cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential Patterns of Community Power Structure: An Explanation Based on Interdependence

IN THE RELATIVELY brief period since its inception, the study of community power structure has attracted a wide range of enthusiasts. Researchers of diverse backgrounds have found that their particular interests coalesce around the assumption that local leadership processes are of central importance to the explanation of community action. The research implications of this approach have been explored in a variety of areas including urban renewal, social welfare, health and hospital services, community conflict, and ethnic relations.1 Though often divided on issues of how the leadership process is organized and the extent to which power is effectively exercised, investigators are in agreement concerning the viability of research problems suggested by the approach. In addition to these fertile substantive applications, much has been done to develop the research methods of power structure studies.2 The "rancorous conflict" which prevailed a few years ago between proponents of rival methods seems to have subsided with the recognition that different methods tap different dimensions of the total power scene. Despite numerous writers who have deplored the style, if not the content, of the siege between devotees of reputational and decisional methods, the controversy, it seems, has been healthy and productive. In any case it gave us a more sophisticated awareness of what these methods involve.
Rapid Answer Retrieval from Clinical Practice Guidelines at the Point of Care

We describe and report preliminary results of a prototype XML-based method that facilitates the retrieval and navigation of common practice guidelines by physicians at the point of care. The method can be invoked by clicking at "infobuttons" linked to problems in an electronic medical record. Each infobutton displays a list of questions that are categorized and sorted according to the classification proposed by Ely et al. The navigation is achieved through hyperlinks from each question to relevant parts of the guideline. Preliminary results indicate high physician acceptance. A prospective evaluation is now being launched, with the expectation that it will confirm this method as an efficient option for retrieving information from reference documents.
Genetically Driven Target Tissue Overexpression of CD40: A Novel Mechanism in Autoimmune Disease

The CD40 gene, an important immune regulatory gene, is also expressed and functional on nonmyeloid-derived cells, many of which are targets for tissue-specific autoimmune diseases, including β cells in type 1 diabetes, intestinal epithelial cells in Crohn's disease, and thyroid follicular cells in Graves' disease (GD). Whether target tissue CD40 expression plays a role in autoimmune disease etiology has yet to be determined. In this study, we show that target tissue overexpression of CD40 plays a key role in the etiology of autoimmunity. Using a murine model of GD, we demonstrated that thyroidal CD40 overexpression augmented the production of thyroid-specific Abs, resulting in more severe experimental autoimmune GD (EAGD), whereas deletion of thyroidal CD40 suppressed disease. Using transcriptome and immune-pathway analyses, we showed that in both EAGD mouse thyroids and human primary thyrocytes, CD40 mediates this effect by activating downstream cytokines and chemokines, most notably IL-6. To translate these findings into therapy, we blocked IL-6 during EAGD induction in the setting of thyroidal CD40 overexpression and showed decreased levels of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor-stimulating Abs and frequency of disease. We conclude that target tissue overexpression of CD40 plays a key role in the etiology of organ-specific autoimmune disease.
A non-parametric graphical representation of the relationship between survival and the occurrence of an event: Application to responder versus non-responder bias

Reports of cancer clinical trials often attempt to evaluate whether tumour response is associated with prolonged survival. Proper analysis requires accounting for the time-dependent nature of response status. We review a valid and relatively simple method of significance testing for this problem, and develop a corresponding non-parametric method for displaying the association between survival and occurrence of response. The new method applies to many other clinical problems involving representation and the association between survival and the occurrence of an event. We illustrate the method with data from two clinical trials.
Learning Disabilities or Instructional Problems

The roles and functions of learning disability teachers will not be clearly defined until a more basic issue is resolved: namely, should teacher training conform to the traditional clinical or disease model, or should it be based on a natural science approach? Some of the implications for teacher training for each approach are discussed.
Identification and characterization of collagen-binding activity in Streptococcus mutans wall-associated protein : A possible implication in dental root caries and endocarditis

Streptococcus mutans is implicated in coronal and dental root decay, and in endocarditis. Comparative study of the amino acid sequence of S. mutans 47 kDa wall-associated protein A (WapA) revealed a collagen-binding domain (CBD) at the N-terminal region. Recombinant AgA (WapA truncated at the carboxyterminal end) was isolated, biotin-labeled, and analyzed by Solid Phase Binding Assay. The results showed that biotin-labeled AgA bound significantly and in a dose-dependent manner to immobilized collagen type I, and to a lesser extent to fibronectin, but not to collagen type IV or laminin. Binding of biotin-labeled S. mutans cells to collagen-coated surfaces was significantly inhibited by antibody to WapA or AgA (P < 0.001). The results obtained confirmed the collagen-binding activity of CBD in AgA and WapA, and suggested that WapA may be used, not only as a vaccine against coronal and dental root caries, but also against S. mutans-mediated endocarditis.
Emotional enhancement of memory: how norepinephrine enables synaptic plasticity

