cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transient arrest in a quiescent state allows ovarian cancer cells to survive suboptimal growth conditions and is mediated by both Mirk/dyrk1b and p130/Rb2

Some ovarian cancer cells in vivo are in a reversible quiescent state where they can contribute to cancer spread under favorable growth conditions. The serine/threonine kinase Mirk/dyrk1B was expressed in each of seven ovarian cancer cell lines and in 21 of 28 resected human ovarian cancers, and upregulated in 60% of the cancers. Some ovarian cancer cells were found in a G0 quiescent state, with the highest fraction in a line with an amplified Mirk gene. Suboptimal culture conditions increased the G0 fraction in SKOV3 and TOV21G, but not OVCAR4 cultures. Less than half as many OVCAR4 cells survived under suboptimal culture conditions as shown by total cell numbers, dye exclusion viability studies, and assay of cleaved apoptotic marker proteins. G0 arrest in TOV21G and SKOV3 cells led to increased levels of Mirk, the CDK inhibitor p27, p130/Rb2, and p130/Rb2 complexed with E2F4. The G0 arrest was transient, and cells exited G0 when fresh nutrients were supplied. Depletion of p130/Rb2 reduced the G0 fraction, increased cell sensitivity to serum-free culture and to cisplatin, and reduced Mirk levels. Mirk contributed to G0 arrest by destabilization of cyclin D1. In TOV21G cells, but not in normal diploid fibroblasts, Mirk depletion led to increased apoptosis and loss of viability. Because Mirk is expressed at low levels in most normal adult tissues, the elevated Mirk protein levels in ovarian cancers may present a novel therapeutic target, in particular for quiescent tumor cells which are difficult to eradicate by conventional therapies targeting dividing cells.
Comparative pharmacology of voltage-dependent sodium channels

A sodium flux assay has been used to study the voltage-dependent sodium channels of a number of electrically excitable cell lines which differ both in their species of origin (rat vs. mouse) and in their physiological type (nerve vs. muscle). In particular we have examined the effects of three neurotoxins known to affect the sodium channels: tetrodotoxin, an inhibitor of sodium flux, and veratridine and scorpion venom, both activators of sodium flux. The veratridine and scorpion venom binding sites are allosterically coupled, so that the two toxins act synergistically. Scorpion venom can potentiate the action of veratridine in one of three ways. (A) It can lower Km for veratridine without affecting the Vmax of sodium uptake observed with veratridine alone. (B) It can lower Km for veratridine and increase Vmax up to 10-fold. (C) It can increase Vmax of sodium uptake without altering Km for veratridine. These qualitative differences do not reflect the species origin of the cells, but instead reflect the cell type. Nerve cells exhibit class A and B behavior, while muscle cells are found exclusively in class C. Cells also differ, as follows, in their affinities for tetrodotoxin and scorpion venom: tetrodotoxin: mouse nerve > rat nerve > mouse muscle > rat muscle; scorpion venom: mouse nerve > mouse muscle > rat nerve and muscle. Thus these quantitative differences reflect differences in both species origin and cell type. These findings indicate that there are several different species of sodium channels. The pharmacological differences reported here should be indicative of differences in the normal physiological functions of the respective cells.
Real-time hyperspectral endoscope for early cancer diagnostics

Hyperspectral imaging has tremendous potential to detect important molecular biomarkers of early cancer based on their unique spectral signatures. Several drawbacks have limited their use for in vivo screening applications: most notably their poor temporal and spatial resolution, high expense, and low optical throughput. We present the development of a new real-time hyperspectral endoscope (called the IMS Endoscope) based on an image mapping technique which makes it capable of addressing these challenges. The parallel, high throughput nature of this technique enables the device to operate at frame rates of 3-10 fps while collecting a 3D (x, y, λ) datacube of 350 x 350 x 48.
Ethanol neurotoxicity in vitro: effects of GM1 ganglioside and protein synthesis inhibition

Cultures of septal and hippocampal neurons from fetal rat and dorsal root ganglion neurons from embryonic chick were pretreated with GM1 ganglioside or cycloheximide and then supplemented with toxic concentrations of ethanol. GM1 provided significant protection against ethanol neurotoxicity in each population. The inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide, however, which protects against cell death resulting from withdrawal of neurotrophic factor support, did not ameliorate ethanol-induced neuronal loss.
Structural and Mechanical Characterization of Nanoclay-Reinforced Agarose Nanocomposites

Nanoclay-reinforced agarose nanocomposite films with varying weight concentration ranging from 0 to 80% of nanoclay were prepared, and structurally and mechanically characterized. Structural characterization was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that pre-exfoliated clay platelets were re-aggregated into particles (stacked platelets) during the composite preparation process. Each particle consists of approximately 11 clay platelets stacked together. The nanoclay particles were homogeneously dispersed within an agarose matrix. The clay particles were oriented with a slight preference of the stacked platelets being parallel to the composite film's surface within the low loading composite films. Mechanical properties of the nanocomposite films were measured by tensile, three-point bending and nanoindentation tests. Mechanical testing results show that nanoclays provide a significant enhancement to the tensile modulus and strength. For the 60% clay nanocomposite, its elastic modulus increases up to 21.4 GPa, which is five times higher than that of the agarose matrix. Based upon the structural characterization, a theoretical model has been developed to simulate the mechanical behaviour of the nanoclay-reinforced polymer composites.
Nonsteroidal estrogens bearing acyl azide functions: potential electrophilic and photoaffinity labeling agents for the estrogen receptor.

