cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of the lateral parabrachial nucleus in apomorphine-induced conditioned consumption reduction: cooling lesions and relationship of c-Fos-like immunoreactivity to strength of conditioning.

The following experiments were designed to determine whether the lateral parabrachial nucleus (1PBN) mediates acquisition of conditioned consumption reduction induced by apomorphine, an agent that also has reinforcing properties. Temporary cooling lesions of the 1PBN blocked acquisition of apomorphine-induced conditioned consumption reduction. In addition, both apomorphine and LiCI activated c-Fos-like immunoreactivity (c-FLI) in the central, external, and crescent 1PBN, and there was a strong correspondence between amount of c-FLI expression and strength of conditioned consumption reduction in these subnuclei. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that the 1PBN mediates apomorphine-induced conditioned consumption reduction, as is true for LiCl. Furthermore, they raise the possibility that the specific part of the 1PBN mediating this conditioning effect of apomorphine and LiCI is 1 of the 3 subnuclei.
Where Black-White Couples Live

This study analyzes where households headed by Black-White, mixed-race couples live in cities. Using 2000 confidential U.S. Census data, we investigate whether Black-White households in 12 large U.S. metropolitan areas are more likely to be found in racially diverse neighborhoods than households headed by White or Black couples. Map analysis shows that concentrations of Black-White headed households are most often found in moderately diverse White neighborhoods. This relationship, however, varies by metropolitan context. Controlling for socioeconomic conditions reveals that Black-White couples are drawn to diversity no matter which racial group forms the neighborhood majority. In contrast, neighborhood racial diversity matters for households headed by Black couples only when they enter spaces containing many Whites or Asians; it matters for households headed by White couples only when they enter neighborhoods with a large number of Blacks or Latinos.
Chemical reactions at detonation fronts in solids

Abstract Detonation fronts propagate too fast for the chemical reactions that drive them to be thermally activated. It is proposed that the compression in such fronts causes local metallization when either the density, or the bending of covalent bonds, reaches a critical level which can be estimated from simple models. In the case of the density, this can be estimated from the Herzfeld-Mott model; and in the case of bond-bending, from parabolic variation of the LUMO and HOMO molecular energy levels. Adiabatic expansion of the delocalized electrons provides the high pressure needed to accelerate the ions in the front. Specific examples that are discussed are lead azide, ammonium ions, and nitrate ions. In addition it is argued that this approach is consistent with: observed critical compressions; detonation velocities; the resonance energies of chemical bonds, polarizabilities and the stabilities of energetic materials. Metallization explains why hyper-fast reactions can occur athermally, and propagate sup...
Low-thrust station keeping guidance for a 24-hour satellite

Low thrust station keeping guidance scheme for gravity gradient stabilized 24-hour satellite, solving equations of motion for near circular equatorial orbit
Stress-induced decline in immune responsiveness in C3HHeJ mice: Relation to endocrine alterations and tumor growth

Abstract We examined the effect of rotation-induced stress on (1) growth of lymphosarcoma tumors; (2) interleukin-2 (IL-2) production; (3) T cell subset distribution; and (4) cytotoxic T cell (CTL) function. In addition, we examined the levels of corticosterone and β-endorphin as possible mediators of stress-induced immune alterations. Rotation stress induced progressive lymphosarcoma growth, while unstressed mice showed tumor regression after 2 weeks of growth. IL-2 production and CTL activity in stressed animals were significantly lower than controls during the first 2 weeks after initiation of stress. Spleen lymphocytes from stressed and control mice bearing the L3T4 antigen (helper/inducer T cell marker) remained unchanged, while in peripheral blood such cells decreased in stressed but not control animals. This latter pattern was also observed in Lyt 2 positive (suppressor/cytotoxic) cells of both spleen and peripheral blood. Corticosterone levels were elevated for an extended period following initiation of stress, while β-endorphin levels remained similar to those of the controls. Although these data do not directly establish a causal link between immunoinhibition and tumor growth, they clearly demonstrate that stress inhibits a number of cell-mediated immune functions that may be relevant in this regard.
Glioblastoma Multiforme—Treating a Deadly Tumor with Both Strands of RNA

Weil discusses a promising new technique to deliver double-stranded RNA molecules to cancer cells, described in a new animal study in PLoS Medicine.
Effects of free radicals on the electrophysiological function of cardiac membranes.

