cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative genetic approaches to the evolution of human brain and behavior.

With advances in genomic technologies the amount of genetic data available to scientists today is vast. Genomes are now available or planned for fourteen different primate species and complete resequencing of numerous human individuals from numerous populations is underway. Moreover, high-throughput deep sequencing is quickly making whole genome efforts within the reach of single laboratories allowing for unprecedented studies. Comparative genetic approaches to the identification of the underlying basis of human brain, behavior and cognitive ability are moving to the forefront. Two approaches predominate: inter-species divergence comparisons and intraspecies polymorphism studies. These methodological differences are useful for different time scales of evolution and necessarily focus on different evolutionary events in the history of primate and hominin evolution. Inter-species divergence is more useful in studying large scale primate, or hominoid, evolution whereas intra-species polymorphism can be more illuminating of recent hominin evolution. These differences in methodological utility also extend to studies of differing genetic substrates; current divergence studies focus primarily on protein evolution while polymorphism studies are substrate ambivalent. Some of the issues inherent in these studies can be ameliorated by current sequencing capabilities while others remain intractable. New avenues are also being opened that allow for the incorporation of novel substrates and approaches. In the postgenomic era the study of human evolution, specifically as it relates to the brain, is becoming more complete focusing increasingly on the totality of the system and better conceptualizing the entirety of the genetic changes that have lead to the human phenotype today. The human brain is an intricate organ; its complexity underlies behavior, emotion, communication, and cognition. It is the seat of our humanity, giving rise to who we are, what defines us as individuals, and what sets us apart from other species. Many approaches have emerged attempting to make sense of this complexity. One recent and promising avenue of research aims to understand the evolutionary history of brain complexity through comparative genetic approaches both between primate and mammalian species and within human populations. To understand the genetic causes leading to the functional and anatomical changes between the human brain and the brain of apes, monkeys, and other primates divergence-based approaches are most useful and appropriate. These kinds of approaches seek to catalog the differences between species and identify positions of likely functional relevance. Even between two species as closely related as humans and chimpanzees this number of fixed differences in the genome is exceedingly large, over thirty million point mutations. Attempts to identify functionally relevant needles within this haystack have relied on tools designed for the detection of positive selection. This methodology presupposes that the changes hold
New physics effects in Higgs decay to tau leptons

We study the possible effects of TeV scale new physics (NP) on the rate for Higgs boson decays to charged leptons, focusing on the τ^+τ^− channel which can be readily studied at the Large Hadron collider. Using an SU(3)_C×SU(2)_L×U(1)_Y invariant effective theory valid below a NP scale , we determine all effective operators up to dimension six that could generate appreciable contributions to the decay rate and compute the dependence of the rate on the corresponding operator coefficients. We bound the size of these operator coefficients based on the scale of the τ mass, naturalness considerations, and experimental constraints on the τ anomalous magnetic moment. These considerations imply that contributions to the decay rate, when Λ ~ TeV, could be comparable to the prediction based on the SM Yukawa interaction. A reliable test of the Higgs mechanism for fermion mass generation via the h → τ^+τ^− channel is possible only after such NP effects are understood and brought under theoretical control.
Hydraulic strengthening affects the stiffness and strength of cortical bone.

A nonlinear, interstitial fluid flow constitutive model for cortical bone was developed to study the strain-rate dependency of cortical bone apparent modulus (E a). Nine representative volume element (RVE) structural models of cortical bone spanning an effective pore volume fraction P range of 1–40% were examined. Dynamic loading conditions were used to study the fluid flow contribution or hydraulic strengthening (HS) effect on E a for each RVE model. The model indicated that there is an upper and lower asymptotic bound of strain-rate (10± 3 sec−1) above or below which there are no further HS effects on E a. At certain strain-rates (10−1 to 100 sec−1) variations in cortical bone porosity had little or no influence on E a. At lower and higher frequencies, the loss tangent, hence the magnitude of viscoelastic effects is greater. For strain-rates less than 10−1 sec−1, lower porosity RVE models were always stiffer than higher porosity RVE models. A generalized power law model is proposed to account for the fact that HS in cortical bone exhibits an upper and lower asymptotic bound and is bi-modal in terms of strain-rate.
A Deflated Assembly Free Approach to Large-Scale Implicit Structural Dynamics

The primary computational bottle-neck in implicit structural dynamics is the repeated inversion of the underlying stiffness matrix. In this paper, a fast inversion technique is proposed by merging four distinct but complementary concepts: (1) voxelization with adaptive local refinement, (2) assembly-free (a.k.a. matrix-free or element-by-element) finite element analysis, (3) assembly-free deflated conjugate gradient, and (4) multi-core parallelization. In particular, we apply these concepts to the well-known Newmark-beta method, and the resulting assembly-free deflated conjugate gradient (AF-DCG) is wellsuited for large-scale problems. It can be easily ported to manycore CPU and multi-core GPU architectures, as demonstrated through numerical experiments.
Attitudes, Policies, and Preparations

