cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing diagnostic tests on benefit-risk

Comparing diagnostic tests on accuracy alone can be inconclusive. For example, a test may have better sensitivity than another test yet worse specificity. Comparing tests on benefit risk may be more conclusive because clinical consequences of diagnostic error are considered. For benefit-risk evaluation, we propose diagnostic yield, the expected distribution of subjects with true positive, false positive, true negative, and false negative test results in a hypothetical population. We construct a table of diagnostic yield that includes the number of false positive subjects experiencing adverse consequences from unnecessary work-up. We then develop a decision theory for evaluating tests. The theory provides additional interpretation to quantities in the diagnostic yield table. It also indicates that the expected utility of a test relative to a perfect test is a weighted accuracy measure, the average of sensitivity and specificity weighted for prevalence and relative importance of false positive and false negative testing errors, also interpretable as the cost-benefit ratio of treating non-diseased and diseased subjects. We propose plots of diagnostic yield, weighted accuracy, and relative net benefit of tests as functions of prevalence or cost-benefit ratio. Concepts are illustrated with hypothetical screening tests for colorectal cancer with test positive subjects being referred to colonoscopy.
Polymer Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery Across the Blood Brain Barrier

Tremendous efforts in the last several decades have resulted in numerous inventions for central nervous system (CNS) drug delivery systems. Many of these innovative systems have a significant potential for the development of new biomedical applications. The wide variety of strategies reflects the inherent difficulty in transport of therapeutic and imaging agents across the blood brain barrier (BBB). In fact, the effective combination of several approaches, such as encapsulation of drugs into nanoparticles (NPs) conjugated with vector moieties or using micelles of Pluronic® block copolymers along with Pluronic® “unimers” that will inhibit drug efflux transporters in the brain microvessel endothelial cells BMVEC, may give the most promising CNS therapeutic outcomes.
Infants' Understanding of Preferences When Agents Make Inconsistent Choices

This study showed that 8.5-month-old infants seemed to consider the consistency of an agent's choices in attributing preferences to her. When the agent consistently chose one object over another, three or four times consecutively, infants acted as if they had interpreted her actions as evidence for her preference. In contrast, when the agent inconsistently chose between the two objects, at the ratio of 1:3, infants did not seem to interpret her actions as suggesting her preference. Converging evidence was obtained from infants' responses across a looking-time task and an action task. The results are discussed in terms of how infants might use frequencies of agents' actions directed toward different objects to understand agents' preferences.
Global Energy Subsidies Reform: Inclusive Approaches to Welfare Assessment

For several decades energy subsidies remain on the top of international policy agenda, serving as one of the most widely used policy tools. Several major international organizations have attempted to quantify global energy subsidies and provide assessment of their potential reform. This includes studies by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International Energy Agency (IEA) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). While most of these contributions provide estimates of wide economic effects they lack consistent assessment of environmental co-benefits of subsidies elimination, which can potentially have a significant influence on aggregate results and their regional distribution. In this paper, we apply a multistep framework to analyze two global energy subsidies scenarios, which include elimination of pre-tax consumer and post-tax local pollution subsidies. Computable general equilibrium GTAP-E-Power model is used to implement energy subsidy policies, quantify economic impacts, estimate energy use changes and CO2 emissions. Energy use changes are linked to emissions of air pollutants (SO2, NOx and PM2.5) and pollution-mortality impacts are estimated based on the population exposed by pollution and corresponding mortality risks for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, ischemic heart disease and stroke. Finally, welfare benefits related to reduced mortality rates using country-adjusted willingness-to-pay measure from direct valuation studies.
Future climate change and plant macronutrient use efficiency

Abstract Prominent climate change variables that may impact macro-nutrient use efficiency (NUE) include elevated CO2 (eCO2) and altered temperature and moisture regimes. This chapter reviews current knowledge regarding the influence of these climate change variables on: (1) soil biology, physics, and chemistry and how climate change-driven modifications in soil influences macronutrient availability and mobility in the root zone and (2) plant root and shoot form and function and root–shoot interrelationships. Large uncertainties associated with predicting future soil temperature and moisture changes at regional/local scales, and the dearth of reports on eCO2 impacts on root biology and NUE render any conclusions highly speculative. We conclude that for successful implementation of “climate smart” agriculture there is a critical need to advance scientific understanding of root form and function, improve representation of macronutrients in all major crop models, and update/develop diagnostics that are cost-effective and useful within the context of NUE phenotyping.
Consistency of FLT SUVs in head and neck cancer over time