Abstract Abnormal electrical activity in heart cells can result in irregular heart rhythms or arrhythmias. Any form of pathological or toxicological damage to the sarcolemmal membrane presents the risk of precipitating arrhythmias and compromise of the heart's function as a pump. An array of cardiovascular conditions from coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction to cardiomyopathies and hypertrophy, can induced arrhythmias. Many of these conditions recently have been linked to increases in free radical production. Early studies suggesting a role for free radicals in the abnormal function of ischemic and reperfused hearts use anti-free radical interventions to reduce arrhythmias. More recent works have taken advantage of different free radical-generating systems to show a reproducible sequence of changes in the cellular action potential; these data suggest changes in the transmembrane movement of ions through membrane channels. Biochemical evidence supports a possible involvement of ion exchange mechanisms in the cardiac sarcolemma. All the evidence indicate that free radical injury may have profound effects on the electrical function of myocardial cells.
An image analysis technique for constructing isostatics from isoclinics in photoelasticity

Using photoelasticity, isochromatic and isoclinic fringe patterns can be generated in a model specimen with an applied load. The isochromatic fringes are related to the difference between the two principal stresses and the isoclinics give the direction of the principal stresses of any point in the model. However, the isoclinics give the principal stress directions in a form that is not well suited for direct interpretation. A more useful representation is the isostatic or stress trajectory diagram where the principal stresses are tangent or normal to the isostatic lines at each point. Since the isoclinic patterns identify the direction of the principal stresses, therefore the isostatic diagram can be constructed directly from the composite isoclinic pattern. Usually this method is done by hand and involves some tedious curve fitting techniques. This paper describes the implementation of a computer program that we developed to carry out this procedure efficiently. The image of the isoclinic pattern is digitized into a database using video processing equipment and used as input to the program. The output of the program is a diagram showing the isostatic pattern.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Rotamer strain as a determinant of protein structural specificity

We present direct evidence for a change in protein structural specificity due to hydrophobic core packing. High resolution structural analysis of a designed core variant of ubiquitin reveals that the protein is in slow exchange between two conformations. Examination of side-chain rotamers indicates that this dynamic response and the lower stability of the protein are coupled to greater strain and mobility in the core. The results suggest that manipulating the level of side-chain strain may be one way of fine tuning the stability and specificity of proteins.
Structure of murine Tcl1 at 2.5 A resolution and implications for the TCL oncogene family.

Tcl1 and Mtcp1, members of the Tcl1 family, are implicated in T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia. The crystal structure of a dimer of murine Tcl1 has been determined at 2.5 A resolution with an R factor of 0.225. Murine Tcl1, human Tcl1 and Mtcp1 share very similar subunit structures, with RMS differences of 0.6 and 1.4 A for Cα atoms, respectively, while the sequences share 50 and 36% identity, respectively. These structures fold into an eight-stranded β-barrel of unique topology and high internal symmetry of 1.1–1.3 A for the two halves of human and murine Tcl1 and 1.7 A for Mtcp1, despite the low 12–13% sequence identity. The molecular surfaces of all three structures showed a common planar region which is likely to be involved in protein–protein interactions.
Role of Continents in Driving the Hadley Cells

GCM simulations are used to investigate how forcing that originates over land surfaces influences the Hadley circulation. The presence of continental surfaces is found to approximately double the intensity of the winter hemisphere Hadley cell and to halve the intensity of the summer cell. The strengthening of the winter cell occurs because the increase in surface friction associated with land enhances the angular momentum flux into the atmosphere. The development of strong monsoon circulations in the Northern Hemisphere summer and the convergence zones of the Southern Hemisphere (South Pacific, South Atlantic, and South Indian convergence zones) shifts mass out of the subtropics, lowers the zonal mean subtropical highs, and weakens the summer cells. The responses of the summer and winter cells are different signs and occur by different processes, because heating of the land surfaces in the summer is effectively communicated through the depth of the atmosphere, whereas cooling in the winter is not. Also, the higher surface wind speeds and shears of the winter hemisphere trade winds make the winter cell more sensitive to surface friction than the summer cell. These results suggest that the axisymmetric models that have provided a theoretical basis for the understanding of the Hadley circulation do not capture some of the important physical processes that determine the intensity of the mean meridional circulation.
Rubber Strain Measurements in Bias, Belted-Bias and Radial Ply Tires

The two-dimensional state of strain on the inner and outer surfaces of automobile tires operating under straight ahead rolling conditions was experimentally determined for bias (cross-ply), belted-bias and radial ply tires of comparable size. The strain transducer employed was fabricated by embedding a column of liquid mercury in a small billet of silicone rubber. The principle of operation of this gage is similar to that of the conventional bonded electric resistance strain gage used with metals - i.e., a change in resistance of the mercury capillary is linearly related to the strain in the direction of the column. These gages were mounted in three directions at locations from the bead to the crown and the measured strains were used to calculate the maximum tensile, compressive and shearing strains. The de formation characteristics of the different tire constructions were compared at various wheel loads and inflation pressures. The experimental results in dicate that membrane strains predominate in the i...
Visiting Nurse Association of New York and Crisis Management after September 11, 2001.

