cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mediastinal hyperfunctioning parathyroids: incidence, evolving treatment, and outcome

Abstract Background The evaluation and treatment of hyperfunctioning mediastinal parathyroid gland(s) (MPG) is evolving. This study reports our overall experience with MPG in a tertiary referral center. Methods A prospective database of 922 patients undergoing parathyroidectomy by 2 surgeons from 1982 to 2005 was reviewed. Results Thirty-two of 922 (3.5%) patients had MPG. Nine (28%) patients had a prior failed parathyroidectomy. Sestamibi and computed tomography scans were correctly positive in 24/28 (86%) and 6/7 (86%) patients, respectively. MPGs were removed via cervical approach in 22 (69%). Eleven of 22 patients had a focused cervical approach. Nine MPGs required a limited sternotomy (n = 3) or a successful radioguided video-assisted thoracoscopic approach (VATS, n = 4) for removal. Two VATS were converted to a full sternotomy. One patient refused surgery. All patients who required sternotomy/VATS had MPGs caudal to the innominate vein. Twenty-nine of 31(94%) patients were cured. Two are stable on calcimimetics. One patient has permanent hypoparathyroidism. Conclusions Most MPGs can be removed through a cervical approach. Preoperative Sestamibi and computed tomography scans can help the surgeon plan the best initial surgical approach. Those below the innominate vein require a thoracic procedure, preferably a radioguided probe-assisted thoracoscopic resection with intraoperative parathyroid hormone (ioPTH). An alternative to surgical removal is medical treatment.
Pharmacologic Treatment of Type 2 Diabetic Dyslipidemia

Patients with diabetes mellitus have a higher risk for cardiovascular heart disease (CHD) than does the general population, and once they develop CHD, mortality is higher. Good glycemic control will reduce CHD only modestly in patients with diabetes. Therefore, reduction in all cardiovascular risks such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, and smoking is warranted. The focus of this article is on therapy for dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients with the metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance) share similarities with patients with type 2 diabetes and may have a comparable cardiovascular risk profile. Diabetic patients tend to have higher triglyceride, lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and similar low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels compared with those levels in nondiabetic patients. However, diabetic patients tend to have a higher concentration of small dense LDL particles, which are associated with higher CHD risk. Current recommendations are for an LDL goal of less than 100 mg/dl (an option of < 70 mg/dl in very high-risk patients), an HDL goal greater than 40 mg/dl for men and greater than 50 mg/dl for women, and a triglyceride goal less than 150 mg/dl. Nonpharmacologic interventions (diet and exercise) are first-line therapies and are used with pharmacologic therapy when necessary. Lowering LDL levels is the first priority in treating diabetic dyslipidemia. Statins are the first drug choice, followed by resins or ezetimibe, then fenofibrate or niacin. If a single agent is inadequate to achieve lipid goals, combinations of the preceding drugs may be used. For elevated triglyceride levels, hyperglycemia must be controlled first. If triglyceride or HDL levels remain uncontrolled, pharmacologic agents should be considered. Fibrates are slightly more effective than niacin in lowering triglyceride levels, but niacin increases HDL levels appreciably more than do fibrates. Unlike gemfibrozil, niacin selectively increases subfraction Lp A-I, a cardioprotective HDL. Niacin is distinct in that it has a broad spectrum of beneficial effects on lipids and atherogenic lipoprotein subfraction levels. Niacin produces additive results when used in combination therapy. Recent data suggest that lower dosages and newer formulations of niacin can be used safely in diabetic patients with good glycemic control. Current evidence and guidelines mandate that diabetic dyslipidemia be treated aggressively, and lipid goals can be achieved in most patients with diabetes when all available products are considered and, if necessary, used in combination.
Differential Processing of Propeptide Inhibitors of Rap Phosphatases in Bacillus subtilis

ABSTRACT In the phosphorelay signal transduction system for sporulation initiation in Bacillus subtilis, the opposing activities of histidine kinases and aspartyl phosphate phosphatases determine the cell9s decision whether to continue with vegetative growth or to initiate the differentiation process. Regulated dephosphorylation of the Spo0A and Spo0F response regulators allows a variety of negative signals from physiological processes that are antithetical to sporulation to impact on the activation level of the phosphorelay. Spo0F∼P is the known target of two related phosphatases, RapA and RapB. In addition to RapA and RapB, a third member of the Rap family of phosphatases, RapE, specifically dephosphorylated the Spo0F∼P intermediate in response to competence development. RapE phosphatase activity was found to be controlled by a pentapeptide (SRNVT) generated from within the carboxy-terminal domain of the phrE gene product. A synthetic PhrE pentapeptide could (i) complement the sporulation deficiency caused by deregulated RapE activity of aphrE mutant and (ii) inhibit RapE-dependent dephosphorylation of Spo0F∼P in in vitro experiments. The PhrE pentapeptide did not inhibit the phosphatase activity of RapA and RapB. These results confirm previous conclusions that the specificity for recognition of the target phosphatase is contained within the amino acid sequence of the pentapeptide inhibitor.
A study of the medullary cells of the hair.

