cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overexpression and Activation of the Insulin Receptor Enhances Expression of ERCC-1 Messenger Ribonucleic Acid in Cultured Cells

In this study, a partial hamster complementary DNA encoding ERCC-1, a member of the DNA excision repair gene family, has been cloned. The nucleic acid and amino acid sequences were highly homologous to those of human and mouse ERCC-1. The hamster ERCC-1 gene was expressed as a 1.2-kilobase message in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells. Northern (RNA) blot analysis revealed that overexpression of the insulin receptor or various growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases in Chinese hamster ovary cells increased ERCC-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. This effect did not occur in cells overexpressing mutated insulin receptors that are known to have impaired kinase-related signaling. Increased ERCC-1 expression correlated with resistance to UV exposure. Fluorescent-activated cell sorter analysis of confluent cell populations indicated no differences in cell cycle distribution. Furthermore, no significant relationship was demonstrated between the relative expression of ERCC-1 mRNA and the rate of glucose utilization. Insulin enhanced the accumulation of ERCC-1 mRNA in serum-deprived cells expressing wild-type insulin receptors. The potential role for activation of the insulin receptor and related growth factor receptors in ERCC-1 gene expression and function remains to be defined.
On the interpretation of the number attraction effect: Response time evidence.

Speakers frequently make subject–verb number agreement errors in the presence of a local noun with a different number from the head of the subject phrase. A series of four experiments used a two-choice response time (RT) paradigm to investigate how the latency of correct agreement decisions is modulated by the presence of a number attractor, and to investigate the relative latency of errors and correct agreement decisions. The presence of a number attractor reliably increased correct RT, and the size of this RT effect was consistently larger in conditions that also had larger effects on accuracy. Number attraction errors, however, were similar in RT to correct responses in the same experimental condition. These results are interpreted as supporting a model according to which an intervening number attractor makes the agreement computation process more difficult in general [Eberhard, K. M., Cutting, J. C., & Bock, K. (2005). Making sense of syntax: Number agreement in sentence production. Psychological Review 112, 531–559], with errors arising probabilistically. However, attraction from a non-intervening noun resulted in only mildly inflated correct RT, but dramatically inflated error RT, suggesting that non-intervening attraction errors may reflect confusion about the structure of the subject phrase.
The Impact of Soldier Quality On Army Performance

The Army has been very successful in improving its manpower quality over the last several years. Recruits are more likely to have high school diplomas than in any year since the inception of the al...
Thalamic model of awake alpha oscillations and implications for stimulus processing

We describe a unique conductance-based model of awake thalamic alpha and some of its implications for function. The full model includes a model for a specialized class of high-threshold thalamocortical cells (HTC cells), which burst at the alpha frequency at depolarized membrane potentials (∼−56 mV). Our model generates alpha activity when the actions of either muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) or metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) agonists on thalamic reticular (RE), thalamocortical (TC), and HTC cells are mimicked. In our model of mGluR1-induced alpha, TC cells are equally likely to fire during any phase of alpha, consistent with in vitro experiments. By contrast, in our model of mAChR-induced alpha, TC cells tend to fire either at the peak or the trough of alpha, depending on conditions. Our modeling suggests that low levels of mGluR1 activation on a background of mAChR agonists may be able to initiate alpha activity that biases TC cells to fire at certain phases of alpha, offering a pathway for cortical control. If we introduce a strong stimulus by increasing the frequency of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) to TC cells, an increase in alpha power is needed to mimic the level of phasing of TC cells observed in vivo. This increased alpha power reduces the probability that TC cells spike near the trough of alpha. We suggest that mAChR-induced alpha may contribute to grouping TC activity into discrete perceptual units for processing, whereas mGluR1-induced alpha may serve the purpose of blocking unwanted stimuli from reaching the cortex.
Treating Warfarin-Related Intracerebral Hemorrhage Is Fresh Frozen Plasma Enough?

See related article, pages 151–155 Intracranial hemorrhage, specifically spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), is the most feared complication of warfarin therapy. Although occurring infrequently (<1% per year) in clinical trials of warfarin and stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation,1 the real risk in community practice may be higher. Warfarin worsens the severity of hemorrhage and dramatically increases the risk of mortality from ICH.2 Because of this, most consensus guidelines for the management of anticoagulation-related intracranial hemorrhage recommend urgent correction of the international normalized ratio (INR) to near normal values while acknowledging the lack of randomized trials addressing this treatment approach.3,4 In this issue of Stroke , Goldstein et al describe their experience at a single institution regarding the effectiveness of an anticoagulation reversal strategy which used primarily fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and, in most cases, vitamin K.5 Of 69 patients included in the analysis, 57 (83%) had successful reversal of warfarin coagulopathy (defined as an INR ≤1.4) within 24 hours of arrival in the emergency department (ED). The group of patients with successful INR reversal within 24 hours had a significantly shorter duration from ICH diagnosis (defined as time of computed tomography scan) to initiation of FFP infusion. Patients who received FFP earlier tended to be older, more neurologically impaired (lower Glasgow Coma Scale …
A review of self-heating effects on bipolar circuits

