cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crystal forms of LY334370 HCl: Isolation, Solid‐State Characterization, and Physicochemical Properties

Abstract LY334370 HCl, a 5HT1f agonist investigated for the treatment of migraines, was identified in five crystal forms: three anhydrates (I–III), a dihydrate, and an acetic acid solvate. The identification and characterization of these crystal forms by optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric and moisture sorption analyses, solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, and X‐ray crystallography (Form I only) are presented. Physical properties, including hygroscopicity, solubility, and intrinsic dissolution rate, were assessed for Form I and the dihydrate, the two most viable crystal forms for commercial development. Surprisingly, anhydrous Form I was found to be the thermodynamically most stable crystal form in water, dissolving six times slower than the dihydrate, a difference that correlates well with the rank order of aqueous solubility. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 92:1196–1205, 2003
The effect of the use of hop additives and lactic acid bacteria starter in the preparation of dough on the properties of the resulting dough and bread

In this research, the effects of lactic acid bacteria starter and hop additives, similar to yeast, on the quality of the resulting dough and bread, especially the development of staling, were investigated. In the experiments, a mixed culture containing Lactobacillus plantarum and L. fermentum was inoculated at the levels of 2% and 4% depending on the flour quantity. Hop additives were used at the levels of 0.025% and 0.05%. The effects of type-1, type-3 and type-5 flours were investigated with respect to their chemical composition, physical properties and bread experiment at three different periods, i. e. December 1993, March and June 1994. According to the results obtained, the best values for all three types of flours were found to occur in the second period, i. e. March 1994, whereas the lowest values were observed at the end of the third term. Almost all additives had an effect on dough and bread properties, pH and acidity development and, moreover, on the development of staling. The combined application of 0.05% hop and lactic acid bacteria starters at the levels of 2% and 4% was the most effective at delaying staling.
Evidence That Focal Adhesion Complexes Power Bacterial Gliding Motility

The bacterium Myxococcus xanthus has two motility systems: S motility, which is powered by type IV pilus retraction, and A motility, which is powered by unknown mechanism(s). We found that A motility involved transient adhesion complexes that remained at fixed positions relative to the substratum as cells moved forward. Complexes assembled at leading cell poles and dispersed at the rear of the cells. When cells reversed direction, the A-motility clusters relocalized to the new leading poles together with S-motility proteins. The Frz chemosensory system coordinated the two motility systems. The dynamics of protein cluster localization suggest that intracellular motors and force transmission by dynamic focal adhesions can power bacterial motility.
High-energy primary electrons and the universal blackbody radiation.

Compatibility of high energy electron energy spectrum measurements with presence of universal black body radiation
Solubility of Nonanoic (Pelargonic) Acid in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

The solubility of nonanoic acid (also known as pelargonic acid) in supercritical carbon dioxide has been determined at (313.15 and 333.15) K over a pressure range of (10 to 30) MPa. The experimental apparatus was of a flow-type, dynamic design, and the solubility was obtained gravimetrically. The solubility ranged from a pelargonic acid concentration of (0.14 ± 0.07) kg·m−3 (333.15 K, 10.0 MPa) to (25.39 ± 0.61) kg·m−3 (313.15 K, 30.0 MPa). The results showed that the solubility of pelargonic acid at 313.15 K was always greater than at 333.15 K at each pressure considered, a common behavior in liquid + SCF phase equilibria. No supercritical fluid solubility data for pelargonic acid were found in the literature. To ensure the validity of the experimental technique, solubility data for oleic acid were measured and compared to literature values. Oleic acid solubilities agreed with literature data within estimated uncertainties. A modified Adachi−Lu model, in terms of dimensionless variables, was used to corr...
Sequence analysis of a cDNA containing the gag and prot regions of the soybean retrovirus-like element, SIRE-1

SIRE-1 is a family of several hundred dispersed copies of a very large DNA element from Glycine max that has features characteristic of retroviruses and retrotransposons. A 2.4 kb SIRE-1-specific fragment was recovered from a soybean cDNA library and sequenced. The sequence contains two ORFs. Theoretical translation of ORF1 produces a gag-prot-like polyprotein containing highly conserved motifs found in retroelement nucleocapsids (CX2CX4HX4C) and aspartic proteases (LDSG). The second ORF is foreshortened. The cDNA also contains nearly 200 bp of a putative 5′ LTR just upstream of a tRNA primer-binding site.
Regulation of rat liver glycogen synthesis and activities of glycogen cycle enzymes by glucose and galactose

Abstract Direct regulation of rat liver glycogen metabolism by glucose and galactose was studied using an isolated liver perfusion system. Activation of glycogen synthase and net glycogen synthesis increased linearly when perfusate glucose concentration was increased from 125 to 500 mg 100 ml . Galactose, rapidly taken up by isolated rat liver regardless of circulating glucose concentration, increased these responses to glucose. In the presence of galactose ( ≥ 75 mg 100 ml ), activation of synthase and glycogen synthesis were 1.5-fold higher at any given glucose concentration. The addition of insulin did not appreciably alter synthase activation by glucose and galactose. Phosphorylase activity, low at circulating glucose levels above 125 mg 100 ml , was further decreased as glucose was increased or when galactose was added to the perfusate. Release of glucose into the perfusate in response to aglycemia was increased in the presence of galactose.
Diarylborenium Cations: Synthesis, Structure, and Electrochemistry

