cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A genomewide screen for petite-negative yeast strains yields a new subunit of the i-AAA protease complex.

Unlike many other organisms, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can tolerate the loss of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Although a few proteins have been identified that are required for yeast cell viability without mtDNA, the mechanism of mtDNA-independent growth is not completely understood. To probe the relationship between the mitochondrial genome and cell viability, we conducted a microarray-based, genomewide screen for mitochondrial DNA-dependent yeast mutants. Among the several genes that we discovered is MGR1, which encodes a novel subunit of the i-AAA protease complex located in the mitochondrial inner membrane. mgr1Δ mutants retain some i-AAA protease activity, yet mitochondria lacking Mgr1p contain a misassembled i-AAA protease and are defective for turnover of mitochondrial inner membrane proteins. Our results highlight the importance of the i-AAA complex and proteolysis at the inner membrane in cells lacking mitochondrial DNA.
Automatic detection of malignant tumors in mammograms

Detection of malignant tumors at an early stage is an important first step in diagnosis of the cancerous regions in mammograms. Although many detection schemes have been presented, they are still not adequate to safely eliminate all risks. We propose classification schemes of unknown test mammograms using fractal analysis and spatial moments distributions as image processing techniques. Two classifiers will be used in conjunction with these techniques: a backpropagation neural network and a self-organizing map. Investigation of the histograms of the spatial moments at low orders shows that discrete image spatial moments cannot distinguish between benign and malignant mammograms. The two-stage backpropagation neural network and the one-stage self-organizing map both give detection rates of 70% and low false positive rates. With further preprocessing and optimization, the performance of these classifiers may be further improved.
Elder Physical Abuse and Failure to Report Cases: Similarities and Differences in Case Type and the Justice System’s Response

Treated initially as a social problem, elder abuse has only recently been criminalized. The criminalization of elder abuse involves penalizing offenders for actively abusing offenders as well as for violating mandatory reporting laws. Mandatory reporting laws exist to encourage professionals to report suspected cases of elder abuse. In this study, attention is given to the way that failure to report elder abuse cases are adjudicated in comparison to elder physical abuse cases. Content analysis was performed on a sample of case descriptions of elder physical abuse cases and failure to report cases. Results suggest that mandatory reporting offenses are adjudicated slightly differently than physical abuse cases, and the dynamics surrounding the two offense types vary as well. Implications including the need for broader penalties and better training of human services professionals are suggested.
Effect of Porous Media Properties on Heat Transfer in Triangular Porous Duct

This study presents an analysis of forced convection in a porous triangular channel. The flow is laminar, fully developed and assumed to have constant properties. The porous channel has an isotropic matrix and the boundary conditions are fixed with constant temperature. In this paper, accurate analytical solutions are presented to determine the effects of apex angle and porous media properties on the velocity and temperature distribution in a triangular channel along with the friction factor fRe, and Nusselt number NuT. The presentaion includes numerical features of the exact series solution using Brinkman’s model. Numerical results for dimensionless average temperature and velocity are presented for various porosities, permeabilities and apex angles.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Comorbidity In Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder An Analysis of Community and Clinical Studies1

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is alleged to be associated with high rates of concurrent psychological disorders. This paper considers the available literature regarding comorbidity in PTSD and reviews in detail the findings to date. This critical evaluation includes studies of clinical samples, veterans community surveys, and population surveys. It also presents new data drawn from 50 PTSD cases assessed at the Boston PTSD Center using a comprehensive, multidimensional diagnostic procedure. The data firmly support the notion that PTSD, regardless of the nature of the trauma, is associated with high rates of other major psychological disorders including substance abuse, major depression, and personality disorders. Despite these findings the issue of cause and effect surrounding comorbidity remains open at this time. More research is needed to determine if exposure to extreme stressors in fact produces the broad spectrum of psychopathology suggested by individuals with PTSD or whether individuals with intrinsic vulnerability are more likely to develop PTSD when exposed to extreme stressors. Implications of the findings from this review are discussed with respect to concepts in diagnosis and comorbidity.
Stability of Polytropes