Long term care facilities (LTCFs) are being considered for the care of PWAs. To better understand the level of preparedness for accepting residents with AIDS, a survey of policies, attitudes, and infection control procedures was sent to randomly selected LTCFs in California, New Jersey, Georgia, and Nebraska. Despite the different prevalence rates of AIDS cases across the four states, there was general agreement on most of the questionnaire items. Over half of the respondents reported having a written policy regarding AIDS (54 percent); also, more respondents expected problems with confidentiality issues (78 percent) and staff attitudes (82 percent). The mean ratings of anticipated attitudes ranged from neutral for management level staff to negative for direct care staff and residents' families. Overall, the respondents rated their LTCFs most prepared in specific infection control procedures and least prepared in areas such as education and psychosocial support. The cost to prepare facilities was estimate...
Unidirectional Airflow in the Lungs of Alligators

The lungs of birds move air in only one direction during both inspiration and expiration through most of the tubular gas-exchanging bronchi (parabronchi), whereas in the lungs of mammals and presumably other vertebrates, air moves tidally into and out of terminal gas-exchange structures, which are cul-de-sacs. Unidirectional flow purportedly depends on bellowslike ventilation by air sacs and may have evolved to meet the high aerobic demands of sustained flight. Here, we show that air flows unidirectionally through parabronchi in the lungs of the American alligator, an amphibious ectotherm without air sacs, which suggests that this pattern dates back to the basal archosaurs of the Triassic and may have been present in their nondinosaur descendants (phytosaurs, aetosaurs, rauisuchians, crocodylomorphs, and pterosaurs) as well as in dinosaurs.
The effect of the fungus Atkinsonella hypoxylon (Clavicipitaceae) on the reproductive system and demography of the grass Danthonia spicata

The Balansiae (Clavicipitaceae, Ascomycetes) consists of five genera of fungi that parasitize grasses, sedges and rushes. Most or all species produce alkaloids that are toxic to mammalian and insect herbivores. Previous reports suggest that infected grasses are more vigorous than uninfected grasses and that the proportion of infected individuals is greater in older populations. In this study individual plants or genotypes of the grass Danthonia spicata (L.) Beauv. Infected by the fungus Atkinsonella hypoxylon (Peck) Diehl. were compared with uninfected genotypes from the same population. Danthonia spicata typically bears dimorphic chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers but in the study population infected plants were partially sterilized, producing only cleistogamous flowers; uninfected plants produced chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers. Two experimental comparisons were conducted by propagating infected and uninfected genotypes into clones, or ramets, which were then planted back into their native site. Infected ramets had higher survival and growth rates, but lower flower production, than uninfected ramets both in random field transects and in field competition studies between D. spicata and the grass Anthoxanthum odoratum L. The results indicate infected individuals have higher survival and growth rates but reduced fecundity compared to uninfected individuals.
Ecological and genetic effects on demographic processes: pollination, clonality and seed production in Dithyrea maritima

Abstract The relative importance of ecological and genetic factors in regulating the demographic processes of small populations is unknown for most rare plants. Dithyrea maritima (beach spectacle pod; Brassicaceae) is a rare, rhizomatously spreading, and self-incompatible herbaceous perennial endemic to coastal sand dunes of southern California. Low seed production in this species may be caused by insufficient pollinator visits, which may be exacerbated by competition for pollinator visits from non-native plants that have invaded the coastal dunes. I tested this ‘ecological’ hypothesis by removing flowers of Cakile maritima and Carpobrotus spp. from three experimental plots on San Nicolas Island. A second possible limitation on seed set is low diversity of genets within subpopulations, which could lead to scarcity of compatible mates. I tested this ‘genetic’ hypothesis by assigning ramets to clones using isozymes, and by relating clonal diversity within populations to seed set. Removal of non-native plants had no detectable effect on pollination service to D. maritima or on seed set, and seed set was unrelated to natural variation in pollination service among populations within a single year. In contrast, clonal diversity within a 10 m2 patch was a strong predictor of seed set. Hence a genetic factor explains spatial variation in seed set on San Nicolas Island. On larger spatial and temporal scales, however, pollination service also affects patterns of seed set: a shift in pollination from flies in 1998 to bees in 1999 probably caused a corresponding increase in seed set across San Nicolas Island, while extremely low seed set at another site (San Miguel Island) is probably caused by a virtual absence of pollinators there.
On the regulation of the regulatory enzyme, citrate synthase, by salt