Mes2BF and ArN2BF (ArN = 4-(Me2N)-2,6-Me2-C6H2) react with trimethylsilyltriflate and p-dimethylaminopyridine in chlorobenzene to afford the corresponding borenium salts [Mes2B-DMAP]+ OTf− ([1]+OTf−) and [ArN2B-DMAP]+ OTf− ([2]+OTf−), which have been fully characterized.
A switch level fault simulation environment

This paper presents a fault simulation environment which accepts pure switch level or mixed switch/RT level descriptions of the design under test. Switch level fault injection strategies for the stuck-at, transition and logic bridge models are presented. A fault simulation algorithm is presented, along with design issues and optimizations. The fault simulation algorithm places no restrictions on the circuit styles used to implement designs. Mixed level simulation issues are discussed. Fault simulation performance numbers on large industrial benchmarks are reported.
A direct numerical simulation study of flow past a freely vibrating cable

We present simulation results of flow-induced vibrations of an infinitely long flexible cable at Reynolds numbers Re = 100 and Re = 200, corresponding to laminar and early transitional flow states, respectively. The question as to what cable motions and flow patterns prevail is investigated in detail. Both standing wave and travelling wave responses are realized but in general the travelling wave is the preferred response. A standing wave cable response produces an interwoven pattern of vorticity, while a travelling wave cable response produces oblique vortex shedding. A sheared inflow produces a mixed standing wave/travelling wave cable response and chevron-like patterns with vortex dislocations in the wake. The lift force on the cable as well as its motion amplitudes are larger for the standing wave response. At Re = 200, the cable and wake response are no longer periodic, and the maximum amplitude of the cable is about one cylinder diameter, in agreement with experimental results.
First-Order Reliability Approach to Quantify and Improve Building Portfolio Resilience

AbstractThe concept of disaster-resilient communities has gained considerable acceptance and attention over the past decade, requiring the assessment of not only the monetary losses surrounding a hazard, but also the complex, time-dependent factors that influence community resilience. This paper presents an analytical, reliability-based approach to quantify seismic resilience based on the robustness and restoration rapidity of a portfolio of buildings following an earthquake event. The reliability problem is formulated using random variables to describe the spatially correlated seismic intensity, structural response, and duration of posthazard recovery for predefined building combinations within a portfolio. Based on these random variables, the first-order reliability method (FORM) is used as a basis to develop a new algorithm to evaluate a probability distribution of resilience for a suite of spatially distributed buildings. In addition, sensitivity measures are computed within FORM and used to prioritiz...
Large-scale neurochemical metabolomics analysis identifies multiple compounds associated with methamphetamine exposure

Methamphetamine (MA) is an illegal stimulant drug of abuse with serious negative health consequences. The neurochemical effects of MA have been partially characterized, with a traditional focus on classical neurotransmitter systems. However, these directions have not yet led to novel drug treatments for MA abuse or toxicity. As an alternative approach, we describe here the first application of metabolomics to investigate the neurochemical consequences of MA exposure in the rodent brain. We examined single exposures at 3 mg/kg and repeated exposures at 3 mg/kg over 5 days in eight common inbred mouse strains. Brain tissue samples were assayed using high-throughput gas and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, yielding quantitative data on >300 unique metabolites. Association testing and false discovery rate control yielded several metabolome-wide significant associations with acute MA exposure, including compounds such as lactate (p = 4.4 × 10−5, q = 0.013), tryptophan (p = 7.0 × 10−4, q = 0.035) and 2-hydroxyglutarate (p = 1.1 × 10−4, q = 0.022). Secondary analyses of MA-induced increase in locomotor activity showed associations with energy metabolites such as succinate (p = 3.8 × 10−7). Associations specific to repeated (5 day) MA exposure included phosphocholine (p = 4.0 × 10−4, q = 0.087) and ergothioneine (p = 3.0 × 10−4, q = 0.087). Our data appear to confirm and extend existing models of MA action in the brain, whereby an initial increase in energy metabolism, coupled with an increase in behavioral locomotion, gives way to disruption of mitochondria and phospholipid pathways and increased endogenous antioxidant response. Our study demonstrates the power of comprehensive MS-based metabolomics to identify drug-induced changes to brain metabolism and to develop neurochemical models of drug effects.
Postpartum Depression Among White, African American, and Hispanic Low-Income Mothers in Rural Southeastern North Carolina

The purpose of this study was to assess factors impacting postpartum depression (PPD) among the 61 White, African American, and Hispanic low-income Medicaid recipients who enrolled in a prenatal program at a local health department in rural Southeastern North Carolina. The findings indicate that mothers who experienced mood changes, such as depression and anxiety, before or during pregnancy reported an increased level of PPD (p = 0.035). Nearly a third of the mothers displayed either minor (17.3%) or major (15.4%) depressive symptoms. Community health nurses working with this population need to be increasingly aware of the underlying causes and prevalence of PPD among low income mothers for early screening and intervention.
Circadian rhythms and sleep in children with autism