Abstract In an effort to develop novel affinity labeling agents for the estrogen receptor, we have synthesized two nonsteroidal ligands, a 1-aroyl-2-aryl tetralin system (1) and a 2-aryl-3-aroylbenzo[b]thiophene system (2). These agents, patterned after the Lilly antiestrogens trioxifene and L Y 117018, respectively, embody acyl azide functions as part of a benzoyl chromophore. The acyl azide group has weak acylating activity, suitable for electrophilic affinity labeling, but this function is also photoreactive and, in its particular embodiment within these ligands, it could provide an efficient photochemical route to the highly reactive singlet acyl nitrene. The tetralin system (1) was prepared in nine steps from 6-methoxy-1-tetralone, and the benzothiophene system (2) was prepared in four steps from a known substituted benzo[b]thiophene precursor. In competitive binding assays, both compounds show reasonable binding affinity for the rat and lamb uterine estrogen receptor: estradiol = 100%, 1 = 3%, and 2 = 12%. When assayed by indirect receptor consumption assays, both compounds appear to have substantial capacity for irreversible binding (electrophilic reaction) with the receptor. This reactivity, which suggests that acylation of the receptor has occurred, is photoreversible. The nature of this ligand-receptor interaction is being investigated further.
Clinical significance of low levels of second-trimester maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin

Objective: To determine if unexplained low second-trimester maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (MShCG) is a useful predictor of complications of pregnancy. Study d
Structural refinement of LaCo(CN)6·5H2O

Abstract Lanthanum hexacyanocobaltate pentahydrate, LaCo(CN)6·5H2O, crystallizes in a hexagonal unit cell, space group P63/m (C6h2, No. 176), with a 0 = 7.507(2) A and c 0 = 14.343(4) A . Single crystal X-ray diffraction data have been collected on an Enraf Nonius Cad-4 automated diffractometer, complete to 2θ = 70°. The final least-squares refinement based on 533 independent reflections yields a residual index value of 0.039. The calculated density for two molecules in the unit cell is 2.106 g-cm−3 [ϱobs = 2.094(7) g-cm−3]. The trivalent lanthanum metal atoms are linked to the cobalt atoms by cyanide bridging. Three of the five water molecules are strongly coordinated and two are uncoordinated occupying holes in the structure along the threefold axis. Dehydration, fluorescence, and spectroscopic analyses gave also been done on single crystals of LaCo(CN)6·5H2O. The important bond lengths are: LaN = 2.616 A; CoC = 1.887 A; La-0(2) = 2.602 A; and CN = 1.156 A.
Strain inhomogeneity and discontinuous crack growth in a particulate composite

Abstract A full field method for visualizing strain fields around a crack tip under large strains is developed. Digital image correlation is used to compute strains and displacements incrementally between consecutive images in a process of large deformations. Values of strain and displacements for these consecutive deformations are added such that convergence of the DIC algorithm is assured. The method is used to investigate the strain distribution in a globally homogeneously strained particulate composite (solid propellant) as well as in a zone close to (∼2 mm) the crack tip in such a material by using a microscope. It is found that maximal strain variations deviate by as much as a factor of three from the average strain ; additionally, observations on the interaction of strain inhomogeneities with the tip of a macroscopic crack are discussed.
Convergence analysis of the norm-relaxed method of feasible directions

This paper gives a complete treatment of the asymptotic rate of convergence for a class of feasible directions methods, including those studied by Pironneau and Polak and by Cawood and Kostreva. Rate estimates of Pironneau and Polak are sharpened in an analysis which shows the dependence on certain parameters of the direction-finding subproblem and the problem functions. Special cases of interior optimal solution, linear constraints, and fixed matrix norm are analyzed in detail. Numerical verification is provided.
The detectability of geometric structure in rapidly changing optical patterns.

