cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct Activation of β-cell KATP Channels with a Novel Xanthine Derivative

ATP-regulated potassium (KATP) channel complexes of inward rectifier potassium channel (Kir) 6.2 and sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) 1 critically regulate pancreatic islet β-cell membrane potential, calcium influx, and insulin secretion, and consequently, represent important drug targets for metabolic disorders of glucose homeostasis. The KATP channel opener diazoxide is used clinically to treat intractable hypoglycemia caused by excessive insulin secretion, but its use is limited by off-target effects due to lack of potency and selectivity. Some progress has been made in developing improved Kir6.2/SUR1 agonists from existing chemical scaffolds and compound screening, but there are surprisingly few distinct chemotypes that are specific for SUR1-containing KATP channels. Here we report the serendipitous discovery in a high-throughput screen of a novel activator of Kir6.2/SUR1: VU0071063 [7-(4-(tert-butyl)benzyl)-1,3-dimethyl-1H-purine-2,6(3H,7H)-dione]. The xanthine derivative rapidly and dose-dependently activates Kir6.2/SUR1 with a half-effective concentration (EC50) of approximately 7 μM, is more efficacious than diazoxide at low micromolar concentrations, directly activates the channel in excised membrane patches, and is selective for SUR1- over SUR2A-containing Kir6.1 or Kir6.2 channels, as well as Kir2.1, Kir2.2, Kir2.3, Kir3.1/3.2, and voltage-gated potassium channel 2.1. Finally, we show that VU0071063 activates native Kir6.2/SUR1 channels, thereby inhibiting glucose-stimulated calcium entry in isolated mouse pancreatic β cells. VU0071063 represents a novel tool/compound for investigating β-cell physiology, KATP channel gating, and a new chemical scaffold for developing improved activators with medicinal chemistry.
Hyperlipidemic Effects of Dietary Saturated Fats Mediated through PGC-1β Coactivation of SREBP

The PGC-1 family of coactivators stimulates the activity of certain transcription factors and nuclear receptors. Transcription factors in the sterol responsive element binding protein (SREBP) family are key regulators of the lipogenic genes in the liver. We show here that high-fat feeding, which induces hyperlipidemia and atherogenesis, stimulates the expression of both PGC-1β and SREBP1c and 1a in liver. PGC-1β coactivates the SREBP transcription factor family and stimulates lipogenic gene expression. Further, PGC-1β is required for SREBP-mediated lipogenic gene expression. However, unlike SREBP itself, PGC-1β reduces fat accumulation in the liver while greatly increasing circulating triglycerides and cholesterol in VLDL particles. The stimulation of lipoprotein transport upon PGC-1β expression is likely due to the simultaneous coactivation of the liver X receptor, LXRα, a nuclear hormone receptor with known roles in hepatic lipid transport. These data suggest a mechanism through which dietary saturated fats can stimulate hyperlipidemia and atherogenesis.
OESTROGEN EFFECTS ON BRAIN AND PITUITARY ENZYME ACTIVITIES

— Ovariectomized female rats were treated daily with oestradiol-17β benzoate for intervals up to one week and enzyme activities were measured in the pituitary and various brain regions. Brain regions were selected for study on the basis of their previously demonstrated content of putative oestradiol receptor sites. (1) Pituitary showed oestrogen-dependent increases in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and no change in NADP+-dependent isocitric dehydrogenase (ICDH), NADP+-dependent malic dehydrogenase (MDH) or hexokinase (HK). MDH and ICDH were elevated in whole hypothalamus. Enzyme activities did not change significantly in whole amygdala, cerebral cortex, or hippocampus. (2) Sub-regions of the preoptic area, hypothalamus and amygdala were dissected to obtain more highly concentrated populations of cells containing putative oestrogen receptor sites. In the basomedial sub-region of hypothalamus, activities of MDH, ICDH and G6PDH were elevated by oestrogen treatment. In the corticomedial sub-region of amygdala, MDH and ICDH were elevated by oestrogen treatment. No change was observed in any of the six enzymes in medial preoptic area. (3) Increases in enzyme activities were related to the total in vivo dose of oestradiol benzoate given. (4) Hypophysectomy or adrenalectomy did not prevent the enzymatic responses to oestrogen. (S) Oestrogen added directly to the enzyme incubation medium did not change enzyme activities. (6) Weight loss in ovariectomized rats due to reduced food intake did not increase enzyme activities. (7) In the pituitary, good correlation was obtained between the known receptor binding properties of various oestrogenic and non-oestrogenic steroids and the elevation in G6PDH activity. The results indicate that oestradiol acts directly to cause changes in activities of some brain and pituitary enzymes. The possibility is discussed that these changes may result from oestrogen interaction with putative receptor sites found in pituitary and certain brain regions.
Publishing in the Era of Online Technologies

