cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulating International Cooperation under Uncertainty The Effects of Symmetric and Asymmetric Noise

The repeated prisioner's dilemma is representative of a broad range of situations in international security and trade. This article examines the effects of asymmetric noise on the emergence and maintenance of cooperation under such conditions. The results show that positive and negative asymmetric noise have very different effects on strategy performance. For forgiving strategies, positive noise provides a stimulus out of perpetual defection or unsynchronized retaliations, but also opens them to exploitation. For provocable strategies, negative noise triggers unsynchronized retaliations or perpetual defection, although this may be tempered by generosity and contrition. The effects of neutral noise reflects the signature of each asymmetric noise type. Of the strategies examined, contrite tit-for-tat (CTFT) is generally one of the best performers in both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. Moreover, one generally sees the evolutionary models moving from heterogeneous bilateral interaction to cooperative ...
Comparative study on pyruvate kinase activity-reducing action of various promoters of hepatocarcinogenesis.

Chemicals such as PB, DDT, EED, sodium deoxycholate, thiobenzamide, orotic acid and SorFAE which enhance the formation of liver tumors or HN, caused a marked decrease in PK activity in Wistar rat liver that persisted for at least 4 weeks, though the decrease caused by EED was not so marked as that caused by other hepatic promoters. Non-promoting agents such as DH, and some chemicals, such as DEXA, testosterone and AB, which enhance the formation of GGT-positive foci in rat livers, but do not enhance the formation of tumors or HN, caused decreases in PK activity in some cases. Any such decreases, however, were only transient and normal levels were restored within 4 weeks. The results suggest that the continuous decrease in PK activity may be a useful marker in screening tests for the promoters of hepatocar-cinogenesis.
Ferrimagnetic spiral configurations in cobalt chromite

Cobalt chromite, CoCr2O4, is a cubic spinel which is ferrimagnetic at low temperatures with a Curie point Tc ≈ 97 °K. The room temperature powder diffraction pattern on this material, corrected for temperature effects, shows that it is a normal spinel with an oxygen parameter equal to 0.38707 :f: .00005. At 4.2 °K there are, in addition to the magnetic contributions to the fundamental spinel peaks, a large number of magnetic 11 satellite " peaks. All of the additional peaks can be indexed on the basis of the ferrimagnetic spiral model proposed for normal cubic spinels by Lyons, Kaplan, Dwight and Menyuk, in which the spiraling components of the spins are defined by a single k vector along a face diagonal. The experimental magnitude of |k| is approximately 5 % greater than theoretically predicted. The neutron diffraction pattern predicted on the basis of the spiral model is completely determined upon fixing the exchange ratio JBB/J AB and the cone axis direction. Taking JBB /J AB = 1. 5 on the basis of magnetization measurements previously reported, it is found that the intensities of the various peaks are in excellent agreement with the intensities predicted by the spiral model with the cone axis along an [001] direction. The ferrimagnetic spiral configuration is known to become unstable relative to small deviations for JBB SB /JAB S A > 0.98 (i.e. JBB/JAB > 0.98 in CoCr2O4). However, our results indicate that the true configuration closely approximates that predicted by the model over a range of exchange interaction ratios which extends well beyond the onset of local instability. Upon increasing the temperature above 4,2 °K, the satellite peaks disappeared between 25 °K and 35 °K, apparently degenerating into a broad plateau observed at 50 °K and 77 °K. Despite this disappearance, a self-consistent fit to neither the magnetic contributions to the fundamental peaks nor the observed thermal variation of the magnetization can be obtained from a collinear model. However, the predicted values based on a molecular field treatment of the spiral model are in good agreement with these measurements. These results further corroborate the validity of the spiral model for CoCr2O4, and indicate that the molecular field approximation accurately describes the axial component throughout its ferrimagnetic range, but not the azimuthal component.
What justifies the United States ban on federal funding for nonreproductive cloning

This paper explores how current United States policies for funding nonreproductive cloning are justified and argues against that justification. I show that a common conceptual framework underlies the national prohibition on the use of public funds for cloning research, which I call the simple argument. This argument rests on two premises: that research harming human embryos is unethical and that embryos produced via fertilization are identical to those produced via cloning. In response to the simple argument, I challenge the latter premise. I demonstrate there are important ontological differences between human embryos (produced via fertilization) and clone embryos (produced via cloning). After considering the implications my argument has for the morality of publicly funding cloning for potential therapeutic purposes and potential responses to my position, I conclude that such funding is not only ethically permissible, but also humane national policy.
Increased MMPs expression and decreased contraction in the rat myometrium during pregnancy and in response to prolonged stretch and sex hormones

Normal pregnancy is associated with uterine relaxation to accommodate the stretch imposed by the growing fetus; however, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between pregnancy-associated uter...
Relation of leukocytosis to C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

