cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the recovery of nonnegative sparse vectors from sparse measurements inspired by expanders

This paper studies compressed sensing for the recovery of non-negative sparse vectors from a smaller number of measurements than the ambient dimension of the unknown vector. We focus on measurement matrices that are sparse, i.e., have only a constant number of nonzero (and non-negative) entries in each column. For such measurement matrices we give a simple necessary and sufficient condition for l 1 optimization to successfully recover the unknown vector. Using a simple “perturbation” to the adjacency matrix of an unbalanced expander, we obtain simple closed form expressions for the threshold relating the ambient dimension n, number of measurements m and sparsity level k, for which l 1 optimization is successful with overwhelming probability. Simulation results suggest that the theoretical thresholds are fairly tight and demonstrate that the “perturbations” significantly improve the performance over a direct use of the adjacency matrix of an expander graph.
Does axonemal dynein push, pull, or oscillate?

Dynein is the molecular motor that provides motive force in cilia and flagella. Dynein is anchored to the A-subtubule of the outer doublets by a club-shaped extension called the stem, which supports the large globular head of the molecule. Dynein forms an attachment or cross-bridge to the B-subtubule of the adjacent outer doublet through a slender appendage extending from the head that is called the stalk or alternately the B-link. It is generally thought that the B-link mediates the interdoublet transfer of force that bends the flagellum. This requires that energy released at the site of ATP hydrolysis, located in the globular head, be transferred as mechanical work to the microtubule binding site at the tip of the B-link. It has been proposed that this is accomplished by a sideways or rotational translocation of the B-link caused by a rotation of the globular head. An estimate of the stiffness of the B-link and stem derived from the recently published data of Burgess et al. [2003: Nature 421:715–718] yields a maximum stiffness of 0.47 pN/nm for the B-link and 0.1 pN/nm for the stem. The B-link stiffness would allow transfer of 3.8 pN of force in response to an 8-nm displacement of the B-link tip. However, if as proposed the globular head of the dynein heavy chain is supported by the stem, the B-link and stem elasticity are in series. Thus, the flexibility of the stem would limit the force that can be transferred laterally by the entire dynein heavy chain to 0.6 pN at 8 nm displacement. This force is insufficient to support flagellar motility. So, if the stem were the only support for the globular head, then force would have to be transmitted linearly along the axis defined by the stem and B-link. Because this configuration is never observed, the hypothesis that dynein generates force by lateral displacement of the B-link is more attractive, but requires that the globular head of the dynein is stabilized by an additional means of support during the power stroke. We propose that the microtubule affinity of the tip of the B-link is independent of the ATP-dependent powerstroke, and that detachment from the B-subtubule is regulated by tension. A dynein cross-bridge cycle that incorporates an anchored head, together with a ratchet-like mechanism for microtubule translocation by the B-link, would have distinct advantages. This mechanism may reconcile dynein oscillation and interdoublet sliding within one cross-bridge mechanism. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 56:237–244, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A New Modeling for Finding Optimal Weighted Distances

We prove that each optimization problem associated with finding an optimal straight line distance between two regions of a weighted planar subdivision can be restated as a two-dimensional sum of linear fractionals problem over an arc of the unit circle. Compared to previous results, that involved more general functions over two dimensional domains, our solution has potential for order of magnitude speedups. The problem has a few bio-medical applications, including optimal treatment planning in intensity modulated radiation therapy and brachytherapy.
Expertise networks in online communities: structure and algorithms

Web-based communities have become important places for people to seek and share expertise. We find that networks in these communities typically differ in their topology from other online networks such as the World Wide Web. Systems targeted to augment web-based communities by automatically identifying users with expertise, for example, need to adapt to the underlying interaction dynamics. In this study, we analyze the Java Forum, a large online help-seeking community, using social network analysis methods. We test a set of network-based ranking algorithms, including PageRank and HITS, on this large size social network in order to identify users with high expertise. We then use simulations to identify a small number of simple simulation rules governing the question-answer dynamic in the network. These simple rules not only replicate the structural characteristics and algorithm performance on the empirically observed Java Forum, but also allow us to evaluate how other algorithms may perform in communities with different characteristics. We believe this approach will be fruitful for practical algorithm design and implementation for online expertise-sharing communities.
The Use of Paclitaxel and Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Uterine Papillary Serous Carcinoma