This paper is an investigation of the stability of some ideal stars. It is in- tended as a study in General Relativity, with emphasis on the coupling to matter, eventu- ally aimed at a better understanding of very strong gravitational fields and "Black Holes". This contrasts with the usual attitude in astrophysics, where Einstein's equations are in- voked as a refinement of classical thermodynamics and newtonian gravity. Our work is based on an action principle for the complete system of metric and matter fields, cou- pling the metric field to well defined relativistic field models that we hope may represent a plausible type of matter. The thermodynamic content must be extracted from the the- ory itself. We start with the simplest model of matter and plan to add complications as our experience grows. When the flow of matter is irrotational, and described by a scalar density, we are led to differential equations that differ little from those of Tolman and his followers, but equations derived from an action principle admit a conserved current, as well as stronger boundary conditions that affect the matching of the interior solution to an external Schwarzschild metric and imply a relation between mass and radius. We have been led to propose a complete revision of the treatment of boundary condi- tions. An ideal star in our terminology has spherical symmetry and an isentropic equation of state, p = aρ, a and γ piecewise constant. In our first work on this subject it was assumed that the density vanishes beyond a finite distance from the origin and that the metric is to be matched continuously at the boundary to an exterior Schwarzschild metric. But it is difficult to decide what the proper boundary conditions should be and we are consequently skeptical of the concept of a fixed boundary. In this paper we investigate the double polytrope, characterized by a polytropic index n ≤ 3 in the bulk of the star and a value larger than 5 in an outer atmosphere that extends to infinity. It has no fixed boundary but a region of critical density where the polytropic index changes from a value that is appropriate for the bulk of the star to a value that provides a crude model for the atmosphere, with a fairly abrupt transition at the point where the density reaches a critical value. All the fields are continuous. The boundary conditions are now natural and unambiguous. The existence of a relation between mass and radius is confirmed, as well as an upper limit on the mass. The principal conclusion is that all the static configurations are stable. There is a solution that fits the sun. The masses of white dwarfs respect the Chandrasekhar limit. The application to neutron stars has suprising aspects.
LOSS OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN STAPHYLOCOCCI FROM A SKIN HOSPITAL

Abstract Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from patients with diseases of the skin showed variation in sensitivity to penicillin amongst strains of the same phage type. One such strain could be shown to undergo loss of penicillinase in vitro very rapidly. Skin strains exhibited mercury sensitivity even in the face of poly resistance to antibiotics.
Sympathetic and Cardiorenal Actions of Leptin

Abstract Body weight is tightly regulated physiologically. The recent discovery of the peptide hormone leptin has permitted more detailed evaluation of the mechanisms responsible for control of body fat. Leptin is almost exclusively produced by adipose tissue and acts in the CNS through a specific receptor and multiple neuropeptide pathways to decrease appetite and increase energy expenditure. Leptin thus functions as the afferent component of a negative feedback mechanism to control adipose tissue mass. Increasing evidence suggests that leptin may have wider actions influencing autonomic, cardiovascular, and endocrine function. Intravenous leptin increases norepinephrine turnover and sympathetic nerve activity to thermogenic brown adipose tissue. Studies from our laboratory suggest that leptin also increases sympathetic nerve activity to kidney, hindlimb, and adrenal gland. However, systemic administration of leptin does not acutely increase arterial pressure or heart rate in anesthetized animals. Thus, longer-term exposure to hyperleptinemia may be necessary for full expression of the expected pressor effect of renal sympathoexcitation. Alternatively, leptin may have additional cardiovascular actions to oppose sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction. Leptin in high doses increases renal sodium and water excretion, apparently through a direct tubular action. In addition, leptin appears to increase systemic insulin sensitivity, even in the absence of weight loss. Although we are at an early stage of understanding, we speculate that abnormalities in the actions of leptin may have implications for the sympathetic, cardiovascular, and renal changes associated with obesity.
Novel dynamic representation and control of power networks embedded with FACTS devices

FACTS devices have been shown to be powerful in damping power system oscillations caused by faults; however, in the multi machine control using FACTS, the control problem involves solving differential-algebraic equations of a power network which renders the available control schemes ineffective due to heuristic design and lack of know how to incorporate FACTS into the network. A method to generate nonlinear dynamic representation of a power system consisting of differential equations alone with universal power flow controller (UPFC) is introduced since differential equations are typically preferred for controller development. Subsequently, backstepping methodology is utilized to reduce the generator oscillations by using a FACTS device after a fault has occurred. Finally, we use neural networks to approximate the nonlinear network dynamics for controller design. The net result is a representation that could be potentially utilized for studying the placement and number of FACTS devices as well as to design a better control scheme for FACTS given a power network. Simulation results justify theoretical conjectures.
Cr2, a candidate gene in the murine Sle1c lupus susceptibility locus, encodes a dysfunctional protein

The major murine systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility locus, Sle1, corresponds to three loci independently affecting loss of tolerance to chromatin in the NZM2410 mouse. The congenic interval corresponding to Sle1c contains Cr2, which encodes complement receptors 1 and 2 (CR1/CR2, CD35/CD21). NZM2410/NZW Cr2 exhibits a single nucleotide polymorphism that introduces a novel glycosylation site, resulting in higher molecular weight proteins. This polymorphism, located in the C3d binding domain, reduces ligand binding and receptor-mediated cell signaling. Molecular modeling based on the recently solved CR2 structure in complex with C3d reveals that this glycosylation interferes with receptor dimerization. These data demonstrate a functionally significant phenotype for the NZM2410 Cr2 allele and strongly support its role as a lupus susceptibility gene.
Adherence to sports injury rehabilitation programmes.

