cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Weight loss history as a predictor of weight loss: results from Phase I of the weight loss maintenance trial

Past studies have suggested that weight loss history is associated with subsequent weight loss. However, questions remain whether method and amount of weight lost in previous attempts impacts current weight loss efforts. This study utilized data from the Weight Loss Maintenance Trial to examine the association between weight loss history and weight loss outcomes in a diverse sample of high-risk individuals. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to determine which specific aspects of weight loss history predict change in weight during a 6-month weight loss intervention. Greater weight loss was predicted by fewer previous weight loss attempts with assistance (p = 0.03), absence of previous dietary/herbal weight loss supplement use (p = 0.01), and greater maximum weight loss in previous attempts (p < 0.001). Future interventions may benefit from assessment of weight loss history and tailoring of interventions based on past weight loss behaviors and outcomes.
Upward Spirals of Positive Emotions Counter Downward Spirals of Negativity: Insights from the Broaden-and-Build Theory and Affective Neuroscience on The Treatment of Emotion Dysfunctions and Deficits in Psychopathology

Abstract This review integrates Fredrickson's broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions with advances in affective neuroscience regarding plasticity in the neural circuitry of emotions to inform the treatment of emotion deficits within psychopathology. We first present a body of research showing that positive emotions broaden cognition and behavioral repertoires, and in so doing, build durable biopsychosocial resources that support coping and flourishing mental health. Next, by explicating the processes through which momentary experiences of emotions may accrue into self-perpetuating emotional systems, the current review proposes an underlying architecture of state-trait interactions that engenders lasting affective dispositions. This theoretical framework is then used to elucidate the cognitive–emotional mechanisms underpinning three disorders of affect regulation: depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. In turn, two mind training interventions, mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation, are highlighted as means of generating positive emotions that may counter the negative affective processes implicated in these disorders. We conclude with the proposition that positive emotions may exert a countervailing force on the dysphoric, fearful, or anhedonic states characteristic of psychopathologies typified by emotional dysfunctions.
Workload service requirements analysis: a queueing network optimization approach

The answers to many important performance related questions with multiclass queueing models depends upon having estimates for the service times of different classes of jobs. We present a general approach to infer the per-class service times at different servers in an environment where only server throughput, utilization and per-class response time measurements are available. The per-class service times are solutions to an optimization problem with queueing-theoretic formulas in the objective and constraints. We further study the impact of the variance of service times on the variance of response times. A few case studies are presented to demonstrate the power of our approach.
Autoreactivity of Serum Immunoglobulin to Periodontal Tissue Components: A Pilot Study

Background: Periodontal diseases are inflammatory diseases resulting in the destruction of tissues of the periodontium. Although bacteria must be present for periodontal disease to occur, a susceptible host is also required, which is determined by genetic, environmental, and acquired factors. One such factor, autoimmunity, may play a role in the tissue destruction. Data indicate that some antibodies that occur in the gingival lesion are directed to host tissue components, such as type I collagen, although investigations of other periodontal autoimmune targets are limited. Methods: Histologic sections and extracts from periodontally healthy teeth and the associated soft tissues were probed with serum from localized aggressive periodontitis (LAgP), chronic periodontitis (CP), and periodontally healthy subjects todetermineautoreactivitytocomponentsoftheperiodontium. Any autoreactivity observed was characterized further by mass spectrometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Autoreactivity to components of the periodontium was observed in CP and LAgP. Known autoimmune targets, such as collagen and heat shock protein, were identified along withmultiplepotentialautoimmunetargets,includingmembers of the extracellular matrix, such as vimentin, spectrin, filamin, actin, lamin, keratin, and tubulin. Finally, it was determined that the autoreactivity observed in LAgP was more severe and diverse than that observed in CP. Conclusion: These data demonstrated that autoimmune reactivity can play a role in the tissue destruction of periodontal disease but that the nature of the autoreactivity may differ based on the type and/or stage of periodontal disease. JP eriodontol 2009;80:625-633.
A Message-Scheduling Scheme for Energy Conservation in Multimedia Wireless Systems

Reducing power consumption of wireless networks has become a major goal in designing modern multimedia wireless systems. In an effort to reduce power consumption, this paper addresses the issue of scheduling real-time messages in multimedia wireless networks subject to both timing and power constraints. A power-consumption model is introduced to calculate power-consumption rates in accordance with message-transmission rates. Next, a new message-scheduling scheme called Power-aware Real-time Message (PARM) is developed to generate message-transmission schedules that minimize power consumption of multimedia wireless-network interfaces and the probability of missing deadlines for real-time messages. With a power-aware scheduling policy in place, the proposed PARM scheme is very energy-efficient. Experimental results based on a wide variety of synthetic workloads and eight real-world applications show that PARM significantly reduces energy dissipation while maintaining low missed rates. PARM reduces power consumption of data transmissions by up to 99.4% (with an average of 86.7%) for synthetic network traffic and saves energy by up to 60.0% (with an average of 34.1%) in the eight real-world applications.
Dysregulated phosphatidylinositol signaling promotes endoplasmic-reticulum-stress-mediated intestinal mucosal injury and inflammation in zebrafish

