cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional annotation of the transcriptome of Sorghum bicolor in response to osmotic stress and abscisic acid

Higher plants exhibit remarkable phenotypic plasticity allowing them to adapt to an extensive range of environmental conditions. Sorghum is a cereal crop that exhibits exceptional tolerance to adverse conditions, in particular, water-limiting environments. This study utilized next generation sequencing (NGS) technology to examine the transcriptome of sorghum plants challenged with osmotic stress and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) in order to elucidate genes and gene networks that contribute to sorghum's tolerance to water-limiting environments with a long-term aim of developing strategies to improve plant productivity under drought. RNA-Seq results revealed transcriptional activity of 28,335 unique genes from sorghum root and shoot tissues subjected to polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced osmotic stress or exogenous ABA. Differential gene expression analyses in response to osmotic stress and ABA revealed a strong interplay among various metabolic pathways including abscisic acid and 13-lipoxygenase, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and plant defense pathways. Transcription factor analysis indicated that groups of genes may be co-regulated by similar regulatory sequences to which the expressed transcription factors bind. We successfully exploited the data presented here in conjunction with published transcriptome analyses for rice, maize, and Arabidopsis to discover more than 50 differentially expressed, drought-responsive gene orthologs for which no function had been previously ascribed. The present study provides an initial assemblage of sorghum genes and gene networks regulated by osmotic stress and hormonal treatment. We are providing an RNA-Seq data set and an initial collection of transcription factors, which offer a preliminary look into the cascade of global gene expression patterns that arise in a drought tolerant crop subjected to abiotic stress. These resources will allow scientists to query gene expression and functional annotation in response to drought.
Favorable changes in cardiac geometry and function following gastric bypass surgery: 2-year follow-up in the Utah obesity study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that gastric bypass surgery (GBS) would favorably impact cardiac remodeling and function.Background: GBS is increasingly used to t...
Spot Fire Ignition of Natural Fuel Beds by Hot Metal Particles, Embers, and Sparks

Wildland and wildland/urban interface fires are a serious problem in many areas of the world. It is expected that with global warming the wildfire and wildland/urban interface fire problem will only intensify. The ignition of natural combustible material by hot metal particles or embers is an important fire ignition pathway by which wildland and urban spot fires are started. There are numerous cases reported of wild fires started by hot metal particles from clashing power lines, or from sparks generated by machines or engines. Similarly there are many cases reported of industrial fires caused by grinding and welding sparks. Despite the importance of the subject, the topic remains relatively unstudied. The senior author of this article and his collaborators have been working for the past few years on this problem. In this article, we provide a comprehensive summary of that work to date. The work includes experimental and theoretical modeling of the ability of hot metal particles and embers to cause the ign...
The Effect of Caponization and Dietary 17 α-Methyltestosterone on the Incidence of Leg Abnormalities in Turkeys

Abstract Six hundred and seventy-two male turkey toms were raised according to standard management procedures from 1 day to 3.5 weeks of age. At 3.5 weeks of age, the poults were equally distributed among four treatment groups. One group was subjected to surgical caponization and a second to sham operations. Of the two remaining groups, one served as a control while the other received feed containing 110 ppm of 17 α-methyltestosterone. All birds were maintained under identical environmental conditions until 20 weeks of age. Capons demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of leg abnormalities than controls or testosterone fed birds but did not differ significantly from the shams. These data correlated well with the levels of plasma androgen in that capons had significantly lower levels of plasma androgen than controls or testosterone fed turkeys, but concentrations did not differ significantly from shams. Plasma androgen concentrations or percentages of leg abnormalities were not different among shams, controls, or testosterone fed birds. Body weights, feed/gain ratios, mortality, and plasma corticosterone were similar for all four treatment groups.
A New Species of Genus Anelpistina and the Second Described Nicoletiid (Zygentoma: Insecta) Species from the Mayan Ruins of Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico

Recent studies on the American nicoletiid insects (“silverfish”) of the subfamily Cubacubaninae have shown that the group is more species rich than previously recognized. It has become common to find that a single locality is inhabited by more than one species of nicoletiid. In previous studies, a species from genus Squamigera had been described from the rainforest surrounding the Mayan ruins of Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico. We report here the presence of two more species of nicoletiids in the same locality and we describe here a new species of genus Anelpistina. DNA sequence data and morphology are provided to differentiate these species.
Front-Line Therapy With Second-Generation Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Patients With Early Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: What Is the Optimal Response?

