cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soluble BAFF Is Elevated Following Allogeneic SCT but Is Not an Early Predictor for the Development of cGVHD.

Chronic GVHD (cGVHD) is a significant complication following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Yet much remains uncertain regarding the molecular pathogenesis of cGVHD. There is growing evidence that B cells play a role in cGHVD. BAFF is a member of the TNF family, expressed by myeloid cells, that promotes survival and differentiation of mature B cells. Soluble BAFF has been associated with a number of autoimmune diseases and may also play a role in alloimmune diseases such as chronic GVHD. The role of BAFF expression in the context of immune reconstitution, and allogeneic GVL/GVHD is not yet understood. In this study we measured plasma BAFF levels by ELISA at multiple time points following SCT in 63 leukemia/lymphoma patients. Samples were collected at time of enrollment in the NCI cGVHD Natural History Protocol. Of the 50 patients who developed cGVHD, 24 patients had progressive onset type, 6 had quiescent type onset, and 20 had de novo onset type cGVHD. Forty-nine of these cGVHD cases were classified as extensive under the Seattle Classification. BAFF expression was not significantly different in terms of cGVHD onset type (de novo vs. other) (p=0.32) but there was a significant correlation of BAFF with naive CD19+IgD+CD27- cells (p=0.011), and a negative correlation with memory CD19+IgD-CD27+ cells (p=0.019) by Spearman Correlation. BAFF expression was then compared among those with cGVHD (n=50), those without a clinical history of cGVHD (n=13), normal plasma donors (n=11), and post autologous stem cell transplant breast cancer patients (n=9). Plasma BAFF level was significantly higher in the group with cGVHD (median 2723 pg/mL) compared to normal plasma donors (median 119 pg/mL, p
Delayed Recall and Working Memory MMSE Domains Predict Delirium following Cardiac Surgery.

Background Reduced preoperative cognition is a risk factor for postoperative delirium. The significance for type of preoperative cognitive deficit, however, has yet to be explored and could provide important insights into mechanisms and prediction of delirium. Objective Our goal was to determine if certain cognitive domains from the general cognitive screener, the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), predict delirium after cardiac surgery. Methods Patients completed a preoperative MMSE prior to undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Following surgery, delirium was assessed throughout ICU stay using the Confusion Assessment Method for ICU delirium and the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale. Results Cardiac surgery patients who developed delirium (n = 137) had lower total MMSE scores than patients who did not develop delirium (n = 457). In particular, orientation to place, working memory, delayed recall, and language domain scores were lower. Of these, only the working memory and delayed recall domains predicted delirium in a regression model adjusting for history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, age, sex, and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass. For each word not recalled on the three-word delayed recall assessment, the odds of delirium increased by 50%. For each item missed on the working memory index, the odds of delirium increased by 36%. Of the patients who developed delirium, 47% had a primary impairment in memory, 21% in working memory, and 33% in both domains. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve using only the working memory and delayed recall domains was 0.75, compared to 0.76 for total MMSE score. Conclusion Delirium risk is greater for individuals with reduced MMSE scores on the delayed recall and working memory domains. Research should address why patients with memory and executive vulnerabilities are more prone to postoperative delirium than those with other cognitive limitations.
Biomechanics: How fish feel the flow

Hair-like sensors are suspected to aid fish navigation in complex environments. Laboratory experiments and computational simulations reveal how these sensors can detect water flow to direct the swimming responses of fish. See Letter p.445 Imagine you are a very small fish in the ocean being carried along in a uniform flow in darkness. How do you sense that you are in a flow at all? From your frame of reference you would be stationary. Even so, fish — even very small ones — consistently orientate themselves against the current. So how do they detect the current to begin with? Florian Engert and colleagues show that larval zebra fishes use their mechanosensory lateral line to detect tiny vortices in the water flow, as well as how these vortices evolve with time. This enables them to deduce flow direction.
Antimicrobial Use at the End of Life

At least one-third of patients at the end of life (EOL) receive interventions that are without benefit, and a similar proportion of patients die in the intensive care unit. Here, the authors discuss the role of antimicrobials in patients at the EOL, including the patient populations and scenarios in which antimicrobials may or may not have benefit. They also review adverse outcomes associated with antimicrobial use at the EOL, including societal harms. Finally, an algorithm to aid management of suspected infections at the EOL is proposed.
The Role of Calcium and Calmodulin in Hormone Action in Plants: Importance of Protein Phosphorylation

