cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strategy for molecular cloning of the fragile X site DNA

Fragile X syndrome is a common form of mental retardation associated with a fragile site on the human X chromosome. We have recently demonstrated that the fragile X chromosome, when isolated within a somatic cell hybrid, often participates in translocations involving rodent chromosome arms. Cytogenetic and molecular evidence strongly suggests that the human breakpoint of these translocations is within the fragile X sequence. Hence, the joining of heterologous DNA (i.e. from two species) may permit the molecular cloning of the fragile X site. We describe here the cloning approach employed to enhance the isolation of interspecific chromosome translocation junctions. The human portion of the translocation junction should be derived from the fragile X site sequence.
AFTER LYNN WHITE: RELIGIOUS ETHICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

The fields of environmental ethics and of religion and ecology have been shaped by Lynn White Jr.’s thesis that the roots of ecological crisis lie in religious cosmology. Independent critical movements in both fields, however, now question this methodological legacy and argue for alternative ways of inquiry. For religious ethics, the twin controversies cast doubt on prevailing ways of connecting environmental problems to religious deliberations because the criticisms raise questions about what counts as an environmental problem, how religious traditions change, and whether ethicists should approach problems and traditions with reformist commitments. This article examines the critiques of White’s legacy and presents a pluralist alternative that focuses religious ethics on the contextual strategies produced by moral communities as they confront environmental problems.
Studying growth heterogeneity with multidimensional scaling profile analysis

Different growth patterns are quite possible when data include sources of population heterogeneity. The sources of growth heterogeneity may be observed or latent. This article discusses how multidimensional scaling (MDS) can, in the framework of growth mixture modeling, provide an exploratory technique for identifying potential latent growth profiles, which may be indicative of growth associated with population heterogeneity. MDS can be used to examine the likelihood that latent growth profiles represent either known or unknown subgroups in the population. In addition, the association between latent growth profiles and other covariates can be studied. Characteristics of MDS profile analysis are described in comparison with other techniques commonly used for growth mixture modeling. A step-by-step analysis of two empirical examples illustrates how the MDS profile analysis provides an alternative tool for identifying growth trends and studying individual differences with respect to these growth trends.
Influence of movement speed on plan activity in monkey pre-motor cortex and implications for high-performance neural prosthetic system design

The success of human motor prosthetics will largely depend on increasing system performance by maximizing the movement-related information that can be recorded from cortical neurons. This will in turn depend on successfully combining information from different neurons, and across times for the same neuron. Here we investigate neural activity that occurs prior to reaching movements, and attempt to understand how this activity varies with the speed of the upcoming movement. We recorded pre-motor cortex neural activity from a rhesus monkey trained to perform delayed-reaches to targets at two different speeds. We found that movement speed information is present in action potential emission rates and 20-40 Hz local field potential power during a "plan" period preceding movement. We then further analyzed the action potential data to determine the accuracy at which trial conditions, including the speed of the upcoming movement, can be estimated from neural data. System performance is expected to increase when plan-period speed information is included in prosthetic estimation algorithms.
Incidence and prognostic value of recurrent chromosomal abnormalities in elderly patients with multiple myeloma

Evaluation of: Avet-Loiseau H, Hulin C, Campion L et al. Chromosomal abnormalities are major prognostic factors in elderly patients with multiple myeloma: the Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome experience. J. Clin. Oncol. 31(22), 2806–2809 (2013). Chromosomal abnormalities are well-established biomarkers used in the subclassification and risk stratification of multiple myeloma patients. Patients with t(4;14)(p16;q32) and deletion 17p13 are considered to have a poor prognosis, and do not respond to any of the available therapies. However, most studies of chromosomal abnormalities incidence and risk stratification have been performed in patients younger than 66 years of age; therefore we have very limited data on the elderly population. This study was designed to uncover the incidence and clinical significance of 17p13 and 13q14 deletions and t(4;14) in a large cohort of clinically annotated multiple myeloma patients older than 66 years of age. Interestingly, the incidence of deletion of 13q14 and t(4;14) d...
Signaling Events Mediating the Additive Effects of Oleic Acid and Angiotensin II on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Migration

Obese hypertensive patients with cardiovascular risk factor clustering and increased risk for atherosclerotic disease have increased plasma nonesterified fatty acid levels, including oleic acid (OA), and a more active renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration and proliferation participate in the development of atherosclerotic plaque. OA and angiotensin (Ang) II induce synergistic mitogenic responses in VSMCs through sequential signaling pathways dependent on the activation of protein kinase C (PKC), oxidants (reactive oxygen species, ROS), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. We tested the hypotheses that (1) OA and Ang II have additive or synergistic effects on VSMC migration and (2) PKC, ROS, and mitogen-activated protein kinase are critical signaling molecules. OA at 100 μmol/L increases VSMC migration 60±10% over control ( P − 9 mol/L) increases VSMC migration by 62±13% and 73% over control, respectively ( P P N -acetyl-cysteine, MEK inhibition, and ERK antisense. VSMC migration in response to OA alone or combined with Ang II is dependent on activation of PKC, ROS, and ERK activation, further raising the possibility that increased plasma nonesterified fatty acids and an activated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in subjects with the risk factor cluster contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis through a PKC, ROS, and ERK-dependent signaling pathway.
The budding yeast silencing protein Sir1 is a functional component of centromeric chromatin

