cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Death Domain Kinase RIP Mediates the TNF-Induced NF-κB Signal

The death domain serine/threonine kinase RIP interacts with the death receptors Fas and tumor necrosis receptor 1 (TNFR1). In vitro, RIP stimulates apoptosis, SAPK/JNK, and NF-kappaB activation. To define the physiologic role(s) that RIP plays in regulating apoptosis in vivo, we introduced a rip null mutation in mice through homologous recombination. RIP-deficient mice appear normal at birth but fail to thrive, displaying extensive apoptosis in both the lymphoid and adipose tissue and dying at 1-3 days of age. In contrast to a normal thymic anti-Fas response, rip-/- cells are highly sensitive to TNFalpha-induced cell death. Sensitivity to TNFalpha-mediated cell death in rip-/- cells is accompanied by a failure to activate the transcription factor NF-kappaB.
Challenges in global improvement of oral cancer outcomes: findings from rural Northern India

Background In India, 72% of the population resides in rural areas and 30-40% of cancers are found in the oral cavity. The majority of Haryana residents live in villages where inadequate medical facilities, no proper primary care infrastructure or cancer screening tools and high levels of illiteracy all contribute to poor oral cancer (OC) outcomes. In this challenging environment, the objective of this study was to assess the association between various risk factors for OC among referrals for suscipious lesions and to design and pilot test a collaborative community-based effort to identify suspicious lesions for OC.
Serum Somatomedin Levels in Adults with Chronic Renal Failure: TheImportance of Measuring Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-II in Acid-Chromatographed Uremic Serum

Somatomedin levels measured by radioreceptor assay (RRA) or RIA on acid-ethanol-extracted or unextracted serum from patients with uremia are quite variable relative to normal values. We have investigated whether compounds accumulating in uremic serum were interfering with these RRA and RIA measurements. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-II were separated from carrier proteins by either Sephadex G-50 acid chromatography or acid-ethanol extraction. IGF-I was measured by RIA, and IGF-II was determined by rat placental membrane RRA. IGF-I levels in the acid-ethanol extracts of serum from eight uremic adults were only 50% of the levels found in seven normal subjects, and IGF-II levels in these uremic patients were 350% of normal values. However, these significant differences were not found when comparable serum samples were acid chromatographed rather than acid-ethanol extracted; instead, IGF-I levels were 343 ± 168 (mean ± SD) ng⁄ml in uremic patients and 325 ± 54 ng⁄ml in normal subjects, while IG...
The potential economic value of a Trypanosoma cruzi (chagas disease) vaccine in Latin America

Background: Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), is the leading etiology of non-ischemic heart disease worldwide, with Latin America bearing the majority of the burden. This substantial burden and the limitations of current interventions have motivated efforts to develop a vaccine against T. cruzi. Methodology/Principal Findings: We constructed a decision analytic Markov computer simulation model to assess the potential economic value of a T. cruzi vaccine in Latin America from the societal perspective. Each simulation run calculated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), or the cost per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) avoided, of vaccination. Sensitivity analyses evaluated the impact of varying key model parameters such as vaccine cost (range: $0.50–$200), vaccine efficacy (range: 25%–75%), the cost of acute-phase drug treatment (range: $10–$150 to account for variations in acutephase treatment regimens), and risk of infection (range: 1%–20%). Additional analyses determined the incremental cost of vaccinating an individual and the cost per averted congestive heart failure case. Vaccination was considered highly costeffective when the ICER was #1 times the GDP/capita, still cost-effective when the ICER was between 1 and 3 times the GDP/capita, and not cost-effective when the ICER was .3 times the GDP/capita. Our results showed vaccination to be very cost-effective and often economically dominant (i.e., saving costs as well providing health benefits) for a wide range of scenarios, e.g., even when risk of infection was as low as 1% and vaccine efficacy was as low as 25%. Vaccinating an individual could likely provide net cost savings that rise substantially as risk of infection or vaccine efficacy increase. Conclusions/Significance: Results indicate that a T. cruzi vaccine could provide substantial economic benefit, depending on the cost of the vaccine, and support continued efforts to develop a human vaccine.
The impact of Tropical Cyclone Larry on bird communities in fragments of the endangered rainforest Type 5b

Bird surveys were conducted to assess the impact of a severe cyclone on bird communities in three fragments of the endangered rainforest Type 5b on the Atherton Tablelands of far north Queensland. Bird communities were surveyed using timed area searches in three sites in each of the three fragments and were undertaken prior to and following Tropical Cyclone Larry. Cyclone Larry caused short-term changes in the abundance of some species of birds in Type 5b rainforest fragments. Two weeks after the storm, in two of three fragments surveyed, abundance of the frugivorous wompoo fruit-dove (Ptilinopus magnificus) and figbird (Sphecotheres viridis) had decreased while the omnivorous Macleay's honeyeater (Xanthotis macleayana) and Lewin's honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii) decreased in abundance in all three locations. Most insectivorous species increased in some sites and decreased in others following Cyclone Larry. Rapid recovery of bird communities to approximately their pre-cyclone state after only 7 months appeared to reflect the capacity of species to either modify their foraging behaviour, switch foods, or to move within or between fragments or to other food sources in the landscape.
The quality of hospital work environments and missed nursing care is linked to heart failure readmissions: a cross-sectional study of US hospitals

