cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single case causes : what is evidence and why.

How do we establish singular causal claims? It seems we do this all the time, from courtrooms to cloud chambers. Nevertheless, there is a strong lobby in the evidence-based medicine and policy movements that argues that we cannot make reliable causal judgments about single cases in these areas. So we cannot tell whether a policy or treatment ‘worked’ for any specific individual. This paper argues the contrary. It provides a catalogue of evidence types that can support singular causal claims, and it develops a theoretical framework that shows that these types are evidence for causation in the single case.
Equivalent circuit models and model validation of SiC MOSFET oscillation phenomenon

SiC MOSFETs are known to provide a better performance compared to Si IGBTs. However, they can also introduce undesirable behaviors like switching oscillations due to the existence of parasitic elements. In this paper, we introduce the turn-on and turn-off switching equivalent circuit models and validate these models with commercially available SiC MOSFETs. Based on the models, theoretical analysis is carried out and the guidance of damping circuit design is provided. Circuit simulations and experimental measurements are performed to validate the modeling method as a general treatment for ultrafast switching applications. In addition, a method of extracting parasitic inductances of packaged SiC MOSFETs using a network analyzer is introduced. The measured parasitic inductance values prove to be more realistic than the values estimated by the device manufacturer when being used in the equivalent circuit models. Furthermore, a detailed justification and experimental validation on the assumption of gate loop resistive contribution are provided.
Using image data for Quality Assurance in Additive Manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes currently suffer from high failure rates, which can amount to immense danger when the AM parts are incorporated in complex systems used by the public, i.e. cars, airplanes, or construction. Most current AM Quality Assurance (QA) methods are conducted post production, though ultrasonic testing may also be conducted while a part is being built. The focus of the project is to build a non-destructive post-production verification process that uses image data to render 3D models of the actual build, which will aid users in determining the quality of a part. The visualization process presented here will automate some labor intensive tasks and ultimately help users easily determine how print parameters affect the quality of a build by 1) collating and cleaning image data from actual builds, 2) storing data efficiently, and 3) creating visualizations of the images. A crucial outcome of this research is the ability to determine the quality of a final printed object without destroying it for QA inspection.
A Control Model of the Vestibular System

Abstract The human vestibular system for dynamic space orientation is described mathematically, using the identification methods of control theory. A biocybernetic model is useful in predicting man's perceived orientation in space, postural reactions, nystagmus eye movements, and piloting actions based on motion cues. The semicircular canals, which act as angular velocity sensors, have been subjected to a fluid dynamics analysis. The limitations of the torsion pendulum model are examined, and a quantitative description of adaptation is proposed. An otolith model, responding to linear acceleration forces, is presented and shown to agree with perception of tilt and translation, eye counterrolling, and electrophysiological data. Cross-coupling effects are discussed, including the influence of linear acceleration on the semicircular canals.
Comments on Greer’s Review of Campbell’s “The Payaya Indians of Southern Texas”

(1978). Comments on Greer’s Review of Campbell’s “The Payaya Indians of Southern Texas”. Plains Anthropologist: Vol. 23, No. 79, pp. 83-84.
Female Reproductive Aging: From Consequences to Mechanisms, Markers, and Treatments

Abstract Aging is universal and underlies chronic disease as well as tissue and cellular deterioration. The female reproductive system is the first to age in humans, with functional decline occurring decades prior to other organs. Reproductive aging is associated with a decrease in both the number and quality of eggs within the ovary, which together contribute to increased incidences of miscarriages, infertility, and birth defects. Reproductive aging also affects general health because ovarian hormones, such as estrogen, regulate downstream organ systems. The negative consequences of female reproductive aging are becoming more prevalent as women globally are delaying childbearing and more women are living well beyond menopause due to life-extending medical interventions and advances. Here we synthesize data from mouse models and humans to define age-associated changes in endocrinology, gamete quality, and the somatic ovarian environment, and we describe how genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors accelerate such changes. There is a clinical need to generate tools to assess reproductive aging and to develop methods to improve reproductive outcomes in the setting of advanced reproductive age. The delineation of new biological mechanisms underlying reproductive aging is continuously informing therapeutic interventions, which are largely focused on targeting mitochondrial function. However, the diversity of therapeutic strategies is likely to expand as we learn more about the complex, multifactorial phenomenon of reproductive aging, which will impact every single female.
Cleaning and Assessing Continuous Data using MEANS, UNIVARIATE, and BOXPLOT

In this chapter, we continue and expand on our brief introduction to continuous data from our consideration of PROC MEANS in Chap. 6. From an epidemiological perspective, the descriptive procedures in this chapter may be all that are needed to give us some summary statistics like means and medians, or simple graphical comparisons. They are often useful for data “cleaning” by providing tools to look for missing data, identifying outlier or erroneous values, and getting an overall sense of the data. These procedures, which in addition to PROC MEANS include PROC UNIVARIATE and PROC BOXPLOT, are also used to evaluate data for the assumptions for analyses such as ANOVA or linear regression. We will be talking (a lot) about statistical significance, variability, etc., and it’s easy to get caught up in the ideal of statistical significance as its own end. But, remember: clinical or epidemiological importance is what we’re really interested in.
Actions, their effects and preventable evil