Purpose The response definitions proposed by the European LeukemiaNet (ELN) are defined on the basis of imatinib front-line therapy. It is unknown whether these definitions apply to patients treated with second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Patients and Methods One hundred sixty-seven patients with newly diagnosed chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic phase were treated with second-generation TKIs in phase II trials (nilotinib, 81; dasatinib, 86). Median follow-up was 33 months. Event-free survival (EFS) was measured from the start of treatment to the date of loss of complete hematologic response, loss of complete or major cytogenetic response, discontinuation of therapy for toxicity or lack of efficacy, progression to accelerated or blastic phases, or death at any time. Results Overall, 155 patients (93%) achieved complete cytogenetic response (CCyR), including 146 (87%) with major molecular response (MMR; complete in 46 patients [28%]). According to the ELN definitions, the rates...
Effect of brefeldin A on the structure of the Golgi apparatus and on the synthesis and secretion of proteins and polysaccharides in sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) suspension-cultured cells

Brefeldin A (BFA), a specific inhibitor of Golgi-mediated secretion in animal cells, has been used to study the organization of the secretory pathway and the function of the Golgi apparatus in plant cells. To this end, we have employed a combination of electron microscopical, immunocytochemical, and biochemical techniques to investigate the effects of this drug on the architecture of the Golgi apparatus as well as on the secretion of proteins and complex cell wall polysaccharides in sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) suspension-cultured cells. We have used 2.5 and 7.5 micrograms/mL of BFA, which is comparable to the 1 to 10 micrograms/mL used in experiments with animal cells. Electron micrographs of high-pressure frozen and freeze-substituted cells show that although BFA causes swelling of the endoplasmic reticulum cisternae, unlike in animal cells, it does not induce the disassembly of sycamore maple Golgi stacks. Instead, BFA induces the formation of large clusters of Golgi stacks, an increase in the number of trans-like Golgi cisternae, and the accumulation in the cytoplasm of very dense vesicles that appear to be derived from trans Golgi cisternae. These vesicles contain large amounts of xyloglucan (XG), the major hemicellulosic cell wall polysaccharide, as shown by immunocytochemical labeling with anti-XG antibodies. All of these structural changes disappear within 120 min after removal of the drug. In vivo labeling experiments using [3H]leucine demonstrate that protein secretion into the culture medium, but not protein synthesis, is inhibited by approximately 80% in the presence of BFA. In contrast, the incorporation of [3H]fucose into N-linked glycoproteins, which occurs in trans-Golgi cisternae, appears to be affected to a greater extent than the incorporation of [3H]xylose, which has been localized to medial Golgi cisternae. BFA also affects secretion of complex polysaccharides as evidenced by the approximate 50% drop in incorporation of [3H]xylose and [3H]fucose into cell wall hemicelluloses. Taken together, these findings suggest that at concentrations of 2.5 to 7.5 mu g/mL BFA causes the following major changes in the secretory pathway of sycamore maple cells: (a) it inhibits the transport of secretory proteins to the cell surface by about 80% and of hemicelluloses by about 50%; (b) it changes the patterns of glycosylation of N-linked glycoproteins and hemicelluloses; (c) it reduces traffic between trans Golgi cisternae and secretory vesicles; (d) it produces a major block in the transport of XG-containing, dense secretory vesicles to the cell surface; and (e) it induces the formation of large aggregates of Golgi apparatus of plant and animal cels share many functional and structural characteristics, the plant Golgi apparatus possesses properties that make its response to BFA unique.
Adenosine: an activity-dependent axonal signal regulating MAP kinase and proliferation in developing Schwann cells

Nonsynaptic release of ATP from electrically stimulated dorsal root gangion (DRG) axons inhibits Schwann cell (SC) proliferation and arrests SC development at the premyelinating stage, but the specific types of purinergic receptor(s) and intracellular signaling pathways involved in this form of neuron-glia communication are not known. Recent research shows that adenosine is a neuron-glial transmitter between axons and myelinating glia of the CNS. The present study investigates the possibility that adenosine might have a similar function in communicating between axons and premyelinating SCs. Using a combination of pharmacological and molecular approaches, we found that mouse SCs in culture express functional adenosine receptors and ATP receptors, a far more complex array of purinergic receptors than thought previously. Adenosine, but not ATP, activates ERK/MAPK through stimulation of cAMP-linked A2(A) adenosine receptors. Both ATP and adenosine inhibit proliferation of SCs induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), via mechanisms that are partly independent. In contrast to ATP, adenosine failed to inhibit the differentiation of SCs to the O4+ stage. This indicates that, in addition to ATP, adenosine is an activity-dependent signaling molecule between axons and premyelinating Schwann cells, but that electrical activity, acting through adenosine, has opposite effects on the differentiation of myelinating glia in the PNS and CNS.
UNDERSTANDING HOW FIRST-YEAR SEMINARS AFFECT PERSISTENCE

First-year seminars are nearly ubiquitous fixtures in American higher education, and research has documented their positive effect on student persistence. Only limited research, however, has attempted to isolate the impact of various aspects of firstyear seminars on persistence, especially on a cross-institutional basis. We use a survey of almost 20,000 first-year students at 45 four-year institutions combined with institutional-level data to understand how aspects of first-year seminars affect early intentions to persist. Because survey respondents are grouped within dissimilar institutions, we use a multilevel modeling approach to model intent to persist.
Surrogates' agreement with patients' resuscitation preferences: Effect of age, relationship, and SUPPORT intervention

