cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Questionable specificity of histologic findings in calcific uremic arteriolopathy

A variety of criteria exist for histopathologic diagnosis of calciphylaxis, also known as calcific uremic arteriolopathy but data on their specificity are limited. To assess this, histologic findings of 38 skin biopsies performed for a suspicion of calcific uremic arteriolopathy were compared with histologic findings in skin obtained from healthy margins of 43 amputations in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) without evidence of calcific uremic arteriolopathy. Abnormalities in small arteries or arterioles were present in 35% of amputation specimens and 55% of skin biopsies, and among these only thrombosis but not calcification was significantly more prevalent in skin biopsies. The prevalence of extravascular calcification did not differ. Vascular lesions were more common in skin biopsies from patients with high clinical suspicion of calcific uremic arteriolopathy (81%), significantly driven by increases in both calcification and thrombosis, compared to amputations (35%). The combination of medial calcification and thrombosis was six-fold more prevalent in high-suspicion skin biopsies than in amputation specimens. The location of affected vessels did not differ. In two autopsy cases, some but not all findings of involved skin were also present in uninvolved skin. Thus, histopathologic findings historically associated with calcific uremic arteriolopathy can also occur in viable tissue from unaffected patients with ESRD, calling into question the specificity of individual histologic findings for calcific uremic arteriolopathy. However, the combination of medial calcification and thrombosis was rare in unaffected patients and may provide a higher degree of specificity.
Evidence for two secretory mechanisms for organic acid transport in man.

Pyrazinamide administration markedly impairs the uricosuric response to probenecid in man and in the chimpanzee (1,2). This effect of pyrazinamide on probenecid uricosuria has been attributed to inhibition of urate secretion by pyrazinamide and used as evidence for post secretory reabsorption of urate (1). However, other forms of drug interaction between probenecid and pyrazinamide have not been excluded. Recent evidence from studies in the chimpanzee and man suggest that urate and hippurate are secreted by different transport mechanisms (2,3). The present study was designed to further investigate the mechanism of pyrazinamide inhibition of the uricosuric response to probenecid in man and to compare the Interactions between pyrazinamide and probenecid with those between PAH and probenecid.
The Functional Organization of the Nervous System

The nervous system is organized in such a way that a careful history and physical will almost always allow the clinician to localize the site of disease. This requires a basic knowledge of the neurological exam and the anatomy that underlies that exam. In this chapter we will review the examination of mental status, cranial nerves, motor, reflex, and sensory systems. We will then illustrate the application of those exams in multiple example cases.
System Properties of Packetized Energy Management for Aggregated Diverse Resources

This paper presents the systematic analysis of a population of diverse distributed energy resources (DERs) coordinated using a bottom-up approach known as packetized energy management (PEM). Particularly, for the aggregation of DERs modeled as a bilinear system, a simple discrete-time control law is provided that maximizes the number of accepted requests while tracking a regulation signal provided by a regional transmission operator. Moreover, the mechanics of energy packet completion rates under persistent inputs and the definition of a nominal quality of service (QoS) controller for PEM are provided. Finally, the observability of the PEM system is addressed including an implementation of the extended Kalman filter (EKF) for state estimation of the dynamic state of a diverse DER population.
Transactive control for connected homes and neighbourhoods

Smart in-home devices, if integrated with the capability to transact energy with one another and with the electric grid, can offer a disruptive solution to managing energy supply and demand. Such transactive energy networks could turn homes from passive energy consumers into intelligent, active energy storage and service providers for the future grid.
Closed-Form Model for a New Multirate Current Controller for Single-Phase PV Inverters

This paper provides a closed-form model for a new approach that has been shown to significantly mitigate the likelihood of instability when connecting a single-phase PV inverter to a weak grid. The authors use this model to predict stability when connecting to a purely inductive grid with impedance as high as 10% per unit.
Pump or coast: the role of resonance and passive energy recapture in medusan swimming performance

Diverse organisms that swim and fly in the inertial regime use the flapping or pumping of flexible appendages and cavities to propel themselves through a fluid. It has long been postulated that the speed and efficiency of locomotion are optimized by oscillating these appendages at their frequency of free vibration. In jellyfish swimming, a significant contribution to locomotory efficiency has been attributed to the effects passive energy recapture, whereby the bell is passively propelled through the fluid through its interaction with stopping vortex rings formed during each expansion of the bell. In this paper, we investigate the interplay between resonance and passive energy recapture using a three-dimensional implementation of the immersed boundary method to solve the fluid–structure interaction of an elastic oblate jellyfish bell propelling itself through a viscous fluid. The motion is generated through a fixed duration application of active tension to the bell margin, which mimics the action of the coronal swimming muscles. The pulsing frequency is then varied by altering the length of time between the application of applied tension. We find that the swimming speed is maximized when the bell is driven at its resonant frequency. However, the cost of transport is maximized by driving the bell at lower frequencies whereby the jellyfish passively coasts between active contractions through its interaction with the stopping vortex ring. Furthermore, the thrust generated by passive energy recapture was found to be dependent on the elastic properties of the jellyfish bell.
Modifiable elements of ICU supportive care and communication are associated with surrogates’ PTSD symptoms