A growing body of research has identified significant sleep problems in children with autism. Disturbed sleep-wake patterns and abnormal hormone profiles in children with autism suggest an underlying impairment of the circadian timing system. Reviewing normal and dysfunctional relationships between sleep and circadian rhythms will enable comparisons to sleep problems in children with autism, prompt a reexamination of existing literature and offer suggestions for future inquiry. In addition, sleep and circadian rhythms continue to change over the course of development even in typical, healthy humans. Therefore, exploring the dynamic relationship between circadian rhythms and sleep throughout development provides valuable insight into those sleep problems associated with autism. Ultimately, a better understanding of sleep and circadian rhythms in children with autism may help guide appropriate treatment strategies and minimize the negative impact of these disturbances on both the children and their families.
Hot-swapping communication models in P2P networks

Nowadays, an increasing number of communication protocols is available for peers to exchange information. As fast evolving environments seem to be the norm with peer-to-peer (P2P) systems, this communication layer needs to evolve dynamically. In this article, we propose a model for integrating and swapping several communication protocols at runtime in a transparent way for user defined code. As a first step, we take a look at how the inter-peer communication layer should be built in P2P platforms, in order to allow the hot-swap of communication protocols. In a second step we report our experiences in building such a communication infrastructure.
Hypertension, society, and public policy

There is plentiful evidence of the threat to public health of uncontrolled hypertension, and ample professional knowledge of how to prevent the condition. Yet failure to achieve adequate prevention in practice is widely acknowledged across Europe and North America. The lack of success of well-intentioned public policy initiatives in the past is linked with problems of changing lifestyles, improving patients' adherence, doctor-patient communications, inadequate public sector budgets for prevention as distinct from treatment, and reliance on top-down programmes instead of involving patients or their organizations directly. Current promising methods of tackling these problems are described.
An LMI approach to the control of a class of nonlinear systems

The paper considers the control of the class of nonlinear systems that can be represented by the convex hull of a collection of local linear approximates. The use of such quasi-linear modeling reduces the problem of the robust stabilization of the class with static state or dynamic output feedback, against modeling error and parametric uncertainty, to a linear matrix inequality (LMI) problem.
“Snorkeling” of the Charged Sidechain of a Transmembrane Peptide as Directly Observed by Double Electron-Electron Resonance Experiment

While hydrophobic amino acids constitute the bulk of transmembrane protein domains, polar and even charged amino acids are not uncommon and often play significant roles in membrane protein function. Positioning a polar residue within the bilayer core is highly unfavorable thermodynamically; however, the free energy penalty could be minimized by “stretching” the side chain of the amino acid to bring the charged moiety closer to the bilayer surface while keeping the rest of the side chain inside the hydrophobic core. This biophysical phenomenon is known as “snorkeling”. Here we report experimental observations of “snorkeling” for nitroxide-modified side-chains upon protonation, its dependence upon the location along the transmembrane peptide helix, and how this snorkeling is affected by the membrane electrostatic surface potential. pH sensitive spin labels, either IMTSL or IKMTSL (JPCB 2009, 113, 3453) were attached to two cysteine residues positioned equidistant from the center of the WALP peptide so that the primary sequence of each peptide is palindromic, thus, ensuring symmetric location of the labels with respect to the bilayer. The change in protonation states of the nitroxide was directly observed from EPR spectra. The distance between two nitroxide moieties was measured by Q-band double electron-electron resonance (DEER) experiment. Upon protonation, the distance between the two IMTSL probes increased compared to that of the neutral forms, by approximately 3 A indicating displacements of the charged nitroxide sidechain towards the polar head region. The “snorkeling” of the label was observed to be depth dependent - no changes in the positioning of the sidechain upon protonation was observed for labels located within 10-8 A from the center of the bilayer. Supported by NSF-0843632 to TIS.
Snack Crackers Containing Whole‐Grain Triticale Flour: Crispness, Taste, and Acceptability

Snack crackers containing 25, 40, 55, and 70% whole-grain triticale flour were prepared. The crackers did not differ in breaking strength or crispness as measured with the Instron Universal Testing Machine. Sensory panelists used the technique of magnitude estimation coupled with word concepts to evaluate the crispness, taste, and overall acceptability of the crackers. Crackers containing 25 and 40% triticale flour tasted better and were more acceptable than were those containing 55 and 70% triticale flour. Panelists did not find differences in crispness. Protein contents of the crackers ranged from 11.78 to 12.97%. It was demonstrated that triticale flour can be used to produce acceptable, increased-protein snack crackers.
Congenital Acquired Atrophy of the Shoulder Girdle Muscles in a Patient with Sprengel's Deformity

