cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two aspects of the clinical and humanistic burden of systemic lupus erythematosus: mortality risk and quality of life early in the course of disease.

Objective To evaluate mortality risk and predictors among recently diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods The vital status of 265 SLE patients and 355 controls enrolled in the Carolina Lupus Study (median time since diagnosis 13 months) was determined ∼5 years after enrollment. We also assessed the utility of an 8-item quality of life instrument, derived from the standard 36-item Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36, as an additional measure of disease impact. Results Five years after diagnosis, 9.7% of patients compared with 0.3% of controls had died (P < 0.0001). Increased mortality risk was seen among older patients (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.01–1.06 per 1-year increment in age) and among men, African Americans, patients with lupus nephritis, and patients with anti–double-stranded DNA antibodies (adjusted HR ∼2.0 for each of these factors). In addition, patients who did not provide a blood sample at study enrollment experienced increased mortality risk (age-, sex-, and race-adjusted HR 3.7, 95% CI 1.5–9.1). Similar results were seen in analyses limited to time from study enrollment. Physical component scores of the quality of life measure were 7.7 points lower (P < 0.0001) and mental component scores were 1.8 points lower (P = 0.07) in patients compared with controls. Conclusion The mortality risk among SLE patients is significant, particularly among African Americans, even early in the disease process and even with currently available treatments. Differences between cases and controls in health-related quality of life using the Short Form 8 also demonstrate the multidimensional burden of SLE.
Myocardial function in rat genetic models of low and high aerobic running capacity

We recently evaluated treadmill aerobic running capacity in 11 inbred strains of rats and found that isolated working left ventricular function correlated (r = 0.86) with aerobic running capacity. Among these 11 strains the Buffalo (BUF) hearts produced the lowest and the DA hearts the highest isolated cardiac output. The goal of this study was to investigate the components of cardiac function (i.e., coronary flow, heart rates, stroke volume, contractile dynamics, and cross-bridge cycling) to characterize further the BUF and DA inbred strains as potential models of contrasting myocardial performance. Cardiac performance was assessed using the Langendorff-Neely working heart preparation. Isolated DA hearts were superior (P < 0.05) to the BUF hearts for cardiac output (63%), stroke volume (60%), aortic +dP/dt (47%), and aortic -dP/dt (46%). The mean alpha/beta-myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform ratio for DA hearts was 21-fold higher relative to BUF hearts. At the steady-state mRNA level, DA hearts had a fivefold higher alpha/beta-ratio than the BUF hearts. The mean rate of ATP hydrolysis by MHCs was 64% greater in DA compared with BUF ventricles. These data demonstrate that the BUF and DA strains can serve as genetic models of contrasting low and high cardiac function.
Keeping Kids on Track: Impacts of a Parenting-Focused Early Head Start Program on Attachment Security and Cognitive Development.

Research Findings: The home-based Early Head Start program in this local study aimed to promote children's early attachment and cognitive development by establishing supportive relationships with parents and guiding responsive parenting and positive parent–child play interactions. To test the effectiveness of this approach, we studied the development of secure base behavior and cognitive skills in infants and toddlers from low-income families in northern Utah and southern Idaho who had been randomly assigned to the program or a comparison group. Analyses covaried the main risk factors of low maternal education (associated with the children's lower cognitive scores) and maternal depression (associated with both lower cognitive scores and lower attachment security scores). Significant impacts of this Early Head Start program over and above earlier assessments and risk variables were evident by 18 months in children's attachment security scores and by 36 months in children's cognitive standard scores. Practi...
A viscoplasticity theory applied to proportional and non-proportional cyclic loading at small strains

Abstract The small strain, isotropic, Viscoplasticity theory Based on Overstress (VBO) is modified so that the experimentally observed, complex cyclic hardening behavior under proportional and non-proportional loading with fixed as well as variable strain amplitude can be reproduced. This is accomplished by formulating a growth law for the isotropic, rate independent stress, a scalar valued state variable of VBO. The non-proportionality measure employed for modeling the effects of loading path, amplitude and prior history is Tanaka's fourth order tensor [Eur. J. Mech. Solids 13 (1994) 155]. Numerical experiments show the responses in step-up and down two amplitude tests and include further hardening after an increase in the strain amplitude. The differences in the responses to proportional and non-proportional loading including circular, square, one step and two steps are demonstrated. History dependence of the hardening is depicted. The cross hardening behavior, sudden increase in the stress level which is followed by softening after the path change are modeled well.
Inflammasome Activation by Altered Proteostasis

The association between altered proteostasis and inflammatory disorders has been increasingly recognized, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we show that deficiency of either autophagy or sequestosome 1 (p62 or SQSTM) led to inflammasome hyperactivation in response to LPS and ATP in primary macrophages and in mice in vivo. Importantly, induction of protein misfolding by puromycin, thapsigargin, or geldanamycin resulted in inflammasome activation that was more pronounced in autophagy- or p62-deficient macrophages. Accumulation of misfolded proteins caused inflammasome activation by inducing generation of nonmitochondrial reactive oxygen species and lysosomal damage, leading to release of cathepsin B. Our results suggest that altered proteostasis results in inflammasome activation and thus provide mechanisms for the association of altered proteostasis with inflammatory disorders.
A conserved MCM single-stranded DNA binding element is essential for replication initiation.

