cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Profile of Phenolic Compounds Released from Rice Bran by Rhizopus oryzae and Trichoderma reesei: Their Relation with Hydrolases Activity

Evolution of Rhizopus oryzae and Trichoderma reesei biomass in rice bran, their enzyme activity, and the profile of phenolic compounds released from the lignocellulosic matrices were determined and correlated by principal component analysis (PCA). PCA analysis confirms that cultivation of rice bran affected the release of methanol-soluble phenolic compounds (MSPC), ethanol-soluble phenolic compounds (ESPC), and bound phenolic compounds (BPC) positively, due to their enzymatic activity. The release of MSPC was influenced by the activity of cellulase and endoglucanase, which increased 110.6% and 136.3%, respectively, for Rhizopus oryzae and Trichoderma reesei. Gallic acid was the main component in the MSPC and ESPC compound fractions. Ferulic and syringic acids were found in its bound (BPC) form in the biomass. This study showed that bioactive compounds be released from lignocellulosic materials by fungus action and this process can be conducted to obtain specific phenolic compounds. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Due the demand by natural compounds with biological activity, such as phenolic compounds, it is interesting to purpose alternatives to enhance their yield, like for instance, by fungal fermentation of lignocellulosic material. Therefore, understanding the relations among different phenolic compounds released and the production of fungal hydrolases during growth of Rhizopus oryzae and Trichoderma reesei in solid state cultivation using rice bran as a substrate is fundamental to control the process. This knowledge gets viable scale up to apply the phenolic compounds as preservative in food chain, because this becomes possible directing the process to obtain specific bioactive compounds in less time of cultivation and with low cost.
Multiple-true-false questions reveal more thoroughly the complexity of student thinking than multiple-choice questions: a Bayesian item response model comparison

Within undergraduate science courses, instructors often assess student thinking using closed-ended question formats, such as multiple-choice (MC) and multiple-true-false (MTF), where students provide answers with respect to predetermined response options. While MC and MTF questions both consist of a question stem followed by a series of options, MC questions require students to select just one answer, whereas MTF questions enable students to evaluate each option as either true or false. We employed an experimental design in which identical questions were posed to students in either format and used Bayesian item response modeling to understand how responses in each format compared to inferred student thinking regarding the different options. Our data support a quantitative model in which students approach each question with varying degrees of comprehension, which we label as mastery, partial mastery, and informed reasoning, rather than uniform random guessing. MTF responses more closely estimate the proportion of students inferred to have complete mastery of all the answer options as well as more accurately identify students holding misconceptions. The depth of instructional information elicited by MTF questions is demonstrated by the ability of MTF results to predict the MC results, but not vice-versa. We further discuss how MTF responses can be processed and interpreted by instructors. This research supports the hypothesis that students approach MC and MTF questions with varying levels of understanding and demonstrates that the MTF format has a greater capacity to characterize student thinking regarding the various response options.
A Software Approach to Protecting Embedded System Memory from Single Event Upsets

Radiation from radioactive environments, such as those encountered during space flight, can cause damage to embedded systems. One of the most common examples is the single event upset (SEU), which occurs when a high-energy ionizing particle passes through an integrated circuit, changing the value of a single bit by releasing its charge. The SEU could cause damage and potentially fatal failures to spacecraft and satellites. In this paper, we present an approach that extends the AVR-GCC compiler to protect the system stack from SEUs through duplication, validation, and recovery. Three applications are used to verify our approach, and the time and space overhead characteristics are evaluated.
Damage detection via embedded sensory particles – Effect of particle/matrix interphase properties

Abstract Supported by recent studies, a crack interior to the host material will cause an especially strong stress concentration and thus can be detected by monitoring or sensing the localized changes in the magnetic properties of the particles in metallic composites. Using finite element analysis calibrated from the experiments, this work investigates the effects of material properties and thickness of the particle/matrix interphase on the phase transformation response of embedded sensory particles in the vicinity of a crack existing in the host matrix. Depending on the interphase elastic and cohesive properties, its thickness, and the operational temperature, which is known to delay or promote martensitic transformation, it is found that interphase damage may occur at stress levels lower than that needed to initiate phase transformation in MSMA particles. Such a response would mitigate the degree to which the particle transforms and reduces particle sensitivity. The effect of particle position relative to the crack tip on interphase damage and particle transformation response is studied via the full factorial design of experiments. To assess the true feasibility of the technique, the average change in magnetic permeability in the vicinity of the particle given constant applied magnetic and applied stress fields is evaluated.
Factors associated with chronic pain and non-medical opioid use among people who inject drugs.