Abstract Although citrate synthase (E.C. 4.1.3.7) has been extensively examined with respect to control by ATP (2), NADH (14) and fatty acids (12), limited knowledge is available concerning its control by the ionic strength and hormone levels which may be present in the intracellular environment. Partially purified citrate synthase obtained from plant tissue has been found to exhibit increased activity in the presence of low concentrations of the plant hormone, indoleacetic acid (IAA) (9) and there is evidence that in plants the hormone increases the level of citrate synthase activity in vivo (10). Although there is no evidence of an in vivo effect of IAA in mammals, it is of interest that pig heart citrate synthase is activated by IAA in vitro (8). Recent studies in this laboratory have shown that plant citrate synthase is inhibited by ionic strength with an indication that the inhibition resulted from a salt-induced change in conformation of the enzyme (6). Because of the importance of this enzyme in the regulation of metabolism, we initiated the following study to determine the degree of sensitivity of citrate synthase to ionic strength.
Economics of herbaceous bioenergy crops for electricity generation: Implications for greenhouse gas mitigation

Abstract This paper examines the optimal land allocation for two perennial crops, switchgrass and miscanthus that can be co-fired with coal for electricity generation. Detailed spatial data at county level is used to determine the costs of producing and transporting biomass to power plants in Illinois over a 15-year period. A supply curve for bioenergy is generated at various levels of bioenergy subsidies and the implications of production for farm income and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are analyzed. GHG emissions are estimated using lifecycle analysis and include the soil carbon sequestered by perennial grasses and the carbon emissions displaced by these grasses due to both conversion of land from row crops and co-firing the grasses with coal. We find that the conversion of less than 2% of the cropland to bioenergy crops could produce 5.5% of the electricity generated by coal-fired power plants in Illinois and reduce carbon emissions by 11% over the 15-year period. However, the cost of energy from biomass in Illinois is more than twice as high as that of coal. Costly government subsidies for bioenergy or mandates in the form of Renewable Portfolio Standards would be needed to induce the production and use of bioenergy for electricity generation. Alternatively, a modest price for GHG emissions under a cap-and-trade policy could make bioenergy competitive with coal without imposing a fiscal burden on the government.
Chemoenzymatic synthesis of 1-deaza-pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.

Abstract The first synthesis of 1-deaza-pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (2-formyl-3-hydroxy-4-methylbenzyl phosphate) is described. The chemoenzymatic approach described here is a reliable route to this important isosteric pyridoxal phosphate analogue. This work enables elucidation of the role of the pyridine nitrogen in pyridoxal 5′-phosphate dependent enzymes.
COVERAGE OF A RADIO BEACON-BASED DIFFERENTIAL GPS NETWORK

A radio beacon-based system is being investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard for the communication of differential GPS (DGPS) messages. This system would add a digitally modulated subcarrier to transmissions from existing marine radio beacons, which operate in the 285 kHz to 325 kHz band. The idea is attractive, because a well located and widespread radio beacon network is already in place. Additionally, the DGPS/radio beacon signal can be designed such that it should not interfere with the direction finders which normally use the radio beacons. Finally, the signal should be reliably received at appreciable distances, because error correcting codes and interleaving are used. In fact, this paper discusses the prediction of DGPS/radio beacon signal coverage. Several coverage charts are presented as examples. The paper also lists which major U.S. harbors (8 million tons of cargo per year or more) can and cannot be covered if the DGPS subcarrier is installed on existing, continuous-broadcast radio beacons. The achievable signal coverage depends on which error correcting code is used, and the paper analyzes coverage for a “rate I/Z” code and a “rate l/8” code.
The nature of awe: Elicitors, appraisals, and effects on self-concept

Awe has been defined as an emotional response to perceptually vast stimuli that overwhelm current mental structures, yet facilitate attempts at accommodation. Four studies are presented showing the information-focused nature of awe elicitors, documenting the self-diminishing effects of awe experience, and exploring the effects of awe on the content of the self-concept. Study 1 documented the information-focused, asocial nature of awe elicitors in participant narratives. Study 2 contrasted the stimulus-focused, self-diminishing nature of appraisals and feelings associated with a prototypical awe experience with the self-focused appraisals and feelings associated with pride. Study 3 found that dispositional awe-proneness, but not dispositional joy or pride, was associated with low Need for Cognitive Closure, and also documented a relationship between dispositional awe and increased emphasis on membership in “universal” categories in participants’ self-concepts. Study 4 replicated the self-concept finding fr...
Use of individual-based forest succession models to link physiological whole-tree models to landscape-scale ecosystem models.

Summary Models of the spatial and temporal dynamics of forests that are based on competition between individual plants can be used to predict changes in the abundance of different tree species that result from natural succession or environmental change. These individual-based models can be designed to take into account important physiological and chemical properties of individual species, and thus provide a mechanism for scaling up the predictions of whole-plant physiological process models to intermediate-scale patterns in ecosystems and landscapes. Because plant species differ greatly in such properties as carbon fixation and evapotranspiration rates, models that predict species composition could provide information on the distribution of parameter values used as input for large-scale (e.g., “big leaf’) models of regional vegetation-atmosphere interactions.
Algorithms for quantum control based on decompositions of Lie groups