The ring-shaped MCM helicase is essential to all phases of DNA replication. The complex loads at replication origins as an inactive double-hexamer encircling duplex DNA. Helicase activation converts this species to two active single hexamers that encircle single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). The molecular details of MCM DNA interactions during these events are unknown. We determined the crystal structure of the Pyrococcus furiosus MCM N-terminal domain hexamer bound to ssDNA and define a conserved MCM-ssDNA binding motif (MSSB). Intriguingly, ssDNA binds the MCM ring interior perpendicular to the central channel with defined polarity. In eukaryotes, the MSSB is conserved in several Mcm2-7 subunits, and MSSB mutant combinations in S. cerevisiae Mcm2-7 are not viable. Mutant Mcm2-7 complexes assemble and are recruited to replication origins, but are defective in helicase loading and activation. Our findings identify an important MCM-ssDNA interaction and suggest it functions during helicase activation to select the strand for translocation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01993.001
Conceptual design of an induction linac for neutron research

Abstract The linear induction accelerator principle has been a subject of intense development over the last few year. Recently important technological advances have been made in magnetic pulse compression and iron-alloy metallic glasses. The results of a preliminary design study of an induction linac to be used for neutron and high-LET radiation research are presented.
Routes to Diamond Heteroepiitaxy

This paper reviews the status of diamond heteroepitaxy approached by chemical vapor deposition and by physical methods. Reported are experiments with cubic boron nitride and nickel conducted with the help of microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition. X-ray diffraction data confirm diamond heteroepitaxy on the (111) faces of cubic boron nitride crystals. Heteroepitaxy on nickel was not demonstrated yet nevertheless suppression of graphite nucleation was achieved by formation of nickel hydride.
Gender and Personality

Personality is the study of individual differences and thus holds promise for a better understanding of how our gendered society shapes and reinforces differences in women’s and men’s attitudes, emotions, and behaviors. Two strengths of present-day personality research are particularly relevant for the study of gender. First, personality researchers gather data from large samples of normally functioning individuals and emphasize the importance of accurate generalizations of their findings to other normal samples. This methodology allows for the veridical assessment of similarity and difference trends in women’s and men’s personality characteristics. Second, is the attention personality researchers typically give to the careful measurement of constructs through adequate sampling of concept domains, empirical validation, and reliability checks.
A radiometrically-accurate super-resolution approach to thermal infrared image data

Super-resolution is an image processing and analysis technique used to improve the original (or native) spatial resolution of data. Super-resolution approaches have commonly sacrificed radiometric accuracy for visual appeal or vice versa. The results presented here are a significant modification and improvement of an algorithm originally applied to the thermal infrared (TIR) data from the Earth-orbiting Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument. The algorithm has been programmed in the Interactive Data Language (IDL) scripting but could be easily coded in other programming languages. The primary focus of these modifications was to adapt the algorithm for use with visible and TIR data from the Mars-orbiting Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) instrument in addition to other improvements, such as a user-defined Point Spread Function (PSF) using an alpha notation. In addition, the previous requirement for an intermediate spatial/spectral resolution dataset has bee...
Magnetic trapping of ytterbium and the alkaline earths

Summary form only given. Atomic ytterbium (Yb), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and strontium (Sr) possess simple internal level structure and a diversity of naturally abundant fermionic and bosonic isotopes, making these atoms ideal testing grounds for cold collision theories and future studies of weakly-interacting quantum degenerate gases. Lacking useful magnetic ground-state sub-structure, however, these atoms cannot be driven into the quantum degenerate regime by pursuing the only proven strategy, ground-state magnetic trapping followed by forced RF evaporation. We propose a novel solution to this problem that involves magnetic trapping in the low-lying /sup 3/P/sub 2/ metastable excited state and demonstrate the possibility for deep magnetic traps using field gradients identical to those currently used for /sup 1/S/sub 0/-/sup 1/P/sub 1/ Yb and alkaline-earth magneto-optical traps.
Study of the surface and bulk polaritons with a negative index metamaterial