339 Objectives Evaluate the consistency of FLT SUVs over time in head and neck cancer. Methods 9 patients (7M, 2F; 51.2±7.7 yr), with squamous cell head and neck cancer, Stage III/IV, were administered FLT (0.07 mCi/kg) and imaged dynamically for 1 hour over the tumor and then underwent whole-body (WB) imaging commencing at 74±9 (range 66 to 100) min. Imaging was repeated after 5 days of radiotherapy (10 Gy) and cisplatin. VOIs were created using a 50% threshold on the last dynamic frame (time=55-60 min) corresponding to the tumor, FLT-avid lymph nodes and spinal marrow. The pre-therapy WB and mid-therapy dynamic and WB images were co-registered to the dynamic sequence and VOIs were applied. Mean and max SUVs (SUV60 and SUVWB) and the change with treatment were evaluated. Results The correlation between SUV60 and SUVWB for all VOIs (pre- and mid-therapy, N = 85) for mean values = 0.98 and for max values = 0.94. Differences were 0.016±0.238 (p = 0.53) and -0.114±0.569 (p = 0.07) SUV units. The correlation between the change in SUV with therapy (N = 7 subjects) for mean SUV = 0.95 and for max SUV = 0.90. Differences in the change values were -0.015±0.32 (p=0.78) and -0.22±0.73 (p=0.07) units. Conclusions FLT SUVs (mean and max) are stable and comparable for images initiated between 55 and 100 min post-injection whether acquired pre- or mid-therapy in head and neck cancer. Funded in part by NCI 1R21CA130281-01 (Menda).
Electronic structure of the topological superconductor candidate Au2Pb

We use magnetization measurements, high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the electronic properties of $\mathrm{Au}{}_{2}\mathrm{Pb}$, a topological superconductor candidate. The magnetization measurements reveal three discontinuities at 40, 51, and 99 K that agree well with reported structural phase transitions. To measure the band structure along desired crystal orientations, we utilized polishing, sputtering, and annealing to obtain clean flat sample surfaces. ARPES measurements of the $\mathrm{Au}{}_{2}\mathrm{Pb}$ (111) surface at 110 K shows a shallow hole pocket at the center and flower-petal-like surface states at the corners of the Brillouin zone. These observations match the results of DFT calculations relatively well. The flower-petal-like surface states appear to originate from a Dirac-like dispersion close to the zone corner. For the $\mathrm{Au}{}_{2}\mathrm{Pb}$ (001) surface at 150 K, ARPES reveals at least one electron pocket between the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$ and $M$ points, consistent with the DFT calculations. Our results provide evidence for the possible existence of a Dirac state in this material.
BHLHE40, a third transcription factor required for insulin induction of SREBP-1c mRNA in rodent liver

In obesity, elevated insulin causes fatty liver by activating the gene encoding SREBP-1c, a transcription factor that enhances fatty acid synthesis. Two transcription factors, LXRα and C/EBPβ, are necessary but not sufficient for insulin induction of hepatic SREBP-1c mRNA. Here, we show that a third transcription factor, BHLHE40, is required. Immunoprecipitation revealed that BHLHE40 binds to C/EBPβ and LXRα in livers of rats that had fasted and then refed. Hepatic BHLHE40 mRNA rises rapidly when fasted rats are refed and when rat hepatocytes are incubated with insulin. Preventing this rise by gene knockout in mice or siRNAs in hepatocytes reduces the insulin-induced rise in SREBP-1c mRNA. Although BHLHE40 is necessary for insulin induction of SREBP-1c, it is not sufficient as demonstrated by failure of lentiviral BHLHE40 overexpression to increase hepatocyte SREBP-1c mRNA in the absence of insulin. Thus, an additional event is required for insulin to increase SREBP-1c mRNA.
The Inverse Poisson Functional for forecasting response time to environmental events and global climate change

A series of Poisson distributions are fit to sets of global cost-of-impact data representing large-scale accidents and anthropogenic catastrophes. The fits are used to build a function representing data means and are designated the Inverse Poisson Functional. Climate and environmental data have been used to develop a cost-frequency population distribution and to estimate the expected time between events. On a global scale, we show that expected wait- or reaction- times can be estimated using the Poisson density function. The functional is generated, representing the locus of means (peaks) from the individual Poisson distributions from different impact costs. Past (ex-post) forecasts relate to a range of natural and anthropogenic disasters; future (ex-ante) forecast presents global CO2 emissions. This paper shows that a substantial reaction to global climate change (CO2 emissions extremum) will occur in 55 to 120 years (95% CI) with a model prediction of 80 years.
Bariatric surgery improves nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a contemporary systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract High-level evidence of the impact of bariatric surgery on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is lacking. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the Cochrane guidelines to assess the resolution of NAFLD after bariatric surgery. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CENTRAL for English language publications on bariatric surgery and NAFLD. We included randomized controlled trials and observational studies of patients with NAFLD who underwent bariatric surgery and were assessed by liver biopsy or liver function tests. Duodenal switch and biliopancreatic diversion were excluded. Our primary outcome was histologic or biochemical improvement of NAFLD. Twenty-one studies (12 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass [RYGB], 3 adjustable gastric banding, 2 sleeve gastrectomy, 1 vertical banded gastroplasty, 3 multiple procedures) enrolling 2374 patients were included. The pooled proportion of patients who had improvement of steatosis was 88% (95% confidence interval [CI]: .80, .94). Steatohepatitis improved in 59% (95% CI: .38, .78) and fibrosis improved or resolved in 30% of patients (95% CI: .21, .41). Similarly, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) improved in 32% of patients (95% CI: .22, .42) and alanine aminotransferase improved in 62% of patients (95% CI: .42, .82). After RYGB, the number of patients who had improvement in NAFLD was higher than the average of all the pooled studies. Bariatric surgery improves steatosis and steatohepatitis in the majority of patients and improves or resolves liver fibrosis in 30% of patients. RYGB has a greater impact on NAFLD histology compared with other procedures. This contemporary meta-analysis strongly suggests that bariatric surgery should be considered as a treatment of NAFLD.
Neural Malware Control with Deep Reinforcement Learning