Introduction Threats to quality and patient safety may exist when necessary nursing care is omitted. Empirical research is needed to determine how missed nursing care is associated with patient outcomes. Aim The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between missed nursing care and hospital readmissions. Methods Cross-sectional examination, using three linked data sources—(1) nurse survey, (2) patient discharge data from three states (California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) and (3) administrative hospital data— from 2005 to 2006. We explored the incidence of 30-day readmission for 160 930 patients with heart failure in 419 acute care hospitals in the USA. Logistic regression was used to assess the effect of missed care on the odds of readmission, adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics. Results The most frequently missed nursing care activities across all hospitals in our sample included talking to and comforting patients (42.0%), developing and updating care plans (35.8%) and educating patients and families (31.5%). For 4 of the 10 studied care activities, each 10 percentage-point increase in the number of nurses reporting having missed the activity was associated with an increase in the odds of readmission by 2–8% after adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics. However, missed nursing care was no longer a significant predictor of readmission once adjusting for the nurse work environment, except in the case of the delivery of treatments and procedures (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.14). Conclusions Missed care is an independent predictor of heart failure readmissions. However, once adjusting for the quality of the nurse work environment, this relationship is attenuated. Improvements in nurses’ working conditions may be one strategy to reduce care omissions and improve patient outcomes.
Role of B-cells in growth hormone-immune interactions.

Cells demonstrating cell surface markers for B-cells tend to be normal in growth hormone (GH)-deficient children. Treatment with pituitary-derived or recombinant human GH, however, produces a significant, albeit transient, decrease in the number of these cells both in vitro and in vivo. Receptors for GH have been detected on numerous cells of the immune system, notably B-cells and monocytes. Recent studies have shown that cells of the immune system are able to produce peptide hormones, such as GH, and studies in the rat (which have yet to be confirmed in humans) suggest that the B-cell is the cell type most involved in this production. These findings suggest that the B-cell has a significant role in the bi-directional communication network between the endocrine and immune systems. □ B-cells, growth hormone, immune system, lymphocytes
Field charging of aerosol particles

Abstract A complete theory for charging of aerosol particles in the free molecule regime is developed for light and heavy ions. The effect of variation of parameters describing the charging process has been studied numerically for heavy ions. Additional calculations presented indicate that the charging efficiencies for light ions are substantially greater than those for heavy ions.
The Stabilizing Effects of International Politics on Bilateral Trade Flows

Trade volatility can do serious harm to a country's economic and political stability. Research suggests that international trade agreements can reduce such volatility by reinforcing extant trade commitments, improving transparency, promoting policy convergence, and strengthening investor confidence. Drawing on this logic, we posit that international political ties can also produce notable reductions in export volatility. Specifically, we argue that diplomatic missions and military alliances signal lower discount rates, increase political transparency, and enhance issue linkages among trading partners. These enhancements in turn work to stabilize trade flows. To test this argument, we use a gravity model to evaluate the effects of directed diplomatic relations and alliances on bilateral export volatility. Controlling for confounding variables and exploring a wide array of model specifications, we find that the establishment of diplomatic relations or alliances can significantly reduce trade volatility.
Radio frequency interference mitigation for the planned SMAP radar and radiometer

NASA's planned SMAP1 mission will utilize a radar operating in a band centered on 1.26 GHz and a co-observing radiometer operating at 1.41 GHz to measure surface soil moisture. Both the radar and radiometer sub-systems are susceptible to radio frequency interference (RFI). Any significant impact of such interference requires mitigation in order to avoid degradation in the SMAP science products. Studies of RFI detection and mitigation methods for both the radar and radiometer are continuing in order to assess the risk to mission products and to refine the performance achieved.
RNAi-dependent H3K27 methylation is required for heterochromatin formation and DNA elimination in Tetrahymena.

Methylated H3K27 is an important mark for Polycomb group (PcG) protein-mediated transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) in multicellular eukaryotes. Here a Drosophila E(z) homolog, EZL1, is characterized in the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila and is shown to be responsible for H3K27 methylation associated with developmentally regulated heterochromatin formation and DNA elimination. Importantly, Ezl1p-catalyzed H3K27 methylation occurs in an RNA interference (RNAi)-dependent manner. H3K27 methylation also regulates H3K9 methylation in these processes. Furthermore, an “effector” of programmed DNA elimination, the chromodomain protein Pdd1p, is shown to bind both K27- and K9-methylated H3. These studies provide a framework for an RNAi-dependent, Polycomb group protein-mediated heterochromatin formation pathway in Tetrahymena and underscore the connection between the two highly conserved machineries in eukaryotes.
Computed tomographic scan mapping of gastric wall perfusion and clinical implications.