Changes in synaptic strength are believed to underlie learning and memory. We explore the idea that norepinephrine is an essential modulator of memory through its ability to regulate synaptic mechanisms. Emotional arousal leads to activation of the locus coeruleus with the subsequent release of norepineprine in the brain, resulting in the enhancement of memory. Norepinephrine activates both pre- and post-synaptic adrenergic receptors at central synapses with different functional outcomes, depending on the expression pattern of these receptors in specific neural circuitries underlying distinct behavioral processes. We review the evidence for noradrenergic modulation of synaptic plasticity with consideration of how this may contribute to the mechanisms of learning and memory.
Registration of high-resolution images of the retina

A method of image registration is presented for the case when the deformation between two images can be well approximated with a combination of translation, rotation and global scaling. The method achieves very high accuracy by combining a global optimization in the 4-dimensional discrete parameter space with a local optimization in the 4-dimensional continuous parameter space. The 4-dimensional global optimization is accomplished with two 2-dimensional optimizations. The Fourier magnitude is used to decouple translation from rotation and scaling, and a log-polar mapping of the Fourier magnitude is used to convert rotation and scaling into shifts. Optimal rotation and scaling parameters are determined with a cross-correlation in the log-polar domain. After compensation for rotation and scaling differences, cross-correlation in the spatial domain yields the translation parameters. The four registration parameters are further refined with a local optimization using the correlation coefficient as a similarity measure in the 4-dimensional continuous parameter space. Results are shown from simulations and from registration of retinal images. For simulated images with a signal-to-noise ratio of -5 dB, the accuracy of the registration method is estimated 10 be better than 0.07 degrees, 0.1 %, and 0.3 pixels for rotation, scaling, and translation, respectively. In the case of 512x512 pixel images the computation resource requirements are compatible with high end PCs, i.e., approximately 25 minutes on an Intel 80486(33MHz based IBM/PC compatible.
Frequency and Timing of Symptoms in Infants Screened for Sepsis: Effectiveness of a Sepsis-Screening Pathway

To determine the frequency and timing of symptoms and to evaluate the effectiveness of a sepsis-screening pathway in term and near-term infants, data were collected prospectively for a period of 1 year from December 1, 2000, to November 30, 2001. Results confirmed that a sepsis-screening pathway using a combination of at least 2 serial complete blood cell count and C-reactive protein measurements in both symptomatic and asymptomatic infants is a safe, simple strategy that prevents unnecessary treatment of infants with risk factors with antibiotics. However, most infants with presumed or suspected early-onset sepsis are symptomatic. Routine treatment of asymptomatic infants with risk factors or prior treatment with intrapartum antibiotics is unnecessary. A combined approach of screening in the presence of risk factors and /or symptoms of sepsis and adequate follow-up for infants discharged at less than 72 hours of age may help reduce unnecessary treatment of infants with antibiotics.
Evolution of Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy Technique and Outcomes: A Single-center Experience With More Than 1300 Cases

Objective To describe and illustrate the evolution of surgical technique, emphasizing technical modifications of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) and the impact on complication outcome. Methods This is a retrospective observational study of prospectively collected data on all consecutive purely LDN surgeries performed at a tertiary academic medical center (n = 1325), performed between March 2000 and October 2013. Results Over time, LDN was performed on older patients, changing from a mean of 35.7 years in 2000 to 41.2 years in 2013 ( P P Conclusion With continual refinement with LDN techniques based on intraoperative observations and technological advances, complication rates remain consistently low, despite increasing donor age.
Modeling the clonal heterogeneity of stem cells

Recent experimental studies suggest that tissue stem cell pools are composed of functionally diverse clones. Metapopulation models in ecology concentrate on collections of populations and their role in stabilizing coexistence and maintaining selected genetic or epigenetic variation. Such models are characterized by expansion and extinction of spatially distributed populations. We develop a mathematical framework derived from the multispecies metapopulation model of Tilman et al (1994) to study the dynamics of heterogeneous stem cell metapopulations. In addition to normal stem cells, the model can be applied to cancer cell populations and their response to treatment. In our model disturbances may lead to expansion or contraction of cells with distinct properties, reflecting proliferation, apoptosis, and clonal competition. We first present closed-form expressions for the basic model which defines clonal dynamics in the presence of exogenous global disturbances. We then extend the model to include disturbances which are periodic and which may affect clones differently. Within the model framework, we propose a method to devise an optimal strategy of treatments to regulate expansion, contraction, or mutual maintenance of cells with specific properties.
Interrelationships of Dietary Lipids Upon Fatty Acid Composition of Brain Mitochondria, Erythrocytes and Heart Tissue in Chicks

L IPIL) composition of braimi may be readily affected by diet.’ � Efforts to evaluate the possible relationship between an alteration in the composition of brain lipids and a disease process have stimulated studies of chick encephalomalacia. This in turn led to observations of a similar pathologic disease in the brain of a child who had been fed intravenously an emulsion which furnished a high level of linoleic acid.35
Efficient simulation of parametric faults for multi-stage analog circuits

