cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Caudal Homeobox Protein Cdx-2 Cooperates with Wnt Pathway to Regulate Claudin-1 Expression in Colon Cancer Cells

Dysregulation of tight junctions (TJs) is often associated with human diseases including carcinogenesis and recent studies support role of TJ integral proteins in the regulation of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). In this regard, expression of claudin-1, a key constituent of TJs, is highly increased in colon cancer and is causally associated with the tumor growth and progression. However, mechanism/s underlying regulation of claudin-1 expression in intestinal epithelial cells remains poorly understood. In our studies, we have identified putative binding sites for intestinal transcription factors Cdx1, -2 and GATA4 in the 5′-flanking region of the claudin-1 gene. Our further studies using full length and/or deletion mutant constructs in two different human colon cancer cell lines, SW480 and HCT116, showed key role of Cdx1, Cdx2 and GATA4 in the regulation of claudin-1 mRNA expression. However, overexpression of Cdx2 had the most potent effect upon claudin-1 mRNA expression and promoter activity. Also, in colon cancer patient samples, we observed a significant and parallel correlation between claudin-1 and Cdx2 expressions. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay confirmed the Cdx2 binding with claudin-1 promoter in vivo. Using Cdx2 deletion mutant constructs, we further mapped the Cdx2 C-terminus domain to be important in the regulation of claudin-1 promoter activity. Interestingly, co-expression of activated β-catenin further induced the Cdx2-dependent upregulation of claudin-1 promoter activity while expression of the dominant negative (dn)-TCF-4 abrogated this activation. Taken together, we conclude that homeodomain transcription factors Cdx1, Cdx2 and GATA4 regulate claudin-1 gene expression in human colon cancer cells. Moreover, a functional crosstalk between Wnt-signaling and transcriptional activation related to caudal-related homeobox (Cdx) proteins and GATA-proteins is demonstrated in the regulation of claudin-1 promoter-activation.
Visualizing place, representing age in hip-hop: converging themes in Scarface's ‘My Block’

Taking contemporary hip-hop as the primary object of analysis, this paper identifies two dominant and entwined themes: the active representation of place and of age. In hip-hop, to ‘represent’ typically involves the articulation of spatial affinities and place-based loyalties that are fused with the social contexts of one's localized experience. Yet an additional facet of representing also involves the emphasis on formative moments throughout one's life, citing key events that occur in localized or circumscribed environments. This is defined here as ‘age representing’. Following a preliminary discussion of age–place discourses in hip-hop, the specific analytical focus turns to localized aging as it is portrayed in the Scarface video ‘My Block’, a classic coming-of-age tale vividly portraying the nuances of age and spatial experience in Houston, TX. As the paper illustrates, age is a crucial facet of our cultural forms of articulation and, thus, warrants attention as we seek to comprehend spaces and places...
From Virtual to Reality: Fast Adaptation of Virtual Object Detectors to Real Domains

The most successful 2D object detection methods require a large number of images annotated with object bounding boxes to be collected for training. We present an alternative approach that trains on virtual data rendered from 3D models, avoiding the need for manual labeling. Growing demand for virtual reality applications is quickly bringing about an abundance of available 3D models for a large variety of object categories. While mainstream use of 3D models in vision has focused on predicting the 3D pose of objects, we investigate the use of such freely available 3D models for multicategory 2D object detection. To address the issue of dataset bias that arises from training on virtual data and testing on real images, we propose a simple and fast adaptation approach based on decorrelated features. We also compare two kinds of virtual data, one rendered with real-image textures and one without. Evaluation on a benchmark domain adaptation dataset demonstrates that our method performs comparably to existing methods trained on large-scale real image domains.
Impact of laser clipping distortion on hybrid SCM AM/QAM lightwave transmission

In summary, the results presented herein show a significant BER increase of M-QAM in a hybrid AM/QAM optical fiber system due to the clipping distortion. The effect is significant even with a small probability of clipping as shown by the experimental results. Consequently, to reduce this kind of effect powerful error correction coding techniques for M-QAM may have to be applied. >
Time- and exercise-dependent gene regulation in human skeletal muscle

Background: Skeletal muscle remodeling is a critical component of an organism's response to environmental changes. Exercise causes structural changes in muscle and can induce phase shifts in circadian rhythms, fluctuations in physiology and behavior with a period of around 24 hours that are maintained by a core clock mechanism. Both exercise-induced remodeling and circadian rhythms rely on the transcriptional regulation of key genes. Results: We used DNA microarrays to determine the effects of resistance exercise (RE) on gene regulation in biopsy samples of human quadriceps muscle obtained 6 and 18 hours after an acute bout of isotonic exercise with one leg. We also profiled diurnal gene regulation at the same time points (2000 and 0800 hours) in the non-exercised leg. Comparison of our results with published circadian gene profiles in mice identified 44 putative genes that were regulated in a circadian fashion. We then used quantitative PCR to validate the circadian expression of selected gene orthologs in mouse skeletal muscle. Conclusions: The coordinated regulation of the circadian clock genes Cry1, Per2, and Bmal1 6 hours after RE and diurnal genes 18 hours after RE in the exercised leg suggest that RE may directly modulate circadian rhythms in human skeletal muscle.
Tool Demonstration: Silver Extensible Compiler Frameworks and Modular Language Extensions for Java and C

