cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sestrin2 maintains OXPHOS integrity to modulate cardiac substrate metabolism during ischemia and reperfusion.

Abstract Sestrin2 (Sesn2) is a stress-inducible protein that declines with aging in the heart. We reported that rescue Sesn2 levels in aged mouse hearts through gene therapy improves the resistance of aged hearts to ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) insults. We hypothesize that Sesn2 as a scaffold protein maintains mitochondrial integrity to protect heart from ischemic injury during I/R. Young C57BL/6 J (3–6 months), aged C57BL/6 J (24–26 months), and young Sesn2 KO (3–6 months, C57BL/6 J background) mice were subjected to in vivo regional ischemia and reperfusion. The left ventricle was collected for transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics analysis. The results demonstrated that Sesn2 deficiency leads to aging-like cardiac diastolic dysfunction and intolerance to ischemia reperfusion stress. Seahorse analysis demonstrated that Sesn2 deficiency in aged and young Sesn2 KO versus young hearts lead to impaired mitochondrial respiration rate with defects in Complex I and Complex II activity. The Sesn2 targeted proteomics analysis revealed that Sesn2 plays a critical role in maintaining mitochondrial functional integrity through modulating mitochondria biosynthesis and assembling of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes. The RNA-Seq data showed that alterations in the expression of mitochondrial compositional and functional genes and substrate metabolism related genes in young Sesn2 KO and aged versus young hearts. Further immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that Sesn2 is translocated into mitochondria and interacts with OXPHOS components to maintain mitochondrial integrity in response to I/R stress. Biochemical analysis revealed that Sesn2 is associated with citrate cycle components to modulate pyruvate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase activities during I/R stress. Thus, Sesn2 serves as a scaffold protein interacting with OXPHOS components to maintain mitochondrial integrity under I/R stress. Age-related downregulation of cardiac Sesn2 fragilizes mitochondrial functional integrity in response to ischemic stress.
An Extensive Sequence Dataset of Gold-Standard Samples for Benchmarking and Development

Abstract Accurate standards and extensive development datasets are the foundation of technical progress. To facilitate benchmarking and development, we sequence 9 samples, covering the Genome in a Bottle truth sets on multiple instruments (NovaSeq, HiSeqX, HiSeq4000, PacBio Sequel II System) and sample preparations (PCR-Free, PCR-Positive) for both whole genome and multiple exome kits. We benchmark pipelines, quantifying strengths and limitations for sequencing and analysis methods. We identify variability within and between instruments, preparation methods, and analytical pipelines, across various sequencing depths. We discuss the relevance of this variability to downstream analyses, and strategies to reduce variability.
Chronic paternal morphine exposure increases sensitivity to morphine-derived antinociception

Parental exposure to drugs of abuse such as opioids can have profound and long lasting effects on reward processing and drug sensitivity across generations. However, little is known about the impact of long term paternal exposure to morphine on offspring sensitivity to morphine-derived antinociception during painful experiences. To address this question, we constructed a rat pain scale at millisecond timescales to measure mechanical nociception in a multigenerational morphine exposure paradigm. Surprisingly, while developing the pain scale, we found that von Frey hair filaments (VFHs), the most common stimuli used in pain research, are not painful to rats and morphine did not change the touch-like responses elicited by VFHs. We next deployed this novel pain scale to determine whether chronic morphine exposure in sires impacted pain sensitivity in the next generation. Offspring produced from a cross of morphine treated sires and drug-naive dams, did not show any baseline changes in sensitivity to mechanical nociception. However, morphine-sired male progeny displayed a higher sensitivity to the antinociceptive properties of morphine, as measured by our pain scale. These findings demonstrate that long term paternal exposure to morphine increases sensitivity to morphine-derived analgesia in the subsequent generation.
Social connectedness and negative affect uniquely explain individual differences in response to emotional ambiguity

Negativity bias is not only central to mood and anxiety disorders, but can powerfully impact our decision-making across domains (e.g., financial, medical, social). This project builds on previous work examining negativity bias using dual-valence ambiguity. Specifically, although some facial expressions have a relatively clear negative (angry) or positive valence (happy), surprised expressions are interpreted negatively by some and positively by others, providing insight into one's valence bias. Here, we examine putative sources of variability that distinguish individuals with a more negative versus positive valence bias using structural equation modeling. Our model reveals that one's propensity toward negativity (operationalized as temperamental negative affect and internalizing symptomology) predicts valence bias particularly in older adulthood when a more positive bias is generally expected. Further, variability in social connectedness (a propensity to seek out social connections, use those connections to regulate one's own emotions, and be empathic) emerges as a notable and unique predictor of valence bias, likely because these traits help to override an initial, default negativity. We argue that this task represents an important approach to examining variability in affective bias, and can be specifically useful across the lifespan and in populations with internalizing disorders or even subclinical symptomology.
Influence of vaccination with an inactivated or modified live viral reproductive vaccine on reproductive parameters in beef cows

