cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“No Depression”: The Nostalgia and Authenticity of Alternative Country

This chapter examines the aftermath of alternative rock’s success as many artists turned toward a roots-oriented, country and folk music sound similar to the pre-1980s (and sometimes pre-World War II) eras of country and folk music. Ideas of nostalgia and authenticity circulated through the discourse surrounding alt-country, particularly as mainstream country music increasingly became more commercially oriented, with older artists and many newcomers seeking an “authentic” country sound which became excluded from the newer, more profitable corporate pop country sound. Indie artists who left alternative rock as it entered the mainstream sought refuge in the nostalgia-inducing sounds of stripped-down acoustic folk and country music. However, by the dawn of the twentieth century, the critics on the cutting edge soon found alt-country to be passe, as indie culture became an Internet-infused hipster culture.
Large deformation image classification using generalized locality-constrained linear coding.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been demonstrated to be very useful for clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A common approach to using MR images for AD detection is to spatially normalize the images by non-rigid image registration, and then perform statistical analysis on the resulting deformation fields. Due to the high nonlinearity of the deformation field, recent studies suggest to use initial momentum instead as it lies in a linear space and fully encodes the deformation field. In this paper we explore the use of initial momentum for image classification by focusing on the problem of AD detection. Experiments on the public ADNI dataset show that the initial momentum, together with a simple sparse coding technique—locality-constrained linear coding (LLC)—can achieve a classification accuracy that is comparable to or even better than the state of the art. We also show that the performance of LLC can be greatly improved by introducing proper weights to the codebook.
The Ethics of Diagnosing Nonepileptic Seizures with Placebo Infusion

A consensus has emerged that the paternalism behind use of the provocative saline infusion test for nonepileptic seizures cannot be justified because the harms to the patient, the physician, and their relationship exceed the benefits. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
The Conflict Systems Neurobehavioral Model

As scientists we don’t know whether kindred mammals—cats, dogs, mules, elephants, dolphins, chimpanzees, and others—with paleomammalian brain structures, with self-preservation and affection circuitry, just act on preset neuronal priorities or whether they experience conscious conflict and must choose among such conflicting behavioral priorities. We may suspect that these mammals have conflict. Or we may protest from the perspective of homo arrogance that they do not. It’s a tough question for scientists. Science has not yet developed good interviewing techniques for these other mammals.
Genomic imprinting in mammals—memories of generations past

Abstract Genomic imprinting in mammals is the process by which the nonequivalence of parental genomes is established, leading to parent-of-origin effects on several processes, including transcription. Establishment and maintenance of imprints is needed for viability and healthy embryogenesis. DNA methylation has the dual role of marking genes as either maternally or paternally inherited and of silencing gene expression on one of the two alleles. Furthermore, imprinting control extends over large domains of genes by mechanisms that have yet to be elucidated. Studies of imprinted regions have revealed many of the broader principles of the epigenetic control of transcription, including silencing mechanisms and the role of noncoding RNAs. Since imprinted genes are functional haploids, disruption of the one active allele can lead to a variety of developmental diseases, behavioral disorders, and cancer. Comparative and evolutionary studies to determine how and why imprinting came about have generated several hypotheses that are still under debate.
Effects of sex-specific fishing mortality on sex ratio and population dynamics of Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack

Abstract The US Gulf of Mexico stock assessment of greater amberjack Seriola dumerili assumes a 1:1 male:female sex ratio. However, the observed sex ratio in the landed catch is 1:1.8, and for fish >1 m fork length is 1:2.4. To theoretically explore whether this female-skewed sex ratio may arise due to differential fishing mortality between the sexes, we used a sex-specific age- and size-based model to investigate how different fishing mortality rates could create a female-skew in the landed catch as well as its subsequent effects on reproductive potential. When fishing mortality rates in the model were equal between the sexes, the sex ratio of the landed catch was approximately 1:1 for all legal-sized fish, and approximately 1:2.4 for fish >1 m FL. However, reproductive potential decreased in comparison to the corresponding scenario with equal fishing mortality rates when fishing mortality rates between the sexes were changed to create the 1:1.8 sex ratio observed in the landed catch. This modeling study demonstrates one possible route that could explain the female-skewed sex ratios observed in the landed catch, and indicates that sex ratio values other than 1:1 should be considered in future stock assessments for Gulf of Mexico greater amberjack.
Gating currents indicate complex gating of voltage-gated proton channels.

