cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
5-hydroxytryptaminergic receptor-mediated regulation of growth hormone secretion in Holstein steers occurs via alpha 2-adrenergic-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

In vitro and in vivo experiments were used to determine the relationship between 5-hydroxytryptaminergic and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in regulation of growth hormone secretion in cattle. Activation of 5-hydroxytryptaminergic receptors (10(-8), 10(-6), 10(-4) M quipazine) or alpha 2-adrenergic receptors (10(-8), 10(-6), 10(-4) M clonidine) had no effect on secretion of growth hormone from perifused anterior pituitary cells. In vivo, quipazine (0.2 mg/kg body wt, i.v.) and clonidine (8 micrograms/kg body wt, i.v.), when injected separately, each maximized secretion of growth hormone in Holstein steers. However, concurrent administration of quipazine and clonidine at these doses additively increased secretion of growth hormone (mean areas under curves = 439, 914, 1425, and 2359 +/- a pooled SEM of 246 ng.ml-1.min for vehicle, clonidine, quipazine, and quipazine plus clonidine treatments, respectively). Blockade of 5-hydroxytryptaminergic receptors with cyproheptadine (0.2 or 1.0 mg/kg body wt, s.c., 0740 hr) decreased basal concentrations of growth hormone but had no effect on the ability of clonidine (8 micrograms/kg body wt, i.v., 0840 hr) to increase secretion of growth hormone (mean areas under curves = 591, 1218, 363, 1087, and 1002 +/- a pooled SEM of 177 ng.ml-1.min for vehicle-vehicle, vehicle-clonidine, 0.2 mg cyproheptadine-vehicle, 0.2 mg cyproheptadine-clonidine and 1.0 mg cyproheptadine-clonidine treatments, respectively). Blockade of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors with either yohimbine (5 mg/kg body wt, s.c., 0740 hr) or idazoxan (20 mg/kg body wt, s.c., 0740 hr) suppressed both basal and 5-hydroxytryptaminergic receptor-stimulated (0.2 mg quipazine/kg body wt, i.v., 0840 hr) secretion of growth hormone (mean areas under curves = 568, 1252, 410, and 558 +/- a pooled SEM of 108 ng.ml-1.min for vehicle-vehicle, vehicle-quipazine, yohimbine-vehicle, and yohimbine-quipazine treatments, respectively, and means of 553, 1468, 194, and 686 +/- a pooled SEM of 221 ng.ml-1.min for vehicle-vehicle, vehicle-quipazine, idazoxan-vehicle, and idazoxan-quipazine treatments, respectively). We conclude that two mechanisms in the central nervous system mediate 5-hydroxytryptaminergic receptor-stimulated secretion of growth hormone in cattle; one independent and another dependent on alpha 2-adrenergic receptors, possibly via regulation of basal growth hormone secretion. In contrast, alpha 2-adrenergic receptor-induced secretion of growth hormone occurs independently of 5-hydroxytryptaminergic receptors.
Nucleosome positioning signals in genomic DNA

Although histones can form nucleosomes on virtually any genomic sequence, DNA sequences show considerable variability in their binding affinity. We have used DNA sequences of Saccharomyces cerevisiae whose nucleosome binding affinities have been experimentally determined (Yuan et al. 2005) to train a support vector machine to identify the nucleosome formation potential of any given sequence of DNA. The DNA sequences whose nucleosome formation potential are most accurately predicted are those that contain strong nucleosome forming or inhibiting signals and are found within nucleosome length stretches of genomic DNA with continuous nucleosome formation or inhibition signals. We have accurately predicted the experimentally determined nucleosome positions across a well-characterized promoter region of S. cerevisiae and identified strong periodicity within 199 center-aligned mononucleosomes studied recently (Segal et al. 2006) despite there being no periodicity information used to train the support vector machine. Our analysis suggests that only a subset of nucleosomes are likely to be positioned by intrinsic sequence signals. This observation is consistent with the available experimental data and is inconsistent with the proposal of a nucleosome positioning code. Finally, we show that intrinsic nucleosome positioning signals are both more inhibitory and more variable in promoter regions than in open reading frames in S. cerevisiae.
Cross coupling in a five horn monopulse tracking system

A model is developed which explains the observed effects of secondary pattern crosstalk in a five horn circularly polarized monopulse tracking system. The model predicts unstable operation and loss of track for sufficiently depolarizing targets as well as polarization dependent uncertainties in the angular location of off-axis targets. The cross coupling is characterized by two complex coupling coefficients between adjacent horns in the monopulse feed system. This characterization is assumed to be valid irrespective of whether the observed secondary pattern effects are the result of mutual couplings within the feed structure itself or caused by cross-polarized backscatter from the paraboloidal reflector. A "ridge" and "nonridge" polarization terminology is adopted which is physically related to the fact that the error horns in a five horn circularly polarized system are heavily ridge loaded for one linear polarization and not the other.
Structure-function analysis of the human papillomavirus type 16 E7 oncoprotein

