cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of licorice derivatives on vascular smooth muscle function

Vascular smooth muscle contains a bidirectional form of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD) which can inactivate (dehydrogenase) endogenous circulating glucocorticoids (GCs) or activate (oxo-reductase) 11-dehydro-metabolites by their conversion back to the parent steroid. Enzyme direction in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) has potential physiological consequences since GCs may enhance the response to known vasoconstrictors. We determined that carbenoxolone is a competitive inhibitor of 11β-HSD contained in VSM cells with a lower Ki for forward dehydrogenase reaction (0.02 (μM) compared to the oxo-reductase reaction (0.41 μM). To test whether changes in enzyme directional activity can affect the contractile response, aortae from adrenally intact Sprague Dawley rats were removed and sectioned into 2.5 mm rings. Rings were incubated with corticosterone 10 nM plus carbenoxolone (CBX) 10 μM (a concentration well above the Ki for both the dehydrogenase and oxo-reductase reaction) for 24 hrs. These rings showed an enhanced dose dependent contractile response to phenylephrine (PE) 0.01 μM-1 μM and to angiotensin II 1 μM compared to rings incubated with corticosterone alone, CBX alone, or controls: [e.g. response to PE 1 μM in mg of contractile force, mean ± SE: corticosterone plus CBX 1495 ± 162 (n = 10) vs corticosterone 1039 ± 64 (n = 9), p < 0.05]. Aortic rings preincubated with 11-dehydrocorticosterone 10−7M and CBX 10 μM displayed a decreased contractile response compared to 11-dehydrocorticosterone alone. Thus in situ glucocorticoid metabolism is important in mediating the constrictor responses of vascular tissue.
Cutaneous melanoma: methods of biopsy and definitive surgical excision

The proper method of biopsy and definitive surgical excision of cutaneous melanoma is vital for optimal patient outcome. Clearly, the present authors' understanding of the pathophysiology of cutaneous melanoma continues to change at a rapid pace. Indeed, as the present authors' research efforts begin to expose some of the mysteries of melanoma, so do they begin to better understand the intricacies of this dreaded cancer. This article will highlight methods of biopsy for melanoma and the management of the primary tumor. The present authors review current recommendations for excision margins for the primary tumor, usefulness of lymphoscintigraphy, timing of definitive surgical excision, and issues unique for head and neck melanoma.
Revised Interpretation of Work Potential in Thermophysical Processes

An alternative development is attempted of the concept of exergy or availability by introducing the idea that exergy represents an abstract thermodynamic metric that, essentially, quantie es the distance from the state of equilibrium with respect to a given reference value. Traditional and textbook approaches usually develop exergy asasystem’ spotentialtodoreversiblework.Usually,combiningthebalanceofenergyandentropyequationsmakes it possible to construct a corresponding balance of exergy and to use its dee nition to interpret the resulting terms. In contrast, the essential elements presented deal with the mathematical property of concavity of the entropy as the essence of the second law and how this property translates into a geometric complementarity relation between entropy and exergy. The balance of exergy equation is presented as an expression representing the corresponding convexity of the exergy, again demonstrating a mathematical property intrinsic to the second law. Nomenclature E = total energy density e = total specie c energy g = gravitational acceleration constant H = enthalpy density h = specie c enthalpy I = e ux or current of quantity k = coefe cient of thermal conductivity M = molecular mass m = mass P = thermodynamic pressure = thermal energy transfer rate (heating) R = gas constant S = entropy density s = specie c entropy T = temperature t = time U = internal energy density u = specie c internal energy V = volume = e uid velocity v = specie c volume = mechanical energy transfer rate (working) X = exergy density (also known as availability ) xk = Cartesian coordinates z = elevation level in a gravitational e eld b = thermal expansion coefe cient c = ratio of specie c heats D = total change in quantity d ij = Kronecker delta j = isothermal compressibility k = second coefe cient of viscosity l = e rst coefe cient of viscosity n = generic variable q = mass density s ij = viscous stress tensor u = specie c exergy w = specie c e ow exergy
Lost in America

There are two major illusions about space in the human sciences. The first one is that space is solid and concrete: everything in it is fixed, ready for description, dead, and undialectical. The other illusion, especially prevalent since the rise of historicism in the 19th century, is that space is only transparent and can be dematerialized into a pure ideation, a place of reference for the cycles and crises of history. Contra both those illusions, the postmodern position would be that space is both internal and external, attached to being in the world, what Heidegger calls the "Aroundness of Being in the World" (Heidegger 1962:134-148). It is also part of a structured, multilayered geography of regions nesting around a mobile individual or collective places or topoi constantly sedimented and in flux (Soja 1990:10-42). A middle position would be that, the reassertion of space in critical social theory notwithstanding, social space is not simply produced (Lefebvre 1974) as an endlessly open site of relations between physical forms and social practices tied to those forms, but it is the condition for the economic, social, and cultural pertinence of those sites to the practice of daily life. In other words, the first order of business, for both the historian and the geographer, is to understand how physical space becomes the social space of conflict and consensus, being continuously demarcated and erased, and marked again into domains, throwing into relief the processes of power mediating community and strife (Foucault 1980:77; Soja 1990:21).
Experimental anion affinities for the air/water interface.

