cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypercholesterolemia and microvascular dysfunction: interventional strategies

Hypercholesterolemia is defined as excessively high plasma cholesterol levels, and is a strong risk factor for many negative cardiovascular events. Total cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dl have repeatedly been correlated as an independent risk factor for development of peripheral vascular (PVD) and coronary artery disease (CAD), and considerable attention has been directed toward evaluating mechanisms by which hypercholesterolemia may impact vascular outcomes; these include both results of direct cholesterol lowering therapies and alternative interventions for improving vascular function. With specific relevance to the microcirculation, it has been clearly demonstrated that evolution of hypercholesterolemia is associated with endothelial cell dysfunction, a near-complete abrogation in vascular nitric oxide bioavailability, elevated oxidant stress, and the creation of a strongly pro-inflammatory condition; symptoms which can culminate in profound impairments/alterations to vascular reactivity. Effective interventional treatments can be challenging as certain genetic risk factors simply cannot be ignored. However, some hypercholesterolemia treatment options that have become widely used, including pharmaceutical therapies which can decrease circulating cholesterol by preventing either its formation in the liver or its absorption in the intestine, also have pleiotropic effects with can directly improve peripheral vascular outcomes. While physical activity is known to decrease PVD/CAD risk factors, including obesity, psychological stress, impaired glycemic control, and hypertension, this will also increase circulating levels of high density lipoprotein and improving both cardiac and vascular function. This review will provide an overview of the mechanistic consequences of the predominant pharmaceutical interventions and chronic exercise to treat hypercholesterolemia through their impacts on chronic sub-acute inflammation, oxidative stress, and microvascular structure/function relationships.
Dual-use technologies for electronic music controllers: a personal perspective

Several well-known alternative musical controllers were inspired by sensor systems developed in other fields, often coming to their musical application via surprising routes. Correspondingly, work on electronic music controllers has relevance to other applications and broader research themes. In this article, I give a tour though several controller systems that I have been involved with over the past decade and outline their connections with other areas of inquiry.
Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of a gold carbenoid complex that lacks heteroatom stabilization.

Hydride abstraction from the neutral gold cycloheptatrienyl complex [(P)Au(η1-C7H7)] (P=P(tBu)2(o-biphenyl)) with triphenylcarbenium tetrafluoroborate at −80 °C led to the isolation of the cationic gold cycloheptatrienylidene complex [(P)Au(η1-C7H6)]+ BF4− in 52 % yield, which was characterized in solution and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This cycloheptatrienylidene complex represents the first example of a gold carbenoid complex that lacks conjugated heteroatom stabilization of the electron-deficient C1 carbon atom. The cycloheptatrienylidene ligand of this complex is reactive; it can be reduced by mild hydride donors, and converted to tropone in the presence of pyridine N-oxide.
rRNA Stability in Heat-Killed and UV-Irradiated Enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7†

Differentiation of viable cells from nonviable cells is of considerable importance in the development of methods to detect foodborne pathogens. To study the suitability of 16S rRNA as an indicator of cell viability in nucleic acid-based detection assays, we examined rRNA stability in two representative foodborne pathogens, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus, which were inactivated by extreme heat, moderate heat, and UV irradiation. Cell death under all conditions was confirmed by a failure to grow in brain heart infusion broth after incubation for 48 h at 37°C. rRNA stability was monitored by a Northern blot analysis, and detection was evaluated by using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR performed with two primer sets (which produced 325- and 1,400-bp amplicons). rRNA of neither pathogen was detected by Northern blot analysis and RT-PCR after cells were killed by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 min. In contrast, intact rRNA of both pathogens were detected by Northern blotting and could be amplified by RT-PCR up to 48 h after cells were killed by heat treatment at 80°C and UV irradiation at 254 nm. rRNA was a suitable target molecule for monitoring bacterial viability under extreme heat conditions, but the presence of rRNA was not correlated with viability following moderate heat inactivation or UV irradiation of cells.
Channel water balance and exchange with subsurface flow along a mountain headwater stream in Montana, United States

[1] Channel water balances of contiguous reaches along streams represent a poorly understood scale of stream-subsurface interaction. We measured reach water balances along a headwater stream in Montana, United States, during summer base flow recessions. Reach water balances were estimated from series of tracer tests in 13 consecutive reaches delineated evenly along a 2.6 km valley segment. For each reach, we estimated net change in discharge, gross hydrologic loss, and gross hydrologic gain from tracer dilution and mass recovery. Four series of tracer tests were performed during relatively high, intermediate, and low base flow conditions. The relative distribution of channel water along the stream was strongly related to a transition in valley structure, with a general increase in gross losses through the recession. During tracer tests at intermediate and low flows, there were frequent substantial losses of tracer mass (>10%) that could not be explained by net loss in flow over the reach, indicating that many of the study reaches were concurrently losing and gaining water. For example, one reach with little net change in discharge exchanged nearly 20% of upstream flow with gains and losses along the reach. These substantial bidirectional exchanges suggest that some channel interactions with subsurface flow paths were not measurable by net change in flow or transient storage of recovered tracer. Understanding bidirectional channel water balances in stream reaches along valleys is critical to an accurate assessment of stream solute fate and transport and to a full assessment of exchanges between the stream channel and surrounding subsurface.
Learning Disabilities Existing Concomitantly with Communication Disorder