The E7 gene of human papillomavirus type 16 encodes a multifunctional nuclear phosphoprotein that is functionally and structurally similar to the adenovirus (Ad) E1A proteins and the T antigens of other papovaviruses. E7 can cooperate with an activated ras oncogene to transform primary rodent cells, trans activate the Ad E2 promoter, and abrogate transforming growth factor beta-mediated repression of c-myc. Recent studies suggest that these functions may in part be a consequence of the ability of E7 to associate with the product of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene (pRB). In this study, a series of site-specific mutations of the human papillomavirus type 16 E7 gene product were constructed and assessed for their effects on intracellular protein stability, ras cooperativity, transcriptional trans activation, pRB association, and phosphorylation. The results of these studies indicate that the transforming and trans-activating domains extensively overlap within a region of the protein analogous to conserved region 2 of Ad E1A, suggesting that pRB binding is necessary for both activities. Deletion of sequences in conserved region 1 abrogates cellular transformation but has only a marginal effect on trans activation. These data suggest that E7 trans activation and cellular transformation are interrelated but separable functions.
Why Principal is Costly in Politics

The political ‘horse-trading’ which David Stockman encountered in American politics is a feature of ‘representative democracy’ throughout the world, and is as readily susceptible to economic analysis as is trading in conventional markets. Professor Richard Stroup of Montana State University examines the pressures on buyers and sellers in the political market.
Coalescing green and yellow papules on the feet.

). The papules onthe medial aspect of the foot coalesced into an exfoliatingplaque, revealing normal-appearing, nonedematous un-derlying skin. Many of the peripheral papules were yel-low. The results of potassium hydroxide microscopic ex-amination, fungal culture, and Gram stain of minced skinfragments were negative. A guaiac screen of minced skinfragments was negative for occult blood. The total serumbilirubin level was 397 µmol/L (23.2 mg/dL) (referencerange, 1.7-20.5 µmol/L [0.1-1.2 mg/dL]).Fragments of exfoliated, lesional skin were stainedwith hematoxylin-eosin (
Search for Large-Scale Coherent Structures in the Nearly Self-Preserving Region of a Turbulent Axisymmetric Jet

Abstract : In an attempt to explore the existence of large-scale coherent structures in the self-preserving region of an axisymmetric free air jet, a 2.54 cm air jet at a Reynolds number of 46,000 has been investigated for distances in excess of 40 diameters using both long and short time-averaged space-time correlation measurements. Conventional space-time correlation data with probe separations in the streamwise direction by as much as 25 diameters suggest the existence of large-scale coherent structures centered off the jet axis. The radial extent of these structures is about one local jet diameter, and the azimuthal extent is about a quadrant of the cross-section. Time series of short time-averaged correlations between longitudinal velocity fluctuations obtained with two arrays of hot-wires separated in the streamwise direction strongly support the existence of these structures. Nearly periodic peaks and valleys were intermittently observed. A qualitative picture of the spatial characteristics of these structures was inferred from the short time-averaged cross correlation of these time series with a sinusoidal model function. Traces of instantaneous transverse velocity and Reynolds stress as well as the instantaneous velocity vector patterns obtained from a radial array of X-wires also depict existence of large-scale organized motions. (Author)
Cytoprotective Signaling and Gene Expression in Endothelial Cells and Macrophages—Lessons for Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the medium and large arteries driven in large part by the accumulation of oxidized low-density lipoproteins and other debris at sites rendered susceptible because of the geometry of the arterial tree. As lesions develop, they acquire a pathologic microcirculation that perpetuates lesion progression, both by providing a means for further monocyte and T-lymphocyte recruitment into the arterial wall and by the physical and chemical stresses caused by micro-hemorrhage. This review summarizes work performed in our department investigating the roles of signaling pathways, alone and in combination, that lead to specific programs of gene expression in the atherosclerotic environment. Focusing particularly on cytoprotective responses that might be enhanced therapeutically, the work has encompassed the anti-inflammatory effects of arterial laminar shear stress, mechanisms of induction of membrane inhibitors that prevent complement-mediated injury, homeostatic macrophage responses to hemorrhage, and the transcriptional mechanisms that control the stability, survival, and quiescence of endothelial monolayers. Lastly, while the field has been dominated by investigation into the mechanisms of DNA transcription, we consider the importance of parallel post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms for fine-tuning functional gene expression repertoires.
Landscape assessment of the degree of protection of Alaska's terrestrial biodiversity

