cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PET probes for distinct metabolic pathways have different cell specificities during immune responses in mice

Clinical tools that measure changes in immune cell metabolism would improve the diagnosis and treatment of immune dysfunction. PET, utilizing probes for specific metabolic processes, detects regions of immune activation in vivo. In this study we investigated the immune cell specificity of PET probes for two different metabolic pathways: [18F]-2-fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]-FDG) for glycolysis and [18F]-2-fluoro-D-(arabinofuranosyl)cytosine ([18F]-FAC) for deoxycytidine salvage. We isolated innate and adaptive immune cells from tissues of mice challenged with a retrovirus-induced sarcoma and measured their ability to accumulate FDG and FAC. We determined that the two probes had distinct patterns of accumulation: FDG accumulated to the highest levels in innate immune cells, while FAC accumulated predominantly in CD8+ T cells in a manner that correlated with cellular proliferation. This study demonstrates that innate and adaptive cell types differ in glycolytic and deoxycytidine salvage demands during an immune response and that these differential metabolic requirements can be detected with specific PET probes. Our findings have implications for the interpretation of clinical PET scans that use [18F]-FDG or [18F]-FAC to assess immune function in vivo and suggest potential applications of metabolic PET to monitor the effects of targeted immune modulation.
Single-sex education: results one-sided.

In their Education Forum “The pseudoscience of single-sex schooling” (23 September, p. [1706][1]), D. F. Halpern et al. claim that there is no evidence to support positive effects of single-sex education. They acknowledge that “without blind assessment, randomized assignment to treatment or
Latent Nucleophilicity of Dichlorocarbene

Rate constants and activation parameters are reported for additions of CCl2 to methyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, and α-chloroacrylonitrile. The results reveal latent nucleophilicity in the addition of CCl2 to α-chloroacrylonitrile, a conclusion supported by theoretical studies of the cyclopropanation reaction transition state.
Stochastic Energy Opportunity Windows in Advanced Manufacturing Systems

To improve energy efficiency is becoming more and more critical for manufacturing enterprises because of the rising energy costs, increased global competitiveness, environmental concern and more government regulations. Production control has been considered as one of the most cost-effective methods to achieve the goal. This paper discusses the energy saving opportunities in a multistage manufacturing system through strategically shut down machines to reduce their running time. We start from the investigation on what is the longest time that machines can be shut down or turn to energy saving mode without affecting system production. Then, energy opportunity windows (EOWs) of machines are defined. A Markov chain model is developed to estimate the EOWs. A case study is conducted to demonstrate the proposed model and its potential on energy saving in multistage manufacturing systems.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Microfluidic integration of Western blotting is enabled by electrotransfer-assisted sodium dodecyl sulfate dilution

We integrate sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with subsequent antibody probing in a single, monolithic microdevice to realize microfluidic Western blotting. A hurdle to successful on-chip Western blotting lies in restoring antibody recognition of previously sized (denatured, reduced) proteins. To surmount this hurdle, we locally dilute free SDS from SDS-protein complexes using differential electromigration of the species during electrotransfer between SDS-PAGE and blotting regions of a microchamber. Local dilution of SDS minimizes re-association of SDS with proteins offering means to restore antibody binding affinity to proteins after SDS-PAGE. To achieve automated, programmable operation in a single instrument, we utilize a 1 × 2 mm(2) glass microchamber photopatterned with spatially distinct, contiguous polyacrylamide regions for SDS-PAGE, electrotransfer, and antibody blotting. Optimization of both the SDS-PAGE and electrotransfer conditions yields transfer distances of <1 mm (40 s). The Western blot is completed in 180 s, with fully automated assay operation using programmable voltage control. After SDS-PAGE and electrotransfer, we observe ~80% capture of protein band mass on the blotting region for a model protein, C-reactive protein. This novel microfluidic Western blot approach introduces fine transport control for in-transit protein handling to form the basis for an automated, rapid alternative to conventional slab-gel Western blotting.
Illustrative designs of multiband, wideband and EBG-enhanced antennas

The purpose of this paper is to review a number of innovative design concepts for multiband, wideband and EBG enhanced planar antennas. We begin by discussing two novel multiband antenna designs for multiple frequency applications. The first of these, which is based on fractal concepts, is a Sierpinski gasket type configuration. The second design combines a microstrip patch with a cylindrical dielectric resonator, and operates at multiple frequencies. Next, we describe a dual-band antenna design useful for WLAN applications. Finally, to round out the discussion, we turn to EBG-enhanced design. EBG materials are artificial dielectrics that comprise of a periodic array of metallic or dielectric elements, which exhibit stop-band and pass-band characteristics. We consider periodic dielectric structures, as well as frequency selective surfaces (FSSs) embedded in a background dielectric medium, which may be multilayered.
Protein Structure Design and Engineering