Abstract Introduction Despite rising morbidity and mortality from the opioid epidemic and other addictions, people who inject drugs (PWID) remain understudied regarding pain outcomes. Data among PWID regarding chronic pain and drug use, including non-medical use of opioids, is largely unknown. We examined the prevalence of chronic pain and drug use for pain in this population. Methods Standardized surveys captured self-report of demographics, chronic pain, and non-prescription drug use in 203 PWID in an urban syringe services program between April and November 2016. Chronic pain was defined as self-report of chronic pain diagnosis or persistent pains over the past 6 months. Results Overall, 47% (95% CI, 40%–54%) of PWID reported chronic pain, while 35% (95% CI, 29%–42%) reported non-prescription drug use of any type for pain. Among those with chronic pain, drug use to treat pain was commonly reported (76%; 95% CI, 66%–83%). Non-medical opioid use did not differ among PWID with or without chronic pain or drug use for pain. A multivariable logistic regression model showed chronic pain was more likely among non-Hispanic whites and those with arthritis, older age, and homelessness. Conclusions Chronic pain serves as an important factor in the persistence of drug use in more than one-third of PWID in this sample. The high prevalence of chronic pain with drug use for pain suggests that proper pain management is likely to be an essential component of preventing or regressing injection drug use in PWID, with data needed on effective interventions for this population.
Susceptibility of phosphine-resistant cigarette beetles to various insecticides: Poster

Management of phosphine resistance in the cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne (F.) has become a topic of great interest to the tobacco industry in recent years. Effective use of contact insecticides with modes of action different from that of phosphine can be a key element in preventing or delaying the evolution of phosphine resistance. This study was conducted to ascertain whether five insecticides selected from three mode-of-action classes (fenitrothion, pirimiphos-methyl, permethrin, bifenthrin, and spinosad) can be incorporated into a phosphine-resistance management strategy. Specifically, we examined the contact efficacy of the insecticides to a phosphine-susceptible strain and six resistant strains (38–184-fold in resistance ratio based on LC50). Susceptibility to organophosphates (fenitrothion, pirimiphos-methyl) and spinosad was not significantly different between phosphine-susceptible and phosphine-resistant strains (within 2.3-fold resistance ratio). The absence of the cross-resistance between these insecticides and phosphine makes them ideal for resistancemanagement programmes. However, high resistance to synthetic pyrethroids (>145-fold for permethrin and >1697-fold for bifenthrin) was found in three of six phosphine-resistant strains. Based on these results, synthetic pyrethroids cannot be recommended as insecticides of primary choice.
Notch Signaling Commits Mesoderm to the Cardiac Lineage

Abstract During development multiple progenitor populations contribute to the formation of the four-chambered heart and its diverse lineages. However, the underlying mechanisms that result in the specification of these progenitor populations are not yet fully understood. We have previously identified a population of cells that gives rise selectively to the heart ventricles but not the atria. Here, we have used this knowledge to transcriptionally profile subsets of cardiac mesoderm from the mouse embryo and have identified an enrichment for Notch signaling components in ventricular progenitors. Using directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, we next investigated the role of Notch in cardiac mesoderm specification in a temporally controlled manner. We show that transient Notch induction in mesoderm increases cardiomyocyte differentiation efficiency, while maintaining cardiomyocytes in an immature state. Finally, our data suggest that Notch interacts with WNT to enhance commitment to the cardiac lineage. Overall, our findings support the notion that key signaling events during early heart development are critical for proper lineage specification and provide evidence for early roles of Notch and WNT during mouse and human heart development. Summary statement Early fate decisions are dictated by the embryonic signaling environment. We show that Notch signaling is active during early mouse development and that activating Notch in human cardiac mesoderm enhances cardiomyocyte differentiation efficiency.
A Left Atrial Mitral Valve Chord

Abstract A 77-year-old patient presented with a mobile structure on the anterior mitral valve leaflet and was diagnosed with endocarditis. Subsequent imaging demonstrated this finding was consistent with a left atrial mitral valve chord. Recognition of this rare mitral valve anomaly is key to avoid overdiagnostics and/or overtreatment. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.)
What should we eat for breakfast? American and Chinese children’s prescriptive judgments about breakfast foods

Abstract Despite the numerous positive benefits of consuming nutritious food, American breakfasts are notoriously unhealthy. Recent research with U.S. adults found that the resistance to include nutritious foods at breakfast is due in part to misconceptions about what “breakfast” should be. Here, we assessed the development of these misconceptions in 4- and 5-year-old children. Similar to American adults, U.S. children perceive typical breakfast foods as especially appropriate for breakfast and believe that alternatives typically consumed at lunch or dinner are less suitable for breakfast. This leads them to be unwilling to add nutritious alternatives to their breakfast repertoire. Unlike U.S. children, Chinese children are not as likely to hold these mistaken beliefs and are more motivated to try healthy alternatives at breakfast. Our findings cast light on the developmental roots of Americans’ tendency to consume unhealthy breakfasts and have implications for interventions to boost healthy eating behaviors from early on.
When my Brand does Something Morally Wrong: An Abstract

Despite the recent findings that connected consumers’ reactions to brand transgression are more negative when brand’s wrongdoings are of an ethical nature (Trump 2014), little research has examined the mechanism underlying the negative effect of consumer–brand relationships on consumer brand evaluations in the context of brand failures. This research examines the role of brand ownership in consumers’ reactions to brand failures.
Introduction, Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom

Ballot box voting is often considered the essence of political freedom. But it has two major shortcomings: individual voters have little chance of making a difference, and they also face strong incentives to remain ignorant about the issues at stake. "Voting with your feet," however, avoids both of these pitfalls and offers a wider range of choices. In Free to Move, Ilya Somin explains how broadening opportunities for foot voting can greatly enhance political liberty for millions of people around the world. People can vote with their feet through international migration, by choosing where to live within a federal system, and by making decisions in the private sector. These three types of foot voting are rarely considered together, but Somin explains how they have important common virtues and can be mutually reinforcing. He contends that all forms of foot voting should be expanded and shows how both domestic constitutions and international law can be structured to increase opportunities for foot voting while mitigating possible downsides. Free to Move addresses a variety of common objections to expanded migration rights, including claims that the "self-determination" of natives requires giving them the power to exclude migrants, and arguments that migration is likely to have harmful side effects, such as undermining political institutions, overburdening the welfare state, increasing crime and terrorism, and spreading undesirable cultural values. While these objections are usually directed at international migration, Somin shows how a consistent commitment to such theories would also justify severe restrictions on domestic freedom of movement. That implication is an additional reason to be skeptical of these rationales for exclusion. By making a systematic case for a more open world, Free to Move challenges conventional wisdom on both the left and the right. The Introduction summarizes the core argument of the book and provides an outline of the chapters that follow.
Brief educational video plus telecare to enhance recovery for older emergency department patients with acute musculoskeletal pain: study protocol for the BETTER randomized controlled trial.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain (MSP) affects more than 40% of adults aged 50 years and older and is the leading cause of disability in the USA. Older adults with chronic MSP are at risk for analgesic-related side effects, long-term opioid use, and functional decline. Recognizing the burden of chronic MSP, reducing the transition from acute to chronic pain is a public health priority. In this paper, we report the protocol for the Brief EducaTional Tool to Enhance Recovery (BETTER) trial. This trial compares two versions of an intervention to usual care for preventing the transition from acute to chronic MSP among older adults in the emergency department (ED). Three hundred sixty patients from the ED will be randomized to one of three arms: full intervention (an interactive educational video about pain medications and recovery-promoting behaviors, a telecare phone call from a nurse 48 to 72 h after discharge from the ED, and an electronic communication containing clinical information to the patient’s primary care provider); video-only intervention (the interactive educational video but no telecare or primary care provider communication); or usual care. Data collection will occur at baseline and at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after study enrollment. The primary outcome is a composite measure of pain severity and interference. Secondary outcomes include physical function, overall health, opioid use, healthcare utilization, and an assessment of the economic value of the intervention. This trial is the first patient-facing ED-based intervention aimed at helping older adults to better manage their MSP and reduce their risk of developing chronic pain. If effective, future studies will examine the effectiveness of implementation strategies. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04118595 . Registered on 8 October 2019.
Characterization of histone inheritance patterns in the Drosophila female germline

ABSTRACT Stem cells have the unique ability to undergo asymmetric division which produces two daughter cells that are genetically identical, but commit to different cell fates. The loss of this balanced asymmetric outcome can lead to many diseases, including cancer and tissue dystrophy. Understanding this tightly regulated process is crucial in developing methods to treat these abnormalities. Here, we report that produced from a Drosophila female germline stem cell asymmetric division, the two daughter cells differentially inherit histones at key genes related to either maintaining the stem cell state or promoting differentiation, but not at constitutively active or silenced genes. We combined histone labeling with DNA Oligopaints to distinguish old versus new histone distribution and visualize their inheritance patterns at single-gene resolution in asymmetrically dividing cells in vivo. This strategy can be widely applied to other biological contexts involving cell fate establishment during development or tissue homeostasis in multicellular organisms.
Evaluation of an Osteoporosis Outreach Program for Men With a Fragility Fracture and Their Physicians.

Background Many health plans have outreach programs aimed at appropriately screening, evaluating, and treating women experiencing fragility fractures; however, few programs exist for men. Objective The objective of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate an osteoporosis outreach program for men with a recent fragility fracture and their physicians. Research design and subjects A total of 10,934 male patients enrolled in a Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug Plan with a recent fragility fracture were randomized to a program or control group. Patients and their physicians received letters followed by phone calls on osteoporosis and the importance of screening and treatment. The evaluation compared bone mineral density (BMD) test utilization and osteoporosis medication treatment (OPT) among patients who received the outreach versus no outreach at 12 months. The effect of the program was estimated through univariate and multivariable logistic regressions. Results The program had a significant impact on BMD evaluation and OPT initiation. At 12 months, 10.7% of participants and 4.9% of nonparticipants received a BMD evaluation. The odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval) was 2.31 (1.94, 2.76), and the number needed to outreach to receive a BMD test was 18. OPT was initiated in 4.0% of participants and 2.5% of nonparticipants. The OR (95% confidence interval) of receiving OPT was 1.60 (1.24, 2.07), and the number needed to outreach was 69. Adjusted ORs were similar in magnitude and significance. Conclusion The program was highly effective by more than doubling the rate of BMD evaluation; however, more intensive interventions may yield an even higher screening rate.
Current Expected Credit Loss Model (CECL) Based on Firm Loan Loss Elasticity

