cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy in Adult Congenital Heart Disease Patients Requiring Cardiac Transplantation

Purpose To determine differences in donor transmitted atherosclerosis or rapidly progressive Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy at 1-year post cardiac transplantation in patients with congenital heart disease. Methods This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent heart transplantation at a single center from 2009-2016 who had subsequent coronary angiography with protocol-driven IVUS assessment of the left anterior descending artery. Non-congenital cardiac transplantation patients (N=237) were compared to a cohort of patients with adult congenital heart disease (N=12). Five IVUS sections were prospectively analyzed for intimal thickness. Donor transmitted atherosclerosis was defined as maximum intimal thickness ≥0.5 mm at baseline and rapidly progressive CAV as an increase in maximum intimal thickness by ≥0.5 mm at 1-year. Results Donor transmitted atherosclerosis was present in 121 (51.1%) patients with non-congenital etiology vs. 7 (58.3%) patients with congenital etiology. Rapidly progressive CAV at 1-year post-transplantation was present in 54 (23.0%) vs. 2 (18.2%) patients, respectively. Over a median follow up of 6.1 years, 39 patients died or required re-transplantation. ACHD as an etiology of heart failure was not associated with age- and sex-adjusted outcomes. In a subsequent analysis, there were 45 patients who reached a composite outcome of coronary revascularization, epicardial CAV, or cardiovascular death. Likewise, there was no association between ACHD and this composite endpoint. Conclusion Pre-transplant adult congenital heart disease was not associated with a significant difference in donor transmitted atherosclerosis or rapidly progressive CAV in patients with heart transplantation. Long term outcomes including all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events were not different in patients with versus without ACHD.
Z-GCNETs: Time Zigzags at Graph Convolutional Networks for Time Series Forecasting

There recently has been a surge of interest in developing a new class of deep learning (DL) architectures that integrate an explicit time dimension as a fundamental building block of learning and representation mechanisms. In turn, many recent results show that topological descriptors of the observed data, encoding information on the shape of the dataset in a topological space at different scales, that is, persistent homology of the data, may contain important complementary information, improving both performance and robustness of DL. As convergence of these two emerging ideas, we propose to enhance DL architectures with the most salient time-conditioned topological information of the data and introduce the concept of zigzag persistence into time-aware graph convolutional networks (GCNs). Zigzag persistence provides a systematic and mathematically rigorous framework to track the most important topological features of the observed data that tend to manifest themselves over time. To integrate the extracted time-conditioned topological descriptors into DL, we develop a new topological summary, zigzag persistence image, and derive its theoretical stability guarantees. We validate the new GCNs with a time-aware zigzag topological layer (Z-GCNETs), in application to traffic forecasting and Ethereum blockchain price prediction. Our results indicate that Z-GCNET outperforms 13 state-of-the-art methods on 4 time series datasets.
Wide en bloc resection of an extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma about the knee with single-stage knee extensor mechanism reconstruction: A case report.

Abstract Soft tissue sarcomas about the patellar tendon necessitate wide resection and thus present a significant reconstructive challenge. This article describes the novel use of a synthetic mesh graft to reconstruct the knee extensor mechanism as a single stage procedure after wide en bloc resection of an extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC) in a patient with an invasive mass that was intimately associated with her patellar tendon.
Evaluation of novel bismuth-loaded plastic arrays for fast neutron radiography

Plastic scintillators utilizing iridium complex fluorophores offer substantial improvements in light yield, and their light yield is not significantly quenched in compositions with bismuth metalorganic loading, at a loading level of 21 wt% bismuth metal. This new bismuth plastic (Ir-Bi-Plastic) offers improved detection efficiency over commercial plastic scintillators. One application for Ir-Bi-Plastic is in low-cost, portable, and durable dual-particle imaging (DPI) systems supporting nuclear safety, security, and safeguards. However, new materials must undergo investigation using industry standards to quantify their capabilities. In this work, an Ir-Bi-Plastic was experimentally evaluated as a small, pixelated radiographic array in a fast neutron environment, with individual pixel dimensions of 2×2×19 mm. For comparison, identical evaluations were conducted for two similarly sized arrays made from EJ-200 and EJ-256. A separate Ir-Bi-Plastic array with 5×5×20 mm pixels was also evaluated. ASTM methods were leveraged to determine the modulation transfer function and spatial resolution for each array. Edge response measurements of a 2-in thick tungsten block were recorded by pressure coupling all four arrays to a commercial a-Si digital radiographic panel. Experimental results were then compared for all four arrays, and the results demonstrated that the Ir-Bi-Plastic outperforms similar arrays made from EJ-200 and EJ-256 (5 wt% Pb). These findings suggest that DPI systems utilizing Ir-Bi-Plastic hold promise for continued development over older, more traditional, alternatives.
Metaphyseal Fixation for Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract Initial and long-term metaphyseal fixation is critical for implant survivorship after revision total knee arthroplasty. When bone loss is encountered following removal of primary components or with osteolysis, reconstructive options for small defects include allograft, cement, or augments. Cemented stems may provide early fixation but may not be sufficient in isolation for long-term durability in the setting of metaphyseal bone loss. Bulk allograft, sleeves and cones are the most commonly utilized modalities for metaphyseal fixation in the revision setting, each with their own advantages and disadvantages, with promising results in decreasing the risk of aseptic loosening.
Learning Arithmetic Circuits via Partial Derivatives

