cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning your identity and disease from research papers: information leaks in genome wide association study

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) aim at discovering the association between genetic variations, particularly single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and common diseases, which is well recognized to be one of the most important and active areas in biomedical research. Also renowned is the privacy implication of such studies, which has been brought into the limelight by the recent attack proposed by Homer et al. Homer's attack demonstrates that it is possible to identify a GWAS participant from the allele frequencies of a large number of SNPs. Such a threat, unfortunately, was found in our research to be significantly understated. In this paper, we show that individuals can actually be identified from even a relatively small set of statistics, as those routinely published in GWAS papers. We present two attacks. The first one extends Homer's attack with a much more powerful test statistic, based on the correlations among different SNPs described by coefficient of determination (r2). This attack can determine the presence of an individual from the statistics related to a couple of hundred SNPs. The second attack can lead to complete disclosure of hundreds of participants' SNPs, through analyzing the information derived from published statistics. We also found that those attacks can succeed even when the precisions of the statistics are low and part of data is missing. We evaluated our attacks on the real human genomes and concluded that such threats are completely realistic.
Asthma mortality: What have we learned?

In this article, I have tried to present the complexity of the issues relating to asthma mortality. There are many unanswered questions and few straightforward answers. It is appropriate that we be concerned that mortality rates are apparently increasing despite the availability of better antiasthma medications and that we identify the key research studies that will allow us to answer these complex questions. At the same time, we should take this opportunity to increase our educational efforts. For the health professionals these efforts should be directed toward improving the accuracy of diagnosis and appropriateness of management in asthma. For the lay public, the efforts should be directed toward increasing the awareness of the many faces of asthma.
Variations in Antibiotic Prescribing of Acute Rhinosinusitis in United States Ambulatory Settings

ObjectiveTo identify variations in antibiotic treatment of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) on a national level.Study DesignCross-sectional study of a national database.SettingOtolaryngology and primary ...
PROTECTIVE ANTIBODIES INHIBIT REOVIRUS INTERNALIZATION AND UNCOATING BY INTRACELLULAR PROTEASES

We identified in vitro correlates of in vivo protection mediated by nonneutralizing antibodies specific for reovirus capsid proteins. We defined mechanisms of antibody action by analyzing monoclonal antibody (MAb) effects at sequential steps in reovirus serotype 3 strain Dearing (T3D) infection of L cells. Two types of experiments showed that protective MAbs specific for the outer capsid proteins sigma 3 or mu 1 inhibited T3D infection independent of effects on binding. First, MAbs which had no effect on T3D binding inhibited T3D growth. Second, MAb-coated T3D attached to L cells did not replicate as efficiently as T3D without bound antibody. We therefore defined sigma 3-specific MAb effects on postbinding steps in T3D infection. T3D coated with MAb sigma 3-10G10 exhibited prolonged sensitivity to growth inhibition by ammonium chloride. Since ammonium chloride inhibits endosomal acidification and proteolytic processing of the T3D capsid, this suggested that MAbs inhibit early steps in T3D infection. This was confirmed by direct demonstration that several sigma 3-specific MAbs inhibited proteolytic uncoating of virions by fibroblasts. We identified two mechanisms for antibody-mediated inhibition of virion uncoating: (i) inhibition of internalization of T3D-MAb complexes bound to the cell surface, and (ii) inhibition of intracellular proteolysis of the T3D capsid. Studies using a cell-free system confirmed that sigma 3-specific MAbs directly block proteolytic uncoating of the T3D virion. In addition, we found that sigma 3-specific MAbs block (and therefore define) two distinct steps in proteolytic uncoating of the reovirion. We conclude that antibodies which are protective in vivo inhibit postbinding events in reovirus infection of permissive cells. Protective antibodies act by inhibiting internalization and intracellular proteolytic uncoating of the virion. Analysis of postbinding mechanisms of MAb action may identify targets for vaccine development and antiviral therapy.
Near-Minimax Optimal Classification with Dyadic Classification Trees

This paper reports on a family of computationally practical classifiers that converge to the Bayes error at near-minimax optimal rates for a variety of distributions. The classifiers are based on dyadic classification trees (DCTs), which involve adaptively pruned partitions of the feature space. A key aspect of DCTs is their spatial adaptivity, which enables local (rather than global) fitting of the decision boundary. Our risk analysis involves a spatial decomposition of the usual concentration inequalities, leading to a spatially adaptive, data-dependent pruning criterion. For any distribution on (X, Y) whose Bayes decision boundary behaves locally like a Lipschitz smooth function, we show that the DCT error converges to the Bayes error at a rate within a logarithmic factor of the minimax optimal rate. We also study DCTs equipped with polynomial classification rules at each leaf, and show that as the smoothness of the boundary increases their errors converge to the Bayes error at a rate approaching n-1/2, the parametric rate. We are not aware of any other practical classifiers that provide similar rate of convergence guarantees. Fast algorithms for tree pruning are discussed.
Regulation of ribosome formation in regenerating rat liver.