Previous research has described the detrimental effects of modified-live virus (MLV) vaccines on reproductive parameters in na'ive heifers. Less is known about the patential effects of MLV vaccines on reproductive parameters in well-vaccinated beef herds. This work describes a 2-year study involving 9 herds of well-vaccinated cows and heifers (n=1436) to evaluate whether a pre-breeding MLV or inactivated reproductive vaccine administered per label instructions had negative impacts on conception rates or calving distribution compared to a non-vaccinated control (saline) group.
Do different kinds of introductions influence comprehension and memory for scientific explanations

Compelling and interesting introductions are considered an important way of fostering reader engagement with expository-text content. But only a handful of projects have examined this prescriptive ...
The Ins and Outs of Water in Olivine-Hosted Melt Inclusions: Hygrometer vs. Speedometer

The amount of water dissolved in magmas at depth beneath volcanoes is fundamental to a wide range of magmatic and eruptive processes due to water’s dominant control on magma generation, viscosity, and buoyancy. Since magmas degas most of their initial water content upon ascent and eruption, the primary record of magmatic water evolution exists within melt inclusions trapped inside crystals, especially olivine. However, the discovery of rapid H+ diffusion through olivine has called into question the fidelity of the melt inclusion water record. How compromised is the vast existing and growing dataset of melt inclusion water contents? What are the circumstances favorable for recording primary or pre-eruptive water concentration? Even if inclusions are compromised, diffusive water loss can be exploited to constrain magma decompression rates, a critical parameter that affects conduit processes. Here, we outline the current understanding of factors controlling water loss: the olivine/melt partition coefficient, the diffusive transport of water through olivine, the distance between inclusion and crystal rim, the melt inclusion size, and the exterior magma’s water evolution. We combine these parameters into a regime diagram that can be used to guide when melt inclusions may be used as hygrometers and when they are better suited to act as magma speedometers. We develop diagnostic tools to recognize where and when water loss has occurred in a magma’s ascent history, and we outline quantitative tools that may be used to restore the primary and/or pre-eruptive water content. The intent of this paper is to guide researchers in the interpretation of existing melt inclusion data, and to aid in the design of new studies that maximize the valuable information melt inclusions may convey on the evolution of water in magmas prior to eruption.
The war on the Uyghurs: China’s internal campaign against a Muslim minority: by Sean R. Roberts, Princeton, NJ, Princeton University Press, 2020, xviii + 308 pp., US$29.95, ISBN 978-0-691-20218-1

The merciless campaign of incarceration, surveillance and assimilation that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has waged in Xinjiang since the autumn of 2016 is aimed at the ‘de-extremification’ ...
Directly Indirect and Other Paradoxes: What Schools Need to Teach Students About Financial Aid

This presentation reviews how financial wellness and literacy offices on college campuses can help students understand financial aid concepts, a key knowledge base for student financial wellness.
Spending outcomes among patients with cancer in accountable care organizations 4 years after implementation.

BACKGROUND The long-term impact of affordable care organizations (ACOs) on cancer spending remains unknown. The authors examined whether practices that became ACOs altered their spending for patients with cancer in the first 4 years after ACO implementation. METHODS By using national Medicare data from 2011 to 2017, a random sample of 20% of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older with cancer was obtained (n = 866,532), and each patient was assigned to a practice. Practices that became ACOs in the Medicare Shared Savings Program were matched to non-ACO practices. Total, cancer-specific, and service category-specific yearly spending per patient was calculated. A difference-in-differences model was used to determine spending changes associated with ACO status for patients with cancer in the 4 years after ACO implementation. RESULTS The introduction of ACOs did not have a significant impact on overall spending for patients with cancer in the 2 years after ACO implementation (difference, -$38; 95% CI, -$268, $191; P = .74). Changes in spending also did not differ between ACO and non-ACO patients within service categories or among the 11 cancer types examined. The lack of difference in spending for patients with cancer in ACO and non-ACO practices persisted in the third and fourth years after ACO implementation (difference, -$120; 95% CI, -$284, $525; P = .56). CONCLUSIONS ACOs did not significantly change spending for patients with cancer in the first 4 years after their implementation compared with non-ACOs. This prompts a reevaluation of the current efficacy of ACOs in reducing spending for cancer care and may encourage policymakers to reconsider the incentive structures of ACOs. LAY SUMMARY Accountable care organizations (ACOs) were developed to curtail health care spending and improve quality, but their effects on cancer spending in their first 2 years have been minimal. The long-term impact of ACOs on cancer spending remains unknown. By using data from 866,532 Medicare beneficiaries with cancer, the authors observed that the association of a practice with an ACO did not significantly change total yearly spending per patient in the first 4 years after ACO implementation. This finding prompts a reevaluation of the current efficacy of ACOs in reducing spending for cancer care.
The Big Push: Emigration in the Age of Environmental Catastrophe