To identify specific components of ICU clinician supportive care and communication that are associated with increased post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms for surrogate decision makers of patients with chronic critical illness (CCI). We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial of palliative care-led meetings to provide information and support for CCI surrogates. The primary outcome for this secondary analysis was PTSD symptoms at 90 days, measured by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Caregiver perceptions of clinician support and communication were assessed using a version of the After-Death Bereaved Family Member Interview (ADBFMI) instrument modified for use in non-bereaved in addition to bereaved caregivers. The association between ADBFMI items and IES-R score was analyzed using multiple linear regression. Ninety-day follow up was complete for 306 surrogates corresponding to 224 patients. Seventy-one percent of surrogates were female, and the mean age was 51 years. Of the domains, negative perception of the patient’s physical comfort and emotional support was associated with the greatest increase in surrogate PTSD symptoms (beta coefficient 1.74, 95% CI 0.82–2.65). The three specific preselected items associated with increased surrogate PTSD symptoms were surrogate perception that clinicians did not listen to concerns (beta coefficient 10.7, 95% CI 3.6–17.9), failure of the physician to explain how the patient’s pain would be treated (beta coefficient 12.1, 95% CI 4.9–19.3), and lack of sufficient religious contact (beta coefficient 11.7, 95% CI 2–21.3). Modifiable deficits in ICU clinician support and communication were associated with increased PTSD symptoms among CCI surrogates.
Abstract 109: Exosomes from Mesenchymal Stem Cells Suppress Aortic Elastin Induced Inflammation in Macrophages

Introduction: Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) from bone marrow have been shown to attenuate aortic aneurysm formation in a variety of rodent models. These effects appear to rely on modulation of syst...
Is there a Relationship between Income and Infectious Disease: Evidence from Cameron County

The environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Research on poverty indicates that lower income is linked to poorer health. The lower an individual’s income, the higher is his or her likelihood of disease and premature death. Furthermore, some research indicates that a higher risk of contracting an infectious disease may exist for those living in poverty. This study explored the potential existence of a relationship between income and Zika virus. Through analysis using 3.4.0 Version of the R Statistical Package, the median disposable income of the household was found to be significant in predicting the Zika virus counts. Specifically, the study looked at the relationship between household income and the risk of contagion in Cameron County, the southernmost county in Texas, which has been named as “Zika cautionary” by the Centers for Disease Control. Our analysis shows the existence of such a relationship, specifically that an increase in median disposable annual income per household in Cameron County of $100 per month was associated with a 15.6% decrease in the expected rate of occurrence of Zika Virus.
Anxiety in emerging adulthood: A developmentally informed treatment model

Abstract Recognition of the unique nature and importance of emerging adulthood as a discrete developmental period continues to gain momentum since first introduced by Arnett in 2000. As the literature on normative development during this time period proliferates, parents, teachers, clinicians, and researchers are also identifying a growing number of emerging adults who struggle to meet developmental milestones and transition into adulthood. Though the level of impairment and diagnostic presentation of these emerging adults can vary widely, anxiety often plays a central role in hindering their successful launch into adulthood. In this chapter, we discuss the prevalence and impact of anxiety disorders during emerging adulthood and the paucity of developmentally appropriate evidence-based interventions for anxiety during this period. In addition, we discuss a treatment model that was developed in our clinic to target anxiety within the developmental context of emerging adulthood, as well as a more in-depth discussion of one specific application of this treatment model to an intensive outpatient group.
Kognito's Avatar‐Based Suicide Prevention Training for College Students: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial and a Naturalistic Evaluation

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of Kognito At Risk for College Students, an online, interactive suicide prevention gatekeeper training. METHODS In Study 1, a randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the efficacy of Kognito. Retention of participants at follow-up was strong. In Study 2, administrative records were used to follow the help-seeking behavior of Kognito trainees for one academic year, contrasted with untrained students. RESULTS In Study 1, between-group changes in gatekeeper attitudes were large at time-two, but attenuated modestly by 2-month follow-up. Kognito trainees referred more peers at 2-month follow-up (Cohen's d = .56, p < .05) - training 4 students in Kognito produces 1 more peer referred. In Study 2, the help-seeking rate of Kognito trainees (14.4%) was two-times the rate (6.8%) of untrained students (p < .001). Training 14 students in Kognito leads to 1 more self-referral to the Counseling Center. CONCLUSIONS This first randomized controlled trial of the college student version of Kognito validates the findings of less rigorous studies. Few brief suicide prevention trainings have shown changes in trainee behaviors such as referrals of at-risk peers and trainees actual help-seeking behavior. These results are promising that Kognito may outperform other similar suicide prevention trainings.
1208-P: Empagliflozin and HbA1c Reduction in a National Cohort

Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransport 2 inhibitor, provides A1c reduction by .6-1.0% in large randomized control trials. These trials included adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who had baseline A1c 7-10%. The use of empagliflozin in reducing A1c in clinical practice has not been investigated. We constructed a longitudinal cohort of 16391 adults with T2D who initiated empagliflozin from 11/1/2014 to 3/1/2018 in the Veterans Health Administration and followed them until 10/1/2018. We studied 7792 adults (96% men, 73% non-Hispanic white (NHW), 14% black) who had A1c measures at baseline and during follow-up and who did not change their antidiabetic medication regimens (58% with insulin, 36% without insulin). Linear regression estimated absolute A1c change at 6 months, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, baseline A1c, categorical BMI, kidney function, and concurrent insulin. At baseline, median A1c was 8.5% (12% with A1c ≥10%), median BMI was 33 kg/m2 (25% of adults with BMI 35-40 kg/m2, 18% BMI >40 kg/m2), and 19% with reduced kidney function. Baseline A1c was 8.9% for black adults and 8.5% for NHW adults. The average reduction in A1c was .74% for black adults and .70% for NHW adults. Overall, average adjusted A1c reduction was .71%. Adults with baseline A1c ≥10% had a greater adjusted reduction compared to adults with baseline A1c 7-10% (1.76% vs. .46%, p 40 kg/m2 had a greater adjusted reduction compared to normal and overweight adults (.71% and .75%, vs. .46% and .59%, respectively, p 35. This study provides real-world evidence of empagliflozin use and A1c reduction in a large integrated healthcare system. Disclosure P. Chang: None. K. Heberer: None. J. Lee: None. Funding National Institute on Drug Abuse (T32DK007217); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Pricing Innovation for a Transitioning Postal Administration

This paper argues for the importance of pricing innovation in postal administrations that are transitioning gradually from highly regulated monopolies to less regulated, competitive entities. We argue that the incumbent operator ought to seek pricing innovation and flexibility under current regulatory constraints, with the anticipation that these strategies will better position the entity for competition in the future, if and when constraints are lifted. This paper offers a conceptual framework for pricing innovation based on established principles of market segmentation and value-based pricing. We illustrate the framework in the context of a Negotiated Service Agreement (NSA) that United States Postal Service (USPS) recently concluded with Capital One. The case study offers an opportunity to highlight the strategies, organizational changes, and resources needed for successful implementation of value-based pricing.
Impact of Fluoroscopically Guided Bone Biopsy on Antibiotic Management of Osteomyelitis in the Lower Extremity

This study evaluated the impact of fluoroscopically guided percutaneous bone biopsy on altering antibiotic regimens in lower extremity osteomyelitis. Eighty-eight patients who received fluoroscopically guided bone biopsies were identified. There was bacterial growth in 28% of bone biopsies overall. The rate of positive culture was decreased in patients started on empiric antibiotics before biopsy (23%) compare with patients without empiric antibiotics (44%). Antibiotic regimens were changed in 24% of patients overall in response to culture data. The majority of positive biopsy cultures (76%) but minority of negative biopsy cultures (3%) resulted in a change to antibiotic regimens. The impact of percutaneous bone biopsy on antibiotic management of adult patients with osteomyelitis diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging is modest and is decreased in patients previously started on antibiotics. Despite its modest impact, bone biopsy results can provide useful information in antibiotic management, especially when positive (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 27(4):277-280, 2018).
Robotic Low Anterior Resection: Unique Considerations and Optimal Setup

In recent years, there has been dramatic progress of the robotic technique. Surgeons have observed obvious advantages in the ease of dissection, control of the operating field, and the ergonomics during demanding cases. Robotic low anterior resection employs a 3D camera and three working robotic arms with articulating wrists, as well as accessory laparoscopic ports. Robotic surgery appears to be safe, and the oncologic and functional outcomes are equivalent to that of traditional laparoscopic techniques. However, the cost of the robotic technique is higher. Currently, the robotic technology remains one of many tools in the surgical armamentarium for surgeons treating rectal cancer.
Establishing novel mutation subtypes in peritoneal carcinomatosis of appendiceal origin.