Due to process variability which makes the analog circuit response probabilistic, fault simulation effectively requires a statistical analysis for each fault. As a result, fault simulation presents the major computational time component in analog test automation. While recently a number of statistical analysis approaches for analog circuits have been proposed, overall computational time is a big concern when a high number of parametric faults need to be evaluated. We present a series of schemes to increase the efficiency of fault simulation by extracting and reusing information from one fault simulation to another. Experiments on a baseband amplifier circuit confirm that the proposed techniques can be collectively applied to provide about a 50-fold simulation time saving at the cost of less than 3% loss in accuracy when compared with similar prior techniques.
Human coronavirus and acute respiratory illness in older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background The clinical features and incidence of human coronavirus (HCoV) infections in chronically ill older adults need better definition. Methods HCoV infection was determined on the basis of a 4-fold increase in serum antibody and the detection of HCoV by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Laboratory-documented influenza (LDI) was detected by serologic assay and culture. HCoV illnesses were compared with other acute respiratory illnesses identified by active surveillance, during the 1998-99 winter respiratory-virus season, of 2215 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who were > or = 50 years old and who received influenza vaccines. Results HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43 were associated with 90 (14%) of 665 illnesses (HCoV-229E in 22, HCoV-OC43 in 67, and both in 1), LDI with 107 (16%) of 678 illnesses. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, myalgia was less likely with HCoV infection than with LDI (OR, 0.27 [95% confidence limit, 0.13-0.58]). A majority of these HCoV and LDI illnesses exhibited each of 11 symptoms and signs of acute respiratory illness. Spirometric results worsened most often with LDI, and many acute respiratory illnesses, regardless of etiology, were associated with hospitalization. A total of 8 illnesses were associated with HCoV-NL63, 1 with HCoV-HKU1. Conclusions The frequencies of HCoV and LDI illnesses were similar. HCoV illness was less severe than LDI illness, was accompanied by multiple respiratory and systemic symptoms, and was associated with hospitalization.
Blind DC Estimation in the Presence of Non-Gaussian Signal

A method of estimating DC offset based solely on the received signal, without using any training information, is presented. This method takes into account the non-Gaussian statistical distribution of the modulated desired signal in order to produce a DC estimate that is more accurate than the conventional sample average of the received signal. Specifically, two iterative algorithms are derived based on the generalized expectation-maximization algorithms for jointly estimating the DC offset, the noise variance, and the parameters that characterize the signal distribution. As an application, we consider the special case where the modulated signal has a constant-envelope characteristic. Using the GSM/EDGE air interface, we demonstrate that the proposed method yields significant reduction in the DC-offset estimation error, which translates into performance gains in receiver sensitivity when used in direct-conversion receivers.
Protecting publicly available images with a visible image watermark

In some cases, it is desired to produce images that are suitable for one application and unsuitable for others. With the 'Vatican Library Accessible Worldwide' and 'Luther Digital' projects, for example, it was desired to make available through the Internet images of Vatican Library and Luther Library manuscripts that are suitable for scholarly study yet are unsuitable as a source for unapproved publication. One of the techniques used to accomplish this is the visible image watermark. Our technical goals for watermarking include (1) applying a readily visible mark to the image that clearly identifies its ownership, (2) permitting all image detail to be visible through the watermark, and (3) making the watermark difficult to remove. In this paper, we describe the technique we use. We also discuss the characteristics of good watermarks and options we have used in their application. illustrative watermarked images are presented.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Political Knowledge and Exposure to the 2012 US Presidential Debates: Does Debate Format Matter?

Extant literature shows a positive link between presidential debates and political knowledge, with findings strongest for low-information voters. Considering presidential debates continue to retain a mass audience, they fulfill an invaluable civic function. Less clear is whether knowledge effects hold across debate formats and agenda topics. Using an experimental method that exposes a sample of undergraduate students to the 2012 US presidential debates, this article explores variance in knowledge effects across formats and topics. We find citizens can learn about issues and candidates but debate format and agenda topics may mediate the effects. We discuss the broader democratic implications of these findings and directions for future debate research.
Decrease in the Effectiveness of Bacille Calmette-Guérin Vaccine against Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Consequence of Increased Immune Suppression by Microbial Antioxidants, Not Overattenuation

Mutations that arose in bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) daughter strains during decades of in vitro cultivation have long been suspected of reducing the efficacy of the BCG vaccine against pulmonary tuberculosis. Although concern was raised 6 decades ago that BCG had become overattenuated, preferential use of relatively virulent BCG vaccines has not restored efficacy. The recent discovery that as BCG evolved its production of antioxidants increased as a consequence of genomic duplications and other mutations suggests the alternative hypothesis that BCG became better at suppressing oxidant-dependent immune responses. This new model of BCG evolution is supported by evidence indicating that reducing BCG antioxidants enhances immunogenicity. Furthermore, some previously unexplained aspects of the performance of the BCG vaccine in clinical trials now make sense in the context of the new model. Finally, the model suggests that the risk of developing pulmonary tuberculosis is influenced by the balance between host-generated oxidants and microbial antioxidants that activate and suppress, respectively, the antigen-presentation pathways that protect the lungs.
Perceiving Racial/Ethnic Disadvantage and Its Consequences for Self-Esteem among Asian-Americans