An elevated white blood cell (WBC) count and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) have been associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiac events. The relation between these 2 parameters of heightened systemic inflammation was characterized in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Femoral arterial blood samples from a prospective registry of 100 patients who underwent PCI were obtained immediately before the procedure. The concentrations of CRP and interleukin-6 were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were stratified according to tertiles of ascending WBC counts before PCI. Univariate analysis compared patients in the highest WBC count tertile with the lower tertiles for clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics, as well as pre-PCI cytokine concentrations. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between the elevated WBC count and baseline elevations in either CRP or interleukin-6, accounting for the simultaneous effect of confounding characteristics. Approximately 75% of patients had stable or unstable angina pectoris versus a marker-positive acute coronary syndrome. Patients in the highest WBC count tertile were more likely to be smokers, have received unfractionated heparin, have a marker-positive acute coronary syndrome, and have a CRP >3.0 mg/L. Multivariate analysis showed that only elevated troponin-I before PCI was independently associated with the highest WBC count tertile (odds ratio 10.9, 95% confidence interval 3.7 to 32.4, p 3.0 mg/L was a powerful independent predictor of an elevated pre-PCI WBC count (odds ratio 3.78, 95% confidence interval 1.07 to 13.3, p = 0.04). In conclusion, in patients with troponin I negative coronary syndromes, a pre-PCI elevation in the WBC count reflected cytokine-mediated inflammation.
Seminal megavesicle in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Retrospective analysis of 99 male autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients compared to an age-matched control population showed seminal vesicle ectasia >10 mm (megavesicle) in 23% (23/99) of ADPKD patients that was not present in any controls (P<.0001). Median (range) seminal vesicle convoluted tubule diameter in ADPKD patients was 4.2 (1.7-30) mm compared to 3.1 (1.7-6.8) mm in controls (P<.0001). Discrete cysts were identified in four ADPKD patients but in none of the control population (P=.12). Seminal megavesicles may explain the infertility sometimes observed in male ADPKD patients.
A Frequency-Domain Theory for Parametric Networks

This paper presents a frequency-domain method for analyzing the transient and steady-state behavior of a class of linear, variable parameter networks defined as follows: A "lumped, linear, parametric network" (LLPN) consists of a finite number of lumped circuit elements, R's, L's, and C's, whose values vary periodically with time, imbedded in a network of fixed R's, L's, C's, and sources. In any particular LLPN, the frequencies of all the time-variant elements are comensurable. The method of analysis, based upon the theory of linear difference equations, is exact. There are no approximations which restrict the analysis to networks containing sharply tuned filters. For a single sinusoidally varying element, a precise numerical method that is readily performed by a digital computer is presented. In addition, some interesting properties of single-element linear parametric amplifier networks are presented.
Multi-domain general axisymmetric stress analysis by BEM

It is well known that there are many benefits in solving axisymmetric solids subjected to non-axisymmetric loading by using Fourier series expansion of field variables. Although many researchers have utilized this technique to solve problems of cooling towers and rocket nozzles, etc. by the Finite Element Method, the BEM formulation and implementation of such a method have been available only recently, mainly due to the efforts of Rizzo and Shippy3 and Mayr et al.4 In this paper these early developments have been generalized further by including more expansion terms, an efficient decomposition of kernels into symmetric and antisymmetric forms, improved evaluation of matrix coefficients and developing more general computer implementation to include surface stress calculations, effects of body forces and extensive substructuring facilities to analyse multi-zone problems.
Towards a physical XML independent XQuery/SQL/XML engine

There has been a lot of research and industrial effort on building XQuery engines with different kinds of XML storage and index models. However, most of these efforts focus on building either an efficient XQuery engine with one kind of XML storage, index, view model in mind or a general XQuery engine without any consideration of the underlying XML storage, index and view model. We need an underlying framework to build an XQuery engine that can work with and provide optimization for different XML storage, index and view models. Besides XQuery, RDBMSs also support SQL/XML, a standard language that integrates XML and relational processing. There are industrial efforts for building hybrid XQuery and SQL/XML engines that support both languages so that users can manage and query both relational and XML data on one platform. However, we need a theoretical framework to optimize both SQL/XML and XQuery languages in one RDBMS. In this paper, we show our industrial work of building a combined XQuery and SQL/XML engine that is able to work and provide optimization for different kinds of XML storage and index models in Oracle XMLDB. This work is based on XML extended relational algebra as the underlying tuple-based logical algebra and incorporates tree and automata based physical algebra into the logical tuple-based algebra so as to provide optimization for different physical XML formulations. This results in logical and physical rewrite techniques to optimize XQuery and SQL/XML over a variety of physical XML storage, index and view models, including schema aware object relational XML storage with relational indexes, binary XML storage with schema agnostic path-value-order key XMLIndex, SQL/XML view over relational data and relational view over XML. Furthermore, we show the approach of leveraging cost based XML physical rewrite strategy to evaluate different physical rewrite plans.
Bearing Capacity of Footings over Two-Layer Foundation Soils