Many banks are confronted with the problem of meeting the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) standard which requires the estimation of a Current Expected Credit Loss (ASC 326) which replaces the older well-established Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses. The new standard requires that management and preparers must make a forward-looking disclosure of expected loss based on characteristics of the loan portfolio. Moreover, the standard requires that the methodology be well supported for a specific institution and situation. The current analysis develops an explanatory variable for estimating credit loss based on an economic elasticity concept which has advantages of comparability and the facility of being enhanced by macro-economic and sector control variables. Comparability, simplicity and flexibility would be particularly useful to smaller institutions that lack the experience, modeling expertise, and the ability to afford complex applications.
Empiric ablation of asymptomatic PVCs when there is greater than 20% burden but normal left ventricular function—An argument in support of catheter ablation

Summary Frequent (>20% burden) asymptomatic PVCs should be treated empirically in order to develop congestive heart failure secondary to a PVC cardiomyopathy. Treatment includes medical therapy and ablation therapy, both of which are viable first line options for the treatment of PVCs after an appropriate informed discussion with the patient.
Effect of Absolute Cosine Value Regularization on VGG-19

The search for a more accurate Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is a continuous process of unlimited possibilities. In order to simplify this process, the effects of algorithms on a network must be examined individually in order to determine their merits. The algorithm examined by this paper is a filter weight matrix regularizer designed to promote optimal information distillation. Absolute Cosine Value Regularization (ACVR) is a regularization technique hypothesized to increase the representational power of CNNs by using a Gradient Descent Orthogonalization algorithm to force the vectors that constitute their filters at any given convolutional layer to occupy unique positions in $\mathbb{R}^{n}$ . This method has previously been given a mathematical definition, implementation description, and in addition, has been demonstrated to be effective at producing high diversity filter vectors in $\mathbb{R}^{3}$ . However, the effect of this Regularizer on a full-scale CNN architecture has yet to be fully examined. This paper aims to determine the merits of this Regularizer by presenting experimental results generated by training the well-established CNN architecture VGG-19 with, and without its presence, using the CIFAR-10 image classification data set. This paper then goes on to propose the Dynamic-ACVR (D-ACVR) algorithm, demonstrating that at optimal configurations, this Regularization scheme can increase network accuracy by up to 3.12%.
Pre-Existing and Pragmatically-Derived Immunohematologic Phenotypes Predict All-Cause and COVID-19-Specific Mortality: A 'Population Immunology' Approach

Background: Dysregulation of immunohematologic function (IHF) promotes cardiovascular disease and impairs protective responses to cancer and infection. A pragmatic method to identify those as risk due to IHF could improve the precision of preventive interventions and provide insight into the heterogeneity of immunologic capacity. We developed and validated a method to distill complete blood cell count data into distinct IHF profiles of prognostic relevance. Methods: We adapted latent profile analysis methods to simultaneously identify distinct groups of patients with respect to 10 immunohematologic indicators and regress time to all-cause mortality on this latent IHF profile. The model was developed using data from 30274 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants and externally validated in 49851 outpatients in the Veterans Heath Administration (VHA) system and 44142 SARS-CoV-2 positive VHA patients. Findings: Ten distinct IHF profiles were identified. Profile 1, with relative mild pan-leukopenia in absence of red cell abnormalities, was associated with the best long term survival in each setting. Profiles 8-10, featuring anemia/anisocytosis especially in the setting of lymphopenia (Profiles 9-10) were associated with adjusted hazard ratio (HR) estimates of 1.76-2.62 for mortality across the three cohorts, compared to Profile 1. Profiles 6-7, featuring relative neutrophilia, were less common but also independently associated with mortality risk, especially after COVID-19 infection (Profile 7 HR [95% CI]: 2.51 [1.63 – 3.86]). The magnitude of adjusted risk conveyed by IHF profiles was greater than individual clinical risk factors (i.e., smoking, diabetes) or prevalent co-morbidities. Interpretation: Distinct immunohematologic endotypes can be identified during routine blood panels which project to mortality risk on par with a decade of life, additive to demographic and clinical factors. Applications that consider immunohematologic dysfunction may improve prevention of common fatal diseases, including COVID-19. Funding Information:This study was funded in part by The National Institute on Aging (R01AG055480; Dalton and Perzynski), the National Cancer Institute (U01CA260513; Zidar and Chan), and the United States Veteran Administration (COVID19-8900-05; Zidar). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Department of Veteran Affairs or the National Institutes of Health. Declaration of Interests: No conflict of interest exists between any of the authors and the contents of this paper. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC.
Hypoglycemia symptoms are reduced in hospitalized patients with diabetes