INTRODUCTION Sprengel’s deformity is a congenital anomaly of the shoulder girdle which results in elevation of the scapula (congenital high scapula) and limitation of movement of the shoulder. Sprengel’s deformity is the most common congenital malformation of the shoulder girdle, with a male to female ratio of 3:1. It is frequently associated with cervical spine malformations, absent or hypoplastic periscapular musculature, and abnormalities in the cervicothoracic vertebrae or thoracic rib cage: absent or fused ribs, chest wall asymmetry, Klippel-Feil syndrome, cervical ribs, congenital scoliosis, and cervical spina bifida. The hallmark of Sprengel’s deformity is shoulder asymmetry with restriction of shoulder abduction. The elevation of the scapula is accompanied by its rotation to various positions. Clinically, the affected scapula is usually elevated 2 to 10 cm, adducted, and its inferior pole is medially rotated. The left side is more commonly affected but may sometimes be bilateral, in which case it is more functionally disabling, although it is cosmetically much more acceptable. No satisfactory explanation exists regarding the pathogenesis of Sprengel’s deformity. It is thought to be the consequence of teratogenic exogenous or endogenous harmful agent affecting mesenchymal tissue in the fourth to fifth week of embryogenesis. There may be hereditary forms. There is underdevelopment and degeneration of the shoulder girdle muscles and creation of abnormal omovertebral fibrous, cartilaginous or osseous connection, such as the presence of an omovertebral bone seen in approximately one-third of patients. The hypoplastic scapula is usually tethered to the spine and posterior ribs by tight bands or by the omovertebral bone, which restricts scapular movements, and therefore abduction of the arm. The diagnosis of Sprengel’s deformity is based on clinical examination and radiological findings. It is uncommon to identify an adult with untreated Sprengel’s deformity, like the patient who presented here. Most patients with Sprengel’s deformity receive surgical treatment as children or adolescents. Adult patients with childhood polio, an acquired cause of weakness of the shoulder girdle, may present later in life with symptoms and signs of thoracic outlet syndrome with worsening of the weakness. The accompanying pain and sensory symptoms such as tingling and “numbness” would mitigate against a diagnosis of post polio syndrome in these patients.
Paxillin inhibits HDAC6 to regulate microtubule acetylation, Golgi structure, and polarized migration

Polarized cell migration is essential for normal organism development and is also a critical component of cancer cell invasion and disease progression. Directional cell motility requires the coordination of dynamic cell–extracellular matrix interactions as well as repositioning of the Golgi apparatus, both of which can be controlled by the microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton. In this paper, we have identified a new and conserved role for the focal adhesion scaffold protein paxillin in regulating the posttranslational modification of the MT cytoskeleton through an inhibitory interaction with the α-tubulin deacetylase HDAC6. We also determined that through HDAC6-dependent regulation of the MT cytoskeleton, paxillin regulates both Golgi organelle integrity and polarized cell invasion and migration in both three-dimensional and two-dimensional matrix microenvironments. Importantly, these data reveal a fundamental role for paxillin in coordinating MT acetylation-dependent cell polarization and migration in both normal and transformed cells.
The "self digest": self-knowledge serving self-regulatory functions.

Self-knowledge is conceptualized as a self digest that summarizes one's relations to the world and the personal consequences of these relations. It is a handy sourcebook that serves self-regulatory functions. It is distinguished from the classic notion that self-knowledge contains one descriptive actual self. The self digest contains information about three kinds of actual selves that differ in self-regulatory function: (a) an instrumental self, (b) an expectant self, and (c) a monitored self. It represents not only the actual self but desired (and undesired ) selves that reflect different kinds of self-regulatory focus (i.e., promotion or prevention). It represents not only one's own standpoint but also the standpoint of others whose beliefs one is motivated to take into account. This self-regulatory perspective is used to reconsider self-esteem, self-enhancement, self-consistency, self-presentation, and cross-cultural differences in the self.
Modelling Human Clarification Strategies

We model human responses to speech recognition errors from a corpus of human clarification strategies. We employ learning techniques to study 1) the decision to either stop and ask a clarification question or to continue the dialogue without clarification, and 2) the decision to ask a targeted clarification question or a more generic question. Targeted clarification questions focus specifically on the part of an utterance that is misrecognized, in contrast with generic requests to ‘please repeat’ or ‘please rephrase’. Our goal is to generate targeted clarification strategies for handling errors in spoken dialogue systems, when appropriate. Our experiments show that linguistic features, in particular the inferred part-ofspeech of a misrecognized word are predictive of human clarification decisions. A combination of linguistic features predicts a user’s decision to continue or stop a dialogue with accuracy of 72.8% over a majority baseline accuracy of 59.1%. The same set of features predict the decision to ask a targeted question with accuracy of 74.6% compared with the majority baseline of 71.8%. 1
Recent Literature on Lichens—183*