Abstract Background Several postoperative gastrointestinal complications are attributed to ischemia. We herein evaluate the gastric wall perfusion using computed tomography (CT) scan perfusion index on trial to address the etiology of ischemic complication after sleeve gastrectomy. Methods A retrospective study of 205 patients undergoing CT scan of the abdomen to evaluate the pattern of gastric vascular perfusion was performed. The perfusion index of the gastric mucosa was measured at 5 gastric points using CT perfusion scanning. Results Gastric perfusion at the angle of His (AOH) (53.51 ± 14.38) was statistically significantly lower ( P Conclusions Gastric wall perfusion is statistically significantly decreased at the AOH and gastric fundus compared with perfusion at other gastric points. Gastric perfusion at all the gastric points studied decreased with the increase in body mass index. Gastric leakage in obese patients following sleeve gastrectomy could be attributed to a decrease in the blood supply at AOH.
An Analysis of Wine Critic Consensus: A Study of Washington and California Wines*

We examine the degree of consensus in quality ratings of prominent U.S. wine publications. For the purposes of wine consumption and research, are ratings on the ubiquitous 100-point scale reliable measures of quality? The value of expert judgment has been called into question by a number of studies, especially in the context of wine competitions and tasting events. Using data on 853 wines, we find a moderately high level of consensus, measured by the correlation coefficient, between most pairs of publications, similar to the level found by Ashton (2013). Rank and intraclass correlations are similar. Consensus is not found to be related to the blinding policies (or lack thereof) of the critical publications. (JEL Classifications: C93, D46)
Mechanisms Underlying the Antifibrillatory Action of Hyperkalemia in Guinea Pig Hearts

Hyperkalemia increases the organization of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and may also terminate it by mechanisms that remain unclear. We previously showed that the left-to-right heterogeneity of excitation and wave fragmentation present in fibrillating guinea pig hearts is mediated by chamber-specific outward conductance differences in the inward rectifier potassium current (I(K1)). We hypothesized that hyperkalemia-mediated depolarization of the reversal potential of I(K1) (E(K1)) would reduce excitability and thereby reduce VF excitation frequencies and left-to-right heterogeneity. We induced VF in Langendroff-perfused guinea pig hearts and increased the extracellular K(+) concentration ([K(+)](o)) from control (4 mM) to 7 mM (n = 5) or 10 mM (n = 7). Optical mapping enabled spatial characterization of excitation dominant frequencies (DFs) and wavebreaks, and identification of sustained rotors (>4 cycles). During VF, hyperkalemia reduced the maximum DF of the left ventricle (LV) from 31.5 +/- 4.7 Hz (control) to 23.0 +/- 4.7 Hz (7.0 mM) or 19.5 +/- 3.6 Hz (10.0 mM; p < 0.006), the left-to-right DF gradient from 14.7 +/- 3.6 Hz (control) to 4.4 +/- 1.3 Hz (7 mM) and 3.2 +/- 1.4 Hz (10 mM), the number of DF domains, and the incidence of wavebreak in the LV and interventricular regions. During 10 mM [K(+)](o), the rotation period and core area of sustained rotors in the LV increased, and VF often terminated. Two-dimensional computer simulations mimicking experimental VF predicted that clamping E(K1) to normokalemic values during simulated hyperkalemia prevented all of the hyperkalemia-induced VF changes. During hyperkalemia, despite the shortening of the action potential duration, depolarization of E(K1) increased refractoriness, leading to a slowing of VF, which effectively superseded the influence of I(K1) conductance differences on VF organization. This reduced the left-to-right excitation gradients and heterogeneous wavebreak formation. Overall, these results provide, to our knowledge, the first direct mechanistic insight into the organization and/or termination of VF by hyperkalemia.
Acute Heart Failure Syndromes: Initial Management

Postdischarge mortality and morbidity from acute heart failure syndrome (AHFS) are high, affecting nearly half of all discharged patients within 90 days. Emergency department therapy remains largely empiric, with minimal evidence to support definitive recommendations to guide therapy. However, lessons learned from recent registries and trials suggest an approach to initial management based on clinical profiles, as defined by high, normal, or low blood pressure. Clinicians are provided with a practical and consensus-driven approach to everyday AHFS management.
MCS Rainfall Forecast Accuracy as a Function of Large-Scale Forcing

The large-scale forcing associated with 20 mesoscale convective system (MCS) events has been evaluated to determine how the magnitude of that forcing influences the rainfall forecasts made with a 10-km grid spacing version of the Eta Model. Different convective parameterizations and initialization modifications were used to simulate these Upper Midwest events. Cases were simulated using both the Betts‐Miller‐Janjic ´ (BMJ) and the Kain‐Fritsch (KF) convective parameterizations, and three different techniques were used to improve the initialization of mesoscale features important to later MCS evolution. These techniques included a cold pool initialization, vertical assimilation of surface mesoscale observations, and an adjustment to initialized relative humidity based on radar echo coverage. As an additional aspect in this work, a morphology analysis of the 20 MCSs was included. Results suggest that the model using both schemes performs better when net large-scale forcing is strong, which typically is the case when a cold front moves across the domain. When net forcing is weak, which is often the case in midsummer situations north of a warm or stationary front, both versions of the model perform poorly. Runs with the BMJ scheme seem to be more affected by the magnitude of surface frontogenesis than the KF runs. Runs with the KF scheme are more sensitive to the CAPE amount than the BMJ runs. A fairly well-defined split in morphology was observed, with squall lines having trailing stratiform regions likely in scenarios associated with higher equitable threat scores (ETSs) and nonlinear convective clusters strongly dominating the more poorly forecast weakly forced events.
In vitro identification of the trophoblastic stem cell of the human villous placenta.