This work investigates the impact of surface and bulk polaritons on the optical properties, especially the reflectance, of a negative index metamaterial (NIM) sandwiched between different dielectric layers. Regime maps are developed to describe the polariton dispersion relations and to help understand the effect of the NIM layer thickness on the polariton resonance frequencies. It is shown that polaritons exist for both p and s polarizations in the same frequency region where the refractive index is negative; beyond this region, surface polaritons exist for p polarization only. For an NIM layer, the dispersion curves of a surface polariton and a bulk polariton are smoothly connected, suggesting that a surface mode can be converted into a bulk mode, and vice versa. In an attenuated total reflection configuration, the width of the gap between the prism and the NIM layer has a strong influence on the location and the magnitude of the reflectance minimum. Furthermore, surface polaritons may exist at a single boundary and enhance the energy transmission via photon tunneling. The results demonstrate that NIMs may be used to effectively
An Exploration of the Personal Experiences and Effects of Counselors' Crying in Session

This article describes a qualitative interview study of 11 counselors’ personal experiences of crying in session with a client and their perception of its effects on the therapeutic relationship. Semistructured interviews with counselors at a mid-sized university in the Midwest found that tears could be an appropriate response to a client’s unique situation and helpful in empathizing with the client. Themes of awareness, empathy, modeling and authenticity as well as implications for counselors are discussed.
Bodyfat Analysis and Perception of Body Image

Obesity is a common nutritional problem among children. Using the Futrex 5000A method of bodyfat measurement, this prospective study determined the percentage bodyfat in a self-selected, indigent, predominantly black population and the accuracy of perceived body image. Bodyfat exceeded the optimal range in 39% and 67% of female and male children, respectively. Females tended to view themselves as fatter and males perceived themselves as thinner than their actual composition. Parents were more accurate in their perception of obesity in their daughters (88%) than in their sons (52%). Children did not recognize the importance of exercise in preventing obesity. Bodyfat measurement and counseling should be done at an early age to improve this remarkable lack of perception about obesity.
The Semiglades: The Collision of Restoration, Social Values, and the Ecosystem Concept

Defining success targets in restoration and how social values affect them are two commonly discussed issues in restoration today. We believe that how success is commonly defined—with vague terms such as “healthy ecosystem” or cited as a return to a previous, historic state—needs to be reevaluated. With the increasing number of novel ecosystems, there is an increasing conflict between the ecosystem concept, social values, and restoration. This arises from the fact that ecosystems are defined by the values of the scientists describing them, necessarily constraining the ecosystem to a generally static concept. It is not directly the concept, but how it is perceived through our filter of social values that represses the creativity and innovation needed in restoration today. Within restoration, we feel that the ecosystem concept does a disservice by ignoring the increasing number of novel systems, and that hinders real progress in a time when hesitation can be costly. To best illustrate this, we offer the example of restoration of the Florida Everglades and how it has become a novel system in pattern and process. We suggest renaming the Everglades “The Semiglades” in hopes of opening a dialog to expose social/ecosystem biases and include novel landscapes in management and planning.
Glyphosate and glyphosate-resistant crop interactions with rhizosphere microorganisms

Current crop production relies heavily on transgenic, glyphosate-resistant (GR) cultivars. Widespread cultivation of transgenic crops has received considerable attention. Impacts of glyphosate on rhizosphere microorganisms and activities are reviewed based on published and new data from long-term field projects documenting effects of glyphosate applied to GR soybean and maize. Field studies conducted in Missouri, U.S.A. during 1997–2007 assessed effects of glyphosate applied to GR soybean and maize on root colonization and soil populations of Fusarium and selected rhizosphere bacteria. Frequency of root-colonizing Fusarium increased significantly after glyphosate application during growing seasons in each year at all sites. Roots of GR soybean and maize treated with glyphosate were heavily colonized by Fusarium compared to non-GR or GR cultivars not treated with glyphosate. Microbial groups and functions affected by glyphosate included Mn transformation and plant availability; phytopathogen–antagonistic bacterial interactions; and reduction in nodulation. Root-exuded glyphosate may serve as a nutrient source for fungi and stimulate propagule germination. The specific microbial indicator groups and processes were sensitive to impacts of GR crops and are part of an evolving framework in developing polyphasic microbial analyses for complete assessment of GR technology that is more reliable than single techniques or general microbial assays.
Antidiabetic Therapy in End-Stage Renal Disease.

There has been substantial growth in the variety of available antidiabetic agents during the last decade and a half. The role of these newer agents in patients with diabetes and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population, and their relative benefits and risks in this population compared to patients without ESRD are not yet clear. This stems from the altered state of glucose homeostasis in ESRD, which places patients at high risk for hypoglycemia and, in certain situations, hyperglycemia. In addition, there is a dearth of evidence to support a benefit of tight glycemic control on either micro- or macrovascular outcomes in ESRD patients; furthermore, the metrics by which glycemic control is conventionally measured are less valid in ESRD. In this review, we will discuss noninsulin and insulin-based therapies as well as unique challenges, contraindications, advantages, and disadvantages to their use in ESRD. We will also review issues pertinent to both hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.
The Effect of Beta Blockade on Stress-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction in Adolescents