In this tool demonstration of Silver extensible compiler frameworks for Java and C we illustrate how new languages that are adapted to specific problem domains can be easily created, by their users, by importing a set of desired domain-specific language extensions into an extensible host language compiler. Language extensions for computational geometry and database access will be shown. We also show extensions that provide general purpose language features such as algebraic types and pattern matching can be imported into an extensible language compiler. Each Silver extensible compiler framework supports the development of language extensions that have two important facets. First, language extensions should satisfy a completeness requirement. That is, they should be as welldeveloped as host language features and fit seamlessly into the host language. In particular, the language feature designer should be able to specify new language constructs together with their domain-specific semantic analyses and techniques for their optimization. One aspect of this requirement is that language extension should report a useful error message when they are used incorrectly. Second, the extensions should be modular so that a programmer can extend his or her language by choosing from a collection of previously defined features knowing only the functionality they provide and with no implementation-level knowledge or a detailed analysis of their interactions. Thus we draw a distinction between the programmer importing an extension and the feature designer who implements it. We will show extensible compilers for both C and Java. These compilers are defined by an attribute grammar written in the Silver attribute grammar language. A Silver compiler analyses attribute grammar specifications and generates an executable compiler for the defined (extended) language by translating the Silver specifications into an efficient Haskell representation. Language extensions are also specified as Silver attribute grammar fragments and the framework tools automatically compose specifications of the host language and chosen language extensions into a specification for the custom extended language.
Acute scrotal ultrasound: a practical guide

The purpose of this article is to provide a practical review of common ultrasound (US) findings in patients presenting with acute scrotal pain. We performed a literature search and reviewed numerous US cases archived in the radiology department of a large university hospital to find examples that illustrate the common US findings encountered in acute scrotal pain. We reviewed the literature and provided several practical examples of common US findings in patients presenting with acute scrotal pain. Scrotal US plays a pivotal role in the evaluation of acute scrotal pain and allows proper triage of patients for conservative, medical, or surgical management due to its ability to rapidly differentiate intra versus extratesticular pathology, determine extent of trauma, and assess parenchymal perfusion.
Referendums on Independence, 1860–2011

There have been more than 50 independence referendums since the middle of the 19th Century when Texas, Virginia and Tennessee—albeit unsuccessfully—voted to leave the USA. A handful of plebiscites were held in each decade after 1945, but most independence referendums were held after the break-down of communism. Most have resulted in majorities for independence. However, such plebiscites have been rare in countries with established systems of democratic government and the results may not be a fair reflection of the views of the voters. When referendums have been held in democratic countries, they have often resulted in a no-vote (though Montenegro is an exception to the rule). Referendums have on a few occasions resulted in the exacerbation of ethnic conflict, such as in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in East Timor. But generally speaking referendums are not correlated with civil war; indeed, war resulted in only 13 percent of the cases.
Novel CI-backoff scheme for real-time embedded speech recognition

A new method for reduction of computation and memory bandwidth for embedded large vocabulary continuous speech recognition is presented. During the Hidden Markov model state likelihood computation, scores for selected context-dependent (triphone) model states are computed for several frames in advance. Scores that are subsequently needed for Viterbi search but not found in the buffer are replaced by the scores for associated context independent (monophone) models. On the Wall Street Journal 20,000 word continuous speech recognition task, an overall reduction of 58% memory bandwidth and decrease of 23% execution time is achieved relative to an assembly optimized implementation of Sphinx 3. Recognition accuracy is reduced by ≪1% while recognition latency is increased by 30 milliseconds.
Response of the blood corpuscles in hypophysectomized rats to irradiation with x-ray.

SOME attempts have been made to demonstrate the influence of hormones on the sensitivity of animals to irradiation and on their capacity to recover from damage induced by it. Evidence concerning the part played by the anterior hypophysis is conflicting. Although Patt, Swift, Tyree, and Straube (1948) found that hypophysectomy increases the sensitivity of rats to irradiation with X-ray, Finerty, Binhammer and Schneider (1953) concluded from experiments utilizing the parabiosis technique, that secretions of the hypophysis and of its dependent glands are not critical factors in recovery. There are several reasons why the hypophysectomized animal might be less resistant to X-irradiation. Pituitary ablation causes numerous structural and functional deficiencies in the alimentary tract (Baker and Abrams, 1954, 1955) which could lessen the capacity of an animal to withstand the early gastro-intestinal phase of the radiation syndrome. Pertinent hematological changes also occur after hypophysectomy. An anemia ensu...
A review of numerical simulation and modeling of combustion in scramjets