The article presents the author's personal views and reflections regarding the status and trends of applied linguistics scholarship as of the Winter of 2010, drawing on his experiences as an editor of a research journal. Commentary is particularly directed toward questions on the characteristics of academic publishing with the internet and other communication technologies. The benefits and challenges of open access publishing are then systematically reviewed.
An Active Control System for LBO Margin Reduction in Turbine Engines

A complete, active control system has been developed to permit turbine engine-like combustors to operate safely closer to the lean blowout (LBO) limit, even in the presence of disturbances. The system uses OH chemiluminescence from the combustion process and a threshold based, event definition to detect LBO precursor events. These precursors appear random in time, and occur more frequently as the LBO limit is approached. When LBO precursors are detected, fuel entering the combustor is redistributed between a main flow and a small pilot, so as to increase the equivalence ratio near the stabilization region of the combustor. This moves the effective LBO limit to leaner mixtures, thus increasing the safety margin. The control system was demonstrated in an atmospheric pressure, methane-air, swirl-stabilized, dump combustor. The NOx emissions from the piloted combustor were found to be lower than from the unpiloted combustor operating at the same safety margin and nominal velocity field. The controller minimizes the NOx by reducing the pilot fuel fraction at constant total power setting until an unacceptable number of precursor events are observed. A set of control options for custom operation of the controller for a specific combustor are discussed.
Baby boomer caregiver and dementia caregiving: findings from the National Study of Caregiving

Background: previous studies have well documented the characteristics of baby boomers but less is known about the experiences of boomer caregivers (CGs) of people with dementia. Objective: the purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of boomer CGs of people with dementia with those of boomer CGs for people without dementia and to ascertain factors associated with outcomes. Design: we selected baby boomer CGs from the National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) with 650 primary boomer CGs (138 CGs of people with dementia and 512 CGs of people without dementia). Methods: the Stress Process Model (SPM) was used to examine the effects of resources (the use of paid help and informal support) and stressors (primary: level of CG care activities and interrupted sleep; secondary: strain of caregiving on work, other care and social activities) on CGs' down, depressed or hopeless feelings and self-perceived general health. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare SPM domain differences and ordinary least-square multiple regression analysis was used to investigate predictors of CGs' outcomes. Results: high blood pressure and arthritis were the most prevalent chronic diseases in both groups. Boomer CGs of people with dementia reported providing more help with daily activities, higher level of caregiving and social activity conflict, experiencing more interrupted sleep and more down, depressed or hopeless feelings than CGs of people without dementia. Different factors predicted boomer CGs' outcomes. Conclusion: the current results yield important information about the considerable differences between two baby boomer CG groups within the caregiving experiences. The findings highlight the need to provide tailored interventions to boomer CGs to help them cope with caregiving stress to improve their physical and mental health.
Tissue perfusion in humans studied by fourier velocity distribution, line scan, and echo‐planar imaging

In tissue perfusion studies, FT velocity distribution imaging (VDI) intrinsically distinguishes signals from moving blood and volume-averaged tissue. Results in human thyroid gland, in vivo, using VDI line scan technique demonstrated separation of moving blood signal from glandular tissue. while VDI inner-volume echo-planar imaging of brain showed only CSF velocity above the image noise level. New alternating polarity gradient sequences which permit separation of diffusion and slow velocity are discussed. A novel method of 3D FT imaging (two spatial and one velocity dimension) combining inner-volume imaging and echo-planar imaging with velocity resolution of 0.15 mm / s per pixel is demonstrated. A novel graphical method of calculation and display of diffusion dependence in pulsed gradient sequences is presented. © 1990 Academic Press, Inc.
MTA3 regulates differentiation of human cytotrophoblast stem cells.

Abstract Introduction Early placental development depends on the correct balance of cytotrophoblast (CTB) proliferation and differentiation, into either syncytiotrophoblast (STB) involved in nutrient/gas exchange, or invasive extravillous trophoblast (EVT) involved in establishment of blood flow to the placenta. Metastasis associated protein-3 (MTA3) is a transcriptional co-repressor known to regulate cell migration. In addition, MTA3 is reportedly decreased in preeclampsia. We set out to investigate the role of MTA3 in human trophoblast differentiation. Methods We co-stained first and third trimester placental sections with antibodies to MTA3 and other trophoblast markers. We also evaluated MTA3 expression following in vitro differentiation of primary isolated CTB. In order to evaluate the role of MTA3 in trophoblast differentiation, we used lentiviral constructs to overexpress and knock down its expression. Trophoblast differentiation was assessed by a combination of marker expression and functional assays, including hCG ELISA and cell migration. Results MTA3 was abundantly expressed in CTB and proximal cell column EVT in the human placenta and decreased with further differentiation into STB and mature EVT. MTA3 knockdown in JEG3 resulted in a 2–3 fold decrease in STB markers, CGB and GCM1, as well as in hCG secretion. In terms of EVT differentiation, MTA3 knockdown led to a 1.5–2 fold increase in HLA-G and cell migration, but decreased the mature EVT marker ITGA1. Discussion Taken together, our data suggest a role for MTA3 in terminal trophoblast differentiation into both hCG-secreting STB and mature EVT.
Free-Flight and en Route Air Safety: A First-Order Analysis