In fission yeast and multicellular organisms, centromere-proximal regions of chromosomes are heterochromatic, containing proteins that silence gene expression. In contrast, the relationship between heterochromatin proteins and kinetochore function in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae remains largely unexplored. Here we report that the yeast heterochromatin protein Sir1 is a component of centromeric chromatin and contributes to mitotic chromosome stability. Sir1 recruitment to centromeres occurred through a novel mechanism independent of its interaction with the origin recognition complex (ORC). Sir1 function at centromeres was distinct from its role in forming heterochromatin, because the Sir2-4 proteins were not associated with centromeric regions. Sir1 bound to Cac1, a subunit of chromatin assembly factor I (CAF-I), and helped to retain Cac1 at centromeric loci. These studies reveal that although budding yeast and mammalian cells use fundamentally different mechanisms of forming heterochromatin, they both use silencing proteins to attract the histone deposition factor CAF-I to centromeric chromatin.
“Order and Progress”: A Political History of Brazil

“Order and Progress”: A Political History of Brazil. Ronald M. Schneider Boulder: WestviewPress, 1991. xvi + 486 pp. $57.50 (cloth). ISBN 0–8133–1077–6.
Three-dimensional cellular systems for aeronautical mobile radio communications

A new technique for designing three-dimensional cellular systems for VHF air/ground communications is proposed to solve the problem of frequency congestion for air traffic control (ATC) and flight services. In VHF air/ground communication systems, a radio line of sight (RLOS) between the aircraft and ground station must exist. The frequency reuse distance is reduced by using the radio horizon to block cochannel interferences. In the proposed system, cells of different sizes to cover different altitude ranges are separated by different reuse distances. With nine groups of channels, the altitude range from 740 ft to 45000 ft can be covered without interference. The proposed system utilizes the spectrum efficiently by covering a certain airspace according to a well-organized plan with the minimum number of frequency channels and cell sites. Thus, it has more frequency reuse than the current systems. >
Substitution of vegetable oil for a partially-hydrogenated fat favorably alters cardiovascular disease risk factors in moderately hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women

Objective Compared to vegetable oils in their unmodified state, partially-hydrogenated fat is associated with less favorable effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Acceptable alternatives must be adjudicated. Our objective was to assess the effect of a recent commercial fat substitution, corn oil for partially-hydrogenated soybean oil.
The Use of Fourier Deconvolution to Correct for Instrument Slit Function Differences in Measured Spectra

The need may arise to use spectral data with a sample interval and slit width that differ from those used when the data were recorded. Results are presented of an examination of the quantitative accuracy of conversion of these parameters using Raman spectra. Assuming adequate sampling in the original set, the interval can be changed by forward and inverse Fourier transform with zero-filling. This procedure only permits expansion by powers of two, but by overexpansion of the original data set, points can be selected to achieve or very closely approximate other factors. Expansion by a factor of ten is demonstrated. The effect of varying slit function is compensated for by deconvoluting the data against the slit function originally used and then convoluting with that which corresponds to the desired condition. Conditions for carrying out this conversion with less than 0.1% error are described.
On the limitations of document ranking algorithms in information retrieval

A document retrieval system should rank documents in order of their usefulness or satisfaction to the users. This principle was first explicated in the classic paper by Maron and Kuhns (1). Additional considerations concerning document ranking have been suggested by other researchers (2,3). Particular attention will be given here to the ranking algorithm appropriate for those presenting the same request, but having different information needs. The research on which this report is based identifies limitations associated with sequencing rules that use a probability ranking technique (4). Three basic and somewhat interdependent limitations will be discussed.
Juxta-terminal Helix Unwinding as a Stabilizing Factor to Modulate the Dynamics of Transmembrane Helices.

Transmembrane helices of integral membrane proteins often are flanked by interfacial aromatic residues that can serve as anchors to aid the stabilization of a tilted transmembrane orientation. Yet, physical factors that govern the orientation or dynamic averaging of individual transmembrane helices are not well understood and have not been adequately explained. Using solid-state (2) H NMR spectroscopy to examine lipid bilayer-incorporated model peptides of the GWALP23 (acetyl-GGALW(LA)6 LWLAGA-amide) family, we observed substantial unwinding at the terminals of several tilted helices spanning the membranes of DLPC, DMPC, or DOPC lipid bilayers. The fraying of helix ends might be vital for defining the dynamics and orientations of transmembrane helices in lipid bilayer membranes.
Dynamic Response of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack to Changes in a University Building’s Load