L'A. discute les theses d'Alvin Plantinga et de Susan Anderson a propos du mal, de la liberte et de l'action. Il estime que la tentative d'etendre la defense du mal moral a une theodicee pour le mal naturel est un recul.
Stationarity Tests with Multiple Endogenized Breaks

Since the pioneering work of Perron (1989), allowing for a structural break in testing for a unit root has been an important issue. He suggests that unit root tests would be biased toward accepting a false null hypothesis of a unit root if a time series exhibits stationary fluctuations around a trend containing a structural break. Since the break point used by Perron is given exogenously rather than determined from the data, subsequent literature has incorporated an endogenous break point. This approach includes Zivot and Andrews (1992), Christiano (1992), and Bannerjee, et al. (1992), among others.
Flow Sensing in Sharks: Lateral Line Contributions to Navigation and Prey Capture

Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays), like other fishes, possess a mechanosensory lateral line system that detects weak water motions. The anatomy of the lateral line system of elasmobranchs is subtly different from that of bony fishes. Found along the head and body in species-specific patterns, it is composed of neuromasts that lie in grooves or pits on the surface of the skin, as well as neuromasts that line fluid-filled subepidermal canals which may be open to the environment via pores or may be closed (nonpored). While there is a growing wealth of knowledge on lateral line function in bony fishes, comparatively less is known about the behavioral role of this sensory system in elasmobranchs. Recent research suggests that in sharks, as in bony fishes, the lateral line functions in navigation and obstacle avoidance, orientation to currents, and feeding behavior, where it contributes to prey tracking, prey localization, and capture precision.
Optimizing MRI sequences and images for MRI-based stereotactic radiosurgery treatment planning

Abstract Aim Development of MRI sequences and processing methods for the production of images appropriate for direct use in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatment planning. Background MRI is useful in SRS treatment planning, especially for patients with brain lesions or anatomical targets that are poorly distinguished by CT, but its use requires further refinement. This methodology seeks to optimize MRI sequences to generate distortion-free and clinically relevant MR images for MRI-only SRS treatment planning. Materials and methods We used commercially available SRS MRI-guided radiotherapy phantoms and eight patients to optimize sequences for patient imaging. Workflow involved the choice of correct MRI sequence(s), optimization of the sequence parameters, evaluation of image quality (artifact free and clinically relevant), measurement of geometrical distortion, and evaluation of the accuracy of our offline correction algorithm. Results CT images showed a maximum deviation of 1.3 mm and minimum deviation of 0.4 mm from true fiducial position for SRS coordinate definition. Interestingly, uncorrected MR images showed maximum deviation of 1.2 mm and minimum of 0.4 mm, comparable to CT images used for SRS coordinate definition. After geometrical correction, we observed a maximum deviation of 1.1 mm and minimum deviation of only 0.3 mm. Conclusion Our optimized MRI pulse sequences and image correction technique show promising results; MR images produced under these conditions are appropriate for direct use in SRS treatment planning.
THE FASCINATION OF WHOLE NUMBERS

tician is to do something, to prove new theorems, to add to mathematics, and not to talk about what he and other mathematicians have done. Statesmen despise publicists, painters despise art critics, and physiologists, physicists or math ematicians have usually similar feelings. There is no scorn more profound or, on the whole more justifiable, than that of the men who explain. Exposition, criticism, appreciation, is a mark of second-rate minds.1
Debunking the myth that the majority of medical errors are attributed to communication

Context Many articles, book chapters and presentations begin with a declaration that the majority of medical errors are attributed to communication. However, this statement may not be supported by the research reported in the literature. Objectives The purpose of this systematic review is to identify where errors are reported in the research literature. Methods A systematised review was conducted of research articles over the last 20 years (1998-2018) indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) using term combinations: medical errors, research and communication. Inclusion was based on reported generalised primary research of medical error and the reported causes. Results This systematised review resulted in 2881 research articles, which produced 42 that met the inclusion criteria. Although there was some overlap, three categories of errors were dominant in this research: errors of commission (20 articles; 47.6%), errors of omission (six articles; 14.2%) and errors through communication (four articles; 9.5%). There were 12 (28.5%) articles in which all three categories together significantly contributed to error. Of these 12 articles, errors of commission or omission were dominant in nine articles (21.4%) and errors of communication were prevalent in only three articles (7%). Conclusions The assertion that the majority of medical errors can be attributed to miscommunication is not supported by this systematic review. Overwhelmingly, most reported errors are attributed to errors of omission or commission. Intentionally or unintentionally providing misinformation may mislead patient safety initiatives, and research and funding agency priorities.
Successful Implementation of a Resident Liaison to Medical Students in Emergency Medicine Rotations