The transduction of extracellular signals such as hormones and neuro-transmitters into intracellular events in mammalian cells is mediated by cellular messengers such as cAMP (Rasmussen, 1981), calcium (Cheung, 1980), inositol-3-phosphate and diacylglycerol (Nishizuka, 1984). Although cAMP has been reported to be present in plants, it does not activate protein kinases suggesting that its role in plants could be different from that in animals (Marme and Dieter, 1983). Since the discovery of calmodulin and calmodulin-dependent enzymes in plants (Anderson and Cormier, 1978; Marme and Dieter, 1983; Poovaiah, 1985) there is increasing interest to study the role of calcium as a cellular messenger in plants. The response of plants to light (Serlin and Roux, 1984), and hormones (Elliott et al., 1983; Raghothama et al., 1983, 1985) has been shown to be mediated by calcium and calmodulin. In our laboratory, the role of calcium in auxin-induced coleoptile elongation, cytokinin-mediated delay of leaf senescence and in the tuberization response of potato plants has been investigated. Protein phosphorylation is studied both under in vitro and in vivo conditions to evaluate the role of calcium in mediating auxin response in coleoptiles.
Assessment of Challenging Behaviors in People with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Publisher Summary Children and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are at much greater risk of showing a wide range of challenging behavior (CB) than typically developing people. This chapter reviews various aspects of assessment of CB. These include the reasons for assessment, assessment of topographies, and assessment of function and its implications for treatment. Common problems including aggression, stereotypy, and eating problems in people with ASD are also reviewed. Of most immediate concern are extra-personal maladaptive behaviors, such as aggression and tantrums, because of their negative and sometimes severe consequences for the person and those around them. Intra-personal maladaptive behaviors may also be significant as they may be stigmatizing and may interfere with learning and the expression of adaptive behavior. There are many psychometric measures to assess CB topographies. They can be quick and efficient in the early stages of assessing CB, in screening larger populations, and in periodic screening of individuals, such as during admission to services and annual evaluations. The CB topographies can be readily assessed with screening questionnaires, but these questionnaires are limited in that they do not provide all the information necessary to design an effective intervention plan. Information regarding the establishing operations (Eos), discriminative stimuli, functionally equivalent adaptive and maladaptive behaviors, and contingencies maintaining the CB greatly improve the design of an effective treatment plan. Despite the efficacy of this approach to treatment of CB in people with ASD, certain problems, such as pica, remain more difficult to treat. Additionally, more research involving the dissemination of this technology to routine care providers and practitioners is needed.
Acute and 1-Year Hospitalization Costs for Acute Myocardial Infarction Treated With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Results From the TRANSLATE-ACS Registry.

Background Hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (MI) in the United States is both common and expensive, but those features alone provide little insight into cost‐saving opportunities. Me...
Implementing a Global Expanded Access Program (EAP) for Infantile-Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy (Type I): Understanding the Imperative, Impact and Challenges

Nusinersen is the first disease-modifying therapy approved for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic disorder characterized by severe progressive muscular atrophy and weakness. An expanded access program (EAP) provides investigational treatment to patients without other treatment options. An EAP providing nusinersen treatment to individuals with the most severe form of SMA, infantile-onset SMA (consistent with SMA Type I), has enrolled over 800 participants as of September 2018, making it one of the largest in rare disease history. The successes, challenges experienced and opportunities for future consideration during the implementation of the nusinersen EAP are discussed.
Salvage cryotherapy in patients undergoing endoscopic eradication therapy for complicated Barrett's esophagus.

Background and study aims Some patients with dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus (BE) experience suboptimal response to radiofrequency ablation (RFA), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), or the combination. Cryotherapy has been used as salvage therapy in these patients, but outcomes data are limited. We aimed to assess clinical outcomes among a large cohort of patients with dysplastic BE whose condition had failed to respond to RFA and/or EMR. Patients and methods This was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive cases of dysplastic BE or intramucosal carcinoma (IMC) treated with salvage cryotherapy at a tertiary-care academic medical center. The primary goal of cryotherapy treatment was eradication of all neoplasia. The secondary goal was eradication of all intestinal metaplasia. The proportion of patients undergoing salvage cryotherapy who achieved complete eradication of dysplasia (CE-D) and metaplasia (CE-IM), as well as the time to CE-D and CE-IM were calculated. Results Over a 12-year period, 46 patients received salvage cryotherapy. All patients underwent RFA prior to cryotherapy, either at our center or prior to referral, and 50 % of patients underwent EMR. A majority of patients (54 %) had high-grade dysplasia (HGD) at referral, while 33 % had low-grade dysplasia (LGD), and 13 % had IMC. Overall, 38 patients (83 %) reached CE-D and 21 (46 %) reached CE-IM. Median time to CE-D was 18 months, median number of total interventions (RFA, cryotherapy, and EMR) was five, and median number of cryotherapy sessions was two. Conclusion Salvage cryotherapy appears safe and effective for treating BE that is refractory to RFA and/or EMR.
Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Outcomes in the Metropolitan Atlanta Area: New Insights and Approaches for Health Equity.