Dysregulated phosphatidylinositol (PI) signaling has been implicated in human gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies and inflammatory states, underlining the need to study pathophysiological roles of PI in an in vivo genetic model. Here, we study the significance of PI in GI pathophysiology using the zebrafish mutant cdipthi559, which lacks PI synthesis, and unravel a crucial role of PI in intestinal mucosal integrity and inflammation. The cdipthi559 mutants exhibit abnormal villous architecture and disorganized proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), with pathologies reminiscent of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including apoptosis of goblet cells, abnormal mucosecretion, bacterial overgrowth and leukocyte infiltration. The mutant IECs exhibit vacuolation, microvillus atrophy and impaired proliferation. The cdipthi559 gene expression profile shows enrichment of acute phase response signaling, and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress factors hspa5 and xbp1 are robustly activated in the mutant GI tissue. Temporal electron micrographic analyses reveal that PI-deficient IECs undergo sequential ER-Golgi disruption, mitochondrial depletion, macroautophagy and cell death, consistent with chronic ER-stress-mediated cytopathology. Furthermore, pharmacological induction of ER stress by inhibiting protein glycosylation or PI synthase inhibition in leukocyte-specific reporter lines replicates the cdipthi559 inflammatory phenotype, suggesting a fundamental role of PI metabolism and ER stress in mucosal inflammation. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs resolved the inflammation, but not the autophagic necroapoptosis of IECs, suggesting that bacterial overgrowth can exacerbate ER stress pathology, whereas persistent ER stress is sufficient to trigger inflammation. Interestingly, the intestinal phenotype was partially alleviated by chemical chaperones, suggesting their therapeutic potential. Using zebrafish genetic and pharmacological models, this study demonstrates a newly identified link between intracellular PI signaling and ER-stress-mediated mucosal inflammation. The zebrafish cdipt mutants provide a powerful tool for dissecting the fundamental mechanisms of ER-stress-mediated human GI diseases and a platform to develop molecularly targeted therapies.
Learning from one's mistakes: Epistemic modesty and the nature of belief

I argue that it is not ideally rational to believe that some of one's current beliefs are false, despite the impressive inductive evidence concerning others and our former selves. One's own current beliefs represent a commitment which would be undermined by taking some of them to be false. The nature of this commitment is examined in the light of Nagel's distinction between subjective and objective points of view. Finally, I suggest how we might acknowledge our fallibility consistently with this special attitude to our own beliefs.
Identification and Characterization of Two Adenosine Phosphorylase Activities in Mycobacterium smegmatis

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is an important enzyme in purine metabolism and cleaves purine nucleosides to their respective bases. Mycobacterial PNP is specific for 6-oxopurines and cannot account for the adenosine (Ado) cleavage activity that has been detected in M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis cultures. In the current work, two Ado cleavage activities were identified from M. smegmatis cell extracts. The first activity was biochemically determined to be a phosphorylase that could reversibly catalyze adenosine + phosphate ↔ adenine + alpha-d-ribose-1-phosphate. Our purification scheme led to a 30-fold purification of this activity, with the removal of more than 99.9% of total protein. While Ado was the preferred substrate, inosine and guanosine were also cleaved, with 43% and 32% of the Ado activity, respectively. Our data suggest that M. smegmatis expresses two PNPs: a previously described trimeric PNP that can cleave inosine and guanosine only and a second, novel PNP (Ado-PNP) that can cleave Ado, inosine, and guanosine. Ado-PNP had an apparent Km (Km app) of 98 ± 6 μM (with Ado) and a native molecular mass of 125 ± 7 kDa. The second Ado cleavage activity was identified as 5′-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) based on its biochemical properties and mass spectrometry analysis. Our study marks the first report of the existence of MTAP in any bacterium. Since human cells do not readily convert Ado to Ade, an understanding of the substrate preferences of these enzymes could lead to the identification of Ado analogs that could be selectively activated to toxic products in mycobacteria.
Array Tomography: A New Tool for Imaging the Molecular Architecture and Ultrastructure of Neural Circuits

SUMMARY Many biological functions depend critically upon fine details of tissue molecular architecture that have resisted exploration by existing imaging techniques. This is particularly true for nervous system tissues, where information processingfunctiondependsonintricatecircuit and synaptic architectures. Here, we describe a new imaging method, called array tomography, which combines and extends superlative features of modern optical fluorescence and electron microscopy methods. Based on methods for constructing and repeatedly staining and imaging ordered arrays of ultrathin (50‐200 nm), resin-embedded serial sections on glass microscope slides, array tomography allows for quantitative, high-resolution, largefield volumetric imaging of large numbers of antigens, fluorescent proteins, and ultrastructure in individual tissue specimens. Compared to confocal microscopy, array tomography offers the advantage of better spatial resolution, in particular along the z axis, as well as depthindependent immunofluorescent staining. The application of array tomography can reveal important but previously unseen features of brain molecular architecture.
MADS+: discovery of differential splicing events from Affymetrix exon junction array data.