Antimalware products are a key component in detecting malware attacks, and their engines typically execute unknown programs in a sandbox prior to running them on the native operating system. Files cannot be scanned indefinitely so the engine employs heuristics to determine when to halt execution. Previous research has investigated analyzing the sequence of system calls generated during this emulation process to predict if an unknown file is malicious, but these models often require the emulation to be stopped after executing a fixed number of events from the beginning of the file. Also, these classifiers are not accurate enough to halt emulation in the middle of the file on their own. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm which overcomes this limitation and learns the best time to halt the file's execution based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL). Because the new DRL-based system continues to emulate the unknown file until it can make a confident decision to stop, it prevents attackers from avoiding detection by initiating malicious activity after a fixed number of system calls. Results show that the proposed malware execution control model automatically halts emulation for 91.3% of the files earlier than heuristics employed by the engine. Furthermore, classifying the files at that time significantly improves the classifier's accuracy. This new model improves the true positive rate by 61.5%, at a false positive rate of 1%, compared to the best baseline classifier.
Carbapenemase-producing organisms in solid organ transplantation.

Purpose of review Carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are a critical healthcare threat. Infections caused by CRE disproportionately affect transplant patients. Retrospective case studies suggest that up to 10% of transplant recipients develop a CRE infection. The current literature is reviewed with a particular focus on transplant-specific implications. Recent findings There are specific risks inherent to transplant recipients that result in an elevated risk for CRE carriage and subsequent infection. Additionally, the manifestations of these infections are dependent on the specific transplant type. The optimal treatment of CRE infections in transplant recipients has not been defined. Summary A reduction in the regional community CRE burden can lead to a secondary reduction in their occurrence within vulnerable transplant populations. Therefore, core principles of antibiotic stewardship and infection control within all levels of the healthcare system remains the most effective strategy for addressing the current health crisis. Simultaneously, an integrated approach to risk stratification and an approach to treatment is postulated for management of CRE infection within the solid-organ transplant population.
Attenuated prefrontal and temporal neural activity during working memory as a potential biomarker of suicidal ideation in veterans with PTSD.

Abstract Background Suicide is a significant health concern among veterans, and suicidal ideation is a common and functionally debilitating condition that frequently precedes suicidal behavior. Characterizing neurobiological substrates associated with suicidal ideation in veterans may inform evaluation of risk for this population. Associations between suicidal ideation and functional abnormalities in prefrontal, temporal, and striatal regions supporting cognitive task performance have been documented in individuals with mood and psychotic disorders, suggesting a potential role for neurocognitive vulnerabilities in this condition. To date, however, relatively little research has explored neural correlates of suicidal ideation, particularly among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods Twenty three combat veterans diagnosed with PTSD completed an adapted Reading Span (Rspan) working memory task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Participants were classified based on presence of current SI. We evaluated differences between these groups on neural activation in response to interference-based working memory demands within the task. Primary analyses were conducted using a voxel-wise between-group t-test. Results Task-based activations were observed in regions including the cingulate, middle frontal, parietal, and occipital cortex, striatum, and cerebellum. Relative to individuals without SI, individuals with SI demonstrated less activation in a large region spanning the lateral prefrontal cortex and cingulate cortex, as well as the inferior temporal cortex, in response to interference demands. Conclusions Results are consistent with models proposing that prefrontal neural substrates involved in cognitive regulation are implicated in suicidal ideation. Involvement of temporal functioning may also exist based on current findings. Future research is needed to understand whether disturbances in prefrontal regulatory control reflect a specific profile subtype with distinct neural correlates, and how such neural patterns may be used to improve detection and treatment personalization.
W-band Finite Ground Coplanar Waveguide (FG-CPW) using Laser Enhanced Direct-Print Additive Manufacturing (LE-DPAM)

Design, fabrication, and measurement of finite ground coplanar waveguides (FG-CPWs) operating up to 110 GHz is demonstrated using additive manufacturing (AM) technology. FG-CPWs were fabricated using laser enhanced direct-print additive manufacturing, where laser-machining at 355 nm or 1064 nm wavelength was employed along with fused deposition modeling and micro-dispensing in a single digital manufacturing platform. This approach provides high dimensional accuracy that is required by mm-wave packaging systems. The characterization of laser machining at wavelengths of both 355 nm and 1064 nm was examined with specific focus on the feature size and dimensional accuracy. Several FG-CPW designs for 50 and 60 ohms are characterized and compared against a FG-CPW line on a commercially available calibration substrate. Attenuation as low as ~0.3 dB/mm at 110 GHz is achieved. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported experimental result for transmission lines at W-band using laser enhanced direct-print additive manufacturing (LE-DPAM).
Nature and Control of Biochemical Pathways for the Origin of Prostatic Polyamines

