cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolic Remodeling in the Hypertrophic Heart: Fuel for Thought

When it comes to fuel for energy production, it is commonly accepted that the heart is an omnivore, capable of oxidizing a wide range of carbon substrates, and that this metabolic plasticity is necessary to maintain a high and variable workload in the midst of an ever-changing hormonal and nutritional state.1 It is also widely appreciated that shifts in substrate utilization in the heart occur in response to chronic metabolic and hemodynamic stresses.2–5 What is less clear, however, is whether such chronic metabolic shifts should be considered a cause or consequence in the pathogenesis of contractile dysfunction. In the case of diabetes mellitus, the heart exhibits an increased dependence on fatty acids for oxidative energy production, and this increase in lipid metabolism has been proposed to significantly contribute to the etiology of impaired cardiac function.6 Similarly, increased rates of fatty acid oxidation immediately after an ischemic event have been implicated in exacerbation of reperfusion injury.7 However, in both of these pathophysiological settings, compelling data to support a direct causal relationship between contractile abnormalities and metabolic dysregulation remain elusive. Article, see p 728 In response to pressure overload–induced cardiac hypertrophy, the heart reverts more toward a fetal-like metabolic profile, indicative of a decrease in fatty acid oxidation (concomitant with an increased reliance on carbohydrates for oxidative energy metabolism).3 It has been suggested that this substrate shift, which is associated with reactivation of other fetal-like hallmarks (eg, myosin heavy chain isoform switching), contributes to the progression to overt contractile failure.8 Dietary, pharmacological, and genetic strategies have been used in attempts to provide insight regarding the impact that substrate shifts have on pressure overload–induced remodeling; however, mixed results have been reported. …
Constraints on the depth and thermal vigor of melting in the Martian mantle

Studies of rocks in Gale Crater and clasts within the Martian meteorite breccia Northwest Africa (NWA) 7034 (and paired stones) have expanded our knowledge of the diversity of igneous rocks that make up the Martian crust beyond those compositions exhibited in the meteorite collection or analyzed at any other landing site. Therefore, the magmas that gave rise to these rocks may have been generated at significantly different conditions in the Martian mantle than those derived from previously studied rocks. Here we build upon our previous models of basalt formation based on rocks analyzed in Gusev Crater and Meridiani Planum to the new models of basalt formation for compositions from Gale Crater and a clast in meteorite NWA 7034. Estimates for the mantle potential temperature, TP based on Noachian age rock analyses in Gale Crater, Gusev Crater, and Bounce Rock in Meridiani Planum, and a vitrophyre clast in NWA 7034 are within error, which suggests that the calculated average TP of 1450 ± 70°C may represent an average global mantle temperature during the Noachian. The TP estimates for the Hesperian and Amazonian, based on orbital analyses of the chemistry of the crust, are lower in temperature than our estimates for the Noachian, which is consistent with simple convective cooling of the interior of Mars. However, the TP estimates from the young meteorites are significantly higher than the estimates based on surface chemistry and are consistent with localized “hot spot” melting and not heating up of the interior.
RhoA-Mediated Signaling in Notch-Induced Senescence-Like Growth Arrest and Endothelial Barrier Dysfunction

Objective— Notch signaling has a critical role in vascular development and morphogenesis. Activation of Notch in endothelial cells led to a senescence-like phenotype with loss of barrier function. Our objective was to understand the molecular pathways mediating this phenotype. Methods and Results— Human primary endothelial cells increase expression of Notch receptors and ligands during propagation in vitro toward natural senescence. This senescence was induced at low passage with Notch activation. We characterized the pathways activated downstream of Notch signaling. Notch was activated by Delta-like 4 ligand or constitutively active Notch receptors and measured for cell proliferation, migration, and sprouting. Notch signaling triggered early senescence in low-passage cells, characterized by increased p53 and p21 expression. The senescence phenotype was associated with hyperpermeability of the monolayer, with disrupted vascular endothelial cadherin and β-catenin levels and localization. Consistent with changes in cell shape and contact, we demonstrated that Notch activation increases myosin light chain phosphorylation by activating Rho kinase. Inhibition of Rho abrogated Notch-induced myosin light chain phosphorylation and led to enhanced barrier function by reorganizing F-actin to β-catenin-containing cell-cell adherens junctions. Conclusion— Our findings show that RhoA/Rho kinase regulation by Notch signaling in endothelial cells triggers a senescence phenotype associated with endothelial barrier dysfunction.
THE RESPONSE OF FORWARD EXCHANGE RATES TO INTEREST RATE FORECASTING ERRORS

This paper examines the effects of interest rate news on changes in forward foreign exchange rates. Virtually none of the errors in forecasting forward exchange rates are explained by interest rate forecasting errors. The results are consistent with a conjecture that the forward exchange rate is not an estimate of the expected spot exchange rate.
Observation of sea-ice dynamics using synthetic aperture radar images: automated analysis

Two techniques for automated sea-ice tracking, image pyramid area correlation (hierarchical correlation) and feature tracking, are described. Each technique is applied to a pair of Seasat SAR sea-ice images. The results compare well with each other and with manually tracked estimates of the ice velocity. The advantages and disadvantages of these automated methods are pointed out. Using these ice velocity field estimates it is possible to construct one sea-ice image from the other member of the pair. Comparing the reconstructed image with the observed image, errors in the estimated velocity field can be recognized and a useful probable error display created automatically to accompany ice velocity estimates. It is suggested that this error display may be useful in segmenting the sea ice observed into regions that move as rigid plates of significant ice velocity shear and distortion. >
Lack of a direct effect of gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone agonist on human testicular steroidogenesis.

