cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of GPI Phospholipase C fromTrypanosoma bruceiby Fluoro-Inositol Dodecylphosphonates

Abstract Glycosyl phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C (GPI-PLC) ofTrypanosoma bruceiis inhibited bymyo-inositol(Ins)-1-O-dodecylphosphonate (VP-602L). Several novel fluoro-substituted analogs of 2-deoxy-myo-Ins-1-O-dodecylphosphonate, among which 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-scyllo-Ins-1-O-dodecylphosphonate (VP-616L) was the most powerful, were shown to be competitive inhibitors of GPI-PLC. VP-616L was 14-fold more active than VP-602L. 2-Deoxy-2-fluoro-myo-Ins-1-O-dodecylphosphonate and 2-deoxy-2,2-difluoro-myo-Ins-1-O-dodecylphosphonate were 1.55- and 4.67-fold, respectively, more potent than VP-602L. Methyl 2-deoxy-2,2-difluoro-myo-Ins-1-O-dodecylphosphonate did not inhibit GPI-PLC. These observations provide several insights into how GPI-PLC might interact with its substrate at the active site. We surmise that (i) the 2-OH of Ins is probably dispensable for substrate recognition; (ii) an equatorially oriented active site residue might interact with substituents at the 2-position of Ins, and (iii) the negative charge on the phosphoryl at the 1-OH position of Ins might be important for substrate recognition.
Quantitative assessment by Doppler echocardiography of pulmonary or aortic regurgitation.

Abstract This study quantitates semilunar valve regurgitation by Doppler measurement of flows. The patients selected had single semilunar valve regurgitation; the other semilunar valve was normal. For the regurgitant valve, forward and reverse flows were measured in the great vessel distal to the abnormal valve, and reverse flow was subtracted from total forward flow to yield net flow. Net flow was compared with forward flow distal to the normal semilunar valve. If all values were computed accurately, net flow should equal forward flow distal to the normal semilunar valve. Twenty patients were studied and 18 had satisfactory recordings. Mean flow in the normal great vessel (3,511 ml/min) was not significantly different from mean net flow in the vessel with the abnormal valve (3,590 ml/min). The correlation coefficient for the paired flow measurements was +0.91 (685 ml [standard error of the estimate]. The slope of the relation was 0.88 and the intercept was 502 ml. Percent regurgitation varied from 29 to 73% and the percentage generally corresponded to clinical estimates. It is concluded that this method, which includes an internal control for each patient, is useful and reasonably accurate for clinical use in patients with pulmonary regurgitation, and appears clinically useful in some patients with aortic regurgitation.
Individual Differences in Children's Addition and Subtraction Knowledge.

Abstract Relations among patterns of conceptual and procedural knowledge and grade were examined in 90 six- to eight-year-olds in order to explore addition and subtraction development. Conceptual knowledge was assessed by examining children’s responses to pairs of problems reflecting various part–whole relations. Children solved related problems as part of a Problem-solving Task, judged, and explained part–whole relations in a Judgement Task. Children also solved a random set of addition and subtraction problems. Distinct profiles of problem-solving were derived from an analysis of children’s speed, accuracy and self-reported problem-solving procedures on unrelated problems. Problem-solving profiles were associated with individual differences in part–whole knowledge and grade level but grade and part–whole knowledge were not related. Findings suggest that identifying profiles of procedural and conceptual knowledge is important for understanding children’s mathematical development.
416 SOMATOMEDIN BINDING PROTEIN IN GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY

The somatomedin (SM) peptides are carried in plasma complexed to SM binding proteins (SMBP). The SM complexes have two major forms in plasma. The 150K dalton complex is made up of three subunits: an acid stable SMBP, SM peptide, and an acid labile component. The 40K complex is made up of a SMBP and SM peptide In addition, there is unsaturated SMBP found mainly in the 35-40K region. We have compared levels of unsaturated SMBP in 7 normal adults to 21 children with growth hormone deficiency before and during treatment with hGH 0.1U/Kg/day 4 days. The SM-C/IGF-I content of each plasma was measured by RIA. There was a significant (p< 0.01) difference in unsaturated SMBP between normal controls (17.8±0.8 %Bound/20ul) and untreated hypopituitary patients (27.8±2.2 %Bound/20ul). Thus a lower SM-C/IGF-I was associated with a higher unsaturated SMBP. Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation between SM-C/IGF-I content and unsaturated SMBP in the untreated hypopituitary patients (r=0.73, p< 0.001). Treatment with hGH normalized the mean unsaturated SMBP in the hypopituitary patients within two days. Full displacement curves and Scatchard analysis showed that the increased unsaturated SMBP in hypopituitary plasma was entirely due to an increased affinity (8.4±0.9 × 10−10M) when compared to normal (2.3±0.2 × 10−9M). We conclude that a higher affinity form of unsaturated SMBP is uniquely present in hypopituitarism which disappears with GH treatment. This change is in contrast to the low levels of acid stable SMBP which increase after GH.
Research on Information Processing with Delay Fair Scheduling Algorithm Based on Resource Situation

