cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic relationships of American alligator populations distributed across different ecological and geographic scales

Although much work has been conducted on coastal populations of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), less is known about the population dynamics and genetic structure of populations of alligators confined to inland habitats. DNA microsatellite loci, derived from the American alligator, were used to investigate patterns of genetic variation within and between populations of alligators distributed at coastal and inland localities in Texas. These data were used to evaluate the genetic discreteness of different alligator stocks relative to their basic ecology at these sites. Observed mean heterozygosities across seven loci for both coastal and inland populations ranged from 0.50-0.61, with both inland and coastal populations revealing similar patterns of variation. Measures of Fst revealed significant population differentiation among all populations; however, analyses of molecular variance (AMOVAs) failed to demonstrate any apparent geographic pattern relative to the population differentiation indicated by Fst values. Each population contained unique alleles for at least one locus. Additionally, assignment tests based on the distribution of genotypes placed 76% of individuals to their source population. These genetic data suggest considerable subdivision among alligator populations, possibly influenced by demographic and life history differences as well as barriers to dispersal. These results have clear implications for management. Rather than managing alligators in Texas as a single panmictic population, translocation programs and harvest quotas should consider the ecological and genetic distinctiveness of local alligator populations. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 294:325-333, 2002. r 2002, Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Sudden Cardiac Risk Assessment

For the purposes of this discussion, the focus on the use of imaging as a means for risk assessment for sudden cardiac death will be limited to patients with structural heart disease with an emphasis on the detection and characterization of scar. The concept that high-­resolution imaging can detect the hallmarks of electrical instability assumes that there are specific characteristics of scar and the surrounding surviving myocardium that are indeed “arrhythmogenic.” While most of the work has focused on the detection of this at-risk tissue in patients with coronary artery disease, this chapter will also highlight the data presently available in other myopathies, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, and sarcoidosis. While the pathological process of these entities differs considerably, each of them shares a common endpoint of the development of scar and/or fibrosis. In addition, because the majority of the work to date has focused on using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to risk-stratify patients for ventricular tachyarrhythmias, much of this review will highlight the use of this modality and the data presently available.
Red-green-blue printing using luminescence-upconversion inks

Recent advances in producing pre-defined 2D patterns of upconversion nanophosphors via photolithography and printing techniques present new opportunities for the use of these materials in security applications. Here, we demonstrate an RGB additive-color printing system that produces highly-resolved pre-defined patterns that are invisible under ambient lighting, but which are viewable as luminescent multi-color images under NIR excitation. Patterns are generated by independent deposition of three primary-color (red, green and blue) upconverting inks using an aerosol jet printer. The primary-color inks are printed as isolated and overlapping features to produce images that simultaneously emit red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, yellow and white upconversion luminescence. The dependence of the chromaticity of certain secondary colors (cyan and magenta) and white on NIR excitation power density can be exploited as an additional authentication feature. The development of an RGB upconversion printing system paves the way for an entirely new arena in security printing.
Reconfiguration for enhanced alternate test (REALTest) of analog circuits

An efficient design for test methodology to increase the test yield of analog circuits is presented. It is assumed that the analog circuits are tested using alternate tests that replace conventional specification-based testing procedures. The proposed approach is a circuit reconfiguration scheme that changes the values of one or more circuit components during application of the alternate test. The reconfiguration is designed to increase the sensitivity of the test measurement performed on the CUT to the manufacturing process variations in the components of the CUT. An algorithm REALTest for determining the optimal reconfiguration parameters and the corresponding alternate test has been presented. The validation results observed on analog circuits using the proposed approach show that the errors in the alternate test procedure can be reduced by an order of magnitude. This increased test accuracy result can improve test yield of alternate test by about 5%.
Actin Depolymerization Disrupts Tight Junctions via Caveolae-mediated Endocytosis

The tight junction (TJ) determines epithelial barrier function. Actin depolymerization disrupts TJ structure and barrier function, but the mechanisms of this effect remain poorly understood. The goal of this study was to define these mechanisms. Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein-, enhanced yellow fluorescent protein-, or monomeric red fluorescent protein 1-fusion proteins of beta-actin, occludin, claudin-1, ZO-1, clathrin light chain A1, and caveolin-1 were imaged by time-lapse multidimensional fluorescence microscopy with simultaneous measurement of transepithelial electrical resistance (TER). Actin depolymerization was induced with latrunculin A (LatA). Within minutes of LatA addition TER began to fall. This coincided with occludin redistribution and internalization. In contrast, ZO-1 and claudin-1 redistribution occurred well after maximal TER loss. Occludin internalization and TER loss, but not actin depolymerization, were blocked at 14 degrees C, suggesting that membrane traffic is required for both events. Inhibition of membrane traffic with 0.4 M sucrose also blocked occludin internalization and TER loss. Internalized occludin colocalized with caveolin-1 and dynamin II, but not with clathrin, and internalization was blocked by dominant negative dynamin II (K44A), but not by Eps15Delta95-295 expression. Inhibition of caveolae-mediated endocytosis by cholesterol extraction prevented both LatA-induced TER loss and occludin internalization. Thus, LatA-induced actin depolymerization causes TJ structural and functional disruption by mechanisms that include caveolae-mediated endocytosis of TJ components.
Endovascular Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective To consolidate the evidence from randomized trials for the use of endovascular therapy (ET) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Exploiting Environmental Properties for Wireless Localization and Location Aware Applications