General insights into local-heating effects on the large- and small-signal behaviors of bipolar integrated circuits are provided, and the circuit conditions under which self-heating causes significant errors in simulations are discussed.
Syntheses, Structures, Photoluminescence and Theoretical Studies of Xanthone in Crystalline Resorcinarene-Based Inclusion Complexes

Two new crystalline resorcinarene-based xanthone inclusion complexes, CECRxanthoneMeOH (1), and HECR2 xanthone6 MeOH (2) (CECR = C-ethylcalix[4]resorcinarene, HECR = hexaethylresorcin[6]arene) have been prepared to study the relation between photophysical properties and solid-state structure. Compared with the neat crystals, the xanthone phosphorescence is severely quenched in both solids, but the lifetime is an order of magnitude larger in 2, in which xanthone occurs as a dimer, than in 1, in which it occurs as a monomer. The electronic transitions involved in the photoluminescent process, and the relation between the energy levels of host and guest and emission quenching of the guest in the supramolecular solid have been investigated by means of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations.
Application of the reaction-matrix theory (II). Simple Brueckner-Hartree-Fock descriptions of the ground states of light nuclei

Abstract The derivation of the nuclear single-particle (s.p.) shell model from realistic free-space nucleon-nucleon potentials is studied both theoretically and quantitatively. A Brueckner-Hartree-Fock (BHF) s.p. model is constructed which contains a reaction-matrix HF s.p. potential and a potential coming from other many-body correlations. The s.p. Hamiltonian is defined diagrammatically. The nature of the resulting s.p. states and the relation between the resulting s.p. energies and the corresponding energies in nuclear matter are elucidated. Particular attention is paid to the important third-order hole-hole re-arrangement potential, which is here calculated explicitly with finite geometry. This BHF model is then used to study quantitatively the ground-state properties of the light nuclei 40 Ca, 16 O and 4 He using a number of hard-core nucleon-nucleon potentials, some with non-central forces. It is found that the calculation underbinds these light nuclei by 2–4 MeV per particle for realistic potentials but does give rough agreement in the nuclear radii except in 4 He. The calculation does not give the correct s.p. removal energies, with or without the inclusion of the second- and third-order re-arrangement potentials. It also gives only half of the empirical spin-orbit splitting. It is further estimated that a realistic nucleon-nucleon potential giving the correct binding energy in nuclear matter will correctly bind these light nuclei if the contribution of long-range ground-state correlations is included. The nuclear size will also be roughly correct. Comparison between the present calculation and a number of other calculations in the literature is made in some detail.
Asymptotic Properties of Some Confidence Interval Estimators for Simulation Output

The classical confidence interval estimator commonly used in simulation is compared with four new estimators based on standardization of a time series presented in a previous paper. These new interval estimators are shown to have asymptotic properties that strictly dominate the classical estimator when used with data from independent simulation replications or means of batched observations from a single simulation run. Two of the new estimators also can be used with a single unbatched replication of a simulation program, a situation where the classical estimator is not defined.
The Hico Impact Structure of North-Central Texas

The Hico Structure is a pre-Pleistocene, post-Cretaceous impact structure centered 3 km north of the town of Hico in north-central Texas. Less eroded sections of the feature faithfully preserve an original 3 km-diameter “uplift surrounded by ring graben” pattern typical of impact structures larger than one kilometer. A shatter cone has been found within the central uplift. A larger circular anomaly 9 km in diameter surrounding the 3 km-diameter Hico Structure is visible on Landsat imagery, although no corresponding structural disturbance has been recognized in outcrop.
Forearm arterial injuries.

The effects of single forearm arterial injuries with and without associated neurological injuries were studied. Fifty subjects were evaluated: seven patients with isolated arterial lacerations, 15 patients with isolated nerve lacerations, 13 patients with combined nerve and arterial injuries, and 15 control subjects. A series of noninvasive peripheral vascular studies were correlated with the symptoms produced by a controlled cold-environment exposure. The hemodynamic alterations associated with symptoms of hand ischemia, and particularly with cold intolerance, were studied. Unrepaired single arterial injuries caused modest, consistent alterations in hand vascularity, but few signs of ischemia or symptoms of cold intolerance. The remaining intact artery demonstrated a consistent increase inflow velocity. Combined nerve and artery injuries caused the most significant alterations in hand vascularity, and median nerve and associated artery injuries caused the most disabling symptoms. Single arterial lacerations had no effect on the rate or completeness of recovery from associated nerve injuries.
Rabbit Antithymocyte Globulin Decreases Acute Rejection After Lung Transplantation: Results of a Randomized, Prospective Study