Job scheduling algorithm is one of the key technologies Hadoop platform. In this paper, waiting for a fair scheduling algorithm based on delay resource situation. The algorithm periodically obtain status through the use of cluster resources to determine the wait timeout, it has dynamic. Experimental results show that the Delay Fair Scheduling Algorithm Based On the Resource Situation than the original algorithm to some extent reduces the job run time and improve the throughput of Hadoop platform.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is caused by an inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy, which most commonly results from acute demyelination produced by a CD4 T-cell mediated response against myelin proteins. Axonal forms have also been recognized. Molecular mimicry between components of the bacterial wall of Campylobacter jejuni and gangliocytes in the membranes of peripheral axons may be responsible for some cases of axonal GBS. Immune therapy with plasma exchange or intravenous immunoglobulin is the standard of care for the treatment of patients with acute GBS. This review summarizes available information regarding the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, therapeutic consid- erations, and prognosis of this disorder. inducing GBS as a complication. Sporadic cases of GBS can occur after surgeries, in patients with cancer, after transplan- tations, and in patients with HIV infection (11). The rather paradoxical occurrence of GBS, an autoimmune condition, in patients with immune depression is likely explained by a dysregulation of the mechanisms modulating immune re- sponses.
Implantable wireless devices for the monitoring of intracranial pressure

The use of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is supported and recommended in the neurosurgical and neurological assessment. Acute and long-term ICP measurement is desirable for providing an insight into the mechanism of the head injury and aiding post neurological disorders treatment. Two different embedded wireless microwave devices for monitoring of ICP have been designed and investigated for research and clinical diagnoses. This paper presents a comparative study of these devices, and describes their main features and measurement procedures.
Electromagnetic plane wave excitation of an open-ended conducting frustum

A Chebyshev-Galerkin solution of the electric field integral equation for the surface current induced on a conducting frustum by an incident plane wave is presented. The physically motivated mathematics takes proper account of the static singularity in the kernel function and of the edge conditions at both apertures, to yield complete and convergent current expansions. Coupling of the electromagnetic field into the tapered interior of the open scatterer can be substantial, even in electrically narrow cross sections, due to the focusing action of the conical transmission line. >
Heliox Should Be Available in Every Community Hospital

The June special issue of RESPIRATORY CARE features 6 symposium papers about the use of heliox gas. I agree with the guest editor, James Fink, that the issue is a “valuable resource for clinicians.”1 I write this letter because I think heliox has a special role in community hospitals; in fact, I believe that heliox should be available in every community hospital. In community hospitals, surgeons and anesthesiologists with advancedairwayskillsarenotalways readily available (eg, 10:00 pm Sunday on a holiday weekend). Patients who develop acute life-threatening upper-airway obstruction under such circumstances are in a terrible predicament. In addition, the respiratory therapist who will undoubtedly be summoned to such an emergency will be in the agonizing position of not having much to offer to the suffocating patient. Heliox is unique in that it can reduce airway resistance, work of breathing, and improve ventilation without changing the diameter of the airway. This makes heliox a life-saving bridge to definitive therapy (eg, tracheostomy) for the patient dying of severe upper-airway obstruction. Are there large randomized controlled trials to support my contention? No, and there never will be. There are simply not enough patients in this predicament to study, and even if there were, it would be unethical to deny patients a potentially life-saving therapy, which would be required to have a control group.2 We have used heliox at our community hospital for many years now, mostly for upper-airway obstruction, but occasionally for hypercapnic asthma exacerbations.3 We need to use it only a few times per year, but when we have needed it, heliox has proven to be a valuable tool to have available. Heliox is easy to administer, and directions for use can be kept with the tank if a department uses it only on rare occasions. In my mind, heliox in a community hospital should be viewed no differently than an automated defibrillator stationed in a public place, in that, even if you need it only once every 10 years to safe a life, it is still worth having around.
A diffusion process for global optimization in neural networks

The authors modify the usual gradient descent method to push the process in the weight space to have a Gibb or Boltzmann distribution, and find the global minima of the average performance measure of a neural network. The goal is to present a method which guarantees that a global minima of the average performance measure in the weight space will be located, given sufficient computational time. The method of simulated annealing is a mathematical tool which forces a system to behave like a natural annealing process. The method chosen for the global optimization of continuous networks is based on the modification of the differential equation associated with local optimization. The global optimization theory is derived for networks whose learning rules are supervised, whose nodes are bounded Lipschitz continuous functions, and whose performance measure is smooth. >
Feedforward systems linearizable by coordinate change

