cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adenosine A2B receptors on cardiac stem cell antigen (Sca)-1-positive stromal cells play a protective role in myocardial infarction.

Transplantation of mesenchymal stem-like cells to the heart is known to improve cardiac recovery in animal models of myocardial infarction (MI). Because stimulation of A 2B adenosine receptors on mouse cardiac stem cell antigen (Sca)-1 + CD31 − mesenchymal stem-like cells significantly up-regulates their secretion of pro-angiogenic factors, we hypothesized that ablation of the A 2B receptor signaling in these cells would reduce their ability to improve vascularization of the infarct area seen after transplantation. Wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice underwent permanent left coronary artery ligation and received intramyocardial injections of Sca-1 + CD31 − cells generated from WT or A 2B receptor knockout (A 2B KO) mice or the same volume of cell-free saline. Only 12% to 16% of injected cells remained in the ventricles 1 week later; there was no significant difference between WT and A 2B KO cell survival. Transplantation of WT, but not A 2B KO, cells significantly reduced both post-MI decline in cardiac function and adverse remodeling compared with that seen in control hearts. Morphological analysis conducted 4 weeks after MI revealed significantly increased vascularization of the infarct areas and reduced myocardial scarring in animals treated with WT, but not with A 2B KO, cells compared with control. Thus, our study demonstrated that the A 2B receptor signaling linked to up-regulation of pro-angiogenic factors in cardiac Sca-1 + CD31 − stromal cells is essential for overall improvement of cardiac recovery seen after their transplantation to the injured heart.
Uterine suppression of biochemical and morphogenetic events in Rana pipiens.

Abstract The induction of maturation in R. pipiens oocytes, either in vivo or in vitro , stimulates events which occur at the same rate in both beyond the time of ovulation (first meiotic metaphase). When oocytes are maintained in vitro , they proceed to the second meiotic metaphase and beyond, uninterrupted, to the limits of their potential. Given the proper in vitro environment, this potential includes gastrulalike morphogenetic movements (pseudo-gastrulation) and a characteristic decreasing rate of protein synthesis. When maturing oocytes are maintained in vivo , however, the pattern is interrupted at some point after the oocytes enter the oviductal-uterine environment. This interruption includes a change in environment sufficient to halt pseudo-gastrulation and may also include a marked decrease in the rate of protein synthesis to a level sufficient to maintain mature eggs for several days in storage. At some point soon after expulsion from the uterine environment, protein synthesis increases to an elevated level. We have suggested that this “second” stimulation is brought about by the environmental change, not by fertilization or artificial activation as such.
Introducing Integer Modeling with Excel Solver

This article suggests ideas for introducing integer modeling of fixed entry costs with Excel Solver to business students. The presented example uses concepts from accounting, such as assessing distribution channel profitability, and blends them with management science techniques. The effectiveness of the software use is in integrating it successfully into a comprehensive discussion about assumptions, modeling, limitations, software pitfalls, validation, and implications for managerial decision making.
The Genetics of Adaptation for Eight Microvirid Bacteriophages

Theories of adaptive molecular evolution have recently experienced significant expansion, and their predictions and assumptions have begun to be subjected to rigorous empirical testing. However, these theories focus largely on predicting the first event in adaptive evolution, the fixation of a single beneficial mutation. To address long-term adaptation it is necessary to include new assumptions, but empirical data are needed for guidance. To empirically characterize the general properties of adaptive walks, eight recently isolated relatives of the single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) bacteriophage φX174 (family Microviridae) were adapted to identical selective conditions. Three of the eight genotypes were adapted in replicate, for a total of 11 adaptive walks. We measured fitness improvement and identified the genetic changes underlying the observed adaptation. Nearly all phages were evolvable; nine of the 11 lineages showed a significant increase in fitness. However, fitness plateaued quickly, and adaptation was achieved through only three substitutions on average. Parallel evolution was rampant, both across replicates of the same genotype as well as across different genotypes, yet adaptation of replicates never proceeded through the exact same set of mutations. Despite this, final fitnesses did not vary significantly among replicates. Final fitnesses did vary significantly across genotypes but not across phylogenetic groupings of genotypes. A positive correlation was found between the number of substitutions in an adaptive walk and the magnitude of fitness improvement, but no correlation was found between starting and ending fitness. These results provide an empirical framework for future adaptation theory.
Neuropsychological Correlates of Vocabulary, Reading, and Working Memory in Deaf Children With Cochlear Implants

The performance of deaf children with cochlear implants was assessed using measures standardized on hearing children. To investigate nonverbal cognitive and sensorimotor processes associated with postimplant variability, five selected sensorimotor and visuospatial subtests from A Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment (NEPSY) were compared with standardized vocabulary, reading, and digit span measures. Participants were 26 deaf children, ages 6-14 years, who received a cochlear implant between ages 1 and 6 years; duration of implant use ranged from 3 to 11 years. Results indicated significant correlations between standard scores on the Design Copying subtest of the NEPSY and standard scores on vocabulary comprehension, reading, and digit span measures. The results contribute to our understanding of the benefits of cochlear implantation and cognitive processes that may support postimplant language and academic functioning.
Effects of cigarette reduction on cardiovascular risk factors and subjective measures

