cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Synthesis by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells A Novel Predictor of Morbidity among Hemodialysis Patients

Proinflammatory cytokines have been implicated in the short- and long-term morbidity experienced by hemodialysis (HD) patients. The present study, which is based on long-term follow-up of a cohort of 37 patients, relates peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) synthesis (a reliable marker of IL-1beta synthesis in HD patients) and plasma levels of an acute phase reactant, lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), to clinical outcomes. In July 1993, predialysis blood samples from these patients were collected and IL-1Ra synthesis by PBMC and plasma LBP was measured. Hospital records were reviewed and patient follow-up data were obtained until December 1997 (54 mo) or death, whichever occurred earlier. The effect of age, diabetes, endotoxin- and IgG-stimulated IL-1Ra synthesis, and plasma LBP levels on mortality was assessed using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. Poisson regression was used to determine potential relationships between the number of outcome events and each continuous risk factor. Twenty-two patients (59%) died during the follow-up period. Mortality was unrelated to IL-1Ra synthesis but did increase with age (relative risk, 1.05/yr; P: = 0.01) and diabetes (relative risk, 3.00/yr; P: = 0.03). Cardiovascular event rates were higher among older individuals and in those with higher endotoxin-stimulated PBMC IL-1Ra synthesis. Cardiovascular events increased with plasma LBP levels in the range of 9,000 to 12,000 pg/ml but then seemed to decrease. In contrast, older age and low IgG-stimulated IL-1Ra synthesis were associated with an increased risk of infectious events. The results of this study demonstrate an interesting link between stimulus-dependent variability in IL-1Ra synthesis by PBMC and clinical outcomes among patients on chronic HD and provide interesting targets for therapeutic interventions in this vulnerable patient population.
Histologic Assessment of Quick-Set and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Pulpotomies in a Canine Model.

Abstract Introduction Quick-Set (Primus Consulting, Bradenton, FL) is a calcium aluminosilicate cement that is a potential alternative to mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) with greater acid resistance and faster setting. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Quick-Set and MTA on pulpal tissues in response to pulpotomy procedures. Methods The pulp chambers of 42 maxillary teeth in 7 beagle dogs were accessed, and the coronal pulpal tissue was removed. Pulpotomy procedures were performed, placing the experimental materials directly over the radicular pulp tissues. The dogs were sacrificed at 70 days, and the teeth and surrounding tissues were removed and prepared for histologic analysis. The sections of the pulpotomy areas were scored for inflammation, pulp tissue organization, reactionary dentin formation, and quality of dentinogenesis. Results The Quick-Set group exhibited significantly more pulpal inflammation (P = .002) and significantly less pulp tissue organization (P = .004). No significant difference was noted for reactionary dentin formation (P = .526) and quality of dentinogenesis (P = .436). Conclusions Compared with ProRoot White MTA (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties, Tulsa, OK), Quick-Set exhibited more pulpal inflammation and decreased pulp tissue organization. No significant differences were noted for reactionary dentin formation and quality of dentinogenesis.
Meridional anisotropy in visual processing: implications for the neural site of the oblique effect

The contention is examined that the oblique effect, i.e., the well-known performance deficit in detecting orientation difference in oblique lines as compared to vertical and horizontal ones, has its origin in a relative deficiency of neurons with obliquely-oriented receptive fields in the primary visual cortex. Psychophysical observations demonstrate a prominent oblique effect also in visual tasks involving widely-separated elements and other stimuli that would elicit little or no response in oriented neurons in the visual cortex. Conversely, some tasks, e.g. position discrimination, exhibit no oblique effect even with short, high-contrast lines. When the comparison with the reference can be accomplished during a single brief exposure rather than sequential ones, thresholds for orientation differences between adjacent contours in oblique meridians are also elevated compared to those in the vertical and horizontal, but to a lesser extent. In one particular texture discrimination task some but not all observers have a conspicuous oblique effect. The discrimination only of the direction of streaming random dots, not of their speed, is poorer for motions in oblique meridians. The findings imply that the neural locus for the oblique effect is more central than the primary visual cortex.
Exact solution to the pairing equations for bosons in a one-dimensional model

Pairing equations for bosons interacting with a delta-function potential in one dimension are reduced to two coupled equations involving complete elliptic integrals. These equations are solved numerically and the results are compared to the exact Lieb and Liniger solution for the problem of one-dimensional bosons with delta-function interactions. One finds that the pairing solution gives too large a potential energy and too small a kinetic energy. We also compare the exact and paired excitation spectra. We discuss the relevance of these results to realistic problems.
Acanthocephalan parasites of slimy sculpin, Cottus cognatus , and Ninespine Stickleback, Pungitius pungitius , from Lake Michigan, U.S.A.