The load-following performance of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack is investigated for meeting the power demand of a university building. A numerical model is developed based on charge, species mass, energy, and momentum balances, and an equivalent circuit is used to combine the fuel cell’s irreversibilities. The fuel cell stack is sized to meet the peak electric load of a building located on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus. The SOFC model is verified on electrochemical, mass, and thermal timescales. Results indicate that higher inlet gas pressures improve load-following by generating power closer to demand after settling has occurred, but higher pressures do not guarantee a desired power level. It is also found that lower fuel utilizations correspond to faster settling times on the mass flow timescale but with the disadvantage of lower efficiency. Lastly, it is shown that the thermal settling time decreases as the excess air ratio increases, with a slight increase in the air’s exhaust temperature.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Who's out there in CyberSpace: Profiling the remote learner for service design

Colleges and universities are expanding their offerings through distance education courses and programs. One challenge associated with these offerings is defining the remote learner. Emporia State University offers several distance education programs with students scattered throughout the United States. Although the university moved quickly into providing remote education, the library has struggled to provide equitable access to services and resources for distance learners. This paper reports the results of a project undertaken to profile the distance learner enrolled in the School of Library and Information Management of Emporia State University.
A Graduate Student Information Management System

This paper describes an online computerized Graduate Student Information Management System developed for the College of Graduate Studies at the Medical University of South Carolina. The system enab...
Effect of Red-to-Near Infrared Light on the Reaction of Isolated Cytochrome c Oxidase with Cytochrome c

Abstract Objective: Our primary hypothesis was that red-to-near infrared (R-NIR) irradiation would have an effect on the kinetics parameters of the reaction of cytochrome c with isolated cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), and that the magnitude and direction of these changes could be interpreted in the context of the reaction schemes proposed by other authors. New values for the milimolar extinction coefficients of cytochrome c were also determined. Background data: Definitive answers to the fundamental processes involved in red-to-near infrared photobiomodulation (R-NIR-PBM) have not been obtained. The consensus is that the electron transport chain enzyme CCO is the target for R-NIR-PBM. This work was undertaken to explore the effect of R-NIR on the activity of isolated CCO. Methods: Scans for cytochrome c were obtained in both reduced and oxidized states, and values for the extinction coefficients were calculated. Activity assays were performed by following the oxidation state of cytochrome c at 550 or 415 nm....
Design and Implementation of GPS Signal Simulator Based on ARM

The paper designed and implemented a kind of portable GPS signal simulator based on embedded ARM/DSP and FPGA.Cubic spline numerica method,with high computation ability and low error was proposed to simulate GPS satellite orbits.Meanwhile,the modularization design can be easily extended to Multi-Mode Satellite signal simulator.The implementation of complex GPS signal simulator was validated by commercial receiver.Compared with usual simulators based on PC,this one is smaller,lighter and more convenient to be used.It can provide a standard signal for receiver production lines and military experiment.
Abstract B36:Helicobacter pyloriexposure among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white men in San Antonio, Texas: Implications for gastric cancer risk disparities

Background: Chronic Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) infection is the most common gastric adenocarcinoma (GCA) risk factor. GCA more commonly affects U.S. Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). No study has examined this infection in South Texas Hispanics, a population facing multiple health disparities. This pilot project aimed to determine H. pylori exposure rates in Hispanic and NHW men residing in Bexar County, and examine relationships with ethnicity, residence, socioeconomic status, smoking history and cancer family history. Methods: Age- and zip-code-matched subjects from a large community-dwelling cohort were randomly selected. Sera from 286 (143 Hispanic, 143 NHW) men were analyzed by enzyme immunoassay for H. pylori antibodies. Results: Almost 20% of samples were H. pylori -positive; exposure was significantly higher among Hispanics (30.1%) compared to NHWs (9.1%). Unconditional logistic regression analyses of the seropositive-matched subsample showed strong associations between H. pylori seropositivity and Hispanic ethnicity (odds ratio [O.R.]=17.5; p ) and BMI category (O.R.=6.5; p=0.01 overweight and 4.0; p=0.02 obese). Ethnicity remained the strongest predictor of seropositivity after adjusting for all other factors (adjusted O.R.=16.9; p ). Adjusted O.R.s for overweight/obesity were high but non-significant. Conclusions: H. pylori exposure rates are higher in South Texas Hispanic men and parallel the disproportionately-higher rates of GCA. Obesity is a contributing factor. This is the first study to explore the relationship between H. pylori exposure and Hispanic ethnicity and other GCA risk factors in South Texas. Results have implications for future studies on preventive measures targeted at reducing infectious burden and GCA risk in this vulnerable population. Citation Format: Dorothy Long Parma, Edgar Munoz, Susan M. Ogden, Robin J. Leach, Ian M. Thompson, Jr., Amelie G. Ramirez. Helicobacter pylori exposure among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white men in San Antonio, Texas: Implications for gastric cancer risk disparities. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B36.
Effects of estrogen on 3H-leucine uptake by the hypothalamus and pituitary: correlation with hypothalamic and serum LHRH and LH.