We present a polynomial time algorithm for learning several models of algebraic computation. We show that any arithmetic circuit whose partial derivatives induce a “low”-dimensional vector space is exactly learnable from membership and equivalence queries. As a consequence we obtain the first polynomial time algorithm for learning depth three multilinear arithmetic circuits. In addition, we give the first polynomial time algorithms for learning restricted algebraic branching programs and noncommutative arithmetic formulae. Previously only restricted versions of depth-2 arithmetic circuits were known to be learnable in polynomial time. Our learning algorithms can be viewed as solving a generalization of the well known polynomial interpolation problem where the unknown polynomial has a succinct representation. We can learn representations of polynomials encoding exponentially many monomials. Our techniques combine a careful algebraic analysis of arithmetic circuits’ partial derivatives with the “multiplicity automata” techniques due to Beimel et al [BBB+00].
Usability Evaluation: How Does It Relate to Software Engineering?

Abstract We present an integrated set of activities for development of both user interface and non-interface components in an interactive system. Within the context of these activities for both software and user interface engineering, we present several types of techniques for evaluation of usability. For each technique, we give examples, strengths and weaknesses, and results of its use at appropriate stages in the software engineering process.
The flavonoid luteolin inhibits niacin-induced flush.

Background and purpose: Sustained release niacin effectively lowers serum cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides, while raising HDL. However, 75% of patients experience cutaneous warmth and itching known as flush, leading to discontinuation. Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) reduces this flush only by about 30%, presumably through decreasing prostaglandin D2 (PGD2). We investigated whether niacin-induced flush in a rat model involves PGD2 and 5-HT, and the effect of certain flavonoids. Experimental approach: Three skin temperature measurements from each ear were recorded with an infrared pyrometer for each time point immediately before i.p. injection with either niacin or a flavonoid. The temperature was then measured every 10 min for 60 min. Key results: Niacin (7.5 mg per rat, equivalent to a human dose of 1750 mg per 80 kg) maximally increased ear temperature to 1.9±0.2 oC at 45 min. Quercetin and luteolin (4.3 mg per rat; 1000 mg per human), administered i.p. 45 min prior to niacin, inhibited the niacin effect by 96 and 88%, respectively. Aspirin (1.22 mg per rat; 325 mg per human) inhibited the niacin effect by only 30%. Niacin almost doubled plasma PGD2 and 5-HT, but aspirin reduced only PGD2 by 86%. In contrast, luteolin inhibited both plasma PGD2 and 5-HT levels by 100 and 67%, respectively. Conclusions and implications. Niacin-induced skin temperature increase is associated with PGD2 and 5-HT elevations in rats; luteolin may be a better inhibitor of niacin-induced flush because it blocks the rise in both mediators. British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153, 1382–1387; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707668; published online 28 January 2008
Compressibility effects on secondary flows

The method of W. R. Hawthorne for the calculation of the secondary vorticity is generalized for compressible flow. It is shown that in the linearized theory (small vorticity) the influence of compressibility upon the secondary vorticity is due to (1) the entropy gradient in the approaching flow and (2) the compression of the fluid during the turning of the flow. The analysis is applied to the secondary vorticity which generates in a cascade or bend if the approaching flow has a boundary layer with a Prandtl Number equal to unity and has been developed along an insulated wall.
Permissive hypercapnia practices among neonatologists in the United States: Results of a national survey

Objective: There is no consensus among practicing neonatologists regarding the definition of permissive hypercapnia and yet its practice is commonly employed to prevent lung injury from excessive ventilation. The goal of this study was to determine clinical practice among neonatologists regarding a definition of permissive hypercapnia in a preterm infant based upon gestational age at birth, degree of respiratory support, and acute vs. chronic management. Methods: Surveys were e-mailed to neonatologists who are members of the AAP Section on Perinatal Pediatrics containing a link to an on-line survey company (www.surveymonkey.com). Responses were compared using Pearson X 2 analyses. Results: Of 2689 individuals surveyed, 747 (28%) completed the survey. 97% of those respondents reported practicing permissive hypercapnia. Regardless of stated permissive hypercapnia practice preferences, the majority of neonatologists accept 45-55 mm Hg as their target PaCO2 levels on the first day of life and 55-65 mm Hg thereafter. Conclusions: Our data suggest most neonatologists surveyed employ a permissive hypercapnia respiratory management strategy, as they accept higher than normal PaCO2 levels for preterm infants . Our findings highlight the need for continuing studies to document whether the values of targeted PaCO2 reported here provide lung protection without compromising overall safety and long-term complications.
TH-EF-BRB-03: Enhancement of Image Contrast Along the Beam's-Eye-View (BEV) Direction Through Development of Imagers Based On Segmented Scintillators and Photon-Counting Arrays

