cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SCD1 activity in muscle increases triglyceride PUFA content, exercise capacity, and PPARδ expression in mice

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD)1 converts saturated fatty acids into monounsaturated fatty acids. Using muscle overexpression, we sought to determine the role of SCD1 expression in glucose and lipid metabolism and its effects on exercise capacity in mice. Wild-type C57Bl/6 (WT) and SCD1 muscle transgenic (SCD1-Tg) mice were generated, and expression of the SCD1 transgene was restricted to skeletal muscle. SCD1 overexpression was associated with increased triglyceride (TG) content. The fatty acid composition of the muscle revealed a significant increase in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content of TG, including linoleate (18:2n6). Untrained SCD1-Tg mice also displayed significantly increased treadmill exercise capacity (WT = 6.6 ± 3 min, Tg = 71.9 ± 9.5 min; P = 0.0009). SCD1-Tg mice had decreased fasting plasma glucose, glucose transporter (GLUT)1 mRNA, fatty acid oxidation, mitochondrial content, and increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)δ and Pgc-1 protein expression in skeletal muscle. In vitro studies in C2C12 myocytes revealed that linoleate (18:2n6) and not oleate (18:1n9) caused a 3-fold increase in PPARδ and a 9-fold increase in CPT-1b with a subsequent increase in fat oxidation. The present model suggests that increasing delta-9 desaturase activity of muscle increases metabolic function, exercise capacity, and lipid oxidation likely through increased PUFA content, which increases PPARδ expression and activity. However, the mechanism of action that results in increased PUFA content of SCD1-Tg mice remains to be elucidated.
Longitudinal Assessment of Hemodynamic Endpoints in Predicting Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) nonmaturation is currently a significant clinical problem; however, the mechanisms responsible for this have remained unanswered. Previous work by our group and others has suggested that anatomical configuration and the corresponding hemodynamic endpoints could have an important role in AVF remodeling. Thus, our goal was to assess the longitudinal (temporal) effect of wall shear stress (WSS) on remodeling process of AVFs with two different configurations. The hypothesis is that early assessment of hemodynamic endpoints such as temporal gradient of WSS will predict the maturation status of AVF at later time points. Two AVFs with curved (C-AVF) and straight (S-AVF) configurations were created between the femoral artery and vein of each pig. Three pigs were considered in this study and in total six AVFs (three C-AVF and three S-AVF) were created. The CT scan and ultrasound were utilized to numerically evaluate local WSS at 20 cross-sections along the venous segment of AVFs at 2D (D: days), 7D, and 28D postsurgery. These cross-sections were located at 1.5 mm increments from the anastomosis junction. Local WSS values at these cross-sections were correlated with their corresponding luminal area over time. The WSS in C-AVF decreased from 22.3 ± 4.8 dyn/cm(2) at 2D to 4.1 ± 5.1 dyn/cm(2) at 28D, while WSS increased in S-AVF from 13.0 ± 5.0 dyn/cm(2) at 2D to 36.7 ± 5.3 dyn/cm(2) at 28D. Corresponding to these changes in WSS levels, luminal area of C-AVF dilated (0.23 ± 0.14 cm(2) at 2D to 0.87 ± 0.14 cm(2) at 28D) with attendant increase in flow rate. However, S-AVF had minimal changes in area (0.26 ± 0.02 cm(2) at 2D to 0.27 ± 0.03 cm(2) at 28D) despite some increase in flow rate. Our results suggest that the temporal changes of WSS could have significant effects on AVF maturation. Reduction in WSS over time (regardless of initial values) may result in dilation (p < 0.05), while increase in WSS may be detrimental to maturation. Thus, creation of AVFs in a specific configuration which results in a decline in WSS over time may reduce AVF maturation failure.
Cerrando la brecha: los efectos de un programa de mentoría para enfermeras principiantes en su deseo de continuar en la profesión

Resultados El grupo con mentoria tuvo un incremento en su disposicion para continuar en la profesion de enfermeria, mientras que el grupo que no la recibio no cambio su disposicion inicial, con una diferencia significativa entre los dos grupos. El modelo demostro que las enfermeras que recibieron mentoria incrementaron su camaraderia, toma de decisiones clinicas y el compromiso con los estandares de la profesion.
MWASP: Multiple-Width Approximate Sequential Patterns

Time series data are often found in diverse fields, such as science, business, medicine and engineering. In this paper, we focus on sequential pattern mining for categorical time series datasets that contain multiple independent timeseries. Frequent patterns are considered important in many applications. However, collected data are generally afflicted with noise. Conventional sequential pattern mining methods that use exact matching may meet difficulties in mining databases with long sequences and noise. We propose a framework that uncovers frequent approximate sequential patterns with multiple widths. A mined pattern in this framework is a representative of a group of sequences (with various widths) that follow the pattern's event flow order. The presentation of the patterns also gives insight into the occurrence of the pattern longitudinally and across the population. The pattern can be recognized as a common pattern across the multiple time series, time, or both. We name this novel framework MWASP: Multiple-Width Approximate Sequential Patterns.
Low Temperature Formation of C54 TiSi2 Bypassing the C49 Phase: Effect of Si Crystallinity, Metallic Impurities and Applications TO 0.10 μm CMOS