The bearing capacity of strip footings over a two-layer foundation soil is considered. The kinematic approach of limit analysis is used to calculate the average limit pressure under footings. The method is applicable to any combination of parameters of the two layers, but the results are presented only for a specific case when a footing is placed on a layer of granular soil resting on clay. The depth of the collapse mechanism is found to be very much dependent on the strength of the clay. Very weak clay can “attract” the mechanism even at great depths. The results are presented as limit pressures rather than traditional bearing-capacity coefficients. The latter are strongly dependent not only on the internal friction angle of the sand, but also on the thickness of the sand layer, cohesion of the clay, and surcharge pressure. Results are presented in the form of dimensionless charts for different internal friction angles of sand. It was found that linear interpolation within 5° increments is acceptable in ...
The Effects of MCRT and Temperature on Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal

Temperature and low mean cell residence time (MCRT) effects on enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) were investigated in continuous flow bench-scale activated sludge systems treating settled domestic wastewater supplemented with 50 mg/l acetate over ranges of MCRT and temperature of 2-4 days and 13.5-20° C respectively. Temperature effects (10-37°C) on anaerobic soluble COD (CODsol) uptake and soluble P release (Psol) and aerobic Psol uptake rates were studied in batch. For the temperature range studied, EBPR functioned efficiently at MCRT ≥ 2.9 day; below 2.9 day MCRT EBPR is lost at an MCRT value that depends on temperature. Temperature effects on MCRT for EBPR (13.5-20°C), anaerobic CODsol uptake and Psol release rates and aerobic Psol uptake rates (10-30°C) are described by similar Arrhenius plots indicating a similar temperature dependency for all biological processes involved in EBPR.
A New Formulation for Dendritic Crystal Growth in two Dimensions

The objective of this paper is to study the growth of dendritic crystals in two spatial dimensions plus time. The paper makes three contributions, (i) We propose a new dynamic criterion to test physical mechanisms that might produce the velocity selection that is observed experimentally. We have not yet determined how the results of this criterion compare with those obtained by other criteria, such as microscopic solvability, (ii) The (known) equations of motion are restated in terms of orthogonal parabolic coordinates, a natural coordinate system in which to study perturbations of a parabolic (Ivantsov) interface. Among its other advantages, this formulation permits a larger class of behaviours far from the tip of the crystal than is allowed in the usual representation, (iii) On an initially parabolic interface, the analogue of the Mullins-Sekerka instability is more delicate than previously had been assumed. In particular, we find numerically that the range of unstable “wavenumbers” is bounded away from zero; i.e., sufficiently low wavenumbers are stable. Moreover, our preliminary calculations show parabolae, characterised by Peclet numbers of order 1, for which the linear instability is completely suppressed by enough surface tension. Such suppression is impossible on a flat interface.
Sensible Heat Balance and Heat-Pulse Method Applicability to In Situ Soil-Water Evaporation

A combined heat-pulse and sensible heat balance method can be used to determine evaporation using temperature measurements and thermal property estimations. The objective of this study was to investigate the applicability of the combined heat-pulse and sensible heat balance method by comparing laboratory experimental data to both an analytical and a multiphase heat and mass transfer model. A bench-scale laboratory experiment was performed to measure soil thermal and hydraulic properties at fine spatial and temporal resolutions. Comparisons of experimental and numerical results confirmed the applicability of the heat-pulse and sensible heat balance methods to determine evaporation rates. Results showed close agreement with experimental water loss measurements. This study demonstrated the ability and versatility of using the heat-pulse and sensible heat balance methods in numerical heat and mass transfer models to determine evaporation rates. Calculated soil thermal properties were in 93.4 and 97.5% agreement with experimental results for water content values >0.05. Deviations were observed at low water contents due to sensor sensitivity. The calculated evaporation rates yielded cumulative water losses that were 96.8 and 97.7% in agreement with experimentally measured weight loss data. Late Stage 1 evaporation was overestimated due to observed temperature rises by two of the heat-pulse probes. Despite this, the combined heat-pulse and sensible heat balance method is a powerful tool that can be used to determine evaporation rates in situ.
Temporal changes in filtering-facepiece respirator fit.