This paper reviews numerical simulations and modeling of high-speed combustion as it pertains to scramjets. Simulation results were presented from various researchers that have dedicated their time and effort to numerical investigation of high-speed combustion in scramjets. In addition to their findings, validation works were presented, showing the validity of ANSYS Fluent 12.1 in the application of high-speed combustion in scramjets.
Lie algebras of differential operators and Lie-algebraic potentials

Abstract An explicit characterisation of all second order differential operators on the line which can be written as bilinear combinations of the generators of a finite-dimensional Lie algebra of first order differential operators is found, solving a problem arising in the Lie-algebraic approach to scattering theory and molecular dynamics. One-dimensional potentials corresponding to these Lie algebras are explicitly classified, which include the harmonic oscillator, Morse, one-soliton (Poschl-Teller), Mathieu, Lame, confluent hypergeometric, and Bessel potentials.
Resting state functional connectivity of the striatum in Parkinson’s disease

Classical accounts of the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease have emphasized degeneration of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons with consequent dysfunction of cortico–striatal–thalamic loops. In contrast, post-mortem studies indicate that pathological changes in Parkinson’s disease (Lewy neurites and Lewy bodies) first appear primarily in the lower brainstem with subsequent progression to more rostral parts of the neuraxis. The nigrostriatal and histological perspectives are not incompatible, but they do emphasize different anatomical structures. To address the question of which brain structures are functionally most affected by Parkinson’s disease, we performed a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study focused on striatal functional connectivity. We contrasted 13 patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease versus 19 age-matched control subjects, using methodology incorporating scrupulous attention to minimizing the effects of head motion during scanning. The principal finding in the Parkinson’s disease group was markedly lower striatal correlations with thalamus, midbrain, pons and cerebellum. This result reinforces the importance of the brainstem in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease. Focally altered functional connectivity also was observed in sensori-motor and visual areas of the cerebral cortex, as well the supramarginal gyrus. Striatal functional connectivity with the brainstem was graded (posterior putamen > anterior putamen > caudate), in both patients with Parkinson’s disease and control subjects, in a manner that corresponds to well-documented gradient of striatal dopaminergic function loss in Parkinson’s disease. We hypothesize that this gradient provides a clue to the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease.
Influences of Glycosylation on Antigenicity, Immunogenicity, and Protective Efficacy of Ebola Virus GP DNA Vaccines

The Ebola virus (EBOV) envelope glycoprotein (GP) is the primary target of protective immunity. Mature GP consists of two disulfide-linked subunits, GP1 and membrane-bound GP2. GP is highly glycosylated with both N- and O-linked carbohydrates. We measured the influences of GP glycosylation on antigenicity, immunogenicity, and protection by testing DNA vaccines comprised of GP genes with deleted N-linked glycosylation sites or with deletions in the central hypervariable mucin region. We showed that mutation of one of the two N-linked GP2 glycosylation sites was highly detrimental to the antigenicity and immunogenicity of GP. Our data indicate that this is likely due to the inability of GP2 and GP1 to dimerize at the cell surface and suggest that glycosylation at this site is required for achieving the conformational integrity of GP2 and GP1. In contrast, mutation of two N-linked sites on GP1, which flank previously defined protective antibody epitopes on GP, may enhance immunogenicity, possibly by unmasking epitopes. We further showed that although deleting the mucin region apparently had no effect on antigenicity in vitro, it negatively impacted the elicitation of protective immunity in mice. In addition, we confirmed the presence of previously identified B-cell and T-cell epitopes in GP but show that when analyzed individually none of them were neither absolutely required nor sufficient for protective immunity to EBOV. Finally, we identified other potential regions of GP that may contain relevant antibody or T-cell epitopes.
Orthobiological Augmentation of Consecutive Rotator Cuff Repair Failure and Deltoid Dehiscence

ABSTRACT We present a case of postsurgical deltoid insufficiency occurring after augmented revision of a failed prior rotator cuff repair. Revision deltoid repair with deltoid imbrication and orthobiological augmentation was dually performed, resulting in successful deltoid and rotator cuff healing and improved clinical outcomes.
Determination of Urea in Atmospheric Aerosols and Natural Waters - A Cation Exchange Method

An ion exchange chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of urea in freshwater, rainwater, and water-extracted aerosol samples. The method provides a fast and reliable way to determine the concentration of urea without the use of harmful chemicals or large amounts of time devoted to sample preparation. The method utilizes a Dionex IonPac CS12 cation exchange column and UV detection at 190 nm. A comparison between the new method described in this manuscript and a previously published method for urea determination in rainwater and water-extracted aerosol samples is also presented. This comparison shows potential interferences from other organic N compounds similar to urea when using the previously published method. Tests utilizing various pH values and the enzyme urease also confirmed the ability of the new method to determine the concentration of urea within atmospheric aerosols and natural waters.
Rayleigh wave attenuation and its variation across the Atlantic Ocean