An injection of estradiol benzoate (EB, 5 μg/rat) to ovariectomized rats suppressed serum LH levels 2, 4, 8 and 24 h later; serum LHRH levels were unaltered but the LHRH content in the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) was significantly elevated at 24 h. EB treatment also modified the sensitivity of the pituitary to LHRH administration: a rapid decrease at 4 h followed by an augmentation in LH release at 8 and 24 h. 3H-Leucine incorporation into proteins of the pituitary and neural tissues was unaffected for 4 h following EB treatment at the time when serum LH and the responsiveness of the pituitary to LHRH were clearly depressed. However, a marked increase in 3H-leucine incorporation into the proteins of the pituitary alone occurred at 8, 16 and 24 h after EB treatment, coincident with the enhanced pituitary sensitivity to LHRH. These studies showed that estrogen promoted storage of LHRH in the MBH and alteration in protein metabolism may be an important initial step in the estrogen-induced augmentation of the pituitary responsiveness to LHRH.
Cardiac Computed Tomography

Interesting fact: CT was invented in 1972 by British engineer Godfrey Hounsfield of EMI Laboratories, England and by South Africa-born physicist Allan Cormack of Tufts University, Massachusetts. EMI was also a record label at the time that happened to have the contract of the Beatles and used the money from the massively successful Beatles albums to fund the development of CT. In a way we have the Beatles to thank for one of the greatest advances in modern medicine [1].
Cephalopod Susceptibility to Asphyxiation via Ocean Incalescence, Deoxygenation, and Acidification

Squids are powerful swimmers with high metabolic rates despite constrained oxygen uptake and transport. They have evolved novel physiological strategies for survival in extreme environments that provide insight into their susceptibility to asphyxiation under anthropogenic ocean incalescence (warming), deoxygenation, and acidification. Plasticity of ecological and physiological traits, in conjunction with vertical and latitudinal mobility, may explain their evolutionary persistence and ensure their future survival.
Optimization for Reconfigurable Systems Using Hierarchical Abstraction

In the previous chapters, we have seen various multilevel optimization techniques used to solve a variety of complex problems. In this chapter we discuss techniques to synthesize VLSI systems from a high level description. From system genesis as a high-level description to its final physical layout, the problem of hardware synthesis is too nebulous to be handled in a single stage optimization process. As a result, CAD flow is divided into three major stages: Compiler Optimization, High-level Synthesis, and Physical Design. The traditional flow of the stages departs from the exact concept of multilevel optimization as addressed in this book. Therefore, in this chapter we focus on another way to abstract complexity in VLSI systems: hierarchical abstraction.
The undoing and redoing of the diabetic β-cell

A hallmark of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is the reduction in functional β-cell mass, which is considered at least in part to result from an imbalance of β-cell renewal and apoptosis, with the latter being accelerated during metabolic stress. More recent studies, however, suggest that the loss of functional β-cell mass is not as much due to β-cell death but rather to de-differentiation of β-cells when these cells are exposed to metabolic stressors, opening the possibility to re-differentiate and restore functional β-cell mass by therapeutic intervention. In parallel, clinical observations suggest that temporary intensive insulin therapy in early diagnosed humans with T2DM, so as to "rest" endogenous β-cells, allows these patients to regain adequate insulin secretion and to maintain euglycemia for prolonged periods free of continued pharmacotherapy. Whether observations made in (mostly rodent) models of diabetes mellitus and in clinical trials are revealing identical mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities remains a tantalizing possibility. Our intention is for this review to serve as an overview of the field and commentary of this particularly exciting field of research.
Self-Assembled Water-Soluble Nanofibers Displaying Collagen Hybridizing Peptides

Collagen hybridizing peptides (CHP) have been demonstrated as a powerful vehicle for targeting denatured collagen (dColl) produced by disease or injury. Conjugation of β-sheet peptide motif to the CHP results in self-assembly of nonaggregating β-sheet nanofibers with precise structure. Due to the molecular architecture of the nanofibers which puts high density of hydrophilic CHPs on the nanofiber surface at fixed distance, the nanofibers exhibit high water solubility, without any signs of intramolecular triple helix formation or fiber–fiber aggregation. Other molecules that are flanked with the triple helical forming GlyProHyp repeats can readily bind to the nanofibers by triple helical folding, allowing facile display of bioactive molecules at high density. In addition, the multivalency of CHPs allows the nanofibers to bind to dColl in vitro and in vivo with extraordinary affinity, particularly without preactivation that unravels the CHP homotrimers. The length of the nanofibers can be tuned from microme...
The Engel–Kolchin theorem revisited