Abstract Objective. Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) is an aggressive malignancy with a histologic appearance and pattern of spread that resembles that of papillary serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary. The current standard therapy for advanced ovarian cancer, cisplatin or carboplatin plus paclitaxel, results in high objective response rates for that tumor. This regimen has thus far not been evaluated in UPSC. Methods. Twenty-four patients with UPSC treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and paclitaxel were retrospectively evaluated. Eighteen patients received these agents in the adjuvant setting ( n = 9) or for disease persistent after initial surgical management ( n = 9). Eleven patients received one or more courses of this drug combination for recurrent disease, 5 of whom had prior exposure in the initial setting. Results. Mean follow-up was 35 months (range 6–72+). A median progression-free interval (PFI) of 30 months (range 8–61+) was seen in patients treated in the adjuvant setting. Objective response, indicated by normalization of an elevated prechemotherapy CA125 level, was seen in 8 of 9 patients treated for residual disease after initial surgery (median PFI of 13 months, range 5–38+). Objective response of both measurable and/or evaluable disease was seen in 7 of 11 patients treated for recurrent disease (median PFI of 9 months, range 4–18). Six patients had retreatment with one or both agents and 4 responded a second time. Overall, the regimen was well tolerated. Conclusion. Paclitaxel and platinum-based chemotherapy has demonstrated activity in UPSC with acceptable toxicity. These results merit further investigation of the possible role of these agents in patients with this aggressive histologic subtype.
Benchmarking Array Comparators

Complex digital circuits are often designed using subcircuits such as multiplexers, decoders and comparators. Their testing can be facilitated by selecting the most appropriate implementation of the sub-circuits. In this paper, test sets for different magnitude comparator implementations are generated and compared. Two categories of magnitude comparators are usually encounter& standard MSI cells and array structures formed with 1-bit comparator cell
The NearMe Wireless Proximity Server

NearMe is a server, algorithms, and application programming interfaces (APIs) for clients equipped with 802.11 wireless networking (Wi-Fi) to compute lists of people and things that are physically nearby. NearMe compares clients’ lists of Wi-Fi access points and signal strengths to compute the proximity of devices to one another. Traditional location sensing systems compute and compare absolute locations, which requires extensive a priori calibration and configuration. Because we base NearMe entirely on proximity information, NearMe works ”out of the box” with no calibration and minimal setup. Many ”location-aware” applications only require proximity information, and not absolute location: examples include discovering nearby resources, sending an email to other persons who are nearby, or detecting synchronous user operations between mobile devices. As more people use the system, NearMe grows in both the number of places that can be found (e.g. printers and conference rooms) and in the physical range over which other people and places can be found. This paper describes our algorithms and infrastructure for proximity sensing, as well as some of the clients we have implemented for various applications.
High-dose therapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation for relapsed/refractory hodgkin's disease: The impact of involved field radiotherapy on patterns of failure and survival

Abstract Purpose: To assess the efficacy and toxicity of involved field (IF) radiotherapy in conjunction with high-dose therapy (HDT) and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's disease (HD). Methods and Materials: Between 1987 and 1994, 100 consecutive patients with relapsed or refractory HD were treated with high-dose carmustine, etoposide, and cyclophosphamide or fractionated total-body irradiation, high-dose etoposide, and cyclophosphamide before ABMT. In addition, 24 patients received IF radiotherapy as planned cytoreductive ( n = 18) or consolidative ( n = 6) therapy immediately before or following ABMT. Results: With a median follow-up of 40 months (range: 18–88 months), 3-year actuarial rates of freedom from relapse (FFR), survival (S), and event-free survival (EFS) were 66%, 64%, and 57%, respectively. Thirty-three patients (33%) relapsed at a median of 8 months after ABMT. Only 2 of 33 relapses (6%) occurred beyond 18 months. By multivariate analyses, factors associated with recurrence were pleural disease ( p = 0.02), multiple pulmonary nodules ( p = 0.03), and a poor response to cytoreductive therapy ( p = 0.001). A median IF radiotherapy dose of 30 Gy (range: 12.5–45 Gy) was given to 67 sites in the 24 patients. Local failure occurred within four irradiated sites (6%) in two patients (8%). In patients with relapse Stage I–III disease ( n = 62), the use of IF radiotherapy was associated with an improved 3-year FFR (100% vs. 67%, p = 0.04) and a trend toward improved S (85 vs. 60%, p = 0.16). Among patients not previously irradiated ( n = 39), IF radiotherapy was associated with an improved FFR (85 vs. 57%, p = 0.07) and S (93 vs. 55%, p = 0.02). Crude rates of treatment-related Grade 5 complications (including late events and second malignancies) were similar with or without IF radiotherapy (17 vs. 14%). Conclusions: In conjunction with high-dose therapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation, IF radiotherapy is well tolerated, effectively controls local and regional disease, and may improve survival in selected patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's disease.
Multifunctional materials: new mechanisms for NLO effects

Multifunctional properties of nonlinear optical chromophores are discussed both in terms of a given chromophore exhibiting more than one type or mechanism of optical nonlinearity and in terms of a chromophore exhibiting useful auxiliary properties. For materials exhibiting more than one type of mechanism of optical nonlinearity, the concept of pulse-controlled optical nonlinearity is introduced and discussed. An analogy is drawn to multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance studies which are useful in systematically elucidating excited state dynamics. Practically, pulsed control of optical nonlinearity provides a means of enhancing and modulating nonlinear optical phenomena. The photochemical reactivity of nonlinear optical chromophores is discussed in terms of fabricating ordered lattices appropriate for the development of integrated circuits and the realization of specific effects such as quasi-phase matching in second harmonic generation.
Panel Discussion: The Efficiency of Star Formation in Galaxies: Can We Measure It?