Test anxiety is severely disabling to students whose fear of examinations causes cognitive dysfunction that paralyzes their thinking the way stage fright impairs actors ability to act. In studies using subjective evaluations among actors and musicians, beta-blockade relieved stage fright and has been used informally to treat test anxiety in students without objective measures of effectiveness. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) was chosen as an objective test instrument to confirm the effect of beta-blockade on test anxiety and performance. Thirty-two high school students who had already taken the SAT before enrolling in this study and who had stress-induced cognitive dysfunction on exams were given 40 mg of propranolol one hour before they retook those tests. Mean SAT scores with beta-blockade were 130 points higher than on the initial SAT done before entering the study without medication (p = less than .01). A single dose of propranolol immediately before the SAT permitted improved performance in students prone to cognitive dysfunction due to test anxiety.
Center for Synchrotron Biosciences' U2B beamline: an international resource for biological infrared spectroscopy.

A synchrotron infrared (IR) beamline, U2B, dedicated to the biomedical and biological sciences has been constructed and is in operation at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) of Brookhaven National Laboratory. The facility is operated by the Center for Synchrotron Biosciences of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in cooperation with the NSLS. Owing to the broadband nature of the synchrotron beam with brightness 1000 times that of conventional sources, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy experiments are feasible on diffraction-limited sample areas at high signal-to-noise ratios and with relatively short data-acquisition times. A number of synchrotron IR microscopy experiments that have been performed in the mid-IR spectral range (500–5000 cm−1) are summarized, including time-resolved protein-folding studies in the microsecond time regime, IR imaging of neurons, bone and other biological tissues, as well as imaging of samples of interest in the chemical and environmental sciences. Owing to the high flux output of this beamline in the far-IR region (50–500 cm−1), investigations of hydrogen bonding and dynamic molecular motions of biomolecules have been carried out from 10 to 300 K using a custom-made cryostat and an evacuated box. This facility is intended as an international resource for biological IR spectroscopy fully available to outside users based on competitive proposal.
Trends in Incidence, Management, and Outcomes of Cardiogenic Shock Complicating ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the United States

Background Limited information is available on the contemporary and potentially changing trends in the incidence, management, and outcomes of cardiogenic shock complicating ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods and Results We queried the 2003–2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases to identify all patients ≥40 years of age with STEMI and cardiogenic shock. Overall and age-, sex-, and race/ethnicity-specific trends in incidence of cardiogenic shock, early mechanical revascularization, and intra-aortic balloon pump use, and inhospital mortality were analyzed. From 2003 to 2010, among 1 990 486 patients aged ≥40 years with STEMI, 157 892 (7.9%) had cardiogenic shock. The overall incidence rate of cardiogenic shock in patients with STEMI increased from 6.5% in 2003 to 10.1% in 2010 ( P trend P trend P trend P trend P trend P trend =0.394). These temporal trends were similar in patients Conclusions The incidence of cardiogenic shock complicating STEMI has increased during the past 8 years together with increased use of early mechanical revascularization and intra-aortic balloon pumps. There has been a concomitant decrease in risk-adjusted inhospital mortality, but an increase in total hospital costs during this period.
Young and Older Adults' Expression of Emotional Experience: Do Autobiographical Narratives Tell a Different Story?

Though autobiographical remembering is a common means of emotional expression in everyday life, rarely have autobiographical narratives been used to assess emotion. Studies rely instead on retrospective scalar measures. In this study, 87 young (M = 20) and older (M = 62) adults’ scalar reports and narratives of the salience, frequency, and intensity of emotional reactions to the OJ Simpson verdict announcement were compared. Scalar measures and autobiographical narratives sometimes tell different stories about certain aspects of emotion. Supporting theory, scalars measures, and narratives both indicate greater salience of emotion in late life. In contrast to expectation, older adults more frequently expressed negative affect in their narratives, but not in scalars measures. Both types of measures did, however, show a higher intensity of sadness in older adults. Theories of emotion and aging may benefit from incorporating the role of memory, and reactions to specific negative life events.
Sleep Telemedicine: An Emerging Field's Latest Frontier.

There is a widening gap between sleep provider access and patient demand for it. An American Academy of Sleep Medicine position paper recently recognized sleep telemedicine as one tool to narrow that divide. We define the term sleep telemedicine as the use of sleep-related medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient's health. Applicable data transfer methods include telephone, video, smartphone applications, and the Internet. Their usefulness for the treatment of insomnia and sleep-disordered breathing is highlighted. Sleep telemedicine programs range in complexity from telephone-based patient feedback systems to comprehensive treatment pathways incorporating real-time video, telephone, and the Internet. While large, randomized trials are lacking, smaller studies comparing telemedicine with in-person care suggest noninferiority in terms of patient satisfaction, adherence to treatment, and symptomatic improvement. Sleep telemedicine is feasible from a technological and quality-driven perspective, but cost uncertainties, complex reimbursement structures, and variable licensing rules remain significant challenges to its feasibility on a larger scale. As legislative reform pends, larger randomized trials are needed to elucidate impact on patient outcomes, cost, and health-care system accessibility.
Exemplary Reasoning? A Comment on Theory Structure in Biomedicine

