cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sexual Dysfunction in Primary Care: An Exploratory Descriptive Analysis of Medical Record Diagnoses.

Abstract Background The prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SDx) diagnoses in primary care settings is not well known, which is a concern because of the high prevalence of comorbid chronic health conditions in patients diagnosed with SDx. Aim To explore the relation of SDx diagnosis, chronic health conditions, and prescription medications commonly associated with SDx for men and women in primary care using medical records diagnoses. Methods Exploratory descriptive analyses were used to interpret secondary data from a primary care patient database. The database included patient data from 3 family and internal medicine clinics in the St Louis metropolitan area from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2015. Analysis included key demographic variables, chronic illness, and health conditions of hypertension, pain, prostate disorder, menopause, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and associated medications. Analysis of the database yielded 30,627 adult patients (men: n = 12,097, mean age = 46.8 years, 65.6% white race; women: n = 18,530, mean age = 46.6 years, 59.2% white race) with significant comorbid associations between SDx and other chronic illness, health conditions, and medication prescription. Results Depression, anxiety, pain, hypertension, diabetes, and psychotropic medication use were significantly associated with SDx for men and women. Examination of specific SDx diagnoses showed erectile dysfunction to be significantly associated with all tested variables for men. For women, pain-related SDx diagnoses were associated more with chronic illness, health conditions, and medication use than were psychosexual SDx diagnoses (eg, orgasm), except for menopause. Prevalence varied by sex, with a higher prevalence rate of any SDx for men (13.5%) than for women (1.0%), although sex comparisons were not part of the analytics. Clinical Translation This study suggests the diagnosis of SDx is closely associated with other common chronic illness and health conditions and could go underdiagnosed in women in primary care. Strengths and Limitations The cross-sectional nature of the study limits the ability to draw causal conclusions related to the nature of the associated conditions with SDx diagnoses. The generalizability of the findings also might be limited given the specific demographic or health makeup of the St Louis area where the study was conducted. Conclusion The high comorbidity of SDx with mental health, chronic pain and illnesses, and medication use adds to the growing evidence that sexual health and functioning are essential components of overall well-being and holistic care for men and women. Heiden-Rootes KM, Salas J, Gebauer S, et al. Sexual Dysfunction in Primary Care: An Exploratory Descriptive Analysis of Medical Record Diagnoses. J Sex Med 2017;14:1318–1326.
Numerical investigation of the influence of stokes lines on creeping wave propagation

Creeping wave propagation Is explored within the framework of the well-known high-frequency asymptotic solution to the canonical problem of a line source radiating in the presence of a perfectly conducting circular cylinder of electrical radius ka. Employing the Watson transform to the appropriate eigenfunction expansion solution, the creeping wave propagation constant ν, for a given ka, are the zeros of H V (2)(ka) = 0 (or h V (2)' (ka) = 0), for electric (or magnetic) line sources, respectively. For electrically large cylinders, |ka| ≫ 1 and |ν| ∼ ka, it is customary to replace the Hankel functions by their Airy representations. The (composite) asymptotic form of the Airy function contains dominant and subdominant terms which switch roles across the Stokes lines. In this work, a new algorithm is proposed to calculate the creeping wave propagation constant based on uniform asymptotic expansion of the Airy function across the Stokes lines.
Definition and validation of an interaction rule for two cracks submitted to a complex loading

Abstract The article deals with the question of flaws interaction when two cracks are too close to each other to apply a conventional Fracture Mechanics justification approach based on isolated crack consideration. Within that frame, a bibliography and FE modeling were performed in order to define precisely interaction limits and cracks analysis in the case of two isolated cracks submitted to various modes of loading. Those limits, firstly defined through an exhaustive 2D FE modeling, were modified and completed through 3D FE modeling in order to take into account cracks with a finite length, plasticity and/or a complex stress states. From that important work, a simple limit for cracks interaction is proposed and then validated through the application to an industrial case.
Perineural Spread of Melanoma to the Brachial Plexus: Identifying the Anatomic Pathway(s).

Background Perineural spread of melanoma is a well-known mechanism of metastasis in cases involving cranial nerves. Brachial plexus involvement is rare, and the pathway is unknown. Methods A retrospective review of the Mayo Clinic database was performed to identify patients with a history of melanoma and brachial plexus compromise treated between 1994 and 2017. Inclusion criteria were a history of melanoma, a clinical diagnosis of brachial plexopathy, radiologic features consistent with perineural spread, and biopsy of melanoma within nerves. Results We identified 42 patients (24 men and 18 women; median age, 61 years; range, 37–84 years) with a history of melanoma and brachial plexopathy. On a review of clinical information, 2 cases met our inclusion criteria. Both patients presented with progressive brachial plexopathy, and imaging studies revealed features consistent with perineural spread. In 40 excluded patients, brachial plexopathy was caused by metastasis to axillary lymph nodes (n = 11), trauma (n = 8), post-surgical sequelae (n = 7), tumors other than melanoma (n = 5), inflammation (n = 5), radiation (n = 2), a combination of radiation and postsurgical changes (n = 1), and radiculopathy (n = 1). Conclusions The 2 patients identified had similar clinical and radiologic features. We believe that there is a pattern of perineural spread to the brachial plexus through the cervical plexus. A literature review identified several recently published cases demonstrating an analogous mechanism of melanoma spread involving upper cervical nerves, supporting our proposed pathway.
Count Your Calories and Share Them: Health Benefits of Sharing mHealth Information on Social Networking Sites.

