cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of visual figure and ground in dynamically deforming shapes

Figure/ground assignment - determining which part of the visual image is foreground and which background - is a critical step in early visual analysis, upon which much later processing depends. Previous research on the assignment of figure and ground to opposing sides of a contour has almost exclusively involved static geometric factors - such as convexity, symmetry, and size - in non-moving images. Here, we introduce a new class of cue to figural assignment based on the motion of dynamically deforming contours. Subjects viewing an animated, deforming shape tended to assign figure and ground so that articulating curvature extrema - i.e., "hinging" vertices - had negative (concave) contour curvature. This articulating-concavity bias is present when all known static cues to figure/ground are absent or neutral in each of the individual frames of the animation, and even seems to override a number of well-known static cues when they are in opposition to the motion cue. We propose that the phenomenon reflects the visual system's inbuilt expectations about the way shapes will deform - specifically, that deformations tend to involve rigid parts articulating at concavities.
Minimally Invasive Therapies for Hepatocellular Cancer: Ablation Technologies

Ablation therapy is proving to be a major tool in the anti-cancer armamentarium. The superb diagnostic capabilities of CT, US, and MRI, along with IR techniques, have combined to allow percutaneous tumor ablation to become fairly widespread in availability at major centers. The fundamental concept of ablation is that the extremes of temperature kill cancer. Thus both heating and freezing methods are effectively tumoricidal. Heating options are via radiofrequency, laser, and microwave. The former is utilized most frequently, laser least, and microwave is in its early clinical experience. Other primary methods of percutaneous tumor ablation include cryotherapy (CRYO) and direct chemical injection. While various agents have been injected for direct percutaneous injection into tumors, alcohol ablation is most effective, and has been utilized most frequently. The efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is related to the size of the liver tumor. It is accepted that the lesion should not exceed 2.5–3.0 cm to obtain complete necrosis. It has been reported that certain microwave ablation (MWA) devices may allow successful treatment of lesions as large as 5 cm with an acceptable margin of safety. Notwithstanding, RFA commonly is utilized for lesions greater than 3 cm in diameter, occasionally for palliative debulking rather than cure. Guidelines may assist in the selection and use of the more widely used thermal technologies to provide optimal Predictive, Preventive and Personalized Medicine (PPPM). To achieve maximal effectiveness for cure, basic treatment precepts must be understood and adhered to, including: (1) proper patient selection; (2) treatment of the entire lesion; (3) providing adequate tumor margins.
FOREIGN PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL CURRENCY BOND MARKETS OF EMERGING ECONOMIES

This paper estimates the impact of foreign participation in determining long-term local currency government bond yields and volatility in a group of emerging markets (EMs) from 2000 to 2009. The results of a panel data analysis of 10 EMs show that greater foreign participation in the domestic government bond market tends to significantly reduce long-term government yields. Moreover, greater foreign participation does not necessarily result in increased volatility in bond yields in EMs and, in fact, could even dampen volatility in some instances.
8.5: Presentation session: BRAiN measurements and imaging technologies: “Data-driven evaluation and optimization of acquisition strategies for ultra-high-field functional MRI at 7 Tesla”

Blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is commonly performed using 2D single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI). However, challenges with EPI at 7 Tesla (T) include significant geometric distortions (due to low bandwidth (BW) in the phase-encode (PE) direction) and amplification of physiological noise. Recent studies have suggested that 3D multi-shot sequences such as PRESTO may offer comparable BOLD contrast-to-noise ratio with increased volume coverage and decreased geometric distortions. A four-way comparison was performed at 7T between 2D and 3D acquisition sequences at two in-plane resolutions. The quality of fMRI data was evaluated via independent metrics of prediction and reproducibility using NPAIRS (Non-parametric Prediction, Activation, Influence and Reproducibility re-Sampling). Activation maps were optimized for each acquisition strategy by selecting the number of principal components that jointly maximized prediction and reproducibility, and showed good agreement in sensitivity and specificity for positive BOLD changes. High-resolution EPI exhibited the highest z-scores of the four acquisition sequences; however, it suffered from the lowest BW in the PE direction (resulting in the worst geometric distortions) and limited spatial coverage, and also caused subject discomfort through peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). In comparison, PRESTO had the second highest z-scores (higher than EPI for a matched in-plane resolution), the highest BW in the PE direction (producing images with superior geometric stability), the potential for whole-brain coverage, and no reported PNS. This study provides evidence to support the consideration of using multi-shot acquisition sequences in lieu of single-shot EPI for ultra-high-field BOLD fMRI at 7T and above.
Simulation-based scheduling for parcel consolidation terminals: a comparison of iterative improvement and simulated annealing

This research explores the application of a simulation-based scheduling algorithm to generate unload schedules for processing feeder trailers in a parcel consolidation terminal. The study compares the performance of iterative improvement and simulated annealing to produce quality schedules. The paper reports the results from a number of experimental test problems.
Improved radiation pattern for 28 GHz omni-directional quasi-optical oscillator array