There are approximately 1.1 million immigrants arriving in the United States each year, which accounts for about 1.1 percent of worldwide immigration.1 "According to a 1992 World Bank estimate, there are 100 million international migrants of all kinds, which represents one out of 50 people on the globe."2 Of that total, approximately two-thirds reside in less developed countries. Environmental destruction on a large scale has been blamed for international migration between Third World countries as well as for the more publicized exodus of desperate peoples from the Third to the First World. Yet, ascribing a single cause to such vast migratory patterns may be entirely quixotic. Other causes, such as increasing disparity in economic opportunity among countries of the Third World; continuing political instability among and within Third World countries; and the economic machinations of such entities as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have certainly contributed to burgeoning migration patterns.3 Moreover, the crush of increasing populations certainly impels emigration.
The pathogenesis of cancer metastasis: the 'seed and soil' hypothesis revisited

Researchers have been studying metastasis for more than 100 years, and only recently have we gained insight into the mechanisms by which metastatic cells arise from primary tumours and the reasons that certain tumour types tend to metastasize to specific organs. Stephen Paget's 1889 proposal that metastasis depends on cross-talk between selected cancer cells (the 'seeds') and specific organ microenvironments (the 'soil') still holds forth today. It is now known that the potential of a tumour cell to metastasize depends on its interactions with the homeostatic factors that promote tumour-cell growth, survival, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. How has this field developed over the past century, and what major breakthroughs are most likely to lead to effective therapeutic approaches?
Experimental Study of Seamless Bridge Transition System for U.S. Practice

AbstractExpansion joints are one of the main causes for high maintenance costs in bridges. In this paper, a seamless bridge system is presented that provides for bridges with long service lives by eliminating the joints over the length of the bridge, the approach slab, and a segment of the adjoining roadway. Bridge movements in seamless systems are dissipated in a transition zone located at the bridge ends beyond the abutments. Thermal compression forces are transferred to the base soil, and thermal tensile forces are handled through opening and closing of microcracks in the transition zone. Crack width and spacing are important parameters in the design of seamless bridge systems. In the seamless system presented, the transition zone consists of a top slab and a secondary slab installed a few feet deep in the base soil. The two slabs are connected via small piles. At the end of the transition zone where it interfaces the roadway, which can be either jointed rigid or flexible pavement, there is a joint cal...
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in evaluation of the functional capacity of survivors of childhood cancer

Abstract Progress in the treatment of pediatric cancer has resulted in a growing population of survivors of malignancy treated in childhood. These individuals may have evidence of multiple organ system impairment related to oncologic disease and its therapy. Metabolic exercise testing measures cardiovascular, pulmonary and musculoskeletal components of maximal exercise performance, quantifying functional capacity. This information has been used to describe the clinical syndromes related to anthracycline exposure, radiation therapy and bone marrow transplantation. Impaired performance at exercise testing has been quantified in general as decreased endurance, increased symptomatology and excess cardiac arrhythmias. Specific evaluation of the cardiovascular system in survivors of childhood cancer demonstrates impaired aerobic capacity and impaired hemodynamic response to exercise, with relatively increased heart rate, decreased stroke volume and decreased maximal cardiac index. These abnormalities correlate with risk factors for cardiovascular impairment: increased anthracycline dose, female sex, younger age at treatment and longer time to follow-up evaluation. Changes in musculoskeletal function impact variably on exercise capacity. Metabolic exercise testing which measures the integrated function of multiple organ systems identifies subclinical abnormalities useful in monitoring functional capacity and guiding intervention.
Modified JPEG Huffman coding