Abstract September 11, 2001 was a devastating event that changed all of our lives and organizations. This article examines the impact of September 11, 2001 on the Visiting Nurse Association of New York and how it decided to respond in the future. Crisis Management, which has become more prevalent for many organizations, is an important strategic initiative for the VNA helping them provide the infrastructure to respond effectively to emergencies and unpredictable events. It is important in today's volatile business climate, that hospital and nursing organizations develop a strategic system to handle “worst case scenarios.”
Peace movements in medieval Europe: A reappraisal∗

(1990). Peace movements in medieval Europe: A reappraisal. Interdisciplinary Peace Research: Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 23-35.
Decoding of cyclic codes using position invariant functions

Ratios that are sufficient to detect classes of error patterns in cyclic codes are discussed. Systematic procedures for the correction of Bose-Chaudhuri codes are given; it is shown that these are quite fast but practical only for small numbers of random errors. It is seen that there is the capability of simultaneous independent and burst error correction.
Interval functions related to geocze k-area †

The Geocze area theory for dimension two uses the geometrically simplest intervals on which area theory can he developed, These intervals are simple polygonal regions in the plane. For Geocze k-area with k > 2 it is shown in the present paper that the geometrically simplest interval arc not tue obvious generalizations of the- two dimensional case, that is, polyhedral regions in Rk which are topological K-cells. It is shown that the simplest interval is a polyhedral region in Rk whose complement is connected
Sodaconstructing an Understanding of Physics: Technology-Based Engineering Activities for Middle School Students

In this paper we describe a study that investigates whether - and how $authentic recreations of engineering practices can help students develop conceptual understanding of physics. We focus on the design-build-test cycle used by professional engineers in simulation-based design. In this experiment, middle school students worked for 10 hours to solve engineering design challenges using SodaConstructor - a Java-based microworld - as a simulation environment. As a result of the experiment, students learned about center of mass. Our data further suggest that in the process of simulation-based design, rapid iterations of the design-build-test cycle progressively linked students' interest in the design activities and understanding of the concept of center of mass. We suggest that these rapid iterations of the design-build-test cycle functioned as exploratoids: short fragments of exploratory action in a microworld that cumulatively develop interest in and understanding of important scientific concepts
Characterization of a mutation in yeast causing nonrandom chromosome loss during mitosis.

Diploid strains of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae homozygous for a recessive chromosome loss mutation ( chl ) exhibit a high degree of mitotic instability. Cells become monosomic for chromosome III at a frequency of approximately one percent of all cell divisions. Chromosome loss at this high frequency is also found for chromosome I , and at lesser frequencies for chromosomes VIII and XVI . In contrast, little or no chromosome loss is found for six other linkage groups tested ( II, V, VI, VII, XI and XVII ). The chl mutation also induces a ten-fold increase in both intergenic and intragenic mitotic recombination on all ten linkage groups tested. The chl mutation does not cause an increase in spontaneous mutations, nor are mutant strains sensitive to UV or γ irradiation. The effects of chl during meiosis are observed primarily in reduced spore viability. A decrease in chromosome III linkage relationships is also found.
Reappraisal of the negative impression cast and the subtalar joint neutral position

For many years, podiatric physicians have been casting orthotic devices with the foot placed in the subtalar joint neutral position based on work by Root et al. Recent research pertaining to the subtalar joint neutral position during the gait cycle is in disagreement with the theory of Root et al and the inverted subtalar joint neutral casting technique. The current research and a historical perspective of casting techniques will be reviewed to help clarify terminology and to decipher the relationship between the rearfoot position during the gait cycle and casting technique.
Interaction of colloidal gold-labelled glucosylated albumin with endothelial cell monolayers: comparison between cryofixation and glutaraldehyde fixation.

Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) were exposed to glucosylated albumin-gold complexes (GgA), and the distribution of the tracers was compared after cryofixation and after glutaraldehyde fixation. Morphometric analysis revealed differences in the GgA distribution depending upon the method of fixation used. In BAEC monolayers cryofixed after 3 min of incubation with GgA, tracer was observed in predominately apically located vesicular elements. After 16 min of incubation, all vesicular elements were labelled, and multivesicular bodies were the prominent labelled structure. In contrast, chemically fixed monolayers exhibited a heterogeneous distribution of GgA within vesicular profiles after 3 min and 16 min of GgA incubation. The differences in tracer distribution depending upon the fixation method must be resolved before the mechanism of vesiclemediated endothelial cell transport function is defined and universally accepted. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Paramilitarism and Colombia's Low-Intensity Democracy

In the late 1980s and early 1990s political liberalisation, including the reduction of the military's institutional prerogatives, occurred in Colombia despite the increasing strength of an internal insurgency. Why would Colombia's national political elite weaken the institutional role of the armed forces in the context of an escalating internal war? What was the role of paramilitary groups, which were responsible for the vast majority of massacres and political violence against suspected unarmed civilians, during the 1990s? This paper argues that the elite civilian politicians who dominated the Colombian state promoted formal institutional changes, but tolerated paramilitary repression in order to counteract a strengthening guerrilla insurgency. These civilian leaders represented a modernising elite focused upon co-opting political opposition and establishing neoliberal economic reforms, thus constructing a Low-Intensity Democracy.
Dual functional nisin-multi-walled carbon nanotubes coated filters for bacterial capture and inactivation