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate an intervention to improve patient-surrogate agreement on end-of-life resuscitation preferences. Materials and Methods: Seven hundred seventeen patients with a 50% 6-month survival rate and their surrogate decision-makers were recruited for a randomized clinical trial from five teaching hospitals participating in the Study to Understand Prognoses and Preferences for Outcomes and Risks of Treatments (SUPPORT). Intervention patients (n = 386) were assigned specially trained nurses who spent extra time with patients and families explaining prognoses and treatments. Control patients (n = 331) received usual care. Patient preferences and surrogate's perception of those preferences at pre- and post-intervention interviews were compared. Results: Agreement between patients and surrogates was 75.0% at the day 3 interview and 79.6% at the month 2 interview, increasing 4.6% (95% CI: 0.1%, 9.1%). Improvements in agreement from day 3 to month 2 were seen equally in both study groups. A multivariable analysis verified that the intervention did not have an effect on agreement and indicated a decrease in agreement among older patients and among surrogates not in the immediate family. Conclusions: The SUPPORT intervention was not successful in increasing agreement between patients and surrogates. Because of the complex issues involved in end-of-life decision-making, a more agressive intervention may be needed. Other findings suggest that improvements in communication are particularly needed when patients are older and when the surrogate is not a patient's immediate relative.
A large-scale analysis of mRNA polyadenylation of human and mouse genes

mRNA polyadenylation is a critical cellular process in eukaryotes. It involves 3' end cleavage of nascent mRNAs and addition of the poly(A) tail, which plays important roles in many aspects of the cellular metabolism of mRNA. The process is controlled by various cis-acting elements surrounding the cleavage site, and their binding factors. In this study, we surveyed genome regions containing cleavage sites [herein called poly(A) sites], for 13,942 human and 11,155 mouse genes. We found that a great proportion of human and mouse genes have alternative polyadenylation ( approximately 54 and 32%, respectively). The conservation of alternative polyadenylation type or polyadenylation configuration between human and mouse orthologs is statistically significant, indicating that alternative polyadenylation is widely employed by these two species to produce alternative gene transcripts. Genes belonging to several functional groups, indicated by their Gene Ontology annotations, are biased with respect to polyadenylation configuration. Many poly(A) sites harbor multiple cleavage sites (51.25% human and 46.97% mouse sites), leading to heterogeneous 3' end formation for transcripts. This implies that the cleavage process of polyadenylation is largely imprecise. Different types of poly(A) sites, with regard to their relative locations in a gene, are found to have distinct nucleotide composition in surrounding genomic regions. This large-scale study provides important insights into the mechanism of polyadenylation in mammalian species and represents a genomic view of the regulation of gene expression by alternative polyadenylation.
Referential communication and response adequacy in autism and Down's syndrome

This study investigated the ability of high-functioning verbal adolescents with autism or Down's syndrome to perform a referential communication task. It was predicted that autistic subjects would require more specific prompting to convey needed information to a listener than would subjects with Down's syndrome of the same verbal level. Subjects, 13 with autism and 14 with Down's syndrome, matched on verbal mental age, learned a simple board game, and were asked to teach it to a listener who used varying levels of prompting to elicit target information. Most subjects in the autistic group required specific prompting to produce the target information, whereas most subjects with Down's syndrome did not. Response adequacy was significantly higher in the Down's syndrome group than in the autistic group at the most general prompt level. Subjects with Down's syndrome used more gesture at the most general prompt level and when producing high adequacy responses, whereas subjects with autism used more gesture when producing low adequacy responses.
Strongly nonlinear Langmuir circulation and Rayleigh-Bénard convection

Most rational asymptotic studies of non-rotating Rayleigh-Benard convection and its cousins have been restricted to the linear or weakly nonlinear regime. An important exception occurs for large Rayleigh-number thermal convection at effectively infinite Prandtl number, i.e. fast but very viscous convection. In this scenario, the temperature field exhibits a layer-like structure surrounding an isothermal core and, crucially, the momentum equation linearizes. These features have been exploited by several authors to obtain semi-analytical nonlinear solutions. At O(1) Prandtl number, the fluid dynamics in the vortex core is dominated by nonlinear inertial rather than linear viscous effects, substantially altering the vortex structure. Here, it is shown that a combination of matched asymptotic analysis and global conservation constraints can be used to obtain a semi-analytic yet strongly nonlinear description of two related flows: (i) Rayleigh-Benard convection between constant heat-flux boundaries at unit Prandtl number, and (ii) Langmuir circulation (LC), a wind and wave-driven convective flow commonly observed in natural water bodies. A simple analytical prediction is given for the roll-vortex amplitude, which is shown to be independent of the horizontal wavenumber of the convection pattern. In marked contrast to weakly nonlinear convection cells, the fully nonlinear asymptotic solutions exhibit flow features relevant to turbulent convection including the complete vertical redistribution of the basic-state temperature (or, for LC, downwind velocity) field. Comparisons with well-resolved pseudospectral numerical simulations of the full two-dimensional governing equations confirm the accuracy of the asymptotic results.
Multiobjective control with frictional contacts