The rate of formation of the 45-S ribosomal precursor RNA in regenerating liver is approximately 50% higher at 19–26 h post-operative, when the rate of ribosome formation is high, than at 36–42 h post-operative, when the rate is returning to pre-operative levels. Although a 1-h treatment with cycloheximide or puromycin had no effect on the synthesis of the 45-S precursor, the processing to nuclear 18-S and 28-S RNA was reduced approximately 20% in both cases, indicating that a protein(s) involved in the processing (possibly) ribosomal proteins becomes limiting in the 42-h and even more so in the 19-h regenerating liver. Cycloheximide, which preserves the polyribosome structure, had no effect on the transport of ribosomal sub-units to the cytoplasm in the 42-h regenerating liver. In contrast, puromycin, which causes the conversion of these functional components to inactive monomers, inhibited transport by over 75%. The results indicate that ribosome formation in regenerating liver is subject to control at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.
Ontology languages and Geospatial Semantic Web

This chapter introduces ontology languages -- RDF and OWL. RDF is used as a general method for conceptual description or modeling of information on the Web through a Graph-based data model. The core structure of the RDF is a set of triples, which are also known as RDF graphs. Each triple consists of three components -- a subject, a predicate, and an object. OWL (Web Ontology Language) is an ontology language for Semantic Web with formally defined meanings. OWL ontologies themselves are primarily exchanged as RDF data and can be used along with RDF. But OWL facilitates greater machine interpretability of data contents than RDF does through providing additional vocabularies along with a formal semantics. In addition, this chapter also introduces knowledge about ontology-based reasoning and rule-based knowledge inference.
Acute postoperative pain management.

ffective postoperative pain control is an essential compo-nent of the care of the surgical patient. Inadequate paincontrol, apart from being inhumane, may result in in-creased morbidity or mortality (1, 2). Evidence suggests that sur-gery suppresses the immune system and that this suppression isproportionate to the invasiveness of the surgery (3, 4). Goodanalgesia can reduce this deleterious effect. Data available indi-cate that afferent neural blockade with local anesthetics is themost effective analgesic technique. Next in order of effectivenessare high-dose opioids, epidural opioids and clonidine, patient-controlled opioid therapy, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatoryagents (5).The advantages of effective postoperative pain managementinclude patient comfort and therefore satisfaction, earlier mo-bilization, fewer pulmonary and cardiac complications, a reducedrisk of deep vein thrombosis, faster recovery with less likelihoodof the development of neuropathic pain, and reduced cost of care.The failure to provide good postoperative analgesia is multi-factorial. Insufficient education, fear of complications associatedwith analgesic drugs, poor pain assessment, and inadequate staff-ing are among its causes.
Groundwater upwelling, near Bay St. Elaine salt dome in southeastern Louisiana, as inferred from fluid property variations

Fluid pressures, temperatures, and salinities derived from 62 well logs were mapped in three vertical cross sections across the Bay St. Elaine salt dome in southeastern Louisiana to qualitatively determine groundwater flow patterns around the dome. Near-hydrostatic conditions prevail in the sand-rich shallow section from depths of 0 to 2.5 km. However, fully enclosed within the hydropressured section are lenses of slightly overpressured sediments, which slope up toward the dome. Hydraulic heads may be as much as 500 m above ground level within these enclosed lenses. In some strongly overpressured sediments deeper than 2.5 km, hydraulic heads are as much as 2500 m above ground level. Pore-water salinities increase with depth within the hydrostatically pressured section, fr m 0 wt.% at the surface to maximum values of 10-12 wt.% at the top of the overpressured section. Within the overpressured section, salinities decrease to as little as 6 wt.% with increasing depth. Immediately adjacent to the northeastern flank of the dome is a steeply dipping lobe of relatively fresh waters (6 wt.% sodium chloride) that separates the flank of the dome from saltier (8-10 wt.%) waters away from the dome. This low-salinity water mass appears to be connected to similar low-salinity waters in the overpressured section and is postulated to be due to pore-water upwelling from a depth of 4 km to a depth of about 1.5 km.
Technologies for Sharing: lessons from Quantified Self about the political economy of platforms