Wireless sensor networks monitor phenomena that vary over the spatial region the sensor network covers. The sensor readings may also be dual-used for additional purposes. In this paper we propose to use the inherent spatial variability in physical phenomena to support localization and position verification. We first present the problem of localization using general spatial information fields, and then propose a theory for exploiting this spatial variability for localization. Our spatio-correlation weighting mechanism (SCWM) uses spatial relationships of measured physical phenomena to determine an appropriate subset of environmental parameters for better location accuracy. We next present the Flex - EP algorithm, which supports our theoretical model for performing localization. Finally, we provide an experimental evaluation of our approach by using a collection of physical phenomena measured across one hundred locations inside a building. Our results provide strong evidence of the viability of using general sensor readings for location applications.
Synthesis and evaluation of a new bifunctional chelator designed for labeling biomolecules by the technetium‐tricarbonyl technology

We have prepared a new bifunctional chelating agent 6-(N′-Pyridin-2-ylmethylene-hydrazino)-nicotinic acid for use in labeling biomolecules by the technetium-tricarbonyl technology. The utility of the bifunctional chelate for 99mTc labeling was evaluated using recombinant bitistatin. High yield, high affinity 99mTc labeled bitistatin was obtained. The 99mTc labeled bitistatin has great potential for use in imaging thrombi.
Association Between Prenatal Acetaminophen Exposure and Future Risk of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children

Objective: To evaluate the effect of prenatal acetaminophen exposure on the future development of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Data Sources: Literature searches of MEDLINE (1975 to June 2015), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1975 to June 2015), and Cochrane Database (publications through June 2015) for prospective clinical trials assessing the relationship of prenatal acetaminophen exposure and the development of attention deficit disorders or hyperactivity. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Studies comparing self-reported maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy to development of ADHD or ADHD-like behaviors in offspring between the ages of 3 and 12 years. Data Synthesis: Four studies examining the effects of prenatal acetaminophen exposure on subsequent ADHD behaviors were identified. Of these, one early study found no link to ADHD behaviors while the other studies found statistically significant correlations with the most prominent being a study finding a hi...
Stability and Convergence Control in Cooperative Integration Networks

This paper addresses the problem of how to control stability and convergence of multiple strongly coupled cooperating neural networks. The problem arises because a normally stable individual network can become unstable due to feedback from other interacting networks. The paper briefly summarizes the conditions for stability and more importantly, details procedures for controlling the rate of system convergence. Convergence rate control is important so that no single network unfairly dominates computation. These types of problems are conveniently formulated in terms of regularization with weak continuity constraints. Cooperative Integration networks have been applied to problems such as: integrating multiple early vision modules, multispectral processing, and color segmentation.
Hybrid Dynamical Systems: An Introduction to Control and Verification

Hybrid dynamical systems are a class of complex systems that involve interacting discrete-eventand continuous-variable dynamics. They are important in applications in embedded systems,cyber-physical systems, robotics, manufacturing systems, traffic management, bio-molecular networks,and have recently been at the center of intense research activity in the control theory,computer-aided verification, and artificial intelligence communities. This paper provides a tutorialintroduction to this multidisciplinary research area. A number of fundamental topics, such asmodeling, abstraction, verification, supervisory control, stability analysis, stabilization, andoptimal control of hybrid systems are introduced and discussed. Additionally, more advanced topicsare briefly discussed at the end of each chapter with references given for further reading.
Constructing Law from Development: Cause Lawyers, Generational Narratives, and the Rule of Law in Thailand

Thailand is a perplexing case of legal development because of its recent enactment of liberal constitutional reforms, interrupted by regression to military dictatorship, and subsequent upsurge of popular political involvement. This landscape of semi-democratic development may be compared with the emergence of a small by self-sustaining professional community of cause lawyers – lawyers for the politically weak and socially marginal. This study examines the intergenerational development of the professional community through the careers of lawyer-advocates for three different causes. The study focuses in particular on contrasting and comparing different discourses about law that characterize each of the lawyers and the institutional conditions, networks, and dialogic exchanges which seem to explain each one. The findings reinforce the understanding that legal development is path dependent, shaped by political institutions, culture, and history, and in turn the role of cause lawyers is shaped by the events, institutions, and intergenerational networks which give their causes meaning and create opportunities for relevant action. Further, the study suggests that legal development is also likely to be highly uneven as new ideas about law compete with other forms of authority and power in both old and new institutions as a society develops.
Intensive chemotherapy with mitoxantrone and high-dose cytosine arabinoside followed by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia

Thirty-four adults with refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia received salvage therapy with mitoxantrone 5 mg/m2 intravenously over 1 hour daily for 5 days and cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) 3 g/m2 intravenously over 2 hours every 12 hours for six doses, followed by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) 125 microgram/m2 intravenously over 4 hours daily until recovery of granulocytes above 2.0 x 10(3)/microL. Their outcome was compared with 29 prognostically similar historical control patients treated with the identical chemotherapy without GM-CSF. Overall, the complete response rates were similar in the treatment and control groups (13 of 34 [38%] v 11 of 29 [38%]). There was a trend for less remission induction mortality in the GM-CSF-treated patients (2 of 34 [6%] v 6 of 29 [21%]; P = .08), but, conversely, a higher rate of resistant disease (19 of 34 [56%] v 10 of 29 [34%]; P = .09). Recovery of granulocyte counts above 500/microL was significantly faster in the GM-CSF-treated group (25 days v 33 days; P less than .01), but there was no reduction in the incidence of febrile episodes (91% v 93%) or of documented infections (59% v 59%). Survival was prolonged in the GM-CSF-treated patients but was not of clinical relevance (31 v 20 weeks; P = .05). In summary, the addition of GM-CSF to intensive chemotherapy in refractory adult ALL was associated with a reduction in the remission induction mortality, probably secondary to a shorter duration of granulocytopenia, but not with an improvement in complete response rates.
Talon noir: paring can eliminate the need for a biopsy

Talon noir (black heel or calcaneal petechiae) is a benign condition that appears as an asymmetric brown-black epidermal macule on the heel or elsewhere on the plantar foot. Punctate papillary dermal haemorrhages extend into the subcorneal space following shearing forces in an area of recurrent or sudden trauma.1 These lesions can mimic melanoma and haemorrhagic viral warts, especially in cases where there is no history of trauma. If the diagnosis of talon noir is considered, simple bedside tests can obviate the need for a biopsy to exclude malignant melanoma or unnecessary treatment for a presumed viral wart. A 34-year-old Caucasian woman presented with an asymptomatic 14 mm black-brown arrowhead-shaped macule on the calcaneal surface of her left foot (see figure 1). There was no history of trauma, ill-fitting shoes or participation in sports. Additionally, the patient denied use of anticoagulant …
The Merchant and the Muse: Commercial Influences on American Popular Music before the Civil War

In what ways and to what extent has business exerted an influence on cultural development? The question has had many answers. Most of these have dealt with the diversion of business wealth to specific cultural ends — the accumulation of great art collections, the importation of Italian villas, the subsidization of noted performers and craftsmen. Considerable attention has also been paid to the direct aesthetic contributions of businessmen who manufactured objects of art, or who were successful in imparting artistic attributes to objects of utility. The present article probes a more subtle but quite possibly more basic kind of business influence. Available evidence suggests that American musical tastes and talents were directly and forcefully molded by the commercial environment itself. Market characteristics of the music publishing trade, pricing policies, associationist activities, and other purely economic circumstances helped determine the nature of musical America. This case study involves a capsule in time and a small segment of the total culture, but its implications are broad and merit further investigation.
Juan Bautista Alberdi: A Study of his thought

During the nineteenth century Latin America produced a significant number of thinkers and philosophers who recognized that their countries were failing to keep pace with Western Europe and the United States in material progress, social equality and political stability. Some of these men were primarily abstract thinkers, but many were politically active and exercised considerable influence through their writing. Juan Bautista Alberdi, an Argentine, was a member of the latter group whose ideas are still discussed frequently today.
The Role of the Intellectual Virtues in the Reunification of Epistemology

Soulignant l'aporie de l'evaluation de la croyance et des normes epistemiques dans le cadre de l'epistemologie naturalisee, et soulevant le probleme du fait et de la valeur dans le cadre de l'empirisme logique, l'A. defend la possibilite d'une reunification de l'epistemologie a partir d'un consensus sur le besoin d'un traitement plus symetrique de l'epistemologie et de l'ethique comme disciplines normatives essentielles a la philosophie. C'est a ce niveau metaphilosophique que l'A. repere un debut de reconstruction de la philosophie entrepris par les theoriciens de la vertu
Imaging Japanese Religion in the Classroom: Mandala, Manga, Pizza, and Gardens