It is a well observed characteristic that when a DCT block is traversed in the zigzag order, the AC coefficients generally decrease in size and the run-length of zero coefficients increase in number. This article presents a minor modification to the Huffman coding of the JPEG baseline compression algorithm to exploit this redundancy. For this purpose, DCT blocks are divided into bands so that each band can be coded using a separate code table. Three implementations are presented, which all move the end-of-block marker up in the middle of DCT block and use it to indicate the band boundaries. Experimental results are presented to compare reduction in the code size obtained by our methods with the JPEG sequential-mode Huffman coding and arithmetic coding methods. The average code reduction to the total image code size of one of our methods is 4%. Our methods can also be used for progressive image transmission and hence, experimental results are also given to compare them with two-, three-, and four-band implementations of the JPEG spectral selection method.
Cyclophosphamide plus total body irradiation compared with busulfan plus cyclophosphamide as a conditioning regimen prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Cyclophosphamide plus total body irradiation (CYTBI) and oral busulfan plus cyclophosphamide (BUCY) are commonly used conditioning regimens prior to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with leukemia. However, there is conflicting data on the superiority of one regimen over the other. Our aim was to critically appraise and synthesize available evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of CYTBI compared to BUCY as a conditioning regimen. DESIGN AND SETTING Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) comparing BUCY with CYTBI. METHODS We did a systematic search of the indexed medical literature using appropriate keywords to identify potentially relevant articles. The primary outcome of interest was efficacy measured by overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Acute and late toxicity were secondary endpoints. Meta-analysis was attempted only on RCTs. A relative risk or risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated for each outcome in the meta-analysis. RESULTS Fifteen non-randomized comparative studies involving 6280 patients were included in a narrative review without attempting a pooled analysis, in view of the potential for significant bias. Outcome data from seven RCTs involving 730 patients randomly assigned to either CYTBI or BUCY was pooled using meta-analytic methods. CYTBI was associated with a modest but non-significant reduction in all cause mortality (RR = 0.82, 95%CL: 0.64–1.05; P = .12) and relapse of leukemia (RR = 0.89, 95%CI: 0.72–1.10; P = .28). Transplant-related mortality (TRM) was significantly lesser with CYTBI compared to oral BUCY (RR-0.53, 95%CI: 0.31-0.90; P = .02). The cumulative incidence of major complications was not significantly different between the two regimens, but specific complications varied according to the conditioning regimen. TBi-based regimens were associated with more severe late effects on growth and development in children. CONCLUSION This analysis represents the largest comparative analyses of CYTBI with BUCY as a conditioning regimen prior to HSCT in the indexed medical literature. Conditioning regimen and disease (type and setting) can significantly affect outcomes. TRM is significantly lesser with CYTBI, but this does not translate into a significant survival benefit. There remain valid concerns regarding the late effects of TBI, particularly in children. Although not overly superior, the weight of evidence favors CYTBI over BUCY as a first choice-conditioning regimen in patients with leukemia.
Polyvinyl chloride-insecticide pellets fed to cattle to control face fly larvae in manure.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pellets containing diazinon, dichlorvos, dimethoate, and dimetilan, and acetone solutions of these insecticides were added directly to cattle manure and fed to cattle to determine effectiveness against larvae of Musca autumnalis De Geer in manure. All insecticides in PVC or in acetone solution were very effective when added directly to manure, producing 100% mortality at 0.0003% in manure. Dimetilan in acetone solution produced 95% mortality at 0.000003%, and diazinon and dichlorvos produced 92 and 100% mortality, respectively, at 0.00003%. Insecticides in acetone solution, fed at 5 mg/kg per day, were not effective larvicides in manure. However, at the same dosage in PVC pellets, these insecticides except dimethoate + fenthion and trichlorfon produced 100% mortality through 4 days after termination of treatment. Diazinon and dichlorvos in PVC, the most promising materials, were effective through the last feeding day at 0.5 mg/kg per day. In further feeding trials with PVC-diazinon and PVC-dimetilan, reduction of pellet size, simultaneous with increasing the number of pellets fed, improved the larvicidal effectiveness of diazinon, but not of dimetilan. Increasing the number of pellets fed, by decreasing the concentration of insecticide in PVC, increased the effectiveness of dimetilan but did not alter the effectiveness of diazinon. Rate of passage of PVC-insecticide pellets through the bovine digestive tract increased with decreasing specific gravity. One-eighth-inch cubes and 1/16-inch cubes, which had almost identical passage rates, were found to pass through more rapidly than 1/32-inchcubes. Time of maximum excretion of PVC-insecticide pellets in manure was not necessarily the time of greatest mortality because of loss of insectide from the PVC pellets and subsequent degradation while in the digestive tract. Shell Chemical Company Animal Health Product V-13 dichlorvos-PVC, fed to a dairy herd for an entire summer at ¼ mg/kg per day, did not control face fly larval development in manure. There was no detectable toxicity to the catlle or residues of dichlorvos in milk.
Nonlinear transmission spectroscopy with dual frequency combs

We show how two frequency combsE1, E2 can be used to measure single-photon, two-photon absorption (TPA), and Raman resonances in a molecule with three electronic bands, by detecting the radiofrequency modulation of the nonlinear transmission signal. Some peaks are shifted by the center frequency of the comb and have a width close to the comb width. Other peaks are independent of the carrier frequency of the comb. TPA and Raman resonances that are independent of the carrier frequency are selected by measuring the transmission signal ∼ E 2 1 E 2 2 and the single-photon resonances are selected by measuring the transmission signal ∼ E 3 1 E2. that interacts three times with comb 1. Sinusoidal spectra l phase shaping strongly affects the TPA resonances, but not the Raman resonances, for an even or odd phase profile around a selected resonance.
Social and personal normative influences on healthcare professionals to use information technology: Towards a more robust social ergonomics.