The voltage-gated proton channel (HV1) is a unique molecule that resides at the interface between ion channels and bioenergetic molecules that use proton gradients to store or transduce energy. HV1 plays key roles in the health and disease of diverse tissues and species (1). Important information regarding the physical components of ion-channel gating (opening and closing, which in turn activate or terminate flow of ionic current through the pore) can be obtained by measuring the size, kinetics, and voltage dependence of gating currents. Fig. 1 illustrates different mechanisms by which gating currents might be generated. In their landmark voltage-clamp studies of sodium and potassium channels in squid axons in the mid-20th century, Hodgkin and Huxley (2) deduced that ( i ) ionic current flowed through discreet sites (channels) in the membrane; ( ii ) these permeation pathways were gated, opening and closing in response to changes in membrane potential; and ( iii ) this process most likely involved the movement of charged groups across part or all of the transmembrane electric field. They recognized that the movement of charges within the electric field should generate a small capacitive current, but it was smaller than they could detect. The predicted gating currents were measured in sodium channels two decades later (3⇓⇓–6). Sodium-channel gating currents were ∼300 times smaller than the ionic current and were mostly over in 1 ms (3). Several properties of proton channels frustrated attempts to measure their gating currents until recently. Carmona et al. (7) report gating currents in HV1 from the sea squirt Ciona intestinalis . A contemporaneous study by De La Rosa and Ramsey (8) reports gating currents in human HV1. The clever experimental approaches devised by these groups to overcome the intransigence of HV1 and their conclusions … [↵][1]1Email: tdecours{at}rush.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Translational Research for Rehabilitation of Swallowing in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) suffer from difficulty in swallowing termed dysphagia due to the disease process itself and surgical and nonsurgical treatment of cancer [1]. Dysphagia has a most detrimental influence on quality of life (QOL) [2, 3]. Also, an estimated 65–88% of patients with dysphagia have several episodes of silent aspiration. This is a potentially fatal complication [4, 5]. A large number of predictive factors of swallowing function have been identified in multiple studies. They can be treatment-related factors (concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CRT), accelerated radiotherapy (RT), bilateral neck treatment [6], non-conformal RT [7], RT treatment field length [8, 9] and volume [10]), patient-related factors (baseline dysphagia, odynophagia, acute mucositis, xerostomia [11]), or tumor-related factors (advanced T-stage [6, 7], clinical stage IV [11], and tumor site [oropharynx] [6]. In the interest of survival improvement, modifications of the conventional RT have included concurrent chemotherapy (CT) and altered fractionated RT, particularly accelerated regimens [12, 13]. These strategies increase the tumoricidal effects of RT [14]. Nevertheless, the radiation-sensitizing effects of CT have been shown to result in increased acute problems like mucositis and late complications like fibrosis and stenosis [15]. These problems of C/RT have recently been acknowledged as one of the main hurdles to winning the fight against HNC [16].
Diet Quality for Sodium and Vegetables Mediate Effects of Whole Food Diets on 8-Week Changes in Stress Load

Very little is known about how whole food diets, such as those based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), influence psychological stress and physiological stress load. To better understand the effects of whole food diets on stress, we examined in a randomized control trial the effects of a DGA-based diet on markers of psychological and physiological stress. A randomized, double-blind, controlled 8-week intervention was conducted in overweight and obese women randomly assigned to one of two diet groups: a diet based on the 2010 DGA or a diet based on a Typical American Diet (TAD). The Perceived Stress Scale and allostatic load were used to assess stress load. Eight-week change in perceived stress did not significantly (p = 0.45) differ between the DGA (+0.53 ± 0.99) and TAD (−0.57 ± 0.99) groups. Likewise, 8-week change in allostatic load did not significantly (p = 0.79) differ between the two diet intervention groups (DGA: +0.001 ± 0.26 vs. TAD: +0.105 ± 0.28). However, we did find strong inverse associations between 8-week change in stress and intervention-based improvements in diet quality (lower sodium and higher vegetable consumption). When statistically accounting for these inverse associations, we found that perceived stress and allostatic load were higher (p < 0.04) in the DGA group. These findings suggest that improvements in dietary vegetable and sodium intake mediated effects of the diet intervention on psychological and physiological stress load. That is, adopting and adhering to a diet of higher quality (DGA) for 8 weeks may have been generally more stressful in the absence of improvements in vegetable or sodium consumption. This study provides further evidence for the mental health benefits of maximizing vegetable and minimizing sodium consumption.
Author Correction: A global slowdown of tropical-cyclone translation speed

In this Letter, two errors in the methodology are corrected, leading to changes in Figs. 1–3 and Extended Data Figs. 1 and 2, although the essential results are not affected. The original Letter has been corrected online.
Dynamics of Coupled Systems and their Computing Properties Invited Paper : Invited Paper

Collective dynamical systems offer unique opportunities for computing by harnessing the complex interactions of simple elements such as oscillators or spike generators. This is possible when such dynamics can be programmed, controlled, and observed. In this talk, we will present some of our work where we are exploring the timeevolution of both deterministic and stochastic dynamical systems in both CMOS and post-CMOS computing substrates. Such systems find applications in solving inverse problems, distributed optimizations (convex and combinatorial) and machine learning. In this paper we will discuss our recent work that connects dynamics and algebraic graph theory. We will talk about implementation of such dynamics in mixed-signal CMOS, including a recent demonstration of reinforcement learning for energy-constrained edge devices. We will conclude with a brief discussion of the opportunities, potentials and challenges in realizing such computational systems.
Utilization of Combined Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices in Cardiogenic Shock: Insights from the National Inpatient Sample