We assessed the degree to which Alaskan lands reflect the state's biodiversity by dividing the entire state into four categories of landprotection ranging from hi@ly protected to minimally protected in terms of potential for future development. We then compared the percentage of each ecoregion and plant-cover type in each land protection class. We assumed that 12% protection represents an acceptable minimum and exam- ined the percentage of site records of rare plants in protected and unprotected areas. Of 28 ecoregions in Alaska, 15 (63.4%j have (12% of their area in highly protected areas. Similarly, 11 of 21 vegetation-cover types (43.7%) have (12% protection. For 32 rare vascular plants, an average of 27% of records occur on highly protected lands. Seventy-jive percent of the rare plants had (50% of their recordsfrom highlyprotected lands. Less than 1% of Alaska has been permanently altered by human activity. In contrast to the lower 48 states, time remains to plan development that preserves biodiversity while permitting an economically sus- tainable economy-if the effort is made now.
Restoration of the orbital aesthetic subunit in complex midface defects.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Although various options exist for restoration of the orbital defect in complex craniofacial resections, the aesthetic appearance and functional result of the orbit are optimized when the bony orbital architecture, orbital volume, and facial contour are specifically addressed. The study describes an approach using free tissue transfer for restoration of the native orbital aesthetic subunit. Study Design: Retrospective case series. Methods: Nineteen patients (male-to-female ratio, 14:5; mean age, 52 y [age range, 8-79 y]) in the study period between 1997 and 2001 had orbital defects that could be classified into one of the following categories: 1) orbital exenteration cavities only, 2) orbital exenteration cavities with resection of less than 30% of the bony orbital rim, or 3) radical orbital exenteration cavities with resection of overlying skin and bony malar eminence. Group 1 had reconstructions with fasciocutaneous forearm flaps; group 2, with osseocutaneous forearm flaps; and group 3, with osseocutaneous scapula flaps. Results: Eighteen of 19 patients achieved a closed orbital reconstruction with restoration of the orbital aesthetic subunit. Among 16 patients with more than 4 months of follow-up, 10 patients had minimal or no resulting facial contour deformity and 8 patients engaged in social activities outside the home on a frequent basis. Five of the nine patients who were working before their surgery were able to return to work. Conclusion: Patients with complex midface defects involving the orbit can undergo free tissue transfer and have successful restoration of the native orbital aesthetic subunit without an orbital prosthesis.
Rational Bubbles under Diverse Information

This paper uses a set of post-extraction information trees to generally model diverse information and agent specific state price processes to define present and fundamental values. It shows that there can be no negative or finite bubbles and that, if agents are impatient and the aggregate endowment has a finite present value under some state price process of some agent, then there can be no bubble under this state price process for any asset with positive supply.
High-resolution structure of a picornaviral internal cis-acting RNA replication element (cre)

Picornaviruses constitute a medically important family of RNA viruses in which genome replication critically depends on a small RNA element, the cis-acting replication element (cre), that templates 3Dpol polymerase-catalyzed uridylylation of the protein primer for RNA synthesis, VPg. We report the solution structure of the 33-nt cre of human rhinovirus 14 under solution conditions optimal for uridylylation in vitro. The cre adopts a stem-loop conformation with an extended duplex stem supporting a novel 14-nt loop that derives stability from base-stacking interactions. Base-pair interactions are absent within the loop, and base substitutions within the loop that favor such interactions are detrimental to viral RNA replication. Conserved adenosines in the 5′ loop sequence that participate in a slide-back mechanism of VPg-pUpU synthesis are oriented to the inside of the loop but are available for base templating during uridylation. The structure explains why substitutions of the 3′ loop nucleotides have little impact on conformation of the critical 5′ loop bases and accounts for wide variation in the sequences of cres from different enteroviruses and rhinoviruses.
Cancer-associated retinopathy with retinal periphlebitis in a patient with ovarian cancer.

Purpose: To describe a case of cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR) due to ovarian cancer presenting with retinal periphlebitis and a negative-type pattern electroretinogram (ERG).Design: Case report.Methods: Retrospective chart review.Results: A negative-type ERG in the setting of progressive vision loss and retinal periphlebitis led to the discovery of metastatic ovarian cancer and ultimately the diagnosis of CAR.Conclusions: CAR can present with periphlebitis and a negative-type ERG. Greater awareness of these associations may allow for earlier detection of future cases.
Techniques for Investigating Structure and Composition with High Spatial Resolution

Abstract : The techniques of scanning transmission electron microscopy and field ion microscopy/atom probe are briefly described. The advantages of these techniques for high spatial resolution compositional analysis are discussed and examples cited. (Author)
Binding of endostatin to human ovarian cancer cells inhibits cell attachment.