Human vision is sensitive to the coherent structure and motion of simple dot patterns undergoing rapid random transformations, even when the component dots are widely separated spatially. A study is reported in which visual sensitivity to translations, rotations, expansions, pure shear, and additive combinations of these transformations was investigated. Observers discriminated between coherent (correlated) movements, in which all the component dots moved simultaneously in corresponding directions and distances, and incoherent (uncorrelated) movements, in which the movements of individual dots were statistically independent.In experiment 1 the accuracy of coherence discrimination was found to be similar for all four of the basic transformations and to increase linearly with the distance of the movements. The discriminability of coherent versus incoherent motion was also found to be similar to the detectability of any motion, suggesting that concurrent movements of individual dots are visually interrelated...
clinical Utility of Aromatase Inhibitors as Adjuvant Treatment in postmenopausal early Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in women, with over 200,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Adjuvant systemic endocrine therapy has demonstrated its benefits in reducing the risk of occult micro metastatic infiltration by preventing breast cancer cells from receiving endogenous estrogen stimulation. Initial adjuvant treatment with an aromatase inhibitor (AI) is considered the standard of care for most postmenopausal women with node-positive and high-risk node-negative estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are generally preferred over tamoxifen due to their effectiveness in preventing breast cancer recurrence post surgery and when tamoxifen side effects are to be avoided. When compared with tamoxifen, AIs are associated with significantly improved disease-free survival, however no OS advantage has been noted. Potential toxicities such as bone loss, dyslipidemia, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health issues should be taken into consideration when AIs are to be used.
Suture versus preperitoneal polypropylene mesh for elective umbilical hernia repairs

Abstract Background Repair of primary ventral hernias (PVH) such as umbilical hernias is a common surgical procedure. There is a paucity of risk-adjusted data comparing suture versus mesh repair of these hernias. We compared preperitoneal polypropylene (PP) repair versus suture repair for elective umbilical hernia repair. Methods A retrospective review of all elective open PVH repairs at a single institution from 2000–2010 was performed. Only patients with suture or PP repair of umbilical hernias were included. Univariate analysis was conducted and propensity for treatment-adjusted multivariate logistic regression. Results There were 442 elective open PVH repairs performed; 392 met our inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 126 (32.1%) had a PP repair and 266 (67.9%) underwent suture repair. Median (range) follow-up was 60 mo (1–143). Patients who underwent PP repair had more surgical site infections (SSIs; 19.8% versus 7.9%, P versus 4.1%, P versus 7.5%, P = 0.53). On propensity score–adjusted multivariate analysis, we found that body mass index (odds ratio [OR], 1.10) and smoking status (OR, 2.3) were associated with recurrence. Mesh (OR, 2.34) and American Society of Anesthesiologists (OR, 1.95) were associated with SSI. Only mesh (OR, 3.41) was associated with seroma formation. Conclusions Although there was a trend toward more recurrence with suture repair in our study, this was not statistically significant. Mesh repair was associated with more SSI and seromas. Further prospective randomized controlled trial is needed to clarify the role of suture and mesh repair in PVH.
Restorative Justice and College Student Misconduct

This article reports the findings of a restorative justice program to address student disciplinary problems at Skidmore College. Based on the model of “Community Reparative Boards” developed by the Vermont Department of Corrections for probation cases, the Skidmore Integrity Board is representative board of students, faculty, and staff. The article describes the nature and purpose of the board and reports findings from three recent years of board activity.
Evaluation of IS900-PCR assay for detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies Paratuberculosis infection in cattle using quarter milk and bulk tank milk samples.

A study was conducted to evaluate sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of IS900–PCR assay for detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in pooled quarter milk and bulk tank milk. Feces, blood and pooled quarter milk from 1493 lactating cattle on 29 herds were analyzed. Bulk tank milk (n = 29 bulk tanks) samples were also examined. Culture analysis revealed that 10.9%, 2.8%, and 20.6% of fecal, pooled quarter milk samples and bulk tanks were positive for M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis, respectively. While 13.5% and 27.5% of pooled quarter milk samples and bulk tanks were positive by IS900 PCR assay, respectively. Moderate to high antibody titers for M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis were detected in 223 of 1493 (14.4%) cows. Cows positive on fecal culture were taken as true positives relative to which the IS900 PCR assay was evaluated. The sensitivity and predictive value of KELA, pooled quarter milk culture, and IS900 PCR assay increased with lactation age. While the specific...
Informative representation learning for automatic target recognition

Informative representations are those representations that do more than reconstruct the data; they have information embedded implicitly in them and are compressive for utilization in real-time Automatic Target Recognition. In this paper we create methods for embedding information in subspace bases through sparsity and information theoretic measures. We present a theory of informative bases and demonstrate some practical examples of basis learning using infrared imagery. We will employ sparsity and entropy measures to drive the learning process to extract the most informative representation and will draw relations between informative representations and the quadratic correlation filter.
In vivo and in vitro knockdown of FREP2 gene expression in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata using RNA interference.