In an attempt to determine whether the chronic administration of GnRH agonist (GnRH-A) has a direct inhibitory effect on testicular steroidogenesis in the human, the testes of four men with disseminated prostatic cancer who were treated with GnRH-A daily for at least 1 yr were assayed for intrates-ticular pregnenolone (5-pregnen-3β-ol-20-one), progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone (5-pregnen-3β17α-diol-20-one), 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone (T). In addition, testicular 17α-hydroxylase, 17,20-desmolase, and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme activites of the Δ4 pathway were measured. These intra-testicular steroids and enzyme activities from four GnRH-A-treated patients were compared to those in five men (controls) who were orchiectomized as the primary treatment for their disseminated prostatic cancer and in three other men who were treated for 3–12 months with GnRH-A daily but received, in addition to the daily GnRH-A, 1000 IUhCG, im, every other ...
Identification of anti-CA125 antibody responses in ovarian cancer patients by a novel deep sequence-coupled biopanning platform

High-grade epithelial ovarian cancer kills more women than any other gynecologic cancer and is rarely diagnosed at an early stage. We sought to identify tumor-associated antigens (TAA) as candidate diagnostic and/or immunotherapeutic targets by taking advantage of tumor autoantibody responses in individuals with ovarian cancer. Plasma-derived IgG from a pool of five patients with advanced ovarian cancer was subjected to iterative biopanning using a library of bacteriophage MS2 virus-like particles (MS2-VLPs) displaying diverse short random peptides. After two rounds of biopanning, we analyzed the selectant population of MS2-VLPs by Ion Torrent deep sequencing. One of the top 25 most abundant peptides identified (DISGTNTSRA) had sequence similarity to cancer antigen 125 (CA125/MUC16), a well-known ovarian cancer-associated antigen. Mice immunized with MS2-DISGTNTSRA generated antibodies that cross-reacted with purified soluble CA125 from ovarian cancer cells but not membrane-bound CA125, indicating that the DISGTNTSRA peptide was a CA125/MUC16 peptide mimic of soluble CA125. Preoperative ovarian cancer patient plasma (n = 100) was assessed for anti-DISGTNTSRA, anti-CA125, and CA125. Patients with normal CA125 ( 35 IU/mL). A statistically significant survival advantage was observed for patients who had either normal CA125 and/or higher concentrations of antibodies to CA125 at the time of diagnosis. These data show the feasibility of using deep sequence-coupled biopanning to identify TAA autoantibody responses from cancer patient plasma and suggest a possible antibody-mediated mechanism for low CA125 plasma concentrations in some ovarian cancer patients.
Time evolution equations for hydrodynamic variables with arbitrary initial data

Abstract We prescribe an alternative procedure for arriving at the time evolution equations for hydrodynamic local variables such as density, velocity fields, and kinetic energy using a time evolution equation of the single-particle distribution. It is suggested that when applied to various combinations of pair-potential between monoatoms, geometry and initial data, the prescription will have wide applications in hydrodynamics, including solutions of the Navier–Stokes equation.
Primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators are effective in preventing overall mortality in older patients.

Commentary on: Chen CY, Stevenson LW, Stewart GC, et al. Real world effectiveness of primary implantable cardioverter defibrillators implanted during hospital admissions for exacerbation of heart failure or other acute co-morbidities: cohort study of older patients with heart failure. BMJ 2015;351:h3529[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2]. The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a life-saving therapy in patients with systolic heart failure. This benefit was first demonstrated by randomised clinical trials that enrolled outpatients who had well-controlled heart failure. Therefore, when those trials were published, it was not clear whether the results would apply to patients seen in clinical practice who might be older and sicker. Consequently, several studies reported on the outcomes of the ICD in clinical practice with one study showing no significant difference in survival between clinical trial ICD patients and a similar group of clinical practice ICD patients.1 The analysis by Chen … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBMJ%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1136%252Fbmj.h3529%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F26174233%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=bmj&resid=351/jul14_21/h3529&atom=%2Febmed%2F20%2F6%2F217.atom
Effective Quenchers Are Required to Eliminate the Interference of Substrate: Cofactor Binding in the HAT Scintillation Proximity Assay