Abstract 1. 1. Medullary cells of white rabbit hair were isolated by a modified method of Lloyd and Marriott. 2. 2. Microscopic examination of isolated medullary cells shows that they are made up of both large and small granules. Medullary cells appear isotropic under the polarizing microscope. On the action of acid the cells show marked shrinkage and regain their volume upon alkali action. 3. 3. The minimal point of swelling of medullary cells is between pH 4.0 and 4.5, indicating that the isoelectric point of medullary keratin is between these pH values. Between pH 4 and 6 the volume of medullary cells increases about 1 000 per cent. 4. 4. Medullary cells did not dissolve in the usual keratin solvents, indicating that medullary keratin is an atypical keratin. They were solubilized in 5 N alkali or 10 N hydrochloric acid in the cold within 24 hours. 5. 5. Medullary cells were found to be composed of lipoid, carbohydrate, and protein components, the last making up the largest percentage. It was found to be characteristic of medullary keratin that it contains minute quantities of cystine and a higher amount of tryptophane than common keratins. 6. 6. A possible mechanism of keratinization of medullary cells is discussed.
PARAGUAY: MUCHAS NOVEDADES Y POCO CAMBIO

En un ano sin elecciones y un nuevo gobierno historico, 2009 parecia un ano lleno de posibilidades de cambio importantes en las politicas del gobierno y en el proceso politico. Sin embargo, las debilidades internas de la coalicion que llevo a Fernando Lugo a la presidencia en 2008, los limites de las facultades reales del Poder Ejecutivo, y los grandes desafios presentados por la estructura socioeconomica de Paraguay y por la herencia politica de mas de 60 anos de gobierno de partido unico hicieron de 2009 un ano en el cual muy poco parecia cambiar.
A note on the optimality of index priority rules for search and sequencing problems

We show that the linear objective function of a search problem can be generalized to a power function and/or a loga- rithmic function and still be minimized by an index priority rule. We prove our result by solving the differential equation resulting from the required invariance condition, therefore, we also prove that any other generalization of this linear objective function will not lead to an index priority rule. We also demonstrate the full equivalence between two related search problems in the sense that a solution to either one can be used to solve the other one and vice versa. Finally, we show that the linear function is the only function leading to an index priority rule for the single-machine makespan minimization problem with deteriorating jobs and an additive job deterioration function. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 58: 83-87, 2011 n � i=1 ci i−1 � j =1 pj = n � i=1 cip −1 i i � j =1
Image Reconstruction with the Use of Transverse Positional Information in Emission Computed Tomography (Ect)

The availability of transverse positional information in emission computed tomography (ECT) opens new avenues for image reconstruction algorithms that may provide improved image quality. Two new algorithms, one a filtering technique and the other a recursive approach, have been developed for ECT image reconstruction with transverse positional data. These two new methods offer potential advantages in terms of computation time and/or image quality relative to previous algorithms that employ transverse positional information.
Lower Working Memory Performance in Overweight and Obese Adolescents Is Mediated by White Matter Microstructure.

Objectives: Elevated body mass index (BMI) is associated with deficits in working memory, reduced gray matter volume in frontal and parietal lobes, as well as changes in white matter (WM) microstructure. The current study examined whether BMI was related to working memory performance and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) activity, as well as WM microstructure during adolescence. Methods: Linear regressions with BMI and (1) verbal working memory BOLD signal, (2) spatial working memory BOLD signal, and (3) fractional anisotropy (FA), a measure of WM microstructure, were conducted in a sample of 152 healthy adolescents ranging in BMI. Results: BMI was inversely related to IQ and verbal and spatial working memory accuracy; however, there was no significant relationship between BMI and BOLD response for either verbal or spatial working memory. Furthermore, BMI was negatively correlated with FA in the left superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF). ILF FA and IQ significantly mediated the relationship between BMI and verbal working memory performance, whereas SLF FA, but not IQ, significantly mediated the relationship between BMI and accuracy of both verbal and spatial working memory. Conclusions: These findings indicate that higher BMI is associated with decreased FA in WM fibers connecting brain regions that support working memory, and that WM microstructural deficits may underlie inferior working memory performance in youth with higher BMI. Of interest, BMI did not show the same relationship with working memory BOLD activity, which may indicate that changes in brain structure precede changes in function. (JINS, 2015, 21, 281–292)
Phospho proteomics and systems reconstruction of signaling networks to identify targets for therapy