Feeling greatly honored by this opportunity to join with many other of the admirers, pupils, and friends of William Wallace Scott in paying homage to his outstanding contributions to investigative and clinical urology, I would like to summarize some recent experiments on the biosynthesis of spermine and related amines in the prostate gland and other mammalian tissues. These investigations were initiated during the time I was privileged to serve under Dr. Scott as a staff member of the James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute at Hopkins. The ultimate aim of these studies—to gain insight into the functional roles of the high concentrations of spermine found in the prostate and its secretions in man and certain other mammals—has yet to be achieved. I hope the following paragraphs will show, however, that in delineating for the first time the series of linked enzyme reactions responsible for the production of polyamines in the prostate, a number of novel and previously unsuspected types of biochemical processes have been uncovered, many of which may be of general metabolic significance in nearly all higher animal cells. The findings to be presented were obtained in collaboration with Drs. Anthony Pegg, Dean Lockwood, Juhani Janne, and Gordon Coppoc.
Abstract 893: MicroRNA-448 Regulates the Cardiac Sodium Channel During Ischemia

Background: The cardiac voltage-gated sodium channel (SCN5A; encoding Nav1.5) plays a key role in cardiac conduction. The sodium channel is downregulated in cardiomyopathy, contributing to arrhythm...
RIPK3 inhibition prevents KRAS mutant p53 deficient lung tumor progression by impeding MDSCs

Abstract KRAS mutant p53 deficient (KP) non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) lacks targeted therapies. Existing treatments for lung cancer cause resistance and result in toxicities requiring novel effective therapies. By targeting mechanisms causing resistance such as myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), KP tumors could be inhibited. MDSCs are functionally diverse and suppress T cells in many cancers. RIPK3, a cell death inducing enzyme, also functions as a signaling component producing cytokines that mediate the suppressive function of MDSCs. Partial deletion of RIPK3 in myeloid cells reduced KP tumor growth. This also reduced accumulation of MDSCs with a consistent increase in antigen specific IFNγ producing CD8 T cells. Inhibiting RIPK3 with a small molecule inhibitor such as GSK 872 effectively reduces RIPK3 activity in myeloid cells including MDSCs and reduces growth of small and large KP tumors. GSK 872 in combination with checkpoint inhibitors such as anti PD-1 and anti CTLA-4 further decreased KP tumor size. Together, our findings show that inhibiting RIPK3 in MDSCs is effective in inhibiting KP NSCLC and is a viable therapeutic option for improving existing immunotherapeutic treatments.
SOCIAL ENGINEERING AS AN EVOLUTIONARY THREAT TO INFORMATION SECURITY IN HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS

Information security in healthcare settings is overlooked even though it is the most vulnerable for social engineering attacks. The theft of hospital information data is critical to be monitored as they contain patients’ confidential health information. If leaked, the data can impact patients’ social as well as professional life. The hospital data system includes administrative data, as well as employees’ personal information hacked, which can cause identity theft. The current paper discusses types and sources of social engineering attacks in healthcare organizations. Social engineering attacks occur more frequently than other malware attacks, and hence it is crucial to understand what social engineering is and its vulnerabilities to understand the prevention measures. The paper describes types of threats, potential vulnerabilities, and possible solutions to prevent social engineering attacks in healthcare organizations. Keywords : social engineering, hospitals, healthcare organizations, information security.
Patients discharged from higher-quality skilled nursing facilities spend more days at home.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of skilled nursing facility (SNF) quality with days spent alive in nonmedical settings ("home time") after SNF discharge to the community. DATA SOURCES Secondary data are from Medicare claims for New York State (NYS) Medicare beneficiaries, the Area Health Resources File, and Nursing Home Compare. STUDY DESIGN We estimate home time in the 30- and 90-day periods following SNF discharge. Two-part zero-inflated negative binomial regression models characterize the association of SNF quality with home time. DATA EXTRACTION METHODS We use Medicare claims data to identify 25 357 NYS fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older with an SNF admission for postacute care who were subsequently discharged to home in 2014. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Following 30 and 90 days after SNF discharge, the average home time is 28.0 (SD = 6.1) and 81.6 (SD = 20.2) days, respectively. A number of patient- and SNF-level factors are associated with home time. In particular, within 30 and 90 days of discharge, respectively, patients discharged from 2- to 5-star SNFs spend 1.2-1.5 (P < .001) and 3.2-4.3 (P < .001) more days at home than those discharged from 1-star (lowest quality) SNFs. CONCLUSIONS Improved understanding of what is contributing to differences in home time could help guide efforts into optimizing post-SNF discharge outcomes.
The power of narrative: The emotional impact of the life story interview