Standing is a fundamental skill mastered by humans and animals alike. Although easy for adults, it requires careful and deliberate manipulation of contact forces. The variation in contact configuration (e.g., standing on one foot, on uneven ground, or while holding on for support) presents a difficult challenge for interactive simulation of humans and animals, especially while performing tasks in the presence of external disturbances. We describe an analytic approach for control of standing in three-dimensional simulations based upon local optimization. At any point in time, the control system solves a quadratic program to compute actuation by maximizing the performance of multiple motion objectives subject to constraints imposed by actuation limits and contact configuration. This formulation is suitable for interactive animation and it adapts to the proportions of any character model in any non-planar, frictional contact configuration.
Preschool Children's Performance on Measures of Spatial Organization, Lateral Preference, and Lateral Usage

79 preschool children were tested on measures of laterality and spatial orientation. Few significant relationships were found, suggesting independence of lateral usage, lateral awareness, and ability on spatial organization tasks. Sex differences on spatial tasks were substantiated.
Effects of Dietary Lipids, Dietary Protein and Environmental Temperatures on Growth, Feed Conversion and Body Composition of Channel Catfish

Studies were conducted to determine the effects of several lipid supplements in practical-type diets for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fingerlings reared at 23 degrees and 28 degrees. Maximum growth and feed efficiency were obtained when diets were supplemented with 9% animal tallow, 9% menhaden oil or a combination of the two (4.5% of each). A growth suppression was observed when fish were fed a diet containing a combination of 3% corn oil, 3% animal tallow and 3% menhaden oil. In studies on interactions of dietary protein and lipid at 23 degrees and 28 degrees, increasing dietary protein from 25% to 35% resulted in higher gains. At 28 degrees, increasing dietary lipid from 5% to 12% resulted in increased gains with diets containing 35% protein but not withdiets containing 25% protein. At 23 degrees, 5% lipid was sufficient in all cases. Carcass lipid levels increased with increasing temperature and were positively correlated with weight gains and negatively correlated with carcass moisture content. Improved protein conversion (protein fed: protein gained) was noted when dietary protein levels were increased from 25% to 35%; when dietary lipid levels were increased from 5% to 12%; and when environmental temperature was increased from 23 degrees to 28 degrees.
Interleukin-12 Up-Regulates Fas Expression in Human Osteosarcoma and Ewing's Sarcoma Cells by Enhancing Its Promoter Activity

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) has shown significant antitumor activity in several preclinical animal tumor models. Our previous studies showed that IL-12 inhibited tumor growth in human osteosarcoma and Ewing9s sarcoma animal model. Decreased Fas expression in osteosarcoma increased the lung metastatic potential. In this study, we further examined the mechanism of IL-12 antitumor activity and showed that IL-12 significantly increased Fas expression in both human osteosarcoma cells LM7 and Ewing9s sarcoma cells TC71. Up-regulation of Fas expression increased their sensitivity to Fas-induced cell apoptosis. Constructs of the Fas promoter linked to a luciferase reporter gene were used to determine the promoter activity. IL-12 increased Fas promoter activity 4.2- and 4.9-fold in TC71 and LM7 cells, respectively. Time course studies have shown that recombinant IL-12 stimulated Fas promoter activity at 2 hours, reached the peak level at 4 hours, and then declined at 24 hours. To investigate whether IL-12 specifically enhanced Fas promoter activity, we determined whether another gene (E1A) was able to stimulate Fas promoter activity. We also evaluated effect of IL-12 on the topoisomerase IIα promoter. The results indicated that E1A but not IL-12 stimulated topoisomerase IIα promoter activity. E1A failed to increase Fas promoter activity. We also found that κB-Sp1 element at position −295 to −286 in Fas promoter was essential for IL-12-induced activation, and nuclear factor-κB transcription factor was activated after IL-12 treatment in TC71 cells. These results indicate that IL-12 up-regulates Fas expression in human osteosarcoma and Ewing9s sarcoma by enhancing Fas promoter activity. Understanding this mechanism may lead to new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of sarcoma involving the use of IL-12. (Mol Cancer Res 2005;3(12):685–91)
Superoxidation of Retinoic Acid

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectroscopy (APCI-MS) was used to examine the light-induced oxidation products of retinoic acid under conditions that favor and preclude its aggregation. We observed that in conditions that favor aggregation, i.e. in aqueous solutions, retinoic acid undergoes superoxidation to yield highly oxidized species. Oxidation is limited, however, in the absence of such communication, i.e. when the polyene is fully solvated. From a comparison of the measured MS with that obtained from chemical oxidation of retinoic acid under conditions that promote radical oxidation and singlet oxygen-mediated oxidation, we conclude that superoxidation is mediated by reactive oxygen species other than singlet oxygen.
Integrating SLAM with existing evidence: Comment on Walker and Hickok (2015)