200Background: Appendiceal cancer (AC) is a rare disease process with complex treatment strategies. The objective of this study was to identify mutation-based genetic subtypes that may differ from ...
Resilient System-on-Chip Designs With NoC Fabrics

Modern System-on-Chip (SoC) designs integrate a number of third party IPs (3PIPs) that coordinate and communicate through a Network-on-Chip (NoC) fabric to realize system functionality. An important class of SoC security attack involves a rogue IP tampering with the inter-IP communication. These attacks include message snoop, message mutation, message misdirection, IP masquerade, and message flooding. Static IP-level trust verification cannot protect against these SoC-level attacks. In this paper, we analyze the vulnerabilities of system level communication among IPs and develop a novel SoC security architecture that provides system resilience against exploitation by untrusted 3PIPs integrated over an NoC fabric. We show how to address the problem through a collection of fine-grained SoC security policies that enable on-the-fly monitoring and control of appropriate security-relevant events. Our approach, for the first time to our knowledge, provides an architecture-level solution for trusted SoC communication through run-time resilience in the presence of untrusted IPs. We demonstrate viability of our approach on a realistic SoC design through a series of attack models and show that our architecture incurs minimal to modest overhead in area, power, and system latency.
Emotional acknowledgment: How verbalizing others’ emotions fosters interpersonal trust

Abstract People often respond to others’ emotions using verbal acknowledgment (e.g., “You seem upset”). Yet, little is known about the relational benefits and risks of acknowledging others’ emotions in the workplace. We draw upon Costly Signaling Theory to posit how emotional acknowledgment influences interpersonal trust. We hypothesize that emotional acknowledgment acts as a costly signal of the perceiver’s willingness to expend personal resources to meet the needs of the expresser. Across six studies, we found convergent evidence that emotional acknowledgment led to greater perceptions of costliness, and in turn, to higher evaluations of trust. These effects were stronger for negative than positive emotions because acknowledging negative emotions involved a greater perceived cost. Moreover, inaccurate acknowledgment fostered greater trust than not acknowledging when positive emotions were mislabeled as negative, but not when negative emotions were mislabeled as positive. These findings advance theory on key dynamics between emotion and language in work-related relationships.
Eating Disorders and the Female Athlete Triad

Eating disorders are common, and patients often first present in primary care settings given reluctance to seek treatment in other medical settings. The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Risk factors include female sex, younger age, family history of eating disorders, and athletics and/or employment that places emphasis on weight and physical appearance. Screening can be challenging but tools exist. Once diagnosed, eating disorder treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach, with cognitive therapy and nutritional rehabilitation as mainstays of management. Certain eating disorders may be treated concurrently with pharmacologic agents. The short-term medical complications of eating disorders often require attention to nutritional and hormonal imbalances. A notable hormonal complication of anorexia nervosa is functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, which is also present in the interrelated condition, the female athlete triad. The female athlete triad is characterized by low energy availability with or without disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone density. Long-term eating disorder complications include obstetric issues, bone pathology, and obesity-related conditions. Relapse is common, and eating disorders should be managed as chronic medical conditions that can ebb and flow throughout a patient’s life
Utilization of Philippine Aptitude Classification Test (Pact) Result in Career Awareness Program

This study determined the alignment of students’ Senior High School track and course preference in college with their aptitude and probable performance in educational programs. It is descriptive in nature. The respondents were the Junior High School students who took the Philippine Aptitude Classification Test (PACT) of School Year 2014–2015 and were enrolled Grade 12 at the Senior High School of Holy Name University for School Year 2017–2018. Frequency counting of the aptitude, probable performance in different educational programs, preferred school track and career choice were made. Results revealed that majority of the respondents were enrolled in the STEM track. More than half of the respondents got low aptitudes that fit to only one to three educational programs based on the nine (9) clusters of educational programs identified in the PACT and a significant number of respondents did not fit to any educational programs. Many of the college courses chosen by the respondents while they were still in Grade 9 are under services, engineering and manufacturing, and health and welfare clusters. More so, college course preferred by the respondents in STEM track are related to health and welfare followed by engineering and manufacturing cluster while those in ABM and HUMMS track preferred Social Science, Business and Law cluster. Career choices made by the respondents are not aligned with their aptitude which could be a source of future job-skills mismatch or misfit graduates. Career guidance is seen as an imperative for a successful future career choice and career awareness program is viewed as a possible intervention as early as Grade 7 to Grade 10.
Newborn screening for lysosomal storage disorders and other neuronopathic conditions

Newborn screening (NBS) is a public health program aimed at identifying treatable conditions in presymptomatic newborns to avoid premature mortality, morbidity, and disabilities. Currently, every newborn in the Unites States is screened for at least 29 conditions where evidence suggests that early detection is possible and beneficial. With new or improved treatment options and development of high-throughput screening tests, additional conditions have been proposed for inclusion into NBS programs. Among those are several conditions with a strong neuronopathic component. Some of these conditions have already been added to a few national and international screening programs, whereas others are undergoing pilot studies to determine the test performance metrics. Here, we review the current state of NBS for 13 lysosomal storage disorders, X-adrenoleukodystrophy, Wilson disease, and Friedreich ataxia.
Consensus-driven distributable thread scheduling in networked embedded systems