Protein structure design and engineering is a research endeavour in which proteins with predicted structure and function are constructed in the laboratory through rational design, combinatorial selection or combination of both approaches. It is built upon our knowledge about the structure and function of proteins and can be accomplished either from scratch (de novo design) or based on native scaffolds (redesign). The area of protein design is an exciting and rapidly growing field, advancing from the design of simple protein structures, to those that are more complicated and recently to the designs of functional proteins. Design of artificial proteins containing unnatural amino acids, backbone linkages or cofactors have also been reported, making it possible to prepare proteins with structural and functional properties beyond those of native proteins. These advances bring us closer to realising the dream of tailor-made artificial enzymes with high catalytic efficiency and selectivity for biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications. Key Concepts: Protein structure design and engineering is a research endeavour in which proteins with predicted structure and function are constructed in the laboratory. The protein design field can be organised into two complimentary approaches: rational design and combinatorial selection of the desired protein. Rational protein design strategies can involve designing a protein from scratch (de novo design) or redesigning a protein with native scaffolds to achieve new structures and functions. Combinatorial approaches can involve sampling a large population of proteins to select the desired one or it can involve numerous rounds of randomised mutation followed by selection to fine-tune properties being selected for. Techniques are available that allow the incorporation of unnatural moieties, such as unnatural amino acids, backbone linkages or cofactors, into proteins. The field has made a big stride recently in designing functional proteins. Keywords: protein design; rational design; de novo design; combinatorial methods; unnatural amino acids; protein folding; secondary coordination sphere; functional design
Disproportionation of carbon monoxide on supported nickel catalysts

Abstract The disproportionation of carbon monoxide was investigated mainly on a 5.5% Ni Al 2 O 3 catalyst by infrared spectroscopy and temperature-programmed desorption. The reaction was found to be of first order with respect to the surface concentration of CO below 200 °C, while at 450 °C the reaction proceeded as a second order reaction for the pressure of CO. Results obtained with predeposited carbon indicated that the disproportionation reaction requires an ensemble of several nickel atoms. In agreement with this result, the disproportionation did not take place readily on a 1.1% Ni Al 2 O 3 catalyst on which a high dispersion of the metal was indicated by both infrared spectroscopy and the chemisorption of hydrogen. In the temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) carbon monoxide desorbed in a single peak before 300 °C. Some of the carbon monoxide, however, underwent disproportionation during TPD and a carbon dioxide peak appeared at about 220 °C. Furthermore, carbon thus deposited on the surface was oxidized to carbon monoxide by oxygen supplied from the catalysts and gave a second peak of CO in TPD at temperatures higher than 300 °C. Possible sources of the oxygen were discussed.
Role of the lymphoreticular system in prion neuroinvasion from the oral and nasal mucosa.

Prion neuroinvasion from peripheral tissues involves agent replication in the lymphoreticular system (LRS) prior to entry into the nervous system. This study investigated the role of the LRS in prion neuroinvasion from the oral and nasal mucosa in wild-type and immunodeficient mice and in hamsters infected with the HY and DY strains of the transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) agent. Following inoculation at neural sites, all hosts were susceptible to prion disease and had evidence of prion infection in the brain, but infection of the LRS was found only in scrapie-infected wild-type mice and HY TME-infected hamsters. In the LRS replication-deficient models, prion neuroinvasion was not observed following intraperitoneal or oral inoculation. However, immunodeficient mice, which have impaired follicular dendritic cells, were susceptible to scrapie following intratongue and intranasal inoculation despite the absence of PrP Sc in the tongue or the nasal cavity. For DY TME, hamsters were susceptible following intratongue but not intranasal inoculation and PrP Sc was limited to nerve fibers of the tongue. These findings indicate that neuroinvasion from the tongue and nasal cavity can be independent of LRS infection but neuroinvasion was partially dependent on the strain of the prion agent and/or the host species. The paucity of PrP Sc deposition in the oral and nasal mucosa from LRS replication-deficient hosts following neuroinvasion from these tissues suggests an infection of nerve fibers that is below the threshold of PrP Sc detection and/or the transport of the prion agent along cranial nerves without agent replication.
Legume Intake of Childbearing Aged Women in Rural Tajikistan

Legume intake among women of childbearing age living in “vilojati” (region) Khatlon of Tajikistan was investigated. Tajik women (n = 151) between 19 and 41 years old completed a survey on legumes. Anthropometric and skinfold measurements were collected with body mass index (kg/m2) of 22.6 ± 4.7, waist circumference (cm) of 74.8 ± 12.2, and sum of skinfold measurements (triceps, thigh, and suprailiac) (mm) of 60.1 ± 19.3. Overall, 19% of the participants were underweight, 20% overweight, and 9% obese. Consumption of legumes in the Tajik diet was at least two to three times per week or more (73.5%), suggesting a positive dietary approach for increasing folate and iron intake of Tajik women of childbearing age.
Food deserts Governing obesity in the neoliberal city

Studies of ‘food deserts’, neighborhoods in which healthy food is expensive and/or difficult to find, have received much recent political attention. These studies reflect the popularity of a social...
Epididymal interstitial (Leydig) cell tumors in B6C3F1 mice.