The efficiency of star formation, defined as the ratio of the luminosity in young stars divided by the available mass of gas (L/M gas ) is discussed. The problems in measuring the stellar luminosity and the gas mass in galaxies are presented. A summary of the theoretical and empirical basis for using CO as a tracer of molecular hydrogen masses in galaxies is included.
Resistance To Brand Switching: The Elderly Consumer

In this study, the authors examine one more aspect of the elderly consumer’s brand loyalty: resistance to brand switching. This study claims that elderly consumers are not only more likely to repurchase but also actively resist switching brands once they have established a favorite brand. This study looks at the unique cognitive psychology of elderly consumers likely to cause this behavior. A better understanding of such behavior can guide efforts of firms either trying to retain their existing consumers or attempting to convert customers of rival brands to their own brands.
OpenFoam Simulations of Flow Over Flapping Wing Using Parallel Computing

Numerical simulations of flow over a flapping wing were conducted in this research using OpenFoam. The research aims to understand the aerodynamics of the perching motion of an SD7003 airfoil as well as the parallel performance of OpenFoam package on simulations of moving boundary problems. Multiple levels of nested grid were used, and the moving mesh method was utilized to implement the motion of the airfoil. In order to validate the accuracy of the simulation, a previously published perching motion case was tested and the results were compared to literature data. The results agree reasonably well with the compared data. Different perching motions were then implemented. One perching motion was linear and one was modified by a smoothing function controlled by a sharpness factor. Two Reynolds numbers were used in the study, 500 and 5000, and the Reynolds number effects were also investigated.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Photothermal generation of microbubbles on plasmonic nanostructures inside microfluidic channels

Microbubbles have been utilized as micro-pumps, micro-mixers, micro-valves, micro-robots and surface cleaners. Various generation techniques can be found in the literature, including resistive heating, hydrodynamic methods, illuminating patterned metal films and noble metal nanoparticles of Au or Ag. We present photothermal microbubble generation by irradiating nanoporous gold disk covered microfluidic channels. The size of the microbubble can be controlled by adjusting the laser power. The dynamics of both bubble growth and shrinkage are studied. The advantages of this technique are flexible bubble generation locations, long bubble lifetimes, no need for light-adsorbing dyes, high controllability over bubble size, low power consumption, etc. This technique has the potential to provide new flow control functions in microfluidic devices.
GIV/Girdin (Gα-interacting, Vesicle-associated Protein/Girdin) Creates a Positive Feedback Loop That Potentiates Outside-in Integrin Signaling in Cancer Cells.

Activation of the tyrosine kinase focal adhesion kinase (FAK) upon cell stimulation by the extracellular matrix initiates integrin outside-in signaling. FAK is directly recruited to active integrins, which enhances its kinase activity and triggers downstream signaling like activation of PI3K. We recently described that Gα-interacting, vesicle-associated protein (GIV), a protein up-regulated in metastatic cancers, is also required for outside-in integrin signaling. More specifically, we found that GIV is a non-receptor guanine nucleotide exchange factor that activates trimeric G proteins in response to integrin stimulation to enhance PI3K signaling and tumor cell migration. In contrast, previous reports have established that GIV is involved in phosphotyrosine (Tyr(P))-based signaling in response to growth factor stimulation; i.e. GIV phosphorylation at Tyr-1764 and Tyr-1798 recruits and activates PI3K. Here we show that phosphorylation of GIV at Tyr-1764/Tyr-1798 is also required to enhance PI3K-Akt signaling and tumor cell migration in response to integrin stimulation, indicating that GIV functions in Tyr(P)-dependent integrin signaling. Unexpectedly, we found that activation of FAK, an upstream component of the integrin Tyr(P) signaling cascade, was diminished in GIV-depleted cells, suggesting that GIV is required to establish a positive feedback loop that enhances integrin-FAK signaling. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that this feedback activation of FAK depends on both guanine nucleotide exchange factor and Tyr(P) GIV signaling as well as on their convergence point, PI3K. Taken together, our results provide novel mechanistic insights into how GIV promotes proinvasive cancer cell behavior by working as a signal-amplifying platform at the crossroads of trimeric G protein and Tyr(P) signaling.
Methylobacterium Species: An Increasingly Important Opportunistic Pathogen

Methylobacterium species rarely cause human disease. Those isolated from humans are usually found as opportunistic pathogens in patients weakened by an underlying disease process. This report describes a case of Methylobacterium bacteremia in a 35-year-old woman with AIDS, compares the clinical presentation of this case with that of other previously reported cases of Methylobacterium infection, and provides a history of the Methylobacterium genus and its relevant taxonomy. Recommendations for presumptive identification include pink to orange colony growth on blood or Sabouraud agar but not on MacConkey agar; gram-negative, vacuolated bacillus or coccobacillus; growth at 25° to 3(fC and not at 42°C; and positive results on tests for oxidase and urease. Antibiotics with demonstrated efficacy against Methylobacterium species include amikacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ceftizoxime, and ceftriaxone
On the Use of Sodium Sulfadiazine in Surgery on Amphibian Embryos