Background Racial disparities in breast cancer (BC) outcomes persist where non-Hispanic black (NHB) women are more likely to die from BC than non-Hispanic white (NHW) women, and the extent of this disparity varies geographically. We evaluated tumor, treatment, and patient characteristics that contribute to racial differences in BC mortality in Atlanta, Georgia, where the disparity was previously characterized as especially large. Methods We identified 4943 NHW and 3580 NHB women in the Georgia Cancer Registry with stage I-IV BC diagnoses in Atlanta (2010-2014). We used Cox proportional hazard regression to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) comparing NHB vs NHW BC mortality by tumor, treatment, and patient characteristics on the additive and multiplicative scales. We additionally estimated the mediating effects of these characteristics on the association between race and BC mortality. Results At diagnosis, NHB women were younger-with higher stage, node-positive, and triple-negative tumors relative to NHW women. In age-adjusted models, NHB women with luminal A disease had a 2.43 times higher rate of BC mortality compared to their NHW counterparts (95% CI = 1.99 to 2.97). High socioeconomic status (SES) NHB women had more than twice the mortality rates than their white counterparts (HR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.65 to 4.33). Racial disparities among women without insurance, in the lowest SES index, or diagnosed with triple-negative BC were less pronounced. Conclusions In Atlanta, the largest racial disparities are observed in luminal tumors and most pronounced among women of high SES. More research is needed to understand drivers of disparities within these treatable features.
Understanding Sex Differences in Coronary Artery Disease Risk: Is Coronary Anatomy Sufficient?

Nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is not a benign phenotype, and its associated risks, including that of cardiac death and myocardial infarction, are increasingly recognized.1,2 Previously, diagnosis and management have focused on obstructive CAD, often defined as luminal narrowing of ≥70% in the epicardial coronary vessels or ≥50% in the left main (LM) artery on invasive angiography. Yet recent observational studies have revealed stepwise incremental risk for future adverse events in patients along a continuum of both severity (ie, mild, moderate, or severe stenosis) and extent (ie, number of involved segments or vessels) of CAD.1–4 Accelerated by the growth of noninvasive coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA), which both increases test sensitivity for diagnosis of CAD and enables characterization of plaque morphology, mounting evidence now supports that (1) the presence of any atherosclerotic plaque, obstructive or not, portends increased risk of events and (2) the higher the overall plaque burden that is present, the higher the risk. This has also led to insights into prevalent patterns of disease, which seem to differ between women and men, with more symptomatic women than men manifesting nonobstructive rather than obstructive CAD,1,5 with important implications for diagnosis and management. See Article by Xie et al In this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging , Xie et al6 report on a post hoc analysis of the prognostic significance of nonobstructive LM CAD in a subset of women and men enrolled in the international multicenter CCTA CONFIRM (Coronary CT Angiography Evaluation for Clinical Outcomes: An International Multicenter) registry. In an earlier report from the CONFIRM registry, 23 854 consecutive patients without known CAD, who underwent CCTA between 2005 and 2009 (33% of whom were asymptomatic at time of testing), were followed up for a mean of 2.3 years for …
Pilot of the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions Initiative Among Veterans With Serious Illness.

Background:Prior to national spread, the Department of Veterans Affairs implemented a pilot of the life-sustaining treatment decisions initiative (LSTDI) to promote proactive goals of care conversa...
Was the 'Trump Bump' a One-Time Phenomenon for Charities?

This article analyses how presidential election results affect nonprofit donations. Nonprofits are categorized as either liberal, neutral, or conservative to allow further analysis based on ideology of donor base. The discovery of a dramatic correlation between election results and partisan nonprofit donations help better inform nonprofits regarding fiscal planning, targeted rage donating efforts, emotional appeals, and exaggerated claims of the consequences of elections.
Acoustic parameters of voice in typically developing children ages 4-19 years.

Abstract Objectives Report data on acoustic measures of voice in sustained vowels produced by typically developing children, aged 4–19 years, to add to the cross-sectional reference values in a pediatric database. Methods Recordings of sustained vowel/ɑ/phonation were obtained from 158 children (80 males, 78 females) aged 4–19 years who were judged to be typically developing with respect to speech and voice. Acoustic analyses were performed with the Multidimensional Voice Program (MDVP™) and the Analysis of Dysphonia in Speech and Voice (ADSV™), both from Pentax Medical. Results Values from both MDVP and ADSV are reported for children in the following age cohorts: 4–6 years, 7–9 years, 10–12 years, 13–15 years, and 16–19 years. Conclusion The data in this study complement previously published data and contribute to a pediatric reference database useful for research and for clinical practice related to children's voice. Acoustic parameters most sensitive to age and sex are identified.
Primary coenzyme Q10 nephropathy, a potentially treatable form of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome

Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is a genetically heterogeneous kidney disease that is the second most frequent cause of kidney failure in the first 2 decades of life. Despite the identification of mutations in more than 39 genes as causing SRNS, and the localization of its pathogenesis to glomerular podocytes, the disease mechanisms of SRNS remain poorly understood and no universally safe and effective therapy exists to treat patients with this condition. Recently, genetic research has identified a subgroup of SRNS patients whose kidney pathology is caused by primary coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) deficiency due to recessive mutations in genes that encode proteins in the CoQ10 biosynthesis pathway. Clinical and preclinical studies show that primary CoQ10 deficiency may be responsive to treatment with CoQ10 supplements bypassing the biosynthesis defects. Coenzyme Q10 is an essential component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, where it transports electrons from complexes I and II to complex III. Studies in yeast and mammalian model systems have recently identified the molecular functions of the individual CoQ10 biosynthesis complex proteins, validated these findings, and provided an impetus for developing therapeutic compounds to replenish CoQ10 levels in the tissues/organs and thus prevent the destruction of tissues due to mitochondrial OXPHOS deficiencies. In this review, we will summarize the clinical findings of the kidney pathophysiology of primary CoQ10 deficiencies and discuss recent advances in the development of therapies to counter CoQ10 deficiency in tissues.
Ephrin-A3 is required for tonotopic map precision and auditory functions in the mouse auditory brainstem

Tonotopy is a prominent feature of the vertebrate auditory system and forms the basis for sound discrimination, but the molecular mechanism that underlies its formation remains largely elusive. Ephrin/Eph signaling is known to play important roles in axon guidance during topographic mapping in other sensory systems, so we investigated its possible role in the establishment of tonotopy in the mouse cochlear nucleus. We found that ephrin-A3 molecules are differentially expressed along the tonotopic axis in the cochlear nucleus during innervation. Ephrin-A3 forward signaling is sufficient to repel auditory nerve fibers in a developmental stage-dependent manner. In mice lacking ephrin-A3, the tonotopic map is degraded and isofrequency bands of neuronal activation upon pure tone exposure become imprecise in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus. Ephrin-A3 mutant mice also exhibit a delayed second wave in auditory brainstem responses upon sound stimuli and impaired detection of sound frequency changes. Our findings establish an essential role for ephrin-A3 in forming precise tonotopy in the auditory brainstem to ensure accurate sound discrimination.
Examining the Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Asthma Among Children in the United States: The Intersection of Sex and Race/Ethnicity

Objective: The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to examine: 1) the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and asthma among children, and 2) the interaction between sex and race/ethnicity on asthma.Methods: Data for this study were obtained from the 2017-2018 National Survey of Children's Health. Binary logistic regression was conducted on an analytic sample of 49,000 children ages 0-17 years with asthma as the outcome variable and ACEs as the main explanatory variable.Results: Based on parent reports, we found that 11.5% of children had asthma and about 42% had at least one ACE, with 9.7% having ≥3 ACEs. Controlling for other factors, children with ≥3 ACEs had 1.45 times higher odds of having asthma when compared to children with no ACEs. Non-Hispanic Black males and females were more likely to have asthma when compared to non-Hispanic White males.Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrate an association between ACEs and asthma with children exposed to ≥3 ACEs more likely to have asthma underscoring the importance of cumulative effect of ACEs on asthma. Our study also revealed an interaction between sex and race/ethnicity on asthma among children. Additional studies are needed to understand the mechanisms through which ACEs is associated with asthma among children.
SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Plasma Antigen for Diagnosis and Monitoring of COVID-19.

Background Detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen in blood has been described, but the diagnostic and prognostic role of antigenemia is not well understood. This study aimed to determine the frequency, duration, and concentration of nucleocapsid antigen in plasma and its association with COVID-19 severity. Methods We utilized an ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence immunoassay targeting SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen to evaluate 777 plasma samples from 104 individuals with COVID-19. We compared plasma antigen to respiratory nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) in 74 individuals with COVID-19 from samples collected ± 1 day of diagnostic respiratory NAAT, and in 52 SARS-CoV-2-negative individuals. We used Kruskal-Wallis tests, multivariable logistic regression, and mixed-effects modeling to evaluate whether plasma antigen concentration was associated with disease severity. Results Plasma antigen had 91.9% (95% CI 83.2-97.0%) clinical sensitivity and 94.2% (84.1-98.8%) clinical specificity. Antigen-negative plasma samples belonged to patients with later respiratory cycle thresholds (Ct) when compared with antigen-positive plasma samples. Median plasma antigen concentration (log10 fg/mL) was 5.4 (IQR 3.9-6.0) in outpatients, 6.0 (5.4-6.5) in inpatients, and 6.6 (6.1-7.2) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. In models adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, and hypertension, plasma antigen concentration at diagnosis was associated with ICU admission (OR 2.8 [95% CI 1.2-6.2], P=.01), but not with non-ICU hospitalization. Rate of antigen decrease was not associated with disease severity. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 plasma nucleocapsid antigen exhibited comparable diagnostic performance to upper respiratory NAAT, especially among those with late respiratory Ct. In addition to currently available tools, antigenemia may facilitate patient triage to optimize intensive care utilization.
The ecosystem of executive threats: A conceptual overview