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses several generalizations and analogues of Ellis Kolchin's theorem. In 1948, Kolchin proved his globalization of Engel's theorem: any multiplicative semigroup of unipotent matrices can be put in simultaneous triangular form. A theorem proved by J. Levitzki is a kind of companion to Ellis Kolchin's theorem : any multiplicative semigroup of nilpotent matrices can be put in simultaneous triangular form. Levitzki's theorem works not just over a field but over a division ring. The chapter presents a unification theorem of Kolchin's theorem and the field case of Levitzki's theorem: Let S be a multiplicative semigroup of linear transformations on an n-dimensional vector space over a field. Assume that, for a certain fixed integer r (0 ≦ r ≦ n), every member of S has r zeros and n, r ones as its characteristic roots. Then, S can be put in simultaneous triangular form. The chapter discusses Lie and Jordan analogues. The original Engel theorem refers to Lie algebras of nilpotent matrices. One can weaken the closure assumption to just the hypothesis of closure under the Lie bracket. There is a generalization to scalar-plus-nilpotent matrices that does not seem to have been noted in the literature.
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Spore Production Under Solid-State Fermentation of Lignocellulosic Residues.

This study was conducted to elucidate cultivation conditions determining Bacillus amyloliquefaciens B-1895 growth and enhanced spore formation during the solid-state fermentation (SSF) of agro-industrial lignocellulosic biomasses. Among the tested growth substrates, corncobs provided the highest yield of spores (47 × 1010 spores g−1 biomass) while the mushroom spent substrate and sunflower oil mill appeared to be poor growth substrates for spore formation. Maximum spore yield (82 × 1010 spores g−1 biomass) was achieved when 15 g corncobs were moistened with 60 ml of the optimized nutrient medium containing 10 g peptone, 2 g KH2PO4, 1 g MgSO4·7H2O, and 1 g NaCl per 1 l of distilled water. The cheese whey usage for wetting of lignocellulosic substrate instead water promoted spore formation and increased the spore number to 105 × 1010 spores g−1. Addition to the cheese whey of optimized medium components favored sporulation process. The feasibility of developed medium and strategy was shown in scaled up SSF of corncobs in polypropylene bags since yield of 10 × 1011 spores per gram of dry biomass was achieved. In the SSF of lignocellulose, B. amyloliquefaciens B-1895 secreted comparatively high cellulase and xylanase activities to ensure good growth of the bacterial culture.
IMPACT OF POST-OPERATIVE ATRIAL FIBRILLATION ON EARLY AND LATE OUTCOMES AFTER PROXIMAL AORTIC SURGERY

Post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is common after cardiac surgery. However, few studies examine the effect on early and late outcomes following thoracic aortic surgery. Patients (n=993) who underwent proximal aortic surgery, without pre-operative atrial fibrillation (n=135), at a single
15-epi-Lipoxin A4, Resolvin D2, and Resolvin D3 Induce NF-κB Regulators in Bacterial Pneumonia.

Specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs) decrease NF-κB activity to prevent excessive tissue damage and promote the resolution of acute inflammation. Mechanisms for NF-κB regulation by SPMs remain to be determined. In this study, after LPS challenge, the SPMs 15-epi-lipoxin A 4 (15-epi-LXA 4 ), resolvin D1, resolvin D2, resolvin D3, and 17-epi-resolvin D1 were produced in vivo in murine lungs. In LPS-activated human bronchial epithelial cells, select SPMs increased expression of the NF-κB regulators A20 and single Ig IL-1R–related molecule (SIGIRR). Of interest, 15-epi-LXA 4 induced A20 and SIGIRR in an lipoxin A 4 receptor/formyl peptide receptor 2 (ALX/FPR2) receptor–dependent manner in epithelial cells and in murine pneumonia. This SPM regulated NF-κB–induced cytokines to decrease pathogen-mediated inflammation. In addition to dampening lung inflammation, surprisingly, 15-epi-LXA 4 also enhanced pathogen clearance with increased antimicrobial peptide expression. Taken together, to our knowledge these results are the first to identify endogenous agonists for A20 and SIGIRR expression to regulate NF-κB activity and to establish mechanisms for NF-κB regulation by SPMs for pneumonia resolution.
Building energy consumption forecast using multi-objective genetic programming

Abstract A multi-objective genetic programming (MOGP) technique with multiple genes is proposed to formulate the energy performance of residential buildings. Here, it is assumed that loads have linear relation in terms of genes. On this basis, an equation is developed by MOGP method to predict both heating and cooling loads. The proposed evolutionary approach optimizes the most significant predictor input variables in the model for both accuracy and complexity, while simultaneously solving the unknown parameters of the model. In the proposed energy performance model, relative compactness has the most and orientation the least contribution. The proposed MOGP model is simple and has a high degree of accuracy. The results show that MOGP is a suitable tool to generate solid models for complex nonlinear systems with capability of solving big data problems via parallel algorithms.
Robotic Instrumentation and Operating Room Setup