SummaryThe therapeutic effects of sodium sulfadiazine upon Amblystoma embryos, following surgical interruption of the central nervous system, are described. Embryos which may undergo 100% mortality when sterile technic is not employed, will survive when treated for 2 days with a 1% aqueous solution of the drug. There is no evidence of any toxic effect. Treated embryos undergo normal development and at a rate parallel with control embryos kept at the same temperature.Minimum concentrations of the drug as well as minimum length of treatment necessary to insure survival remain to be determined.
Effect of Supplemental Foods on Foraging Behavior of Forest Ants in Connecticut

Granulated sucrose, ground-up dry cat food, or sucrose plus dry cat food were distributed weekly in forest plots during the spring and summer of 1995. Counts of ants, particularly Formica subsericea Say and F. neogagates Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), seen in 5-min walks through each plot were similar in the plots receiving supplemental foods to those in control plots. However, numbers of ants coming to canned cat food baits were significantly higher in plots receiving sucrose than in the controls. Ants in sugar plots were probably searching for protein-rich foods to feed larvae. The implications these results have for using forest ants as control agents for the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L., and other forest pests are discussed.
To Switch or Not to Switch: Role of Cognitive Control in Working Memory Training in Older Adults.

It is currently not known what are the best working memory training strategies to offset the age-related declines in fluid cognitive abilities. In this randomized clinical double-blind trial, older adults were randomly assigned to one of two types of working memory training - one group was trained on a predictable memory updating task (PT) and another group was trained on a novel, unpredictable memory updating task (UT). Unpredictable memory updating, compared to predictable, requires greater demands on cognitive control (Basak & Verhaeghen, 2011a). Therefore, the current study allowed us to evaluate the role of cognitive control in working memory training. All participants were assessed on a set of near and far transfer tasks at three different testing sessions - before training, immediately after the training, and 1.5 months after completing the training. Additionally, individual learning rates for a comparison working memory task (performed by both groups) and the trained task were computed. Training on unpredictable memory updating, compared to predictable, significantly enhanced performance on a measure of episodic memory, immediately after the training. Moreover, individuals with faster learning rates showed greater gains in this episodic memory task and another new working memory task; this effect was specific to UT. We propose that the unpredictable memory updating training, compared to predictable memory updating training, may a better strategy to improve selective cognitive abilities in older adults, and future studies could further investigate the role of cognitive control in working memory training.
Protein kinase A induces UCP1 expression in specific adipose depots to increase energy expenditure and improve metabolic health

Adipose tissue PKA has roles in adipogenesis, lipolysis, and mitochondrial function. PKA transduces the cAMP signal downstream of G protein-coupled receptors, which are being explored for therapeutic manipulation to reduce obesity and improve metabolic health. This study aimed to determine the overall physiological consequences of PKA activation in adipose tissue. Mice expressing an activated PKA catalytic subunit in adipose tissue (Adipoq-caPKA mice) showed increased PKA activity in subcutaneous, epididymal, and mesenteric white adipose tissue (WAT) depots and brown adipose tissue (BAT) compared with controls. Adipoq-caPKA mice weaned onto a high-fat diet (HFD) or switched to the HFD at 26 wk of age were protected from diet-induced weight gain. Metabolic health was improved, with enhanced insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, and β-cell function. Adipose tissue health was improved, with smaller adipocyte size and reduced macrophage engulfment of adipocytes. Using metabolic cages, we found that Adipoq-caPKA mice were shown to have increased energy expenditure, but no difference to littermate controls in physical activity or food consumption. Immunoblotting of adipose tissue showed increased expression of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) in BAT and dramatic UCP1 induction in subcutaneous WAT, but no induction in the visceral depots. Feeding a HFD increased PKA activity in epididymal WAT of wild-type mice compared with chow, but did not change PKA activity in subcutaneous WAT or BAT. This was associated with changes in PKA regulatory subunit expression. This study shows that adipose tissue PKA activity is sufficient to increase energy expenditure and indicates that PKA is a beneficial target in metabolic health.
Impacts of Moisture Content and Distribution on Frequency Domain Spectroscopy of Oil-paper Insulation System by FEM Approach