Background As the role of the resident-as-teacher grows, some residents are inspired to develop themselves early as leaders in education while in training. We describe the successful implementation of a resident liaison (RL) to medical students in emergency medicine (EM) as a way to develop resident leaders in medical education. Methods This position was implemented to develop interested residents as leaders in medical education and to provide medical students access to an EM physician who is closer to their training level and may be more approachable than the clerkship director. RLs are mentored by the clerkship director and are involved in curricular programming and education research. Results This innovation has strengthened our student EM rotations and has provided residents with a unique opportunity to explore a career in medical education. Residents have made tangible contributions to our educational programming in this role and have pursued careers in medical education. The program has been recognized as a "best practice" by students and the school of medicine. Conclusions The RL initiative has conferred significant benefits to residents and medical students. Implementation of a RL program may benefit EM rotations outside of our institution and perhaps outside of the EM specialty.
After "Hello" with a wounded warrior: A student journey.

Abstract The article describes the journey of a terror-stricken student growing into an adept healthcare provider; representing courageous personal and professional growth after a “Hello” in a nursing school immersion experience. The journey includes the student’s emotional maturity and courage, recognizing the uniqueness of military culture, realizing the magnitude of the patient’s losses, ascertaining patient concerns, personal recovery goals and long-term support network. Together recovery milestones are recognized and achieved. The article underscores the importance of nurse education in facilitating student’s effective nurse-patient communication techniques considering diverse cultural elements, and consistently applying these theoretical concepts into practice. Assignments geared toward a holistic patient perspective can serve to develop student leadership progress toward becoming informed and engaged citizens, enlarging worldviews and a heightened awareness of relevant global issues, and spark passion related to national policy reform. Commitment to professional ownership of personal and professional growth throughout nursing school leads to positive transitions as a seasoned healthcare provider.
Flipping the Switch: Homeostatic Tuning of Chandelier Synapses Follows Developmental Changes in GABA Polarity.

Homeostatic plasticity rules are well described for glutamatergic synapses but less clear for GABAergic synapses. In this issue of Neuron, Pan-Vazquez et al. (2020) leverage the precise targeting of chandelier-to-pyramidal cell connectivity to understand how homeostatic plasticity regulates GABAergic synapses, showing that these synapses maintain homeostatic rules even as they flip from exciting to inhibiting pyramidal cells.
A Suspension of Reason in the Face of Food Harvest: Finding Meaning in the Act of Conforming

This chapter explores the story of finding growth with the limits of knowledge. It is a reflection on how despair and hopefulness helped me to find absurd ways to live and breach the boundaries of what is known as food harvest. This story challenges the notion that we are bound to the oppressive American food paradigm that creates a culture of poverty. This culture of poverty makes it very difficult to harvest food because of the politics of food consumerism. This chapter ends with a guiding heuristic that serves to stimulate a conversation around food.
Abstract 13699: Cyclohexanone Contamination of Medical Plastics is Associated With Worse Congenital Heart Surgery Outcomes

Introduction: Cyclohexanone, an industrial medical plastic fabrication contaminant, can leach from medical plastics including the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit. Effects of neonatal periopera...
Stress Fractures of the Lumbar Spine

Spondylolysis is a condition involving the pars interarticularis (pars), located in the posterior elements of lumbar vertebrae. It is highly prevalent in adolescents and should be suspected any time a young athlete presents for evaluation of low back pain. Early clinical manifestations involve only a stress response within the pars, but this can later progress to bony discontinuity and, eventually, spondylolisthesis, the translation of one vertebra upon another. Establishing an accurate diagnosis and developing an appropriate initial treatment plan are key to helping the athlete return safely back to his or her sport. Multiple radiologic studies may be necessary to assist the clinician in developing a rational strategy to correlate diagnostic findings with a patient’s symptoms, severity of injury, and goals of care. Bracing can be considered in the appropriate circumstance, and most athletes do well with nonsurgical treatment after an adequate period of rest and rehabilitation.
Isosymmetric compression of cubic halide perovskites $$\mathrm{ABX}_{3}$$ ($$A=K, Rb, Cs$$; $$B=Ge, Sn, Pb$$ and $$X=Cl,Br,I$$)-influence of cation–anion exchange: a first principle study

Halide perovskites are potential candidates for their use in solar cells. In this study, an investigation of the structural, mechanical and electro-optical properties of $$\mathrm{ABX}_{3}$$ ( $$A=K, Rb, Cs$$ ; $$B=Ge, Sn, Pb$$ and $$X=Cl,Br,I$$ ), under isosymmetric compression, is presented. All the calculations are performed with generalized gradient approximation schemes. We have examined the effect of cation and anion substitution on their overall properties.
Abstract 49: Building a Bridge From Hospital to Home Reduces Readmissions After Ischemic Stroke