Since the introduction of minimally invasive surgery in the 1980s, there have been countless advances in technology culminating in the development of the field of robotic-assisted surgery. The field of urology has been at the forefront of robotic-assisted surgery dating back to 1989 when the PROBOT was used to assist with transurethral resection of the prostate.1,2 Further devices were designed for transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy.3,4 In the early 1990s, several companies began to develop “master–slave systems,” where the surgeon controls the robotic instrument arms remotely from a console. The purpose of these systems was to eliminate physiologic tremor and to increase surgical dexterity and precision. Subsequent refinement in these systems led to the introduction of the da Vinci® Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA). Since the first robotic-assisted prostatectomy in 2000 and subsequent Federal Drug Administration approval, the da Vinci® has been used in a vast array of urologic surgeries and surgical techniques have now been described for almost every genitourinary organ.5 A proper understanding of robotic instrumentation is pivotal to the implementation of a successful robotics program. This chapter will review fundamental principles of robotic instrumentation using the da Vinci® Surgical System, surgical team, operating room setup, and basic principles of robotic-assisted surgery.
Modeling heat, mass, and species transport in polar firn

A finite-element model for simulating multi-dimensional air flow with heat, mass and chemical species transport through firn is discussed. The model is applied to an investigation of near-surface layering effects on ventilation rates. Field measurements of permeability at Summit, Greenland, are presented that show that permeability varies by at least a factor of 10 over the top 3 m, with the surface windpack having much lower permeability, in general, than the underlying firn. The effect of a lower-permeability surface layer is to decrease the air flow in the underlying firn, yet there is still sufficient air flow in the top meters of the firn so that ventilation must be considered for species transport. Channeling, or increased air flow in a layer overlain by a less-permeable layer, can occur even if the microstructure of each layer is isotropic. Conventional estimates of chemical transport due to diffusion alone are likely to underestimate transport, while estimates of ventilation that consider the firn as a homogeneous half-space may overestimate ventilation effects at the near-surface. Effects of firn layering are important for ventilation and must be considered for accurate assessment of firn–air transport mechanisms.
Are roots special? Nematodes have their say

Nematodes are ubiquitous and cosmopolitan parasites of vascular plants, causing substantial crop damage. Although various species exploit all parts of the plant, roots are the major target. Nematodes deploy a broad spectrum of feeding strategies, ranging from simple grazing to the establishment of complex cellular structures (including galls) in host tissues. Various models of feeding site formation have been proposed, and a role for phytohormones has long been speculated. Based on recent molecular evidence we present several scenarios involving phytohormones in the induction of giant cells by root-knot nematodes. The origin of parasitism by nematodes, and the role of horizontal gene transfer from microbes is discussed. Throughout, parallels with aphid-plant interactions are emphasized.
Establishing Digital Biomarkers for Occupational Health Assessment in Commercial Salmon Fishermen: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Study

Background: Commercial salmon fishing in Alaska is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Between 1992 and 2008, the average annual industry mortality rate was 128 deaths per 100,000 workers, and despite an increase in industry regulations, there has not been a significant decrease in mortality rate since 2000. Unpredictable fishing openings and fierce competition for limited resources result in periods of intense sleep deprivation and physical strain during the short commercial salmon season in Alaska. Objective: We hypothesize that the combined effect of sleep deprivation, intense physical workload, and significant short-term chronic stress may be deleterious to health in both the short- and long-term among commercial salmon drift gillnet fishermen in Alaska. The objective of this protocol is to determine the feasibility of the study design to test this hypothesis. Methods: The study design uses mixed methods and includes biometric monitoring consisting of heart rate variability, respiration, and movement data collected via a personal, wearable biometric device. Additional methods include observational data on activity, including duration and quality of sleep, weather, catch, and financial gain, as well as the collection of salivary cortisol. As such, the study will provide a holistic assessment of individual stress on multiple simultaneous timescales: immediately and continuously through the personal wearable biometric device, on the minute-hour level through the multiple daily collections of salivary cortisol, and by the hour-day through the use of participant and environment observational data. Results: Data collection was initiated in July 2017 and will extend through August 2019. Initial data collection has indicated that the methods outlined in this protocol are feasible and allow for effective collection of qualitative and quantitative data related to the psychological and physiological impact of Alaska commercial salmon fishing. Conclusions: We anticipate that the use of a biometric device will be crucial in establishing measures of stress and physical activity within a population and environment uniquely challenged by physical isolation, strong weather patterns, and the potential for significant financial gain by fishermen. The potential exists for individuals engaged long-term in the fishing industry, through repeated and extended exposure to periods of intense sleep deprivation and chronic stress, to be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/10215
Subsurface pore water contributions to stream concentration-discharge relations across a snowmelt hydrograph