How does my research influence my pedagogy? As a teacher of Japanese religions at a small liberal arts college, I realized long ago that I wasn’t teaching in grad school. Few of my students can speak or read Japanese or have ever traveled to Japan. So, chances are I’m not going to be teaching a small seminar on pre-modern Buddhist pilgrimage focusing on original texts in the classical vernacular. Yet, in teaching undergraduates, I keep Shunryu Suzuki’s comment in mind: “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” The trick is how to trigger those possibilities. How do I open the door to a subject that is totally new and perhaps even strange? What do I find so fascinating in my own research that will also fascinate my students?
Emerging Scalability and Extreme Outcomes in New Ventures: Power-Law Analyses of Three Studies

Recent studies in entrepreneurship and management suggest that most performance-based outcomes are not distributed according to Gaussian assumptions within the normal, bell-shaped curve. Instead, P...
The ARRA of Our Ways

The American Recovery and Rein vestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 is an unprecedented effort to jump-start the economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long neglected challenges so that the United States can thrive in the 21st century. ARRA is an extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression. Its aims include stopgap measures for the tough economic times faced by the nation like those that are provided by other stimulus initiatives such as the Troubled Assets Recovery Program and the Federal Reserve's Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility. ARRA measures include immediate fund
Effect of protein concentration on whey protein gels obtained by a two-stage heating process

The influence of protein concentration on the properties of gels obtained by a two-stage heating process was determined. In the first stage, whey protein dispersion (3–10%) was heated at pH 8.0, and in the second stage it was diluted to 3% protein, adjusted to pH 7.0 and heated again. Increased protein concentration in the first stage of polymerization resulted in the gels obtained in the second stage having a lower phase angle, increased storage modulus and increased hardness. Increased protein concentration also resulted in gels with an increased optical density, which suggests thathigher protein concentration leads to more and larger aggregates. Gels obtained from dispersions preheated at a higher protein concentration had higher permeability coefficient (B gel) values. The increase in B gel suggests that the higher protein concentration increased the size of the aggregates, which in a second stage of heating formed a gel matrix with a larger pore size.
Abstract LB-151: REV1 has critical roles in base excision repair intermediate-mediated transversion mutations but not for O6-methylguanine-initiated mutations in vertebrate cells.

Isogenic chicken DT40 cells deficient in various DNA repair pathways are a great tool for understanding the DNA damage response and mutagenesis caused by genotoxic agents by a comparison of mutants and parental DT40 cells. We recently found that ~55% of PIGO mutations are located at A:T sites with a high frequency of A to T transversion mutations in DT40 cells exposed to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). These results suggest that A to T transversion mutations found in MMS exposure-derived PIGO mutant cells are due to base excision repair intermediates, such as abasic sites and single strand breaks originated from N3-methyladenine. It has been reported that DNA repair protein REV1 acts as not only as a deoxycytidine transferase across abasic sites but also as a scaffold protein to coordinate translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) polymerase switching. To address effects of REV1 on MMS-induced PIGO mutations in DT40 cells, we exposed REV1 knockout DT40 cells to low-dose MMS. REV1 knockout DT40 cells showed hyper-sensitivity in cell survival after MMS treatment with no increase in PIG-O mutations. These results indicate that PIG-O mutations in DT40 cells exposed to MMS are caused through REV1-dependent, but REV1 deoxycytidyl transferase-independent, TLS. In contrast to MMS, REV1 and parental DT40 cells showed similar toxicity and mutagenicity caused by a combination of low-dose N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and O6-benzylguanine. These results suggest that base excision repair intermediates appear to initiate REV1-dependent TLS, whereas, O6-methylguanine could be by-passed by replicative polymerases, such as polymerase delta complexes, with an associated increase in G to A transition mutations. Citation Format: Jun Nakamura, Xu Tian, James Swenberg. REV1 has critical roles in base excision repair intermediate-mediated transversion mutations but not for O6-methylguanine-initiated mutations in vertebrate cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-151. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-LB-151
Experimental study of forced convection heat transfer during upward and downward flow of helium at high pressure and high temperature

Fundamental high pressure/high temperature forced convection experiments have been conducted in support of the development of a Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) with a prismatic core. The experiments utilize a high temperature/high pressure gas flow test facility constructed for forced convection and natural circulation experiments. The test section has a single 16.8 mm ID flow channel in a 2.7 m long, 108 mm OD graphite column with four 2.3kW electric heater rods placed symmetrically around the flow channel. This experimental study presents the role of buoyancy forces in enhancing or reducing convection heat transfer for helium at high pressures up to 70 bar and high temperatures up to 873 degrees K. Wall temperatures have been compared among 10 cases covering the inlet Re numbers ranging from 500 to 3,000. Downward flows display higher and lower wall temperatures in the upstream and downstream regions, respectively, than the upward flow cases due to the influence of buoyancy forces. In the entrance region, convection heat transfer is reduced due to buoyancy leading to higher wall temperatures, while in the downstream region, buoyancyinduced mixing causes higher convection heat transfer and lower wall temperatures. However, their influences are reduced as the Reynolds number increases. Thismore » experimental study is of specific interest to VHTR design and validation of safety analysis codes.« less
A Framework for Instrument Development of a Choice Experiment: An Application to Type 2 Diabetes.