Background: Readmission within 30 days after hospitalization due to ischemic stroke (IS) is associated with increased healthcare costs and higher risk of death and disability. Efforts to decrease h...
Differential cardiotoxic electrocardiographic response to doxorubicin treatment in conscious versus anesthetized mice

Introduction Doxorubicin (DOX), an anticancer drug used in chemotherapy, causes significant cardiotoxicity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of DOX on mouse cardiac electrophysiology, in conscious versus anesthetized state. Methods Male and female C57BL/6 mice were injected with saline, 20 or 30 mg/kg DOX. ECGs were recorded 5 days post-injection in conscious and isoflurane anesthetized states. ECGs were analyzed using a custom MATLAB software to determine P, PR, QRS, QTc, and RR intervals as well as heart rate variability (HRV). Results ECGs from the same mouse demonstrated P wave and QTc shortening as well as PR and RR interval prolongation in anesthetized versus conscious saline-treated mice. ECG response to DOX was also modulated by anesthesia. DOX treatment induced significant ECG modulation in female mice alone. While DOX20 treatment caused decrease in P and QRS durations, DOX30 treatment-induced QTc and RR interval prolongation in anesthetized but not in conscious female mice. These data suggest significant sex differences and anesthesia-induced differences in ECG response to DOX. HRV measured in time and frequency domains, a metric of arrhythmia susceptibility, was increased in DOX20-treated mice compared to saline. Conclusions This study for the first time identifies that the ECG response to DOX is modulated by anesthesia. Furthermore, this response demonstrated stark sex differences. These findings could have significant implications in clinical diagnosis of DOX cardiotoxicity.
Cocaine augments neuro-inflammation via modulating extracellular vesicle release in HIV-1 infected immune cells.

Background Extracellular Vesicles (EV) recently have been implicated in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 syndromes, including neuroinflammation and HIV-1 associated neurological disorder (HAND). Cocaine, an illicit stimulant drug used worldwide is known to exacerbate these HIV-1 associated neurological syndromes. However, the effects of cocaine on EV biogenesis and roles of EVs in enhancing HIV-1 pathogenesis are not yet well defined. Results Here, we investigated the effects of cocaine on EV biogenesis and release in HIV-1 infected immune cells and explored their roles in elicitation of neuroinflammation. We found that cocaine significantly augmented the release of EVs from uninfected and HIV-1 infected T-cells, DCs and macrophages. Further analysis of the molecular components of EVs revealed enhanced expression of adhesion molecules integrin β1 and LFA-1 in those EVs derived from cocaine treated cells. Intriguingly, in EVs derived from HIV-1 infected cells, cocaine treatment significantly increased the levels of viral genes in EVs released from macrophages and DCs, but not in T-cells. Exploring the molecular mechanism to account for this, we found that DCs and macrophages showed enhanced expression of the cocaine receptor Sigma 1-Receptor compared to T-cells. In addition, we found that cocaine significantly altered the integrity of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) in HIV-1 infected macrophages and DCs compared to untreated HIV-1 infected cells. Characterizing further the molecular mechanisms involved in how cocaine increased EV release, we found that cocaine decreased the expression of the interferon-inducible protein BST-2; this resulted in altered trafficking of intracellular virus containing vesicles and EV biogenesis and release. We also observed EVs released from cocaine treated HIV-1 infected macrophages and DCs enhanced HIV-1 trans-infection to T-cells compared to those from untreated and HIV-1 infected cells. These EVs triggered release of proinflammatory cytokines in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) and altered monolayer integrity. Conclusions Taken together, our results provide a novel mechanism which helps to elucidate the enhanced prevalence of neurological disorders in cocaine using HIV-1 infected individuals and offers insights into developing novel therapeutic strategies against HAND in these hosts.
Manifold learning analysis suggests novel strategies for aligning single-cell multi-modalities and revealing functional genomics for neuronal electrophysiology

Abstract Recent single-cell multi-modal data reveal multi-scale characteristics of single cells, such as transcriptomics, morphology, and electrophysiology. However, our understanding of functional genomics and gene regulation leading to various cellular characteristics remains elusive. To address this, we applied multiple machine learning methods to align gene expression and electrophysiological data of single neuronal cells in the mouse brain. We found that nonlinear manifold learning outperforms other methods. After manifold alignment, the cell clusters highly correspond to transcriptomic and morphological cell-types, suggesting a strong nonlinear relationship between gene expression and electrophysiology at the cell-type level. The aligned cells form developmental trajectories and show continuous changes of electrophysiological features, implying the underlying developmental process. We also found that the manifold-aligned cell clusters’ differentially expressed genes can predict many electrophysiological features. Functional enrichment and gene regulatory network analyses for those cell clusters revealed potential genome functions and molecular mechanisms from gene expression to neuronal electrophysiology.
Oral ingestion of egg yolk immunoglobulin from hens immunized with an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain prevents diarrhea in rabbits challenged with the same strain.