Walker and Hickok (Psychonomic Bulletin & Review doi:10.3758/s13423-015-0903-7, 2015) used simulations to compare a novel proposal, the semantic-lexical-auditory-motor model (SLAM), to an existing account of speech production, the two-step interactive account (TSIA; Foygel & Dell, Journal of Memory and Language, 43:182-216, doi:10.1006/jmla.2000.2716, 2000). This commentary critically examines their assessment of SLAM. The cases in which SLAM outperforms TSIA largely reflect SLAM's ability to (poorly) approximate an existing theory of speech production incorporating two stages of phonological processing (the lexical + postlexical account). The fact that SLAM and TSIA can exhibit equivalent fits to the overall response distribution of a set of aphasic patients is unsurprising, since previous work has shown that overall response distributions do not reliably discriminate theoretical alternatives. Finally, SLAM inherits issues associated with TSIA's assumption of strong feedback between levels of representation. This suggests that SLAM does not represent an advance over existing theories of speech production.
MPA Materials Physics and Applications

This brochure describes the areas of interest and qualification needed for participation in the LANL, Materials Physics and Applications Division.
Pediatric Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Progress and Challenges

Summary:Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in the pediatric population promises to provide novel insights into the nature of both normal and abnormal functional brain development as well as changes in brain function due to various interventions. Although acquisition of fMRI data from child
Reducing duplicate hand and wrist series in the emergency room: experience at Madigan Army Medical Center.

OBJECTIVE To demonstrate that repetitive hand or wrist series could be minimized with minor refinements of triage. POPULATION 2,119 consecutive trauma patients requiring hand or wrist series. METHOD In baseline phase I, radiographs were ordered by triage corpsmen. In phase II, RNs or physicians performed triage and ordered films. Phase III followed inservice training on strategies to minimize duplicate studies. Phase IV required the RN or physician to provide written justification for duplicate studies. The number of duplications in each phase were compared to baseline using the chi-square test of homogeneity. RESULTS The phase I duplication rate was 10.8%. In phase II, the percentage of duplicate studies was 8.1% (p = 0.12). Phase III decreased duplication to 6.2% (p < 0.01). Phase IV decreased duplicate studies to 5.8% (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION In an emergency room generating over 180 hand and wrist studies monthly, minor changes in ordering practices reduced the duplication rate from 10.8% to 5.8%.
Computational optimization and sensitivity analysis of fuel reformer

Abstract In this study, the catalytic partial oxidation of methane is numerically investigated using an unstructured, implicit, fully coupled finite volume approach. The nonlinear system of equations is solved by Newton’s method. The catalytic partial oxidation of methane over rhodium catalyst in a coated honeycomb reactor is studied three-dimensionally, and eight gas-phase species (CH4, CO2, H2O, N2, O2, CO, OH and H2) are considered for the simulation. Surface chemistry is modeled by detailed reaction mechanism including 38 heterogeneous reactions with 20 surface-adsorbed species for the Rh catalyst. The numerical results are compared with experimental data and good agreement is observed. Effects of the design variables, which include the inlet velocity, methane/oxygen ratio, catalytic wall temperature, and catalyst loading on the cost functions representing methane conversion and hydrogen production, are numerically investigated. The sensitivity analysis for the reactor is performed using three different approaches: finite difference, direct differentiation and an adjoint method. Two gradient-based design optimization algorithms are utilized to improve the reactor performance.
The Long-Term Retention of Training and Instruction

Publisher Summary Knowledge and skills, acquired during training, often are not reactivated for considerable time periods. Disuse can lead to skill deterioration, which, in the extreme, might mean that a skill is no longer functional when needed. Training procedures must be developed to maintain skills at functional levels over periods of disuse. This chapter reviews the empirical results and theories from recent experimental research on long-term retention. The chapter develops a set of guidelines to improve the conditions of training and instruction so as to facilitate long-term retention of knowledge and skills. It includes a preliminary question concerning skill decay, a discussion of some groundbreaking work on long-term retention of knowledge, and some of the problems typically encountered in the training and subsequent assessment of skills. Although the guidelines should facilitate long-term retention, they may also inhibit the rate of initial acquisition in some circumstances. Some of the guidelines include (1) periodic retrieval practice benefits retention after a long delay interval, especially when there is a large spacing between the successive practice attempts, (2) if more than one task is to be acquired, it is better to use random rather than blocked scheduling of the tasks during training, (3) to ensure generalizability, training should maximize variability of practice, and (4) learning spatial information can be facilitated by increasing the distinctiveness of the to-be-learned information.
Nodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma With Aberrant CD10 Expression: A Case Report