Endostatin, a C-terminal fragment of collagen type XVIII, is one of the well-characterized endogenous inhibitors of angiogenesis. Endostatin is known to bind integrin α5β1, which is upregulated on tumor endothelium. Most of the ovarian cancer cells express significant amounts of α5β1 integrin, which is important for ovarian cancer cells to attach to the peritoneal wall. Therefore we investigated whether endostatin could directly bind ovarian cancer cells and inhibit tumor cell attachment to extracellular matrix. Binding of endostatin to ovarian cancer cells was characterized by preincubation with function blocking antibodies to integrin subunits. These studies showed that ovarian cancer cell attachment to fibronectin-coated wells can be inhibited by α5β1 integrin specific antibodies as well as endostatin. Downregulation of integrin α5 and β1 by siRNA abrogated the binding of OVCAR5 and human umbilical vein endothelial cell to endostatin. Although endostatin treatment did not affect ovarian cancer cell migration, treated cells failed to attach mouse peritoneal wall preparations. These studies suggest an extra-antiangiogenic role for endostatin, which can be used prevent peritoneal attachment and dissemination of ovarian cancer cells. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Sparse eigen methods by D.C. programming

Eigenvalue problems are rampant in machine learning and statistics and appear in the context of classification, dimensionality reduction, etc. In this paper, we consider a cardinality constrained variational formulation of generalized eigenvalue problem with sparse principal component analysis (PCA) as a special case. Using l1-norm approximation to the cardinality constraint, previous methods have proposed both convex and non-convex solutions to the sparse PCA problem. In contrast, we propose a tighter approximation that is related to the negative log-likelihood of a Student's t-distribution. The problem is then framed as a d.c. (difference of convex functions) program and is solved as a sequence of locally convex programs. We show that the proposed method not only explains more variance with sparse loadings on the principal directions but also has better scalability compared to other methods. We demonstrate these results on a collection of datasets of varying dimensionality, two of which are high-dimensional gene datasets where the goal is to find few relevant genes that explain as much variance as possible.
Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative People Who Inject Drugs

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes most oropharyngeal cancers in the United States. Oral HPV prevalence is associated with immunosuppression, and drug use can be immunosuppressive, but the epidemiology of oral HPV among people who use drugs is not well described. Methods We enrolled men and women with a current or prior history of injection drug use in this cross-sectional sub-study within the AIDS Linked to the Intravenous Experience (ALIVE) cohort. We tested oral rinse samples for 37 types of HPV DNA and collected self-reported risk factor information. We compared oral HPV prevalence across categories using chi-squared statistics and multivariable logistic regression. Results Among 199 subjects, 32% were HIV-positive (median CD4 count 384 cells/μL), 90% were Black, 56% had less than a high school education, 17% had recently used injection drugs, and the median age was 54 years. Most had performed oral sex (82%) but had fewer than 5 lifetime partners (58%). The prevalence of any oral HPV was 29%, and of any oncogenic oral HPV was 13%. Oral HPV prevalence was high among both heterosexual men (30%) and women (20%). After adjustment, odds of oral HPV were increased among HIV-positive individuals with a low CD4 count (<350 cells/μl, aOR = 2.7, 95%CI = 1.2–6.4, vs. HIV-negative individuals), but not among HIV-positive individuals with a higher CD4 cell count. Odds were also elevated for those who had recently performed oral sex on a woman (aOR = 2.2, 95%CI = 1.01–4.6) and, even after this adjustment, among bisexual/lesbian females (aOR = 5.6, 95%CI = 1.4–23, vs. heterosexual females). Oral HPV prevalence was not associated with vaginal sex, performing oral sex on a man, or recent drug use. Conclusions Recent drug use was not associated with oral HPV prevalence in our study. However, despite modest numbers of sexual partners, the prevalence of oral HPV among this largely Black population with lower socioeconomic status was high.
Draft Genome Sequence of Pedobacter sp. Strain Hv1, an Isolate from Medicinal Leech Mucosal Castings.

ABSTRACT The Pedobacter sp. Hv1 strain was isolated from the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana, mucosal castings. These mucosal sheds have been demonstrated to play a role in horizontal symbiont transmission. Here, we report the draft 4.9 Mbp genome sequence of Pedobacter sp. strain Hv1.
Confusion Network for Arabic Name Disambiguation and Transliteration in Statistical Machine Translation

Arabic words are often ambiguous between name and non-name interpretations, frequently leading to incorrect name translations. We present a technique to disambiguate and transliterate names even if name interpretations do not exist or have relatively low probability distributions in the parallel training corpus. The key idea comprises named entity classing at the preprocessing step, decoding of a simple confusion network created from the name class label and the input word at the statistical machine translation step, and transliteration of names at the post-processing step. Human evaluations indicate that the proposed technique leads to a statistically significant translation quality improvement of highly ambiguous evaluation data sets without degrading the translation quality of a data set with very few names.
MODELING THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF URBAN RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY

This paper considers the relationship between criminal activity patterns and urban structure. The model of the rational burglar is extended to a simple spatial domain. A set of equilibrium conditions are obtained which relate the criminal activity pattern to a systematic underlying relation between localized risk and opportunity. These conditions suggest that spatial trends in urban crime may be more than mere artifacts of map patterns. Residential burglary data for Indianapolis, Indiana, are used to test the model. Localized effects dominate the autoregressive term in the empirical model. The spatial trend, or autoregressive structure of these data, is shown to be related to variation in localized risk and opportunity as suggested by the theoretical model.
XAFS STUDY OF Fe-SUBSTITUTED ALLOPHANE AND IMOGOLITE