Abstract Much of the research on narrative identity has used the Life Story Interview (LSI) to better understand the person through the story they construct of their life. However, the effect that the LSI has on participants has not yet been examined. Study 1 looked at 163 middle-aged adults who completed a measure of self-reported positive and negative affect both immediately before and after being interviewed. Results indicated that participants experienced a significant increase in positive affect and that this mood boost was experienced regardless of background, personality, and mental health. Study 2 involved a qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts of the 20 participants who experienced the most and the least benefit from the interview, with results indicating three emerging themes (identity development, identity fulfillment, the storied self) that appear to reflect two forms of storytelling: autobiographical versus episodic.
Pedicled Anterolateral Thigh and Radial Forearm Free Flap Phalloplasty for Penile Reconstruction in Patients With Bladder Exstrophy.

Purpose:Male patients with exstrophy-epispadias complex have a congenitally short penis. Adolescent and adult patients often desire penile reconstruction to enable penetrative intercourse. When pen...
Using ADMIRE to improve minimum variance performance in the presence of reverberation clutter

Reverberation clutter is a difficult source of image degradation in patients, and minimum variance (MV) in particular is poorly equipped to handle such sources, as we demonstrate here. We propose that a pre-processing step such as ADMIRE should be implemented in cases with high reverberation clutter when we still want to be able to implement MV to realize improvements in lateral resolution. The ADMIRE, or aperture domain model image reconstruction, method is specifically designed to suppress or eliminate reverberant and off-axis sources of clutter while returning the decluttered channel data with its original dimensionality, allowing us to sequentially process the data with MV. We show that in simulated data this combined method results in clear improvements to image quality, contrast ratio, and target boundary thickness compared to DAS and MV alone. In in vivo cases, contrast ratio and general image quality are improved, and boundary thickness is generally on par with DAS and MV.
Surgical Management of Endometrial Polyps in Infertile Women: A Comprehensive Review

Endometrial polyps are benign localized lesions of the endometrium, which are commonly seen in women of reproductive age. Observational studies have suggested a detrimental effect of endometrial polyps on fertility. The natural course of endometrial polyps remains unclear. Expectant management of small and asymptomatic polyps is reasonable in many cases. However, surgical resection of endometrial polyps is recommended in infertile patients prior to treatment in order to increase natural conception or assisted reproductive pregnancy rates. There is mixed evidence regarding the resection of newly diagnosed endometrial polyps during ovarian stimulation to improve the outcomes of fresh in vitro fertilization cycles. Hysteroscopy polypectomy remains the gold standard for surgical treatment. Evidence regarding the cost and efficacy of different methods for hysteroscopic resection of endometrial polyps in the office and outpatient surgical settings has begun to emerge.
Effects of an Exercise and Diet-Induced Weight Loss Program on Resistin and Visfatin in Sedentary Obese Women

Resistin and visfatin are secreted by adipose tissue and potential regulators of inflammation and insulin sensitivity. This study examined the effects of exercise and diet-induced weight loss on resistin, visfatin and other adiposity and inflammatory markers. 26 sedentary obese women were randomly assigned into a control (C) or an exercise (E) group that involved circuit resistance-exercise (4 d/wk) with walking (10,000 steps/d, 3 d/wk) while consuming 1,200 kcal/day for 1-wk and 1,500 kcal/d diet for 11 wks consisting of 45:30 % PRO:CHO. Baseline and post-training DEXA body composition and fasting blood samples were obtained and analyzed by MANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis. Data are presented as mean±SD changes from baseline. Participants in the E group lost more weight (E: -13.0±8.9; C: -1.4±3.1 lbs, p=0.001) and fat (E: -5.1±4.5; C:-0.4±1.5 kg, p=0.001). Significant differences were seen between groups in leptin (E: -19.8±21.9; C: 4.5±16 ng/ml, p=0.003) while visfatin (E: -0.09±15.4; C: 89.3±177...
The toxicology of potassium and sodium iodates. II. Subacute toxicity of potassium iodate in mice and guinea pigs.

Abstract Each of six groups of nine or ten white Swiss mice received as drinking water one of the following solution for 15–16 weeks: 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75% KIO 3 , and 0.65% KI. Two similar control groups received water. During the fifteenth week an oral challenge dose of KIO 3 , at approximately the LD 50 value, was given by stomach tube to about half of the animals. Mortality data showed no significant change in iodate tolerance. Except for three mice in the 0.75% KIO 3 group that died during the first week, all mice that had received iodate only in the drinking water appeared healthy and showed no toxic symptoms at the end of the experiment. However, hematologic and pathologic studies indicated increased hemolysis among the 0.25% KIO 3 and higher concentration groups. No significant pathologic changes were found except for some hemosiderin deposition, attributable to hemolysis by iodate, in the renal convoluted tubules of a few in the 0.25% KIO 3 group and in nearly all mice in the 0.50% and 0.75% KIO 3 groups. The KI mice showed no significant changes attributable to this compound. Similar subacute toxicity experiments were carried out for 4 weeks on 36 guinea pigs. One group received 0.05% KIO 3 in the drinking water, a second received 0.50%-0.25% KIO 3 , and a third received only water. Both iodate groups remained in apparent good health and showed no significant alterations in the blood picture and no gross or microscopic changes attributable to iodate. The daily consumption of KIO 3 in the drinking water by some mice and guinea pigs at times exceeded the estimated oral LD 50 values for single doses of iodate given by stomach tube. This indicates a marked increase in toleration of iodate when given in divided, small doses with food in the stomach and bears on the proposed use of KIO 3 in iodating salt for culinary purpeses.
Chapter 11 Chloride Ion Channels in Mammalian Heart Cells