B46 Biological signaling networks are complex dynamical systems, the analysis of which is greatly facilitated when mathematical modeling is used in combination with traditional experimental techniques. High throughput genomics and proteomics provide clustering data based on co-expression of different molecules without a clear understanding of relationships and the resulting system properties of these networks. Mathematical modeling enables quantitative understanding of the signaling dynamics, but their use is limited due to an incomplete knowledge of the molecular interactions that define the causal network topology. In this work, we have reconstructed the signal transduction network through receptor tyrosine kinases (EGFR and IGFR) by overlaying consensus networks onto Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA) data. We have also developed a detailed mathematical model that describes the dynamics of the reconstructed network. The model was employed as a predictive tool to: a) determine signaling network response to perturbations of targeted nodes, b) understand the dynamic properties of the de novo regulatory loops and c) indentify optimal combinations of targeted agents that more effectively disrupted the loops responsible for activation of key signaling intermediates. The modeling predictions were experimentally tested in breast cancer cell lines using immunoblotting and found in good agreement with the data. Therefore, overlying causal networks onto genomics and proteomics data provide a more detailed systems approach to understand the dynamics of complex signaling networks. Moreover, further implementation of our study on the EGFR/IGFR signaling network will lead to the development of new combinations of targeted pharmaceutical agents for cancer treatment and prevention.
Restriction Enzyme Analysis (REA) of Group A Streptococcal (GAS) M-Serotypes 1, 3, and 28

Beginning in the mid-1980s and continuing through the mid-1990s there has been a world wide resurgence of severe group A streptococcal infections. Initially, many of these infections were associated with serotype M-1. More recently, serotype M-3 has also been frequently implicated. Previous investigations from this laboratory have observed an association with many other serotypes including M serotype 28, associated with severe infections5.
Informing Participants about Research Results

The paper is a draft chapter of a forthcoming book discussing the ethical and legal issues of human genetic databases. Reporting data collected as part of a qualitative research project, the present chapter discusses the issue of whether research results generated by genetic studies must be communicated to research participants. In fact, the operation of a genetic database can lead to incidental medical findings that are potentially relevant to the individuals who contributed to the database. The following questions are addressed: Should participants be informed? What information must be fed back to participant? Who should be responsible for returning research results? There is little agreement about the duties that arise from these findings or about the proper roles for professionals when such information is conveyed to sample sources who may not have expected to receive it.
Preface of Terms of Trade: Glossary of International Economics

Have you ever wondered what a term in international economics means? This useful reference book offers a glossary of terms in both international trade and international finance, with emphasis on economic issues. It is intended for students getting their first exposure to international economics, although advanced students will also find it useful for some of the more obscure terms that they have forgotten or never encountered.Besides an extensive glossary of terms, there is a picture gallery of diagrams used to explain key concepts such as the Edgeworth Production Box and the Offer Curve Diagram in international economics. This section is followed by several lists of terms that occur a lot in international economics, grouped by subject to help users find terms that they cannot recall.Prior to the bibliography is a section on the origins of terms in international economics which records what the author has been able to learn about the origins of some of the terms used in international economics. This is a must-have portable glossary in international trade and international economics!
Fe59-amino acid complexes: are they intermediates in Fe59 absorption across intestinal mucosa?

SummaryPrior chromatographic evidence implicated the participation of Fe59-amino acid complexes in intestinal absorption of Fe59. Present studies show that the chromatographic evidence is inadequate to demonstrate such complexes and appears to result from the formation of Fe59-Versene in the experimental procedure.
College women's sexuality in an era of AIDS.

Abstract The author surveyed 238 heterosexual undergraduate women enrolled in a California university in 1993 to determine levels of perceived self-efficacy to engage in safer sexual behavior. She predicted that perceived self-efficacy levels would be related to dimensions of sexuality that may play a role in decreasing women's risk of sexually contracting HIV infection. These dimensions included stereotyped attitudes, assertiveness, communication, and safer sex behavior. For each of these dependent variables, she hypothesized that participants with high levels of perceived self-efficacy would report significantly more ‘favorable,’ or sexually assertive, responses than participants with low levels of perceived self-efficacy. Analyses using t tests confirmed all main hypotheses. In addition, one-way analyses of variance indicated that when combined with perceived self-efficacy levels, the survey participants' relationship status significantly influenced their responses.
Behavior of Restrained Reinforced Concrete Columns

Analytical results are presented describing the behavior under a program of increasing load of several hundred individual structural systems, consisting of a reinforced concrete column and its adjoining members. Based on these data, a study is made on the effects of several variables known to influence the behavior and capacity of this type of column. The results of this study provide insight into the behavior and capacity of reinforced concrete columns and into the factors affecting their behavior and capacity. The variables considered are: ratio of end eccentricities, eccentricity of load, slenderness ratio, and degree of end restraint.
Energetics, Mechanics and Molecular Engineering of Calcium Cycling in Skeletal Muscle

During muscle contraction and relaxation, Ca2+ moves through a cycle. About 20 to 40% of the ATP utilized in a twitch or a tetanus is utilized by the SR Ca2+ pump to sequester Ca2+. Parvalbumin is a soluble Ca2+ binding protein that functions in parallel with the SR Ca2+ pump to promote relaxation in rapidly contracting and relaxing skeletal muscles, especially at low temperatures. The rate of Ca2+ dissociation from troponin C, once thought to be much more rapid than the rate of relaxation, is likely to be similar to the rate of cross-bridge detachment and to the rate of muscle relaxation under some conditions. During the past fifty years, great progress has been made in understanding the Ca2+ cycle during skeletal muscle contraction and relaxation. Nonetheless, there are still mysteries waiting to be unraveled.
Correction: Ga[OSi(OtBu)3]3·THF, a thermolytic molecular precursor for high surface area gallium-containing silica materials of controlled dispersion and stoichiometry