The nano-aluminosilicate mineral allophane is common in soils formed from parent materials containing volcanic ash and often contains Fe. Due to its lack of long-range order, the structure of allophane is still not completely understood. In the present study, Fe K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) was used to examine Fe-containing natural and synthetic allophane and imogolite samples. Results indicated that Fe substitutes for octahedrally coordinated Al in allophane, and that Fe exhibits a clustered distribution within the octahedral sheet. Iron adsorbed on allophane surfaces is characterized by spectral features distinct from those of isomorphically substituted Fe and of ferrihydrite. Fe adsorbed on the allophane surfaces probably exists as small polynuclear complexes exhibiting Fe-Fe edge sharing, similar to poorly crystalline Fe oxyhydroxides. The XAFS spectra of natural allophane and imogolite indicate that the Fe in the minerals is a combination of isomorphically substituted and surface-adsorbed Fe. In the synthetic Fe-substituted allophanes, the Fe XAFS spectra did not vary with the Al:Si ratio. Theoretical fits of the extended XAFS (EXAFS) spectra suggest that local atomic structure around octahedral Fe in allophanes is more similar to Fe in a smectite-like structure than to a published theoretical nanoball structure.
Chemically Tunable Ionic Liquids with Aprotic Heterocyclic Anion (AHA) for CO2 Capture

Ionic liquids (ILs) with aprotic heterocyclic anions, or AHAs, can bind CO2 with reaction enthalpies that are suitable for gas separations and without suffering large viscosity increases. In the present work, we have synthesized ILs bearing an alkyl-phosphonium cation with indazolide, imidazolide, pyrrolide, pyrazolide and triazolide-based anions that span a wide range of predicted reaction enthalpies with CO2. Each AHA-based IL was characterized by NMR spectroscopy and their physical properties (viscosity, glass transition, and thermal decomposition temperature) determined. In addition, the influence of substituent groups on the reaction enthalpy was investigated by measuring the CO2 solubility in each IL at pressures between 0 and 1 bar at 22 °C using a volumetric method. The isotherm-derived enthalpies range between −37 and −54 kJ mol–1 of CO2, and these values are in good agreement with computed enthalpies of gas-phase IL-CO2 reaction products from molecular electronic structure calculations. The AHA ...
Inhibitory action of colchicine on cell movement in organ culture.

SummaryAn organ culture method for studying the migration of connective tissue cells into wounded tissues was described. Cells at the periphery of a frozen, killed zone appeared to undergo a period of mobilization during the first 48 hr after injury. After mobilization, cells began to migrate into the killed zone, gradually but only sparsely refilling the previously acellular area by 96 hr after injury. Colchicine (1 × 10-7M/liter) totally inhibited cell movement when applied either before or after cell movement had already begun. The inhibitory effects of colchicine were completely reversible. No mitotic figures were observed at any time period studied (0-96 hr).
Toxicity of insecticides to the cowpea curculio in the laboratory.

Nineteen insecticides were evaluated in the laboratory using the topical application and pod-dip methods against Chalcodermus aeneus Boheman. Materials exhibiting high toxicities were mevinphos, methyl parathion, parathion, carbofuran, endosulfan, and methomyl. Materials that showed low toxicities were carbaryl, and Gardona® (2-chloro-1-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl) vinyl dimethyl phosphate. Relative toxicities of the insecticides Were similar in both test methods except for naled, which exhibited low toxicity topically and high toxicity in the pod-dip test.
Discussion of bidding and tendering management informationization

With carrying out and implement of bidding and tendering law.The management style must be improved continuously.Informationization management for bidding and tendering is an indispensable tool,which can much better use of its function in configuration of market resources and preclude illegal embezzling of public resources.
Scaling Optimistic Concurrency Control by Approximately Partitioning the Certifier and Log.

In optimistic concurrency control, a certifier algorithm processes a log of transaction operations to determine whether each transaction satisfies a given isolation level and therefore should commit or abort. This logging and certification of transactions is often sequential and can become a bottleneck. To improve transaction throughput, it is beneficial to parallelize or scale out the certifier and the log. One common technique for such parallelization is to partition the database. If the database is perfectly partitioned such that transactions only access data from a single partition, then both the log and the certifier can be parallelized such that each partition has its own independent log and certifier. However, for many applications, partitioning is only approximate, i.e., a transaction can access multiple partitions. Parallelization using such approximate partitioning requires synchronization between the certifiers and logs to ensure correctness. In this paper, we present the design of a parallel certifier and a partitioned log that uses minimal synchronization to obtain the benefits of parallelization using approximate partitioning. Our parallel certifier algorithm dynamically assigns constraints to each certifier. Certifiers enforce constraints using only atomic writes and reads on shared variables, thus avoiding expensive synchronization primitives such as locks. Our partitioned log uses a lightweight causal messaging protocol to ensure that transactions accessing the same partition appear in the same relative order in all logs where they both appear. We describe the techniques applied to an abstract certifier algorithm and log protocol, making them applicable to a variety of systems. We also show how both techniques can be used in Hyder, a scale-out log-structured indexed record manager.
Resilience of Rail Infrastructure in the U.S. Northeast Corridor