This study is the first to test experimentally (vs. correlationally) whether perceiving racial/ethnic disadvantageleads to lower self-esteem among Asian-Americans. We manipulated perceived disadvantage by havingAsian-American college students recall and write about experiences in which they were personallydisadvantaged because of their race/ethnicity, and examined the effects of perceiving disadvantage on variousoutcome measures, including racial/ethnic identity, racial/ethnic salience (the number of ethnic identitiesparticipants listed on the Twenty Statements Test), and self-esteem. Consistent with experimental research withother racial/ethnic minority groups in the United States, the self-esteem of Asian-Americans was unharmed byrecalling and describing past incidents of racially-based disadvantage.
The dollars and sense of economic incentives to modify HIV-related behaviours

No abstract available. (Published: 17 October 2015) Citation: Zullo AR et al. Journal of the International AIDS Society 2015, 18 :20724 http://www.jiasociety.org/index.php/jias/article/view/20724 | http://dx.doi.org/10.7448/IAS.18.1.20724
Scalable interpolation architecture for soft-decision Reed-Solomon decoding

Reed-Solomon (RS) codes can be found in many communication and digital storage applications. Among various decoding algorithms, algebraic soft-decision decoding (ASD) of RS codes can achieve very good performance with polynomial complexity. Interpolation is a major step of ASD algorithms. It has been shown that the architectures for interpolation with small multiplicities can achieve higher efficiency by using the newly developed Lee-OpsilaSullivan (LO) algorithm. The LO algorithm consists of generator construction and basis conversion steps and the achievable throughput is decided by the number of coefficients updated simultaneously in the basis conversion. This algorithm is scalable. In this paper, architectures with different numbers of coefficients updated in parallel in the basis conversion are discussed. For each case, optimized computation units and scheduling schemes are developed. Our results can serve as guidelines for picking proper interpolation architectures to satisfy given application requirements.
A Novel Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody Platform To Dissect the Diverse Repertoire of Antibody Epitopes for HIV-1 Env Immunogen Design

The majority of available monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in the current HIV vaccine field are generated from HIV-1-infected people. In contrast, preclinical immunogenicity studies have mainly focused on polyclonal antibody responses in experimental animals. Although rabbits have been widely used for antibody studies, there has been no report of using rabbit MAbs to dissect the specificity of antibody responses for AIDS vaccine development. Here we report on the production of a panel of 12 MAbs from a New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit that was immunized with an HIV-1 JR-FL gp120 DNA prime and protein boost vaccination regimen. These rabbit MAbs recognized a diverse repertoire of envelope (Env) epitopes ranging from the highly immunogenic V3 region to several previously underappreciated epitopes in the C1, C4, and C5 regions. Nine MAbs showed cross-reactivity to gp120s of clades other than clade B. Increased somatic mutation and extended CDR3 were observed with Ig genes of several molecularly cloned rabbit MAbs. Phylogenic tree analysis showed that the heavy chains of MAbs recognizing the same region on gp120 tend to segregate into an independent subtree. At least three rabbit MAbs showed neutralizing activities with various degrees of breadth and potency. The establishment of this rabbit MAb platform will significantly enhance our ability to test optimal designs of Env immunogens to gain a better understanding of the structural specificity and evolution process of Env-specific antibody responses elicited by candidate AIDS vaccines.
Shear Induced Starch Conversion During Extrusion

Using a capillary rheometer and a singlerscrew extruder, waxy corn starch was extruded at a relatively low temperature range. Notable conversions induced by shear energy were obtained in very short residence times (from several sec to 1 min). Conversions up to > 70% were also achieved. Kinetic studies showed that conversion caused by shear energy was more efficient than that by thermal energy. The shear rate constant, k, was an exponential function of shear stress and a linear function of shear rate. The minimum shear stress required to cause starch conversion was from 104 to 106 N/m2 for 100°C to 21°C. In such “shear” experiments, the maximum temperature rise due to viscous thermal dissipation, measured experimentally and calculated theoretically, was too low to cause any significant thermal cooking of starch. The shear converted starch extrudates were unpuffed and had shapes of traditional pasta.
Measuring the youth bullying experience: a systematic review of the psychometric properties of available instruments