This article describes the characteristics of language disorders that occur with learning disabilities. In this context, formal and naturalistic language, including specific standardized test batteries and curriculum-based language assessment, portfolio assessment, and others, are discussed. In addition, service delivery models and interventions that focus on the enhancement of semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic development are presented. Finally, future directions for research in the area of learning disabilities and secondary language disorders are suggested. Intervention strategies, including supportive scaffolding, whole language, and collaborative consultation, are reviewed; and implications for language assessment, intervention, and future research are discussed.
Agency, Practical Politics and the Archaeology of Culture Contact

I use this paper to intersect the trajectory of the agency concept in archaeology. On a theoretical front, I summarize briefly the state of ‘agency’ in archaeology and its deployment in theories of...
Forward Targeting of Toxoplasma gondii Proproteins to the Micronemes Involves Conserved Aliphatic Amino Acids

Like other apicomplexan parasites, Toxoplasma gondii actively invades host cells using a combination of secretory proteins and an acto-myosin motor system. Micronemes are the first set of proteins secreted during invasion that play an essential role in host cell entry. Many microneme proteins (MICs) function in protein complexes, and each complex contains at least one protein that displays a cleavable propeptide. Although MIC propeptides have been implicated in forward targeting to micronemes, the specific amino acids involved have not been identified. It was also not known if the propeptide has a general function in MICs trafficking in T. gondii and other apicomplexans. Here we show that propeptide domains are extensively interchangeable between T. gondii MICs and also with that of Eimeria tenella MIC5 (EtMIC5), suggesting a common mechanism of function. We also performed N-terminal deletion and mutational analysis of M2AP and MIC5 propeptides to show that a valine at position +3 (relative to signal peptidase cleavage) of proM2AP and a leucine at position +1 of proMIC5 are crucial for targeting to micronemes. Valine and leucine are closely related amino acids with similar side chains, implying a similar mode of function, a notion that was confirmed by correct trafficking of TgM2AP-V/L and TgMIC5-L/V substitution mutants. Propeptides of AMA1, MIC3 and EtMIC5 have valine or leucine at or near the N-termini and mutagenesis of these conserved residues validated their role in microneme trafficking. Collectively, our findings suggest that discrete, aliphatic residues at the extreme N-termini of proMICs facilitate trafficking to the micronemes.
The Cell-Free Synthesis of the Alpha Subunit of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

ABSTRACT. The synthesis of the alpha subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was demonstrated in a cell-free system composed of polysomes derived from first trimester placenta and cell sap prepared from ascites tumor cells. The in vitro synthesized proteins labeled with [35S]methionine were shown to have at least 4 tryptic peptides that co-migrated with the same peptidesfrom authentic hCG. Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the synthesis of a discrete protein, migrating with an apparent molecular weight of about 17,000, which contained methionine- labeled tryptic peptides found in the alpha subunit. The level of radioactivity inthese tryptic peptides was five times greater with polysomes from first trimester placentae thanwith those from term placentae. The efficiency of total protein synthesis in both cases was about the same. These data strongly suggest that the decrease in blood levels of hCG after the first trimester is caused by a selective decrease in the rate of...
The calibration and use of pressure transducers in tensiometer systems

The uncertainty in a transducer/tensiometer system was assessed with temperature and pressure calibrations. A reference transducer/tensiometer pair was used to factor out temperature related deviations from two monitoring pairs. The reference pair removed most of the deviations, resulting in a high estimate of precision. In contrast to earlier reports of high accuracy, these estimates of accuracy were considerably reduced by a time correlated residual pattern. The calibrations suggested that the electronic components may be responsible for these residual errors and illustrated the need for experimentation which isolates the error among groups of components. The complexity of transducer/tensiometer networks, and the differing response of each component to thermal loading, demonstrated the necessity of using a reference system, which when properly designed can yield reliable pressure readings for soil water.
Fast performance analysis of bus-based system-on-chip communication architectures