RNA interference (RNAi) is reported here for the first time for Biomphalaria glabrata, the snail intermediate host for the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni. The fibrinogen-related protein 2 (FREP2) gene, normally expressed at increased levels following exposure to digenetic trematode parasites, such as S. mansoni or Echinostoma paraensei, was targeted for knockdown. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) corresponding to specific regions of the FREP2 gene was introduced into snails by direct injection into the hemolymph, 2 days prior to exposure to trematodes, or added to co-cultures of B. glabrata embryonic (Bge) cells and E. paraensei sporocysts. After introduction of FREP2 dsRNA, expression levels of FREP2 were significantly reduced, to 20–30% of control values. In addition, we were able to disrupt expression of the house-keeping myoglobin gene, further confirming the feasibility of RNAi for B. glabrata. Cross-reactivity in RNAi has not been observed either among four FREP gene subfamilies or between FREP2 and myoglobin. Establishment of RNAi techniques in B. glabrata provides an important tool for clarifying the function of genes believed to play a role in host-parasite interactions, specifically between B. glabrata and its trematode parasites, including S. mansoni.
Preparation, in vitro evaluation and statistical optimization of carvedilol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles for lymphatic absorption via oral administration

AbstractCarvedilol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were prepared using solubility parameter (δ) to select the lipid, and hot homogenization to fabricate SLNs. The effect of concentration of Compritol 888 ATO (COMP) and Poloxamer 188 (P-188) on the particle size of blank SLNs was studied using the design of experiments. Further narrow concentration range of COMP and P-188 was selected and carvedilol-loaded SLNs were prepared to obtain an optimized formulation which was lyophilized (L-SLNs), transformed into enteric compression-coated tablet and evaluated for drug release, X-ray diffraction and cellular uptake mechanism. COMP was chosen as lipid due to its least value of Δδ with carvedilol. The optimized formulation (7.5% COMP, 5.0% P-188 and 1.11% carvedilol) had 161 nm particle size and 94.8% entrapment efficiency. The enteric-coated carvedilol-loaded SLNs tablet protected carvedilol from acidic environment and similar prolonged release profiles were obtained from L-SLNs, core tablet and enteric-c...
Generating Structural Models of Amorphous Tetrahedral Carbon: Basis Set Dependencies

We present the results of a systematic first-principles investigation of the requirements for developing realistic and reliable structural models for amorphous tetrahedral carbon (a-tC) and relate those structural models to the physical properties of this material. Within a linear combination of atomic orbitals formulation of density functional theory, we show that a large variational flexibility is required to accurately treat the highly defected and strained structures that can exist in a-tC. The average strain in the a-tC lattice is predicted to be roughly twice the strain of having all carbon atoms in three-member rings. A key figure of merit of a structural model, the proportion of three-fold bonded atoms, is shown to triple in going from a minimal basis description of a structure to a high quality basis. The basis-converged calculations agree well with experimental observables, such as the presence of four-member rings, lack of dangling bonds, and a significant gap. The simulations predict a much larger proportion of three-fold atoms than estimated in simple analyses of EELS and neutron scattering experiments. We show that the larger three-fold fraction is indeed consistent with the properties of a-tC, and imply that there are flaws in the simplifying assumptions that go into constructing experimental estimates of coordination numbers. These results highlight the perils of applying highly simplified theoretical models for a-tC before the correct physics has been identified and built into the models.
Crystal Topology Prediction in Alternating Amphiphiles: Aromatic Polyethers and the Role of Volume Fraction

The crystal structures of alternating aromatic polyethers in the Cambridge Structural Database have been analyzed. Alternating aromatic polyethers are chain or ring-like molecules in which there is a regular alternation between the aromatic and the polyether moieties. In all structures examined, a clear interface is present between the hydrophobic aromatic and the hydrophilic polyether moieties. An examination of the 21 structures where the ratio of the hydrophobic-to-total volume ratio is 40−50% shows that 14 of the structures are lamellar (i.e., have alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers within the structure). These results suggest that other as yet unsynthesized aromatic polyethers will also adopt lamellar crystal topologies. We prepared two such systems 1,5-bis(1,3-dioxolan-2-ylmethoxy)-naphthalene, 1 and 1,5-bis(2-methoxyethoxy)-naphthalene, 2 (Scheme 1). Solution of their single-crystal structures revealed that both crystallize in a lamellar topology. The connection between our findings and...
Effects of Yucca shidigera Extract on Growth, Nitrogen Retention, Ammonia Excretion, and Toxicity in Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and Hybrid Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus × O. niloticus

Nitrogenous waste control in aquaculture systems is necessary to maintain healthy animals and to meet effluent standards. Decreased ammonia production has been attained in traditional livestock production systems by adding extracts of Yucca shidigera to the feed or storage lagoon system. An extract of Yucca shidigera was fed to post yolk-sac and juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus and hybrid tilapia Oreochrornis mossambicus × O. niloticus to determine the effects on growth, nitrogen retention, ammonia excretion, and toxicity. Post yolk-sac channel catfish fry fed the 1.0-g yucca extract/kg as an agar coating were the only group of experimental organisms that had significantly greater weight gains compared to the control and 0.5-g yucca extract/kg diet groups after 12 wk. Significantly lower fecal nitrogen concentrations were obtained from catfish fed diets containing yucca extract compared to the control groups, although no differences between fecal nitrogen concentrations for catfish fed diets with either 0.5-g or 1.0-g yucca extract/kg diet occurred. Ammonia excretion rates were significantly lower for catfish fed diets containing yucca extract compared to the control group. Accordingly, fish fed diets containing the yucca extract had significantly greater whole-body protein composition, while lipid levels were significantly lower. No significant differences in proximate composition occurred for fish fed any of the diets containing yucca extract, though growth rates were significantly higher than the controls. This study demonstrated that a yucca extract can be used in the diet of channel catfish, and increased growth and decreased ammonia concentrations can be obtained in rearing systems.
Sulfur isotopes of organic matter preserved in 3.45-billion-year-old stromatolites reveal microbial metabolism