Study objectives: The efficacy of antithymocyte induction therapy in lung transplantation is controversial, and its use varies from center to center. We hypothesized that rabbit antithymocyte globulin (RATG) induction therapy would decrease acute rejection after lung transplantation, and we designed a single-center, randomized, prospective study to test this hypothesis. Design: A total of 44 single or bilateral adult lung transplant recipients were randomly assigned to receive either RATG induction therapy (dosage, 1.5 mg/kg/d for 3 days) at the time of transplantation, along with conventional immunosuppression (cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone), or conventional immunosuppression alone with no induction therapy. Results: Although a similar number of biopsies were performed in each group, the number of patients experiencing biopsy-proven grade II or greater acute rejection was significantly reduced in the group receiving RATG induction therapy (23% incidence), as compared to the patients treated with conventional immunosuppression alone (55% incidence; p 5 0.03). In addition, there was a nonsignificant reduction in the incidence of bronchiolitis obilterans syndrome at the conclusion of the study in patients who received RATG induction (20%), as compared to patients in the control group (38%). The incidence of posttransplant infections and malignancies were similar between the two groups. Conclusion: Induction therapy with RATG significantly reduces the incidence of acute allograft rejection after lung transplantation. (CHEST 1999; 116:127‐133)
A comparison of three scoring systems for predicting complications after major lung resection.

Objectives: Although complications occur frequently after major lung resection, current predictive models are not entirely satisfactory. We devised a new predictive scoring system and compared it to two existing systems. Methods: We performed an initial retrospective review of 400 patients who underwent major resection for lung cancer from 1980 to 1995. Predictive covariates (age, spirometry, diffusing capacity) associated with three or more complication groups were used to develop a scoring system. This system (EVAD) was then evaluated against the Physiological and Operative Severity Score for Enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity (POSSUM) and Cardiopulmonary Risk Index (CPRI) systems for patients operated between 1996 and 2001. Results: Major resection for lung cancer included lobectomy (188) and pneumonectomy (30). Complication categories were: pulmonary (23; 10.5%); cardiovascular (24; 11.0%); infectious (8; 3.6%); other (29; 13.2%); nonfatal (45; 20.6%); and any (53; 24.2%). Death occurred in ten patients (4.6%). Mean EVAD scores were significantly different between groups with and without complications in all categories except infectious complications and death, whereas mean CPRI scores differed only for pulmonary complications, nonfatal complications, and death, and mean POSSUM scores did not appropriately differ for any complications. EVAD predicted incremental risk in all complication categories except cardiovascular, infectious, and death, whereas CPRI predicted incremental risk only for nonfatal and possibly any complications, and POSSUM did not predict incremental risk for any complication category. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated the EVAD system to be equivalent to or better than CPRI and POSSUM for all complication categories. Conclusions: A simple scoring system (EVAD) that utilizes pulmonary function test data and patient age predicts the likelihood of complications after major lung resection. It is easier to use and at least as accurate as other scoring systems currently in use. q 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Continuous 1.3-million-year record of East African hydroclimate, and implications for patterns of evolution and biodiversity

The transport of moisture in the tropics is a critical process for the global energy budget and on geologic timescales, has markedly influenced continental landscapes, migratory pathways, and biological evolution. Here we present a continuous, first-of-its-kind 1.3-My record of continental hydroclimate and lake-level variability derived from drill core data from Lake Malawi, East Africa (9-15° S). Over the Quaternary, we observe dramatic shifts in effective moisture, resulting in large-scale changes in one of the world's largest lakes and most diverse freshwater ecosystems. Results show evidence for 24 lake level drops of more than 200 m during the Late Quaternary, including 15 lowstands when water levels were more than 400 m lower than modern. A dramatic shift is observed at the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT), consistent with far-field climate forcing, which separates vastly different hydroclimate regimes before and after ∼800,000 years ago. Before 800 ka, lake levels were lower, indicating a climate drier than today, and water levels changed frequently. Following the MPT high-amplitude lake level variations dominate the record. From 800 to 100 ka, a deep, often overfilled lake occupied the basin, indicating a wetter climate, but these highstands were interrupted by prolonged intervals of extreme drought. Periods of high lake level are observed during times of high eccentricity. The extreme hydroclimate variability exerted a profound influence on the Lake Malawi endemic cichlid fish species flock; the geographically extensive habitat reconfiguration provided novel ecological opportunities, enabling new populations to differentiate rapidly to distinct species.
Educating the Reference Archivist

Although much has been written recently on archival education and the role education plays in certification and professionalization, little of this literature addresses archival reference and the skills archivists need to carry out their reference responsibilities. This inattention to the training of reference archivists reflects the field's general indifference to the reference process relative to other archival concerns. This article, through a selected survey of the literature, suggests that only in the last decade have archivists begun to examine critically the reference process and to recognize the shortcomings of archival finding aids and reference personnel. Several archivists have suggested ways of improving archival finding aids, but few have addressed the issue of personnel expertise. This author recommends increased formal education and suggests potential topics of study.
Heterotopic Ovarian Splenoma

Abstract We present a case of ovarian splenoma, a form of heterotopicsplenic hamartoma consisting of red pulp tissue.The hamartoma was located in ovarian stroma in an otherwisenormal ovary. The his...
Fine-scale structure of dislocations and debris in deformed Ni-based superalloy R104