In total, 288 slimy sculpins, Cottus cognatus, were collected in September 2003 from 6 Lake Michigan, U.S.A., ports, along with 220 ninespine sticklebacks, Pungitius pungitius, from 3 ports. The ports included Waukegan, Illinois; Port Washington (PW) and Sturgeon Bay (SB), Wisconsin; and Manistique (MS), Frankfort (FF), Ludington (LD), and Saugatuck, Michigan. Echinorhynchus salmonis infected sculpins from 6 ports, Acanthocephalus dirus infected sculpins from 4 ports, and Neoechinorhynchus pungitius infected sculpins from 3 ports. Echinorhynchus salmonis infected significantly more sculpins at PW and at FF than at MS and LD. There were several significant differences in the intensities and abundances of E. salmonis among ports. Acanthocephalus dirus significantly infected more sculpins and had significantly higher abundances at FF than at PW, MS, and LD. Echinorhynchus salmonis, A. dirus, and N. pungitius infected sticklebacks from SB, MS, and FF. Neoechinorhynchus pungitius significantly infected more sculpins and more sticklebacks, and it had significantly higher abundances at MS than at FF. Neoechinorhynchus pungitius was the most common acanthocephalan in C. cognatus and P. pungitius at MS. These acanthocephalan species infecting C. cognatus and P. pungitius corresponded in their occurrence to those organisms that serve as their intermediate hosts found in the stomachs of both fish species. Potential changes in the diet of C. cognatus played a role in significant differences found for E. salmonis and N. pungitius at MS. One of these acanthocephalan species was always the most numerous helminth species found in the digestive tracts of P. pungitius and C. cognatus from these Lake Michigan ports.
Volume-surface integral formulation for electromagnetic scattering by inhomogeneous cylinders

The problem of electromagnetic scattering from inhomogeneous cylinders is formulated directly using the field concept, instead of the equivalent polarized currents, by using the method of weighted residuals. The resultant equation contains both volume and surface integrals but involves only one unknown field component. Using this equation, if the scatterer's surface is divided into M segments, there are N+M unknowns and the resultant matrix is of the size of (N+M)*(N+M), where the scatterer has been divided into N cells for the numerical analysis. >
Insulative Values of Single-Layer Fabrics for Thermal Protective Clothing

For certain occupations special clothing is worn t provide protection against heat and fire; the amount of protection needed varies widely with the specific occupation. Fabrics made from natural fi...
Computational adaptive optimal control for continuous-time linear systems with completely unknown dynamics

This paper presents a novel policy iteration approach for finding online adaptive optimal controllers for continuous-time linear systems with completely unknown system dynamics. The proposed approach employs the approximate/adaptive dynamic programming technique to iteratively solve the algebraic Riccati equation using the online information of state and input, without requiring the a priori knowledge of the system matrices. In addition, all iterations can be conducted by using repeatedly the same state and input information on some fixed time intervals. A practical online algorithm is developed in this paper, and is applied to the controller design for a turbocharged diesel engine with exhaust gas recirculation. Finally, several aspects of future work are discussed.
Morphological, ultrastructural, and genetic characterization of an unusual T-cell lymphoma in a patient with sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML) is a rare benign disease of unknown etiology. It is rarely associated with malignant lymphoma. This report documents the first case of a T-cell lymphoma, which developed in a patient with a 10-year history of SHML. The disease was complicated by hypereosinophilia and massive retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. Histological examination of a cervical lymph node biopsy during the terminal phase identified a lymphoma composed of cells with morphological plasmacytoid features. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells showed poorly developed cytoplasm, nuclei with peripheral chromatin clumping, and inconspicuous nucleoli. Cytogenetic studies showed two related clones. On immunohistochemical staining tumor cells were positive with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) CD3 and CD45RO. Southern blotting analysis identified clonal rearrangements in the T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha, beta and gamma genes. Thus, T-cell lineage of the tumor cells was established. In situ hybridization of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-5 (IL-5) cDNA probes on tissue sections identified the synthesis of IL-5 by the eosinophils, suggesting an autocrine pathway of eosinophilopoiesis leading to hypereosinophilia in this patient.
Bringing Practitioner Experience into the Classroom: The United Nations Intensive Summer Study Program

Diplomatic practitioners and policy makers represent an important, although frequently neglected, resource for teaching about international relations. The insights and stories provided by practitioners regarding key processes and events are often able to inspire our students to engage complex material and to play a much more active role in their own learning. While it is possible to argue that any type of practitioner contact is beneficial in terms of going beyond the material covered in textbooks, there are definite challenges associated with how to most effectively integrate these experiences with overall student learning. What type of format is most conducive to providing students with an insider's view? What type of preparation is required before contact with practitioners? How can student learning be evaluated in terms of assignments and debriefing activities? And finally, are traditional student feedback mechanisms appropriate for a course that involves a substantial practitioner component? This article investigates each of these challenges in the course of discussing one mechanism for bringing practitioner experience into the classroom, the United Nations Intensive Summer Study Program.
Expression of UME6, a Key Regulator of Candida albicans Hyphal Development, Enhances Biofilm Formation via Hgc1- and Sun41-Dependent Mechanisms