Executive risk, which is concerned with threats confronting directors and officers of business organizations, is a practically important but theoretically neglected aspect of corporate governance; this article re-conceptualizes this notion in a more theoretically complete context of ‘executive threats’. The Ecosystem of Executive Threat model captures dyadic interactions between business organizations and seven distinct stakeholder groups, in addition to also accounting for the interaction-shaping influence of three distinct (stakeholder) expectation- and norm-shaping forces. Furthermore, the ecosystem conceptualization expressly differentiates between upside and downside threats, as well as non-estimable uncertainty, probabilistic risks and defined liability, with the goal of enabling a more comprehensive assessment of individual threats. Altogether, the ecosystem-based conceptualization supports ta more thorough forward-looking assessment of the totality of threats confronting directors and officers of business organizations by expressly contemplating not-yet-materialized but theoretically plausible dangers, in addition to those with established recurrence patterns.
Multimedia's Effect on College Students’ Quantitative Mental Effort Scores and Qualitative Extraneous Cognitive Load Responses in a Food Science and Human Nutrition Course

Abstract Effective use of multimedia (MM) in instructional design is critical for student learning, especially for large lecture introductory courses. This study used a mixed-method approach to explore the effect of food science supporting course materials that utilized different MM formats, designed with Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML) methods, on cognitive load as explained by perceived mental effort (PME) scores combined with students’ perceptions. College students (n = 182) were randomized into 1 of 3 MM groups: audio + text + graphics (Group 1-ATG); text + graphics (Group 2-TG); or video + audio + text + graphics (Group 3-VATG). Participants answered a demographic survey and prior knowledge questionnaire before viewing 3 food science supporting course materials (that is, food laws, quality assurance, and sensory tests) and completed the PME instrument and open-ended questions online in a noncontrolled setting. For quantitative data, PME scores were compared among MM groups and content types using analysis of variance (ANOVA). For qualitative data, content analysis was applied to identify extraneous cognitive load (ECL)-related descriptors from students’ open-ended question responses, which were used to explain quantitative survey findings. Overall, students in Group 2-TG had lower PME scores than Groups 1-ATG and 3-VATG (P < 0.05) and participants in Group 2-TG provided less ECL-related comments than those in the other 2 groups. Across MM groups, students showed higher PME scores after reviewing the quality assurance course material (P < 0.05). Additionally, despite higher PME scores, students from Groups 1-ATG and 3-VATG would take another course with these MM formats. Practical Implications This study investigated the appropriate use of CTML methods when designing supporting course materials with various MM formats for asynchronous learning. The findings showed that instructors should consider different effects of MM formats when designing online course materials. In addition, instructors should apply mixed-method approach to evaluate effects of MM design on students’ perceived cognitive load levels that cannot be fully understood with only quantitative survey data.
Respiratory illness in households using gas and electricity for cooking I. Survey of incidence

Abstract A 12-month study was undertaken to determine the incidence of respiratory illness in households in a midwest upper-middle-class community. The sample included 441 families, divided into two groups; those utilizing gas and those utilizing electricity in cooking. Family health and demographic data were obtained from the participants. Reports of acute respiratory illness were obtained through biweekly telephone calls to each household. Respondents were asked to report respiratory illness in any member of the household, and to indicate the presence or absence of a set of signs and symptoms. Ambient air was analyzed indoors and outdoors in a sample of the households, and pulmonary function tests were conducted on a subsample of the participants representing both types of households. AID analysis and multiple regression were carried out to determine the predictors of respiratory illness incidence. Comparison was made with data obtained in a similar study in Long Island, New York. There was no evidence to suggest that cooking with gas is associated with an increase in respiratory disease or a decrease in pulmonary function (FVC and FEV-75).
The Relative Income Theory of Consumption: A Synthetic Keynes-Duesenberry-Friedman Model

This paper presents a theoretical model of consumption behavior that synthesizes the seminal contributions of Keynes (1936), Friedman (1956) and Duesenberry (1948). The model is labeled a “relative permanent income” theory of consumption. The key feature is that the share of permanent income devoted to consumption is a negative function of household relative permanent income. The model generates patterns of consumption spending consistent with both long-run time series data and modern empirical findings that high-income households have a higher propensity to save. It also explains why consumption inequality is less than income inequality.
Conceptual Graphs: Draft Proposed American National Standard

This is a copy of the draft proposed American National Standard (dpANS) as established May 3, 1999. It is a draft, with many parts remaining to be completed. The most curent version (updated as the standard approaches completion) is always available at: http://concept.cs.uah.edu/CG/Standard.html.
N‐Methyl‐N,N′‐di‐t‐butylcarbodiimidium Tetrafluoroborate

[39509-34-7] C10H21BF4N2 (MW 256.14) InChI = 1S/C10H21N2.BF4/c1-9(2,3)11-8-12(7)10(4,5)6;2-1(3,4)5/h1-7H3;/q+1;-1 InChIKey = BVXWUCFPVOJYDW-UHFFFAOYSA-N (dehydrative coupling) Physical Data: mp 85–86 °C. Form Supplied in: colorless hygroscopic crystals. Preparative Method: N,N-di-t-butylcarbodiimide (1 equiv) is added dropwise to 1 equiv of Trimethyloxonium Tetrafluoroborate at 0 °C and stirred for 6 h before warming to rt and stirring for an additional 18 h. Isolation under fairly anhydrous conditions gives the diimidium salt in 62% yield.1
Next-Generation Sequencing of Matched Primary and Metastatic Rectal Adenocarcinomas Demonstrates Minimal Mutation Gain and Concordance to Colonic Adenocarcinomas.