Study objectives To assess the effect of continued smoking and smoking reduction on cardiovascular biomarkers (eg, WBC count, cholesterol concentrations, BP, heart rate). Design, setting, and participants This study, conducted at the University of Minnesota, randomized smokers interested in significantly reducing cigarette use but not quitting to either start 12 weeks of smoking reduction immediately (n = 102), assisted by nicotine replacement therapy, or to a 6-week wait list (n = 49). Those starting smoking reduction were required to reduce smoking by 25% for 2 weeks, 50% for 2 weeks, and 75% during the final 2 weeks. After 6 weeks, the subjects were asked to maintain a 50% reduction or quit. Nicotine gum and, if necessary, nicotine patch were used to achieve reduction goals. The wait list group (n = 49) smoked ad libitum for 6 weeks and then reduced smoking as previously described. Measurements and results Cardiovascular biomarkers (eg, WBC count, cholesterol concentrations, BP, heart rate) were assessed at several time points after enrollment. During ad libitum smoking, cardiovascular biomarkers remained relatively stable with correlation coefficients across the various time measurements, ranging from 0.44 to 1.00 (p Conclusions These results show the availability of reliable and dose-sensitive biomarkers and that reduction in smoking can lead to significant but only modest changes in cardiovascular risk factors in healthy smokers. It is not known whether the reductions in cardiovascular risk factors observed after smoking reduction are also associated with reduced disease risk. Additional research is necessary to address this issue.
Forecasting Time Series

This chapter includes two problems for forecasting of a time series using past data points. It is argued that the past data points used for forecasting of the future data points should be strongly correlated with each other. It is illustrated that the strongly correlated past data points can be identified from the autocorrelation function of the time series. It is further illustrated that a powerful forecasting procedure for the time series can be a recursive technique. Its application is demonstrated using, as examples, annual patient volume forecasting, as well as forecasting of the seasonal variation of the hemoglobin A1C level.
On Race and Museums: Starting Conversations, Embracing Action

In this essay, author Aleia Brown reflects on the relationship between race relations in the United States and the ongoing challenges of representation and interpretation of race in museums. The infinite and unresolved nature of Ferguson makes it difficult for museums to address, but by reflecting on the events related to police shootings across the country as well as the history of race in America, museums can be better equipped for interpretation and dialogue.
Effects of sepiapterin and 6-acetyldihydrohomopterin on the guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I of mouse, rat and the fruit-fly Drosophila

The regulation of GTP cyclohydrolase I would lead to the regulation of tetrahydrobiopterin, an important cofactor for synthesis of neurotransmitters. In an attempt to extend a previous finding [Bellahsene, Dhondt, & Farriaux (1984) Biochem. J. 217, 59-65] that GTP cyclohydrolase I of rat liver is inhibited by subnanomolar concentrations of reduced biopterin and sepiapterin, we found that this could not be verified with the enzyme from mouse liver, fruit-fly (Drosophila) heads or, indeed, from rat liver. It was shown, however, that 12 microM-sepiapterin inhibited mouse liver GTP cyclohydrolase I. Another compound, namely 6-acetyldihydrohomopterin, was also employed in the present study to explore its effect on enzymes that lead to its synthesis in Drosophila and for effects on mammalian systems; at 2-5 microM this compound was shown to stimulate one form of mouse liver GTP cyclohydrolase I and then to inhibit at higher concentrations (40 microM). Neither sepiapterin nor 6-acetyldihydrohomopterin caused any effect on the Drosophila head enzyme. On the other hand, the sigmoid GTP concentration curve for the Drosophila enzyme may indicate a regulatory characteristic of this enzyme. Another report, on the lower level of GTP cyclohydrolase I in mutant mouse liver [McDonald, Cotton, Jennings, Ledley, Woo & Bode (1988) J. Neurochem. 50, 655-657], was confirmed and extended. Instead of having 10% activity, we find that the hph-1 mouse mutant has less than 2% activity in the liver. These studies demonstrate that micromolar levels of reduced pterins may have regulatory effects on GTP cyclohydrolase I and that a mouse mutant is available that has low enough activity to be considered as a model for human atypical phenylketonuria.
Prediction of unseen proportions in urn models with restricted sampling

Imagine an urn with colored balls but with an unknown composition i.e. you do not know what are the specific colors in the urn nor their relative proportions. The urn could be composed by infinitely many colors and to learn about its composition you have been sampling balls with replacement from it. In this extended abstract we will construct exact confidence intervals for the proportion in the urn of the so far unobserved colors when there is an upper-bound m for the additional number of samples permitted from the urn. The research is motivated by a variety of situations of practical interest. For instance, the different colors in the urn could represent different solutions to a particular binding site problem in a random RNA pool, or the number of different species of bacteria present in a sample of soil or the gut of a person with a digestive disorder.
Present Understanding of the Viscoelastic and Mechanical Properties of Stereoregular Polymers