Anion affinities, γX−, for the aerial interface of aqueous (Br- + NO3- + I- + SCN- + BF4- + ClO4-) solutions are determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The composition of the ions ejected from the surface of fissioning nanodroplets shows that γX− increase (decrease) exponentially with anionic radii, aX−(dehydration free energies, dGX−), and selectively respond to the presence of surfactants. BF4-, the least hydrated and polarizable anion of the set, has one of the largest γX− values. Non-ionic surfactants decrease γI− and γSCN− but increase γBF4−. Cetyltrimethyl ammonium markedly enhances the γX− of smaller anions. A similar but weaker effect is observed upon lowering the pH of the bulk solutions from 8.2 to 3.0. Dodecyl sulfate has a negligible effect on γX−. Considering that (i) universal many-body electrodynamic interactions will progressively stabilize the interfacial layer as its dielectric permittivity falls relative to that of the bulk solution and (ii) water permittivity is unifo...
The Disabling Nature of Comorbid Depression Among Older DUI Recipients

Alcoholism and depression are two of the most common and disabling mental illnesses in late life. This study is a descriptive report of a sample of 49 adults who had recently been convicted of Driving Under the Influence of alcohol (DUI). A lifetime history of alcohol abuse or dependence was present in 48 subjects (98%), while a depressive disorder occurred in 24 (49%) of the subjects. Concurrent alcoholism and depression, present in 12 subjects (24.5%), produced greater self-reported disability compared to those subjects with alcoholism alone. One-year longitudinal follow-up was available on 31 subjects (63.3%). Over the course of one year, there were no changes in drinking behavior, depressive symptoms, or self-reported quality of life. These data support previous studies that suggest greater disability in patients with concurrent mental illnesses.
Optimization of building material properties for accurate indoor ray tracing models

A 3D ray-tracing program was divided into a geometric engine and an electromagnetic engine so that the electromagnetic engine could be used in an optimization program. The optimization program computed the 92 dielectric permittivity values of a ray tracing building floor plan to minimize the error between ray tracing and measurement peak powers. The results showed that the optimization is well behaved and can reduce the mismatch on a single measurement to about 1 dB or less in most cases. When several measurements are used, it is seen that the overall error between ray tracing predictions and measurements decreases as more measurements are used in the optimization. They also show that the optimized floor plan produces better ray tracing predictions including at the locations not used in the optimization. The proposed optimization program eliminates the tedious task of the manual "tweaking" of building material properties and produces an optimized floor plan that can be used by conventional ray tracing programs. It can be also used to discover weaknesses in ray tracing electromagnetic models.
Anthropologies of ethics Where we've been, where we are, where we might go

Comment on Laidlaw, James. 2014. The subject of virtue: An anthropology of ethics and freedom . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Electrical Switching and Bistability in Organic/Polymeric Thin Films and Memory Devices

Recently, films created by incorporating metallic nanoparticles into organic or polymeric materials have demonstrated electrical bistability, as well as the memory effect, when subjected to an electrical bias. Organic and polymeric digital memory devices based on this bistable electronic behavior have emerged as a viable technology in the field of organic electronics. These devices exhibit fast response speeds and can form multiple-layer stacking structures, demonstrating that organic memory devices possess a high potential to become flexible, ultrafast, and ultrahigh-density memory devices. This behavior is believed to be related to charge storage in the organic or polymer film, where devices are able to exhibit two different states of conductivity often separated by several orders of magnitude. By defining the two states as “1” and “0”, it is now possible to create digital memory devices with this technology. This article reviews electrically bistable devices developed in our laboratory. Our research has stimulated strong interest in this area worldwide. The research by other laboratories is reviewed as well.
Relative Lack of Conditional Survival Improvement in Young Adults With Cancer

Cancer prognosis is usually reported in terms of survival from time of diagnosis. For patients surviving a period of time after diagnosis, conditional survival (CS) accounts for changing risk over time. This report provides information on how CS in cancer patients changes as a function of age at diagnosis. Using data from the US Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database, we examined survival for patients diagnosed between 1973 and 2002. The average annual percent change (AAPC) in CS during the first 5 years after diagnosis was evaluated for the 14 most common cancers occurring in young adults, defined as 15- to 39-year-olds, and how they compared with cancers that are more common in older and younger patients. For all cancers, young adult patients had less CS improvement over time than younger or older patients, and this difference was most pronounced in those aged 20 to 29 years (45% below the mean). Eleven of the 14 most common cancers in 15- to 39-year-olds either had a lower CS improvement after diagnosis than either younger or older patients, or than just the older patients. Young adults with leukemia had the greatest improvement in CS over time. In conclusion, young adults with cancer have not enjoyed the same improvement in CS over time compared with other age groups. Explanations for this deficit include the biologic nature of the type of cancers in young adults and less effective therapies for patients in the age group. Regardless of the reasons, the deficit is yet another challenge faced by young adult patients that merits further study.
Radiation-Induced Ototoxicity

