cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract A17: Physical activity and epigenetic age among normative aging study participants

Low levels of physical activity are associated with increased risk and mortality of common cancers including breast and colon, with strong evidence for increasing risk with age. Epigenetic age is a recently developed concept using DNA methylation measurements to describe biological age at the level of human tissues, cells, and organs. Epigenetic age represents deviation from expected DNA methylation patterns associated with chronological age (defined as Δ_age), and is suggested as a possible biological mechanism driving observed associations between physical activity and cancer risk. However, no studies have evaluated associations between physical activity level and Δ_age. The Normative Aging Study (NAS) is a cohort study of healthy aging conducted by the Veterans Affair Administration. Among NAS participants (n=656), we conducted multivariate linear regression to prospectively evaluate associations between physical activity (MET-hours per week) and Δ_age across two follow-up visits. The visits were on average 3.6 years apart, with a range of 2-8 years. Δ_age was estimated using Horvath’s DNA methylation online calculator and based upon DNA methylation patterns at the 71 cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpGs) loci used in Hannum’s model. The calculator accounts for cell proportion of white blood cells. We adjusted models for chronological age, body mass index, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, and prevalent cancer status. Overall, we observed statistically significant associations between high physical activity levels and lower Δ_age, or younger epigenetic age. Among individuals reporting the highest level of physical activity (≥ 30 MET-hours per week), Δ_age was 1.44 (95% CI: 0.43 to 2.45) and 2.20 (95% CI: 1.04 to 3.36) years lower compared to those reporting low activity ( Citation Format: Elizabeth A. Hibler, Yinan Zheng, Lei Liu, Wei Zhang, Frank J. Penedo, Siobhan M. Phillips, David E. Conroy, Joel Schwartz, Pantel Vokonas, Andrea Baccarelli, Qi Dai, Lifang Hou. Physical activity and epigenetic age among normative aging study participants. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Developmental Biology and Cancer; Nov 30-Dec 3, 2015; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2016;14(4_Suppl):Abstract nr A17.
Inhibition of coagulation and thrombin-induced platelet activities by a synthetic dodecapeptide modeled on the carboxy-terminus of hirudin

A synthetic, tyrosine-sulfated, dodecapeptide (BG8865) modeled on residues 53-64 of hirudin was found to elevate the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT) of human plasma in a dose-dependent manner. The most sensitive assay was the TT, which was prolonged 2 and 3 times control values at 2.2 and 4.1 micrograms/mL hirudin peptide, respectively. The sulfated dodecapeptide exhibited no dependency on antithrombin III as monitored by the APTT in the presence of sheep anti-human antithrombin III antibodies, and its activity was not neutralized by platelet releasates or platelet factor 4. In studies of thrombin-induced platelet activation, the hirudin peptide was found to block aggregation, serotonin release and thromboxane A2 generation. At thrombin concentrations of 0.25 U/mL, the IC50 (concentration resulting in 50% inhibition) for inhibition of platelet aggregation was 0.72 micrograms/mL peptide. Inhibition of TXA2 generation and serotonin release correlated closely with inhibition of aggregation. Using platelets from patients with clinically documented heparin-induced thrombocytopenia anticoagulant doses of heparin were found to induce platelet aggregation and thromboxane A2 generation. In sharp contrast, anticoagulant-equivalent doses of hirudin peptide had no effect on patient platelets, as evidenced by a lack of platelet aggregation and thromboxane A2 generation. These data provide compelling in vitro evidence that the hirudin peptide has several potential advantages over heparin, namely effective inhibition of thrombin-induced platelet activities, co-factor independence, insensitivity to endogenous heparin-neutralizing factors, and an apparent lack of direct or immune-mediated platelet stimulating properties.
Proof of concept demonstration of optimal composite MRI endpoints for clinical trials

Abstract Introduction Atrophy measures derived from structural MRI are promising outcome measures for early phase clinical trials, especially for rare diseases such as primary progressive aphasia (PPA), where the small available subject pool limits our ability to perform meaningfully powered trials with traditional cognitive and functional outcome measures. Methods We investigated a composite atrophy index in 26 PPA participants with longitudinal MRIs separated by 2 years. Rogalski et al. [5] previously demonstrated that atrophy of the left perisylvian temporal cortex (PSTC) is a highly sensitive measure of disease progression in this population and a promising endpoint for clinical trials. Using methods described by Ard et al. [1] , we constructed a composite atrophy index composed of a weighted sum of volumetric measures of 10 regions of interest within the left perisylvian cortex using weights that maximize signal-to-noise and minimize sample size required of trials using the resulting score. Sample size required to detect a fixed percentage slowing in atrophy in a 2-year clinical trial with equal allocation of subjects across arms and 90% power was calculated for the PSTC and optimal composite surrogate biomarker endpoints. Results The optimal composite endpoint required 38% fewer subjects to detect the same percent slowing in atrophy than required by the left PSTC endpoint. Conclusions Optimal composites can increase the power of clinical trials and increase the probability that smaller trials are informative, an observation especially relevant for PPA but also for related neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease.
Unsupervised driving performance assessment using free-positioned smartphones in vehicles