ABSTRACTQuantified Self (QS) is a group that coordinates a global set of in-person meetings for sharing personal experiences and experiments with self-tracking behaviours, moods, and activities. Through participation in US-based QS events and watching online QS presentations from around the globe, we identify a function of ambiguous valuation for supporting sharing communities. Drawing on Stark's (2011) theory of heterarchy, we argue that the social and technical platforms supporting sharing within the QS community allow for multiple, sometimes conflicting, sets of community and commercial values. Community cohesion benefits from ambiguity over which values set is most important to QS members. Ambiguity is promoted by sharing practices through at least two means, the narrative structure of members' presentations, and what counts as tracking. By encouraging members to adhere to a three-question outline, the community ensures that multiple values are always present. Thus, it becomes a question of which valu...
Abstract 109: IL-1ß-Induced Ceramide Synthesis Accentuates NETosis and Inflammation in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Objective: We have previously shown that circulating neutrophils are required for experimental aortic aneurysm (AA) formation via a non-MMP2/9-mediated mechanism. In other experiments we documented that IL-1β signaling is required for AA formation. Therefore, we hypothesized that increased levels of IL-1β in AA triggers inflammatory ceramide synthesis and thus extracellular trap (NET) formation (NETosis) by neutrophils, thereby augmenting inflammation. Methods: Immunohistochemical techniques were used to identify neutrophils and NETs. Ceramides from human AA and control aortas from transplant donors were quantified using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Neutrophils isolated from human blood were treated with IL-1β to determine if IL-1β induces ceramide synthesis and NETosis in vitro. Experimental AAs were induced by elastase perfusion in C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and IL-1β knock-out (KO) mice and cellular content of AA was analyzed using flow cytometry. Groups were compared using two-tailed unpaired t-test. Results: Immunohistochemical staining showed that neutrophils were scattered or grouped near lymphoid-like structures in the adventitia of human AA. Three-dimensional confocal imaging showed NETs in the adventitia of human AA. Importantly, the levels of long chain ceramides C16 and C24:1 were higher (2.6 and 1.8-fold, respectively), whereas, the levels of short chain ceramides C4, C6 and C8 were lower (4.3, 3.9 and 3.5-fold, respectively) in human AA compared to controls. In isolated neutrophils, IL-1β treatment induced synthesis of long chain ceramides and discharge of NETs. Neutrophils and NETs were also detected in aortic media at day 7 after induction of AA in WT mice. On day 7 following elastase perfusion, despite the increase in number of circulating immune cells, AA size was smaller (91.08±11.7% vs 53.8±5.4%, p=0.03), and, infiltration of neutrophils (12179±2697 vs 3046±628, p=0.01) and B cells was lower in the aorta of IL-1β KO mice compared to WT mice. Conclusions: These data document for the first time the presence of NETs in human AAs. Furthermore, the data suggests that neutrophils augment inflammation in AA by increasing pro-inflammatory long chain ceramide synthesis and NETosis in response to IL-1β.
Reversal by Phenylephrine of the Beneficial Effects of Intravenous Nitroglycerin in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Nitroglycerin has been shown to reduce ST-segment elevation during acute myocardial infarction, an effect potentiated in the dog by agents that reverse nitroglycerin-induced hypotension. Our study was designed to determine the effects of combined nitroglycerin and phenylephrine therapy. Ten patients with acute transmural myocardial infarctions received intravenous nitroglycerin, sufficient to reduce mean arterial pressure from 107 +/- 6 to 85 +/- 6 mm Hg (P less than 0.001), for 60 minutes. Left ventricular filling pressure decreased from 19 +/- 2 to 11 +/- 2 mm Hg (P less than 0.001). SigmaST, the sum of ST-segment elevations in 16 precordial leads, decreased (P less than 0.02) with intravenous nitroglycerin. Subsequent addition of phenylephrine infusion, sufficient to re-elevate mean arterial pressure to 106 +/- 4 mm Hg (P less than 0.001) for 30 minutes, increased left ventricular filling pressure to 17 +/- 2 mm Hg (P less than 0.05) and also significantly increased sigmaST (P less than 0.05). Our results suggest that addition of phenylephrine to nitroglycerin is not beneficial in the treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction.
SPHAERECHINORHYNCHUS OPHIOGRANDIS N. SP. (ACANTHOCEPHALA: PLAGIORHYNCHIDAE: SPHAERECHINORHYNCHINAE), DESCRIBED FROM THE INTESTINE OF A KING COBRA, OPHIOPHAGUS HANNAH

Six acanthocephalan specimens of an undescribed species of Sphaerechinorhynchus Johnston and Deland, 1929, were found attached to the mucosal surface of the proximal small intestine of a legally imported king cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836). These specimens are described as Sphaerechinorhynchus ophiograndis n. sp., the third species of the genus from snakes native to the Indo-Australian region, and the second species described from adults in the king cobra. Sphaerechinorhynchus ophiograndis n. sp. differs from Sphaerechinorhynchus serpenticola Schmidt and Kuntz, 1966 and Sphaerechinorhynchus rotun- docapitus (Johnston, 1912) Johnston and Deland, 1929, by differences in proboscis and hook morphology, lemniscus length and appearance, testes presentation, number of cement glands, and, additionally from S. rotundocapitus, by overall trunk size and location of attachment within the host species. Presently, only 2 species of Sphaerechinorhynchus have been described: Sphaerechinorhynchus rotundocapitus (Johnston, 1912) Johnston and Deland, 1929, in the posterior intestine and rectum of the Australian blacksnake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) from Australia and Sphaerechinorhynchus serpenticola Schmidt and Kuntz, 1966, which was originally described from the mes- entery adjacent to the large intestine of an Indian cobra (Naja naja) in Borneo (Malaysia). Sphaerechinorhynchus serpenti- cola has subsequently been reported as juveniles in a variety of colubrid and elapid snakes in Peninsular Malaysia (Ambu et al., 1990) and as adults in the stomach and small intestine of Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836) from Thailand (Kiel and Schmidt, 1984). Farooqi and Sirikanchana (1987) also de- scribed a juvenile female Sphaerechinorhynchus sp. from the body cavity of the murrel fish, Ophicephalus striatus from Bangkok, Thailand. The following description of Sphaerechi- norhynchus ophiograndis n. sp. is based on 6 specimens recov- ered from an imported king cobra, 0. hannah, during a general surveillance of parasites of reptilian hosts.
Effects of semantic and acoustic context on nonword detection in children with hearing loss.