Context.—Colorectal carcinoma is the third most common cause of cancer death in males and females in the United States. Rectal adenocarcinoma can have distinct therapeutic and surgical management from colonic adenocarcinoma owing to its location and anatomic considerations. Objective.—To determine the oncologic driver mutations and better understand the molecular pathogenesis of rectal adenocarcinoma in relation to colon adenocarcinoma. Design.—Next-generation sequencing was performed on 20 cases of primary rectal adenocarcinoma with a paired lymph node or solid organ metastasis by using an amplicon-based assay of more than 2800 Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC)–identified somatic mutations. Results.—Next-generation sequencing data were obtained on both the primary tumor and metastasis from 16 patients. Most rectal adenocarcinoma cases demonstrated identical mutations in the primary tumor and metastasis (13 of 16, 81%). The mutations identified, listed in order of frequency, included TP53,...
Finding the Rhythm of Sudden Cardiac Death: New Opportunities Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell–Derived Cardiomyocytes

Sudden cardiac death is a common cause of death in patients with structural heart disease, genetic mutations, or acquired disorders affecting cardiac ion channels. A wide range of platforms exist to model and study disorders associated with sudden cardiac death. Human clinical studies are cumbersome and are thwarted by the extent of investigation that can be performed on human subjects. Animal models are limited by their degree of homology to human cardiac electrophysiology, including ion channel expression. Most commonly used cellular models are cellular transfection models, which are able to mimic the expression of a single-ion channel offering incomplete insight into changes of the action potential profile. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes resemble, but are not identical, adult human cardiomyocytes and provide a new platform for studying arrhythmic disorders leading to sudden cardiac death. A variety of platforms exist to phenotype cellular models, including conventional and automated patch clamp, multielectrode array, and computational modeling. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes have been used to study long QT syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and other hereditary cardiac disorders. Although induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes are distinct from adult cardiomyocytes, they provide a robust platform to advance the science and clinical care of sudden cardiac death.
Local Linear Learned Image Processing Pipeline

The local linear learned (L3) algorithm is presented that simultaneously performs the demosaicking, denoising, and color transform calculations of an image processing pipeline for a digital camera with any color filter array.
Experimental program analysis

Program analysis techniques are used by software engineers to deduce and infer characteristics of software systems. Recent research has suggested that certain program analysis techniques can be formulated as formal experiments. This article reports the results of research exploring this suggestion. Building on principles and methodologies underlying the use of experimentation in other fields, we provide descriptive and operational definitions of experimental program analysis, illustrate them by example, and describe several differences between experimental program analysis and experimentation in other fields. We also explore the applicability of experimental program analysis to three software engineering problems: program transformation, program debugging, and program understanding. Our findings indicate that experimental program analysis techniques can provide new and potentially improved solutions to these problems, and suggest that experimental program analysis offers a promising new direction for program analysis research.
Nucleation of kink pairs on partial dislocations: a new model for solution hardening and softening

Nucleation and motion of kink pairs on partial dislocations are examined by elasticity theory for materials with a high Peierls stress. Two approaches are used: one considers the change in average stacking-fault energy (SFE) due to alloying elements and the other considers the change in local SFE due to a nearby solute atom. Both approaches highlight the role of SFE on kink nucleation, propagation and annihilation and both furnish strain rate as a function of stress, temperature and SFE. Model predictions are compared with yield stress data for two systems: firstly, an intermetallic, MoSi2, which softens for alloying elements (V, Nb, Cr and Al) that decrease the SFE and hardens for Re additions that increase the SFE; secondly, a ceramic oxide, MgO-Al2O3 spinel, which softens with increasing addition of excess alumina and at the same time exhibits a decrease in SFE. The average SFE approach agrees qualitatively with the data while quantitative agreement is obtained with the local SFE approach. The possibil...
Nighttime immunoreactive somatostatin content of the median eminence in hypo- and hyperthyroid rats.

