cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systolic blood pressure influences the interpretation of cardiopulmonary exercise tests and helps identify a very high-risk cohort of heart failure patients

Background Ventilatory inefficiency (high volume of expired air/volume of carbon dioxide eliminated [Ve/Vco 2 ] slope), and impaired exercise tolerance (low peak volume of oxygen consumption) obtained from cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) strongly predict mortality in heart failure (HF) patients; however, other CPX variables may also contain prognostic information. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic power of the aggregate of CPX data. Methods The study prospectively monitored 390 patients referred for cardiac transplantation evaluation for 10 years for events (death, urgent transplant, left ventricular assist devices). Cox regression was used to analyze 18 CPX variables to identify the best survival model. Results Ve/Vco 2 slope was the most powerful mortality predictor, and only resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) added additional independent prognostic power when expressed at its threshold effect value as SBP ≤ 100 mm Hg. Patients with low SBP had a greater risk than those who were within the next higher quartile of Ve/Vco 2 slope with SBP > 100 mm Hg. A very high-risk cohort included 9% of the population that had a Ve/Vco 2 slope > 41 and SBP ≤ 100 mm Hg and an associated 2-year event rate of 67%; conversely, a low-risk cohort had a Ve/Vco 2 slope ≤ 30 and SBP >100 mm Hg and associated 2-, 5-, and 10-year event rates of 5%, 12%, and 30%, respectively. Conclusions Ve/Vco 2 slope was the best individual predictive CPX variable and its interpretation was significantly altered by the presence of hypotension. An algorithm combining these CPX variables identifies a HF population at very high risk of early death and warranting advanced therapies.
Heterotopic gastrointestinal cyst of the oral cavity

A case of an oral heterotopic gastrointestinal cyst of the tongue is described and a review of the literature is presented. The oral gastrointestinal cyst is a developmental lesion found more commonly in males, with a wide age range, but mostly occurring in the young. It presents as an asymptomatic swelling and most likely arises from misplaced embryonal tissue. Conservative surgical excision is the treatment of choice and no recurrence is expected.
Effect of protein kinase-C activation on the Mg2+-sensitivity of cloned NMDA receptors

Abstract The mechanisms responsible for protein kinase-c (PKC) mediated potentiation of NMDA receptors are poorly understood. One hypothesis is that PKC-activation reduces the receptor's characteristic voltage-dependent Mg2+-blockade. Experiments performed on Xenopus oocytes expressing cloned NMDA receptors demonstrated that PKC-activation induced no change in the sensitivity of ζl e3 and ζ1 e4 receptors to Mg2+-blockade and, even though PKC-activation did induce a small shift in Mg2+sensitivity for the ζl el and ζl e2 receptors, the change seen was not large enough to account for an appreciable increase in NMDA receptor activity. Baseline Mg2+-sensitivities and levels of PKC-mediated potentiation were also quantified for each of the di-heteromeric NMDA receptors. The order of Mg2+-sensitivity is ζl e l (most sensitive) > ζl e2 > | solζl g34 > l e3 (least sensitive). PKC-activation caused a 2-fold increase in ζl g4 l currents, a 4-fold increase in 1 e2 currents and no change in either l e3 or l e4 currents. These data suggest that PKC-potentiation of the cloned di-heteromeric NMDA receptors does not involve a reduction in Mg2+-blockade. The di-heteromeric receptors possess varied properties in regard to PKC-potentiation and Mg2+-blockade which have been quantified here.
The search for the nonthrombogenic property of colloidal graphite

The nonthrombogenic property of the graphite-Benzalkonium-heparin surface has not been consistently attained by those using this coating. In addition, there is mounting evidence that this property is not dependent entirely on the presence of heparin. A series of tests were conducted to further define the properties of colloidal graphite materials, methods of control and possible relationships to thrombus formation. These tests included electrokinetic investigations, dielectric measurements and other physical/chemical property evaluations. It was found that the colloidal graphite coating approximates many properties which are characteristic of animal tissue. However, considerable scatter in the duplication of these properties was encountered. The properties which seemed to separate the Acheson Colloids Company DAG-35 coating from other graphite products were those of porosity and permeability. Control of these parameters may be critical to achieving consistent uniform success.
X-ray photometers for aircraft generator brushes

The use of X-rays as a method of nondestructive quantitative chemical analysis is discussed. Two instruments designed for the measurement of barium fluoride treatment in aircraft generator brushes are described. Other applications of these instruments can be deduced from the method of analysis reviewed in the article.
Experiments in the Validity of Preservice Teacher Stage Scoring of Moral Thought Statements.