Abstract The New Haven Line reports a record number of passengers every year as it continues to experience a steady increase in ridership. In 2012, the railroad reported 39 million passengers, with a further increase of 46% predicted over the next 18 years eventually reaching 57 million trips annually by 2030. Despite the great importance of the rail infrastructure for the region, problems exist for operating under harsh weather-related conditions, and when congestion or frequent malfunctions disrupts system timeliness with speed restrictions. These on-time performance and reliability issues have significant economic, environmental, and societal impacts. The aim of this study was a comprehensive analysis of the history, current operation, and projected future of the New Haven Line in order to overcome its current vulnerabilities and improve its resilience as a viable transportation system. Strategies were explored to advance the resilience of U.S. rail network with an awareness of safety, sustainability, and timeliness. Metro-North and Amtrak were the focus of the study, specifically the seventy-two mile stretch of the New Haven Line providing passenger and freight service between New York and Connecticut. To that end, the existing rail transport infrastructure of the Northeast Corridor of the U.S. has been analyzed, causes of current problems and future potential hotspots have been discussed, and strategies to improve the overall system resilience has been proposed as part of the study. The recommended changes include incorporating existing technologies to withstand inclement weather and making structural upgrades to the tracks and bridges that form the New Haven Line. The current status of each factor together with recommended changes have been discussed.
Toward a Real-Time (Day) Dreamcatcher: Sensor-Free Detection of Mind Wandering during Online Reading.

This paper reports the results from a sensor-free detector of mind wandering during an online reading task. Features consisted of reading behaviors (e.g., reading time) and textual features (e.g., level of difficulty) extracted from self-paced reading log files. Supervised machine learning was applied to two datasets in order to predict if participants were mind wandering as they navigated from one screen of text to the next. Mind wandering was detected with an accuracy of 20% above chance (Cohen’s kappa = .207; AUC = .609), which was obtained via leave-one-participant-out cross-validation. Similar to actual rates of mind wandering, predicted rates of mind wandering were negatively related to posttest performance, thus providing some evidence for the predictive validity of the detector. Applications of the detector to attention-aware educational interfaces are discussed.
Planktonic marine iron oxidizers drive iron mineralization under low-oxygen conditions.

Observations of modern microbes have led to several hypotheses on how microbes precipitated the extensive iron formations in the geologic record, but we have yet to resolve the exact microbial contributions. An initial hypothesis was that cyanobacteria produced oxygen which oxidized iron abiotically; however, in modern environments such as microbial mats, where Fe(II) and O2 coexist, we commonly find microaerophilic chemolithotrophic iron-oxidizing bacteria producing Fe(III) oxyhydroxides. This suggests that such iron oxidizers could have inhabited niches in ancient coastal oceans where Fe(II) and O2 coexisted, and therefore contributed to banded iron formations (BIFs) and other ferruginous deposits. However, there is currently little evidence for planktonic marine iron oxidizers in modern analogs. Here, we demonstrate successful cultivation of planktonic microaerophilic iron-oxidizing Zetaproteobacteria from the Chesapeake Bay during seasonal stratification. Iron oxidizers were associated with low oxygen concentrations and active iron redox cycling in the oxic–anoxic transition zone (<3 μm O2, <0.2 μm H2S). While cyanobacteria were also detected in this transition zone, oxygen concentrations were too low to support significant rates of abiotic iron oxidation. Cyanobacteria may be providing oxygen for microaerophilic iron oxidation through a symbiotic relationship; at high Fe(II) levels, cyanobacteria would gain protection against Fe(II) toxicity. A Zetaproteobacteria isolate from this site oxidized iron at rates sufficient to account for deposition of geologic iron formations. In sum, our results suggest that once oxygenic photosynthesis evolved, microaerophilic chemolithotrophic iron oxidizers were likely important drivers of iron mineralization in ancient oceans.
The role of phosphatidylserine in Akt activation: a novel activation scheme for Akt

Akt is activated upon growth factor stimulation via translocation to the plasma membrane through interaction of its PH domain with membrane PIP3 and subsequent phosphorylation of T308 and S473. In ...
Exploring geographic information systems to mitigate America's electric grid traffic congestion problem

The United States electric utility industry is transitioning from a one-way distribution grid to a new power grid that will accommodate bidirectional energy flow. Utility companies desire a solution for electric grid traffic congestion, which will work in synchrony with the industry's transition towards future integrated distribution systems. This report explores Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a class of tools for developing better models, and their aim to resolve the electric grid traffic congestion problem. The intent of this research paper is to propose a GIS-driven solution for the utility industry to forecast and balance electric power across the grid. This will serve as the basis for future research.
Optomechanically-induced frequency combs

We investigate the classical nonlinear dynamics of a single mode optomechanical cavity, showing that a frequency comb made of equidistant spectral lines can be formed in the instability regime due to the excitation of multiple sidebands.
The Ethics of Open-Label Placebos in Pediatrics