Motivation: The Affymetrix Human Exon Junction Array is a newly designed high-density exon-sensitive microarray for global analysis of alternative splicing. Contrary to the Affymetrix exon 1.0 array, which only contains four probes per exon and no probes for exon– exon junctions, this new junction array averages eight probes per probeset targeting all exons and exon–exon junctions observed in the human mRNA/EST transcripts, representing a significant increase in the probe density for alternative splicing events. Here, we present MADS+, a computational pipeline to detect differential splicing events from the Affymetrix exon junction array data. For each alternative splicing event, MADS+ evaluates the signals of probes targeting competing transcript isoforms to identify exons or splice sites with different levels of transcript inclusion between two sample groups. MADS+ is used routinely in our analysis of Affymetrix exon junction arrays and has a high accuracy in detecting differential splicing events. For example, in a study of the novel epithelialspecific splicing regulator ESRP1, MADS+ detects hundreds of exons whose inclusion levels are dependent on ESRP1, with a RT-PCR validation rate of 88.5% (153 validated out of 173 tested). Availability: MADS+ scripts, documentations and annotation files are available at http://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/Labs/Xing/ MADSplus/.
LONG-RANGE FRACTAL CORRELATIONS IN DNA INTRONS AND EXONS

Spectral density and random walk methods of analyzing symbolic sequences, such as DNA bases, are compared. Systematic errors in DNA walk analysis, wide variability between samples, and small ensembles cast doubt on previous conclusion that long-range correlations in DNA occur in non-coding (intron) sequences. A new study of all GenBank release 73 annotated features demonstrates that both introns and exons have similar long-range fractal correlations with exponents consistent with previous category averages.
Assembly and regulation of a glycolytic enzyme complex on the human erythrocyte membrane

To characterize the location of glycolytic enzymes (GEs) in intact human erythrocytes, freshly drawn blood was fixed and stained with Abs to GAPDH, aldolase, phosphofructokinase (PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), carbonic anhydrase II, Hb, and band 3 (AE1). Confocal microscopy revealed that in cells where band 3 displays its expected membrane staining and Hb is evenly distributed across the cytoplasm, GEs are largely limited to the membrane. Biochemical studies confirmed that the membrane binding sites for GAPDH, aldolase, and PFK reside on band 3, but related analyses demonstrate that sites for PK and LDH do not. Four lines of evidence demonstrate that the GEs are at least partially assembled into multimeric complexes near the NH2 terminus of band 3. First, a mAb to residues 1–12 of band 3 displaces all of the above GEs from the membrane, including LDH and PK, which do not bind band 3. Second, tyrosine phosphorylation of the NH2 terminus of band 3 (Y8 and Y21) reversibly releases all of the GEs from the membrane, including LDH and PK. Third, deoxygenation of RBCs dislodges all GEs from the membrane, consistent with the established ability of deoxyHb but not oxyHb to bind the NH2 terminus of band 3. Fourth, a large increase in the accessibility of enzyme epitopes is observed upon dissociation of GEs from the membrane. We conclude, therefore, that GEs are organized into complexes on the membrane whose assembly is regulated by oxygenation and phosphorylation.
Repetition priming endurance in picture naming and translation: Contributions of component processes

The processes contributing to the durability of repetition priming in picture naming and its decline across a week were assessed in two experiments with Spanish-English bilinguals. In Experiment 1, both picture identification and word retrieval processes of picture naming exhibited facilitation after a week. Word retrieval priming declined substantially relative to a 10-min retention interval, but picture identification priming remained stable. In Experiment 2, word translation exhibited repetition priming after a week. Decreased word retrieval priming accounted for the attenuation of translation priming relative to a 10-min interval, whereas word comprehension priming remained stable. A linear process model was used to formalize and test key hypotheses and to clarify the influences of component processes and retention interval on repetition priming.
Differential photo-calorimetry of photopolymerizable ceramic suspensions