For emerging distribution type systems, such as personal communication systems (PCS), wireless video, or wireless local area networks (WLAN), transmitters are needed which can broadcast with large beamwidths. It is for these applications that the array described was built. This twelve-element quasi-optical array was created to provide 360 degree coverage and require only a single low-voltage DC power supply, through which the data, is modulated onto the 28 GHz carrier. It radiates 140 mW into the desired polarization and has a tuning bandwidth of 500 MHz, across which the oscillators remain phase-locked. Because of its planar nature, using coplanar-waveguide (CPW) and integrated antennas, it could easily be fabricated monolithically. Unfortunately, these planar, endfire antennas do not have sufficient gain in the h-plane, which results in the vertical beamwidth being larger than desired for most applications. This paper shows that the difficulty can be overcome by adding a pair of metal disks, one above and one below the array.
Difficulties in integrating multiview development systems

Drawbacks of current approaches to integrating multiple perspectives in a development environment are discussed. An integrated environment is defined as one in which a dynamic collection of tools can work together on a single system so that changes made to the system by one tool can be seen by other tools, and integration criteria are set forth. Five representative approaches to systems integration-shared file systems, selective broadcasting, simple databases, view-oriented databases, and canonical representation-are examined, and their relative strengths and weaknesses are summarized. None of the integration mechanisms is shown to be uniformly superior to the others. The issue of environment evolution and its effect on integration is addressed. >
Role of adipocyte differentiation-related protein in surfactant phospholipid synthesis by type II cells.

Adipocyte differentiation-related protein (ADrP) is an intrinsic lipid storage droplet protein that is highly expressed in lung. ADrP localizes to lipid storage droplets within lipofibroblasts, pul...
A Radiation Condition for Layered Elastic Media

This study aims to establish a generalized radiation condition for time-harmonic elastodynamic states in a piecewise-homogeneous, semi-infinite solid wherein the “bottom” homogeneous half-space is overlain by an arbitrary number of bonded parallel layers. To consistently deal with both body and interfacial (e.g. Rayleigh, Love and Stoneley) waves comprising the far-field patterns, the radiation condition is formulated in terms of an integral over a sufficiently large hemisphere involving elastodynamic Green's functions for the featured layered medium. On explicitly proving the reciprocity identity for the latter set of point-load solutions, it is first shown that the layered Green's functions themselves satisfy the generalized radiation condition. By virtue of this result it is further demonstrated that the entire class of layered elastodynamic solutions, admitting a representation in terms of the single-layer, double-layer, and volume potentials (distributed over finite domains), satisfy the generalized radiation condition as well. For a rigorous treatment of the problem, fundamental results such as the uniqueness theorem for radiating elastodynamic states, Graffi's reciprocity theorem for piecewise-homogeneous domains, and the integral representation theorem for semi-infinite layered media are also established.
Additive cardiovascular effects of nicotine and ethanol.

Ethanol and tobacco consumption are commonly associated. Both are risk factors for adverse cardiovascular events. To better understand the interactions, the influence of oral ethanol pretreatment (0.5 or 1.0 gm/kg over 60 minutes) on cardiovascular responses to and disposition kinetics of intravenous nicotine was studied in healthy volunteers. Ethanol increased heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and pressure-rate product in a dose-related manner. Nicotine had additive effects on heart rate and pressure-rate product. It also decreased skin temperature, reflecting cutaneous vasoconstriction, but this effect was antagonized by ethanol. Ethanol did not affect metabolic clearance but increased CLR of nicotine by 25%. Additive cardiovascular effects of ethanol and nicotine could contribute to arrhythmias and sudden death in patients with coronary heart disease. It is unlikely that an effect of ethanol on nicotine metabolism is responsible for increased cigarette smoking while drinking ethanol. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1986) 40, 420–424; doi:10.1038/clpt.1986.200
Mini-laparoscopic versus laparoscopic approach to appendectomy

Background The purpose of this clinical study is to evaluate the feasibility of using 2-mm laparoscopic instruments to perform an appendectomy in patients with clinically suspected acute appendicitis and compare the outcome of this mini-laparoscopic or "needlescopic" approach to the conventional laparoscopic appendectomy.
Physical activity and hypertension: an epidemiological view.

We examined patterns of physical activity and other characteristics that might deter hypertension or delay all-cause mortality among university alumni, 1962–1985. Collegiate sports play did not alt...
Müllerian Inhibiting Substance lowers testosterone in luteinizing hormone-stimulated rodents

Mullerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) expression is inversely proportional to the serum concentration of testosterone in males after birth and in vitro studies have shown that MIS can lower testosterone production by Leydig cells. Also, mice overexpressing MIS exhibited Leydig cell hypoplasia and lower levels of serum testosterone, but it is not clear whether this is a result of MIS affecting the development of Leydig cells or their capacity to produce testosterone. To examine the hypothesis that MIS treatment will result in decreased testosterone production by mature Leydig cells in vivo, we treated luteinizing hormone (LH)-stimulated adult male rats and mice with MIS and demonstrated that it can lead to a several-fold reduction in testosterone in serum and in testicular extracts. There was also a slight decrease in 17-OH-progesterone compared to the more significant decrease in testosterone, suggesting that MIS might be regulating the lyase activity of cytochrome P450c17 hydroxylase/lyase (Cyp17), but not its hydroxylase activity. Northern analysis showed that, in both MIS-treated rats and mice, the mRNA for Cyp17, which catalyzes the committed step in androgen synthesis, was down-regulated. In rats, the mRNA for cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc) was also down-regulated by MIS. This was not observed in mice, indicating that there might be species-specific regulation by MIS of the enzymes involved in the testosterone biosynthetic pathway. Our results show that MIS can be used in vivo to lower testosterone production by mature rodent Leydig cells and suggest that MIS-mediated down-regulation of the expression of Cyp17, and perhaps P450scc, contributes to that effect.
Guest Family Physician Commentaries

Reading this issue of The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine , I was reminded of the management guru Peter Drucker’s quote: “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” Medicine seems to be a bit of both. Doing things right could be translated as
Note: The distinguishing number of the augmented cube and hypercube powers

The distinguishing number of a graph G, denoted D(G), is the minimum number of colors such that there exists a coloring of the vertices of G where no nontrivial graph automorphism is color-preserving. In this paper, we answer an open question posed in Bogstad and Cowen [The distinguishing number of the hypercube, Discrete Math. 283 (2004) 29-35] by showing that the distinguishing number of Q"n^p, the pth graph power of the n-dimensional hypercube, is 2 whenever 2=4. The sequence of distinguishing numbers {D(AQ"n)}"n"="1^~ answers a question raised in Albertson and Collins [An introduction to symmetry breaking in graphs, Graph Theory Notes N.Y. 30 (1996) 6-7].
Outcomes study of a course in breast‐cancer screening

Abstract Background. The Breast Cancer Screening Module is a professional training course within the Professional Education for Prevention and Early Detection (PEPED) program at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. An outcomes study was done to determine the module's ability to improve screening practices crucial to breast‐cancer control. Methods. The five‐day course combines 17 hours of class work with 20 hours of hands‐on clinical training. Subjects were followed for one year post‐training. Six outcome areas were evaluated: 1) knowledge about breast‐cancer prevention; 2) clinical skills; 3) changes in routine practice; 4) numbers of patients screened, referred, and diagnosed; 5) trainee satisfaction with the course; and 6) barriers to implementing screening in routine practice. The study population was 63 subjects (all nurse professionals). Results. Outcomes were positive in all six evaluation areas—significant gains in general and clinical knowledge tests (p ≤ 0.05); a significant incr...
What Do Infants Remember When They Forget? Location and Identity in 6-Month-Olds’ Memory for Objects

What does an infant remember about a forgotten object? Although at age 6 months, infants can keep track of up to three hidden objects, they can remember the featural identity of only one. When infants forget the identity of an object, do they forget the object entirely, or do they retain an inkling of it? In a looking-time study, we familiarized 6-month-olds with a disk and a triangle placed on opposite sides of a stage. During test trials, we hid the objects one at a time behind different screens, and after hiding the second object, we removed the screen where the first object had been hidden. Infants then saw the expected object, the unexpected other object, or the empty stage. Bayes factor analysis showed that although the infants did not notice when the object changed shape, they were surprised when it vanished. This finding indicates that infants can represent an object without its features.
Diversity and evolution of West Nile virus in Illinois and the United States, 2002-2005.

Evolutionary analyses of West Nile virus (WNV) have been limited by uneven sampling across geographic regions and over time. In this study, an expanded data set of 68 WNV envelope gene sequences from the Midwest (Illinois) was created and combined with published sequences to investigate spatial and temporal structuring in the United States viral population. Results indicate an overall lack of geographic structure to WNV in the United States, supporting the notion of WNV as a rapidly expanding pathogen not significantly restricted in its spread by geographic distance. However, analyses of viral genetic diversity show a steady increase in WNV nucleotide-level diversity over time. Additionally, evolutionary rate calculations indicate that WNV has evolved at approximately 0.85×10 �3 substitutions/site/year, largely through neutral
Abnormalities in infants of mothers with toxemia of pregnancy.

Abstract A quantitative study has been made of organ and cellular development in 11 infants with fetal growth retardation associated with maternal toxemia of pregnancy. Body length, brain, heart, and lung weights were nearest normal values while adrenals, liver, spleen, and thymus were disproportionately small. Organs were subnormal in size largely because parenchymal cells had a subnormal amount of cytoplasm. Abnormalities were virtually identical in a second group of 11 infants retarded in their intrauterine growth by placental abnormalities. In both groups, organ abnormalities help to explain clinical problems encountered in these infants.
José María Arguedas y la música novoandina: su legado cultural en el siglo XXI

En este articulo se estudia la concepcion del escritor peruano Jose Maria Arguedas como un heroe cultural peruano. Luego de describir las caracteristicas de heroe cultural, enfoca su analisis en la produccion musical del grupo de fusion rock y huayno Uchpa. Los musicos de este grupo se consideran herederos de Arguedas. Citan su testamento artistico politico enunciado de manera sintetica en el discurso “No soy un aculturado” (1969) para legitimar su practica artistica y continuar la mision que fue interrumpida por la muerte del autor de Los rios profundos. Arguedas sostenia la existencia de un individuo quechua moderno que no necesitaba renunciar a su cultura para ser cosmopolita.
Abstract 86: Cardiomyocyte-Specific Ablation of Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1 in the Mouse Leads to Dysregulation of Mitochondrial Biogenesis, Apoptosis, and Heart Failure