CD10+ nodal marginal zone lymphoma is very rare. There has been only one case reported in the English literature so far. Here we report a second case of nodal marginal zone lymphoma with strong CD10 expression. The …
2599: A volumetric analysis of potential tissue burden for lower extremity vascularized composite allotransplantation

BackgroundDespite remarkable advances in vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) over the past 2 decades, there has been general resistance to embrace the notion of lower extremity allotra...
Structured sampling of structured signals

The paper considers structured sampling of structured signals, more specifically, using block diagonal (BD) measurement matrices to sense signals with uniform partitions that share the same sparsity profile. This model arises in distributed compressive sensing systems. In general, the fact that the number of nonzero entries in the measurement matrix is smaller than in a dense matrix leads to the need for more measurements. However, taking advantage of a certain structure in the sparse signal allows one to relax the conditions on the measurement matrix for the restricted isometry property (RIP) to hold, thus allowing for higher compression rate. We systematically provide guarantees for a unique solution, and also an efficient recovery method. The analysis relies on the RIP of the random BD matrix for signals in a particular union of subspaces. Also, we show how our theoretical results can be used to analyze the multiple measurement vector (MMV) problem.
Abstract B72: Does prostate cancer risk vary by race after accounting for lifestyle factors in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study

Introduction : There are considerable differences in prostate cancer rates among white, black and Asian men, yet the underlying reasons for these differences are unknown. Our objectives were to study the association between race/ethnicity and prostate cancer risk, including aggressive cancer, accounting for differences in lifestyle factors and screening in a socioeconomically homogeneous population of US men. Materials and Methods : We conducted a prospective analysis using the Health Professionals Follow-up study (HPFS), a prospective cohort of 46,108 men that began in 1986 with follow-up through 2012. These men were followed-up through biennial questionnaires that collected lifestyle, medical history and demographic data. After 26 years of follow up, 6,072 new cases of prostate cancer were identified. We used Cox proportional hazards models to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between race/ethnicity and prostate cancer risk adjusting for potential confounders and PSA screening history. Results : At baseline in 1986, there were 44,795 Caucasian men, 470 black men and 834 Asian men. Black men had a significantly higher risk of overall prostate cancer (HR=1.38, 95% CI= 1.10 to 1.72) while Asian men had a lower risk (HR=0.73, 95% CI=0.58 to 0.92) compared to white men. These associations were independent of PSA testing history and family history. There was a suggestion of an increased risk of lethal and high-Gleason grade disease for both black (Lethal: HR=1.24, 95% CI= 0.68 to 2.28; High-grade: HR=1.12, 95% CI=0.58 to 2.18) and Asian men (Lethal: HR=1.29, 95% CI=0.75 to 2.23; High-grade: HR=1.43, 95% CI=0.86 to 2.37), compared to Caucasian men, despite the lower risk for overall prostate cancer among Asians. The positive associations with lethal cancer were even more striking in the era before PSA screening was common (before 1994). Conclusion : The increased incidence of prostate cancer overall among black men and reduced incidence in Asian men cannot be explained by differences in PSA testing, family history or other lifestyle factors. Citation Format: Nadine M. Hamieh, Sarah Markt, Sam Peisch, Edward Giovannucci, Kathryn Wilson, Lorelei Mucci. Does prostate cancer risk vary by race after accounting for lifestyle factors in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B72.
Imaging of 2-NBDG and TMRE reveals glucose uptake and mitochondrial membrane potential in dorsal window chamber models

For the first time, we performed simultaneous in vivo microscopic imaging of 2-NBDG and TMRE in a preclinical model, to successfully capture glucose and mitochondrial membrane potential on the same tissue site at one time.
Space, time and spooky action

Albert Einstein's persistent opposition to quantum mechanics is a familiar, if still somewhat surprising, fact to all physicists, as David Bodanis observes in his latest book Einstein's Greatest Mistake: the Life of a Flawed Genius.
A placebo controlled study of quetiapine-XR in bipolar depression accompanied by generalized anxiety with and without a recent history of alcohol and cannabis use.

This study aims to compare treatment response in bipolar I or II depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) with and without recent alcohol and/or cannabis use disorder (ALC/CAN) to quetiapine-XR (extended release) or placebo. A randomized, double-blind, 8-week study of quetiapine-XR versus placebo in patients with bipolar I or II depression and GAD with or without a recent ALC/CAN was used to compare changes in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology–Self-Report (QIDS-SR-16), Clinical Global Impression for Bipolar Disorder-Severity (CGI-BP-S), and Timeline Follow Back within and between groups. In the quetiapine-XR group, patients with a recent ALC/CAN (n = 22) had significant decreases in QIDS-SR-16 (−9.6 ± 1.6 vs. −3.7 ± 1.7) and CGI-BP-S (−1.6 ± 0.4 vs. −0.8 ± 0.03) than those without a recent ALC/CAN (n = 24). In the placebo group, both patients with a recent ALC/CAN (n = 23) and those without (n = 21) had similar reductions in these measures. The reduction of QIDS-SR-16 scores in patients with a recent ALC/CAN was also significantly different from that of their counterparts in the placebo group. Patients who received quetiapine-XR had larger decreases in the number of drinking days/week (p = 0.17) and number of cannabis joints/week (p = 0.09) compared to those who received placebo. Quetiapine-XR was superior to placebo in reducing QIDS-SR-16 total score in patients with a recent ALC/CAN. Patients taking quetiapine-XR used less alcohol and cannabis than patients on placebo, suggesting that quetiapine-XR may be of use in patients with bipolar disorder accompanied by GAD and other comorbidities.
Postoperative Management and Assessment of Cure