We identify a class of feedforward nonlinear systems that are linearizable by a diffeomorphic coordinate change. This coordinate change has to satisfy a set of partial differential equations (commonly seen in feedback linearization) that are given in the paper. For the class of linearizable feedforward systems we present a control algorithm in the style of the Sepulchre-Jankovic-Kokotovic/Mazenc-Praly integrator forwarding procedure where the need to solve a series of nonlinear ODE's is eliminated and one has to analytically computes only a series of integrals. The results of this paper are further extended in a companion ACC'04 paper [Krstic, "Integrator forwarding control laws for some classes of linearizable feedforward systems"].
THE MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF LOWER URINARY TRACT SYMPTOMS AND BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Prostatism is a widely used term assigned to the symptom complex of older men with voiding dysfunction. The cause of the syndrome has routinely been ascribed to an enlarged prostate. More recent thinking recognizes that many men with such symptoms do not, in fact, have prostate enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and that such symptoms are not a surrogate for BPH. Such recognition is essential if cost effective medical management of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is to be achieved. Prostate volume has emerged as a key factor in the selection of medical therapy of LUTS and BPH not only regarding symptom relief but also to the newer concept of the prevention of disease progression and the avoidance of future adverse events in those men with true BPH. In the United States, medical management is now first line therapy for LUTS. The proper selection of therapy based on the patient's individual pathophysiologic characteristics is now made possible by many new recent studies within the medical literature.
MORBCAL: a program for calculating the compositions of primary basaltic melts produced by decompression-induced melting below mid-ocean ridges

A widely accepted model proposes that mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) are produced by decompression-induced partial melting of oceanic upper mantle which adiabatically upwells in response to plate separation (McKenzie, 1984; Klein and Langmuir, 1987; McKenzie and Bickle, 1988). In this model, rising mantle begins to melt as it intersects the solidus at a depth determined by its temperature and melting characteristics. Continued upwelling involves continuous melting, matrix compaction, and melt segregation. To quantitatively evaluate this type of melting, Niu and Batiza (1991) developed an empirical scheme based on the peridotite melting experiments of Jaques and Green (1980), Falloon and Green (1987, 1988), and Falloon and others (1988). We used the experimental data to calculate the bulk partition coefficients (Kd) for the major elements. In addition, we determined pressure and temperature (extent of partial melting) dependance of these Kds and used these to calculate the compositions of pooled polybaric melts created by incremental melting. Finally, we developed a method for calculating the melting parameters (initial and final melting pressures and temperatures, plus total extent of melting) for actual MORB melt compositions. This method assumes that primary polybaric pooled melts fractionate only at low pressure and employs the chemical back-tracking method of Klein and Langmuir (1987). The purpose of this Short Note is to present the MORBCAL program. This program is an easy-to-use tool for readers interested in mid-ocean ridge processes and igneous petrogenesis. For details of the melting model, readers are referred to Niu and Batiza (1991). In the rest of the note, we briefly discuss MORBCAL and its availability.
Involvement of RNA helicases p68 and p72 in colon cancer.

The homologous proteins p68 and p72 are members of the DEAD box family of RNA helicases. Here, we show that expression of both of these helicases strongly increases during the polyp→adenoma→adenocarcinoma transition in the colon. Furthermore, p68 and p72 form complexes with β-catenin and promote the ability of β-catenin to activate gene transcription. Conversely, simultaneous knockdown of p68 and p72 leads to reduced expression of the β-catenin–regulated genes, c-Myc, cyclin D1, c-jun , and fra-1 , all of which are proto-oncogenes. Moreover, transcription of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 WAF1/CIP1 , whose expression is suppressed by c-Myc, is enhanced on p68/p72 knockdown. Thus, p68/p72 may contribute to colon cancer formation by directly up-regulating proto-oncogenes and indirectly by down-regulating the growth suppressor p21 WAF1/CIP1 . Accordingly, knockdown of p68 and p72 in colon cancer cells inhibits their proliferation and diminishes their ability to form tumors in vivo . Altogether, these results suggest that p68/p72 overexpression is not only a potential marker of colon cancer but is also causally linked to this disease. Therefore, p68 and p72 may be novel targets in the combat against colon cancer. [Cancer Res 2007;67(16):7572–8]
Skeletal muscle sodium channel gating in mice deficient in myotonic dystrophy protein kinase.

Myotonic dystrophy, a progressive autosomal dominant disorder, is associated with an expansion of a CTG repeat tract located in the 3′-untranslated region of a serine/threonine protein kinase, DMPK. DMPK modulates skeletal muscle Na channels in vitro ,a nd thus we hypothesized that mice deficient in DMPK would have altered muscle Na channel gating. We measured macroscopic and single channel Na currents from cell-attached patches of skeletal myocytes from mice heterozygous (DMPK +/– ) and homozygous (DMPK –/– ) for DMPK loss. In DMPK –/– myocytes, Na current amplitude was reduced because of reduced channel number. Single channel recordings revealed Na channel reopenings, similar to the gating abnormality of human myotonic muscular dystrophy (DM), which resulted in a plateau of Na current. The gating abnormality deteriorated with increasing age. In DMPK +/–
Measurements of Ocean Surface Backscattering Using an Airborne 94-GHz Cloud Radar—Implication for Calibration of Airborne and Spaceborne W-Band Radars