The role of fine-scale defects in a polycrystalline superalloy has been investigated. Cube-slip, a critical component of the dominant deformation mode of wavy slip, appears to play a key role in the overall deformation process, along with repeated cross-slip. Within regions which deform by wavy slip, fine-scale defect structures are observed, and are the main focus of the present work. The size scale of these features necessitates that high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy be employed, in addition to diffraction contrast methods. Stacking fault tetrahedra appear with great frequency, and their role in the alloy's behavior at two different temperatures is also discussed.
Supply Chain Integration: Customer Value through Collaborative Closeness versus Operational Excellence

In a global and competitive environment, supply chain relationships and processes must be continuously integrated and aligned with strategy. The objective should be to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of supply supply chains to create value for final consumers. The present reseach investigates and compares three major forms of supply chain integration of approximately two thousand global firms. The three forms of supply chain integration include intra-organizational process integration, inter-organizational collaborative integration including strategic alliances, and operational excellence. Significant firm and country differences as to value chain integration are identified which appear to relate to cost reduction versus differentiation strategies.
Characterization of human uroguanylin: a member of the guanylin peptide family

Guanylin, a peptide homologue of the bacterial heat-stable enterotoxins (ST), is an endogenous activator of guanylate cyclase C (GC-C). We have initiated a search for other members of the guanylin ...
Insecticides: Efficacy Against Various Cotton Pests and Effect on Plant Maturity, Yield, and Quality of Seed and Lint

Heliothis zea (Boddie), and H. virescens (F.) were controlled with foliar applications of the synthetic pyrethroids AC-222,705 (cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl) methyl (+)-4-(difluoromethoxy)-α-(1-methylethyl) benzeneacetate), cis -permethrin, cypermethrin, NRDC-161 (S)-[cyano(3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl] cis −(+)-3.-(2,2-dibromoethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate), fenvalerate, cis -cypermethrin, permethrin and the organophosphates, Profenofos, sulprofos, and RH-0994 ( O -[4-(4-chlorophenylthio)phenyl] O -ethyl S-propyl phosphorothioate), and the carbamate, thiodicarb. The cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), was controlled with fenvalerate, profenofos, thiodicarb, and sulprofos + azinphosmethyl. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), was controlled with AC-222,705, and RH-0994 + azinphosmethyl. Light infestations of the spider mite, Tetranychus sp., was suppressed with RH-0994. Thiodicarb, profenofos, RH-0994, and sulprofos produced reddened leaves but had no apparent adverse effect on yield. Data from all tests indicated that the new matenal(s), per se, have no effect on maturity, germination of seed, fiber length, or fineness.
Reflections on pharmacy residents’ journey toward leadership

“So, what is your plan?” We were shocked by such a direct question at 8 a.m. “We are not completely sure; we’re only second-year pharmacy students.” We looked at one another and realized that our journey through leadership was about to take off. We were fortunate to be challenged with
The Bacteriological and Chemical Evidence of the Occurrence of a Hexose Sugar in Normal Milk

One of the noteworthy cultural reactions of the organisms of the typhoid-paratyphoid-dysentery group is the production of a lilac color, either transient or permanent, in litmus milk. Theobald Smith' appears to have been the first to have called attention to this phenomenon. He pointed out that many organisms which ferment dextrose but not lactose produce this color reaction, and that various cultures of these bacteria made from the same milk exhibit the same degree of color change, practically never more nor less for one variety of organism than another, suggesting strongly that each variety is acting on the same substance in the milk, probably a second carbohydrate. The purpose of this investigation was to determine by bacteriological and chemical examination the substance or substances in milk to which this reaction is attributable.
A new race of Puccinia helianthi in sunflower.

A previously unknown race of Puccinia helianthi was isolated from a commercial field of sunflower at Bushland, Texas, in 1984. Sunflower rust differential lines and cultivars that are resistant to the four North American rust races, the ten rust races of Antonelli, and the four rust races of Luciano and Luciani from Argentina were susceptible to this newly isolated race. The five sunflower germplasm lines, HA-R1, HA-R2, HA-R3, HA-R4 and HA-R5 that had been released as resistant to the four North American rust races were also susceptible to this new race. The results showed that this isolate is a new race of the sunflower rust pathogen.
SURVEY ON THE SITUATION OF DISINFECTION SUPPLY ROOM IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS IN SHANGHAI