This paper addresses the problem of efficient and accurate performance analysis to drive the exploration and design of bus-based System-on-Chip (SOC) communication architectures. Our technique fills a gap in existing techniques for system-level performance analysis, which are either too slow to use in an iterative communication architecture design framework (e.g., simulation of the complete system), or are not accurate enough to drive the design of the communication architecture (e.g., techniques that perform a “static” analysis of the system performance). The proposed system-level performance analysis technique consists of (i) initial co-simulation performed after IIW/SW partitioning and mapping, with the communication between components modeled in an abstract manner (e.g., as events or data transfers), (ii) extraction of abstracted symbolic traces, represented as a Bus and Synchronization Event (BSE) Graph, that captures the activity of the various system components and their communication over time, and (iii) manipulation of the BSE Graph using the bus parameters, to derive the behavior of the system accounting for effects of the bus architecture. We present experimental results on several example systems, including a TCP/IP network interface card sub-system. The results indicate that our performance estimation technique is over two orders of magnitude faster than performing a complete system simulation, while being very accurate (within 2.2% of performance estimates derived from accurate HW/SW co-simulation).
Numerical Modeling of Ice Deposition

Abstract A method of computing the rate of growth of ice crystals by deposition is described. Predictions of growth characteristics over the temperature range of −1 through −35C are shown and compared with meager experimental data available within this temperature range. The growth rate equations are based on Fick's law of diffusion. In applying this law to nonspherical ice crystals, the analogy between an electrostatic potential field surrounding a charged body and the vapor-density field surrounding a similarly shaped ice crystal is utilized. Allowances are made for effects of forced convection caused by the movement of the crystal through the air and the change in shape and bulk density of the ice crystal; these effects are predicted to be of significant importance. A simple, empirical equation using two temperature-dependent parameters was found to describe the crystal growth rate as a, function of mass. For many cases where only the rate of mass conversion from vapor to solid is required, the simple ...
Binary Frequency among the O-type Stars

A great deal of work has been done on the theory of mass loss and evolution in close binaries, and numerous individual systems have been discussed in this connection, but the general question of the binary frequency of O-stars, and in particular, the initial binary mass ratio frequency or distribution of secondary masses, has not been completely answered. In general, we know that about half of all O-type stars are binaries; the most recent determination by Conti, Leep and Lorre (1977) found 58% of their sample to be certain or probable binaries. However, many of these stars were judged to be variable on the basis of only a few spectra from different sources, and therefore require further study. Another point to be examined concerns the binaries with available orbits: two thirds of these are double line systems. Figure 1 shows a plot of the semi-amplitude versus orbital period for all known systems, along with some theoretical curves for different mass ratios. Not only is the lack of single line systems obvious, but low amplitude systems are almost completely missing. This would appear to be only an observational selection effect, although it is to be noted that low amplitude double line Wolf-Rayet systems have been detected. If the effect is real, it implies that O-type binaries with mass ratios (ml/m2) greater than about three do not exist.
Heat shock proteins: facts, thoughts, and dreams.

ABSTRACTThe most primitive mechanism of cellular protection involves the expression of a polypeptide family named heat shock or stress proteins (hsps). Some of these hsps are present in unstressed cells and play an important role in the folding and translocation of polypeptides across membranes. Thu
Transcriptional Profile of the Escherichia coli Response to the Antimicrobial Insect Peptide Cecropin A

Cationic antimicrobial peptides are believed to exert their primary activities on anionic bacterial cell membranes; however, this model does not adequately account for several important structure-activity relationships. These relationships are likely to be influenced by the bacterial response to peptide challenge. In order to characterize the genomic aspect of this response, transcription profiles were examined for Escherichia coli isolates treated with sublethal and lethal concentrations of the cationic antimicrobial peptide cecropin A. Transcript levels for 26 genes changed significantly following treatment with sublethal peptide concentrations, and half of the transcripts corresponded to protein products with unknown function. The pattern of response is distinct from that following treatment with lethal concentrations and is also distinct from the bacterial response to nutritional, thermal, osmotic, or oxidative stress. These results demonstrate that cecropin A induces a genomic response in E. coli apart from any lethal effects on the membrane and suggest that a complete understanding of its mechanism of action may require a detailed examination of this response.
Defining a Successional Metric for Lichen Communities in the Arctic Tundra

Abstract We provide an index of successional status for arctic macrolichen communities based on a synthesis of literature reports. We amassed research from the past 50 years that studied lichen communities following disturbance, such as fire or grazing. Species scores were derived from these reports depending on when a particular macrolichen species appeared following disturbance. Weighted averaging of these data with a community matrix can create a successional score for each sample unit of interest. These scores can be used as a surrogate for community age estimates that are otherwise difficult to obtain from tundra environments above treeline. We test this approach using an example data set of macrolichen communities collected from the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Alaska. We found that our successional scores represented roughly 17 and 19% of the community variation, depending on whether the community data set was binary or quantitative. Abundance data tended to yield successional scores that ...
The Effective Medium Approach to the Energetics of Metallic Compounds

In this paper we discuss the use of the effective medium approach, an embedded atom method (EAM), to study the cohesion in, and structures of, intermetallic compounds. We show that the method includes important contributions to the cohesion of many such compounds, resulting from the proximity of different types of atoms, that are neglected in simple pair potentials. We also show that important contributions exist of the form calculated from pseudopotential pair potentials. We argue that these contributions are neglected in currently existing EAM schemes, but could be included in an improved effective medium model.
Impact of Disinfecting Nesting Boards on Chalkbrood Control in the Alfalfa Leafcutting Bee

The alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata (F.), is a solitary, cavity-nesting bee that has been managed in large numbers to pollinate alfalfa, Medicago spp., seed crops since the 1960s. Propagation of these bees from 1 yr to the next has been seriously hampered by chalkbrood, a larval disease caused by the fungus Ascosphaera aggregata Skou. In the United States, attempts to control the disease have been fairly unsuccessful, but include removing nests from the nesting boards and then disinfecting the boards with heat treatments or a fumigant. The problem is that many boards are made of polystyrene (so heat cannot be used), and very few fumigants are registered for this use. In this study, ozone was tested as a fumigant and compared with heat treatments and methyl bromide fumigation. Ozone was found to be inadequate for killing A. aggregata spores and for reducing chalkbrood levels in the field. Methyl bromide and heat treatments did greatly reduce spore viability in the boards, but did not reduce chalkbrood levels in the field. Surprisingly, larvae in new nesting boards (boards free of contamination) and chalkbrood infection levels were similar to those from nests in contaminated, used boards. Disinfecting nesting boards may be necessary for controlling chalkbrood, but the results reported here indicate that it is not sufficient in and of itself. Some other source of spores was present in the field that was greater than the effect of contamination from the boards, but the source still needs to be determined.
Hydrogen Abstraction Probability in Reactions of Gas-Phase NO3 with an OH-Functionalized Organic Surface

Interfacial collisions between gas-phase nitrate radicals and a model organic surface have been investigated to determine the initial reaction probability. Model surfaces were created by the spontaneous adsorption of HO-terminated alkanethiols (HS(CH2)15CH2OH) at a polycrystalline gold substrate. The experimental approach employed in situ reflection–absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) to monitor bond rupture and formation, while a well-characterized effusive flux of NO3 impinges on the organic surface. The surface reaction kinetics derived from RAIRS measurements revealed that the consumption of the terminal hydroxyl groups was strongly correlated to the formation of a surface-bound nitrate species. The reaction rate and RAIR spectral assignments suggest that the reaction between NO3 and the HO-SAM is initiated by hydrogen abstraction at the terminal −CH2OH groups. The initial reaction probability for hydrogen abstraction at the terminal groups was determined to be (6 ± 1) × 10–3. This rate is approx...
State and trait correlates of sleep stages.

The stages of sleep, as defined by EEG criteria, have bccorne the standard descriptors of the sleep process. They have been shown ro be related to aspects of the sleep process such as the presence of dreams, sleep onset, and depth of sleep. Further, they have been found responsive to such variables as age, prior wakefulness, sleep length, and variations in sleep onset time. However, only limited explorations have been made of the relationship of the wide range of individual differences in sleep stages to personal characteristics. That is the concern of this paper. Thirty-six University of Florida undergraduates, aged 18 to 22 yr., spent one night in the sleep laboratory. They were given no prior instructions regarding their conduct during the previous day. Before the appointed experimental night, Ss completed five questionnaires related to personality trait variables including the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (2), the Wiggins Social Introversion Scale (6), the Zuckerman Sensation-seeking Scale (7), the Spielberger Trait Anxiety Scale (5), and the depression scale of the MMPI. Ss reported to the laboratory in groups of four (four males or four females in each group) at 10 p.m. They completed two state-variable scales: the Nowlis Mood Scale (3) as it applied to their day in general and the Spielberger State-Anxiety Scale. Electrode placements were made to record two channels of EEG and one channel of EOG. After Ss got into bed, they were given the Nowlis Mood Scale again, as it applied to that moment. Ss were then allowed 8 hr. of sleep.
Comparison of time required for traditional versus virtual orthognathic surgery treatment planning

Virtual surgical planning (VSP) is a tool for predicting complex surgical movements in three dimensions and it may reduce preoperative laboratory time. A prospective study to compare the time required for standard preoperative planning versus VSP was conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital from January 2014 through January 2015. Workflow data for bimaxillary cases planned by both standard techniques and VSP were recorded in real time. Time spent was divided into three parts: (1) obtaining impressions, face-bow mounting, and model preparation; (2) occlusal analysis and modification, model surgery, and splint fabrication; (3) online VSP session. Average times were compared between standard treatment planning (sum of parts 1 and 2) and VSP (sum of parts 1 and 3). Of 41 bimaxillary cases included, 20 were simple (symmetric) and 21 were complex (asymmetry and segmental osteotomies). Average times for parts 1, 2, and 3 were 4.43, 3.01, and 0.67h, respectively. The average time required for standard treatment planning was 7.45h and for VSP was 5.10h, a 31% time reduction (P<0.001). By eliminating all or some components of part 1, time savings may increase to as much as 91%. This study indicates that in an academic setting, VSP reduces the time required for treatment planning of bimaxillary orthognathic surgery cases.
A self-diagnostic adhesive for monitoring bonded joints in aerospace structures