We demonstrate a consensus utility accrual scheduling algorithm for distributable threads with run-time uncertainties in execution time, arrival models, and node crash failures. The DUA-CLA algorithm's message complexity (O(fn)), lower time complexity bound (O(D+fd+nk)), and failure-free execution time (O(D+nk)) are established, where D is the worst-case communication delay, d is the failure detection bound, n is the number of nodes, and f is the number of failures. The "lazy-abort" property is shown -- abortion of currently-infeasible tasks is deferred until timely task completion is impossible. DUA-CLA also exhibits "schedule-safety" -- threads proposed as feasible for execution by a node which fails during the decision process will not cause an otherwise-feasible thread to be excluded. These properties mark improvements over earlier strategies in common- and worst-case performance. Quantitative results obtained from our Distributed Real-Time Java implementation validate properties of the algorithm.
Need for Orientation and Attribute Agenda-Setting During a U.S. Election Campaign

This study analyzes the relationships between need for orientation (NFO), frequency of media exposure, attention to media coverage of the 2008 U.S. presidential election, and second-level agenda-setting effects. Results suggest that NFO was a better predictor of media attention than sheer frequency of media use, and that media attention was a better predictor of second-level agenda-setting effects than media exposure. We did not find that NFO predicted in any significant way opinions regarding candidate attributes during this election. Instead, our study found consistent and moderately strong support for political ideology as a predictor of peoples’ judgments about the most salient attributes of presidential candidates.
NeuRon/spl trade/ netform: a self-organizing wireless sensor network

This paper introduces the neuRFon/spl trade/ Netform, a self-organizing wireless network for low data rate, low-power fixed sensor nodes. The protocol utilizes a logical backbone architecture through which data communications between all the network nodes are supported by hierarchical routing. We present algorithms that underpin the self-organizing features. The first algorithm constructs the optimal backbone as new nodes are introduced. The second algorithm dictates how the nodes exchange essential information for maintaining the optimal routing backbone as the network evolves. The third algorithm enables the network to recover automatically from node/link failures. The neuRFon/spl trade/ Netform is designed to work in conjunction with a low duty cycle MAC protocol, described in this paper, in order to support long battery life for wireless sensors. To illustrate the performance of the neuRFon/spl trade/ system, we present simulation results showing network formation time, data packet delivery response time, and communication duty cycles of sensor nodes for a neuRFon/sup TM/ system with 64 nodes.
How does a child solve 7 + 8? Decoding brain activity patterns associated with counting and retrieval strategies

Cognitive development and learning are characterized by diminished reliance on effortful procedures and increased use of memory-based problem solving. Here we identify the neural correlates of this strategy shift in 7–9-year-old children at an important developmental period for arithmetic skill acquisition. Univariate and multivariate approaches were used to contrast brain responses between two groups of children who relied primarily on either retrieval or procedural counting strategies. Children who used retrieval strategies showed greater responses in the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex; notably, this was the only brain region which showed univariate differences in signal intensity between the two groups. In contrast, multivariate analysis revealed distinct multivoxel activity patterns in bilateral hippocampus, posterior parietal cortex and left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex regions between the two groups. These results demonstrate that retrieval and counting strategies during early learning are characterized by distinct patterns of activity in a distributed network of brain regions involved in arithmetic problem solving and controlled retrieval of arithmetic facts. Our findings suggest that the reorganization and refinement of neural activity patterns in multiple brain regions plays a dominant role in the transition to memory-based arithmetic problem solving. Our findings further demonstrate how multivariate approaches can provide novel insights into fine-scale developmental changes in the brain. More generally, our study illustrates how brain imaging and developmental research can be integrated to investigate fundamental aspects of neurocognitive development.
Transport phenomena in heterogeneous media based on volume averaging theory

Publisher Summary Determination of flow variables and scalar transport for problems involving heterogeneous (and porous) media is difficult, even when the problem is subject to simplifications allowing the specification of medium periodicity or regularity. Linear or linearized models fail to intrinsically account for transport phenomena, requiring dynamic coefficient models to correct for shortcomings in the governing models. Allowing inhomogeneities to adopt random or stochastic character further confounds the already daunting task of properly identifying pertinent transport mechanisms and predicting transport phenomena. This problem is presently treated by procedures that are mostly heuristic in nature because sufficiently detailed descriptions are not included in the description of the problem and consequently are not available. The ability to describe the details, and features, of a proposed material with precision will help reduce the need for a heuristic approach. Some aspects of the development of the needed theory are now well understood and have seen substantial progress in the thermal physics and in fluid mechanics sciences, particularly in porous media transport phenomena. The basis for this progress is the so-called volume averaging theory (VAT), which was first proposed in the 1960s by Anderson and Jackson, Slattery, Marie, Whitaker, and Zolotarev and Radushkevich. Important features of VAT are being able to consider specific medium types and morphologies, lower-scale fluctuations of variables, cross-effects of different variable fluctuations, and interface variable fluctuations effects.
Recombinant GST/CD36 Fusion Proteins Define a Thrombospondin Binding Domain EVIDENCE FOR A SINGLE CALCIUM-DEPENDENT BINDING SITE ON CD36