The DNA-binding transcription factor Nuclear Respiratory Factor 1 (NRF1) regulates mitochondrial homeostasis. Its constitutive ablation in the mouse is embryonically lethal (~E3.5). This has limited our understanding of NRF1 functionality in the heart, where mitochondrial dysfunction is often a major pathogenic factor. Therefore, we generated conditional cardiomyocyte-specific NRF1 knockout mice (MYH6-mer-Cre-mer-NRF1fl/fl or NRFfl/fl) to elucidate the role of cardiac NRF1. Two weeks after NRF1 silencing, echocardiography of NRF1fl/fl hearts revealed significant reductions in left ventricular fractional shortening (Figure A). Histology demonstrated degradation of cellular structural integrity and nuclear condensation (Figure B), with a high number of TUNEL positive nuclei compared to littermate controls (MYH6-mer-Cre-mer-NRF-1wt), indicative of apoptosis (37.8% vs. 1.1%, p
Transient Comfort Phenomena Due to Sweating

Of the many transient phenomena mentioned in the fabric comfort literature, two involve vapor diffusion (without liquid water transfer) from the surface of a perspiring “sweat-covered” body: the “… buffering effect of hygroscopic clothing” at the onset of sweating noted by Spencer-Smith and the “after-exercise chill” discussed by Woodcock. Both Woodcock and Spencer-Smith made laboratory studies with “sweating” hot plates to try to understand the significance of these phenomena. Their fabrics did not touch the wet plate, so there was no liquid water transfer.
High Resolution Electron Microscopy and Computer Simulation Studies of the Atomic Structure of Tilt Boundaries in TiO2

The atomic structure of [001] tilt grain boundaries of Σ25 (210), Σ5 (310), Σ213 (320) and Σ217 (410) in TiO2 (rutile) were studied using high resolution electron microscopy and computer simulation. Regularly separated small steps (1/2 [120] high) and big steps (3/2 [120] high) which contain secondary dislocations were found in the (210) boundary as a result of deviation from the exact Σ5 misorientation and (210) symmetric plane. Similar steps were also found in (310) and (320) boundaries. Flat segments between the steps were found to have very accurate misorientation of their, Σ’s and a nearly symmetric boundary plane. Their rigid body translation, volume expansion and relaxed structures were determined by comparing HRTEM images with computer calculated structures and simulated images. An irregular core structure was found in the (410) boundary when its misorientation deviated 2° from the exact Σ17 misorientation.
The age hardening characteristics of Nb-Base alloys containing carbon and/or silicon as interstitiels: Part II. (Nb-33 At. Pct Hf)

A study was made to investigate the solutioning and aging reactions and their effects on microstructure and microhardness in nine experimental Nb-base alloys involving Nb-33 Hf, Nb-33Hf-C, Nb-33Hf-Si, and Nb-33Hf-C-Si* systems. Alloys were solution treated, quenched, *Alloy compositions are in atomic percent. then aged for 2 h at temperatures ranging from 800 to 1600°C to examine the effect of temperature, and aged at 900 to 1100°C isothermally for times varying from 2 to 20 h. Microstructural changes were determined by optical and electron microscopy, the phases were chemically extracted and identified by X-ray diffraction, and hardness provided the means of evaluating structural effects.
Niche overlap and competition in woodrats

The ranges of Neotoma lepida and Neotoma fuscipes overlap in the Mohave Desert of southeastern California. Food resources of these woodrats were analyzed to determine degree of overlap and other possible competitive interactions. In most aspects of habitat, the two species are distinctly separated, but analyses of food caches and stomach contents revealed that allopatric N. fuscipes and N. lepida both prefer Quercus turbinella , whereas N. lepida switches to Juniperus califomica when sympatric with N. fuscipes . Behavioral interactions were investigated in laboratory test situations for evidence of a possible mechanism of competitive interaction. The results suggest that N. fuscipes is behaviorally dominant over N. lepida , and so maintains competitive superiority over the latter in exploitation of a preferred food resource.
Review of Dog Whistle Politics: How Coded Racial Appeals Have Reinvented Racism and Wrecked the Middle Class

George Wallace’s epiphany that “the whole United States is Southern” sets the stage for Ian Haney Lopez’s account of presidential politics since the 1960s (16). Moving from Wallace to Goldwater and...
Quantifying Cardiovascular Risk in Hypertension

The facts are that blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and that its reduction saves lives. The question now is how best to translate that knowledge into practice. The goal of this article is to suggest a strategy for quantifying risk in hypertensive patients as a means to determine the potential value of therapy and thus to give more rationality to the decision to treat than is afforded by absolute reliance on level of pressure alone.
Leukemic B-cell precursors express functional receptors for human interleukin-3