In-vehicle smartphones contain rich information of driving and therefore can be utilized to establish driver behavior profile. The GPS data indicates the occurrence of driving events like gas-hit, brake-hit, turn-right, turn-left, and forward-driving. The inertial measurement unit (IMU) data, provides good estimations of vehicle lateral, longitudinal, and vertical accelerations and rotations. One of the challenge using the smartphone as the estimator is the variety of device poses. This study proposes a coordinate transformation approach to address this task, which allows smartphones to be free-positioned in vehicles. With the converted vehicular 3-axis accelerations, this study also employs unsupervised clustering techniques to grade driving events by iteratively detect outliers. Discussion on risky events is also conducted.
Association of Perinatal Risk Factors with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objective To examine the association between exposures to perinatal factors and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Study Design A retrospective cohort study of ASD among children born in Kaiser Permanente Southern California hospitals between 1991 and 2009 (n = 594,638). Medical records were used to determine exposure to perinatal (antepartum and intrapartum) complications. ASD was diagnosed using DSM-IV criteria. Multivariable Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs). Result Children with ASD were more likely to be exposed to perinatal complications (HR = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–1.21) than neurotypical children. Children exposed to antepartum (HR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.10–1.36) and intrapartum (HR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04–1.17) complications were at increased risk of ASD. The risk was even greater when both antepartum and intrapartum conditions were present (HR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.26–1.63). Conclusion Exposure to antepartum or intrapartum complications increases the risk of ASD in the offspring. Therefore, pregnancy complications may help identify children who could benefit from early screening and intervention for this common neurodevelopmental condition.
Where Does Religion Matter Most? Personal Religiosity and the Acceptability of Wife‐beating in Cross‐National Perspective

Does religion justify violent acts against wives, or does it reduce approval of this type of intimate partner violence? We examine whether personal religiosity raises or lowers the acceptability of wife-beating. In addition, we investigate how the relationship between personal religiosity and attitudes toward wife-beating differs depending on the overall normative context of the country where a person lives. Using multilevel modeling with data from the fifth wave of the World Values Survey (2005–2008), we find that greater individual-level religiosity reduces the acceptability of wife-beating. More importantly, cross-level interactions show that these reductions are greatest in countries where there is a general lack of normative restraint as measured by the “anomie” scale. These observations suggest that religiosity may influence an individual's norms the most in countries where secular controls are absent or weak.
An Effective Timing-Driven Detailed Placement Algorithm for FPGAs

In this paper, we propose a new timing-driven detailed placement technique for FPGAs based on optimizing critical paths. Our approach extends well beyond the previously known critical path optimization approaches and explores a significantly larger solution space. It is also complementary to single-net based timing optimization approaches. The new algorithm models the detailed placement improvement problem as a shortest path optimization problem, and optimizes the placement of all elements in the entire timing critical path simultaneously, while minimizing the costs of adjusting the placement of adjacent non-critical elements. Experimental results on industrial circuits using a modern FPGA device show an average placement clock frequency improvement of 4.5%.
Scanlon’s modal metaphysics

In Being Realistic About Reasons (Oxford University Press, 2014) T. M. Scanlon argues that particular fact about reasons are explained by contingent non-normative facts together with pure normative principles. A question then arises about the modal status of these pure principles. Scanlon maintains that they are necessary in a sense, and suggests that they are ‘metaphysically’ necessary. I argue that the best view for Scanlon to take, given his other commitments, is that these pure normative principles are metaphysically contingent in some cases and necessary only in a weaker sense.
Redundant imprinting of information in nonideal environments: Objective reality via a noisy channel

Quantum Darwinism provides an information-theoretic framework for the emergence of the objective, classical world from the quantum substrate. The key to this emergence is the proliferation of redundant information throughout the environment where observers can then intercept it. We study this process for a purely decohering interaction when the environment, $\mathcal{E}$, is in a nonideal (e.g., mixed) initial state. In the case of good decoherence, that is, after the pointer states have been unambiguously selected, the mutual information between the system, $\mathcal{S}$, and an environment fragment, $\mathcal{F}$, is given solely by $\mathcal{F}$'s entropy increase. This demonstrates that the environment's capacity for recording the state of $\mathcal{S}$ is directly related to its ability to increase its entropy. Environments that remain nearly invariant under the interaction with $\mathcal{S}$, either because they have a large initial entropy or a misaligned initial state, therefore have a diminished ability to acquire information. To elucidate the concept of good decoherence, we show that, when decoherence is not complete, the deviation of the mutual information from $\mathcal{F}$'s entropy change is quantified by the quantum discord, i.e., the excess mutual information between $\mathcal{S}$ and $\mathcal{F}$ is information regarding the initial coherence between pointer states of $\mathcal{S}$. In addition to illustrating these results with a single-qubit system interacting with a multiqubit environment, we find scaling relations for the redundancy of information acquired by the environment that display a universal behavior independent of the initial state of $\mathcal{S}$. Our results demonstrate that Quantum Darwinism is robust with respect to nonideal initial states of the environment: the environment almost always acquires redundant information about the system but its rate of acquisition can be reduced.
Tandem CCCH Zinc Finger Proteins in mRNA Binding