* Abbreviation: ADHD — : attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Physicians have long debated the ethics of prescribing placebos as medical therapeutics. Placebos (sham treatments such as sugar pills or saline injections) are thought to elicit improvements in clinical outcomes by mimicking medical therapies, thereby improving patients' expectations of getting better.1 While the placebo effect plays a role in virtually every clinical intervention, the use of placebos as stand-alone treatments within medicine has largely been discouraged due to concerns about patient deception. Until recently, it was thought that for the placebo effect to emerge, the patient must be unaware they are receiving an inert substance. That physicians might mislead or deceive their patients, even for the sake of a clinical benefit, was generally viewed as morally unacceptable in the post–World War II era of informed consent and patient autonomy. Over the past decade, however, concerns that placebos violate patient autonomy have been addressed by the development of “open-label placebos,” treatments prescribed with full transparency and patient awareness. Patients offered an open-label placebo for the management of a given medical condition are informed that the substance is completely inert with no active drug component. Patients also are told, however, that such placebos have been found to produce benefits in individuals with their condition, … Address correspondence to Brit Trogen, MS, New York University School of Medicine, 550 1st Ave, New York, NY 10016-1126. E-mail: brit.trogen{at}nyumc.org
CEO network centrality and bond ratings

Abstract This study examines the impact of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) network centrality on bond ratings at the firm level. Using multiple dimensions of social connectedness, we find a significant positive relation between CEO network centrality and bond ratings, suggesting that firms with better connected CEOs are more likely to receive high bond ratings. Our results still hold after a battery of additional tests. We also find that firms with better connected CEOs experience lower cost of debt. Overall, our study supports the notion in social science research that well-connected individuals can bring benefits to their firms.
Association of Religiosity With Sexual Minority Suicide Ideation and Attempt.

Introduction The purpose of this study is to explore how the associations between importance of religion and recent suicide ideation, recent suicide attempt, and lifetime suicide attempt vary by sexual orientation. Methods Survey data were collected from the 2011 University of Texas at Austin’s Research Consortium data from 21,247 college-enrolled young adults aged 18–30 years. Respondents reported sexual identity as heterosexual, gay/lesbian, bisexual, or questioning. Two sets of multivariable models were conducted to explore the relations of religious importance and sexual orientation with the prevalence of suicidal behavior. The first model was stratified by sexual orientation and the second model was stratified by importance of religion. To explore potential gender differences in self-directed violence, the models were also stratified by gender identity. The main outcome measures were recent suicidal ideation, recent suicide attempt, and lifetime suicide attempt. Results Overall, increased importance of religion was associated with higher odds of recent suicide ideation for both gay/lesbian and questioning students. The association between sexual orientation and self-directed violence were mixed and varied by strata. Lesbian/gay students who viewed religion as very important had greater odds for recent suicidal ideation and lifetime suicide attempt compared with heterosexual individuals. Bisexual and questioning sexual orientations were significantly associated with recent suicide ideation, recent attempt, and lifetime attempt across all strata of religious importance, but the strongest effects were among those who reported that religion was very important. Conclusions Religion-based services for mental health and suicide prevention may not benefit gay/lesbian, bisexual, or questioning individuals. Religion-based service providers should actively assure their services are open and supportive of gay/lesbian, bisexual, or questioning individuals.
Total Knee Arthroplasty

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the United States, with over 600,000 performed annually. As the number of adults over 65 continues to rise, the number of TKAs is expected to increase. Advances in techniques and prosthetic design have led to improved outcome for patients.
Classification of Amyloidosis by Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics

The developments in mass spectrometry-based proteomic technologies have created unprecedented opportunities for identification of proteins in routine clinical biopsy specimens. The application of the technology to classification of amyloidosis has resulted in the first clinical application of shotgun proteomics. In the context of amyloid classification, mass spectrometry-based proteomic assays offer many advantages over immunoassay-based methods and clinical surrogates. The method is readily applicable to FFPE or fresh/frozen routine clinical biopsy specimens and requires very little tissue. Unlike immunoassays which require good reagents for each target, LC–MS/MS can detect all amyloidogenic proteins in a single analysis. Given these analytical and operational advantages, and the far superior specificity and sensitivity offered by laser microdissection (LMD) and LC–MS/MS based methods, LMD- and LC–MS/MS-based analysis is now considered the gold standard for classification of amyloidosis.
Interpreting prepositions physically

We develop representations for locative and path specifying prepositions emphasizing the implementability of the underlying semantic primitives. Our primitives pertain to mechanical characteristics such as geometric relationships among objects, kinematic or motional characteristics implied by prepositions. The representation along with representation for action verbs along similar lines, have been used to successfully animate the performance of tasks underlying natural language imperatives by "human" agents.
A Sociological Framework for Understanding the Participation of African Higher Education Institutions in Transnational Education