The mechanism and evolution from the early stages of the Ti/Si reaction by rapid thermal processing (RTP) at 650°C in the presence of Mo doping was studied and compared to the case without Mo doping; for amorphous, polycrystalline and single crystal (100) Si substrates. It was found that for Mo doped polycrystalline Si or Mo doped amorphous Si, the low resitivity C54 TiSi2 phase nucleates at the Ti/Si interface and grows following diffusion limited kinetics, bypassing the nucleation of the high resistivity C49 TiSi2 phase. The conventional phase sequence, with C49 TiSi 2 nucleation and growth, was observed on Mo doped (100) Si and all samples without Mo. The mechanism of early C54 nucleation was identified by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM): at early stages of the reaction, precursor silicide phases lattice matched to C54 TiSi2 nucleate at the Ti/Mo doped Si interface, and act as templates for epitaxial nucleation of C54 TiSi2. Two such phases were observed, MoSi2 and a phase with spacings of 2.26 A and 4.2 A. Image simulations suggest that the structure of the second template phase is based on Mo5Si3. Similar kinetics were observed on large structures and narrow lines for Mo doped Si (except for the case of (100) Si), indicating that this growth mechanism eliminates the linewidth dependence. Implementation on a 0.10 μm CMOS technology of a process combining Mo doping with pre-amorphization (PAI) achieves low source/drain (S/D) sheet resistance, and the first Ti salicide process with low gate sheet resistance down to 0.06 μm.
Shallow Convection and Buoyancy Equilibration in an Idealized Coastal Polynya

Abstract The recent theoretical approach of Visbeck, Marshall, and Jones is used to examine shallow convection and offshore transport of dense water from an idealized coastal polynya. A constant negative buoyancy flux is applied in a half-elliptical region adjacent to a coastal boundary, surrounded by a forcing decay region with uniform width W over which the imposed buoyancy flux decreases smoothly to zero. Initially, the density beneath the forcing increases linearly with time. A baroclinically unstable front forms at the edge of the forcing region. The width of the front is imposed by the width of the forcing decay region, provided this distance is larger than the baroclinic Rossby radius. Baroclinic eddies, whose velocities are inversely proportional to W, develop along the front and exchange dense water from the forcing region with ambient water, eventually reaching an equilibrium in which the lateral buoyancy flux by eddies balances the prescribed surface buoyancy flux. The time to reach equilibrium...
Creative Homework: Dynamics and Function

Biology textbooks usually do not go into details of how biomolecules work. They restrict the treatment to providing the static average structure and a phenomenological description of the function. Here we are interested in a fundamental understanding of proteins that may be valid not just for a specific case, but for essentially all proteins. We assert that the energy landscape and the fluctuation and relaxation processes resulting from the transitions among conformational substates are the concepts governing the function of proteins and nucleic acids. However, while some notable exceptions exist [1, 2], most textbooks neglect the crucial role of dynamics. Here, instead of treating some specific examples where dynamics is essential for function and the energy landscape is the concept needed for understanding the dynamics and function, we ask the reader to do the work. We introduce some proteins and their function and list some relevant references.
Commercial inverted microscope retrofitted for confocal scanning with multi-wavelength detection, spatially resolved spectroscopy, and fluorescence anisotropy

We have developed a confocal laser scanning retrofit to a commercial inverted microscope capable of multi-wavelength fluorescence detection, spatially resolved spectroscopy, and fluorescence anisotropy imaging. Examples in tumor spheroids, cells, and murine tumors are given.
Inhibitory input to the direction-selective ganglion cell is saturated at low contrast.

Direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs) respond selectively to motion toward a “preferred” direction, but much less to motion toward the opposite “null” direction. Directional signals in the DSG...
Toluene inhalation exposure for 13 weeks causes persistent changes in electroretinograms of Long-Evans rats.