Purpose: The contrast provided by conventional portal imagers is constrained by inefficient conversion of the incident radiation, and by the small diagnostic x-ray component of the treatment beam. Toward improved visualization of the tumor region prior to treatment, as well as improved tumor tracking during treatment, progress is reported on the design of a pair of novel detectors that would address these constraints. Methods: A dual-energy imager based on a segmented scintillator is being designed using a hybrid model to simulate radiation and optical transport. The simulations, which model operation with a megavoltage treatment beam and with a BEV imaging beam with a significant diagnostic component, employ parameters extracted from a previously developed prototype. Separately, the conceptual design of a second imager incorporating a 2D array of photon counting pixels is being explored through extrapolation of the design of the first prototype photon counting arrays fabricated using thin-film processing, a process scalable to very large area detectors. Results: The simulations identified a segmented scintillator imager design that, when operated with a BEV imaging beam, provides spatial resolution and contrast comparable to that of gantry-mounted kV imagers. When operated with a treatment beam, the design provides significantly improved DQE and contrast compared to conventional portal imagers. Extrapolation of initial photon counting array designs indicates that the circuitry necessary to provide energy-windowing of the diagnostic portion of a therapy beam can be achieved at the pixel pitch associated with current treatment room imagers. Conclusion: These early studies demonstrate potential for improved contrast in projection and volumetric images obtained with the megavoltage beam prior to treatment, while also providing good performance when used with BEV imaging beams. In addition, these studies also support the possibility of improved capability for tumor tracking with such dual-energy imagers as well as by photon counting array imagers. NIH grant R01-EB000558
Successful Treatment of Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension Due to Prominent Cervical Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak with Cervical Epidural Blood Patch

Objective To report a case of successful treatment of a patient with spontaneous intracranial hypotension correlated with MRI finding of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak with extradural collection at the upper cervical spinal level. Design Case report. Setting An academic tertiary pain management center. Methods Fluoroscopically guided placement of an 18-gauge epidural needle into epidural space at the C7–T1 level was performed; an epidural catheter (Braun Perifix 20G) was advanced to C2 level (first patch) and C3 level (second patch). An epidurogram with Omnipaque injections confirmed contrast in the posterior and lateral epidural space. Autologous venous blood was then administered through the catheter. Results This patient received two lumbar epidural blood patches without lasting relief. Given the radiographic evidence of prominent CSF leak with extradural fluid collection at C1–2 level, the patient was then treated with a cervical epidural blood patch, which provided headache pain relief lasting 6 months. A second cervical epidural blood patch was performed, and the patient has been headache-free for nearly one year to date. Conclusion Based on the successful treatment of this patient's spontaneous intracranial hypotension, we advocate that patients undergo epidural blood patches to target the site of any CSF leak identified by imaging studies to improve the efficacy of this intervention. This case demonstrates that cervical epidural blood patch, despite its inherent risks, may be more effective than lumbar epidural blood patch in treatment of cervical CSF leak.
The South as Tragic Landscape

Much has been made of the ‘Southern difference’ in cultural and sociological images of the North American landscape. Everything isdifferent there: the cuisine, the music, the religion, and the politics. Moreover, the South was the crucible in which two of the definitive North American experiences were formed: the Civil War (1861–5) and the Civil Rights Movement a century later. This article poses another important category, in addition to ‘race and space’ – namely, the concept of tragedy, and the correlative rendering of the South as ‘America's tragic landscape’.
Evidence for Direct Interaction between Enzyme INtrand Aspartokinase to Regulate Bacterial Oligopeptide Transport

Bradyrhizobium japonicum transports oligopeptides and the heme precursor delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) by a common mechanism. Two Tn5-induced mutants disrupted in the lysC and ptsP genes were identified based on the inability to use prolyl-glycyl-glycine as a proline source and were defective in [(14)C]ALA uptake activity. lysC and ptsP were shown to be proximal genes in the B. japonicum genome. However, RNase protection and in trans complementation analysis showed that lysC and ptsP are transcribed separately, and that both genes are involved in oligopeptide transport. Aspartokinase, encoded by lysC, catalyzes the phosphorylation of aspartate for synthesis of three amino acids, but the lysC strain is not an amino acid auxotroph. The ptsP gene encodes Enzyme I(Ntr) (EI(Ntr)), a paralogue of Enzyme I of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase (PTS) system. In vitro pull-down experiments indicated that purified recombinant aspartokinase and EI(Ntr) interact directly with each other. Expression of ptsP in trans from a multicopy plasmid complemented the lysC mutant, suggesting that aspartokinase normally affects Enzyme I(Ntr) in a manner that can be compensated for by increasing the copy number of the ptsP gene. ATP was not a phosphoryl donor to purified EI(Ntr), but it was phosphorylated by ATP in the presence of cell extracts. This phosphorylation was inhibited in the presence of aspartokinase. The findings demonstrate a role for a PTS protein in the transport of a non-sugar solute and suggest an unusual regulatory function for aspartokinase in regulating the phosphorylation state of EI(Ntr).
A strong law of large numbers for U-statistics