In the previous chapter a description of the behavior of the glass transition temperature (Tg) of vinyl and vinylidene polymers was presented and a theory (1) was put forward rationalizing the dependence of Tg on configuration in the case of vinylidene polymers. Here we review thermal, dynamic mechanical, and dielectric relaxation data for a series of poly(alkyl a chloroacrylates) of varying configurations (2,3,4). These data are further interpreted in the light of the theory mentioned above and the results compared with the corresponding poly(alkylmethacrylates).
MINIMAL LOSS OF GENETIC DIVERSITY AND NO INBREEDING DEPRESSION IN BLUEFLAG IRIS (IRIS VERSICOLOR) ON ISLANDS IN THE BAY OF FUNDY

Isolated island plant populations founded by few individuals are often characterized by decreased genetic variation and increased inbreeding. Our aim was to measure population genetic diversity and...
Abstract 223: Oncogenic resistance of Akt kinases to dephosphorylation through an ATP-dependent molecular switch

The serine/threonine Akt protein kinases (Akt1, Akt2 and Akt3) affect multiple cellular functions associated with “hallmark” properties of cancer, such as cell growth and survival, differentiation, metabolism and migration. Hyperphosphorylation of a threonine residue (Thr308 in Akt1) in the activation loop of Akt kinases is a prerequisite for the deregulated Akt activity frequently that is observed in neoplasia. Conversely, phosphatases including type 2A serine/threonine phosphatase (PP2A), reverse Akt phosphorlyation and activity. Here, we describe a new layer of control of Akt phosphorylation that points to ATP binding pocket occupancy as a means to decelerate Akt dephosphorylation. We show that targeting Akt kinases to the cell membrane markedly reduces the ability of phosphatases to dephosphorylate Thr308. This effect depends on the occupancy of the ATP binding pocket by either ATP or ATP competitive Akt kinase inhibitors (A443654 or G690693). To reconstitute this effect, we use purified phosphatases and Akt proteins to show that ATP markedly inhibits the dephosphorylation of phospho-Thr308 in vitro. Mutational analysis reveals that Arg273 in Akt1 and the corresponding Arg274 in Akt2 are essential for shielding Thr308 against dephosphorylation. While the binding of ATP and several ATP “mimic” inhibitors, ATP-γS, A-443654 and G690693 inhibits Akt dephosphorylation, the binding of other closely related molecules, ADP, ADPβS and isoquinoline sulphonamide (IQS, Ki 0.23uM) does not block dephosphorylation, suggesting unique determinants in the γ-phosphate of ATP that regulate Akt dephosphorylation. These results suggest that occupancy of the ATP-binding pocket of Akt kinases stabilizes a conformational state of the Akt kinase domain that restricts phosphatase access to phospho-Thr308, thereby sustaining Akt phosphorylation. Finally, we determine that phosphorylated Akt kinases in untransformed cells are subject to rapid dephosphorylation. However, in several cancer-derived cell lines, phosphorylated Akt kinases are highly resistant to dephosphorylation and the resistance depends on ATP-occupation. In addition, dephosphorylation resistance provides a mechanistic explanation for the ‘paradoxical’ phosphorylation of Akt previously described for ATP competitive inhibitors, A443654 and G690693. Also, dephosphorylation resistance may be the converging point of the oncogenic signals that induce Akt hyperactivation. Exploration of structures and amino acids involved in this process may hold the key to developing the next generation of pharmacological agents that could promote normal Akt physiology while inhibiting cancer cells for more positive results in cancer therapy. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 223. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-223
Why species tell more about traits than traits about species: predictive analysis

Trait analysis aims to understand relationships between traits, species diversity, and the environment. Current methods could benefit from a model-based probabilistic framework that accommodates covariance between traits and quantifies contributions from inherent trait syndromes, species interactions, and responses to the environment. I develop a model-based approach that separates these effects on trait diversity. Application to USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data in the eastern United States demonstrates an apparent paradox, that the analysis of species better explains and predicts traits than does direct analysis of the traits themselves; trait data contain less, not more, information than species on environmental responses. Whereas variation in some traits is dominated by inherent syndromes (tendency for certain traits to be associated with others within an individual and species), others are strongly controlled by variation in species diversity. There is substantial variation in environmental control on trait patterns, between traits and regionally. In terms of environmental response traits do not aggregate into defined plant functional types, as would be desirable for models.
Transforming veterans health care through academic-practice partnerships.