Biofilm formation is associated with the ability of Candida albicans, the major human fungal pathogen, to resist antifungal therapies and grow on tissues, catheters, and medical devices. In order to better understand the relationship between C. albicans morphology and biofilm formation, we examined biofilms generated in response to expression of UME6, a key filament-specific transcriptional regulator. As UME6 levels rise, C. albicans cells are known to transition from yeast to hyphae, and we also observed a corresponding increase in the level of biofilm formation in vitro. In addition to forming a biofilm, we observed that a C. albicans strain expressing constitutive high levels of UME6 promoted tissue invasion in a reconstituted human three-dimensional model of oropharyngeal candidiasis. Confocal microscopy indicated that both the top and bottom layers of the biofilm generated upon high-level constitutive UME6 expression consist primarily of hyphal cells. UME6-driven biofilm formation was reduced upon deletion of Hgc1, a cyclin-related protein important for hyphal development, as well as Sun41, a putative cell wall glycosidase. Constitutive high-level UME6 expression was also able to completely bypass both the filamentation and biofilm defects of a strain deleted for Efg1, a key transcriptional regulator of these processes. Finally, we show that both Sun41 and Efg1 affect the ability of UME6 to induce certain filament-specific transcripts. Overall, these findings indicate a strong correlation between increased C. albicans hyphal growth and enhanced biofilm formation and also suggest functional relationships between UME6 and other regulators of biofilm development.
Listeriosis in Renal Transplant Recipients: Report of an Outbreak and Review of 102 Cases

We observed six renal transplant recipients with listeriosis during a 10-week period in the autumn of 1979. Investigation of this outbreak established that the first four cases wer close contacts, all infected by Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1b. The source of infection and route of spread were not identified. A total of 102 renal transplant recipients with listeriosis have now been reported. The major manifestation of disease was meningitis in 50% of the patients, parenchymal disease of the central nervous system in 10%, both meningitis and parenchymal disease of the central nervous system in 9%, and primary bacteremia in 30%. The overall mortality rate was 26%. Pneumonia due to L. monocytogenes, a previously neglected finding, was present in seven patients (7%); five of the seven died. The route of transmission may sometimes be respiratory. Special techniques for isolation of L. monocytogenes from sputum are usually required but not complicated. We recommend that individual renal transplant patients with listeriosis be cared for with secretion and excretion precautions and that they be treated with ampicillin and gentamicin. We advocate the serotyping of all isolates and a careful case-control analysis of all epidemics, but we do not support the use of serologic testing or surveillance cultures.
Travelling Methods: Tracing the Globalization of Qualitative Communication Research

Existing discussion of the relationships between globalization, communication research, and qualitative methods emphasizes two images: the challenges posed by globalization to existing communication theory and research methods, and the impact of post-colonial politics and ethics on qualitative research. We draw in this paper on a third image – qualitative research methods as artifacts of globalization – to explore the globalization of qualitative communication research methods. Following a review of literature which tentatively models this process, we discuss two case studies of qualitative research in the disciplinary subfields of intercultural communication and media audience studies. These cases elaborate the forces which influence the articulation of national, disciplinary, and methodological identities which mediate the globalization of qualitative communication research methods.
The effect of generational status in language-tailored political messages

ABSTRACT The current study explored the effect of language-tailored political television advertisements on young-adult Latinos who live in the United States. It included the case of the 2008 presidential campaign as well as a simulated experiment performed two years later for a cross-validation purpose. Findings indicated that the effectiveness of political advertising on young-adult Latinos depends not only on the language used in the political advertisement but on the viewers9 generational status.
Students’ Perceptions of Technology Integration During the F.I.T. Unit

The researches mainly focused on the studentsAAE'¢A¢aâ¬Ai¬A¢aâ¬¢ achievement in technology integrated courses. However, there are limited researches on studentsAAE'¢A¢aâ¬Ai¬A¢aâ¬¢ perceptions of technology and their perceptions of whether technology use has an effect on their academic achievements. The major aim of this study is to reveal junior high school studentsAAE'¢A¢aâ¬Ai¬A¢aâ¬¢ technology perceptions. For this purpose, both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered. Adopted Turkish version of CATTS and four open-ended questions were distributed to the participants to reveal their perception on the technology integration in education. The validated Turkish version of CATTS has three dimensions; AAE'¢A¢aâ¬Ai¬Aâ¦aâ¬Aqtechnology interestAAE'¢A¢aâ¬Ai¬, AAE'¢A¢aâ¬Ai¬Aâ¦aâ¬Aqtechnology resistanceAAE'¢A¢aâ¬Ai¬ and AAE'¢A¢aâ¬Ai¬Aâ¦aâ¬Aqtechnology aptitudeAAE'¢A¢aâ¬Ai¬. These factors will be evaluated based on pupilsAAE'¢A¢aâ¬Ai¬A¢aâ¬¢ demographic characteristics (gender, family educational level, and computer possession), level of computer use, and purpose of computer and internet use. StudentsAAE'¢A¢aâ¬Ai¬A¢aâ¬¢ and their teachersAAE'¢A¢aâ¬Ai¬A¢aâ¬¢ ICT use will be presented by the help of open ended questions. Along with this, studentsAAE'¢A¢aâ¬Ai¬A¢aâ¬¢ perceptions on the use of such technological devices on their personal development will also be revealed by the analysis.
Management of Postoperative Respiratory Failure

