cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Etk/Bmx as a Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Type 2-Specific Kinase: Role in Endothelial Cell Migration and Angiogenesis

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a cytokine that mediates many pathophysiologial processes, including angiogenesis. However, the molecular signaling involved in TNF-induced angiogenesis has not been determined. In this study, we examined the role of Etk/Bmx, an endothelial/epithelial tyrosine kinase involved in cell adhesion, migration, and survival in TNF-induced angiogenesis. We show that TNF activates Etk specifically through TNF receptor type 2 (TNFR2) as demonstrated by studies using a specific agonist to TNFR2 and TNFR2-deficient cells. Etk forms a preexisting complex with TNFR2 in a ligand-independent manner, and the association is through multiple domains (pleckstrin homology domain, TEC homology domain, and SH2 domain) of Etk and the C-terminal domain of TNFR2. The C-terminal 16-amino-acid residues of TNFR2 are critical for Etk association and activation, and this Etk-binding and activating motif in TNFR2 is not overlapped with the TNFR-associated factor type 2 (TRAF2)-binding sequence. Thus, TRAF2 is not involved in TNF-induced Etk activation, suggesting a novel mechanism for Etk activation by cytokine receptors. Moreover, a constitutively active form of Etk enhanced, whereas a dominant-negative Etk blocked, TNF-induced endothelial cell migration and tube formation. While most TNF actions have been attributed to TNFR1, our studies demonstrate that Etk is a TNFR2-specific kinase involved in TNF-induced angiogenic events.
Hierarchical Generalized Linear Models for the Analysis of Judge Ratings.

It is known that the Rasch model is a special two-level hierarchical generalized linear model (HGLM). This article demonstrates that the many-faceted Rasch model (MFRM) is also a special case of the two-level HGLM, with a random intercept representing examinee ability on a test, and fixed effects for the test items, judges, and possibly other facets. This perspective suggests useful modeling extensions of the MFRM. For example, in the HGLM framework it is possible to model random effects for items and judges in order to assess their stability across examinees. The MFRM can also be extended so that item difficulty and judge severity are modeled as functions of examinee characteristics (covariates), for the purposes of detecting differential item functioning and differential rater functioning. Practical illustrations of the HGLM are presented through the analysis of simulated and real judge-mediated data sets involving ordinal responses.
Ingested RNA interference for managing the populations of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata.

BACKGROUND: RNA interference (RNAi) is a breakthrough technology for conducting functional genomics studies and also as a potential tool for crop protection against insect pests. The major challenge for efficient pest control using RNAi in the field is the development of efficient and reliable methods for production and delivery of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). In this paper, the potential of feeding dsRNA expressed in bacteria or synthesized in vitro to manage populations of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (CPB), was investigated. RESULTS: Feeding RNAi successfully triggered the silencing of all five target genes tested and caused significant mortality and reduced body weight gain in the treated beetles. This study provides the first example of an effective RNAi response in insects after feeding dsRNA produced in bacteria. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the efficient induction of RNAi using bacteria to deliver dsRNA is a possible method for management of CPB. This could be also a promising bioassay approach for genome-wide screens to identify effective target genes for use as novel RNAi-based insecticides. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Hepatotoxicity of Chemotherapy

After assessment of tumor histology, the next important factor to consider in the selection of a chemotherapy regime is organ function. Patients who are to receive chemotherapy require careful assessment of liver function prior to treatment to determine which drugs may not be appropriate, and which drug doses should be modified. Following therapy abnormalities of liver function tests may be due to the therapy rather than to progressive disease, and this distinction is of critical importance. Furthermore, not all abnormalities in liver function are due to the tumor or its treatment, and other processes, such as hepatitis, must be kept in mind. This article reviews the hepatic toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents, and suggests dose modifications based upon liver function abnormalities. Emphasis is placed on agents known to be hepatotoxic, and those agents with hepatic metabolism. The Oncologist 2001;6:162-176
Measuring Residents’ Attitudes toward Sustainable Tourism: A Reexamination of the Sustainable Tourism Attitude Scale

This project examined the Sustainable Tourism Attitude Scale (SUS-TAS), which measures residents’ attitudes toward sustainable tourism. This study has two major purposes: (1) to reassess reliability and construct validity of the 44-item SUS-TAS using confirmatory factor analysis and (2) to identify a shorter version of the SUS-TAS that would not compromise the scale’s psychometric properties. To accomplish these purposes, an empirical study was conducted in rural Orange County, Indiana. Findings support a seven-dimension SUS-TAS model using 27 items that maintained construct validity and internal consistency.
Floating mist nets: a technique for capturing birds in flooded habitat