Removal of pathogens from water is one way to prevent waterborne illness. In this paper, we developed dual functional carbon nanotube (CNT) modified filters for bacterial capture and inactivation, utilizing multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) to coat on commercially available filters and making use of the exceptional adsorption property of CNTs to adsorb a natural antimicrobial peptide-nisin on it. Two types of MWCNTs with different outer layer diameters were used (MWCNTs1: <8 nm in diameter; MWCNTs2: 10–20 nm in diameter). The thickness of MWCNT layers, surface morphology, and surface hydrophobicity of both types of MWCNT coated filters were characterized. The MWCNT coating on filters significantly increased the surface hydrophobicity. The absorption of nisin and the capture of bacterial pathogens were correlated with increased surface hydrophobicity. The MWCNTs1 and MWCNTs2 filters with 1.5 mg MWCNTs loading captured 2.44 and 3.88 log of cells, respectively, from aqueous solutions containing a total of ~106 CFU/mL cells. Nisin deposit at the amount of 0.5 mg on the surfaces of MWCNT filters significantly reduced the viability of captured B. anthracis cells by 95.71–97.19 %, and inhibited the metabolic activities of the captured cells by approximately 98.3 %. The results demonstrated that the MWCNT-nisin filters achieved dual functions in bacterial pathogen capture and inhibition in one single filtration step, which is potentially applicable in removing undesired microorganisms from water sources and inhibiting captured Gram positive bacteria activities.
Late Summer Fog Use In The Drought Deciduous Shrub, Artemisia californica (Asteraceae)

Coastal fog affects many California plant species and can be critically important to species that experience periodic drought. Drought-deciduous species in particular rely on water availability to maintain their leaves during the summer. To determine fog water use in drought-deciduous plants, this study manipulated access to fog drip and measured the water relations of the common shrub, Artemisia californica, near Santa Barbara, CA. Measuring the stable isotope ratio of hydrogen and oxygen, this study found that A. californica uses fog water in the late summer months when fog is present. This additional water increased plant water content but had no effect on pre-dawn xylem pressure potential. While climatic variability inhibits reliable fog input to A. californica in Santa Barbara, this species can use fog water opportunistically and benefits from large fog events during the summer drought.
Patient education and follow-up as an intervention for hypertensive patients discharged from an emergency department: a randomized control trial study protocol.

Persistently elevated blood pressure (BP) is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease development, making effective hypertension management an issue of considerable public health importance. Hypertension is particularly prominent among African Americans, who have higher disease prevalence and consistently lower BP control than Whites and Hispanics. Emergency departments (ED) have limited resources for chronic disease management, especially for under-served patients dependent upon the ED for primary care, and are not equipped to conduct follow-up. Kiosk-based patient education has been found to be effective in primary care settings, but little research has been done on the effectiveness of interactive patient education modules as ED enhanced discharge for an under-served urban minority population. Achieving Blood Pressure Control Through Enhanced Discharge (AchieveBP) is a behavioral RCT patient education intervention for patients with a history of hypertension who have uncontrolled BP at ED discharge. The project will recruit up to 200 eligible participants at the ED, primarily African-American, who will be asked to return to a nearby clinical research center for seven, thirty and ninety day visits, with a 180 day follow-up. Consenting participants will be randomized to either an attention-control or kiosk-based interactive patient education intervention. To control for potential medication effects, all participants will be prescribed similar, evidenced-based anti-hypertensive regimens and have their prescription filled onsite at the ED and during visits to the clinic. The primary target endpoint will be success in achieving BP control assessed at 180 days follow-up post-ED discharge. The secondary aim will be to assess the relationship between patient activation and self-care management. The AchieveBP trial will determine whether using interactive patient education delivered through health information technology as ED enhanced discharge with subsequent education sessions at a clinic is an effective strategy for achieving short-term patient management of BP. The project is innovative in that it uses the ED as an initial point of service for kiosk-based health education designed to increase BP self-management. It is anticipated findings from this translational research could also be used as a resource for patient education and follow-up with hypertensive patients in primary care settings. ClinicalTrials.gov Registration Number: NCT02069015 . Registered February 19, 2014.
The Cyclicality of Executive Turnover