Purpose Percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices are used in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). In cases of incessant ventricular arrhythmias or biventricular failure these devices are used in combination. We studied the trend and mortality outcome of single vs combined MCS devices in patients with CS from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). Methods We queried the NIS database from 2010 to 2015 for patients admitted with CS, and divided them in ischemic (ICM) and non-ischemic etiology (NICM). Implantation of MCS [Intra-aortic Balloon Pump (IABP), Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), Impella or Tandem Heart pVAD] were identified using appropriate ICD-9 codes. Each cohort was divided into 2 subgroups: single device (IABP or pVAD or ECMO) vs combined (or sequential) MCS (IABP+ECMO or IABP+pVAD or pVAD+ECMO) use. We analyzed trends in use and in-hospital mortality with different type of combined MCS. Results Total of 6,11,170 patients were admitted with diagnosis of CS; out of which 21.9% underwent single MCS and 1.3% underwent combined MCS device. In-hospital mortality was higher in combined MCS vs single MCS use in both ischemic (51.1% vs 20.1%; p Conclusion We observed an increase in utilization of ECMO+pVAD during the study period 2010-2015. Combined use of MCS was associated with higher in-hospital mortality in both ICM and NICM in comparison to single MCS use. Further studies are needed to validate these outcomes and to determine associated risk factors.
Mortal Signs: Transplantation and the Invention of Brain Death

This chapter uses a literary critical lens on political, legal, and news accounts of brain death to understand how a concept as profound as death could undergo a redefinition at the end of the twentieth century. In 1968, Harvard Medical School convened an ad hoc committee that identified a series of criteria for what they called “irreversible coma,” which became the law of the land under the term “brain death.” The Harvard Criteria defines death as a series of signs to be read in the patient and as something to be declared—a true performative utterance. As such, a condition as seemingly fixed as death itself becomes located in the sphere of cultural construction and subject to literary analysis.
From Craft to Mass Production

But this system is hard on firms; prices fluctuate with demand, so profits do too. Innovations will make it possible to adjust labor costs more easily, laying off workers when demand drops off, rehiring them when it recovers. In effect this means that the curvature of the production functions is being flattened into a straight line. This leads to a different pattern of market adjustment, replacing the partly stabilizing price mechanism with the destabilizing multiplier.
Discrete-Time Markov Chains

Applied probability thrives on models. Markov chains are one of the richest sources of good models for capturing dynamical behavior with a large stochastic component [23, 24, 59, 80, 106, 107, 118]. In this chapter we give a few examples and a quick theoretical overview of discrete-time Markov chains. The highlight of our theoretical development, Proposition 7.4.1, relies on a coupling argument. Because coupling is one of the most powerful and intuitively appealing tools available to probabilists, we examine a few of its general applications as well. We also stress reversible Markov chains. Reversibility permits explicit construction of the long-run or equilibrium distribution of a chain when such a distribution exists. Chapter 8 will cover continuous-time Markov chains.
Preconception and Pregnancy in Women with Obesity, Postbariatric Surgery, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Abstract The increasing prevalence of maternal obesity around the world has significant implications for the short- and long-term health outcomes of both mother and child. This public health crisis requires a multidisciplinary effort to begin to address the complex and far-reaching impacts. There is a critical need for health-care providers to understand how to care for pregnant patients who are obese in order to optimize outcomes during the pregnancy and positively influence subsequent pregnancies and the future health of the offspring. Even more important, everyone—from front-line providers to leaders to researchers to leaders of health-care systems—must be familiar with the evidence for preventive interventions that are most effective. This chapter focuses on the role of the clinician in caring for the obese gravida but highlights important gaps that need to be filled by basic and clinical science and health services research. Because many women with polycystic ovarian syndrome also have an elevated body mass index, this chapter also includes a special section addressing the issues unique to PCOS in pregnancy, in both obese and normal-weight women.
Pexy of intraperitoneal LVAD driveline to relieve small bowel obstruction.

BACKGROUND Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is a lifesaving intervention in advanced heart failure. However, LVAD is not without complication. In this case, an inadvertent intraperitoneal driveline caused small bowel obstruction, subsequently requiring pexy of the driveline to the abdominal wall to avoid future complications. CASE PRESENTATION A 37-year-old male with worsening, nonischemic, dilated cardiomyopathy underwent LVAD implantation. Postoperative day (POD) 15 he developed small bowel obstruction, and abdominal exploration showed transition point at an inadvertently placed intraperitoneal LVAD driveline. The patient was LVAD-dependent precluding removal, so the driveline was secured to the anterior abdominal wall. He subsequently improved and was discharged. CONCLUSIONS While LVAD is increasingly common for heart failure patients, the tunneled driveline may inadvertently enter the peritoneal cavity where it can cause significant morbidity. In this case, we propose securing the driveline to the abdominal wall to prevent complications when LVAD removal is not an option.
Use of allopurinol to reduce hepatotoxicity from 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

The overall survival of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is over 90%. Much of this success comes from the daily use of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) during maintenance therapy [1]. Mercap...
Improving Cancer Patients’ Insurance Choices (I Can PIC): A Randomized Trial of a Personalized Health Insurance Decision Aid