ABSTRACTA three-year study examined changes in N95 filtering-facepiece respirator (FFR) fit at six-month intervals and the relationship between fit and changes in weight for 229 subjects. During each visit, subjects performed a total of nine fit tests using three samples of the same FFR model. Inward leakage and filter penetration were measured for each donned respirator to determine face seal leakage (FSL). A total of 195 subjects completed the second visit and 134 subjects completed all seven visits. Acceptable fit was defined as 90th percentile FSL ≤ 5% and at least one fit factor ≥ 100. An unacceptable fit was observed for 14, 10, 7, 12, 15, and 16% of subjects on Visits 2–7, respectively. The predicted risk of an unacceptable fit increased with increasing length of time between fit tests, from 10% at Year 1 to 20% at Year 2 and to 25% at Year 3. Twenty-four percent of subjects who lost ≥ 20 lb had an unacceptable fit; these percentages ranged from 7–17% for subjects with lower weight losses or any de...
Associations of Adiponectin with Adiposity, Insulin Sensitivity, and Diet in Young, Healthy, Mexican Americans and Non-Latino White Adults

Low circulating adiponectin levels may contribute to higher diabetes risk among Mexican Americans (MA) compared to non-Latino whites (NLW). Our objective was to determine if among young healthy adult MAs have lower adiponectin than NLWs, independent of differences in adiposity. In addition, we explored associations between adiponectin and diet. This was an observational, cross-sectional study of healthy MA and NLW adults living in Colorado (U.S.A.). We measured plasma total adiponectin, adiposity (BMI, and visceral adipose tissue), insulin sensitivity (IVGTT), and self-reported dietary intake in 43 MA and NLW adults. Mean adiponectin levels were 40% lower among MA than NLW (5.8 ± 3.3 vs. 10.7 ± 4.2 µg/mL, p = 0.0003), and this difference persisted after controlling for age, sex, BMI, and visceral adiposity. Lower adiponectin in MA was associated with lower insulin sensitivity (R2 = 0.42, p < 0.01). Lower adiponectin was also associated with higher dietary glycemic index, lower intake of vegetables, higher intake of trans fat, and higher intake of grains. Our findings confirm that ethnic differences in adiponectin reflect differences in insulin sensitivity, but suggest that these are not due to differences in adiposity. Observed associations between adiponectin and diet support the need for future studies exploring the regulation of adiponectin by diet and other environmental factors.
Stressor timing, not cortisol, is an important embryo viability determinant in female rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

The objective of this study was to determine whether the timing of elevated cortisol levels in adult female rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, achieved by silastic implants within the body cavity, had an effect on embryo viability. Cortisol-implanted fish experienced a significant increase in circulating levels of plasma cortisol compared with sham-implanted fish, and plasma cortisol remained elevated relative to sham-implanted fish for 4 months in each of the three treatment groups (0-4, 4-8 and 8-12 months). There were no significant differences in embryo viability, egg diameters or plasma 17β-oestradiol levels between the cortisol and sham-implanted treatments in any of the groups. There was a significant difference in the number of subfertile females (<80% embryo viability) when the three treatments were compared. The majority of the females (75%) implanted immediately postspawn (0-4 months) produced subfertile eggs, which was significantly higher than those treated 4-8 (33%) or 8-12 (17%) months postspawn. These results imply that silastic implantation can affect oocyte development, independent of plasma cortisol levels, leading to a reduction in embryo viability.
Phenotypic Screening Approaches to Develop Aurora Kinase Inhibitors: Drug Discovery Perspectives.

Targeting mitotic regulators as a strategy to fight cancer implies the development of drugs against key proteins such as Aurora A and B. Current drugs which target mitosis through a general mechanism of action (stabilization/destabilization of microtubules), have several side effects (neutropenia, alopecia, emesis). Pharmaceutical companies aim at avoiding these unwanted effects by generating improved and selective drugs that increase the quality of life of the patients. However, the development of these drugs is an ambitious task that involves testing thousands of compounds through biochemical and cell-based assays. In addition, molecules usually target complex biological processes, involving several proteins and different molecular pathways, further emphasizing the need for high-throughput screening techniques and multiplexing technologies in order to identify drugs with the desired phenotype. We will briefly describe two multiplexing technologies (high-content imaging, microarrays and flow cytometry) and two key processes for drug discovery research (assay development and validation) following our own published industry quality standards. We will further focus on high-content imaging as a useful tool for phenotypic screening and will provide a concrete example of high-content imaging assay to detect Aurora A or B selective inhibitors discriminating the off-target effects related to inhibition of other cell cycle or non-cell cycle key regulators. Finally, we will describe other assays that can help to characterize the in vitro pharmacology of the inhibitors.
Neurobehavioral assessment of maternal odor in developing rat pups: implications for social buffering