Two experiments were conducted to replicate earlier studies of teacher stage scoring ability. In the first experiment the 2 original rater guides created by Kohlberg were compared. In the second experiment the 2 original Kohlberg rater guides were combined and compared to the Porter and Taylor rater guide. In both experiments there was no significant difference between rater guide treatments. Teachers could correctly stage score only 51% of the moral thought statements in experiment 1 and only 44% in experiment 2. Further analyses indicated that teachers were being influenced by the content of moral thought while stage scoring. Therefore, until research indicates what factors cause successful use of Kohlberg's stage scoring system, teachers should refrain from stage scoring because the validity of their stage scoring is open to serious question.
Manganese complexes: diverse metabolic routes to oxidative stress resistance in prokaryotes and yeast.

Abstract Significance: Antioxidant enzymes are thought to provide critical protection to cells against reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, many organisms can fully compensate for the loss of such enzymatic defenses by accumulating metabolites and Mn2+, which can form catalytic Mn-antioxidants. Accumulated metabolites can direct reactivity of Mn2+ with superoxide and specifically shield proteins from oxidative damage. Recent Advances: There is mounting evidence that Mn-Pi (orthophosphate) complexes act as potent scavengers of superoxide in all three branches of life. Moreover, it is evident that Mn2+ in complexes with carbonates, peptides, nucleosides, and organic acids can also form catalytic Mn-antioxidants, pointing to diverse metabolic routes to oxidative stress resistance. Critical Issues: What conditions favor utility of Mn-metabolites versus enzymatic means for removing ROS? Mn2+-metabolite defenses are critical for preserving the activity of repair enzymes in Deinococcus radiodurans exposed to ...
The Notion of Limited Perfect Adaptedness in Darwin's Principle of Divergence

Before publishing On the Origin of Species, Darwin held the view that well-adapted organisms were optimally designed to meet the specific challenges of an environment, and populations were not expected to change except from an environmental disturbance. Darwin later recognized the prevalence of environmental variation and employed a concept of relative adaptedness. I argue, against Don Ospovat, that Darwin did not entirely abandon his prior idea of “limited perfect adaptedness” when writing the Origin. In order to understand completely the diagram that Darwin presents in connection to the principle of divergence, a notion of limited perfect adaptedness is necessary.
Effects of synaptic and intrinsic parameters in shaping dynamic responses to olfactory input: a combined computational-experimental study of two glomerular microcircuits

Initial synaptic processing of odors occurs in the mammalian olfactory bulb (OB): temporally dynamic odorant-evoked inputs are first processed at the olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) level, and similarly dynamic, patterned output is transmitted from the mitral cell (MC) layer to olfactory cortex. Prior work has shown that bursts of odor-evoked ORN activity exhibit odor-specific and glomerulus-specific durations, rise times, latencies, and amplitudes [1]. Similarly diverse patterning is seen in MC activity, which is temporally organized around the respiratory cycle and changes qualitatively during odor sampling. The temporal spread of sensory input following a single inhalation (~100-300 ms) is comparable to the range of discrimination times for different olfactory tasks [2,3], consistent with these dynamics being important in shaping odor perception. Situated between the ORN input and MC output layers, the neuronal circuitry of the glomerular layer acts to consolidate and modulate OB output. Thousands of juxtaglomerular neurons from three distinct classes form the neuronal network within a glomerulus; several synaptic and gap junctional microcircuits have been identified in the intraglomerular network [4]. What transformation(s) of ORN input into MC output might the intraglomerular circuitry perform? We investigate temporal dynamics in computational models of two intraglomerular microcircuits: the classical ORN-MC circuit and a variant circuit that incorporates between the ORN and MC an external tufted (ET) cell capable of endogenous bursting [5]. These neurons are represented with single-compartment, Hodgkin-Huxley-style models [6,7]. Circuit inputs are calcium signals recorded from the presynaptic terminals of ORNs of head-fixed rats exposed to odorants using a ‘sniff playback’ mechanism [8,9]. These calcium signals are converted to excitatory synaptic inputs with temporal signatures closely matching that of inputs to the real neurons. The response dynamics of the circuits’ MC output are strongly shaped by the input signal. We explore how the circuits’ dynamics vary for different odorants, synaptic strengths, and degrees of synaptic adaptation, and we compare the two circuits’ dynamics as parameters controlling intrinsic properties of the ET and MC cells are varied.
Assessing Precollege Science Education Outreach Initiatives: A Funder's Perspective

We describe an assessment of the collective impact of 35 grants that the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) made to biomedical research institutions in 1999 to support precollege science education outreach programs. Data collected from funded institutions were compared with data from a control group of institutions that had advanced to the last stage of review but had not been funded. The survey instrument and the results reveal outcomes and impacts that HHMI considers relevant for these programs. The following attributes are considered: ability to secure additional, non-HHMI funding; institution buy-in as measured by gains in dedicated space and staff; enhancement of the program director's career; number and adoption of educational products developed; number of related publications and awards; percentage of programs for which teachers received course credit; increase in science content knowledge; and increase in student motivation to study science.
Are the borromean rings A-B-slice☆

Abstract A generalization of the slice problem for links is presented. The general 4-dimensional, topological surgery problem may be recast in this light.
Intestinal ischemia and necrotizing enterocolitis.