Background Many cancer survivors struggle to choose a health insurance plan that meets their needs because of high costs, limited health insurance literacy, and lack of decision support. We developed a web-based decision aid, Improving Cancer Patients' Insurance Choices (I Can PIC), and evaluated it in a randomized trial. Materials and methods Eligible individuals (18-64 years, diagnosed with cancer for ≤5 years, English-speaking, not Medicaid or Medicare eligible) were randomized to I Can PIC or an attention control health insurance worksheet. Primary outcomes included health insurance knowledge, decisional conflict, and decision self-efficacy after completing I Can PIC or the control. Secondary outcomes included knowledge, decisional conflict, decision self-efficacy, health insurance literacy, financial toxicity, and delayed care at a 3-6-month follow-up. Results A total of 263 of 335 eligible participants (79%) consented and were randomized; 206 (73%) completed the initial survey (106 in I Can PIC; 100 in the control), and 180 (87%) completed a 3-6 month follow-up. After viewing I Can PIC or the control, health insurance knowledge and a health insurance literacy item assessing confidence understanding health insurance were higher in the I Can PIC group. At follow-up, the I Can PIC group retained higher knowledge than the control; confidence understanding health insurance was not reassessed. There were no significant differences between groups in other outcomes. Results did not change when controlling for health literacy and employment. Both groups reported having limited health insurance options. Conclusion I Can PIC can improve cancer survivors' health insurance knowledge and confidence using health insurance. System-level interventions are needed to lower financial toxicity and help patients manage care costs. Implications for practice Inadequate health insurance compromises cancer treatment and impacts overall and cancer-specific mortality. Uninsured or underinsured survivors report fewer recommended cancer screenings and may delay or avoid needed follow-up cancer care because of costs. Even those with adequate insurance report difficulty managing care costs. Health insurance decision support and resources to help manage care costs are thus paramount to cancer survivors' health and care management. We developed a web-based decision aid, Improving Cancer Patients' Insurance Choices (I Can PIC), and evaluated it in a randomized trial. I Can PIC provides health insurance information, supports patients through managing care costs, offers a list of financial and emotional support resources, and provides a personalized cost estimate of annual health care expenses across plan types.
Valence tautomerism in a cobalt-verdazyl coordination compound.

Coordination of 1-isopropyl-3,5-dipyridyl-6-oxoverdazyl to cobalt results in a dication best described in the solid state as a high spin cobalt(II) ion coordinated to two radical ligands with an S = 3/2 ground state. On dissolution in acetonitrile, the cobalt(II) form equilibrates with a cobalt(III) valence tautomer with an S = 1/2 ground state.
Precision Health: The Role of the Social and Behavioral Sciences in Advancing the Vision

Author(s): Hekler, Eric; Tiro, Jasmin A; Hunter, Christine M; Nebeker, Camille | Abstract: BackgroundIn 2015, Collins and Varmus articulated a vision for precision medicine emphasizing molecular characterization of illness to identify actionable biomarkers to support individualized treatment. Researchers have argued for a broader conceptualization, precision health. Precision health is an ambitious conceptualization of health, which includes dynamic linkages between research and practice as well as medicine, population health, and public health. The goal is a unified approach to match a full range of promotion, prevention, diagnostic, and treatment interventions to fundamental and actionable determinants of health; to not just address symptoms, but to directly targetgenetic, biological, environmental, and social and behavioral determinants of health.PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to elucidate the role of social and behavioral sciences within precision health.Main bodyRecent technologies, research frameworks, and methods are enabling new approaches to measure, intervene, and conduct social and behavioral science research. These approaches support three opportunities in precision health that the social and behavioral sciences could colead including: (a) developing interventions that continuously “tune” to each person’s evolving needs; (b) enhancing and accelerating links between research and practice; and (c) studying mechanisms of change in real-world contexts. There are three challenges for precision health: (a) methods of knowledge organization and curation; (b) ethical conduct of research; and (c) equitable implementation of precision health.ConclusionsPrecision health requires active coleadership from social and behavioral scientists. Prior work and evidence firmly demonstrate why the social and behavioral sciences should colead with regard to three opportunity and three challenge areas.
KRAB domain of ZFP568 disrupts TRIM28-mediated abnormal interactions in cancer cells