Many studies have shown that low adherence is a common problem in treatment programmes. Adherence to sports injury rehabilitation is dependent on the personality characteristics of athletes operating in conjunction with particular aspects of their rehabilitation settings and the quality of interactions developed between athletes and their therapists. Any attempt to view treatment adherence as a unitary construct is doomed to fail; a complex construct demands a multidimensional outlook. Taking into account the challenges that injured athletes face during their rehabilitation, strategies can be designed to promote adherence. Self-confidence is the key to enhanced rehabilitation adherence, and the strategies are organised within that framework. Competence strategies include education, treatment efficacy, tailoring, and relapse prevention training. Control strategies include dissociation, self-monitoring, decision-balance sheet, and pain deconditioning. Commitment strategies include shaping, contracting, threats, goal-setting, and social support. Because of the dearth of empirical data on the specific issue of adherence to sports injury rehabilitation programmes, it is necessary to extrapolate from various other areas of treatment adherence (e.g. cardiac rehabilitation). Treatment dropout does not seem to be inevitable, but is in fact preventable. The task for the sports medicine professional is to recognise and acknowledge the salient features of their clients and the rehabilitation demands on them and then to utilise various strategies to enhance the likelihood of treatment adherence.
ShakeOnit: an exploration into leveraging social rituals for information access

We have created a system which utilizes a pair of sensor-outfitted gloves to test for the performance of a series of multi-person gestures known as a "secret handshake." The fact that a new user of the system is required to rehearse the handshake performance with someone who is already experienced in performing it adds a novel layer of security to information access which is inherently social.
RNAP II CTD tyrosine 1 performs diverse functions in vertebrate cells

The RNA polymerase II largest subunit (Rpb1) contains a unique C-terminal domain (CTD) that plays multiple roles during transcription. The CTD is composed of consensus Y(1)S(2)P(3)T(4)S(5)P(6)S(7) repeats, in which Ser, Thr and Tyr residues can all be phosphorylated. Here we report analysis of CTD Tyr1 using genetically tractable chicken DT40 cells. Cells expressing an Rpb1 derivative with all Tyr residues mutated to Phe (Rpb1-Y1F) were inviable. Remarkably, Rpb1-Y1F was unstable, degraded to a CTD-less form; however stability, but not cell viability, was fully rescued by restoration of a single C-terminal Tyr (Rpb1-25F+Y). Cytoplasmic and nucleoplasmic Rpb1 was phosphorylated exclusively on Tyr1, and phosphorylation specifically of Tyr1 prevented CTD degradation by the proteasome in vitro. Tyr1 phosphorylation was also detected on chromatin-associated, hyperphosphorylated Rpb1, consistent with a role in transcription. Indeed, we detected accumulation of upstream antisense (ua) RNAs in Rpb1-25F+Y cells, indicating a role for Tyr1 in uaRNA expression.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.02112.001.
Transposon-based RNAi delivery system for generating knockdown cell lines.

Abstract RNA interference is rapidly becoming a powerful tool for genetic analyses in mammalian systems. A potential drawback to transient small inhibitory RNA silencing is the short duration of downregulation it confers, usually only 24–72 h. Viral-based vector systems for the long-term delivery of RNA hairpins have been developed, yet they require expertise in viral production and transduction. Here we describe a simple plasmid-based system for the generation of long-term gene knockdown utilizing RNA interference combined with the gene delivery capabilities of the mammalian Tc1-like transposon Sleeping Beauty. Designated Maleficent, this system is shown to downregulate exogenous expression of GFP in a constitutively positive cell line. In addition, targeting of the endogenously expressed lamin A gene results in long-term silencing with significant reduction in protein levels (>95%). Maleficent therefore provides a relatively easy, efficient, and stable means of delivering RNAi hairpins to generate long-term gene-specific knockdown cell lines.
GaAs substrate misorientation and the effect on InAs quantum dot critical thickness

Control of InAs critical thickness (θ) is important to realizing optimized growth in quantum dot (QD) devices. Substrate misorientation can change the value of θ c but also creates more uniform QDs in both size and distribution. This work explores GaAs p-i-n photovoltaic (PV) devices grown via organometallic vapor phase epitaxy (OMVPE) using the Stranski-Krastanov (SK) growth method on substrates misoriented 6° off (100) in the [110] direction and 2°off (100) in the [110] direction. Test structures and single junction solar cells were grown in order to study device performance through light I-V measurements and spectral responsivity (SR) as well as material properties through atomic force microcopy (AFM) and photoluminescence (PL). Results of this work show that 2° [110] sample results in lower θ c as compared to the 6° [110] (approximately 1.8 ML verses approximately 2.1 ML). The 6° [110] substrate also showed a more uniform density and size distribution of QDs. These results are important to realizing the full benefits of QD structures such as increased optical absorption.
Popular perceptions of tobacco products and patterns of use among male college students in India