Abstract Studies of humans chronically exposed to volatile organic solvents have reported impaired visual functions, including low contrast sensitivity and reduced color discrimination. These reports, however, lacked confirmation from controlled laboratory experiments. To address this question experimentally, we examined visual function by recording visual evoked potentials (VEP) and/or electroretinograms (ERG) from four sets of rats exposed repeatedly to toluene. In addition, eyes of the rats were examined with an ophthalmoscope and some of the retinal tissues were evaluated for rod and M-cone photoreceptor immunohistochemistry. The first study examined rats following exposure to 0, 10, 100 or 1000 ppm toluene by inhalation (6 hr/d, 5 d/wk) for 13 weeks. One week after the termination of exposure, the rats were implanted with chronically indwelling electrodes and the following week pattern-elicited VEPs were recorded. VEP amplitudes were not significantly changed by toluene exposure. Four to five weeks after completion of exposure, rats were dark-adapted overnight, anesthetized, and several sets of electroretinograms (ERG) were recorded. In dark-adapted ERGs recorded over a 5-log (cd-s/m 2 ) range of flash luminance, b-wave amplitudes were significantly reduced at high stimulus luminance values in rats previously exposed to 1000 ppm toluene. A second set of rats, exposed concurrently with the first set, was tested approximately one year after the termination of 13 weeks of exposure to toluene. Again, dark-adapted ERG b-wave amplitudes were reduced at high stimulus luminance values in rats previously exposed to 1000 ppm toluene. A third set of rats was exposed to the same concentrations of toluene for only 4 weeks, and a fourth set of rats exposed to 0 or 1000 ppm toluene for 4 weeks were tested approximately 1 year after the completion of exposure. No statistically significant reductions of ERG b-wave amplitude were observed in either set of rats exposed for 4 weeks. No significant changes were observed in ERG a-wave amplitude or latency, b-wave latency, UV- or green-flicker ERGs, or in photopic flash ERGs. There were no changes in the density of rod or M-cone photoreceptors. The ERG b-wave reflects the firing patterns of on-bipolar cells. The reductions of b-wave amplitude after 13 weeks of exposure and persisting for 1 year suggest that alterations may have occurred in the inner nuclear layer of the retina, where the bipolar cells reside, or the outer or inner plexiform layers where the bipolar cells make synaptic connections. These data provide experimental evidence that repeated exposure to toluene may lead to subtle persistent changes in visual function. The fact that toluene affected ERGs, but not VEPs, suggests that elements in the rat retina may be more sensitive to organic solvent exposure than the rat visual cortex.
LEGAL ACCEPTANCE OF ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES IN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES: SOME LESSONS FROM HISTORY

This paper examines and contrasts nineteenth century case law in Great Britain and the United States in which courts had to decide whether to accept accounting concepts having to do with making provisions for depreciation, amortization and depletion. It should be emphasized that the courts were not arguing about accounting theory, per se; they were deciding particular disputes, which depended on the meaning in each case of pro its. By 1889, when Lee v. Neuchatel Asphalte Company was decided, British courts had rejected accepted fixed asset accounting conventions in determining profits in tax, dividend, and other cases while United States courts accepted these conventions, except in the case of wasting asset companies. This historical contrast is of particular interest because a recent reversal of these countries legal stances has occurred through legislation. In the United States, the Revised Model Business Corporation Act and the legislatures of several states have now rejected accounting concepts of pro...
Study on Major Function Oriented Zoning by Agricultural and Comparison of the Agricultural Development in the Central Plains Economic Region

According to the theory of Major Function-Oriented Zone,the Central Plains Economic Region(CPER) can be divided five agricultural areas,the agricultural development level trends to be different.The extent of technical equipment in the agricultural areas of Zhengzhou city,the mechanization and chemicalization in surrounding agricultural areas of city group of central plains,and the irrigation in the Huanghuaihai special agricultural area are in a higher level,while the agricultural inputs in conservation and protection of southwest areas are in a low level overall.The input and output efficiency of the five agricultural areas is not completely positive changes with its input intensity,but is highly correlated with its farming operation type.The production efficiency of the Huanghuaihai area and w eastern ecological conservation and protection area which make grain as the main body is at a disadvantage,while the other areas are better.In general,the total factor productivity of the five agricultural areas is on the decline,and the differentiation is obvious.The classification guidance for the districts functions,outstanding the focal points,advancing in echelon,and the coordinated development are the keys to the coordinated development of modern agriculture in CPER.
Suspected Adverse Events Following Immunization in Dalian,2010

Objective To analyze the surveillance data of suspected adverse events following immunization in Dalian in 2010,and understand the running situation of the suspected Adverse Event Following Immunization(AEFI) surveillance system.Methods The data of suspected AEFI in Dalian city in 2010 was analyzed and evaluated by using descriptive epidemiological methods.Results A total of 1 501 567 cases were immunized and 479 AEFI cases were reported in Dalian during 2010,and the incidence rate of AEFI was 31.9/105,including 431 cases(89.97%)due to the general reaction of vaccination,43 cases(8.98%)due to the abnormal reaction of vaccination,4 coincident cases which accounted for 0.84% and 1 case(0.21%) to be determined.The highest reported AEFI incidence rate which was resulted by measles vaccine was 234.29/105(192 404 doses,455 cases).Conclusion According to the requirements of "National Vaccination Suspected Adverse Events Surveillance Program",the AEFI surveillance system of Dalian is running well,with high timely reporting rate and timely investigation rate,and the highes incidence of AEFI is resulted by measles vaccine.
Analysis of MSM HIV antibody in Tangshan during 2008-2009