Abstract Backscattering properties of the ocean surface have been widely used as a calibration reference for airborne and spaceborne microwave sensors. However, at millimeter-wave frequencies, the ocean surface backscattering mechanism is still not well understood, in part, due to the lack of experimental measurements. During the Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers-Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL-FACE), measurements of ocean surface backscattering were made using a 94-GHz (W band) cloud radar on board a NASA ER-2 high-altitude aircraft. This unprecedented dataset enhances our knowledge about the ocean surface scattering mechanism at 94 GHz. The measurement set includes the normalized ocean surface cross section over a range of the incidence angles under a variety of wind conditions. It was confirmed that even at 94 GHz, the normalized ocean surface radar cross section, σo, is insensitive to surface wind conditions near a 10° incidence angle, a finding similar to what has bee...
A Method For Evaluating An Action Rule Specified By A User

An action rule is a rule extracted from a decision table that describes the expected change in the decision value of an object as a result of the changes made to some of its condition values. We use it primarily to recommend ways to improve the current state of an object. e.g., improve a person's health, student retention rate, or manufacturing process. Various methods have been proposed to automatically generate concise and effective action rules. However, a practical problem not discussed in the existing literature is the method for evaluating an action rule specified by a user. This is an important task because, in many cases, users (e.g. the decision maker of an organization) have some knowledge about specific actions they can take, and need to know the performance of the action rule to make a better decision. In this paper, we present a taxonomy of the types of action rules submitted by a user and a method for measuring the performance of the rules.
Children's Housing Environments: Welfare Families in Iowa

This study uses qualitative data to examine how rural low-income women confront the housing needs of their young children in the midst of changes in public policy. The focus is on the strategies employed and the difficulties faced in the provision of safe, affordable and stable homes. The data are drawn from in-home interviews conducted every 6 months with 13 mothers who were welfare-dependent at the start of the research. The investigation depicts several dimensions of the circumstances of poor children that have not had much previous attention in the literature: serial housing inadequacy and chronic mobility. Several families with children with disabilities reported severe housing deficiencies. This research provides initial evidence of the important role of housing in promoting the goals of family stability and economic self-sufficiency as well as the need to improve health and developmental outcomes for children living in poverty.
Smoking gun theory: Angiographically “normal” or “mild” coronary plaque as a cause of myocardial infarction

There are very few things in medicine that are simple. Birth and mortality are relatively straightforward to define…but after that the trouble begins. To the casual observer the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction (MI) is relatively obvious: prolonged myocardial ischemia. However, as Aldrovandi et al1 have taught us in this edition of Circulation , we still have a lot to learn about this disease. Indeed, earlier this year the updated Third Universal Definitions of Myocardial Infarction were published.2 Of course, the tacit fact underlying this publication is that even the definition of an MI remains a major work in progress. Article see p 3000 Nevertheless, we have certainly come a very long way in our knowledge of plaque biology and MI. In particular, the last 2 to 3 decades has seen a revolution in our understanding of this disease. Thanks to a series of pivotal observations, we now appreciate that MI rarely arises because of progressive vessel narrowing that culminates in a critical flow-limiting stenosis. Rather, it is now understood that an atherosclerotic plaque can become unstable, exposing lipid, debris, or other material to the blood and triggering an acute coronary artery thrombosis, which then leads to vessel occlusion and MI. As investigators, we were privileged to have played a small part in elucidating the pathology of the unstable plaque that causes MI, when in 1988 we showed with Ambrose et al3 that MI frequently develops from previously nonsevere lesions. In a retrospective study of 38 patients, progression of coronary stenoses between 2 cardiac catheterization procedures was compared among patients presenting with MI versus stable coronary occlusion at the time of second catheterization. In the group presenting with MI, the stenosis severity at the initial angiogram of the subsequent infarct-related artery was significantly less severe than culprit lesions …
New Madrid and Wabash Valley seismic study: simulating the impacts on natural gas transmission pipelines and downstream markets

This paper summarizes the methodology, simulation tools, and major initial findings made by Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) on the potential impact of simultaneous, high-intensity New Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic Events on the natural gas interstate pipelines and their subsequent impacts on the downstream customers, particularly on the states under the purview of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region V operations. Downstream impacts are expressed in terms of percent reduction in deliveries, population affected, and numbers of commercial and industrial customers shed. Damage functions and fragility curves are employed to identify specific pipelines that could potentially be affected, as well as the probable location(s) of the pipeline breaks and leaks. Effects of emergency remedial measures to mitigate impacts are also simulated. The methodology employed two models: (1) the FEMA-developed HAZUS MH-MR3 and (2) the Ar-gonne-developed NGFast pipeline break simulation tool. The models are described, and their complementary roles are discussed.
The role of starbursts in the formation of galaxies and active galactic nuclei

Starbursts are episodes of intense star formation in the central regions of galaxies, and are the sites of ca.25% of the highmass star formation in the local Universe. In this contribution, I revie...
Characterization of a Two-Component Regulatory System That Regulates Succinate-Mediated Catabolite Repression in Sinorhizobium meliloti