Moisture estimation by frequency domain spectroscopy(FDS) provides a novel way for condition diagnosis of oil-paper insulation system from the view point of dielectric response. We adopted the finite element method(FEM) to explore the influence of the moisture and its distribution in oil-paper insulation system on the frequency domain dielectric spectroscopy characteristics of transformer main insulation structure on the basis of analyzing the frequency domain characteristics of insulating paper in lab. Results show that the loss of oil-paper insulation system can be reflected in the curve of complex permittivity e*-f, which is closely related to moisture distribution. With the increase of oil conductivity, the conductivity loss extends from low frequency to high frequency, the real part e' of complex permittivity increases in low frequency domain, and the imaginary part e'' increases in the whole frequency domain. The conductivity loss in low frequency domain and polarization loss in high frequency domain vary with the moisture content in insulating paper. With the increase of moisture in paper, e' increases in the low frequency domain, e'' increases in the whole frequency domain, and the hump in middle and high frequency domain disappears gradually. As partial moisture in paper increases, the polarization loss becomes larger and e'' increases in the high frequency. When the non-uniformity of moisture distribution deteriorates, e' remarkably varies a lot in low frequency domain as e'' remarkably changes in high frequency domain.
Life During Wartime in Lyrical Ballads

In the opening stanzas of “The Thorn,” the narrator offers a puzzling description of three natural objects: a thorn, a pond, and a hill of moss. The speaker intrigues us by emphasizing how these items partake of multiple, and at times opposing, intangible qualities or physical properties. The thorn is associated both with infancy – it is “Not higher than a two-years’ child” – and advanced age – it “looks so old and grey” (5, 4).1 The small, muddy pool nearby, never completely dry, is neither a proper pond nor dry land. And the adjacent moss heap’s resemblance to “an infant’s grave in size” is qualified, since no grave was ever “half so fair” (52, 55). Finally, the speaker explains what distinguishes these three items:
Wernicke's Area

“Wernicke's area, located in the left temporal lobe,“ was identified by Carl Wernicke in 1874 as the locus of damage of an aphasic syndrome characterized by impairment in language comprehension and production. These patients are impaired in understanding words, and their speech is riddled with errors, principally affecting the phonological content of words. This article examines the nature of the deficits in detail, along with related disorders such as word deafness. Evidence pertaining to the localization of Wernicke's area is summarized, as is recent functional imaging data that aim at identifying brain regions concerned with the comprehension and production of language.
Eosinophils, galectins, and a reason to breathe.

Asthma is a common and incurable inflammatory respiratory disease leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, and cough, that affects nearly 300 million people worldwide (1). Although the precise molecular cause of asthma remains unknown, diverse risk factors including environmental allergies, chronic sinusitis, gastrointestinal reflux disease, obesity, and respiratory virus infection have been linked to the onset and/or exacerbation of this disorder. Regardless of etiology, asthma is uniformly characterized by the exaggerated spasm of airways to an array of contraction triggers, a response termed “airway hyperresponsiveness.” Eosinophils have long been linked to the asthma phenotype and airways dysfunction. By virtue of their capacity to release potentially tissue-damaging cationic proteins along with proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and growth and remodeling factors, eosinophils certainly have the potential to promote the hallmark features of this disorder (2). However, demonstration of their direct pathogenic role in this disease has until recently remained elusive (3). Among the confounding issues, initial clinical trials performed in patients with uncontrolled asthma symptoms using antibodies against interleukin-5 (IL-5), the T helper 2 (Th2) cytokine crucial for eosinophil development and survival, failed to demonstrate any clinical or symptomatic benefit (4). However, recent studies have led to a complete reconsideration of both asthma as uniform disease and of eosinophils as contributory factors, leading to the identification of distinct asthma phenotypes, or endotypes. It has become clear that not all asthma is eosinophil driven; however, severe eosinophilic asthma, a disease driven primarily by Th2-type responses, is also distinguished by the relative abundance of eosinophils in peripheral blood and … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: hrosenberg{at}niaid.nih.gov. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Thinking or doing? An examination of well-established suicide correlates within the ideation-to-action framework

Limited research has examined differences in well-established suicide correlates between individuals with various histories of suicidality within the ideation to action framework. We hypothesized that individuals without a history of elevated suicidality would exhibit lowest levels of suicide correlates (perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, emotion dysregulation, depressive symptoms), and group differences would not be present between those with a history of suicidal ideation relative to those with a history of suicide attempts on variables not theorized to contribute to the capability for suicide. Lastly, we hypothesized that those with a prior history of suicide attempt(s) would exhibit higher levels of lifetime painful and provocative events and fearlessness about death relative to those with a history of ideation only. A community sample of adults (N=378) recruited in part on the basis of a history of suicidality completed self-report questionnaires online. The results were largely consistent with our hypotheses. However, there were no differences in fearlessness about death between those with a history of suicidal ideation and those with a history of attempts. Many variables considered robust correlates of suicide may only directly relate to suicidal ideation rather than suicide attempts, thereby limiting their utility in understanding the transition from ideation to action.
Growth in very preterm children: Head growth after discharge is the best independent predictor for cognitive outcome.