Six primary interstitial cell tumors of the epididymis were identified from 46,752 male B6C3F, mice used in chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies. Five of the tumors occurred at the end of 2-year studies; none were attributed to treatment. None of the mice with epididymal tumors had a primary testicular tumor. Histologically, tumors were characterized by a nodular or diffuse proliferation of tumor cells in the epididymal interstitium. Most cells were polygonal with highly vacuolated cytoplasm (vacuolated cells) or eosinophilic cytoplasm (eosinophilic cells). Smaller hyperchromatic cells with scant basophilic cytoplasm (ba- sophilic cells) and cells with yellow-brown pigment characteristic of lipofuscin (pigmented cells) were less common. In each tumor two or more cell types were present. Extension of these tumors through the capsule, invasion of the testis, or metastasis did not occur. By electron microscopy both eosinophilic and vacuolated cell types had a large round or oval nucleus with sparse heterochromatin, abundant mitochondria with tubu- lovesicular cristae, and frequent desmosome structures between cell membranes. Vacuolated cells contained numerous lipid droplets. Morphological features of the epididymal tumors are similar to those of the testicular interstitial (Leydig) cell tumor in mice and rats. Spontaneous tumors of the epididymis are rare in mice. Schwannoma, l3 sarcoma,6J0 lipoma,6 and hem- angiosarcoma6 have been described. Although spon- taneous interstitial (Leydig) cell tumors in the testis occur in mice, interstitial tumors originating in the epididymis of mice or other species have not been described. Here, we report the gross, histopathologic, and ultrastructural features of primary epididymal in- terstitial cell tumors in B6C3F, mice.
Equilibrium Production Models that Incorporate Fished Area

Abstract Users of stock production models assume that a time series of catch-per-effort data reflects changes in the size of a self-sustaining biological population. This assumption is often violated in analyses of fisheries that have undergone changes in the areal coverage of the fishing fleet because the fraction of the population that is available to fishing also changes. Furthermore, the problem is aggravated when there is biomass transfer (in the form of migration) between the exploited and unexploited segments of the population. We present a general production model that can be used to understand the dynamics of equilibrium population size and yield as functions of fishing mortality and exploitable population fraction. We then develop two simple subsets of this model in which biomass transfer is either nil or high between the unexploited and exploited fractions, and we discuss methods to estimate the models' parameters given data on catch, effort, and area. The application of the models is illustrat...
Methylphenidate Response Prediction in ADHD

Predictors of response to methylphenidate (MPH) among 47 children with ADHD and mental retardation (MR) were studied at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA.
TRPM2 and TRPM7: channel/enzyme fusions to generate novel intracellular sensors

Within the transient receptor potential (Trp) superfamily of ion channels, three members of the Trp (melastatin) (TRPM) subfamily stand out as their amino acid sequences indicate that they possess both ion channel and enzymatic functions. Recently, progress has been made in understanding the relationships between these disparate functionalities for two of these proteins, TRPM2 and TRPM7. TRPM2 appears to have adapted an ADP-ribose hydrolase (ADPRibase) enzyme's structure as a means of binding ADP-ribose and conveying information about the accumulation of ADP-ribose to the cell via the activation of Na(+)/Ca(2+) entry through the channel domain. While the ADPRibase activity of TRPM2's enzymatic domain is not required for channel gating, whether a converse relationship exists, wherein channel gating or ion flow modulates the enzymatic domain's ADPRibase activity, is not known. In contrast, TRPM7 appears to have evolved to place a Mg(2+)-regulated protein kinase domain in close proximity to a Mg(2+)-permeant ion channel, such that the kinase domain's phosphotransferase activity is able respond to local changes in free Mg(2+) occurring as the result of the flux of Mg(2+) through the channel. As with TRPM2, the activity of TRPM7's enzymatic domain is not required for gating of its channel domain, although evidence exists that it may have an alternative means of influencing channel gating. These insights into the functional relationships between the channel and enzymatic domains of TRPM2 and TRPM7 suggest informative models for their roles in vertebrate cell physiology.
Lifecycle greenhouse gas implications of US national scenarios for cellulosic ethanol production