Abstract CEO turnover is highly pro-cyclical. This paper aims to explain why. I begin by showing that the cyclicality is driven entirely by executives of retirement age, and I develop several hypotheses to explain this. I test them using executive pension data released following a 2006 SEC rule change. The theory with the strongest support is that executives time their retirement to maximize the value of their pensions. Since CEO pay is pro-cyclical and pensions are based on pay in the final years of tenure, executives have the incentive to retire when the economy is doing well. I show that cyclicality is particularly strong in firms with weak corporate governance and that announcement returns are negative in these firms, which suggests that retirement cyclicality is not welfare-enhancing.
Working memory deficits in HIV-seropositive drug users

We studied the integrity of working memory operations in 38 HIV-seropositive and 20 seronegative drug users, using a modified version of the Tower of London task. This new task, the Tower of London-Working Memory version (TOL-WM), includes a delayed-response component in addition to the planning required for successful performance of the standard TOL. Symptomatic HIV-seropositive participants solved significantly fewer TOL-WM problems compared to matched seronegative controls. However, seropositive and seronegative subjects showed similar overall levels of planning efficiency, suggesting that the TOL-WM deficit may be associated primarily with failure to encode or maintain an adequate online memory representation. The results of this study confirm our previous report of a possible working memory deficit in HIV-1 infection and suggest that measures of working memory have particular utility in the evaluation of HIV-related cognitive deficits.
Neutron Rietveld Analysis of Anion and Cation Disorder in the Fast-Ion Conducting Pyrochlore System Y2(ZrxTi1−x)2O7

All information on the site occupancies and atomic displacements which relate a pyrochlore superstructure to the parent fluorite-type subcell is contained in the normally-weak superstructure diffraction intensities. As Ti has a negative scattering length, the supercell maxima in the present phases are up to three times as intense as the fluorite-like reflections, and neutron diffraction provides an especially sensitive probe of the state of disorder. Y2Ti2O7 is found to have a fullyordered anion array and slight disorder, Y0.984Ti0.015, among the cations. In Y2(Zro.6TiO.4)2O7 the oxygen site normally vacant in pyrochlore is half filled and on the order of 15% exchange between cation sites has occurred.
Simulating multi-camera imaging systems for depth estimation, enhanced photography and video effects

Multi-camera systems have numerous applications in computational photography such as for depth estimation to enable many photography effects. We present a method for simulating multi-camera systems and results comparing different algorithms and camera geometries.
Effects of Tissue Dehydration on Optical Diffuse Reflectance and Transmittance in Ex Vivo Porcine Skin

Soft tissues are heterogeneous materials that may be considered mixtures of water, proteins, and cells. The high degree of mismatch in refractive index between these constituents causes tissues to be highly turbid media [1]. Mechanical optical clearing is a technique for reducing tissue scattering and improving light-based diagnostics and therapeutics. Mechanical optical clearing is performed using indentation to locally modify tissue optical response, and this effect has been shown to be reversible in vivo [2]. This effect is attributed to transient changes in tissue water distribution as a result of interstitial pore flow of water due to tissue compression. This leads to the hypothesis that tissue optical response is also correlated to the tissue’s state of hydration. The goal of this study was to investigate whether or not a difference in tissue water content produces a measurable difference in tissue optical response and to correlate that response with mechanical deformation. Both diffuse reflectance and transmittance were selected as extrinsic optical signals of interest.© 2012 ASME
Dietary Determinants Of The White Blood Cell Count

Introduction White blood cells are key components of the immune system. They defend the body against a host of diseases and infections. Various studies have explored the possible influence of dietary nutrients on the white blood cell (WBC) count. If it can be demonstrated that nutrients affect the WBC count, they may offer an inexpensive way of modulating the immune system and in turn, the body's ability to fight against disease and infection. The sample sizes of previous studies, however, have been relatively small. The results have therefore been variable and conflicting. The purpose of this study is to continue to explore the dietary determinants of the WBC count, using a database that allows for a larger sample size, the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Health Survey (NHANES). Methods The main outcome variable, WBC count, was recoded to the normal range for ages ≥ 18 years, of 4-11(±2). This was done in order to account for extreme values; particularly high and low values secondary to disease or infection. The population means and 95% confidence intervals were obtained using the statistical weights for the key variables of interest ([Table 1][1]). Multiple linear regression and backward elimination were used to predict the final model ([Table 2][2]). Variables with p < 0.1 were kept in the model. SAS 9.3 was used for all statistical analyses. View this table: Table 1 Demographics and Physical Activity View this table: Table 2 Final Model Results Associations for age, gender, race and Body Mass Index (BMI) and WBC count, were consistent with previous studies and were all statistically significant (p 0.05). Increases in vitamin B1 were associated with an increase in WBC count (p < 0.05). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that further prospective studies are needed to investigate the role of these nutrients as determinants of the WBC count. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare. [1]: #T1 [2]: #T2
Analysis on Reason for Fluctuation of Line Loss per Unit and Practical Improvement Method