Social support can attenuate the behavioral and stress hormone response to threat, a phenomenon called social buffering. The mother's social buffering of the infant is one of the more robust examples; yet we understand little about the neurobiology. Using a rodent model, we explore the neurobiology of social buffering by assessing neural processing of the maternal odor, a major cue controlling social buffering in rat pups. We used pups before (postnatal day (PN) 7) and after (PN14, PN23) the functional emergence of social buffering. Pups were injected with 14C 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) and presented with the maternal odor, a control preferred odor incapable of social buffering (acetophenone), or no odor. Brains were removed, processed for autoradiography and brain areas identified as important in adult social buffering were assessed, including the amygdala basolateral complex (Basolateral Amygdala [BLA]), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Results suggest dramatic changes in the processing of maternal odor. PN7 pups show mPFC and ACC activation, although PN14 pups showed no activation of the mPFC, ACC, or BLA. All brain areas assessed were recruited by PN23. Additional analysis suggests substantial changes in functional connectivity across development. Together, these results imply complex nonlinear transitions in the neurobiology of social buffering in early life that may provide insight into the changing role of the mother in supporting social buffering.
Glutamate and Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Systems in the Pathophysiology of Major Depression and Antidepressant Response to Ketamine

In patients with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, abnormalities in excitatory and/or inhibitory neurotransmission and neuronal plasticity may lead to aberrant functional connectivity patterns within large brain networks. Network dysfunction in association with altered brain levels of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid have been identified in both animal and human studies of depression. In addition, evidence of an antidepressant response to subanesthetic-dose ketamine has led to a collection of studies that have examined neurochemical (e.g., glutamatergic and gamma-aminobutyric acidergic) and functional imaging correlates associated with such an effect. Results from these studies suggest that an antidepressant response in association with ketamine occurs, in part, by reversing these neurochemical/physiological disturbances. Future studies in depression will require a combination of neuroimaging approaches from which more biologically homogeneous subgroups can be identified, particularly with respect to treatment response biomarkers of glutamatergic modulation.
Room Temperature Phase Transition in Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskite Thin Films Induced by Hydrohalic Acid Additives

Although reactive additives have been employed in perovskite solar cells to enhance film morphology and significantly increase device performance, little is known about the effect of these additives on perovskite structural and optical properties. Here we report a systematic study of how the properties of methylammonium lead iodide perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) are influenced by hydrohalic acid additives (HX; X=I, Br, Cl) in the precursor solution. Detailed structural and optical spectroscopic analysis reveals that all three acids affect the optical properties and alter the unit cell lattice parameters. Depending on the identity and concentration of HX, optical bandgaps widen or compress: addition of HBr yields a wider bandgap, whereas HI compresses the gap at high concentrations; HCl, on the other hand, has no significant effect on the bandgap. These changes can be understood by correlating them with the types of defects present in polycrystalline perovskite thin films in combination with the structural strain induced in very small crystallites. The presence of extra halides from HX in the precursor solution enables filling of the lattice vacancies in the perovskite, thereby altering metal–halogen–metal bond connectivity and consequently cell volumes and optical bandgaps. Remarkably, a room temperature tetragonal→cubic phase transition is observed for CH3NH3PbI3 films treated with high HX concentrations. Further insights into this anomalous phase transformation are obtained from in situ variable-temperature X-ray diffraction in the 25–55 °C (298–328 K) range, revealing a monotonic fall in transition temperature with increasing precursor solution HX concentration.
Comprehensive and Consistent PropBank Light Verb Annotation

Recent efforts have focused on expanding the annotation coverage of PropBank from verb relations to adjective and noun relations, as well as light verb constructions (e.g., make an offer, take a bath). While each new relation type has presented unique annotation challenges, ensuring consistent and comprehensive annotation of light verb constructions has proved particularly challenging, given that light verb constructions are semi-productive, difficult to define, and there are often borderline cases. This research describes the iterative process of developing PropBank annotation guidelines for light verb constructions, the current guidelines, and a comparison to related resources.
The US Community College After Globalization

This chapter focuses upon both education and training policy and practice in US community colleges following the period of the 1980s and 1990s where the globalization process shaped and influenced these institutions. On the one hand, institutional policy and behaviors pertain to program completion (including credentialing) and student learning outcomes. On the other hand, national policy for a globally competitive workforce points to the ways in which ideology, particularly neoliberal or liberal market ideology, used the globalization process and globalizing tendencies (e.g., international labor forces, immigration, and information technology). This ideology, or at least its tenets, has insinuated itself into public education. We draw upon a longitudinal investigation of US community colleges that highlights three community colleges, examined initially in the period of 1989–1999 and subsequently in the period of 2000–2013. During the former period, these colleges emphasized international education, cultural diversity, and access to further education as well as job preparation as key features of curriculum. Their operations featured efforts of greater efficiency, the use of information and educational technology, international partnerships and projects, and shifts in organizational structures and management. During the latter period, institutional behaviors and actions took on a decidedly more neoliberal tendency, with greater direction by the state as financial concerns, particularly after 2008 (i.e., the Great Recession), student outcome measures, and efforts for greater accountability and legitimacy were evident. As a result, community colleges in the USA reflect both national policy for a globally competitive workforce, so that the US economy can prosper, and states’ policies for financial constraints on public expenditures through both the rationing of higher education and the generation of revenues (e.g., international education). Thus, community colleges are both vehicles and models of state policy.
Modeling the Construction Risk Ratings to Estimate the Contingency in Highway Projects