Banding birds is essential for detailed demographic studies of avian populations. Mist nets are a widely used, effective method of capturing birds for banding, but are difficult to use under certain conditions. While conducting a demographic study of Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus), rising reservoir levels flooded large tracts of flycatcher breeding habitat and made traditional mist-netting techniques impossible to use. In response, we devised a technique for capturing birds over deep water using mist nets suspended between poles kept afloat on compact buoys. In 2005, we used this technique to safely capture 17 Willow Flycatchers that could not have been captured by any other means, and over 40 additional passerines were incidentally captured with no injuries occurring. This versatile apparatus was simple to build and employ, and capture success was similar to that over dry land. SINOPSIS. Redes de niebla flotantes: t?cnica para capturar aves en lugares inundados El anillamiento de las aves es esencial para estudios demogr?ficos detallados. Las redes de niebla son ampliamente utilizadas como m?todo efectivo para capturar aves para su anillamiento, pero son dif?ciles de utilizar bajo algunas circunstancias. Mientras se condujo un estudio demogr?fico de Empidonax traillii extinmus, se inund? gran parte del habitat de dicha especie haciendo sumamente dif?cil el colocar redes de niebla. En respuesta, desarrollamos una t?cnica para capturar las aves en lugares inundados, colocando las redes entre postes sostenidos con boyas. En el 2005, se capturaron 17 aves que de otra forma hubiera sido imposible capturar. Incidentalmente se capturaron otros 40 p?sennos sin da?o alguno a estos. El vers?til aparato fue f?cil de construir y el ?xito de captura fue similar al que hubo en tierra firme.
Extending stability beyond CPU millennium: a micron-scale atomistic simulation of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability

We report the computational advances that have enabled the first micron-scale simulation of a Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability using molecular dynamics (MD). The advances are in three key areas for massively parallel computation such as on BlueGene/L (BG/L): fault tolerance, application kernel optimization, and highly efficient parallel I/O. In particular, we have developed novel capabilities for handling hardware parity errors and improving the speed of interatomic force calculations, while achieving near optimal I/O speeds on BG/L, allowing us to achieve excellent scalability and improve overall application performance. As a result we have successfully conducted a 2-billion atom KH simulation amounting to 2.8 CPU-millennia of run time, including a single, continuous simulation run in excess of 1.5 CPU-millennia. We have also conducted 9-billion and 62.5-billion atom KH simulations. The current optimized ddcMD code is benchmarked at 115.1 TFlop/s in our scaling study and 103.9 TFlop/s in a sustained science run, with additional improvements ongoing. These improvements enabled us to run the first MD simulations of micron-scale systems developing the KH instability.
Cis- and trans-acting genetic factors contribute to heterogeneity in the rate of crossing over between the Drosophila simulans clade species

In the genus Drosophila, variation in recombination rates has been found within and between species. Genetic variation for both cis- and trans-acting factors has been shown to affect recombination rates within species, but little is known about the genetic factors that affect differences between species. Here, we estimate rates of crossing over for seven segments that tile across the euchromatic length of the X chromosome in the genetic backgrounds of three closely related Drosophila species. We first generated a set of Drosophila mauritiana lines each having two semidominant visible markers on the X chromosome and then introgressed these doubly marked segments into the genetic backgrounds of its sibling species, Drosophila simulans and Drosophila sechellia. Using these 21 lines (seven segments, three genetic backgrounds), we tested whether recombination rates within the doubly marked intervals differed depending on genetic background. We find significant heterogeneity among intervals and among species backgrounds. Our results suggest that a combination of both cis- and trans-acting factors have evolved among the three D. simulans clade species and interact to affect recombination rate.
Genetics and regulation of two distinct haem-uptake systems, phu and has, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

A gene cluster similar to haem iron uptake loci of bacterial pathogens was identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This phu locus (‘Pseudomonas haem uptake’) consisted of the phuR receptor gene and the phuSTUVW operon encoding a typical ABC transporter. Expression of phuR and phuSTUVW from mapped transcriptional-start sites occurred under iron-restricted growth conditions and was directly controlled by the Fur protein. Binding of Fur was demonstrated by DNase footprinting of two adjacent ‘Fur boxes’ that overlapped both the phuR and phuSTUVW promoters. Two tandem repeats of 154 bp were identified downstream of the phuSTUVW operon, each of which contained a strong Fur-dependent promoter driving expression of iron-regulated RNAs antisense to phuSTUVW. Mutant strains with deletions in phuR and phuSTUV showed greatly reduced growth with either haem or haemoglobin as the only iron source: the defects were complemented by plasmids harbouring the phuR or the phuSTUV genes, respectively. Deletions of phuW or of the tandem repeats had only minor effects on haem utilization. The remaining haem and haemoglobin uptake still observed in the ΔphuR or ΔphuSTUV deletion mutants was due to a second haem-acquisition system, has, which was also under the direct control of Fur. This second haem-receptor gene, hasR, was identified upstream of and in an operon with hasA, encoding a haem-binding extracellular protein. A ΔhasR mutant also exhibited decreased utilization of haem and haemoglobin, and a ΔphuR ΔhasR double mutant was virtually unable to take up either compound. Both the PhuR and HasR proteins were detected in the outer-membrane fraction of P. aeruginosa grown in low-iron media. Taken together, the evidence suggests that the phu and has loci encode two distinct systems required for the acquisition of haem and haemoglobin in P. aeruginosa.
Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging reconstruction with deformable shape‐intensity models