Early descriptions of necrotizing enterocolitis noted histologic evidence of ischemia in affected intestine and colon. This observation led to the hypothesis that intestinal ischemia played a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of NEC, 1 an hypothesis still widely held, although not yet proved in any definitive manner. This article will summarize the developmental physiology of intestinal vascular regulation and review some of the mechanisms by which intestinal ischemia may occur during early postnatal life. In particular, I will focus on the possible means by which extrinsic and intrinsic vascular regulatory mechanisms might contribute to the development of intestinal ischemia during early postnatal life.
ADAPTATION VS. PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY IN THE SUCCESS OF A CLONAL INVADER

The relative importance of plasticity vs. adaptation for the spread of invasive species has rarely been studied. We examined this question in a clonal population of invasive freshwater snails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) from the western United States by testing whether observed plasticity in life history traits conferred higher fitness across a range of temperatures. We raised isofemale lines from three populations from different climate regimes (high- and low-elevation rivers and an estuary) in a split-brood, common-garden design in three temperatures. We measured life history and growth traits and calculated population growth rate (as a measure of fitness) using an age-structured projection matrix model. We found a strong effect of temperature on all traits, but no evidence for divergence in the average level of traits among populations. Levels of genetic variation and significant reaction norm divergence for life history traits suggested some role for adaptation. Plasticity varied among traits and was lowest for size and reproductive traits compared to age-related traits and fitness. Plasticity in fitness was intermediate, suggesting that invasive populations are not general-purpose genotypes with respect to the range of temperatures studied. Thus, by considering plasticity in fitness and its component traits, we have shown that trait plasticity alone does not yield the same fitness across a relevant set of temperature conditions.
Comparison of acute myocardial infarct size to two-year mortality in patients <65 to those ≥65 years of age

Older patients have higher in-hospital and longer term mortality after myocardial infarction. To determine if larger infarct size correlates with this observation, myocardium at risk was measured on arrival to the hospital in 347 patients with acute myocardial infarction, and final infarct size was measured at hospital discharge in a subset of 274 of these patients. Myocardium at risk and final infarct size were quantified by tomographic technetium-99m sestamibi imaging. Statistical analyses examined the associations between age, myocardium at risk, final infarct size, and both in-hospital and postdischarge mortality. Median value for age was 64 years, and myocardium at risk was 24% and final infarct size was 12% of the left ventricle. There was no correlation between age and myocardium at risk (r = 0.04, p = NS) or final infarct size (r = 0.06, p = NS). In-hospital mortality was 4% overall and was 2% for patients <65 years old versus 6% for those ≥65 years old (chi-square 11.3, p <0.001). In-hospital mortality was not associated with myocardium at risk (chi square <1, p = NS). For the subset of 274 patients in whom final infarct size was measured, the subsequent 2-year mortality rate was 3% and was independently associated with both age (chi-square 15.6, p <0.001) and final infarct size (chi-square 9.7, p = 0.002). Survival was excellent for patients who were either <65 years old (2-year mortality 1%) or had an infarct size <12% (2-year mortality 0%). For patients ≥65 years old with infarct size ≥12%, 2-year mortality was 13%. These results demonstrate that older patients do not have larger infarcts. Advanced age is associated with higher in-hospital and postdischarge mortality, independent of infarct size.
A Real-Time Parallel Optical Processing Technique

Numerous parallel processing capabilities of holography have been described [1], [2]. Certain of these which are inherent in a (holographic) synthetic aperture radar [3]-[7] have also been discussed [8], including its parallel (simultaneous) phase curvature adjustments for all near-field reflecting objects, and its automatic (and parallel) adjustment of the (synthetic) aperture size so as to cause the metric resolution to be independent of range. It is here suggested that a real-time hologram reconstruction tube [9] could be incorporated to advantage in certain synthetic aperture systems.
Process capability of automated visual inspection systems

The problem of determining if a given 2D automated visual inspection system using binary images is capable of inspecting a specified part to the design specifications is addressed. This is accomplished by modeling the error inherent in the visual inspection system. The error defines a process capability zone that is compared to the part design specifications. >
Phase-Regenerative DPSK Wavelength Conversion

Phase-sensitive amplifiers (PSAs) effectively reduce accumulated phase noise (PN) in differential-phase-shift keyed (DPSK) communications systems. Their inherent complexity is offset by the ability to mitigate several impairments simultaneously: PSAs can regenerate phase and amplitude at the same time, while amplifying, reshaping and re-timing pulses. This work explores the addition of another important networking function, wavelength conversion (WC), to an established PSA architecture, to provide phase-regenerative wavelength conversion (PR-WC). PSA occurs through four-wave mixing (FWM) processes in fiber. Although it was not specifically studied, the two-stage process (Bragg scattering: BS, followed by phase-conjugation: PC) in provides PSA of an idler at a new wavelength. The two-stage scheme is inhibited by the requirement to phase-lock one distant-frequency pump wave to the other pumps and the signal, and the need to optimize power exchanged in each stage. This work investigates, through theory and experiments, a single-stage PR-WC scheme that eliminates these drawbacks. PR-WC has also been studied using semiconductor optical amplifier-based devices, which require cascaded operation to significantly reduce PN.
Impossible Burdens: White Institutions, Emotional Labor, and Micro-Resistance