A small family of mammalian zinc finger proteins containing an unusual putative tandem zinc finger motif was identified approximately 13 years ago. The tandem zinc finger domain was characterized by two hypothetical fingers with identical Cx8Cx5Cx3H spacing, with exactly 18 amino acids between the carboxyl terminal H of the first zinc finger and the amino terminal C of the second zinc finger. The two fingers also shared a characteristic amino-terminal lead-in sequence of RYKTEL or a close variant. Although first thought to be transcription factors, these proteins are becoming better understood as the result of experiments with knockout mice for tristetraprolin (TTP), currently the best-studied member of the family. These mice developed a systemic inflammatory syndrome found to be secondary to elevations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) and possibly granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). These elevations were found to be due to stabilized mRNAs for these cytokines, and subsequent work found that TTP could bind to the AU-rich elements within the 3′-untranslated region of these mRNAs and destabilize them, apparently by initiating a process of 3′–5′ deadenylation. This chapter will summarize some of our current thinking about this small but interesting protein family, including binding site and binding domain characterization, and recent developments in mutagenesis and structure determination.
The Effect of Positive Faculty Support on Mathematical Self-Concept for Male and Female Students in STEM Majors

Using hierarchical linear modeling, this study examined how positive faculty support is associated with mathematical self-concept development among students in STEM fields and how the association differs for male and female students. The study utilized data from the 2003 Freshman Survey and the 2007 College Senior Survey (CSS) and a sample of 2184 students across 27 baccalaureate institutions nationwide. This study found that positive faculty support was significantly and positively related to STEM students’ mathematical self-concept development in general; however, this positive connection held for male STEM students only. Findings also suggested that female STEM students’ mathematical self-concept remained significantly below males’ throughout college and positive faculty support did not narrow the persistent gender gap in this area. The study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of the findings.
Utilizing Bloom's taxonomy to design a substance use disorders course for health professions students.

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a public health problem affecting millions of Americans. Despite their prevalence, there are few health care resources allocated for SUDs treatment. R...
The Electronic Structure of Crystalline Boron Carbide I: B12 Icosahedra and C-B-C Chains

The one-electron energy levels of boron carbide, B13C2, consisting of B12 icosahedra and C-B-C chains have been calculated self-consistently. Calculations for B12 icosahedra without the chains and for C-B-C chains without the icosahedra were performed using the same crystal geometry for comparison. Charge density plots of the total charge densities and individual orbital densities are given to elucidate the nature of the interactions between the atoms of the icosahedra and chains.
Integration and Expectation

One of the more fundamental concepts of probability theory and mathematical statistics is the expectation of a random variable. The expectation represents a central value of the random variable and has a measure theory counterpart in the theory of integration.
Exposure to the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Toxin Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) Prolongs and Increases Severity of Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-Induced Colitis.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) represents a collection of gastrointestinal disorders resulting from genetic and environmental factors. Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) is a toxin produced by cyanobacteria during algal blooms and demonstrates bioaccumulation in the intestinal tract following ingestion. Little is known about the impact of MC-LR ingestion in individuals with IBD. In this study, we sought to investigate MC-LR’s effects in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model. Mice were separated into four groups: (a) water only (control), (b) DSS followed by water (DSS), (c) water followed by MC-LR (MC-LR), and (d) DSS followed by MC-LR (DSS + MC-LR). DSS resulted in weight loss, splenomegaly, and severe colitis marked by transmural acute inflammation, ulceration, shortened colon length, and bloody stools. DSS + MC-LR mice experienced prolonged weight loss and bloody stools, increased ulceration of colonic mucosa, and shorter colon length as compared with DSS mice. DSS + MC-LR also resulted in greater increases in pro-inflammatory transcripts within colonic tissue (TNF-α, IL-1β, CD40, MCP-1) and the pro-fibrotic marker, PAI-1, as compared to DSS-only ingestion. These findings demonstrate that MC-LR exposure not only prolongs, but also worsens the severity of pre-existing colitis, strengthening evidence of MC-LR as an under-recognized environmental toxin in vulnerable populations, such as those with IBD.
Images of ‘posthumous subjectivity’ in Fedorchenko’s Angels of Revolution

ABSTRACTWith a focus on Aleksei Fedorchenko’s Angels of Revolution, the article examines the director’s authorial style and his approach to established hierarchies of representation, specifically f...
Herbicide Resistance Traits in Maize and Soybean: Current Status and Future Outlook.