Despite best efforts, postoperative complications such as postoperative respiratory failure may occur and prompt recognition of the process and management is required. Postoperative respiratory failure, such as postoperative pneumonia, postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress-like syndromes, and pulmonary embolism, are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The causes of these complications are multifactorial and depend on preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors, some of which are modifiable. The article identifies some of the risk factors, causes, and treatment strategies for successful management of the patient with postoperative respiratory failure.
Granite provenance and intrusion in arcs: Evidence from diverse zircon types in Big Bear Lake Intrusive Suite, USA

Abstract Textural, geochemical and hafnium isotopic data from diverse zircon domains allow discrimination between source and emplacement-level processes in the formation of a large-volume calc-alkalic intrusion. The Big Bear Lake Intrusive Suite is composed of satellite plutons and a main intrusive mass zoned from mafic granodiorites at its margins to central biotite ± muscovite granites, and is estimated to be 7–10 km thick and have a volume of 3500–5100 km3. Zircons in the main intrusive mass and in the satellite plutons are composed of one or more of four domain types: (a) Archean to Proterozoic premagmatic domains and (b) Mesozoic premagmatic domains, both occurring as cores, which are overgrown by (c) luminescent early magmatic domains with low U + Th and relatively high estimated crystallization temperatures and (d) high U + Th main phase magmatic domains. U-Pb zircon geochronology indicates the main intrusive mass was emplaced 78–77 Ma, preceded by satellite plutons intruded 85–81 Ma. Zircon hafnium isotope ratios span 54 epsilon units, recording age and compositional diversity in magma sources and magma batches. We propose a model for assembly of the intrusive suite involving mixing between lithospheric mantle-derived magma and a hybrid lower crustal source, followed by incremental emplacement of magmas in the upper crust at ~ 0.003–0.005 km3 my− 1. This flux rate was sufficiently rapid to generate a large volume of mobile magma that underwent differentiation by limited and imperfect fractional crystallization to form the granodioritic margins and central granites. The estimated flux rate is several times higher than that estimated for other Cretaceous, incrementally emplaced intrusive suites in the California arc, indicating that both source-level and emplacement-level processes played roles in forming these intrusions.
Assessment of an in vitro human model of stromal invasion using second harmonic generation and multiphoton imaging

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 5665 PURPOSE In this study we demonstrate the use of multiphoton imaging to study human carcinoma development and invasion in an in vitro human tumor model that recapitulates a normal tissue microenvironment (NTM). The human tumor model is based on an organotypic skin equivalent that consists of a fully stratified epidermis resting on a fibroblast- embedded collagen matrix. The keratinocyte and fibroblast cells exhibit endogenous two-photon fluorescence (TPF) when examined using multiphoton microscopy; while the fibrillar collagen matrix exhibits second harmonic generated light (SHG), a high-contrast, nonlinear scattering mechanism that has recently been applied to biological tissues. INVASION AND MMPS The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteolytic enzymes that are overexpressed in tumor tissue, and are associated with the creation of a permissive environment for tumor invasion. We plan to examine collagenase MMP-1 and gelatinase MMP-2 in part to mimic the well-known proMMP-2 activation mechanism involving a ternary complex formed by membrane-bound MT1-MMP, tissue inhibitor of MMP-2, and proMMP-2. Once activated, MMP-2 participates in pericellular proteolysis by degrading primary structural proteins of the basement membrane. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES Multiphoton imaging was used to assess the effect of proteolysis on the surrounding NTM by (1) characterizing intact engineered models of normal human skin, and (2) assessing the response of human skin models to proteolysis by purified MMP-1 and -2. MMP-treated human skin models were imaged over time, and proteolytic processing of type I collagen was quantified. RESULTS TPF+SHG images indicate that both the epidermal and dermal compartments of the mature skin equivalent tissue are clearly visible. The pattern of keratinocyte differentiation is evident: cellular morphology changes with depth as expected. Preliminary experiments using bacterial collagenase enzyme treatment were successful in demonstrating visualization and quantification of collagen degradation over time. Approximately 20 minutes after the addition of collagenase, a precipitous decrease (70-90%) in the collagen signal was observed. CONCLUSIONS Based on our findings using endogenous sources of contrast, we conclude that changes in the collagen organization, as measured by a decrease in SHG intensity, is a reliable and sensitive indicator of the onset and advancement of tumor invasion. Spectral-based quantification of collagen organization may be a novel and highly sensitive screen for anti-metastatic therapeutic agents. FUTURE To form the human tumor model, GFP-tagged squamous cell carcinoma cells will be incorporated into the epidermal compartment of the skin equivalent, and in vitro tumor development will be analyzed using multiphoton microscopy.
Role of postoperative radiation therapy in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma: a SEER analysis