The Veterans Health Affairs Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) has invested in the creation of academic-practice partnerships to transform the care of veterans and their families. This article details how a long-standing relationship between the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing and the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center grew into such a partnership. The three programs that now exist within the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Nursing Academic Partnership (VANAP) umbrella are described, including an undergraduate VA nurse scholars program that has sustained beyond OAA funding, a VANAP graduate education program for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (NPs), and a Mental Health NP Residency. Key features of the programs are noted as are outcomes and lessons learned for building mutual goals and a sustainable academic-practice partnership. With the recent passage of the Veterans Choice Program, the importance of educating all nurses about veterans and veterans' health is stressed.
Synthesis and crystal structure of a novel cobalt coordination polymer [Co_3(1,4-BDC)_3(DMA)(H_2O)]

A novel two-dimensional coordination polymer constructed by 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate and cobalt ion was synthesized by solvothermal technique.The crystal structure of the compound was discussed in detail.The compound crystallized in the monoclinic,space group P21/n with a=1.560 1(3) nm,b=0.976 85(19) nm,c=1.592 6(3) nm,α= 90°,β=109.819(4)°,γ=90°,V=2.283 4(8) nm3,Z=2,R1=0.069 2,wR2=0.116 4.
Protein-induced DNA linking number change by sequence-specific DNA binding proteins and its biological effects

Sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins play essential roles in many fundamental biological events such as DNA replication, recombination, and transcription. One common feature of sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins is to introduce structural changes to their DNA recognition sites including DNA-bending and DNA linking number change (ΔLk). In this article, I review recent progress in studying protein-induced ΔLk by several sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins, such as E. coli cAMP receptor protein (CRP) and lactose repressor (LacI). It was demonstrated recently that protein-induced ΔLk is an intrinsic property for sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins and does not correlate to protein-induced other structural changes, such as DNA bending. For instance, although CRP bends its DNA recognition site by 90°, it was not able to introduce a ΔLk to it. However, LacI was able to simultaneously bend and introduce a ΔLk to its DNA binding sites. Intriguingly, LacI also constrained superhelicity within LacI–lac O1 complexes if (−) supercoiled DNA templates were provided. I also discuss how protein-induced ΔLk help sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins regulate their biological functions. For example, it was shown recently that LacI utilizes the constrained superhelicity (ΔLk) in LacI-lac O1 complexes and serves as a topological barrier to constrain free, unconstrained (−) supercoils within the 401-bp DNA loop. These constrained (−) supercoils enhance LacI’s binding affinity and therefore the repression of the lac promoter. Other biological functions include how DNA replication initiators λ O and DnaA use the induced ΔLk to open/melt bacterial DNA replication origins.
Evaluating Item Endorsement Rates for the MMPI-2-RF F-r and Fp-r Scales Across Ethnic, Gender, and Diagnostic Groups With a Forensic Inpatient Sample.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) F(p) (Infrequency-Psychopathology) scale was developed to measure overreporting in a manner that was minimally confounded by genuine psychopathology, which was a problem with using the MMPI-2 F (Infrequency) scale among patients with severe mental illness. Although revised versions of both of these scales are included on the MMPI-2-Restructured Form and used in a forensic context, no item-level research has been conducted on their sensitivity to genuine psychopathology among forensic psychiatric inpatients. Therefore, we examined the psychometric properties of the scales in a sample of 438 criminally committed forensic psychiatric inpatients who were adjudicated as not guilty by reason of insanity and had no known incentive to overreport. We found that 20 of the 21 Fp-r items (95.2%) demonstrated endorsement rates ≤ 20%, with 14 of the items (66.7%) endorsed by less than 10% of the sample. Similar findings were observed across genders and across patients with mood and psychotic disorders. The one item endorsed by more than 20% of the sample had a 23.7% overall endorsement rate and significantly different endorsement rates across ethnic groups, with the highest endorsements occurring among Hispanic/Latino (43.3% endorsement rate) patients. Endorsement rates of F-r items were generally higher than for Fp-r items. At the scale level, we also examined correlations with the Restructured Clinical Scales and found that Fp-r demonstrated lower correlations than F-r, indicating that Fp-r is less associated with a broad range of psychopathology. Finally, we found that Fp-r demonstrated slightly higher specificity values than F-r at all T score cutoffs. (PsycINFO Database Record
Conclusion: Where the Gaze Lands

The statement conveyed by much dance video, screendance and mixed media work is always greater than the sum of its parts. And the parts push each other beyond dance technique and video technology to create a work that is both dance and video (or, video and dance). The collaboration between dance and the camera is like a tango: the two mediums, like the dancers, are mutually supportive and full of surprises, incorporating twists and reconfigurations of the material, but always maintaining a concern for how the two fit together, and a sensitivity about the actual bodies of the individuals dancing. In this way, dance and video intertwine to produce a work—and a genre—that does not and cannot exist in any other form.
West Virginia's big trees: setting the record straight

People love big trees, people love to find big trees, and people love to find big trees in the place they call home. Having been suspicious for years, my coauthor and historian Rob Whetsell, approached me with a species identification challenge. There are several photographs of giant trees used by many people to illustrate the past forests of West Virginia, specifically, these photographs are claimed to be of a giant white oak (Quercus alba) in Tucker County, West Virginia. Rob was sure these were of a species not found in West Virginia…and he was right.
Creating a renewable energy future for the United States