White Leghorn hens were immunized with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli B16-4 with heat-labile enterotoxin and colonization factor antigen I in Freund9s adjuvant. Specific antibodies were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the serum after 8 days and in eggs after 10 days, with levels reaching peaks at 15 and 20 days after the first immunization, respectively. The protective effects of the egg yolk antibodies were tested in the rabbit reversible ileal tie model of diarrhea. Five control rabbits developed severe diarrhea within 72 h after inoculation with enterotoxigenic E. coli B16-4. Oral ingestion of egg yolks from immunized hens for 4 days prior to inoculation protected five rabbits from diarrhea after challenge with the same strain of E. coli. The rabbits showed no adverse effects from the ingestion of the egg yolks. Four rabbits fed control eggs were also afforded some protection in that three rabbits developed mild diarrhea and one rabbit remained entirely well. In vitro experiments showed that immunoglobulin from egg yolks interfered with the binding of E. coli to purified small bowel mucins; immunoglobulin from immunized hens reduced binding more than immunoglobulin from nonimmunized hens. These findings indicate that eggs from hens immunized with appropriate antigens have potential as a useful source of passive immunity.
Separate urinary bladder and prostate neurons in the central nervous system of the rat: simultaneous labeling with two immunohistochemically distinguishable pseudorabies viruses

Background This work examines the central nervous system distribution of virus-labeled neurons from the rat urinary bladder and the prostate simultaneously within the same tissue sections. Two immunohistochemically distinct pseudorabies virus strains were simultaneously injected into male Sprague Dawley rats (~280 gm). One virus was injected into the bladder and the other into the prostate. After incubation intervals of 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3 and 4 days, sections from the spinal cord and brain were processed immunohistochemically to detect cells, within a single section, which were labeled separately by each virus or were labeled by both viruses.
Application of an incremental evolution technique to spacecraft design optimization

Based on the intuition that it is often easier to learn to solve difficult problems after similar, simpler problems have been learned, incremental evolution is an extension to evolutionary algorithms in which the evaluation function against which a population is evolved is scaled over time. This paper presents an application of incremental evolution to the problem of physical design optimization of a Mars microprobe spacecraft. Experimental results that demonstrated the utility of the approach are presented, as well as some new insights into the behavior of incremental evolution which may explain its success.
Assessing the Profitability and Riskiness of Small Business Lenders in the Banking Industry

Two alternative research hypotheses concerning how small business lending affects bank profitability are tested. The specialization hypothesis argues for higher profitability than other banks due to increased focus on small business lending, whereas the diversification hypothesis asserts that small business lenders' profitability will be lower than other more diversified banks. Using the rate of return on assets as the profit measure, we find that small business exposure tends to have neutral or positive effects on bank profitability after taking into account bank risk. Using efficient frontier analyses that focus on the rate of return on equity, we find that small business lenders reap benefits from specialization, particularly in terms of reducing failure risk. We conclude that the evidence supports the specialization hypothesis.
Faculty diversity and inclusion program outcomes at an academic otolaryngology department

Objectives/Hypothesis To describe a 10-year diversity initiative to increase the number of women and underrepresented minorities in an academic department of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. Study Design Retrospective review. Methods A multifaceted approach was undertaken to recruit and retain women and underrepresented minority (URM) faculty: creation of a climate of diversity, aggressive recruitment, achievement of parity of salary at rank regardless of gender or minority status, provision of mentorship to women and URM faculty, and increasing the pipeline of qualified candidates. Primary outcomes measures included number of women and URM faculty, academic rank, and salary. Results From 2004 to 2014, the percentage of women clinical faculty increased from 5.8% to 23.7%; women basic science faculty increased from 11.1% to 37.5%. The number of women at associate professor rank increased from 0 to eight. During this period, underrepresented minority faculty increased in number from two to four; URM full professors increased in number from 0 to 1. In 2004, women earned 4% to 12% less than their male counterparts; there were no salary differences for URM. In 2014, salary was equal by rank and subspecialty training independent of gender or minority status. Conclusion A comprehensive diversity and inclusion initiative has increased representation of women and URM faculty in an academic department of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. However, there continue to be opportunities to further increase diversity. Level of Evidence N/A. Laryngoscope, 2015
A cascaded two-port bridge multilevel converter with automatic voltage balancing capability

Modular multi-level converters need to be switched at fundamental frequency (60 Hz) in order to minimize switching losses. But, the voltage balancing of the individual DC link capacitors can only be performed in ‘N’ fundamental cycles leading to impractical capacitor ratings. Alternatively, by continuously sensing the current direction and polling capacitor voltages, balancing action can be achieved in two fundamental cycles. But, the DSP and FPGA resources used are extremely high leading to an impractical system. In this paper, a cascaded two-port bridge multilevel converter is proposed. Using the proposed converter, the DC capacitor voltage balancing can be performed in one fundamental cycle leading to low DC link capacitance. Continuous monitoring of arm current and capacitor voltage polling also are not necessary for voltage balancing.
Pareto Optimal Allocation

A feasible allocation is Pareto optimal if there is no other feasible allocation that makes at least one of the agents in an economy strictly better off without making someone else worse off. Keywords: Pareto optimal allocation; Pareto efficient allocation; contract curve
Low-hanging fruit: targeting Brdt in the testes.