Bondline integrity is still one of the most critical concerns in the design of aircraft structures up to date. Due to the lack of confidence on the integrity of the bondline both during fabrication and service, the industry standards and regulations still require assembling the composite using conventional fasteners. Furthermore, current state-of-the-art non-destructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques are incapable of offering mature solutions on the issue of bondline integrity monitoring. Therefore, the objective of this work is the development of an intelligent adhesive film with integrated micro-sensors for monitoring the integrity of the bondline interface. The proposed method makes use of an electromechanical-impedance (EMI) based method, which is a rapidly evolving approach within the SHM family. Furthermore, an innovative screen-printing technique to fabricate piezoelectric ceramic sensors with minimal thickness has been developed at Stanford. The approach presented in this study is based on the use of (i) micro screen-printed piezoelectric sensors integrated into adhesive leaving a minimal footprint on the material, (ii) numerical and analytical modeling of the EMI spectrum of the adhesive bondline, (iii) novel diagnostic algorithms for monitoring the bondline integrity based on advanced signal processing techniques, and (iv) the experimental assessment via prototype adhesively bonded structures in static (varying loads) and dynamic (fatigue) environments. The proposed method will provide a huge confidence on the use of bonded joints for aerospace structures and lead to a paradigm change in their design by enabling enormous weight savings while maximizing the economic and performance efficiency.
Serotonergic Modulation of a Voltage-Gated Calcium Current in Parapodial Swim Muscle From Aplysia brasiliana

Laurienti, P. J. and J. E. Blankenship. Serotonergic modulation of a voltage-gated calcium current in parapodial swim muscle from Aplysia brasiliana. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 1496–1502, 1997. Here we d...
The construction of an ideological curriculum: The study of Emunah in the Har Hamor Yeshiva

AbstractBeginning in 1997, the Har Hamor Yeshiva, a leading Jerusalem-based institute for Torah learning, has become the center of a unique stream of thought in religious Zionist philosophy. This article examines how religious Zionist yeshivas have developed an educational curriculum that translates theological beliefs and values into political action. The article seeks to evaluate to what extent this ideology and curriculum will be able to survive in a political reality in which the rift between religious and secular Zionism is constantly increasing.
The Team Concept

The delivery of outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy is a team effort that, at minimum, requires a physician, a nurse, and a pharmacist. Other specialists may be added as needed. The team may be structured in several different ways, but two basic models emerge: physician-directed and nonphysician-directed. Whatever the structure, the physician should maintain a leadership role in the care of the patient.
Control Creates Comfort: The Importance of Proactive Response to Privacy Concerns

Recent marketing essays emphasize the need for the marketing discipline to encompass more than merely solving immediate problems with a narrow focus on consumers and mandate a broadening of the field to include value creation for all citizen-consumers. We provide a mixed methods approach and contribute to the privacy theory literature by examining important attitudinal components, within a broader citizen-consumer ‘marketing as society’ context. Study 1 qualitatively analyzes a total of 332 citizen comments collected during a 2 month period from a forum. Study 2 provides a quantitative structural equation model, utilizing a 291 non-student US-based sample. Our findings show that an individual’s ability to have control over private information is an imperative consideration from which to devise an adequate marketing message; in turn, the societally-relevant policy will be well received by the citizen-consumer.
Heme oxygenase-1-dependent central cardiorespiratory adaptations to chronic intermittent hypoxia in mice

Oxygen sensitivity of central cardiorespiratory regions including the pre-Botzinger complex and C1 region are heme oxygenase (HO) dependent and may be altered by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH)....
Depletion of the Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Gene Product, SBDS, Leads to Growth Inhibition and Increased Expression of OPG and VEGFA.

Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by bone marrow failure and leukemia predisposition, pancreatic exocrine dysfunction, and skeletal abnormalities, manifesting as skeletal dysplasia and osteoporosis. Mutations in SBDS have been shown to cause SDS, but the function of the SBDS gene product is unclear. Accelerated angiogenesis has recently been described in bone marrow cells from SDS patients. To clarify the unknown function of SBDS, we performed experiments analyzing the cellular effects of depleting SBDS by constitutive or inducible RNA interference. The growth of HeLa and NIH3T3 cells constitutively depleted of SBDS was markedly hindered when compared to cells stably transfected with siRNA against an irrelevant control gene. However, the growth abnormality was related to a significantly increased propensity to apoptosis in NIH3T3 more than in HeLa cells. We believe these differences are related to inactivation of p53 in HPV-18 positive HeLa cells, suggesting that depletion of SBDS may partially sensitize cells to p53-mediated apoptosis. As in constitutive knockdown, HeLa cells induced by doxycycline to express siRNA against SBDS exhibited growth inhibition, which was associated with modestly increased levels of apoptosis, suggesting a partial contribution of this process in inducible knockdown cells. By microarray analysis of knockdown cells, we found marked differences in expression of genes in multiple pathways, and we chose to examine a selected subset more closely using quantitative PCR arrays. In constitutive and inducible SBDS-depleted HeLa cell clones, we found 3- to 6-fold elevated mRNA levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG or TNFRSF11B) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). We confirmed significant overexpression of both secreted proteins by ELISA from supernatants of SBDS-depleted HeLa cells. Osteoprotegerin and VEGF-A are known to have diverse effects on osteoclast differentiation, angiogenesis, and monocyte/macrophage migration, all processes that may be aberrant in SDS, and we propose that overexpression of these factors may contribute to its pathology.
( 6 Li, d) on 58 Ni and 64 Ni