The 3.45-billion-year-old Strelley Pool Formation of Western Australia preserves stromatolites that are considered among the oldest evidence for life on Earth. In places of exceptional preservation, these stromatolites contain laminae rich in organic carbon, interpreted as the fossil remains of ancient microbial mats. To better understand the biogeochemistry of these rocks, we performed microscale in situ sulfur isotope measurements of the preserved organic sulfur, including both Δ^(33)S and δ^(34)S_(CDT). This approach allows us to tie physiological inference from isotope ratios directly to fossil biomass, providing a means to understand sulfur metabolism that is complimentary to, and independent from, inorganic proxies (e.g., pyrite). Δ^(33)S values of the kerogen reveal mass-anomalous fractionations expected of the Archean sulfur cycle, whereas δ^(34)S_(CDT) values show large fractionations at very small spatial scales, including values below −15‰. We interpret these isotopic patterns as recording the process of sulfurization of organic matter by H_2S in heterogeneous mat pore-waters influenced by respiratory S metabolism. Positive Δ^(33)S anomalies suggest that disproportionation of elemental sulfur would have been a prominent microbial process in these communities.
NITROGEN CHEMISORPTION ON THE COORDINATIVELY UNSATURATED RH SITE ON AL2O3

The UV (3.8 eV) photolysis of atomically-dispersed RhI(CO)2 species supported on an Al2O3 surface in the presence of N2 at 175 K caused the replacement of CO by N2 ligands. Therefore dinitrogen chemisorption effectively probes the coordinatively unsaturated Rh(CO) species generated during photodecomposition of RhI(CO)2/Al2O3. Two infrared bands, observed at 2234 and 2048 cm-1, are attributed respectively to νN2 and νCO in Rh(N2)(CO), and a band at 2188 cm-1 is assigned to Rh(N2)2 surface species. The assignments are based on frequencies and the relative rates of spectral development for the two N2-containing species. The Rh(N2)2 species on Al2O3 exhibits identical N−N stretching modes to a similar species produced by matrix isolation methods. It is shown that both the Rh−CO bond and the Rh−N2 bond may be broken by photolysis.
On the possibility of constructing a radiative sunspot model in magnetohydrostatic equilibrium

It is currently believed that it is impossible to construct a radiative sunspot model in magnetohydrostatic equilibrium unless magnetic fields below the surface are excessively large (> 100 kG). This belief is based on results obtained using the mixing length theory of convection. We wish to point out that by using a different theory of convection, due to Opik (1950), it is possible to compute a radiative sunspot model in which the field becomes no greater than 9000 G. By applying two boundary conditions, (i) depth of spot equals depth of convection zone, (ii) magnetic field has zero gradient at the base of the spot, we show that a radiative spot has a unique effective temperature for a given Wilson depression, Δ. For Δ = 650 km, we find T e = 3800K ; for Δ = 150 km, T e = 3950K. According to our model, spots having T e cooler than these values should not exist.
Transforming Growth Factor-β3 Restores Fusion in Palatal Shelves Exposed to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

The pollutant, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin ("dioxin"), has been implicated in the etiology of a wide variety of human birth defects. In an effort to identify pharmacological blockers of dioxin-induced terata, we performed a histological and microscopic analysis of the developing murine palate that had been exposed to dioxin. In both in vivo and in vitro model systems, we observed that dioxin exposure leads to a reduction in the number of filopodial extensions at the medial epithelial edge of the developing palate. Given that this filopodial aberration is similar to the phenotype observed in Tgfbeta3 null mice, a mutant known to display a 100% incidence of cleft palate, we examined the interaction between TGFbeta3 and dioxin in palatal fusion. We found that that the addition of TGFbeta3 to an in vitro palate culture model prevented the dioxin-induced reduction in filopodial density. Moreover, TGFbeta3 exposure completely prevented the dioxin-induced block of palatal fusion in this system. Although these data do not point to a direct cellular or molecular mechanism for TGFbeta3 dioxin antagonism, these results do suggest that TGFbeta3 or stimulators of this signaling pathway hold potential as antidotes for dioxin-induced terata and that this opposing pharmacology may extend to additional toxicological endpoints.
Hand-sewn gastrojejunostomy using knotless unidirectional barbed absorbable suture during laparoscopic gastric bypass

Background This report describes the authors’ institutional experience using knotless unidirectional barbed absorbable suture to close the common enterotomy of the jejunojejunostomy (JJ) and to create a hand-sewn gastrojejunostomy (GJ) during laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
Training for Employment--A Systematic Approach.