Publisher Summary An explosion of interest in and information about cardiac Cl − channels in recent years now promises to enhance the understanding of cardiac anion channels. Whereas, until recently, the very existence of any cardiac Cl − channel has been controversial, there is now strong electrophysiological evidence for at least three kinds of cardiac Cl − channels and molecular biological evidence suggests that there could be at least two more. This chapter discusses the latest developments, contributing to the understanding of the distribution, regulation, biophysical characteristics, and functions of the various cardiac Cl − channel types, in an attempt to minimize duplication with recent comprehensive reviews of this subject. The application of patch-clamp techniques to cardiac myocytes has provided convincing evidence for the existence of at least three kinds of cardiac Cl − channel. The differences in their regulatory mechanisms suggest that each might play a distinct role in modulating the resting membrane potential or the action potential of myocytes according to the circumstances, depending, for example, on whether there are circulating catecholamines or there is cell swelling or release of Ca 2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
A review of heterogeneous materials and their implications for relationships between kinematics and dynamics in continents

[1] The variation of mechanical properties as a function of depth in the lithosphere controls the relationship between surface deformation and whole-lithosphere deformation. Where mechanical competence (elastic strength or viscous stiffness) is a continuous function with depth, surface deformation can be used to constrain either force balance or rheological parameters for the lithosphere. However, where competence is vertically discontinuous, the surface deformation and deformation at depth may have a range of relationships, including complete independence. Therefore, both inversions and forward models designed to test either rheology or stress state are highly sensitive to the a priori choice of a mechanical model.
Controls on dissolved organic carbon quantity and chemical character in temperate rivers of North America

[1] Understanding the processes controlling the transfer and chemical composition of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in freshwater systems is crucial to understanding the carbon cycle and the effects of DOC on water quality. Previous studies have identified watershed-scale controls on bulk DOC flux and concentration among small basins but fewer studies have explored controls among large basins or simultaneously considered the chemical composition of DOC. Because the chemical character of DOC drives riverine biogeochemical processes such as metabolism and photodegradation, accounting for chemical character in watershed-scale studies will improve the way bulk DOC variability in rivers is interpreted. We analyzed DOC quantity and chemical character near the mouths of 17 large North American rivers, primarily between 2008 and 2010, and identified watershed characteristics that controlled variability. We quantified DOC chemical character using both specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254) and XAD-resin fractionation. Mean DOC concentration ranged from 2.1 to 47 mg C L−1 and mean SUVA254 ranged from 1.3 to 4.7 L mg C−1 m−1. We found a significant positive correlation between basin wetland cover and both bulk DOC concentration (R2 = 0.78; p < 0.0001) and SUVA254 (R2 = 0.91; p < 0.0001), while other land use characteristics were not correlated. The strong wetland relationship with bulk DOC concentration is similar to that found by others in small headwater catchments. However, two watersheds with extremely long surface water residence times, the Colorado and St. Lawrence, diverged from this wetland relationship. These results suggest that the role of riverine processes in altering the terrestrial DOC signal at the annual scale was minimal except in river systems with long surface water residence times. However, synoptic DOC sampling of both quantity and character throughout river networks will be needed to more rigorously test this finding. The inclusion of DOC chemical character will be vital to achieving a more complete understanding of bulk DOC dynamics in large river systems.
Futures Market Volatility: What Has Changed?

The evolution of trading practices in futures markets, including growth of high-frequency trading, has raised concerns about market quality. This study investigates whether excess futures return volatility, as an encompassing gauge of market quality, has changed over time. Daily measures of realized volatility are computed using 5-minute returns of 15 electronically traded futures contracts. Two benchmarks are used to control for changes in the rate of information flow: option implied volatility and long horizon volatility estimates. Relative to the benchmarks, realized volatility has not changed, indicating that changes in trading practices have not led to a deterioration of market quality. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 35:426–454, 2015
Ultramicroscopic Structure of Intrasporangium calvum (Actinomycetales)

The electron microscopic observation of vesicles formed by Intrasporangium calvum revealed that they do not contain spores. It thus seems that these vesicles should not be called sporangia. Isolation and study of three other strains of actinomycetes forming similar vesicles indicated that such structures can be formed by actinomycetes with very different properties. The taxonomic value of vesicle formation in actinomycetes is questioned.
Multimedia design for communication of dynamic information