When they are available, Sinorhizobium meliloti utilizes C4-dicarboxylic acids as preferred carbon sources for growth while suppressing the utilization of some secondary carbon sources such as - and -galactosides. The phenomenon of using succinate as the sole carbon source in the presence of secondary carbon sources is termed succinate-mediated catabolite repression (SMCR). Genetic screening identified the gene sma0113 as needed for strong SMCR when S. meliloti was grown in succinate plus lactose, maltose, or raffinose. sma0113 and the gene immediately downstream, sma0114, encode the proteins Sma0113, an HWE histidine kinase with five PAS domains, and Sma0114, a CheY-like response regulator lacking a DNA-binding domain. sma0113 in-frame deletion mutants show a relief of catabolite repression compared to the wild type. sma0114 in-frame deletion mutants overproduce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and this overproduction requires sma0113. Sma0113 may use its five PAS domains for redox level or energy state monitoring and use that information to regulate catabolite repression and related responses. Sinorhizobium, Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Azorhizobium (rhizobia) are important nitrogen-fixing prokaryotes. These grow in the soil as free-living organisms but can also live as nitrogen-fixing symbionts inside roots of plants belonging to the family Leguminosae (8, 11, 21, 33, 41, 54). Rhizobia are able to utilize a wide range of compounds as carbon sources, such as sugars, amino acids, and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates. Studies have shown that the C4-dicarboxylic TCA cycle intermediates succinate, fumarate, and malate support high rates of growth in laboratory medium and are used by
Replacing Servos With Braking in an Omnidirectional Vehicle

We present an underactuated approach for steering a vehicle which reduces the number of required servos. This method replaces steering servos with braking actuators which can reduce energy use, weight and support electronics. The design of the steering system, the control system and comparison to traditional steering is considered.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
On the primacy of theory in applied studies: a critique of Pienemann and Johnston (1987)

This article critiques Pienemann and Johnston (1987), an influential model of the acquisition of ESL morphology. While Pienemann and Johnston claimed that their model is confirmed and supported by the generative approach to morphology developed in Selkirk (1982), this article indicates that Selkirk's lexicalist theory actually opposes their proposals. In addition, this article demonstrates that their proposals are incompatible with syntactic analyses of word formation. The widespread influence of the Pienemann and Johnston model suggests that L2 researchers must ensure that models of SLA are solidly grounded in foundational theories.
A Note on Selected Named Sports Plays

AbstractThis note examines certain key team sport plays, which resulted in a team winning an important game. Because of their impact on a specific game, they have received specific designations or names, which identify them uniquely. This note considers ten such named sports plays in US amateur and professional sports.
Glove Changing When Handling Money: Observational and Microbiological Analysis

The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of glove changing by mobile food vendors after monetary transactions, and the presence of bacterial contamination on a sample of dollar bills obtained from 25 food vendors near five hospitals in Manhattan, New York City. During 495 monetary transactions observed there were only seven glove changes performed by the workers. Eleven of 34 food workers wore no gloves at all while handling money and food. Nineteen of 25 one-dollar bills collected (76 %) had 400 to 42,000 total bacterial colony-forming units. Colonies were of varied morphology and size. Of these 19 samples, 13 were selected (based on level of growth), and tested for the presence of coliform bacteria, which was found in 10 of the 13 samples. Effective strategies to monitor and increase glove wearing and changing habits of mobile food vendors are needed to reduce risk of foodborne illness.
A Simple, Visually Oriented Communication System to Improve Postoperative Care Following Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer: Development, Results, and Implications.

Background Communication, particularly transmission of information between the surgical and nursing teams, has been identified as one of the most crucial determinants of patient outcomes. Nonetheless, transfer of information among and between the physician and nursing teams in the immediate postoperative period is often informal, verbal, and inconsistent. Methods An iterative process of multidisciplinary information gathering was undertaken to create a novel postoperative communication system (the "Pop-form"). Once developed, nurses were surveyed on multiple measures regarding the perceived likelihood that it would improve their ability to provide directed patient care. Data were quantified using a Likert scale (0-10), and statistically analyzed. Results The Pop-form records and transfers operative details, specific anatomic monitoring parameters, and senior physician contact information. Sixty-eight nurses completed surveys. The perceived usefulness of different components of the Pop-form system was as follows: 8.9 for the description of the procedure; 9.3 for the operative diagram; 9.4 for the monitoring details and parameters; and 9.4 for the direct contact information for the appropriate surgical team member. All respondents were in favor of widespread adoption of the Pop-form. Conclusion This uniform, visual communication system requires less than 1 minute to compose, yet formalizes and standardizes inter-team communication, and therefore shows promise for improving outcomes following microvascular free tissue transfer. We believe that this simple, innovative communication tool has the potential to be more broadly applied to many other health care settings.
High Pressure-High Temperature Reactions in Xenon-Chlorine System