The molecular precursor tris[(tri-tert-butoxy)siloxy]gallium, as the tetrahydrofuran adduct Ga[OSi(O(t)Bu)3]3·THF (), was synthesized via the salt metathesis reaction of gallium trichloride with NaOSi(O(t)Bu)3. This complex serves as a model for isolated gallium in a silica framework. Complex decomposes thermally in hydrocarbon solvent, eliminating isobutylene, water, and tert-butanol to generate high surface area gallium-containing silica at low temperatures. When thermal decomposition was performed in the presence of P-123 Pluronic as a templating agent the generated material displayed uniform vermicular pores. Textural mesoporosity was evident in untemplated material. Co-thermolysis of with HOSi(O(t)Bu)3 in the presence of P-123 Pluronic led to materials with Ga : Si ratios ranging from 1 : 3 to 1 : 50, denoted UCB1-GaSi3, UCB1-GaSi10, UCB1-GaSi20 and UCB1-GaSi50. After calcination at 500 °C these materials exhibited decreasing surface areas and broadening pore distributions with increasing silicon content, indicating a loss of template effects. The position and dispersion of the gallium in UCB1-GaSi materials was investigated using (71)Ga MAS-NMR, powder XRD, and STEM/EDS elemental mapping. The results indicate a high degree of gallium dispersion in all samples, with gallium oxide clusters or oligomers present at higher gallium content.
Effect of perfusate temperature on myocardial protection from ischemia.

During reperfusion, functional and metabolic recovery of the isolated working rat heart from one hour of ischemia was best in hearts selectively cooled at the onset of the ischemic interval by perfusion with 5 to 10 ml. of 10° C. or 15° C. Krebs-Henseleit buffer. Hearts similarly perfused at 4° C., 20° C., and 37° C. recovered significantly less well or not at all. Immediately after the hour of ischemia and prior to reperfusion, the absolute levels of glycogen and high-energy phosphates were best in the hearts perfused at 4° C. However, metabolic function was best preserved in those perfused at 10° C. and 15° C., as evidenced by rapid recovery of high-energy phosphates and glycogen to control levels compared to metabolic deterioration in the 4° C. group.
Initial Conditions and Boundary Conditions

High-resolution limited-area models have been successfully used for both the simulation and prediction of regional and local mesoscale weather events (Anthes et al. 1989). This success can depend on accurately specifying the initial state of the atmosphere and its variation in time along the lateral boundaries of the model domain. Synoptic-scale global or regional analyses produced at operational weather centers do not provide sufficient resolution for the initial conditions required by a mesoscale model. The observations themselves must be used to enhance a regional analysis or to correct an initial-guess field produced by the mesoscale model itself (e.g., by integrating the model from an earlier operational regional analysis). Often the data themselves are of insufficient resolution to effectively enhance a global- or regional-scale analysis alone, and the data must be used in combination with the high-resolution mesoscale model (Anthes et al. 1989). To provide the lateral boundary conditions for the mesoscale model, forecasts from an operational global or regional model are usually used. For such an operational forecasting system, the forecasts are often too infrequent to provide sufficiently accurate lateral boundary values for the high-resolution mesoscale model. In this case it is useful to nest the high-resolution mesoscale model inside a limited-area model. This provides a link between the mesoscale model and the sparse data and infrequent boundary values provided by forecasts from a global or regional model.
Introduction to Part A and Part B: Fungus/Plant Interactions — An Overview

As a primary source of fixed carbon in the biosphere, living plants provide a large arena for interaction with the fungi, particularly in terrestrial biomes, where plants and fungi may comprise the dominant groups of autotrophs and heterotrophs, respectively. Both fossil (Sherwood-Pike and Gray 1985) and molecular (Berbee and Taylor 1992) evidence suggest that such interactions are ancient and have occurred from the time both groups emerged into terrestrial environments. Indeed, primitive plants may have depended on associations with fungi for successful colonization of dry land (Pirozynski and Dalpe 1989). The present volumes (Vol. V, Parts A and B) explore the modes and mechanisms of accommodation which have arisen during the 400–500 million years in which plants and fungi have coexisted. This initial chapter provides both a preview and summary of the themes which emerge in the chapters to follow, focusing on those attributes which are unique in plants and fungi and which have thus molded their interactions during the course of evolution.
CTrust: A Framework for Secure and Trustworthy Application Execution in Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a model that envisions ubiquitous access to a shared pool of configurable resources such as compute, storage, network, and software. Currently ecommerce, on-line auctioning companies, travel agencies and other such services use clouds, primarily because of the elasticity of cloud resources. While cloud computing allows consolidation of resources, thus enabling new applications, it has several security and privacy concerns. This paper presents the CTrust framework that addresses the security gap in cloud computing by combining the power of virtualization technology with the design of secure processor architectures. The fundamental building block of the CTrust framework is the Secure Hyper visor Framework - SecHYPE. It is a modified hyper visor that incorporates secure processor architectures and provides root of trust to user applications running in the cloud. The paper presents a detailed attack model and prototype implementation of the CTrust framework.
Pseudophosphorylation of cardiac myosin regulatory light chain: a promising new tool for treatment of cardiomyopathy