High-dose radiation therapy for the treatment of head-and-neck tumors, including those of the central nervous system or acoustic schwannomas, can damage components of the auditory system. Radiation-induced morbidities to all parts of the auditory system, including external, middle, and inner ear, can occur (e.g. external otitis, cochlear-associated hearing loss), and their incidence/severity is radiation dose-related (both total dose and fraction size). Timing can be variable and be acute, chronic, and delayed. The degree of morbidity varies from mild to severe; some are easily manageable while others are irreversible and require rehabilitation. Chemotherapy can independently cause damage to the cochlea, and be additive to radiation-induced injury; evidence for synergism is lacking. Controversy exists as to whether traditionally fractionated radiation therapy is safer than hypofractionated radiation therapy when used to treat vestibular schwannomas.
From Higher Order Thinking to Higher Order Behavior: Exploring the Relationship Between Early Cognitive Skills and Social Competence in Black Boys

This study examines the relations of higher order (i.e., abstract) thinking (HOT) skills to specific domains of social competence in Black boys (n = 108) attending publicly sponsored prekindergarten (pre-K) programs. Data for the study were collected as part of the National Center for Early Development and Learning (NCEDL) Multi-State Study, a national, longitudinal study examining the quality and outcomes in a representative sample of publicly sponsored pre-K programs in six states (N = 240). Pre-K and kindergarten teachers rated randomly selected children on measures of abstract thinking, self-regulation, and social functioning at the beginning and end of each school year. Applying structural equation modeling, compared with earlier time points, HOT measured in the fall of kindergarten significantly predicted each of the domains of social competence in the spring of kindergarten, with the exception of peer social skills, while controlling for general cognitive ability. Results suggest that early intervention to improve HOT may be an effective and more focused approach to address concerns about Black boys' early social competencies in specific domains and potentially reduce the risk of later social difficulties.
Osteometry and autoradiography of the long bones of sleletons of women exposed to internal radiation at 13–19 years of age

Lengths of long bones of skeletons were examined in 25 women first exposed to large skeletal doses of radiation (alpha particles from radium) at the age of 13--19 years. Mean lengths did not differ significantly between two subgroups based on age at first exposure to radiation (i.e., 13--16 vs. 17--19 years). Autoradiographs of femora of some women who ingested radium at 13-15 years of age showed evidence for bone growth when blood levels of radium were low (i.e., after ingestion of radium). These findings indicate no detectable effect of large skeletal doses of radiation on growth in adolescent and post-adolescent periods.
Language and speech capacity of the right hemisphere

Abstract Right hemisphere language and speech capacity was further analyzed in brain-bisected patients. The results indicate that little or no syntactic capability exists in the right hemisphere. The only semantic dimension that was comprehended in a series of pictorial-verbal matching tests was the affirmative-negative. Moreover, earlier indications of a right hemisphere speech capacity could not be confirmed. Differences in verbal reaction time to visual stimuli projected to right and left hemispheres were alternatively interpreted as consequences of subcortical transfer mechanisms or cross-cuing strategies.
Initiation of Genomic Plus-Strand RNA Synthesis from DNA and RNA Templates by a Viral RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase

In contrast to the synthesis of minus-strand genomic and plus-strand subgenomic RNAs, the requirements for brome mosaic virus (BMV) genomic plus-strand RNA synthesis in vitro have not been previously reported. Therefore, little is known about the biochemical requirements for directing genomic plus-strand synthesis. Using DNA templates to characterize the requirements for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase template recognition, we found that initiation from the 3' end of a template requires one nucleotide 3' of the initiation nucleotide. The addition of a nontemplated nucleotide at the 3' end of minus-strand BMV RNAs led to initiation of genomic plus-strand RNA in vitro. Genomic plus-strand initiation was specific since cucumber mosaic virus minus-strand RNA templates were unable to direct efficient synthesis under the same conditions. In addition, mutational analysis of the minus-strand template revealed that the -1 nontemplated nucleotide, along with the +1 cytidylate and +2 adenylate, is important for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase interaction. Furthermore, genomic plus-strand RNA synthesis is affected by sequences 5' of the initiation site.
Assessment of the applicability of the Hertzian contact theory to edge-loaded prosthetic hip bearings