Summary. Fundamental-mode Rayleigh walies generated by several earthquakes situated on great circle paths traversing pairs of seismograph stations in American and European coastal regions and on Atlantic islands have been analysed to obtain anelastic attenuation coefficients, group and phase velocities, and specific quality factors at periods between 15 and 100s. Inversions of the dispersion and attenuation data have yielded shear velocity and shear wave internal friction (Qj') models of the upper mantle for regions of varying age in the Atlantic Ocean. The attenuation coefficients and internal friction values can be related to the age of the Atlantic Ocean floor, older regions being characterized by lower internal friction (or higher Q) values. A lowQ zone is prominent in the upper mantle of all regions less than 65 Myr in age, but is poorly developed in older regions. In contrast to the attenuation results, no systematic variations of Rayleigh or shear velocities with age can be resolved using the dispersion data of this study. A comparison of internal friction models beneath the Atlantic with those beneath the Pacific indicates that for regions of similar age internal friction is smaller (or Q larger) beneath the Atlantic than beneath the Pacific, especially in the younger regions immediately contiguous with the ridges. In particular, the upper mantle low-velocity, low-Q zone is less prominent beneath the Atlantic. The fact that spreading rates of the lithospheric plates are also smaller in the Atlantic suggests that internal friction and the rate of long-term creep in the mantle are closely related.
On computing the expected discounted return in a markov chain

The discounted return associated with a finite state Markov chain X1, X2… is given by g(X1)+ αg(X2) + α2g(X3) + …, where g(x) represents the immediate return from state x. Knowing the transition matrix of the chain, it is desired to compute the expected discounted return (present worth) given the initial state. This type of problem arises in inventory theory, dynamic programming, and elsewhere. Usually the solution is approximated by solving the system of linear equations characterizing the expected return. These equations can be solved by a variety of well-known methods. This paper describes yet another method, which is a slight modification of the classical iterative scheme. The method gives sequences of upper and lower bounds which converge mono-tonely to the solution. Hence, the method is relatively free of error control problems. Computational experiments were conducted which suggest that for problems with a large number of states, the method is quite efficient. The amount of computation required to obtain the solution increases much slower with an increase in the number of states, N, than with the conventional methods. In fact, computational time is more nearly proportional to N2, than to N3.
Increasing Nutrition Literacy: Testing the Effectiveness of Print, Web Site, and Game Modalities

Abstract Objective To examine the effectiveness of three modalities for delivery of nutrition education. Design Between-subjects, repeated-measures design. Setting Data were collected at community agencies or during home visits. Participants Low-income, European American and African American mothers (N = 155). Intervention Participants were exposed to nutrition education material in 1 of 3 modalities (a computer game, The Fantastic Food Challenge; Web site; or pamphlet). Likeability, nutrition knowledge, intention to use, and demographic measures followed the intervention at T1 and T2. Main Outcome Measures 5-point Likert-type scales measured likeability (5 items), and 33 multiple-choice questions measured knowledge. Analysis Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) procedures using SPSS version 15.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) software, P Results Overall, the Web site was liked more than the other conditions with this audience of women. Significant differences in attention, understanding, and intent to use the information existed across modalities. The Web site performed better than other modalities on knowledge outcomes, with no differences in knowledge retention from T1 toT2. Conclusions and Implications The Web site modality performed best with this audience of women, indicating that interactive computer games may not confer greater benefits than traditional modes of information delivery for all audiences, particularly those with low computer skills.
Assessing Ventricular Scar in Tetralogy of Fallot

The prevalence of repaired congenital heart disease is increasing, and late mortality is an important clinical concern. Patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) contribute the largest fraction of subjects in many articles that address late mortality.1–3 Multicenter studies and single-center groups have mined their databases for retrospective analyses in patients with TOF. These studies have tried to determine which interventions can alter the long-term course of the disease and when these interventions should be performed.4–6 In 2013, we know more about the long-term outcomes in TOF than in any other form of severe congenital heart disease. We have both surgical and catheter-based valve approaches to alter the major long-term hemodynamic problems. It would seem that if we can assist anyone with severe adult congenital heart disease, in TOF we stand on the tallest shoulders and might see the farthest. Article see p 905 For these reasons, we would hope to have the best success at treating ventricular tachycardia (VT) in this population. Antiarrhythmic medications and defibrillator therapies are offered to those patients with the highest risk of life-threatening VT. Ablation serves as a useful adjunct therapy, either to prevent future arrhythmia or to reduce implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks. In this issue of Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology , Moore et al7 report the results of gross and microscopic evaluation from 27 postmortem specimens with TOF. The authors’ goal was to describe the dimensions of the right ventricular muscular isthmuses and quantify the degree of fibrosis. These isthmuses are narrow bands of conducting muscle; they are anatomically defined by features of the ventricle and by postsurgical scar. These isthmuses help …
Plasma insulin and blood glucose levels in patients taking oral contraceptives. A preliminary report of a prospective study.