The purpose of this study was to analyze the expression of functional interleukin-3 (IL-3) receptors on leukemic B-cell precursors (BCPs) from 12 BCP acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients and five BCP ALL cell lines. The specific binding of biosynthetically labeled 35S- recombinant (r) IL-3 to freshly obtained leukemic marrow blasts was initially investigated. In five of 12 BCP ALL cases, the binding of 35S- rIL-3 was markedly blocked by excess cold rIL-3, and the percentage of inhibitable binding ranged from 53% to 78% (mean +/- SE = 65% +/- 4%). In these cases, the cell-bound radioactivity ranged from 146 cpm/10(7) cells to 1,433 cpm/10(7) cells (mean +/- SE = 627 +/- 250 cpm/10(7) cells), indicating that 1 to 14 femtomole (mean +/- SE = 6 +/- 2 fms) of [35S]rIL-3/10(7) cells were specifically bound (= 60 to 840 molecules per cell). rIL-3 stimulated the proliferative activity of leukemic BCPs in a dose-dependent fashion without inducing differentiation, and the half-maximal stimulatory activity was observed at a concentration of 17 to 34 pmol/L. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS)-isolated virtually pure populations of CD10+CD19+ leukemic BCPs from two BCP ALL patients, as well as from two of five BCP ALL cell lines, showed a marked proliferative response to highly purified rIL-3, providing formal evidence that the observed IL-3 responses were not mediated by accessory cells. There was a high correlation between [35S]rIL-3 binding and proliferative response in colony assays, indicating that functional IL-3 receptors were detected in ligand binding assays. Scatchard plot analysis of the specific equilibrium binding data for IL-3-responsive leukemic BCPs from one BCP ALL patient and two BCP ALL cell lines yielded a straight linear regression line, indicating the existence of a single class of 60 to 210 high-affinity IL-3 binding sites/cell. The calculated apparent affinity constant (Ka) values ranged from 3.6 x 10(9) to 5.9 x 10(9) mol/L-1. Hence, the concentration of IL-3 required to produce 50% maximal receptor occupancy (Kd) was in the range of 168 to 280 pmol/L. These concentrations are approximately tenfold higher than those required to induce 50% maximal proliferative response from leukemic BCPs in colony assays, indicating that low receptor occupancy is sufficient for growth stimulation of leukemic BCPs by rIL-3. In comparison, less than 10 to 20 IL-3 molecules/cell were bound to IL-3 unresponsive leukemic BCPs even when the concentration of free-[35S]rIL- 3 was as high as 2 nmol/L.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Learning 2 μ DNF Formulas and kμ Decision Trees

We consider the learnability of “ kμ ” DNF formulas and decision trees. These are DNF formulas and decision trees in which every variable appears in at most a constant k different locations. The learning model is Valiant's distribution free model with the addition of membership queries. We present polynomial time learning algorithms for 2 μ DNF formulas and for kμ decision trees (where k is an arbitrary constant). Learning 3 μ DNF formulas in this model is as hard as learning arbitrary DNF formulas.
Treatment of the drug-overdosed patient in the intensive care unit

Summary The spectrum of drug overdoses seen in the ICU is changing. In 1983 the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference stated that treatment of acute respiratory failure due to drug overdose was one of the most beneficial uses of an ICU. Since that time, however, the incidence of narcotic abuse has declined, and the illicit use of cocaine has risen. Acetaminophen, tricyclic antidepressant, and antianginal drug overdoses have also increased. End organ complications associated with drug overdoses are becoming more common, and the management of the drug-overdosed patient is becoming more challenging.
VHDL (Part 2)

In Chap. 5 VHDL was presented as a way to describe the behavior of concurrent systems. The modeling techniques presented were appropriate for combinational logic because these types of circuits have outputs dependent only on the current values of their inputs. This means a model that continuously performs signal assignments provides an accurate model of this circuit behavior. In Chap. 7 sequential logic storage devices were presented that did not continuously update their outputs based on the instantaneous values of their inputs. Instead, sequential storage devices only update their outputs based upon an event, most often the edge of a clock signal. The modeling techniques presented in Chap. 5 are unable to accurately describe this type of behavior. In this chapter we describe the VHDL constructs to model signal assignments that are triggered by an event in order to accurately model sequential logic. We can then use these techniques to describe more complex sequential logic circuits such as finite-state machines and register transfer-level systems. This chapter also presents how to create test benches and looks at commonly used packages that increase the capability and accuracy with which VHDL can model modern systems. The goal of this chapter is to give an understanding of the full capability of hardware description languages.
CHD7 Deficiency Inhibits CBFB-MYH11 -Induced Leukemogenesis