This study investigated the concentration discharge (C-Q) patterns of selected elements transported to streams during spring snowmelt through an instrumented mixed-conifer forested catchment in rhyolitic terrain in the Jemez Mountains (NM, USA). High frequency, concurrent sampling of soil solution and gases, groundwater, and surface water enabled identification and sourcing of five groups of solutes with distinct C-Q behavior. Non-hydrolysing cations and strong acid anions, had mostly positive C-Q relations and a clockwise hysteresis pattern related to flushing of a limited reservoir of solutes accumulated in soils under snowpack. Rare earth elements (REEs) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), demonstrated large positive C-Q relations and a clockwise hysteresis pattern, consistent with their co-transport as metal-ligand complexes, and signaling bio-weathering reactions in the soil. Silicon and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) exhibited chemostatic C-Q trends and an anti-clockwise hysteresis pattern consistent with sourcing from deep groundwater. Hydrolyzing metals (Mn, Al, Ti and Zr) with high coefficients of variance (CV) for concentration relative to CV values for stream discharge and with no significant C-Q pattern, were found to be transported mainly as filterable colloids. Fe C-Q behavior was similar to this hydrolyzing metals group, but complexation with DOC was also important for Fe during the initial stage of the snowmelt hydrograph. Investigation of time-series of solutes and gases provided evidence for biologically-induced silicate weathering reactions that initiated in the soil subsurface and propagated down through groundwater to streams.
The disproportionate cost of operation and congenital anomalies in infancy

Abstract Background Congenital anomalies are the leading cause of infant death and pediatric hospitalization, but existing estimates of the associated costs of health care are either cross-sectional surveys or economic projections. We sought to determine the percent of total hospital health care expenditures attributable to major anomalies requiring surgery within the first year of life. Methods Utilizing comprehensive California statewide data from 2008 to 2012, cohorts of infants undergoing major surgery, with birth defects and with surgical anomalies, were constructed alongside a referent group of newborns with no anomalies or operations. Cost-to-charge and physician fee ratios were used to estimate hospital and professional costs, respectively. For each cohort, costs were broken down according to admission, birth episode, and first year of life, with additional stratifications by birth weight, gestational age, and organ system. Results In total, 68,126 of 2,205,070 infants (3.1%) underwent major surgery (n = 32,614) or had a diagnosis of a severe congenital anomaly (n = 57,793). These accounted for $7.7 billion of the $18.9 billion (40.7%) of the total health care costs/expenditures of the first-year-of-life hospitalizations, $7.0 billion (48.6%) of the costs for infants with comparatively long birth episodes, and $5.2 billion (54.7%) of the total neonatal intensive care unit admission costs. Infants with surgical anomalies (n = 21,264) totaled $4.1 billion (21.7%) at $80,872 per infant. Cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases accounted for most admission costs secondary to major surgery or congenital anomalies. Conclusion In a population-based cohort of infant births compared with other critically ill neonates, surgical congenital anomalies are disproportionately costly within the United States health care system. The care of these infants, half of whom are covered by Medi-Cal or Medicaid, stands as a particular focus in an age of reform of health care payments.
Bloom's syndrome

D1Z2 is a highly polymorphic DNA locus composed of a tandem of repetitive units. Its molecular constitution has been examined in 61 clonal cell lines selected at random from two lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), each of which had been proliferating in vitro for several hundred days. Thirty-three of the cells were selected from an LCL derived from the blood of a person with Bloom's syndrome (BS), and the others from a normal person. A total of 20 distinctive band alterations in D1Z2 were observed, all in BS cells: appearance of a novel band(s); disappearance of a band(s), or alterations in the intensity of a band(s). Unequal sister-chromatid exchange giving rise to intra-locus mutation is considered the most plausible explanation for the accumulation of the changes detected.
An Alternative Vision of Statehood: Islamic State’s Ideological Challenge to the Nation-State

This study contributes to efforts to theorize contemporary challenges to the nation-state as a normative governance unit through an analysis of Islamic State’s state ideology. It is argued that, by...
Analysis of maternal characteristics of patients with fetal hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Background: Nicotine and SSRIs have been associated with neonatal withdrawal syndromes. These syndromes may be associated with a poor response to neonatal treatment of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Objective: To assess the maternal characteristics of patients with fetal HLHS and analyze for association of these characteristics with response to treatment. Methods: This is a 10 year retrospective review …
The Underlying Conception of Science in Dilthey’s

In this essay I show that Dilthey does not merely supplement the natural sciences as he knew them with a theory of the human sciences. He also criticizes the natural sciences as part of a larger attack on Western metaphysics and the epistemological conception of science it has fostered. Both the natural and human sciences are rooted in a pre-scientific knowledge (Wissen) of life which is then transformed into mediated forms of conceptual knowledge (Erkenntnis). Whereas the natural sciences increasingly abstract from the reflexive awareness involved in Wissen, the human sciences should not. Instead, the human sciences must make what is immediately reflexive available for reflection.
Microfluidic high-throughput single-cell mechanotyping: Devices and applications

The mechanical behavior of individual cells plays an important role in regulating various biological activities at the molecular and cellular levels. It can serve as a promising label-free marker of cells’ physiological states. In the past two decades, several techniques have been developed for understanding correlations between cellular mechanical changes and human diseases. However, numerous technical challenges remain with regard to realizing high-throughput, robust, and easy-to-perform measurements of single-cell mechanical properties. In this paper, we review the emerging tools for single-cell mechanical characterization that are provided by microfluidic technology. Different techniques are benchmarked by considering their advantages and limitations. Finally, the potential applications of microfluidic techniques based on cellular mechanical properties are discussed.
Heterogeneity of Pain-Related Psychological Distress in Patients Seeking Care for Shoulder Pathology.