This article explores the connections between white institutional spaces, emotional labor, and resistance by illuminating the shared experiences of people of color in elite law schools and the commercial aviation industry. Based on in-depth qualitative data combined from two individual studies, we illustrate the processes by which white institutional spaces create a complex environment where people of color must navigate racial narratives, ideologies, and discourses, while simultaneously attempting to achieve institutional success to reap the material rewards of these elite institutional settings. In these distinct environments, people of color experience an unequal distribution of emotional labor as a result of negotiating both everyday racial micro-aggressions and dismissive dominant ideologies that deny the relevance of race and racism. As a result they must actively seek ways to engage in forms of resistance that promote counter narratives and protect themselves from denigration while minimizing the risk of severe consequence. Our data suggest that a more nuanced conceptualization of resistance and the context in which resistance occurs is needed in order to understand the everyday experiences of people of color. Cargas Sociales imposibles: Instituciones consideradas de Blancos, Trabajo Emocional y Micro-Resistencia Louwanda Evans, Este articulo explora las conexiones entre los espacios institucionalestradicionalmente con mayoria de trabajadores blancos, trabajo emocional y la resistencia a traves de las experiencias compartidas de la gente de color en las Facultades o Escuelas de elite de derecho y de la industria de la aviacion comercial. A traves de una investigacioncualitativacombinadacon dos estudios de caso individuales, los resultados muestran los procesos por los cuales estos espacios considerados de blancos crean un entorno complejo en el que la gente de color debelidiar con ideologias y discursos raciales, y al mismo tiempo que trata de lograr el exito institucional para recoger la recompensas materiales que ofrecen estasinstitucionales elitistas. En estos ambientes distintos, las personas de color experimentan una distribucion desigual del trabajo emocional como resultado de la negociaciontanto de las micro-agresiones cotidianas como de la ideologias dominante que niegan la relevancia de la raza y el racismo dentro ella.Como resultado, este grupo debe buscar activamente formas para enfrentarse a traves de actos de resistencia que promuevan discursos contrarios y que les protegen del desmerito, pero, al mismo tiempo, reduciendoal minimo el riesgode que tenga consecuencias graves para ellos. Nuestros datos sugieren que, para comprender las experiencias cotidianas de la gente de color en estos contextos, es necesaria una conceptualizacion mas matizada de este enfrentamiento y del contexto en que se produce el mismo. .
Am i more similar to my followers or followees?: analyzing homophily effect in directed social networks

Homophily is the formation of social ties between two individuals due to similar characteristics or interests. Based on homophily, in a social network it is expected to observe a higher degree of homogeneity among connected than disconnected people. Many researchers use this simple yet effective principal to infer users' missing information and interests based on the information provided by their neighbors. In a directed social network, the neighbors can be further divided into followers and followees. In this work, we investigate the homophily effect in a directed network. To explore the homophily effect in a directed network, we study if a user's personal preferences can be inferred from those of users connected to her (followers or followees). We investigate which of followers or followees are more effective in helping to infer users' personal preferences. Our findings can help to raise the awareness of users over their privacy and can help them better manage their privacy.
Evidence for nutrient enrichment of high-elevation lakes in the Sierra Nevada, California

Long-term measurements (1983‐2001) of nutrients and seston in Emerald Lake (Sierra Nevada, California) have revealed ecologically significant patterns. Nitrate, both during spring runoff and during growing seasons, declined from 1983 through 1995. Declining snowmelt nitrate was caused primarily by changes in snow regime induced by the 1987‐1992 drought: years with shallow, early melting snowpacks had lower snowmelt nitrate concentrations owing to less labile N production in catchment soils and longer plant growing seasons. However, nitrate declines during growing seasons carried through the wetter years of 1993‐2000 and are likely the result of increased P loading to the lake and the release of phytoplankton from P limitation. Contemporaneous with these changes was an increase in algal biomass and a shift from P limitation toward more frequent N limitation of phytoplankton abundance. Particulate carbon concentrations in the late 1990s were two- to threefold greater than in the early 1980s. These trends were reflected in a larger set of Sierra Nevada lakes sampled as part of synoptic surveys ( n 5 28). Between 1985 and 1999, nitrate decreased and total P increased in .70% of the lakes sampled. Our data suggest that lakes throughout the Sierra Nevada are experiencing measurable eutrophication in response to the atmospheric deposition of nutrients.
Pyrosequencing of the Genital Microbiotas of HIV-Seropositive and -Seronegative Women Reveals Lactobacillus iners as the Predominant Lactobacillus Species