For reason of impact of non-corresponding electric power quantity,statistical line loss per unit may present certain fluctuation state which may not only cause analysis and forecast on monthly line loss per unit lacking of guiding meanings, but also result in difficulties in making decision for line loss reduction management and technical measures.By analysis,this paper discovers that the main reasons for fluctuation of line loss per unit are in two aspects,one is bigger differences of meter reading time of power supply quantity and power sold quantity while the other reason is impact of calendar time differences of solar months of 31 days and 30 days which may cause inconformity of statistical intervals of power supply and sold quantities.Therefore,it proposes a kind of non-corresponding analysis method based on concentrated day in order to remove impact of non-corresponding electric power quantity.By practical example verification,it proves that this method is able to greatly improve correction of statistical line loss and provided with stronger practical value.
Evaluation of a Food Portion Size Estimation Interface for a Varying Literacy Population

Portion size estimation is important for managing dietary intake in many chronic conditions. We conducted a 6-week field study with nine varying literacy dialysis patients to explore the usability and feasibility of a dietary intake mobile application that emphasizes portion size estimation. Seven participants demonstrated sustained use of the application and improved their self-efficacy, knowledge, and ability to estimate portion sizes in pre- and post-study assessments. Participants reported moments when portion size information in the application differed from their prior understanding, challenging them to reconcile dissonant information. Although participants acquired new knowledge about portion sizes, they struggled to accurately estimate portion sizes in situ for most foods. Despite using the application consistently, rating it highly, and exhibiting learning, we found that self-efficacy and knowledge are not sufficient to support improved behaviors in everyday life.
Transmembrane Organization of the Na,K-ATPase Determined by Epitope Addition

The Na,K-ATPase is a membrane-associated enzyme that establishes the internal Na+/K+ environment of most animal cells. The catalytic (alpha) subunit of the Na,K-ATPase contains multiple transmembrane segments, but the number and location of these domains has not been clearly established. We have used epitope addition to determine the transmembrane topology of the alpha subunit. An immunoreactive peptide was inserted into various regions of the cDNA encoding the rat alpha 1 subunit, and the constructs were expressed in transfected mammalian cells. The intra- or extracellular location of the epitope tags was determined by immunofluorescence analysis. Our results indicate that the amino and carboxyl termini of the alpha subunit are situated intracellularly, and the polypeptide is likely to possess eight membrane-spanning segments. The systematic application of epitope tagging may be useful for analyzing the topology of membrane proteins of unknown structure.
Stress-Related Mucosal Damage: What To Do or Not To Do

Stress-related mucosal damage (SRMD) has been a common problem in critically ill patients. Its incidence and natural history are changing due to advances in critical care medicine. Although universal prophylaxis for SRMD is no longer warranted, clinicians should identify those patients at highest risk for SRMD-associated bleeding and provide appropriate intervention.
Unlocking the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States

A newly revised Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States was approved in 2016, the 100th anniversary of its first appearance. This article outlines the 2-year, iterative revision process undertaken by the ALA RUSA STARS Codes, Guidelines, and Technical Standards Committee, including the results of two public surveys and significant changes to the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States. The authors hope to provide a template for future revisions and share the process with the entire interlibrary loan community.
Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak after microvascular reconstruction of craniofacial defects with orbital exenteration.

Objectives To assess risk factors for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and complications after microvascular reconstruction of cranio-orbitofacial resection with orbital exenteration (CFOE). Study Design Retrospective case series. Methods Seventy consecutive patients at a tertiary hospital underwent 76 procedures with microvascular reconstruction of CFOE defects. Patients were stratified by extent of skull base exposure and presence or absence of dural resection. Patients with exposure of the orbital apex and roof alone were classified as minimal skull base exposure (MS) (n = 32). Those with skull base exposure beyond the orbital apex and roof were classified as significant skull base exposure (SS) (n = 38) and were subdivided into those with dural exposure (SSe) (n = 15) and those with dural resection (SSr) (n = 23). The main outcome measure was incidence of postoperative CSF leak according to univariate and multivariate analysis of risk factors, including previous radiation, surgery, and location of defect. Results Intraoperative leaks occurred in five and four patients in the MS and SSe groups, respectively, with no postoperative leaks. In the SSr group, five patients developed a postoperative CSF leak and three required operative management. Multivariate analysis revealed middle fossa exposure to be the only significant predictor of CSF leak (P = 0.03). The overall complication rate was 31.6%. Major complications were greater in the SS group compared to the MS group (P = 0.05). Conclusion In this series, middle fossa resection increased the risk of postoperative CSF leak after microvascular reconstruction of CFOE defects, and complication rates were greater with more complex defects. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 127:835–841, 2017
Evaluating Sustainability Planning Under California’s Senate Bill 375