Abstract: Background Psychological distress is associated with disability and quality of life for patients with shoulder pain. However, uncertainty around heterogeneity of psychological distress has limited the adoption of shoulder care models that address psychological characteristics. In a cohort of patients with shoulder pain, our study sought to: 1) describe the prevalence of various subtypes of psychological distress, 2) evaluate associations between psychological distress and self-reported shoulder pain, disability, and function, and 3) determine differences in psychological distress profiles between patients receiving non-operative versus operative treatment. Methods The sample included 277 patients who were evaluated in clinic by a shoulder surgeon and completed the Optimal Screening for Prediction of Referral and Outcome Yellow Flag Assessment Tool (OSPRO-YF) from 2019 to 2021. This tool categorizes maladaptive and adaptive psychological traits, and the number of yellow flags ranges from 0-11, with higher yellow flag counts indicating higher pain-related psychological distress. Operative and nonoperative cohorts were compared using Chi-square test and student t-test. Linear regression was used to evaluate the association between pain, disability, and YFs, while Poisson regression evaluated the association between operative treatment and psychologic distress. K-means cluster analysis was performed to propose potential psychological distress phenotypes. Results Two hundred and fifty-one patients (91%) had at least one YF on the OSPRO-YF tool, with a mean number of 6 +/- 3.5 YFs. Yellow flags in unhelpful coping (85%) and helpful coping domains (78%) were most prevalent. The number of YFs was significantly associated with baseline shoulder pain (p Conclusions Yellow flags, particularly within the unhelpful coping and helpful coping domains, were highly prevalent in a cohort of patients presenting to a shoulder surgeon’s clinic. Additionally, operative patients were found to have a significantly higher rate of YFs across multiple dimensions of psychologic distress. These findings stress the importance of routine attentiveness to multiple dimensions of pain-related psychological distress in shoulder populations, which can provide an opportunity to reinforce healthy interpretation of pain while minimizing distress in appropriately identified patients.
Effect of awareness and notification of body-worn cameras on procedural justice, police legitimacy, cooperation, and compliance: Findings from a randomized controlled trial

The study examined the effects of awareness and notification of body-worn cameras (BWCs) on encounter-based citizen perceptions including procedural justice, police lawfulness, compliance with police, and global-level perceptions including police legitimacy, cooperation, and compliance with law. A vignette-based cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted. As a cluster, participants were randomly selected and then randomly assigned to one of the four conditions (non-BWC, unawareness of BWC, awareness of BWC, and notification of BWC). Participants in the experimental conditions (i.e., unawareness of BWC, awareness of BWC, and notification of BWC) viewed a video of a real traffic stop in which the officer used a BWC. The data were obtained from a survey about participants’ perceptions. A one-way ANOVA test for bivariate analysis and a hierarchical generalized linear model for multivariate analysis were conducted. Compared with the control condition, the three experimental conditions significantly improved encounter-based citizen perceptions. Compared with unawareness of BWC, notification of BWC significantly improved the perceptions of procedural justice and police lawfulness, while awareness of BWC significantly improved the perceptions of police lawfulness. BWC awareness improves citizen encounter-based perceptions. Police should notify citizens of the use of BWCs to increase the effectiveness of BWCs.
Human complement components C4A and C4B genetic diversities: complex genotypes and phenotypes.

This unit describes methods that can accurately determine the genotypes and phenotypes of human complement components C4A and C4B. Specifically, they allow investigators to determine how many C4 genes are present in a diploid genome of a human subject and to quantify how many of them encode C4A proteins and how many of them encode C4B proteins. In addition, methods to determine how many long and short C4 genes are present in a diploid genome of a subject are described together with experimental strategies to determine haplotypes and order or configuration of these genes in the MHC. Finally, methods to assess the degree of polymorphism in C4A and C4B proteins and whether low protein levels of plasma C4 may be caused by low C4 gene dosages and/or by mutant C4 genes. Keywords: C4 polygenic variation; C4 genes; endogenous retrovirus HERV-K(C4); RP-C4-CYP21-TNX (RCCX) modules; C4A/C4B allotypes; Ch1/Rg1 blood group antigenic determinants; MHC complement gene cluster (MCGC); complement C2 deficiency; labeled-primer single-cycle DNA polymerization (LSP); module-specific PCR