A new method, based on a deformable shape-intensity model (DSM), was developed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of multidimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) data sets without affecting spectral lineshapes and linewidths. Improvements with DSM, compared to digital filters using conventional signal apodization, were demonstrated on both simulated and experimental in vivo 1H MRS images from 22 cognitively normal (CN) elderly subjects and 25 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Simulated MRSI data showed that DSM achieved superior noise suppression compared to a matched apodization filter. Experimental MRSI data showed that SNR could be increased 2.1-fold with DSM without distorting spectral resolution, thus maintaining all spectral features of the raw, unfiltered data. In conclusion, DSM should be used to achieve high SNR in reconstructing MRSI data. Magn Reson Med 50:474–482, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An initial evaluation of a culturally adapted social problem-solving and relational aggression prevention program for urban African-American relationally aggressive girls

Recent research demonstrating that relational aggression is associated with peer relationship difficulties, internalizing and externalizing behaviors, social processing deficits, and possibly later mental health disorders among girls has emphasized the need to address the unique expression of aggression among females. Despite these findings, almost all aggression interventions have been directed toward physically aggressive boys. In the current article, the authors describe the acceptability and initial effectiveness of a culturally adapted social problem-solving/social skills intervention for inner-city 3rd- to 5th-grade urban, African American, relationally aggressive girls called the Friend to Friend Program. The authors partnered with youth, teachers, parents, and playground supervisors to design the program, and the current study presents preliminary data suggesting that the intervention is viewed as highly acceptable by participating girls and teachers. Further, the intervention appears to have promise for decreasing at-risk girls' levels of relationally and physically aggressive behaviors, hostile attributions, and loneliness.
Stability in feedback systems with tapered and other special input spaces

The effect of weighted input and output spaces on the stability of feedback systems is examined. For a weighted space, the recent past of a signal is emphasized and the remote past is deemphasized. Tapered spaces are a subclass of weighted spaces. Results concerning weighted spaces used on linear systems are given. The circle conditions are recovered for feedback systems with exponentially tapered spaces. >
Regulation of acetylcholine receptors on chick ciliary ganglion neurons by components from the synaptic target tissue

Chick ciliary ganglion neurons have nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) that mediate synaptic transmission through the ganglion. A soluble component of about 50 kDa from embryonic eye tissue, the synaptic target of the ganglion, increases the development of ACh sensitivity by the neurons 10-fold over a 1-week period in culture. The increased sensitivity does not arise from a change in agonist affinity or esterase activity. Both the basal ACh response obtained in the absence of the 50-kDa component and the elevated responses obtained with it can be inhibited by neuronal bungarotoxin (nBgt) but not by alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha Bgt). Increases of less than twofold are observed for the binding of anti-AChR monoclonal antibody 35 (mAb 35), nBgt, and alpha Bgt to the neurons under these conditions. Extract fractions containing the 50-kDa component also enable the neurons to enhance their ACh responses through a cAMP-dependent mechanism. Either the 50-kDa fraction induces the appearance of a new type of AChR regulated by cAMP, or it alters the function of existing AChRs. The 50- kDa fraction produces no change in neuronal growth but can increase GABA responses sixfold, indicating that its effects are not confined to AChRs. It is not clear whether a single molecular species is responsible for the diverse regulatory effects or whether several types of active components are present in the fraction. The component which enhances ACh sensitivity is trypsin-sensitive and heat-labile, as expected for a protein. The component may be widely distributed since the 50-kDa fraction from a number of tissues can increase the ACh response. The fraction from eye tissue, however, has a specific activity 5–10 times greater than that of the liver fraction. A wide distribution would suggest multiple targets and roles for the component during development.
Parallel crawlers

In this paper we study how we can design an effective parallel crawler. As the size of the Web grows, it becomes imperative to parallelize a crawling process, in order to finish downloading pages in a reasonable amount of time. We first propose multiple architectures for a parallel crawler and identify fundamental issues related to parallel crawling. Based on this understanding, we then propose metrics to evaluate a parallel crawler, and compare the proposed architectures using 40 million pages collected from the Web. Our results clarify the relative merits of each architecture and provide a good guideline on when to adopt which architecture.
Prognostic Factors for Seizures After First Radiosurgical Treatment in Patients With Brain Metastases

primary and BM. All patients were stratified according with Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA) with a median value of 2 (range 1-3.5). Mean BM metastases were 2 (range 1-6) and median Gross Tumor Volume Brain metastases (GTVBM) were 10.32 cc (range 0.06 e 59.52 cc). A dose prescription of 20 Gy in 5 fractions to WBRT and a SIB of 40 Gy in 5 fractions was prescribed in all cases. All patients had a corticosteroid prescription during treatment to prevent neurological symptoms. Results: We reported a good acute treatment tolerance and all patients completed radiation treatment without an increase in corticosteroid dose. Median follow-up was 5.4 months (range 1.8 e 16.5 months). Analyzing clinical outcomes at 3, 6 and 9 months we observed respectively: LC 100%, 88.9%, 76.2%, CNSC 88.5%, 81.7%, 54.5% and OS 83.8%, 61.6%, 51.3%. At Kaplan-Meier analyses patients with an age 65 years had a better OS (pZ0.025). A statistical trend was observed in patients with a control of systemic disease and OS (pZ0.1). At univariate and multivariate analysis we did not report any statistical difference. Conclusion: Preliminary analysis reported a good acute tolerance of the radiation treatment. Apparently patients younger than 65 years and with a control of systemic disease had better prognosis in terms of OS. A longer follow-up and inclusion of new patients are necessary. These preliminary results justified continuing the clinical study with the goal to establish the role of hypofractionated WBRT-SIB in patients with diagnosis of brain metastases. Author Disclosure: N. Giaj Levra: None. F. Moretto: None. A. Fiorentino: None. M. Levis: None. S. Fersino: None. E. Pelle: None. F. Ricchetti: None. R. Mazzola: None. F. Alongi: None. U. Ricardi: None.
Simultaneous ranging and remote sensing utilizing chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy

Simultaneous ranging and laser-spectroscopic gas-sensing is demonstrated for the first time with a non-pulsed sensing technique. Besides remote sensing, spectroscopy with highly multi-mode cells will become calibration-free. Extension to a simultaneous multi-path measurement is possible.
Proliferative Glomerulonephritis With Monoclonal IgG Deposits in a Young Patient: A Case Report

Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits (PGNMID) is a newly described entity that belongs to the class of disorders known as monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS). The renal deposit in PGNMID is composed of monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig). Microscopic findings typically show a non-fibrillar or non-microtubular pattern of Ig deposit without any organized structure. This entity affects adults and most patients present with nephrotic-range proteinuria and hematuria with or without renal failure. We report a unique case of PGNMID occurring in a young patient following a viral infection. The patient had significant proteinuria. There were no monoclonal proteins found in the serum. The renal biopsy was consistent with proliferative glomerulonephritis (GN) with monoclonal immune deposits. PGNMID is a novel form of GN that mimics immune-complex type GN on light and electron microscopy; thus, renal biopsy with careful attention to light-chain and IgG isotype staining is essential for diagnosis. J Med Cases. 2016;7(5):191-194 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc2444w
An approach with filters-neural network for harmonic detection

High-precision detection of harmonic is the basis of the assessment of energy metering and power quality.Aiming at the problem that the accuracy of algorithms of neural network harmonic detecting is largely affected by the fundamental frequency accuracy,this paper presents the digital filter combining with Newton's inverse interpolation algorithm to get fundamental frequency with high accuracy,then uses linear neural network algorithm to detect frequency,amplitude and phase of power system harmonics.The results show that under the interference of frequency fluctuation and white noise,it can still get accurate harmonic parameters,whose accuracy is much higher than that of the FFT algorithm and FFT algorithm with the Hanning window,and it has certain application value in power system.
Faunal distribution of fleas in Fujian province

Objective To know faunal distribution of fleas in Fujian province.Methods Fleas were collected and identified based on results of investigation and surveillance on rodent-borne diseases.Results Twenty-seven species from 18 genera and 6 families were recorded in Fujian including 2 endemic species,14 oriental species and 13 widespread species with no identification of palaearctic species.Thirteen species of 11 genera and 5 families were identified in sub-region of Southern Fujian;13 species from 10 genera and 4 families were identified in sub-region of Central Fujian;16 species from 15 genera and 6 families were identified in sub-region of Eastern Fujian;23 species from 15 genera and 6 families were identified in sub-region of Northern Fujian;10 species from 10 genera and 5 families were identified in sub-region of Western Fujian.Conclusion General condition of faunal distribution of fleas in Fujian province was grasped.
Corrigendum: Phase steps and resonator detuning measurements in microresonator frequency combs.

Corrigendum: Phase steps and resonator detuning measurements in microresonator frequency combs
Effect of adrenalectomy and ovariectomy on mammary carcinogenesis in strain C3H mice.

A preliminary investigation to evaluate the relative importance of the ovarian and the adrenocortical secretions in mammary carcinogenesis in the mice is reported. 4-week-old C3H mice (female) were treated as follows: 1) untreated controls; 2) ovariectomized; 3) ovariectomized and implanted sc with 5-10 mg pellets of desoxycorticosterone acetate; 4) adrenalectomized and implanted with desoxycorticosterone acetate; and 5) adrenalectomized and ovariectomized and also implanted with desoxycorticosterone acetate. Animals were searched for tumors and the tumors and other relevant tissue were examined histologically. Results indicate that ovariectomy of 4-week-old C3H mice reduces the incidence of mammary tumors from 85 to 35%. Desoxycorticosterone acetate was insignificant in influencing the incidence of mammary tumors in ovariectomized mice. Adrenalectomized mice had a relative short survival time. Adrenalectomy reduced the incidence of mammary tumors to approximately the same extent as did ovariectomy. Ovariectomized-adrenalectomized animals had the lowest incidence of tumors. However significant demonstration would require larger numbers of animals. It is suggested that the effect of adrenalectomy is through the pituitary gland. Mammary tumors in mice deprived of their ovaries is probably due to extraovarian production of estrogenic compounds in the adrenal cortex.
Struys’s Youth and Reysen’s First Journey