Today, more than ever, training programmes are being held accountable for providing the “work‐ready” graduates that employers want. Yet, after years of research and debate, there is still no consensus on the best course of action for achieving programme accountability. However, many see cause for optimism in an Instructional Systems Methodology for planning, developing, implementing and evaluating training programmes. This competency (performance)‐based systems approach ensures that trainees are taught the knowledge and skills essential for successful job performance.
CCDC98 targets BRCA1 to DNA damage sites.

Breast cancer-1 (BRCA1) participates in the DNA damage response. However, the mechanism by which BRCA1 is recruited to DNA damage sites remains elusive. Recently, we have demonstrated that a ubiquitin-binding protein, RAP80, is required for DNA damage–induced BRCA1 translocation. Here we identify another component, CCDC98, in the BRCA1–RAP80 complex. CCDC98 mediates BRCA1's association with RAP80. Moreover, CCDC98 controls both DNA damage–induced formation of BRCA1 foci and BRCA1-dependent G2/M checkpoint activation. Together, our results demonstrate that CCDC98 is a BRCA1 binding partner that mediates BRCA1 function in response to DNA damage.
An update on the blood vessel in migraine.

Purpose of reviewThe cranial blood vessel is considered an integral player in the pathophysiology of migraine, but its perceived role has been subject to much discussion and controversy over the years. We will discuss the evolution in our scientific understanding of cranial blood vessels (primarily
Tracer studies of acid-catalyzed reactions: IX. Exchange of D2 with noncyclic olefins over alumina

The mechanism of deuterium exchange with hydrogen atoms in small noncyclic olefins has been investigated over a pure alumina catalyst. In reactions of 1-butene, cis-2-butene, isobutene, and tert-butylethylene with D2, only the vinyl CH bonds underwent exchange below 100 °C. The exchange occurred most readily with terminal vinyl hydrogen atoms of α-olefins and probably involved a dissociative mechanism on acid-base or ion-pair sites on the dehydroxylated surface. Isomerization and exchange were independent processes. NMR studies of the products obtained at two different temperatures showed that the activation energy for the exchange reaction in isobutene was considerably lower than that for double-bond migration.
Carbohydrases of the crystalline style and hepatopancreas of Strombus gigas linné

Abstract 1. In Strombus gigas Linnecarbohydrase activity is present both in the crystalline style and in the hepatopancreas. 2. Only cellulase and maltase were detected in the crystalline style, while extracts of the hepatopancreas contained amylase, cellulase, maltase, cellobiase, α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, sucrase, galactosidase and trehalase activities. 3. Neither chitin nor pectin was hydrolyzed by extracts from either digestive organ. 4. Some temperature and pH characteristics of enzymes of the crystalline style and the hepatopancreas are described.
Domain wall nucleation in epitaxial exchange-biased Fe/IrMn bilayers with highly misaligned anisotropies

Abstract The angular dependence of the magnetization reversal in epitaxial Fe/IrMn bilayers with collinear and non-collinear cubic and unidirectional anisotropies is investigated. Multistep loops with different magnetization reversal processes are observed for either positive or negative angles with respect to the Fe easy axis. The angular dependence of the switching fields displays the broken symmetry of the induced non-collinearity. The experimental results are reproduced with a generalized domain wall nucleation model that includes the induced anisotropy configuration and the peculiar asymmetric magnetic switching behavior. These results highlight the importance of the relative angle between anisotropies in epitaxial exchange bias systems with incoherent rotation reversal mechanism, opening a new pathway for tailoring the magnetic properties of such systems.
Prevention of shingles by varicella zoster virus vaccination

Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation from previous varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection, and affects millions of people worldwide. It primarily affects older adults and those with immune system dysfunction, most likely as a result of reduced or lost VZV-specific cell-mediated immunity. Complications include post-herpetic neuralgia, a potentially debilitating and chronic pain syndrome. Current treatment of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia involves antiviral agents and analgesics, and is associated with significant economic cost. Results from several clinical trials have determined that a live, attenuated VZV vaccine using the Oka/Merck strain (Zostavax™) is safe, elevates VZV-specific cell-mediated immunity, and significantly reduces the incidence of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in people over 60 years of age. Regulatory approval has recently been obtained and once launched, it is expected that this vaccine will significantly reduce the morbidity and financial costs associated wi...
Recursive Depth in Generative Spaces: Democratization in Three Dimensions of Technosocial Self-Organization

Kelty's “recursive public” is defined as a binary: whether or not ownership of intellectual property is legally in the public domain. We propose a broader continuum of recursive depth, which spans the range from shallow constrained generative spaces (e.g., photo memes) to the deeply open collaborations of “critical making” communities. Recursive depth is assessed by the capacity for transformation across three distinct continuums: public/proprietary, virtual/material, and high/low social power. Transformations across all three continuums is not always necessary for deep recursion (as Kelty and others note for many cases of open source), but we argue that paying attention to all three, and treating them as continuums rather than binaries, allows a better evaluation of the capacity for democratizing the technosocial landscape.
Polymicrobial Infection and Bacterium-Mediated Epigenetic Modification of DNA Tumor Viruses Contribute to Pathogenesis