PURPOSE Children with hearing loss (HL) are known to have smaller receptive vocabularies than children with normal hearing (NH). This may be due, in part, of their reduced exposure to new words and their slower rate of word learning. A necessary prerequisite to lexical development is the detection of new words in conversation. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of HL on children's ability to detect the presence of nonwords within sentences that varied in semantic and acoustic context. METHODS Twenty-nine children with NH and 16 children with HL between the ages of 7 and 13 years participated. The children listened to short sentences and reported the number of nonwords detected, ranging from zero to two nonwords, in each sentence. The structure of the sentences was either meaningful or nonsensical to the children to reveal the effects of semantic context. The effects of acoustic context were revealed by presenting the sentences in quiet, steady-state noise, and in multi-talker babble. RESULTS Significant effects of age (older > younger), hearing (NH > HL), and listening condition (quiet > noise and babble) were observed. Also, nonword detection was better for semantically meaningful sentences than for nonsense sentences. Error analyses revealed that the children with NH tended to underestimate the number of nonwords in meaningful sentences but not in nonsense sentences. The children with HL, however, were more likely to underestimate the number of nonwords than were the children with NH for both meaningful and nonsense sentences. These error patterns were observed in each listening condition. CONCLUSIONS Error patterns suggest that children with HL apply strong repair strategies during speech perception, which may limit their opportunities to learn new words.
Cavity piezomechanical strong coupling and frequency conversion on an aluminum nitride chip

Schemes to achieve strong coupling between mechanical modes of aluminum nitride microstructures and microwave cavity modes due to the piezoelectric effect are proposed. We show that the strong-coupling regime is feasible for an on-chip aluminum nitride device that is either enclosed by a three-dimensional microwave cavity or integrated with a superconducting coplanar resonator. Combining with optomechanics, the piezomechanical strong coupling permits coherent conversion between microwave and optical modes with high efficiency. Hence, the piezomechanical system will be an efficient transducer for applications in hybrid quantum systems.
Site simulation test on easily slip over dip slope bedding-slip failure caused by groundwater pressure

The stability of easily slip over dip slope is mainly affected by groundwater pressures on the slope rock mass.It was simulated on site that the bedding-slip failure test caused by groundwater pressure in easily slip over dip slope.The test verified water through rate at the potential sliding plane,which must consider in rock slope stability analysis of groundwater effect.The correctness of the basic mechanical model of the easily slip over dip slope was verified.It was also tested that the front of landslide was starting early and had the phenomenon of water seepage or water sprinkling in front of landslide body before landslide occurrence.The test results showed that when the groundwater pressures suffered by potential sliding plane rise to the sliding threshold,the huge landslide occurred.Finally,it was proposed that the reliable methods of monitoring groundwater pressures threshold suffered by the front of potential sliding plane.
Design of Novel Broadband Circular Microstrip Antenna Working at S-band

A novel broadband circular microstrip antenna working at S-band is designed and simulated with HFSS software.The antenna adopts two layers of substrates: teflon and air.In order to implement the compensation of the inductive reactance caused by the long coaxial probe,a lumped capactor is added at the top of the probe and then the coupled feed of radiation patch is conducted.An arc slot is made on the circular patch to generate another resonance frequency for the further enhancement of bandwidth.The simulation results show that the impedence BW of the antenna reaches 38%(VSWR2) and within the range of band the radiation pattern of antenna almost keeps the same.
Transposon-Based Strategies for the Identification of Essential Bacterial Genes

We present a conceptual review of transposition-based strategies for determining gene essentiality on a one-by-one basis in bacteria. Many of the techniques are described in greater detail in individual chapters of this volume. The second section of this chapter deals with transposition-deletion-based strategies for determining the essentiality of blocks of genes. This latter approach has the potential to experimentally define the minimal required genome for a given organism.
Cell and Biologic-Based Treatment of Flexor Tendon Injuries.