Abstract Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) mediate the transfer of an acetyl group from the cofactor, acetyl-CoA, to the side chain amino group of specific lysines in diverse protein substrates, most notably nuclear histones. The deregulation of HATs is connected to a number of disease states. Reliable and rapid biochemical assays for HATs are critical for understanding biological functions of protein acetylation, as well as for screening small-molecule inhibitors of HAT enzymes. In this report, we present a scintillation proximity assay (SPA) for the measurement of HAT enzymatic activities. The acetyl donor was [3H]Ac-CoA, and a biotin-modified histone peptide served as the HAT substrate. After the HAT reaction, streptavidin-coated beads were added to induce proximity of acetylated substrate to the scintillant molecules. However, we observed strong nonspecific binding between the cofactor and the histone peptide substrates, which adversely complicated the SPA performance. To prevent this problem, a set o...
THE VIBRATIONAL FREQUENCIES OF CAO2, SCO2, AND TIO2 : A COMPARISON OF THEORETICAL METHODS

The vibrational frequencies of several states of␣CaO2, ScO2, and TiO2 are computed using density functional theory (DFT), the Hartree-Fock approach, second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), and the complete-active-space self-consistent-field theory. Three different functionals are used in the DFT calculations, including two hybrid functionals. The coupled cluster singles and doubles approach including the effect of connected triples, determined using perturbation theory, is applied to selected states. The Becke-Perdew 86 functional appears to be the most cost-effective method of choice, although even this functional does not perform well for one state of CaO2. The MP2 approach is significantly inferior to the DFT approaches.
Post-Purchase Reinforcement and Back-Out Behavior

It is reasonable to predict that after a purchase a buyer would be highly receptive to advertising and sales promotion put out on the product he bought. Literature put out by the manufacturer presents favorable aspects of the product and can reassure the buyer that a wise purchase decision has been made. This hypothesis has been tentatively supported in two studies which found that automobile buyers exhibited high readership of advertisements for the make of car they had recently purchased [3, 4]. Unlike these other studies which sought to measure the purchaser's seeking of favorable information about his chosen alternative after making a major buying decision, this study sought to measure the impact of such information, specifically, the effect of post-purchase reinforcement on back-out behavior of automobile purchasers. This behavior occurs when the purchase has been made but the product has not yet been delivered, and the loss (if any) to the buyer if he should back out amounts to his deposit.' Thus, under controlled conditions where one group of purchasers receives favorable post-decision information and another group receives none, the difference in back-out rates between the two groups can be used as a measure of the effect of positive reinforcement.
Somatotroph (GH) Adenomas

Growth hormone (GH)–secreting pituitary adenomas (GH adenomas) result in the clinical syndromes of gigantism and acromegaly.
Analysis and Research on Capacitive Current Measurement for Distribution Network

A measure method of capacitive current for distribution network is proposed,and some distribution network is tested and calculated according to the new method.The results of calculation and test are compared and analyzed.The calculation method of arcsuppression coil capacity is introduced,and the problems of arc-suppression coil are also pointed out.
Take a Break: Examining College Students’ Media Multitasking Activities and Motivations During Study- or Work-Related Tasks:

A survey (N = 524) examined how frequently college students engage in multitasking with social media, texting/instant messaging (IM), and music while studying/working and what motivates them to multitask with each medium. Four out of five participants multitasked with Facebook and texting/IM, and two out of three multitasked with music. Habit was the strongest motivation for multitasking that positively predicted multitasking frequency. Overall, multitasking with Facebook, texting/IM, and music differed by motivations. Multitasking with music was associated with entertainment and efficiency needs, while multitasking with Facebook/texting/IM was related to satisfying socialization, passing time, and escaping needs.
Computational Modeling of Finger Swipe Gestures on Touchscreen: Application of Fitts’ Law in 3D Space

Although swiping (also called flicking) is one of the commonly used touchscreen gestures, few modeling studies have been conducted. In this paper, a computational model that focuses on touchscreen swipe gestures was developed by extending the QN-MHP (Queuing Network-Model Human Processor) architecture. The model assumed that the swiped-route follows a three-dimensional path. To model the finger swipe gesture, an operator (i.e., “Swipe-with-finger”) for the Queuing Network Cognitive Architecture was developed using an existing regression equation for predicting the finger movement time in 3D space (Cha and Myung, 2013). The model was validated with two corresponding experimental results in the literature. As a result, the swiping times generated by the model were well fit with the human subject data.
Outcome of First Seizure Following Acute Illness

Researchers at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and University of Washington report a prospective longitudinal study of children who presented with a first-time seizure associated with a viral infectious illness.
Monte Carlo study of electron transport in silicon inversion layers