Cushing’s disease is best treated with surgical removal of the ­ACTH-producing adenoma. The optimal outcome is a decline in serum cortisol to subnormal, ideally to <1 μg/dl, immediately after surgery. Different remission criteria have been proposed, with alternatives in testing and use of postoperative glucocorticoid replacement; this chapter outlines our post-operative management algorithm as currently practiced. Classical management and an “ideal” situation are discussed.
Investigation and Demonstration of Catalyst/Initiator-Driven Selectivity in Thiol-Michael Reactions

Thiol-Michael “click” reactions are essential synthetic tools in the preparation of various materials including polymers, dendrimers, and other macromolecules. Despite increasing efforts to apply thiol-Michael chemistry in a controlled fashion, the selectivity of base- or nucleophile-promoted thiol-Michael reactions in complex mixtures of multiple thiols and/or acceptors remains largely unknown. Herein, we report a thorough fundamental study of the selectivity of thiol-Michael reactions through a series of 270 ternary reactions using 1H NMR spectroscopy to quantify product selectivity. The varying influences of different catalysts/initiators are explored using ternary reactions between two Michael acceptors and a single thiol or between a single Michael acceptor and two thiols using three different catalysts/initiators (triethylamine, DBU, and dimethylphenylphosphine) in chloroform. The results from the ternary reactions provide a platform from which sequential quaternary, one-pot quaternary, and sequenti...
Estimation of adsorbed-phase density of methane in realistic overmature kerogen models using molecular simulations for accurate gas in place calculations

Abstract Methane adsorption in the organic matrix (kerogen) of gas shales is an important factor in determining the storage of natural gas and volumetric calculations of gas in place. The pore system in shales is very heterogeneous, ranging from micropores, mesopores, and macropores, and the pore size affecting the adsorption behavior. For example, in micropores the proximity between opposite walls causes the enhancement of the interactions of methane with the surfaces, which affects adsorbate packing and density. Grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations were carried out to study methane adsorption, its density under confinement, and estimate the density of the adsorbed phase in realistic overmature kerogen models that account for the chemical functionality of the surfaces and pore size distribution of kerogens of such maturity. This will provide better estimates of fluids in place. It is demonstrated that errors in the adsorbed phase have a considerable impact on gas in place calculations.
Neuroimmunology in 2017: The central nervous system: privileged by immune connections

Over the past few years, interest in the field of neuroimmunology has expanded dramatically, thanks largely to new technologies that have advanced our understanding of the intimate connections between the nervous and immune systems1. Here, we highlight key advances in 2017 that have defined new roles for microglia in brain maintenance, for cytokines as neuromodulators and for the immune system in peripheral nerve activity. Over the past few years, interest in the field of neuroimmunology has expanded dramatically, thanks largely to new technologies that have advanced our understanding of the intimate connections between the nervous and immune systems1. Here, we highlight key advances in 2017 that have defined new roles for microglia in brain maintenance, for cytokines as neuromodulators and for the immune system in peripheral nerve activity.
Loggerhead Nesting in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Importance of Beach Slope to Nest Site Selection in the Mississippi Barrier Islands

Abstract Here we describe the effects of beach morphological features on loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nesting behavior on the barrier islands of the north-central Gulf of Mexico. Our results show that loggerhead crawl length decreases as beach slope increases, and our data comparing nest crawls (resulting in egg laying) versus false crawls (emergence onto the beach without laying eggs) suggest that beach slope and crawl length differ between the crawl types but elevation does not. We infer that loggerheads cue in to beach slope to reach a perceived elevation with reduced risk of inundation, crawling longer distances on flatter slopes compared with shorter distances on steep slopes, but that after this elevation is reached, other environmental variables may ultimately factor into the decision to lay eggs.
The pathogenicity of Aspergillus fumigatus, drug resistance, and nanoparticle delivery