The ($^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, $d$) reaction has been performed on $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$ and $^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$ at 38 MeV. For $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$ angular distributions were obtained and compared to distorted-wave Born-approximation calculations. One spectrum was taken for $^{64}\mathrm{Ni}$. A reduction in cross section is observed and is compared with the results of ($^{16}\mathrm{O}$, $^{12}\mathrm{C}$), ($p,t$), and ($^{3}\mathrm{He}$, $n$) experiments.
Uptake and Utilization of Practice Guidelines in Hospitals in the United States: the Case of Routine Episiotomy

Background The gap between publishing and implementing guidelines differs based on practice setting, including hospital geography and teaching status. On March 31, 2006, a Practice Bulletin published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended against the routine use of episiotomy and urged clinicians to make judicious decisions to restrict the use of the procedure. Objective This study investigated changes in trends of episiotomy use before and after the ACOG Practice Guideline was issued in 2006, focusing on differences by hospital geographic location (rural/urban) and teaching status. Methods In a retrospective analysis of discharge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS)—a 20% sample of US hospitals—5,779,781 hospital-based births from 2002 to 2011 (weighted N = 28,067,939) were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression analysis to measure odds of episiotomy and trends in episiotomy use in vaginal deliveries. Results The overall episiotomy rate decreased from 20.3% in 2002 to 9.4% in 2011. Across all settings, a comparatively larger decline in episiotomy rates preceded the issuance of the ACOG Practice Guideline (34.0% decline), rather than following it (23.9% decline). The episiotomy rate discrepancies between rural, urban teaching, and urban nonteaching hospitals remained steady prior to the guideline's release; however, differences between urban nonteaching and urban teaching hospitals narrowed between 2007 and 2011 after the guideline was issued. Conclusion Teaching status was a strong predictor of odds of episiotomy, with urban nonteaching hospitals having the highest rates of noncompliance with evidence-based practice. Issuance of clinical guidelines precipitated a narrowing of this discrepancy.
Shale Full Field Reservoir Modeling

A quick look at the history of reservoir simulation and modeling indicates that developing full field models (where all the wells in the asset are modeled together as one comprehensive entity) is the common practice for almost all prolific assets.
Parabolic Presentations of the Yangian

We introduce some new presentations for the Yangian associated to the Lie algebra Open image in new window These presentations are parametrized by tuples of positive integers summing to n. At one extreme, for the tuple (n), the presentation is the usual RTT presentation of Yn. At the other extreme, for the tuple (1n), the presentation is closely related to Drinfeld’s presentation. In general, the presentations are useful for understanding the structure of the standard parabolic subalgebras of Yn.
Mechanistic Studies of Cobalt-Catalyzed C(sp2)–H Borylation of Five-Membered Heteroarenes with Pinacolborane

Studies into the mechanism of cobalt-catalyzed C(sp2)–H borylation of five-membered heteroarenes with pinacolborane (HBPin) as the boron source established the catalyst resting state as the trans-cobalt(III) dihydride boryl, (iPrPNP)Co(H)2(BPin) (iPrPNP = 2,6-(iPr2PCH2)2(C5H3N)), at both low and high substrate conversions. The overall first-order rate law and observation of a normal deuterium kinetic isotope effect on the borylation of benzofuran versus benzofuran-2-d1 support H2 reductive elimination from the cobalt(III) dihydride boryl as the turnover-limiting step. These findings stand in contrast to that established previously for the borylation of 2,6-lutidine with the same cobalt precatalyst, where borylation of the 4-position of the pincer occurred faster than the substrate turnover and arene C–H activation by a cobalt(I) boryl is turnover-limiting. Evaluation of the catalytic activity of different cobalt precursors in the C–H borylation of benzofuran with HBPin established that the ligand design p...
Plasma Volume and Renal Function Predict Six-Month Survival after Hospitalization for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