The species of vaginal lactobacilli in HIV-seropositive and -seronegative women were determined by 16S gene pyrosequencing. Lactobacillus iners sequences were the predominant lactobacillus sequences in 66% of HIV+ women and 90% of HIV− women. This has implications for resistance of HIV+ and HIV− women to genital colonization by pathogenic organisms.
Venus gravity field - Pioneer Venus Orbiter navigation results

The gravity field of Venus has been modeled by a spherical harmonic expansion of the potential to degree and order seven. The estimates of these coeficients were obtained by combining information from 43 short arcs (4 hr) of line-of-sight Doppler data centered at periapsis. The data arcs were distributed in longitude and time over more than two circulations of Venus by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter subperiapsis point which was confined to the band of latitudes from 14 deg N to 17 deg N. Convergence of the solution has been assured by iterating upon the initial estimate. All estimates were performed with zero a priori information on the gravity coefficients. Since the altitude of periapsis for most of the orbits was within the sensible Venusian atmosphere, drag effects on the estimated harmonics have been removed using an exponential atmosphere density model. Estimates of the mass parameter (GM) of Venus using this dataset are also evaluated.
A pilot study of the self-reported quality of life for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience significant impairment in their quality of life (QOL). However, relatively few studies have examined overall and global QOL in patients with COPD using both generic QOL and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures. Purpose The purposes of this pilot study were to describe the self-reported QOL (overall and global), disease-specific HRQOL, depressive symptoms, and disease-specific symptoms and experiences of patients with COPD and to examine the relationship among disease-specific HRQOL, depressive symptoms, disease-specific symptoms and experiences, and QOL (overall and global) in patients diagnosed with moderate to severe COPD. Methods A descriptive correlational design was used. Thirty-six participants completed overall QOL, global QOL, disease-specific HRQOL, depressive symptoms, and disease-specific symptoms and experiences questionnaires. Results Overall QOL was low; global QOL was at the median of scale range. Overall QOL scores were significantly correlated with the disease-specific St George Respiratory Questionnaire total score, symptoms and impact subscale, depressive symptoms, and 7 Bronchitis Emphysema Symptom Checklist subscales. Conclusion Findings provided partial support for the association between QOL and disease-specific HRQOL and the usefulness of disease-specific questionnaires when assessing QOL.
An evaluation of the use of analogy, simile, and metaphor in science texts

Teaching materials with extensive analogies, similes, and metaphors were written for two high-school biology units. Their effect on learning and attitude was assessed by a comparison to students using a literal version of the same text. Little was found to support the contention that the use of these systems increases student achievement, and there was some indication that they may have a negative effect on student attitudes.
Early settlement in the indo-pacific

Abstract Previous models for the settlement of eastern Indonesia and Australia-New Guinea have emphasized either accidental voyages during periods of low seas or intentional voyaging motivated by rising seas and disappearing islands. Such models give too little consideration to cultural variables and the capabilities of Pleistocene humans. An alternative model that emphasizes long-term selective pressures for cultural adaptations to coastal habitats is presented. Some populations of anatomically modern Homo sapiens developed marine-oriented lifestyles that included enhanced ability for water travel, which enabled them to undertake intentional voyages to new lands for a variety of economic, sociocultural, and psychological reasons.
Genetic differentiation among laboratory populations of Hyalella azteca: Implications for toxicology

Hyalella azteca of different origins are maintained in many laboratories and are extensively used in toxicological bioassays. Quality assurance of interlaboratory toxicity data can only be made when the amount of genetic differentiation among laboratory populations is known. We assayed genetic variability at 16 enzymatic loci in H. azteca stocks from six laboratories (2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA], 1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS], University of Mississippi, Environment Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada, and New York Department of Environmental Conservation), as well as an additional species, Hyalella montezuma (used as an outgroup). Three divergent groups were identified in laboratory stocks of H. azteca based on both Nei's genetic identity and modified Rogers' genetic distance. These three groups were differentiated genetically at a level characteristic of distinct species (Nei's I = 0.26–0.69) based on the comparison between H. azteca and H. montezuma. The high level of genetic differentiation among populations indicated that the Burlington and New York populations were distinct species of Hyalella. In order to enhance interlaboratory toxicity test comparisons, we recommend using genetically characterized populations of H. azteca.
Management of Acute, Severe Asthma in Children

OBJECTIVE:To briefly present the current options available for the treatment of acute, severe asthma in children, with a special focus on emergency department and inpatient treatment, and to describe newer therapies that may aid treatment in the future.DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION:A MEDLINE search (1966–May 2001) of the English-language literature pertaining to drug therapy of acute asthma was performed. Key word searches included acute asthma, albuterol, ipratropium, corticosteroids, magnesium, and theophylline. Additional articles from these sources and published national guidelines were identified. Relevant studies pertaining to current therapy of acute asthma in pediatric patients were selected; if there were minimal pediatric data, adult data were included.DATA SYNTHESIS:Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory disorder of the airways. Acute exacerbations can occur and are challenging to manage. Albuterol, ipratropium, and systemic corticosteroids have been shown to be effective in acute asthma exacerba...
Provisional mapping of quantitative trait loci for chronic ethanol withdrawal severity in BXD recombinant inbred mice.