The contributions that the philosophy of medicine can make to both the philosophy of science and the practice of science have been obscured in recent years by an overemphasis on personalities rather than critical themes. Two themes have dominated general discussion within contemporary philosophy of science: methodological essentialism and dynamic gradualism. These themes are defined and considered in light of Kenneth Schaffner's argument that theories in biomedicine have a structure and logic unlike that found in theories of the natural sciences. Schaffner's arguments are suggestive but not definitive as a refutation of methodological essentialism. I argue that a primary reason for differences in the logic and structure of theories in biomedicine is not, as some philosophers have suggested, a product of ontological differences, but rather a product of the practical and pragmatic concerns of scientific theorizing in many areas of science, such as medicine.
Architecture and implementation of an information-centric device-to-device network

Today's mobile devices almost exclusively connect to infrastructures for communications and information access; but advances such as AirDrop and WiFi Direct are bringing device-to-device communication to the forefront of mobile computing. Self-organizing ad hoc mobile networks have a wide range of applications in scenarios where infrastructure is not available or with limited bandwidth, such as communications in the aftermath of natural disasters, censorship resistant communications, and battlefield communications. In this paper, we propose an information-centric device-to-device network, called ICD2D. The network is distributed and requires no centralized coordination. For each published item of data, the system creates a metatdata; a publish-subscribe mechanism disseminates the metadata and facilitates filtering information in a distributed fashion. We implemented a full-featured system on NS3. Evaluations show significant improvement in successful information retrieval compared with OLSR (Optimized Link State Routing), a common approach to ad hoc routing.
Transient anuria and paraplegia following traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta.

Summary An unusual case of traumatic rupture of the aorta associated with paraplegia and anuria is reported. Operative treatment was followed by restoration of aortic blood flow, urine output, and function of the lower body.
Near lasing in an ensemble of two-level atoms

Two-level atoms (in free space) cannot be maintained in a state of steady-state inversion. Although this fact may seem to preclude the possibility of producing a two-level-atom laser, It is well known that strongly driven two-level atoms exhibit gain (and loss) at certain frequencies in the vicinity of the excitation frequency.1 Inside an optical cavity the optical gain may be larger than the losses, and laser oscillation should occur with an ensemble of two-level atoms as the active medlum.2
A Bio-Inspired Artificial Agent to Complete a Herding Task with Novices

Models of robust human-human coordination can guide the design of adaptive and responsive human-robot systems. Here we test an artificial agent that embodies low- dimensional nonlinear dynamic equations derived from human behavior while completing a two-agent herding task, where the goal is to contain reactive spheres to the center of a target region. The model was able to complete the task alongside human novices in a virtual version of the experimental setup used in Nalepka and colleagues (submitted). Not only did the model lead participants to successful performance, but also 12 out of 18 participants reported that they believed their partner was a human participant in another room. The model was therefore able to capture the complex social behavior that defined robust task success in terms of lower dimensional dynamical equations that characterizes the emergent behavioral dynamics of embedded multiagent behavior.
Orthogonal projection pursuit using genetic optimization

Projection pursuit is concerned with finding interesting low-dimensional subspace of multivariate data. In this paper we proposed a genetic optimization approach to find the globally optimal orthogonal subspace given training data and user defined criterion on what subspaces are interesting. We then applied this approach to human face recognition. Suppose face recognition is done by simple correlation, a subspace is obtained using our approach that achieve the lowest error rate of face recognition given FERET data set as training set. As Yambor [W.S. Yambor, et al., 2000] showed in experiments that PCA subspace is a pretty good subspace for correlation-based face recognition, we compared the performance of the sub-space we obtained with that of PCA subspace. Experiment result showed this subspace outperformed PCA subspace.
Biochemical Marker Alterations in Hepatic Preneoplasia and Neoplasia

Beginning with the first demonstration of chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in 1935,1 the liver has been, and continues to be, a major focus of investigation for many experimental oncologists. Although early studies in chemical hepatocarcinogenesis provided only indirect evidence for the multistage process involved in the neoplastic development in this organ, recent work by Peraino and others has now clearly established the existence of the initiation—promotion—progression phenomenon in the liver.2’3 Since numerous and voluminous reviews have been written in recent years discussing the histology, time course, markers, and the putative characteristics of the different stages of hepatocarcinogenesis, we make no attempt to deal comprehensively with all the markers associated with chemically induced tumors in the rat liver. Rather, we focus our discussion on the relevance of new markers recently identified during early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis in the authors’ laboratory and provide references to more extensive reviews whenever appropriate. Furthermore, the issue of the occurrence of stage-specific markers during hepatocarcinogenesis is addressed.
Pre-Clinical Model to Study Recurrent Venous Thrombosis in the Inferior Vena Cava