Many genetic mutations in sarcomeric proteins, including the cardiac myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) encoded by the MYL2 gene, have been implicated in familial cardiomyopathies. Yet, the molecular mechanisms by which these mutant proteins regulate cardiac muscle mechanics in health and disease remain poorly understood. Evidence has been accumulating that RLC phosphorylation has an influential role in striated muscle contraction and, in addition to the conventional modulation via Ca2+ binding to troponin C, it can regulate cardiac muscle function. In this review, we focus on RLC mutations that have been reported to cause cardiomyopathy phenotypes via compromised RLC phosphorylation and elaborate on pseudo-phosphorylation rescue mechanisms. This new methodology has been discussed as an emerging exploratory tool to understand the role of phosphorylation as well as a genetic modality to prevent/rescue cardiomyopathy phenotypes. Finally, we summarize structural effects post-phosphorylation, a phenomenon that leads to an ordered shift in the myosin S1 and RLC conformational equilibrium between two distinct states.
Understanding Nonradiative Recombination through Defect-Induced Conical Intersections

Defects are known to introduce pathways for the nonradiative recombination of electronic excitations in semiconductors, but implicating a specific defect as a nonradiative center remains challenging for both experiment and theory. In this Perspective, we present recent progress toward this goal involving the identification and characterization of defect-induced conical intersections (DICIs), points of degeneracy between the ground and first excited electronic states of semiconductor materials that arise from the deformation of specific defects. Analysis of DICIs does not require the assumption of weak correlation between the electron and hole nor of stationary nuclei. It is demonstrated that in some cases an energetically accessible DICI is present even when no midgap state is predicted by single-particle theories (e.g., density functional theory). We review recent theoretical and computational developments that enable the location of DICIs in semiconductor nanomaterials and present insights into the phot...
Abstract 296: Loss of Trpc6 Function in Cardiomyocytes Improves Survival and Attenuates Progression of Cardiac Dysfunction After Mi

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) commonly culminates in myocardial infarction (MI), which causes cardiac myocyte death and depressed cardiac pump function. Surviving myocytes can usually maintain pump ...
If There Were Roads; The Birthday Books; The Fleece Era (by Joanna Lilley)

If There Were Roads. By Joanna Lilley. Turnstone Press, 2017. 128 pages.The Birthday Books. By Joanna Lilley. Hagios Press, 2015. 152 pages.The Fleece Era. By Joanna Lilley. Brick Books, 2014. 105 pages.
The TORC1-Regulated CPA Complex Rewires an RNA Processing Network to Drive Autophagy and Metabolic Reprogramming

Summary Nutrient deprivation induces autophagy through inhibiting TORC1 activity. We describe a novel mechanism in Drosophila by which TORC1 regulates RNA processing of Atg transcripts and alters ATG protein levels and activities via the cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA) complex. We show that TORC1 signaling inhibits CDK8 and DOA kinases, which directly phosphorylate CPSF6, a component of the CPA complex. These phosphorylation events regulate CPSF6 localization, RNA binding, and starvation-induced alternative RNA processing of transcripts involved in autophagy, nutrient, and energy metabolism, thereby controlling autophagosome formation and metabolism. Similarly, we find that mammalian CDK8 and CLK2, a DOA ortholog, phosphorylate CPSF6 to regulate autophagy and metabolic changes upon starvation, revealing an evolutionarily conserved mechanism linking TORC1 signaling with RNA processing, autophagy, and metabolism.
Alerting stem cells to regenerate

Alarmin delivery accelerates tissue regeneration by transitioning quiescent stem cells to the metabolically active G Alert state.
Responsiveness of Physical Activity Measures Following Exercise Programs after Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background Few instruments that measure physical activity (pa) can accurately quantify pa performed at light and moderate intensities, which is particularly relevant to older adults. Evidence for responsiveness of these instruments after an intervention is limited. Objectives o estimate and compare the responsiveness of two activity monitors and one questionnaire in assessing PA after an intervention following total knee Arthroplasty. Methods This one-group pretest-posttest, repeated-measures study analyzed changes in duration of daily PA and the standardized response mean (SRM) to assess internal responsiveness that were compared across instruments. Correlations between changes in PA measured by the proposed instruments and the global rating of change were used to test external responsiveness. Agreement between PA instruments on identifying individuals who changed their PA based on measurement error was assessed using weighted-Kappa (K). Results Thirty subjects, mean age 67(6) and 73% female, were analyzed. Changes in PA measured by each instrument were small (p>0.05), resulting in a small degree of responsiveness (SRM 0.05). The activity monitors agreed on identifying changes in moderate-intensity PA (K=0.60) and number of steps (K=0.63), but did not agree with scores from questionnaire(K≤0.22). Conclusion Analyzing group-based changes in PA is challenging due to high-variability in the outcome. Investigating changes in PA at the individual-level may be a more viable alternative.
Ellagic Acid, a Dietary Polyphenol, Selectively Cytotoxic to HSC-2 Oral Carcinoma Cells.