Abstract The components of prosthetic hip bearings may experience in-vivo subluxation and edge loading on the acetabular socket as a result of joint laxity, causing abnormally high, damaging contact stresses. In this research, edge-loaded contact of prosthetic hips is examined analytically and experimentally in the most commonly used categories of material pairs. In edge-loaded ceramic-on-ceramic hips, the Hertzian contact theory yields accurate (conservatively, 400 N. The Hertzian contact theory is shown to be ill-suited to edge-loaded ceramic-on-polyethylene pairs due to polyethylene's nonlinear material behavior. This work elucidates the methods and the accuracy of applying classical contact theory to edge-loaded hip bearings. The results help to define the applicability of the Hertzian theory to the design of new components and materials to better resist severe edge loading contact stresses.
¿Qué es entonces una isla?: ruinas, islas y escritura en el Caribe de María Zambrano

Muchos de los ensayos de tema isleno que Maria Zambrano escribio durante su exilio en el Caribe aparecen en las paginas de la critica como apendice de los debates del grupo Origenes o como parte de la polemica treintista puertorriquena en torno al insularismo. Este ensayo se aparta de esa tradicion critica con el fin de atender otro aspecto de la hechura de esos ensayos: el vinculo entre islas y ruinas, dos figuras que pueblan la obra zambraniana de esos anos. El eje es el analisis de Isla de Puerto Rico: nostalgia y esperanza de un mundo mejor (1940), un breve texto escrito tras el primer viaje de la autora a Puerto Rico, y de dos ensayos sobre ruinas publicados en Puerto Rico y en Cuba en la decada de 1950. Este ensayo propone que la estructura retorica de los textos sobre islas de principios de la decada de los 40 es muy similar a la que varios anos mas tarde conformaran sus escritos sobre ruinas. ?Que le interesa a Zambrano de las islas como vehiculo retorico, por un lado, y del imaginario literario y...
Raman Shifts in Electron-Irradiated Monolayer MoS2

We report how the presence of electron-beam-induced sulfur vacancies affects first-order Raman modes and correlate the effects with the evolution of the in situ transmission-electron microscopy two-terminal conductivity of monolayer MoS2 under electron irradiation. We observe a red-shift in the E' Raman peak and a less pronounced blue-shift in the A'1 peak with increasing electron dose. Using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and selected-area electron diffraction, we show that irradiation causes partial removal of sulfur and correlate the dependence of the Raman peak shifts with S vacancy density (a few %). This allows us to quantitatively correlate the frequency shifts with vacancy concentration, as rationalized by first-principles density functional theory calculations. In situ device current measurements show an exponential decrease in channel current upon irradiation. Our analysis demonstrates that the observed frequency shifts are intrinsic properties of the defective systems and that Raman spectroscopy can be used as a quantitative diagnostic tool to characterize MoS2-based transport channels.
Electronic Structure of a Nitrogen Vacancy in Cubic Gallium Nitride

A nitrogen vacancy in zinc-blende structure gallium nitride (c-GaN) is investigated by the plane-wave pseudopotential (PWPP) and tight binding-linear combination of muffin tin orbitals (TB-LMTO) methods using 32- and 64- atom supercells. The relaxation of the nearest Ga atom to the vacancy site is found to be inward by 0.069 a.u., with a relaxation energy of 0.04 eV/N-atom vacancy. The shell-projected, total and partial densities of states and the charge density maps are obtained to provide detailed information on energy and spatial localization of the N vacancy states.
Hyphal nigeran as a potential phylogenetic marker for Aspergillus and Penicillium species.

Nigeran, a hot-water-extractable glucan found in the hyphal walls of certain Aspergillus and Penicillium species has been utilized as a biochemical marker to study their phylogenetic relationships....
The Gonotrophic Cycle of Culicoides Variipennis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and its Implications in Age-Grading Field Populations in New York State, USA

Gonotrophic activity in Culicoides variipennis variipennis from New York State was characterized to establish the reliability of gonotrophic age-grading techniques for determining population age structure. In newly emerged nullipars, follicle maturation to the resting stage required 28–44 h at 22 °C and was not affected by sugar availability. Follicle development to stage V post-blood-feeding did not differ significantly in mated and unmated nullipars. Follicle development in pars was slightly delayed relative to nullipars, but all groups matured eggs in 64–76 h. The development of abdominal pigment and, to a lesser extent, changes in the abdominal tergite pattern, were valid indicators of parity; both conditions were established by stage IV of follicle development. Single follicular relics were visible in all unipars; serial follicular relics were formed in 80–92% of multiparous females. Relics formed by oosorption occur regularly and contribute substantially to the reliability of the Polovodova technique. Field-collection data indicate that parous females may seek blood less than 12 h after oviposition and are at a significantly earlier stage of follicle development than host-seeking nullipars. Females may complete at least 3 gonotrophic cycles under New York conditions.
A Discriminant Function Analysis of Assemblages of Fruit-Eating Birds in Central America