Inversion of chromosome 16 is a consistent finding in patients with acute myeloid leukemia subtype M4 with eosinophilia (AML M4Eo), which generates a CBFB-MYH11 fusion gene. Mechanistic studies showed that the interaction between CBFbeta-SMMHC (encoded by CBFB-MYH11 ) and RUNX1 plays a critical role in the leukemogenesis of this kind of leukemia. Recently, it was shown that chromodomain-helicase-DNA binding protein 7 (CHD7) interacts with RUNX1 and suppresses RUNX1-induced expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. These results suggest that CHD7 also plays a role in CBFB-MYH11 induced leukemogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we crossed Cre-based conditional Chd7 knockout mice ( Chd7f/f ) with Cre-based conditional Cbfb-MYH11 knockin mice ( Cbfb+/56M ) to generate Chd7f/f, Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M mice, which express Cbfbeta-SMMHC but not CHD7 after poly I:C treatment to induce Cre expression. Three weeks after poly I:C treatment, the Lin- and the Lin-/Sca1-/c-Kit+ (LK) progenitor cell populations were significantly lower in Chd7f/f, Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M mice than that in Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M mice. In addition, there were fewer BrdU+ cells in the Lin- and LK populations in the Chd7f/f, Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M mice. Importantly, Chd7f/f, Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M mice developed leukemia with a much longer latency than the Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M mice. Secondary transplantation assay demostrated that spleen cells isolated from Chd7f/f, Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M and Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M leukemic mice were transplantable, but recipients that received spleen cells from Chd7f/f, Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M leukemic mice had a longer latency than those who received cells from Mx1-Cre, Cbfb+/56M mice. The above results suggest that CHD7 deficiency slows leukemia initiation and development by inhibiting the proliferation ability of the Lin- and LK populations. Further mechanistic studies showed that CHD7 interacted with RUNX1 but not CBFbeta-SMMHC by co-Immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence staining, suggesting that CHD7 is a partner of the RUNX1-CBFbeta-SMMHC transcription complex. In vitro luciferase assay showed that CHD7 enhanced RUNX1 and CBFbeta-SMMHC's transcriptional activity on M-CSFR, a RUNX1 target gene. These data indicate that CHD7 is important for Cbfb-MYH11 induced leukemogenesis by facilitating RUNX1 regulation of transcription and cellular proliferation. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Progress of super hybrid rice research in China

To meet the growing food demands in China, a program of super rice breeding was set up by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture in 1996. The goals of this program is to achieve rice yield targets to 10.5, 12.0, 13.5, and 15.0 t/ha in single season rice growing area through four research phases. A proposed model of combining morphological improvement with the utilization of inter-subspecific ( indica / japonica ) heterosis, by Prof. Yuan LongPing in 1997, played a leading contribution for the program of super hybrid rice breeding. Until now, all yield targets of four phases have been achieved. The pioneer super hybrid rice variety, Liangyoupeijiu, met the Phase I yield target in 2000. The Phase II super hybrids were successfully developed in 2004. Y Liangyou No.1 (YLY1), the typical Phase II super hybrid rice variety, has a largest annual planting area among all hybrid rice varieties in China since 2010 and has been extended to more than 4 million hectare so far. Y Liangyou No.2 (YLY2) met the standard of phase III super rice with a yield record of 926.6 kg/mu (13.9 t/ha) in 2011. The breeding target of Phase IV super hybrid was achieved in 2014. The new variety, Y Liangyou 900 (YLY900), created a new yield record of 15.4 t/ha, which doubled the average rice yield in China. Up to now, 125 super rice varieties have been certificated by the Ministry of Agriculture with a total planting area of approximate 80 million hectare in China. However, how to further break the yield ceiling and realize the yield potential of elite varieties in diverse range of target environments remains to be the major challenges for super hybrid rice breeding. Herein, we proposed that utilization of ideotype and inter-subspecific heterosis, assisted with molecular design breeding, is still being the vital way to increase yield ceiling.
ALIROCUMAB TREATMENT IN A REAL WORLD SETTING: SAFETY UPDATE FROM AN OPEN-LABEL TREATMENT EXTENSION TO THE ODYSSEY PROGRAM FOR PATIENTS WITH HETEROZYGOUS FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Background: The ODYSSEY open-label extension (OLE) study ([NCT01954394][1]) of 4 Phase 3 trials (FH I; FH II; LONG TERM; HIGH FH) is assessing the long-term efficacy and safety of alirocumab (ALI) in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) for up to 3.5yrs. We assessed the
206) Modulation of multiple modalities of somatosensory information by peripheral kappa opioid receptors

Peripherally-restricted kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists are emerging as a novel treatment for pain and itch conditions and have shown efficacy in several recent clinical trials. One primary site of action is thought to be at KORs on primary afferent nerves that innervate the body. Yet, the subtypes of primary afferent somatosensory neurons that express the kappa opioid receptor remain undefined. Using a newly developed KOR-cre knockin allele, viral tracing, and single-cell RT-PCR we discovered that that KOR is expressed in a specific subset of peptidergic afferents. This subset targeted multiple tissue types and expressed higher levels of transcripts known to be involved in neurogenic inflammation. Consistent with this, peripherally-restricted KOR agonists inhibited behavioral responses to chemical pain and itch stimuli, but not acute heat stimuli, and also decreased mechanical hypersensitivity following an incision injury. Unexpectedly, we also found that KOR is expressed in subsets of primary afferents that form lanceolate or circumferential endings around hair follicles, suggesting an unappreciated role for KOR signaling in the modulation of low-threshold mechanosensation. At a functional level, genetically-labeled afferents showed inhibition of voltage-gated calcium current in response to kappa agonists, and optogenetic experiments revealed that dynorphin inhibited evoked-EPSCs from the central terminals of KOR-expressing afferents. These experiments provide key insight for the rationale use of peripherally-restricted KOR agonists for the modulation of inflammatory pain, itch, and potentially mechanical allodynia.
Ephaptic coupling rescues conduction failure in weakly coupled cardiac tissue with voltage-gated gap junctions