Background: The antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of ellagic acid, a dietary polyphenol, were studied. Materials and Methods: The neutral red cytotoxicity assay compared the sensitivities of gingival fibroblasts and HSC- 2 oral carcinoma cells to ellagic acid. The ferrous ion oxidation xylenol orange assay and levels of intracellular reduced glutathione were used to assess pro-oxidant nature of ellagic acid. Antioxidant activity was demonstrated in cells co-treated with H 2 O 2 and ellagic acid by 2',7'- dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate staining and in cells co-treated with gallic acid and ellagic acid by morphological analysis. Apoptosis was assessed by microscopy, flow cytometry, luminescence, and immunoblotting. Results: Ellagic acid was cytotoxic to carcinoma cells, but not to normal cells. Its pro-oxidant nature was minimal, whereas its antioxidant property was biologically significant. Ellagic acid-treated cells demonstrated apoptotic morphology, induction of apoptosis (flow cytometry), increase in caspase 3/7 activities (luminescence), and activation of caspase 3 and cleavage of poly ADP ribose polymerase (immunoblot). Conclusion: Ellagic acid exhibited significant antioxidant, but not pro- oxidant, activity and was selectively cytotoxic to oral carcinoma cells.
Immunoglobulins associated with human platelets.

A technique for the accurate and reproducible quantitation of platelet associated immunoglobulins is described. The intact platelets of normal subjects were found to be associated with small quantities of Ig probably located at or near the platelet surface. Incubation of normal platelets in sera from some patients with immunologic purpura caused an increase in platelet immunoglobulin levels.
Library as Forum: Building Relationships and Identity Through Faculty Speaker Events

AbstractThe development of the liaison model in academic libraries has had important implications for the relationship between librarians and teaching faculty members. Modes of outreach to departme...
The San Fernando Convergence Zone 1

The vertical structure of a zone of converging winds in the San Fernando Valley is examined by using stadia pibal observations and a network of continuously recording surface wind stations. This zone of convergence, marking the location where two sea breezes of different points of origin along the southern California coast meet each other, apparently produces rising motions. The pattern of flow in the vertical plane normal to the convergence line is constructed by applying the continuity equation to the wind data. This pattern prescribes a redistribution of a ground-based layer of pollution on the Los Angeles side of the zone of convergence. This redistribution is compared with the actual distribution as observed from aircraft.
Methylation of FKBP5 and SLC6A4 in Relation to Treatment Response to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an effective non-pharmacologic treatment for veterans with PTSD. Extensive work has identified epigenetic factors related to PTSD disease risk and pathophysiology, but how these factors influence treatment response is unclear. Serotonin signaling and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning may be perturbed in PTSD and are molecular pathways targeted by PTSD treatments. To identify potential biomarkers for treatment response, we utilized genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood samples from veterans with PTSD who were responders (n = 11) or non-responders (n = 11) to MBSR as part of a clinical trial. We assessed methylation levels at CpG sites in regions of the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) previously associated with expression and depression outcomes, as well as the Intron 7 region of the FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) containing known glucocorticoid response elements suggested to regulate this gene. Selected subjects were matched across MBSR responder status by baseline symptoms, age, sex, current smoking status, and current antidepressant use. Percent methylation was compared between responders and non-responders at baseline (pre-MBSR treatment). Additionally, percent change in methylation from baseline to post-treatment was compared between responders and non-responders. There was a significant time x responder group interaction for methylation in FKBP5 intron 7 bin 2 [F(1, 19) = 7.492, p = 0.013] whereby responders had a decrease in methylation and non-responders had an increase in methylation from before to after treatment in this region. Analyses of the three CpG sites within bin 2 revealed a significant time x responder group interaction for CpG_35558513 [F(1, 19) = 5.551, p = 0.029] which resides in a known glucocorticoid response element (GRE). Decreases in FKBP5 methylation after treatment in responders as compared to increases in non-responders suggest that effective meditation intervention may be associated with stress-related pathways at the molecular level. These preliminary findings suggest that DNA methylation signatures within FKBP5 are potential indicators of response to meditation treatment in PTSD and require validation in larger cohorts.
The association of neighborhood racial mix and ED visit count in a cohort of patients on hemodialysis.