Abstract Blood glucose and plasma insulin were measured before and after an intravenous glucose stimulus. Twenty-five subjects were tested before and after one cycle of oral Enovid treatment. Both the glucose and insulin levels are higher in the drug-treated group. The significance of these findings is discussed.
Phase-amplitude coupling, an indication of bursting in parkinsonism, is masked by periodic pulses.

Interactions between neural oscillations in the brain have been observed in many structures including the hippocampus, amygdala, motor cortex, and basal ganglia. In this study, one popular approach...
Indestructibility and destructible measurable cardinals

Say that $${\kappa}$$?'s measurability is destructible if there exists a $${\kappa}$$?. It then follows that $${A_{1} = \{\delta < \kappa \mid \delta}$$A1={?<??? is measurable, ? is not a limit of measurable cardinals, ? is not ?+ strongly compact, and ?'s measurability is destructible when forcing with partial orderings having rank below ??} is unbounded in $${\kappa}$$?. On the other hand, under the same hypotheses, $${A_{2} = \{\delta < \kappa \mid \delta}$$A2={?<??? is measurable, ? is not a limit of measurable cardinals, ? is not ?+ strongly compact, and ??s measurability is indestructible when forcing with either Add(?, 1) or Add(?, ?+)} is unbounded in $${\kappa}$$? as well. The large cardinal hypothesis on ? is necessary, as we further demonstrate by constructing via forcing two distinct models in which either $${A_{1} = \emptyset}$$A1=? or $${A_{2} = \emptyset}$$A2=?. In each of these models, both of which have restricted large cardinal structures above $${\kappa}$$?, every measurable cardinal ? which is not a limit of measurable cardinals is ?+ strongly compact, and there is an indestructibly supercompact cardinal $${\kappa}$$?. In the model in which $${A_{1} = \emptyset}$$A1=?, every measurable cardinal ? which is not a limit of measurable cardinals is <?? strongly compact and has its <?? strong compactness (and hence also its measurability) indestructible when forcing with ?-directed closed partial orderings having rank below ??. The choice of the least beth fixed point above ? is arbitrary, and other values of ?? are also possible.
Endoscopic closure of colonic perforations using over-the-scope clip: a surgeon-sparing technique.

The incidence of perforation during diagnostic colonoscopy has been reported to be 0.2%, however this increases to 5% during therapeutic colonoscopy [1]. The current approach to manage these complications encountered during colonoscopy is surgical repair. With the advances in the field of therapeutic endoscopy, the role of over-the-scope clip (OTSC) in managing this dreaded complication seems to be very promising [2]. Although experience in porcine models proved the OTSC’s usefulness in the successful closure of full thickness perforations, we still lack experience with humans to label it as a standard approach [3]. Here we would like to share interesting images from our experience with OTSC in dealing with colonic perforations during colonoscopy. An 87-year-old female with multiple co-morbidities underwent colonoscopy for evaluation of severe iron defi ciency anemia and multiple polyps in the past. At the recto-sigmoid junction we found multiple medium sized diverticula, of which one appeared to be diff erent with yellowish tissue suggestive of omentum (Fig. 1A,B). Colonic perforation was suspected and we decided to manage that endoscopically using OTSC 12/6 GC. Th e endoscopic closure of the defect was performed successfully using the standard OTSC technique (Fig. 1C). Computed tomography of the abdomen with oral contrast revealed no contrast extravasation and the clip completely approximated the defect. Th e patient was discharged from the hospital aft er an uneventful observation in the surgical unit for 48 h. Th ere is limited information available in the current literature regarding the benefi ts of OTSC in the management of colonic perforation in humans. We believe that the OTSC will be a helpful tool in dealing with iatrogenic colonic perforation, if identifi ed early with a signifi cant level of confi dence. In contrast to a surgical approach, usage of the OTSC can potentially avoid surgical and anesthesia complications, shorten the length of hospitalization and be ideal for frail highrisk patients.
The Course of Arterial Pressure and the Effect of Sarxd1-Thr8-Angiotensin II in a New Model of Two-Kidney Hypertension in Conscious Dogs

1. We describe a new method of producing two-kidney hypertension in dogs by a two-step procedure with complete occlusion of a renal artery 2 weeks after it was partially constricted. 2. Control mean arterial pressure (96 +/- 3 mmHg) of nine conscious, trained dogs rose to 107 +/- 3 mmHg 2 weeks after partial constriction of a renal artery, and it stabilized at a sustained hypertensive plateau (124 +/- 7 mmHg) 3 weeks after complete occlusion. 3. Intravenous infusion of an angiotensin II antagonist (Sar1-Thr8-angiotensin II) caused arterial pressure to fall during the acute but not the chronic phase of renal hypertension. In this latter phase plasma renin activity had returned to control values. 4. We conclude that the renin-angiotensin system appears not to be directly involved in the chronic phase of two-kidney hypertension in the dog.
Rightsizing Commercial Electrical Power Systems: Review of a New Exception in NEC Section 220.12