AASTRUP, P., F. RIGET, R. DIETZ & G. ASMUND. 2000. Lead, zinc, cadmium, mercury, selenium and copper in Greenland caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Science of the Total Environment 245: 149–159. 4 fig. 3 tab. ADRIAN-ROMERO, M., G. BLUNDEN, B. G. CARPENTER & E. TYIHAK. 1999. HPLC quantification of formaldehyde, as formaldemethone, in plants and plant-like organisms. Chromatographia 50: 160–166. 1 tab. [10 common UK lichens included.] AHTI, T. & P. T. DEPRIEST. 2001. New combinations of Cladina epithets in Cladonia (Ascomycotina: Cladoniaceae). Mycotaxon 77: 499–502. [New: Cladonia arbuscula subsp. boliviana (Ahti) comb. nov., C. arbuscula subsp. imshaugii (Ahti) comb. nov., C. arbuscula subsp. pachyderma (Ahti) comb. nov., C. argentea (Ahti) comb. nov., C. atrans (Ahti) comb. nov., C. ciliata f. flavicans (Florke) comb. nov., C. confusa f. bicolor (Mull. Arg.) comb. nov., C. densissima (Ahti) comb. nov., C. densissima f. decolorans (Ahti) comb. nov., C. halei (Ahti) comb. nov., C. kalbii (Ahti) comb. nov., C. kriegeri (Ahti & S. Stenroos) comb. nov., C. pycnoclada f. fuscescens (Ahti) comb. nov., C. rangiferina subsp. abbayesii (Ahti) comb. nov.] ALVAREZ ANDRES, J. & R. CARBALLAL DURAN. 2000. Flora liquenica sobre Quercus robur L. en Galicia (NW Espana) [Lichen flora of Quercus robur L. in Galicia, NW Spain]. Cryptogamie, Mycologie 21: 103–117. 7 fig. 2 tab. ANON. 1999. Lichens in coastal spruce forests can survive thinning. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 14: 197. [Brief news note on Norwegian forestry practice.] APTROOT, A. 2001. Lichenized and saprobic fungal biodiversity of a single Elaeocarpus tree in Papua New Guinea, with the report of 200 species of ascomycetes associated with one tree. Fungal Diversity 6: 1–11. 2 tab. [Includes 173 lichens, the largest number so far recorded from a single tree.] APTROOT, A. & R. LUCKING. 2001. The Sphaerella species described from Hymenophyllaceae (filmy ferns) belong to Strigula and Trichothelium (lichenized ascomycetes). Mycological Research 105: 510–512. 2 fig. [New: Trichothelium assurgens (Cooke) comb. nov.] APTROOT, A., L. SPARRIUS, K. VAN HERK & U. DE BRUYN. 2001. Origin and distribution of recently described lichens from the Netherlands. Aktuelle Lichenologische Mitteilungen, NF 5: 13–25. [Lists 337 species. New to France: Absonditella lignicola, Bacidia neosquamulosa, Lecanora compallens, Lecidea variegatula, Protoparmelia hypotremella. New to Luxembourg: Bacidia
Novel Structured Electrolyte for All-Solid-State Lithium Ion Batteries

In this study, a multi-layer structure solid electrolyte (SE) for all-solid-state electrolyte lithium ion batteries (ASSLIBs) was fabricated and characterized. The SE was fabricated by laminating ceramic electrolyte Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP) with polymer (PEO)10-Li(N(CF3SO2)2 electrolyte and gel-polymer electrolyte of PVdF-HFP/ Li(N(CF3SO2)2. It is shown that the interfacial resistance is generated by poor contact at the interface of the solid electrolytes. The lamination protocol, material selection and fabrication method play a key role in the fabrication process of practical multi-layer SEs.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Trapping Alfalfa Looper Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with Single and Double Component Floral Chemical Lures

Abstract Both sexes of the alfalfa looper moth, Autographa californica (Speyer), were captured in traps baited with chemicals and combinations of chemicals that are odorants from “moth-visited” flowers. When presented alone, phenylacetaldehyde was strongly attractive and benzyl acetate was more weakly attractive to alfalfa looper moths. Few alfalfa looper moths were captured in traps baited with cis-jasmone, linalool, phenethyl alcohol, benzyl acetate or benzyl alcohol. In a comparison of varied amounts of phenylacetaldehyde, accomplished by varying the diameter of the hole in the lid of vial dispensers, greatest captures of alfalfa looper moths occurred with the largest hole size tested, 6.3 mm in diameter. Catches of alfalfa looper moths were enhanced when phenylacetaldehyde was presented with cis-jasmone and when benzyl acetate was presented along with benzaldehyde, compared with these chemicals presented singly.
The Conscious Use of Self: Bringing Practitioner Experience to Educational Practice

(1997). The Conscious Use of Self: Bringing Practitioner Experience to Educational Practice. Journal of Public Administration Education: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 249-252.
Relationships between quantitative FDG PET parameters, treatment and disease activity in cardiac sarcoidosis