Abstract Computer-based multimedia technologies allow designers to construct interactive and animated graphical presentations to communicate dynamic information. The conventional wisdom is that such presentations are more effective than printed materials. This paper presents research that critically examines this assumption. Design guidelines and principles were derived from a cognitive process model of multimodal comprehension. These guidelines and principles were used to create several expository presentations in two domains—the concrete domain of mechanical systems and the abstract domain of computer algorithms. A series of experiments evaluated the efficacy of these presentations and compared them with other kinds of presentations such as books, CD-ROMs and animations. The experiments also compared computer-based interactive graphical presentations and static printed presentations containing the same information. Experimental results suggest that the communicative efficacy of multimodal presentations is more related to their match with comprehension processes than with the interactivity and dynamism of the presentation media. The results support a model-based approach to the design of multimodal expository presentations of dynamic information. The comprehension model and corresponding design guidance should aid designers in building interactive graphical presentations that are more effective than intuitive designs in communicating dynamic content.
Dehydroascorbic acid undergoes hydrolysis on solubilization which can be reversed with mercaptoethanol

Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we have examined the effect of solubilization, cupric sulfate oxidation and mercaptoethanol reduction of dehydroascorbic acid. During solubilization, dehydroascorbic acid spontaneously hydrolyzed the lactone ring. The reduction of the dehydroascorbic acid hydrolysis product using mercaptoethanol resulted in the formation of ascorbic acid, suggesting that sulfhydryls are able to effect ring closure of the dehydroascorbic acid hydrolysis product. These data suggest that studies of dehydroascorbic acid should be interpreted with caution, since properties attributed to dehydroascorbic acid may actually be due to another chemical species.
Long forms of the dopamine receptor (DRD4) gene VNTR are more prevalent in substance abusers: no interaction with functional alleles of the catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) gene.

Substance abuse is a complex behavior that is caused by both environmental and genetic factors. Work to understand the genetic factors has focused on genes related to dopamine activity because of its critical role in rewarding and reinforcing behaviors. The DRD3 and other dopamine receptor subtypes are expressed in many areas of the limbic system, and have been the objects of study for their possible roles in several neuropsychiatric disorders. Interest in variants of the D4 gene was heightened by reports that some alleles were more frequent in individuals who score high on Novelty Seeking, an aspect of personality that may be related to drug seeking behavior. We now show that the long form of the DRD4 gene is more frequent in individuals with high quantity/frequency of drug use compared to controls (χ2 = 5.7, df = 1, P = 0.017, odds ratio = 1.89, CI = 1.1–3.2). There is no difference in DRD3 allele frequencies in these samples, and there is no interaction of DRD4 alleles with those of the catecholamine-o-methyl- transferase gene (COMT) that we previously identified to be more frequent in substance abusers than controls [Vandenbergh, et al.: 1997: Am. J. Med. Gen. 74:439–442]. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsychiatr. Genet.) 96:678–683, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On cyclic commutator subgroups

I t is well known that if G is a group, not every element of the commutator subgroup G ' need be a commutator . Examples to this effect are given in [2], [3], and [9]. I to [7] has shown that every e lement in the alternating group A , (n-> 5) is a commuta tor in A~. Similar results have been obtained for certain classes of linear groups ([6], [11], [12]). However , it is an open conjecture whether every e lement of a perfect group (or even simple group) is a commutator . Burnside [1] and Gallagher [4] have obtained necessary and sufficient conditions involving the character table of a finite group G in order that an e lement of G be a product of rn commutators. MacDonald [8] has t reated the case where G' is cyclic, and has proved under this assumption that if G is nilpotent or G ' is infinite, then some generator of G ' is a commutator . (This implies that all generators are commutators by a result of H o n d a [5].) On the other hand, MacDonald has constructed a finite group G with G ' cyclic such that no generator of G ' is a product of fewer than m commutators , where m is any preassigned integer. In this paper, we determine a necessary and sufficient condition on n in order that there exist a group G such that G ' = (a) is cyclic of order n, a is a commutator , but not every e lement of G ' is a commutator . The condition is:
Development of Immortalized Rat Conjunctival Epithelial Cell Lines: An In vitro Model to Examine Transepithelial Antigen Delivery.