Electron transport in Si inversion layers at room temperature is studied using the self-consistent Poisson-Monte Carlo program DAMOCLES coupled to the one-dimensional Schrodinger equation. Band nonparabolicity, anisotropy of the electron-acoustic phonon interaction, multisubband screening, interface optical modes, and Coulomb and surface-roughness scattering are included in order to assess how well we can explain available experimental data. The results are only moderately satisfactory: while we provide an improvement upon previous theoretical studies, we still overestimate the ohmic field-effect mobility by about 20% at medium electron densities ( approximately=10/sup 12/cm/sup -2/) and obtain a high-field saturated velocity approaching the bulk value, despite experimental evidence for lower values. >
Illuminating the Path Forward in Cardiac Regeneration Using Strain Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

In recent years, several important studies have shown advantages of strain imaging over imaging of ejection fraction (EF) for diagnostic and prognostic applications in heart disease. For example, global longitudinal strain assessed using echocardiography has demonstrated superior performance compared with echocardiographic assessment of EF for predicting major adverse cardiac events in heart failure, myocardial infarction, and valvular heart disease.1,2 Likewise, strain is now recommended in addition to EF to identify systolic dysfunction in chemotherapy patients.3 Using accurate and reproducible magnetic resonance strain imaging methods, such as myocardial tagging and displacement encoding with stimulated echoes, strain detects subclinical systolic dysfunction in diabetics and obese children at stages where changes in EF are not seen.4,5 Using regional analysis methods, strain imaging shows high potential for detecting late activating regions and optimizing the implementation of cardiac resynchronization therapy, providing more valuable information than cine imaging.6 This recent wave of impressive strain imaging successes has led to the suggestion that strain imaging could potentially replace or supercede EF.7 Within the field of cardiac regeneration, the efficacy of emerging therapies is often assessed by measuring longitudinal changes in EF in large groups of small animals. However, such measurements do not directly interrogate contractile function localized to specific regions that were damaged and treated. In this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging , the article by Qin et al8 from the laboratory of Dr Joseph Wu extends the successful application of strain imaging into the realm of preclinical cardiac regenerative therapies, showing that …
Disciplinary literacy and multimodal text design in physical education

This article argues that scholarship on literacy in and across the disciplines has disproportionately focused on the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies rather than on “specialist” subjects such as Physical Education. This disparity in emphasis has provided little guidance to specialist teachers seeking to understand and address the literacy demands of subject areas that often privilege an expanded conception of literacy. To illustrate the affordances of such analysis for PE teachers as well as their literacy colleagues, the reading demands of a particular multimodal text from PE—a three-part basketball play—are presented in light of key themes from the US Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy. Complexities related to collective, embodied, and sequential meaning construction are explored. Recommendations for instruction and professional collaboration are shared.
Diminishing Violence: Strategising Character in Industrial Fiction

In Mary Barton and Felix Holt, Gaskell and Eliot distract readers from the violence within their novels in a number of ways: the early definition of character, the use of time to distance events, and the interruption of the narrative with long passages of time concentrating on a parallel domestic story. Their strategy is to defuse the fear of violence even as they present it. Showing violence as a result of suffering undermines the notion of the working-class man as an animalistic brute, an ‘other’ who is not quite human. Shown to be vulnerable to the pain of others, he becomes capable of suffering himself and worthy of sympathy. Accordingly, the structures of the novels are designed to suggest that violence is avoidable but through domestic change rather than political upheaval, by improving the workers' lives rather than by restructuring society.
Energy Balance-Based Strategies to Reduce Consequences of Prostate Cancer: How to Communicate with Men

As outlined in previous chapters, men with a history of prostate cancer face increased rates of morbidity associated with both their cancer and the side effects of its treatment. Prostate cancer and its treatment can result in altered body composition, increased fatigue, reduced physical activity, fitness and performance, which in turn create considerable and complex health risks. Moreover, obesity has been linked to cancer-related mortality and aggressive prostate cancer and poor prognosis, specifically. The benefits of energy balance among prostate cancer survivors include reduced fatigue, improved quality of life scores, and greater muscular strength.
Study of Si nanocrystal growth and characterization for Si nanocrystal embeded nonvolatile memory

Si nanocrystal samples were fabricated by pulsed laser deposition method. Through changing the growth Ar gas pressure, the Si nanocrystal size and density can be controlled. Our works provided a possible way to fabricate Si nanocrystal embedded nonvolatile memory.
Care continuity for patients with Down syndrome during transition from childhood to adulthood

This review describes on comprehensive care for persons with Down syndrome especially in adulthood. Down syndrome is probably believed too special and therefore many clinicians seems to hesitate to attend them or scare to give wrong treatment. Quite a few psychiatrists make diagnoses of psychiatric diseases instead of behavior problems due to environmental effects and give inappropriate and/or unnecessary medication. Special care is needed on (1) muscle hypotonia, (2) characteristic mental development and developmental retardation, and (3) various complications. Complications are not too special and treatment is similar to common diseases. Persons with Down syndrome have many excellences, but maltreatment and/or environment without normalization may lead them psychiatric disorders.
Load Profiling and Migration for Effective Cyber Foraging in Disaster Scenarios with FORMICA