Background Patients undergoing deep vein thrombosis (VT) have over 30% recurrence, directly increasing their risk of post-thrombotic syndrome. Current murine models of inferior vena cava (IVC) VT model host one thrombosis event. Objective We aimed to develop a murine model to study IVC recurrent VT in mice. Materials and Methods An initial VT was induced using the electrolytic IVC model (EIM) with constant blood flow. This approach takes advantage of the restored vein lumen 21 days after a single VT event in the EIM demonstrated by ultrasound. We then induced a second VT 21 days later, using either EIM or an IVC ligation model for comparison. The control groups were a sham surgery and, 21 days later, either EIM or IVC ligation. IVC wall and thrombus were harvested 2 days after the second insult and analysed for IVC and thrombus size, gene expression of fibrotic markers, histology for collagen and Western blot for citrullinated histone 3 (Cit-H3) and fibrin. Results Ultrasound confirmed the first VT and its progressive resolution with an anatomical channel allowing room for the second thrombus by day 21. As compared with a primary VT, recurrent VT has heavier walls with significant up-regulation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), elastin, interleukin (IL)-6, matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), MMP2 and a thrombus with high citrullinated histone-3 and fibrin content. Conclusion Experimental recurrent thrombi are structurally and compositionally different from the primary VT, with a greater pro-fibrotic remodelling vein wall profile. This work provides a VT recurrence IVC model that will help to improve the current understanding of the biological mechanisms and directed treatment of recurrent VT.
Systems for Quantitative Analysis of Left Ventricular Wall Motion

Tennant and Wiggers [1] were perhaps the first to demonstrate the phenomenon of segmental left ventricular dysfunction when, in 1935, they ligated a coronary artery in a dog and at once observed paradoxic motion of the underlying myocardium. Subsequently, Harrison [2] recognized disordered patterns of contraction in the kinetocardiograms of patients with ischemic heart disease and applied the term “asynergy,” and, later, “dyssynergy,” [3] to this condition. More recently, Herman et al. [4], in an elegant quantitative ventriculographic study of patients with coronary artery disease, introduced the now familiar terms “hypokinesis,” “akinesis,” and “dyskinesis” for description of left ventricular contraction abnormalities.
Repair of Paraesophageal Hernia

Paraesophageal hiatal hernia (PEH) is one in which there is a fixed peritoneal sac above the diaphragm. This peritoneal sac is responsible for the unique spectrum of symptoms of PEH and also for the propensity for gastric volvulus and incarceration of viscera in the hernia sac. Although hiatal hernias are classified based on the anatomical location of the fundus of the stomach and the gastroesophageal junction, this classification has little bearing on the decision-making process of whether to repair a hiatal hernia. And for all hiatal hernias classified as types 1 through 4 that have a fixed hiatal sac, the technique of repair must include reduction of the peritoneal sac. This chapter will then focus on those aspects of paraesophageal hernia that directly impact surgical decision making.
Cadmium in aquatic food webs

Cadmium (Cd) is not an abundant element in nature but is present wherever zinc is found. It occurs as a contaminant in superphosphate fertilizers and is used commercially in pigments, alloys, plastic stabilizers, nickel-cadmium batteries, semiconductors and photocells, and in electroplating (Dorn 1979). In aquatic systems, the majority of the Cd present is found within suspended particulate matter and the sediments (Preston 1973, Olsen et al 1982). Cadmium is the subject of considerable research because of its toxicity and its potential to accumulate in food chains. Most of the research on Cd in the environment focuses upon its toxicity to plants and animals (especially those of agricultural importance) and upon the public health aspects of Cd exposure. Several excellent reviews discuss the occurrence, toxicology, and public health impact of Cd (Flick et al 1971, Vallee and Ulmer 1972, Page and Bingham 1973, Friberg et al 1974, Fassett 1975, Dorn 1979, Korte 1983).
Inhibition of human aldose and aldehyde reductases by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Aldose reductase (EC 1.1.1.21; alditol:NAD(P)+oxidoreductase; ALR2), a member of the multi gene family of NADPH-dependent aldo-keto reductases, is one of the major enzymes implicated in the intracellular events leading to the development of diabetic complications. ALR2 catalyzes the reduction of glucose to sorbitol in the first reaction of the polyol pathway which may be important under conditions of hyperglycemia (Kador and Kinoshita, 1985). There have been a number of reports that some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can delay the development of diabetic complications. These reports include in vitro studies with isolated lens or nerve tissue (Chaudhry et al., 1983; Sharma and Cotlier, 1982; Crabbe et al., 1985; Jacobson et al., 1983), animal studies (Gupta and Joshi, 1991a; Blakytny and Harding, 1992; Gupta and Joshi, 1991b; Mansour et al., 1990; Sharma et al., 1989a), and clinical studies (Sharma et al., 1989b; Cunha-Vaz et al., 1985; Cohen and Harris, 1987). Several NSAIDs have been shown to be inhibitors of ALR2 (Chaudhry et al., 1983; Sharma and Cotlier, 1982; Crabbe et al., 1985; Gupta and Joshi, 1991a; Gupta and Joshi, 1991b). Most studies of inhibition of ALR2 by NSAIDs have used either animal ALR2 or crude homogenates of human tissues (Sharma and Cotlier, 1982; Crabbe et al., 1985; Gupta and Joshi, 1991a; Gupta and Joshi, 1991b). There are marked differences in the inhibitor-binding properties of ALR2 from various sources (Kador et al., 1980). In addition, we have shown that human ALR2 can be oxidized easily, resulting in the formation of a form of ALR2 with markedly altered kinetic properties (Vander Jagt et al., 1990a). There is also the problem that crude homogenates generally contain a mixture of ALR2 and the immunochemically distinct, but kinetically related, aldehyde reductase, ALR1 (Vander Jagt et al., 1990b).
Positive and Negative Aspects of Transracial Adoption: An Exploratory Study From Korean Transracial Adoptees' Perspectives