Electrical conduction in cardiac tissue is usually considered to be primarily facilitated by gap junctions, providing a pathway between the intracellular spaces of neighboring cells. However, recent studies have highlighted the role of coupling via extracellular electric fields, also known as ephaptic coupling, particularly in the setting of reduced gap junction expression. Further, in the setting of reduced gap junctional coupling, voltage-dependent gating of gap junctions, an oft-neglected biophysical property in computational studies, produces a positive feedback that promotes conduction failure. We hypothesized that ephaptic coupling can break the positive feedback loop and rescue conduction failure in weakly coupled cardiac tissue. In a computational tissue model incorporating voltage-gated gap junctions and ephaptic coupling, we demonstrate that ephaptic coupling can rescue conduction failure in weakly coupled tissue. Further, ephaptic coupling increased conduction velocity in weakly coupled tissue, and importantly, reduced the minimum gap junctional coupling necessary for conduction, most prominently at fast pacing rates. Finally, we find that, although neglecting gap junction voltage-gating results in negligible differences in well coupled tissue, more significant differences occur in weakly coupled tissue, greatly underestimating the minimal gap junctional coupling that can maintain conduction. Our study suggests that ephaptic coupling plays a conduction-preserving role, particularly at rapid heart rates.
Subacromial Spacer for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears

Irreparable rotator cuff tears are a challenging clinical entity in orthopedics without a consensus treatment option. A multitude of surgical techniques have been employed in treating this condition including subacromial decompression, partial rotator cuff repair, tendon transfers, patch augmentation, superior capsular reconstruction (SCR), and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. In use since 2008, the InSpace subacromial spacer is a novel treatment option that is implanted between the humeral head and acromion to restore normal acromiohumeral distance, permit frictionless gliding, and promote more normal shoulder mechanics. This exciting innovation is minimally invasive, easy to insert, and associated with encouraging early results. Made of a biodegradable polymer, the InSpace has been shown to be safe and to fully resorb within 1 year of implantation. The InSpace is being studied extensively in Europe and the United States; however, it is not currently FDA approved for broad use in the United States.
Nationwide Trends in Hospital Outcomes and Utilization After Lower Limb Revascularization in Patients on Hemodialysis

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to describe the temporal trends and outcomes of endovascular and surgical revascularization in a large, nationally representative sample of patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis hospitalized for peripheral artery disease (PAD). Background PAD is prevalent among patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of information on trends in endovascular and surgical revascularization and post-procedure outcomes in this population. Methods We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2002 to 2012) to identify hemodialysis patients undergoing endovascular or surgical procedures for PAD using diagnostic and procedural codes. We compared trends in amputation, post-procedure complications, mortality, length of stay, and costs between the 2 groups using trend tests and logistic regression. Results There were 77,049 endovascular and 29,556 surgical procedures for PAD in hemodialysis patients. Trend analysis showed that endovascular procedures increased by nearly 3-fold, whereas there was a reciprocal decrease in surgical revascularization. Post-procedure complication rates were relatively stable in persons undergoing endovascular procedures but nearly doubled in those undergoing surgery. Surgery was associated with 1.8 times adjusted odds (95% confidence interval: 1.60 to 2.02) for complications and 1.6 times the adjusted odds for amputations (95% confidence interval: 1.40 to 1.75) but had similar mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 1.05; 95% confidence interval: 0.85 to 1.29) compared with endovascular procedures. Length of stay for endovascular procedures remained stable, whereas a decrease was seen for surgical procedures. Overall costs increased marginally for both procedures. Conclusions Rates of endovascular procedures have increased, whereas those of surgeries have decreased. Surgical revascularization is associated with higher odds of overall complications. Further prospective studies and clinical trials are required to analyze the relationship between the severity of PAD and the revascularization strategy chosen.
Association of Coprescription of Triptan Antimigraine Drugs and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor or Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressants With Serotonin Syndrome.