CD36 is a multifunctional cell surface glycoprotein that acts as a surface receptor for thrombospondin (TSP), and thereby may mediate adhesive interactions between cells and substrata, platelets and other cells, and macrophages and apoptotic neutrophils. The identity of the TSP binding site on CD36 is controversial and may involve more than one structural domain. We have constructed a series of recombinant bacterial GST/CD36 fusion proteins that span nearly all of the CD36 molecule and have demonstrated that fusion proteins containing the region extending from amino acid 93 to 120 formed specific, saturable, and reversible complexes with TSP. As with intact CD36, binding was calcium-dependent, was independent of which ligand was immobilized, and was blocked by monoclonal antibodies to both CD36 and TSP. Stoichiometry and affinity of the fusion proteins for TSP were consistent with that of the intact protein. We also demonstrated that these fusion proteins competitively inhibited binding of TSP to purified platelet CD36 and to cell surface CD36 on peripheral blood monocytes and CD36 cDNA-transfected melanoma cells. These data demonstrate that the region between amino acids 93 and 120 has all of the characteristics required of the TSP binding domain.
Clinical impact of rapid in vitro susceptibility testing and bacterial identification.

During the past decade, a variety of instrument-assisted bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test systems have been developed which permit provision of test results in a matter of hours rather than days, as has been the case with traditional overnight procedures. These newer rapid techniques are much more expensive than older methods. It has been presumed but not proven that the clinical benefits of rapid testing to patients with infection offset the added cost. The intent of this study was to objectively define the clinical impact of rapid bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A 1-year study was performed in which infected, hospitalized patients in a tertiary-care, teaching, medical center were randomly assigned to one of two groups: patients for whom identification and susceptibility testing was performed by using a semi-automated, rapid, same-day procedure and those for whom testing was accomplished by using traditional overnight techniques. The two groups were compared with respect to numerous demographic descriptors, and then patients were monitored prospectively through the end of their hospitalization with the aim of determining whether there existed objectively defineable differences in management and outcome between the two groups. The mean lengths of time to provision of susceptibility and identification test results in the rapid test group were 11.3 and 9.6 h, respectively. In the overnight test group, these values were 19.6 and 25.9 h, respectively (P 100 demographic descriptors. With regard to measures of outcome, the mean lengths of hospitalization were also the same in both groups. Mortality rates were however, lower in the rapid test group (i.e., 8.8% versus 15.3%). Similarly, statistically significantly fewer laboratory studies, imaging procedures, days of intubation, and days in an intensive or intermediate-care area were observed with patients in the rapid test group. Rapid testing was also associated with significantly shortened lengths of elapsed time prior to alterations in antimicrobial therapy. Lastly, patient costs for hospitalization were significantly lower in the rapid test group. The results of this study indicate the rapid same-day bacterial identification and susceptibility testing in the microbiology laboratory can have a major impact on the care and outcome of hospitalized patients with infection.
Functional Behavioral Assessment: Principles, Procedures, and Future Directions.

Through amendments to the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), federal law mandated the use of functional behavioral assessments (FBA) and positive behavioral support plans to addres...
Diverse views on climate change

Third Santa Fe Conference on Global and Regional Climate Change; Santa Fe, New Mexico, 30 October to 4 November 2011 At the Third Santa Fe Conference on Global and Regional Climate Change, hosted by the Los Alamos National Laboratory's Center for Nonlinear Studies, researchers offered some of the latest thinking on how to observe and model the driving forces as well as the impacts of regional and global climate change, climate system responses, and societal impacts. It was the third in a series of conferences held at 5-year intervals. More than 140 climate science experts from the United States and foreign universities and research centers attended the conference, held at the La Fonda Hotel in historic downtown Santa Fe. The conference program included more than 80 invited and contributed oral presentations and about 30 posters. The oral sessions were grouped by topic into sessions of four or five talks, with discussion occurring at the end of each session
HDAC3 controls gap 2/mitosis progression in adult neural stem/progenitor cells by regulating CDK1 levels