Under present arrangements, U.S. commercial planes do not travel "as the crow flies" from origin to destination; rather, they are generally restricted to paths within a grid. New technologies, however, raise the possibility of moving to a "free-flight" regime under which planes could fly directly from point to point. Striving for general insight rather than definitive conclusions, we use geometrical probability to assess how free-flight could affect the safety and efficiency of en route air traffic operations. We work with two air traffic control sectors: one hypothetical and the other based on actual traffic patterns over Albany, New York. Though tentative, the results suggest that--so long as certain operational constraints are retained--the changed geometry of flight paths after a transition to free-flight might tend in itself to diminish mid-air collision risk. Much depends, however, on whether the human/technological capabilities of future air traffic control can match the extraordinary effectiveness of the existing system.
Ignacio Ellacuría, S.J. in Dialogue with Asian Theologians: What Can They Learn from each Other?

As liberation theology spread across the globe in the seventh and eighth decades of the twentieth century, the need was felt for mutual learning and teaching among its proponents in various continents. The Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians (EATWOT) was founded at Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, in 1976 to facilitate such a dialogue. This article explores the ways in which the thought of Ignacio Ellacuria, S.J., (a Spanish philosopher and theologian who was murdered in El Salvador in 1989) and Asian liberation theology can enrich each other.After situating Ellacuria, especially his activities as rector of the Jesuit University of Central America, in the context of political and military conflicts of El Salvador, the essay expounds Ellacuria's philosophy of realidad historica, his theology of the People of God as el pueblo crucificado, and his understanding of a Catholic university as a “social force,” and shows how these three ideas can enrich Asian liberation theology. The essay then presents Asian liberation theology in the socio-political and religious contexts of Asia and explains how it can enrich Ellacuria's thought and by extension Latin American liberation theology in three areas: theological method, through the use of non-Christian religious sources, especially popular religion; theology of liberation, by attending to the efforts of non-Christian activists for justice and peace; and a new way of being church, through a triple dialogue: dialogue with the Asian people, especially their poor; dialogue with Asian cultures; and dialogue with Asian religions.
Association between Helicobacter pylori and mortality in the NHANES III study

Objective Persistent colonisation by Helicobacter pylori , and especially by cagA- positive strains, has been related to several health outcomes with effects in opposite directions. Thus, it is important to evaluate its influence on total and category-specific mortality. Design We conducted prospective cohort analyses in a nationally representative sample of 9895 participants enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III to assess the association of H pylori status with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Analyses for the association of H pylori cagA positivity with mortality were conducted in 7384 subjects with data on H pylori cagA status. Results In older people (>40.1 years), H pylori was not associated with all-cause mortality (HR 1.00; 95% CI 0.84 to 1.18). There was an inverse association of H pylori status with stroke mortality (HR 0.69; 95% CI 0.44 to 1.08), and the inverse association was stronger for H pylori cagA positivity, with the HR of 0.45 (95% CI 0.27 to 0.76). H pylori was also strongly positively related to gastric cancer mortality. After we adjusted p values using the Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate method to account for multiple comparisons, these associations remained, and H pylori status was not related to other outcomes. Conclusions Our findings suggest that H pylori has a mixed role in human health, but is not a major risk factor for all-cause mortality.
Fuzzy modelling of dynamic systems

This paper deals with fuzzy modeling of complex dynamic systems. Fuzzy relational equations are used to describe dynamic systems' behavior. A prediction algorithm is proposed and the procedure to update the fuzzy relation of the model as new measurements are collected is discussed. The algorithm is applied to the prediction of chaotic time-series. >
Relationship between membrane potential and external potassium in human glioblastoma cells in tissue culture

Cells from a human glioblastoma (TC 526) maintained in tissue culture for ten years had a mean membrane potential of 27 +/- 0.9 mV at an external potassium concentration [Ko] of 5.3 mM. When [Ko] was varied between 2.5 and 5.3 mM, membrane potential changes were close to those predicted by the Nernst equation. At higher [Ko], the Nernstian slope was approached only in the presence of 10(-5) M ouabain, which did not affect membrane potential at a [Ko] of 5.3 mM. An electrogenic sodium pump activated by high [Ko] could explain these findings; such a mechanism has been demonstrated in other tissues.
Modeling and forecasting hourly electric load by multiple linear regression with interactions