We present results of studies of the xenon-chlorine system to 60 GPa and temperature range 300 to 2000 K. Using a combination of Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and synchrotron x-ray diffraction; we characterize the products of diamond cell experiments. In the 2-20 GPa pressure interval, we observe the formation of a deep red crystalline phase. Above 15 GPa, and at high temperature, a solid solution of Xe and Cl2 appears to form. Comparison of the ultraviolet-visible and infrared absorption measurements on the proposed alloy of Xe and Cl 2 show that band edge moves into the visible range at high pressure
Large-area diatom frustule self-assembled monolayers: Formation and manipulation

In this paper, we present a method to form large-area, close-packed, self-assembled monolayers using diatom frustules of Coscinodiscus sp. With these frustules, ranging from 50 μm to 70 μm in diameter, we achieved up to 0.8 cm2 of close-packed frustule monolayers on wafer surfaces. The orientation of these frustules was uniformly controlled with the concave side facing downwards by blowing N2 gas bubbles below the water-diatom interface. The method introduced herein, taking advantage of diatom frustules' orientation and hierarchical structures, has the potential for large-scale fabrication of micro/nano structures, which may be applicable to a variety of practical technological applications.
Helianthus Resistance to the Carrot Beetle

Nine species of Helianthus were evaluated in the laboratory for resistance to Bothynus gibbosus (De Geer). Significantly less (5% level) root injury by the carrot beetle occurred with H. argophyllus Torrey and Gray, H. ciliaris DC, H. grosseserratus Martens, H . x laetiflorus Pers., H. maximilianai Schrader, H. mollis Lam., H. niveus canescens (Gray), H. salicifolius A. Dietr, and H. tuberosus L. than with the commercial ‘Hybrid 896’.
In cognitive therapy for depression, early focus on maladaptive beliefs may be especially efficacious for patients with personality disorders.

OBJECTIVE Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and a comorbid personality disorder (PD) have been found to exhibit relatively poor outcomes in cognitive therapy (CT) and other treatments. Adaptations of CT focusing heavily on patients' core beliefs have yielded promising findings in the treatment of PD. However, there have been no investigations that have specifically tested whether increased focus on maladaptive beliefs contributes to CT's efficacy for these patients. METHOD CT technique use from an early CT session was assessed for 59 patients (33 without PD, 26 with PD-predominantly Cluster C) who participated in a randomized controlled trial for moderate to severe MDD. Scores were calculated for directive CT techniques (CT-Concrete) and a set of belief-focused items (CT-Belief) as rated by the Collaborative Study Process Rating Scale. Robust regressions were conducted to estimate relations between scores on each of these measures and change in depressive and PD symptoms. A PD status by CT-Belief use interaction tested the hypothesis that therapist use of CT-Belief techniques would exhibit a stronger association with symptom change in the PD group relative to the non-PD group. RESULTS As hypothesized, a significant interaction between PD status and use of CT-Belief techniques emerged in the prediction of depressive and PD symptom change. Among PD patients, higher early CT-Belief interventions were found to predict significantly greater improvement. CT-Belief use did not predict greater symptom change among those without PD. CONCLUSIONS Early focus on CT-Belief interventions may facilitate changes in depression and PD symptoms for patients with MDD-PD comorbidity.
Measuring Gang Involvement in a Justice-Referred Sample of Youth in Treatment

Gangs are present in about 34% of all jurisdictions in the United States. Given elevations in violence and victimization associated with gang involvement, effective means are needed for measuring involvement among individual youth. This is especially the case among youth receiving services for problem behavior who might benefit from targeted treatments helping them reduce involvement in gangs. We assessed gang involvement among 421 youth referred by the justice system for intensive home- and community-based mental health treatment. Using self-report survey and therapist-recorded data, we identified 94 (22%) youth as gang involved. Risk factor measures provided support for our classification, driven primarily by self-reported indicators of gang involvement as opposed to therapist-recorded indicators.
Do Truth Commissions Promote Trust in the Judiciary in African States

This paper examines the effects of truth and reconciliation commissions and peace committees on popular perceptions of the judicial systems of Africa. Using data from the Afrobarometer, and conduct...
A study on drug sales surveillance system at Shijingshan District of Beijing

Objective To study the method to establish a drug sales surveillance system at Shijingshan District,Beijing and its significance in early-warning of communicable diseases.Methods Reported data of daily drug sales at drugstores in Shijingshan District were collected and their changes and trend were observed.Results Daily sales volume at drugstores averaged 84 packages of antipyretic agents,two packages of cough suppressants,two packages of antidiarrheal agents,and 11 packages of antibiotics,which fluctuated with seasons.Conclusions Drug sales at drugstores could be used as an indicator for disease occurrence of local residents in syndromic surveillance system,providing useful evidence for early-warning of communicable diseases.
Development of System Software for Estimating Physical Properties of Organic Compounds(I)——The Rediction of Organic Physical Properties

The estimation methods of organic physical properties and predictive models selection of the system software for estimating physical properties of organic compounds were introduced. And the estimating methods, input parameter and application scopes of the main physical properties were described. According to the latest research results of physical properties, the system set up a basic properties database and provided more than one estimation methods for most properties in order to complete each other. In the course of physical property prediction, system demonstrated application range, average calculated deviation, input data, etc, for each method. Users could choose one or several models to carry on physical property estimation according to one's own actual conditions, and received the satisfactory results.
Gene therapy for coronary artery disease.