Choice experiments are increasingly used to obtain patient preference information for regulatory benefit–risk assessments. Despite the importance of instrument design, there remains a paucity of literature applying good research principles. We applied a novel framework for instrument development of a choice experiment to measure type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment preferences. Applying the framework, we used evidence synthesis, expert consultation, stakeholder engagement, pretest interviews, and pilot testing to develop a best–worst scaling (BWS) and discrete choice experiment (DCE). We synthesized attributes from published DCEs for type 2 diabetes, consulted clinical experts, engaged a national advisory board, conducted local cognitive interviews, and pilot tested a national survey. From published DCEs (n = 17), ten attribute categories were extracted with cost (n = 11) having the highest relative attribute importance (RAI) (range 6–10). Clinical consultation and stakeholder engagement identified six attributes for inclusion. Cognitive pretesting with local diabetes patients (n = 25) ensured comprehension of the choice experiment. Pilot testing with patients from a national sample (n = 50) identified nausea as most important (RAI for DCE: 10 [95 % CI 8.5–11.5]; RAI for BWS: 10 [95 % CI 8.9–11.1]). The developed choice experiment contained five attributes (A1c decrease, blood glucose stability, low blood glucose, nausea, additional medicine, and cost). The framework for instrument development of a choice experiment included five stages of development and incorporated multiple stakeholder perspectives. Further comparisons of instrument development approaches are needed to identify best practices. To facilitate comparisons, researchers need to be encouraged to publish or discuss their instrument development strategies and findings.
Patterns of Gene Expression During Ascidian Development

Ascidian development has been investigated by embryo-logists since the latter half of the nineteenth century (see Venuti and Jeffery, 1989 for a review) due to a number of desirable features. First, embryonic development is rapid. In most ascidians, gastrulation occurs only a few hours after fertilization, and embryogenesis is completed in less than a day. Second, ascidians are one of the simplest chordates: the tadpole larva contains only a few thousand cells and about 6 different types of tissue (Berrill, 1935). The ascidian genome is quite small for a chordate: only about 1.8 × 108 nucleotide pairs (Mirsky and Ris, 1951; Atkin and Ohno, 1967; Lambert and Laird, 1971). Third, ascidian embryos are highly mosaic: most cell fates are established according to a defined cell lineage (Chabry, 1887; Conklin, 1905a). Fourth, some ascidians have evolved alternative development modes, which are useful for examining developmental changes during evolution (Berrill, 1931; 1935). Finally, the eggs of the ascidian Styela contain colored ooplasms (Conklin, 1905b; Berrill, 1929). The most spectacular of these ooplasms is the yellow crescent or myoplasm, a unique cytoskeletal domain that segregates to the future posterior region of the zygote after fertilization (Conklin, 1905b; Jeffery, 1984). During cleavage, the myoplasm is distributed to 2 cells of the 2-,4-, and 8-cell embryo, 4 cells of the 16-cell embryo, 6 cells of the 32-cell embryo, 8 cells of the 64-cell embryo, and eventually enters the larval tail-muscle cells (Fig.l).
Community Support Needs

Current research findings are summarized and best professional practices are described in relation to support needs assessment and planning with people with intellectual disability and related developmental disabilities (ID/DD) in community settings. The current interest in support needs assessment, planning, and arranging individualized supports with people with ID/DD is considered in light of changes in public policy, trends in service delivery systems, and new understandings of disability that have emerged during the past four decades. The logic underlying person-centered planning (PCP) processes is reviewed. Several leading PCP processes are described and research findings related to their efficacy are summarized. Support needs assessment scales that have been developed and published over the past 20 years are also described. Research findings reported in peer-reviewed, professional literature on the scales are synthesized. Special attention is paid to the psychometric properties and factor structure of support needs assessment scales. An approach to how planning teams can use information from support needs assessment scales to inform decision-making is discussed.
Unlike a Dog, Having Done Nothing Wrong: After the Law