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 set an annual US national production goal of 39.7 billion l of cellulosic ethanol by 2020. This paper explores the possibility of meeting that target by growing and processing Miscanthus giganteus. We define and assess six production scenarios in which active cropland and/or Conservation Reserve Program land are used to grow to Miscanthus. The crop and biorefinery locations are chosen with consideration of economic, land-use, water management and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction objectives. Using lifecycle assessment, the net GHG footprint of each scenario is evaluated, providing insight into the climate costs and benefits associated with each scenario’s objectives. Assuming that indirect land-use change is successfully minimized or mitigated, the results suggest two major drivers for overall GHG impact of cellulosic ethanol from Miscanthus: (a) net soil carbon sequestration or emissions during Miscanthus cultivation and (b) GHG offset credits for electricity exported by biorefineries to the grid. Without these factors, the GHG intensity of bioethanol from Miscanthus is calculated to be 11‐13 g CO2-equivalent per MJ of fuel, which is 80‐90% lower than gasoline. Including soil carbon sequestration and the power-offset credit results in net GHG sequestration up to 26 g CO2-equivalent per MJ of fuel.
Vector quantization based QoS evaluation in cognitive radio networks

In this paper, we attempt to characterize the QoS that secondary users can expect in a cognitive radio network. Using power control as a black-box, we propose a method that can help us evaluate the QoS for any given power vector based on past observations. To that end, we first define a k-dimensional QoS space where each point in that space characterizes the expected QoS. We show how the operating condition of the system maps to a point in the QoS space, the quality of which is given by the corresponding QoS index. To deal with the real-valued QoS space, we use vector quantization to partition the space into finite number of regions each of which is represented by one QoS index. We argue that any operating condition of the system can be mapped to one of the pre-computed QoS indices using a simple look-up in O(log n) time- thus avoiding any cumbersome computation for QoS evaluation. Using simulations, we illustrate how a 2-dimensional QoS space can be constructed. We choose capacity as the QoS metric and show what the expected capacity would be for a given power vector.
Wafer level system packaging and integration for solid state lighting (SSL)

In this paper, wafer level system packaging and integration for solid state lighting (SSL) is presented, which includes wafer level phosphor coating, wafer level LED chip encapsulation, wafer level optics manufacturing, reconfiguration (or reconstitution) of LED/silicon wafers, through silicon vias (TSV) formations between LED and silicon/ceramics/polymer wafers, wafer-to-wafer or wafer-to-chip bonding and stacking, and wafer level bumping technologies. A variety of wafer level bumping technologies is introduced, such as ball on I/O (BON), ball on polymer (BOP), redistribution dielectric layer (RDL) process, and copper post bumping process. The reliability improvement among different bumping technologies and the implications in SSL systems are discussed.
High‐pressure, high‐temperature equations of state using nanofabricated controlled‐geometry Ni/SiO2/Ni double hot‐plate samples

We have fabricated novel controlled-geometry samples for the laser-heated diamond-anvil cell (LHDAC) in which a transparent oxide layer (SiO2) is sandwiched between two laser-absorbing layers (Ni) in a single, cohesive sample. The samples were mass manufactured (>104 samples) using a combination of physical vapor deposition, photolithography, and wet and plasma etching. The double hot-plate arrangement of the samples, coupled with the chemical and spatial homogeneity of the laser-absorbing layers, addresses problems of spatial temperature heterogeneities encountered in previous studies where simple mechanical mixtures of transparent and opaque materials were used. Here we report thermal equations of state (EOS) for nickel to 100 GPa and 3000 K and stishovite to 50 GPa and 2400 K obtained using the LHDAC and in situ synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction. We discuss the inner core composition and the stagnation of subducted slabs in the mantle based on our refined thermal EOS.
Effective elastic properties of periodic hexagonal honeycombs

Abstract We investigate the elastic behavior of periodic hexagonal honeycombs over a wide range of relative densities and cell geometries, using both analytical and numerical approaches. Previous modeling approaches are reviewed and their limitations identified. More accurate estimates of all nine elastic constants are obtained by modifying the analysis of Gibson and Ashby (1997) to account for the nodes at the intersection of the vertical and inclined members. The effect of the nodes becomes significant at high relative densities. We then compare the new analytical equations with previous analytical models, with a numerical analysis based on a computational homogenization technique and with data for rubber honeycombs over a wide range of relative densities and cell geometries. The comparisons show that both the new analytical equations and numerical solutions give a remarkably good description of the data. The results provide new insights into understanding the mechanics of honeycombs and designing new cellular materials in the future.
On The Generalized Inverse Form of the Equations of Constrained Motion

(1995). On The Generalized Inverse Form of the Equations of Constrained Motion. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 102, No. 9, pp. 821-825.
Application of molecular biology techniques in diagnosis of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli

Application of molecular biology techniques in laboratory diagnosis of three public health events occurred recently was summarized.To investigate possible pathogenic agents of these events,routine bacteriologic culture,serological and biochemical identification were conducted,combined with a series of molecular biology approaches such as gene-specific PCR,real-time PCR and sequence analysis.Conventional bacteriologic tests indicated Escherichia coli as causative agents,however,gene-specific PCR and RT-PCR assays precisely directed to certain sub-groups of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli.These results suggest that application of molecular biology techniques,in addition to conventional bacteriologic tests,plays an important role in successful laboratory investigations in public health events.
Reduction and sustainability of cesarean section surgical site infection: An evidence-based, innovative, and multidisciplinary quality improvement intervention bundle program.