Short-term electric load modeling and forecasting has been intensively studied during the past 50 years. With the emerging development of smart grid technologies, demand side management (DSM) starts to attract the attention of electric utilities again. To perform a decent DSM, beyond when and how much the demand will be, the utilities are facing another question: why is the electricity being consumed? In other words, what are the factors driving the fluctuation of the electric load at a particular time period? Understanding this issue can also be beneficial for the electric load forecasting with the purpose of energy purchase. This paper proposes a modern treatment of a classic technique, multiple linear regression, to model the hourly demand and investigate the causality of the consumption of electric energy. Various interactions are discovered, discussed, tested, and interpreted in this paper. The proposed approach has been used to generate the 3-year hourly energy demand forecast for a US utility.
Determination of yield bounds prior to routing

Integrated circuit manufacturing complexities have resulted in decreasing product yields and reliabilities. This process has been accelerated with the advent of very deep sub-micron technologies coupled with the introduction of newer materials and technologies like copper interconnects, silicon-on-insulator and increased wafer sizes. The need to improve product yields has been recognized and currently some yield enhancement techniques are used in industry CAD tools. Still, the significant increase in problem size implies that considerable time and effort can be saved if the designer could predict the yield of each design stage. In this paper we undertake an effort to derive bounds on the yield of the routing for a given placement. When the design is routed, resulting in a yield which is significantly smaller than the bound, the designer can choose to change the router cost functions, modify the placement or even re-design the unit in an attempt to increase the yield. We compare the bounds on yield obtained for a set of standard benchmarks against exact yield values for the "vanilla" routings, and the run times needed to calculate the two. The results indicate that reasonably good estimates of yield can be obtained in significantly lower amounts of run time. The accuracy of the estimates increases when larger designs are considered as the simplifying assumptions made and the model no longer influences the estimates significantly.
Polycystic kidney disease in patients on the renal transplant waiting list: trends in hematocrit and survival

Background The patient characteristics and mortality associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD) have not been characterized for a national sample of end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on the renal transplant waiting list.
Fringe-induced barrier lowering (FIBL) included threshold voltage model for double-gate MOSFETs

Abstract A physical, compact, short-channel threshold voltage model for undoped double-gate MOSFETs has been extended through a phenomenological approach to include the fringe-induced barrier lowering (FIBL) effect associated with high-permittivity (high- k ) gate dielectrics. The resulting analytical model closely describes published numerical simulations over a wide range of device/material parameters. Exploiting the new device model, a concerted analysis combining FIBL-enhanced short-channel effects and gate direct tunneling current is performed on candidate high- k gate dielectrics to assess their overall impact on DG MOSFET scaling. It is projected that high- k gate dielectrics may extend DG MOSFET scaling beyond that with SiO 2 by 10–20% for a 2–3× smaller equivalent oxide thickness of high- k dielectrics than that of SiO 2 .
Radiation-induced dermatitis with vemurafenib therapy

More than one-half of melanomas contain an activating mutation in the serine-threonine protein kinase B-RAF (BRAF) gene.1,2 This mutation drives the constitutive activation of the Ras/Raf/MEK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP-K) pathway, which has been implicated in melanoma initiation, progression, and metastasis. 3 Vemurafenib (PLX-4032) is a potent kinase inhibitor with specificity for the BRAF V600E mutation and has been shown to have antitumor activity in vitro4-6 and in phase 1 clinical study.7 A phase 3 trial of vemurafenib versus dacarbazine demonstrated an increase in overall and progression-free survival.8 The most frequent adverse effects of vemurafenib reported are arthralgias, skin reactions, and fatigue. The development of a rash of any severity has been reported to be in the range of 36%-52%, with 7%-8% of patients developing grade 3 toxicity.8,9 We report the case of a 46-year-old male with metastatic melanoma who was being treated with vemurafenib and developed grade 3 radiation dermatitis shortly after radiation therapy for vertebral metastases.
The ever-evolving landscape of candidaemia in patients with acute leukaemia: non-susceptibility to caspofungin and multidrug resistance are associated with increased mortality

Objectives: The epidemiology and clinical course of candidaemia in patients with acute leukaemia, a population frequently exposed to antifungals, have not been extensively studied. In the present contemporary series of acute leukaemia patients, we describe patient characteristics, Candida species and MIC distributions and investigate the association between antifungal resistance and all-cause mortality. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of medical records and microbiological data of adult patients with acute leukaemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome with at least one positive blood culture for Candida species at the MD Anderson Cancer Center between January 2008 and October 2012. Susceptibility was defined according to the 2012 epidemiological cut-off values and clinical breakpoints. Results: We identified 67 episodes of candidaemia in 65 patients. Almost all episodes (94%) occurred in patients who were receiving antifungal agents, 71% in patients receiving an echinocandin. Almost all isolates (99%) were of non-albicans Candida species [most frequently Candida parapsilosis (32%), Candida tropicalis (23%) and Candida glabrata (20%)]. Caspofungin non-susceptibility was significantly associated with fluconazole resistance (P,0.001). Non-susceptibility to caspofungin and multidrug resistance were associated with excess 14 day [adjusted HR (aHR) 3.02 (95% CI 1.28 –7.09), P ¼ 0.011 and aHR 3.02 (95% CI 1.27 –7.14), P ¼ 0.012, respectively] and 30 day [aHR 2.96 (95% CI 1.38– 6.37), P ¼ 0.005 and aHR 2.86 (95% CI 1.31–6.21), P ¼ 0.008, respectively] all-cause mortality. Conclusions: In patients with acute leukaemia, a shift in candidaemia epidemiology was noted with a 99% predominance of non-albicans species. Non-susceptibility of Candida strains to caspofungin or multidrug resistance were independent markers of poor outcome in this patient population.
New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome Sharing Repository: methods and sample description