Background Plasma volume (PV) is contracted in stable patients with heart failure (HF) due to decongestion strategies. On the other hand, increased PV can adversely affect the trajectory of HF. We therefore examined the effects of increased percentage change in PV (%ΔPV), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and %ΔPV stratified by BUN and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) on survival after discharge in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated HF (ADHF). Methods We used the Strauss-Davis-Rosenbaum formula to calculate the %ΔPV between baseline and hospital discharge in a cohort from the Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness trial (ESCAPE). Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed for survival over 6 months. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to obtain adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the associations between survival after discharge and %ΔPV, BUN, and %ΔPV stratified by BUN and GFR. Results Of the 324 patients included in our study (age 56.1 ± 13.6 years, 26.5% female), those with increased or no %ΔPV at discharge were less likely to survive at 6 months compared with those having reduced %ΔPV (log rank, p = 0.0093). Increased %ΔPV (HR 1.08 per 10% increase; 95% CI: 1.02-1.14) and increased BUN at discharge (HR 1.02 per mg/dL; 95% CI: 1.01-1.03) were independently associated with worse survival. Decreasing %ΔPV had a greater association with improved survival in patients with discharge BUN 40 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.047). Conclusions Increased %ΔPV and BUN at discharge predicted worse 6-month survival in patients with ADHF. Decreased %ΔPV with low BUN or high GFR at discharge was associated with improved survival.
The games they play: Observations of children with autism spectrum disorder on the school playground:

The playground may be an important context to examine the social functioning of children with autism spectrum disorder. Previous literature on playground peer engagement has used quantitative methods, but there is limited research using qualitative observations to understand the nuances of playground behavior. Using a mixed-methods approach, 55 elementary school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder who are primarily included in general education settings were observed on the school playground using the Playground Observation of Peer Engagement. Quantitative and qualitative data were examined using a mixed-methods approach. The results showed that children with autism spectrum disorder: engage in solitary and peripheral activities; demonstrate appropriate initiations and responses to peers; display self-stimulatory, motoric behaviors most frequently during solitary activities; and often have neutral affect on the playground. These findings suggest that intervention and supports for children with autism spectrum disorder may be important to deliver at recess to address peer engagement.
Intergalactic thermonuclear gamma-ray line

The possibility of thermonculear reactions occurring in dilute space is briefly considered. X-ray emission from clusters of galaxies demonstrates that perhaps as much as 10 to the 14th solar masses of hot gas (T of about 100 million K) may often surround galaxies in clusters with a density of perhaps 0.004/cu cm. If the ion temperature is 100 million K, the thermonuclear reaction p + d to He-3 + gamma ray should emit gamma rays at a rate of roughly 4 x 10 to the 41st/sec with energy 5.516 + or -0.016 MeV. Such a source in teh virgo cluster at 15.7 Mpc would present a line flux of 1 x 10 to the -11th/sq cm/sec.
Identity Documents, Welfare Enhancement, and Group Empowerment in the Global South

Having a birth certificate is a stepping stone to acquiring an array of rights and benefits, including other documents necessary to navigate in and outside of one’s home country. Despite a birth ce...
Lower blastocyst quality after conventional vs. Piezo ICSI in the horse reflects delayed sperm component remodeling and oocyte activation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differential effects of conventional and Piezo-driven ICSI on blastocyst development, and on sperm component remodeling and oocyte activation, in an equine model. In vitro-matured equine oocytes underwent conventional (Conv) or Piezo ICSI, the latter utilizing fluorocarbon ballast. Blastocyst development was compared between treatments to validate the model. Then, oocytes were fixed at 0, 6, or 18 h after injection, and stained for the sperm tail, acrosome, oocyte cortical granules, and chromatin. These parameters were compared between injection techniques and between sham-injected and sperm-injected oocytes among time periods. Blastocyst rates were 39 and 40%. The nucleus number was lower, and the nuclear fragmentation rate was higher, in blastocysts produced by Conv. Cortical granule loss started at 0H after both sperm and sham injection. The acrosome was present at 0H in both ICSI treatments, and persisted to 18H in significantly more Conv than Piezo oocytes (72 vs. 21%). Sperm head area was unchanged at 6H in Conv but significantly increased at this time in Piezo; correspondingly, at 6H significantly more Conv than Piezo oocytes remained at MII (80 vs. 9.5%). Sham injection did not induce significant meiotic resumption. These data show that Piezo ICSI is associated with more rapid sperm component remodeling and oocyte meiotic resumption after sperm injection than is conventional ICSI, and with higher embryo quality at the blastocyst stage. This suggests that there is value in exploring the Piezo technique, utilized with a non-toxic fluorocarbon ballast, for use in clinical human ICSI.
Normal Forms: Near-Identity Transformations