AbstractPast studies have highlighted the importance of risk assessment in construction projects and have recommended different ways to respond to potential risks that may develop over the differen...
Abstract P023: HDAC Inhibition Promotes Cardiogenesis and the Survival of Embryonic Stem Cells Through Proteasome-Dependent Pathway

Objectives: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition plays a crucial role in mediating cardiogenesis and myocardial protection, whereas HDAC degradation has recently attracted attention in mediating the biological function of HDACs. However, it remains unknown whether HDAC inhibition modulates cardiogenesis and embryonic stem cell (ESC) survival through the proteasome pathway. Methods and Results: Using the well-established mouse CGR8 mouse ESC culture, we evaluated the impact of HDAC inhibition and proteasome pathway on the cell death, viability and apoptosis in ESCs in response to oxidant stress (100μ mol/L hydrogen peroxides). We demonstrated that HDAC inhibitors, both TSA (50 nmol/L) and sodium butyrate (200 μ mol/L) that causes the pronounced reduction of HDAC4 activity, decreased cell death and increased viability of ESCs. HDAC inhibition reduced the cleaved caspase 3, 6, 9, PARP and TUNE-positive ESCs, which were abrogated with MG132 (0.5 μ mol/L), a specific proteasome inhibitor. Furthermore, we employed in vitro “hanging drop” methods to carry out two weeks of embryoid bodies (EB) culture to assess the effect of HDAC inhibition and proteasome pathway on cardiogenesis. HDAC inhibition stimulates the growth of EB, which is associated with faster spontaneous rhythmic contraction. HDAC inhibition increased the up-regulation of GATA4, MEF2, NKX2.5, cardiac actin, and α-SMA mRNA and protein levels that were abrogated by MG132. Immunostaining analysis demonstrates that trichostatin A and sodium butyrate resulted in a significant increase in cardiac lineage commitments that were blocked by the proteasome inhibition. Notably, HDAC inhibitors led to noticeable HDAC4 degradation, which was effectively prevented by MG132. Luciferase assay demonstrates an activation of MEF2 cardiac transcriptional factor by HDAC inhibition, which was repressed by MG132, revealing that the degradation of HDAC4 allows the activation of MEF2. Conclusions: Taken together, our study is the first to demonstrate that HDAC inhibition through proteasome pathway forms a novel signaling to determine the cardiac lineage commitment and elicit the survival pathway, which is dependent on specific HDAC4 degradation and subsequent MEF2 activation of ESCs.
Targeting the MDM2-p53 Protein-Protein Interaction for New Cancer Therapeutics

The p53 tumor suppressor protein is a transcriptional factor that plays a key role in regulation of several cellular processes, including the cell cycle, apoptosis, DNA repair, and angiogenesis. The murine double minute 2 (MDM2) protein is the primary cellular inhibitor of p53, functioning through direct interaction with p53. Design of non-peptide, small-molecule inhibitors that block the MDM2-p53 interaction has been sought as an attractive strategy to activate p53 for the treatment of cancer and other human diseases. In recent years, major advances have been made in the design of small-molecule inhibitors of the MDM2-p53 interaction in recent years, and several compounds have moved into advanced preclinical development or clinical trials. In this chapter, we will highlight these advances in the design and development of MDM2 inhibitors, and discuss lessons learned from these efforts.
Modal Analysis of Waveguides

We return to situations where boundaries guide the direction in which sound may propagate. The difference from the one-dimensional waveguides considered in Chaps. 2 and 3 is that some feature will vary transversely to the propagation direction.
Design of angle-resolved illumination optics using nonimaging bi-telecentricity for 193 nm scatterfield microscopy

Abstract Accurate optics-based dimensional measurements of features sized well-below the diffraction limit require a thorough understanding of the illumination within the optical column and of the three-dimensional scattered fields that contain the information required for quantitative metrology. Scatterfield microscopy can pair simulations with angle-resolved tool characterization to improve agreement between the experiment and calculated libraries, yielding sub-nanometer parametric uncertainties. Optimized angle-resolved illumination requires bi-telecentric optics in which a telecentric sample plane defined by a Kohler illumination configuration and a telecentric conjugate back focal plane (CBFP) of the objective lens; scanning an aperture or an aperture source at the CBFP allows control of the illumination beam angle at the sample plane with minimal distortion. A bi-telecentric illumination optics have been designed enabling angle-resolved illumination for both aperture and source scanning modes while yielding low distortion and chief ray parallelism. The optimized design features a maximum chief ray angle at the CBFP of 0.002° and maximum wavefront deviations of less than 0.06 λ for angle-resolved illumination beams at the sample plane, holding promise for high quality angle-resolved illumination for improved measurements of deep-subwavelength structures using deep-ultraviolet light.
Radiative transitions between 0-+ and 1-- heavy quarkonia on the light front