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy affecting the exocrine glands. Management is surgery plus or minus adjuvant radiation (RT). No prospective study of RT for resected ACC has been reported. We hypothesized that adjuvant RT might improve survival. The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Database (SEER) database was queried for ACC cases from 1988 to 2010 (n = 3427). A univariate analysis of survival by whether RT was received, and several demographic, staging, and treatment-related factors were performed using Kaplan–Meier survival curves and log–rank tests. Local control rate could not be adequately assessed. There were 2090 patients who received adjuvant RT and 1337 who did not. The 10-year cause-specific survival for localized disease was 90 % (95 % CI (87 %, 92 %)) for no radiation versus 89 % (95 % CI (86 %, 92 %)) for RT, indicating no survival difference(p = 0.32). In a multivariate model, there was an increased risk of cause-specific death associated with RT for regional nodal disease (HR 1.50, p = 0.003) and a decreased risk for cause-specific death in metastatic disease (HR 0.68, p = 0.043). In a multivariate model, there was an increased risk of death associated with RT for regional disease (HR 1.24, p = 0.044), and a trend for decreased risk of death associated with RT for metastatic disease (HR 0.74, p = 0.073). This SEER review found no evidence of survival benefit for adjuvant RT for local ACC. A worsened survival for regional ACC suggests a selection bias toward use of RT in higher risk patients. Prospective studies of adjuvant RT in ACC are needed.
Selected Aspects of Polycystic Ovarian Disease

Although there is general agreement about the polycystic ovary as an anatomic entity, a classic description of an associated syndrome remains elusive. This lack of definition, however, has not impeded clinical investigation. This article focuses on the diagnosis, pathogenesis, hypotheses, and treatment of polycystic ovarian disease.
Community-Acquired Pneumonia Hospitalization among Children with Neurologic Disorders

Objective To describe and compare the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and etiology of pneumonia among children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with neurologic disorders, non-neurologic underlying conditions, and no underlying conditions. Study design Children Results From January 2010-June 2012, 2358 children with radiographically confirmed CAP were enrolled; 280 (11.9%) had a neurologic disorder (52.1% of these individuals also had non-neurologic underlying conditions), 934 (39.6%) had non-neurologic underlying conditions only, and 1144 (48.5%) had no underlying conditions. Children with neurologic disorders were older and more likely to require intensive care unit (ICU) admission than children with non-neurologic underlying conditions and children with no underlying conditions; similar proportions were mechanically ventilated. In age-stratified analysis, children with neurologic disorders were less likely to have a pathogen detected than children with non-neurologic underlying conditions. In multivariate analysis, having a neurologic disorder was associated with ICU admission for children ≥2 years of age. Conclusions Children with neurologic disorders hospitalized with CAP were less likely to have a pathogen detected and more likely to be admitted to the ICU than children without neurologic disorders.
Hreels Study of the Adsorption of Organometallics on GaAs(001) Surfaces

Trimethylgallium (TMGa), Triethylgallium (TEGa) and Diethylgalliumchloride (DEGaCl) are used in combination with arsine (AsH3) in atomic layer epitaxy of GaAs. We simulated this process in a UHV system by dosing a c(2×8) or (1×6) reconstructed GaAs(001) surface with arsine and organometallics at different temperatures. After the surface reconstruction was verfied by LEED, the sample was transferred in situ to the HREELS (high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy) chamber. We present new studies on the adsorption and pyrolysis of organometallics on GaAs(001) surfaces. As a result we find that TMGa adsorbs molecularly on an As-rich cooled surface but decomposes upon adsorption on a Ga-stabilized (1×6) surface. These two adsorption states are identified by the geometrical position of the Gamethyl compound on the surface (Ga-C bond parallel or normal to the surface). The removal of the adsorbed species occurs on an As-rich surface at temperatures higher than 450°C and on the Ga-stabilized surface at 350°C. For TEGa and DEGaCl we found similar results.
Peptide Ligation and RNA Cleavage via an Abiotic Template Interface

We report herein DNA- and RNA-templated chemical transformation of bifacial peptide nucleic acid (bPNA) fragments directed by an abiotic triplex hybrid interface. Assembly of one bPNA strand with two unstructured oligo T/U strands enables facile insertion of DNA and RNA template sites within partially folded nucleic acids; this template topology is not easily accessed through native base-pairing. Triplex hybridization of reactive bPNA fragments on DNA and RNA templates is shown to catalyze amide bond ligation and controlled bPNA chain extension. RNA-templated oxidative coupling of bPNA fragments is found to result in the emergence of ribozyme cleavage function, thus establishing a connection between engineered and native reaction sites. These data demonstrate the use of new topologies in nucleic acid-templated chemistry that could serve as chemically sensitive DNA and RNA switches.
The Effects of Patient Obesity on Early Postoperative Complications After Shoulder Arthroscopy