Objective To investigate situations of disinfection supply room in primary health care institutions of some district in Shanghai and to improve and strengthen disinfection management of supply room.Methods Questionnaire and on-site inspection were used to investigate disinfection effect on supply room in 12 primary health care institutions.Results Most of staff in disinfection supply room of 12 primary health care institutions were nursing profession,accounting for 83.3%.75% of this staff owned secondary education and 58.3% had primary title.The main facilities of supply room in primary health care institutions were bottom pressure-steam sterilization and pond.None of them was equipped with pressure water jets,ultrasonic cleaning and drying equipment.Most disinfection supply rooms of medical institution could carry out technology,chemical and biological monitoring for pressure-steam sterilization.Conclusion The infrastructure construction and management level of disinfection supply room are relatively backward in 12 investigated primary health care institutions,so the infrastructure of disinfection supply rooms in primary health care institutions should be strengthened.
Identification of organic phosphorus covalently bound to collagen and non-collagenous proteins of chicken-bone matrix. The presence of O-phosphoserine and O-phosphothreonine in non-collagenous proteins, and their absence from phosphorylated collagen

Non-collagenous phosphoproteins, almost all of which can be extracted in EDTA at neutral pH in the presence of proteinase inhibitors, are identified in the matrix of chicken bone, and are therefore not covalently bound to collagen. Similarly, all the peptides containing γ-carboxyglutamic acid are present in the EDTA extract and none in the insoluble residue, confirming that none is covalently linked to chicken bone collagen. However, organic phosphorus is also found to be present in chicken bone collagen, principally in the α2-chains. Of the total protein-bound organic phosphorus present in chicken bone matrix, approx. 80% is associated with the non-collagenous proteins and 20% with collagen. The soluble non-collagenous proteins contain both O-phosphoserine and O-phosphothreonine and these account for essentially of their organic phosphorus content. In contrast, collagen contains neither O-phosphoserine nor O-phosphothreonine. Indeed, no phosphorylated hydroxy amino acid, phosphoamidated amino acid or phosphorylated sugar could be identified in purified components of collagen, which contain approximately four to five atoms of organic phosphorus per molecule of collagen. Peptides containing organic phosphorus were isolated from partial acid hydrolysates and enzymic digests of purified collagen components, which contain an as-yet-unidentified cationic amino acid. These data, the very high concentrations of glutamic acid in the phosphorylated peptides, and the pH-stability of the organic phosphorus moiety in intact collagen chains strongly suggest that at least part of the organic phosphorus in collagen is present as phosphorylated glutamic acid. This would indicate that the two major chemically different protein fractions in chicken bone matrix that contain organic phosphorus may represent two distinct metabolic pools of organic phosphorus under separate biological control.
Race, Class, Gender, and Health

Although this study has focused on reproductive health, African American women and men die younger and have higher rates of morbidity and mortality for most diseases than whites. Mainstream literature in medicine and epidemiology traditionally has attributed these disparities to genetic or cultural differences. Critics of these approaches have pointed to the necessity of studying race, class, and gender as structural constraints on health (Cooper, 1986; Krieger and Bassett, 1986; Krieger, 1999; Mullings, 1984, 1989).
Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: Approaches to Implementation

A number of activities have started to implement the 2007 National Research Council report on “Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century – A Vision and a Strategy.” These activities aim to embrace modern technologies and base safety assessments on the mode of actions of toxicants. Molecularly defined pathways of toxicity are at the center of the approach, collectively forming the Human Toxome.
Transvaginal Sonography in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

Transvaginal sonogram (TVS) is now the gold standard for the evaluation of infertility and assisted reproduction, early pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, and first trimester pregnancy-related abnormalities. Additionally, identification of fetal abnormalities is also performed via TVS. The primary advantage of TVS over transabdominal sonography lies in its ability to place a high-frequency transducer next to the regions of interest. This chapter reviews the methodology and applications of transvaginal ultrasound usage in the practice of reproductive medicine, including its use in conjunction with in vitro fertilization. Specific guidelines are presented for optimal use of transvaginal ultrasound.
Low-cost carbon-coated Si-Cu 3 Si-Al 2 O 3 nanocomposite anodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Abstract Carbon-coated Si-Cu3Si-Al2O3 nanocomposites have been synthesized via a facile mechanochemical reaction and employed as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Combined X-ray and microscopic studies show that the nanocomposites are composed of agglomerated nanostructured particles with uniform distribution of crystalline silicon, Cu3Si, and amorphous Al2O3. Electrochemical characterization reveals that the in situ incorporation of both the conductive Cu3Si and electrochemically stable Al2O3 phases results in a dramatic improvement of cyclability and rate capability, while the specific capacity decreases with increasing amount of Cu3Si. By controlling the Cu3Si content, the composite with a high tap density of ∼1.2 g cm−3 delivers a high reversible capacity of 841 mA h g−1, excellent cyclability, and good rate performance up to 3.2 A g−1 in half cells. Full-cell test coupled with a commercial spinel cathode also displays a high average operating voltage of >3.5 V, a relatively good capacity retention of ∼77.2% after 50 cycles with a high initial efficiency of ∼86.3%. The enhanced electrochemical performance is mainly attributed to the presence of the conductive Cu3Si buffer phase that mitigates structural degradation and offers high conductivity.
Quantitative Analysis of Varieties of Capitalism

This chapter provides quantitative analyses exploring the relationship between political institutions and capitalist variation for 18 OECD countries, spanning the years 1960–2006 and establishes which political institutions serve as the strongest indicator of capitalist variation, assist in estimating causal effects, and lend further support to the proposed causal theory. Lastly, the analysis explains the relationships between specific political institutions and the economic institutions—corporate governance, internal firm structure, industrial relations and training systems, and inter-firm relations—which compose the coordinated market and liberal market dichotomy. By examining the effects of various configurations of political institutions on the disaggregated arenas of liberal market economies (LMEs) and coordinated market economies (CMEs), it is hoped that multiple causal processes, if evident, will be revealed.
Characteristics of Adults Who Used Mindfulness Meditation: United States, 2012.