Cyber foraging techniques have been proposed in edge computing to support resource-intensive and latency-sensitive mobile applications. In a natural or man-made disaster scenario, all cyber foraging challenges are exacerbated by two problems: edge nodes are scarce and hence easily overloaded and failures are common due to the ad-hoc hostile conditions. In this paper, we study the use of efficient load profiling and migration strategies to mitigate such problems. In particular, we propose FORMICA, an architecture for cyber foraging orchestration, whose goal is to minimize the completion time of a set of jobs offloaded from mobile devices. Existing service offloading solutions are mainly concerned with outsourcing a job out of the mobile responsibility. Our architecture supports both mobile-based offloading and backend-driven onloading i.e., the offloading decision is taken by the edge infrastructure and not by the mobile node. FORMICA leverages Gelenbe networks to estimate the load profile of each node of the edge computing infrastructure to make proactive load profiling decisions. Our evaluation on a proof-of-concept implementation shows the benefits of our policy-based architecture in several (challenged disaster) scenarios but its applicability is broad to other IoT-based latency-sensitive applications.
Growing Up Modern – Oral History as Architectural Preservation

What was it like to grow up in an early Modernist villa or housing estate? How did this setting impact your attitudes growing up? Has it shaped the way you look at domestic spaces? Were you self-co...
Mitochondrial depolarization stimulates vascular repair-relevant functions of CD34+ cells via reactive oxygen species-induced nitric oxide generation.

Background and purpose CD34+ haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells have revascularization potential and are now being tested for the treatment of ischaemic vascular diseases in clinical trials. We tested the hypothesis that mitochondrial depolarization stimulates the reparative functions of CD34+ cells. Experimental approach Peripheral blood was obtained from healthy individuals (n = 63), and mononuclear cells (MNCs) were separated. MNCs were enriched for lineage negative cells, followed by isolation of CD34+ cells. Vascular repair-relevant functions of CD34+ cells, proliferation and migration, were evaluated in the presence and absence of diazoxide. Mitochondrial membrane potential, ROS and NO levels were evaluated by flow cytometry by using JC-1, mitoSOX and DAF-FM respectively. Key results Diazoxide stimulated the proliferation and migration of CD34+ cells that were comparable to the responses induced by stromal-derived factor-1α (SDF) or VEGF. Effects of diazoxide were blocked by either 5-hydroxydecanoate (5HD), a selective mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel (mitoKATP ) inhibitor, or by L-NAME. Diazoxide induced mitochondrial depolarization, and NO and cGMP generation that were 5HD-sensitive. The generation of NO and cGMP by diazoxide was blocked by an endothelial NOS (eNOS)-selective inhibitor, NIO, but not by a neuronal (n)NOS-selective inhibitor, Nω -propyl-L-arginine (NPA). A Ca2+ chelator, BAPTA, Akt inhibitor, triciribine, or PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, inhibited the NO release induced by diazoxide. Phosphorylation of eNOS at Ser1177 and dephosphorylation at Thr495 were increased. Diazoxide-induced ROS generation and phosphorylation of eNOS at Ser1177 were reduced by NPA. Conclusion and implications Diazoxide stimulates vascular repair-relevant functions of CD34+ cells via the mitoKATP -dependent release of NO and ROS. Linked articles This article is part of a themed section on Mitochondrial Pharmacology: Featured Mechanisms and Approaches for Therapy Translation. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.22/issuetoc.
A PET Glutamate Analogue to Measure Cancer Cell Redox State and Oxidative Stress: Promise and Paradox

[18F]FSPG was shown to provide an indirect measure of the cellular redox state and may be used as an early indicator of therapy response to cancer therapies that cause oxidative stress. A somewhat paradoxical finding was that reduced [18F]FSPG cellular uptake was associated with either lower cellular concentrations of cystine or glutamate, despite opposing the transport of these substances in the Xc− antiporter, for which [18F]FSPG is also a substrate. Further studies of the kinetics of [18F]FSPG will help elucidate the factors mediating a decline in [18F]FSPG with oxidative stress. See related article by McCormick et al, p. 853
Epidemiology and Implementation of Cancer Prevention in Disparate Populations and Settings.

Successful cancer prevention strategies must be tailored to support usability. In this article, we will focus on cancer prevention strategies in populations that differ by race and ethnicity, place...
Associations Between Maternal Experiences of Discrimination and Biomarkers of Toxic Stress in School-Aged Children.