Social structures and processes are increasingly acknowledged and studied within the human factors/ergonomics (HFE) discipline. At the same time, social phenomena are rarely the focus of HFE work, leaving a knowledge gap. This study directly addresses social and personal normative forces that influence technology use and performance. Social and personal normative influence to use electronic health records were investigated using semi-structured qualitative interviews with 20 attending physicians at two US hospitals. Analyses used a comprehensive framework based on leading social scientific theories and revealed numerous sources of influence, including hospital administration, colleagues, patients, clinical and professional groups, government and one's self. Influence was achieved through different means and invoked different psychological processes. Findings motivate a new view of professionals’ technology use as a highly social process occurring in a social context, with implications for research, policy...
Frank Aydelotte: AT&T's First Writing Consultant, 1917-1918.

In 1917 Frank Aydelotte, an English professor at MIT, became AT&T's first outside writing consultant. Because many of its older, better-educated male employees had been mobilized to fight World War I, the company found itself with numerous young, poorly-educated employees. Drawing on the humanistic approach to writing instruction that he had developed at MIT in his book English and Engineering, Aydelotte created a year-long program at AT&T that taught employees to think and write about issues important to their work. The course is important for two reasons: first, it offers insight into the kinds of early consulting work that English professors did, and, second, it shows that Aydelotte's humanistic approach to technical communication worked as well in business as it did in academic settings.
Mitomycin C-augumented trabeculectomy with postoperative wound modulation in pediatric glaucoma

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy combined with postoperative subconjunctival 5-fluorouracil and laser suture lysis in the treatment of refractory pediatric glaucoma. Methods: Twenty-one consecutive cases (17 patients) with refractory pediatric glaucoma treated with mitomycin C trabeculectomy (0.4 mg/mL for 3 to 5 minutes) and postoperative 5-fluorouracil, laser suture lysis, or both were retrospectively reviewed. Success was defined as intraocular pressure between 4 and 16 mm Hg without further glaucoma surgery or devastating complication. Results: The median age of the study population was 2.6 years (range, 0.05 to 16 years). The overall success rate was 52.4%, with a median follow-up of 23 months for successful cases. Success rates for patients older than 1 year of age versus those younger than 1 year of age at surgery were 73% and 30%, respectively. Success rates for phakic versus aphakic eyes were 64% and 29%, respectively. Age and lens status, taken together, were significant predictors of outcome ( P = .013). Reasons for failure in this study were uncontrolled intraocular pressure (8 cases), persistent wound leak (1 case), and endophthalmitis (1 case); the latter 2 cases required bleb excision. Other complications encountered included chorioretinal detachment, shallow anterior chamber, 5-fluorouracil toxicity, and cataract formation. No irreversible visual deficits could be attributed to the trabeculectomy procedure or subsequent complications in any of these cases. Conclusions: Mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy combined with postoperative suture lysis and 5-fluorouracil is a viable option for older phakic children with refractory glaucoma. This procedure has a lower success rate in infants and in aphakic eyes. Both early and late postoperative complications are common, and diligent lifelong long-term follow-up is needed to detect bleb leaks and infection. The addition of postoperative suture lysis and 5-fluorouracil to mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy did not provide any convincing improvement in the success of this procedure in pediatric patients with refractory glaucoma and may have increased the complication rate. (J AAPOS 1999;3:117-24)
This Is How We Do It: A Glimpse at Gamelab's Design Process.

This article explicates the ways that developers working at an independent game company in New York City organized their development process around a deep concern for how players make meaning from their games. Two designers' descriptions of their processes are used to illustrate the company's commitment to developing games that invite participation, discussion, and ongoing iteration. It is argued that Gamelab's design philosophy is an excellent instantiation of deliberative rhetorical practices and progressive ‘reflection-in-action’ schemas.
The Impact of Attitude on Image‐Based Integrity

Researchers have begun investigating the potential use of image-based navigation systems for applications where Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) signals are not available or should not be used. Independence from external radio-frequency transmissions and potentially low-cost implementations of camera and image processing suites are key advantages of image-based systems. However, while the concept of integrity is well-understood for many GNSS applications, to the best knowledge of the authors, no one has fully addressed rigorous integrity quantification with respect to image-based navigation systems. This paper details the research into the impact of attitude in an image-based integrity framework and describes how image-based integrity can be calculated for both known and unknown attitude cases. The results show that, from an integrity perspective, there is a significant benefit to having known attitude information.
Neutron hodoscope for intermediate energies

A scintillator hodoscope of active area 120 cm by 71 cm has been designed, tested, and used for the detection of neutrons with energies ranging from 40 to 130 MeV. The two-dimensional spatial resolution obtained for reaction neutrons was 2.5 cm in the long or x-direction and 5.0 cm in the y-direction, the latter determined by the height of the bars. Timing synchronization of the multiple bar array was achieved by coupling a pulsed UV laser to the center of each bar with quartz fibers of equal length. The neutron detection efficiency is dependent on neutron energy and discriminator thresholds. For the neutron energy range investigated and the thresholds employed, efficiencies of 14–19% were obtained. The hodoscope is simple is design and has been reliable and stable over experimental runs of hundreds of hours.
Methods för evaluation of the physical working capacity of school children with cerebral palsy