This paper examines popular perceptions of tobacco products and describes patterns of use among college youth in Karnataka, India. Data are drawn from 25 key informant interviews and six focus groups with male and female college students, interviews with shopkeepers, observational data on youth tobacco consumption, and a college-based survey. The survey was administered to 1587 males attending eleven colleges. Forty-five percent (n = 716) of college students surveyed had used tobacco products. Thirty-six percent (n = 573) had tried cigarettes, 10% (n = 157) had tried bidis, and 18% (n = 290) had tried gutkha. Tobacco consumption among smokers was low; for daily smokers, the mean number of cigarettes smoked was 6 per day. Students attending professional colleges, including engineering, medicine, and law were significantly more likely to have ever smoked and to be daily smokers when compared to students enrolled in other courses of study. In interviews, male students noted that smoking a cigarette enhanced one's manliness, relieved boredom, and eased tension. Although female students interviewed were non-smokers, several suggested that in the future, smoking might be an acceptable behavior among college-going females. When asked about their perceptions of smoking among youth in Western countries, the majority of students believed that three-quarters of male and female youth in the West smoked. This perception has been largely formed through media images, including satellite television and films. With regard to addiction, it was widely believed that filter-tipped cigarettes were one of the most addictive products because they are made of better quality tobacco, and are milder and smoother to smoke. Therefore, a person could easily smoke more of them, which would lead to addiction. Another widely held belief was that the more expensive the cigarette, the less harmful it was for one's health.
The ecology of diet expansion in a seed-feeding beetle: Pre-existing variation, rapid adaptation and maternal effects?

Most studies of insect dietary evolution suffer from limited information on the history of host use patterns; historical patterns can only be inferred from modern patterns. We examine the ecology of a recent diet breadth expansion onto an introduced host by the seed beetle, Stator limbatus, to (1) determine if pre-existing variation for survival on Chloroleucon ebano is present in natural populations of S. limbatus, and (2) test whether natural selection has resulted in local adaptation to C. ebano in a population where this host is used. Our results indicate that variation in survival on C. ebano does exist in natural populations of S. limbatus that have historically never encountered this host, providing the variation necessary for adaptation to this host. However, we found no evidence that S. limbatus have locally adapted to C. ebano. Our most interesting discovery, however, was that the use of C. ebano by S. limbatus is facilitated by non-genetic effects of parental host plant on progeny survival; parents reared on Cercidium floridum produce progeny with substantially higher survivorship on C. ebano than parents reared on Acacia greggii due to an environmentally based parental effect. We argue that such host-plant-mediated maternal effects are likely to be common and thus important for our understanding of herbivorous insect evolution and population dynamics. This paper provides one example of how an understanding of environmentally based maternal effects can provide important information on the evolution of life-history patterns observed in nature.
Participatory problem solving through interactive environments

With the widespread availability of open source software and social networking sites, community groups, researchers, artists and other activists have taken political problems from their physical places and built bridges into interactive places to continue their work. The discussion and examples in this paper illustrate how design through practical problem-solving, actively involving participants, extends meaning and experience between and among environments.
Stability criterion for bright solitary waves of the perturbed cubic-quintic Schro¨dinger equation

Abstract The stability of the bright solitary wave solution to the perturbed cubic-quintic Schrodinger equation is considered. It is shown that in a certain region of parameter space these solutions are unstable, with the instability being manifested as a small positive eignevalue. Furthermore, it is shown that in the complimentary region of parameter space there are no small unstable eigenvalues. The proof involves a novel calculation of the Evans function, which is of interest in its own right. As a consequence of the eigenvalue calculation, it is additionally shown that N-bump bright solitary waves bifurcate from the primary wave.
Adrenocorticoid regulation of Na+, K+-ATPase in adult rat kidney: effects on post-translational processing and mRNA abundance

The mechanisms by which adreno-corticoid hormones regulate Na+, K+-ATPase in adult kidney were studied in adrenalectomized (Adx) rats. Five days after adrenalectomy, Na+, K+-ATPase activity was significantly reduced in the renal cortex homogenate (C = 13.0±0.8 vs. Adx = 7.1±0.7 μmol Pi mg-1 protein h-1) and in renal microsomes (C = 30.3 ± 1.9 vs Adx = 14.6 ± 1.3 μmol Pi mg-1 protein h-1). Glucocorticoid replacement treatment of adrenalectomized rats with betamethasone (20 μg kg-1 body wt twice daily for 5 days) effectively counteracted the observed reduction in Na+, K+-ATPase activity. In cortical homogenate the protein level of α1 and β1 subunits measured in immunoblots was not significantly different in Adx and control rats, indicating that 5 days after adrenalectomy the α1 and β1 subunits were present in renal cortical cells to almost normal extent but could not be assembled into a transmembrane functional unit. In support of this conclusion we found that the protein level of both the α1 and β1 subunits was significantly lower (P < 0.001 for both subunits) in microsomes from Adx than in control rats. The mRNA abundance for α1 and β1 subunits were not lower in Adx as compared to control rats 1 and 5 days after surgery. However, if Adx rats were given a single dose of betamethasone (600 μg kg-1 body wt), a significant 2-fold increase in both α1 and β1 mRNAs was observed (P < 0.05 for both subunits). These data suggest that glucocorticoids can upregulate the mRNA of both Na+, K+-ATPase subunits but that the low renal Na+, K+-ATPase activity in adult Adx rats is mainly due to loss of glucocorticoid regulation of the post-translational processing of the enzyme.
Screening procedure for synthesizing isothermal multiphase reactors