To examine associations between maternal experiences of discrimination and child biomarkers of toxic stress in a multiethnic, urban sample of mothers and children (4–9 years). Data were drawn from a cross-sectional study of maternal–child dyads (N = 54) living in low-income neighborhoods in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Mothers reported experiences of discrimination. Noninvasive biomarkers of toxic stress were collected to assess neuroendocrine (hair cortisol), immune (salivary cytokines, c-reactive protein), and cardiovascular (blood pressure) functioning in children. Maternal experiences of discrimination were associated with increased log-transformed salivary interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in children (β = 0.15, p = 0.02). Vicarious racism, or indirect exposure to discrimination experienced by caregivers, is associated with poor health outcomes for children. Immune pathways may be a biological mechanism through which racial discrimination “gets under the skin,” but additional research is needed to fully understand these relationships. Uncovering the physiological mechanisms linking vicarious racism with child health is an important step towards understanding possible early roots of racial and ethnic health inequities.
Proteinopathy and longitudinal changes in functional connectivity networks in Parkinson disease

Objective To evaluate resting-state functional connectivity as a potential prognostic biomarker of Parkinson disease (PD) progression. The study examined longitudinal changes in cortical resting-state functional connectivity networks in participants with PD compared to controls as well as in relation to baseline protein measures and longitudinal clinical progression. Methods Individuals with PD without dementia (n = 64) and control participants (n = 27) completed longitudinal resting-state MRI scans and clinical assessments including full neuropsychological testing after overnight withdrawal of PD medications (“off”). A total of 55 participants with PD and 20 control participants also completed baseline β-amyloid PET scans and lumbar punctures for CSF protein levels of α-synuclein, β-amyloid, and tau. Longitudinal analyses were conducted with multilevel growth curve modeling, a type of mixed-effects model. Results Functional connectivity within the sensorimotor network and the interaction between the dorsal attention network with the frontoparietal control network decreased significantly over time in participants with PD compared to controls. Baseline CSF α-synuclein protein levels predicted decline in the sensorimotor network. The longitudinal decline in the dorsal attention–frontoparietal internetwork strength correlated with the decline in cognitive function. Conclusions These results indicate that α-synuclein levels may influence longitudinal declines in motor-related functional connectivity networks. Further, the interaction between cortical association networks declines over time in PD prior to dementia onset and may serve as a prognostic marker for the development of dementia.
Seeing Eye to Eye: A Comparison of Audiences’ and Journalists’ Perceptions of Professional Roles and How They Relate to Trust

The “gap” between journalist and audience expectations could be one reason why news media credibility is generally low. Journalistic expectations are often explored through analysis of the news wor...
Flexible and wearable thermoelectric devices for energy harvesting and beyond (Conference Presentation)

Energy harvesting from boy heat could represent an attractive technology for powering a variety of wearable sensors. Thermoelectric devices could be useful for personal energy harvesting. However, traditional thermoelectric energy harvesting devices are suffered from low efficiency, lack of flexibility or wearability, or the need for bulky heat sinks. Here, we developed a strategy to make flexible thermoelectric devices that are flexible, and more importantly, works at high efficiency without resorting to any heat sinks. The device was enabled by optimal thermal design and a novel approach to make flexible device from high-performance rigid inorganic thermoelectric materials.
Role of Prx1-expressing skeletal cells and Prx1-expression in fracture repair

The healing capacity of bones after fracture implies the existence of adult regenerative cells. However, information on identification and functional role of fracture-induced progenitors is still lacking. Paired-related homeobox 1 (Prx1) is expressed during skeletogenesis. We hypothesize that fracture recapitulates Prx1's expression, and Prx1 expressing cells are critical to induce repair. To address our hypothesis, we used a combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches, short and long-term cell tracking analyses of progenies and actively expressing cells, cell ablation studies, and rodent animal models for normal and defective fracture healing. We found that fracture elicits a periosteal and endosteal response of perivascular Prx1+ cells that participate in fracture healing and showed that Prx1-expressing cells have a functional role in the repair process. While Prx1-derived cells contribute to the callus, Prx1's expression decreases concurrently with differentiation into cartilaginous and bone cells, similarly to when Prx1+ cells are cultured in differentiating conditions. We determined that bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2), through C-X-C motif-ligand-12 (CXCL12) signaling, modulates the downregulation of Prx1. We demonstrated that fracture elicits an early increase in BMP2 expression, followed by a decrease in CXCL12 that in turn down-regulates Prx1, allowing cells to commit to osteochondrogenesis. In vivo and in vitro treatment with CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 restored Prx1 expression by modulating the BMP2-CXCL12 axis. Our studies represent a shift in the current research that has primarily focused on the identification of markers for postnatal skeletal progenitors, and instead we characterized the function of a specific population (Prx1+ cells) and their expression marker (Prx1) as a crossroad in fracture repair. The identification of fracture-induced perivascular Prx1+ cells and regulation of Prx1's expression by BMP2 and in turn by CXCL12 in the orchestration of fracture repair, highlights a pathway in which to investigate defective mechanisms and therapeutic targets for fracture non-union.
The Lipid Activation Mechanism of a Transmembrane Potassium Channel.