Abstract A U-statistic is defined based on a symmetric kernel h and on a collection of r-dimensionally indexed independent random variables from a distribution F. The simplest case of such a U-statistic is the sample mean of an array of multidimensionally indexed random variables. In this paper, we present the strong law of large numbers for this class of U-statistics under the moment condition EF{|h| (log+ |h|)r-1}
Shedding new light on nocturnal monitoring of the environment with the VIIRS day/night band

For over three decades the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's Operational Linescan System (OLS) has demonstrated a unique nighttime imaging capability using a high gain visible channel. Designed primarily to detect clouds through relative moonlight reflection contrasts, quantitative applications based on the OLS nighttime visible data are limited due to low radiometric (6-bit, or 64 count levels) resolution, lack of calibration, and not being accompanied by a large suite of other spectral bands (only a single thermal infrared window channel). Despite these limitations, the fundamental capabilities enabled by the nighttime visible band are truly unique, and worthy of closer inspection by the terrestrial, atmospheric, and space science communities alike-particularly in light of the inclusion of a comparable "Day/Night visible Band" (DNB) upon the Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) scheduled to fly upon the National Polar-orbiting Operation Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) constellation (and a risk-reduction preview upon the NPOESS Preparatory Project Satellite). This paper anticipates some of the capabilities of the VIIRS-DNB in the context of nighttime dust storm and snow cover mapping from lunar reflection, based on heritage sensors from the contemporary environmental satellite constellation.
Photovoltaics R&D: A Tour Through the 21st Century

The future investments for photovoltaics research and development are contemplated for this new millennium. Current technologies are used as the foundation for what might be expected for the next 50 years. A tour is conducted through what coming generations can anticipate for this technology; emphasizing non-conventional applications beyond the expected. Next-generation research approaches are predicted indicating the horizon of PV technology. Conjectures of those PV and related technologies that are beyond this horizon are presented, with prognosis what the coming generations might have as their conventional energy sources.
Nonlinear volterra equations with infinite delay

This paper is concerned with the existence and stability of nonlinear Volterra equations which have infinite delay and are of the form: $$x (\varphi ) (t) = W (t, \tau ) \varphi (0) + \int\limits_\tau ^t {W (t, s)} F(s,x_s (\varphi )) ds, x_\tau (\varphi ) = \varphi \in C_u .$$
Secondary blepharospasm associated with structural lesions of the brain.

Background Blepharospasm is a form of focal dystonia that manifests as repetitive involuntary closure of the eyes. The pathogenesis of blepharospasm and the neuroanatomic substrates involved are not fully understood. Dysfunction of the basal ganglia traditionally is presumed to be the main cause of most forms of dystonia, but a growing body of evidence suggests that a network of additional cortical and subcortical structures may be involved.
Cre fate mapping reveals lineage specific defects in neuronal migration with loss of Pitx2 function in the developing mouse hypothalamus and subthalamic nucleus

Establishment of neuronal diversity is a central topic in developmental neurobiology. Prior studies implicated Pitx2, a paired-like homeodomain transcription factor, in mouse subthalamic nucleus neuronal development, but precise stages of neuronal differentiation affected (migration, axon outgrowth, fate specification) and underlying mechanisms were unknown. Here we report lineage tracing experiments using Pitx2cre/+, Pitx2cre/null, and conditional nuclear lacZ reporter mice to track embryonic Pitx2 expressing neurons. Migration of subthalamic nucleus and hypothalamic neurons was severely arrested in Pitx2cre/null embryos, and subclasses of subthalamic nucleus neurons identified by Lmx1b, Foxp1, and Foxp2-gene expression revealed differing sensitivities to Pitx2 dosage. Interestingly, embryonic subthalamic nucleus development was unaffected in Lmx1b null mice, suggesting that Pitx2 and Lmx1b act via independent genetic pathways. These data provide the first direct evidence for Pitx2-dependent neuronal migration in the developing hypothalamus, and demonstrate that complex transcriptional networks regulate regional specialization of distinct hypothalamic and subthalamic nucleus neurons.
A unitary test of the Ratios Conjecture

Abstract The Ratios Conjecture of Conrey, Farmer and Zirnbauer (2008) [CFZ1] , (preprint) [CFZ2] predicts the answers to numerous questions in number theory, ranging from n -level densities and correlations to mollifiers to moments and vanishing at the central point. The conjecture gives a recipe to generate these answers, which are believed to be correct up to square-root cancelation. These predictions have been verified, for suitably restricted test functions, for the 1-level density of orthogonal (Huynh and Miller (preprint) [HuyMil] , Miller (2009) [Mil5] , Miller and Montague (in press) [MilMo] ) and symplectic (Miller (2008) [Mil3] , Stopple (2009) [St] ) families of L -functions. In this paper we verify the conjecture's predictions for the unitary family of all Dirichlet L -functions with prime conductor; we show square-root agreement between prediction and number theory if the support of the Fourier transform of the test function is in ( − 1 , 1 ) , and for support up to ( − 2 , 2 ) we show agreement up to a power savings in the family's cardinality.
Do Salivary Proline-Rich Proteins Counteract Dietary Hydrolyzable Tannin in Laboratory Rats?