Participants, 92 Korean-born transracial international adoptees, responded to two open-ended questions designed to explore both positive and negative aspects of transracial adoption. Almost all of ...
Nutrients with Special Functions: Proteins and Amino Acids in Tissue Maintenance

The total protein concentration, as a percentage of total body weight, of the prenatal infant is about 8.5; it increases to about 11 at birth, further increases to a maximum of about 17.5 in the adult, and then declines with advancing age. The total amount of body protein follows a similar pattern. The amount of total-body protein present at any time represents a dynamic equilibrium between the rates of protein synthesis and protein breakdown. In order that there be a net accumulation of body protein, the set point at which equilibrium occurs between synthesis and breakdown favors synthesis. During the period of net loss of total body protein, the set point at which equilibrium occurs between synthesis and breakdown favors breakdown. Thus, there occurs over the life cycle an equilibrium set point which changes during growth, development, and aging.
Monte Carlo Simulations of Crystal Growth

Abstract Atomistic models are advancing our understanding of crystal growth at an increasing rate, benefiting from rapidly increasing computational power. This chapter discusses Monte Carlo simulations that are focused on fundamental aspects of film deposition on foreign substrates. The simulations demonstrate the influence on film nucleation and growth of the degree of wetting between the film and substrate, the substrate temperature, and the Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier to diffusion over steps. Films grown with both dewetting and an Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier are often observed to form pinholes traversing the full thickness of the deposited film. Applications include (1) crystal growth issues involved in depositing films of uniform thickness with materials that have a propensity for dewetting, forming three-dimensional islands; (2) device manufacturing involving thin films on topography such as trenches, minimizing the variation of film thickness; and (3) controlling the morphology crystals in powdered molecular crystals.
Optimizing Hierarchical Classification with Adaptive Node Collapses

A mechanism is provided in a data processing system having a processor and a memory. The memory comprises instructions which are executed by the processor to cause the processor to implement a training system for finding an optimal surface for hierarchical classification task on an ontology. The training system receives a training data set and a hierarchical classification ontology data structure. The training system generates a neural network architecture based on the training data set and the hierarchical classification ontology data structure. The neural network architecture comprises an indicative layer, a parent tier (PT) output and a lower leaf tier (LLT) output. The training system trains the neural network architecture to classify the training data set to leaf nodes at the LLT output and parent nodes at the PT output. The indicative layer in the neural network architecture determines a surface that passes through each path from a root to a leaf node in the hierarchical ontology data structure. The training system trains a classifier model for a cognitive system using the surface and the training data set.
Chronic phosphorus enrichment and elevated pH suppresses Quercus spp. leaf litter decomposition in a temperate forest

Abstract The potential of excessive nitrogen (N) suppressing litter decay in is widely recognized. The role of phosphorus (P) in plant litter decay is less understood and is generally assumed to have a weak influence in decomposition outside tropical or wetland ecosystems. Based on the “microbial mining” hypothesis that suggests the availability of limiting nutrients is the driving mechanism of decay, P could have a strong influence on carbon (C) cycling in low-P ecosystems. The objective of this study was to determine if increasing P availability will influence the decomposition of leaf litter in a low-P temperate forested ecosystem. If the availability of a limiting nutrient is a driving mechanism mediating decay, then increasing the availability of P in a low-P environment should inhibit decay. The experiment was held in a low-P mixed mesophytic forest in the unglaciated Alleghany Plateau (USA). Since 2009, P availability has been increased either directly by phosphate fertilizer and/or indirectly by raising soil pH. Starting in 2012 and for three consecutive years, Quercus spp. leaf litter bags were deployed and harvested at least every year for three years for temporal replication. After three years, elevating pH and/or P litter mass loss was ∼52% and significantly (P
Glucose Metabolism Drives Histone Acetylation Landscape Transitions that Dictate Muscle Stem Cell Function