Male mice from C57BL/6J (B6), DBA/2J (D2) and their 25 recombinant inbred (RI) strains were exposed to ethanol (EtOH) vapor (3.0–9.0 mg EtOH/liter of air) for 72 hr. Mice were selected such that each strain averaged 1.34 to 1.59 mg of EtOH/ml of blood on withdrawal. Control groups and EtOH-exposed groups were tested hourly for handling-induced convulsions (HIC) for 10 hr and at hr 24 and 25. Strain withdrawal severity was indexed as the area under the 25-hr HIC curve for the EtOH group minus that strain’s equivalent value for the control group. Genome-wide quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses correlating strain means with allelic status at >1500 markers identified 10 chromosomal regions at P
Three-Dimensional Analysis of Tier Building

Three-dimensional analysis of tier buildings using a digital computer is feasible and perhaps mandatory in some cases. It is no longer necessary to simplify the problem by resorting to the notion of analyzing the building as a system of parallel and perpendicular plane frames. Errors inherent in the two-dimensional approach may be significant, whereas the three-dimensional analysis contains no theoretical discrepancies. The analytical model of the structure is examined in detail, and individual member stiffnesses are enumerated. Pertinent geometric transformations for displacements, actions, and stiffnesses are also formulated. The stiffness method of solution is described, followed by a brief outline of the computer program. Results for an example 20-story building show that the effect of axial strains in columns is substantial, whereas the influence of torsional rigidities is small.
Recovery of myocardial function after repetitive episodes of reversible ischemia

The question of whether recovery of regional myocardial function after repetitive, reversible ischemia differs from recovery after a single episode of myocardial ischemia remains controversial. Therefore, eight conscious dogs were instrumented with ultrasonic dimension transducers and left ventricular micromanometers. Each animal underwent (in random sequence, 72 h apart) a single 15-min left anterior descending coronary arterial (LAD) occlusion and two 15-min LAD occlusions separated by 1 h of reperfusion. The preload recruitable work area (PRWA; the area beneath the regional stroke work vs. end-diastolic length relationship) quantified regional myocardial performance. Repetitive ischemia significantly delayed recovery of PRWA over the first 24 h (P < 0.05). Although postischemic myocardial creep resolved rapidly after single occlusion, double occlusion prevented recovery of creep during the first 4 h of reperfusion. The recovery time course of PRWA paralleled the resolution of myocardial creep, suggesting that creep contributed significantly to delayed functional recovery and that myocardial "stunning" after repetitive ischemia may result in part from interaction between postischemic diastolic properties and systolic dysfunction.
Testing the Waters with Plessy, the Divergent Link to Convergent Interests

Using Critical Race Theorist Derrick Bell's "Interest Convergence Theory" (which states that majorities only make concession to downtrodden minorities when it advances their own interests) as a framework, this paper discusses the interest convergences and divergences of blacks and whites in the United States from the end of the Civil War until the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. As such, the case of Plessy v. Ferguson acts as a divergent link to convergent interests of both the white and black classes. After the Civil War until the Compromise of 1877, the interests of the black and white groups converged in a common direction. The "Plessy Era" of segregation following the Reconstruction era stood as the divergent framework until the start of the Cold War, when the interests of the two groups once again converged. The paper concludes with a forecast of the impact the changes made during these periods (from 1865 until 1954) had on the fledgling Civil Rights Movement.
Episodic Laryngeal Breathing Disorders: Literature Review and Proposal of Preliminary Theoretical Framework.

Summary Objective The purposes of this literature review were (1) to identify and assess frameworks for clinical characterization of episodic laryngeal breathing disorders (ELBD) and their subtypes, (2) to integrate concepts from these frameworks into a novel theoretical paradigm, and (3) to provide a preliminary algorithm to classify clinical features of ELBD for future study of its clinical manifestations and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Study Design This is a literature review. Methods Peer-reviewed literature from 1983 to 2015 pertaining to models for ELBD was searched using Pubmed, Ovid, Proquest, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar. Theoretical models for ELBD were identified, evaluated, and integrated into a novel comprehensive framework. Consensus across three salient models provided a working definition and inclusionary criteria for ELBD within the new framework. Inconsistencies and discrepancies within the models provided an analytic platform for future research. Results Comparison among three conceptual models—(1) Irritable larynx syndrome , (2) Dichotomous triggers , and (3) Periodic occurrence of laryngeal obstruction— showed that the models uniformly consider ELBD to involve episodic laryngeal obstruction causing dyspnea. The models differed in their description of source of dyspnea, in their inclusion of corollary behaviors, in their inclusion of other laryngeal-based behaviors (eg, cough), and types of triggers. Conclusion The proposed integrated theoretical framework for ELBD provides a preliminary systematic platform for the identification of key clinical feature patterns indicative of ELBD and associated clinical subgroups. This algorithmic paradigm should evolve with better understanding of this spectrum of disorders and its underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
Mitigating the Foreclosure Crisis with Bankruptcy Mortgage Modifications

