cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deoxyribonucleic acid ploidy and cell cycle analysis of colorectal carcinoma by flow cytometry. A prospective study of 137 cases using fresh whole cell suspensions.

Several retrospective studies suggest that abnormal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content in colorectal carcinoma correlates with adverse clinical outcome. Many of these studies have used naked nuclei retrieved from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues for flow cytometry. The purpose of this study was to prospectively analyze 137 colorectal carcinomas using fresh whole-cell suspensions for flow cytometry and to determine whether abnormal DNA content (DNA aneuploidy or tumors with high proliferative activity) correlates with Dukes' stage, histologic grade, lymphocytic infiltration of the tumor, tumor fibrosis, extramural venous spread, or tumor size. Cell suspensions for flow cytometry were prepared by enzyme disaggregation with collagenase XI, DNase, and trypsin. Satisfactory DNA histograms were obtained from 132 of the 137 samples. The mean coefficients of variance for the G1 /GO of the external 2C control, internal 2C populations, and aneuploid populations were 2.5, 3.5, and 3.5, respectively. The mean percentage of viable cells was 97%. Of 132 cases, 102 (77%) demonstrated abnormal DNA histograms, of which 77 (58%) showed DNA aneuploidy. Abnormal DNA histograms or DNA aneuploidy did not correlate with Dukes' stage. Tumors of higher histologic grade were more likely to demonstrate DNA aneuploidy, however, these differences did not reach statistical significance. The authors conclude that (1) satisfactory DNA histograms can be obtained with the use of a fresh, whole-cell technique; (2) abnormal DNA histograms did not statistically correlate with standard clinical, grading, or staging parameters; and (3) carcinomas of high histologic grade showed an increased proportion of aneuploid DNA histograms, but this trend did not reach statistical significance.
APX3330 inhibition of the redox function of ape-1/ref-1 (Ref-1) in promyelocytic leukemia cells enhances retinoic acid (ATRA) induced myeloid differentiation and limits cell proliferation as an approach to the prevention of the retinoic acid syndrome (RAS)

e14613 Background: ATRA + chemotherapy has improved the treatment of promyelocytic leukemia(APL). However, 25% of ATRA treated APL patients experience toxicities that comprise the RAS (life-threate...
Crisis and Its Countermeasures of Primary and Middle School Youth Teachers' Professional Ethics

Teacher education in professional ethics on the development of important implications.From a psychological point of view,young teachers in primary and secondary psychological characteristics,moral characteristics,values??,and the pressure analysis,insights into the source of its moral crisis,and made the school management solutions.
Downregulation of the Nuclear Factor (Erythroid-Derived 2)-Like 2 (NRF2) Antioxidant Defense System Contributes to Endothelial Dysfunction and Microvascular Rarefaction with Elevated Dietary Salt Intake

A high salt diet leads to vascular oxidant stress, endothelial dysfunction, and microvascular rarefaction, which can be ameliorated by chronic infusion of a low dose of angiotensin II (ANG II) or a...
SU-F-T-192: Study of Robustness Analysis Method of Multiple Field Optimized IMPT Plans for Head & Neck Patients

Purpose: Proton therapy is more sensitive to uncertainties than photon treatments due to protons’ finite range depending on the tissue density. Worst case scenario (WCS) method originally proposed by Lomax has been adopted in our institute for robustness analysis of IMPT plans. This work demonstrates that WCS method is sufficient enough to take into account of the uncertainties which could be encountered during daily clinical treatment. Methods: A fast and approximate dose calculation method is developed to calculate the dose for the IMPT plan under different setup and range uncertainties. Effects of two factors, inversed square factor and range uncertainty, are explored. WCS robustness analysis method was evaluated using this fast dose calculation method. The worst-case dose distribution was generated by shifting isocenter by 3 mm along x,y and z directions and modifying stopping power ratios by ±3.5%. 1000 randomly perturbed cases in proton range and x, yz directions were created and the corresponding dose distributions were calculated using this approximated method. DVH and dosimetric indexes of all 1000 perturbed cases were calculated and compared with the result using worst case scenario method. Results: The distributions of dosimetric indexes of 1000 perturbed cases were generated and compared with the results using worst case scenario. For D95 of CTVs, at least 97% of 1000 perturbed cases show higher values than the one of worst case scenario. For D5 of CTVs, at least 98% of perturbed cases have lower values than worst case scenario. Conclusion: By extensively calculating the dose distributions under random uncertainties, WCS method was verified to be reliable in evaluating the robustness level of MFO IMPT plans of H&N patients. The extensively sampling approach using fast approximated method could be used in evaluating the effects of different factors on the robustness level of IMPT plans in the future.
The D Vitamins and Their Precursors