Abstract Aims Hospitalized patients with diabetes are have an impaired ability to detect hypoglycemia events. The purpose of this study was to compare hypoglycemia symptom scores (HSS) in hospitalized patients with diabetes after a documented blood glucose (BG) Methods Non-critically ill hospitalized patients with diabetes grouped as symptomatic (n = 23) or asymptomatic (n = 32) at time of index hypoglycemia completed a standardized HSS-Questionnaires (HSS-Q) related to the inpatient event and to recall of symptoms with outpatient hypoglycemia. Results After controlling for BG at time of index hypoglycemia (49.8 ± 11.4 vs. 57.4 ± 6.8 mg/dl, p = 0.02), symptomatic patients reported higher HSS than asymptomatic patients with the inpatient event (11.6 ± 7.3 vs. 1.5 ± 3.4, p Conclusions Compared to symptomatic patients, asymptomatic patients had lower inpatient and outpatient HSS and more frequent recurrent hypoglycemia events. These results suggest modification of glycemic management strategies in high risk patients to reduce risk for hypoglycemia events.
Personality and Young Adult Financial Distress

Abstract Researchers have become increasingly interested in understanding the sources of heterogeneity in individual financial behaviors. In this paper, we examine how the Big Five personality traits are related to measures of young adults’ financial distress. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health in the United States, we find that conscientiousness is negatively correlated, and neuroticism positively correlated with financial distress. These correlations are robust to controlling for early life background and other demographic and socioeconomic factors. Young adulthood sets the stage for financial security in later life; as such, this study provides insight for lifelong financial wellbeing. Based on the empirical results, we discuss potential behavioral and policy interventions that can be used to improve financial wellbeing.
La soja transgénica como objeto de investigación: un blanco móvil

Acerca de " Las palabras y “las sojas”: un enfoque desde la sociologia de la ciencia y la tecnologia"
A Hitchhiker's Guide to Type IV Secretion

The Type IV secretion (T4S) apparatus of bacteria enables these organisms to exchange genetic material with each other, and to transmit DNA or effector proteins directly into host cells. The Perspective by Lybarger and Sandkvist discusses a new study (Cascales and Christie) that provides a remarkably detailed step-by-step analysis of how the T4S machinery of the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens injects DNA into plant cells.
Functional reconstitution of a chloride channel protein from bovine trachea.

Abstract We characterized the electrophysiological properties of a chloride channel protein isolated from bovine trachea after incorporation into planar lipid bilayers, and studied the effects of thiol-modulating agents on channel regulation both in bilayers and vesicular iodide uptake studies. Our experiments showed that this protein formed perfectly anion-selective channels in the bilayer, with an anion permeability sequence of I- (2.1) > NO3- (1.7) > Br- (1.2) > Cl- (1.0). The conductance of this channel was 25-30 picosiemens in 150 mM Cl-, and saturated with increasing chloride concentration. This channel could be completely inhibited by 4,4'-bis(isothiocyano)-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonate. Immunoblot analysis, using polyclonal antibodies (anti-p38), revealed one major band at 140 kDa. Upon reduction with dithiothreitol, 64- and 38-kDa polypeptides were observed. Functional experiments showed that reduction was accompanied by loss of 125I- uptake and single-channel activity. In the presence of dithiothreitol, only the low molecular mass protein forms (64 and 38 kDa) were detected by anti-p38 antibodies on Western blots. Cross-linking of S-S bonds with Cu(2+)-o-phenanthroline led to activation of chloride channels in vesicles and bilayers. Over-aggregation of chloride channels by this S-S cross-linking reagent caused inhibition of 125I- uptake by 80-100% and the abolishment of single-channel activity. We propose that the native chloride channel from bovine trachea can exist in vivo in different structural and functional forms depending upon its thiol-disulfide oxidation reduction status. The oxidized form has a molecular mass of 140 kDa and represents a fully active chloride channel. Inactivation of this channel might occur by over-aggregation of protein subunits, or by dissociation of the 140-kDa subunit by disulfide bond reduction.
Post-glacial Sediment Load and Subsidence in Coastal Louisiana

Sea level rise in the Gulf of Mexico has occurred at a rate of 1.8-2.2 mm/yr during the 20th century, or nearly the same as observed globally due to combined steric and water mass changes. Tide gauges in coastal Louisiana, however, record a substantially larger rate of rise and while a number of causal mechanisms may be responsible, their specific contribution is poorly understood. Using a realistic viscoelastic Earth model, detailed geologic parameters for south Louisiana and new GPS data, we demonstrate that Holocene sedimentary loading in the Gulf and Mississippi River delta is capable of contributing to 1-8 mm/yr of subsidence over areas of 30-0.75 x 10(exp 3) km(exp 2).
Insulin Effects on Brain Energy Metabolism and the Related Hexokinase Distribution