This article reviews, focusing on maize and soybean, previous efforts to develop nontransgenic herbicide-resistant crops (HRCs), currently available transgenic HRC traits and technologies, as well as future chemical weed management options over the horizon. Since the mid twentieth century, herbicides rapidly replaced all other means of weed management. Overreliance on ‘herbicide-only’ weed control strategies hastened evolution of HR weed species. Glyphosate-resistant (GR) crop technology revolutionized weed management in agronomic crops, but GR weeds, led by Palmer amaranth, severely reduced returns from various cropping systems and affected the bottom line of growers across the world. An additional problem was the lack of commercialization of a new herbicide mode of action since the 1990s. Auxinic HRCs offer a short-term alternative for management of GR Palmer amaranth and other weed species. New HRCs stacked with multiple herbicide resistance traits and at least two new herbicide modes of action expected to be available in the mid-2020s provide new chemical options for weed management in row crops in the next decade.
What drives landowners’ conservation decisions? Evidence from Iowa

Conservation practices such as no-till and cover crops have been shown to have on- and off-farm benefits. However, when benefits of a practice do not go to the provider, underinvestment may occur. Farmland rental arrangements where tenants may not reap the benefits of conservation investments are a commonly cited barrier to conservation practice adoption in agriculture and may result in lower adoption rates on rented land than on owner-operated fields. This issue is especially important since more than half of Midwestern farmland is rented out. This article examines the factors driving adoption of four key conservation practices—no-till, cover crops, buffer strips, and ponds/sediment basins—using a statistically representative survey of Iowa landowners. We find evidence supporting the hypothesis that adoption is lower on rented land for cover crops, buffer strips, and sediment basins, but not for no-till. Our results also show that the large proportion of the state’s land owned by nonoperating landowners and absentee landowners could present a barrier to increasing adoption of conservation practices. Furthermore, landowners seem open to increasing the use of cover crops in the immediate future, and a sizable number are even willing to incentivize tenants by paying for part of the cover crop planting cost. Finally, almost half of landowners would be willing to increase the area of their land under conservation practices if they could receive conservation-related tax credits or deductions, suggesting a potential policy strategy to increase adoption.
Intestinointestinal inhibitory reflexes: effect of distension on intestinal slow waves.

The motor response induced by intraluminal distension of the small intestine has been well investigated. However, little is known of the myoelectrical response to intraluminal distension. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oral- and anal-side distension on jejunal slow waves in dogs. The study was performed in 10 healthy female hound dogs implanted with three pairs of electrodes on the jejunum and an intestinal fistula. The first study session was designed to investigate the effects of anal-side distension on jejunal myoelectrical activity in fasting state. The protocol consisted of a 30-min baseline recording, a 30-min recording during anal-side balloon distension located 5 cm distal to the most distal pair of electrodes, and another 30-min recording after distension. The second session was designed to investigate the effect of oral-side distension with the balloon 5 cm proximal to the most proximal pair of electrodes. Jejunal slow waves were severely impaired by both anal- and oral-side distension. The dominant power was significantly reduced from −2.96 ± 0.90 dB at baseline to −6.00 ± 0.64 dB during anal-side distension (P < 0.0005) and from −3.90 ± 0.85 dB at baseline to −7.17 ± 0.90 dB during oral-side distension (P < 0.001). The percentage of normal 17 to 22-cpm slow waves was significantly decreased from 97.39 ± 0.88% to 83.48 ± 3.12% during anal-side distension (P < 0.0005) and from 92.49 ± 2.42% to 68.80 ± 7.24% during oral-side distension (P < 0.002). The percentage of slow wave coupling was decreased from 95.08 ± 2.27% to 52.48 ± 7.73% during anal-side distension (P < 0.0005) and from 84.82 ± 6.75% to 49.21 ± 8.91% during oral-side distension (P < 0.001). The instability coefficient of the dominant frequency was significantly increased during anal-side distension. In conclusion, intraluminal distension of the jejunum severely impairs jejunal slow waves. The slow waves on both sides of distension become less coupled, less regular, and are of lower amplitude.
The Plasma and Magnetic-Field Structure of the Solar Wind at Inertial-Range Scale Sizes Discerned from Statistical Examinations of the Time-Series Measurements

This paper reviews the properties of the magnetic and plasma structure of the solar wind in the inertial range of spatial scales (500 - 5x106 km), corresponding to spacecraft timescales from 1 s to a few hr. Spacecraft data sets at 1 AU have been statistically analyzed to determine the structure properties. The magnetic structure of the solar wind often has a flux-tube texture, with the magnetic flux tube walls being strong current sheets and the field orientation varying strongly from tube to tube. The magnetic tubes also exhibit distinct plasma properties (e.g. number density, specific entropy), with variations in those properties from tube to tube. The ion composition also varies from tube to tube, as does the value of the electron heat flux. When the solar wind is Alfvenic, the magnetic structure of the solar wind moves outward from the Sun faster than the proton plasma does. In the reference frame moving outward with the structure, there are distinct field-aligned plasma flows within each flux tube. In the frame moving with the magnetic structure the velocity component perpendicular to the field is approximately zero; this indicates that there is little or no evolution of the magnetic structure as it moves outward from the Sun. Large sudden velocity shears are seen across the boundaries between the magnetic flux tubes as the magnetic field rotates and the field-aligned flow rotates. The effect of the solar-wind current sheets on the magnetic power spectral density of the solar wind is examined: the current sheets are found to dominate the spectral properties of the solar wind.
Donor Ethnicity and Kidney Transplant Outcomes in African Americans.