EMBO J (2012) 31 19, 3809–3820 doi:10.1038/emboj.2012.233; published online August242012 In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Gaucher et al (2012) demonstrate that Brdt, a testes-specific member of the BET family of double bromodomain proteins, is intricately involved in the transcriptional regulation and genome reorganization required for the production of viable, fertile sperm. These findings are complimented by a recent publication in Cell (Matzuk et al, 2012) where JQ1, a small molecule BET inhibitor, is effective as a male contraceptive in mice. Both studies establish Brdt as an integral factor in sperm development.
Differential expression of neurexin mRNA in CA1 and CA3 hippocampal neurons in response to ischemic insult

A short period of cerebral ischemia will trigger a cascade of events leading to neuronal death. In an effort to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying differential vulnerability of CA1 and CA3 hippocampal neurons to neurodegeneration, we performed a transcriptional analysis of rat hippocampal neurons following transient global ischemia. In response to 15-min ischemia, the mRNA level of neurexins IIα and IIIα was elevated in CA1 neurons and CA3 neurons, respectively. Interestingly, the up-regulated neurexin IIIα mRNA in postischemic CA3 consisted of the insert corresponding to the fourth splicing site, while the transcripts in postischemic CA1 neurons and control CA3 neurons lacked the insert. The observed tissue specific expression and the splicing pattern suggest functional importance of neurexins in postischemic degeneration of hippocampal neurons.
Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Is Required for Optimal ATP Activation of BK Channels in GH3 Cells

To test the hypothesis that ATP activation of BK channels in GH3 cells involves cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) as a potential protein target for phosphorylation, we first inhibited the activity of cPLA2 by both pharmacologic and molecular biologic approaches. Both approaches resulted in a decrease rather than an increase in BK channel activity by ATP, suggesting that in the absence of cPLA2, phosphorylation of other regulatory elements, possibly the BK channel protein itself, results in inactivation rather than activation of the channel. The absence of changes in activity in the presence of the non-substrate ATP analog 5′-adenylyl-β,γ-imidodiphosphate verified that ATP hydrolysis was required for channel activation by ATP. Experiments with an activator and inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC) support the hypothesis that PKC can be involved in the activation of BK channels by ATP; and in the absence of PKC, other kinases appear to phosphorylate additional elements in the regulatory pathway that reduce channel activity. Our data point to cPLA2-α (but not cPLA2-γ) as one target protein for phosphorylation that is intimately associated with the BK channel protein.
Ontogenesis of Placental Inner Ring Thyroxine Deiodinase and Amniotic Fluid 3,3′,5′-Triiodothyronine Concentration in the Rat*

Human and rat placentas contain enzymatic activity which converts T4 to rT3 and T3 to 3,3′-diiodothyronine and 3′-monoiodothyronine. This study presents data on the ontogeny of this inner ring iodothyronine deiodinase activity (P-T4ase) in rat placenta. P-T4ase was measured by quantitating the conversion of T4 to rT3 in 700 × g supernatants of placental homogenates. Groups of rats were mated to permit the dams to be killed on the same day, on days 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 of gestation. Sufficient placental tissue was obtained to measure P-T4ase on all but the 12th day of gestation. The highest level of P-T4ase was observed on day 16. P-T4ase on days 14, 18, and 20 was 52%, 77%, and 41%, respectively, of that observed on day 16 (P < 0.01, day 16 vs. all other days). Amniotic fluid rT3 concentrations were highest on day 18 and were 61% and 64%, respectively, of that observed on day 18 (P < 0.01, days 16 and 20 vs. day 18). At 20 days, maternal serum T4 concentrations were significantly lower (P <0.01) than on...
A Highly Conserved Cytoplasmic Cysteine Residue in the α4 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Is Palmitoylated and Regulates Protein Expression