1. 1. The median eminence content of immunoreactive somatostatin (IRS) was measured by radioimmunoassay in 107 male albino rats, who were either hypothyroid after surgical thyroidectomy (N = 38), hyperthyroid following a subcutaneous implant of 5 mg of l-thyroxine (N = 36), or otherwise untreated (N = 33). 2. 2. Thyroid function was assessed by determining plasma levels of T4 and TSH from trunk blood obtained at the time of decapitation. Subgroups of animals from the 3 groups were killed either before (1800 hr), during (2200, 0200, 0400 hr), or after the dark portion of their 14:10LD photoperiod. 3. 3. Although no changes in median eminence IRS content were found throughout the period of study within any of the 3 groups, hypothyroid animals (297.23 ± 13.47 ng per ME; 620.41 ±58 ngIRS/mg protein) had a significantly lower median eminence IRS concentration than untreated rats (355.86 ± 16.55 ng of IRS per ME, P < 0.01; 906.86 ± 96.38 ng IRS/mg protein, P <0.05) and hyperthyroid animals (384.12 ± 14.67 ng per ME, P < 0.001; 874.1 ± 104.5 ng IRS//mg protein, P < 0.05). 4. 4. It is concluded, that the feedback of thyroid hormones on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis during thyroid hormone excess in vivo, contrary to what occurs in hypothyroidism, is probably independent of hypothalamic somatostatin.
A discrete spectrum of solutions of the wave equation with strong cubic nonlinearity

The nonlinear wave equation, φtt−Δφ+φ3=0, has many solutions that are periodic in time and localized in space, all with infinte energies. The search for spherically symmetric solutions that are well represented by the simple approximation, φ(r, t)≡A(r) sin ωt, leads to a discrete spectrum of solutions{φN(r, t; ω)}. The solutions are nonlinear wavepackets, and they can be regarded as particles. The asymptotic theory (ω→∞) of the motion of the guiding center of theNth wavepacket, in the presence of a specified potential, is characterized by an infinite mechanical mass and an infinte interaction mass, and they are compatible. The rest mass in the classical relativistic mechanics of guiding centers ism0c2=ħNω; i.e. the spectrum {φN} determines a spectrum of Planck's constants.
The significance of the latent period in thyroid hormone induced tissue regression during amphibian metamorphosis.

Abstract Tail fin disks removed from tadpoles of Rana pipiens that were immersed in thyroxine or triiodothyronine for 3 days (referred to as donors) were fused to premetamorphic tail fin blocks that had never been exposed to this hormone (referred to as recipients) so that triplets were formed, consisting of one recipient tail block sandwiched between two donor tail fin blocks. Such recipient tail blocks responded with characteristic resorptive activity within 24 or 48 hr, instead of the minimum 72-hr latent period normally intervening in donor blocks, until shrinkage was initiated in response to triiodothyronine (T3) or tetraiodothyronine (T4). The presence of T3 or T4 hormone was not required continuously throughout the latent period. Hormone could be withdrawn after 30 hr contact in vivo and after 24 hr contact in vitro without interfering with the rate of tissue regression of tadpole tail fins, suggesting that the “latent period” probably does not coincide with the “critical period” during which subtle biochemical changes presumably occur that precede regression of the tadpole tail during metamorphosis. It is suggested that during the latent period active intermediates may be synthesized that are subsequently transferred from donor tail fins to recipients, thus reducing the latent period of the latter.
An extrapolation of the physical attractiveness and sex variables within the Byrne attraction paradigm.

Twenty male and 20 female volunteer general psychology students were assigned to one of four treatment conditions in a totally randomized 2 by 2 ANOVA to test the hypothesis that subjects would perceive attractive strangers of the opposite sex as possessing attitudes similar to their own. Physical attractiveness was defined in terms of independent ratings via a Q sort of 74 male and 74 female yearbook pictures. The ANOVA yielded a significant main effect for attractiveness. These results were interpreted as supporting both the Byrne attraction paradigm and Newcomb’s cognitive symmetry hypothesis. A follow-up experiment, using a population of adult apartment residents who were allowed to choose the stimulus photograph they felt to be most or least attractive, replicated the results obtained in Experiment I and revealed an even more pronounced attractiveness effect.
Rights and claims

By way of conclusion, I have tried to show that rights do not come from nowhere, that is, rights are not sui generis. They come from claims. Rights do not make claims possible; rather claims make rights possible. For out of claims come claims to rights and from the welter of such claims to rights a legal system is established which, after sifting and refining, accepts some claims to rights and dignifies these as deeds, titles, rights and rejects others; and provides rules enabling persons to exercise their rights. A system of rights and rules thus generated gives one the right to make strong claims. Although having a right is not a condition for making a claim, having a right is necessary to sustain and appraise a claim. Appealing to rights enables us to distinguish weak from strong claims. For rights may sustain or rebut claims though they are not themselves claims.
A computer-controlled administration of the matching familiar figures test

The Kagan Matching Familiar Figures Test of Impulsivity/Reflectivity was modified to allow computer control of stimulus presentation and data acquisition via IBM-compatible systems. The comparability of computer administration and traditional hand administration was examined in a split-half study with a sample of 58 students (ages, 18–39 years). Analyses of variance revealed no significant differences between the administration techniques for latency and a small but significant difference for accuracy. Correlations between the two administration techniques were .61 for latency and .40 for error scores. Internal consistency coefficients for computer administration exceeded those for hand administration on both latency and accuracy. These data compare favorably with results reported by others and suggest that computer administration offers a viable alternative to traditional hand administration of the MFFT in research applications.
Noise radiation from turbulent flows over compliant surfaces