Abstract After 11 hours, male chicks (5 days old) injected intraperitoneally with 2 units of insulin, became hypoglycemic (2.51 ± 0.48 mm versus 14.42 ± 0.35 mm) and occasionally convulsed. The whole brain glucose, glucose 6-phosphate, fructose 1,6-diphosphate, and lactate levels were diminished, respectively, from 1.60 ± 0.18 to 0.24 ± 0.04 mm, from 0.044 ± 0.002 to 0.016 ± 0.002 mm, from 0.139 ± 0.010 to 0.038 ± 0.003 mm, and from 3.78 ± 0.18 to 1.74 ± 0.14 mm. Cerebellar metabolites showed similar decreases. Intraperitoneal injection of glucose resulted in recovery of all metabolites to near-normal levels within 10 min. Hexokinase was found in both particulate and soluble fractions. After administration of insulin, hexokinase activity increased in the particulate fraction and decreased in the soluble fraction. After injection of glucose, hexokinase activity rapidly decreased in the particulate fraction and increased in the soluble fraction, indicating solubilization of the mitochondrially bound form of the enzyme. Thus, the following equilibrium was shown in vivo: mitochondrial hexokinase ⇄ soluble hexokinase. The percentage of hexokinase in the soluble fraction correlated directly with the intracellular glucose 6-phosphate level, suggesting that glucose 6-phosphate is an especially important metabolite in regulating the distribution of hexokinase. Finally, the Ki (glucose 6-phosphate competitive with ATP) was estimated as 6 µm for the soluble form and 30 µm for the bound form. Thus, the bound form of the enzyme is the more active form and under conditions of energy stress; e.g. insulin-induced hypoglycemia, the enzyme was converted to this form but reverted to the more inhibitable form (i.e. soluble) following glucose administration.
The Magic of Money and Banking

Creating money out of thin air is one of the few truly magical things Muggles are capable of, which makes it odd that J.K. Rowling did not include a more thoughtful discussion of banking in her Harry Potter books. Indeed, the banking system in the wizarding world seems quite rudimentary -- more like the safe deposit business than true banking. Nevertheless, Muggle bankers and magical bankers face similar problems relating to security and money laundering and they have developed regulatory strategies to deal with those problems.
Blood Pressure Goals and Targets in the Elderly.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) 2011 expert consensus document on hypertension in the elderly recommends that the blood pressure be reduced to less than 140/90 mmHg in adults aged 60–79 years and the systolic blood pressure to 140 to 145 mmHg if tolerated in adults aged 80 years and older. I strongly support these guidelines based on clinical trial data, especially from the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly trial and from the Hypertension in the Very Elderly trial (HYVET). Other guidelines supporting reducing the blood pressure to less than 140/90 mmHg in adults aged 60 to 79 years of age include the European Society of Hypertension (ESH)/European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2013 guidelines, the minority report from the 2013 Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8) guidelines, the 2013 Canadian Hypertension Education Program guidelines, the 2011 UK guidelines, the 2014 American Society of Hypertension (ASH)/International Society of Hypertension (ISH) guidelines, and the 2015 AHA/ACC/ASH scientific statement on treatment of hypertension in patients with coronary artery disease. I support these guidelines. In adults aged 80 years and older, a blood pressure below 150/90 mm Hg has been recommended by these guidelines, with a target goal of less than 140/90 mmHg considered in those with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease. I support these guidelines. The 2013 JNC 8 guidelines recommend reducing the blood pressure to less than 140/90 mmHg in adults aged 60 years and older with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease but to less than 150/90 mmHg in adults aged 60 years and older without diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease. I strongly disagree with this recommendation and am very much concerned that the higher systolic blood pressure goal recommended by JNC 8 guidelines in adults aged 60 years and older without diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease will lead to an increase in cardiovascular events and mortality in these adults.
Optimization of hydrogen consumption in hydrogen masers (atomic frequency standard)

A study of velocity distributions of hydrogen atoms effusing out of radio frequency (RF) discharge is presented. The velocity distributions of hydrogen atoms effusing out of an RF discharge dissociator having a geometry and operating parameters resembling those of a maser dissociator were determined. Realistic calculations of the velocity-dependent transmission of hexapole-magnet state selectors were performed. Designs yielding good matches between atomic velocity distribution and magnet transmission were investigated and the consequences of possible mismatches were explored. An analysis of the focusing properties of hexapole magnet state selectors shows that the efficiency of hydrogen use by the maser can be increased significantly by optimizing the state selector design for the actual atomic hydrogen velocity distribution. Some test results are presented. >
Suicide: The Scourge of Native American People.