Abstract Background The contribution of growth parameters to the cognitive outcome of very low birth weight (VLBW)/very preterm (VP) infants is difficult to disentangle from other preterm-birth related factors. Aims We hypothesized that long-term cognitive and motor outcome of VLBW/VP infants is most strongly associated with growth in head circumference after hospital discharge. Study design Single-centre prospective longitudinal study: anthropometric measures at different time points (birth, discharge, school-age). Subjects 136 VLBW/VP infants ( Outcome measures Cognitive and motor function (Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children; Movement Assessment Battery for Children) at school-age (6.7–10.0years, mean=8.2). Results In hierarchical multiple regression analyses, growth from birth to discharge significantly predicted cognitive outcome (weight: R 2 change =0.063, p =0.014; length: R 2 change =0.078, p =0.007; HC: R 2 change =0.050, p =0.030), as well as weight gain ( R 2 change =0.096, p =0.001) and head growth ( R 2 change =0.134, p R 2 =0.151 to 0.605, all p ≤0.001), head growth after discharge was not ( R 2 =0.029, p =0.461). Conclusions Amongst all anthropometric measures, head growth between discharge and school-age is the best independent predictor for cognitive outcome in VLBW/VP infants. Determinants of head growth after discharge need further studies to identify targets for intervention.
Inhibition of Human Cytomegalovirus pUL89 Terminase Subunit Blocks Virus Replication and Genome Cleavage

ABSTRACT The human cytomegalovirus terminase complex cleaves concatemeric genomic DNA into unit lengths during genome packaging and particle assembly. This process is an attractive drug target because cleavage of concatemeric DNA is not required in mammalian cell DNA replication, indicating that drugs targeting the terminase complex could be safe and selective. One component of the human cytomegalovirus terminase complex, pUL89, provides the endonucleolytic activity for genome cleavage, and the domain responsible is reported to have an RNase H-like fold. We hypothesize that the pUL89 endonuclease activity is inhibited by known RNase H inhibitors. Using a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format as a screening assay, we found that a hydroxypyridonecarboxylic acid compound, previously reported to be an inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus RNase H, inhibited pUL89 endonuclease activity at low-micromolar concentrations. Further characterization revealed that this pUL89 endonuclease inhibitor blocked human cytomegalovirus replication at a relatively late time point, similarly to other reported terminase complex inhibitors. Importantly, this inhibitor also prevented the cleavage of viral genomic DNA in infected cells. Taken together, these results substantiate our pharmacophore hypothesis and validate our ligand-based approach toward identifying novel inhibitors of pUL89 endonuclease. IMPORTANCE Human cytomegalovirus infection in individuals lacking a fully functioning immune system, such as newborns and transplant patients, can have severe and debilitating consequences. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved anti-human cytomegalovirus drugs mainly target the viral polymerase, and resistance to these drugs has appeared. Therefore, anti-human cytomegalovirus drugs from novel targets are needed for use instead of, or in combination with, current polymerase inhibitors. pUL89 is a viral ATPase and endonuclease and is an attractive target for anti-human cytomegalovirus drug development. We identified and characterized an inhibitor of pUL89 endonuclease activity that also inhibits human cytomegalovirus replication in cell culture. pUL89 endonuclease, therefore, should be explored as a potential target for antiviral development against human cytomegalovirus.
Design challenges of carrier phase tracking for higher modulation orders in high data rate applications

The use of higher order amplitude and phase shift keying (APSK) modulations allows for increased capacity and spectral efficiency, at the expense of greater transmit power requirements or reduced range. Their adoption in over-the-air communication standards has been paired with highly efficient forward error correction (FEC) techniques such as low density parity check (LDPC) coding which greatly reduces the required operating signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Maintaining phase coherence for these higher order modulations across a wide range of data rates, at lower SNRs due to the use of FEC coding, presents unique receiver design challenges. Waveform specifications provide little intuition as to how to overcome these. This paper discusses and addresses these design challenges. Specifically, challenges relating to Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) implementation of traditional acquisition and tracking schemes across a wide range of symbol rates which approach or exceed the system clock rate.
Indolent thyroid cancer: knowns and unknowns

Thyroid cancer incidence is rapidly increasing due to increased detection and diagnosis of indolent thyroid cancer, i.e. cancer that is likely to be clinically insignificant. Clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features predicting indolent behavior of thyroid cancer are still largely unknown and unstudied. Existing clinicopathologic staging systems are useful for providing prognosis in the context of treated thyroid cancer but are not designed for and are inadequate for predicting indolent behavior. Ultrasound studies have primarily focused on discrimination between malignant and benign nodules; some studies show promising data on using sonographic features for predicting indolence but are still in their early stages. Similarly, molecular studies are being developed to better characterize thyroid cancer and improve the yield of fine needle aspiration biopsy, but definite markers of indolent thyroid cancer have yet to be identified. Nonetheless, active surveillance has been introduced as an alternative to surgery in the case of indolent thyroid microcarcinoma, and protocols for safe surveillance are in development. As increased detection of thyroid cancer is all but inevitable, increased research on predicting indolent behavior is needed to avoid an epidemic of overtreatment.
Magnesium Isotope Geochemistry