This study investigates the relationship between sharing tracked mobile health (mHealth) information online, supportive communication, feedback, and health behavior. Based on the Integrated Theory ...
Scalable initial state interdiction for factored MDPs

We propose a novel Stackelberg game model of MDP interdiction in which the defender modifies the initial state of the planner, who then responds by computing an optimal policy starting with that state. We first develop a novel approach for MDP interdiction in factored state space that allows the defender to modify the initial state. The resulting approach can be computationally expensive for large factored MDPs. To address this, we develop several interdiction algorithms that leverage variations of reinforcement learning using both linear and non-linear function approximation. Finally, we extend the interdiction framework to consider a Bayesian interdiction problem in which the interdictor is uncertain about some of the planner's initial state features. Extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our approaches.
Almitrine mimics hypoxic vasoconstriction in isolated rat lungs

The effect of almitrine bimesylate or the solvent malic acid on pulmonary vascular perfusion pressure was assessed in isolated rat lungs and on the contractile behavior of rat aorta and main pulmonary artery rings. Addition of almitrine to the lung perfusate during normoxia caused a dose-dependent, transient increase in pulmonary artery pressure with no change of the lung microvascular pressure. In systemic or pulmonary conduit arteries, the contractile tension was unaffected by almitrine. This indicates a precapillary locus of drug action. We also examined almitrine's effect on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPVC) in isolated lungs perfused with blood or with physiological salt solution (PSS). Low-dose almitrine potentiated hypoxic vasoconstriction in blood- but not in PSS-perfused lungs. However, a high dose of almitrine reduced hypoxic vasoconstriction dose dependently. When almitrine was added to the lung perfusate during hypoxia- or cyanide-induced (NaCN, 5 x 10(-5) M) pulmonary vasoconstriction, almitrine caused no further vasoconstriction. However, when the pulmonary perfusion pressure was elevated by KCl (20 mM) to the same magnitude as by alveolar hypoxia or cyanide, almitrine elicited a pressor response comparable to that observed during normoxia. Almitrine-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction resembled hypoxic vasoconstriction in that agents known to enhance hypoxic vasoconstriction (phorbol myristate acetate, vanadate, and 4-aminopyridine) enhanced, and known inhibitors of HPVC (the Ca2+ entry blocker nifedipine and hypothermia) inhibited, the almitrine-induced vasoconstriction. These findings lead us to speculate that almitrine also affects the oxygen-sensing limb of the hypoxic pressor response, not simply the effector (contractile apparatus of the vascular muscle cell).
MARROW DEPENDENCE OF NATURAL KILLER CELLS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses marrow dependence of natural killer (NK) cells. In mice, elimination of functional bone marrow, either by irradiation with the bone-seeking isotope, 89 Sr, or by induction of osteopetrosis with estradiol, leads to marked impairment in NK cell activity against certain tumor cells. Thus, NK cell activity (NK-A) against YAC-1, MPC-11, RL-1, and C1-18 tumor cells is extremely low in mice injected with 89 Sr, whereas NK cell activity (NK-B) against WEHI-164.1, FLD-3, EL-4, and Meth A target remains largely normal. An intact bone marrow microenvironment is critical for the differentiation of functional NK-A cells; the chapter presents this hypothesis and discusses its validity in the light of recent evidence. The hypothesis states that bone marrow constitutes a central lymphoid organ for the differentiation of NK-A cells, just as the thymus and bursa-equivalent tissue constitutes the central lymphoid tissues for T- and B-cell differentiation. Based on observations, it is suggested that that NK-A cell differentiation can be separated into an early marrow-independent and a later marrow-dependent phase. The former is characterized by the acquisition of NK antigens, ability to bind to the tumor targets, and insensitivity to interferon (IFN).
Form-Optimizing Processes in Biological Structures. Self-generating structures in nature based on pneumatics

This case study is an investigation of self-generating forms in nature based on pneumatic structures and their use in architectural theory. It focuses on the concept of self organization as a defining principle in nature and in particular, on the mathematical, geometrical and physical properties of bubble clusters and shows examples from nature, biology and engineering. Part of the research resulted in a series of digital models and renderings of different bubble clusters and there polyhedral configuration. Advanced structural design methods are already using systems based upon self-generated models rooted in biological and genetic forms. Engineers are able to input a series of variables into a computer program which in turn, derive a structure using a genetic algorithm resulting in the most efficient use of materials, etc. Numerous examples of such procedures already exist in nature today, in particular, biology. Blueprints for these forms are stored in the genetic code of the DNA1 of all life forms. Until recent advances in computer technology, the ability to put such genetic algorithms to use has not been possible.
Bridging the 'Normative Gap': Mechanism Design and Social Justice

I draw on contemporary debates in political philosophy to understand the limits and hazards of using mechanism design to offer technical solutions to problems in which technical and social issues are intertwined. Using Boston’s experience with K-12 school choice reform over the last half century as a case study, I argue that mechanism design introduces what I call a "normative gap" between the goals pursued by economic designers and those pursued by policymakers.
Adolescent Depression and Substance Use: the Protective Role of Prosocial Peer Behavior.