A procedure is developed to identify a multiphase reactor for carrying out a given reaction at the early stage of process development. There are three elements to this screening approach: a generic reactor model, an accompanying sensitivity model, and a knowledge base consisting of heuristics, plus correlations on hydrodynamics, heat, and mass transport. In synthesizing a generic reactor model, the conuentional multiphase reactors are decomposed into common attributes and constituent parts, and reaggregated for the reaction under consideration. Thus, in addition to choosing one among conventional reactor types, the procedure prouides insights for the creation of novel reactors. The sensitivity model quantifies the relative impact of the model parameters on the reactor performance. The knowledge base provides heuristics, estimates, and reality checks in the decision-making process. While this article focuses on isothermal systems with a single reaction, the framework is applicable for general multiphase reactions.
Immunology and Clinical Manifestations of Non-Clonal Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

There is a spectrum of disorders that clinically manifest as a result of mast cell activation. A non-clonal form has emerged in the literature where many of the clinical features of systemic mastocytosis are shared despite having a distinct mast cell biology. In this review, we summarize key features of the science behind mast cell activation relevant to what is now known as non-clonal mast cell activation syndrome (nc-MCAS). We highlight the clinical manifestations of nc-MCAS with a focus on diagnosis and treatment.
Microsatellite primers for the North American bluets (Houstonia section Amphiotis, Rubiaceae)

 Premise of the study: Microsatellites were developed for the native, perennial herbs Houstonia longifolia and H. purpurea to establish rates and patterns of hybridization among these and other closely related lineages within the genus.  Methods and Results: Seven primer sets were developed and tested using populations across eastern North America and into parts of the Midwest. Primers amplifi ed di- and tri-nucleotide repeats with 1 – 16 alleles per locus among diploids. These primers also amplifi ed microsatellites for H. purpurea var. montana , H. purpurea var. calycosa , H. ouachitana, and H. canadensis , and for other Houstonia species outside section Amphiotis.  Conclusions: These results demonstrate the value of microsatellite loci in studies focusing on hybridization and population genetics across Houstonia section Amphiotis and could be useful in studies within other sections of Houstonia as well as in studies of related genera, such as Hedyotis .
The DoD teleport testbed and the Army's Joint SATCOM Engineering Center

This paper will provide the reader with an in-depth description of the Army Research, Development & Engineering Command's (RDECOM) Joint SATCOM Engineering Center (JSEC) located at Fort Monmouth, NJ. The JSEC is a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art facility that has been in existence for over 30 years and has expanded to become a well respected and versatile engineering and research facility that supports all of the military services, Department of Defense (DoD) agencies, special users, as well as private industry and academia. The JSEC is divided into four functional areas: the Control Systems Laboratory (CSL), the Strategic Systems Laboratory (SSL), the Tactical Systems Laboratory (TSL) and the DoD Teleport Testbed (DTT). This paper will touch on the JSEC and the four functional areas in general and it will highlight the most recent addition to the JSEC, the DoD Teleport Testbed. Each functional area with its own mission, expertise and unique assets support the research, development, performance evaluation, system and equipment certification testing and anomaly resolution of space dependent and space based communications systems and equipment in the EHF, Ka, SHF and UHF frequency bands. The JSEC is also utilized to help mitigate program risk by using satellite simulation and participation in annual joint service communications exercises that serve as a platform to prove out real world requirements in a more controlled atmosphere.
Volume rendering with data parallel visualization frameworks for emerging high performance computing architectures

Future exascale computing is demanding more and more parallelism from current software if peak computation rates are to be realized. However, exploiting this additional parallelism is not trivial. One approach is to identify finer grained parallelism using data parallel primitives (DPP). Visualization frameworks such as Dax and VTK-m are being developed using DPP for this purpose. Our work presents an exploratory study of how volume rendering maps to current and future super computing architectures. We implement a ray casting and cell projection volume renderer in Dax using DPP and compare their performance on three different hardware architectures. Despite the portability provided by these frameworks, we observe that additional architecture specific modifications are necessary to achieve acceptable performance on some architectures.
Low fructose and low salt diets increase mitochondrial DNA in white blood cells of overweight subjects.