Many species of tropical trees are adapted for seed dispersal by birds. Their fruits share many characteristics that promote the dispersal of seeds: relatively large size, fleshy pulp or aril, often with substantial nutritive value, and conspicuous placement or coloration. These fruits are exploited by a wide variety of birds, including species that are primarily insectivorous, but the assemblage of fruit-eating birds attracted to each type of fruit is usually limited to a small subset of the indigenous species, and the assemblages vary according to the type of tree. In this study, I sought to determine whether assemblages of birds exploiting the fruits of four different species of tropical trees could be distinguished by their morphology and, if so, which morphological attributes were most characteristic for each species of tree. The study is based on a discriminant function analysis using 10 morphological characters obtained from museum specimens. The principal result of this study is that where assemblages differ, they are distinguished primarily by size and shape of locomotory appendages rather than by bill structure. Although I have not attempted to relate morphology to behavior, or to interpret either in relation to the needs of the plant for dispersal, the results of this study suggest that morphological approaches to the study of community structure will benefit from using appropriate multivariate techniques to analyze a broad selection of morphological traits.
Effect of pacemaker-induced arrhythmias on coronary blood velocity in conscious man.

With the use of the Doppler ultrasonic catheter telemetry system, phasic left coronary blood velocity was measured in 34 conscious subjects during transvenous pacemaker insertion and right ventricular endocardial pacing. Ventricular premature depolarizations and ventricular tachycardia, occurring as consequences of pacing catheter manipulation and competitive rhythms, reduced peak coronary blood velocity by approximately one half. These findings provide insight into the genesis of sudden death associated with pacemaker insertion, competitive or repetitive arrhythmias, and pacemaker “runaway.”
Uterine Sarcomas: Histology and Its Implications on Therapy

Overview:Uterine sarcomas are rare cancers, they comprise only 5% of all uterine malignancies. There are about 2,000 cases of uterine sarcoma diagnosed annually in the United States. Uterine sarcom...
Co-repressor CBFA2T2 regulates pluripotency and germline development

A co-repressor protein, CBFA2T2, oligomerizes to stabilize its binding partner PRDM14 and the pluripotency factor OCT4 on chromatin, thus facilitating the transcriptional landscape underpinning the germline and pluripotent fate. A core group of transcription factors are expressed both in pluripotent embryonic stem cells and in primordial germ cells. However, how the effects of these transcription factors on chromatin are regulated to maintain pluripotency or trigger primordial germ cell specification, respectively, is unclear. Danny Reinberg and colleagues report that the co-repressor protein CBFA2T2 oligomerizes to stabilize the germline-specific transcription factor PRDM14 and the pluripotent factor OCT4 on chromatin, in order to regulate expression of key genes responsible for pluripotency or germline fate. Developmental specification of germ cells lies at the heart of inheritance, as germ cells contain all of the genetic and epigenetic information transmitted between generations. The critical developmental event distinguishing germline from somatic lineages is the differentiation of primordial germ cells (PGCs)1,2, precursors of sex-specific gametes that produce an entire organism upon fertilization. Germ cells toggle between uni- and pluripotent states as they exhibit their own ‘latent’ form of pluripotency. For example, PGCs express a number of transcription factors in common with embryonic stem (ES) cells, including OCT4 (encoded by Pou5f1), SOX2, NANOG and PRDM14 (refs 2, 3, 4). A biochemical mechanism by which these transcription factors converge on chromatin to produce the dramatic rearrangements underlying ES-cell- and PGC-specific transcriptional programs remains poorly understood. Here we identify a novel co-repressor protein, CBFA2T2, that regulates pluripotency and germline specification in mice. Cbfa2t2−/− mice display severe defects in PGC maturation and epigenetic reprogramming. CBFA2T2 forms a biochemical complex with PRDM14, a germline-specific transcription factor. Mechanistically, CBFA2T2 oligomerizes to form a scaffold upon which PRDM14 and OCT4 are stabilized on chromatin. Thus, in contrast to the traditional ‘passenger’ role of a co-repressor, CBFA2T2 functions synergistically with transcription factors at the crossroads of the fundamental developmental plasticity between uni- and pluripotency.
4-Nitro-phenyl N-(2-sulfamoylphen-yl)carbamate.