BACKGROUND: Bullying is a significant problem in schools and measuring this concept remains problematic. The purposes of this study were to (1) identify the published self-report measures developed to assess youth bullying; (2) evaluate their psychometric properties and instrument characteristics; and (3) evaluate the quality of identified psychometric papers evaluating youth bullying measures. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using 4 electronic databases. Data extraction and appraisal of identified instruments were completed using a standardized method and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: Thirty-one articles describing 27 self-report instruments were evaluated in our analysis. Quality assessments ranged from 18% to 91%, with 6 papers reaching or exceeding a quality score of 75%. Limited evidence supporting the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of existing youth bullying measures was identified. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence supporting the psychometric soundness of the instruments identified was limited. Many measures were in early development and additional evaluation is necessary to validate their psychometric properties. A pool of instruments possesses acceptable initial psychometric dependability for selected assessment purposes. These findings have significant implications for assessing youth bullying and designing and evaluating school-based interventions. Language: en
Differential perceptions of drinkers of alcoholic beverages by Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic Whites

Random samples of 534 Mexican-Americans and 616 non-Hispanic Whites were interviewed over the telephone in San Jose, California and in San Antonio, Texas. Mexican-Americans tended to favor most frequently negative traits for their perceptions of drinkers than non-Hispanic Whites, Excessive drinkers were perceived most frequently in generally negative fashion by members of both ethnic groups although they were also perceived as happy persons. Highly acculturated Mexican-Americans reported perceptions of drinkers and of excessive drinkers that differed from those held by the less acculturated Mexican-Americans and that resembled those held by the non-Hispanic White respondents.
STABLE HYDROGEN ISOTOPE ANALYSIS OF BAT HAIR AS EVIDENCE FOR SEASONAL MOLT AND LONG-DISTANCE MIGRATION

Although hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) are presumed to be migratory and capable of long-distance dispersal, traditional marking techniques have failed to provide direct evidence of migratory movements by individuals. We measured the stable hydrogen isotope ratios of bat hair (dDh) and determined how these values relate to stable hydrogen isotope ratios of precipitation (dDp). Our results indicate that the major assumptions of stable isotope migration studies hold true for hoary bats and that the methodology provides a viable means of determining their migratory movements. We present evidence that a single annual molt occurs in L. cinereus prior to migration and that there is a strong relationship between dDh and dDp during the molt period. This presumably reflects the incorporation of local dDp into newly grown hair. Furthermore, we present evidence that individual hoary bats are capable of traveling distances in excess of 2,000 km and that hair is grown at a wide range of latitudes and elevations. Stable hydrogen isotope analysis offers a promising new tool for the study of bat migration.
Excited state interactions of protoporphyrin IX and related porphyrins with molecular oxygen in solutions and in organized assemblies.

We have studied the photooxidation of protoporphyrin IX and the related intermediates and products of its oxidation in homogeneous solution (mostly organic solvents) and in aqueous surfactant media, in particular, various micellar and vesicular media. Our contribution first discusses the reaction of protoporphyrin IX, the mono- and diformyl oxidation products, and the “green” hydroxyaldehydes formed from protoporphyrin IX. In solution, all of these compounds are good sensitizers for singlet oxygen; a small amount of the interaction of porphyrin excited states with molecular oxygen may result in electron transfer to give oxidized porphyrin (cation radicals) and superoxide anion. However, in most cases the singlet oxygen path is predominant. We have also measured the reactivity of the various porphyrin ground states with singlet oxygen. Our studies in organized assemblies show that reactivity may be quite different; studies still in progress are attempting to elucidate whether singlet oxygen remains the primary reactant in these processes. Preliminary results of quenching and sensitization studies in the organized media are discussed.
Thinking outside the cell: how cell-free hemoglobin can potentiate acute lung injury

intra-alveolar hemorrhage is a pathological feature of acute lung injury (ALI) that was recognized in the first description of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) by Ashbaugh and colleagues in 1967 ([2][1]). Over the past four decades, the presence of red blood cells in the air space has
Attractants for Synanthropic Flies: 1. Some Physico-Chemical Factors as Related to the Potency of Hippelates Eye Gnat Attractants

The potency of eye gnat attractants in fermented proteinaceous preparations or distillates obtained therefrom is influenced by various physico-chemical factors. For example, the attractants in fermented aqueous suspensions of whole-egg powder and in their distillates were more active when p H of the medium was adjusted on the acidic side, the maximum attractancy was shown at p H 3-5. In sequential distillation of the fermented aqueous suspension, 3 fractions of distillate were consecutively collected. The last 1/3 fraction of the distillate having the lowest p H was the most attractive portion. When the active distillate produced by distilling the fermented aqueous suspension was concentrated under diminished pressure to ca. 40 ml, the residue showed a high degree of attractancy. However, the residue showed a lower attractancy when the concentrating process was carried out to complete dryness. Ether extraction of the attractive distillate yielded a less attractive water layer. The attractants in the water layer could not be totally out gassed from the water layer by blowing nitrogen into it and trapping volatile materials with a dry ice-acetone bath. Both the trapped volatile materials and the remaining water layer showed some degree of attractancy.
Extended Efficacy of Once-Daily Atomoxetine in ADHD