The Trial is “about” the law, but the prepositional is under review in “Before the Law.” The techniques of subjection the guard employs to seat and hold the man at the gate reflect the pre-emptive failure and stasis Kafka’s nonhuman form explores. The Kafkan “subject” spirals about in speculative narration of indeterminate progress, deprived of rights or freedoms by massive, inscrutable structures and automatic sociation. This nonhuman form demolishes human actors at the site of their articulations. “In the Penal Colony,” in particular, shows Kafka’s abiding concern for the way structures, conventions, machines, and apparatuses, structurality at all, converge to undo the categories of experience and subjectivity they have always already articulated. Comprehensive yet indeterminate subjection is the condition of experience throughout Kafka.
Synergizing Proteomic and Metabolomic Data to Study Cardiovascular Systems

Investigation of biological systems requires an understanding of the crosstalk between complex regulatory processes and how disturbances in these processes contribute to the development of a disease phenotype. While proteomic studies have significantly advanced our understanding of the types and relative amounts of proteins in complex samples, these analyses are now being complemented by additional -omic platforms. For example, global metabolic investigations are increasingly leveraged to determine the underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases. These investigations allow the determination and relative quantification of metabolites in complex samples. As our ability to analyze and quantify large experimental proteomic and metabolomic data sets continues to improve, combining these data sets allows for the identification of pathways and sub-pathways that would not be detected if either analytical method was used in isolation. In this book chapter, we discuss how to design a cardiovascular metabolomic experiment and how to utilize combined proteomic and metabolomic data for a more comprehensive examination of biological systems. In the near future, improved software to manage the integration of large datasets and development of new bioinformatics tools will help to harness the potential of these large datasets and make integrative –omics more accessible.
Barriers to live donor kidney transplants in the pediatric population: A single-center experience.

A decrease in live donor pediatric kidney transplants has occurred in the United States. This study investigates barriers that may influence access to live donor kidney transplants in children. Retrospective chart review was conducted for 91 children (69% male, mean age 11.9 years) who underwent pretransplant workup from 2005 to 2015 at an urban pediatric hospital. Fifty-four percent were African American, 32% Caucasian, 8% Arabic, 3% Hispanic, and 3% Others. Government-sponsored insurance (Medicaid/Medicare) was utilized by 73%, and 54% had dual caregivers. Only nine of 68 kidney transplants were live donor transplants. Live donor transplants (11%) were significantly (P=.008) lower than deceased donor transplants (59%) in African Americans. Private insurance was reported by 56% of live donor recipients and 25% of deceased donor recipients. Among live donor recipients, 78% were from dual caregiver families. Caregiver, health-related, financial, and religious/cultural barriers to live donor transplants were reported, several of which may be amenable to positive intervention.
Effects of a dietary ketone ester on hippocampal glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates and amino acids in a 3xTgAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

In patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in a triple transgenic (3xTgAD) mouse model of AD low glucose metabolism in the brain precedes loss of memory and cognitive decline. The metabolism of ketones in the brain by-passes glycolysis and therefore may correct several deficiencies that are associated with glucose hypometabolism. A dietary supplement composed of an ester of D-β-hydroxybutyrate and R-1,3 butane diol referred to as ketone ester (KE) was incorporated into a rodent diet and fed to 3xTgAD mice for 8 months. At 16.5 months of age animals were killed and brains dissected. Analyses were carried out on the hippocampus and frontal cortex for glycolytic and TCA (Tricarboxylic Acid) cycle intermediates, amino acids, oxidized lipids and proteins, and enzymes. There were higher concentrations of d-β-hydroxybutyrate in the hippocampus of KE-fed mice where there were also higher concentrations of TCA cycle and glycolytic intermediates and the energy-linked biomarker, N-acetyl aspartate compared to controls. In the hippocampi of control-fed animals the free mitochondrial [NAD+ ]/[NADH] ratio were highly oxidized, whereas, in KE-fed animals the mitochondria were reduced. Also, the levels of oxidized protein and lipids were lower and the energy of ATP hydrolysis was greater compared to controls. 3xTgAD mice maintained on a KE-supplemented diet had higher concentrations of glycolytic and TCA cycle metabolites, a more reduced mitochondrial redox potential, and lower amounts of oxidized lipids and proteins in their hippocampi compared to controls. The KE offers a potential therapy to counter fundamental metabolic deficits common to patients and transgenic models. Read the Editorial Highlight for this article on page 162.
The Rescorla-Wagner Theory of Conditioning: A Review of the Literature

A comprehensive literature review of the published articles which have tested, evaluated, or modified the conditioning theory specified by Rescorla and Wagner (1972) is presented. Following a description and presentation of the formal properties of the model, five basic classes of studies are reviewed. The classes are comprised of reviews of studies which have (a) tested the model’s basic assumptions, (b) manipulated the salience of conditioned stimuli, (c) manipulated the potency of unconditioned stimuli, (d) investigated background stimuli or commom»elements between stimuli, and (e) introduced refinements or modifications of the original model. Finally, a brief discussion of the theory’s impact and future is presented.
Spot Sample Urine Specific Gravity Does Not Accurately Represent Small Decreases in Plasma Volume in Resting Healthy Males.