Algorithms for the control of quantum mechanical systems are presented which are based on decompositions of Lie groups. The derived control laws drive the state of two and four level systems to any desired final configuration. The algorithms for the two-level case allow the use of an arbitrarily bounded control.
Robust meshes from multiple range maps

This paper presents a method for modeling the surface of an object from a sequence of range maps. Our method is based on a volumetric approach that produces a compact surface without boundary. It provides robustness through the use of interval analysis techniques and computational efficiency through hierarchical processing using octrees.
Power Limitation Due to Premature Breakdown in Algan/Gan Hfets

A systematic investigation of high field prebreakdown and breakdown phenomena of AlGaN/GaN Heterojunction Field Effect Transistors (HFETs) is presented. The breakdown process was studied as a function of various parameters such as applied electric field, material layer structure, semiconductor surface conditions, ambient dielectric, and test conditions. Experimental evidence of a breakdown mechanism, distinct from the bulk/subsurface breakdown, namely on-surface breakdown or surface flashover is presented. A practical, unambiguous way of identifying device failure by surface flashover is proposed. Surface flashover between gate and drain contact edges is proposed as the main mechanism initiating premature breakdown in these devices leading to a significant reduction of their power capability.
Abdominal compartment syndrome following opioid-induced postoperative ileus

A 35 year old woman, 6 days after ileal neobladder construction, reported uncontrolled pain despite 33 mg hydromorphone via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Abdominal compartment syndrome was suspected based on worsening tachypnea, oxygen desaturation, and severe, prolonged ileus. Following emergent intubation, peak airway and bladder pressures were elevated. After nasogastric decompression, they returned to normal. Continuous ketamine infusion was used for opioid resensitization and the patient was extubated following return of bowel function. Opioid use contributed to the ileus, caused gastric distension, and displaced the diaphragm cephalad. The patient interpreted the subsequent dyspnea as pain and increased PCA opioid use, thereby worsening the ileus.
The Problem of Embodiment in the Sociology of Knowledge: Afterword to the Special Issue on Knowledge in Practice

How do we know what we know? Sociology has a simple answer: We have learned it. Since we were little, we have learned to relate to the world through categories that our social environment readily supplied for us (Durkheim 2001; Durkheim and Mauss 1963; Martin 2000). Our sense of time, of space, or of the sacred—all of this came mediated by the people and institutions that surround us. Both forcefully and imperceptibly, the relations to others in our lives, such as to our parents, our teachers, the people in our neighborhood, individuals we were made to admire and those we were made to dislike—in short, everyone we came to relate to in some manner—helped our minds feel and think in ways that are very specific and not easily changed. They formed our judgment and shaped our morality. Our bodies were also trained in the process, too. We came to recognize and experience certain physical sensations, to move and use our limbs in this or that manner, and know when to feel disgust and revulsion (Mauss 2006; Elias 2000). Some of us learned to pull our elbows in when sitting at a table while others never gained the faintest idea that the way we hold our elbows might hold any importance at all. The things that feel natural to us are not natural at all. They are the result of processes of socialization, inculcation, and training. But that does not mean we never intervene in the process. With age comes a sense—sometimes faint and unconscious—of the arbitrariness of the social game and the rules that govern it (Mead 1967), and often a more or less articulated impulse to exert agency in an effort to change the game. Ways of knowing clash all the time, we bitterly find out. These clashes are exposed daily in the small and large symbolic struggles that pervade life in society (Bourdieu 1987; Lamont 1992), and reveal the one meta-rule that governs it all: politics. And thus we might rebel against the game, or act upon our minds and bodies to shift our trajectory within it. All of this occurs in ways that fit our perceived social or moral aspirations. The six papers in this collection offer a wonderful spectrum of the politics and praxis of knowledge: the way people work on themselves and enroll others into projects that feel important—justified—to them. We go from the most introverted and quiet—controlling one’s breathing in an effort to reach the goal of enlightenment—to the most extroverted and Qual Sociol (2010) 33:569–574 DOI 10.1007/s11133-010-9173-x
Ontology building and maintenance in collaborative virtual environments

The role of ontologies in the enterprise world is constantly increasing, and they are proving even more necessary in distributed production realities, like in extended logistics, industrial districts, or virtual enterprises. In such realities, a common conceptual basis is necessary to compensate the fragmentation inherent in the underlying industrial models. This paper presents an end-to-end framework based on an open, collaborative approach for developing and maintaining business domain ontologies. The framework has been achieved within the European Project BIVEE and has been experimented in two industrial realities: the high-tech sector of robotics and the more traditional one of furniture. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Activation of β-catenin provides proliferative and invasive advantages in c- myc/TGF-α hepatocarcinogenesis promoted by phenobarbital