Magnesium (Mg) has an atomic number of 12 and belongs to the alkaline earth element (Group II) of the Periodic Table. The pure Mg is a silvery white metal and has a melting point of 650 °C and boiling point of 1090 °C at 1 standard atmosphere (Lide 1993–1994). The electronic configuration of Mg is [Ne]3s2, with low ionization energies, which makes Mg ionic in character with a common valance state of 2+ and a typical ionic radius of 0.72 A (Shannon 1976). Magnesium is a major element and widely distributed in the silicate Earth, hydrosphere and biosphere (Fig. 1a). It is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth (after O, Fe and Si, MgO = 25.5 wt%) (McDonough and Sun 1995), the fifth most abundant element in the bulk continental crust (MgO = 4.66 wt%) (Rudnick and Gao 2003) and the second most abundant cation in seawater (after Na, Mg = 0.128 wt%) (Pilson 2013). Nonetheless, the mantle has > 99.9% of Mg in the Earth because of its high MgO content (37.8 wt%, McDonough and Sun 1995) and mass fraction. The high abundance of Mg in the silicate Earth makes it a major constituent of minerals (e.g., olivine, pyroxene, garnet, amphibole, mica, spinel, carbonate, sulfate, and clay minerals) in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Magnesium has three stable isotopes, with mass numbers of 24, 25 and 26, and typical abundances of 78.99%, 10.00% and 11.01%, respectively (Berglund and Wieser 2011) (Fig. 1b), and a standard atomic weight of 24.305 (CIAAW 2015). Because of the limitations in the mass spectrometry, many previous Mg isotopic studies have concentrated on either mass independent isotope anomalies to look for the radiogenic 26Mg produced by the decay of short-lived 26Al (Gray and Compston 1974; Lee and …
A Joint Quality Improvement and High-Value Care Curriculum in a Limited-Resource Setting.

Introduction Since the release of the Institute of Medicine's To Err Is Human, there has been an increased focus on quality improvement (QI). QI training is now a requirement monitored via ACGME's ...
Linking Protein and RNA Function within the Same Gene

Exposure to ultraviolet light leads to a cell-wide DNA damage response that includes a global reduction in transcription. Williamson et al., identify a protein involved in this process as well as a noncoding RNA produced by alternative processing of RNA transcribed from the same gene that promotes recovery from the repressed state.
Polyvinylsulfonic acid: A Low-cost RNase inhibitor for enhanced RNA preservation and cell-free protein translation

The effectiveness and economics of polyvinyl sulfonic acid (PVSA) as a ribonuclease inhibitor for in vitro systems is reported. PVSA was shown to inhibit RNA cleavage in the presence of RNase A as well as in the presence of Escherichia coli lysate, suggesting that PVSA can act as a broader ribonuclease inhibitor. In addition, PVSA was shown to improve the integrity of mRNA transcripts by up to 5-fold in vitro as measured by their translational viability. Improved preservation of mRNA transcripts in the presence of PVSA under common RNA storage conditions is also reported. A cost comparison with commercially available RNAse inhibitors indicates the economic practicality of PVSA which is approximately 1,700 times less expensive than commonly used ribonuclease inhibitors. PVSA can also be separated from RNA by alcohol precipitation for applications that may be sensitive to the presence of PVSA.
Characterizing the swelling of gelatin methacrylamide and effects on microscale tissue scaffold fabrication

Organ-on-chip systems harness microscale tissue fabrication techniques to reproduce models of human tissue. These models rely on the development of synthetic and biological scaffolds to support 3D cell culture. Herein, we present a microfluidic platform that uses laminar flow generated in a Y-channel to fabricate a gelatin methacrylamide (GELMA) scaffold. As a pilot study, we characterize the effect of photopolymerization in the microchannel and resultant swelling of the GELMA. The ultimate dimensions of the GELMA structure are minimally affected by flow conditions, and we hypothesize that the flow-rate independence is a result of inherent swelling properties of the GELMA scaffold. The ability to tune the physiochemical properties of the GELMA scaffold during microfabrication will enable future generation of finely tuned microscale tissue constructs.
Suffering and the Human Terroir

Fully embracing one's embodied suffering, rather than denying it or mentally explaining it away, can open an individual to a broader sense of interbeing, to the ability to endure, survive, and move through pain and toward a deeper sense of compassion, peace, joy, and liberation. The self benefits from exploring interbeing using an environmental metaphor to consider the human body: the body as terroir. Terroir is analogous to the specific microclimate and natural environment in which quality wine is produced. Appreciation of oneself as a unique mobile terroir can reveal estranged aspects of the host/guest (ghos-ti) relationship of interbeing within the individual body/self. Perhaps this is what those who practice interbeing in the real world have come to understand.
Nerve Growth Factor-Beta, purified from bull seminal plasma, enhances corpus luteum formation and conceptus development in Bos taurus cows.