Interactions of KRAB (Kruppel-associated box)-associated protein KAP1 [also known as TRIM28 (tripartite motif containing protein 28)] with DNA-binding KRAB zinc finger (KRAB-ZF) proteins silence many transposable elements during embryogenesis. However, in some cancers, TRIM28 is upregulated and interacts with different partners, many of which are transcription regulators such as EZH2 in MCF7 cells, to form abnormal repressive or activating complexes that lead to misregulation of genes. We ask whether a KRAB domain-the TRIM28 interaction domain present in native binding partners of TRIM28 that mediate repression of transposable elements-could be used as a tool molecule to disrupt aberrant TRIM28 complexes. Expression of KRAB domain containing fragments from a KRAB-ZF protein (ZFP568) in MCF7 cells, without the DNA-binding zinc fingers, inhibited TRIM28-EZH2 interactions and caused degradation of both TRIM28 and EZH2 proteins as well as other components of the EZH2-associated polycomb repressor 2 complex. In consequence, the product of EZH2 enzymatic activity, trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 level, was significantly reduced. The expression of a synthetic KRAB domain significantly inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells (MCF7) but has no effect on normal (immortalized) human mammary epithelial cells (MCF10a). Further, we found that TRIM28 is a positive regulator of TRIM24 protein levels, as observed previously in prostate cancer cells, and expression of the KRAB domain also lowered TRIM24 protein. Importantly, reduction of TRIM24 levels, by treatment with either the KRAB domain or a small-molecule degrader targeted to TRIM24, is accompanied by an elevated level of tumor suppressor p53. Taken together, this study reveals a novel mechanism for a TRIM28-associated protein stability network and establishes TRIM28 as a potential therapeutic target in cancers where TRIM28 is elevated. Finally, we discuss a potential mechanism of KRAB-ZF gene expression controlled by a regulatory feedback loop of TRIM28-KRAB.
Mouse Jagged2 is differentially expressed in hematopoietic progenitors and endothelial cells and promotes the survival and proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors by direct cell-to-cell contact

To study the regulation of the early stages of hematopoiesis, cDNA representational difference analysis was used to isolate genes that were differentially expressed in primitive hematopoietic progenitors. The reasoning was that such genes were more likely to provide functions important to hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors. One of the genes identified through this approach encodes mouse Jagged2 (m Jagged2 ). Using quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, it was shown that m Jagged2 was differentially expressed in c-kit + hematopoietic progenitors, including those with the phenotypes of Lin − c-kit + Rh lo Ho lo and Lin − c-kit + Rh hi Ho lo , and that they have been shown to be highly enriched for long-term and short-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells, respectively. Western blot analyses showed that endothelial cells also expressed high levels of Jagged2, but stromal fibroblasts did not. Using a coculture system we found that exogenous, full-length mJagged2 promoted the survival and proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors, including the high-proliferative potential colony-forming cells. Direct cell-to-cell contact was required for this effect. Taken together, these findings indicate that both c-kit + hematopoietic progenitors and endothelial cells express Jagged2 and that exogenous, full-length Jagged2 promotes the survival and proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors.
A coronagraph for the sensing of fabrication errors in diffraction gratings

We describe a coronagraph-like instrument for the characterization of fabrication errors in diffraction gratings and diffractive optics. A diffraction grating under test is illuminated with collimated laser light, and a reflected diffraction order is focused by a lens. A beam stop placed at the focal plane of the lens blocks the primary diffracted beam, passing only the small fraction of light scattered into nearby angles due to fabrication errors. The transmitted light fraction is focused by a second lens onto a digital camera and the light distribution is measured with a sensitive high dynamic range imaging method. Preliminary measurements with the coronagraph setup are compared to focal-plane images made without beam stop.
Applying Biomechanics in Exercise and Rehabilitation

Strength and conditioning is a profession in which a great deal of biomechanical research has been conducted. The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and their Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research publish many studies on the biomechanics of exercise. Traditionally, strength and conditioning careers were limited to coaching the physically gifted in intercollegiate and professional sports. However, more and more opportunities exist for personal training with a wide variety of clients in the private sector.
Effect of Radiation on the Essential Nutrient Homeostasis and Signaling of Retinoids in a Non-human Primate Model with Minimal Bone Marrow Sparing.

ABSTRACT High-dose radiation exposure results in hematopoietic (H) and gastrointestinal (GI) acute radiation syndromes (ARS) followed by delayed effects of acute radiation exposure (DEARE), which include damage to lung, heart, and GI. Whereas DEARE includes inflammation and fibrosis in multiple tissues, the molecular mechanisms contributing to inflammation and to the development of fibrosis remain incompletely understood. Reports that radiation dysregulates retinoids and proteins within the retinoid pathway indicate that radiation disrupts essential nutrient homeostasis. An active metabolite of vitamin A, retinoic acid (RA), is a master regulator of cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis roles in inflammatory signaling and the development of fibrosis. As facets of inflammation and fibrosis are regulated by RA, we surveyed radiation-induced changes in retinoids as well as proteins related to and targets of the retinoid pathway in the non-human primate after high dose radiation with minimal bone marrow sparing (12 Gy PBI/BM2.5). Retinoic acid was decreased in plasma as well as in lung, heart, and jejunum over time, indicating a global disruption of RA homeostasis after IR. A number of proteins associated with fibrosis and with RA were significantly altered after radiation. Together these data indicate that a local deficiency of endogenous RA presents a permissive environment for fibrotic transformation.
Safety and long‐term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with human immunodeficiency virus