We hypothesized that dietary hydrolyzable tannins would not act as digestibility reducing substances but would be excreted in the feces if the tannin were ingested by rats producing salivary proline-rich proteins (PRPs). To test that hypothesis we used two groups of Sprague–Dawley rats: tannin-naive rats that were secreting basal levels of salivary PRPs and tannin-habituated rats that were secreting elevated levels of PRPs. The animals were fed for 10–18 d on diets containing 3% (w/w) purified hydrolyzable tannin [pentagalloyl glucose (PGG)] that was periodically spiked with chemically synthesized, radiolabeled 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-[U-14 C]-d-glucopyranose (1 μCi per gram diet). The PGG-habituated rats excreted three times more of the consumed 14 C in their feces than did the PGG-naive rats (11.4% for PGG-habituated rats vs. 3.5% for PGG-naive rats, P 0.05). However, dry matter digestibility and nitrogen digestibility were significantly decreased by PGG in the diets of the PGG-habituated rats (7 and 25%, P < 0.001, respectively). Production of PRPs increased the amount of PGG excreted intact in the feces but at the cost of diminishing apparent dry matter and nitrogen digestibility.
Studies of oxide film formation on titanium alloys in saline water

Abstract Oxide films formed on five titanium alloys were characterized after corrosion in 35wt.% NaCl solutions over the temperature range of 100°C–200°C. Electron transmission microscopy and electron diffraction of corroded thin foils showed the oxide film to be TiO and Ti2O3 in the early corrosion stages and to change in the 150°C–200°C temperature range to a final surface oxide, TiO2 (anatase).
Reflections on Diabetes, Clinical Trials, and Cardiovascular Morbidity and Mortality

Hypertension and diabetes are commonly found conditions, which predispose to premature cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A strong consensus has emerged in support of aggressive blood pressure reduction in order to forestall the almost inevitable complications that follow from being a hypertensive diabetic. As of yet though it is not clearly determined as to what represents the best class(es) of antihypertensive medications to effect such blood pressure reduction. In this regard, considerable debate has arisen as to the cost/benefit ratio of dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers in the hypertensive diabetic. Although studies such as the Fosinopril vs. Amlodipine Cardiovascular Events Trial and the Appropriate Blood Pressure Control in Diabetes study would seem to argue against the use of dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers in the diabetic hypertensive, other studies such as the subset analyses of the Syst-Eur and the Syst-China and the Hypertension Optimal Treatment study provide almost compelling evidence for the safety of low to moderate doses of a dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers in this population. Safety issues of dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers will remain unresolved until the release of the Antihypersensitive and Lipid Lowering Study to Prevent Heart Attack results at which time a resolution to this question should be forthcoming.
Activated keratinocytes present bacterial-derived superantigens to T lymphocytes: relevance to psoriasis

Abstract In the past, epidermal keratinocytes were felt to be primarily concerned with the barrier function of skin. During inflammatory and immune-mediated skin diseases, keratinocytes were only portrayed as being passive/inert targets for noxious agents produced by infiltrating leukocytes. This innocent bystander and/or ‘brick and mortar’ conceptualization of the keratinocyte must now be significantly modified to take into account the growing body of experimental in vitro and in vivo results that substantiate re-classification of keratinocytes as fully fledged members of the immune system (i.e. immunocytes). Because keratinocytes produce important primary cytokines, adhesion molecules, and mononuclear cell chemotactic factors; as well as functioning as accessory cells for resting T lymphocytes, they can initiate and perpetuate the inflammatory and immunological reactions in the skin which contribute to the pathobiology of psoriasis. This review will emphasize the dynamic contribution that epidermal keratinocytes make to cutaneous immunohomeostasis, with particular focus on the potential role of bacterial derived superantigens and their ability to stimulate resting T cell proliferation when presented by cytokine-activated keratinocytes.
It’s good to do good and receive good: The impact of a ‘pay it forward’ style kindness intervention on giver and receiver well-being

Despite the popularity of the ‘pay it forward’ (PIF) concept in textbooks and popular culture, to date, no study has tested the effectiveness of a brief, one-time PIF activity on the well-being of those who do good and those who receive good. To test this, 83 undergraduates (‘givers’) performed random kind acts for 1.5 h. PIF resulted in a wide range of well-being benefits for givers (e.g. greater positive and lower negative affect), with females showing greater positive affect benefits. Receivers of kindness (N = 1014) also benefited as evidenced by greater smiling behavior and more sincere smiles vs. controls (N = 251). Of the 48 receivers who completed a follow-up online questionnaire, the majority indicated that they would also PIF, with almost 40% indicating that they already had. Results indicate that a one-time brief PIF intervention can have broad benefits for those involved.
The role of angiogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis : recent developments