Background We found cesarean section (C-section) surgical site infection (SSI) at our institution was significantly higher than the national benchmark. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted under 4 phases from January 2008-December 2014. The hospital infection control (IC) policies and a presurgical checklist were bundled and implemented. The study was conducted with 3,334 cesarean deliveries: phase A (January 1, 2008-January 31,2010): 1,250 patients without intervention (baseline SSI rate), phase B (February 1, 2010-July 31, 2011): 682 patients were intervened with IC policies, phase C (August 1, 2011-December 31, 2012): 591 patients with an SSI reduction bundle, and phase D (January 1, 2013-December 31, 2014): 811 patients were monitored for C-section SSI sustainability. Patients not following strict protocols because of emergency C-section deliveries were excluded. The χ 2 test, Fisher exact test, and standard Z test were used for statistical analyses. Results C-section SSI rates were 6.2% (77/1,250) in phase A, 3.7% (25/682) in phase B, 1.7% (10/591) in phase C, and 0.1% (1/811) in phase D, respectively. By implementing the IC policies and bundle, the C-section SSI rate was reduced 40.3% (phase B vs phase A), 72.6% (phase C vs phase A), and 98.4% (phase D vs phase A). All statistics were significantly different. Conclusions We conclude that implementing a C-section SSI reduction bundle was associated with reduced C-section SSI rate down toward zero. A future prospectively randomized controlled trial is warranted.
Unmanned Systems and Managing from Above: The Practical Implications of UAVs for Research Applications Addressing Urban Sustainability

The development and widespread use of small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), such as quadcopters with GoPro cameras, is leading a revolution in a wide range of hobby, commercial and potential research applications of the technology. Within urban areas the variety and pace of changes occurring with both human and natural systems have significant impacts on efforts to address and manage sustainability. A wide range of opportunities and challenges exist in considering how UAVs may effectively be used as a spatial tool in examining urban areas, including buildings, infrastructure, ecosystem features and processes, natural areas, and environmental health. This chapter examines the technical, practical, policy and legal implications of the use of UAVs to assess and monitor urban sustainability and includes highlighting examples of recent research applications. Uses of scale, resolution, accuracy and reliability are noted along with how improving technologies and the growth in the widespread familiarity and use of UAVs represent an expanding field for urban research applications. Challenges including privacy, federal regulations governing the commercial use of UAVs are discussed. A series of recommendation research applications are presented in terms of the greatest potential where UAVs can be employed to further research, understanding, and decision-making in the area of urban sustainability.
Water undersaturated mantle plume volcanism on present-day Mars

Based on meteorite evidence, the present-day Martian mantle has a combined abundance of up to a few hundred ppm of H2O, Cl, and F, which lowers the solidus and enhances the magma production rate. Adiabatic decompression melting in upwelling mantle plumes is the best explanation for young (last 200 Myr) volcanism on Mars. We explore water undersaturated mantle plume volcanism using a finite element mantle convection model coupled to a model of hydrous peridotite melting. Relative to a dry mantle, the reduction in solidus temperature due to water increases the magma production rate by a factor of 1.3–1.7 at 50 ppm water and by a factor of 1.9–3.2 at 200 ppm water. Mantle water also decreases the viscosity and increases the vigor of convection, which indirectly increases the magma production rate by thinning the thermal boundary layer and increasing the flow velocity. At conditions relevant to Mars, these indirect effects can cause an order of magnitude increase in the magma production rate. Using geologic and geophysical observations of the Late Amazonian magma production rate and geochemical observations of melt fractions in shergottite meteorites, present-day Mars is constrained to have a core–mantle boundary temperature of ~1750 to 1800 °C and a volume-averaged thermal Rayleigh number of 2 × 106 to 107, indicating that moderately vigorous mantle convection has persisted to the present day. Melting occurs at depths of 2.5–6 GPa and is controlled by the Rayleigh number at the low pressure end and by the mantle water concentration at high pressure.
Article 25 [Health]

The CRPD is the first United Nations human rights treaty that was adopted in the twenty-first century. The Convention aspires “to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity” (Article 1) and marks a turning point in the approach toward disabilities. Indeed, since its adoption, it has played a vanguard role as to the promotion and protection of disability rights, as well as a driving force toward legal change at EU and domestic levels.
Pulmonary hypertension in preterm infants: results of a prospective screening program