Background Tourette Syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by chronic motor and phonic tics. Affected individuals and their family members are at an increased risk for other neuropsychiatric conditions including obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. While there is consistent evidence that genetic factors play a significant etiologic role, no replicable susceptibility alleles have thus far been identified.
PATTERNS OF APPARENT EXTIRPATION AMONG ISOLATED POPULATIONS OF PIKAS (OCHOTONA PRINCEPS) IN THE GREAT BASIN

Abstract We conducted exploratory analyses to examine the relative roles played by natural and anthropogenic influences on persistence of a montane mammal. We revisited historical locations of pikas (Ochotona princeps) within the hydrographic Great Basin during summers of 1994–1999. Seven of 25 populations (28%) reported earlier in the 20th century appeared to have experienced recent extirpations. We assessed causative agents of faunal change using several alternative, but not mutually exclusive, hypotheses. Higher probability of persistence was correlated with greater area of talus habitat at local and mountain-range scales, higher elevation, more easterly longitude, more southern latitude, lack of livestock grazing, greater distance to primary roads, and wilderness management. However, only area of habitat in the mountain range, maximum elevation of talus habitat, and distance to primary roads appeared in the most parsimonious model of persistence when we used Akaike's information criterion model-select...
Residual exception to the hearsay rule: The complete treatment

This article is about the residual exception to the hearsay rule. It lists and distills the foundational elements of the rule. It discusses the issue of near-miss evidence and whether evidence that almost fits into one of the specific exceptions, but not quite, can be admissible under the residual exception — discusses the various approaches, concludes that the answer is that near-miss evidence can fit under residual exception, and supports that conclusion. The article discusses the various approaches courts have taken to the rule's requirement that the proponent of residual-exception evidence give pretrial notice of his or her intention to offer the evidence in question and how different courts interpret that requirement in different ways, including some that say that the requirement that proponents of residual-exception evidence have given notice "of their intention to offer the statement" "sufficiently in advance of trial" can be satisfied by notice given during trial. It discusses the use of the residual exception in cases charging child abuse. The residual exception requires that the statement be "more probative on the point . . . than any other evidence which the proponent can procure through reasonable efforts." Perhaps its greatest contribution of this article is its discussion of the turncoat witness and the residual exception — how an out-of-court statement by a testifying witness can be more probative than the witness' cross-examinable in-court testimony and, therefore, admissible under the residual exception.
Review of the Empire of Credit: The Financial Revolution in Britain, Ireland, and America, 1688-1715

This paper reviews a collection of essays relating to various aspects of the financial revolution in Britain starting with the creation of the Bank of England in the late seventeenth century and ending with the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, a period in which Britain unexpectedly became the dominant power in Europe and acquired an international empire. The volume under review explores some of the historical and intellectual connections between the financial revolution and Britain’s military ascendancy.
Watershed-scale dynamics of Tennessee farmland enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program: implications for environmental extension.

Increased national focus on environmental quality requires Extension professionals to evaluate conservation policies and adapt outreach strategies accordingly. This case study applies spatial analysis techniques to evaluate watershed-scale changes in Tennessee farmland enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program 1997-2007, focusing on areas that may contribute to stream quality impairment. Results indicate that cumulative enrollment in the program has decreased significantly less in watersheds targeted by interagency outreach efforts than in the remainder of the state. Integration of geospatial technologies into cooperative educational programs that complement watershed restoration strategies may represent an emerging opportunity for natural resources Extension.
The development trend of numerical control technology

With the rapid development of computer technology,traditional manufacturing industries began a fundamental change in all industrial countries invested heavily in research and development of modern manufacturing technology,a new manufacturing model.CNC technology is a key technology in the modern manufacturing system,which combines microelectronics,computer,information processing,automatic detection,automatic control,high-tech one,with high precision,high efficiency,flexible automation of manufacturing the flexible automation,integration,intelligence plays an important role.In this paper,the situation at home and abroad,the development of CNC technology trends.
Contrast between American and Chinese higher education and the inspiration

This article illustrates the differences in higher education between China and America. In the first part of the article the contrast and analysis of the social environment and cultural tradition between China and America are presented. In the second part, this article is concerned with the contrast and analysis of the education systems and the differences in the abilities of the graduates of the two countries. In the third part, this article introduces the measures of reforms of higher education taken by the two countries in the 21st century. In the last part, some inspirations of the author are presented.
Study of Determination of Protein Hydrolysis Degree and Its Formation of Standard Curve

Determination of hydrolysis degree of protein using ninhydrin colorimetric method and formation of its standard curve are analyzed.Furthermore,method of standard curve formation is studied by linear regression based on Excell and Matlab.The source code of standard curve formation is written.An available method is presented on standard curve formation during determination of hydrolysis degree of protein and industry analysis.
Calcium channel antagonists in the treatment of interstitial cystitis.