Background: Urine specific gravity (USG) is often used to assess hydration status, particularly around athletic competition, but it is unknown whether high USG is indicative of plasma volume (PV) r...
Toward a Biopsychosocial Theory of Substance Abuse

Theoretical integration of the fast-accumulating literature in the substance abuse field has been sadly lacking. Most theories have been developed from a single perspective or level of analysis, and in many cases they were inconsistent with data from other approaches on the day the theory was published. For example, Peele (1981) reviewed several theoretical approaches that emphasized that a complete “answer” to substance abuse problems was to be found by analysis of genetic or biochemical factors alone. As Peele showed, these analyses completely ignored other data that clearly indicated the importance of environmental and psychosocial factors. Yet in the same paper, Peele proposed a theoretical approach that denied the importance of any biological factors! To illustrate the current lack of integration in the field, consider again the recent edited collection on drug abuse theory (Lettieri, Sayers, & Pearson, 1980) that included over 40 completely distinct theories. Particularly noteworthy in the Lettieri et al. collection was that most of the theories tended to incorporate only a narrow band of data, and their generalizability beyond a highly limited domain appeared poor. Clearly, there is a need for theoretical integration in the substance abuse field, and a careful inspection of the preceding chapters should convince the reader that such integration will require a model that incorporates factors from several disciplines: in short, a “biopsychosocial” model.
Evaluation of the Relative Citation Ratio, a New National Institutes of Health–Supported Bibliometric Measure of Research Productivity, among Academic Radiation Oncologists

Abstract Purpose Publication metrics are useful in evaluating academic faculty for awarding grants, recruitment, and promotion. A new metric, the relative citation ratio (RCR), was recently released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH); however, no benchmark data yet exist. We sought to create benchmark data for physician faculty in academic radiation oncology (RO) and analyze correlations associated with increased academic productivity. Methods Citation database searches were performed for all US radiation oncologists affiliated with academic RO programs. Gender, NIH funding, career duration, academic rank, RCR, and weighted RCR were collected for each faculty. RCR and weighted RCR were calculated and compared between each subgroup of interest. RCR percentiles were also created for reference. Results A total of 1,299 RO physician faculty members from 75 institutions were included in the analysis. Overall, RO physician were very productive and influential with a mean RCR of 1.57 ± 1.53 SD and median RCR (interquartile range) of 1.32 (0.87-1.94). Academic rank, career duration, and NIH funding were associated with increased mean RCR and weighted RCR. Male gender and having a PhD were associated with an increased weighted RCR but not an increased mean RCR. Conclusions Current academic radiation oncologists have a high mean RCR value relative to the benchmark NIH RCR value of 1. All subgroups analyzed had an RCR value above 1 with professor or chair and previous NIH funding having the highest RCR and weighted RCR values overall. These data may be useful for self-evaluation of ROs as well as evaluation of faculty by institutional and departmental leaders.
Hidden in Plain Sight: Finding Safe Parking for Vehicle Residents

Vehicle residents are a growing part of homeless populations. This guide examines case studies of successful safe parking programs in Washington and California that mitigate harm to vehicle residents and offer support that can lift people out of poverty and into stable, permanent housing. This report synthesizes key lessons from successful Safe Parking Programs, specifically around operational, legal, and public relations or messaging issues.
Genetic diversity and structure of a rare endemic cactus and an assessment of its genetic relationship with a more common congener.

Endemic, obligate outcrossing plant species with narrow geographic distributions and disjunct populations are prone to loss of genetic diversity. Simultaneously, delineating clear species boundaries is important for targeted conservation efforts. The rare and endemic cactus, Sclerocactus brevihamatus subsp. tobuschii (SBT), has a parapatric relationship with Sclerocactus brevihamatus subsp. brevihamatus (SBB) but genetic distance between the two taxa is unknown. We: (1) developed taxon-specific polymorphic microsatellites, (2) assessed genetic diversity within and among nine populations of SBT, and within one population of SBB, and (3) estimated the genetic relationship between the two subspecies. Within-population genetic diversity of SBT was moderate to high (mean Ho = 0.37; mean He = 0.59). Indirect estimate of inbreeding corrected for null alleles (Fis-INEst) was low for SBT, ranging from 0.03 to 0.14 (mean Fis-INEst = 0.07). Genetic differentiation among populations of SBT was low based on Fst (0.08) and AMOVA (ФPT = 0.10). Lack of genetic and spatial correlation in SBT populations coupled with the presence of private alleles and bottleneck events in several populations suggests that reproductive isolation is occurring but that sufficient time may not have yet passed to manifest strong differentiation. Cluster analyses segregated the 10 populations into three distinct groups, and separated SBB genotypes clearly. Results suggest that while hybridization between the two subspecies may occur, SBT is clearly differentiated genetically from SBB to retain its current taxonomic status.
EEG Sleep Spectra in Older Adults Across All Circadian Phases During NREM Sleep