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterised by synovial tissue leucocyte ingress and angiogenesis, or new blood vessel growth.1-8 The disease is thought to occur as an immunological response to an as yet unidentified antigen. Even in early RA, some of the earliest histological observations are blood vessels.9 A mononuclear infiltrate characterises the synovial tissue along with a luxuriant vasculature. Angiogenesis is integral to formation of the inflammatory pannus and without angiogenesis, leucocyte ingress could not occur. Angiogenesis is regulated by a complex set of inducers and inhibitors. In this paper we will present representative examples of both angiogenesis inducers and inhibitors that may regulate RA neovascularisation (fig 1). In inflammatory states like RA, angiogenesis inducers outweigh angiogenesis inhibitors. Figure 1 Balance of angiogenesis inducers and inhibitors in inflammatory states such as rheumatoid arthritis. ### ENDOGLIN AS AN ANGIOGENIC MEDIATOR There are a number of angiogenesis inducers that may play a part in RA. Among these are endoglin, an endothelial glycoprotein, which contains an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif, and also acts as an adhesion molecule.10 11 Endoglin is a receptor for transforming growth factor β. Mice lacking the endoglin gene die from defective vascular development.12 We have shown that endoglin is upregulated in RA synovial endothelial cells compared with normal synovial tissue endothelial cells.13 ### VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR (VEGF) An angiogenic mediator that has attracted much attention recently is VEGF, which is an endothelial selective growth factor.14 VEGF induces vascular permeability as well.15 In human RA, several groups have described VEGF in the joints and serum of RA patients.16-23 VEGF is inducible by hypoxia, which may occur in the inflamed joint.17 24 Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), which is made of HIF-1α, and hydroxycarbon nuclear translocator (ARNT), contols many transciptional responses to hypoxia by binding to hypoxia response elements of target genes like the VEGF gene.25 …
A unified component framework for dynamically extensible virtual environments

If large-scale shared virtual worlds are to be established on the Internet, they must be based on technologies that allow them to adapt, scale, and evolve continuously-that is, without their being taken offline. In the course of designing NPSNET-V, an architecture intended to satisfy these criteria through component-based dynamic extensibility, the authors recognized the need for a consistent, unified component framework. This framework, which they implemented in Java™, allows one to construct applications as component hierarchies rooted at an invariant microkernel. A simple extensible interface layer and event model allow components to communicate with one another, and an XML configuration and serialization mechanism permits applications to store and transmit component and application state in a versatile standardized format. After an initial bootstrapping process, one may add, remove, and upgrade components at run time, and one may introduce newly loaded Java™ code anywhere in the application hierarchy at any time. The complications posed by this reconfigurability and the hierarchical nature of NPSNET-V applications led the authors to develop a consistent design strategy, which they based largely on several common design patterns. The most critical design pattern that they used was the Model-View-Controller pattern, which forms the basis of the NPSNET-V entity model.
Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Graphene–Nanoparticle Hybrid Materials for Bioapplications

Graphene is composed of single-atom thick sheets of sp2 bonded carbon atoms that are arranged in a perfect two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb lattice. Because of this structure, graphene is characterized by a number of unique and exceptional structural, optical, and electronic properties.1 Specifically, these extraordinary properties include, but are not limited to, a high planar surface area that is calculated to be 2630 m2 g−1,2 superior mechanical strength with a Young’s modulus of 1100 GPa,3 unparalleled thermal conductivity (5000 W m−1 K−1),4 remarkable electronic properties (e.g., high carrier mobility [10 000 cm2 V−1 s−1] and capacity),5 and alluring optical characteristics (e.g., high opacity [~97.7%] and the ability to quench fluorescence).6 As such, it should come as no surprise that graphene is currently, without any doubt, the most intensively studied material for a wide range of applications that include electronic, energy, and sensing outlets.1c Moreover, because of these unique chemical and physical properties, graphene and graphene-based nanomaterials have attracted increasing interest, and, arguably, hold the greatest promise for implementation into a wide array of bioapplications.7 In the last several years, numerous studies have utilized graphene in bioapplications ranging from the delivery of chemotherapeutics for the treatment of cancer8 to biosensing applications for a host of medical conditions9 and even for the differentiation and imaging of stem cells.10 While promising and exciting, recent reports have demonstrated that the combination of graphene with nanomaterials such as nanoparticles, thereby forming graphene–nanoparticle hybrid structures, offers a number of additional unique physicochemical properties and functions that are both highly desirable and markedly advantageous for bioapplications when compared to the use of either material alone (Figure 1).11 These graphene–nanoparticle hybrid structures are especially alluring because not only do they display the individual properties of the nanoparticles, which can already possess beneficial optical, electronic, magnetic, and structural properties that are unavailable in bulk materials, and of graphene, but they also exhibit additional advantageous and often synergistic properties that greatly augment their potential for bioapplications. Open in a separate window Figure 1 Graphene nanoparticle hybrids exist in two forms, as graphene–nanoparticle composites and graphene-encapsulated nanoparticles, and can be used for various bioapplications including biosensors, photothermal therapies, stem cell/tissue engineering, drug/gene delivery, and bioimaging. Panel (A) reprinted with permission from ref 110. Copyright 2012 Wiley. Panel (B) reprinted with permission from ref 211. Copyright 2013 Elsevier. Panel (C) reprinted with permission from ref 244. Copyright 2013 Wiley.
Informational Facts and the Metainformation Inherent in IFacts: The Soul of Data Sciences