Previously, we have found that phenobarbital (PB) enhanced cell survival and facilitated tumor growth in our c-myc/transforming growth factor (TGF)-a transgenic mouse model of liver cancer. Given that PB selectively promoted initiated cells harboring b-catenin mutations during chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis and that Wnt/b-catenin signaling is involved in both anti-apoptotic and proliferative processes, we now have extended our analysis to investigate whether promotion by PB affects the occurrence of b-catenin mutations in c-myc/TGFa-driven tumors. The frequency of b-catenin activation as judged by somatic mutations and/or nuclear localization was significantly increased in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) from c-myc/TGF-a mice treated with PB (15/28; 53.6%) as compared with that in control HCCs (2/28; 7.1%). Furthermore, an intact b-catenin locus was detected in all neoplasms following PB treatment, whereas 57.1% (16/28) of malignant tumors from c-myc/TGF-a untreated mice displayed loss of heterozygosity at the b-catenin locus. Strikingly, in the majority of PB-treated HCCs b-catenin nuclear localization was limited to small cells with high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio forming an invasion front (NAinv). b-Catenin NAinv cells showed cytoplasmic redistribution of E-cadherin associated with intense mucin 1 and matrilysin immunostaining, suggesting their invasive phenotype. All b-catenin-positive HCCs displayed increased proliferation and tumor size, but no difference in the apoptotic rate when compared with b-catenin negative tumors. These findings show that PB treatment positively selects for a cell population displaying activation of b-catenin in c-myc/TGF-a HCCs. b-Catenin activation confers additional growth and invasive advantages in a model of liver cancer already accelerated by synergistic activity of the c-myc and TGF-a transgenes.
The Rise and Fall of A Theoretical Model: The Manorial System

Douglass North and Robert Thomas recently proposed a model of the rise and fall of the manorial system. There is much to be admired in this work, which explores an unusually broad historical vision with great analytical acumen; but my purpose here is to examine some of its less compelling features. In section II, I consider the nature of feudalism, and develop empirical arguments against the wholly voluntaristic and non-exploitative interpretation proposed by North and Thomas. Section III examines their analysis of the “classic” manor, which I believe errs both in limiting the feasible contracts to forms of direct barter and in attributing the lowest transaction costs to labor dues even within that restricted set. Section IV reviews the proposed explanation of the later evolution of the manorial system, disputing both the continued use of the transaction costs model and the extensions of it that consider custom as an institutional barrier to efficiency, and population growth and inflation as the exogenous motors of change. Section V provides a brief concluding summary and evaluation.
Identification of a conserved Moraxella catarrhalis haemoglobin-utilization protein, MhuA

Moraxella catarrhalis is a leading cause of acute otitis media in children and is a cause of respiratory disease in adults with underlying lung disease. This organism is a strict human pathogen that has an absolute requirement for iron in order to grow and cause disease. Previous studies identified transferrin and lactoferrin receptors used by M. catarrhalis to obtain iron from the human host, yet other iron-acquisition systems remain undefined. In this study, it is demonstrated that this strict mucosal pathogen can utilize haemoglobin (Hb) as a sole source of iron for growth. A novel 107 kDa outer-membrane protein involved in Hb utilization by this pathogen was also identified. An isogenic mutant defective in this Moraxella Hb-utilization protein (MhuA), 7169 : : mhuA, showed a significant lag during growth in the presence of Hb as the sole iron source. This protein appears to be expressed constitutively, regardless of growth conditions, and a mAb directed to MhuA demonstrated that this protein contains highly conserved, surface-exposed epitopes. Data demonstrating that expression of MhuA may be highly specific to isolates of M. catarrhalis are also presented, suggesting a potential role as a diagnostic marker. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that M. catarrhalis expresses an Hb-binding protein and that this bacterium can utilize Hb as a sole iron source for growth.
Valproate, thalidomide and ethyl alcohol alter the migration of HTR-8/SVneo cells