Abstract Objectives: To describe estimates of the number and characteristics of persons who had used mindfulness meditation in the U.S. population. Design: Data from 108,131 adults from the 2012 Na...
Micromirror based optical phased array for wide-angle beamsteering

Optical phased array (OPA) is a key enabling element for solid state LIDAR (light detection and ranging). In this paper, we demonstrate a novel MEMS micromirror array OPA. Vertical combdrive actuators are integrated underneath the mirrors to achieve a small pitch (2.4μm) and a large field of view (22° at 905nm wavelength and 40° at 1550nm). The OPA has 2μs response time, and 10V actuation voltage.
Impacts of declining discount rates on optimal harvest age and land expectation values

Abstract Several national governments now require the discount rate for public projects with long planning horizons to decrease over the life of a project. Theoretical results that characterize the impacts of a declining discount rate on optimal harvest age and land expectation values in the Faustmann Model are presented. New results include: derivation of conditions for a sequences of optimal harvest ages and land expectation values, comparative statics results, conditions that must be satisfied for multiple optima, and proof that harvesting is never optimal immediately before a discrete decrease in the discount rate.
Vascularized Bone Grafts in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Preclinical animal studies have demonstrated that vascularized bone grafts increase blood flow, maintain patent pedicles, provide immediate structural integrity, hypertrophy in response to mechanical stress, and deliver proper environments for healing in challenging situations.The absolute indicatio
Evaluating and Improving NWP Forecast Models for the Future: How the Needs of Offshore Wind Energy Can Point the Way

AbstractTo advance the understanding of meteorological processes in offshore coastal regions, the spatial variability of wind profiles must be characterized and uncertainties (errors) in NWP model wind forecasts quantified. These gaps are especially critical for the new offshore wind energy industry, where wind profile measurements in the marine atmospheric layer spanned by wind turbine rotor blades, generally 50–200 m above mean sea level (MSL), have been largely unavailable. Here, high-quality wind profile measurements were available every 15 min from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Earth System Research Laboratory (NOAA/ESRL)’s high-resolution Doppler lidar (HRDL) during a monthlong research cruise in the Gulf of Maine for the 2004 New England Air Quality Study. These measurements were compared with retrospective NWP model wind forecasts over the area using two NOAA forecast-modeling systems [North American Mesoscale Forecast System (NAM) and Rapid Refresh (RAP)]. HRDL profile measu...
Evaluating Risk Tolerance from a Systematic Review of Preferences: The Case of Patients with Psoriasis

Stated-preference methods have been widely used to evaluate patient-relative preferences for the benefits and potential harms of psoriasis treatments. However, risk tolerance measures for treatment-related harms, a corollary of preferences, are rare despite their critical role in shared decision making and regulatory benefit-risk evaluations. This article presents a method to enhance information on patient risk tolerance through previously published preference results. The objective of this article was to conduct the first meta-analysis of preferences to characterize the distribution of patients’ maximum acceptable risk of harms associated with psoriasis treatments. Maximum acceptable risks for treatment-related adverse events were extracted or derived from preference results published between 2011 and 2017. Four different analyses were conducted to evaluate maximum acceptable risk information across studies: (1) listing of maximum acceptable risk values, (2) naive aggregation of maximum acceptable risks, (3) estimation of maximum acceptable risk mother distribution, and (4) random-effect regression analysis of maximum acceptable risks. Nine publications with maximum acceptable risk results, or with enough information to derive maximum acceptable risks, were identified from the search and screening of preference studies. The most commonly evaluated treatment benefits were duration of benefits, percentage and probability of improvement, and reductions in the coverage of lesions. The adverse-event risks most often included in the publications were those commonly associated with biologics, such as serious infections and malignancies. As expected, maximum acceptable risks changed with treatment benefits and treatment-related adverse events. The results confirm the feasibility of using previously published preference information to characterize patient risk tolerance. The estimated distributions of maximum acceptable risk provide a benchmark against which future results can be compared, and signal gaps in our understanding of risk tolerance for specific health outcomes.
Intracellular pH regulation in iPSCs-derived astrocytes from subjects with Chronic Mountain Sickness