Abstract An in vitro search for th e epithelial stem cell of the placenta has been made. The cytotrophoblast has been selected for tissue culture from germinal beds of cell column cytotrophoblast of the first and early second trimester placenta. These beds have been shown by Wislocki and Padykula 9 to represent the generative source of new and expanding placental villi in vivo. Th e morphologic charact eristics of these cell columns confirm their cytotrophoblast composition in hematoxylin and eosin sections. Under the dissecting microscope comparable areas were stlected and ex planted in tissue cultures. Primary growth of cytotrophoblast with characteristic micro villi migrated from these cell columns and have been followed by daily microscopic observation. HCG was detected in the medium in which these cells were grown for a limited period of time, roughly comparable to the period during which mitosis occurred in cytotrophoblast. It is concluded that these cells represent the functioning cytotrophoblast of the normal placenta.
Accuracy and content of medical student midclerkship self-evaluations

Abstract Background Midclerkship self-evaluations (MCSEs) require students to reflect on their knowledge, skills, and behaviors. We hypothesized that MCSEs would be consistent with supervisor midpoint evaluations during a surgical clerkship. Methods MCSEs of 153 students who completed our surgery clerkship in 2 academic years were compared with supervisor midclerkship evaluations. The quantitative domains of the MCSE and supervisor evaluation were compared for accuracy. Identified areas of strengths and weakness were evaluated for thematic consistency. Results Student MCSE scoring was accurate across evaluated domains most of the time; when students were inaccurate, they tended to underrate themselves. Students and supervisors most often identified cognitive skills as areas for improvement and noncognitive skills predominated as student strengths. Conclusions Medical students can accurately identify their strengths and weaknesses in the context of an MCSE. Based on these findings, knowledge acquisition and application by medical students in the clinical setting should be emphasized in undergraduate medical education.
Effect of pentoxiphylline on oxygen transport during hypothermia.

At least two investigators have demonstrated a reduction in O2 extraction during induced hypothermia (Cain and Bradley, J. Appl. Physiol. 55: 1713-1717, 1983; Schumacker et al., J. Appl. Physiol. 63: 1246-1252, 1987). We hypothesized that administration of pentoxiphylline (PTX), a theobromine that lowers blood viscosity and has vasodilator effects, would increase O2 extraction during hypothermia. To test this hypothesis, we studied O2 transport in anesthetized, paralyzed, mechanically ventilated beagles exposed to hypoxic hypoxia during either 1) normothermia (38 degrees C), 2) hypothermia (30 degrees C), or 3) hypothermia + PTX (30 degrees C and PTX, 20 mg.kg-1.h-1). Measurements included arterial and mixed venous PO2, hemoglobin concentration and saturation, cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance (SVR), blood viscosity, and O2 consumption (VO2). Critical levels of O2 delivery (DO2, the product of arterial O2 content and cardiac output) were determined by a system of linear regression. Hypothermia significantly decreased base line cardiac output (-35%), DO2 (-37%), and VO2 (-45%), while increasing SVR and blood viscosity. Addition of PTX increased cardiac output (35%) and VO2 (14%), and returned SVR and blood viscosity to normothermic levels. Hypothermia alone failed to significantly reduce the critical level of DO2, but addition of PTX did [normothermia, 11.4 +/- 4.2 (SD) ml.kg-1.min-1; hypothermia, 9.3 +/- 3.6; hypothermia + PTX, 6.6 +/- 1.3; P less than 0.05, analysis of variance]. The O2 extraction ratio (VO2/DO2) at the critical level of DO2 was decreased during hypothermia alone (normothermia, 0.60 +/- 0.13; hypothermia, 0.42 +/- 0.16; hypothermia + PTX, 0.62 +/- 0.19; P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Effect of the Balkan Wars on European Alliances and the Future of the Ottoman Empire