For decades, the application of National Electrical Code (NEC) rules for sizing services, feeders, and branch circuits has resulted in unused capacity in almost all occupancy classes. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) data compiled in 1999 indicate the average load on building transformers to be between 10% and 25%. More recent data gathered by the educational facilities industry have verified this claim. Recognizing that aggressive energy codes are driving energy consumption lower and that larger-thannecessary transformers create a larger-than-necessary flash hazard, the 2014 NEC provided an exception in Section 220.12 that permitted designers to reduce transformer kilovoltampere ratings and all related components of the power delivery system. This was a conservative, incremental step in the direction of reduced load density that is limited to lighting systems. Further study of feeder and branch circuit loading is necessary to inform discussions about circuit design methods in future revisions of the NEC.
Blood flow steroid secretion and nutrient uptake of the gravid bovine uterus.

Summary An experiment was conducted with mature Hereford cows to quantitate blood flow, steroid secretion and nutrient uptake of the bovine uterus at various stages of gestation. Electromagnetic blood flow probes were placed around the middle uterine artery supplying the gravid horn at about 30 (n=5), 80 (n=4), 140 (n=4), 180 (n=4), 210 (n=5) and 240 (n=4) days postmating. In addition, indwelling catheters were placed in an artery and vein on the surface of the gravid horn. Beginning on the second day after surgery, blood flow was monitored daily for 15 minutes. Uterine arterial (A) and venous (V) blood samples were collected immediately after blood flow through the middle uterine artery was monitored. Plasma was obtained, frozen and later assayed for progesterone, estrone, estradiol, glucose, a-amino nitrogen, urea nitrogen and selected amino acids. Blood flow to the gravid horn (milliliters/ minute) was 119 + 18 (n=3), 205 (n=l), 1,966 -+ 626 (n=3), 3,212 -+ 428 (n=3), 3,896 + 459 (n=3) and 3,155 + 195 (n=3) at 31 to 45, 77 to 92, 139 to 155, 178 to 199, ~02 to 224 and 230 to 258 days postmating, respectively. Progesterone in uterine arterial blood increased throughout pregnancy and averaged 1.44 -+ .69, 2.57 + .79, 4.31 + .98, 5.77 -+ 1.92, 6.57 + .75
Focusing, refraction, and asymmetric transmission of elastic waves in solid metamaterials with aligned parallel gaps

Gradient index (GRIN), refractive, and asymmetric transmission devices for elastic waves are designed using a solid with aligned parallel gaps. The gaps are assumed to be thin so that they can be considered as parallel cracks separating elastic plate waveguides. The plates do not interact with one another directly, only at their ends where they connect to the exterior solid. To formulate the transmission and reflection coefficients for SV- and P-waves, an analytical model is established using thin plate theory that couples the waveguide modes with the waves in the exterior body. The GRIN lens is designed by varying the thickness of the plates to achieve different flexural wave speeds. The refractive effect of SV-waves is achieved by designing the slope of the edge of the plate array, and keeping the ratio between plate length and flexural wavelength fixed. The asymmetric transmission of P-waves is achieved by sending an incident P-wave at a critical angle, at which total conversion to SV-wave occurs. An array of parallel gaps perpendicular to the propagation direction of the reflected waves stop the SV-wave but let P-waves travel through. Examples of focusing, steering, and asymmetric transmission devices are discussed.
General Measure Spaces

In this chapter, we extend results obtained for the real line to more general spaces supplied with a measure.
SOCIAL HISTORY: Thompson