In the title mol­ecule, C13H11N3O6S, the dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 35.52 (8)°. An intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond forms an S(6) ring. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked via N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into chains along [101] incorporating R22(8) and R22(16) rings.
From Lie Algebras to Groups

In this final chapter, we apply the above results on Lie algebras in order to bring the Lie theory of algebraic groups over fields of characteristic 0 to a satisfactory state of completeness.
The Immunopathology of Joint Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. In an infectious etiology of rheumatoid arthritis, it is pertinent to consider the manner in which a pathogen might gain access to the synovial membrane. The joint seems to be uniquely predisposed to infection with some bacteria. Rheumatoid synovitis is characterized by a constellation of histological changes, which are characteristic but not pathognomonic of this disease. In hypertrophy of the synovial lining surface, the synovium appears edematous and inflamed and protrudes into the joint space as slender villous projections. In hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the synovial lining cells, the lining cells are multilayered, reaching to a depth of six to ten cells, as compared to the normal synovial lining that is only one to three cell layers. Vascular derangement—focal or segmental vascular changes—are a regular feature of rheumatoid synovitis. Cellular infiltrates—the connective tissue stronia of the synovial villus is packed with mononuclear cells—are collected into aggregates or follicles, particularly around small blood vessels, but true germinal centers are rarely seen.
The Prognostic Significance of Diabetes and Microvascular Complications in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

OBJECTIVE This study examined the prognostic significance of diabetes and microvascular complications in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This analysis included 3,385 patients (mean age 69 ± 9.6 years; 49% male; 89% white) with HFpEF from the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist Trial (TOPCAT). Diabetes and microvascular complications were ascertained by self-reported history and medical record review. Microvascular complications included neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy. Outcomes included hospitalization, hospitalization for heart failure, death, and cardiovascular death. Cox regression was used to examine the risk of each outcome associated with diabetes and microvascular complications. RESULTS Of the 1,109 subjects (32%) with diabetes, 352 (32%) had at least one microvascular complication. Patients with diabetes and microvascular complications had an increased risk for hospitalization (no diabetes: referent; diabetes + no microvascular complication: hazard ratio [HR] 1.18, 95% CI 1.01, 1.37; diabetes + microvascular complications: HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.25, 1.89; P-trend CONCLUSIONS Diabetes is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in HFpEF, and the inherent risk of adverse outcomes in HFpEF patients with diabetes varies by the presence of microvascular complications.
The direct effects of plant polyploidy on the legume-rhizobia mutualism.

Background Polyploidy is known to significantly alter plant genomes, phenotypes and interactions with the abiotic environment, yet the impacts of polyploidy on plant-biotic interactions are less well known. A particularly important plant-biotic interaction is the legume-rhizobia mutualism, in which rhizobia fix atmospheric nitrogen in exchange for carbon provided by legume hosts. This mutualism regulates nutrient cycles in natural ecosystems and provides nitrogen to agricultural environments. Despite the ecological, evolutionary and agricultural importance of plant polyploidy and the legume-rhizobia mutualism, it is not yet fully understood whether plant polyploidy directly alters mutualism traits or the consequences on plant growth. Scope The aim was to propose a conceptual framework to understand how polyploidy might directly enhance the quantity and quality of rhizobial symbionts hosted by legume plants, resulting in increased host access to fixed nitrogen (N). Mechanistic hypotheses have been devised to examine how polyploidy can directly alter traits that impact the quantity (e.g. nodule number, nodule size, terminal bacteroid differentiation) and quality of symbionts (e.g. nodule environment, partner choice, host sanctions). To evaluate these hypotheses, an exhaustive review of studies testing the effects of plant polyploidy on the mutualism was conducted. In doing so, overall trends were synthesized, highlighting the limited understanding of the mechanisms that underlie variation in results achieved thus far, revealing striking gaps in knowledge and uncovering areas ripe for future research. Conclusions Plant polyploidy can immediately alter nodule size, N fixation rate and the identity of rhizobial symbionts hosted by polyploid legumes, but many of the mechanistic hypotheses proposed here, such as bacteroid number and enhancements of the nodule environment, remain unexplored. Although current evidence supports a role of plant polyploidy in enhancing key aspects of the legume-rhizobia mutualism, the underlying mechanisms and effects on host benefit from the mutualism remain unresolved.
Wikipedia's Role and Value in the Advertising Classroom

Higher education periodicals like The Chronicle of Higher Education have sought to inform readers about the state of Wikipedia's use in higher education. How can the academic literature inform scho...
Asociación entre enfermedad periodontal y la morbimortalidad en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica en hemodiálisis

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares –como los infartos al miocardio o los accidentes cerebrovasculares– y las enfermedades infecciosas representan las principales causas de morbimortalidad en pacientes con enfermedad renal cronica en hemodialisis. La enfermedad periodontal es un proceso inflamatorio local de los tejidos de soporte dentario, tales como la encia, el cemento, el ligamento periodontal y el hueso alveolar. La presencia de la enfermedad periodontal en pacientes con enfermedad renal cronica terminal (ERCT) esta favorecida por multiples mecanismos patogenicos. En este articulo se revisa la posible asociacion entre la enfermedad periodontal y la mortalidad en pacientes con enfermedad renal cronica en hemodialisis.
Pesticide Residues in the United States Diet

The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have joint responsibility in the area of pesticides. EPA registers or approves the use of pesticides and establishes tolerances if the use of a pesticide may lead to residues in food [1,2]. With the exception of meat and poultry, for which USDA is responsible, FDA is charged with enforcing these tolerances on imported food or domestic food shipped in interstate commerce.
Retrieval of Damaged Subassembly from Experimental Breeder Reactor II Primary Tank

The Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) is an unmoderated, sodium-cooled reactor with a design power level of 62.5 MW(thermal). The design uses a submerged pool concept in which the reactor an...
Gender and Contraception: A Proposed Conceptual Model for Research and Practice

Unintended pregnancy and birth, frequently due to contraceptive non-use or misuse, continue to be important public health problems. A large body of literature has examined women's characteristics related to contraceptive use. However, much of what is known about men and contraception has been obtained or extrapolated from interviews with women. In this paper, we first present an overview of unintended pregnancy and the link with contraception. We explore gender considerations in contraceptive decision-making and discuss the literature of men's role in contraceptive attitudes and practices both in the developing countries and in the United States. Because individuals who make contraceptive decisions are actually part of couples, we examine the recent literature on couple communication and the role of partner influence on contraceptive practice. Finally, we propose a conceptual model that can be used for studying gender differences regarding factors that influence contraceptive use. The model is comprised of a variety of factors influencing contraceptive use that include; (1) knowledge of contraceptive methods, use, and effectiveness; (2) structural/access, institutional, and financial factors that may present barriers to contraceptive acquisition and use; and (3) socio-cultural factors. These sociocultural factors include: (a) attitude (beliefs, values, perceived risk of pregnancy, cognitive assessment/acceptability of pregnancy, masculinity ideology, self-esteem, and self-efficacy); (b) the influence of significant others, including partners, peers, and family; and (c) sociodemographic factors including age, ethnicity, marital status, education, and income. This model should be useful in identifying gender differences in knowledge, attitudes, and practices about contraception and pregnancy so that efforts to reduce unintended pregnancy can effectively target both women and men.
ANISOTROPIC IMPEDANCE PROPERTIES OF SKELETAL MUSCLE

ABSTRACT In this study, the conductivity and dielectric permittivity of canine skeletal muscle were measured at body temperature, between 20 Hz and 1 MHz, with the muscle fibers oriented parallel and perpendicular to an applied electric field. Limited impedance measurements were made in situ on human limbs for comparison.
Miracles from Mexico: Christianity, corporate restructuring, and the telenovela in Nigeria

When DStv, the main digital satellite television provider on the African continent and a subsidiary of the South African conglomerate MultiChoice, began offering the Nigerian soap opera Taste of Lo...
An Improved Approach to Trypanosoma cruzi Molecular Genotyping by Next-Generation Sequencing of the Mini-exon Gene

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is a protozoan parasite usually transmitted by triatomines. As the parasite can infect all mammals and the vectors can be found across a broad range of ecologies, transmission cycles are quite complex, and extensive genetic diversity exists within the parasite population. Seven main evolutionary lineages, named "discrete typing units," have been described, but a large amount of intra-lineage heterogeneity is also observed. To date, typing methods used to elucidate both inter-lineage and intra-lineage diversity have faced limitations, with some approaches unable to determine all levels of diversity and others requiring investigation of numerous markers and often the selective process of isolation of live parasites. Here, we present a method for parasite genotyping using next-generation sequencing of the mini-exon gene marker, to assign lineage and describe intra-lineage diversity directly from biological samples. This approach is sensitive enough to detect the presence of multiclonal infections and low-frequency parasite genotypes within this context, providing an unprecedented description of T. cruzi assemblages in hosts and vectors.
Lipoteichoic Acid as a Potential Noninvasive Biomarker of Biofilm in Dialysis Access.

Tunneled central venous catheters (TCVCs) are colonized by Gram-positive organisms and form biofilm. Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is a Gram-positive cell wall component that can be measured in serum. The purpose of this pilot study was to characterize LTA concentrations in hemodialysis (HD) patients with TCVCs compared to other access types and to evaluate biofilm morphology and microbiology in TCVCs removed by clinical decision. The study enrolled patients with TCVCs (18), grafts (19), and fistulas (18). Blood samples were collected before HD, at 30 minutes, 2 hours, and end of HD. Catheters removed by clinical decision were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for biofilm morphology, and portions of the catheter were cultured. LTA was detectable in all samples and concentrations increased significantly in all access types during HD (p 30% increase in LTA concentration from baseline also had the greatest rate of increase (slope) compared to grafts and fistulas (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). Catheters removed by clinical decision (n = 7) and examined by SEM had deposition of fibrin. Cultures revealed polymicrobial colonization. TCVCs had the highest rate of increase of LTA during HD. Further studies to determine the source of LTA in patients with AVG and AVF are warranted.
Guided Optimization of Phase-Unstable III–V Compositionally Graded Buffers by Cathodoluminescence Spectrum Imaging