We present calculations of radiative transitions between vector and pseudoscalar quarkonia in the light-front Hamiltonian approach. The valence sector light-front wave functions of heavy quarkonia are obtained from the Basis Light-Front Quantization approach in a holographic basis. We study the transition form factor with both the traditional ``good current'' ${J}^{+}$ and the transverse current ${\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{J}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ (in particular, ${J}^{R}={J}^{x}+i{J}^{y}$). This allows us to investigate the role of rotational symmetry by considering vector mesons with different magnetic projections (${m}_{j}=0,\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$). We use the ${m}_{j}=0$ state of the vector meson to obtain the transition form factor, since this procedure employs the dominant spin components of the light-front wave functions and is more robust in practical calculations. While the ${m}_{j}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$ states are also examined, transition form factors depend on subdominant components of the light-front wave functions and are less robust. Transitions between states below the open-flavor thresholds are computed, including those for excited states. Comparisons are made with the experimental measurements, as well as with lattice QCD and quark model results. In addition, we apply the transverse current to calculate the decay constant of vector mesons where we obtain consistent results using either ${m}_{j}=0$ or ${m}_{j}=1$ light-front wave functions. This consistency provides evidence for features of rotational symmetry within the model.
Temporal Trends and Factors Associated With Prolonged Length of Stay in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Improved procedural techniques and process of care initiatives have decreased length of stay (LOS) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, there remains a subset of patients who continue to require longer LOS. We used the 2005 to 2014 National Inpatient Sample databases to identify all hospitalizations for PPCI for STEMI in patients ≥18 years of age. Hospitalizations in which patients were discharged home alive were included. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to examine temporal trends in LOS and to identify independent predictors of longer LOS (LOS >3 days). In 678,545 hospitalizations for PPCI for STEMI, mean ± standard error of mean LOS decreased significantly from 3.3 (±0.04) days to 2.7 (±0.02) days (ptrend 3 days from 31.9% in 2005 to 16.9% in 2014 (p<0.001). Patient demographics, co-morbidities, hospital region, use of mechanical circulatory support, and periprocedural complications were independently associated with longer LOS. In conclusion, LOS for hospitalizations for PPCI for STEMI has decreased significantly over time. Targeting strategies to reduce procedure-related risk may translate into shorter LOS.
27-hydroxycholesterol decreases cell proliferation in colon cancer cell lines.

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed cancer in the western world, affecting 1 out of approximately 22 people in their lifetime. Several epidemiological studies suggest a positive association between high plasma cholesterol levels and colorectal cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms by which cholesterol may alter the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) are ill-defined as the cholesterol lowering drugs statins do not appear to decrease a patient's risk of developing colorectal cancer. Cholesterol is metabolized to active derivatives including cholesterol oxidization products (COP), known as oxysterols, which have been shown to alter cellular proliferation. These metabolites and not cholesterol per se, may therefore affect the risk of developing colorectal cancer. The cholesterol metabolite or the oxysterol 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) is the most abundant oxysterol in the plasma and has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of several cancers including breast and prostate cancer. However, the role of 27-OHC in colorectal cancer has not been investigated. We treated Caco2 and SW620, two well characterized colon cancer cells with low, physiological and high concentrations of 27-OHC, and found that 27-OHC reduces cellular proliferation in these cells. We also found that the effects of 27-OHC on cell proliferation are not due to cellular cytotoxicity or apoptotic cellular death. Additionally, 27-OHC-induced reduction in cell proliferation is independent of actions on its target nuclear receptors, liver-X-receptors (LXR) and estrogen receptors (ER) activation. Instead, our study demonstrates that 27-OHC significantly decreases AKT activation, a major protein kinase involved in the pathogenesis of cancer as it regulates cell cycle progression, protein synthesis, and cellular survival. Our data shows that treatment with 27-OHC substantially decreases the activation of AKT by reducing levels of its active form, p-AKT, in Caco2 cells but not SW620 cells. All-together, our results show for the first time that the cholesterol metabolite 27-OHC reduces cell proliferation in colorectal cancer cells.
THE EFFECTS OF TYPICALITY AND NOVELTY ON AESTHETIC PREFERENCE: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE MAYA PRINCIPLE

There are numerous design principles that can guide strategic decisions and determine good product design. Despite the interest in the two-factor theories, such as the Most Advanced Yet Acceptable (MAYA) principle, limited studies have examined both typicality and novelty in apparel products. The main objective of this study was to explore via experiments the MAYA principle specific to apparel products. By drawing from the preference-for-prototypes theory and the MAYA principle, in this study the effects of specific aesthetic properties of apparel products on consumer responses are examined.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Mortality Among Medicare Beneficiaries in the FL - PR CR eSD Study.