California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008, also known as Senate Bill (S.B.) 375, called on metropolitan planning organizations to develop integrated plans for transportation and land use capable of achieving mandated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The first round of regional plans conducted under the new law’s provisions is now complete. This research assessed achievements and challenges in California’s four largest regions in advancing sustainability goals through transportation–land use planning integration under S.B. 375. On the basis of an assessment of plan documents from before and after passage of the law, progress was assessed for four aspects of the planning process: development of performance objectives, land use projections, techniques for analyzing plan options, and implementation strategies for encouraging land uses that supported regional plan goals. The analysis indicates that post–S.B. 375 plans demonstrate advances in promoting sustainable transport,...
Slit2 Increases Hematopoietic Stem Cell Numbers in Mice

Abstract A complex interaction of cell-intrinsic and extra-cellular signals cooperate to determine the number and behavior of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs). Elucidation of these regulatory networks promises to offer novel insights into HSC biology and HSC-mediated clinical therapies. In an effort to identify cell-intrinsic, genetic regulatory mechanisms determining HSC number, we initiated a forward genetic analysis beginning with HSC quantification in inbred mice using the Cobblestone Area Forming Cell (CAFC) assay. Subsequent linkage analysis revealed that the 3–7 fold larger HSC population in young DBA/2 relative to C57BL/6 mice was linked to multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL), including a locus with peak linkage (LOD = 3.1) at the 40 Mb position on chromosome 5 with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 29.3–55 Mbp. Congenic strains were generated on both the C57BL/6 and DBA/2 backgrounds in which the chromosome 5 QTL was exchanged between the strains by selective, genotype-assisted breeding. The DBA/2 interval increased HSC number 2.4 fold relative to the C57BL/6 background strain while the C57BL/6 QTL decreased HSC number 2 fold relative to the DBA/2 strain. Gene expression profiling of Lineage negative, Sca-1+, c-Kit+ (LSK) cells from C57BL/6, DBA/2 and congenic mice revealed 6 differentially expressed candidate genes in the 95% confidence interval among the 46,644 probes on the array. Among them a single transcript, Slit2, was expressed in a pattern correlated with stem cell number in both congenic-background strain comparisons and could be verified by RT-PCR analysis. Slit2 expression was positively correlated with HSC number and highly enriched in LSK cells of inbred and congenic mice bearing the DBA/2 genotype at the chromosome 5 QTL. A retrovirus was used to stably infect HSC-enriched C57BL/6 bone marrow cells, which normally do not express Slit2, with a Slit2-containing GFP vector, resulting in ectopic expression of the Slit2 transcript in GFP+ cells. Infected cells were then transplanted into sub-lethally irradiated C57BL/6 hosts and expanded in vivo for 12 weeks ensuring reconstitution of the complete hematopoietic hierarchy within the GFP+ fraction. CAFC analysis of GFP+ cells revealed that the ectopic expression of Slit2 resulted in a 2-fold increase in HPC/HSC numbers relative to an empty vector control. On the basis of this finding we demonstrate for the first time that expression of Slit2 by HSCs results in expansion of the HSC population. Slit/Roundabout (Robo) signaling is required in embryonic and neuronal development and has recently been shown to play important roles in the migration and function of a growing list of non-neuronal cells including a variety of cancer cell types. Future studies will aim to determine if Slit2 expression influences the interaction between HSCs and the microenvironment in a manner that promotes expansion of the HSC compartment, perhaps by overriding quiescence cues from the niche and/or altering the spatial orientation of stem cells within the bone marrow microenvironment.
ASSOCIATION OF TOTAL AND DIFFERENTIAL WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNTS TO DEVELOPMENT OF TYPE 2 DIABETES IN MEXICAN AMERICANS IN CAMERON COUNTY HISPANIC COHORT.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between total and differential White Blood Cell (WBC) counts with time to transition to type 2 diabetes in Mexican Americans using prospective data from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC). Results Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models revealed that obese Mexican-American cohort participants whose total WBC or granulocyte count increased over time had 1.39 and 1.35 times higher risk respectively of transition to type 2 diabetes when compared to overweight participants. The granulocyte or total WBC count in participants with BMI≥35 were significant risk factors for transition to type 2 diabetes. Conclusions Increased total WBC and WBC differential counts, particularly lymphocytes and granulocytes, are associated with risk of transition to type 2 diabetes in obese Mexican Americans, after adjusting for other potential confounders. Screening and monitoring the WBC counts, including lymphocytes and granulocytes can help with monitoring potential transition to type 2 diabetes.
An Interoperable Similarity-based Cohort Identification Method Using the OMOP Common Data Model version 5.0

Cohort identification for clinical studies tends to be laborious, time-consuming, and expensive. Developing automated or semi-automated methods for cohort identification is one of the “holy grails” in the field of biomedical informatics. We propose a high-throughput similarity-based cohort identification algorithm by applying numerical abstractions on electronic health records (EHR) data. We implement this algorithm using the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) Common Data Model (CDM), which enables sites using this standardized EHR data representation to avail this algorithm with minimum effort for local implementation. We validate its performance for a retrospective cohort identification task on six clinical trials conducted at the Columbia University Medical Center. Our algorithm achieves an average area under the curve (AUC) of 0.966 and an average Precision at 5 of 0.983. This interoperable method promises to achieve efficient cohort identification in EHR databases. We discuss suitable applications of our method and its limitations and propose warranted future work.
Device-Related Adverse Events During Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: Review of the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience Database.