This chapter elaborates normal forms for near-identity transformations. The concept of normal forms does not require the transformations used be near-identity ones; but they are the ones most often used in practice. For getting the normal form, the idea is to find a change of variables, in the form of an infinite series, so that the original system of differential equations goes into a “normal” (or “simple” or “canonical”) form. The normal form is the simplest member of an equivalence class of differential equations, all exhibiting the same qualitative behavior. Normal forms are often useful for stability analyses. The procedure starts with the system x ' = f ( x ) such that (without loss of generality) x = 0 is a critical point. This system is expanded to obtain x ' = Ax + H ( x ), where H ( x ) has strictly nonlinear functions. If the critical point is “hyperbolic” (all eigenvalues have nonzero real parts) then the nonlinear terms can always be removed.
Lubricants and Viscoelastics

Low viscosity lubricants are useful in mildly symptomatic dry eyes; they have a low tendency to blur vision but typically do not last as very long.
Brain Tumor Classification via Statistical Features and Back-Propagation Neural Network

Classification of brain tumor is the heart of the computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system designed to aid the radiologist in the diagnosis of such tumors using Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI). In this paper, we present a framework for classification of brain tumors in MRI images that combines statistical features and neural network algorithms. This algorithm uses region of interest (ROI), i.e. the tumor segment that is identified either manually by the technician/radiologist or by using any of the ROI segmentation techniques. We focus on feature selection by using a combination of the 2D Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and 2D Gabor filter techniques. We create the features set using a complete set of the transform domain statistical features. For classification, back propagation neural network classifier has been selected to test the features selection impact. To do so, we used a large dataset consisting of 3,064 slices of T1-weighted MRI images with three types of brain tumors, Meningioma, Glioma, and Pituitary tumor. We obtained a total accuracy of 91.9%, and specificity of 96%, 96.29%, and 95.66% for Meningioma, Glioma, and Pituitary tumor respectively. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of the features selection method and indicate that it can compose an effective feature set to be used as a framework that can be combined with other classifications technique to enhance the performance.
Diagnostic Test Score Validation With a Fallible Criterion

Criterion-related validation of diagnostic test scores for a construct of interest is complicated by the unavailability of the construct directly. The standard method, Known Group Validation, assum...
The Effectiveness of a Contextualized Developmental Course in Intermediate Algebra for Community College Students

ABSTRACTThis paper compares the effectiveness of contextualized developmental intermediate algebra to the more traditional developmental intermediate algebra approach, for students at two community...
Applied and Translational Research on Trauma-Responsive Programs and Policy: Introduction to a Special Issue of the American Journal of Community Psychology

The special issue highlights work across systems that include child welfare, education, juvenile justice and health, as well as agencies serving adults who are at-risk for high levels of childhood and adult trauma exposure. While articles appearing in the special issue are not divided equally across these systems, they cover important and overlapping concepts within each. Some articles span more than a single system or domain of research, whereas others fit primarily within single area or domain. Articles provide new insights from research on practices, programs, and policies that help to transform systems so they are increasingly more responsive to the needs of vulnerable populations.
2972 Two-Port Laparoscopic Hysterectomy and Cuff Closure without the use of a Multiport Channel

Video Objective To demonstrate a novel technique for a two-port hysterectomy and laparoscopic cuff closure using an operative laparoscope. Setting The previously described port-reducing, single-port or two-port hysterectomy techniques fall into two broad categories. The first employs the use of a multiport channel, which requires a larger fascial defect and is associated with more postoperative pain and higher risks of postoperative hernia formation. The multiport channel is also technically limited by the loss of triangulation and instrument collision. The second technique for port-reducing hysterectomy uses two 5-10 mm ports and requires transvaginal cuff closure. The benefit of smaller incisions and better triangulation comes at the expense of higher rates of cuff dehiscence associated with transvaginal cuff closure. Interventions Two-port laparoscopic hysterectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy, and laparoscopic cuff closure using a 10 mm operative scope plus one additional 5 mm suprapubic port. Conclusion While we acknowledge that vaginal hysterectomy remains the most minimally invasive route of surgery; a two-port hysterectomy would better serve a number of patients with limited vaginal access, or whose indication for surgery is pelvic pain if the initial survey reveals limited pathology. The novel technique we describe combines the benefit of smaller incisions, better triangulation, and laparoscopic cuff closure. To our knowledge, our group is the first to describe that procedure.
Epigenetic Control of Scleroderma: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

Epigenetics has been implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). In this review, the involvement of the three epigenetic mechanisms in SSc development and progression—DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs—will be discussed. Alteration in epigenetics was observed in immune cells, dermal fibroblasts, and endothelial cells derived from SSc patients. Genes that are affected include those involved in immune cell function and differentiation, TGFβ and Wnt pathways, extracellular matrix accumulation, transcription factors, and angiogenesis. All the studies remain in the pre-clinical stage. Extensive research provides evidence that epigenetic alterations are critical for SSc pathogenesis. Future epigenomic studies will undoubtedly continue to broaden our understanding of disease pathogenesis and clinical heterogeneity. They will also provide the scientific basis for repurposing epigenetic-modifying agents for SSc patients.