Compositionally graded buffers (CGBs) are essential components of high-efficiency III–V inverted metamorphic solar cells, and high-quality CGBs with low defect densities are a requirement for high device efficiencies. In this article, we use plan-view and cross-sectional cathodoluminescence spectrum imaging (CLSI) to investigate the effect of growth conditions on the microstructure of Al y Ga1- x - y In x As CGBs with x In > 0.30. CLSI reveals significant compositional fluctuation in these materials that correlates with the distribution of threading dislocations in the CGBs. Threading dislocations are observed to collect in regions between abrupt transitions in emission energy, implying that concomitant strain fluctuations in these regions restrict dislocation motion. Thus, the compositional fluctuation leads to elevated threading dislocation densities that degrade CGB quality. We also correlate compositional fluctuation in the CGB with compositional fluctuation in subsequently grown device layers. The effectiveness of specific growth conditions at suppressing compositional fluctuation and limiting threading dislocation density is evaluated. CGBs grown at high temperatures with high Al content exhibit the lowest defect densities. The use of a high V/III ratio suppresses compositional fluctuation and defect density. These insights lead directly to improvements in the efficiency of metamorphic Ga1- x In x As solar cells grown on Al y Ga1- x - y In x As CGBs.
Responsiveness of a Balance Assessment Using a Mobile Application

Background:Balance assessment is used by clinicians as part of athlete concussion screening. The King-Devick (K-D) Balance app is designed to provide an objective balance assessment value. The purp...
Chapter 23 – Cloning Primates

The promise of nuclear transfer (NT) in producing patient-specific embryonic stem cells for regenerative medicine holds great interest for the treatment of human diseases, whether as tools for “disease in a dish” discoveries or as replacement cells in patient therapies. With the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells, current debates flourish over whether human NT is necessary, given the limitations of burdensome technical, ethical, and legal issues. Non-human primates (NHP) are superior models for understanding the stepwise events of successful primate NT and could provide easier extrapolations to events in humans than rodent cloning model. Early challenges to producing cloned NHP blastocysts using traditional NT technologies successful in rodent and cows were overcome by modifications to enucleation, artificial activation, and embryo culture in monkeys. Regardless, adoption of these technical advances in human NT has yet to produce stable human pluripotent embryonic stem cells, and recent reports suggest that human meiotic spindle removal as the first step in the cloning process remains detrimental to producing viable human ESC lines. This chapter provides a review on challenges in nuclear transfer in primates – non-human and human alike.
Patient-reported global health predicts adverse health outcomes in a cohort of patients with advanced sarcoma.

e23547Background: Given the rare nature of sarcoma cancers and the sometimes severe treatment-related effects of chemotherapy, many patients with sarcoma face quality of life issues during treatmen...
Analog Compression and Communication for Federated Learning over Wireless MAC

In this paper, we consider federated learning in wireless edge networks. Transmitting stochastic gradients (SG) or deep model’s parameters over a limited-bandwidth wireless channel can incur large training latency and excessive power consumption. Hence, data compressing is often used to reduce the communication overhead. However, efficient communication requires the compression algorithm to satisfy the constraints imposed by the communication medium and take advantage of its characteristics, such as over-the-air computations inherent in wireless multiple-access channels (MAC), unreliable transmission and idle nodes in the edge network, limited transmission power, and preserving the privacy of data. To achieve these goals, we propose a novel framework based on Random Linear Coding (RLC) and develop efficient power management and channel usage techniques to manage the trade-offs between power consumption, communication bit-rate and convergence rate of federated learning over wireless MAC. We show that the proposed encoding/decoding results in an unbiased compression of SG, hence guaranteeing the convergence of the training algorithm without requiring error-feedback. Finally, through simulations, we show the superior performance of the proposed method over other existing techniques.
General Fine transformations I

We describe an extension of Fine’s method of deriving basic hypergeometric series transformations and derive new transformations from the method. Combinatorial proofs of two of the examples are pro...
Moral-legal self-regulation of freedom of conscience: culturological aspect

The purpose of the article is to analyze the possibility of combining legal and moral regulations in the implementation of the human right to freedom of conscience. The methodological basis of the study reveals the interdisciplinary of the problem. Culturological analysis of freedom of conscience is performed by using philosophical-anthropological and phenomenological approaches to identify the specifics of legal culture, the role of conscience in the moral and legal self-regulation of human. Systemic method is used for analysis freedom of conscience as a complex holistic phenomenon; historical method and comparative-legal method – for identification of the specifics of the legal regulation of freedom of conscience in historical retrospect and perspective. Scientific novelty. Freedom of conscience is revealed as a phenomenon of legal culture which involves the moral-legal self-regulation of people. As a manifestation of social self-organization the legal culture forms a tolerant communicative space, in which the actually legal regulation of freedom of conscience is supplemented by mechanism of the moral self-regulation of a person – conscience. It is substantiated that transformation of the law to a legal culture requires not only human trust in the law, but also the legal trust in a conscientious person.