Congestive heart failure is the common end point for advanced coronary artery disease and the leading cause of mortality from heart disease. Stents and surgical bypass can address focal obstruction in larger coronary arteries, but diffuse small vessel disease is not amenable to these interventions. Intrinsic recovery is also limited, as adult cardiac muscle does not effectively regenerate after cardiomyocyte death. Cardiac gene therapy uses growth factors, genes or small molecules to alter gene expression for myocardial regeneration. Genes may be used to induce angiogenesis, reduce pathologic fibrosis, induce replication of endogenous cardiomyocytes, or expand existing cardiac progenitor cells into various cardiac subtypes. Delivery options include plasmids, integrative or non-integrative viruses, micro RNA or small molecules. Administration may be achieved systemically or by intracoronary or local injection, although local administration appears to provide key pharmacokinetic advantages. Initial attempts focused on creating new branches from existing blood vessels, often using vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). These demonstrated equivocal clinical results due, in part, to inconsistent study design, controls and clinically relevant endpoints as well as incomplete pharmacokinetics data on required gene “dose” or the ideal methods of gene delivery. Early lessons informed the development of cardiac cellular reprogramming, which transforms cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes using defined reprogramming factor cocktails. This approach has delivered improved post-infarct ejection fraction and reduced fibrosis in preclinical models. Gene therapy in cardiac disease is not yet ready for clinical application, but holds great promise for filling an important therapeutic gap in a growing patient population.
Preventing systemic embolism in patients with abnormal ventricular function.

Clinical trial results support the aggressive use of anticoagulant therapy to prevent systemic embolism in patients with acute myocardial infarction who are at high risk for embolism (e.g., anterior transmural infarction). Other patients at risk for systemic embolism include those with chronic left ventricular aneurysm, chronic dilated cardiomyopathy, and cardiac tumors. The role of antithrombotic therapy in these latter groups is incompletely resolved because of a lack of clinical trials. However, in view of the devastating consequences of systemic embolism, the documented effectiveness of antithrombotic therapy in other high-risk patients and the improved safety of long-term anticoagulant treatment in recent years, it may be prudent to use antithrombotic treatment unless contraindicated.
A membrane activation cycle induced by sulfhydryl reagents after affinity labeling of the acetylcholine receptor of electroplax.

Acetylcholine receptors in the innervated membrane of an electroplax cell from the electric eel Electrophorus electricus may be affinity-labeled, after disulfide reduction, by a variety of sulfhydryl alkylating and acylating agents. The conductance state of a cell after this receptor modification remains under receptor control but is extremely sensitive both to the structure of the affinity reagent and, frequently, to the concentration of the reagent during modification. When the affinity reagents 3-(α-bromomethyl)-3'-[α-(trimethylammonium)methyl]azobenzene bromide or 4-(4'-nitrophenoxycarbonyl)-phenyltrimethylammonium iodide are used in low concentration to label the receptor in situ , subsequent sequential applications of disulfides and dithiothreitol give rise to cycles of repolarization and depolarization of the innervated membrane. Since other mild oxidizing agents cannot substitute for disulfides in this activation cycle, it is concluded that the activation cycle arises from the reversible formation of a mixed disulfide on the receptor. This mixed disulfide probably involves the remaining sulfhydryl group near the acetylcholine binding site, which is formed by the initial disulfide reduction but not labeled by the affinity reagents. The membrane responses to these chemical manipulations of the receptor in situ suggest useful criteria for evaluating the similarity of an isolated receptor after reconstitution into black lipid membranes to the receptor in its native state. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We thank Dr. David Nachmansohn for his encouragement of this work. We also thank Drs. B. Erlanger, A. Karlin, and H. Mautner and the Squibb Institute for Medical Research for their generous gifts of the chemicals indicated under METHODS.
Camus' Meditation on the Christian Faith

Albert Camus' initial visceral hostility to the Christian faith was submitted to the test by his personal acquaintance with Christians in the underground Resistance to the Nazis. As a result, though never tempted to become a Christian himself, Camus' appraisal of Christianity underwent a profound transformation. As the re-evaluation of his Christian faith, though exceptionally detailed and perceptive, found only novelistic form, it has not been the object of the careful critical analysis it richly deserves. The present article explores what may justly be called Camus' meditation on the Christian faith in The Plague.
The Impact of Shortages on Medication Prices: Implications for Shortage Prevention