Membrane proteins and lipids coevolved to yield unique coregulatory mechanisms. Inward-rectifier K+ (Kir) channels are often activated by anionic lipids endemic to their native membranes and require accessible water along their K+ conductance pathway. To better understand Kir channel activation, we target multiple mutants of the Kir channel KirBac1.1 via solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) spectroscopy, potassium efflux assays, and Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements. In the I131C stability mutant (SM), we observe an open-active channel in the presence of anionic lipids with greater activity upon addition of cardiolipin (CL). The introduction of three R to Q mutations (R49/151/153Q (triple Q mutant, TQ)) renders the protein inactive within the same activating lipid environment. Our SSNMR experiments reveal a stark reduction of lipid-protein interactions in the TQ mutant explaining the dramatic loss of channel activity. Water-edited SSNMR experiments further determined the TQ mutant possesses greater overall solvent exposure in comparison to wild-type but with reduced water accessibility along the ion conduction pathway, consistent with the closed state of the channel. These experiments also suggest water is proximal to the selectivity filter of KirBac1.1 in the open-activated state but that it may not directly enter the selectivity filter. Our findings suggest lipid binding initiates a concerted rotation of the cytoplasmic domain subunits, which is stabilized by multiple intersubunit salt bridges. This action buries ionic side chains away from the bulk water, while allowing water greater access to the K+ conduction pathway. This work highlights universal membrane protein motifs, including lipid-protein interactions, domain rearrangement, and water-mediated diffusion mechanisms.
Attendings’ Perceptions of Authentic Evaluation Criteria for Effective Surgical Consults

Objective The authors aimed to investigate faculty evaluation criteria for an effective oral surgical presentation in actual patient care contexts. Design We conducted a 2-step observation-based qualitative study. Residents audiotaped oral presentations of a surgical consult to an attending. Evaluation panels listened to the recordings and discussed to develop joint feedback for the resident. The panel discussions were recorded and served as the data source for this study. We analyzed the data following the grounded theory approach using open coding and axial coding. Setting The study setting was at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, a 5-year general surgery residency program in Springfield, Illinois. Participants Thirteen residents out of 19 in the program participated by virtue of having submitted recordings of a patient care consult presentation via phone. Evaluation panels consisted of general surgery academic and community faculty, as well as senior residents. Results Several criteria for effective oral presentations emerged that have rarely been discussed in prior literature. Themes included: (1) The strategic opening is critical as it “sets the stage” and frames how the attending will listen. Situational factors, such as consideration of time of the day and urgency, should be accounted for in the opening. (2) A deductive structure defines the relevance of the presented information. Clinical judgement should precede supporting evidence. Attending physicians perceive important information as unnecessary if provided outside of this framework. (3) Established trust between a resident and a surgeon determines the level of detail expected of the presenting resident. With increasing trust, surgeons expect residents to present fewer details; if too much detail is included, the presentation may be assessed as ineffective. (4) Surgical descriptions are appreciated for their value in promoting the attending's visualization or mental picture of the patient condition. (5) Oral emphasis using voice tone and pace can be helpful for capturing attending attention. Conclusions These findings can be utilized to improve the current training program and assessment rubrics toward contextualized work-based assessment practices in surgery. Oral patient presentation skills are neither static nor universal, but fluid and reflexive, based on trust, and situational factors.
Communication About Medication by Providers-Adolescent and Young Adult Version: Confirmatory Factor Analyses.

OBJECTIVE To replicate the factor structure of a patient-report measure of provider communication about key medication prescription information, the Communication about Medication by Providers-Adolescent and Young Adult (CAMP-AYA) Version. We evaluated whether the 15-item, two-factor structure identified previously could be replicated via confirmatory factor analysis, and we also examined fit of unidimensional and bifactor models. Associations of CAMP-AYA Total and Factor Scores with provider satisfaction and select patient and medication characteristics were also examined. METHODS Participants were 739 AYA (ages 18-25) who completed the CAMP-AYA, a provider satisfaction rating, and provided demographic and medication information. RESULTS The bifactor model was best fitting (χ2 [75] = 689.60, p .89) and Total and Factor Scores were associated with provider satisfaction (ps 30-day course) or refilled prescriptions (ps < .007) in most cases. CONCLUSIONS This study provides additional support for the reliability of the CAMP-AYA as a tool to assess AYA perceptions of provider key information coverage about medication prescriptions.
Laboratory and Field Patching Performance of a Half-Warm Mix Using Waste Cooking Oil–Based Biobinder with Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement

AbstractIn this study, a new half-warm mix patching material was developed using polymerized waste cooking oil (WCO)-based biobinder with 100% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). Laboratory tests wer...
The Social Logic of the Temple Space: A Preliminary Spatial Analysis of Historical Buddhist Temples in Chiang Saen, Northern Thailand