The maintenance of the resident adult neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) pool depends on the precise balance of proliferation, differentiation, and maintenance of the undifferentiated state. Identifying the mechanisms that regulate this balance in adult hippocampal NSPCs can provide insight into basic stem cell self-renewal principles important for tissue homeostasis and preventing tumor formation. Pharmacological inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs), a class of histone-modifying enzymes, have promising effects in cancer cells, yet the specific roles of individual HDACs in stem cell proliferation is unclear. Here using conditional KO (cKO) mice and in vitro cell culture, we show that histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) is required for the proliferation of adult NSPCs. Detailed cell cycle analysis of NSPCs from Hdac3 cKO mice reveals a defect in cell cycle progression through the gap 2/mitosis (G2/M) but not the S phase. Moreover, HDAC3 controls G2/M phase progression mainly through posttranslational stabilization of the G2/M cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). These results demonstrate that HDAC3 plays a critical role in NSPC proliferation and suggest that strategies aimed at pharmacological modulation of HDAC3 may be beneficial for tissue regeneration and controlling tumor cell growth.
Constructing dynamical systems having homoclinic bifurcation points of codimension two

A procedure is derived which allows for a systematic construction of three-dimensional ordinary differential equations having homoclinic solutions. The equations are proved to exhibit codimension-two homoclinic bifurcation points. Examples include the non-orientable resonant bifurcation, the inclination-flip, and the orbit-flip. In addition, an equation is constructed which has a homoclinic orbit converging to a saddle-focus satisfying Shilnikov's condition. The vector fields are polynomial and non-stiff in that the eigenvalues are of moderate size.
Bilateral breast metastases from choroidal melanoma.

Abstract PURPOSE: To report an unusual case of solitary sequential bilateral breast metastases from choroidal melanoma. METHOD: Case report. RESULTS: A 48-year-old woman with a large choroidal melanoma in the left eye was treated with Iodine-125 brachytherapy and responded satisfactorily with decrease in tumor thickness. Thirty-seven months after treatment, she developed a solitary, circumscribed melanoma metastasis to the right breast, and 54 months after treatment, a similar metastasis was detected in her left breast. Both breast tumors were managed with lumpectomy. Systemic examination including magnetic resonance imaging of abdomen, chest, and head have been performed regularly and have been normal. At 61 months after treatment, the patient has no clinical evidence of metastatic disease elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS: Uveal melanoma rarely metastasizes to breast tissue. A breast nodule in a patient with a history of uveal melanoma is most likely a primary breast tumor but may rarely represent a metastasis from uveal melanoma.
On the state space approach to mass/heat exchanger network design*

In this paper, the conceptual framework and applications of the State Space Approach to Process Synthesis are presented. It is shown that the State Space Approach contains the concept of a Network Superstructure as a special case. Additionally, through various operators, it is shown to provide increased flexibility in formulating process network synthesis problems. As an example, it is demonstrated that an Assignment Operator can be used to facilitate the solution of large-scale problems. Pinch Operators are also employed in solving combined heat and mass exchange network synthesis problems. To demonstrate the usefulness of this new approach, two important problems are discussed. First, a one-step procedure is developed that minimizes the total annualized cost (TAC) of heat/mass exchange networks. Next, a novel problem, namely the pinch-based calculation of Minimum Utility Cost for a separable heat and mass exchange network, is solved.
Two-year throughfall and fertilization effects on leaf physiology and growth of loblolly pine in the Georgia Piedmont

Abstract Loblolly pine is the most extensively planted and productive commercial pine species in the southeastern United States, but future increases in drought frequency and intensity may affect plantation productivity. To better understand the potential impacts of reduced precipitation on loblolly pine productivity, the interactive effects of throughfall (ambient versus an approximate 30% reduction) and fertilization (no fertilization versus one time fertilization with 224 kg N ha −1 , 28 kg P ha −1 , 56 kg K ha −1 , and micronutrients) on growth, leaf area index (LAI), intercepted photosynthetically radiation (IPAR) and leaf-level physiology in a 7-year-old loblolly pine plantation were studied over two years. During a year with below average annual precipitation (831 mm), the throughfall reduction treatment decreased predawn leaf water potential, leaf gas exchange rates, needle elongation, basal area increment and stemwood production, and effects were independent of fertilization treatment. Leaf light-saturated net photosynthesis and stemwood production were on average 12% and 13% lower, respectively, in response to reduced throughfall treatment. During the following year with higher precipitation (1413 mm), reduced throughfall treatment decreased only leaf water potential. One-time fertilization had the largest impact on growth through increases in LAI, IPAR and total absorbed photosynthetically active radiation rather than changes in growth efficiency. Enhancement of growth by fertilization was independent of the reduced throughfall treatment in both years.
Pathology trainee manpower: APC program directors' questionnaire, 1989 results