Suspensions of alumina powders in low-viscosity acrylate monomers were produced and their curing behaviour characterized. Although these suspensions contain 50 vol % Al2O3 particles, the viscosity is between 200 and 300 mPas. These suspensions were rendered ultraviolet-curable by the addition of photoinitiators sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. Photopolymerization kinetics were characterized via differential photo-calorimetry. Photopolymerization rates and monomer conversions were unaffected by the presence of the alumina filler. Increasing the average functionality of the monomer mixture tended to increase slightly the photopolymerization rate and decrease the final conversion. Higher concentrations of photoinitiator increased both the rate of photopholymerization and the final conversion. The presence of oxygen was shown severely to restrict polymerization in these filled systems as well. © 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers
Ensemble of machine learning algorithms for intrusion detection

Ensemble-classifier is a technique that uses a combination of multiple classifiers to reach a more precise inference result than a single classifier. In this paper, a three-layer hierarchy multi-classifier intrusion detection architecture is proposed to promote the overall detection accuracy. For making every individual classifier is independent from others, each uses a diverse soft computing technique as well as different feature subset. In addition, the performances of a variety of combination methods that fuse the outputs from classifiers are studied. In the experiments, DARPA KDD99 intrusion detection data set is chosen as the evaluation tools. The results show that our approach achieves a better performance than that of a single classifier.
Performances and First Results from BABAR

PEPII is working well and routinely delivered luminosity in excess of 1033 cm−2s−1. The \( BA\bar BAR\) has accumulated 1.7 fb−1 of data. The \( BA\bar BAR\) detector is complete and rapidly approaching the design performances. The goal is to accumulate 10 fb-1 of data by the end of the run (Summer 2000) and present the first physics results by then. In particular a first measurement of sin 2b will be attempted from 10 fb-1 of data.
A bridged di-iron porphyrin hyponitrite complex as a model for biological N2O production from hyponitrite.

Heme-hyponitrites are intermediates that form at the bimetallic active sites of bacterial nitric oxide reductases. To probe a possible effect of the Fe-Fe distance on hyponitrite stability, we prepared a bridged bis-porphyrin Fe-hyponitrite compound, namely [(OEP-CH2)Fe]2(μ2,η(1),η(1)-ONNO). Its υNO of 992 cm(-1) (υ15NO of 976 cm(-1)) is close to the υNO of 983 cm(-1) reported previously by us for the crystallographically characterized [(OEP)Fe]2(μ2,η(1),η(1)-ONNO) compound. The bridged bis-porphyrin Fe-hyponitrite complex is unstable with respect to N2O production, supporting the role of the bis-Fe porphyrin system in hyponitrite conversion to N2O. The preparation and crystallographic determination of the bridging sulfato derivative is also reported.
I Was in Crisis: MOTHERWORK, AIDS AND INCARCERATION.

AbstractThis article explores the illicit labor and imprisonment of two women, Cynthia and Dinah, in the Santa Monica prison in Lima, Peru through the lens of gendered motherwork. Because the unequal distribution of care places the burden of this labor on women, Cynthia and Dinah were primarily responsible for the care of their adult children who were diagnosed with AIDS. Both women entered the transnational cocaine commodity chain in order to provide their children with medication that was not administered by the state. Neoliberal healthcare in the form of cuts to national health systems makes the motherwork of poor women more difficult to perform. In order to afford care for their children's health, Cynthia and Dinah entered a labor market that is criminalized by punitive war on drug policies and they were subsequently imprisoned. Illicit labor was therefore an extension of their motherwork and the removal of this care from their children resulted in tragic health consequences. This article is based on ...
Dispersion Strengthening by Solidification

When the solubility of a material is exceeded by adding too much of an alloying element, a second phase forms and a two-phase alloy is produced. The boundary between the two phases is a surface at which the atomic arrangement is not perfect. In metals, this boundary interferes with the slip of dislocations and strengthens the material. The general term for strengthening by the introduction of a second phase is dispersion strengthening
Integrierte Ex-ante-Rendite-/Risikobewertung von IT-Investitionen

In enterprises decisions whether to undertake investments into IT projects or not have to be made regularly. Regarding the fact that two out of three IT projects fail or do not reach their expected value the need for an integrated valuation which addresses returns and connected risks is evident. The impact of development aspects (e.g. the process model used) and project size on the risk-return position of IT projects is demonstrated and it is shown how this can be taken into account when valuing, optimizing and selecting IT investments.
High-order disclinations in the polarization of light

We present modelings of high-order line singularities encoded in space-variant polarization of light. This involves calculating the line patterns produced by the superposition of light beams in orthogonal states of circular polarization, with each beam carrying an optical vortex, and where one of them is asymmetric. This setting allowed us to study the case of monstars of high order. We find that monstars can have positive or negative singularity indices, modifying the previous understanding of the pattern, which was based on the case of lowest-order C- points. Monstars then remain characterized only by their own unique feature: sectors with patterns of mostly curved lines that radiate from the center. Given this definition, we propose that the case where the index is +1 be classified as a monstar. We also found that the asymmetric modes contain kinks that appear in the C-lines of a distinct but related pattern that contains line orientation discontinuities.
Heterogeneous Blends of Polymers. Rheology and Morphology