Abstract Background Transplantation of African American (AA) compared to non-AA donor kidneys is generally associated with inferior outcomes. It is unclear whether enhanced genetic risk associated with AA donor kidneys would be counterbalanced by favorable immunologic matching when AA donor kidneys are transplanted into AA recipients. We aimed to compare the outcomes of AA vs non-AA deceased-donor kidneys (DDKs) stratified by kidney donor profile index (KDPI) that were transplanted into AA recipients. Methods Using the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network/United Network for Organ Sharing database, we identified AA DDK recipients from 2000 to 2015 who received peri-operative induction followed by calcineurin inhibitor/mycophenolate mofetil maintenance. These patients were divided into 4 KDPI groups (0%-20%, 21%-50%, 51%-85%, and 86%-100%). Adjusted long-term graft and patient outcomes were compared between AA recipients of kidneys from AA vs non-AA donors in each KDPI category using a multivariable Cox model. Results Among a total of 17,516 AA DDK transplant recipients, 3303 were in KDPI 0%-20% (AA donor = 239; non-AA donor = 3064), 5821 in KDPI 21%-50% (AA donor = 1414; non-AA donor = 4407), 6364 in KDPI 51%-85% (AA donor = 1619; non-AA donor = 4745), and 2028 in KDPI 86%-100% (AA donor = 932; non-AA donor = 1096) groups. Adjusted overall graft, death-censored graft, and patient survival were similar between AA recipients of AA vs non-AA donor kidneys across all KDPI groups. Discussion Our study showed similar outcomes for transplanting AA vs non-AA deceased-donor kidneys into AA recipients despite the generally observed inferior outcomes associated with AA donor kidney transplantation.
Can Machine Learning Accurately Predict Postoperative Compensation for the Uninstrumented Thoracic Spine and Pelvis After Fusion From the Lower Thoracic Spine to the Sacrum

Study Design:Consecutively collected cases.Objective:To determine if a machine-learning (ML) program can accurately predict the postoperative thoracic kyphosis through the uninstrumented thoracic s...
Phototrophy and carbon fixation in Chlorobi postdate the rise of oxygen

While most productivity on the surface of the Earth today is fueled by oxygenic photosynthesis, during the early parts of Earth history it is thought that anoxygenic photosynthesis--using compounds like ferrous iron or sulfide as electron donors--drove most global carbon fixation. Anoxygenic photosynthesis is still performed by diverse bacteria in niche environments today. Of these, the Chlorobi (formerly green sulfur bacteria) are often interpreted as being particularly ancient and are frequently proposed to have fueled the biosphere early in Earth history before the rise of oxygenic photosynthesis. Here, we perform comparative genomic, phylogenetic, and molecular clock analyses to determine the antiquity of the Chlorobi and their characteristic phenotypes. We show that contrary to common assumptions, the Chlorobi clade is relatively young, with anoxygenic phototrophy, carbon fixation via the rTCA pathway, and iron oxidation all significantly postdating the rise of oxygen ~2.3 billion years ago. The Chlorobi therefore could not have fueled the Archean biosphere, but instead represent a relatively young radiation of organisms which likely acquired the capacity for anoxygenic photosynthesis and other traits via horizontal gene transfer sometime after the evolution of oxygenic Cyanobacteria.
IMMUNOLOGICAL MEMORY OF DONOR-SPECIFIC TOLERANCE

Objective This study aimed at evaluating whether alloantigens in the form of donor cell chimerism or engrafted skin were required for the maintenance of a tolerance state after in utero marrow transplantation. Methods Low-level chimeras (peripheral chimerism of 120 days, followed up their peripheral chimerism, and reappraised their tolerance state by secondary skin transplantation one month after the removal of engrafted primary donor skin. At killing of tolerant mice, chimerism in the marrow, spleen, thymus, lymph node and peritoneum was also examined. Results Among 38 tolerant mice, 26 spontaneously lost peripheral chimerism by the age of 18 months. Eight with the loss of peripheral chimerism were subjected to secondary skin transplantation one month after the removal of engrafted syngeneic and donor-specific skins. Two died within 7 days after skin re-transplantation and the others kept acceptance of second-set syngeneic and donor-specific skins for >120 days. Twelve skin-tolerant mice that lost peripheral chimerism were killed to examine tissue chimerism. Three of them had no detectable donor cells in any tissue examined. Conclusions Skin tolerance could last in the absence of donor cell chimerism and engrafted donor skin. Thus, there was immunological memory of donor-specific tolerance, independent of alloantigens from chimeric cells or engrafted donor skin.
Making Law Review: A Guide to the Write-On Competition (Book Excerpt)