To evaluate the eff ect of sodium and fructose restriction on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and systemic oxidative stress in a sample of overweight and pre hypertensive subjects. Material/Methods: Data and blood samples were collected from 36 overweight and pre hypertensive patients randomly assigned to either an isocaloric (with respect to baseline) low sodium-fructose diet or an isocaloric low sodium diet. Patients were followed for 8 weeks. We measured mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content from peripheral blood white cells by Real-time PCR and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) as markers of reactive oxigen species (ROS). Results: Compared to baseline, at week 8 there was a continued and signifi cant increase in mtDNA in both the low sodium diet group (2.4 vs. 13.1 (relative copy number), p < 0.05) and the low sodium diet-fructose group (1.9 vs. 147.2, p < 0.05). By week 8 there was a continued decrease in plasma DNPH levels in the low sodium diet group (4.6 vs. 2.6, p < 0.05) and in the low sodium diet-fructose group (5.8 vs. 2.2, p < 0.05). No signifi cant diff erences were found with MDA. Conclusion: Our studies suggest that simple dietary measures such as reducing salt with or without restricting fructose can increase mtDNA and improve markers of oxidative stress.
Computational Characterization of Defects in Metal-Organic Frameworks: Spontaneous and Water-Induced Point Defects in ZIF-8.

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are an important class of porous crystalline metal–organic framework (MOF) materials that have attracted widespread attention for applications ranging from gas adsorption and separation to catalysis. Although the bulk crystal structures of MOFs are typically well-characterized, comparatively little is known regarding MOF defect structures. Drawing on analogies with conventional silicon-based zeolites, we utilize computational methods to examine the structure and stability of putative point-defect structures (including vacancies, substitutions, and “dangling” linkers) within the prototypical ZIF-8 structure. Considering both postsynthetic (gas-phase) and synthetic (solution-phase) conditions, we find that several of the defect structures lie low in energy relative to the defect-free parent crystal, with barriers to defect formation that are large but surmountable under relevant temperatures. These results are consistent with prior experimental observations of ZIF stab...
Implicit Authentication for Smartphone Security

Common authentication methods based on passwords, or fingerprints in smartphones, depend on user participation. They do not protect against the threat of an attacker getting hold of the phone after the user has been authenticated. Using a victim’s smartphone, the attacker can launch impersonation attacks, which threaten the data that can be accessed from the smartphone and also the security of other users in the network. In this paper, we propose an implicit authentication method using the sensors already built into smartphones. We utilize machine learning algorithms for smartphones to continuously and implicitly authenticate the current user. We compare two typical machine learning methods, SVM and KRR, for authenticating the user. We show that our method achieves high performance (more than 90 % authentication accuracy) and high efficiency. Our method needs less than 10 s to train the model and 20 s to detect an abnormal user. We also show that the combination of more sensors provides better accuracy. Furthermore, our method enables adjusting the security level by changing the sampling rate.
Family Matters Promoting the Academic Adaptation of Latino Youth in New and Established Destination

As primary agents of socialization, families and schools can powerfully shape the academic adaptation of youth. Using data from the SIAA studies, we compare the family and school environments of Latino high school seniors living in a new destination, North Carolina, with those living in an established destination, Los Angeles. We then evaluate how family and school environments influence their educational aspirations, expectations, and performance. We find that parents' achievement expectations promote Latino youths' academic success while perceived future family obligations inhibit them. Additionally, we find that schools remain essential in promoting Latino immigrant youths' achievement by providing a supportive and safe learning environment. Discrimination in schools and the broader community is associated with lower educational expectations and aspirations but not lower academic performance.
Informed Consent: Recent Changes in the Law

AbstractPhysicians have the legal duty to disclose all risks and consequences of a proposed procedure. This duty must be understood as a reversal of previous legal doctrine. Disclosure is adequate only when a patient has enough information from that disclosure to decide for himself which way he wants to go and what treatment he wants to choose from among the options available to him. Relevance of disclosure, not fullness, is the criterion of sufficiency.The idea that the doctor or the profession knows best what the patient should do has been rejected as a legal standard in the District of Columbia, California, New York, Wisconsin, Kansas and Rhode Island. It is expected that more states will follow this trend. The informed part of the doctrine of informed consent is only the tip of an iceberg of social change.
The role of training in effective simulated self-injection of subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate: observations from a usability study