1781 Objectives Although FDG PET is increasingly used for the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis, there is limited data on the relationships between clinical status, treatment and findings on serial scans. We aimed to evaluate whether changes in quantitative findings on FDG PET reflect changes in clinical status and treatment. Methods We evaluated all patients referred for diagnosis or monitoring of known or suspected cardiac sarcoidosis with FDG PET from February 2012 through October 2013 who had more than one scan (16 patients, 39 studies). All patients were prepared with a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet and intravenous heparin. We quantified peak left ventricular (LV) SUV (SUVmax) and percent of LV myocardium with SUV>2.5 (SUV2.5%) using FDG PET images and LV ejection fraction using paired perfusion images with Corridor4DM (INVIA, Ann Arbor, MI). An independent expert categorized clinical status for each patient at each examination as worsening or as stable/improving based on symptoms of heart failure or arrhythmia and EKG and echocardiography findings. Similarly, immunosuppressive treatment was categorized as stable/intensified or as tapered. We evaluated the relationships between PET findings and clinical and treatment status using linear mixed models with per patient random effects. Results Clinical status was improving/stable for 24 PET exams and worsening for 15 exams. Treatment was stable/intensified for 23 PET exams and tapered for 16 exams. We found that improving/stable compared to worsening status was associated with lower SUVmax (3.6 [95%CI 2.4-4.8] vs. 7.3 [5.7-8.8]; P=0.002) and SUV2.5% (27% [95%CI 16-39%] vs. 62% [46-77%]; P=0.003). Tapered treatment was associated with higher SUVmax (6.8 [95%CI 5.2-8.4] vs. 3.5 [2.1-4.9]; P=0.009) but not SUV2.5% (48% [95%CI 30-66%] vs. 34% [19-50%]; P=0.27). LVEF was related to SUVmax (P=0.025; β=0.99 [95%CI 0.13-1.84) but not SUV2.5% (P=0.39). Conclusions Quantitative FDG PET parameters of myocardial inflammation are related to disease activity and treatment intensity in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.
The Role of Adverbs in Sentiment Analysis

Sentiment Analysis, an important area of Natural Language Understanding, often relieson the assumption thatlexemescarry inherent sentiment values, as reflected in specialized resources. We examine and measure the contribution that eight intensifying adverbs make to the sentiment value of sentences, as judged by human annotators. Our results show, first, that the intensifying adverbs are not themselves sentiment-laden but strengthen the sentiment conveyed by words in their contexts to different degrees. We consider the consequences for appropriate modifications of the representation of the adverbs in sentiment lexicons.
Amyloid β-Protein Assembly and Alzheimer’s Disease: Dodecamers of Aβ42, but Not of Aβ40, Seed Fibril Formation

Evidence suggests that oligomers of the 42-residue form of the amyloid β-protein (Aβ), Aβ42, play a critical role in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we use high resolution atomic force microscopy to directly image populations of small oligomers of Aβ42 that occur at the earliest stages of aggregation. We observe features that can be attributed to a monomer and to relatively small oligomers, including dimers, hexamers, and dodecamers. We discovered that Aβ42 hexamers and dodecamers quickly become the dominant oligomers after peptide solubilization, even at low (1 μM) concentrations and short (5 min) incubation times. Soon after (≥10 min), dodecamers are observed to seed the formation of extended, linear preprotofibrillar β-sheet structures. The preprotofibrils are a single Aβ42 layer in height and can extend several hundred nanometers in length. To our knowledge this is the first report of structures of this type. In each instance the preprotofibril is associated off center with a single layer of a dodecamer. Protofibril formation continues at longer times, but is accompanied by the formation of large, globular aggregates. Aβ40, by contrast, does not significantly form the hexamer or dodecamer but instead produces a mixture of smaller oligomers. These species lead to the formation of a branched chain-like network rather than discrete structures.
Regulation of polycystin-1 ciliary trafficking by motifs at its C-terminus and polycystin-2 but not by cleavage at the GPS site

Failure to localize membrane proteins to the primary cilium causes a group of diseases collectively named ciliopathies. Polycystin-1 (PC1, also known as PKD1) is a large ciliary membrane protein defective in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Here, we developed a large set of PC1 expression constructs and identified multiple sequences, including a coiled-coil motif in the C-terminal tail of PC1, regulating full-length PC1 trafficking to the primary cilium. Ciliary trafficking of wild-type and mutant PC1 depends on the dose of polycystin-2 (PC2, also known as PKD2), and the formation of a PC1-PC2 complex. Modulation of the ciliary trafficking module mediated by the VxP ciliary-targeting sequence and Arf4 and Asap1 does not affect the ciliary localization of full-length PC1. PC1 also promotes PC2 ciliary trafficking. PC2 mutations truncating its C-terminal tail but not those changing the VxP sequence to AxA or impairing the pore of the channel, leading to a dead channel, affect PC1 ciliary trafficking. Cleavage at the GPCR proteolytic site (GPS) of PC1 is not required for PC1 trafficking to cilia. We propose a mutually dependent model for the ciliary trafficking of PC1 and PC2, and that PC1 ciliary trafficking is regulated by multiple cis-acting elements. As all pathogenic PC1 mutations tested here are defective in ciliary trafficking, ciliary trafficking might serve as a functional read-out for ADPKD.
Collective Sanctions in Classical Athens

This paper examines the use of collective sanctions in classical Athens. Collective sanctions have been interpreted in two very different ways: for some they reflect a distinctively primitive conception of collective guilt and responsibility; for others collective sanctions are an instrumental method of promoting deterrence. The paper argues that the Athenians understood collective sanctions primarily in instrumental terms. While the long pedigree of collective sanctions in Greek literature and culture made these punishments less morally repugnant to the Athenians than they are to moderns, the relatively rare uses of collective sanctions in classical Athens do not support a cultural account. At the same time, modern functional accounts only explain a small subset of Athenian collective punishments. Most functional accounts describe ancient collective liability as a form of indirect, delegated deterrence which encourages group members to monitor, prevent, and punish individual wrongdoers within the group. I argue that while this model applies to one form of collective punishment in Athens — group punishment of boards of magistrates — in most cases Athenian collective sanctions were aimed at direct, rather than indirect, deterrence.
Advanced Ceramic Structures and Materials for High-Reliability Millimeter-Wave Applications