Reysen opens with the young sailmaker Struys setting sail as a teenager, omitting like other seventeenth-century texts of its kind almost any information about its protagonist’s youth.1 Besides the few lines on Struys’s birthplace, childhood, and adolescence in Reysen, no other sources are extant to fill in the blanks about his formative years, except that they confirm his birthyear as 1628 or 1629.2 As in the subsequent two sections, in this first part Reysen’s charting of Struys’s travels is interspersed with a series of chorographies or cosmographies.3 These passages mix historical developments and ethnographic, geographic, and biological sketches of the exotic regions (culled from a variety of sources and only occasionally reflecting Struys’s impressions) that had been visited by Reysen’s hero.
Toward a broader recognition of the queer in the BBC'S "Sherlock"

With an eye toward the growing body of scholarship on the new Sherlock (2010–), this article considers both the show's possibilities for queer identification and the limitations of analyses of the show that rely too heavily on Holmes's relationship with John Watson as evidence of Holmes's queerness. Despite the producers' proclamation that Holmes is above sex, much less gay sex, the show is ripe with a queer subtext that viewers have recognized and reclaimed as their own. Several scholars have examined Sherlock' s appeal to these viewers, but their focus has primarily been on the ways these readings conflict or intersect with how the show and its producers understand him. This article calls for a reading that conceives of a queerness outside of the homosexual domestic. Using Jose Escobar Munoz's theory of disidentification, I argue that we should explore readings of the show that do not demand validation of queerness through normative relationships and behaviors. Instead, Sherlock's illegibility allows him to exist in a queer space, outside both essentialist and constructivist ideas of who and what people can be.
Physiology of Motor Deficits and the Potential of Motor Recovery After a Spinal Cord Injury

The focus of this chapter is to highlight some fundamental concepts on the physiology of movement control after a spinal cord injury (SCI). We will discuss how these concepts are defined by the order of motor unit recruitment within a motor pool and how the relative recruitment across multiple motor pools defines the movements performed. We then will describe how these factors are affected by SCI. Understanding how these particular “neural decisions” might be modified by SCI will provide greater insight in assessing the etiology of the movement dysfunctions and thus in finding potential resolutions in a given individual at a given time post-injury (Fig. 2.1).
Riskiness Measures and Expected Returns

Inspired by Aumann and Serrano (2008) and Foster and Hart (2009), we propose risk-neutral options’ implied measures of riskiness and investigate their significance in predicting the cross section of expected returns per unit of risk. The empirical analyses indicate a negative and significant link between the forward looking options’ implied measures of riskiness and future stock returns. Stocks in the lowest riskiness portfolio have economically and statistically higher risk-adjusted returns than those in the highest riskiness portfolio. These results are robust to controls for market beta, size, book-to-market, momentum, short-term reversal, and liquidity of individual stocks. Controlling for the risk-neutral measure of skewness and the widely used measures of volatility and downside risk (value-at-risk and expected shortfall) does not affect the significant predictive power of riskiness. The paper also introduces alternative measures of riskiness for the aggregate stock market and shows that aggregate riskiness successfully predicts future economic downturns.
A Captive Library Between Morocco and Spain

This chapter retraces the story of the library belonging to the Moroccan sultan Mulay Zaydân, which was seized by a Spanish Fleet in 1612. It analyzes the fate of this collection in the context of the development of the field of Orientalism in the early modern Europe.
Chapter 17 – Diagnosis

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on diagnosis. The word diagnosis has been used to refer to pedagogical activities aiming at collecting and inferring information about the student or his actions. Because this task often involves the construction of a student model, these activities have also been called student modeling. Behavioral diagnosis only deals with behavior and the product of behavior, without trying to perceive the knowledge state involved in its generation. Epistemic diagnosis deals with the student's knowledge state, including aspects of both the model of the domain and his strategic knowledge. The level concerned with the individual whose behavior and knowledge are of interest to the first two, and includes a wide variety of aspects, is called the level of individual diagnosis. The chapter discusses diagnostic schemes at the behavioral and epistemic levels and describes some of the difficulties involved in diagnosis.
Diabetes Distress and All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes—A Prospective Cohort Study

We studied a cohort of 3,3Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes to determine the prospective association between diabetes distress measured by problem areas in diabetes (PAID) survey at baseline and subsequent risk of all-cause mortality. Longitudinal data were obtained from this cohort who completed the PAID survey at baseline. We excluded patients with a past history of any cancer. We categorized PAID total score into quintiles and assessed the independent correlation with all-cause mortality using the Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for potential confounders [age, gender, BMI, HbA1c, diabetes therapy, urine albumin/creatinine ratio, retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and past medical history]. Mean patient age, BMI, and HbA1c level were 64.9 years, 24.6 kg/m2, and 7.5% (57.6 mmol/mol), respectively. Median total PAID score was 29 overall, and 21, 25, 30, 39, and 55 for the1st to 5th quintiles, respectively. We observed 251 of any death cases during median follow-up of 6.1 years. Compared with the 1st quintile of PAID score, the multi-variable adjusted hazard ratios of all-cause mortality were 1.11 (95% CI, 0.78-1.60; p = 0.56), 0.87 (95% CI, 0.56-1.35; p = 0.524), 0.95 (95% CI, 0.62-1.44; p = 0.802), and 1.60 (95% CI, 1.09-2.35; p = 0.016). In conclusion, diabetes distress measured by the PAID survey was associated with a subsequent risk of all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Disclosure Y. Hayashino: None. S. Okamura: None. S. Tsujii: None. H. Ishii: None.
Abstract WMP114: Improving Initiation Time and Frequency of Patient and Family Stroke Education