Books, archives, and media contain information and meaning, and much of what librarians and information scientists focus on are these information vessels. Metadata is normally assigned to such vessels to assist in organizing and retrieving the information vessels. Facts are often derived from these information vessels through text mining, but facts may be directly produced from observations. A particular kind of fact, an informational fact (IFact), describes the information from the observation of an information producing process. Such IFacts will become a major part of future data libraries. Metainformation, a kind of metadata, is associated with these IFacts, describing the empirical characteristics of the observation that produced the IFact. This metainformation is inherent in informational facts, and is critical in the use of scientific datasets and “big data.” The differences between regular facts and informational facts are examined, as well as between metadata and metainformation.
Effects of manganese on 45Ca mobilization and contractile responses in rabbit aortic smooth muscle

Abstract 1. 1. In rabbit aortic smooth muscle, 1.5 mM Mn 2+ inhibits contractile responses to norepinephrine more than those to high K + . Other associated effects include decreases in the La 3+ -resistant high affinity Ca 2+ fraction, the high affinity Ca 2+ uptake component in the Scatchard-coordinate plot, and high affinity Ca 2+ uptake and binding in canine aortic microsomes. 2. 2. Higher (15 mM) concentrations of Mn 2+ are less selective. 3. 3. Thus, those Ca 2+ mobilization components and contractile responses associated with high affinity bound Ca 2+ are more sensitive to inhibition by Mn 2+ .
Upper esophageal sphincter function during antegrade and retrograde transit

The striated musculature of the UES, along with the cricoid and thyroid cartilages, the hyoid bone, their ligaments, and the supra- and infrahyoid musculature form a functional unit that selectively controls the opening and closing of the esophageal inlet. At rest, upper esophageal tone acts as a barrier against both entry of air into the esophagus and regurgitation of materials coming from the proximal esophagus. However, reflexive responses of the sphincter offer no substantial protection against regurgitation of stomach contents that cause substantial esophageal distension. Although esophageal distention can experimentally induce sphincter contraction, this potential protective reflex against esophago-pharyngeal reflux has not been observed during spontaneous gastroesophageal reflux episodes. Furthermore, owing to the effects of gaseous distention, regurgitation may be more likely when acid and gaseous contents gastroesophageal reflux together. Modulation of the timing and the extent of sphincter opening during swallowing is intimately correlated with the volume and physical properties of the bolus, along with coordinated activity of the tongue, pharyngeal constrictors, and hyoid musculature, which suggests continuous sensory feedback throughout the pharyngeal swallow.
Cell-State-Specific Metabolic Dependency in Hematopoiesis and Leukemogenesis

The balance between oxidative and nonoxidative glucose metabolism is essential for a number of pathophysiological processes. By deleting enzymes that affect aerobic glycolysis with different potencies, we examine how modulating glucose metabolism specifically affects hematopoietic and leukemic cell populations. We find that a deficiency in the M2 pyruvate kinase isoform (PKM2) reduces the levels of metabolic intermediates important for biosynthesis and impairs progenitor function without perturbing hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), whereas lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) deletion significantly inhibits the function of both HSCs and progenitors during hematopoiesis. In contrast, leukemia initiation by transforming alleles putatively affecting either HSCs or progenitors is inhibited in the absence of either PKM2 or LDHA, indicating that the cell-state-specific responses to metabolic manipulation in hematopoiesis do not apply to the setting of leukemia. This finding suggests that fine-tuning the level of glycolysis may be explored therapeutically for treating leukemia while preserving HSC function.
Techniques for high-quality fringe generation

Methods for obtaining low noise, straight, uniform fringes with a grating interferometer are described. It is shown that straight, uniform fringes can be obtained exactly, even when the interfering beams are not collimated, but are diverging.
A CLADISTIC TEST OF THE TAXON CYCLE AND TAXON PULSE HYPOTHESES