Objective This study aims to report the long-term outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV+) patients. Background Sparse data exists regarding the risk of patients with HIV who undergo PCI. Methods Using a case-control design, we compared baseline characteristics, procedure-related outcomes, in-hospital, and 2-year clinical outcomes of 112 consecutive HIV+ patients versus 112 HIV- controls matched for age, gender, and diabetes mellitus who underwent PCI from April 2003 to September 2011. Results Baseline characteristics were generally comparable, save for more African Americans and history of chronic renal insufficiency in the HIV+ vs. HIV- group (62.5% vs. 21.4%, P < 0.001) and (27.7% vs. 9.9%, P < 0.001). There was no correlation between CD4 nadir count and extent and diffuseness of coronary artery disease. The occurrence of major adverse cardiac events at 2 years was similar in both groups. Multivariable analysis for independent correlates of major adverse cardiac events at 2 years detected patients with a history of chronic renal insufficiency (OR: 2.44, 95% confidence interval: 1.02–5.83; P = 0.04) and acute myocardial infarction (OR: 2.92, 95% confidence interval: 1.39–6.15; P = 0.005) as correlates for outcome. Post-hoc analysis showed that drug-eluting stent (DES) use in the HIV+ group was beneficial. Conclusion PCI in HIV+ patients is safe, with high procedural success rates, and produces similar outcomes to those seen in HIV- patients at 2 years. HIV+ patients should be treated with DES if possible. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structure and Mechanism of Voltage-Gated Ion Channels

The structure, mechanism and expression of ion channels are currently intense areas of research interest. The first advances in these areas were made by the application of biochemical techniques to the problems of channel purification. Such studies have told us the size of intact channels and their subunit composition and have yielded clues regarding functionally important domains (such as pores, gates, modulation sites and non-protein modifications). For Na + and Ca 2+ channels, attention has been focused on a large polypeptide (so-called α peptide) found in each purified preparation. These α proteins apparently have all the molecular apparatus required for channel operation, while smaller associated subunits may play other roles in channel modulation, synthesis or cellular localization. Purified material has also been important in the construction of probes to identify clones of channel-encoding DNA fragments.
Technetium-99m-labeled monoclonal antibodies for immunoscintigraphy : simplified preparation and evaluation

Ascorbic acid incubated with monoclonal antibodies (22 degrees C, 60 min, pH 6.5) at a molar ratio of 3500:1, reduced 2.7 +/- 0.2% of the available disulfides to sulfhydryl groups that strongly bind 99mTc, and provided greater than 95% labeling efficiency for several IgM, IgG and F(ab')2 antibodies. The colloid formation was consistently less than 3% and the stability of the tracer when challenged with DTPA and cysteine was excellent. The immunospecificity of labeled antibodies as determined by immobilized specific antigen assay was 84 +/- 1% for IgM and 82.6 +/- 1.1% for IgG antibodies. For in vivo evaluation in mice bearing experimental abscesses and tumors, corresponding 125I-labeled antibodies served as controls. The liver uptake was similar (P = 0.76 and P = 0.12) for 99mTc or 125I labeled antinuclear antibody TNT-1 in mice bearing abscesses as well as for 99mTc-TNT-1-F(ab')2 and 125I-TNT-1-F(ab')2 in mice bearing tumors. Higher but statistically insignificant (P = 0.08, 0.18, and 0.73) urinary excretion was noted for 99mTc-antibodies. For corresponding 99mTc- and 125I-labeled antibodies, the abscess to muscle ratios (3.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 3.4 +/- 0.8) and tumor to muscle ratios (10.04 +/- 4.4 vs. 10.54 +/- 3.0) were similar. The high 99mTc-TNT-1-F(ab')2 uptake permitted excellent scintigraphic visualization of tumors whereas the nonspecific 99mTc-HSA did not (tumor/muscle ratio: 2.4 +/- 0.3). This method is simple, reliable, and adaptable to an instant labeling technique.
Neutrino Masses, Neutrino Oscillations, and Cosmological Implications

Theoretical concepts and motivations for considering neutrinos having finite masses are discussed first. Following this, the experimental situation on searches for masses and oscillations is summarized. This includes a discussion of the solar neutrino problem, reactor, deep mine and accelerator data, tritium decay experiments and double beta-decay data. Finally, the cosmological implications and astrophysical data relating to neutrino masses will be reviewed. Aspects of this topic include the neutrino oscillation solution to the solar neutrino problem, the missing mass problem in galaxy halos and galaxy clusters, galaxy formation and clustering, and radiative neutrino decay and the cosmic ultraviolet background radiation.
Proactive Optimization and Control of Heat-Exchanger Super Networks

Abstract This paper presents an integrated approach for the optimization and control of heat-exchanger networks (HENs) that are managed proactively, where both renewable energy generation and time-varying electricity pricing are considered in calculating the utility cost and revenues. A real-time optimization strategy is carried out to deal with the resulting variability in energy resource availability and costs. The heat-exchanger super structures are first defined where transitions between the included HEN sub structures are assumed to be instantaneous. The optimal configurations are sent to the local controllers as structural set points to be implemented. The explicit nonlinear models of heat exchangers built in Aspen Plus® are adopted to describe the dynamic behaviors of the HENs. The dynamic models are incorporated not only for simulating the local control scheme but also the supervisory level to account for the structural transitions that incur operational and possibly capital costs.
Plant signal molecules activate the syrB gene, which is required for syringomycin production by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae.