Abstract The objective of the current study was to determine if Nerve Growth Factor-Beta (NGF), purified from bovine seminal plasma, would improve corpus luteum function and enhance conceptus development when administered to cows at artificial insemination. Angus cows (n = 60) were synchronized using a GnRH-prostaglandin and intravaginal progesterone protocol (7-day CO-Synch/CIDR) and randomly allocated to 1 of 2 treatment groups: (1) CONT- 12 mL PBS; or (2) NGF- 296 μg purified NGF in 12 mL PBS administered intramuscularly at insemination (day 0). Blood collections were performed to measure plasma concentrations of progesterone (days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 19) and pregnancy-specific protein B (day 24) using immunoassays. Expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISG15, MX1, MX2, RTP4) were assessed in peripheral blood leukocytes on day 19. Transrectal ultrasound was performed for measuring corpus luteum size (days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, 19) and pregnancy diagnosis (days 28, 45, 66). Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance with repeated measures (SAS 9.4, Cary NC). Corpus luteum volume and diameter increased over time (p
Fostering Resilient Development: Protective Factors Underlying Externalizing Trajectories of Maltreated Children

This study investigated patterns of the developmental trajectories of externalizing behavior problems among 449 young maltreated children (ages 4–5) over a period of approximately eight years and examined the roles of maltreatment and protective factors in shaping various trajectory patterns. Secondary research was conducted using data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW-I). Latent class growth analysis identified three distinctive externalizing trajectory groups: high–decreasing (10%); moderate–increasing (13%); low–stable (77%). Physically or sexually abused children were more likely to be in the high–decreasing group whereas male and Black children were more likely to be in the moderate–increasing group. Child prosocial skills and caregiver well-being decreased the probability of membership in the high–decreasing group compared to the low–stable group. The findings suggest that, despite early exposure to trauma, many maltreated children display a low or normal level of externalizing behavior problems over time, providing empirical evidence of resilience in maltreated children. Interventions focusing on enhancing child prosocial skills and caregiver well-being may be helpful in lowering the risk of clinically significant externalizing behavior problems over the course of childhood among maltreated children.
Rationality and the Emotions

In an earlier paper (Elster, I989 a), I discussed the relation between rationality and social norms. Although I did mention the role of the emotions in sustaining social norms, I did not focus explicitly on the relation between rationality and the emotions. That relation is the main topic of the present paper, with social norms in a subsidiary part. Emotions are a neglected topic, and the neglect of economists is second to none. I find this surprising. I take it that economics is concerned with the best ways of promoting human satisfaction in a world of scarce resources. With one exception, all human satisfaction comes in the form of emotional experiences. The exception is the hedonic satisfaction produced by the senses, such as the taste of sweetness on the tongue or the feeling of wind on your face after a long climb. Such sensations differ from emotions in that no prior cognition is necessary to produce them. I do not have to recognise the wind as wind to enjoy the sensation. By contrast, to get angry when my Albanian host offers me a cup of tea by passing it under his left arm I have to know that in Albania this is considered an insult. For infants, sensations may be the most important source of satisfaction. For most adults, I believe, they definitely take second place to emotional experiences. If one grants the truth of that claim, or even of the weaker claim that emotional experiences are important sources of human satisfaction, we would expect economists to have thought about them a great deal. We would expect them to have studied the ways in which people organise their life to maximise emotional satisfaction, to have identified sources of suboptimal emotion-seeking behaviour, and to have suggested ways of improving this behaviour. Economists, as we know, have done nothing of the kind. Recent economic work on the emotions (Hirshleifer, I987; Frank, I988) focuses exclusively on the role of the emotions in sustaining (or preventing) cooperative interactions. No economist to my knowledge has considered the emotions in their main role as providers of pleasure, happiness, satisfaction, or utility. To put it crudely, economists have totally neglected the most important aspect of their subject matter. No doubt there are reasons for this neglect. One is the lack of a metric. If you asked someone whether he prefers shame or griefwhether he would rather be caught cheating at an exam or have his girl friend leave him he would probably be at a loss for an answer. The emotions themselves, in fact, interfere with our ability to observe them. (Montaigne cites Petrarch to the effect that 'He who can describe how his heart is ablaze is burning on a small pyre'.) Another reason which ought, however, to be a challenge rather than an excuse may be the lack of good theories of how emotions are triggered and transformed in encounters with the world. A further reason may be that
Femoral Component Sizing During Total Knee Arthroplasty: Anterior Versus Posterior Referencing.

Distal femoral preparation and sizing are important for overall balancing and function.Femoral sizing and subsequent osseous resections can be performed with use of either an anterior or a posterior referencing technique.With the anterior referencing technique (that is, referencing the anterior and
From children’s expressive control to emotion regulation: Looking back, looking ahead

In 1984, Carolyn Saarni published an important cross-sectional study on the development of children's expressive control. That paper, as with much of her early work, presaged interest in the development of emotion regulation and of the efforts to understand emotion regulation both in typical and at risk children. In this paper, we look back on Dr. Saarni's work on expressive control and studies that used her creative disappointment task. We discuss conclusions from that work and how this germinal work on expressive control contributed to the study of the broader concept of emotion regulation. We look ahead to the next steps that carry this line of research forward contributing to the development of emotional competence and mental health.