SUMMARY The calcium channel antagonist nifedipine has shown efficacy in the treatment of interstitial cystitis and the urethral syndrome. The optimal daily dose of nifedipine can be determined with the use of a nifedipine titration test. To complete the repair of damaged bladder and/or urethral mucosa, nifedipine therapy should be used for a minimum of 3 months. Patients who do not respond well to nifedipine are those with the pelvic floor muscle spasm syndrome variant of interstitial cystitis.
Informed Consent or Assent for Assessment, Treatment and Releases of Information

This chapter reviews informed consent/assent for assessment and treatment of youth with problematic sexual behaviors and adjudicated sexual offenses.
Integrating and Sampling Cuts in Bounded Treewidth Graphs

In this paper, we consider the problem of evaluating (s, t)-cuts in a bounded treewidth graph. In particular, we show how to compute the partition function for weighted cuts of the graph, i.e., the total weight of all (s, t)-cuts where the weight of a single cut is the product of its edge weights. This method can also easily be adapted to work with additive weights for the cost of a cut. We also present a method for sampling a cut proportional to its weight in linear time. Computing the partition function is #P-hard for general graphs, and our sampling algorithm is simple enough to prove useful is several application areas. Finally, we discuss an alternative method for sampling cuts that uses Markov chains and show that, in the worst case, its mixing time is exponential in the size of the graph even when the graph has bounded treewidth.
Environmental stability study of holographic solar spectrum splitting materials

In this study the impact of outdoor temperature variations and solar illumination exposure on spectral filter material and holographic optical elements is examined. Although holographic components have been shown to be useful for solar spectrum splitting designs, relatively little quantitative data exist to demonstrate the extent to which these materials can withstand outdoor conditions. As researchers seek to investigate practical spectrum splitting designs, the environmental stability of holographic materials should be considered as an important factor. In the experiment presented, two holographic materials, Covestro Bayfol HX photopolymer and dichromated gelatin, and 3M reflective polymer filter materials are exposed to outdoor conditions for a period of several months. The environmental effect on absorption, spectral and angular bandwidth, peak efficiency, and Bragg matching conditions for the holograms are examined. Spectral bandwidth and transmittance of the 3M reflective filter material are also monitored. Holographic gratings are recorded, measured, and mounted on glass substrates and then sealed with a glass cover plate. The test samples are then mounted on a photovoltaic panel to simulate realistic temperature conditions and placed at an outdoor test facility in Tucson, Arizona. A duplicate set of holograms and 3M filter material is stored as a control group and periodically compared over the test period.
Digging Deep: Managing Social and Policy Dimensions of Geoduck Aquaculture Conflict in Puget Sound, Washington

ABSTRACTShellfish aquaculture can result in conflicts among stakeholders who perceive impacts and tradeoffs regarding sense of place, aesthetic, recreational, economic, and ecological values. Pacific geoduck clams (Panopea generosa Gould 1850) are grown in intertidal plots using gear- and labor-intensive techniques that result in a high value export product. A confluence of issues has resulted in on-going social and legal tensions surrounding geoduck aquaculture in southern Puget Sound, Washington (WA), USA. Using interviews and document analysis, we explored stakeholder perspectives and policy issues related to geoduck aquaculture in southern Puget Sound. Twenty-three stakeholders were interviewed, including state agency employees, representatives of the aquaculture industry, nongovernmental organizations, landowners, a tribal member, and an academic. Nine state hearings board decisions on challenges to aquaculture permits were also analyzed. Stakeholders articulated a variety of perspectives regarding a...
Association of C-peptide concentration with prostate cancer incidence in a prospective cohort