The impact of glucose metabolism on muscle regeneration remains unresolved. We identify glucose metabolism as a crucial driver of histone acetylation and myogenic cell fate. We use single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF) and flow cytometry to characterize the histone acetylation and metabolic states of quiescent, activated, and differentiating muscle stem cells (MuSCs). We find glucose is dispensable for mitochondrial respiration in proliferating MuSCs, so that glucose becomes available for maintaining high histone acetylation via acetyl-CoA. Conversely, quiescent and differentiating MuSCs increase glucose utilization for respiration and have consequently reduced acetylation. Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity serves as a rheostat for histone acetylation and must be controlled for muscle regeneration. Increased PDH activity in proliferation increases histone acetylation and chromatin accessibility at genes that must be silenced for differentiation to proceed, and thus promotes self-renewal. These results highlight metabolism as a determinant of MuSC histone acetylation, fate, and function during muscle regeneration.
Into the Breakdown: Embracing Ethnographic Confusion in Challenging Nationalist Policy "Truths".

The policies and discourses of the Trump administration reflect such extreme examples of inhumane policies and racializing logic that they are easy to identify and call out. In this essay, I focus ...
Neurogenic Stunned Myocardium in Severe Neurological Injury

Neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM) is a poorly recognized cardiac manifestation of neurological illness. This review addresses the contemporary understanding of NSM pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and clinical management. While the precise pathophysiology and diagnosis remain unclear, NSM is phenotypically atypical stress cardiomyopathy that can be partially attributed to excess catecholaminergic toxicity. NSM is a diagnosis of exclusion where electrocardiography, echocardiography, and cardiac biomarkers are frequently abnormal. Clinical expertise is crucial to evaluate and differentiate NSM from acute coronary syndrome and in the evaluation of potential cardiac transplantation donors after unsalvageable severe neurological injury. Neurogenic stunned myocardium is a relatively common and clinically impactful condition. More research is needed, particularly to refine clinical prognostication of NSM and rule out intrinsic cardiac injury in order to optimize donor candidacy in the event of brain death.
Cognitive Flexibility of Power Grid Operator and Decision Making in Extreme Events

The complexity and vulnerability of the bulk power system are well known. Among all the factors that are important for maintaining the continuity and security of the power system, the importance of the power system operator lies at the top in the hierarchy. It is important to ascertain that the operator has the critical tools, knowledge, access to training, cognitive and technical skills and the experience for extreme contingency condition that may arise. In this paper, decision making ability of power system operators in extreme events with and without advanced power system tools has been analyzed by relating to their measured cognitive flexibility.
Reflective Supervision/Consultation and Early Childhood Professionals' Well-Being: A Qualitative Analysis of Supervisors' Perspectives.

Research Findings: Supporting the social and emotional well-being of early childhood professionals is of great importance for the sake of the workforce as well as the quality of the services they p...
REGULATION OF LEUCINE BIOSYNTHESIS IN SACCHAROMYCES CEREVTSIAE

ABSTRACT In yeast, the three enzymes specifically involved in leucine biosynthesis are found in two intracellular compartments. α-Isopropylmalate (α-IPM) synthesis is associated with the mitochondria, whereas IPM isomerase and β-IPM dehydrogenase are cytosolic. Regulation occurs at the level of both enzyme activity and enzyme synthesis. α-IPM synthase is subject to at least two controls of its activity, namely feedback inhibition by leucine and inactivation by CoA. The CoA-mediated inactivation apparently links the biosynthesis of leucine to the availability of acetyl-CoA and can be reversed or prevented by ATP. The synthesis of α-IPM synthase appears to be under the “general control” of amino acid biosynthesis. The specific activities of all three leucine pathway enzymes are lowered when cells are grown in the presence of leucine and threonine. This repression effect was studied more closely with β-IPM dehydrogenase, the LEU2 gene product. Our results indicate that the expression of the LEU2 gene is controlled at the transcriptional level. Repression is unchanged with a strain in which LEU2 has been transposed from its original position on chromosomes III to chromosome XII (experiments done in cooperation with T. Petes, Univ. of Chicago). We conclude that the recombinant plasmid used for transformation carries specific regulatory information in addition to LEU2 structural information. KEYWORDS Subcellular distribution; mitochondria; feedback inhibition; CoA inactivation; repression; LEU2 gene control; transposed LEU2 gene.
Entropy and Information in Biology

With the work of Leo Szilard and Claude Shannon, we now realize that the information stored in a life system can be measured, and that the loss of that information produces entropy. In fact, there is a universality to open systems having an energy flow through them, making internal ordering a natural process, including evolution of new structures and principles derived from optimization.
The Soviet Union, CMEA, and the Energy Crisis of the 1970s

Numerous scholars have claimed that the Soviet Union was a primary beneficiary of the 1973–1974 oil crisis. Drawing on archival evidence from Russia and Germany, this article challenges that interp...