Background: Valproate, thalidomide and alcohol (ethanol) exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy is known to cause several developmental disorders. All these teratogens are known to pass the placental barrier and interfere directly with the normal development of the fetus. However, these teratogens also alter the formation and function of the placenta itself which may in turn affect the proper nourishment and development of the fetus. Optimum development of the placenta requires adequate invasion of trophoblast into the maternal uterine tissues. Changes in the migratory behavior of trophoblast by maternal exposure to these teratogens during placentogenesis may therefore alter the structure and function of the placenta. Methods: In the present study, the effects of sodium valproate, thalidomide and alcohol on the migration of human first trimester trophoblast cell line (HTR-8/SVneo) were examined in vitro. Cells were cultured in the wells of 48-well culture plates as mono or multilayers. Circular patches of cells were removed from the center of the wells by suction, and the migration of cells into the wound was studied using microscopy. Effects of low and high concentrations of valproate, thalidomide and alcohol were examined on the healing of wounds and on the migration rate of cells by determining the wound areas at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. Effects of drugs and alcohol on the proliferation and the expression levels of integrin subunits beta1 and alpha5 in cells were examined. Results: The migration rates of trophoblast differed between wounds created in mono and multilayers of cells. Exposure to teratogens altered the migration of trophoblast into mono and multilayer wounds. The effects of valproate, thalidomide and alcohol on the proliferation of cells during the rapid migratory phase were mild. Drug exposure caused significant changes in the expression levels of beta1 and alpha5 integrin subunits. Conclusion: Results suggest that exposure to valproate, thalidomide or alcohol during the first trimester of pregnancy may change the ultrastructure of the placenta by altering the migration of trophoblast cells and this effect may be mediated by drug- or alcohol-induced changes in the expression levels of beta1 and alpha5 integrin subunits.
Novel Protein Glycan Side-Chain Biomarker and Risk of Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objectives— Enzymatically glycosylated proteins partake in multiple biological processes, including glucose transport and inflammation. We hypothesized that a novel biomarker (GlycA) of N -acetyl methyl groups originating mainly from N -acetylglucosamine moieties of acute-phase glycoproteins is related to incident type 2 diabetes mellitus and compared it with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Approach and Results— In 26 508 initially healthy women free of diabetes mellitus, baseline GlycA and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were quantified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and immunoturbidimetry, respectively. During median follow-up of 17.2 years, 2087 type 2 diabetes mellitus cases occurred. In Cox models with adjustment for age, race, smoking, alcohol, activity, menopausal status, hormone use, family history, and body mass index, quartile 4 versus 1 hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were 2.67 (2.26–3.14) for GlycA and 3.93 (3.24–4.77) for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; both P trend <0.0001. Associations for GlycA and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were attenuated after additionally adjusting for lipids: 1.65 (1.39–1.95) and 2.83 (2.32–3.44), respectively, both P trend <0.0001, and after mutual adjustment: 1.11 (0.93–1.33; P trend=0.10) and 2.57 (2.09–3.16; P trend<0.0001), respectively. Conclusions— Our finding of an association between a consensus glycan sequence common to a host of acute-phase reactants and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus provides further support for inflammation in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Additional studies exploring the role of enzymatic glycosylation in the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus are warranted. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: . Unique identifier: [NCT00000479][1]. # Significance {#article-title-25} [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00000479&atom=%2Fatvbaha%2F35%2F6%2F1544.atom
Microcarrier cell culture of neonatal human corneal endothelium

Fresh isolates of neonatal human corneal endothelial cells were maintained in tissue culture using a technique employing collagen-coated, dextran-based microcarrier beads. This method provides large yields of endothelial cells suitable for biochemical and/or transplant studies without exposing the cells to enzymatic passage. Our results suggest that microcarrier culture of human corneal endothelial cells can provide a useful in vitro system for the growth and maintenance of actively mitotic cells.
Efficient dynamic simulation of a single closed chain manipulator

An efficient serial algorithm for the dynamic simulation of a single closed chain is developed. The algorithm is valid for a manipulator with any number of degrees of freedom, N, and it is still applicable when the manipulator is in a singular position. A moving base may also be incorporated into the system. Arbitrary joints are allowed, including multiple-degree-of-freedom joints, and a general contact model is used. The operational space inertia matrix of the chain is used to solve for the unknown contact force vector at the tip, which is then used in the solution for the closed chain joint accelerations. The final solution requires only an additional n/sub c/*n/sub c/ matrix inverse for the closed chain part, where n/sub c/ is the number of degrees of constraint at the manipulator tip. The computational complexity of the algorithm is (ON/sup 3/). The reduction of the order of computation complexity of O(N) is briefly discussed. >
Schism within the Curia: The Twin Papal Elections of 1378

The Great Western Schism divided Latin Christendom along national lines, but it began in 1378 not as a conflict between two national factions of cardinals in the conclave, but in two successive elections by the same college of cardinals, none dissenting. Each of the two new popes had the same usual claim to canonical legitimacy, but since each election was flawed in its circumstances and procedure, each pope could and did condemn and excommunicate his rival. Investigating the activities of the two leading bureaucrats of the Roman Curia, the archbishops who headed its two most powerful ministries, the Chancery and Camera, this paper explores an alternative interpretation of the two elections. According to this narrative, there were two extraordinary interventions in the succession to Pope Gregory xi: the disorderly papal election of 9 April 1378 was captured by one papal minister, the deputy director of the papal Chancery, Bartolomeo Prignano, archbishop of Bari; the second election, of 20 September, which began the Great Western Schism, was a counter-coup managed by the minister in charge of the Camera Apostolica, the chamberlain Pierre de Cros, archbishop of Arles.
Television news and status conferral

What happens to the image of a person or thing when he or she or it is presented on television? The following article reports an experimental study on this topic by James B. Lemert, associate professor and director of the Division of Communication Research in the School of Journalism at the University of Oregon, and Karl J. Nestvold, assistant professor and head of the broadcast journalism sequence in the same institution.
Crosscorrelogram migration of inverse vertical seismic profile data