The present study is based on Lighthill-Curle's theory of aerodynamic noise. Using a correlation approach and the image concept of Powell, the volume contribution of turbulent flow over a large surface is approximated by a surface contribution of pressure fluctuations. Far-field noise intensities are expressed in terms of the surface pressure fluctuations and surface impedance. Based on available experimental measurements, numerical examples are performed for noise radiated from a turbulent boundary layer and from a normal jet impingement over rigid surfaces. Comparisons with available noise measurements are made. For general turbulent flows over compliant surfaces, measurements are suggested to obtain useful data for noise predictions.
Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias in Ebstein anomaly: Management and outcome

Abstract Objective This study was undertaken to review the role of electrophysiology testing and to determine the early and late results of medical and surgical management of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias in Ebstein anomaly. Methods We reviewed 130 patients between 1990 and 2001 with Ebstein anomaly and history of tachyarrhythmia with a median age of 25 years (mean age 27.5 years); 106 underwent electrophysiologic testing and 24 had documented atrial flutter or fibrillation. We excluded 21 patients: negative results of testing (n = 18), ventricular tachycardia (n = 2), and junctional tachycardia (n = 1). The remaining 109 patients had more than one mechanism: accessory pathway–mediated tachycardia (n = 49), atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (n = 10), and atrial flutter/fibrillation (n = 70). Results Eighty-three patients underwent at least one arrhythmia procedure combined with surgery for Ebstein anomaly. Early mortality was 4.8%. Forty-one patients underwent surgical ablation of an accessory pathway without recurrent accessory pathway–mediated tachycardia at a mean follow-up of 48 months. Seven patients underwent surgical perinodal cryoablation for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia without recurrence at a mean follow-up of 57 months. Forty-eight patients underwent surgical intervention for atrial flutter or fibrillation (right-sided maze procedure, n=38, and cryoablation of the atrial isthmus, n=10). Freedom from recurrent atrial flutter or fibrillation was 75% at a mean follow-up of 34 months. Conclusion Concomitant arrhythmia procedures can be performed without increase in early mortality and should be added to Ebstein repairs for all patients who have supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Surgical procedures for accessory pathway–mediated tachycardia and atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia give excellent (100%) freedom from recurrence of those arrhythmias. Surgical intervention for atrial flutter/fibrillation yields freedom from late recurrence in 75% of cases.
Steady-state bifurcations and multiplicity conditions for lumped systems

Les conditions exactes de multiplicite sont obtenues grâce a la division Euclidienne des systemes polynomiaux
A resetting signal between Drosophila pacemakers synchronizes morning and evening activity.

Most animal cells, even in tissue cultures, can develop the molecular oscillations underlying circadian rhythms. To harness this property into the complex time-related behavioural patterns seen in whole organisms requires the intervention of a series of individual brain oscillators. Drosophila is proving to be a good model in which to study this system. The flies manifest characteristic morning and evening locomotor activity, each controlled by a different group of adult brain clock neurons. Now, by generating transgenic animals with different circadian periods in these morning and evening cells, the brain clock cells are shown to be organized into two separate neuronal circuits. One circuit includes the morning and evening cells and drives circadian locomotor activity. The timing of the evening cells is determined by the morning cells as a result of a daily resetting signal from the morning to the evening cells, which then run at their genetically programmed pace between signals. The biochemical machinery that underlies circadian rhythms is conserved among animal species and drives self-sustained molecular oscillations and functions, even within individual asynchronous tissue-culture cells1,2,3. Yet the rhythm-generating neural centres of higher eukaryotes are usually composed of interconnected cellular networks, which contribute to robustness and synchrony as well as other complex features of rhythmic behaviour4,5,6,7. In mammals, little is known about how individual brain oscillators are organized to orchestrate a complex behavioural pattern. Drosophila is arguably more advanced from this point of view: we and others have recently shown that a group of adult brain clock neurons expresses the neuropeptide PDF8 and controls morning activity (small LNv cells; M-cells), whereas another group of clock neurons controls evening activity (CRY+, PDF- cells; E-cells)6,9. We have generated transgenic mosaic animals with different circadian periods in morning and evening cells. Here we show, by behavioural and molecular assays, that the six canonical groups of clock neurons10 are organized into two separate neuronal circuits. One has no apparent effect on locomotor rhythmicity in darkness, but within the second circuit the molecular and behavioural timing of the evening cells is determined by morning-cell properties. This is due to a daily resetting signal from the morning to the evening cells, which run at their genetically programmed pace between consecutive signals. This neural circuit and oscillator-coupling mechanism ensures a proper relationship between the timing of morning and evening locomotor activity.