For twenty years, US national energy policy has to one extent or another encouraged the development and adoption of renewable energy technologies to enhance environmental quality and energy security. After the oil shocks of the 1970s, the desire to increase energy security spurred state and federal government support for renewables, but this support began waning by the early 1980s. Although renewables are making a comeback, twenty years of policy zig–zagging have left their mark. Renewables currently meet only 8 percent of US energy needs; under current policy and market trends, this share is not expected to reach 9 percent by 2010 (EIA 1993). In this article, the authors assess current public policy for renewables and recommend state and federal policies for maximising the environmental and economic benefits that the United States can obtain from renewable energy sources. Isolating the main barriers to the greater use and development of renewables provides insights about where the United States has gone wrong (or right) in the past and how future policies may be more effectively targeted. The presumption here is that renewables are of practical, not just intrinsic, interest, and the article emphasises those policy options that allow renewables to fairly and fully compete in the market.
Known-unknowns: Matthew Arnold, F. R. Leavis, and the government of culture

This essay reflects on the lives of two people whose publications, pedagogy, lectures, and crucially, whose experiences helped set the terms of the debate about so-called high culture in Cultural S...
Placental Chorangiosis: Increased Risk for Cesarean Section

We describe a patient with Class C diabetes who presented for nonstress testing at 36 weeks and 4 days of gestation with nonreassuring fetal heart tones (NRFHT) and oligohydramnios. Upon delivery, thrombosis of the umbilical cord was grossly noted. Pathological analysis of the placenta revealed chorangiosis, vascular congestion, and 40% occlusion of the umbilical vein. Chorangiosis is a vascular change of the placenta that involves the terminal chorionic villi. It has been proposed to result from longstanding, low-grade hypoxia in the placental tissue and has been associated with such conditions such as diabetes, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and hypertensive conditions in pregnancy. To characterize chorangiosis and its associated obstetric outcomes we identified 61 cases of "chorangiosis" on placental pathology at Henry Ford Hospital from 2010 to 2015. Five of these cases were omitted due to lack of complete records. Among the 56 cases, the cesarean section rate was 51%, indicated in most cases for nonreassuring fetal status. Thus, we suggest that chorangiosis, a marker of chronic hypoxia, is associated with increased rates of cesarean sections for nonreassuring fetal status because of long standing hypoxia coupled with the stress of labor.
“We’re Serious About Our Education”: A Collective Testimonio From College-Going Latinas to College Personnel:

Upon transition to higher education, Latinas face obstacles including cultural stereotypes, limited financial resources, racist campus climates, family responsibilities, being first generation coll...
Gait Speed and Dynamic Stability Decline Accelerates Only in Late Life: A Cross-sectional Study in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Incidence of falls increases with age whereas gait speed declines. The purposes of this study were to examine (1) whether gait speed and center-of-mass (COM) velocity declined steadily across ages in a linear fashion among community-dwelling older adults, and (2) whether such decline corresponded to the similar decline in dynamic stability, which is governed by the control of their COM position and COM velocity relative to base of support (BOS). METHODS A total of 184 community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) participated in the cross-sectional study. The participants were categorized into 5 age groups (65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, and 85+ years) and were asked to walk on the 7-m walkway at their preferred walking speed. Their speed, gait pattern, relative COM position, and relative COM velocity were measured. RESULTS Very close relationship was confirmed between a clinical gait speed measurement and the COM velocity (R = 0.875, P .05), but it accelerated after 85 years of age. This decline was most likely influenced by a reduction in both step length (P .05). Yet, it declined significantly after 85 years of age (P < .05), primarily affected by the reduction in the COM velocity relative to the BOS, whereby the COM position relative to the BOS remained constant during their walking. CONCLUSION Expected steady decline in gait speed and in the control of gait stability cannot be confirmed. Rather, we found that both declined precipitously only after 85 years of age, when the risk of falls is likely to increase correspondingly.
Photoelectron Spectroscopy of the Aminomethoxide Anion, H2C(NH2)O–

We report the photoelectron spectrum of the aminomethoxide anion (H2C(NH2)O–). The electron affinity (EA) of the aminomethoxy radical is determined to be 1.944(1) eV. Transitions to the ground (X 2A″) and first excited (A 2A′) electronic states of aminomethoxy are observed, with the term energy measured to be T0(A ← X) = 0.085(1) eV. A long vibrational progression is observed for the transition to the ground X 2A″ electronic state of aminomethoxy, primarily consisting of OCN bending and HNH wagging vibrations, leading to the assignment of these two fundamental vibrational frequencies of H2C(NH2)O· X 2A″. The gas-phase acidity of aminomethanol is calculated at the G4 level of theory to be ΔacidH0Ko = 374.0 kcal mol–1, which, when combined with the experimental EA of aminomethoxy in a thermochemical cycle, provides a determination of the O–H bond dissociation energy, D0(H2C(NH2)O–H) as 106(2) kcal mol–1. Comparisons of the EAs and T0(A ← X) for the aminomethoxy, methoxy, ethoxy, and hydroxymethoxy radi...
Transport of Organic Substances by Renal Tubules