Abstract The shortage of pathologists is being created by a combination of three factors: inadequate trainee recruitment, high trainee attrition, and accelerating practitioner attrition. The current report provides comprehensive data on the first two factors. The third factor is, by every estimate, likely to become worse over the decade beginning in 1988. 6 Demographics show that greater numbers of pathologists will be reaching retirement age every year. 6 The trainee attrition problem appears to be very serious, and we currently do not have data on why residents leave pathology training, when they leave, or where they go (ie, to what other specialties, etc). Future APC program directors' questionnaires must address these issues. Yet, we must also solve a serious problem in recruitment. Currently, about 35% to 38% of all first-year pathology residents decide to enter pathology only after entering residency programs in other specialties with the intent to remain in that specialty. Therefore, we need to recognize both the problem of inadequate recruitment and the problem of high attrition in order to address the serious manpower shortage facing pathology. When shortages occur in specialties, practitioners tend to cease performing the most time-intensive tasks (eg, autopsy). However, shortages of the magnitude predicted for pathology suggest that many more tasks traditionally performed by pathologists may very well be in jeopardy. In such a setting, other specialties (especially subspecialties) are likely to fill the void. This is likely to be catalyzed by the emergence of the new resource-based elative-value scale. Subspecialties in medicine and surgery will be looking for additional ways to retain income when they cannot expect as much for their services as before. This scenario is especially worrisome given the necessity for the practice of pathology to expand into the domain of molecular biology. Unless problems causing the shortage in pathology manpower are addressed, not only are our traditional practices threatened, we are also likely to have inadequate manpower to take advantage of those areas crucial for the future of pathology.
Inotropic Action of Hexamethonium

The positive inotropic action of hexamethonium in hypodynamic and freshly prepared papillary muscles of the eat and the hypodynamic heart-lung preparation of the dog has been demonstrated. Within certain limits, there exists a proportionality between the concentration of hexamethonium and the magnitude of the inotropic response. In both preparations results have been obtained which indicate that a state of partial refractoriness to the positive inotropic action of hexamethonium may be produced.
‘Toma gallo que te muestre’: Cock-Throwing in the Libro de buen amor and Later Medieval and Golden-Age Satire

Early in his poem, the Archpriest of Hita observes that it is only natural for men, like other animals, to seek ‘juntamiento con fenbra plazentera’.1 This tenet is later problematized when Don Amor...
The Elevation Illusion in Virtual Audio

Virtual audio involves headphone presentation of sound that appears to originate from an external location. Perception of elevation is known to be less accurate for virtual audio than for real sources. Anecdotal evidence suggests that at least some listeners have a pronounced tendency to consistently perceive the virtual audio as elevated higher than intended. The present study was conducted to investigate and compare errors in perception of elevation for virtual and real sources. Eight subjects listened to sounds presented through loudspeakers (behind an acoustic curtain) and through headphones (as virtual sources), and reported their perceived elevation for each sound. Five elevations were used (two above, two below, and one at ear level). The results show near perfect performance for perception of elevation for the loudspeaker condition. Perception of elevation was far less accurate for the virtual sources, and some subjects consistently perceived virtual sources higher than intended. Language: en
Mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptors regulate oxygen homeostasis in the early mouse embryo

The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (Bzrp) has been implicated in the control of several processes, including mitochondrial biogenesis and embryo development. The present study examined the impact that specific Bzrp ligands have on oxygen homeostasis in the early mouse embryo. Day 9 embryos at the 16-18 somite pair stage were exposed to standard (21% oxygen) and suboptimal (5% oxygen) oxygen tensions in whole embryo culture. Analysis of gene expression used relative PCR to monitor changes in nuclear respiratory factor-1 (Nrf1), mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA), and genes for several glycolytic enzymes. Ocular development was highly sensitive to periods of hypoxia through a mechanism blocked with the potent Bzrp ligand PK11195. Hypoxia led to a decline of Nrf1 and 16S rRNA levels also through a mechanism blocked with PK11195. Similar activity was observed for FGIN-1-27 whereas Ro5-4864 had contradictory effects. Morpholino-based gene knockdown of Nrf1 (anti-NRF1) produced a sequence-specific decrease in 16S rRNA insensitive to PK11195. These functional relationships suggest that Bzrp-dependent signals regulate the Nrf1 --> Tfam1 --> mtDNA --> 16S rRNA pathway in response to oxygen levels. The activity of PK11195 most likely has a pharmacodynamic basis with regards to specific embryonic precursor target cell populations, transducing a mitochondrial signal to an Nrf1 response analogous to retrograde regulation in yeast for mitochondria-to-nucleus signaling.
Population heterogeneity and causal inference

Population heterogeneity is ubiquitous in social science. The very objective of social science research is not to discover abstract and universal laws but to understand population heterogeneity. Due to population heterogeneity, causal inference with observational data in social science is impossible without strong assumptions. Researchers have long been concerned with two potential sources of bias. The first is bias in unobserved pretreatment factors affecting the outcome even in the absence of treatment. The second is bias due to heterogeneity in treatment effects. In this article, I show how “composition bias” due to population heterogeneity evolves over time when treatment propensity is systematically associated with heterogeneous treatment effects. A form of selection bias, composition bias, arises dynamically at the aggregate level even when the classic assumption of ignorability holds true at the microlevel.