Medication shortages are frequent and have clinical and financial ramifications; however, their effect on drug prices remains unknown. To examine price progression of medications affected by a shortage. We collected prices of medications covered under Medicare Part B, reflective of general market prices, and data on clinically relevant shortages for the period 2005–16. We used linear mixed-effects models to examine the price growth of affected medications. Shortage medications demonstrated a quarterly price growth of −0.5 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] −1.6, 0.6) in the period preceding a shortage, 4.3 % (95 % CI 3.6, 4.5) during a shortage, and 4.1 % (95 % CI 2.6, 5.5) in the post-shortage period. Medications not affected by a shortage had a quarterly price growth of 0.2 % (95 % CI −0.3, 0.6). Medication shortages are associated with price increases, and these increases are likely reactive to the low profitability of the affected medications and thus, proactive collaboration between the US Food and Drug Administration and industry can serve to identify low-profit drugs and evaluate measures to ensure continued production.
Synthetic lethality and beyond

Normal and cancer cells rely on DNA damage repair to survive. In tumor cells with DNA breaks and defective homologous recombination, such as those with mutations in the BRCA gene, DNA repair is maintained through base excision repair, mediated in part by poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The use of PARP inhibitors (PARPi) in this setting results in a breakdown of both pathways and cell death through a mechanism known as synthetic lethality. This has been the rationale for the clinical development of PARPi for cancer patients with germline or somatic BRCA alterations. PARP1 interacts noncovalently with the DNA methyltransferase DNMT1, and a PARP1-DNMT1 containing complex is recruited to sites of DNA damage. Muvarak et al. found that combining PARPi drugs, which trap the PARP1 at sites of DNA damage, with DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors, which incorporate into replicating DNA and covalently bind DMNTs, enhances the strength and duration of PARP1 binding to chromatin and thereby increases the efficacy of PARPi in cancer cells. The combination of low doses of PARPi plus DNMT inhibitors was synergistic in models of triple negative breast cancer and acute myelogenous leukemia. Importantly, the benefit was observed regardless of BRCA mutation status, suggesting that a broader group of patients may benefit from the combination. This study supports an interplay between DNA repair and epigenetic machineries in cancer. Whether this interaction and therapeutic benefit is solely due to the PARP1-DNMT1 complex and PARP1 trapping and/or potentially mediated through other effects—such as changes in methylation and epigenetic regulation of gene expression, genomic instability, or other cofactors—and whether this is also relevant to other cancer subtypes, remain to be explored. N. E. Muvarak et al. , Enhancing the cytotoxic effects of PARP inhibitors with DNA demethylating agents – A potential therapy for cancer. Cancer Cell 30 , 637–650 (2016). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/abstract/S1535-6108(16)30437-8
Severe Anemia As an Early Predictor of Kidney Injury

Adult patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) develop overt proteinuria; microalbuminuria precedes overt proteinuria in Pediatrics. Prior Pediatric cross-sectional studies have evaluated the prevalence and associations of laboratory variables with the presence of microalbuminuria (MiA). This study utilized a prospective SCD nephropathy cohort study to understand the incidence, risk factors, and predictors for the development of MiA. Then, we tested the hypothesis that severe anemia as an infant or toddler, independent of future blood counts, clinical course, or therapies, would be predictive of developing microalbuminuria during adolescence. Methods: We are conducting an IRB approved Pediatric SCD Nephropathy cohort of patients with HbSS or SB0 thalassemia (n=152). We record every standard of care urine albumin/creatinine level obtained since birth (n=595) for each participant in our cohort along with their blood pressure, SCD therapy, complete blood count, and estimated glomerular filtration (cystatin C) from that visit. Patients were classified as having microalbuminuria if their urine albumin/creatinine was ≥ 30 mg/g using a Siemens DCA Vantage Analyzer. T-tests and chi-squared tests were used to compare individual demographic and clinical characteristics for continuous and categorical, respectively, of those patients who developed at least one episode of MiA using SAS 9.4. Next, we used a combination of left, right and interval censored data in a time to development of MiA model. To examine the incidence of MiA and its predictors, we utilized univariate and multivariate parametric survival regression models assuming a logistic distribution. To examine the predictive ability of a single CBC early in life for the development of MiA, we utilized logistic regression and computed the area under the receiving operating characteristics curves (AUC). Based on Baby HUG data, we used a hemoglobin nd birthday for our classification of severe anemia. Results: Among 152 participants in our prospective cohort, 48 (32%) developed at least one episode of MiA. The mean age of the 48 patients that developed MiA was 13.2 years (s.d 4.3) as compared to the mean age of 13.9 years (s.d 4.4) among 104 patients that have not yet developed MiA. Participants with lower hemoglobin (p Conclusion: This cohort supports the finding that at the time adolescent SCD patients are identified with microalbuminuria, they have a greater degree anemia and leukocytosis than adolescent patients without microalbuminuria. Of great importance, severe anemia identified prior to two years of age is predictive of patients that will develop MiA during adolescence. Additional research into the pathophysiology of kidney injury and its association with acute anemic events or hemolysis is vital to modifying the progression to CKD. Disclosures Lebensburger: NHLBI: Research Funding; American Society of Hematology, Scholar Award: Research Funding.