Summary Application to children with cerebral palsy of ordinary physical working capacity tests involving standardized work on bicycle ergo-meters is not possible since the handicap of such children involves poor neuromotor control. The work load performed will vary since the involontary movements and tensions also are oxygen-consuming and varying. The mechanical efficiency also changes considerably in such subjects, even at the same load in the same individual on different occasions. Thus, direct measurements of oxygen consumption during work is the only solution. However, due to mouth involvement, it is often difficult to perform air collection, in subjects with cerebral palsy particularly at maximal work intensity. A simple rubber membrane was therefore made which facilitated air collection in children with cerebral palsy. A graphical method which correlated oxygen uptake to heart rate at two or more submaximal levels was also developed. for a rough estimate of the maximal oxygen uptake in subjects where direct determinations were not possible, extrapolation of the line to the maximal heart rate, individually determined, was done. Training of these inactive subjects could change the original line in two ways. An improved muscular performance with respect to strength and technique, the “muscle” effect, seemed to increase the maximal heart rate and extended the line; a higher oxygen capacity, the “oxygen” effect, raised the original line, i.e. an increased oxygen uptake at a given heart rate was demonstrated. Either effect alone or the effects in combination increased the maximal
Anxiety disorders increase risk for incident myocardial infarction in depressed and nondepressed Veterans Administration patients.

Background Depression is a risk factor for incident myocardial infarction (MI), but little is known about the independent or additive risk from anxiety disorders. Methods In a 7-year retrospective cohort design, we identified a cohort free of cardiovascular disease in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 that contained 96,612 patients between 25 and 80 years of age who had an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code indicating a diagnosis of depression in 2000 (baseline) and 259,387 patients without depression. Cox proportional hazards models stratified by depression were computed to test for a main effect of anxiety disorder unspecified, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on risk of incident MI. The models were adjusted for multiple MI risk factors and sociodemographics. Results Depressed as compared to nondepressed Veterans Administration patients were at increased risk for incident MI (HR 1.39; 95% CI 1.34-1.45). In nondepressed patients those with anxiety disorder unspecified (HR 1.34; 95% CI 1.21-1.47), panic disorder (HR 1.43; 95% CI 1.11-1.83), and PTSD (HR 1.25; 95% CI 1.16-1.36) were at increased risk for incident MI. The independent risk associated with anxiety disorders was reduced in patients comorbid for depression. Conclusions In Veterans Administration patients free of heart disease in 1999 and 2000, those with depression, anxiety disorder unspecified, panic disorder, and PTSD were at increased risk of incident MI. Anxiety disorders are independent risk factors for MI. Depression partially accounts for the effect of anxiety disorders on risk of MI in patients with both conditions.
First-mover advantages from pioneering new markets: Comment

The survey by Robinson, Kalyanaram, and Urban, is a valuable contribution on one of the most important concepts in the field of industrial organization. Unfortunately, "I-O" specialists have subjected the first-mover phenomenon to empirical research much less than proportional to the apparent power of entry order variables in explaining market structure and market participants' profitability. Thus, we are in debt to business scholars for illuminating the relevant relationships, and we are in debt to Robinson et al. for bringing what has become a sizable literature into focus.
Evaluation of Alternative Plasma Gases for Radio-Frequency Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry (rf GD-MS):

Interferences are a major consideration in all forms of plasma mass spectrometry. Investigations into the use of He, Ne, N2, and Kr in radio-frequence glow discharge mass spectrometry (rf GD-MS) have been undertaken to study their potential as alternative plasma gases. All gases exhibited expected behavior with respect to pressure and power. Background species are discussed for each gas, along with the effect of each gas on analyte intensities in Standard Reference Material (SRM) copper 500. A helium plasma yields the highest intensities for analytes (Cr, Fe, Ni, Co, Zn, As, Se, Ag, Au, Pb, and Bi) of all gases investigated. Kr was not a practical alternative gas since analyte intensities were extremely low, severe memory effects were present, and the UHP Kr is very expensive. Relative sensitivity factors are presented for each of the gases for the same copper SRM 500. Argon has the highest sputter rate, with Ne and He being similar and N2 being the lowest. Isotope abundances are given for Se, Fe, Br, and Cl in a He plasma.
Evaluating Social Work Practice in a Medical Setting: How Do We Meet the Challenges of a Rapidly Changing System?

Social work's response to a rapidly changing health care system requires an empirical approach to practice. However, most empirical studies that evaluate social work services emphasize productivity...
Ocular ultrasound identifies early orbital cellulitis.