The efficacy of atomoxetine administered once daily (final dose 1.3 +/- 0.3 mg/kg; mean 44.5 mg per day; range 10-80 mg per day) in the morning was assessed throughout the day, including evening and early morning, in a total of 197 children, 6 to 12 years of age (71% male), diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (69% had combined subtype ADHD, and 35% had comorbid oppositional defiant disorder).
85 TYPE 1 COLLAGEN REGULATES VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELL PHENOTYPE BY DOWN-REGULATION OF CREB AND SERUM RESPONSE FACTOR THROUGH AN AKT-DEPENDENT MECHANISM.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) differentiation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and plaque stability. Previous work has demonstrated that in response to vascular injury, where there is increased production of matrix proteins, VSMCs undergo dedifferentiation as characterized by a switch in phenotype from quiescent and contractile to proliferative and migratory cells. To better understand matrix influence on VSMCs, we cultivated VSMCs on native Type 1 collagen fibrils (NC) or its respective control denatured collagen (DNC). Adult VSMCs on NC showed dramatic decreases in VSMC markers of differentiation, smooth muscle α-actin (SMA) and SM22α. These decreases involved transcriptional control, as there was a significant reduction in their promoter activity. We hypothesized that NC was leading to dedifferentiation of VSMC by decreasing expression of key transcriptional regulators of differentiation-SRF (serum response factor) and CREB (cAMP response element binding protein). To test this hypothesis, VSMCs were plated on NC and DNC. VSMCs on NC had significant decreases in CREB and SRF expression. We investigated the mechanisms involved in decreased SMA and CREB expression on NC. Growth of VSMCs on NC resulted in increased activation of Akt, part of the PI3 kinase signaling cascade, as well as increased platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta expression and activity compared to cells on DNC. Pharmacological disruption of Akt signaling blocked NC down-regulation of SMA and CREB. We next assessed the in vivo relationship between Type 1 collagen, CREB, SRF, and SMA expression. Aortic lysates from fatty Zucker rats at 4 and 14 weeks of age were examined for expression of Type 1 collagen, phospho-Akt, CREB, and SRF by Western immunoblot. Type 1 collagen expression increased in fatty rats by 200% between 4 and 14 weeks, phospho-Akt increased by 80%, CREB content decreased to 60% of baseline, and SRF protein decreased to 20% of baseline. These alterations were prior to changes in SMA. Summary Exposure of VSMCs to Type 1 collagen correlates with VSMC dedifferentiation both in vivo and in vitro. Accumulation of Type 1 collagen following vascular injury may be an important early mechanism for VSMC dedifferentiation associated with atherosclerotic plaque instability.
Study on the morbidity rates of hypertension and metabolic syndrome among Zhuang adults in Baise area

在我国居民生活质量快速提高的同时,高血压和代谢综合征(MS)的患病率正呈快速增长趋势,而高血压和MS是心血管疾病的相关危险因素备受临床各界的关注[1].为了解广西百色地区壮、汉族居民高血压、MS的患病特点及其关联性,在右江区、田阳县和平果县的21个社区进行调查,结果报道如下。
Characterizing API elements in software documentation with vector representation

Software documentation is a very crucial resource for developers in understanding various aspects of software development process. A unique nature of such documentation is the presence of code elements embedded in natural-language texts that explain their purposes, usages and mutual relations with others. Some recent work has explored that nature for different purposes such as discovering code elements in documents and generating summaries for classes and methods with context. However, none of the existing approaches is capable of further capturing semantic relations of code elements with related words and with other relevant APIs at the same time. In this paper, by considering an embedded API element as a word, we characterize this API via a low-dimensional continuous vector that encodes information on many contexts in which that API appears as possible. Our empirical study shows that the vector representation learned from a large corpus of documentation is capable of capturing semantic relations between API elements and words. That is, APIs with similar functionalities have similar embeddings; and APIs and related words are close to each other in the vector space without explicit textual matching. Our experiment also suggests that the proposed representation for embedded API elements has a promising application in API code search.
The dynamic generalization of the Eshelby inclusion problem and its static limit

The dynamic generalization of the celebrated Eshelby inclusion with transformation strain is the (subsonically) self-similarly expanding ellipsoidal inclusion starting from the zero dimension. The solution of the governing system of partial differential equations was obtained recently by Ni & Markenscoff (In press. J. Mech. Phys. Solids (doi:10.1016/j.jmps.2016.02.025)) on the basis of the Radon transformation, while here an alternative method is presented. In the self-similarly expanding motion, the Eshelby property of constant constrained strain is valid in the interior domain of the expanding ellipsoid where the particle velocity vanishes (lacuna). The dynamic Eshelby tensor is obtained in integral form. From it, the static Eshelby tensor is obtained by a limiting procedure, as the axes' expansion velocities tend to zero and time to infinity, while their product is equal to the length of the static axis. This makes the Eshelby problem the limit of its dynamic generalization.
Differential GATA-1 Sensitivities of Target Loci.