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) cell surface expression levels are modulated during nicotine dependence and multiple disorders of the nervous system, but the mechanisms underlying nAChR trafficking remain unclear. To determine the role of cysteine residues, including their palmitoylation, on neuronal α4 nAChR subunit maturation and cell surface trafficking, the cysteines in the two intracellular regions of the receptor were replaced with serines using site-directed mutagenesis. Palmitoylation is a post-translational modification that regulates membrane receptor trafficking and function. Metabolic labeling with [3H]palmitate determined that the cysteine in the cytoplasmic loop between transmembrane domains 1 and 2 (M1–M2) is palmitoylated. When this cysteine is mutated to a serine, producing a depalmitoylated α4 nAChR, total protein expression decreases, but surface expression increases compared with wild-type α4 levels, as determined by Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunoassays, respectively. The cysteines in the M3-M4 cytoplasmic loop do not appear to be palmitoylated, but replacing all of the cysteines in the loop with serines increases total and cell surface expression. When all of the intracellular cysteines in both loops are mutated to serines, there is no change in total expression, but there is an increase in surface expression. Calcium accumulation assays and high affinity binding for [3H]epibatidine determined that all mutants retain functional activity. Thus, our results identify a novel palmitoylation site on cysteine 273 in the M1-M2 loop of the α4 nAChR and determine that cysteines in both intracellular loops are regulatory factors in total and cell surface protein expression of the α4β2 nAChR.
TH-D-351-05: Scatter Correction for Cone-Beam CT in Radiation Therapy

Purpose: Cone‐beam CT(CBCT) is being increasingly used in radiation therapy. However, as compared to conventional CT, the degraded image quality of CBCT hampers its applications. Due to the large volume of x‐ray illumination in CBCT, scatter is considered as one of the fundamental limitations of CBCTimage quality. Many scatter correction algorithms have been developed, while drawbacks still exist. Here, we propose a new scatter correction method which is particularly useful in radiation therapy.Method and Materials: Since the same patient is scanned repetitively during one radiation treatment course, we measure the scatter distributions in one scan, and use the measured scatter distributions to estimate and correct scatter in the following scans. A partially blocked CBCT is used in the scatter measurement scan. The x‐ray beam blocker has a strip pattern, such that the whole‐field scatter distribution can be estimated from the detected signals in the shadow region and the patient rigid transformation can be determined from the reconstructed image using the illuminated detector projection data. From the derived patient transformation, the measured scatter is then modified and used for scatter correction in the following regular CBCT scans. Results: The proposed method has been evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations and physical experiments on an anthropomorphic chest phantom. The results show a significant suppression of scatter artifacts using the proposed method. Using the reconstruction in a narrow collimator geometry as a reference, the comparison also shows that the proposed method reduces reconstruction error from 13.2% to 0.8%. Conclusion: This work indicates that much improved CBCTimage quality is achievable using the proposed scatter correction method in radiation therapy. Our method is very attractive in applications where high CBCT reconstruction accuracy is critical, for example, dose calculation in adaptive radiation therapy.
A Measure for Peakedness

Abstract The kurtosis has often been used to characterize the peakedness of a density. Unfortunately, the kurtosis does not exist for all densities. This article defines a measure of peakedness that exists for all symmetric unimodal densities.
Photocatalysis by tetraphenylporphyrin of the decomposition of chloroform

Irradiation of solutions of tetraphenylporphyrin (H2TPP) in chloroform causes decomposition of the chloroform at UV wavelengths higher than those that decompose chloroform directly. The catalytic cycle involves photooxidation of the porphyrin followed by thermal reduction. Photocatalysis continues after H2TPP has been completely protonated by the HCl produced during decomposition, and the rate of HCl production accelerates as a second pathway, in which CCl3OOH oxidizes the porphyrin, becomes important.
Morphological sex change upon treatment by endocrine modulators in meiogynogenetic tench (Tinca tinca L.)

Exogenous steroids alter sex differentiation in fish substantially. In the present study we have evaluated the effects of 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) and oestrogen receptor antagonist Tamoxifen (TA) on gonadal development and skewness of the sex ratio in all-female tench juveniles. In the first two experiments, sexually undifferentiated juveniles were orally treated with three doses of MT and TA (50, 100 and 150 mg kg−1). Both the treatments resulted in a moderate dose-dependent masculinization, with neomale production ranging from 17% (50 mg kg−1) to 26% (150 mg kg−1) for the MT only treatment, and from 0% (50 mg kg−1) to 27% (100 mg kg−1) only for the TA treatment respectively. In the third experiment treatment of sexually differentiated tench females with single steroid treatments or combinations of the two resulted in populations composed of females and intersex individuals. The significantly highest occurrence of intersex individuals (45.5%) was found in the group subjected to combine treatment of MT+TA (150+200 mg kg−1). No masculinization effect of the single or the combined treatment occurred. It can be concluded that oral treatment with MT or TA only slightly modifies the normal process of sex differentiation in gynogenetic tench juvenile, but treatment with the above-mentioned combinations has a highly significant potential to skew the sex ratio in sexually differentiated tench females. However, from an applied point of view, the treatment procedure will need optimization before use at a commercial level.
Librarian Sabbatical Leaves : Do We Need to Get Out More?