— A species' habitat preference is intcrpretablc both as a response to present-day conditions and as a result of evolutionary response to historical conditions. The taxon cycle and taxon pulse have been proposed as hypotheses that allow prediction of patterns of habitat specialization within a lineage. Both are based on common assumptions: (1) habitat specialization is largely irreversible in a lineage, (2) ecological specializations arise in a center of origin, and (3) dispersal events leading to current distributions can be ascertained. Eight taxa of Antillean, Mexican, and Central American Carabidae, for which cladistic hypotheses of relationship have been proposed, are used to test the generality of the taxon cycle and pulse. The patterns of habitat utilization predicted by the taxon cycle and taxon pulse hypotheses are tested by comparing cladistic transformations of habitat preference to randomly generated patterns of data generated under a null hypothesis. Evolutionary changes in habitat are interpreted using Camin-Sokal coding, which assumes irreversible habitat shifts and a predetermined ecological ground state (assumptions of the taxon cycle and taxon pulse). An observed pattern is considered to demonstrate the taxon cycle or pulse when it results in an explanation of the habitat shifts that is more parsimonious than 95 % of the randomly generated patterns. Of the eight carabid groups, only one exhibits a statistically significant pattern supporting the taxon cycle and pulse. The failure of the taxon cycle and pulse as generally predictive hypotheses may be due to historical changes in climate that permit episodes of range expansion for species previously restricted to small ranges, and habitat shifts and specialization that do not progress in a linear transformation series. Habitat shifts are also analyzed using Farris optimization, resulting in the most parsimonious transformation series of habitats, subject to a predefined ordering of habitats, while allowing reversals. Significance of an observed pattern of habitat shifts under Farris optimization implies habitat constancy relative to cladogenesis, and step-wise changes in habitat preference. Two of the eight groups exhibit significant patterns of habitat utilization under Farris optimization, indicating that vicariance of areas of like habitat has been the predominant factor generating species diversity in these groups. The other groups do not exhibit habitat constancy, suggesting rapid changes in habitat preference relative to speciation.
Managerial optimism and earnings smoothing.

Abstract This paper empirically examines how CEO optimism affects earnings smoothing and earnings surprises. The main finding is that optimistic managers smooth earnings more than rational managers and are associated with smaller (in absolute value) earnings surprises. A possible theoretical explanation is offered for these results based on a combination of the “torpedo effect,” the innate behavior of optimists, and the risk of litigation/prosecution for over-reporting earnings.
Development of intense, long-lived positron sources

Abstract There are many important applications for very intense positron beams (≥ I Ci of e + ); however, the radioactive sources needed to produce these beams are not readily available. Two separate processes for fabricating inexpensive, intense positron sources from 22 Na and 58 Co have been investigated. Both procedures have been successfully tested with low levels (mCi) of activity.
Diagnostic testing in neurogenetics. Principles, limitations, and ethical considerations.

Genetics has emphatically entered the practice of neurology. The last decade witnessed the discovery of the genetic basis of many diseases that primarily affect the nervous system. In areas such as neuromuscular and movement disorders, genetic testing has become a routine part of diagnostic testing. In areas like epilepsy, genetic advances likely will lead to new testing for certain patients. In dementia, the existence of a common predisposing genetic factor (apolipoprotein E) has already raised complex issues such as the appropriateness of genetic testing in specific clinical situations—issues that neurologists will confront more in the future. This article reviews basic principles of genetic testing, its application to neurology, and some limitations and ethical issues confronting the field. Modes of inheritance A logical approach to genetic testing first requires a clear understanding of the kind of genetic disorder being considered. In particular, what is the apparent mode of inheritance? Mendelian disorders caused by a defect in a single gene can be autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or X-linked. Mitochondrial disorders caused by defects in the mitochondrial genome are inherited maternally. Certain inherited diseases are caused by chromosomal abnormalities that span more than one gene and are designated ‘‘genomic’’ disorders. And increasingly, the complex polygenic basis of certain neurologic disorders is being recognized.
The neurohumoral secretagogues carbachol, substance P and neurotensin increase Ca++ influx and calcium content in rabbit ileum

Abstract Several neurohumoral substances, which cause active electrolyte secretion or inhibit absorption in rabbit ileum but do not affect the adenylate cyclase-CAMP system, were shown to increase Ca ++ influx across the serosal surface of rabbit ileum and also to increase total ileal calcium content. These neurohumoral substances include carbachol, substance P and neurotensin. It is possible that many neurohumoral substances which cause similar changes in ileal electrolyte transport act by increasing the basolateral membrane permeability to Ca ++ .
Differential antitumor activity and toxicity of isomeric 1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum (II) complexes

Acquired resistance is a main drawback of using cisplatin in cancer chemotherapy; however, analogs containing the 1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH) ligand can overcome this resistance. Because DACH can exist as thetrans-1R,2R, trans-1S,2S orcis isomer, the antitumor activity and toxicity of individual isomers of both DACH(sulfato)Pt(II) and DACH(1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato)Pt(II) complexes have been examined. At optimal doses, differences in antitumor activities among the three isomers were moderately dependent on the in vivo tumor models (L1210/0, L1210/DDP, B16 and M5076). However, differences in efficacy among these isomers were greatly modulated by the sulfate or 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylate (CBDCA) leaving ligands. Thus, thetrans isomers (R,R and/orS,S) of the sulfate complex generally had greater activities than the correspondingcis form, while thecis configuration appeared to be superior in the complex containing the CBDCA ligand. The isomers were also compared for their potential to elicit myelosuppression and kidney toxicity. Of the six isomers investigated,cis-DACH(CBDCA)Pt(II) was myelosuppressive, and the correspondingR,R andS,S isomers were mildly nephrotoxic. No such toxicities were apparent with any of the sulfate complexes. From these studies, particularly with the cisplatin-resistant L1210/DDP cell line, theR,R isomers are evidently the most interesting. However, it is possible that other leaving ligands or tumor models may indicate eitherS,S- orcis-DACH as the isomer worthy of greater interest.