The excretion of numerous organic substances is regulated by renal tubular transport. For a few of these substances, enough information is now available on the transport processes in nonmammalian species that they can be discussed, compared, and contrasted. To a limited extent, comparisons and contrasts with transport processes in mammals are possible.
Petroleum Supply, Marine Transportation Technology, and the Emerging International Order of the Post World War One Period

At Versailles in 1919 President Wilson described three arenas of economic struggle, mediated by technology and geopolitics, that he saw developing between America and Britain as a new international order emerged: struggles over international transportation, petroleum, and international communication. The case of international transportation, almost all of it maritime in the 1920s, is intimately connected with that of the problem many observers saw with an insecure and possibly faltering global supply of petroleum. America dominated the early period of global petroleum supply, especially after the strike at Spindletop in Texas in 1901, but Spindletop was faltering by 1920. Even before World War One broke out German and British War Aims thus began to focus on the likely oil reserves of the Middle East that America could not control, Germany via the mineral rights the company was granted along the line of the Berlin to Baghdad Railway concession of 1903 and Britain via the Sykes-Picot-Sazanoff agreement of 1916, the latter resulting in the eventual creation of Iraq. In the run-up to the war oil-firing of steam turbine engine warships was seen as a technology that would substantially increase the fighting capacity of naval vessels through, amongst other things, radically easier refueling and a substantial reduction in stokehold crew size. Operators of merchant vessels followed a similar line of reasoning for a new generation of steam turbine powered ships coming to dominate the Atlantic shuttle by virtue of their speed. The war, however, proved a huge technology forcer in the area of diesel engines, which even in their early form were ideally suited to powering merchant ships, offering substantial savings in fuel and/or labor costs over steamships. Commentators in the 1920s were very clear on the relationship between the petroleum and marine transportation struggles, arguing that whoever controlled the right mix of marine transportation technology, in particular that of the merchant marine, and petroleum supply would control the emerging post-war international order. Of the major powers neither Britain nor Germany did particularly well in shifting their merchant marines to diesel power, America did very poorly. America’s strength was in continuing to control the global oil supply.
Abstract 1504: Opposing roles of FoxM1 and the hepatic specification genes FoxA1/A2 dictate differentiation state of liver cancer cells

The pro-proliferation transcription factor FoxM1 is over-expressed mainly in high-grade cancers. However, the significance of its over-expression in cancers, including poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is not known. Here we provide evidence for a causal role of the over-expressed FoxM1 in driving high-grade progression of HCC. Immunohistochemical staining of human HCC specimens revealed opposite expression patterns of FoxM1 and the liver differentiation genes FoxA1/A2. Moreover, using a transgenic mouse model for oncogenic Ras-driven HCC as well as cell-based studies, we provide in vivo genetic evidence for a direct repression of FoxA1/A2 by FoxM1. Interestingly, FoxM1 represses these differentiation genes mainly in G1 phase, a phase in the cell cycle in which cells can undergo differentiation. Moreover, repression of FoxA1/A2 in G1 phase is important, as these genes are capable of inhibiting expression of the pluripotency genes that are mainly expressed in S/G2 phases. Also, we show that FoxA1/A2 inhibit expression of FoxM1 by inhibiting binding of FoxM1 to its own promoter and thus blocking its auto-activation. Our observations identify a significant new mechanism in which FoxM1 and the FoxA genes play opposing roles that determine the differentiation state of the HCC cells. Citation Format: Vaibhav Chand, Akshay Pandey, Dragana Kopanja, Grace Guzman, Pradip Raychaudhuri. Opposing roles of FoxM1 and the hepatic specification genes FoxA1/A2 dictate differentiation state of liver cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1504.
Seasonal Predictability of Summer Rainfall over South America

AbstractThe seasonal predictability of austral summer rainfall is evaluated in a set of retrospective forecasts (hindcasts) performed as part of the Minerva and Metis projects. Both projects use th...
Big data governance of personal health information and challenges to contextual integrity

Pervasive digitization and aggregation of personal health information (PHI), along with artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced analytical techniques, hold promise of improved health and he...
Improving Physical Activity among Residents of Affordable Housing: Is Active Design Enough?