This article continues the conversation about librarian sabbatical participation. Analyses are based on quantitative and qualitative data gathered using an online questionnaire. While numerical results show little change in sabbatical participation over time, respondents had much to say about this topic. The author highlights common themes using various textual responses.
Examining Anger as a Predictor of Drug Use Among Multiethnic Middle School Students

Background: Anger, a component of negative affect, has previously been associated with increased drug use primarily among white high school–aged students. However, few studies have examined these associations over time, and fewer have examined them among younger adolescents and students of color. Affective factors may play a greater role in drug use for girls relative to boys; yet, little is known regarding differences in associations between affect and drug use by gender.Methods: The current study used data from the control condition (N = 2025) of a drug and violence preventive intervention trial to examine the association between self-reported anger levels among multiethnic urban adolescents in the sixth grade and their use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana use 1 year later. Potential gender differences were examined as well.Results: Multivariate generalized estimating equations models found anger to be significantly associated with increases in smoking, drinking, and marijuana use. There were no significant gender differences found for any of the drug use outcomes.Conclusions: Results are consistent with studies conducted on primarily white high school youth, where anger had a small but significant effect on drug use over time. The findings also suggest that drug prevention programs should include emotion regulation skills, such as anger management, in addition to drug resistance skills.
BIC Context Tree Estimation for Stationary Ergodic Processes

Context trees of arbitrary stationary ergodic processes with finite alphabets are considered. Such a process is not necessarily a Markov chain, so the context tree may be of infinite depth. Calculated from a sample of size n, the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) is shown to provide a strongly consistent estimator of the context tree of the process, via minimization over hypothetical context trees, without any restriction on the hypothetical context trees. Strong consistency means that the estimated context tree recovers the true one up to a level K, eventually almost surely as n tends to infinity. Under some conditions on the process, it is shown that the recovery level K can grow with n at a specific rate determined by the distribution of the process; thus, the BIC estimator can recover the true context tree to larger and larger depths. The results include for the special case of K being an arbitrary constant that the strong consistency is satisfied without any assumption on the stationary ergodic process, which itself improves the existing results, where either the true context tree was assumed to be of finite depth or the depth of the hypothetical context trees was bounded by o(log n).
Minority women and tobacco: Implications for smoking cessation interventions

Quitting smoking is the single most important preventive health behavior a woman can perform to significantly reduce her chances of morbidity and premature mortality. Minority women are an extremely important population to target for smoking cessation intervention. Rates and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and cancer are markedly higher among women of certain minority groups. In addition, smoking prevalence rates in women of some ethnic groups are elevated relative to the majority population of women, and specific groups have displayed slower rates of decline in smoking. Furthermore, minority women tend to have less access and appear to be less responsive to smoking cessation programs aimed at the majority culture. Thus, consideration of the practical and cultural needs of ethnic minority women is imperative when designing smoking intervention programs. This article describes the smoking behaviors of African-American, American Indian and Native Alaskan, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Hispanic women smokers, in order to gain a greater understanding of the treatment needs of these women. Information on prevalence rates and smoking patterns, barriers to quitting, and findings from intervention studies within each population are reviewed as well as recommendations for smoking cessation treatment.
Oxidative stress: Its potential relevance to human disease and longevity determinants

Most evidence indicates that aging is a result of normal metabolic processes that are essential for life. Thus an important approach in biogerontology is to identify specific metabolic reactions necessary for life but which could also lead to aging. A unique characteristic of this approach is an explanation of what governs aging rate or longevity of a species or even individuals within a species. These would be mechanisms that would act to reduce the long-term toxic or aging effects of the normal metabolic and developmental reactions. The reactions involving oxygen metabolism clearly fit into this model for they are essential for life yet can potentially cause many of the dysfunctions associated with aging. Such a model can also account for differences in aging rate or longevity of different animal species by differences that may exist in their innate ability to reduce oxidative stress state. Our laboratory has been testing this oxidative stress state (OSS) hypothesis of aging and longevity by determining if a positive correlation exists between OSS of an animal and its aging rate. Much of our data has found such a positive correlation, yet there is some indication that separate causative mechanisms may exist in determining aging rate as opposed to those related to age-dependent specific diseases such as cancer or cardiovascular disease.
Shear axial modes in a PCTSCM part II: Towards transduction applications

Abstract Electrically excited axial shear wave propagation within a piezoelectric continuously twisted structurally chiral medium (PCTSCM) plate is examined. Three different plates with distinct material properties are considered, each plate operating in one of three zones in spatiotemporal space. The excited field in each plate is examined by plotting the local polarization angle, the total shear displacement field amplitude, as well as the total field along the helicoidal axis of the PCTSCM. Although the local vibration ellipse of every individual mode rotates in conformity with the material structure, the total field does not. Individual modes beat with each other to produce distinct field behavior in each plate. As modal wavelengths do not scale in proportion to the helicoidal pitch of any of the three plates, axial propagation behavior turns out to be unique in each plate.