Determine prevalence and associations with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in preterm infants. Prospective institutional echocardiographic PH screening at 36 to 38 weeks’ corrected gestational age (GA) for infants born <32 weeks' GA who had bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD; group BPD), and infants without BPD who had a birth weight (BW) <750 g, or clinical suspicion for PH (group NoBPD). Two hundred and four infants were screened (GA 25.9±2 weeks, BW 831±286 g). The PH prevalence in group BPD was higher than in group NoBPD (44/159 (28%) vs 5/45 (11%); P=0.028). In group BPD, BW and GA were lower in infants with PH compared with NoPH. Following correction for BW and GA, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), atrial septal defect (ASD), and mortality were independently associated with PH in infants with BPD. In group NoBPD, NEC was the only identified factor associated with PH. Altogether, screening only those infants with NEC and infants with BPD who also had a BW <840 g would have yielded a 84% sensitivity for detecting PH, and reduced the number of screening echocardiograms by 43%. PH in prematurity is associated with NEC in infants with and without BPD. In infants with BPD, smaller GA and BW, severe IVH, ASD and mortality are also associated with PH. Infants without identified PH-associated factors may not require routine echocardiographic PH screening.
Rapid maximum likelihood ancestral state reconstruction of continuous characters: A rerooting-free algorithm.

Ancestral state reconstruction is a method used to study the evolutionary trajectories of quantitative characters on phylogenies. Although efficient methods for univariate ancestral state reconstruction under a Brownian motion model have been described for at least 25 years, to date no generalization has been described to allow more complex evolutionary models, such as multivariate trait evolution, non-Brownian models, missing data, and within-species variation. Furthermore, even for simple univariate Brownian motion models, most phylogenetic comparative R packages compute ancestral states via inefficient tree rerooting and full tree traversals at each tree node, making ancestral state reconstruction extremely time-consuming for large phylogenies. Here, a computationally efficient method for fast maximum likelihood ancestral state reconstruction of continuous characters is described. The algorithm has linear complexity relative to the number of species and outperforms the fastest existing R implementations by several orders of magnitude. The described algorithm is capable of performing ancestral state reconstruction on a 1,000,000-species phylogeny in fewer than 2 s using a standard laptop, whereas the next fastest R implementation would take several days to complete. The method is generalizable to more complex evolutionary models, such as phylogenetic regression, within-species variation, non-Brownian evolutionary models, and multivariate trait evolution. Because this method enables fast repeated computations on phylogenies of virtually any size, implementation of the described algorithm can drastically alleviate the computational burden of many otherwise prohibitively time-consuming tasks requiring reconstruction of ancestral states, such as phylogenetic imputation of missing data, bootstrapping procedures, Expectation-Maximization algorithms, and Bayesian estimation. The described ancestral state reconstruction algorithm is implemented in the Rphylopars functions anc.recon and phylopars.
Loss of H2B monoubiquitination is associated with poor-differentiation and enhanced malignancy of lung adenocarcinoma

Deregulated monoubiquitination of histone H2B (H2Bub1), mainly catalyzed by E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase RNF20/RNF40 complex, may play an important role in cancer. Here we investigate potential roles of H2Bub1 and the underlying mechanisms through which it contributes to cancer development and progression in lung adenocarcinoma. We show that downregulation of H2Bub1 through RNF20 knockdown dramatically decreases H3K79 and H3K4 trimethylation in both normal and malignant lung epithelial cell lines. Concurrently, global transcriptional profiling analysis reveals that multiple tumor-associated genes such as CCND3, E2F1/2, HOXA1, Bcl2 modifying factor (BMF), Met, and Myc; and signaling pathways of cellular dedifferentiation, proliferation, adhesion, survival including p53, cadherin, Myc, and anti-apoptotic pathways are differentially expressed or significantly altered in these lung epithelial cells upon downregulation of H2Bub1. Moreover, RNF20 knockdown dramatically suppresses terminal squamous differentiation of cultured bronchial epithelial cells, and significantly enhances proliferation, migration, invasion, and cisplatin resistance of lung cancer cells. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry analysis shows that H2Bub1 is extremely low or undetectable in > 70% of 170 lung adenocarcinoma samples. Notably, statistical analysis demonstrates that loss of H2Bub1 is significantly correlated with poor differentiation in lung adenocarcinoma (P = 0.0134). In addition, patients with H2Bub1-negative cancers had a trend towards shorter survival compared with patients with H2Bub1-positive cancers. Taken together, our findings suggest that loss of H2Bub1 may enhance malignancy and promote disease progression in lung adenocarcinoma probably through modulating multiple cancer signaling pathways. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Open Questions: We don't really know anything, do we? Open questions in sensory biology.