Purpose To report the prevalence of obesity in shoulder arthroscopy, determine a body mass index (BMI) threshold most predictive of complication within 30 days, and evaluate obesity as an independent risk factor for medical and surgical complications. Methods Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we reviewed all patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy during 2011 to 2013. Receiver operating characteristic and Youden coefficient were calculated to find an optimal BMI cutoff to predict complications within 30 days of surgery. A case-control matched analysis was then performed by stratifying patient BMI by this cutoff and matching patients one to one according to age, sex, type of shoulder arthroscopy, American Society of Anesthesiology rating, surgical setting, and 8 comorbidities. Operating time, complications, and readmissions were also compared. Results Of the 15,589 patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy, 6,684 (43%) were classified as obese when using the optimal cutoff point of BMI = 30 according to the Youden coefficient. Obese patients had a higher risk of superficial site infection than nonobese patients (0.3% vs 0.0%; odds ratio [OR]: 6.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 to 26.8; P = .015). Obese patients did not have significantly increased risk for overall early postoperative complication (1.2% compared with nonobese 0.8%; OR: 1.54; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.4), readmissions (OR: 0.85; 95% CI, 0.5 to 1.5), or increased operating time ( P = .068). Conclusions Up to 43% of patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy can be classified as obese, but early perioperative complications are uncommon. Higher patient BMI is associated with increased risk of superficial site infection but not an overall risk for complication, readmission, or increased operating time. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Homocysteine is biosynthesized from aspartate semialdehyde and hydrogen sulfide in methanogenic archaea.

The biosynthetic route for homocysteine, an intermediate in methionine biosynthesis, is unknown in some methanogenic archaea because homologues of the canonical required genes cannot be identified. Here we demonstrate that Methanocaldococcus jannaschii can biosynthesize homocysteine from aspartate semialdehyde and hydrogen sulfide. Additionally, we confirm the genes involved in this new pathway in Methanosarcina acetivorans. A possible series of reactions in which a thioaldehyde is formed and then reduced to a thiol are proposed. This represents a novel route for the biosynthesis of homocysteine and exemplifies unique aspects of sulfur chemistry occurring in prebiotic environments and in early life forms.
Developmental and Regulatory Functions of Na(+) Channel Non-pore-forming β Subunits.

Abstract Voltage-gated Na + channels (VGSCs) isolated from mammalian neurons are heterotrimeric complexes containing one pore-forming α subunit and two non–pore-forming β subunits. In excitable cells, VGSCs are responsible for the initiation of action potentials. VGSC β subunits are type I topology glycoproteins, containing an extracellular amino-terminal immunoglobulin (Ig) domain with homology to many neural cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), a single transmembrane segment, and an intracellular carboxyl-terminal domain. VGSC β subunits are encoded by a gene family that is distinct from the α subunits. While α subunits are expressed in prokaryotes, β subunit orthologs did not arise until after the emergence of vertebrates. β subunits regulate the cell surface expression, subcellular localization, and gating properties of their associated α subunits. In addition, like many other Ig-CAMs, β subunits are involved in cell migration, neurite outgrowth, and axon pathfinding and may function in these roles in the absence of associated α subunits. In sum, these multifunctional proteins are critical for both channel regulation and central nervous system development.
Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Modulates Membrane Protein Retrieval and Insertion Processes

Interindividual variability in drug response in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) can be mediated by altered regulation of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters. Among these is the mislocalization of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP2)/Mrp2 away from the canalicular membrane, which results in decreased transport of MRP2/Mrp2 substrates. The exact mechanism of this mislocalization is unknown, although increased activation of membrane retrieval processes may be one possibility. The current study measures the activation status of various mediators implicated in the active membrane retrieval or insertion of membrane proteins to identify which processes may be important in rodent methionine and choline deficient diet-induced NASH. The mediators currently known to be associated with transporter mislocalization are stimulated by oxidative stressors and choleretic stimuli, which play a role in the pathogenesis of NASH. The activation of protein kinases PKA, PKCα, PKCδ, and PKCe and substrates radixin, myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate, and Rab11 were measured by comparing the expression, phosphorylation, and membrane translocation between control and NASH. Many of the mediators exhibited altered activation in NASH rats. Consistent with membrane retrieval of Mrp2, NASH rats exhibited a decreased phosphorylation of radixin and increased membrane localization of PKCδ and PKCe, thought to be mediators of radixin dephosphorylation. Altered activation of PKCδ, PKA, and PKCα may impair the Rab11-mediated active insertion of Mrp2. Overall, these data suggest alterations in membrane retrieval and insertion processes that may contribute to altered localization of membrane proteins in NASH.
High power nonlinear measurements: Calibration issues, real time loadpull, and other RF data

Effective high power microwave amplifier design and system modeling require accurate nonlinear models, which, in turn, require measurement of at least 3 harmonics with NIST traceable phase reference between them. Exceeding a decade of measurement bandwidth at microwave frequencies can be problematic, and a fraction of a dB of calibration error can lead to 10's of percentage points of “disappointment” in performance for the physical prototype[1]-[2]. Issues related to calibration and accurate wideband measurements for building an S Function model are presented. Pre-measurements required for efficient model extraction can include real time loadpull and “design” of the power amplifier.
Polycrystal plasticity modeling of nickel-based superalloy IN 617 subjected to cyclic loading at high temperature

A crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) model considering isothermal, large deformation and cyclic loading conditions has been formulated and employed to investigate the mechanical response of a nickel-based alloy at high temperature. The investigations focus on fatigue and creep-fatigue hysteresis response of IN 617 subjected to fatigue and creep-fatigue cycles. A new slip resistance evolution equation is proposed to account for cyclic transient features induced by solute drag creep that occur in IN 617 at 950 °C. The crystal plasticity model parameters are calibrated against the experimental fatigue and creep-fatigue data based on an optimization procedure that relies on a surrogate modeling (i.e. Gaussian process) technique to accelerate multi-parameter optimizations. The model predictions are validated against experimental data, which demonstrates the capability of the proposed model in capturing the hysteresis behavior for various hold times and strain ranges in the context of fatigue and creep-fatigue loading.
Analysis of gesture frequency and amplitude as a function of personality in virtual agents

Embodied conversational agents are changing the way humans interact with technology. In order to develop humanlike ECAs they need to be able to perform natural gestures that are used in day-to-day conversation. Gestures can give insight into an ECAs personality trait of extraversion, but what factors into it is still being explored. Our study focuses on two aspects of gesture: amplitude and frequency. Our goal is to find out whether agents should use specific gestures more frequently than others depending on the personality type they have been designed with. We also look to quantify gesture amplitude and compare it to a previous study on the perception of an agent's naturalness of its gestures. Our results showed some indication that introverts and extraverts judge the agent's naturalness similarly. The larger the amplitude our agent used, the more natural its gestures were perceived. The frequency of gestures between extraverts and introverts seem to contain hardly any difference, even in terms of types of gesture used.
The COX-2 pathway receptors: Contribution to biological disparities in breast cancer

B90 00000000http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/word/2003/wordml013f It is well established that there are racial differences in breast cancer incidence as well as overall survival. Death rates due to breast cancer in African-American (AA) women remain 37% higher than in Whites (W) despite lower overall incidence rates. Even when differences in access to health care and other factors are considered, there is still evidence that breast cancer is inherently more aggressive in AA women. It is critical to understand the different biology of breast cancer in AA women in order to reduce disparities in clinical outcome. AA women are more likely to have breast tumors that are negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and for Her-2/neu receptor and these triple-negative tumors have a relatively poor prognosis due to the development of distant metastases. We have employed a murine model of triple-negative breast cancer to identify mechanisms that contribute to high metastatic potential. The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme is frequently overexpressed in solid cancers and is associated with a poor prognosis in breast, as well as other malignancies. In tumors, the major COX-2 product is prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ). Cellular effects of secreted PGE 2 are mediated by four G-protein-coupled receptors, designated EP1-EP4, that are coupled to distinct intracellular signaling pathways. We have shown that blocking COX-2 activity or antagonizing the EP4 receptor reduces breast cancer metastasis. In contrast, the EP1 receptor appears to be protective for metastatic disease since antagonism of this receptor results in more tumor dissemination. These and other studies suggest that balanced expression and signaling through all four EP receptors determines the cellular response to PGE 2 . Using a microarray approach to compare expression of many genes in breast tumors from AA and W women, we observed that expression of the protective EP1 receptor was significantly lower in tumors from AA women. AA tumors express 50-66% less EP1 mRNA than W breast tumors. EP2, EP3 and EP4 levels were comparable in the two populations. We are exploring the hypothesis that reduced EP1 receptor expression in AA breast cancers contributes to the aggressive behavior of these tumors. Further, that restoring the balance of EP1 and EP4-mediated signaling will reduce metastatic capacity and therefore reduce breast cancer disparities.
Character, Areas, and Level of Corruption in Russia

This chapter describes how corruption has penetrated all levels of government and everyday life in Russia and its consequences. An independent expert from RosBusinessConsulting (RBC) magazine identified law enforcement agencies (including the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate) as collectively the most corrupt institution in Russia, followed by healthcare, education, housing and communal services, and social security services. The governmental activities most associated with corruption are: 1. Government contracts and purchases 2. Issuance of permits and certificates 3. Law enforcement agencies 4. Land distribution 5. Land relations 6. Construction
Prescription Opioid Use Among U.S. Adults: Our Brave New World.