Abstract The transcription factor GATA-1 is a key regulator of red cell differentiation, activating numerous erythroid-specific genes while downregulating genes that permit proliferation of erythroid precursors. We have demonstrated that GATA-1 only occupies a limited number of the high affinity WGATAR motifs present within target gene loci, FOG-1 is required for GATA-1 to occupy a subset of chromatin sites, and GATA-1 occupancy often coincides with GATA-2 displacement or a “GATA switch”. Once bound, GATA-1 elicits changes in the histone modification patterns and the three dimensional structure of target gene loci via recruitment of cofactors such as FOG-1 and CBP. As detailed mechanistic studies have not been conducted with most GATA-1 target genes, it is unclear whether these genes are equally sensitive to GATA-1 or if they respond differently to the rising GATA-1 levels during erythropoiesis. Using GATA-1 fusions to the estrogen receptor ligand binding domain (ER-GATA-1) in the GATA-1-null erythroid precursor cell line, G1E, we analyzed the responses of endogenous GATA-1 target genes to varied levels of GATA-1 activity. We found that transcriptional activation of Tac-2 required higher concentrations of ER-GATA-1 than is required for other GATA-1 target genes. Previously, we showed that Tac-2, which encodes the neurokinin-B precursor protein preprotachykinin B, is regulated by GATA-1 in erythroid cell lines and is induced upon ex vivo differentiation of human CD34+ peripheral blood cells. Importantly, whereas regulation of many GATA-1 target genes is only partially disrupted by removal of the N-terminal 193 amino acids from ER-GATA-1 (ER-GATA-1 ΔN), Tac-2 expression was very sensitive to this truncation. Whereas NK-B signals through G-protein-coupled receptors to modulate neuronal function, its functions beyond the nervous system are poorly understood. Although erythroid cells do not express NK-B receptors, the receptors, but not NK-B, are expressed in certain endothelial cell subtypes, and elevated levels of NK-B are implicated in the pregnancy-associated disorder pre-eclampsia. Tac-2 represents the first GATA-1 target gene that critically requires the N-terminus. Studies are underway to elucidate mechanisms underlying the exquisite sensitivity of Tac-2 to deletion of the GATA-1 N-terminus, the relationship between Tac-2 deregulation and GATA-1 N-terminal deletions in megakaryoblastic leukemia, and the function of erythroid cell-derived NK-B.
Engineering of obligate intracellular bacteria: progress, challenges and paradigms

It is estimated that approximately one billion people are at risk of infection with obligate intracellular bacteria, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms that govern their life cycles. The difficulty in studying Chlamydia spp., Coxiella spp., Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Orientia spp. is, in part, due to their genetic intractability. Recently, genetic tools have been developed; however, optimizing the genomic manipulation of obligate intracellular bacteria remains challenging. In this Review, we describe the progress in, as well as the constraints that hinder, the systematic development of a genetic toolbox for obligate intracellular bacteria. We highlight how the use of genetically manipulated pathogens has facilitated a better understanding of microbial pathogenesis and immunity, and how the engineering of obligate intracellular bacteria could enable the discovery of novel signalling circuits in host-pathogen interactions.
Lattice optimization for graphite moderated molten salt reactors using low-enriched uranium fuel

Abstract The family of Generation-IV reactor concepts comprises of multiple promising designs, one of which is the molten salt reactor. These reactors have traditionally been chosen for the possible use of the thorium-uranium fuel cycle and used 7 LiF-BeF 2 carrier salt. This particular salt choice however presents several challenges due to the cost of highly depleted 7 Li isotope for the carrier salt, tritium production, and beryllium toxicity. Additionally, lack of developed and accepted safeguards methodology for thorium fuel cycle presents a barrier. While none of these issues are insurmountable, alternatives are worth investigating. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the more cost effective and regulatory amenable fuel salt choices by using low-enriched uranium fuel in the form of UF 4 . Several eutectic mixtures are examined that avoid the use of 7 Li and Be while maintaining a melting point low enough to be compatible with standard structural materials. The optimal conditions for hexagonal lattice arrangements using nuclear graphite moderation are discussed for multiple fuel salt choices. The aim of this study is to present options of using simpler molten salt reactor alternatives focused on thermal single-fluid low-enriched uranium converter concepts.
Solid State Sensor for Simultaneous Measurement of Total Alkalinity and pH of Seawater.