Reportedly, Native Americans have a rate of suicide that is greater than any other ethnic group in the United States, especially in the age range of 15-24. Many who are concerned as to why this is the case offer a variety of theories. Most of the theories have yet to be tested. This particular presentation focuses on the traditional tribal structure of most Native Americans and events of history that have impacted the cultures of Native American Tribes. The particular events covered refer to Western education, various religions, and legislation as playing a most significant role in impacting the cultures of Native Americans. With the hope that we can all work together to diminish the scourge of Native American people, I repeat the words of Chief Seattle, "... be just and deal kindly with my people."
Interaction of implanted deuterium and helium with beryllium: Radiation enhanced oxidation

Abstract The interaction of implanted deuterium and helium with beryllium is of significant interest in the application of first wall coatings and other components of fusion reactors. Electropolished polycrystalline beryllium was first implanted with a Xe backscatter marker at 1.98 MeV followed by either implantation with 5 keV diatomic deuterium or helium. A 2.0 MeV He beam was used to analyze for impurity buildup, namely oxygen. The oxide layer thickness was found to increase linearly with increasing implant fluence. A 2.5 MeV H+ beam was used to depth profile the D and He by ion backscattering. In addition the retention of the implant was measured as a function of the implant fluence. The mean depth of the implant was found to agree with theoretical range calculations.Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe blister formation. No blisters were observed for implanted D but for implanted He, blisters occurred at $ 1.75 × 1017 He·cm−2. The blister diameter increased with increasing implant fluence from about 0.8 μm at 1018 He·cm−2 to 5.5 μm at 3 x 1018 He·cm−2.
Dosimetric Coverage of Level I and II Lymph Nodes by Opposed Tangent Fields in Patients Undergoing PMRT with Tissue Expanders

clips were found to occupy the anterior margin in 28/53 (53%), posterior margin in 50/53 (94%), superior margin in 34/53 (64%), inferior margin in 25/53 (47%), medial margin in 31/53 (58%), and the lateral margin in 25/53 (47%) of seroma cavities. Of these 22/53 (42%) had 1-3 margins occupied and 31/53 (58%) had 4-6 margins occupied (mean 3.7, median 4, range, 1-6). The mean CVS and CAS were 3.26 and 4.26, respectively. Surgical clips allowed a higher CAS score compared to CVS score in 29/53 (55%) of the seroma cavities with at least 1 margin occupied by a surgical clip. In these 29 cases, the average improvement of CAS over the CVS was 1.83.
Automated attack surface approximation

While software systems are being developed and released to consumers more rapidly than ever, security remains an important issue for developers. Shorter development cycles means less time for these critical security testing and review efforts. The attack surface of a system is the sum of all paths for untrusted data into and out of a system. Code that lies on the attack surface therefore contains code with actual exploitable vulnerabilities. However, identifying code that lies on the attack surface requires the same contested security resources from the secure testing efforts themselves. My research proposes an automated technique to approximate attack surfaces through the analysis of stack traces. We hypothesize that stack traces user crashes represent activity that puts the system under stress, and is therefore indicative of potential security vulnerabilities. The goal of this research is to aid software engineers in prioritizing security efforts by approximating the attack surface of a system via stack trace analysis. In a trial on Mozilla Firefox, the attack surface approximation selected 8.4% of files and contained 72.1% of known vulnerabilities. A similar trial was performed on the Windows 8 product.
SU-E-J-192: Verification of 4D-MRI Internal Target Volume Using Cine MRI

Purpose: To investigate the accuracy of 4D-MRI in determining the Internal Target Volume (ITV) used in radiation oncology treatment planning of liver cancers. Cine MRI is used as the standard baseline in establishing the feasibility and accuracy of 4D-MRI tumor motion within the liver. Methods: IRB approval was obtained for this retrospective study. Analysis was performed on MR images from four patients receiving external beam radiation therapy for liver cancer at our institution. Eligible patients received both Cine and 4D-MRI scans before treatment. Cine images were acquired sagittally in real time at a slice bisecting the tumor, while 4D images were acquired volumetrically. Cine MR DICOM headers were manipulated such that each respiratory frame was assigned a unique slice location. This approach permitted the treatment planning system (Eclipse, Varian Medical Systems) to recognize a complete respiratory cycle as a “volume”, where the gross tumor was contoured temporally. Software was developed to calculate the union of all frame contours in the structure set, resulting in the corresponding plane of the ITV projecting through the middle of the tumor, defined as the Internal Target Area (ITA). This was repeated for 4D-MRI, at the corresponding slice location, allowing a direct comparison of ITAs obtained from each modality. Results: Four patients have been analyzed. ITAs contoured from 4D-MRI correlate with contours from Cine MRI. The mean error of 4D values relative to Cine values is 7.67 +/− 2.55 %. No single ITA contoured from 4D-MRI demonstrated more than 10.5 % error compared to its Cine MRI counterpart. Conclusion: Motion management is a significant aspect of treatment planning within dynamic environments such as the liver, where diaphragmatic and cardiac activity influence plan accuracy. This small pilot study suggests that 4D-MRI based ITA measurements agree with Cine MRI based measurements, an important step towards clinical implementation. NIH 1R21CA165384-01A1
Reversible modulation of human factor Xa activity with phosphonate esters: media effects.