Adolescents with depression disorders have higher rates of substance use. In order to advance contextually relevant mental health interventions, basic research is needed to test social ecological mechanisms hypothesized to influence adolescent depression and substance use. Accordingly, we conducted growth curve modeling with a sample of 248 urban adolescents to determine if depression’s effect on substance use was dependent upon peer network health (sum of peer risk and protective behaviors) and activity space risk (likelihood of high-risk behaviors at routine locations). Results showed that peer network health moderated the effects of depression on substance use, but this effect was not altered by activity space risk. These findings suggest the importance of peer network health relative to depression and substance use, particularly for young adolescents.
Soft Stacking

In this paper, we present a continuous approach to ordering 2D images when compositing. Previous methods for stacking image layers require them to appear in a single (though possibly different) order at every point in the image. Our soft stacking approach removes this restriction — allowing layers to stack as if they were volumes of fog, appearing partially in front of and partially in back of other layers within the same pixel, and moving smoothly through other layers across the image. Our approach involves augmenting each pixel with stacking coefficients— a necessary and sufficient representation for sub-pixel stacking complexity. These stacking coefficients arise naturally when considering sub-pixel stacking complexity, much as continuous (alpha) transparency arises when considering sub-pixel coverage complexity. While the number of stacking coefficients required to represent all possible sub-pixel stacking arrangements is factorial in the number of layers in the stack, in many practical situations only a small subset of the stacking coefficients are nonzero. We use this sparsity as the basis of a prototype that allows artists to interactively paint stacking adjustments into composites. Additionally, we demonstrate how to generate optimally-stacked images under a generalized notion of stacking consistency. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Perceiving What Package Designs Express: A Multisensory Exploratory Study Using Creative Writing Measurement Techniques.

The purpose of this research is to assess consumers' ability to correctly interpret messages that designers incorporate into new package designs. Packages today are designed to communicate many different messages-status, femininity, environmentally conscious, security (tamper-proof), etc. The goal of this project was to explore how consumers perceive and interpret these messages, and how consumers' interpretations of designers' messages relate to liking the package. Results suggest that in cases where consumers correctly interpret designer messages: 1. Messages are clear and unambiguous. 2. Messages deal more with positive image associations than practical or functional benefits. 3. Designers and receivers might be communicating on subconscious levels. 4. Designs that communicate well are liked more than designs which communicate poorly.
Physical and mental health characteristics of adults with subjective cognitive decline: A study of 3,407 people aged 18-81 years from an MTurk-based U.S. national sample

Author(s): Van Patten, Ryan; Nguyen, Tanya T; Mahmood, Zanjbeel; Lee, Ellen E; Daly, Rebecca E; Palmer, Barton W; Wu, Tsung-Chin; Tu, Xin; Jeste, Dilip V; Twamley, Elizabeth W | Abstract: AbstractSubjective cognitive decline (SCD), or internal feelings of reduced mental capacity, is of increasing interest in the scientific, clinical, and lay community. Much of the extant literature is focused on SCD as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease in older adults, while less attention has been paid to non-cognitive health correlates of SCD across adulthood. Consequently, we investigated physical and mental health correlates of SCD in younger, middle-aged, and older adults. We recruited 3,407 U.S. residents through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, an online labor market. Participants completed a 90-item self-report survey questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, physical health, sleep, depression, anxiety, loneliness, wisdom, self-efficacy, and happiness. Overall, 493/1930 (25.5%) of younger adults (18-49) and 278/1032 (26.9%) of older adults (50 or older) endorsed the SCD item. Multivariate analysis of variance and follow-upt-tests revealed worse physical and mental health characteristics in people endorsing SCD compared to those who did not, with effect sizes primarily in the medium to large range. Additionally, age did not moderate relationships between SCD and physical and mental health. Results suggest that SCD is associated with a diverse set of negative health characteristics such as poor sleep and high body mass index, and lower levels of positive factors including happiness and wisdom. Effect sizes of psychological correlates of SCD were as large as (or larger than) those of physical correlates, indicating that mental health and affective symptoms may be critical to consider when evaluating SCD. Overall, findings from this large, national U.S. sample suggest the presence of relationships between SCD and multiple psychological and perceived health factors; our results also show that SCD may be highly prevalent in both younger and older adults, suggesting that it be assessed across the adult lifespan.
Altered substance P signaling underlies perivascular sensory nerve dysfunction in inflammatory bowel disease