The Near Eastern question, or Turkey in Europe, has been one of the most difficult and vexatious problems of European statesmen and diplomats ever since the signing of Europe's first treaty with the Ottoman Turks, at Carlowitz, in 1699. It has had a greater influence upon European diplomacy than any other single issue. Reputations have been made and lost by it. Three of the great military conflicts of the nineteenth century—the Russo-Turkish struggle of 1828-29, the Crimean war, and the Russo-Turkish contest of 1877—were caused by one or another phase of this question; and now, within the past two years, recourse to arms has been had twice again over the same debatable ground. The congress of Berlin and the diplomatic moves that followed the war between Russia and Turkey in 1877, led to the creation of the German-Austrian League, and ultimately to the present Triple Alliance. The diplomatic and strategic acts which preceded the war between the Balkan allies and the Ottoman Empire in 1912 and those that accompanied the breaking out and the conclusion of the conflict against Bulgaria in 1913, culminated in new combinations, some of which have elements of permanency.
A randomized, prospective comparison of transition to sirolimus-based CNI-minimization or withdrawal in African American kidney transplant recipients

Background There is a lack of conclusive evidence to suggest if calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) withdrawal or minimization with sirolimus is the best strategy for African Americans. Methods This was a randomized, prospective, open-label, pilot study comparing the two mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) transition strategies in adult African Americans between six and 24 wk post-transplant. The primary outcome was a comparison of the eGFR at one yr after conversion. Results Forty patients were randomized and analyzed in an intent-to-treat fashion. Median day of transition was day 96 (withdrawal) and 68 (minimization). Patients in the CNI-withdrawal group (n = 23) had significantly higher eGFR at one yr compared to the CNI-minimization group (n = 17, 73 vs. 56 mL/min, p = 0.03), as well as a significantly larger increase in eGFR from baseline (12 vs. 5 mL/min, p = 0.03). There were no differences in infections, acute rejection, death, or graft loss. Both regimens were constrained by disproportionately high discontinuation rates despite modest toxicity profiles. Conclusion In spite of considerable withdrawal rate across both study arms, African American kidney transplant recipients who underwent early transition to a sirolimus-based CNI-withdrawal regimen had significantly better graft function at one yr compared to those transitioned to a sirolimus-based CNI-minimization regimen. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01005706.
Iterative reassignment algorithm: leveraging occupancy based HVAC control for improved energy efficiency

Building occupancy significantly impacts HVAC system energy consumption. Occupancy is stochastic in nature, and occupancy from different spaces could be heterogeneous, resulting in heterogeneous distributions of loads, therefore HVAC energy inefficiencies. This paper proposes a framework for conditionally redistributing loads by reassigning occupants at the building level for elevating the effects of occupancy based control, and simulates a real-world office building for validation. Predefined constraints are integrated, and an agglomerate hierarchical clustering-based reassignment algorithm is designed for iteratively assigning occupancy with zone adjacency, orientation, and HVAC layout being considered. Simulation results show that the integration of occupancy based control and occupant reassignment could save up to 9.6% of energy compared to simply applying occupancy based control (18.9% compared to the baseline control that is used in the building. The proposed framework helps reducing unnecessary loads and improves energy efficiency through better-informed decision making for occupancy based HVAC controls.
Co-targeting hexokinase 2-mediated Warburg effect and ULK1-dependent autophagy suppresses tumor growth of PTEN- and TP53-deficiency-driven castration-resistant prostate cancer

Currently, no therapeutic options exist for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients who have developed resistance to the second generation anti-androgen receptor (AR) axis therapy. Here we report that co-deletion of Pten and p53 in murine prostate epithelium, often observed in human CRPC, leads to AR-independent CRPC and thus confers de novo resistance to second generation androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in multiple independent yet complementary preclinical mouse models. In contrast, mechanism-driven co-targeting hexokinase 2 (HK2)-mediated Warburg effect with 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) and ULK1-dependent autophagy with chloroquine (CQ) selectively kills cancer cells through intrinsic apoptosis to cause tumor regression in xenograft, leads to a near-complete tumor suppression and remarkably extends survival in Pten −/p53-deficiency-driven CRPC mouse model. Mechanistically, 2-DG causes AMPK phosphorylation, which in turn inhibits mTORC1-S6K1 translation signaling to preferentially block anti-apoptotic protein MCL-l synthesis to prime mitochondria-dependent apoptosis while simultaneously activates ULK1-driven autophagy for cell survival to counteract the apoptotic action of anti-Warburg effect. Accordingly, inhibition of autophagy with CQ sensitizes cancer cells to apoptosis upon 2-DG challenge. Given that 2-DG is recommended for phase II clinical trials for prostate cancer and CQ has been clinically used as an anti-malaria drug for many decades, the preclinical results from our proof-of-principle studies in vivo are imminently translatable to clinical trials to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy by the combination modality for a subset of currently incurable CRPC harboring PTEN and TP53 mutations.
Technical Section: Annotation in outdoor augmented reality

Annotation, the process of adding extra virtual information to an object, is one of the most common uses for augmented reality. Although annotation is widely used in augmented reality, there is no general agreed-upon definition of what precisely constitutes an annotation in this context. In this paper, we propose a taxonomy of annotation, describing what constitutes an annotation and outlining different dimensions along which annotation can vary. Using this taxonomy we also highlight what styles of annotation are used in different types of applications and areas where further work needs to be done to improve annotation. Through our taxonomy we found two primary categories into which annotations in current applications fall. Some annotations present information that is directly related to the object they are annotating, while others are only indirectly related to the object that is being annotated. We also found that there are very few applications that enable the user to either edit or create new annotations online. Instead, most applications rely on content that is created in various offline processes. There are, however, many advantages to online annotation. We summarize and formalize our recent work in this field by presenting the steps needed to build an online annotation system, looking most closely at techniques for placing annotations from a distance.
Effect of mixed organic acid administration on blood levels of chlortetracycline in broiler chicks.