Importance In 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory warning on the risk of serotonin syndrome with concomitant use of triptans and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressants, but the true risk of serotonin syndrome in these patients remains unknown. Objective To assess the risk of serotonin syndrome with concomitant use of triptans and SSRI or SNRI antidepressants. Design, Setting, and Participants This study used electronic health record data from the Partners Research Data Registry (RPDR) to identify patients who had received anInternational Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revisiondiagnosis compatible with serotonin syndrome who had been coprescribed triptans and SSRI or SNRI antidepressants in the Greater Boston, Massachusetts, area from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2014 (14 years). Clinical information was extracted to determine whether the case met formal diagnostic criteria and had coprescription within a calendar year. Both conservative and broad case definitions were used to better characterize the spectrum of risk. Data analysis was performed from November 23, 2016, to July 15, 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures Incidence of serotonin syndrome. Results The RPDR search revealed 47 968 (±3) unique patients who were prescribed triptans during the 14-year period of the study. A total of 19 017 (±3) patients were coprescribed triptans and antidepressants during the study, with a total of 30 928 person-years of exposure. Serotonin syndrome was suspected in 17 patients. Only 2 patients were classified as having definite serotonin syndrome (incidence rate, 0.6 cases per 10 000 person-years of exposure; 95% CI, 0.0-1.5). Five patients were classified as having possible serotonin syndrome (incidence rate with these 5 cases added to the 2 definite cases, 2.3 cases per 10 000 person-years of exposure; 95% CI, 0.6-3.9). The proportion of patients with triptan prescriptions who were coprescribed an SSRI or SNRI antidepressant was relatively stable during the study, ranging from 21% to 29%. Conclusions and Relevance The risk of serotonin syndrome associated with concomitant use of triptans and SSRIs or SNRIs was low. Coprescription of these drugs is common and did not decrease after the 2006 FDA advisory. Our results cast doubt on the validity of the FDA advisory and suggest that it should be reconsidered.
On the edge dimension of a graph

Abstract Given a connected graph G ( V , E ) , the edge dimension, denoted edim ( G ) , is the least size of a set S ⊆ V that distinguishes every pair of edges of G , in the sense that the edges have pairwise different tuples of distances to the vertices of S . The notation was introduced by Kelenc, Tratnik, and Yero, and in their paper they posed several questions about various properties of edim . In this article we answer two of these questions: we classify the graphs on n vertices for which edim ( G ) = n − 1 and show that edim ( G ) dim ( G ) is not bounded from above (here dim ( G ) is the standard metric dimension of G ). We also compute edim ( G □ P m ) and edim ( G + K 1 ) .
A North American perspective on the Volgu Biface Cache from Upper Paleolithic France and its relationship to the “Solutrean Hypothesis” for Clovis origins

Abstract The “Solutrean hypothesis” for the origins of the North American Clovis Culture posits that early North American colonizers were direct descendants of European populations that migrated across the North Atlantic during the European Upper Paleolithic. The evidential basis for this model rests largely on proposed technological and behavioral similarities shared by the North American Clovis archaeological culture and the French and Iberian Solutrean archaeological culture. The caching of stone tools by both cultures is one of the specific behavioral correlates put forth by proponents in support of the hypothesis. While more than two dozen Clovis caches have been identified, Volgu is the only Solutrean cache identified at this time. Volgu consists of at least 15 exquisitely manufactured bifacial stone tools interpreted as an artifact cache or ritual deposit, and the artifacts themselves have long been considered exemplary of the most refined Solutrean bifacial technology. This paper reports the results of applying methods developed for the comparative analysis of the relatively more abundant caches of Clovis materials in North America to this apparently singular Solutrean cache. In addition to providing a window into Solutrean technology and perhaps into Upper Paleolithic ritual behavior, this comparison of Clovis and Solutrean assemblages serves to test one of the tangible archaeological implications of the “Solutrean hypothesis” by evaluating the technological and behavioral equivalence of Solutrean and Clovis artifact caching. The hypothesized historical connection is evaluated based on the attributes of the caches themselves, the evidence for geographic and temporal continuity in caching between the two cultures, and the proposed uniqueness of this behavior to Solutrean and Clovis. Results from the comparison of Volgu to Clovis caches indicate that they are divergent with regard to a number of important attributes and appear to represent neither equivalent behaviors nor a historical connection.
A reader-response approach to Susan Sontag's Death Kit

ions) in a "supplementary" role. The flesh he had grasped is now a term, two words: "sexual intimacy." It is fitting that Diddy should berate himself for not turning to the priest, for the priest is, of course, officially connected to .the word, the first and true word. The flesh and its pleasures are immediately set aside as " .. common. With time and in solitude, they are renounced in favor of the word, even though Diddy cannot believe in the "literal validity" of the word in the form of a priest~s absolution. So, is Diddy a typical "expensively educated, gently reared" man? Is he a typical "civilized" man? Let us juxtapose the opening of Kit and the two passages quoted above with the following from Freud~s "Reflections upon War and Death" in mind. Freud is answering here the question or how one reaches "a higher plane of morality": The first answer is sure to be: He is good and noble from his very birth, his very earliest beginnings. We need not consider this any further. A second answer will suggest that we are concerned with a developmental process, and will probably assume that this developmental process consists in eradicating from him the evil human tendencies and, under the influence of education and civilized environment, replacing them by good ones. From that standpoint it is certainly astonishing that evil should show itself to have such power in those that have been thus nurtured (113). I read the "Diddy the Good" of the novel~s opening sentence--"Diddy the Good was taking a business trip" (1)--as a nod through its fairy tale-like naming of the novel~s protagonist towards Freud~s "first answer," a nod exploded by Sontag as it is passed over by Freud. After