Objective: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is associated with cardiovascular disease risk and impaired intestinal blood flow, but the functional role of perivascular nerves that control vasomotor function of mesenteric arteries (MAs) perfusing the intestine is unknown in IBD. Because perivascular sensory nerves and their transmitters calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) are important mediators of both vasodilation and inflammatory responses, our objective was to identify IBD-related deficits in perivascular sensory nerve function and vascular neurotransmitter signaling. Approach and Results: In MAs from an IL-10-/- mouse model, we found that IBD significantly impairs EFS-mediated sensory vasodilation and sensory inhibition of sympathetic vasoconstriction, despite decreased sympathetic nerve density and vasoconstriction. The MA content and EFS-mediated release of both CGRP and SP are slightly decreased with IBD, but IBD has different effects on each transmitter. CGRP nerve density, receptor expression, hyperpolarization and vasodilation are preserved with IBD. In contrast, SP nerve density and receptor expression are increased, and SP hyperpolarization and vasodilation are impaired with IBD. A critical finding is that blocking neurokinin 1 (SP) receptors restored EFS-mediated sensory vasodilation and enhanced CGRP-mediated vasodilation in MAs from IBD but not Control mice. Conclusions: An aberrant role for the perivascular sensory neurotransmitter SP and its downstream signaling in MAs underlies vascular dysfunction with IBD. With IBD, SP signaling impedes CGRP-mediated sensory vasodilation, contributing to impaired blood flow. Substance P and NK1 receptors may represent an important target for treating vascular dysfunction in IBD.
Short stature and growth hormone deficiency in a subset of patients with Potocki–Lupski syndrome: Expanding the phenotype of PTLS

Potocki-Lupski Syndrome (PTLS, MIM 610883), or duplication of chromosome 17p11.2, is a clinically recognizable condition characterized by infantile hypotonia, failure to thrive, developmental delay, intellectual disability, and congenital anomalies. Short stature, classified as greater than two standard deviations below the mean, has not previously been considered a major feature of PTLS. Retrospective chart review on a cohort of 37 individuals with PTLS was performed to investigate the etiology of short stature. Relevant data included anthropometric measurements, insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), growth hormone (GH) stimulation testing, blood glucose levels, brain MRI, and bone age. Approximately 25% (9/37) of individuals with PTLS had short stature. Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) was definitively identified in two individuals. These two PTLS patients with growth hormone deficiency, as well as three others with short stature and no documented GHD, received growth hormone and obtained improvement in linear growth. One individual was identified to have pituitary abnormalities on MRI and had complications of hypoglycemia due to unrecognized GHD. Individuals with PTLS can benefit from undergoing evaluation for GHD should they present with short stature or hypoglycemia. Early identification of GHD could facilitate potential therapeutic benefit for individuals with PTLS, including linear growth, musculoskeletal, and in cases of hypoglycemia, potentially cognitive development as well.
Redressing Racial and Environmental Injustice Through a Voluntary Acquisition and Relocation Program

Tucked in the northeast corner of Corpus Christi, adjacent to one of the nation's largest ports, lies Hillcrest, a low-income and minority neighborhood clouded by a history of segregation, discrimi...
Genetically-regulated transcriptomics & copy number variation of proctitis points to altered mitochondrial and DNA repair mechanisms in individuals of European ancestry

Proctitis is an inflammation of the rectum and may be induced by radiation treatment for cancer. The genetic heritability of developing radiotoxicity and prior role of genetic variants as being associated with side-effects of radiotherapy necessitates further investigation for underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, we investigated gene expression regulated by genetic variants, and copy number variation in prostate cancer survivors with radiotoxicity. We investigated proctitis as a radiotoxic endpoint in prostate cancer patients who received radiotherapy (n = 222). We analyzed the copy number variation and genetically regulated gene expression profiles of whole-blood and prostate tissue associated with proctitis. The SNP and copy number data were genotyped on Affymetrix® Genome-wide Human SNP Array 6.0. Following QC measures, the genotypes were used to obtain gene expression by leveraging GTEx, a reference dataset for gene expression association based on genotype and RNA-seq information for prostate (n = 132) and whole-blood tissue (n = 369). In prostate tissue, 62 genes were significantly associated with proctitis, and 98 genes in whole-blood tissue. Six genes - CABLES2, ATP6AP1L, IFIT5, ATRIP, TELO2, and PARD6G were common to both tissues. The copy number analysis identified seven regions associated with proctitis, one of which (ALG1L2) was also associated with proctitis based on transcriptomic profiles in the whole-blood tissue. The genes identified via transcriptomics and copy number variation association were further investigated for enriched pathways and gene ontology. Some of the enriched processes were DNA repair, mitochondrial apoptosis regulation, cell-to-cell signaling interaction processes for renal and urological system, and organismal injury. We report gene expression changes based on genetic polymorphisms. Integrating gene-network information identified these genes to relate to canonical DNA repair genes and processes. This investigation highlights genes involved in DNA repair processes and mitochondrial malfunction possibly via inflammation. Therefore, it is suggested that larger studies will provide more power to infer the extent of underlying genetic contribution for an individual’s susceptibility to developing radiotoxicity.
Mechanisms for neuro modulation of biological neural networks

The pyloric Central Pattern Generator of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion is a well-defined biological neural network. This 14-neuron network is modulated by many inputs. These inputs reconfigure the network to produce multiple output patterns by three simple mechanisms: 1) determining which cells are active; 2) modulating the synaptic efficacy; 3) changing the intrinsic response properties of individual neurons. The importance of modifiable intrinsic response properties of neurons for network function and modulation is discussed.
The Ercc1-/Δ mouse model of accelerated senescence and aging for identification and testing of novel senotherapeutic interventions.