Abstract A single polymer pair (BR and EPDM) was used to confirm experimentally rheology-morphology relationships that have been previously gleaned from comparison of a variety of blend systems. The relative importance of the primary factors which govern blend morphology (composition and relative mixing viscosity of the components) was determined over the range of practical interest. In addition, correlation of mixing rheology with more accurate and complete shear modulus data allowed (a) molecular interpretation of rheological behavior in terms of network parameters, such as physical entanglements, and (b) estimation of the elastic and loss components of the shear modulus during mixing. An attempt was made at explaining the dependence of blend morphology on the viscoelastic properties of the components in terms of a fracture or tearing mechanism.
Field demonstrator of a chaos encrypted optical transmission system

We report on the successful demonstration of a chaos encrypted gigabit optical transmission system utilizing a commercially available optical network installed in the metropolitan area of Athens. (2 pages)
A Behavioral Experiment in Sales Effort Allocation

This article is concerned with the effect of a problem's environmental context on the learning of an “optimal” allocation rule. A series of sales allocation problems were presented to groups of exe...
Diphosphine ligand chelation and bridging and regiospecific ortho metalation in the reaction of 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione (bpcd) with Ir4(CO)12: X-ray diffraction structures of Ir4(CO)7(μ-CO)3(bpcd), Ir4(CO)5(μ-CO)3(bpcd)(μ-bpcd), and HIr4(CO)4(μ-CO)3(bpcd)[μ-PhP(C6H4)CC(PPh2)C(O)CH2C(O)]

Abstract Me 3 NO activation of the tetrairidium cluster Ir 4 (CO) 12 ( 1 ) in presence of the diphosphine ligand 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione (bpcd) furnishes the bpcd-substituted clusters Ir 4 (CO) 10 (bpcd) ( 3 ) and Ir 4 (CO) 8 (bpcd) 2 ( 4 ) as the minor and major products, respectively. Cluster 3 has been isolated as the sole observable product from the reaction of [Ir 4 (CO) 11 Br][Et 4 N] ( 2 ) with bpcd in presence of AgBF 4 at room temperature. Both 3 and 4 have been isolated and fully characterized in solution by spectroscopic methods. The solid-state structure of 3 reveals that the ancillary bpcd ligand is bound to a single iridium center, with chelating and bridging bpcd ligands found in the X-ray structure of cluster 4 . Cluster 4 is unstable at room temperature and slowly loses CO to afford the hydride-bridged cluster HIr 4 (CO) 4 (μ-CO) 3 (bpcd)[μ-PhP(C 6 H 4 )C C(PPh 2 )C(O)CH 2 C(O)] ( 5 ). Cluster 5 has been fully characterized in solution by IR and NMR spectroscopies, and the C–H bond activation attendant in the ortho metalation step is shown to occur regioselectively at one of the aryl groups associated with the bridging bpcd ligand. The redox properties of clusters 3 – 5 have been explored and the electrochemical behavior discussed with respect to extended Huckel MO calculations and related diphosphine-substituted cluster compounds prepared by our groups.
Combined Intubation Training (Simulated and Human) for 4 th Year Medical Students: The Center for Advanced Technology and Telemedicine Airway Training Program

The video laryngoscope is a useful tool in intubation training as it allows both the trainer and the student to share the same view of the airway during the intubation process. In this study, the Center for Advanced Technology and Telemedicine's airway training program employed videolaryngoscopy (VL) in teaching both simulated (manikin) and human intubation. The videolaryngoscope statistically improved the glottic view in both the standard and difficult manikin airways when compared to that with standard (direct) laryngoscopy. The success rate in simulated difficult airway intubation was significantly improved using VL. With human intubation training, there was statistically significant improvement in airway views using VL and a 97.5% intubation success rate. The enhanced view of the videolaryngoscope in airway intubation facilitates the learning process in performing both simulated and human intubation, making it a powerful tool in intubation training.
Role of eicosanoids in vasopressin-induced calcium mobilization in A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cells

The role of arachidonic acid (AA) and its metabolites in vasopressin (AVP)-induced calcium mobilization in A7r5 aortic smooth muscle cells was explored by intracellular calcium monitoring, [14C]AA labeling, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques. In fura 2-loaded A7r5 cells, AA potentiated AVP-stimulated increase in intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin reduced both the AA- and AVP-induced influx of extracellular Ca2+. AVP-induced [Ca2+]i transients were not altered by lipoxygenase inhibitors but were reduced in a dose-dependent fashion by ketoconazole, an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases. Among several epoxygenase metabolites of AA tested, 5,6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid potentiated AVP-induced [Ca2+]i transients. Reverse-phase HPLC analysis of lipid extracts from A7r5 cells prelabeled with [14C]AA isolated a radioactive peak that did not coelute with established products of cyclooxygenase-, lipoxygenase-, or cytochrome P-450-catalyzed oxidations of AA. This peak was significantly increased after AVP stimulation and was completely blocked by preincubation with ketoconazole. Thus the stimulation of V1-vascular AVP receptors of A7r5 cells triggers several cytoplasmic signaling pathways involving AA metabolite formation through the cyclooxygenase and epoxygenase pathways.
Scatter correction for 3-D PET by convolution of plane-integral projections