The genus Aspergillus includes fungal species that cause major health issues of significant economic importance. These microorganisms are also the culprit for production of carcinogenic aflatoxins in grain storages, contaminating crops, and economically straining the production process. Aspergillus fumigatus is a very important pathogenic species, being responsible for high human morbidity and mortality on a global basis. The prevalence of these infections in immunosuppressed individuals is on the rise, and physicians struggle with the diagnosis of these deadly pathogens. Several virulence determinants facilitate fungal invasion and evasion of the host immune response. Metabolic functions are also important for virulence and drug resistance, since they allow fungi to obtain nutrients for their own survival and growth. Following a positive diagnostic identification, mortality rates remain high due, in part, to emerging resistance to frequently used antifungal drugs. In this review, we discuss the role of the main virulence, drug target, and drug resistance determinants. We conclude with the review of new technologies being developed to treat aspergillosis. In particular, microsphere and nanoparticle delivery systems are discussed in the context of improving drug bioavailability. Aspergillus will likely continue to cause problematic infections in immunocompromised patients, so it is imperative to improve treatment options.
Evaluation of racial disparities in pediatric optic pathway glioma incidence: Results from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, 2000–2014

Abstract Background Racial predilection to pediatric cancer exists; however optic pathway glioma (OPG) risk differences by race/ethnicity are undefined. We estimated differences in OPG incidence across racial/ethnic groups in a multi-state cancer surveillance registry in the United States. Methods OPG data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER-18) Program, 2000–2014. Race/ethnicity was categorized as: White; Black; Asian; Other; and Latino/a (“Spanish-Hispanic-Latino”). Latino/a included all races, while all other categories excluded those identified as Latino/a. Age-adjusted incidence rates and rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated in SEER-STAT (v8.3.4). Results Data on 709 OPG cases ages 0–19 were abstracted from SEER-18. Minority children experienced lower age-adjusted OPG incidence rates compared to White children (IRRBlack = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.28–0.50; IRRAsian = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.29–0.58; and IRRLatino/a = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.32–0.48). In subgroup analyses among the highest risk age categories (0–4, 5–9), minority children experienced lower incidence rates compared to White children. Specific patterns for Latinos/as also emerged. Latino/a children ages 0–4 experienced the lowest incidence rates of all racial/ethnic groups compared to Whites (0.24 per 100,000 person-years versus 0.66 per 100,000 person-years, respectively), whereas among those ages 5–9, Black and Asian children experienced the lowest incidence rates (0.08 per 100,000 person-years each). Conclusions Incidence of OPGs was highest among White children. This study represents one of the largest to assess differences in OPG susceptibility by race/ethnicity. These findings may inform future studies that seek to evaluate modifying factors for this pediatric tumor including tumorigenesis, treatment, outcome, and long-term late effects.
Sensing Affective Response to Visual Narratives

This paper introduces a multimodal approach for detecting individuals' affective state while being exposed to visual narratives. We use four modalities, namely visual facial behaviors, heart rate measurements, thermal imaging, and verbal descriptions, and show that we can predict changes in the affect that people experience when they are exposed to audio-visual stimuli (either positive or negative). We conduct experiments that aim to predict the presence of affective response while being exposed to visual narratives, as well as to distinguish between positive or negative affect valence. Extensive feature analyses and experiments to predict the presence of affect demonstrate how the four modalities we explore can effectively complement each other.
Using systematic reviews in the scientific substantiation of health properties of foods and food constituents

Systematic literature reviews are one of the main methodologies used to substantiate the health properties of foods and food constituents purported to affect human physiology. This tool is based on scientific evidence obtained from correctly performed randomized controlled trials. Systematic reviews make it possible to conclude whether there is a causal relationship between food consumed and health effects observed, thus supporting the use of the term functional foods. We present and analyze the prinicpal characteristics of, and ways by which, systematic reviews can contribute to the regulatory approval of health claims directed to consumers.
Chapter 10 – Endocannabinoid Signaling in the Striatum

Publisher Summary This chapter presents that endocannabinoid juxtacrine and paracrine signaling is widespread throughout the brain and body, representing one of the most prevalent lipid/fatty acid-based intercellular communication systems in mammals. The cannabinoid part of the name is derived from the cannabis sativa plant and the drugs, marijuana and hashish among others, made from this plant. It discusses that the receptors for these drugs are the major targets of a group of lipid derived signaling molecules known as the eCBs. Two arachidonoyl-containing fatty acids, arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA or anandamide) and 2-arachydonoyl glycerol (2-AG) are thought to produce the majority of eCB signaling. These two compounds are synthesized from arachidonate-containing membrane lipids via separate pathways consisting of several enzyme-catalyzed steps. The chapter also reviews that the CB1 receptor is the main mediator of eCB actions in the brain, and is responsible for the majority of the intoxicating effects of natural and synthetic cannabinoid drugs. Endocannabinoids can also activate the CB2 receptor that is mainly found in the periphery but is apparently also present in the central nervous system (CNS).
Abstract P372: U.S. National Estimates of Prescription Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Among Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

Introduction: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to treat pain, fever, and inflammation, but their ubiquitous use has led to concerns over increased risk of adverse car...