The syrB gene is required for syringomycin production by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and full virulence during plant pathogenesis. Strain B3AR132 containing a syrB::lacZ fusion was used to detect transcriptional activation of the syrB gene in syringomycin minimal medium by plant metabolites with signal activity. Among 34 plant phenolic compounds tested, arbutin, phenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and salicin were shown to be strong inducers of syrB, giving rise to approximately 1,200 U of beta-galactosidase activity at 100 microM; esculin and helicin were moderate inducers, with about 250 to 400 U of beta-galactosidase activity at 100 microM. Acetosyringone and flavonoids that serve as signal molecules in Agrobacterium and Rhizobium species, respectively, did not induce the syrB::lacZ fusion. All syrB inducers were phenolic glucosides and none of the aglucone derivatives were active, suggesting that the beta-glycosidic linkage was necessary for signal activity. Phenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside containing galactose substituted for glucose in the beta-glycosidic linkage also lacked inducer activity. Phenolic signal activity was enhanced two- to fivefold by specific sugars common to plant tissues, including D-fructose, D-mannose, and sucrose. The effect of sugars on syrB induction was most noticeable at low concentrations of phenolic glucoside (i.e., 1 to 10 microM), indicating that sugars such as D-fructose increase the sensitivity of P. syringae pv. syringae to the phenolic plant signal. Besides induction of syrB, syringomycin biosynthesis by parental strain B3A-R was induced to yield over 250 U of toxin by the additions of arbutin and D-fructose to syringomycin minimal medium. These data indicate that syringomycin production by most strains of P. syringae pv. syringae is modulated by the perception of two classes of plant signal molecules and transduced to the transcriptional apparatus of syringomycin (syr) genes such as syrB.
Family Planning or Family Assistance? Towards a More Feminist Sociological Approach to Sexual Health and Reproductive Services

When a family requires economic support for survival, government services are available to provide family assistance programs. These programs give parents the economic ability to provide for their children in ways that their current occupational or situational conditions do not allow. Their goal -- as well as the goal of any other government assistance program -- is to provide a stepping stone from which families can amass enough wealth to provide for themselves. In this way, America sets the tone that families -- parents and children -- deserve economic support when they're unable to provide for themselves.
Fracture Initiation at the Zirconia/Veneer Interface-A Finite Element Simulation

Zirconia/veneer bilayered components are extensively used in dental restoration technology to improve resistance of toothâs surface from decay. The direction of the fracture propagation at the interface of zirconia and veneer is investigated in this study. Finite element analysis is performed on a bi-material four point bend specimen in different geometries and the fracture initiation angle is obtained using Maximum Tangential Stress (MTS) criterion. The effect of specimen geometry on the fracture initiation angle is discussed. Because an interface crack may propagate through interface or kink into one of the materials, some comments are given to determine under which condition âinterface debondingâ will be happened.
Molecular fingerprinting of TGFß‐treated embryonic maxillary mesenchymal cells

The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF(beta)) family represents a class of signaling molecules that plays a central role in normal embryonic development, specifically in development of the craniofacial region. Members of this family are vital to development of the secondary palate where they regulate maxillary and palate mesenchymal cell proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis. The function of this growth factor family is particularly critical in that perturbation of either process results in a cleft of the palate. While the cellular and phenotypic effects of TGF(beta) on embryonic craniofacial tissue have been extensively cataloged, the specific genes that function as downstream mediators of TGF(beta) in maxillary/palatal development are poorly defined. Gene expression arrays offer the ability to conduct a rapid, simultaneous assessment of hundreds to thousands of differentially expressed genes in a single study. Inasmuch as the downstream sequelae of TGF(beta) action are only partially defined, a complementary DNA (cDNA) expression array technology (Clontech's Atlas Mouse cDNA Expression Arrays), was utilized to delineate a profile of differentially expressed genes from TGF(beta)-treated primary cultures of murine embryonic maxillary mesenchymal cells. Hybridization of a membrane-based cDNA array (1178 genes) was performed with 32P-labeled cDNA probes synthesized from RNA isolated from either TGF(beta)-treated or vehicle-treated embryonic maxillary mesenchymal cells. Resultant phosphorimages were subject to AtlasImage analysis in order to determine differences in gene expression between control and TGF(beta)-treated maxillary mesenchymal cells. Of the 1178 arrayed genes, 552 (47%) demonstrated detectable levels of expression. Steady state levels of 22 genes were up-regulated, while those of 8 other genes were down-regulated, by a factor of twofold or greater in response to TGF(beta). Affected genes could be grouped into three general functional categories: transcription factors and general DNA-binding proteins; growth factors/signaling molecules; and extracellular matrix and related proteins. The extent of hybridization of each gene was evaluated by comparison with the abundant, constitutively expressed mRNAs: ubiquitin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), cytoplasmic beta-actin and 40S ribosomal protein. No detectable changes were observed in the expression levels of these genes in-response to TGF(beta) treatment. Gene expression profiling results were verified by Real-Time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Utilization of cDNA microarray technology has enabled us to delineate a preliminary transcriptional map of TGF(beta) responsiveness in embryonic maxillary mesenchymal cells. The profile of differentially expressed genes offers revealing insights into potential molecular regulatory mechanisms employed by TGF(beta) in orchestrating craniofacial ontogeny.
Occupational lead exposure, nephropathy, and renal cancer.