Background: While our stroke education (stroke education= patient, family and caregiver stroke education) documentation demonstrated that we met Joint Commission education requirements 94% of the t...
Inhibition of purified collagenase from alkali-burned rabbit corneas.

The inhibitory potency of four classes of compounds that inhibit corneal ulceration (thiols, tetracyclines, sodium citrate and sodium ascorbate) was assessed with collagenase purified from culture medium of alkali-burned rabbit corneas. The most potent inhibitor, a /3-mercaptomethyl tripeptide HSCH2(Z)L)CHICH2CH(CH3)2]CO-Phe-Ala-NH2, exhibited 50% inhibition (IC50) at -1 0 nM using the synthetic metalloproteinase substrate Dnp-Pro-Leu-Gly-Leu-Trp-Ala-D-Arg-NH2. The inhibitor was somewhat less potent with type I collagen as substrate (IC50 between 1 and 3 nM), possibly because autooxidation of the essential —SH moiety of the inhibitor occurred during the longer time required for assay with the natural substrate. An N-carboxyalkyl tripeptide, CH3(CH2)2(DZ,)CH(COOH)-Leu-Phe-Ala-NH2, was less potent (IC50 = 25 nM) than the thiol peptide. N-acetylcysteine, which is used to treat corneal ulceration, gave IC50 values of 2.7 mM and >10 mM with the synthetic and natural substrates, respectively. The IC50 values for the tetracyclines using the synthetic substrate were 15, 190 and 350 MM for doxycycline, minocycline and tetracycline, respectively. Inhibition by sodium citrate, but not the tetracyclines, could be reversed by excess Ca 2+ . Sodium ascorbate did not inhibit collagenase-mediated hydrolysis of either collagen or the synthetic substrate, thus indicating that the mechanism by which this agent inhibits corneal ulceration is not related to inhibition of collagen degradation by collagenase. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:1569-1575,1989
Some Problems with the Antimony Microelectrode

Some twenty or thirty years ago electrochemists investigating the antimony electrode with a view to using it in pH determinations found it to be unstable, and the results not reproducible. The changes in pH evidently altered the characteristics of the physical state of the antimony. The electrode potential was linear with increasing pH up to about pH 7.O. Above this value there was some reduction in the slope. Different investigators did not agree as to the pH at which this change in slope occurred, but all agreed that it did occur (see 2, 8). The major disadvantage was that antimony electrodes had to be calibrated frequently, and as a consequence they were not popular.
From Research to Praxis: The Relevance of Disaster Research for Emergency Management

The field of emergency management is “the discipline and profession of applying science, technology, planning, and management to deal with extreme events that can injure or kill large numbers of people, do extensive damage to property, and disrupt community life. When such events do occur and cause extensive harm, they are called disasters” (Hoetmer, 1991). This definition eloquently defines emergency management clearly explains what a disaster is, and exemplifies how academia and research provides conceptual and practical tools for emergency managers. Researchers tell us who we are; what we do; how and why we do the things we do; as well as provide guidance and advise as to where we should be going.
Interpreting and integrating big data in the life sciences.

Recent advances in omics technologies have led to the broad applicability of computational techniques across various domains of life science and medical research. These technologies provide an unprecedented opportunity to collect the omics data from hundreds of thousands of individuals and to study the gene–disease association without the aid of prior assumptions about the trait biology. Despite the many advantages of modern omics technologies, interpretations of big data produced by such technologies require advanced computational algorithms. I outline key challenges that biomedical researches are facing when interpreting and integrating big omics data. I discuss the reproducibility aspect of big data analysis in the life sciences and review current practices in reproducible research. Finally, I explain the skills that biomedical researchers need to acquire to independently analyze big omics data.
Mechanics of cervical remodelling: insights from rodent models of pregnancy

The uterine cervix undergoes a complex remodelling process during pregnancy, characterized by dramatic changes in both extracellular matrix (ECM) structure and mechanical properties. Understanding the cervical remodelling process in a term or preterm birth will aid efforts for the prevention of preterm births (PTBs), which currently affect 14.8 million babies annually worldwide. Animal models of pregnancy, particularly rodents, continue to provide valuable insights into the cervical remodelling process, through the study of changes in ECM structure and mechanical properties at defined gestation time points. Currently, there is a lack of a collective, quantitative framework to relate the complex, nonlinear mechanical behaviour of the rodent cervix to changes in ECM structure. This review aims to fill this gap in knowledge by outlining the current understanding of cervical remodelling during pregnancy in rodent models in the context of solid biomechanics. Here we highlight the collective contribution of multiple mechanical studies which give evidence that cervical softening coincides with known ECM changes throughout pregnancy. Taken together, mechanical tests on tissue from pregnant rodents reveal the cervix's remarkable ability to soften dramatically during gestation to allow for a compliant tissue that can withstand damage and can dissipate mechanical loads.
Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction Due to Anti-Kpa Antibody.