Physical inactivity increases risk of chronic disease. Few studies examine how built environment interventions increase physical activity (PA). Active design (AD) utilizes strategies in affordable housing to improve resident health. We assessed how AD housing affects PA among low-income families in Brooklyn, New York. Participants were recruited at lease signings in 2016 from a new AD apartment complex and two recently renovated comparison buildings without AD features. Eligibility included age ≥18 years with no contraindications to exercise. Anthropometric data were collected. PA was self-reported using the Recent and Global Physical Activity Questionnaires. Smartphone users shared their tracked step. Data collection was repeated one year after move-in. All data were analyzed using SPSS. Eighty-eight eligible participants completed the initial questionnaire (36 AD and 52 from 2 comparison buildings) at baseline (T0). There were no differences between AD and comparison cohorts in: stair use, PA, sitting time or, mean waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) at T0. However, the AD cohort had a lower baseline BMI (27.6 vs. 31.0, p = 0.019). At one-year follow-up (T1), 75 participants completed our survey including a 64% retention rate among those who previously completed the T0 questionnaire. Among T0 questionnaire respondents, mean daily steps increased at T1 among AD participants who moved from an elevator building (∆6782, p = 0.051) and in the comparison group (∆2960, p = 0.023). Aggregate moderate work-related activity was higher at T1 in the AD building (746 vs. 401, p = 0.031). AD building women reported more work-related PA overall but AD men engaged in more moderate recreational PA. Living in an AD building can enhance low-income residents’ PA. More research with objective measures is needed to identify strategies to sustain higher PA levels and overall health.
History, the Sciences, and Disinterested Observers: A Dialogue Between Alfred Schutz and Thomas Seebohm

Thomas Seebohm does not recognize sufficiently that Alfred Schutz would have been open to the contributions the natural sciences could make to the cultural sciences and to the use of predictive methodologies in the cultural sciences. Further, in contrast to Seebohm, Schutz takes into account the minimal ontological differences underpinning the natural science/cultural science divide. As far as disinterested observers are concerned, Schutz was clear about the differences between past and present and the need for correlative epistemological adjustments. In addition, Schutz shows the importance of the relevances of the cultural scientist, such as the positive interest in discovering the historical meaning of past actors, for achieving social scientific objectivity, and he is attuned to the importance of the community of scientists for determining objectivity. Consequently, his concern for cultural scientific objectivity is less ascetical in character than Seebohm’s. Further differences between Schutz and Seebohm appear in their understanding of because motives, the relationship between the natural attitude and the life-world, and the use of eidetic methodology outside of the parameters of the phenomenological reduction.
Veterinary expertise passed over in fight against pandemics.

I couldn’t agree more with Anthony Andrews and his comment regarding the lack of veterinary expertise being used in the current fight against the Covid-19 pandemic ( VR , 5/12 September 2020, vol 187, pp 195-196), a sentiment no doubt shared by the great majority of vets involved with herd or flock (population) medicine and disease control. The ‘One Health’ concept is defined by the World Health Organization as ‘an approach to designing and implementing programmes, policies, …
The Development of Ocular Biometric Parameters in Premature Infants without Retinopathy of Prematurity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the developmental tendencies and distribution of ocular biometric parameters in premature infants without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Axial length (AL...
Data Revolution for Disability-Inclusive Development

The upcoming High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Disability on Sept 23, 2013, and the ongoing preparation of the post-2015 development agenda provide a unique opportunity to integrate disability in data collection mechanisms in development and global health. I argue that the adoption of the disability questions of the Washington Group on Disability Statistics in the Demographic and Health Survey and the Living Standard Measurement Study would start the data revolution that is needed to measure progress towards inclusive development and global health and to monitor the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.
A Microhistological Investigation of Winter Diets of White-Tailed Deer in Relict Eastern Hemlock Stands, Upper Peninsula of Michigan

To better understand winter foraging patterns of Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) in the context of global change, we assessed foraging trends using microhistological analysis of fecal pellets from 2006–2018 across a network of monitoring plots in 39 relict Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock) stands in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We found that deciduous browse comprised the majority of the diet, but conifer species were also eaten. During severe winters, Eastern Hemlock and Abies balsamea (Balsam Fir) were more prevalent in the diet, whereas in mild winters, Thuja occidentalis (Northern White Cedar) was more prevalent. Because Northern White Cedar comprises only a small amount of the forest community in these stands, deer were likely traveling beyond these winter yarding areas to forage. The relationship between conifer consumption and winter severity highlights the importance of energy conservation for winter survival of White-tailed Deer. More extreme winter weather is predicted with climate change, potentially prolonging confinement and limited forage availability, which is liable to alter energy budgets of deer, thus potentially altering population dynamics.
Using Agent-Based Simulation to Determine an Optimal Lane-Changing Strategy on a Multi-Lane Highway

Lane changing can increase or impede the flow of vehicular traffic, depending on traffic density and the lane-changing strategies used by individual drivers. We implement and extend the Nagel-Schreckenberg (N-S) traffic model as an agent-based model to investigate lane-changing behavior on a multi-lane roadway, with the goal of determining which lane changing strategies result in the greatest overall traffic flow. We show that in heavier traffic, an aggressive lane changing policy may be beneficial for overall traffic flow.
IRF-1 Promotes Liver Transplant Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via Hepatocyte IL-15/IL-15Rα Production

Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury following liver transplantation (LTx) is an important problem that significantly impacts clinical outcomes. IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) is a nuclear transcription factor that plays a critical role in liver injury. Our objective was to determine the immunomodulatory role of IRF-1 during I/R injury following allogeneic LTx. IRF-1 was induced in liver grafts immediately after reperfusion in both human and mouse LTx. IRF-1 contributed significantly to I/R injury because IRF-1-knockout (KO) grafts displayed much less damage as assessed by serum alanine aminotransferase and histology. In vitro, IRF-1 regulated both constitutive and induced expression of IL-15, as well as IL-15Rα mRNA expression in murine hepatocytes and liver dendritic cells. Specific knockdown of IRF-1 in human primary hepatocytes gave similar results. In addition, we identified hepatocytes as the major producer of soluble IL-15/IL-15Rα complexes in the liver. IRF-1-KO livers had significantly reduced NK, NKT, and CD8(+) T cell numbers, whereas rIL-15/IL-15Rα restored these immune cells, augmented cytotoxic effector molecules, promoted systemic inflammatory responses, and exacerbated liver injury in IRF-1-KO graft recipients. These results indicate that IRF-1 promotes LTx I/R injury via hepatocyte IL-15/IL-15Rα production and suggest that targeting IRF-1 and IL-15/IL-15Rα may be effective in reducing I/R injury associated with LTx.
Automatic lock insertion in concurrent programs

Triggering errors in concurrent programs is a notoriously difficult task. A key reason for this is the behavioral complexity resulting from the large number of interleavings of operations of different threads. An even more challenging task is fixing errors once they are detected. In general, automatically synthesizing a correct program from a buggy one is a hard problem. However for simple correctness properties that depend on the syntactic structure of the program rather than its semantics, automatic error correction becomes feasible. In this paper, we consider the problem of lock insertion to enforce critical sections required to fix bugs like atomicity violations. A key challenge in lock insertion is that enforcing critical sections is not the sole criterion that needs to be satisfied. Often other correctness constraints like deadlock-freedom also need to be met. Moreover, apart from ensuring correctness, another key concern during lock insertion is performance. Indeed, mutual exclusion constraints generated by locks kill parallelism thereby impacting performance. Thus it is crucial that the newly introduced critical sections be kept as small as possible. In other words, our goal is lock insertion while meeting the dual, and often conflicting, requirements of (i) correctness and (ii) performance. In this paper, we present a fully automatic, provable optimal, efficient and precise technique for lock insertion in concurrent code that ensures deadlock freedom while attempting to minimize the resulting critical sections.
The Development of Task and Social-Emotional Role Differentiation

The theory of task and social-emotional role differentiation as developed by Bales and Slater is extended along certain lines suggested by Verba. Such role differentiation is hypothesized to result from an inequality of participation in task oriented activity under the condition that high task participation is not legitimated by social circumstances. Support for this hypothesis is demonstrated using three alternative conceptions of role differentiation.
Predicting natural channel patterns based on landscape and geomorphic controls in the Columbia River basin, USA

[1] Based on known relationships of slope, discharge, valley confinement, sediment supply, and sediment caliber in controlling channel patterns, we developed multivariate models to predict natural channel patterns across the 674,500 km2 Columbia River basin, USA. We used readily available geospatial data sets to calculate reach slopes, 2 year flood discharge, and valley confinement, as well as to develop hypothesized landscape-level surrogates for sediment load and caliber (relative slope, percent of drainage area in alpine terrain, and percent of drainage area in erosive fine-grained lithologies). Using a support vector machine (SVM) classifier, we found that the four channel patterns were best distinguished by a model including all variables except valley confinement (82% overall accuracy). We then used that model to predict channel pattern for the entire basin and found that the spatial distribution of straight, meandering, anabranching, and braided patterns were consistent with regional topography and geology. A simple slope-discharge model distinguished meandering channels from all other channel patterns, but did not clearly distinguish braided from straight channels (68% overall accuracy). Addition of one or more of the hypothesized sediment supply surrogates improved prediction accuracy by 4–14% over slope and discharge alone. Braided and straight channels were most clearly distinguished on an axis of relative slope, whereas braided and anabranching channels were most clearly distinguished by adding percent alpine area to the model.
Revision Transcervical Medialization Laryngoplasty for Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis

ObjectiveTo identify patterns of failure following transcervical medialization laryngoplasty for unilateral vocal fold paralysis and describe indications and revision techniques for optimal vocal outcomes.Study DesignCase series with chart review.SettingTertiary care center.Subjects and MethodsThirty-nine consecutive patients between January 2005 and April 2014 undergoing transcervical revision of failed primary medialization laryngoplasty were identified. Demographics, etiology, stroboscopic assessment, and surgical techniques were recorded. Patient self-assessment using the Voice-Related Quality-of-Life (VRQOL) questionnaire and objective acoustic and aerodynamic assessments performed pre- and postoperatively were analyzed using t tests for paired comparisons.ResultsThirty-nine patients underwent 48 transcervical revision surgeries. Median follow-up was 14.6 months from time of final revision surgery. Indications included anterior glottic incompetence (38/48, 79%), posterior glottic incompetence (20/48,...