We present the theory of crosscorrelogram migration of ghost reflections, also known as interferometric imaging, to delineate reflector geometries from inverse vertical seismic profile data. The theory includes the equations for forward modeling, migration, asymptotic inversion, and model resolution of crosscorrelgrams. Rather than using primary reflections, crosscorrelogram migration can use ghost reflections to reconstruct the reflector geometry. Other multiples can be used as well, including pegleg multiples and higher-order multiples. Its main advantages over conventional Kirchhoff migration are (1) both source location (e.g., drill-bit position) and source wavelet need not be known (such as when using a drill bit as a source in a deviated well), (2) it is insensitive to source-related static errors, and (3) it has wider subsurface illumination than conventional Kirchhoff migration of primary reflections. Crosscorrelation migration can effectively widen the source-receiver aperture by more than 50% co...
Variability of Graupel and Snow Observed in Tropical Oceanic Convection by Aircraft during TRMM KWAJEX

Abstract Empirical characterization of graupel and snow in precipitating tropical convective clouds is important for refining satellite precipitation retrieval algorithms and cloud-resolving and radiative transfer models. Microphysics data for this analysis were collected by the University of North Dakota (UND) Citation and the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) DC-8 aircraft during the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Kwajalein Experiment (KWAJEX) in the western tropical Pacific Ocean. An ice particle identification algorithm was applied to two-dimensional optical array probe data for the purpose of identifying ice particle ensembles dominated by graupel or snow particles. These ensembles were accumulated along 1-km flight segments at temperatures below 0°C. A third category, mixed graupel/snow, has characteristics between those of the predominately graupel and snow ensembles and can be used either in combination with the other two categories or separately. Snow particle ensembles com...
THE BIOLOGIES OF PSEUDOHYLESINUS TSUGAE AND P . GRANDIS (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE) IN WESTERN HEMLOCK

The life histories of Pseudohylesinus tsugae Swaine and P . grandis Swaine were investigated in young coastal stands of western hemlock. Both P . tsugae and P . grandis had one generation a year with two broods and four larval instars. P . grandis usually overwintered as a teneral adult and P . tsugae as a fourth instar larva. Within thinned stands P . tsugae preferred fresh stumps for breeding material, whereas P . grandis preferred fresh slash. The adult females of both species fed in the inner-bark region of standing, live host trees before initiating egg galleries in slash or stumps.
Hospitalization burden and survival among older glioblastoma patients

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor and is associated with a dismal prognosis, especially among the elderly. The median age at diagnosis is ∼65 years,1 and while patients may be told that the median survival for GBM is ∼15 months, this figure comes from a randomized trial of selected patients with good performance status and a median age of 56 years, and excluded patients over age 70.2 In contrast, population-based data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries in the United States show that median survival time for GBM patients 65 years and older is only 4–5 months from diagnosis,3,4 with only 20% of elderly patients surviving 1 year. Standard treatment for GBM includes maximal safe resection followed by 6 weeks of adjuvant radiotherapy and, since 2005, concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide,2 but these treatments are not always recommended for or administered to elderly patients,5–10 variously defined as age ≥60, ≥65, or ≥70, in the context of shorter survival and potential for toxicity. Disease- and treatment-related morbidity may be especially pronounced among the elderly due to comorbidities and/or reduced physiologic reserve and can result in inpatient hospitalization during the course of the disease. Hospitalization is associated with reduced quality of life among patients with advanced or incurable cancer,11 who generally prefer to be at home as much as possible.12 In one study of high-grade glioma patients whose preferences were elicited by physicians, <10% of patients were in favor of hospital admission near the end of life.13 In the setting of such short survival for elderly GBM patients, we sought to better understand the burden of hospitalization in this patient population, by focusing on the percentage of overall survival time patients spend hospitalized between diagnosis and death. One Canadian study from 200114 reported this endpoint among patients of all ages but did not explore associated factors. While patients may be more accepting of hospitalizations during the treatment of a curative disease, the majority of patients with advanced cancer indicate that inpatient admission is particularly burdensome.11 Thus we investigated both the aggregate and the proportion of time elderly GBM patients spent in the hospital, as an important dimension of quality of life at the end of life. This patient-centered information could allow improved physician counseling and patient decision making, with eventual goals of reducing unnecessary admissions and improving resource allocation. We hypothesized that many elderly patients spend a high proportion of their remaining lives hospitalized after being diagnosed as having GBM.
IDENTIFYING ACTIONABLE INFORMATION: PREVENTABLE 30-DAY NEUROSURGICAL READMISSIONS.