Objective:To understand the gay male population in the HIV infection status to provide the basis for AIDS prevention and control work.Methods:According to the "National HIV Testing Technology Standards"(2004 edition),right through outreach services,peer education and the Internet to recruit gay men to CDC groups and voluntary testing(VCT) of male gay populations ELISA screening test screening positive for WB confirmation test.Results:2008 through outreach recruited 59 gay population,detection of HIV antibody positive in 6 patients,infection rate was 10.17%,38 VCT in HIV antibody positive in 5 cases,infection rate was 13.15%;in 2009 by Outreach recruited 73 gay population,detection of HIV antibody positive in 3 cases,infection rate was 4.11%,35 VCT in HIV antibody positive in 2 cases,infection rate was 5.71%.Conclusion:In 2009 more than 2008 men and Gay groups there was no significant decline in HIV prevalence trends,and the gay population did not increase the number of test consulting,recruited through outreach target populations are repetitive,there is no truly proactive detection,shows men and gay men to be propaganda of AIDS to strengthen,suggesting that high-risk areas should be strengthened in the future of AIDS advocacy,to raise people′s awareness of health.
Quantifying Individual Brain Connectivity with Functional Principal Component Analysis for Networks

Abstract In typical functional connectivity studies, connections between voxels or regions in the brain are represented as edges in a network. Networks for different subjects are constructed at a given graph density and are summarized by some network measure such as path length. Examining these summary measures for many density values yields samples of connectivity curves, one for each individual. This has led to the adoption of basic tools of functional data analysis, most commonly to compare control and disease groups through the average curves in each group. Such group differences, however, neglect the variability in the sample of connectivity curves. In this article, the use of functional principal component analysis (FPCA) is demonstrated to enrich functional connectivity studies by providing increased power and flexibility for statistical inference. Specifically, individual connectivity curves are related to individual characteristics such as age and measures of cognitive function, thus providing a ...
Flexibility and Solvation of Amyloid-β Hydrophobic Core

Amyloid fibril deposits found in Alzheimer disease patients are composed of amyloid-β (Aβ) protein forming a number of hydrophobic interfaces that are believed to be mostly rigid. We have investigated the μs-ms time-scale dynamics of the intra-strand hydrophobic core and interfaces of the fibrils composed of Aβ1-40 protein. Using solid-state (2)H NMR line shape experiments performed on selectively deuterated methyl groups, we probed the 3-fold symmetric and 2-fold symmetric polymorphs of native Aβ as well as the protofibrils of D23N Iowa mutant, associated with an early onset of Alzheimer disease. The dynamics of the hydrophobic regions probed at Leu-17, Leu-34, Val-36, and Met-35 side chains were found to be very pronounced at all sites and in all polymorphs of Aβ, with methyl axis motions persisting down to 230-200 K for most of the sites. The dominant mode of motions is the rotameric side chain jumps, with the Met-35 displaying the most complex multi-modal behavior. There are distinct differences in the dynamics among the three protein variants, with the Val-36 site displaying the most variability. Solvation of the fibrils does not affect methyl group motions within the hydrophobic core of individual cross-β subunits but has a clear effect on the motions at the hydrophobic interface between the cross-β subunits, which is defined by Met-35 contacts. In particular, hydration activates transitions between additional rotameric states that are not sampled in the dry protein. Thus, these results support the existence of water-accessible cavity recently predicted by molecular dynamics simulations and suggested by cryo-EM studies.
Chemodynamics and Multicontaminant Joint Toxicity Modeling of Organic Leachates from Recycled Solid Wastes

Chemodynamics (the fate and transport) of leachates from recycled solid waste materials (SWMs) of complex organic mixtures (COMs) is a basic need in environmental planning, restoration and engineering management. Sorption/desorption, an important chemodynamic behavior of leachates, can greatly influence the mobility and bioavailability of compounds from recycled wastes in the multimedia environment. Similar to all interphase mass-transfers, the sorption/desorption process can be defined by the final-phase equilibrium of the contaminant at the aqueous-solid phase interface and the time required to approach final equilibrium. Accordingly, aqueous-solid phase interfaces are significant in determining: (1) the route and rates by which organic contaminants can transfer to and/or from these interfaces, (2) the chemodynamics of contaminants, and (3) their toxicity, genotoxicity and bioavailability to the ambient microorganisms. When the rates of such processes are known, environmental fate modeling can provide an educated estimate and prediction of the accessibility and bioavailability of a target contaminant leached from SWMs to a specific transport mechanism in the environment. Therefore, the present chapter is an attempt to assess fate (in terms of contaminant mobility using predictive sorption or desorption coefficients), as well as effects (in terms of bioavailability) of various contaminants, and to correlate these observations for development of predictive relationships.
67 – Cancers in Women

This chapter discusses cancer rates among American women. Although there are at least 40 forms of cancer, six sites accounted for more than 60% of all deaths due to cancer among American women: breast, lung, colorectum, cervix uteri, corpus uteri, and ovary. It was estimated that during 1998, lung cancer would be the most frequent form of cancer death among American women, accounting for almost 25% of all their cancer deaths. It also was estimated that breast and colorectal cancers would account for 16% and 11% of cancer deaths among women, respectively. Mortality rates, age-adjusted using the 1970 US standard, varied considerably according to cancer, race, gender, and over time. Rates spanning 1950-1954 through 1990–1994 and 1995 were available for the racial categories white and nonwhite, and specifically for blacks since 1970–1974. Rates per 100,000 person-years for breast cancer have been relatively stable among white women, whereas rates have increased among nonwhites, surpassing those among whites very recently; rates were higher among blacks than nonwhites since at least 1970, and exceeded those among whites around 1980. In contrast, lung cancer rates in the past were lower than the breast cancer rates among all race/gender groups, but rapid increases have altered the picture.
Another Arrow in the Quiver

The Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) is clear on the importance it places on this degree’s intended impact and stewardship of programmatic practice. The CPED webpage states that “The professional doctorate in education prepares educators for the application of appropriate and specific practices, the generation of new knowledge, and for the stewardship of the profession.”
Biology of Saccular Cerebral Aneurysms: A Review of Current Understanding and Future Directions

Understanding the biology of intracranial aneurysms is a clinical quandary. How these aneurysms form, progress, and rupture is poorly understood. Evidence indicates that well-established risk factors play a critical role, along with immunologic factors, in their development and clinical outcomes. Much of the expanding knowledge of the inception, progression, and rupture of intracranial aneurysms implicates inflammation as a critical mediator of aneurysm pathogenesis. Thus, therapeutic targets exploiting this arm of aneurysm pathogenesis have been implemented, often with promising outcomes.
Eat or be eaten? Modifications of Aplysia californica feeding behaviour in response to natural aversive stimuli

Prey often modify their behaviours to diminish predation risk, but the persistence of such behavioural changes are not well understood. We investigated the effects of predation risk in the aquatic mollusc Aplysia californica to determine whether various natural aversive stimuli alter the expression of feeding behaviour (i.e. bites) over short-term (15 min), intermediate-term (2 h) and long-term (24 h) periods. Aplysia were presented with a variety of natural aversive stimuli that are indicative of predation risk, including exposure to the spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus (a natural predator), the blue crab Callinectes sapidus (a novel predator), and the defensive secretions ink and opaline that are normally released by Aplysia when attacked. Feeding was significantly suppressed immediately after Aplysia were exposed to ink but not to opaline. Additionally, several stimuli, including exposure to lobsters, ink, opaline and attacks from crabs, suppressed feeding, but only for a short time (i.e. 15 min) after the end of the stimulus. No single-exposure treatment elicited intermediate (2 h) or long-term (24 h) changes in feeding, and multiple exposures to ink did not induce long-term feeding suppression. Thus, changes in feeding behaviour in response to predation risk cues appear short-lived in Aplysia, unlike feeding suppression after electric shocks that suppress biting behaviour over longer periods. Since Aplysia possess chemical defences to defend against consumers, it is perhaps unnecessary or too costly to maintain feeding suppression after risk subsides.
Reconstruction of Anterior Tracheal Defects Using a Bioengineered Graft in a Porcine Model.

Background Reconstruction of long-segment tracheal defects can be challenging and a suitable tracheal substitute remains lacking. We sought to create a bioengineered tracheal graft to repair such lesions using acellullar bovine dermis extracellular matrix (ECM) and male human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and implant it in a porcine model. Methods hMSCs were seeded on the ECM and incubated for 1 week with chondrogenic factors. An anterior 4 cm × 3 cm defect was surgically created in the trachea of 4-week-old female Yorkshire pigs. The defect was reconstructed using the bioengineered graft (n = 7) or control (n = 3, ECM only). The study duration was 3 months. Results Survival ranged from 7 days (n = 3) to 3 months (n = 7). Early death was due to graft malacia (n = 1, control), graft infection (n = 1, bioengineered), and pneumonia (n = 1, bioengineered). There was substantial animal growth at 3 months (>200% weight). Surveillance bronchoscopy showed patent airway, mild stenosis, and integration of the graft with the native trachea. On histology, luminal epithelialization and neovascularization with scant submucosa were observed in both the bioengineered graft and control groups. Chondrogenesis was seen only in the bioengineered graft. The neocartilage was less mature and organized compared to native cartilage. SRY immunostain was positive in the neocartilage but not control or native trachea. Conclusions We demonstrate the feasibility of the bioengineered graft for reconstruction of long anterior tracheal defects with favorable short-term outcomes. Furthermore, we show its ability to facilitate chondrogenesis, neovascularization, and epithelialization. Importantly, it supported rapid animal growth offering potential solutions for both pediatric and adult applications.
Asymmetric synthesis of batrachotoxin: Enantiomeric toxins show functional divergence against NaV

Batrachotoxin is a potent neurotoxin produced by the endangered Colombian poison dart frog and is an agonist of voltage-gated sodium ion channels (NaVs). Logan et al. developed a chemical synthesis of this molecule, denoted (−)-BTX, by taking advantage of a tin hydride–mediated radical cyclization to stitch together the polycyclic framework. Using an analogous route, they also prepared the non-natural mirror image, (+)-BTX. Conversely to the natural product, (+)-BTX antagonized NaVs. Science , this issue p. [865][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aag2981
The origin of fibrogenic myofibroblasts in fibrotic liver