This article applies space syntax analysis as an experimental tool to assess the spatial organization and social landscape among the Chiang Saen community in Northern Thailand. This article aims to highlight concepts and interpretations of social spaces that have both ritual and domestic components, providing insights into similarities and differences in the use of space. Space syntax research elsewhere has shed light on issues of social behavior through spatial accessibility. Application of the method to the spatial arrangements in sites in Northern Thailand that span the Buddhist reform period of the fourteenth century CE enhances our understanding of similar issues. The space syntax analysis demonstrates common systems found among six archaeological sites: the first is an asymmetrical and hierarchical pattern, which reflects elements of a strongly conventional temple pattern characteristic of the post-reform period, and the second identified the symmetrical and “openness” qualities of social spaces, a less regimented spatial pattern more aligned with local religious practices. The results demonstrate that the spatial arrangement in most temples is a combination of both spatial and social systems which also indicates negotiation and change between the two, suggesting diverse social activities and religious ideas were practiced and performed at the temples.
Neuro-Ophthalmologic Emergencies in Movement Disorders

Eye movement abnormalities due to urgent or emergent etiologies in the field of movement disorders include acute/subacute onset supranuclear saccadic gaze palsies, ocular flutter and opsoclonus, various types of nystagmus, and oculogyric crisis. Supranuclear saccadic gaze palsies, from failure of brainstem supranuclear saccadic burst neurons, cause slowing of saccades (horizontally and/or vertically) with or without range of motion limitation of eye movements. Acute/subacute causes of saccadic gaze palsies include vascular, neoplastic/paraneoplastic, infectious, and inflammatory etiologies. Ocular flutter and opsoclonus are erratic bursts of high frequency, rapid saccades that oscillate about the midline of the visual axis with no intersaccadic interval. Flutter occurs only in the horizontal plane, while opsoclonus occurs in all trajectories. Ocular flutter and opsoclonus typically occur either in infectious/para-infectious brainstem encephalitis or paraneoplastic/autoimmune disease. Nystagmus is a rhythmic biphasic oscillation of the eyes, initiated by a slow drift of the eyes. Downbeat nystagmus may occur acutely or subacutely from ischemic or paraneoplastic cerebellar disorders. Upbeat nystagmus is common in Wernicke encephalopathy and may occur from a brainstem stroke. Pendular nystagmus from oculopalatal myoclonus is not an emergency, but may be mistaken for a recurrent brainstem stroke. Oculogyric crisis is an acute dystonic reaction of extraocular muscles with a conjugate deviation of the eyes, typically upward. Oculogyric crises are most commonly acute or tardive reactions to neuroleptics, although other etiologies exist.
A complete unification algorithm for associative-commutative functions

An important component of mechanical theorem proving systems are unification algorithms which find most genaral substitutions which, when applied to two expresssions, maka them equivalent. Functions which are associative and commutative (such as the arithmetic addition and multiplication functions) are often the subject of mechanical theorem proving. An algorithm which unifies terms whose function is associativa and commutative is presented here The algorithm eliminates the need for axiomatizing the associativity and commutativity properties and returns a complete set of unifiers without recourse to the indefinite generation of vurianU and instances of the terms being unified required by previous solutions to the problem.
Support for Reliable Sessions with a Large Number of Members

The ability to localize traffic when performing distributed searches within a group of nodes that form a session is a key factor in determining how big the group can scale. In this paper we describe an algorithm using the concept of scoping that we believe significantly enhances the ability to localize traffic for the service discovery aspect of many protocols, and hence their ability to scale. The algorithm is based upon the notion of a hierarchy of administrative multicast scopes where smaller scopes nest inside larger ones. To exploit this topological structure, we describe an application-layer protocol, the Scoped Address Discovery Protocol (SADP), which provides session members with the ability to discover, for each session, which addresses to use within each of the various scopes within a hierarchy. We show via simulation that SADP affords this ability in a manner that scales, through merging the well known distribution mechanisms of announce/listen and query/response and exploiting the nested hierarchy of scopes itself.
Federalism, Efficiency and Competition

This Article provides empirical and theoretical support for the proposition that permitting actors to contract for the law that applies to their transaction would improve state rules and regulations by reducing interest group incentives to promote inefficient laws. In general, competition between lawmaking bodies limits the extent to which they can impose costs on those who have little influence on the lawmaking process because they reside outside of the jurisdiction. Enforcing bargains over applicable law is particularly effective in promoting jurisdictional competition because it significantly lowers exit costs and thereby increases jurisdictional competition as compared with a rule that forces individuals and firms physically to relocate to a particular jurisdiction in order to be subject to its laws. Although jurisdictions seek to block easy exit from their laws by imposing legal constraints on the enforceability of choice-of-law contracts, we show that a multi-stage process of jurisdictional competition tends to erode these constraints. Given our analysis, theory and data indicating that law is inefficient may be incomplete because they examine only jurisdictions' initial attempts to externalize costs rather than the ultimate outcome of jurisdictional competition. We support our conclusion by analyzing the competition effects on contractual choice of law in three areas -- corporate law, unincorporated firms, and franchise regulation. In addition to its general implications for jurisdictional competition, our analysis has specific implications for the appropriate mode of analyzing the efficiency of state law and of a federal system.