arterial diameter ≥2 SD. Other methods studied included visual assessment, unadjusted arterial diameters cutoff, Smoker's criteria and basilar artery (BA) volume. RESULTS A total of 718 subjects were included in the analysis (mean age 71.6 ± 8.0 years, 40% men, 61% Hispanic). Using the TCV-adjusted DE definition, 19% of the sample had at least one dolichoectatic artery. In 7% of the subjects, two or more arteries were affected. The BA was the most common dolichoectatic artery. Reproducibility for arterial diameter measurements was good to excellent (.70–.95), while for visual assessment ranged from fair to good (.49–.79). CONCLUSIONS A TCV-adjusted intracranial arterial diameter ≥2 SD is proposed as a useful DE definition. The variability in the prevalence of DE depending on the methods used underscores the need to agree on a reliable, universal definition of DE.
Worldwide cryogenics - US Cryogenics at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory

Abstract Although applications to energy systems now provide the major motivation for research and development in low-temperature technology, the initial impetus for this work on a large scale at temperatures below 75 K arose from military and defence requirements. During and shortly after World War II, the evident need for cryogens in rocket and nuclear weapons research spawned, mainly in the US, several large cryogenic research organizations. Among the more prominent of these were, first, laboratories at the Ohio State University and at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) and, later, at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) in Boulder, Colorado. The resources of these three laboratories were allied to prepare and operate the cryogenic components for the ‘wet’ hydrogen bomb test in the South Pacific Islands in 1952 (the Boulder cryogenics laboratory was established primarily for this purpose). One result of this cooperation was the creation of a cryogenic industry that ultimately became capable of producing and handling the large amounds of liquid hydrogen, up to the order of 4 000 000 l at a single location, required for the US space programme. From these beginnings as a weapons-related operation, the Cryogenics Laboratory at LASL has substantially changed its directions and expanded its scope.∗ In this article we shall first provide a brief history of LASL's involvement in cryogenics since the weapons work and then outline the Laboratory's current activities in low-temperature physics and engineering.
Milrinone, a selective phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor, stimulatesl lipolysis, endogenous glucose production, and insulin secretion

In vivo effects of milrinone, a selective phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE-3) inhibitor, on plasma free fatty acids (FFA), glucose, and insulin levels were examined in alert rats. In dose response studies, intravenous injection of 1, 5 or 25 micromol/kg of milrinone provoked an immediate increase in plasma concentrations of FFA and insulin, while glucose levels rose only in response to the 5- and 25-micromol/kg doses. During euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic (approximately 450 pmol/L) clamps, intravenous injection of milrinone (25 micromol/kg) completely inhibited insulin suppression of lipolysis and of endogenous glucose production, while having no effect on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (ISGU). To explore the reason why ISGU was not affected, we performed reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with RNA from skeletal muscle, fat, and liver. The results showed that PDE-3B mRNA was expressed in adipose tissue and liver, but it was not detected in skeletal muscle. We conclude that PDE-3 plays a major role in the inhibitory action of insulin on lipolysis in fat and on glucose production in liver and, in addition, seems to be involved in insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells.
Synthesis of RNA lolymerase in Escherichia coli Br growing at different rates

Abstract Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of unfractionated sodium dodecyl sulfate lysates of Escherichia coli B r has been used to investigate the synthesis of β and β′ subunits of RNA polymerase as a function of bacterial growth rate. In succinate (μ = 0.67 doublings/h), glucose (μ = 1.36 doublings/h) and glucose/amino acids (μ = 2.10 doublings/h) supplemented media, the fraction of [ 14 C]leucine-labeled β and β′ protein/total protein was found to be 1.05, 1.31 and 1.56%, respectively. Comparison of these values with recent estimates from this laboratory of the differential rate of synthesis of functioning RNA polymerase suggests an excess of total over functioning RNA polymerase. The significance of these data in reference to the regulation of RNA polymerase synthesis is discussed.
Validity of intravenous drug abusers' self-reported changes in HIV high-risk drug use behaviors

The HIV-1 high-risk drug use behavior of intravenous drug abusers was assessed both retrospectively (for 6 months) and prospectively (for 6 months) via structured interview and urinalysis testing. Subjects were 281 intravenous drug abusers, 146 enrolled in outpatient methadone treatment (Treatment group) and 135 not in treatment (Community group). The Treatment group reported fewer drug injections and less needle sharing and had fewer positive urinalyses for opiates and cocaine than did the Community group. Reported drug injection and needle sharing declined over time, and an increasing proportion of subjects reported abstinence from these behaviors. In contrast to the behavioral reports of subjects, positive urinalyses indicating opiate and/or cocaine use did not decline over time. Almost half (45.8%) of the reported increase in injection abstinence from intake to month six was disconfirmed by urinalysis. In contrast to this large discrepancy regarding reported behavior change, there was good agreement between reported injection abstinence and urinalysis results at single points in time. These data indicate that the validity of the reported HIV-1 risk behavior change of drug abusers may be less than that of reported risk behavior occurrence. The data raise important questions about the validity of reported reductions in high-risk drug use behaviors, and indicate the importance of using biological indicators of HIV-1 risk behavior (such as urinalysis) whenever possible.
Conflict, facilitation, and individual coping styles across the work and family domains