Liver fibrosis results from chronic liver injury of different etiologies. It is characterized by dysregulation of physiological remodeling, activation of myofibroblasts, and formation of a fibrous scar. Myofibroblasts develop contractile functions and secrete the extracellular matrix proteins that form this fibrous scar. Myofibroblasts are not present in the normal liver but activate and proliferate in response to injury and inflammation. This review summarizes the understanding and controversies on the contribution of cell populations to the myofibroblasts in liver fibrosis. (Hepatology 2017;65:1039-1043).
Tense and Relativity

Those inclined to positions in the philosophy of time that take tense seriously have typically assumed that not all regions of space-time are equal: one special region of space-time corresponds to what is presently happening. When combined with assumptions from modern physics this has the unsettling consequence that the shape of this favored region distinguishes people in certain places or people traveling at certain velocities. In this paper I shall attempt to avoid this result by developing a tensed picture of reality that is nonetheless consistent with ‘hypersurface egalitarianism’—the view that all hypersurfaces are equal.
Linking performance decline to choking: players’ perceptions in basketball

ABSTRACTThis study was aimed at examining how basketball players view unexpected performance errors in basketball, and under what conditions they perceive them as choking. Fifty-three basketball players were randomly assigned into 2 groups (game half) to evaluate the linkage between performance decline and choking as a function of game-time, score gap and game half. Within each group, players viewed 8 scenario clips, which featured a different player conducting an error, and subsequently rated the extent of performance decline, the instance of choking and the salience of various performance attributions regarding the error. The analysis revealed that choking was most salient in the 2nd half of the game, but an error was perceived as choking more saliently in the beginning of the 2nd half. This trend was also shown for players’ perception of performance decline. Players’ ratings of the attributions assigned to errors, however, revealed that during the end of the 2nd half, time pressure and lack of concentr...
Immunotherapy Toxicities: A New Electronic Documentation Template to Improve Patient Care

Background Emerging immunotherapies are associated with numerous toxicities. Although traditional health records allow nurses to document system-based assessments, few offer immunotherapy-based documentation templates to assess and grade toxicities. . Objectives The aim of this article is to present the development of a standardized template for documenting genetically modified cellular product-related toxicities in an electronic health record (EHR). . Methods Through interprofessional collaboration, a documentation template for genetically modified cellular product-related toxicities was developed in an EHR, allowing for standardized documentation, data reporting, and tracking of immune-related toxicities. . Findings The documentation template has enhanced the quality and safety of practice at the authors' institution and provides a framework for other nursing units when initiating immunotherapy care. .
Capillary forces between equally sized moving glass beads: an experimental study

The mechanical response of near-surface unsaturated soils in large-strain environments such as earthquakes, landslides or debris flows is highly dependent on capillary forces. While the evolution o...
Nearshore mixing and nutrient delivery along the western Antarctic Peninsula

The surface waters of the Southern Ocean play a key role in the global climate and carbon cycles by promoting growth of some of the world's largest phytoplankton blooms. Several studies have emphasized the importance of glacial and sediment inputs of Fe that fuel the primary production of the Fe-limited Southern Ocean. Although the fertile surface waters along the shelf of the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) are influenced by large inputs of freshwater , this freshwater may take multiple pathways (e.g. calving , streams , groundwater discharge) with different degrees of water-rock interactions leading to variable Fe flux to coastal waters. During the summers of 2012-13 and 2013-14 , seawater samples were collected along the WAP , near Anvers Island , to observe water column dynamics in nearshore and offshore waters. Tracers (223 , 224Ra , 222Rn , 18O , 2H) were used to evaluate the source and transport of water and nutrients in coastal fjords and across the shelf. Coastal waters are compared across two field seasons , with increased freshwater observed during 2014. Horizontal mixing rates of water masses along the WAP ranged from 110-3600 m2 s-1. These mixing rates suggest a rapid transport mechanism for moving meltwater offshore.
Economic vulnerability of southern US slash pine forests to climate change

Abstract It is widely accepted that pine plantation forests will play a critical role in climate change (CC) mitigation, but their vulnerability to CC impacts raises questions about their role. We modeled the impacts of changing climatic variables on forest growth, optimal harvest age, and land expectation value (LEV) for 11 representative slash pine sites in the Southeastern U.S. under two alternative climate scenarios (RCP4.5 and 8.5). Our coupled modeling approach incorporated the 3-PG biological process model, a generalized carbon sequestration economic model, and Pressler's indicator rate formula to determine relative changes in prices, timber and carbon production. We generally found weak impacts of CC on slash pine LEVs and optimal harvest ages, but our results were sensitive to site productivity and location. CC increased LEVs in sites with low productivity for both RCPs. While a 1 °C increase led to the greatest LEV increase in Northeastern sites with low and moderate forest productivity conditions, Southeastern sites showed the greatest decreases in LEV. Higher (lower) future land values would shorten (lengthen) the current harvest age for slash pine. Changes in the rate of carbon and stumpage prices had the greatest impact on the rate of marginal economic revenues of slash pine.
Putting the Piezolyte Hypothesis under Pressure