A 48-year-old lead worker was found to have a cystic renal carcinoma during an evaluation of his occupational lead poisoning. Clinical studies showed elevated blood lead levels, impaired urinary concentrating ability, and reduced creatinine clearance. Histologic and electron microscopic studies showed this cystic tumor to be similar to renal carcinomas observed in animals with prolonged lead exposure. Lead content of the tumor was elevated (2.49 μg/gm) in comparison with adjacent renal tissue and with normal adult levels. In light of previous animal studies, this case adds increased evidence to the concern over the carcinogenic potential of prolonged lead exposure.
Systems biology of stem cell fate and cellular reprogramming

Stem cell differentiation and the maintenance of self-renewal are intrinsically complex processes requiring the coordinated dynamic expression of hundreds of genes and proteins in precise response to external signalling cues. Numerous recent reports have used both experimental and computational techniques to dissect this complexity. These reports suggest that the control of cell fate has both deterministic and stochastic elements: complex underlying regulatory networks define stable molecular 'attractor' states towards which individual cells are drawn over time, whereas stochastic fluctuations in gene and protein expression levels drive transitions between coexisting attractors, ensuring robustness at the population level.
The limit of non-stoichiometry in silicon carbide

The extent of the silicon carbide single-phase stability field has been investigated. Samples were equilibrated at 2400 ° C by coarsening of fine-grain silicon carbide powder. The lattice parameter, density, and the silicon-to-carbon ratio were measured on silicon- and carbon-saturated samples. These two compositions were not distinguishable at a level of better than one part in one thousand by their molecular weights per mole of crystal sites; no native point defects measurably respond to the difference in silicon activity. The accuracy of the lattice parameter and density measurements require that the free energies of defect pair formation be larger than about 3eV. This applies to antisite pairs, Frenkel pairsand Schottky pairs. It is concluded that silicon carbide is largely stoichiometric. The crystal chemistry must be dominated by electrons, holes and impurities.
DIAPHRAGMATIC FATIGUE IN THE NEONATAL PIGLET

We studied neural input to and force output of the diaphragm in 7 anesthetized neonatal piglets (wt. 2.45-3.06 kg, age 13-21 days) spontaneously breathing against a respiratory load (13× normal pulmonary resistance). Costal diaphragmatic EMG, transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi), VE, Ti, and Te were measured at baseline (BL) and during one hour of inspiratory loading. VE (cc/min) fell significantly below BL by 5'(BL: 523±187, 5':250±110 p<.001) and did not change thereafter (60':288±139). Concomitantly, Pdi(cmH2O) increased by 5'(BL: 7.8±3.2, 5':35.9±20 p<.001) and remained unchanged at 60'(41±12). Despite the constancy of VE and Pdi after 5', peak EMG activity, rate of EMG activity (EMG/Ti), and slope moving average EMG progressively increased throughout the loading period. This failure to increase diaphragmatic force output in the presence of increasing neural drive suggested peripheral fatigue. This was confirmed by generating force-frequency curves of the diaphragm via phrenic stimulation at BL and 60' on load in 3 piglets. We found marked decreases in force output (Pdi) on load compared to BL throughout the range of frequencies tested (10-100Hz, p<.05). We conclude that diaphragmatic muscle fatigue is responsible for the decrease in diaphragm efficiency noted during resistive loading in the neonatal piglet.
Regularity conditions in the CLT for linear eigenvalue statistics of Wigner matrices

Abstract We show that the variance of centred linear statistics of eigenvalues of GUE matrices remains bounded for large n for some classes of test functions less regular than Lipschitz functions. This observation is suggested by the limiting form of the variance (which has previously been computed explicitly), but it does not seem to appear in the literature. We combine this fact with comparison techniques following Tao–Vu and Erdos, Yau, et al. and a Littlewood–Paley type decomposition to extend the central limit theorem for linear eigenvalue statistics to functions in the Holder class C 1 / 2 + ϵ in the case of matrices of Gaussian convolution type. We also give a variance bound which implies the CLT for test functions in the Sobolev space H 1 + ϵ and C 1 − ϵ for general Wigner matrices satisfying moment conditions. If the additional assumption of the test function being supported away from the edge of the spectrum is made, we prove the CLT for test functions of regularity H ˙ 1 / 2 ∩ L ∞ and H 1 / 2 + for GUE and Johansson matrices respectively. Previous results on the CLT impose the existence and continuity of at least one classical derivative.