Semiconductor device speeds and circuit operating frequencies have increased substantially over the past decade. Although millimeter-wave technology has been around for over 100 years, it is only within the past 5–10 years that increased demand for millimeter-wave commercial products and services has driven the development of new electronic package designs, low-loss materials, and the transformation of passive components to integrated and smaller geometries. High-reliability applications have employed millimeter-waves for several decades, but typically utilized heavy materials and distributed architectures. The transition of high-reliability millimeter-wave applications to new materials such as low-temperature co-fired ceramics requires innovative package designs to achieve comparable or better electrical performance in a much smaller form factor. Ceramic packaging technology continues to meet or exceed the performance requirements of high-reliability millimeter-wave applications with a broadened portfoli...
An artificial system for selecting the optimal surgical team

We introduce an intelligent system to optimize a team composition based on the team's historical outcomes and apply this system to compose a surgical team. The system relies on a record of the procedures performed in the past. The optimal team composition is the one with the lowest probability of unfavorable outcome. We use the theory of probability and the inclusion exclusion principle to model the probability of team outcome for a given composition. A probability value is assigned to each person of database and the probability of a team composition is calculated from them. The model allows to determine the probability of all possible team compositions even if there is no recoded procedure for some team compositions. From an analytical perspective, assembling an optimal team is equivalent to minimizing the overlap of team members who have a recurring tendency to be involved with procedures of unfavorable results. A conceptual example shows the accuracy of the proposed system on obtaining the optimal team.
Development of a hypoxia-responsive vector for tumor-specific gene therapy

We are developing new gene therapy vectors whose expression is selectively activated by hypoxia, a unique feature of human solid tumors. As vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is upregulated by hypoxia, such regulatory mechanisms would enable us to achieve hypoxia-inducible expression of therapeutic genes. Constructs with five copies of hypoxia-responsive elements (HREs) derived from the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of the human VEGF showed excellent transcriptional activation at low oxygen tension relevant to tumor hypoxia. In an attempt to achieve higher responsiveness, various combinations of HREs and promoters were examined. In addition, we also investigated whether the 3' UTR of the VEGF gene would confer increased post-transcriptional mRNA stability under hypoxic conditions. However, despite increases in the hypoxic/aerobic ratio of luciferase activity, gene expression with 3' UTR was lower due to mRNA destabilization by AU-rich elements (AREs). Thus, we found no benefit from the inclusion of the 3' UTR in our vectors. Of all the vectors tested, the combination of 5HRE and a CMV minimal promoter exhibited hypoxia responsiveness (over 500-fold) to the similar level to the intact CMV promoter. We propose that this vector would be useful for tumor selective gene therapy.
Thales Meets Poincaré

According to [2, Theorem 39, p. 100], Euclidean geometry and hyperbolic (BolyaiLobachevskian) geometry are the only types of absolute (also known as "neutral") plane geometry. These geometries are distinguished by the number of lines that pass through a given point and are parallel to a given line. This number may be 1 (the Euclidean case) or greater than 1 (the hyperbolic case): see axioms E and BL in [2, p. 197] or postulates (I) and (II) in [3, p. 317]. Euclidean and hyperbolic geometiy may also be distinguished by considering the sum of the (radian) measures of the (interior) angles in any triangle. Indeed, in Euclidean geometry, this sum is T, while in hyperbolic geometry, this sum is less than v (and may vary from triangle to triangle): see [2, Theorem 2, p. 264 and Theorem 2, p. 278], [3, p. 118], [4, Theorems 10.1 and 10.3]. The main purpose of this paper is to see whether these two geometries may also be distinguished by Thales' Theorem [2, Theorem 13, p. 269], a classical result on triangles in Euclidean geometry whose proof depends on the behavior of parallel lines and similar triangles in the Euclidean setting. To study the possible validity of Thales' Theorem in hyperbolic geometry, we shall work inside the Poincare half-plane model, whose salient features are reviewed in Section 2. There is no loss of generality in using this model, as hyperbolic geometry is "categorical" [2, Proposition 7, p. 345], in the sense that all its models are isomorphic. One benefit of using the Poincare model is that the question of a possible "hyperbolic Thales' Theorem" comes down to asking whether two specific numbers are equal; the calculations in the Example in Section 2 give a negative answer. This accomplishes our main purpose: Thales' Theorem does distinguish Euclidean geometry from hyperbolic geometry. But we can say more. In Section 3, continuing to work in the Poincare model, we further analyze the two numbers that need to be calculated and compared in testing for a "hyperbolic Thales' Theorem." By subjecting the triangular data to a limiting process that is designed to, so to speak, minimize the difference between the hyperbolic and Euclidean metrics, we show (see the Theorem in Section 3) that the ratio of the two numbers in question has limit 1. Thus, although Thales' Theorem is false in hyperbolic geometry, we can say that it holds "in the limit," for a suitable Euclidean-seeking limit process. We hope that this work finds use as enrichment material in model-oriented courses on absolute geometry. However, the technical details in Section 3 depend on a more central part of the curriculum, namely real-analytic functions, as studied in advanced calculus. The material being reinforced includes the Binomial Theorem for power series, the calculations involved in multiplying, dividing, or composing functions defined by power series, and the Maclaurin series for ln(1 + x). A suitable reference for this material is [1].
Cardiovascular Aging: Perspectives From Humans to Rodents.