The authors have studied the scatter characteristics of three-dimensional (3D) positron emission tomography (PET) in terms of the plane-integral scatter response function (SRF). To obtain the plane-integral SRF and study its properties, the authors carried out Monte Carlo simulations to generate coincidence events of a point source located at different positions in water-filled spheres of various sizes. The plane-integral SRF is obtained by rebinning the detected true and scatter events into two separate sets of plane integrals and then dividing the plane integrals of scatter events by the true-event plane integral of the plane in which the point source is located. For these simulations, the authors assumed a spherical PET scanner. The examination of the SRF shows that the SRF in 3D PET can be modeled not by an exponential as in the case of 2D PET, but by a Gaussian with its peak shifted away from the center of the scatter media. Using this plane-integral SRF, the authors have developed a scatter correction method for 3D PET that first converts an attenuation-corrected 3D PET data set into plane integrals, and then obtains the scatter components in the rebinned plane integrals by convolving the rebinned plane integrals with the SRF, and finally subtracts the scatter components from the rebinned plane integrals to yield the scatter-corrected plane integrals. From the scatter-corrected plane integrals, the authors reconstructed a 3D image using a 3D filtered-backprojection algorithm. To test the method, the authors simulated a cylindrical PET scanner imaging an ellipsoid phantom with a 3-cm cold bar at the center, and reconstructed 3D images of the phantom with and without scatter correction. By comparing the two images, the authors found that this method compensates reasonably well for scatter events. The advantages of the proposed method are that it treats the scatter in 3D PET in a truly 3D manner and that it is computationally efficient. >
The BBC and the Black Weekend: broadcasting the Kennedy assassination and the birth of global television news

AbstractThis narrative history of the BBC’s coverage of the assassination and funeral of President John F. Kennedy argues that we can trace the beginnings of live, breaking, global television news coverage to this crisis event. The BBC both stumbled in its early coverage and triumphed in its later satellite transmission of the Kennedy funeral, the first truly global use of this new communications technology for news purposes. Using documents in the BBC Written Archive, this article traces the key role played by the BBC in both envisioning and enacting global television news in the decades before CNN made it part of our taken-for-granted media environment.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Abstract Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a rare congenital heart defect in which the left-sided heart structures are underdeveloped, such that the left ventricle is unable to support the systemic circulation. It is almost always lethal without surgical treatment, and if left untreated would account for around 25–40% of neonatal cardiac deaths in the United Kingdom. Complex neonatal surgery to enable the right ventricle to support the circulation (the Norwood Procedure) has transformed management of the condition, but requires three staged procedures during early childhood. Management of these patients into adulthood will offer new challenges. Transplantation for this condition remains rare, and is reserved for those in which conventional treatment has failed. In this review article, we discuss epidemiology, genetics, morphology, pathophysiology, prenatal diagnosis, modes of clinical presentation, and management strategies in this challenging condition.
Impact of Operative Delay on Sepsis and Mortality in Patients with Acute Diverticulitis

Background: Ideal operative timing for non-emergent, acute diverticulitis (AD) remains unclear. Medical management is initially attempted to convert a high risk urgent surgery to a less morbid elective surgery, or to avoid surgery altogether. A large proportion of patients will fail medical treatment and require colectomy.Objectives: To evaluate the effect of operative delay on sepsis and mortality in patients with AD.Methods: Patients from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database who underwent colectomy with a primary diagnosis of diverticulitis between 2005 and 2014 were included. Multiple patient variables were analyzed to see their combined effect on death and sepsis. Patients undergoing surgical intervention on hospital day 0,emergent cases and those with preoperative sepsis were excluded. The impact of operative delay on mortality and sepsis was evaluated using day from admission as the predictor of the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included urinary tract infection (UTI), pneumonia (PNA), need for blood transfusion, septic shock, return to the operating room, length of stay (LOS), readmission,wound dehiscence, and surgical site infections (SSI). Frequency of patient variables was recorded and a multiple variable logistic regression analysis was performed to control for possible confounders. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for primary and secondary outcomes.Results: 32,399 patients underwent colectomy forADonhospital day 1 - 20. Adjusted for other factors, days to operation was found to be a significant predictor for death (OR = 1.038, 95% CI 1.020 - 1.057; P < 0.0001) and sepsis (OR = 1.051, 95% CI, 1.035 - 1.067; P < 0.0001).Each day in which surgical intervention was delayed was associated with a 3.8% increased risk of mortality and 5.1% increased risk of sepsis. Delay of surgery was also associated with an increased risk of blood transfusion, return to the operating room and increased LOS.Conclusions: Delaying operation for patients with AD has a significant impact on sepsis and mortality. While non-operative approaches may be attempted, with each additional day operative therapy is delayed there is a significant increase in the risk of morbidity and mortality. This data suggests that surgeons should pursue operative therapy earlier in the hospital course to improve patient outcomes.
Triclosan Resistance in Francisella tularensis: A Site-Directed Mutagenesis Study of the FabI Enzyme