Abstract Male broiler chicks, when administered mixed organic acids via the drinking water for 3 days prior to water administration of chlortetracycline (CTC), showed no significant increases in the blood levels of the antibiotic. However, if the organic acids were administered simultaneously with the antibiotic, either via drinking water administration or via oral dosing, significant increases in the blood levels of the antibiotic were noted. With simultaneous administration of the antibiotic and mixed organic acids via the drinking water, a significant decrease in water intake was observed; however, in spite of the decrease in water intake and a concomitant decrease in CTC intake, significant increases in the blood levels of the CTC were still present. These data suggest that mixed organic acids, commonly used in the poultry industry, can be utilized to elicit an increase in CTC blood levels to a greater degree than would be anticipated without the use of the organic acids.
Atomistic Theory of Bulk Metallic Glass Formation

Bulk metallic glass can be formed only when the critical cooling rate for glass formation is reduced to 10 0–2 K/sec. However, a cooling rate achievable with molecular dynamics simulation is higher by many orders of magnitude, so the gap has to be abridged by analytical theories. We propose a theory of bulk metallic glass formation based upon our early theories of glass formation composition. The critical concepts include the idea of local glass transition, distributed local glass transition temperatures and coincident local fluctuation for atomic transport. Strong repulsion between small atoms was recognized for the first time as the necessary condition for bulk glass formation.
Future Orientation as a Protective Factor for African American Adolescents Exposed to Community Violence

For African American youth disproportionately exposed to community violence and the associated risk of externalizing behaviors, developmental assets that reduce the risk for externalizing behaviors...
Sex-Related Differences in the Risk of Hospital-Acquired Sepsis and Pneumonia Post Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background and Objective Infectious complications after ischemic stroke are frequent and lead to neurological deterioration, poor functional outcomes, and higher mortality. Local and systemic inflammatory responses to brain ischemia differ between males and females, but little is known about differences in poststroke susceptibility to infection by sex. The purpose of this study was to compare sex-related differences in the risk of hospital-acquired sepsis and pneumonia after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Materials and Methods This is a retrospective, secondary analysis of the 2010-2011 California State Inpatient Database. Previously validated International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes were used to identify adult hospitalizations for AIS. The primary outcome was hospital-acquired sepsis or pneumonia, also identified using ICD-9 codes. Associations between sex and hospital-acquired sepsis or pneumonia were adjusted for baseline characteristics and comorbidities using multivariable logistic regression. Results There were 91,643 hospitalizations for AIS included in this analysis, of which 1027 had hospital-acquired sepsis and 1225 had hospital-acquired pneumonia. The in-hospital mortality without infection was 4.6%; the presence of hospital-acquired infections was associated with higher mortality for sepsis (32.7%) and pneumonia (21.9%). Female (versus male) sex was associated with lower adjusted odds of hospital-acquired sepsis (odds ratio [OR] .74, 95% confidence interval [CI] .65-.84) and pneumonia (OR .69, 95% CI .62-.78). This difference was similar across age strata. Among hospitalizations with either hospital-acquired sepsis or pneumonia, sex did not influence mortality. Conclusions Female sex was associated with a lower risk of hospital-acquired sepsis and pneumonia after AIS. Further investigation is needed to determine the mechanisms underlying this clinical observation.
Embryological Basis for Vascular Anomalies

Abnormal embryonic development of the vascular system causes a variety of vascular anomalies. Vasculogenesis is genetically determined with a specific sequence of formation, selective regression, and remodeling that must occur in the correct sequence to produce the typical mature vascular system. Investigation into the genes and signaling pathways that guide this complex process are crucial to understanding how vascular anomalies develop and may ultimately provide clues for therapeutic intervention or treatment of these conditions.
Slow Lightning: Image, Time, and an Erotics of Reading