The 2 primary factors leading to poor clinical results after intrasynovial tendon repair are adhesion formation within the digital sheath and repair-site elongation and rupture. As the outcomes following modern tendon multistrand repair and controlled rehabilitation techniques are often unsatisfactory, alternative approaches, such as the application of growth factors and mesenchymal stem cells, have become increasingly attractive treatment options. Successful biological therapies require carefully controlled spatiotemporal delivery of cells, growth factors, and biocompatible scaffold matrices to simultaneously (1) promote matrix synthesis at the tendon repair site leading to increased biomechanical strength and stiffness and (2) suppress matrix synthesis along the tendon surface and synovial sheath preventing adhesion formation. This article summarizes recent cell and biologic-based experimental treatments for flexor tendon injury, with an emphasis on large animal translational studies.
Ca2 +/calmodulin-activated phosphodiesterase 1A is highly expressed in rabbit cardiac sinoatrial nodal cells and regulates pacemaker function

Constitutive Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM)-activation of adenylyl cyclases (ACs) types 1 and 8 in sinoatrial nodal cells (SANC) generates cAMP within lipid-raft-rich microdomains to initiate cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling, that regulates basal state rhythmic action potential firing of these cells. Mounting evidence in other cell types points to a balance between Ca(2+)-activated counteracting enzymes, ACs and phosphodiesterases (PDEs) within these cells. We hypothesized that the expression and activity of Ca(2+)/CaM-activated PDE Type 1A is higher in SANC than in other cardiac cell types. We found that PDE1A protein expression was 5-fold higher in sinoatrial nodal tissue than in left ventricle, and its mRNA expression was 12-fold greater in the corresponding isolated cells. PDE1 activity (nimodipine-sensitive) accounted for 39% of the total PDE activity in SANC lysates, compared to only 4% in left ventricular cardiomyocytes (LVC). Additionally, total PDE activity in SANC lysates was lowest (10%) in lipid-raft-rich and highest (76%) in lipid-raft-poor fractions (equilibrium sedimentation on a sucrose density gradient). In intact cells PDE1A immunolabeling was not localized to the cell surface membrane (structured illumination microscopy imaging), but located approximately within about 150nm inside of immunolabeling of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated potassium channels (HCN4), which reside within lipid-raft-rich microenvironments. In permeabilized SANC, in which surface membrane ion channels are not functional, nimodipine increased spontaneous SR Ca(2+) cycling. PDE1A mRNA silencing in HL-1 cells increased the spontaneous beating rate, reduced the cAMP, and increased cGMP levels in response to IBMX, a broad spectrum PDE inhibitor (detected via fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy). We conclude that signaling via cAMP generated by Ca(2+)/CaM-activated AC in SANC lipid raft domains is limited by cAMP degradation by Ca(2+)/CaM-activated PDE1A in non-lipid raft domains. This suggests that local gradients of [Ca(2+)]-CaM or different AC and PDE1A affinity regulate both cAMP production and its degradation, and this balance determines the intensity of Ca(2+)-AC-cAMP-PKA signaling that drives SANC pacemaker function.
Chapter 10 – Research-Based Interventions on Bullying

Publisher Summary This chapter offers some practical advice to school personnel about bullying, and bullying's antecedents and consequences, as well as research-based prevention and intervention options. The various forms or types of bullying have implications for intervention. In contrast to some of the overt forms, such as physical aggression and direct verbal harassment, the covert types of intimidation are difficult for school staff to detect and intervene. Some children tend to interpret unintended, ambiguous actions of others as intentional, and react to the perceived provocation or threat. One old misconception about experiences of bullying is that they build character. That is, victims of bullying were thought to benefit from experiences of peer intimidation. In contrast to this view, research findings quite clearly show that bullying experiences increase the vulnerabilities of children. In addition to the myths about bullies and victims, there is another misconception about bullying: many parents, teachers, and children view bullying as a problem of bullies and victims.
Compliance with serial dermoscopic monitoring: An academic perspective.

Background For even seasoned practitioners, early melanomas can be difficult to distinguish from melanocytic nevi. Although serial digital dermoscopy is considered by many to be the gold standard for monitoring patients at high risk, poor compliance can seriously alter efficacy. In 2014, a concerning compliance rate of 25% was reported from a single, private clinic. Information is currently limited regarding the determinants of compliance and whether patients at high risk return at an acceptable rate. Objective We sought to determine the compliance rate within the pigmented lesions clinic at our academic institution and identify demographic variables that may influence adherence. Methods A retrospective review was conducted using 120 patient charts. Results An overall compliance rate of 87.5% was observed with 63.3% of patients returning within 1 month of the recommended interval. The most notable risk factor for noncompliance was patient age between 20 and 29 years. Factors promoting adherence include a personal history of melanoma, greater than 5 serially monitored nevi, and a personal history of atypical nevi. Limitations The external validity is limited and the sample size is small. Conclusion These findings contradict concerns that adherence to serial monitoring is unacceptably poor and demonstrate that compliance is highest for patients with the greatest inherent risk.
Developing Thinking Strategies for Addition Facts.