Abstract Introduction and Objectives: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is an established technique for removal of large stones from the upper urinary tract. It is a complex multistep procedure r...
Motion in the Normal Direction

In this chapter we discuss the motion of an interface under an internally generated velocity field for constant motion in the normal direction. This velocity field is defined by V↦ = a N↦ or V n = a, where a is a constant. The corresponding level set equation (i.e., equation (4.4)) is $$\phi t\, + \,a\left| {\nabla \phi } \right|\, = \,0,\,$$ (6.1) where a can be of either sign. When a > 0 the interface moves in the normal direction, and when a < 0 the interface moves opposite the normal direction. When a = 0 this equation reduces to the trivial φ t = 0, where φ is constant for all time. Figure 6.1 shows the evolution of a star-shaped interface as it moves normal to itself in the outward direction.
Abstract A08: in vivo CRISPR screening enables precision medicine by identifying novel drug combinations and modeling anticancer drug sensitivity

Identifying novel targets to synergistically improve the efficacy of existing chemotherapy is a major goal in cancer research. Here, we report in vivo CRISPR knockout (KO) screening in a patient derived xenograft (PDX) model of pancreatic cancer to identify genes that mediate the resistance to trametinib, an inhibitor of the MEK signaling pathway, which is aberrantly active in pancreatic cancers due to oncogenic KRAS mutations. The screening and subsequent genetic as well as in vitro and in vivo pharmacological validations identified a set of kinetochore function genes whose depletion is synthetic lethal with MEK inhibition. by triggering mitotic slippage and polyploidy. Notably, using the unbiased knowledge of gene-specific survival scores from the in vivo KO screening under the pressure of a chemotherapeutic agent, we devised a novel Drug Response Evaluation approach Based on in vivo CRISPR screening (DREBIC). The DREBIC is a major detour from conventional machine learning and statistical prediction models as it integrates functional screening based gene viability scores and basal expression levels to project cancer type- and mutation-specific drug sensitivity profiles. Using large-scale experimentally identified drug-response data from the Cancer Genome Project (CGP) and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) as a gold standard, DREBIC models trametinib response with high sensitivity and specificity across thousands of cancer cell lines. DREBIC identifies intrinsic fitness properties of various genotypes, enabling identification of therapeutic vulnerabilities of cancer-causing mutations with great precision. DREBIC will improve precision medicine by enabling patient-centered clinical decision-making for effective choice of chemotherapy. Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference. Citation Format: Mazhar ADLI. in vivo CRISPR screening enables precision medicine by identifying novel drug combinations and modeling anticancer drug sensitivity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Precision Medicine Series: Opportunities and Challenges of Exploiting Synthetic Lethality in Cancer; Jan 4-7, 2017; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2017;16(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A08.
The cost of policy uncertainty in electric sector capacity planning: Implications for instrument choice

Abstract A stochastic energy system optimization model is developed to investigate capacity planning under policy uncertainty in the ERCOT area. The optimal hedging strategy under carbon tax uncertainty is to delay decarbonization, but an uncertain carbon cap or renewable portfolio standard precludes this approach. The cost of policy uncertainty is found to be higher under a carbon cap than a tax, and highest under an RPS. Uncertainty considerations appear to favor price-based over quantity-based instruments.
βArrestins: Ligand-Directed Regulators of 5-HT 2A Receptor Trafficking and Signaling Events

βArrestins are scaffolding and regulatory proteins that both modify and mediate G protein coupled receptor responsiveness by desensitizing G protein signaling pathways and facilitating receptor internalization and alternate downstream signaling cascades. This chapter details the studies that demonstrate a role for βarrestin2 in regulating 5-HT2A receptor responsiveness in vitro and in vivo. The studies presented herein demonstrate that while the 5-HT2A receptor is capable of being regulated through interactions with GRKs and βarrestins, interactions with other proteins can facilitate receptor desensitization and internalization through non-βarrestin-mediated mechanisms. Moreover, the pathways utilized for each of these events are determined by both the complement of intracellular proteins expressed in residence with the 5-HT2A receptor and the agonist acting at the receptor.
Alternative Designs of the Hodges-Lehmann Control Chart

The Hodges-Lehmann control chart was proposed as a nonparametric alternative to the classical control chart. The proposed technique for establishing control limits produces control charts with in-control average run lengths (ARL~s) quite different from ..