Abstract Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS) occurs in high-altitude residents with major neurological symptoms such as migraine headaches, dizziness and cognitive deficits. Recent work demonstrated that highlanders have increased intracellular pH (pHi) in their brain cells, perhaps for the sake of adaptation to hypoxemia and help to facilitate glycolysis, DNA synthesis, and cell cycle progression. Since there are well adapted (non-CMS) and maladapted (CMS) high-altitude dwellers, it is not clear whether pHi is differently regulated in these two high-altitude populations. In this work, we obtained induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes from both CMS and non-CMS highlanders who live in the Peruvian Andes (>14,000 ft) and studied pHi regulation in these astrocytes using pH-sensitive dye BCECF. Our results show that the steady-state pHi (ss pHi) is lower in CMS astrocytes compared with non-CMS astrocytes. In addition, the acid extrusion following an acid loading is faster and the pHi dependence of H+ flux rate becomes steeper in CMS astrocytes. Furthermore, the Na+ dependency of ss pHi is stronger in CMS astrocytes and the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) inhibitors blunted the acid extrusion in both CMS and non-CMS astrocytes. We conclude that (a) NHE contributes to the ss pHi stabilization and mediates active acid extrusion during the cytosolic acidosis in highlanders; (b) acid extrusion becomes less pHi sensitive in non-CMS (versus CMS) astrocytes which may prevent NHE from over-activated in the hypoxia-induced intracellular acidosis and render the non-CMS astrocytes more resistant to hypoxemia challenges.
The Xbox One X Scorpio Engine

The Scorpio engine continues the trend of incorporating some of the largest consumer chip designs in entertainment consoles. It is the SoC at the heart of the Xbox One X. Its 7 billion transistors comprise a CPU, a GPU, and other components coupled with a 12- or 24-Gbyte GDDR5 main memory system with 326 Gbytes per second of bandwidth. These provide more than 400 percent greater graphics performance than the preceding Xbox One and Xbox One S systems.
Risk Markers and Intermediate Outcomes in Research and Clinical Practice.

In adult cardiovascular disease, researchers have introduced a plethora of new imaging and biomarkers in hopes that these novel risk markers will either improve risk prediction for individuals, lend biological plausibility to modifying underlying behaviors or more aggressively treating traditional risk factors like blood pressure and lipids, or offer insights into pathophysiology that is amenable to drug therapy.1 One of these novel factors is retinal vessel diameters, which predict future cardiovascular outcomes, at least in women.2–4 In this issue of Pediatrics , Kochli et al5 examine retinal vessel diameters in children. They posit that physical activity, BMI, and blood pressure affect retinal vessel diameters, which reflect early signs of microvascular disease, which, in turn, leads to adult cardiovascular outcomes. With this article, we provide an opportunity to consider when novel risk factors are useful either in making clinical decisions or in research. Pediatric clinicians often use risk markers, by themselves or in combination with … Address correspondence to Alan E. Simon, MD, Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes Program, National Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325, Room 316, Rockville, MD 20852. E-mail: alan.simon{at}nih.gov
The Conjugative Transposons of Gram-Positive Bacteria

Conjugative transposons are characterized by their ability to move from one bacterial cell to another by a process requiring cell-to-cell contact. Evidence for such elements became apparent about 13 years ago from studies of Enterococcus (formerly Streptococcus) faecalis strain DS16, a clinical isolate obtained in 1975 from St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan (38, 39). DS16 was of interest at that time because of its multiple antibiotic resistance and hemolytic properties. It was found to harbor a hemolysin/bacteriocin plasmid, pAD1, and a resistance plasmid, pAD2 (26, 112). pAD1 was conjugative and conferred a mating response to a peptide sex pheromone secreted by potential recipient (pAD1-free) cells, whereas pAD2 conferred resistance to erythromycin, streptomycin, and kanamycin and was nonconjugative. The erythromycin resistance determinant (erm) of pAD2 was associated with a transposon designated Tn917 (111). Derivatives of DS16 cured of both pAD1 and pAD2 maintained a resistance to tetracycline (Tc), indicating that a Tc-resistance determinant (tet) was located on the bacterial chromosome. A series of filter membrane mating experiments designed to examine transfer of the various resistance determinants of DS16 showed that tet could be mobilized at frequencies of 10−5 per donor (38). The majority of transconjugants (about 90%) harbored pAD1 and had tet on the chromosome. Among most of the remaining transconjugants, tet was linked with pAD1, and this correlated with insertion of a 16-kb segment of DNA. A surprising result arose when certain “control” experiments were performed using a plasmid-free (cured) derivative of DS16 as a donor. As reported by Franke and Clewell (38), tet was able to transfer from such strains at a frequency of about 10−8 per donor, and transconjugants could pass on the trait in subsequent matings. Intercellular transfer was DNase resistant and was not affected by the presence of a Rec−allele in either the donor or the recipient. In addition, donor filtrates did not transfer tet to recipients, nor did donor cells exposed to chloroform prior to mating. Because cell contact appeared necessary, the term “conjugative transposon,” was adopted, and the element was designated Tn916. Additional studies showing interspecies transfer added strong support that the transposon encoded its own fertility functions.
Restoring Blood Vessels