Casey: (using counters) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. [Pause] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. [Pause] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Alex: (using fingers) 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. The answer is 16. Lindsey: 9 + 9 = 18, and this is 2 less, so the answer is 16. Marcus: 7 + 7 = 14, 15, 16. The answer is 16. Jamie: 7 + 9 is the same as 8 + 8, so the answer is 16. Latesia: 7 + 9 is the same as 10 + 6, so the answer is 16. Jonathon: 7 + 10 is 17, so this is 1 less, or 16.
Changes in muscle fiber contractility and extracellular matrix production during skeletal muscle hypertrophy

This study utilized a rat synergist ablation model to integrate changes in single muscle fiber contractility, extracellular matrix composition, activation of important signaling pathways in muscle ...
Predictors for venous sinus stent retreatment in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Background Venous sinus stenting for dural sinus stenoses is an emerging alternative to cerebrospinal fluid diversion in cases of medically refractory idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Juxta-stent ‘re-stenoses’ have been reported and managed alternatively with ventricular shunting or stent revision. Identification of factors that might predispose patients to recurrent narrowing may help to select or exclude patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension for venous sinus stenting. Methods We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively maintained database spanning December 2011 to May 2015 of all patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension who were screened for possible venous sinus stenting, including only patients who received a stent, noting symptomatic improvements, changes in opening lumbar puncture pressure, demographic characteristics, and any subsequent intervention after stent placement. Fisher9s exact test and logistic regression were used to test each of seven potential predictors for retreatment. Results There were eight revisions in 31 patients (25.8%). Among Caucasians, 8.0% required a revision compared with 100% of African-Americans (p Conclusions BMI was a significant predictor of revision, suggesting that higher BMI may have a higher risk of revision. The small number of African-Americans in the study makes interpretation of the practical significance of the revision rate in these patients uncertain. None of the other studied factors was statistically significant.
Free radical tissue damages in the anterior segment of the eye in experimental autoimmune uveitis.

Purpose To investigate increased free radical activity and the accumulation and localization of lipid peroxidation in the anterior segment of the eye with uveitis. Methods Experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) was induced in rats using human S-antigen peptide. Conjugated dienes (CD) and keto-dienes (KD) were then extracted from the cornea, iris-ciliary body and lens of the EAU eyes. The quantity of CD and KD were determined by measuring ultraviolet absorption and estimating by means of a molar extinction coefficient. Frozen sections of EAU eyes were reacted with 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid hydrazide (NAH), and NAH-carbonyl compounds were detected using a confocal laser scanning microscope. Statistical comparisons of CD and KD products between the EAU groups and controls were performed using the Student's t-test. Results Compared to controls, CD and KD were significantly increased in the cornea and iris-ciliary body of EAU eyes. Lenses of EAU eyes showed a tendency to elevated levels of CD and KD. In EAU, primarily the anterior border layer and the posterior epithelium of the iris--and, to a lesser extent, the trabecular meshwork and corneal endothelium--revealed positive fluorescence staining for peroxidized carbonyl products. No staining was observed on the ciliary epithelium. Conclusions Free radicals and lipid peroxidation products are generated in the anterior segment of the eye in EAU. Because the individual tissues in the anterior segment are composed of various levels of fatty acids and different concentrations of antioxidants, the extent of tissue damage from lipid peroxidation may represent a balance between the fatty acid composition and the antioxidant distribution in each of the tissues.
Modeling of Melt-Pool Formation and Material Removal in Micro Electro-Discharge Machining

This paper presents a μ – EDM melt-pool model to predict workpiece (anode) material removal from a single discharge μ – EDM process. To model the melt-pool heat transfer and fluid flow equations are solved in the domain containing dielectric and workpiece material. A level set method is used to identify solid and liquid fractions of the workpiece material when the material is molten by μ – EDM plasma heat flux. The plasma heat flux, plasma pressure and the radius of the plasma bubble have been estimated by a μ – EDM plasma model and serve as inputs to the melt-pool model to predict the volume of material removed from the surface of the workpiece. Experiments are carried out to study the effect of inter-electrode voltage and gap distance on the crater size. For inter-electrode voltage in the range of 100–150 V and gap distance of 0.5–2 μm, the model predicts crater diameter in the range of 150–165 μm and maximum crater depth of 25–35 μm for discharge duration of 5 μs. The crater sizes for most of experimental craters at higher gap distances show good agreement with the simulated crater shapes. However, at lower gaps, the model over-predicts the crater size.© 2014 ASME
Pedicled Transfer of the Superficial Inguinal Lymph Node Flap for Lymphedema

Background Vascularized lymph node transfer is performed for select patients with lymphedema who remain refractory to nonsurgical therapies. Typically, this involves a microvascular free tissue transfer of donor lymph nodes to the affected area. We describe our experience with the transfer of a pedicled adipofascial flap containing the superficial inguinal lymph nodes for lower extremity lymphedema or penoscrotal lymphedema. Methods In eight patients, a unilateral pedicled superficial inguinal lymph node flap was harvested. The flap consisted of subscarpal adipofascial tissue between the level of the inguinal ligament and the groin crease. Blood supply was from either the superficial circumflex iliac vessels or the superficial inferior epigastric vessels. In certain patients, concurrent lymphaticovenular anastomosis was attempted as well. Results Four patients underwent pedicled superficial inguinal lymph node flap transfer for lower extremity lymphedema and for the other four patients the indication was penoscrotal lymphedema. Seven of the eight study patients reported improvements in their lymphedema symptoms. Postoperative complications included cellulitis in one patient and hematoma in another patient; neither patient required reoperation. Conclusion The pedicled superficial inguinal lymph node flap is a feasible and safe treatment option for either lower extremity lymphedema or genital lymphedema. This case series provides the basis for additional studies regarding the potential use of this vascularized lymph node flap in select patients.
One-Step Generalized Estimating Equations with Large Cluster Sizes.