Neighborhood racial mix is associated with dialysis facility performance metrics and mortality outcomes in patients on hemodialysis. We explored the association of neighborhood racial mix with emergency department (ED) visits in patients receiving hemodialysis. Using Looking Glass (Montefiore’s clinical database) we identified a cohort of patients on hemodialysis with an index ED visit at any of 4 Montefiore Hospital locations, between January 2013 and December 2017 and followed it for number of ED visits through December of 2017 or dropout due to death. The racial mix data for the Bronx block group of each subject’s residence was derived from the Census Bureau. We then used negative binomial regression to test the association of quintile of percent of Black residents per residential block group with ED visits in unadjusted and adjusted models. To adjust further for quality offered by local dialysis facilities, with the facility zip code as the locus, we used data from the “Dialysis Compare” website. Three thousand nine-hundred and eighteen subjects were identified and the median number of ED visits was 3 (interquartile range (IQR) 1–7) during the study period. Subjects living in the highest quintile of percent Black residents were older, more commonly female and had lower poverty rates and higher rates of high school diplomas. Unadjusted models showed a significant association between the highest quintiles of Black neighborhood residence and count of ED visits. Fully adjusted, stratified models revealed that among males, and Hispanic and White subjects, living in neighborhoods with the highest quintiles of Black residents was associated with significantly more ED visits (p-trend =0.001, 0.02, 0.01 respectively). No association was found between dialysis facility locations’ quintile of Black residents and quality metrics. Living in a neighborhood with a higher percentage of Black residents is associated with a higher number of ED visits in males and non-Black patients on hemodialysis.
Irreversible engines—Closed cycles

Abstract In practice, the operation of a heat engine is far from endoreversible engines discussed in Chapter 6. An accurate performance analysis should account for sources of losses due to, for example, friction, heat leakage, and pressure drop. In this chapter, we will follow the same theme of the preceding chapter for some common irreversible gas power cycles, including Brayton, Otto, Atkinson, and Diesel engines. It will be assumed that each engine operates in a closed cycle and exchanges heat with two thermal reservoirs only. The operational regime at maximum thermal efficiency, maximum power, and minimum entropy generation rate will be studied. The analysis will account for the irreversibilities of the compression, expansion, and heat transfer processes. It will be shown that the minimum entropy production criterion is neither equivalent to maximum thermal efficiency nor to maximum power in irreversible engines.
Sources of 1/f noise in QDOGFET single-photon detectors

Abstract We investigate the sources of 1/f noise in a quantum dot, optically gated, field-effect transistor (QDOGFET) that uses a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) system to read out singly-charged quantum dots. We use a linear-systems model based on an empirical law developed by Hooge [1] to show how the individual contributions of 1/f noise produced in the gated and ungated portions of the dual-2DEG system impact the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the readout and vary with temperature and bias conditions. Our analysis reveals that the gate voltage can be used as a sensitive knob for controlling the contributions made by the various noise sources. We demonstrate how the SNR varies with the temperature and bias voltages of the QDOGFET and explain the behavior in terms of the transconductances and the various noise contributions of the conduction paths.
Angiotensin-(1-7) Attenuates Protein O-GlcNAcylation in the Retina by EPAC/Rap1-Dependent Inhibition of O-GlcNAc Transferase.

Purpose O-GlcNAcylation of cellular proteins contributes to the pathophysiology of diabetes and evidence supports a role for augmented O-GlcNAcylation in diabetic retinopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the renin-angiotensin system on retinal protein O-GlcNAcylation. Methods Mice fed a high-fat diet were treated chronically with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril or captopril plus the angiotensin-(1-7) Mas receptor antagonist A779. Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to analyze retinal homogenates. Similar analyses were performed on lysates from human MIO-M1 retinal Muller cell cultures exposed to media supplemented with angiotensin-(1-7). Culture conditions were manipulated to influence the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway and/or signaling downstream of the Mas receptor. Results In the retina of mice fed a high-fat diet, captopril attenuated protein O-GlcNAcylation in a manner dependent on Mas receptor activation. In MIO-M1 cells, angiotensin-(1-7) or adenylate cyclase activation were sufficient to enhance cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels and inhibit O-GlcNAcylation. The repressive effect of cAMP on O-GlcNAcylation was dependent on exchange protein activated by cAMP (EPAC), but not protein kinase A, and was recapitulated by a constitutively active variant of the small GTPase Rap1. We provide evidence that cAMP and angiotensin-(1-7) act to suppress O-GlcNAcylation by inhibition of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) activity. In cells exposed to an O-GlcNAcase inhibitor or hyperglycemic culture conditions, mitochondrial superoxide levels were elevated; however, angiotensin-(1-7) signaling prevented the effect. Conclusions Angiotensin-(1-7) inhibits retinal protein O-GlcNAcylation via an EPAC/Rap1/OGT signaling axis.
Evaluation of the Use of Cancer Registry Data for Comparative Effectiveness Research.