Abstract A group of small molecules that stabilize proteins against high hydrostatic pressure has been classified as piezolytes, a subset of stabilizing cosolutes. This distinction would imply that piezolytes counteract the effects of high hydrostatic pressure through effects on the volumetric properties of the protein. The purpose of this study was to determine if cosolutes proposed to be piezolytes have an effect on the volumetric properties of proteins through direct experimental measurements of volume changes upon unfolding of model proteins lysozyme and ribonuclease A, in solutions containing varying cosolute concentrations. Solutions containing the proposed piezolytes glutamate, sarcosine, and betaine were used, as well as solutions containing the denaturants guanidinium hydrochloride and urea. Changes in thermostability were monitored using differential scanning calorimetry whereas changes in volume were monitored using pressure perturbation calorimetry. Our findings indicate that increasing stabilizing cosolute concentration increases the stability and transition temperature of the protein, but does not change the temperature dependence of volume changes upon unfolding. The results suggest that the pressure stability of a protein in solution is not directly affected by the presence of these proposed piezolytes, and so they cannot be granted this distinction.
Out of the testis: biological impacts of new genes

The study of newly evolved genes has long fascinated biologists, but large-scale studies of their expression dynamics and molecular function have provided conflicting interpretations of their biological impact. In this issue of Genes & Development, Kondo and colleagues (pp. 1841-1846) use extensive transcriptomic resources and current CRISPR/Cas9 technology to re-examine the functional impact of newly evolved genes in Drosophila and find evidence of their biological impact on male reproduction.
A longitudinal study of iris recognition in children

Biometrie recognition is dependent on the permanence of the biometrie characteristics over long periods of time. However, there has been limited research in this area, particularly in children during development. This paper presents the start of a longitudinal study of irises in children to understand when biometrics can be used reliably and the effect aging has on the biometric modality as a child grows. Data was collected and analyzed in children ages 4–12 years over three visits, spaced approximately six months apart. This is one of the few iris collections spanning this broad age range in children. The results show that there is a slight decrease in match scores between the resultant comparison of collection 1 to collection 3(12 months difference) and the resultant comparison of collection 1 to collection 2 (6 months difference); analysis shows this difference is not statistically significant. Additionally, the data analyzed resulted in very similar iris recognition performance when examining a subset of subjects in fifth grade and a subset of subjects in first grade. These results could indicate that the iris biometric characteristic is stable over time, at least as early as age 4, the youngest group tested in this work. Additional longitudinal data is needed to support this hy-pothesis.
Manipulating Smith-Purcell radiation polarization with metasurfaces

Swift electrons moving closely to a periodic structure can generate far-field radiation. The radiated light is usually polarized in the direction of electron propagation. We have demonstrated manipulation of this polarization with properly designed metasurfaces.
The Future of Women in Leadership, Breaking the Glass Ceiling: A Global Perspective

Women bring unique qualities to global leadership positions; although they have the skills to lead, very few women have had the opportunity to serve in global leadership roles because there are continuing persistent constraints in the efforts to improve the opportunities for women in leadership. As of 2012, women held only 29% of senior management position in public sector. For too long, leadership was based solely on study results conducted on white men in the USA; however, the need to cultivate and develop more women leaders in all segments globally cannot be overly stated. Barriers such as lack of supportive structure within the organization, societal norms, and obstacles some women place on themselves, limiting their options also need to be addressed. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the role of women in top leadership positions globally in the next decade and beyond. Although the issues about women leadership seem to be progressing, gender stereotypes persist, particularly, in the way businesses and societies view leadership. As a result, an increase in societal participation in the form of national and international reorientation on the topic is needed. Additionally, there needs to be a reformation of the educational system, as well as an introduction of policies and initiatives that are more moderate and favorable toward women. I recommend leadership training programs in organizations, the society, and at the grassroots levels to help bring awareness to the issue of women leadership in the future and to groom more women leaders.
MTL Robustness for Path Planning with A

Maintaining the safety of an autonomous drone while it executes a mission is a primary concern in presence of fixed and mobile enemies. Path planning using A* fails to deliver a feasible, safe plan when a drone has resource limitations in such environments. Enhancing A* with constraint optimization techniques may improve outcomes, but significantly increases path determination time. We define Robust A* (RA*) that introduces the use of a safety margin to maximize the robustness of the drone to meet mission requirements while managing resource restrictions. We rely on a theory of robustness based on Metric Temporal Logic (MTL) as applied to offline verification and online control of hybrid systems. By satisfying the predefined MTL constraints, RA* dynamically defines a safety margin between the drone and an enemy, while constraining the margin size given the drone's resources. The safety margin creates a robust neighborhood around the dynamically generated path. The robust neighborhood holds all valid trajectories within the current world state. When the world state changes, RA* first examines the robust neighborhood to find a valid trajectory before initiating the path re-planning. We evaluate RA* using the Rassim simulator. The results show that the algorithm generates faster and safer paths than the classical A* in the presence of moving enemies..
Analgesics and Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are relatively safe and effective chemicals used for pain, inflammation, and antipyresis. All NSAIDs inhibit enzymes responsible for prostaglandin synthesis. The most recognizable adverse effects associated with NSAID therapy involve the gastrointestinal tract. However, some patients may exhibit adverse effects related to renal function. These effects can range from relatively mild salt and water retention to acute tubular or chronic papillary necrosis. Adverse effects of NSAIDs that involve renal function are the focus of this chapter.
Voxel-Based Morphometry