Abstract Objectives The need for quarterly clinic visits is a barrier to use of subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) contraception. The ability to self-inject at home may enhance method acceptance. Since efficacy depends on proper administration, we evaluated whether women could correctly perform simulated injections of DMPA-SC in a Uniject™ injection system using printed Instructions for Use (IFU), with and without hands-on training. Study design Adult female volunteers ( N =120) injected DMPA-SC into a rubber trainer at two visits, 3 months apart. Women were randomly assigned to receive hands-on training before the first injection or no training. The primary outcome was the proportion of women who successfully operated the injection system. An attempt was defined as successful if the participant correctly performed all critical steps in the injection procedure (getting ready, selecting an injection area, preparing the injector, mixing the medicine, activating the injector, injecting the dose) and expelled the dose without unexpected interruption. The success rate at month 3 was considered the primary endpoint. A one-sided 95% confidence limit >80% was used to declare the delivery system and IFU "fit for purpose." Results With training, the success rate (one-sided 95% confidence limit) was 90.0% (81.8%) at day 1 and 96.7% (90.4%) at month 3; without training, rates were 76.7% (66.7%) and 88.3% (79.8%), respectively. The trained (96.4%) and untrained (92.2%) groups successfully completed injecting into the trainer at first injection, the final critical step of the injection procedure, despite the fact that about one third of participants considered expelling depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (one component of this step) to be difficult. Conclusion Most participants understood the IFU and successfully operated the injection system. Initial hands-on training improved success rates at both visits. For women interested in self-injection, providers should review all steps of the IFU, provide a demonstration, supervise initial injection(s) and ensure that the patient is aware of future injection dates. The potential for self-injection to improve adherence should be studied. Implications After initial training, women performed simulated self-injections of DMPA-SC in the Uniject system proficiently using printed instructions. Women who are motivated and demonstrate competent injection technique during training can be relied upon to self-inject correctly at home. DMPA-SC users not suitable for self-injection should continue receiving injections at the clinic.
Detecting Copy Number Variation via Next Generation Technology

Copy number variants (CNVs), gains and losses of segments of genomic DNA associated with normal phenotypic variation and disease states, are traditionally detected using chromosomal microarrays. Recent bioinformatic advances now allow for the detection of CNVs using next generation sequencing (NGS) data, greatly increasing the clinical utility of NGS tests. Though not widespread, clinical diagnostic laboratories have started to implement CNV detection from targeted NGS gene panels and whole exome sequencing data, despite some limitations. Multiple tools have been designed to overcome these limitations, with some promising results. However, no single tool yet enables the high sensitivity and specificity needed to make it more than a supplementary assay for clinical laboratories. As sequencing costs drop and sequencing technologies improve, some of these shortcomings may be overcome by whole genome sequencing or long-read sequencing technologies. Here, we review methods used to detect CNVs from NGS data, including studies comparing their performance.
Technology and Giftedness

Abstract Technology offers great potential to gifted, talented, and creative (GCT) students, including students who are twice exceptional (i.e., students who are GCT as well as identified with a disability). However, little research exists regarding the use and evidence-base base of technologies for these populations. This chapter presents technology to support students who are GCT as well as students identified as twice exceptional, including assistive technology to support students in content area instruction. Although, an evidence-base is needed for using technology in education for GCT and twice-exceptional students, existing research supports using the Internet and Web 2.0 technologies with these students.
Power-aware design for high data rate free space optical receivers

A design methodology for low power front-end receiver targeting CMOS imagers for free space optical FSO communications is presented. The differential front-end is formed of two transimpedance amplifiers integrated with a Spatially Modulated Light detector SML, a Cherry-Hopper amplifier, an equalizer and a buffer stage. The circuit is implemented in 130 nm CMOS technology and is intended for incorporation in a CMOS imager for Line Of Sight LOS tracking in mobile FSO links. The front-end circuit achieves a 4GHz bandwidth, 64 dBΩ transimpedance gain and occupies an active area of 109 × 136 (µm)2. It consumes 17.7 mW in total, including the differential 50 Ω output buffer, of which only 0.65 mW is consumed in the regulated cascode TIA input stage. The average input referred current noise is 17 PA over √Hz in 4 GHz bandwidth.
Decoding sound level in the marmoset primary auditory cortex.

Neurons with nonmonotonic rate-level functions are unique to the central auditory system. These level-tuned neurons have been proposed to account for invariant sound perception across sound levels....
Psychosis risk screening in different populations using the Prodromal Questionnaire: A systematic review.

Aim Diagnosing individuals at ultra high risk (UHR) for psychosis can improve early access to treatment, and a two-stage model utilizing self-report screening followed by a clinical interview can be accurate and efficient. However, it is currently unclear which screening cut-offs to adopt with different populations. Methods A systematic review of diagnostic accuracy studies evaluating the Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ) as a preliminary screener for UHR and psychosis was conducted to examine screening effectiveness in different contexts. MedLine, PsycInfo, SCOPUS and ProQuest Dissertations and Abstracts databases were electronically searched, along with a review screen and citation search of key papers. Findings were summarized in a narrative synthesis. Results In total, 14 diagnostic accuracy studies and 45 studies using the PQ as a screening tool for UHR and psychosis were included. In all settings, the 3 different versions of the PQ were all found to accurately identify UHR and full psychosis. Higher cut-off points were required in non-help-seeking samples, relative to general help-seeking populations, which in turn were higher than those needed in samples highly enriched with UHR participants. Conclusion The findings support the use of the PQ as a preliminary screening tool for UHR in different settings; however, higher thresholds in lower UHR-prevalence populations are necessary to minimize false positives. Including the distress criteria, rather than just number of symptoms, may improve screening effectiveness. Different thresholds may be appropriate in different contexts depending on the importance of sensitivity vs specificity. Protocol registration: CRD42016033004.
Vasoactive effect of fibronectin-derived epiviosamine-1 and related peptides in quiescent and stress models.