Background Kpa (KEL3, Penney) is a red blood cell antigen within the Kell system, first described in 1957, that occurs in less than 2 percent of the population. Although anti-Kpa antibodies were identified in 2-5 percent of those with alloantibodies among patients requiring chronic transfusion, only five previously published case reports of anti-Kpa reactions were identified. Case report Reported here is a case of an elderly female who experienced an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction due to this antigen. Following initiation of blood transfusion, she experienced a sudden onset of rigorous chills, accompanied by elevated temperature, tachycardia, and hypertension. Laboratory studies showed uremia, elevated creatinine, positive direct Coomb's, and low haptoglobin. Serology revealed anti-Kpa antibody. Conclusion This report is only the sixth, to our knowledge, of a significant reaction attributable to anti-Kpa and only the second of an acute hemolytic reaction associated with it. It serves as a reminder of the potential of low incidence antigens causing severe reactions; this potential should be considered when evaluating acute hemolytic reaction.
Grades as Noisy Signals

Letter grades are noisy and coarse measures of academic achievement. However, these grades serve as important signals to both employers and to the student on his or her ability. I study the consequences of these noisy measures using administrative data from the National University of Singapore which records both the letter grades as well as the precise marks (0-100) received for each course that a given student takes. I exploit a regression discontinuity design -- specifically, close to the letter grade cutoffs, individuals with very similar achievement will receive different letter grades. I find that receiving a better grade in a single class for students on the margin results in 32 US dollars greater monthly earnings post-graduation. Looking at each letter grade cut off, I find that the effect is largest at the A- cutoff, followed by the A and B+ cutoffs. There is a null effect for elective courses, which indicates that only signals for major-relevant courses are important. The effect is driven by courses taken in years 1 and 2 (years 3 and 4 are graduation years). The effects are significantly larger for men than women, and for STEM courses than non-STEM courses. There are two possible mechanisms: 1) Employers use grades as a signal of ability and thus pay similar students different salaries based on this coarse measure. 2) Students interpret better or worse grades as a signal of their own ability which effects their future behavior and outcomes. Testing the second mechanism, I find that receiving a worse grade for students on the margin results in only slightly lower grades in future semesters, but these students take significantly "easier courses". This indicates that students under invest in human capital accumulation as a result of receiving a noisy negative signal of ability.
Hepatitis and HIV Risk among Drug-Using Men Who Have Sex with Men: Demonstration of Hart's Law of Inverse Access and Application to HIV

Objectives: The first 215 drug-using men who have sex with men (DU-MSM) evaluated for possible participation in a controlled behavioral intervention study were tested for “Hart's law of inverse access,” which predicts that access to prevention resources varies inversely to need. Methods: Hepatitis B vaccination, mental health, and substance abuse treatment were used to measure health resource use; hepatitis B (HBV) and HIV infections and unsafe sex measured preventive care needs. Socioeconomic status indicators included education, ethnicity, and income. Results: HBV-vaccinated men were more likely to be white and college educated. HBV-infected men were more likely to be black, older, HIV-positive, and have higher rates of substance use with sex. When stratified according to socioeconomic status indicators, levels of HBV vaccination were inverse to the rates of HBV and HIV infection. This relationship was not found for psychosocial treatment utilization. Conclusions: Demonstration of Hart's law among high-risk DU-MSM has important implications for future HIV prevention efforts among high-risk individuals. Combining HIV, hepatitis, and substance abuse prevention in primary care and substance abuse treatment settings is discussed.
Changing Brine Inputs Into Hydrothermal Fluids: Southern Cleft Segment, Juan de Fuca Ridge

Author(s): Wheat, CG; Zierenberg, RA; Paduan, JB; Caress, DW; Clague, DA; Chadwick, WW | Abstract: In 2016, temperature recorders were recovered, temperatures were measured, and fluid samples were collected from Vent 1, a high temperature (338°C) hydrothermal discharge site on the southern Cleft Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Coupled with previous sampling efforts, this collection represents a 32-year record of discharge from a single chimney structure, the longest record to date. Remarkably, the fluid has remained brine-dominated for more than three decades. This brine formed during phase separation and segregation prior to initial observations in 1984. Although the chloride concentration of the discharging fluid has decreased with time, the fluid temperature has remained nearly constant for at least 3.3nyears and probably for 15 or even 22nyears. Compositions of the discharging fluids are consistent with inputs from a deep-sourced brine, which was last equilibrated at g400°C at a depth consistent with the base of the sheeted dikes and the brittle-ductile transition. This brine mixed (diffusion or dispersion) with a likely non-phase-separated, hydrothermal fluid prior to discharge. A survey of hydrothermal endmember fluids with chlorinities in excess of 700nmmol/kg shows, with the exception of Fe, a single trend between major ion concentrations and chlorinity even though data are from a range of crustal compositions, spreading rates, and water and magma depths. Calculated deep-sourced brines from hydrothermal fluid data are similar to data based on fluid inclusions and estimates of brine assimilation in magmas. A better understanding of brines is required given their potential duration of discharge and capacity for mobilizing metals.
Lymphocyte Immunosuppression and Dysfunction Contributing to Persistent Inflammation, Immunosuppression, and Catabolism Syndrome (PICS).