Study Objectives: Healthy aging is associated with changes in sleep-wake regulation, and those changes often lead to problems sleeping, both during the night and during daytime. We aimed to examine the electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep spectra during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep when sleep was scheduled at all times of day.
Protein Identification by In-Gel Digestion and Mass Spectrometry

Publisher Summary The success of genome sequencing projects offers new tools for protein identification. Of particular interest to protein chemists are database search engines that allow identification of proteins from peptide mass fingerprinting or sequence fragmentation information. In combination with high-sensitivity mass spectrometers and new ionization methods, these tools have driven a revolution in protein chemistry. Early studies involved separation of peptides by conventional reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), followed by mass spectrometry or Edman sequencing of fractions. The introduction of in-gel digestion greatly facilitates identification of eukaryotic proteins. Pioneering studies in this area report methods and computer programs for peptide mass fingerprinting and sequence search analysis and these enhanced methods make establishing databases of proteins expressed in human myocardial cells, melanoma cells, and yeast feasible. Thus, analysis of proteins by in-gel digestion provides a convenient, rapid, and easy analytical technique that can be applied using any modern mass spectrometer. Moreover, improved methods for recovery of peptides from gels should become available in the near future. As highly sensitive mass spectrometers are becoming widespread and easier to use, more laboratories can exploit this technique to tackle biology and clinical problems.
Traditional Family Values

What is “traditionalism” and how does it relate to family values? What are the family values that concern parental responsibility in raising children? Who do the Puerto Ricans say should be the decision maker in the family? Should women with small children work outside the home? Should husbands share responsibility for housework? Should a wife always obey her husband? Should a wife continue her formal education after marriage? If possible, should she choose to earn more money than her husband does? Should boys and girls be raised with similar attitudes about helping with housework? Who makes the major decisions for the family and who is responsible for the decisions for everyday activities? How religious are they? Does fatalism play a role in their major decisions and problems?
Creating value: Institution of outpatient infusional EPOCH-based chemotherapy at a safety-net hospital.

128Background: EPOCH-based chemotherapy regimens are traditionally administered inpatient because they include a continuous 96-hour infusion. These admissions are costly, and disruptive to patients’ lives. We transitioned EPOCH-based chemotherapy regimens to an ambulatory infusion model at our safety-net hospital (Parkland Health and Hospital System, Dallas, TX), where patients visit the infusion center daily for 5 days. Methods: Guidelines for chemotherapy administration and educational materials were developed through a multidisciplinary collaboration with physicians, nursing, and pharmacy. Data were collected through chart review and the finance department. Project costs included purchase of portable infusion pumps and increasing outpatient infusion clinic capacity. Patient satisfaction with home infusions compared to hospitalization was measured on a Likert-type scale via direct-to-patient survey. Results: From 1/30/2017 through 1/30/2018, a total of 87 cycles of EPOCH-based chemotherapy were administ...
Using urine metabolomics to understand the pathogenesis of infant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and its role in childhood wheezing

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infants causes significant morbidity and is the strongest risk factor associated with asthma. Metabolites, which reflect the interactions between host cell and virus, provide an opportunity to identify the pathways that underlie severe infections and asthma development. To study metabolic profile differences between infants with RSV infection, and human rhinovirus (HRV) infection, and healthy infants. To compare infant metabolic differences between children who do and do not wheeze. In a term birth cohort, urine was collected while healthy and during acute viral respiratory infection with RSV and HRV. We used 1H-NMR to identify urinary metabolites. Multivariate and univariate statistics were used to discriminate metabolic profiles of infants with either RSV ARI, or HRV ARI, and healthy infants. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association of urine metabolites with 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-year recurrent wheezing. Several metabolites in nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism pathways were down-regulated in infants with RSV infection compared to healthy controls. There were no significant differences in metabolite profiles between infants with RSV infection and infants with HRV Infection. Alanine was strongly associated with reduced risk of 1st-year wheezing (OR 0.18[0.0, 0.46]) and 2nd-year wheezing (OR 0.31[0.13, 0.73]), while 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid was associated with increased 3rd-year wheezing (OR 5.02[1.49, 16.93]) only among the RSV infected subset. The metabolites associated with infant RSV infection and recurrent-wheezing are indicative of viral takeover of the cellular machinery and resources to enhance virulence, replication, and subversion of the host immune-response, highlighting metabolic pathways important in the pathogenesis of RSV infection and wheeze development.