Progeroid murine models represent an emerging tool to investigate mechanisms of aging in an expedient and efficient manner. One prominent mechanism of aging is the accumulation of DNA damage and subsequent increase in cellular senescence, leading to age related pathologies. Ercc1-/Δ hypomorphic mice, which have a reduced level of the ERCC1-XPF DNA repair endonuclease complex, accumulate spontaneously occurring endogenous DNA damage similar to naturally aged mice, but at a faster rate. The resulting genomic damage gives rise to a senescent cell burden that is comparable to that of a naturally aged mouse. In fact, the expression of senescence and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) markers in 4-5-month-old Ercc1-/Δ mice, along with other measurements of senescence, were equivalent and never exceeded the extent of that found in naturally aged mice. Furthermore, many features of both natural murine aging and human aging are present in Ercc1-/Δ mice. An emerging use of these mice is the ability to study age-related signaling pathways, including identifying different types of senescent cells and their key senescent cell anti-apoptotic pathways (SCAPs). Most importantly, this model represents a rapid, cost-effective mouse model for the evaluation in vivo of senolytic drugs and other gerotherapeutics.
A Century of Synergy in Termite Symbiosis Research: Linking the Past with New Genomic Insights

Termites have long been studied for their symbiotic associations with gut microbes. In the late nineteenth century, this relationship was poorly understood and captured the interest of parasitologists such as Joseph Leidy; this research led to that of twentieth-century biologists and entomologists including Cleveland, Hungate, Trager, and Luscher. Early insights came via microscopy, organismal, and defaunation studies, which led to descriptions of microbes present, descriptions of the roles of symbionts in lignocellulose digestion, and early insights into energy gas utilization by the host termite. Focus then progressed to culture-dependent microbiology and biochemical studies of host-symbiont complementarity, which revealed specific microhabitat requirements for symbionts and noncellulosic mechanisms of symbiosis (e.g., N2 fixation). Today, knowledge on termite symbiosis has accrued exponentially thanks to omic technologies that reveal symbiont identities, functions, and interdependence, as well as intricacies of host-symbiont complementarity. Moving forward, the merging of classical twentieth-century approaches with evolving omic tools should provide even deeper insights into host-symbiont interplay.
Righting domestic wrongs with refugee policy

Discriminatory attitudes towards Muslim refugees are common in liberal democracies, and Muslim citizens of these countries experience high rates of discrimination and social exclusion. Uniting thes...
Real-Time Effects of Payer Restrictions on Reproductive Healthcare: A Qualitative Analysis of Cost-Related Barriers and Their Consequences among U.S. Abortion Seekers on Reddit

Objective: The Hyde Amendment and related policies limit or prohibit Medicaid coverage of abortion services in the United States. Most research on cost-related abortion barriers relies on clinic-based samples, but people who desire abortions may never make it to a healthcare center. To examine a novel, pre-abortion population, we analyzed a unique qualitative dataset of posts from Reddit, a widely used social media platform increasingly leveraged by researchers, to assess financial obstacles among anonymous posters considering abortion. Methods: In February 2020, we used Python to web-scrape the 250 most recent posts that mentioned abortion, removing all identifying information and usernames. After transferring all posts into NVivo, a qualitative software package, the team identified all datapoints related to cost. Three qualitatively trained evaluators established and applied codes, reaching saturation after 194 posts. The research team used a descriptive qualitative approach, using both inductive and deductive elements, to identify and analyze themes related to financial barriers. Results: We documented multiple cost-related deterrents, including lack of funds for both the procedure and attendant travel costs, inability to afford desired abortion modality (i.e., medication or surgical), and for some, consideration of self-managed abortion options due to cost barriers. Conclusions: Findings from this study underscore the centrality of cost barriers and third-party payer restrictions to stymying reproductive health access in the United States. Results may contribute to the growing evidence base and building political momentum focused on repealing the Hyde Amendment.
Process intensification for the biological production of the fuel precursor butyric acid from biomass