“Slow Lightning: Image, Time, and An Erotics of Reading,” Eliza Rodriguez y Gibson, Loyola Marymount University.
Altered glutamate release in the dorsal striatum of the MitoPark mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the degeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD). In addition, animal models of PD utilizing neurotoxins, such as 6-hydroxydopamine and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, have shown that these toxins disrupt mitochondrial respiration by targeting complex I of the electron transport chain, thereby impairing DA neurons in these models. A MitoPark mouse model was created to mimic the mitochondrial dysfunction observed in the DA system of PD patients. These mice display the same phenotypic characteristics as PD, including accelerated decline in motor function and DAergic systems with age. Previously, these mice have responded to L-Dopa treatment and develop L-Dopa induced dyskinesia (LID) as they age. A potential mechanism involved in the formation of LID is greater glutamate release into the dorsal striatum as a result of altered basal ganglia neurocircuitry due to reduced nigrostriatal DA neurotransmission. Therefore, the focus of this study was to assess various indicators of glutamate neurotransmission in the dorsal striatum of MitoPark mice at an age in which nigrostriatal DA has degenerated. At 28 weeks of age, MitoPark mice had, upon KCl stimulation, greater glutamate release in the dorsal striatum compared to control mice. In addition, uptake kinetics were slower in MitoPark mice. These findings were coupled with reduced expression of the glutamate re-uptake transporter, GLT-1, thus providing an environment suitable for glutamate excitotoxic events, leading to altered physiological function in these mice.
An undergraduate fixed point DSP course

A course is proposed to cover fixed point, quantization and overflow issues in DSP programming for undergraduates. The course covers the material using a simulation approach in a case study of a SSB communication system. The course is needed in the curriculum because most new graduates in DSP jobs need these skills immediately to be productive on the more common fixed point processors.
Outcomes of a Less-Invasive Approach for Proximal Aortic Operations.

Background Less-invasive techniques have previously been described for mitral and aortic valve operations; however, few studies have examined their benefit for aortic root and ascending aorta reconstruction. Using propensity matching, we compared outcomes of patients undergoing proximal aortic operations through a J incision compared with full sternotomy. Methods From January 1995 to January 2014, 8,533 patients underwent proximal aortic operations at Cleveland Clinic. The study population comprised 1,827 patients after those with prior cardiac operations, emergency procedures, endocarditis, or circulatory arrest were excluded; 568 (31%) underwent a J incision. A propensity score based on 57 variables was generated to account for differences in characteristics of full-sternotomy and J-incision patients, producing 483 matched patient pairs (85% of possible) for comparison of outcomes. Results Among propensity-matched patients, in-hospital mortality (0 [0%] J incision vs 2 [0.41%] full sternotomy; p = 0.2), renal failure (3 [0.62%] vs 6 [1.2%]; p = 0.3), stroke (3 [0.62%] vs 3 [0.62%; p > 0.9), reoperation for bleeding (17 [3.5%] vs 15 [3.1%]; p = 0.7), intraoperative blood products (60 [15%] vs 78 [19%]; p = 0.08), and postoperative transfusions (97 [20%] vs 103 [22%]; p = 0.6) were similar. Intensive care unit (median 24 vs 26 hours) and postoperative hospital stays (median 5.2 vs 6.0 days) were shorter ( p Conclusions A J incision is a feasible technique for primary isolated elective proximal aortic operations, with a low risk of complications similar to those of full sternotomy, but with the advantages of shorter intensive care unit and hospital stays, lower costs, and better cosmesis.
Tumorigenicity of Ewing sarcoma is critically dependent on the trithorax proteins MLL1 and menin

// Laurie K. Svoboda 1 , Natashay Bailey 1 , Raelene A. Van Noord 2 , Melanie A. Krook 1 , Ashley Harris 1 , Cassondra Cramer 1 , Brooke Jasman 1 , Rajiv M. Patel 3, 4 , Dafydd Thomas 3 , Dmitry Borkin 3 , Tomasz Cierpicki 3 , Jolanta Grembecka 3 , Elizabeth R. Lawlor 1, 3 1 Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA 2 Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA 3 Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA 4 Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA Correspondence to: Elizabeth R. Lawlor, email: elawlor@med.umich.edu Keywords: Ewing sarcoma, trithorax, MLL, menin, HOX Received: August 15, 2016 Accepted: November 14, 2016 Published: November 18, 2016 ABSTRACT Developmental transcription programs are epigenetically regulated by the competing actions of polycomb and trithorax (TrxG) protein complexes, which repress and activate genes, respectively. Ewing sarcoma is a developmental tumor that is associated with widespread de-regulation of developmental transcription programs, including HOX programs. Posterior HOXD genes are abnormally over-expressed by Ewing sarcoma and HOXD13 , in particular, contributes to the tumorigenic phenotype. In MLL1 fusion-driven leukemia, aberrant activation of HOXA genes is epigenetically mediated by the TrxG complex and HOXA gene expression and leukemogenesis are critically dependent on the protein-protein interaction between the TrxG proteins MLL1 and menin. Based on these data, we investigated whether posterior HOXD gene activation and Ewing sarcoma tumorigenicity are similarly mediated by and dependent on MLL1 and/or menin. Our findings demonstrate that Ewing sarcomas express high levels of both MLL1 and menin and that continued expression of both proteins is required for maintenance of tumorigenicity. In addition, exposure of Ewing sarcoma cells to MI-503, an inhibitor of the MLL1-menin protein-protein interaction developed for MLL1-fusion driven leukemia, leads to loss of tumorigenicity and down-regulated expression of the posterior HOXD gene cluster. Together these data demonstrate an essential role for MLL1 and menin in mediating tumor maintenance and posterior HOXD gene activation in Ewing sarcoma. A critical dependency of these tumors on the MLL1-menin interaction presents a potentially novel therapeutic target.
Einstein: the man behind the myth