[Since 1945, there has been a marked revival of interest in social history. Responding to new directions in sociology and politics, historians have been particularly concerned with examining and reconstructing the life and aspirations of the neglected classes of earlier times. It could hardly be considered surprising that some of this history embodies or stimulates a neo-Marxist concern with the impact of changing material conditions on human consciousness and with the emergence of class struggles and revolutionary movements in history. This genre of history has been especially important in postwar France and England, and in the latter no work has been more widely hailed as a massive contribution to scholarship from a new perspective than The Making of the English Working Class (1963) by E. P. Thompson (b. 1924). To convey something of E. P. Thompson’s scope and method, a part of the Preface to his work and the concluding section of his final chapter on class consciousness are reprinted below.]
Use of Digitally Stained Multimodal Confocal Mosaic Images to Screen for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Importance Confocal microscopy has the potential to provide rapid bedside pathologic analysis, but clinical adoption has been limited in part by the need for physician retraining to interpret grayscale images. Digitally stained confocal mosaics (DSCMs) mimic the colors of routine histologic specimens and may increase adaptability of this technology. Objective To evaluate the accuracy and precision of 3 physicians using DSCMs before and after training to detect basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Mohs micrographic surgery fresh-tissue specimens. Design This retrospective study used 133 DSCMs from 64 Mohs tissue excisions, which included clear margins, residual BCC, or residual SCC. Discarded tissue from Mohs surgical excisions from the dermatologic surgery units at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Oregon Health & Science University were collected for confocal imaging from 2006 to 2011. Final data analysis and interpretation took place between 2014 and 2016. Two Mohs surgeons and a Mohs fellow, who were blinded to the correlating gold standard frozen section diagnoses, independently reviewed the DSCMs for residual nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) before and after a brief training session (about 5 minutes). The 2 assessments were separated by a 6-month washout period. Main Outcomes and Measures Diagnostic accuracy was characterized by sensitivity and specificity of detecting NMSC using DSCMs vs standard frozen histopathologic specimens. The diagnostic precision was calculated based on interobserver agreement and κ scores. Paired 2-sample t tests were used for comparative means analyses before and after training. Results The average respective sensitivities and specificities of detecting NMSC were 90% (95% CI, 89%-91%) and 79% (95% CI, 52%-100%) before training and 99% (95% CI, 99%-99%) ( P = .001) and 93% (95% CI, 90%-96%) ( P = .18) after training; for BCC, they were 83% (95% CI, 59%-100%) and 92% (95% CI, 81%-100%) before training and 98% (95% CI, 98%-98%) ( P = .18) and 97% (95% CI, 95%-100%) ( P = .15) after training; for SCC, they were 73% (95% CI, 65%-81%) and 89% (95% CI, 72%-100%) before training and 100% ( P = .004) and 98% (95% CI, 95%-100%) ( P = .21) after training. The pretraining interobserver agreement was 72% (κ = 0.58), and the posttraining interobserver agreement was 98% (κ = 0.97) ( P = .04). Conclusions and Relevance Diagnostic use of DSCMs shows promising correlation to frozen histologic analysis, but image quality was affected by variations in image contrast and mosaic-stitching artifact. With training, physicians were able to read DSCMs with significantly improved accuracy and precision to detect NMSC.
Parents’ information needs and influential factors when making decisions about TNF-α inhibitors

Parents struggle when making treatment decisions for children with arthritis or other chronic conditions. Understanding their decision-making process is an essential step towards improving the decision-making experience. The objective of this study was to describe parents’ information needs and the influences on their decision making about treatment with TNF-α inhibitors. Survey domains were developed based on qualitative data and cognitive interviewing. We mailed the survey to parents of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease who had initiated treatment with TNF-α inhibitors in the prior 2 years. Data were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric statistics. Survey response rate was 54.9 %. Each item had <2 % missing responses. Parents used an array of information sources when deciding about treatment with TNF-α inhibitors. Resources other than their child’s specialist were most often used to increase confidence in parents’ decisions or because they wanted to know more about other people’s experiences being treated with TNF-α inhibitors, rather than due to a lack of understanding. All but two (cost and route of administration) of the influential decision factors were very or extremely important to the majority of participants with factors related to long-term side effects, treatment efficacy, and disease impact being most important. This study describes parents’ information needs and influential factors in treatment decision making. Results suggest that future work should be aimed at helping families weigh risks and benefits, such as through decision support interventions, as well as developing opportunities to include people beyond the family and physician in the decision-making process.
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids: Metabolic Activation Pathways Leading to Liver Tumor Initiation

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and PA N-oxides are a class of phytochemical carcinogens contained in over 6000 plant species spread around the world. It has been estimated that approximately half of the 660 PAs and PA N-oxides that have been characterized are cytotoxic, genotoxic, and tumorigenic. It was recently determined that a genotoxic mechanism of liver tumor initiation mediated by PA-derived DNA adducts is a common metabolic activation pathway of a number of PAs. We proposed this set of PA-derived DNA adducts could be a common biological biomarker of PA exposure and a potential biomarker of PA-induced liver tumor formation. We have also found that several reactive secondary pyrrolic metabolites can dissociate and interconvert to other secondary pyrrolic metabolites, resulting in the formation of the same exogenous DNA adducts. This present perspective reports the current progress on these new findings and proposes future research needed for obtaining a greater understanding of the role of this activ...
First- and Second-Grade Urban Students' Path to Comprehension Strategy Use: A Practitioner's Framework

This study seeks to explain what first- and second-grade African American, urban students who participated in an explicit comprehension strategy instruction (ECSI) program learned about comprehension strategies and how this knowledge supports self-regulated strategy use. The study was also designed to compare these students' knowledge with those who were exposed to less systematic comprehension strategy instruction. Students who participated in ECSI had more awareness and knowledge of strategies and applied them more frequently than students not in ECSI. A practitioner's framework is proposed to support teachers in developing their own ECSI.
Transcription coupled repair and biased insertion of human retrotransposon L1 in transcribed genes