Abstract Senses connect organisms to both the world and to each other, yet there is much we don’t know about them. Using examples drawn primarily from the author’s subfield of vision research, this article discusses five major open questions.
Cardiorenal Syndrome and Heart Failure

Renal dysfunction is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality in heart failure patients. Similarly, heart failure is one of the most common complications of patients with renal dysfunction. This chapter summarizes the cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) caused by heart failure. Worsening renal failure is usually defined as an increase in serum creatinine (SCr) equal to or more than 0.3 mg/dl. Defining CRS has lacked clarity and consistency, changing from the progression of renal dysfunction secondary to heart failure to a broader description—as a pathophysiologic disorder of the heart and kidneys whereby acute or chronic dysfunction of one organ may induce acute or chronic dysfunction of the other. Its pathophysiology is not well understood. Five subtypes (types 1 through 5) categorize CRS based on its initial compromised organ and a patient’s symptoms and physical status. Diagnosis is challenging, especially in type 1 where increased serum creatinine sometimes reflects a preexisting injury and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is not reliable in acute states given that formulas used to estimate GFR were validated in patients with stable renal function. Use of newly recognized biomarkers is at an experimental stage, so the gold standard for diagnosis remains clinical assessment. Patient management typically focuses on relieving congestion and improving hemodynamics to prevent worsening renal perfusion and failure and preventing activation of inflammatory responses that lead to glomerular and tubular damage. Brain natriuretic peptide is showing promise for both its natriuretic and vasodilatory properties. Research will improve our understanding of CRS’ underlying mechanisms and guide optimal treatment options for patients with heart failure.
Can you expect the boss to be ethical? Effects of boss' status and power on subordinates' trust

In many organizations, the power an employee has is dependent on the position he/she holds within the organization. Whereas a great deal of research has examined the effects that power can have on those who possess it, this research examines how others perceive individuals who hold powerful positions, particularly those who have direct power over them, and predicts that others will have less trust for more powerful individuals than they will for those who are equally powerful. Furthermore, it is predicted that this negative effect of power on trust occurs because others have higher expectations that powerful individuals will engage in unethical behavior, but that this effect can be attenuated by the amount of status the powerful individual is perceived to have. Some evidence is found in four experimental laboratory studies and one survey study for some of these hypotheses. An agenda for future research is suggested, including a discussion of the practical and theoretical implications of the findings of th...
Feasibility of a Nurse-Managed Pain, Agitation, and Delirium Protocol in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Background Society of Critical Care Medicine guidelines recommend the use of pain, agitation, and delirium protocols in the intensive care unit. The feasibility of nurse management of such protocols in the surgical intensive care unit has not been well assessed. Objectives To evaluate the percentage of adherent medication interventions for patients assessed by using a pain, sedation, and delirium protocol. Methods Data on all adult patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit from January 2013 through September 2013 who were assessed at least once by using a pain, sedation, and delirium protocol were retrospectively reviewed. Protocol adherence was evaluated for interventions implemented after a nursing assessment. Patients were further divided into 2 groups on the basis of adherence, and achievement of pain and sedation goals was evaluated between groups. Results Data on 41 patients were included. Of the 603 pain assessments, 422 (70.0%) led to an intervention adherent to the protocol. Of the 249 sedation assessments, 192 (77.1%) led to an adherent intervention. Among patients with 75% or greater adherent pain interventions, all interventions met pain goals with significantly less fentanyl than that used in interventions that did not meet goals. Despite 75% or greater adherence with interventions for sedation assessments, only 8.7% of the interventions met sedation goals. Conclusions A nurse-managed pain, agitation, and delirium protocol can be feasibly implemented in a surgical intensive care unit.
Municipal isomorphism: testing the effects of vertical and horizontal collaboration

This study tests whether vertical and horizontal collaborative arrangements generate organizational isomorphic pressures. Using neo-institutional theory, we explore whether local governments emulat...
Health IT Adoption in Nursing Homes: The Role of IT Vendors

Applying exploratory qualitative methodologies such as interviews and focus groups, we examine the role of IT vendors in health IT adoption in nursing homes in Texas. We identify three roles pertaining to IT vendors in various adoption stages — information sources and financiers, strategic consultants, and educators in the initiation, implementation, and the institutionalization phases, respectively. Thus, vendors could be a critical factor in the health IT adoption, but nursing home management must critically evaluate not only the services, but also the strategic partnerships offered by the vendors. This is because their business interests may not address nursing homes’ distinctive need, and may prevent integration and institutionalization of health IT. As such, this research has important implications for technology adoption by nursing facilities.
Religious/Spiritual Effects on Physical Morbidity and Mortality

This chapter reviews theories and empirical evidence on relations between individually measured religion and/or spirituality (R/S), and mortality, physical morbidity, and disability. Most studies have relied on frameworks that recognize a potential causative influence of R/S on health that is mediated through factors such as health behaviors, social support, mental health, and distinctively religious/spiritual methods of coping with stress.
Illegalized Sexual Dissent: Sexualities and Nationalisms