In surgical repair for heart disease, it is sometimes necessary to fill or replace a pathological tissue or defect with autologous graft tissue or a foreign grafting material. To date, (1) autologous pericardium, (2) allograft, (3) xenograft, and (4) artificial graft (e.g., Dacron, Teflon, Gore-Tex) have been used as graft materials. These grafts, however, lack growth potential, are associated with increased risk of thrombosis and infection, and have limited durability, thus increasing the morbidity and mortality of their application. Vascular tissue engineering is a relatively new concept proposed in the latter half of the 1980s. It aims to produce neotissue from autologous cells with biodegradable polymer as a scaffold by the application of engineering and biological principles. The greatest advantage of tissue constructed by tissue engineering is that the scaffold polymer is completely biodegraded as cells fill the extracellular stroma, and foreign materials do not remain at later time points after transplant. In this review, we provide an overview of our work to demonstrate the advantages of tissue-engineered vascular grafts in animal models and in human clinical applications using autologous cells and biodegradable scaffolds.
Cytoplasmic effects on agronomic traits, seed quality traits and amino acid composition in soybean with unique cytoplasms as determined by RFLP analysis

Cytoplasmic effects have been investigated since their discovery in 1909. However, in most studies it was not known whether the cytoplasms actually differed. Differences among the cytoplasms have been identified in soybean. This study was conducted to determine if cytoplasmic effects exist in soybean. Ten soybean lines representing five cytoplasmic groups, based on their chloroplast DNA RFLP patterns, were crossed to Harosoy 63' and 'Clark 63' to produce 40 Fi and reciprocal Fi populations. The parents, Fi's and reciprocal Fi's were evaluated for developmental stages, height, leaflet characteristics, and seed size. Ten F2 and reciprocal F2 'Harosoy 63' populations, representing the five cytoplasmic groups, were evaluated the following year. Few significant differences were observed for the agronomic traits. Ten of the thirteen significant differences observed involved developmental traits, days to R1 and R7, and height at R1 and R7. Leaflet area and leaflet mass seldom differed among reciprocal crosses. Consistent cytoplasmic effects within a chloroplast DNA RFLP group were not observed. Chloroplast Groups n and in differed the most often; whereas Chloroplast Groups I and TV seldom differed. No significant differences were observed in Chloroplast Group V. Significant nuclear X cytoplasm interactions were indicated in some crosses.
Working with Gay Men

This chapter will offer a basic model for the use of cognitive therapy with men who are struggling to better understand and integrate their same-sex sexual orientation. Its aim is to aid the expansion of a man’s social, behavioral, and self-identity to include more positive feelings and actions consonant with his sexual and affectional attraction to men. This chapter will take the reader through the course of a simulated case and will present reading suggestions for gay men in therapy and/or their therapists. Although it is presented in largely linear fashion, the therapeutic focus with this population (as with others) would likely oscillate between the delineated stages as gains were solidified. The examples in this chapter are based on gay men I have known and worked with clinically, but do not represent any one person. (The approach could probably easily be applied also to lesbians but because of my own limited experience on this account, I purposely focus here on the population with which I have worked most closely.) The word heterosexism is used here to refer to the valuing of heterosexual over homosexual behavior and orientation, rather than the more common term homophobia, because of the latter’s imprecise meaning.
The Nucleus Mediates Mechanosensitive Reorganization of Epigenetically Marked Chromatin During Cardiac Maturation and Pathology

ABSTRACT Mechanical stimuli are essential to guide cell differentiation, but little is understood about the underlying mechanisms. The nucleus is thought to integrate mechanical signals through complexes that physically connect the nucleoskeleton to the cytoskeleton and exposome; however, direct evidence of nuclear mechanosensation is sparse, and its role in guiding cell differentiation is unclear. Here we investigated changes in chromatin organization during cardiac development and disease, and analyzed how contraction-generated nuclear strains impacted chromatin reorganization. We found that contractile cardiomyocytes adopt a distinct nuclear architecture during development that was driven by the reorganization of H3K9me3-modified chromatin. Degenerative (stiff) mechanical environments that inhibited nuclear deformation abrogated the formation and maintenance of the cardiac nuclear architecture in vitro and in vivo, and promoted the reorganization of H3K27me3-modified chromatin instead. By generating high-resolution maps of intranuclear strains exerted during cell contraction, we further isolated that tensile hydrostatic, but not shear or deviatoric, strains guided the rearrangement of H3K9me3-marked chromatin. Moreover, disruption of LINC (Linker of Nucleo- and Cytoskeleton) complexes inhibited chromatin reorganization, but not epigenetic regulation as observed in stiff environments. Subsequent analysis revealed further complementary mechanosensitive pathways in the cytoskeleton (e.g. via stretch of p130Cas located within the sarcomeric Z-disk) that regulate epigenetic mediators. Together, our findings provide a novel role for nuclear mechanosensation and show that environmental and contractile mechanics can influence cell differentiation through reorganization of epigenetically-modified chromatin via nuclear mechanosensitive pathways.