The human brain exhibits a wide variety of interindividual structural differences like variations in local tissue volume, which are of interest in basic and clinical research. Voxel-based morphometry is an objective approach that enables voxel-wise estimation and statistical comparison of the local amount of a specific tissue. In this article, we describe this method's framework and how it can be used in neuroimaging research.
The CVD of Ceramic Materials: Carbides

This chapter reviews the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of the ceramic materials, particularly carbides. Ceramics refer to materials such as oxides, borides, carbides, nitrides, silicides, and the compounds of Group VIb—the chalcogenides (sulfides, selenides, and tellurides). Carbides are hard and wear-resistant materials, which have a high melting point, are thermally stable, and are chemically resistant. Their composition varies over a wide range and thus their properties vary considerably. The chapter discusses various types of carbides produced by CVD such as: refractory-metal (interstitial) carbides, and non-metallic (covalent) carbides. The refractory-metal carbides consist of those of the nine transition elements of Groups IVa, Va, and VIa and the 4th, 5th, and 6th periods. The structure of the refractory-metal carbides increases in complexity with increasing group number. Thus the carbides of Group IVa are characterized by a single cubic monocarbide. In those of Group Va, a M 2 C phase exists as well as the monocarbide. Some of the applications of interstitial carbides are: they have a complex electronic bonding system, which includes metallic, covalent, and ionic components, and they are non-stoichiometric phases. The chapter presents the carbides such as B 4 C, SiC, TiC, and WC, which are the major industrial materials with a wide variety of applications.
Novel G-Protein Coupled Receptors in the Activation of Human Mast Cells by C3a-Related Peptides (86.23)

Studies with animal models have shown that complement components C3a and C5a play an important role in the effector phase of allergic asthma. We have previously shown that C3a activates human CD34+-derived mast cells endogenously expressing G protein coupled receptors (GPCR) for C3a (C3aR) as well as RBL-2H3 cells stably expressing C3aR. The purpose of this study was to utilize peptide C3a receptor agonists to further characterize the role of C3aR on mast cell activation. We found that C3a (a 74 amino acid peptide) and a C3aR peptide superagonist (H-WWGKKYRASKLGLAR-OH) activated human mast cells with similar potency. Surprisingly, a scrambled C3aR superagonist peptide also caused mast cell degranulation. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that all four known human Mas-related genes, MrgX1, MrgX2, MrgX3, and MrgX4 are expressed in human mast cells. RBL-2H3 cells stably expressing MrgX2 responded to its known ligand, cortistatin-14 for sustained Ca2+ mobilization and degranulation. Furthermore, C3aR superagonist peptide, scrambled C3aR superagonist peptide and substance P induced degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells expressing MrgX2 but not in untransfected cells. These findings suggest that Mrg receptors may play a novel role in activation of mast cell by complement-derived and other positively charged peptides and could serve as therapeutic targets for mast cell-dependent allergic and inflammatory diseases.
The Return of the Ant and the Jeep

The industrious ant (see Chapter 10) has some sisters and cousins that are even more interesting. These generalized ants move from cell to cell in an infinite square grid. At any given moment, each cell in the grid is in some particular state. These states will be numbered 0 through (n — 1), where n is the number of allowed states. When an ant passes through a cell that is in state k, the state of the cell changes for k to (k + 1) modulo n, and the ant then leaves the cell, making either a left or a right turn relative to the direction it was traversing when it arrived at the cell. The ant is not free to choose which way it will go (right versus left). It must proceed in accordance with a rule-string of length n that is fixed for all time. The rule-string consists of n bits, numbered 0 through n — 1. When the ant is leaving a cell whose state used to be k (and is now (k + 1) modulo n), it turns right if rk is 1 and left if rk is 0, where rk is the kth bit of the rule-string. This generalization of the ant seems to have been first considered by Greg Turk [1] and, independently, by Bunimovich and Troubetzkoy [2], who were building upon earlier work of E.G.D. Cohen [3].
Delayed school start times and adolescent health

Abstract Sleep disturbance and insufficiency are associated with physical and mental health problems in school-aged adolescent children. Early start times (before 8:30 a.m.) restrict sleep for adolescents at over 80% of US middle and high schools. Delaying school start times could be an effective population-level strategy to promote adolescent health and well-being. We review the evidence for the effect of school start time on adolescent sleep, academic achievement and truancy, and mental and physical health. Consistent evidence shows that adolescents at later-starting schools sleep longer than those at earlier-starting schools. Limited evidence suggests that students at later-starting schools may learn more, attend school more regularly, have fewer mental health problems, and are less prone to unintentional injury. We conclude by discussing the trade-offs school districts weigh when considering scheduling changes, and the need for school start time research to improve study design and expand the scope of outcomes.