Background Racial/ethnic disparities in acute stroke care may impact stroke outcomes. We compared outcomes by race/ethnicity among elderly Medicare beneficiaries in hospitals participating in the F...
Characteristics of effective auto-reply emails: Politeness and perceptions

Abstract There is an extensive body of previous research that examines the role of politeness in email communication [1–10], but information about its role in the specific subtype of auto-reply messages is much more limited [10]. The present pilot study, grounded in Brown and Levinson's Politeness Theory (1987), further develops this line of investigation by considering readers' perceptions of positive and negative politeness strategies in auto-reply email as well as other features that they report considering when evaluating a message.
Age Differences in Suicide Risk Screening and Management Prior to Suicide Attempts

ABSTRACT Objective This study examined differences by age in suicide risk screening and clinical actions to reduce suicide risk among patients with visits to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical facilities in the year prior to an attempt. Methods Ninety-three VHA patient records were reviewed specific to the last visit before an attempt. Information was extracted regarding documentation of individual suicide risk factors and provider actions to reduce risk. Results The authors examined differences by patient age (≥50 versus 18–49). Older patients’ medical records were less likely to have evidence of 1) screening for impulsivity and firearms access and 2) engagement in safety planning, referrals for mental health services, and consideration of psychiatric hospitalization. General medical providers were less likely to document these risk factors and action steps in comparison with mental health clinicians. Conclusion Lethal means education and collaborative care are universal strategies that may improve identification of and lower suicide risk in older veterans.
Bridging the Gaps: Parental Involvement and Asian Non-native English Speakers’ Postsecondary Enrollment

While the number of the Asian non-native English speakers (NNESs) is increasing, their postsecondary education (PSE) enrollment rate has remained low in comparison to enrollment rates of Asian native English speakers (NESs). The achievement gap in postsecondary enrollment between NNESs and NESs has widened, due not only to content areas such as reading and language arts that require higher English proficiency but also sociocultural factors, such as parental involvement. The current study aims to investigate the extent to which parental involvement factors predict the likelihood of Asian NNESs PSE enrollment after controlling for socioeconomic and linguistic factors. This study, being an expansion of previous work, which explored parental involvement and NNESs' PSE in the U.S., uses the national representative data from the Education Longitudinal Study dataset in 2002 (ELS: 2002) and a binary multilevel logistic regression model analysis. The results indicate that parental involvement is related to a greater likelihood of attending PSE institutions. Among the various forms of parental involvement, parent-student involvement and parent-school involvement have the greatest impact on Asian NNESs' PSE enrollment. The results also showed that Asian NNESs' enrollment is higher if their parents participate in school volunteer work. Limitations, future studies, and implications for educators, parents and school policy makers will also be discussed.
Genetic and Biochemical Analyses of Yeast ESCRT

Budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an ideal model organism to study membrane trafficking pathways. The ESCRT (endosomal sorting complexes required for transport) pathway was first identified in this organism. Upon recognition of endocytosed ubiquitinated membrane proteins at endosomes, ESCRTs assemble at these organelles to catalyze the biogenesis of multivesicular bodies (MVBs). Formation of MVBs leads to the trafficking of these membrane proteins to vacuoles for degradation. Here, we describe genetic and biochemical approaches to study ESCRT function. We outline in vivo endocytosis assays using two model cargoes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and also describe an in vitro approach to analyze ESCRT-III polymerization on lipid monolayers.
Selecting physician well-being measures to assess health system performance and screen for distress: Conceptual and methodological considerations.

Following national calls to address burnout among U.S. physicians, healthcare systems across the nation are integrating measures of physician well-being into institutional assessments. In this paper, we review important conceptual and methodological considerations for selecting self-reported physician well-being measures to monitor health system performance and to screen individual physicians for symptoms of distress. First, we discuss the importance of selecting any given measure of physician well-being based on the degree to which evidence supports the validity of the measure within the context of its intended use. Second, we present a conceptual model explaining the relationship between physician well-being and the larger healthcare context, to assist health systems in identifying the intended goals of physician well-being assessment. Well-being assessments are metrics of individual-level physician wellness/distress and may be indicators of system-level performance. We highlight proposed roles of physician well-being as a performance metric (i.e., as a downstream effect of the medical practice environment, as a predictor of health system outcomes, and as a mediator of the practice environment's effect on health system outcomes). Using this framework, we review the evidence supporting the validity of four of the most commonly used measures of well-being in U.S. physicians, identify gaps in the literature, and present practical recommendations for healthcare organizations’ selection of appropriate measurement tools. We conclude by offering directions for future research to advance the measurement of physician well-being outcomes.