L1 retrotransposons inserted within genes in the human genome show a strong bias against sense orientation with respect to the gene. One suggested explanation for this observation was the possibility that L1 inserted randomly, but that there was negative selection against sense-oriented insertions. However, multiple studies have now found that de novo and polymorphic L1 insertions, which have little opportunity for selection to act, also show the same bias. Here we show that the transcription-coupled sub-pathway of nucleotide excision repair does not affect the overall rate of insertion of L1 elements, which is in contrast with the regulation by the global sub-pathway of nucleotide excision repair. The transcription-coupled subpathway does cause a strong bias against insertion in the sense orientation relative to genes. This suggests that a major portion of the L1 orientation bias might be generated during the process of insertion through the action of transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair.
Review of deutetrabenazine: a novel treatment for chorea associated with Huntington's disease

Deutetrabenazine was recently approved for the treatment of chorea in Huntington's disease (HD) and is the first deuterated medication that has been US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for therapeutic use. In this article, we review deutetrabenazine's drug design, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, efficacy, adverse events, comparison with tetrabenazine, dosage, and administration. Deutetrabenazine is a deuterated form of tetrabenazine and is a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor. The substitution of deuterium for hydrogen at key positions in the tetrabenazine molecule allows a longer drug half-life and less frequent daily dosing. Deutetrabenazine is administered twice daily up to a maximum daily dose of 48 mg, which corresponds to a similar daily dose of 100 mg of tetrabenazine. In a Phase III clinical trial (First-HD), there was a statistically significant improvement of chorea in HD subjects, as well as improvements in global impression of change as assessed by both patients and clinicians. This improvement was seen without significant adverse effects as the overall tolerability profile of deutetrabenazine was similar to placebo. Somnolence was the most commonly reported symptom in the deutetrabenazine group. In a study where subjects converted from tetrabenazine to deutetrabenazine in an open-label fashion (ARC-HD) and indirect comparison studies between tetrabenazine and deutetrabenazine, there is a suggestion that while efficacy for chorea is similar, the data may slightly favor tetrabenazine, but adverse effects and tolerability strongly favor deutetrabenazine. These data have not been replicated in true head-to-head studies. Current evidence supports that deutetrabenazine is an effective therapeutic treatment option for chorea in HD and may provide a more favorable adverse effect profile than tetrabenazine. However, more data are needed, particularly in the form of head-to-head studies between deutetrabenazine and other treatment options as well as longer term clinical experience with deutetrabenazine.
Evaluating skeletal muscle electromechanical delay with intramuscular pressure.

Abstract Introduction Intramuscular pressure (IMP) is the fluid pressure generated within skeletal muscle and directly reflects individual muscle tension. The purpose of this study was to assess the development of force, IMP, and electromyography (EMG) in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle during ramped isometric contractions and evaluate electromechanical delay (EMD). Methods Force, EMG, and IMP were simultaneously measured during ramped isometric contractions in eight young, healthy human subjects. The EMD between the onset of force and EMG activity (Δt-EMG force) and the onset of IMP and EMG activity (Δt EMG-IMP) were calculated. Results A statistically significant difference (p Conclusions IMP reflects changes in muscle tension due to the contractile muscle elements.
Submicrovolt flicker electroretinogram : Cycle-by-cycle recording of multiple harmonics with statistical estimation of measurement uncertainty

Purpose To study cycle-by-cycle recording of small-amplitude flicker-electroretinogram (ERG) responses and analyze results with robust statistical methods to estimate the measurement uncertainty. Methods Flicker ERGs at 32 Hz were recorded simultaneously from both eyes of patients with retinal degeneration. The ERG was amplified under wide-band (1-1000 Hz) conditions, digitized at 6144 Hz/eye, and multiplied point for point (192 points/cycle) by sine and cosine functions within each 1/32-second flash cycle to extract coefficients for six harmonic components of a discrete Fourier transform in real time. Amplitude windowing was not used, and all data were saved for subsequent statistical processing to identify and remove large-amplitude artifacts discretely and to search for quiet recording periods that minimized small-amplitude noise. Results Plots of amplitude and phase indicated far outlying noise points that were excised from the data. The SD of sequential intervals on a time line of the sine component identified quiet periods that minimized small-amplitude noise and improved measurement consistency. The SE of the response mean provided an estimate of measurement uncertainty. Conclusions The harmonic components of many individual responses are captured quickly (e.g., 500 responses in 15.6 seconds) for post hoc statistical analysis, using mathematical algorithms that are precisely reproducible to facilitate comparison of results from all laboratories. Graphical time lines of responses allow separation of artifact transients from gaussian noise for elimination of noisy periods without disturbing the stored information. Statistical estimates of measurement uncertainty are determined on-line to allow immediate feedback during the recording session. Amplitude-phase plots of the multiple harmonic components, along with reconstructed analog waveforms, provide results in a readily assimilated manner for comparison of all testing sessions.
Purpose-directed analogy: a summary of current research

Existing techniques for analogical reasoning are based on mapping some underlying causal network of relations between analogous situations. However, causal relations relevant for the purpose of one analogy may be irrelevant for another. We describe here a technique which uses an explicit representation of the purpose of the analogy to automatically create the relevant causal network.