Transnational Education (TNE) has potential for expanding access to higher education in Africa, which has chronic high rates of unmet demand for access. Paradoxically, African higher education institutions (HEIs) have the least participation in TNE. There is a dearth of systematic understanding of the factors that influence the participation of African HEIs in TNE and the impacts of their participation at both institutional and societal levels. This article proposes a sociological framework for investigating the factors that enable or hinder the participation of African higher HEIs in TNE, and the impacts of their participation on the institutions themselves and their respective countries. The framework is constructed with societal and organizational factors disparately identified through a purposive review of the literature.
Rank Varieties of Matrices

In this paper we extend work of Gerstenhaber [5], Kostant [9], Kraft-Procesi [10], Tanisaki [15], and others on orbit closures in the nilpotent cone of matrices by studying varieties of square matrices defined by conditions on the ranks of powers of the matrices, or more generally on the ranks of polynomial functions of them. We show that the irreducible components of such varieties are always Gorenstein with rational singularities (in particular they are normal). We compute their tangent spaces, and also their limits under deformations of the defining polynomial functions. We also study generators for the ideals of such varieties, and we compute the singular loci of the hypersurfaces in the space of n × n matrices given by the vanishing of a single coefficient of the characteristic polynomial.
Creutzfeldt–Jacob Disease

Sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (sCJD) is the most common type of a group of fatal illnesses named transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or prion diseases, which have the unique features of being sporadic, genetically determined or acquired by infection. The three etiologies are associated with the same central pathogenic mechanism: a normal cellular protein, named prion protein, becomes insoluble, pathogenic and infectious by undergoing a change in conformation. sCJD is very heterogeneous due to the unique effect on the disease phenotype of the patient's prion protein genotype and characteristics of the abnormal prion protein. Based on these molecular features, five subtypes of sCJD with distinctive clinical and histopathological features have been identified. Increase in amount of 14–3–3 and/or tau in the cerebrospinal fluid and especially MRI are helpful in the diagnosis. Despite broad effort, no effective treatment is available.
Pathways of Risk for Accelerated Heavy Alcohol Use Among Adolescent Children of Alcoholic Parents

The current study examined two questions. First, do internalizing symptoms and externalizing behavior each mediate the relations between parent psychopathology (alcoholism, antisocial personality disorder, and affective disorder) and growth in adolescent heavy alcohol use? Second, are there gender differences in these mediated pathways? Using latent curve analyses, we examined these questions in a high-risk sample of 439 families (53% children of alcoholic parents; 47% female). Collapsing across gender, adolescent-reported externalizing behavior mediated both the relation between parent alcoholism and growth in heavy alcohol use and the relation between parent antisociality and growth in heavy alcohol use. Parent-reported externalizing behavior only mediated the relation between parent antisociality and growth in heavy alcohol use in males. No support was found for internalizing symptoms as a mediator of these relations. Avenues are suggested for further exploring and integrating information about different mediating processes accounting for children of alcoholics' risk for heavy alcohol use.
Patterns and predictors of depression treatment among adults with chronic kidney disease and depression in ambulatory care settings in the United States.

One in five adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States (US) suffers from depression. Comorbid depression in adults with CKD is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. This study used US national survey data to examine patterns and predictors of depression treatment among adults with non-dialysis-dependent CKD in the US. A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted using 2014–2015 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) data. The final study sample consisted of visits by 9.02 million adults (unweighted n = 262; age ≥ 18 years) with CKD and depression in the US. Depression treatment was defined as antidepressant use with or without psychotherapy. To identify predictors of depression treatment, multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted adjusting for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. Approximately half of adults with CKD and depression received depression treatment. Primary care was the main setting of treatment, and the most commonly prescribed antidepressant class was selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Adults being seen for treatment of a chronic problem were 3.2 times more likely to receive depression treatment (OR 3.20; 95% CI 1.38–7.21). In addition, there was a 9% higher likelihood of receiving depression treatment for each unit increase in total number of medications (OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.01–1.19). Finally, adults receiving care in the South were 63% less likely to receive depression treatment (OR 0.37; 95% CI 0.15–0.89). Depression treatment was recorded in approximately half of US ambulatory care visits involving adults with CKD and depression from 2014 to 2015. Further research is warranted to determine how to appropriately manage treatment of depression in adults with CKD.
Advanced Methods for Accessing Protein Shape-Shifting Present New Therapeutic Opportunities

A protein is a dynamic shape-shifter whose function is determined by the set of structures it adopts. Unfortunately, atomically detailed structures are only available for a few conformations of any given protein, and these structures have limited explanatory and predictive power. Here, we provide a brief historical perspective on protein dynamics and introduce recent advances in computational and experimental methods that are providing unprecedented access to protein shape-shifting. Next, we focus on how these tools are revealing the mechanism of allosteric communication and features like cryptic pockets; both of which present new therapeutic opportunities. A major theme is the importance of considering the relative probabilities of different structures and the control one can exert over protein function by modulating this balance.