ABSTRACT The human body plays host to a wide variety of microbes, commensal and pathogenic. In addition to interacting with their host, different microbes, such as bacteria and viruses, interact with each other, sometimes in ways that exacerbate disease. In particular, gene expression of a number of viruses, including Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is known to be regulated by epigenetic modifications induced by bacteria. These viruses establish latent infection in their host cells and can be reactivated by bacterial products. Viral reactivation has been suggested to contribute to periodontal disease and AIDS. In addition, bacterium-virus interactions may play a role in cancers, such as Kaposi's sarcoma, gastric cancer, and head and neck cancer. It is important to consider the effects of coexisting bacterial infections when studying viral diseases in vivo.
Leveraging competence in the use of leveraging collaborative tools competence: facilitating an Open Architecture approach to acquiring integrated warfare systems

Abstract : A fundamental problem in reaping the benefits of using an Open Architecture (OA) approach to developing integrated warfare systems (IWS) is the requirement for the multiple parties involved to collaborate. This was less of a problem when single vendors managed the entire acquisition life cycle. To take advantage of the potential of OA to use common off the shelf software modules, multiple vendors, greater access and involvement of the acquisition professional and future users of the IWS, collaborative information technology is a necessary ingredient. And, to make collaborative tools useful in the IWS acquisition life cycle, users must leverage their competence with the collaborative tools.. To shed light on this requirement, this paper introduces the construct of 'Collaborative IT Tools Leveraging Competence' as the ability of various OA work groups involved in the IWS acquisition life cycle to effectively leverage collaborative IT tools to enhance their group performance. Collaborative IT Tools Leveraging Competence is conceptualized as a second-order construct formed by the group?s effective use of the following six key IT functionalities: workspace sharing, conferencing, file sharing, scheduling, chat, and email.
Further Results on Speeding up the Sphere Decoder

In many communication applications, maximum-likelihood decoding reduces to solving an integer least-squares problem which is NP hard in the worst-case. On the other hand, it has recently been shown that, over a wide range of dimensions and SNR, the sphere decoder can be used to find the exact solution with an expected complexity that is roughly cubic in the dimension of the problem. However, the computational complexity becomes prohibitive if the SNR is too low and/or if the dimension of the problem is too large. In earlier work, we targeted these two regimes attempting to find faster algorithms by pruning the search tree beyond what is done in the standard sphere decoder. The search tree is pruned by computing lower bounds on the possible optimal solution as we proceed to go down the tree. A trade-off between the computational complexity required to compute the lower bound and the size of the pruned tree is readily observed: the more effort we spend in computing a tight lower bound, the more branches that can be eliminated in the tree. Thus, even though it is possible to prune the search tree (and hence the number of points visited) by several orders of magnitude, this may be offset by the computations required to perform the pruning. In this paper, we propose a computationally efficient lower bound which requires solving a single semi-definite program (SDP) at the top of the search tree; the solution to the SDP is then used to deduce the lower bounds on the optimal solution on all levels of the search tree. Simulation results indicate significant improvement in the computational complexity of the proposed algorithm over the standard sphere decoding
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CORE POWER AND MEASURES OF SPORT PERFORMANCE

Development of core muscle strength and power to improve sport performance has been a controversial issue yielding mixed results. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between two core field tests emphasizing power and measures of sport performance. Participants were twenty healthy, recreationally active males (age 23.40±1.88 yrs, height 174.63±5.81 cm, mass 76.08±7.67 kg). Participants were tested on four performance variables (40-yd sprint, shuttle run [5-10-5], vertical jump, and 1RM back squat) and two core field tests (front abdominal power throw [FAPT] and side abdominal power throw [SAPT]). Results demonstrated significant moderate correlations between the FAPT and 1RM back squat (r=.652) and relative back squat (r=.509). No other significant correlations were found. Results indicate that although the FAPT and SAPT tests are easy to perform in the field, most, but not all, performance measures were unrelated to core power. In order to properly assess the core and its role in human performance, it is necessary to evaluate sport-specific muscle actions and movements.
RELIABILITY OF ESTIMATES OF RETURN RATES AS A MEASURE OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES TO VIOLENCE

An analysis of letters placed in Mobile, Alabama and Sioux Falls, South Dakota (ns = 500 and 600) showed return rates among the several addresses were essentially uncorrelated (rs = -.11 to .08) so interpoll reliability is lacking. Language: en
Genetic moderation of the association between regulatory focus and reward responsiveness: a proof-of-concept study.