A novel design is demonstrated for a solid state, reagent-less sensor capable of rapid and simultaneous measurement of pH and Total Alkalinity (AT) using ion sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) technology to provide a simplified means of characterization of the aqueous carbon dioxide system through measurement of two “master variables”: pH and AT. ISFET-based pH sensors that achieve 0.001 precision are widely used in various oceanographic applications. A modified ISFET is demonstrated to perform a nanoliter-scale acid–base titration of AT in under 40 s. This method of measuring AT, a Coulometric Diffusion Titration, involves electrolytic generation of titrant, H+, through the electrolysis of water on the surface of the chip via a microfabricated electrode eliminating the requirement of external reagents. Characterization has been performed in seawater as well as titrating individual components (i.e., OH–, HCO3–, CO32–, B(OH)4–, PO43–) of seawater AT. The seawater measurements are consistent with the...
AAgMarker 1.0: a resource of serological autoantigen biomarkers for clinical diagnosis and prognosis of various human diseases

Autoantibodies are produced to target an individual's own antigens (e.g. proteins). They can trigger autoimmune responses and inflammation, and thus, cause many types of diseases. Many high-throughput autoantibody profiling projects have been reported for unbiased identification of serological autoantigen-based biomarkers. However, a lack of centralized data portal for these published assays has been a major obstacle to further data mining and cross-evaluate the quality of these datasets generated from different diseases. Here, we introduce a user-friendly database, AAgMarker 1.0, which collects many published raw datasets obtained from serum profiling assays on the proteome microarrays, and provides a toolbox for mining these data. The current version of AAgMarker 1.0 contains 854 serum samples, involving 136 092 proteins. A total of 7803 (4470 non-redundant) candidate autoantigen biomarkers were identified and collected for 12 diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Bechet's disease and Parkinson's disease. Seven statistical parameters are introduced to quantitatively assess these biomarkers. Users can retrieve, analyse and compare the datasets through basic search, advanced search and browse. These biomarkers are also downloadable by disease terms. The AAgMarker 1.0 is now freely accessible at http://bioinfo.wilmer.jhu.edu/AAgMarker/. We believe this database will be a valuable resource for the community of both biomedical and clinical research.
L2 writing scholarship in JSLW: An updated report of research published between 1992 and 2015

Abstract JSLW has become an important voice in the field of second language writing. As the volume of L2 writing scholarship grows in JSLW and in other journals, it becomes important to take a systematic view of the available research. This report provides an updated analysis of the research published between 1992 and 2015 in JSLW , looking at volume of publication, geographic and linguistic distribution of the scholarship, research orientations, and topics addressed. While L2 writing researchers might have an anecdotal sense of what the journal publishes and earlier reports exist (Matsuda, 1997; Kapper 2002), researchers--and to some extent journal editors and reviewers--will find it useful to support that understanding with quantifiable and current data.
Epigenetics, infertility, and cancer: future directions

Although direct correlates between cancer and infertile epigenetic profiles are rare, the general similarities between the two disease processes offer insights into the study of both abnormalities. Foremost among them is the nature of these pathologies, where one disease (cancer) is categorized by an inability to control or inhibit cellular proliferation, and the other (male infertility) is caused by an inability to maintain the normally efficient extreme proliferation of the male germ cell. Based on this similarity alone, the study of epigenetics in both male fertility and cancer has the potential to offer intriguing insights in both fields. The creative application of harmonious studies of both infertility and cancer is likely to yield useful and informative data that may aid in both the understanding and treatment of both pathologies.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae Community-Acquired Respiratory Distress Syndrome Toxin Uses a Novel KELED Sequence for Retrograde Transport and Subsequent Cytotoxicity

ABSTRACT Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an atypical bacterium that causes respiratory illnesses in humans, including pharyngitis, tracheobronchitis, and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). It has also been directly linked to reactive airway disease, asthma, and extrapulmonary pathologies. During its colonization, M. pneumoniae expresses a unique ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating cytotoxin designated community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) toxin. CARDS toxin persists and localizes in the airway in CAP patients, asthmatics, and trauma patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia. Although CARDS toxin binds to specific cellular receptors, is internalized, and induces hyperinflammation, histopathology, mucus hyperplasia, and other airway injury, the intracellular trafficking of CARDS toxin remains unclear. Here, we show that CARDS toxin translocates through early and late endosomes and the Golgi complex and concentrates at the perinuclear region to reach the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Using ER-targeted SNAP-tag, we confirmed the association of CARDS toxin with the ER and determined that CARDS toxin follows the retrograde pathway. In addition, we identified a novel CARDS toxin amino acid fingerprint, KELED, that is required for toxin transport to the ER and subsequent toxin-mediated cytotoxicity. IMPORTANCE Mycoplasma pneumoniae , a leading cause of bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among children and adults in the United States, synthesizes a 591-amino-acid ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating protein, designated community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) toxin. CARDS toxin alone is sufficient to induce and mimic major inflammatory and histopathological phenotypes associated with M. pneumoniae infection in rodents and primates. In order to elicit its ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating activities, CARDS toxin must bind to host cell receptors, be internalized via clathrin-mediated pathways, and subsequently be transported to specific intracellular organelles. Here, we demonstrate how CARDS toxin utilizes its unique KELED sequence to exploit the retrograde pathway machinery to reach the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and fulfill its cytopathic potential. The knowledge generated from these studies may provide important clues to understand the mode of action of CARDS toxin and develop interventions that reduce or eliminate M. pneumoniae -associated airway and extrapulmonary pathologies.