An NADH-dependent enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase, FabI, catalyzes the final step of bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis, reducing the double bond of trans-2-enoyl-ACP to a single bond forming acyl-ACP. Given its importance in bacterial fatty acid synthesis, FabI has become a recognized drug target. Triclosan, a diphenyl ether, targets the FabI, inhibits its activity, and stops bacterial growth. However, as a consequence of triclosan's popularity, and thus its overuse, bacterial resistance to triclosan has been reported. The mutation G93V in Escherichia coli (E. coli) FabI allows E. coli to resist the action of triclosan. We have identified the equivalent residue of G93 in Francisella tularensis FabI (ft FabI) as A92, and prepared a mutant A92V. E. coli cells, transformed with a plasmid containing the ft FabI-A92V gene, were grown, and the gene was overexpressed. From two growths (6 G of cells), 62 mG of protein, with a histidine tag, at a purity of 85% were obtained. Enzymatic activity was assayed by monitoring the absorbance of NADH at 340 nm. In the presence of triclosan, the wild-type protein was almost completely inhibited after NADH was converted to NAD$^+$ in the enzymatic reaction; however the A92V mutant exhibited similar activity with and without triclosan, demonstrating that triclosan resistance may also develop in Francisella tularensis .
Using Costal Chondrocytes to Engineer Articular Cartilage with Applications of Passive Axial Compression and Bioactive Stimuli.

Generating neocartilage with suitable mechanical integrity from a cell source that can circumvent chondrocyte scarcity is indispensable for articular cartilage regeneration strategies. Costal chondrocytes of the rib eliminate donor site morbidity in the articular joint, but it remains unclear how neocartilage formed from these cells responds to mechanical loading, especially if the intent is to use it in a load-bearing joint. In a series of three experiments, this study sought to determine efficacious parameters of passive axial compressive stimulation that would enable costal chondrocytes to synthesize mechanically robust cartilage. Experiment 1 determined a suitable time window for stimulation by its application during either the matrix synthesis phase, the maturation phase, or during both phases of the self-assembling process. The results showed that compressive stimulation at either time was effective in increasing instantaneous moduli by 92% and 87% in the synthesis and maturation phases, respectivel...
A decline in depression treatment following FDA antidepressant warnings largely explains racial/ethnic disparities in prescription fills

Background The Food and Drug Administration's 2004 antidepressant warning was followed by decreases in antidepressant prescribing for youth. This was due to declines in all types of depression treatment, not just the intended changes in antidepressant prescribing patterns. Little is known about how these patterns varied by race/ethnicity. Method Data are Medicaid claims from four U.S. states (2002-2009) for youth ages 5-17. Interrupted time series analyses measured changes due to the warning in levels and trends, by race/ethnicity, of three outcomes: antidepressant prescription fills, depression treatment visits, and incident fluoxetine prescription fills. Results Prewarning, antidepressant fills were increasing across all racial/ethnic groups, fastest for White youth. Postwarning, there was an immediate drop and continued decline in the rate of fills among White youth, more than double the decline in the rate among Black and Latino youth. Prewarning, depression treatment visits were increasing for White and Latino youth. Postwarning, depression treatment stabilized among Latinos, but declined among White youth. Prewarning, incident fluoxetine fills were increasing for all groups. Postwarning, immediate increases and increasing trends of fluoxetine fills were identified for all groups. Conclusions Antidepressant prescription fills declined most postwarning for White youth, suggesting that risk information may have diffused less rapidly to prescribers or caregivers of minorities. Decreases in depression treatment visits help to explain the declines in antidepressant prescribing and were largest for White youth. An increase in incident fluoxetine fills, the only medication indicated for pediatric depression at the time, suggests that the warning may have shifted prescribing practices.
Inside out: regenerative medicine for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa

Epidermolysis bullosa is classified as a genodermatosis, an inherited genetic skin disorder that results in severe, chronic skin blistering with painful and life-threatening complications. Although there is currently no cure for epidermolysis bullosa, concurrent advances in gene and stem cell therapies are converging toward combinatorial therapies that hold the promise of clinically meaningful and lifelong improvement. Recent studies using hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stromal/stem cells to treat epidermolysis bullosa have demonstrated the potential for sustained, effective management of the most severe cases. Furthermore, advances in the use of gene therapy and gene-editing techniques, coupled with the development of induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with epidermolysis bullosa, allow for autologous therapies derived from a renewable population of cells that are patient-specific. Here we describe emerging treatments for epidermolysis bullosa and other genodermatoses, along with a discussion of their benefits and limitations as effective therapies.
New applications of solid-state NMR in structural biology

Various recent developments in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy have enabled an array of new insights regarding the structure, dynamics, and interactions of biomolecules. In the ever more integrated world of structural biology, ssNMR studies provide structural and dynamic information that is complementary to the data accessible by other means. ssNMR enables the study of samples lacking a crystalline lattice, featuring static as well as dynamic disorder, and does so independent of higher-order symmetry. The present study surveys recent applications of biomolecular ssNMR and examines how this technique is increasingly integrated with other structural biology techniques, such as (cryo) electron microscopy, solution-state NMR, and X-ray crystallography. Traditional ssNMR targets include lipid bilayer membranes and membrane proteins in a lipid bilayer environment. Another classic application has been in the area of protein misfolding and aggregation disorders, where ssNMR has provided essential structural data on oligomers and amyloid fibril aggregates. More recently, the application of ssNMR has expanded to a growing array of biological assemblies, ranging from non-amyloid protein aggregates, protein-protein complexes, viral capsids, and many others. Across these areas, multidimensional magic angle spinning (MAS) ssNMR has, in the last decade, revealed three-dimensional structures, including many that had been inaccessible by other structural biology techniques. Equally important insights in structural and molecular biology derive from the ability of MAS ssNMR to probe information beyond comprehensive protein structures, such as dynamics, solvent exposure, protein-protein interfaces, and substrate-enzyme interactions.
Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma can be indistinguishable from other more common T-cell lymphomas. The University of Miami experience with a large cohort of cases.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, an aggressive T-cell neoplasm, is causally linked to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and based on this association has a distinct geographic distribution. In our United States-based practice, whose population is enriched for immigrants from human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 endemic areas, we have identified that a subset of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, in the absence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 identification, are indistinguishable from other more common T-cell neoplasms. We retrospectively gathered serology results for anti-human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1/2 antibody in patients diagnosed with T-cell neoplasms at our institution. A total of 220 human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1/2 positive patients with T-cell neoplasms were identified; 199 (91%) were correctly classified as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma or provisionally as peripheral T-cell lymphoma (serology testing pending). Twenty-one cases (9%) were initially misclassified, including the following: 13 presenting with skin +/− peripheral blood involvement and misclassified as mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome; 7 with lymphomatous disease, absence of leukemic involvement, and diffuse CD30 expression, misclassified as ALK- negative anaplastic large-cell lymphoma; 1 thought to represent T-prolymphocytic leukemia with TCL-1 gene rearrangement and diffuse marrow involvement. We also present an example of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, which mimicked lymphoepithelioid variant of peripheral T-cell lymphoma also with diffuse marrow involvement. A subset of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma can closely mimic a variety of other more common T-cell neoplasms. Due to its extreme clinicopathologic heterogeneity, identification of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma requires a high level of suspicion based on patient demographic alone, which should prompt anti-human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1/2 serology testing in all T-cell neoplasms developing in patients of appropriate demographic. Absence of high level of suspicion, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma is easily misclassified.
Principles of BOLD Functional MRI

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is one of the most important tools for visualizing neural activity in the human brain. The blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) contrast has been most widely used for its easy implementation and high sensitivity. However, the BOLD signal is dependent on various anatomical, physiological, and imaging parameters, thus its interpretation with respect to physiological parameters is not straightforward. To understand the physiological source of the BOLD signal, measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) changes are helpful. In this chapter, we discussed (1) various fMRI techniques, (2) the sources of the BOLD fMRI signals, (3) improvement of BOLD techniques, (4) contrast-to-noise consideration, and (5) spatial and temporal resolution. CBF can be measured using arterial spin-labeling MR methods, and CBV change can be detected using a vascular space occupancy-dependent technique. Conventional gradient-echo BOLD fMRI is sensitive to intravascular and extravascular signals of small and large venous vessels, while spin-echo BOLD fMRI is sensitive to intravascular signals of all-sized venous vessels and extravascular signals of small vessels. At high magnetic fields, intravascular signals can be reduced by shortening blood T 2 relative to tissue T 2. Thus, SE BOLD fMRI at high fields improves spatial specificity. Intrinsic spatial and temporal resolution of hemodynamic-based fMRI techniques is dependent on vascular structures and responses. Using fMRI, submillimeter functional structures can be mapped, and an order of second temporal resolution can be achieved. Overall, fMRI opened a window of basic and clinical neuroscience research.