A 36 year-old man with a history of a complicated oral surgery from a complex mandibular fracture months prior presented with traumatic right eye swelling, tearing, and redness. The patient was afebrile (36.7o C) and normotensive (121/79). Physical examination revealed upper and lower lid swelling and erythema without crepitance or proptosis, accompanied by conjunctival injection and copious tearing. His pupillary exam and intraocular pressures were normal. He had painless and unlimited extra-ocular movements. His visual acuity was 20/30 oculus dexter, 20/20 with pinhole; 20/40 oculus sinister, 20/40 with pinhole. A bedside ocular ultrasound using a Sonosite MTurbo® 7.5 MHz linear high frequency probe was performed showing edema along the anterior aspect of the orbit with nonspecific thickening of the orbital wall (Video). Based on these findings, an orbital computed tomography (CT) with contrast was performed, confirming the diagnosis of orbital cellulitis. The patient was admitted for intravenous antibiotics (vancomycin and ceftriaxone) and ophthalmology consultation. Video Edema along the anteriorlateral aspect of the orbit with nonspecific thickening of the orbital wall (white arrows). While there are numerous studies supporting the use of orbital ultrasound to diagnose ocular trauma, the presence of intraocular foreign bodies, and other ocular abnormalities, there is limited evidence to suggest orbital ultrasound may have a role in diagnosing orbital cellulitis.1–7 It is not likely that ocular ultrasound will negate the need for advanced imaging with CT and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with symptoms highly suggestive of orbital cellulitis (i.e., ophthalmoplegia, proptosis, and impaired vision.) However, ocular ultrasound may have a role in risk stratification for patients with more nonspecific symptoms, such as ocular pain, eyelid swelling, and erythema. Future observational studies are needed to better evaluate if orbital ultrasound has a role in identifying patients without obvious clinical features of orbital cellulitis who may benefit from advanced imaging.
Lift generation with optimal elastic pitching for a flapping plate

The lift-generating capabilities of a translating and passively pitching rectangular plate are assessed experimentally. The plate pitch dynamics are generated by a rotational spring, and a genetic algorithm isolates a set of spring parameters maximizing the average lift. Our experiments identified a range of parameters that produce kinematic trajectories associated with optimal lift production. The stroke length and the dynamic response of the spring at the driving frequency are revealed to play crucial roles in the generation of such trajectories. Measurements taken with digital particle image velocimetry are used to analyse the results.
Surface-Plasmon Resonance-Enhanced Multiphoton Emission of High-Brightness Electron Beams from a Nanostructured Copper Cathode

We experimentally investigate surface-plasmon assisted photoemission to enhance the efficiency of metallic photocathodes for high-brightness electron sources. A nanohole array-based copper surface was designed to exhibit a plasmonic response at 800 nm, fabricated using the focused ion beam milling technique, optically characterized and tested as a photocathode in a high power radio frequency photoinjector. Because of the larger absorption and localization of the optical field intensity, the charge yield observed under ultrashort laser pulse illumination is increased by more than 100 times compared to a flat surface. We also present the first beam characterization results (intrinsic emittance and bunch length) from a nanostructured photocathode.
Development of the blood–brain barrier within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus: influence of fetal glucocorticoid excess

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a critical contributor to brain function. To understand its development and potential function in different brain regions, the postnatal (P) BBB was investigated in the mouse cortex (CTX), lateral hypothalamus, and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Brains were examined on postnatal days (P)12, P22 and P52 for BBB competency and for pericytes as key cellular components of the BBB demarcated by immunoreactive desmin. Glucocorticoid influences (excess dexamethasone; dex) during prenatal development were also assessed for their impact on the blood vessels within these regions postnatally. At P12, there was significantly more extravascular leakage of a low molecular weight dye (fluorescein isothiocyanate) in the CTX than within hypothalamic regions. For pericytes, there were low levels of desmin immunoreactivity at P12 that increased with age for all regions. There was more desmin immunoreactivity present in the PVN at each age examined. Fetal dex exposure resulted in decreased blood vessel density within the PVN at P20. In the CTX, dex exposure increased BBB competency, in contrast to the PVN where there was a decrease in BBB competency and increased pericyte presence. Overall, unique alterations in the functioning of the BBB within the PVN may provide a novel mechanism for fetal antecedent programming that may influence adult disorders.
Spliced leader RNAs from lower eukaryotes are trans- spliced in mammalian cells

EXON sequences present on separate RNA molecules can be joined by trans-splicing in trypanosomatids, Euglena, and in the nematode and trematode worms1–3. Trans-splicing involves an interaction between a 5′ splice site present in a spliced leader RNA and a 3′ splice site located near the 5′ end of pre-messenger RNAs. In vitro trans-splicing of artificial mammalian pre-mRNAs has been reported, but the efficiency of splicing appears to depend on sequence complementarity between the two substrates4–7. There has been speculation that some natural pre-mRNAs can be trans-spliced in mammalian cells in vivo8,9, but alternative interpretations have not been ruled out. Here we show that spliced leader RNAs can be accurately trans-spliced in mammalian cells in vivo and in vitro. Both nematode and mammalian 3′ splice sites can function as acceptors for trans-splicing in vivo. These results reveal functional conservation in the splicing machinery between lower eukaryotes and mammals, and they directly demonstrate the potential for trans-splicing in mammalian cells.
Dynamic compression of lightweight interpenetrating phase composite (IPC) foams: Measurements and modeling