Every year, law students across the country participate in the “write-on competition” for a shot at membership on the law review or on a specialty law journal. Many, however, enter the competition uninformed and unprepared. Making Law Review is designed to help students become familiar with how the competition works, how to prepare for it, and how to write a winning submission paper. Author Wes Henricksen interviewed dozens of current and former law review members at many of the top law schools to learn their secrets to success in the write-on competition. This book synthesizes those students’ experiences into a comprehensive body of valuable advice, and reveals the surprising and innovative techniques students have used to excel in the competition. This updated and expanded Second Edition addresses several topics not covered in the last edition, and includes a new Afterword by the author.
Natural Disasters and Armed Conflict

As the year 2015 comes to a close, we look back on the grave events that have transpired: the earthquake in Nepal, the ongoing migrant crisis in Europe, the terrorist attacks in Paris, and so many more. The consequences of incidents such as these are hardly ever contained within the borders of the affected countries. On the contrary, when natural disasters and international conflicts occur, it is as if the whole world feels the shock. And of course, with every instance of cataclysmic weather, outbreak of war, or horrifying accident that occurs, the lives of humans all over the world are put at risk. That is why we at the Journal of Global Health seek to highlight how these calamities have affected global health in the immediate past.
The Impact of Compensation Structure on Salesperson Perceptions and Behaviors: Insights From the Sales Literature:

Compensation is one of the most effective methods used to align and motivate salespeople to accomplish sales and organizational objectives. For this reason, sales researchers have made considerable...
Transparency, Public Reporting and a Culture of Change to Quality and Safety in Cardiac Surgery.

Abstract Academic medical centers have a duty to serve as hospitals of last resort for advanced cardiac surgical care and therefore manage patients at elevated risk of post-operative morbidity and mortality. They must also meet state and professional quality targets devised to protect the public. The tension between these imperatives can be managed by a multi-dimensional quality improvement program which aims to manage risk, optimize outcomes and exclude futile operations. We here share our approach to this process, its impact on our institution and discuss pertinent issues relevant to institutions in a similar situation.
The differential acceptance of culture change: An archaeological test case

Not all people embrace change at the same rate. As a consequence, within any group at one time, there will be people whose lifestyles range from traditional to nontraditional. The interpretation of a historic Navajo site represents an attempt to discern this range in the archaeological record. By recognizing that not all people change at the same rate and by determining the amount of departure from traditional culture that is represented at a site, archaeologists will not only be better able to interpret intragroup variability but will be able to more realistically study and understand the process of culture change.
Should Crowdfunding Investors Rely on Lists of the Best Private Companies

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) annually publishes a list of the fifty “best” private companies that are funded by venture capitalists. Given the important role venture capitalists play in fostering the growth and development of relatively young firms, it is important to examine the returns to venture capitalists and investors when these firms go public or are acquired. Equity crowdfunding will soon allow all investors to invest in companies before they go public. It is therefore worthwhile to examine whether such lists of best companies suggest better investment opportunities for these individual investors. We examine the financial performance of private venture capital funded firms on the WSJ list up to the public offering or acquisition to determine expected performance in these types of emerging growth companies by individual investors in the post-JOBS act era.
Implementation of an adaptive neural network short-term electric load forecasting system in the energy control center

The practical aspects related to the implementation of an adaptive neural network based short-term electric load forecasting system in a utility company are presented. The system is developed and implemented for Florida Power and Light Company (FPL). Implementation experiences with the system are discussed. The system accounts for seasonal and daily characteristics, as well as abnormal conditions such as cold fronts, heat waves, holidays and other conditions abnormal conditions. It is capable of forecasting load with a lead time of one hour to seven days. The adaptive mechanism is used to train the neural networks when online. The results indicate that the load forecasting system presented gives robust and more accurate forecasts and allows greater adaptability to sudden climatic changes compared with statistical methods. With appropriate training data sets, the system could be ported and can be modified to suit the requirements of other utility companies. >
Manpower for obstetrics-gynecology

Abstract A cooperative study between the University of Southern California Division of Research in Medical Education and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists represents one subset of a large-scale study of manpower supply in obstetrics-gynecology. A stratified random sample of all obstetrician-gynecologists was obtained from the American Medical Association's “Master File of Physicians.” A total of 879 respondents (56 per cent of the sample) completed a detailed, one-week log of practice activities and a self-descriptive questionnaire. This initial report describes these physicians by practice arrangement as related to age and geography. Practice work load is identified by encounter time per patient, work hours per day and week, and variations related to geographic location and population served. The descriptive findings may have important implications for manpower planning.
Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma

Follicular carcinoma may typically present as a single, painless thyroid nodule in an older (>55 years of age) male, although it is more common in women by twofold or more. Lymphadenopathy due to involved cervical nodes is uncommon, but distant metastases will be present in lung or bone in 10–20% of patients at the time of initial presentation (15–19). At presentation, all routine blood thyroid function tests will be within normal limits, including the serum TSH (except in the presence of severe iodine deficiency and endemic goiter). Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) may be elevated, but a diagnosis should not be inferred from serum Tg levels. Utility of Tg monitoring is discussed elsewhere in this volume (Chapters 22 and 31), and may be adversely affected by the presence of interfering antithyroglobulin antibodies, which usually falsely lower serum Tg levels. This may be more problematic with immunoluminometric assays than with highly specific radioimmunoassays for thyroglobulin (20). Unfortunately, as many as 25–35% of thyroid cancer patients may have underlying Hashimoto’ s disease with positive thyroid autoantibodies. Future management of such patients may be facilitated by measurement of thyroglobulin mRNA in serum (21). Other techniques may allow distinction between circulating thyroglobulin derived from benign versus malignant thyroid tissue (22). Patients with known metastatic or residual thyroid cancer should be followed up by an endocrinologist/thyroid specialist in addition to their primary care physician. The physician should ensure that serum Tg is being measured only in a laboratory of the highest quality. Ideally, this should be in the same laboratory at each follow-up time interval, and the laboratory should provide companion Tg levels on a remeasurement of stored serum from the prior venapuncture. In the postoperative state, a clearly measurable or rising serum Tg while the patient is TSH-suppressed on levothyroxine may be a definite clue to recurrence, but serum Tg levels are usually most useful when measured while the patient is hypothyroid, for example, during preparation for follow-up scanning. The current availability of recombinant human TSH has facilitated monitoring Tg before and after rhTSH stimulation (see Chapter 14).
Restoration of circadian behavior by anterior hypothalamic heterografts

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus (AH) is a circadian oscillator and an important component of the mammalian circadian system. To determine whether the SCN is the dominant circadian pacemaker responsible for generating a species-typical characteristic of circadian rhythms [i.e., period length (tau)], neural transplantation was conducted using fetal AH donors of different species and SCN-lesioned (SCNx) hosts. The circadian behavior of each of the three donor species is clearly distinguishable by its species-typical tau. The extent of SCN pacemaker autonomy was assessed by noting whether the period of the restored circadian rhythm following heterograft transplantation was characteristic of the donor or the host, or whether an atypical circadian period was established. Hamsters rendered arhythmic by SCN ablation were implanted with AH tissue from fetal hamsters (E13-E14, homograft controls) or fetal mice or rats (E15-E17). The AH homografts restored circadian activity rhythms with a tau similar to that of intact hamsters, and fetal mouse AH heterografts restored circadian rhythmicity with a tau similar to that of the donor mouse strain. However, fetal rat AH tissue implanted into SCNx hamsters renewed circadian rhythmicity with a period significantly shorter than either the species-typical tau of the rat donor or the hamster host. In both the mouse and rat AH heterograft experiments, immunocytochemical analysis performed with species-specific monoclonal antibodies revealed extensive fiber outgrowth from the implant into the host hypothalamus, evident up to 7 months postimplantation. The rat implants were consistently larger, more fully vascularized and exhibited less necrosis than the implanted mouse tissue. The histological appearance of the grafts, thus, provides no explantation for the difference in efficacy of the grafts to restore species-typical behavior. However, several interpretations are considered that are consistent with the combined behavioral results observed.
Synthesis, structure, and properties of tetragonal Sr 2 M 3 As 2 O 2 ( M 3 = Mn 3 , Mn 2 Cu , and MnZn 2 ) compounds containing alternating CuO 2 -type and FeAs-type layers

Polycrystalline samples of ${\text{Sr}}_{2}{\text{Mn}}_{2}{\text{CuAs}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{2}$, ${\text{Sr}}_{2}{\text{Mn}}_{3}{\text{As}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{2}$, and ${\text{Sr}}_{2}{\text{Zn}}_{2}{\text{MnAs}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{2}$ were synthesized. Their temperature- and applied magnetic field-dependent structural, transport, thermal, and magnetic properties were characterized by means of x-ray and neutron diffraction, electrical resistivity $\ensuremath{\rho}$, heat capacity, magnetization, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. These compounds have a body-centered-tetragonal crystal structure (space group $I4/mmm$) that consists of $M{\text{O}}_{2}$ ($M=\text{Zn}$ and/or Mn) oxide layers similar to the ${\text{CuO}}_{2}$ layers in high superconducting transition temperature ${T}_{c}$ cuprate superconductors, and intermetallic $M\text{As}$ ($M=\text{Cu}$ and/or Mn) layers similar to the FeAs layers in high-${T}_{c}$ pnictides. These two types of layers alternate along the crystallographic $c$ axis and are separated by Sr atoms. The site occupancies of Mn, Cu, and Zn were studied using Rietveld refinements of x-ray and neutron powder diffraction data. The temperature dependences of $\ensuremath{\rho}$ suggest metallic character for ${\text{Sr}}_{2}{\text{Mn}}_{2}{\text{CuAs}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{2}$ and semiconducting character for ${\text{Sr}}_{2}{\text{Mn}}_{3}{\text{As}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{2}$ and ${\text{Sr}}_{2}{\text{Zn}}_{2}{\text{MnAs}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{2}$. ${\text{Sr}}_{2}{\text{Mn}}_{2}{\text{CuAs}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{2}$ is inferred to be a ferrimagnet with a Curie temperature ${T}_{\text{C}}=95(1)\text{ }\text{K}$. Remarkably, we find that the magnetic ground-state structure changes from a $\text{G}$-type antiferromagnetic structure in ${\text{Sr}}_{2}{\text{Mn}}_{3}{\text{As}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{2}$ to an $\text{A}$-type ferrimagnetic structure in ${\text{Sr}}_{2}{\text{Mn}}_{2}{\text{CuAs}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{2}$ in which the Mn ions in each layer are ferromagnetically aligned but are antiferromagnetically aligned between layers.
An agent for simulating cognitive impairment in elders: work in progress