Summary The production of fuels from lignocellulosic biomass is key to reduce our reliance on petroleum and to promote a sustainable bioeconomy. Butyric acid (BA) is a promising chemical precursor for the production of renewable diesel and jet fuels. BA can be biologically produced from lignocellulosic sugars. However, challenges associated with product selectivity and recovery must be overcome to achieve industrially relevant metrics. Here, we evaluate various fermentation configurations and demonstrate near-homo-butyrate production by using the biocatalyst Clostridium tyrobutyricum. We also develop an advanced in situ product recovery process based on hybrid extraction-distillation (HED-ISPR) and conduct techno-economic analyses and life cycle assessments. We demonstrate that the HED-ISPR process lowers the overall capital and operating expenses and environmental impact compared to other traditional fermentation processes. Overall, BA minimum product selling price from biomass is 55% of the current BA selling price from petroleum, a significant decrease toward viable renewable fuel production.
Arduino IoT based Cardiac Health Monitor

Internet of Things (IoT) is considered one of rapidly advancing innovative technologies that has influenced several areas, modelling a shift in traditional healthcare systems. Proliferation of IoT devices has enabled several opportunities to improve quality of life and providing methods to reduce mortality rates. Healthcare Domain is one important area requiring high standards of accuracy and precision in determining key metrics. The objective of this project is to design a Proof-of-Concept prototype based on research with Connected Healthcare multisensory IoT system that extracts human body vital parameters and derive an early alarm of fatal cardiac arrest. The design goal primarily focuses interfacing various sensors and implementing data collection software methodologies by means of considering cost-effective techniques to potentially bring the technology closer to users and aid larger human population.
Energetics of Attention and Alzheimer’s Disease

Cognitive psychology has entered its fourth decade. The information-processing approach to cognition that Broadbent, Miller and others pioneered more than thirty years ago is now firmly established. The development of models of information processing in this period has been steady and impressive. Starting with the single-channel model and the general flow diagrams introduced by Broadbent, cognitive models have become increasingly precise and well-specified. Many models of cognitive processes are now specified mathematically or computationally. It is now possible, for example, to provide a detailed account of the elementary mental operations involved in such covert cognitive processes as mental imagery (Kosslyn, 1981) and reading (Just & Carpenter, 1980). These operations can be specified computationally using production systems and related formal descriptive procedures (Kosslyn & Shwartz, 1977; Thibadeau, Just & Carpenter, 1981).
In Acute Stroke, Can CT Perfusion-Derived Cerebral Blood Volume Maps Substitute for Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Identifying the Ischemic Core?

Background and Purpose In the treatment of patients with suspected acute ischemic stroke, increasing evidence suggests the importance of measuring the volume of the irreversibly injured “ischemic core.” The gold standard method for doing this in the clinical setting is diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI), but many authors suggest that maps of regional cerebral blood volume (CBV) derived from computed tomography perfusion imaging (CTP) can substitute for DWI. We sought to determine whether DWI and CTP-derived CBV maps are equivalent in measuring core volume.
Detailed mapping of prostate carcinoma foci: Biopsy strategy implications

BACKGROUND Prostate carcinoma exhibits considerable anatomic heterogeneity. Detailed characterization of prostate carcinoma distribution could lead to improved detection procedures and biopsy strategies. We mapped all 607 tumor foci from 180 serially sectioned whole mount radical prostatectomy specimens and used a computer algorithm to plot and summarize the distribution of these foci. We investigated whether specimen and clinical variables predicted differences in tumor distribution. METHODS The volume and anatomic location of each tumor focus were determined and digitized. A computer-based algorithm was used to fit the digitized tumor foci to a paradigm prostate. Pseudo-color summary plots of tumor distribution then were computed for selected cases. RESULTS Of the 180 specimens, 149 (83%) specimens had more than one cancer focus. Most foci (448 of 607 tumor foci, 74%) were in the peripheral zone (PZ). PZ foci near the apex had a significant midline component. Toward the base, PZ foci diverged laterally. Only 3 (2%) of 180 specimens contained foci solely in the transition zone (TZ). Total TZ cancer volume was ≤ 0.5 cm3 in 55% (52 of 94) of patients. Computer plots of patients with T1c classification (UICC/AJCC) and specimen Gleason score ≤ 6 had greater proportions of TZ tumor. CONCLUSIONS Almost all TZ foci occurred with PZ foci. The small volume of most TZ foci may explain the ineffectiveness of TZ biopsies to detect additional cancers during screening. Further, our results suggested that biopsies may be more effective if laterally directed biopsy samples are obtained nearer to the base of the prostate and if apical biopsy samples are obtained more medially. Cancer 2000;89:1800–9. © 2000 American Cancer Society.
Contributions of attentional style and previous experience to 4-month-old infants' categorization.