Background Hospital readmissions within 30 days after discharge are increasingly recognized as markers of inpatient quality of care and significant contributors to rising healthcare expenditures. Identifying potentially preventable readmission causes and developing targeted interventions is a national priority. Objectives To determine rate, reasons, and potential for prevention for 30-day unplanned neurosurgical readmissions at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Methods Over a 6-month period, all patients who had been discharged from YNHH after receiving care from the Department of Neurosurgery and readmitted within 30 days were retrospectively identified. In-depth chart analysis was performed to uncover relevant medical/social history and admission/readmission details. Results During 6 months, 84 (6.6%) of 1,279 patients were readmitted within 30 days. Reasons for readmission were categorized into miscellaneous (34%), non-surgical site infections (15%), postoperative wound complications (14%), intracranial hemorrhage (13%), neurological deficits: brain (10%), CSF device malfunction (8%), neurological deficits: spine (4%), and ischemic CNS events (2%). Most complications were moderate (54%) or mild (31%). Overall, 17% of readmissions were determined to be likely preventable, 10% – potentially preventable, 73% – not preventable. Notably, 42% of postoperative wound complications and 32% of brain-related neurological deficits could have been prevented. 49% of readmissions were related to initial hospitalization and 12% resulted from inappropriate post-discharge care; 34% and 88% of those, respectively, were preventable. Conclusions Overall, 27% of 30-day neurosurgical readmissions were determined to be potentially preventable. Underlying reasons were identified and will be used to design targeted interventions. Preventing postoperative wound complications and providing appropriate discharge arrangements/instructions are the most promising areas of improvement.
Identifying and Addressing the Hidden Reasons Why Patients Refuse Discharge From the Hospital.

Background Consultation-liaison psychiatrists are often asked to evaluate patients who refuse discharge from a medical facility. Literature to guide clinicians on the management of these patients is very limited. Objective This article seeks to explain this phenomenon through a case series, provide a differential diagnosis of patients who request to stay in the hospital, as well as provide clinicians with direction in the management of these difficult situations. Methods We discuss a case series of 3 patients treated at a large academic medical center, who refused discharge, discuss potential differential diagnoses, and provide management recommendations to guide clinicians. Discussion Providing care for a patient who refuses discharge can present several dilemmas for the treatment provider. Additionally, patients who refuse discharge may face emotional, physical, and financial costs secondary to continued unnecessary medical hospitalization. A variety of psychiatric conditions may contribute to a patient׳s desire to stay in the hospital. Conclusions Patients who refuse medical discharge can present unique challenges for hospital-based medical providers as well as consultation psychiatrists who care for these patients. Careful consideration of diagnostic etiologies as well as coordination of care across the treatment team may be required to manage these unique and challenging cases.
Simulated Y-Site Compatibility of Vancomycin and Piperacillin-Tazobactam:

PurposeTo evaluate the physical compatibility of vancomycin with piperacillin-tazobactam during simulated Y-site administration.MethodsVancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam were tested using 2 dif...
Tetrathiomolybdate inhibits critical pathways for invasion and metastasis of bladder cancer cells

3528 Bladder cancer progression follows a natural history of recurrent superficial tumors to invasive tumors that metastasize to distant sites, including the bone. Molecular and genetic signatures of bladder cancers destined for progression no doubt lead to activation of various signaling pathways and growth factor expression that induce and maintain the invasive phenotype. Rationally designed therapeutics that are low in toxicity, yet are effective in blocking these signaling cascades are needed. To address this need, we have investigated the effects of tetrathiomolybdate (TM), which is both a copper chelator and known NF-κB inhibitor, on upstream signaling molecules. Using T24 bladder cancer cells as a model, TM was effective in a dose-dependent manner in blocking EGF-stimulated Akt, ERK, and p38 MAPK phosphorylation, while it had little effect on HGF-induced signaling. In addition, TM suppressed expression of growth factors important in growth, tumor angiogenesis, motility, and metastases to bone, including VEGF, GM-CSF, TGF-β, PDGF-AA and PDGF-BB. These in vitro results suggest that TM may represent a new class of therapeutic with low toxicity and high effectiveness in controlling both superficial bladder tumors as well as later stage disease that can now be tested in an orthotopic bladder tumor model.
Blunt abdominal trauma with handlebar injury: A rare cause of traumatic amputation of the appendix associated with acute appendicitis

Abstract We describe traumatic appendicitis in a 7-year-old boy who presented after sustaining blunt abdominal trauma to his right lower abdomen secondary to bicycle handlebar injury. With diffuse abdominal pain following injury, he was admitted for observation. Computed axial tomography (CT) obtained at an outside hospital demonstrated moderate stranding of the abdomen in the right lower quadrant. The CT was non-contrasted and therefore significant appendiceal distention could not be confirmed. However, there was a calcified structure in the right pelvis with trace amount of free fluid. Patient was observed with conservative management and over the course of 15 h his abdominal pain continued to intensify. With his worsening symptoms, we elected to take him for diagnostic laparoscopy. In the operating room we found an inflamed traumatically amputated appendix with the mesoappendix intact. We therefore proceeded with laparoscopic appendectomy. Pathology demonstrated acute appendicitis with fecalith. It was unclear as to whether the patient's appendicitis and perforation were secondary to fecalith obstruction, his blunt abdominal trauma or if they concurrently caused his appendicitis. Acute appendicitis is a common acute surgical condition in the pediatric population and continues to be a rare and unique cause of operative intervention in the trauma population.