B89 Objective: A recent meta-analysis reported that numerous studies have generally observed a decreased risk in prostate cancer among diabetics. However, other studies have reported both positive and inverse associations between the metabolic syndrome and prostate cancer risk. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of C-peptide, a marker of insulin secretion, with subsequent diagnosis of prostate cancer. >Methods: Histologically confirmed prostate cancer cases (n = 264) and matched controls (n = 264) were identified between baseline in 1989 and December 2002 in the CLUE II cohort of Washington County, Maryland. Cases were ascertained via linkage to the Washington County Cancer Registry and, since 1992, to the Maryland Cancer Registry, from which stage and Gleason sum at diagnosis were obtained. Controls were matched to cases on age at blood donation, race, date of blood draw, and the number of hours between the last meal and blood draw. Concentrations of C-peptide were measured in baseline blood specimens using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Body mass index (BMI) at baseline and age 21, use of diabetes medication, dietary factors, and use of vitamin supplements were self-reported at baseline. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated from conditional logistic regression models. We assessed confounding and present a parsimonious model. >Results: Median concentration of C-peptide were statistically significantly lower in cases (1180.1 pmol/L) compared with controls (1365.4 pmol/L; p = 0.009). Compared with the bottom fourth, the highest fourth of plasma C-peptide concentration was inversely associated with prostate cancer risk (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.37 - 1.14; ptrend = 0.08), especially organ-confined disease (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.19 - 0.97; ptrend = 0.04), after adjusting for overweight or obesity status and family history of prostate cancer. The associations remained similar when the analysis was restricted to participants without diabetes or when cases diagnosed during the first five years of follow-up were excluded. BMI did not modify the association between C-peptide and prostate cancer overall or organ-confined disease. >Conclusions: Like diabetes and, in some studies, the metabolic syndrome, concentration of C-peptide appeared to be inversely associated with subsequent diagnosis of prostate cancer, especially organ-confined cases. >Funding: EDRN U01 CA 86308; Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control Training Fellowship (T32 CA 009314)
Pattern and scale in latitude–production relationships for freshwater fishes

Empirically understanding spatial variation in secondary production rates is central to ecology. Yet for most taxa, such patterns are rarely examined, especially at different levels of ecological organization (e.g., species- vs. community-level patterns). We compiled data on biomass, production, and P/B rates of freshwater fish communities and species across latitudes and contrast patterns observed at the community level with those observed for species. At the community level, and at two distinct spatial scales (global vs. continental-North American), negative or neutral relationships were apparent between biomass, production, and P/B with latitude; however, there was substantial scatter in these data. Yet at the species level in North America, production was often closely linked to latitude, but in the opposite direction: Many species showed improved production with latitude. Latitudinal increases in species-level production rates were strongest for cool- and cold-water species, and species rarely showed the opposite trend. Species-level increases in production with latitude strengthened when production rates were normalized by the thermal opportunity for production, suggesting potential adaptations of individuals and populations to shorter growing seasons (i.e., “countergradient” production) at high latitudes. At the global scale, there were apparent unimodal relationships between community fish production measures and species richness; however, these patterns became linearized or non-significant at the continental scale. Decreased interspecific competition at northern latitudes combined with genetic adaptations (e.g., countergradient growth) could explain a tendency for increased species production in northern populations, while total community production remains reduced. Latitude has contrasting effects on fish production at different spatial scales and levels of biological organization. Thus while freshwater fish communities are somewhat more productive and diverse at lower latitudes, species production in northern populations is often surprisingly high.
The importance of disturbance by fire and other abiotic and biotic factors in driving cheatgrass invasion varies based on invasion stage

Disturbances create fluctuations in resource availability that alter abiotic and biotic constraints. Exotic invader response may be due to multiple factors related to disturbance regimes and complex interactions between other small- and large-scale abiotic and biotic processes that may vary across invasion stages. We explore how cheatgrass responds to both frequency and season of prescribed burning for a 10-year period in ponderosa pine forested stands. To understand interactions of fire disturbance, other abiotic factors, biotic resistance, and propagule pressure, we use long-term data from different spatial scales representing different invasion stages (local establishment or spread and broader scale extent/impact) to model cheatgrass dynamics. We found that after 10 years, cheatgrass cover increased with fall burning regardless of burn frequency (1 burn vs. 3 burns). There was no evidence that cheatgrass invasion is decreasing through time even in areas burned only once. Factors important for explaining local fine-scale cheatgrass establishment and spread, and broader scale extent/impact varied. The spatial extent of the first burns facilitated fine-scale cheatgrass establishment while bare soil cover constrained establishment. Biotic resistance, in the form of native annual forb cover, constrained fine-scale cheatgrass spread. Initial cheatgrass abundance in 2002, a factor related to propagule pressure, was key for explaining the broader scale extent/impact of cheatgrass by 2012. Biotic resistance, in the form of native perennial grass cover, constrained extent/impact but only when initial cheatgrass abundance was low. Our findings regarding factors affecting invasion dynamics may be useful to consider for future restoration and conservation efforts in burned ponderosa pine forests.
Sharing riders: How bikesharing impacts bus ridership in New York City