In recent years, there has been an increased demand for engineered materials that are lightweight, stiff and tough. Interpenetrating Phase Composites (IPC), a family of bio-inspired materials, made of two or more phases where each phase forms a continuous 3-D network throughout the volume of the material could address some of these conflicting requirements. The specific IPC used in this work is formed by infusing uncured polymer syntactic foam which is prepared by dispersing hollow microballoons in epoxy into open-cell aluminum foam, and letting the syntactic foam to cure within the 3D metallic scaffold. The resultant is a composite (see, Fig. 1) of the syntactic foam and the aluminum foam which in their stand alone state are open cell foams themselves. In this work, the dynamic compressive responses of the syntactic foam and the hybrid syntactic foam-aluminum foam IPC are examined. The volume fraction of the hollow microballoons is varied and its effect on the dynamic compressive properties is studied experimentally.
Low energy electrons (LEED, STM and HREELS) in the microanalytical characterization of complex surface structures

Abstract The use of surface analytical techniques has created a broad knowledge of the geometric structures of even complex single-crystal surfaces and surf ace-adsorbate systems; which is essential to the understanding of their physical and chemical properties. Four techniques that use low-energy electrons as a probe are reviewed in this paper. These are low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). Their experimental principles, theoretical backgrounds and specific capabilities in surface science studies are discussed. Recent examples of these techniques for structure determination of complex clean surfaces and complex adsorbate molecular systems are presented, with an emphasis on organic adsorbate molecules.
Molecular theory of obesity, sterility and other behavioral and endocrine problems in genetically obese mice (ob/ob)☆

Abstract A translation defect in the messenger RNA that translates the glycosylated protein pro-opiocortin may account for many of the endocrine and behavioral problems in the C57BL/6J ob/ob genetically obese mouse. This is the first proposal of a mechanism for the generation, by a single gene, of the complete set of abnormal behaviors and endocrine disturbances in the obese mouse.
Age and educational dimensions of recent U.S. migration reversal.

The author examines the impact of migration on age and educational structures in nonmetropolitan areas of the United States. In particular he considers whether migration reversal between 1970 and 1975 had an impact on the traditional draining of the young and better educated from nonmetropolitan areas to the cities (ANNOTATION)
Characterization of a new photo-ESR signal associated with photosynthesis.

Abstract A new photo-active electron spin resonance signal has been observed in a blue-green alga. By using fully deuterated organisms and manipulating the iron content of the growth medium, we can identify the neutral semiquinone form of the flavoprotein flavodoxin as the source of this signal. This ESR signal is associated with photosystem I activity. Kinetic data indicate that this flavodoxin is probably not the primary electron acceptor of photosystem I.
Individual differences in resting heart rate variability and cognitive control in posttraumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by deficits in cognitive functioning, particularly cognitive control. Moreover, these deficits are thought to play a critical role in the etiology and maintenance of core PTSD symptoms such as intrusive thoughts and memories. However, the psychophysiological concomitants of cognitive control remain largely unexamined. In this article, we suggest that individual differences in heart rate variability (HRV), a physiological index of self-regulatory capacity, may underlie the association between cognitive control ability and intrusive cognitions in PTSD. We review evidence showing that individual differences in HRV at rest are related to prefrontal cortical activity and performance on a broad range of cognitive control tasks. We highlight the importance of inhibition as a mechanism by which HRV promotes successful cognitive control. In addition, we summarize recent research linking individual differences in HRV to performance on laboratory tasks that assess the ability to control unwanted memories and intrusive thoughts. We conclude by suggesting that future studies should examine the role of low HRV as a risk factor for developing PTSD.
Hercules: Integrated control framework for datacenter traffic management

The large scale and high performance requirements of Cloud computing pose many challenges to the data center network operators. These networks typically require high bisection bandwidth, strict performance isolation, and power-efficient operation. Recently, many researchers have proposed various network controller systems for programming networks, each of them to individually address only one of these challenges. In this paper, however, we show that running multiple controllers in a shared network fabric independently is not only inefficient but conflicting control decisions by different controllers can also lead to serious network performance degradation. We present Hercules, an integrated control framework, to enable coexistence and operation of multiple controllers. As an initial proof of concept, we have integrated four existing controllers into Hercules framework. Our evaluation of the integrated controller shows that it can enable multiple controllers to leverage each other and collectively achieve the multiple goals of the controllers simultaneously.