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships between four general coping styles, work and family conflict, and work and family facilitation in a simultaneous equations frameworkDesign/methodology/approach – Data from the MIDUS study were analyzed using two‐staged least squares regression to incorporate the reciprocity between the work and family domains into the model. Hypotheses about direct action, advice seeking, positive thinking, and cognitive reappraisal as they affect work family (W‐F) and family‐work (F‐W) conflict were tested. The impact of the coping styles on work and family facilitation has not been studied before and was also included.Findings – The efficacy of individual coping styles on conflict and the relationships between coping and facilitation were not uniform and varied depending on the source domain. Positive thinking was associated with higher W‐F and F‐W facilitation. Direct‐action was associated with lower F‐W conflict and higher F‐W facilitation. Reappraisa...
Ciliary body melanocytoma with anterior segment pigment dispersion and elevated intraocular pressure.

Purpose To discuss a case in which melanocytoma of the ciliary body presented with widespread pigment dispersion and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Methods A 64-year old woman presented with increased IOP and persistent anterior segment inflammation in her right eye. She had undergone a trabeculectomy for uncontrolled IOP before presentation. Slit-lamp examination, gonioscopy, and ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed a ciliary body mass with extension into the subconjunctiva in addition to widespread pigmentary dispersion in the anterior segment. Enucleation of the right eye was performed for histopathologic evaluation, as a diagnosis of ciliary body melanoma was made on clinical examination. Results Histopathologic findings were diagnostic of a melanocytoma of the ciliary body with necrosis and focal malignant transformation with extension of melanocytoma cells and melanophages into the subconjunctival space, trabecular meshwork, and anterior chamber angle. Conclusion Melanocytoma of the ciliary body is a rare intraocular tumor that may present with pigment dispersion and secondary elevated IOP. Careful examination of the anterior segment is imperative in such cases.
Characterization of chemically- and physically-derived nanophase titanium dioxide

Abstract A solution-based processing method has been used to synthesize nanocrystalline TiO2 powder. By doping with a small amount of Sn, the rutile phase is formed with an average grain size 95% theoretical bulk density while maintaining an average grain size between 30–50 nm. Other pellets have been prepared similarly using powder synthesized by the inert gas condensation process. Here we report on the characterization of both types of nanophase TiO2 by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. While the physically-derived samples have somewhat finer grain sizes, the Sn-doped chemically-derived samples are more readily densified, appear to be highly stoichiometric, and are free of the anatase phase.
The DNA sequence at the T7 C promoter

Restriction fragments of T7 DNA which selectively bind E. coli RNA polymerase have been identified. These include fragments located close to the beginning of gene 1 where according to Minkley and Pribnow (1973) there is a promoter called C. The smallest fragment from this region which binds RNA polymerase has been sequenced. It contains a promoter-like sequence, at an appropriate distance from the sequence TACA which Minkley and Pribnow suggested should lie at the initiation site of C. RNA synthesised in vitro from these fragments has been sequenced. The RNA sequence corresponds to the sequence to the right of the C promoter. The C promoter differs significantly from the A1 A2 and A3 promoters in sequence. Its structure and position suggest it plays a role in T7 infection.
Hydrolysis of stereoisomeric α-tocopheryl acetates catalyzed by bovine cholesterol esterase

The kinetics of the bovine cholesterol esterase-catalyzed hydrolysis of three stereoisomers of alpha-tocopheryl acetate (alpha T-Ac) have been examined in vitro at 37 degrees C in the presence of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine and sodium cholate. In contrast to in vivo results obtained earlier in rats (Ingold, K.U., Burton, G.W., Foster, D.O., Hughes, L., Lindsay, D.A. and Webb, A. (1987) Lipids 22, 163-172), 2R,4'R,8'R-alpha T-Ac (RRR-alpha T-Ac) is hydrolyzed (to form 'natural' vitamin E) more slowly (by a factor of approx. 7) than SRR- (and SSS-)alpha T-Ac. It is concluded that chirality at position 2 plays the dominant role in determining Vmax. The Km values show that RRR-alpha T-Ac is 2.1- and 2.7-times more strongly bound to the enzyme than are the SRR- and SSS-alpha T-Ac, respectively. The reaction is subject to competitive inhibition by the product with RRR-alpha T being 2.3-times as powerful an inhibitor as SRR-alpha T.