Abstract Enantiomers of 4-nitrophenyl 4-X-phenacyl methylphosphonate esters (X=H, PMN; CH3 and CH3O) inactivate human factor Xa with rate constants 8–86 M−1 s−1 at pH 6.75 in 0.025 M Hepes buffer, 0.15 M NaCl and 2 mM CaCl2 at 7.0±0.1 °C. The stereoselectivity of the inactivation of factor Xa is 2–10 and favors the levorotatory enantiomers. The pH-dependence of inactivation of factor Xa by (−)-PMN is sigmoidal and consistent with the participation of a catalytic residue with a pKa of 6.2±0.1. Factor Xa reactivates from its phosphonyl adducts through a self-catalyzed intramolecular reaction, which is much influenced by the presence of phospholipids. The rate of reactivation in the absence of phospholipids is not pH dependent at pH 9. In the presence of phospholipids, the pH dependence of the rate constant for reactivation is sigmoidal in the pH 6.5–10.3 range and levels off at pH >9 indicating that the enzyme catalyzes its reactivation. The kinetic pKa for the recovery of factor Xa from its adducts with the PMNs is in the range of 6.7–8.1 and is consistent with the participation of the catalytic His57 in the reactivation process.
Management of conventional ileostomies.

With few exceptions, proctocolectomy is the treatment of choice for patients with chronic ulcerative colitis. The method by which patients are offered control of bowel function postoperatively, however, is more controversial. Traditionally, proctocolectomy is accompanied by a conventional Brooke ileostomy and control of enteric effluent provided by an external appliance. Today, several alternatives are available, such as Kock's continent ileostomy and the ileoanal anastomosis. The results of both are generally good. The functional outcome of these procedures is, however, not always uniform and not all patients are candidates for such alternatives. Conventional ileostomy, therefore, remains the standard surgical approach; Brooke ileostomy is the one procedure which is applicable to any patient regardless of age, body habitus, type of disease, or other medical problems. It is the aim of this article to summarize important principles of surgical technique and of stomal care, to detail the functional results and physiologic consequences of standard ileostomy, and to document the impact of ileostomy on quality of life. Finally, the current and future role of ileostomy in the era of surgical alternatives will be discussed.
Induction of antibodies to a tumor-associated antigen by immunization with a whole melanoma cell vaccine.

Urinary-tumor-associated antigen (U-TAA) is a glycoprotein present in the urine of melanoma patients. Previous studies have addressed the role of U-TAA in immunoprognosis. The present investigation was undertaken to determine whether the administration of whole melanoma cell vaccine (MCV) could induce the formation of anti-(U-TAA) antibodies in melanoma patients. The subjects of this study were stage II and III melanoma patients receiving MCV alone or in conjunction with cyclophosphamide. Anti-(U-TAA) IgM and IgG antibody levels were determined by enzyme immunoassay in sequential serum samples from 15 stage II and III melanoma patients receiving MCV. U-TAA purified from the urine of a melanoma patient was used as a target in this assay. The mean anti-(U-TAA) IgM titer prior to vaccination was similar to that of a non-vaccinated melanoma control group (1:1138±214, n=15 vs 1:1334±254, n=7; P=0.375) but prevaccination IgG levels were generally higher than in the control group (1:3984±602 vs 1:2595±423; 0.1>P>0.05). While only 6 of the 15 patients demonstrated a rise in levels of IgG antibodies (mean 1:2964±1047 pre-MCV to 1:9958±2677 post MCV, P<0.01), 11 of the 15 patients demonstrated a greater than twofold rise in their anti-(U-TAA) IgM titers following vaccination (1:1051±259 pre-MCV to 1:2518±576 post-MCV; P<0.005). In addition, patients with visceral metastases consistently elicited anti-(U-TAA) responses equivalent to those with more limited disease. Concomitant administration of cyclophosphamide did not affect the response rates or peak antibody levels. The possibility that these antibody responses were actually against histo-compatibility locus antigens (HLA) (contaminating our U-TAA preparation) was ruled out because the target antigen (U-TAA) was devoid of HLA, and because the induction of anti-(U-TAA) antibodies did not correlate with the induction of anti-HLA antibodies. These results demonstrate augmentation of anti-(U-TAA) IgM and IgG antibodies by immunization with the MCV.
Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP): Current status

Research on VIP continues at a rapid pace. Recent progress includes: insights into its biosynthesis (and that of a closely related PHI-like peptide) and its neuronal localization, discovery of novel biological actions, new data on its release and binding to specific receptors, and additional evidence for its roles in physiological regulation and in the pathogenesis of disease.
Solvent impact on the photophysical properties and excited state behavior of p-aminobenzoic acids

Abstract The photophysical properties of p -aminobenzoic acid and dimethyl- p -aminobenzoic acid are compared in a range of solvents. The electronic spectra are used to determine quantum efficiencies and evaluate excited state behavior. The latter system is found to undergo a charge transfer following photoexcitation and the thermodynamics for the process are assessed. The strength and type of solvent–solute interaction are important in determining the driving force for the charge transfer, with entropy being dominant in protic solvents and enthalpy in aprotic solvents. Vibrational spectroscopy and calculations provide further insight into the nature of the specific solvent–solute interactions, with shifts in the infrared spectrum observed due to hydrogen bonding interactions with the solvent.