Reconsidering bankruptcy mortgage modifications as one among several solutions to weather the foreclosure crisis.
Bacterial Colonization in the Developing Gastrointestinal Tract: Role in the Pathogenesis of Intestinal Diseases

Bacterial colonization plays an important role in the normal development, differentiation, function and regulation of intestinal mucosal immune system. Through mechanisms that are still not fully understood, the intestinal mucosal immune system generates effective protective immunity against pathogen invasion and at the same time it develops immune tolerance, preventing the development of disease conditions, such as IBD and food allergy. The regulatory role of the intestinal flora in the development and function of the intestinal mucosal immune system is well established. Recent work has suggested that colonization with probiotics in the gut may play an essential role in balancing the intestinal mucosal immune system, which may contribute to the induction and maintenance of immunological tolerance to other luminal antigens in the normal host or to the inhibition of the dysregulated responses induced by luminal antigens in diseased hosts. A better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling the development and regulation of intestinal mucosal epithelial system by intestinal bacteria (commensal and probiotics) and their regulatory role in various diseases will help establish new strategies to prevent and control these disease conditions.
Microprocessor controlled trituration device for the dissociation of cardiac and other tissues.

The construction of an inexpensive microprocessor controlled piston/cylinder used in the dissociation of canine cardiac Purkinje fibres is described. The microprocessor, interfaced to a linear actuator, controls the motion of a piston using the higher level language “Tiny BASIC” and two machine language routines. Pressure changes generated by the piston are transferred to the lumen of a pipette. Movement of enzymatically-treated tissues through the pipette orifice facilitates dissociation into single cells. With this device, specific agitation protocols for different quantities and types of tissues are possible.
High density FTTH network utilizing asymmetric data transmission

A WDM-PON recycling incoming light to transmit upload stream has been proposed. Effect of Rayleigh scattering and uneven energy distribution are evaluated to achieve >60 km bidirectional communication carrying 10 Gb/s download and >300 Mb/s upload data traffic.
The Angelina Jolie Effect in Jewish Law: Prophylactic Mastectomy and Oophorectomy in BRCA Carriers.

Background Following the announcement of actress Angelina Jolie's prophylactic bilateral mastectomies and subsequent prophylactic oophorectomy, there has been a dramatic increase in interest in BRCA testing and prophylactic surgery. Objective To review current medical literature on the benefits of prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy among BRCA-positive women and its permissibility under Jewish law. Results Recent literature suggests that in BRCA-positive women who undergo prophylactic oophorectomy the risk of dying of breast cancer is reduced by 90%, the risk of dying of ovarian cancer is reduced by 95%, and the risk of dying of any cause is reduced by 77%. The risk of breast cancer is further reduced by prophylactic mastectomy. Prophylactic oophorectomy and prophylactic mastectomy pose several challenges within Jewish law that call into question the permissibility of surgery, including mutilation of a healthy organ, termination of fertility, self-wounding, and castration. A growing number of Jewish legal scholars have found grounds to permit prophylactic surgery among BRCA carriers, with some even obligating prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy. Conclusion Current data suggest a significant reduction in mortality from prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy in BRCA carriers. While mutilation of healthy organs is intrinsically forbidden in Jewish law, the ability to preserve human life may contravene and even mandate prophylactic surgery.
Transcript Alteration in Leishmania

Recent studies of mitochondrial transcripts, initially in African trypanosomes, have revealed that nucleotides (uridines) not encoded in the genes are added to their transcripts. This transcript alteration is developmentally regulated for some genes, such as the apocytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase II genes, but not others such as MURF2 (Feagin et al., 1987 and 1988; Feagin and Stuart, 1988). In addition, this uridine addition does not occur for all genes. These studies indicate the existence of a genetic regulatory process in Kinetoplastidae unlike any previously described. It has been suggested that the transcript alteration creates initiation codons, corrects frameshifts, and alters the 3′ untranslated regions of transcripts (Benne et al., 1986; Feagin et al., 1987; Feagin and Stuart, 1988). These processes could thus affect the transcript translatability, the nature of the protein product or the stability of the transcripts. In African trypanosomes, where developmental regulation of the production of the mitochondrial respiratory System is apparent (Vickerman, 1985), the transcript alteration process probably plays a role in this regulation. However, little is known about possible developmental regulation of the production of the mitochondrial respiratory System in Leishmania, including those that infect humans (see Blum et al., 1987).
A Unified Mechanism of Tyrosine Kinase Regulation by the Gatekeeper Residue.