The objective of these studies was to develop conjunctival epithelial cell lines for investigation of antigen translocation across a mucosal barrier. Conjunctival epithelial cells from Fischer 344 rats were immortalized with pSV3(neo) resulting in two cell lines--CJ4.1A and CJ4.3C. Each formed confluent cell layers with epithelial morphology when grown on permeable membrane filters. They expressed the SV40 T antigen, the conjunctiva-specific cytokeratin 4, the goblet cell-specific cytokeratin 7 and were negative for the corneal epithelial cell-specific cytokeratin 12. The cell lines have been in culture for over 60 passages, and the population doubling times were 22+/-7h for CJ4.1A and 23+/-9h for CJ4.3C. When grown on Transwell membranes, each cell line achieved a transepithelial electrical resistance of 600-800 Omega cm2 by 3-4 days and maintained a high resistance for several days. Both cell lines expressed zona occludens-1 at confluence. At 24h following addition of 250 microg of FITC-labeled ovalbumin to the apical chambers, 15+/-6 microg could be detected in the basal chamber of CJ4.1A and 6+/-1 microg in the basal medium of CJ4.3C. In contrast, 82+/-6 microg was detected in the lower chambers of cell-free Transwells. Similarly, Transwells containing confluent CJ4.1A or CJ4.3C cells impeded passage of 0.1 microm diameter polystyrene microspheres (5+/-1% and 4+/-1%, respectively, of the apical input), compared to 26+/-6% of the input microspheres recovered from the basal chambers of cell-free Transwells. Pretreatment with 4mM EGTA for 10 min caused an increase in OVA-FITC translocation across CJ4.3C cells. Incubation in the presence of 4mM EGTA significantly increased OVA-FITC translocation across both cell lines, relative to untreated cell layers. Morphological and functional characterization indicates that these cells provide a useful experimental tool to assess strategies for enhancing transepithelial antigen uptake.
High-resolution deep-tow survey imagery, Gulf of Mexico

Data are presented from a commercially available deep-tow 100-kHz side-scan sonar and 3.5-kHz subbottom profiler acquisition system. The towfish is a positively buoyant vehicle referenced to the seafloor with an anchor chain deadweight. This enables the acoustic sources and receivers to be towed at a constant altitude of 30 to 35 m above the seafloor. The records illustrate a capability for imaging deep-water seafloor morphology and near-surface sediments to water depths of 2200 m in the Gulf of Mexico.
What can you learn from a molecular probe? New insights on the behavior of C343 in homogeneous solutions and AOT reverse micelles.

The behavior of C343, a common molecular probe utilized in solvation dynamics experiments, was studied in homogeneous media and in aqueous and nonaqueous reverse micelles (RMs). In homogeneous media, the Kamlet and Taft solvatochromic comparison method quantified solute−solvent interactions from the absorption and emission bands showing that the solvatochromic behavior of the dye depends not only on the polarity of the medium but also on the hydrogen-bonding properties of the solvent. Specifically, in the ground state the molecule displays a bathochromic shift with the polarity polarizability (π*) and the H-bond acceptor (β) ability of the solvents and a hypsochromic shift with the hydrogen donor ability (α) of the media. The carboxylic acid group causes C343 to display greater sensitivity to the β than to the π* polarity parameter; this sensitivity increases in the excited state, while the dependence on α vanishes. This demonstrates that C343 forms a stable H-bond complex with solvents with high H-bond a...
Ultralight, high-surface-area, multifunctional graphene-based aerogels from self-assembly of graphene oxide and resol

Abstract The self-assembly between graphene oxide sheets and resol-type phenolic prepolymers was investigated as a method to form three-dimensional porous carbon objects with high surface areas and low densities. After freeze-drying and subsequent pyrolysis of the assembled hydrogels, ultralight graphene/carbon composite aerogels with high surface areas and porosity, good conductivity, and well-defined bulk shape were obtained. By adjusting the amount of graphene oxide and resol in the precursor mixture, aerogels with a density as low as 3.2 mg/cm 3 or a surface area as high as 1019 m 2 /g could be prepared. It is proposed that resol molecules are first adsorbed on the surface of graphene oxide sheets, and then the surface-coated sheets are crosslinked by the polymerization of resol prepolymers. The absorption performance was evaluated for the aerogel with the lowest density. Due to the high porosity, the aerogel displayed fast absorption rates for organic solvents as well as high absorption efficiencies. The high conductivity of the aerogels permits good performance as binderless monolithic electrodes for supercapacitors.
Lamin A, farnesylation and aging

Lamin A is a component of the nuclear envelope that is synthesized as a precursor prelamin A molecule and then processed into mature lamin A through sequential steps of posttranslational modifications and proteolytic cleavages. Remarkably, over 400 distinct point mutations have been so far identified throughout the LMNA gene, which result in the development of at least ten distinct human disorders, collectively known as laminopathies, among which is the premature aging disease Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS). The majority of HGPS cases are associated with a single point mutation in the LMNA gene that causes the production of a permanently farnesylated mutant lamin A protein termed progerin. The mechanism by which progerin leads to premature aging and the classical HGPS disease phenotype as well as the relationship between this disorder and the onset of analogous symptoms during the lifespan of a normal individual are not well understood. Yet, recent studies have provided critical insights on the cellular processes that are affected by accumulation of progerin and have suggested that cellular alterations in the lamin A processing pathway leading to the accumulation of farnesylated prelamin A intermediates may play a role in the aging process in the general population. In this review we provide a short background on lamin A and its maturation pathway and discuss the current knowledge of how progerin or alterations in the prelamin A processing pathway are thought to influence cell function and contribute to human aging.