Abstract The objective of this research is to quantify the impact that bikesharing systems have on bus ridership. We exploit a natural experiment of the phased implementation of a bikesharing system to different areas of New York City. This allows us to use a difference-in-differences identification strategy. We divide bus routes into control and treatment groups based on if they are located in areas that received bikesharing infrastructure or not. We find a significant decrease in bus ridership on treated routes compared to control routes that coincides with the implementation of the bikesharing system in New York City. The results from our preferred model indicate that every thousand bikesharing docks along a bus route is associated with a 2.42% fall in daily unlinked bus trips on routes in Manhattan and Brooklyn. A second model that also controls for the expansion of bike lanes during this time suggests that the decrease in bus ridership attributable to bikesharing infrastructure alone may be smaller (a 1.69% fall in daily unlinked bus trips). Although the magnitude of the reduction is a small proportion of total bus trips, these findings indicate that either a large proportion of overall bikeshare members are substituting bikesharing for bus trips or that bikesharing may have impacted the travel behavior of non-members, such as private bicyclists. Understanding how bikesharing and public transit systems are interrelated is vital for planning a mutually reinforcing sustainable transport network.
Early medieval seascapes in Western Ireland and the geochemistry of ecclesiastical cross stones

Abstract Select early medieval period (400–1100 CE) Irish people pursued lifestyles of ascetic devotion leading to the establishment of ecclesiastical communities on small islands along Ireland's western coastline. These communities were separated by rough ocean waters, unpredictable Atlantic storms and rocky coastlines. Nevertheless, contemporary textual evidence and shared patterns of architecture, technology, and artisanship, including carved cross stones indicate that these communities were nodes in regional networks of institutional affiliation, shared religious practice, and material procurement or exchange. This study uses geochemical characterization of rock lithologies by hand-held, portable x-ray fluorescence (HHpXRF) in conjunction with routine petrographic analysis to assess the inter-island distribution of rock types used to produce early medieval cross stones in an effort to better define this integrated seascape. The cross stones were produced from a wide range of different geologic materials, including sedimentary limestones to high-grade metamorphic schists. The goal of this study was to determine what proportion of the cross stones were produced from materials locally available on each of the individual islands, and what proportion were produced from imported, non-local lithologies. This study demonstrates that in-field use of portable HHpXRF instrumentation provides semi-quantitative chemical data that can be used in conjunction with visually obtained petrographic data to broadly discriminate and identify different bedrock lithologies. Our results indicate that approximately 25% of the 41 cross stones analyzed were produced from non-local lithologies. Results of this study suggest that early medieval inhabitants primarily used locally procured (on-island) material for cross stone production; non-locally obtained (off-island) rock was used less frequently. These results are consistent with other recent archaeological interpretations that highlight western Ireland seascapes as a connective network between members of early medieval communities who used open-water seafaring and raw material procurement/exchange as a means to maintain regional connections.
Does China's Middle Class Think and Act Democratically? Attitudinal and Behavioral Orientations of Middle Class Toward Urban Self-Government

In the West, the middle class has been considered a potent agent of the sociopolitical transition toward democracy and the cornerstone of democratic rule. Does a middle class in China think and act democratically and hence serve as the harbinger of democratic change in that country? This study attempts to answer this critical question by examining the attitudinal and behavioral orientations of middle-class individuals toward grassroots self-government in urban China. It is based on data collected from a representative sample survey conducted in Beijing. The findings indicate that China’s middle class expects grassroots self-government to be formed in a democratic way; yet the middle class is critical of the currently-implemented self-government system because it is not organized as democratically as they expect, and therefore the middle class is less likely to participate in the system. These findings have significant implications for the role of the Chinese middle class in the democratization of China.
von Brunn's Nests and Follicular Cystitis Following Intradetrusor OnabotulinumtoxinA Injections for Overactive Bladder.

Abstract A 67-year-old female with refractory OAB was treated with intradetrusor Botox. She subsequently developed multiple papillary bladder lesions with tissue biopsy showing Von Brunn's nests. Von Brunn's nests are benign bladder lesions similar in appearance to a rare urothelial tumor called Nested Variant of Urothelial Carcinoma (NVUC). It is critical that patients with these findings undergo evaluation to rule out the presence of carcinoma. This finding suggests the possibility of a previously unreported adverse reaction in association with intradetrusor Botox.
Seeing Spots: Partisanship, Negativity and the Conditional Receipt of Campaign Advertisements

Changes in the media landscape increasingly put voters in control of the amount and type of political content they consume. We develop a novel experiment to assess the factors that drive this conditional receipt of information. We focus on how party source and tone interact with partisanship to influence the campaign messages voters seek out or avoid, as discretion over self-exposure varies. We randomly expose subjects to comparable positive or negative television ads aired by Democratic or Republican candidates from the 2012 Presidential election, and measure subjects’ propensities to skip, re-watch and share the spots. Partisans avoid out-party ads, albeit asymmetrically: Republicans are more consistent partisan screeners than Democrats. We find more such selectivity as discretion increases, but little evidence that negativity influences self-exposure. Our findings provide greater insight into the forces behind information selectivity, and have important implications for elections in the post-broadcast era.