Assistive technologies for cognition are designed to help elders with various forms of cognitive impairment maintain an independent style of living for as long as possible. This work discusses the use of an agent simulation to model the behaviors of an elder with dementia in an effort to facilitate preliminary operational and performance testing of emerging assistive technologies.
Classical Conditioning in Aplysia: Neuronal Circuits Involved in Associative Learning

Recent analyses of the neural control of learning and memory suggest that one needs to identify and examine the neuronal circuitry specific to the behavior that is modified by the learning in order to study the cellular mechanisms underlying these processes. In this paper we describe an example of a simple form of classical conditioning in the gastropod mollusk Aplysia californica. This example of associative learning offers considerable promise for a cellular analysis because it involves relatively simple and well-analyzed neuronal circuits. Knowledge of the neuronal circuits involved in the conditioning pathways is reviewed, and a preliminary hypothesis for the mechanisms of this form of classical conditioning is considered.
SIMULTANEOUS MEASUREMENT OF UTERINE AND UMBILICAL BLOOD FLOWS AND OXYGEN UPTAKES

A method is described for the simultaneous estimation of uterine and umbilical blood flows and oxygen uptakes. A test stubstance, antipyrine, was infused at constant rate in the fetal circutlation. About 50 min. after starting the infusion a steady state was attained in which the rate of transplacental diffusion of the test substance was equal, blut for small corrections, to the rate of infusion. During the steady state, blood samples were collected from uterine and umbilical arteries and veins and analyzed for antipyrine and oxygen. Flows and oxygen uptakes were calculated according to Fick's principle. Thie results of sixteen experiments on sheep and goats sh1ow that: (1) transplacental diffusion of antipyrine is mainly flow-limited, (2) the placenta simulates a concturrent system of exchange, and (3) the oxygen uptakes of the fetus and the utero-placental mass were, in many cases, of similar magnitude.
Modeling of naturally fractured reservoirs using deformation dependent flow mechanism

Abstract As special cases of a multi-porosity/multi-permeability formulation based on the mixture theory, an array of deformation-dependent flow models of various porosities and permeabilities relevant to the characterization of naturally fractured reservoirs is presented. Some key relationships are identified in the parametric investigation. A finite element discretization is developed for the multi-porosity/multi-permeability media. A case study is focused on a reservoir simulation using dual-porosity/dual-permeability model. The preliminary study identifies the strong coupling between fluid flow and solid deformations. The effect of this coupling is also controlled by the constitutive properties of the formation.
Motor Proteins: Kinesin Drives with an Underhead Cam

A high-resolution cryo-EM structure of kinesin bound to its microtubule track allows for near-atomistic visualization of nucleotide-dependent conformational changes in this motor protein.
The sol–gel transition and branched polymers 50 years ago

Some early work on the sol–gel transition is recalled, including correspondence with P. J. Flory, the original data on effects of dilution on gel points in pentaerythritol–adipic acid polyesters, and previously unpublished observations of melt and solution viscosities in pentaerythritol–adipic acid–decamethylene glycol polyester systems. ©1997 SCI
Effects of Thrips palmi and Western Flower Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on the Yield, Growth, and Carbon Allocation Pattern in Cucumbers

Mixed infestations of thrips composed of approximately94% Thrips palmi Karny and 6% Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), resulted in significantreductions in total cucumber yield, mean fruit size, and total fruit. No significant reductionswere observed at <9.4 thrips-days/cm2 (0.48 thrips/cm2 at peak densities). As the number of thrips-days increased to a maximum of 45.0 per cm2, reductions of 54.2% in total fruit weightat final harvest were observed. Highly significant linear regressions between the totalnumber of thrips-days per leaf and the various agronomic variables were obtained. Totalyields for the season were reduced 10% by the highest level of thrips damage, possibly because70% of all yield was harvested before significant build up of thrips populations.Moderate, yet significant, changes in growth patterns were associated with feeding damage by thrips.Less total leaf dry weight was associated with heavy feeding damage.