Protein kinase inhibitors achieve binding specificity through contact with a hydrophobic pocket within the ATP-binding cleft. Access to the pocket is dictated by an amino acid residue dubbed the “gatekeeper”, which is threonine in many kinases. Drug resistance is often due to substitution of the gatekeeper threonine with a bulkier amino acid residue that sterically hinders the binding of some drugs. Here we show that substituting a bulky hydrophobic residue in place of threonine in the native cellular forms of c-ABL, c-SRC, PDGFRA, PDGFRB, and EGFR activates kinase activity and promotes malignant transformation of BaF3 cells. Structural modelling and crystallographic analysis reveal that a network of hydrophobic interactions characteristic of the active kinase conformation is stabilized by the gatekeeper substitution. In the inactive kinase conformation, this hydrophobic interactions are dismantled. A small molecule inhibitor that maximizes complementarity with the dismantled spine (Compound #14) inhibits the gatekeeper mutation of BCR/ABL (T315I). These results demonstrate that mutation of the gatekeeper threonine is a common mechanism of activation for tyrosine kinases, and provide structural insights to guide the development of novel inhibitors.
ARM Assembly language programming Using Keil Development Tools Introduction

Manufacturers of CPUs publish a document that contains information about the processor that includes: list of registers, function of each register, size of data bus, size of address bus and list of instructions that can be executed by the CPU. Each CPU has a known instruction set that a programmer can use to write assembly language programs. Instruction sets are specific to each type of processor. That being said, Pentium processors use a different instruction set than ARM processors. Using the Instructions a of processor to write a program is called assembly language and function of an assembler is to convert assembly language to machine code (binary) that the CPU can understand.
Large‐scale movement behavior in a reintroduced predator population

Understanding movement behavior and identifying areas of landscape connectivity is critical for the conservation of many species. However, collecting fine-scale movement data can be prohibitively time consuming and costly, especially for rare or endangered species, whereas existing data sets may provide the best available information on animal movement. Contemporary movement models may not be an option for modeling existing data due to low temporal resolution and large or unusual error structures, but inference can still be obtained using a functional movement modeling approach. We use a functional movement model to perform a population-level analysis of telemetry data collected during the reintroduction of Canada lynx to Colorado. Little is known about southern lynx populations compared to those in Canada and Alaska, and inference is often limited to a few individuals due to their low densities. Our analysis of a population of Canada lynx fills significant gaps in the knowledge of Canada lynx behavior at the southern edge of its historical range. We analyzed functions of individual-level movement paths, such as speed, residence time, and tortuosity, and identified a region of connectivity that extended north from the San Juan Mountains, along the continental divide, and terminated in Wyoming at the northern edge of the Southern Rocky Mountains. Individuals were able to traverse large distances across non-boreal habitat, including exploratory movements to the Greater Yellowstone area and beyond. We found evidence for an effect of seasonality and breeding status on many of the movement quantities and documented a potential reintroduction effect. Our findings provide the first analysis of Canada lynx movement in Colorado and substantially augment the information available for conservation and management decisions. The functional movement framework can be extended to other species and demonstrates that information on movement behavior can be obtained using existing data sets. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Homicide Rates of Transgender Individuals in the United States: 2010–2014

Objectives. To estimate homicide rates of transgender US residents and relative risks (RRs) of homicide with respect to cisgender comparators intersected with age, gender, and race/ethnicity.Methods. I estimated homicide rates for transgender residents and transfeminine, Black, Latin@, and young (aged 15–34 years) subpopulations during the period 2010 to 2014 using Transgender Day of Remembrance and National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs transgender homicide data. I used estimated transgender prevalences to estimate RRs using cisgender comparators. I performed a sensitivity analysis to situate all results within assumptions about underreporting of transgender homicides and assumptions about the prevalence of transgender residents.Results. The overall homicide rate of transgender individuals was likely to be less than that of cisgender individuals, with 8 of 12 RR estimates below 1.0. However, the homicide rates of young transfeminine Black and Latina residents were almost certainly higher than were ...
Evaluating Patient Preferences for Different Incentive Programs to Optimize Pharmacist-Provided Patient Care Program Enrollment.

BACKGROUND: Employers have increased efforts to engage employees in health and wellness programs. Providing employees with incentives to participate in these programs has been shown to improve overall enrollment and engagement. One program that has had challenges with enrollment and engagement is medication therapy management (MTM). OBJECTIVES: To (a) determine how individuals evaluate different financial incentives to improve participation in an MTM program and (b) measure the effect of participant characteristics on incentive preference. METHODS: This study was composed of a paper-based survey administered to participants after focus group sessions. Participants included MTM-eligible beneficiaries from 2 employer groups and included MTM-naive and MTM-experienced participants. Incentive preference was measured based on 3 bipolar scales that compared 3 incentives: $100 gift certificates, $8 copay reduction for 6 months, and $100 added to paycheck. RESULTS: A total of 72 participants completed the survey: ...