In order to define and target the specific characteristics of cardiovascular aging that render aging as a risk factor for diseases (such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, stroke, and heart failure) that reach epidemic proportions among older individuals, it is essential to develop quantitative information on age-associated alterations in cardiovascular structure and function in health. A sustained effort, over the past two decades, has been applied to characterize the multiple effects of aging on health in cardiovascular structure and function in a single study population (BLSA). In these studies, community-dwelling, volunteer participants are rigorously screened to detect both clinical and occult cardiovascular disease and characterized with respect to lifestyle (e.g., exercise habits), in an attempt to deconvolute interactions among lifestyle, cardiovascular disease, and the aging process in health. Some specific changes in resting cardiovascular structure and function and cardiovascular reserve capacity that occur with advancing age in these healthy humans have been identified and are presented here. These observations in humans are extended by relevant experiments from animal models to provide possible mechanistic insight.
Predicting self-diffusion in metal oxides from first principles: The case of oxygen in tetragonal ZrO 2

Theoretical prediction of self-diffusion in a metal oxide in a wide range of thermodynamic conditions has been a long-standing challenge. Here, we establish that combining the formation free energies and migration barriers of all charged oxygen defects as calculated by density functional theory, within the random-walk diffusion theory framework, is a viable approach to predicting oxygen self-diffusion in metal oxides. We demonstrate this approach on tetragonal ZrO${}_{2}$ by calculating oxygen self-diffusivity as a function of temperature and oxygen partial pressure or, alternatively, temperature and off-stoichiometry. Arrhenius analysis on the isobaric (or constant off-stoichiometry) self-diffusivities yields a spectrum of effective activation barriers and prefactors. This provides reconciliation for the wide scatter in the experimentally determined activation barriers and prefactors for many oxides.
First principles: physical science concepts as a foundation for advanced studies in physiology.

The importance of mathematics and physical science to physiology is amply evident in both the classic and current literature of this field. Students who have completed typical medical school prepar...
Is data mining of manufacturing data beyond first order analysis of value? A case study

AbstractThis research-in-progress paper describes a study of data mining using historical manufacturing test data at an electronic circuit board assembly firm. The purpose of this data mining is to determine, if in a multi-step manufacturing process at small and medium manufacturing firm downstream production problems can be identified and prevented by evaluating up stream data. While quantitative analysis and data mining have been used in manufacturing, the scope of their application is generally limited to a specific step or process that is a first order analysis of the data.
Factors associated with short interpregnancy interval in women who plan postpartum LARC: a retrospective study.

Abstract Objectives Pregnancies conceived after a short interpregnancy interval (IPI), within 18 months of delivery, and unintended pregnancies are both associated with health risks. We studied risk factors for conception after a short IPI among postpartum women who plan long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Study design A retrospective review of a cohort of women who delivered at University of Illinois Hospital from 2005 to 2010 and were discharged with a plan for interval LARC was performed. Outcomes were (1) attendance at a postpartum visit (PPV), (2) LARC placement (3) and conception after a short IPI. We compared variables using chi-squared test, Student's t tests and multivariable logistic regression. Results Of 3548 women, 62.0% attended a PPV, 36.5% received LARC and 11.4% conceived after a short IPI. After logistic regression, women who were multiparous [odds ratio (OR) 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65–0.91] or chose a temporary contraceptive "bridge" to LARC (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.58–0.94) were less likely to attend their PPV. Women who missed their PPV (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.05–0.08) or chose a bridge (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.88) were less likely to receive LARC. Finally, women who did not receive LARC (OR 4.8, 95% CI 3.50–6.70), were multiparous (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.32–2.15) or teenaged (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.61–2.79) were more likely to conceive after a short IPI. Conclusions Women who receive postpartum LARC are less likely to become pregnant after a short IPI. Missing the PPV, multiparity and plan for a contraceptive bridge may all contribute to a patient not receiving planned LARC. Implications Efforts to decrease unintended pregnancy after a short IPI should focus on decreasing barriers to planned postpartum LARC. Provision of temporary bridge contraception until interval LARC may not mitigate the significant barriers associated with interval postpartum placement protocols.
Effects of socio-economic status on interface metaphor use and computer performance

Considering the rapid movement of the United States and other countries towards an information society, it is of great importance to provide the masses with access to computer technology and its ever-growing benefits. In many cases, "access" means having the actual technology (computer hardware); other times "access" involves the designing of the computer interface so that the user can effectively learn to use it, This research addresses a problem that centers on the fact that apparent disparities persist in computer use/access among racial minorities, persons of lower economic status and lower education here in the United States. As our nation becomes progressively more information driven, the people (all people) need to have access to tools that will help them to exploit the use of the information provided. Individuals who lack access will be at a great social and economic disadvantage.