ABSTRACTMedical studies increasingly involve a large sample of independent clusters, where the cluster sizes are also large. Our motivating example from the 2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) has 8,001,068 patients and 1049 clusters, with average cluster size of 7627. Consistent parameter estimates can be obtained naively assuming independence, which are inefficient when the intra-cluster correlation (ICC) is high. Efficient generalized estimating equations (GEE) incorporate the ICC and sum all pairs of observations within a cluster when estimating the ICC. For the 2010 NIS, there are 92.6 billion pairs of observations, making summation of pairs computationally prohibitive. We propose a one-step GEE estimator that (1) matches the asymptotic efficiency of the fully iterated GEE; (2) uses a simpler formula to estimate the ICC that avoids summing over all pairs; and (3) completely avoids matrix multiplications and inversions. These three features make the proposed estimator much less computationally inte...
42 Years of Urban Growth and Industry Composition

In recent decades, knowledge spillovers have taken the helm as the driving force of growth in cities. The ease of communicating ideas and the sheer density of large urban areas have made this a plausible explanation for continued growth of employment and population in cities. However, there is little consensus on the nature of the optimal conditions for stimulating knowledge spillovers. This paper identifies these optimal conditions by exploring the relative importance of industry specialization, diversity and competition across all industries and all metropolitan areas from 1970 to 2011 in the U.S. Long-term employment growth in cities is found to be driven by industry diversity combined with a high level of competition. This combination fosters the greatest amount of cross-industry fertilization of ideas and knowledge spillovers.
General and emotion-specific alterations to cognitive control in women with a history of childhood abuse

Abstract Background Although limited, the literature suggests alterations in activation of cognitive control regions in adults and adolescents with a history of childhood abuse. The current study examined whether such alterations are increased in the face of emotionally-distracting as compared to emotionally neutral information, and whether such alterations occur in brain regions that exert cognitive control in a more top-down sustained manner or a more bottom-up transient manner. Methods Participants were young adult women (ages 23–30): one group with a history of childhood physical or sexual abuse (N = 15) and one with no trauma exposure (N = 17), as assessed through the Trauma History Questionnaire and a two-stage interview adapted from the National Crime Victims Survey. Participants underwent fMRI scanning while completing hybrid block/event-related versions of a classic color-word and an emotional Stroop paradigm (threat and positive words). This paradigm allowed us to examine both sustained (activation persisting across blocks) and transient (event-specific activation) aspects of cognitive control. Results Women with a history of childhood abuse demonstrated decreased recruitment of frontal-parietal regions involved in cognitive control and enhanced recruitment of a ventral attention surveillance network during blocks of both versions of the Stroop task. Additionally, they had less suppression of brain regions involved in self-referential processes for threat blocks, but greater suppression of these regions for positive blocks. Severity of avoidance symptoms was associated with sustained activation in lateral prefrontal regions, whereas hyperarousal/re-experiencing symptoms were associated with sustained activity in temporal regions. No differential effects were observed for transient control. Conclusions Results suggest exposure to childhood abuse is associated with blunted recruitment of brain regions supporting task-set maintenance but hypervigilance for task-irrelevant information, regardless of whether distractors are emotionally neutral or emotional. Exposure to childhood abuse is also associated with less suppression of default mode brain regions associated with self-referential processing in the face of irrelevant threat information, but heightened ability to suppress similar processing for irrelevant positive information.
Rhythmic Rituals and Emergent Listening: Intra-Activity, Sonic Sounds and Digital Composing with Young Children.

(Re)Entering data from a networked collaborative project exploring how sound operates as a mechanism for attuning towards cultural difference and community literacies, this article examines one pri...
Architecture and Politics in Republican Rome

Architecture and Politics in Republican Rome is the first book to explore the intersection between Roman Republican building practices and politics (c.509–44 BCE). At the start of the period, architectural commissions were carefully controlled by the political system; by the end, buildings were so widely exploited and so rhetorically powerful that Cassius Dio cited abuse of visual culture among the reasons that propelled Julius Caesar's colleagues to murder him in order to safeguard the Republic. In an engaging and wide-ranging text, Penelope J. E. Davies traces the journey between these two points, as politicians developed strategies to manoeuver within the system's constraints. She also explores the urban development and image of Rome, setting out formal aspects of different types of architecture and technological advances such as the mastery of concrete. Elucidating a rich corpus of buildings that have been poorly understand, Davies demonstrates that Republican architecture was much more than a formal precursor to that of imperial Rome.
KEY Careers: Increasing Retention and Graduation Rates With Career Interventions:

The purpose of the study was to investigate how promoting participation in KEY Careers, a career intervention program available to all incoming matriculates, influenced 1-year retention and 4-year ...
Targets for drug development — past and present

The first cases of AIDS were recognized in 1981 [1]. With the realization that patients with AIDS experienced nearly universal mortality, the search for effective treatment began urgently. This search was facilitated greatly by the discovery of the causative agent, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [2, 3]. It was recognized early on that the replication cycles of other animal and human retroviruses depended on the virus-specific enzyme reverse transcriptase, and this became the first HIV drug target. Several compounds with demonstrated activity against other retroviruses were reported to have activity against HIV in vitro by inhibiting the reverse transcriptase enzyme, such as suramin [4] and ribavirin [5]. However, clinical trials of these agents ultimately showed no clinical benefits in HIV-infected patients [6, 7].
Soluble Complement Receptor and Hyperacute Rejection

Hyperacute rejection (HAR) of vascularized organ transplants occurs in both presensitized recipients of allografts and in discordant xenograft (Xg) recipients. HAR of allografts is currently avoided by excluding from Transplantation those patients with high levels of alloreactive antibodies, since no clinically effective treatment exists to prevent this process. These patients are then added to ever expanding waiting lists, and many die while awaiting organ Transplantation. Additionally, these lists continue to expand because of the increasing shortage of organs available for clinical Transplantation. The use of Xgs from distantly related species might relieve this problem of donor availability but is also prevented by HAR.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) Distant from Xenobiotic Response Elements Can Modulate Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Function: SNP-Dependent CYP1A1 Induction

CYP1A1 expression can be upregulated by the ligand-activated aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Based on prior observations with estrogen receptors and estrogen response elements, we tested the hypothesis that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mapping hundreds of base pairs (bp) from xenobiotic response elements (XREs) might influence AHR binding and subsequent gene expression. Specifically, we analyzed DNA sequences 5 kb upstream and downstream of the CYP1A1 gene for putative XREs. SNPs located ±500 bp of these putative XREs were studied using a genomic data–rich human lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) model system. CYP1A1 mRNA levels were determined after treatment with varying concentrations of 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC). The rs2470893 (−1694G>A) SNP, located 196 bp from an XRE in the CYP1A1 promoter, was associated with 2-fold variation in AHR-XRE binding in a SNP-dependent fashion. LCLs with the AA genotype displayed significantly higher AHR-XRE binding and CYP1A1 mRNA expression after 3MC treatment than did those with the GG genotype. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that oligonucleotides with the AA genotype displayed higher LCL nuclear extract binding after 3MC treatment than did those with the GG genotype, and mass spectrometric analysis of EMSA protein-DNA complex bands identified three candidate proteins, two of which were co-immunoprecipitated with AHR. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that the rs2470893 SNP, which maps 196 bp from a CYP1A1 promoter XRE, is associated with variations in 3MC-dependent AHR binding and CYP1A1 expression. Similar “distant SNP effects” on AHR binding to an XRE motif and subsequent gene expression might occur for additional AHR-regulated genes.
Synchronous Sequential Computations with Biomolecular Reactions

We present a methodology for implementing synchronous sequential computation using molecular reactions. Such systems perform computations in terms of molecular concentrations, i.e., molecules per unit volume, whereas the traditional electronic systems perform computations in terms of voltages, i.e., energy per unit charge. Thus far, several researchers have already proposed molecular reactions to implement static logical and arithmetic functions such as addition, multiplication, exponentiation, square root, and logarithms. In this paper, we propose two mechanisms to implement a multi-phase clock using molecular reactions. In addition, we synthesize memory by transferring concentrations between molecular types in the alternating phases of the clock. We illustrate how our methodology can be used to construct finite impulse response (FIR) filter, an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter and a four-point, two-parallel fast Fourier transform (FFT). We also show how these molecular reactions can be translated into DNA strand displacement reactions and validate our designs through chemical kinetics simulations at the DNA reactions level. Our proposed methodology is conceptual but has potential in developing synthetic biological constructs for biochemical sensing and drug delivery.
Ventilation Control in Bifurcate Tunnels with Distributed Vents

We propose an optimal ventilation control model for bifurcate vehicular tunnels with distributed pollutant discharge points. The control problem is formulated as a nonlinear integer program that aims to minimize energy cost of fans while meeting multiple air quality requirements inside the tunnel and near the vents. Based on the steady-state solutions to tunnel aerodynamics equations, we propose a reduced form model for air velocities as explicit functions of ventilation decision variables and traffic intensity. The pollutant dispersion model is then incorporated for the derivation of optimal pollutant discharge control strategies. A case study of a new urban tunnel in China shows that the scheduling of fan operations based on the proposed model can effectively achieve different air quality standards under varying traffic intensity.