Importance Researchers often analyze cancer registry data to assess for differences in survival among cancer treatments. However, the retrospective, nonrandomized design of these analyses raises questions about study validity. Objective To examine the extent to which comparative effectiveness analyses using observational cancer registry data produce results concordant with those of randomized clinical trials. Design, Setting, and Participants In this comparative effectiveness study, a total of 141 randomized clinical trials referenced in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines for 8 common solid tumor types were identified. Data on participants within the National Cancer Database (NCDB) diagnosed between 2004 and 2014, matching the eligibility criteria of the randomized clinical trial, were obtained. The present study was conducted from August 1, 2017, to September 10, 2019. The trials included 85 118 patients, and the corresponding NCDB analyses included 1 344 536 patients. Three Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to determine hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival, including univariable, multivariable, and propensity score–adjusted models. Multivariable and propensity score analyses controlled for potential confounders, including demographic, comorbidity, clinical, treatment, and tumor-related variables. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was concordance between the results of randomized clinical trials and observational cancer registry data. Hazard ratios with an NCDB analysis were considered concordant if the NDCB HR fell within the 95% CI of the randomized clinical trial HR. An NCDB analysis was considered concordant if both the NCDB and clinical trialPvalues for survival were nonsignificant (P ≥ .05) or if they were both significant (P Results Analyses using the NCDB-produced HRs for survival were concordant with those of 141 randomized clinical trials in 79 univariable analyses (56%), 98 multivariable analyses (70%), and 90 propensity score models (64%). The NCDB analyses producedPvalues concordant with randomized clinical trials in 58 univariable analyses (41%), 65 multivariable analyses (46%), and 63 propensity score models (45%). No clinical trial characteristics were associated with concordance between NCDB analyses and randomized clinical trials, including disease site, type of clinical intervention, or severity of cancer. Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this study suggest that comparative effectiveness research using cancer registry data often produces survival outcomes discordant with those of randomized clinical trial data. These findings may help provide context for clinicians and policy makers interpreting observational comparative effectiveness research in oncology.
Qualified Immunity: Protecting 'All but the Plainly Incompetent' (and Maybe Some of Them, Too)

Public officials can be more certain than ever before that qualified immunity will shield them from suits for money damages even if their actions violate the constitutional rights of another. In the October 2011 Term the Supreme Court granted qualified immunity to government officials in four significant cases and denied it to none. Troublesome aspects of the Supreme Court’s current approach include (1) the failure to clarify important Constitutional questions; and (2) the blurring of the distinction between absolute and qualified immunity for all practical purposes by assuring state officials that they can be certain of the shield from liability. The article does not contend that any specific state officials are plainly incompetent, but the concern is that all governmental actors will be protected -- even in extreme cases -- so long as their behavior is “not entirely unreasonable”. For those who are concerned about the protection of individual rights, these times are tough. The direction that the Court is now taking is clear, and it favors those who do the work of the government, not the average citizen.
Frequency of intracranial aneurysms and sub-arachnoid hemorrhage is significantly lesser in bicuspid aortic valve than aortic coarctation

Abstract Background Bicuspid aortic valve(BAV) is common. Some studies suggest that all BAV patients require screening for intracranial aneurysm(IA) in order to prevent sub-arachnoid hemorrhage(SAH). Aortic coarctation(CoA) carries high-risk of both IA and SAH. Using a nationally-representative population, we assessed the frequency of IA and SAH in admissions with BAV-without-CoA versus admissions with CoA(with or without BAV). Methods Between 2000 and 2016, adult admissions with a primary/secondary diagnosis of BAV and/or CoA were identified using the National Inpatient Sample. Admissions with traumatic SAH and inter-hospital transfers were excluded. Outcomes were frequency of IA and SAH, and in-hospital mortality in BAV-without-CoA versus CoA. Results In this 17-year period, 254,675 admissions met inclusion criteria and 236,930(93.0%) had BAV-without-CoA. BAV-with-CoA was present in 2846(1.1%) and isolated-CoA in 14,899(5.9%), for a total of 17,745(7%) with CoA. IA was noted in 405 admissions(0.2%) overall, BAV-without-CoA versus CoA having 293(0.1%) versus 112(0.6%), p Conclusions In this study, BAV-without-CoA admissions had 0.1%(6-times lower than CoA) and 0.3%(3-times lower that CoA) IA and SAH, respectively, which is comparable to the general population. This suggests that BAV-without-CoA patients likely do not require routine surveillance for IA.
Progress in generating iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons as accurate models of neurodegenerative disease

Abstract Soon after the initial development of pluripotent stem cells, groups began seeking out new ways to generate neurons of different lineages to better understand, diagnose, and treat neurodegenerative diseases. The production of functional dopaminergic neurons directly from patient-specific–induced pluripotent stem cell lines has generated a powerful tool for disease modeling and for developing regenerative therapies for the second most common neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson’s disease (PD). This progress has built upon new findings regarding the developmental cell fate in the brain, with specific differentiation factors playing crucial roles for each approach. Currently, several differentiation methods have had varying success in producing functional midbrain dopaminergic neurons. New reports on methods to cryopreserve, purify, and increase yield have resulted in the production of more robust and abundant dopaminergic neurons. Standardized dopaminergic neuron production is not only critical for developing therapies like stem cell replacement therapies for PD but is also applicable to studying disease pathogenesis.