ABSTRACT Persistent Inflammation, Immune Suppression, and Catabolism Syndrome (PICS) is a disease state affecting patients who have a prolonged recovery after the acute phase of a large inflammatory insult. Trauma and sepsis are two pathologies after which such an insult evolves. In this review, we will focus on the key clinical determinants of PICS: Immunosuppression and cellular dysfunction. Currently, relevant immunosuppressive functions have been attributed to both innate and adaptive immune cells. However, there are significant gaps in our knowledge, as for trauma and sepsis the immunosuppressive functions of these cells have mostly been described in acute phase of inflammation so far, and their clinical relevance for the development of prolonged immunosuppression is mostly unknown. It is suggested that the initial immune imbalance determines the development of PCIS. Additionally, it remains unclear what distinguishes the onset of immune dysfunction in trauma and sepsis and how this drives immunosuppression in these cells. In this review, we will discuss how regulatory T cells (Tregs), innate lymphoid cells, natural killer T cells (NKT cells), TCR-a CD4- CD8- double-negative T cells (DN T cells), and B cells can contribute to the development of post-traumatic and septic immunosuppression. Altogether, we seek to fill a gap in the understanding of the contribution of lymphocyte immunosuppression and dysfunction to the development of chronic immune disbalance. Further, we will provide an overview of promising diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, whose potential to overcome the detrimental immunosuppression after trauma and sepsis is currently being tested.
Tissue and Circulating Fatty Acids as Biomarkers to Evaluate Long-Term Fat Intake Are Tissue and Sex Dependent in CD-1 Mice.

BACKGROUND There is currently no consensus on which tissues are optimal for assessing specific diet-derived fatty acids (FAs) as biomarkers for long-term dietary studies. OBJECTIVES This study measured the content of unique diet-derived FAs from dairy, echium, and fish in tissues (adipose, muscle, liver, erythrocyte membranes, and plasma phospholipids, cholesterol esters, triglycerides, and free fatty acids) after long-term feeding in CD-1 mice. METHODS Beginning at weaning, mice (n = 10-11/sex/diet) were fed 1 of 4 diets (40% kcal/total energy) that only differed in FA composition: control fat blend (CON), reflecting the FA profile of the average US American diet, or CON supplemented with 30% of fish oil (FO), dairy fat (DF), or echium oil (EO). After 13 mo, tissues were collected to determine FAs via gas-liquid chromatography. Tissue FAs were analyzed via 2-factor ANOVA, and relationships between FA intake and tissue content were assessed with Spearman correlations. RESULTS As anticipated, 20:5n-3 (ω-3) tissue content was ≤32-fold greater in FO- compared with CON-fed mice (P < 0.05). In addition, 20:5n-3 intake strongly correlated with its content in all tissues (ρ = 0.67-0.76; P < 0.05). Echium oil intake also influenced tissue FA content in mice as expected. For example, 18:3n-6 was ≤25-fold greater in adipose, muscle, and liver tissues of EO-fed compared with CON-fed mice (P < 0.05). Tissue content of FAs typically considered biomarkers of dairy fat intake (15:0, 16:1 t9, and 17:0) was often not greater in mice fed DF than other diet groups, although 18:2 c9, t11 content was ≤6-fold greater in tissues from DF-fed compared with CON-fed mice (P < 0.05). The content of dairy-derived FAs in blood fractions of females was up to 2-fold greater compared with males, whereas docosapentaenoic acid content was up to 1-fold greater in all blood fractions and in liver tissue of males compared with females (P < 0.05). In adipose, muscle, and liver tissue, the content of γ-linolenic acid and stearidonic acid was less than 1-fold greater in females than in males (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that the distribution of dietary FAs is tissue and sex dependent in aged CD-1 mice. Research using FA biomarkers should assess a combination of FA biomarkers to accurately validate patterns of FA intake and source.
Using Price Elasticities of Water Demand to Inform Policy

This survey distills recent work on the price elasticity of demand for urban and agricultural water and outlines how it can inform the design of market-based approaches to manage increasingly scarc...
Effect of the self-pumped limiter concept on the tritium fuel cycle

The self-pumped limiter concept for impurity control of the plasma of a fusion reactor has a major impact on the design of the tritium systems. To achieve a sustained burn, conventional limiters and divertors remove large quantities of unburnt tritium and deuterium from the plasma which must be then recycled using a plasma processing system. The self-pumped limiter which does not remove the hydrogen species, does not require any plasma processing equipment. The blanket system and the coolant processing systems acquire greater importance with the use of this unconventional impurity control system. 3 refs., 2 figs.