Han and colleagues present striking results from an analysis of the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Although improved access to evidence-based pain management and a decrease in excessi...
Spatial eye–hand coordination during bimanual reaching is not systematically coded in either LIP or PRR

We often orient to where we are about to reach. Spatial and temporal correlations in eye and arm movements may depend on the posterior parietal cortex (PPC). Spatial representations of saccade and reach goals preferentially activate cells in the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) and the parietal reach region (PRR), respectively. With unimanual reaches, eye and arm movement patterns are highly stereotyped. This makes it difficult to study the neural circuits involved in coordination. Here, we employ bimanual reaching to two different targets. Animals naturally make a saccade first to one target and then the other, resulting in different patterns of limb–gaze coordination on different trials. Remarkably, neither LIP nor PRR cells code which target the eyes will move to first. These results suggest that the parietal cortex plays at best only a permissive role in some aspects of eye–hand coordination and makes the role of LIP in saccade generation unclear.
Identification of novel MITEs (miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements) in Coxiella burnetii : implications for protein and small RNA evolution

Coxiella burnetii is a Gram-negative gammaproteobacterium and zoonotic agent of Q fever. C. burnetii’s genome contains an abundance of pseudogenes and numerous selfish genetic elements. MITEs (miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements) are non-autonomous transposons that occur in all domains of life and are thought to be insertion sequences (ISs) that have lost their transposase function. Like most transposable elements (TEs), MITEs are thought to play an active role in evolution by altering gene function and expression through insertion and deletion activities. However, information regarding bacterial MITEs is limited. We describe two MITE families discovered during research on small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) of C. burnetii. Two sRNAs, Cbsr3 and Cbsr13, were found to originate from a novel MITE family, termed QMITE1. Another sRNA, CbsR16, was found to originate from a separate and novel MITE family, termed QMITE2. Members of each family occur ~ 50 times within the strains evaluated. QMITE1 is a typical MITE of 300-400 bp with short (2-3 nt) direct repeats (DRs) of variable sequence and is often found overlapping annotated open reading frames (ORFs). Additionally, QMITE1 elements possess sigma-70 promoters and are transcriptionally active at several loci, potentially influencing expression of nearby genes. QMITE2 is smaller (150-190 bps), but has longer (7-11 nt) DRs of variable sequences and is mainly found in the 3′ untranslated region of annotated ORFs and intergenic regions. QMITE2 contains a GTAG repetitive extragenic palindrome (REP) that serves as a target for IS1111 TE insertion. Both QMITE1 and QMITE2 display inter-strain linkage and sequence conservation, suggesting that they are adaptive and existed before divergence of C. burnetii strains. We have discovered two novel MITE families of C. burnetii. Our finding that MITEs serve as a source for sRNAs is novel. QMITE2 has a unique structure and occurs in large or small versions with unique DRs that display linkage and sequence conservation between strains, allowing for tracking of genomic rearrangements. QMITE1 and QMITE2 copies are hypothesized to influence expression of neighboring genes involved in DNA repair and virulence through transcriptional interference and ribonuclease processing.
Vertical stiffness and balance control of two-legged hopping in-place in children with and without Down syndrome.

Abstract Background Children with Down syndrome (DS) are known for their reduced balance control, and typically take longer to develop motor skills and display less coordinated movement patterns. Hopping in-place is a gross motor skill requiring whole-body vertical stiffness and horizontal movement control, particularly when attempting to modify hopping frequency. However, there is a lack of knowledge of the hopping capacity of children with DS. Research question The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of children with DS aged 5–11 years old to continuously hop in-place on two legs and compare their biomechanical patterns to those of typically developing (TD) children. Methods This observational study included 14 children with DS and 16 TD children. Subjects were asked to complete 20 s trials of two-legged hopping in-place at a self-selected frequency, and four metronome guided conditions: preferred (self-selected frequency), moderate (20% increase), fast (40% increase) and slow (20% decrease). Two sample independent t-tests were conducted on whole-body vertical stiffness, horizontal center-of-mass movement, and toe displacement between hops for the self-selected hopping condition and two-way ANOVAs were used for the metronome conditions. Results and significance Our findings suggest that children with DS might not be able to continuously hop in-place until the age of 7 years old, and were unable to hop for as long in duration as their TD peers. Children with DS self-selected a faster hopping frequency, and demonstrated an increased medial-lateral center-of-mass movement during the stance phase of hopping, suggesting reduced balance control. Moreover, children with DS were unable to correctly modify their hopping frequency when cued by a metronome and exhibited an inability to modulate whole-body vertical stiffness and constrain horizontal or vertical movement. These results demonstrate the utility of a future hopping intervention to improve whole-body vertical stiffness and balance control in children with DS.
Language experience outweighs perceptual enhancement in category learning

Some theorists claim that cues that contribute to the same acoustic percept are naturally coupled in category learning. In contrast, others claim that no pairs of cues are privileged in this way, and listeners simply learn cue correlations from language input. We compared the cue weighting and cue-shifting between pitch and breathiness, which are enhancing but do not signal a phonemic contrast in English (Experiment I), and pitch and closure duration, which are not enhancing but are correlated in signaling the English voicing contrast (Experiment II). When the cues were enhancing but not contrastive, English listeners successfully learned to weight the more informative cue higher. In contrast, preliminary results show that listeners have difficulty weighting the informative cue higher when the two cues are not enhancing but only contrastive. Results suggest that language experience outweighs auditory enhancement relationships in the perceptual coupling of cues.