This is a book that even Einstein buffs will love, albeit with important reservations. Denis Brian has located just about everyone alive who knew Einstein and has dug up all sorts of unknown anecdotes and tales. Besides these stories, he has also had access to much of the Einstein correspondence that was suppressed by Otto Nathan, Einstein's egomaniacal executor, and the liberal use of quotations, both important and trivial, make this a continually interesting read. Who would not be fascinated to learn, for example, that in a letter to his future second wife, Elsa, Einstein said that his close friend Marie Curie "had the soul of a herring"?
Radiobiology of Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy shares both parallels and specific differences with external beam treatment in terms of the interaction of radiation with living tissue. In order to compare and contrast those elements of biology that are well described for external beam treatment we have used the 4(+1) “R’s” of radiation biology as a framework. Thus, radiation damage Repair, tissue level Reoxygenation, the Repopulation of cells, Redistribution of affected cells within the cell cycle, and individual target cell Radiosensitivity all combine to generate a response and each is uniquely affected by the dose characteristics of brachytherapy treatment.
Uncertain Futures: The Unfinished Houses of Undocumented Migrants in Oaxaca, Mexico

Migration often leads to new transnational patterns of consumption, because migrants create new ways in which they, and their families, relate to material objects. The literature on migration and materiality has documented migrants constructing and reconstructing their identities, and creating relationships based on the acquisition of material artifacts. However, little is known about the affective component involved in the construction of migrants’ houses, especially when they are unfinished. In this article I provide an ethnographic analysis of the relationship between unfinished houses, migration trajectories, familial obligations, and future aspirations of migrants and their families in Oaxaca, Mexico. Unfinished migrant houses populate the landscape of Oaxacan migrant communities as a reminder of the difficulties of migration. They also give hope to the families of migrants that dream of seeing their children return to a finished house. The house, and the process of building it, is entangled in emotions of presence and absence, success and failure, cruel optimism and hopeful aspirations. I argue that by looking at unfinished houses, and what they represent to migrants and to their families, we can expand our understanding of the relationship between undocumented migration, materiality, and the creation of multiple futures in uncertain contexts. [migration, materiality, houses, kinship, futurity ]
The Reproducibility of Changes in Diagnostic Figures of Merit Across Laboratory and Clinical Imaging Reader Studies.

Rationale and Objectives In this paper we examine which comparisons of reading performance between diagnostic imaging systems made in controlled retrospective laboratory studies may be representative of what we observe in later clinical studies. The change in a meaningful diagnostic figure of merit between two diagnostic modalities should be qualitatively or quantitatively comparable across all kinds of studies. Materials and Methods In this meta-study we examine the reproducibility of relative measures of sensitivity, false positive fraction (FPF), area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and expected utility across laboratory and observational clinical studies for several different breast imaging modalities, including screen film mammography, digital mammography, breast tomosynthesis, and ultrasound. Results Across studies of all types, the changes in the FPFs yielded very small probabilities of having a common mean value. The probabilities of relative sensitivity being the same across ultrasound and tomosynthesis studies were low. No evidence was found for different mean values of relative area under the ROC curve or relative expected utility within any of the study sets. Conclusion The comparison demonstrates that the ratios of areas under the ROC curve and expected utilities are reproducible across laboratory and clinical studies, whereas sensitivity and FPF are not.
Characterizing the Location and Extent of Myocardial Infarctions With Inverse ECG Modeling and Spatiotemporal Regularization

Myocardial infarction (MI) is among the leading causes of death in the United States. It is imperative to identify and characterize MIs for timely delivery of life-saving medical interventions. Cardiac electrical activity propagates in space and evolves over time. Traditional works focus on the analysis of time-domain ECG (e.g., 12-lead ECG) on the body surface for the detection of MIs, but tend to overlook spatiotemporal dynamics in the heart. Body surface potential mappings (BSPMs) provide high-resolution distribution of electric potentials over the entire torso, and therefore provide richer information than 12-lead ECG. However, BSPM are available on the body surface. Clinicians are in need of a closer look of the electric potentials in the heart to investigate cardiac pathology and optimize treatment strategies. In this paper, we applied the method of spatiotemporal inverse ECG (ST-iECG) modeling to map electrical potentials from the body surface to the heart, and then characterize the location and extent of MIs by investigating the reconstructed heart-surface electrograms. First, we investigate the impact of mesh resolution on the inverse ECG modeling. Second, we solve the inverse ECG problem and reconstruct heart-surface electrograms using the ST-iECG model. Finally, we propose a wavelet-clustering method to investigate the pathological behaviors of heart-surface electrograms, and thereby characterize the extent and location of MIs. The proposed methodology is evaluated and validated with real data of MIs from human subjects. Experimental results show that negative QRS waves in heart-surface electrograms indicate potential regions of MI, and the proposed ST-iECG model yields superior characterization results of MIs on the heart surface over existing methods.