In this essay, Katherine Franke explores how dissent becomes a different, and in some ways more interesting, phenomenon when the dissenter emerges not from outside the political horizon drawn by the state, but rather from within it, and as an integral part of the state's project of governance. In these cases, the state calls up a set of subjects who are in some fundamental sense positioned to gain state, if not public, disfavor. These subjects are then isolated, excised or otherwise managed in ways that further state interests. Three cases are discussed in which the production of sexual outlaws proves to be a convenient method of managing periods of public, if not state, stress. She examines how sex and sexuality can be used by the state during significant moments of transition, as well as periods of state formation and reformation, both in identifying danger and as a tactic of governance. First, she looks at the sexual politics of rule of President Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. Mugabe has found the deployment of sex as a particularly useful wedge issue in his mission of national freedom - that is, freedom from colonial rule by the British. Next she turns to Egypt and recent government-led campaigns of highly public and publicized criminal prosecutions of men alleged to be gay. Finally, she turns to the United States in the period immediately following the civil war, when the federal government undertook two enormously challenging tasks: reunifying the nation after a devastating civil war, and managing the transition of African Americans from enslavement to citizenship. In these three instances sex and sexuality have been particularly useful to the project of managing political instability or transition. These examples illustrate how under some circumstances, in response to transitional stress, the state gains an official sexuality, sources of threat are sexualized, and the management of sex becomes a tool of governance that produces individual unfreedom in the name of expanding national freedom or independence.
Psychopharmacologic facilitation of operant conditioning of genetically nervous catahoula and Pointer dogs

Previous work has demonstrated that a genetic factor underlies much of the disturbed behavior in one strain of short haired pointer bird dogs (E line) maintained for several years in our laboratory. In some dogs the behavior is seemingly permanent and is characterized by human avoidance, excessive startle, reduced exploratory activity, and “freezing” or catatonic posturing. Another strain of dogs, catahoulas, with a high incidence of disturbed behavior similar to that above but with much less catatonic posturing, was made available for study also. In both of these strains defensive reaction and gross avoidance behavior often prevents the acquisition and later performance of operant conditioning (bar pressing for food reward) unless supportive tranquilizing chemotherapy is given.
Anxiety: Drug Therapy

The principle anxiety disorders recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and obsessive–compulsive disorder, represent a significant mental health concern throughout the world; they result in marked decrease in quality of life, impairment in functioning, and loss of productivity. Research that has begun to highlight the various components of the fear circuit aids in understanding the mechanism of action of the medications currently used to treat anxiety disorders, and it facilitates the development of new pharmacologic agents. The medications used to treat anxiety disorders are thought to modify dysfunction within the fear circuit, thereby producing anxiolysis. The level of responsiveness to treatment of the anxiety disorders varies, with panic disorder being the most responsive to treatment and posttraumatic stress disorder being the most resistant to treatment. The other anxiety disorders fall within this spectrum. The discoveries of the benzodiazepines and imipramine in the late 1950s heralded the modern era of biological treatment of the anxiety disorders. The next landmark progress for anxious patients was the discovery of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the 1980s. Despite these advances in the treatment of anxiety disorders, better agents are needed. Ongoing research in the area of noradrenergic, glutamatergic, and peptidergic agents may provide future anxiolytic medications. This article explores the proposed mechanisms of action of the different classes of medications and then discuss treatment selection, efficacy, and implementation for the various anxiety disorders.
Alterations at Arg76 of human connexin 46, a residue associated with cataract formation, cause loss of gap junction formation but preserve hemichannel function.

The connexins are members of a family of integral membrane proteins that form gap junction channels between apposed cells and/or hemichannels across the plasma membranes. The importance of the argi...
Leveraging Consumer Health IT to Incentivize Engagement and Shared Accountability in Value-Based Purchasing

Health care payers (self-insured employers, insurance companies, state Medicaid agencies, etc.) are increasingly playing a role as thoughtful purchasers of health care. In these new value-based purchasing (VBP) initiatives, the focus is on paying for value rather than volume of services, an endeavor necessitating robust health information technology (IT). Successful efforts to implement VBP methodologies, from pay for performance to global budgets, entail a coevolution of technology; practice change designed to achieve benchmarks; and ongoing improvement against strategic quality measures. Ideally, this integrated approach to health system redesign will align technology, workflow, and quality with the goal of improving health outcomes. A key goal of VBP is for payers and purchasers to balance provider incentives and accountability in a way that supports patient-centered care and consumer engagement. Involving consumers (e.g., beneficiaries, patients, and caregivers) in the design and implementation of health IT is one important tactic to ensure the tools and programs that are developed are responsive to consumer’s needs. Promising future directions include efforts to incorporate social determinants of health into care and VBP, and developing a broader perspective on whole-person care. Both are only possible with robust consumer-facing health IT. The ultimate goal for policy and practice is to engage consumers and patients the design and implementation of health IT systems and VBP programs that promote health and well-being.