Background: Recent studies implicate individual differences in regulatory focus as contributing to self-regulatory dysfunction, particularly not responding to positive outcomes. How such individual differences emerge, however, is unclear. We conducted a proof-of-concept study to examine the moderating effects of genetically driven variation in dopamine signaling, a key modulator of neural reward circuits, on the association between regulatory focus and reward cue responsiveness. Method: Healthy Caucasians (N=59) completed a measure of chronic regulatory focus and a probabilistic reward task. A common functional genetic polymorphism impacting prefrontal dopamine signaling (COMT rs4680) was evaluated. Results: Response bias, the participants’ propensity to modulate behavior as a function of reward, was predicted by an interaction of regulatory focus and COMT genotype. Specifically, self-perceived success at achieving promotion goals predicted total response bias, but only for individuals with the COMT genotype (Val/Val) associated with relatively increased phasic dopamine signaling and cognitive flexibility. Conclusions: The combination of success in promotion goal pursuit and Val/Val genotype appears to facilitate responding to reward opportunities in the environment. This study is among the first to integrate an assessment of self-regulatory style with an examination of genetic variability that underlies responsiveness to positive outcomes in goal pursuit.
Purposeful selection of variables in logistic regression

Background The main problem in many model-building situations is to choose from a large set of covariates those that should be included in the "best" model. A decision to keep a variable in the model might be based on the clinical or statistical significance. There are several variable selection algorithms in existence. Those methods are mechanical and as such carry some limitations. Hosmer and Lemeshow describe a purposeful selection of covariates within which an analyst makes a variable selection decision at each step of the modeling process.
Two "noninvasive" techniques for syllabic companding in signal processors

Two novel methods are described for syllabic companding in signal processors. These methods make state variable updating unnecessary, for piecewise constant input and output gains. Measurements and simulations are used as confirmation of the validity of the proposed techniques.
Monterey County Water Recycling Project: Institutional Study

This paper examines the institutional origins and functioning of the Monterey County Water Recycling Project ~MCWRP! ,a centralized tertiary-treatment facility that began operating in April, 1998, and delivers urban recycled water to growers at the mouth of the Salinas River, a site of extensive seawater intrusion to coastal aquifers. The Salinas Valley supports extensive irrigated agricultural production and several towns. The MCWRP was established with the cooperation of federal, state, regional, and local authorities. Federal sources financed roughly 70% of the initial capital costs, while local authorities own and manage the project. In turn, growers receive urban recycled water and pay acreage fees. Reasons for the success of this project include cost sharing among all beneficiaries, devolution of sufficient authority to regional and local authorities to impose alternative solutions, federal and state financial support, and development of innovative project management institutions. Future challenges could arise from increasing competition for all water supplies in the region.
Book Review Essay: An Applied Ethics Reading Buffet

Most of us were brought up to clean our plates at the dinner table. We find the lesson hard to unlearn. We apply this to books as well—if we haven't time to read the whole thing, we don't pick it up at all. In this note, I offer a list of heavy, very thorough books as a buffet—suggesting that you read only the parts that interest you. Then, I list a few shorter ones offering easier reading but still filled with ideas and insights. Many of these will be valuable for people wanting to lead discussions and workshops on applied ethics.
Ichthyornis sp. (Aves: Ichthyornithiformes) from the lower Turonian (Upper Cretaceous) of western Kansas

Abstract FHSM VP-2139 is the proximal end of a right carpometacarpus of the Late Cretaceous toothed seabird, Ichthyornis sp. (Aves: Ichthyornithiformes), housed in the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Hays Kansas. The specimen was found near the contact between the Carlile and Greenhorn Formations in southern Ellis County, Kansas. The specimen marks the oldest record of Ichthyornis in Kansas, and this report represents the first detailed account of this specimen. The estimated total “skeletal length” (from the beak tip to the pygostyle tip) and “skeletal wingspan” (between the right and left phalangeal tips) of the bird individual are 24 cm and 43 cm, respectively. The bird specimen is paleoecologically intriguing, because it occurred in an offshore deposit which formed during the maximum transgressive phase of the Greenhorn Cyclothem of the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Sea.
Controlling light scattering and emission at subwavelength scale with plasmonic nanopatch antennas (Presentation Recording)

Controlling light scattering and emission at subwavelength scale has significant implications for solar energy conversion, sensing, and nanophotonic devices. Plasmonic nanopatch antennas (PNAs), which consist of plasmonic nanoparticle coupled with metallic films, have shown directionality of radiation and large emission rate enhancement due to the strong plasmonic waveguide modes within the spacer layer. Herein, we comparatively study the light scattering and emission behaviors of a series of plasmonic nanopatch antennas (PNAs) with different plasmonic nanoparticles (i.e., nanosquare, nanotriangle, nanorod, and nanodisk) to develop the design rules of the PNAs. Using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations, we show that the shape and size of plasmonic nanoparticles can be tuned to control the resonance peak, intensity, directionality, and spatial distribution of the scattering light as well as the directionality, spatial distribution, spontaneous emission rate, quantum efficiency, and radiation enhancement factor of light emission. For example, high radiative quantum efficiency (0.74) and radiation enhancement factor (>20) can be achieved by disk PNA, while triangle PNA shows remarkable spontaneous emission rate enhancement of over 2,500. The effects of locations of emitters relative to the PNAs on the emission properties are also examined. Our results pave the way towards the rational design of PNAs for the optimal light scattering and emission as required by targeted applications.