We examined how infants’ categorization is jointly influenced by previous experience and how much they shift their gaze back and forth between stimuli. Extending previous findings reported by K. A. Kovack-Lesh, J. S. Horst, and L. M. Oakes (2008), we found that 4-month-old infants’ (N = 122) learning of the exclusive category of cats was related to whether they had cats at home and how much they shifted attention between two available stimuli during familiarization. Individual differences in attention assessed in an unrelated task were not related to their categorization. Thus, infants’ learning is multiply influenced by past experience and online attentional style.
Expression of the mitochondrial genome in HeLa cells: II. Evidence for complete transcription of mitochondrial DNA☆

Abstract The fraction of mitochondrial DNA which is complementary to mitochondria-associated RNA in exponentially growing HeLa cells has been investigated by RNA-DNA hybridization experiments using mitochondrial DNA strands separated by alkaline CsCl density-gradient centrifugation and RNA from cells uniformly labeled with [5- 3 H]uridine. It has been found that mitochondrial RNA hybridizes almost exclusively with the heavy strand, in agreement with the complementarity of their base compositions. Less than 2% of the light strand, after purification by two cycles of alkaline CsCl gradient centrifugation, was found to form hybrids with mitochondrial RNA. In hybridization saturation experiments, the RNA sedimenting slower than 22 s or faster than 30 s gave about 100% saturation level, whereas the components in the intermediate range of sedimentation coefficients gave about 85% saturation level. An analysis in Cs 2 SO 4 gradients of the density of the RNA-DNA hybrids formed at saturation showed that the hybrids formed with the RNA of less than 22 s and greater than 30 s banded at a density of 1.491 g/cm 3 , i.e. the density expected for fully base-paired hybrids; whereas the hybrids formed with the components of intermediate sedimentation coefficients banded at a slightly lower density (1.485 g/cm 3 ), in agreement with the lower saturation level obtained with these components. An analysis by electron microscopy of the hybrids separated in a Cs 2 SO 4 density-gradient showed that essentially all the material from the 1.491 g/cm 3 band consists of nucleic acid duplexes. In view of the available evidence for the absence of major internal repetitions in mammalian mitochondrial DNA, the results obtained by the three approaches described here indicate that the whole or almost whole mitochondrial genome is transcribed in HeLa cells. The possibility that this transcription occurs in the form of a continuous RNA chain is discussed.
Transesterification reactions catalyzed by papain.

Abstract The hydrolysis of a series of esters of benzoyl-L-arginine and glycylglycine by papain has been examined in mixtures of water with various alcohols in the pH range of 5 to 6. The presence of straight chain alcohols resulted in an apparent inhibition of acid release. It was shown that this inhibition could, in part, be accounted for by papain-catalyzed transesterification reactions between the various substrates and the alcohols studied. The products of transesterification, transamidation, and hydrolysis resulting on incubation of papain with esters of glycylglycine were separated and identified, and the kinetics of their formation were examined. Ficin was found to behave similarly to papain. The present study, in conjunction with earlier reports, suggests that the ability to catalyze alcoholytic reactions may be a property of many hydrolytic enzymes.
Bacterial Cleavage of an Arylglycerol-β-Aryl Ether Bond

The first known cleavage by a bacterium of an arylglycerol-β-aryl ether linkage, the most common intermonomer linkage in lignin, is described.
Water vapor, cloud liquid water paths, and rain rates over northern high latitude open seas

[1] Data from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSMI; years 1987–2006), Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer, and a surface-based radiometer at Barrow, Alaska are examined for insights into the behavior of water vapor, cloud liquid water and rainrates over the northern high latitude seas. We evaluated two separate sets of retrievals, and achieved the best results through combining one that contained explicit monthly mean sea ice fractions with the Wentz V6 water vapor path (WVP), cloud liquid water path (LWP), and rainrate (RR) retrievals. The water vapor path retrieval shows no sensitivity to a proxy for sub-pixel sea ice presence, while the liquid water path retrievals are sensitive to sea ice presence during summertime but otherwise the Wentz internal sea-ice screening appears effective. The rainrate retrieval is highly sensitive to any sea ice during all seasons. The seasonal cycle and 1987–2006 time trends are examined. The WVP annual cycle has an amplitude of ∼1 cm at all locations, approximately double a broad winter minimum, with a July maximum phasing that is consistent with a continental influence. Little change occurs between January and April in WVP and LWP. The springtime LWP increase usually occurs in tandem with the WVP increase and slightly lags the falltime WVP decrease. The maximum lag occurs over the northern Pacific, where the maximum LWP occurs in August, one month later than over the northern Atlantic, and is correlated to an August precipitation maximum. The strongest SSMI-derived trend is an increase in wintertime moisture south of Greenland, with wintertime LWP increases in the Labrador Sea. North of the Bering Strait, where much of the recent summer and autumn sea ice loss has occurred, the autumn WVP and LWP increased from 1989 to 2001 with a subsequent LWP decrease in recent years. The recent decline appears linked to a decrease in cyclone activity. Winter and spring LWP increases from 2002 to the present are noted in the surface-based data set from Barrow, Alaska. Over the Barents Sea, where much of the recent winter sea ice loss has occurred, winter WVP and LWP have increased over the past decade. A comparison to National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Atmospheric Model Version 3.5 values finds modeled WVPs are slightly underestimated but the amplitude of the annual cycle is similar to that observed. Modeled winter LWPs slightly exceed those measured while the modeled summer LWPs exceed by a factor of two those observed (which are more likely to be positively biased also). The modeled rainrates are similar to retrieved values in the north Pacific, and exceed retrieved values by approximately a factor of 2 in the northeast Atlantic.
Abstract 406: A potential new mechanism for PTEN to maintain genome stability