OBJECTIVE Following thermal burn injury, plasma fibronectin degrades within the interstitium; one possible product is EVA-1, PSHISKYILRWRPK found within the FNIII1 . EVA-1 ameliorates thermal burn injury progression, and binds to and enhances PDGF-BB in promoting cell metabolism, growth and survival; shorter related peptides lose these abilities. Here we study the effect of EVA-1 and shorter peptides for their vasoactivity under quiescent and stress conditions. METHODS Using the hamster cheek pouch intravital microscopy model, five EVA-1 related peptides were applied to small arterioles via micropipette (10-16 -10-4 mol L-1 ) in quiescent tissue and after defined stress: nitric oxide or heat. RESULTS Peak dilation occurred with nanomolar doses (longer peptides) or below (shorter peptides), blocked by propranolol (beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist). Micromolar doses of the same peptides induced only constriction, not antagonized by phentolamine (alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist). Scrambled variants of two peptides yielded only constriction, suggesting constriction might be due peptide charge. Each stressor caused a left shift in dilation response, blocked by carazolol. CONCLUSIONS Thus, this important region of FNIII1 contains sequences that have a gradation of biological functions dependent on the length of the peptide sequence, with increased efficacy for dilation following stressors.
Cell-Free DNA Screening for Aneuploidy and Microdeletion Syndromes

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening for the common aneuploidies is an accurate noninvasive screen for the common autosomal and sex chromosome aneuploidies. However, cfDNA screening should not be considered a diagnostic test, and the positive predictive value should be used in counseling women with a positive test regarding the option for diagnostic testing. Compared with traditional screening, cfDNA may not detect as many chromosomal abnormalities of importance. Furthermore, due to the low prevalence of recurrent copy number variants, the clinical utility in screening for microdeletions and duplications is uncertain and is not recommended for the general obstetric population.
Healthcare consumers' opt-in intentions to Health Information Exchanges (HIEs): An empirical study

Abstract It is generally believed that Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) improve healthcare delivery by reducing medical errors and administrative costs. The potential benefits of HIEs together with the possible risks (such as health information privacy and security concerns) are crucial factors to healthcare consumers' opt-in intentions toward HIEs. To maximize the full value of HIEs, it is important to accurately investigate healthcare consumers' beliefs and perceptions about the widespread implementation of HIEs. To do so, we conducted an online survey in the United States using a sample with 683 data points. Drawing on the utility theory, we have found that the perceived benefits and perceived risks associated with HIEs significantly influence perceived value, which in turn increases consumers' opt-in decisions. The results indicate that perceived benefits seem to have a greater impact on perceived value than perceived risk. Moreover, perceived value fully mediates the relationships of perceived benefits and perceived risk with consumer opt-in intentions to HIEs. The findings also highlight that consumers' attitudes toward HIE models, the perceived trustworthiness of healthcare entities, the perceived health information sensitivity, and the perceived health status significantly influence the perceived risk of HIE efforts. This study contributes to both research and practice and provides directions for future studies.
Broadband efficient coupled-cavity electro-optic modulators based on Q engineering for RF photonics applications

We propose a coupled-cavity electro-optic modulator, with tailored supermode Q-factors, for efficient RF-to-optical upconversion of broadband signals. It promises 20-30dB improvement over single-ring modulators and 10-20dB over the state-of-the-art for broadband modulation in high-Q cavities.
A Community College Approach to Increase Student Completion: A Case Study of Change Initiatives at Bergen Community College

ABSTRACTThe intent of this study is to explore the actions and strategies used by the administration at Bergen Community College to serve its institutional mission in increasing student completion. Facing challenges in low completion rate, Bergen Community College began the student completion initiative to develop a strategy that would best serve the institution. As the student completion initiative grew, and momentum began to build, the change agents expanded beyond the key administrators, faculty, and staff that held an initial role in the project to also include those that actively sought to participate. Bergen was able to successfully implement change in their processes, and how the institution and stakeholders holistically treat graduation. By making decisions based on graduation data analysis, implementing practice and process changes, targeting student outreach, and continually promoting graduation, more students are completing a credential. Bergen has surpassed their goal of increasing their gradu...