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Purpose: PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) is among the most mutated or lost tumor suppressors. Recent studies revealed that nuclear PTEN represses tumorigenesis by stabilizing the centromere, a highly condensed heterochromatin domain featured with long array of DNA repeats (namely, satellite DNA), repressive histones, such as trimethylated Histone H3 at Lys9 residue (H3K9me3), and heterochromatin proteins. Our studies are aimed to explore the molecular mechanism that PTEN regulates this heterochromatin structure and thus maintaining genome stability. Methods and Results: Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay showed that PTEN and the heterochromatin proteins directly interact. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that PTEN is enriched in satellite locus. Depletion of PTEN leads to abnormal heterochromatin structure, indicated by reduced H3K9m3 foci (detected by immunofluorescent staining) and occupancy to satellite locus (ChIP assay), decreased heterochromatin protein levels (Westernblot analysis), and overexpression of satellite transcripts (quantitative RT-PCR). Through a knockdown-and-mutant rescue strategy, we found that the C-terminal of PTEN is essential for its repressive function on satellite transcription. Furthermore, overexpression of the C-terminal truncated PTEN into PTEN-null BT549 cells, as compared to wild-type PTEN overexpression, lost its function to suppress cell growth (MTT assay), cell cycle progression (flow cytometry analysis) and protection from DNA damage (MTT and colony formation assays). Conclusions: Our finding showed that PTEN guards the genome stability through maintaining the normal structure of heterochromatin domain. Citation Format: Lili Gong, Shiaw-Yih Lin. A potential new mechanism for PTEN to maintain genome stability. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 406. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-406
In-Plant System for Continuous Low-Level Ion Measurement in Steam-Producing Water

This paper describes the development of an on-line analytical instrument to measure selected anions and cations over the sub-parts-per-billion to several parts-per-million concentration range. The system has been designedand is being installed in an electrical generating power plant. Laboratory evaluations and limited in-plant experiences will be discussed regarding measurements of nonhydrolyzable anions and cations, transition metal ions, and organic acids. The system will accommodate multiple sample line inputs with computer-controlled options to provide sample averaging, automated sample point selection, and system standardization and calibration. The data acquisition capabilities, including storage and report generation, will also be addressed.
Hybrid PET/MR May Improve Diagnostic Yield of Epileptic Lesions (P6.288)

OBJECTIVE: To improve radiographically identifiable epileptogenic lesion using a hybrid PET/MR scanner BACKGROUND: Radiographically identifiable epileptogenic lesions provide information about the etiology, epileptogenic foci, and prognosis of epilepsy surgery. Recently available hybrid PET/MR offers unique ability to simultaneously obtain detailed anatomical MR images and cerebral glucose metabolism using PET FDG. The accurate co-localization of both anatomical and metabolic images could potentially improve the detection of epileptogenic lesion. DESIGN/METHODS: 29 patients undergoing epilepsy surgery evaluation at UNC were imaged using PET/MR as part of the clinical work-up. All of those patients had previous epilepsy protocol 3T MRI. Twelve of them had PET-CT studies. RESULTS: Hybrid PET/MR identified five new lesions (4 MR and 1 PET) in 5 patients when compared to their previously acquired MR or PET/CT images without significant clinical changes between studies. All four new MR lesions were spatially concordant with PET lesions. Three out of the 4 new MR lesions and the new PET lesion were felt to be clinically significant, either correlating with clinical seizure semiology, EEG finding or SPECT results, reflecting potentially epileptic foci. In contrast, two previously observed lesions (1 MR and 1 PET) were not appreciated in hybrid PET/MR. Of the two patients, one patient underwent left anterior temporal lobectomy after PET-CT but prior to PET-MRI . Overall, concordant PET and MR abnormalities in PET-MRI are seen in 20 out of 29 (69.0[percnt]). In addition, PET/MR increases diagnostic yields by revealing four new clinically relevant lesions which were not discerned in previous MR nor PET/CT. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial experience in hybrid PET-MRI showed some promising findings of increased diagnostic yield to detect potential epileptic lesion from our pilot data. This may be due to the unique advantage to improve the co-registration and simultaneously to review both structural and functional data. Study Supported by: none Disclosure: Dr. Shin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jewells has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sheikh has received personal compensation for activities with Immunomedics and Wilex. Dr. An has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hadar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ngo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hongtu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gao has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lin has nothing to disclose.
Imaging of the Liver Following Interventional Therapy for Hepatic Neoplasms

Locoregional therapies for hepatic neoplasms have distinctive imaging features after treatment, different from those observed after systemic therapy. As these therapies are becoming more common, it is important that radiologists be aware of the imaging appearance of tumors after locoregional therapies to correctly diagnose treatment response or failure and potential complications. This article reviews the imaging recommendations and findings after intra-arterial therapies (chemoembolization and radioembolization) and ablative therapies.