It must be recognized that there is not a single vitamin D compound but that there is a family of compounds that exhibit vitamin D activity. The most important of the vitamin D compounds are vitamins D2 and D3 (Fig. 1), and the more important of these is vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol. The basis for this statement is that vitamin D3 is the vitamin produced in the skin by ultraviolet irradiation. Vitamin D2, however, is produced by ultraviolet irradiation of the plant sterol ergosterol (Fig. 2). The photolysis reaction that converts the 5,7-diene sterols to the corresponding D vitamins, as shown in Fig. 3 has been examined intensively. It is known that 250–310 nm ultraviolet light brings about the photolytic conversion of vitamin D to the previt-amin D (Havinga, 1973, Velluz and Amiard, 1949a). Further activation by light photons brings about the formation of tachysterol, a relatively unstable irradiation product, and lumisterol. The previtamin D is in thermal equilibrium with vitamin D3 and upon heating will rapidly convert to the vitamin D structure. The equilibrium is temperature dependent, and the relative concentrations of the forms of vitamin D at Open image in new window Fig. 1 Structures of the D vitamins Open image in new window Fig. 2 The sterol precursors of the most common of the known vitamin D substances equilibrium are a function of temperature (Velluz and Amiard, 1949b; Velluz et al., 1949). At room temperature the conversion of the previtamin to the vitamin is slow, and even at skin temperatures it is a very slow process.
Neural Network Building Blocks for Analog MOS VLSI

This chapter will present some interesting circuit approaches for the hardware implementation of neural network in analog MOS VLSI with emphasis on current-mode signal processing.
Collagen I hydrogel microstructure and composition conjointly regulate vascular network formation.

Abstract Neovascularization is a hallmark of physiological and pathological tissue remodeling that is regulated in part by the extracellular matrix (ECM). Collagen I hydrogels or Matrigel are frequently used to study vascular network formation; however, in isolation these materials do not typically mimic the integrated effects of ECM structure and composition that may influence endothelial cells in vivo. Here, we have utilized microfabricated 3D culture models to control collagen I microstructure in the presence and absence of Matrigel and tested the effect of these variations on vascular network formation by human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (hCMECs). Varied collagen microarchitecture was achieved by adjusting the gelation temperature and subsequently confirmed by structural analysis. Casting at colder temperature increased collagen fiber thickness and length, and inclusion of Matrigel further pronounced these differences. Interestingly, the presence of Matrigel affected vascular network formation by modulating hCMEC growth, whereas altered collagen fiber structure impacted the morphology and maturity of the developed vascular network. These differences were related to substrate-dependent changes in interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion and were functionally relevant as vascular networks preformed in more fibrillar, Matrigel-containing hydrogels promoted angiogenic sprouting. Our studies indicate that collagen hydrogel microstructure and composition conjointly regulate vascular network formation with implications for translational and basic science approaches. Statement of Significance Neovascularization is a hallmark of both tissue homeostasis and disease and is in part regulated by cell remodeling that occurs in the extracellular matrix (ECM). The use of bio-mimetic hydrogel cell culture systems has been used to study the effects of the ECM on cell behavior. Here, we employ a hydrogel system that enables control over both the structure and composition of the ECM and subsequently investigated the effects that these have on blood vessel dynamics. Finally, we linked these differences to changes in protein secretion and the implications that this may play in scientific translation.
Carbonaceous Chondrite Meteorites: the Chronicle of a Potential Evolutionary Path between Stars and Life

The biogenic elements, H, C, N, O, P and S, have a long cosmic history, whose evolution can still be observed in diverse locales of the known universe, from interstellar clouds of gas and dust, to pre-stellar cores, nebulas, protoplanetary discs, planets and planetesimals. The best analytical window into this cosmochemical evolution as it neared Earth has been provided so far by the small bodies of the Solar System, some of which were not significantly altered by the high gravitational pressures and temperatures that accompanied the formation of larger planets and may carry a pristine record of early nebular chemistry. Asteroids have delivered such records, as their fragments reach the Earth frequently and become available for laboratory analyses. The Carbonaceous Chondrite meteorites (CC) are a group of such fragments with the further distinction of containing abundant organic materials with structures as diverse as kerogen-like macromolecules and simpler compounds with identical counterparts in Earth's biosphere. All have revealed a lineage to cosmochemical synthetic regimes. Several CC show that asteroids underwent aqueous alteration of their minerals or rock metamorphism but may yet yield clues to the reactivity of organic compounds during parent-body processes, on asteroids as well as larger ocean worlds and planets. Whether the exogenous delivery by meteorites held an advantage in Earth's molecular evolution remains an open question as many others regarding the origins of life are. Nonetheless, the natural samples of meteorites allow exploring the physical and chemical processes that might have led to a selected chemical pool amenable to the onset of life. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
Deletion and mutation analysis of hepatocyte mtDNA damage in patients with obstructive jaundice

Objective To lay the foundation for analyzing the mechanism of liver cell injury caused by mtDNA deletion and mutation in patients with obstructive jaundice. Methods 30 patients were randomly selected as obstructive jaundice group (case group) and 10 patients as control group according to the strict condition. Author makes use of the methods of PCR amplification of the entire human mitochondrial genome in 17 mismatch-specific overlapping fragments and gene sequencing results to Preliminary estimate the localizathion of hepatocyte mtDNA damage in patients with obstructive jaundice. Result Deletions and length of partial liver cells were 8429-9591 of about 1. 1 kb, 16024-60 of about 0. 6 kb, 1889-3031 of about 1. 1 kb and 4977bps common deletion and the high mutation rate of some bases in D-loop region. Conclusion There are multiple mtDNA deletions and multiple point mutations in patients with obstructive jaundice Key words: Obstructive jaundice; Mitochondrial DNA; Deletion
Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Cardiac Surgery Patients.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a prothrombotic disorder mediated by platelet-activating antibodies that target complexes of platelet factor 4 (PF4) and heparin. Because nearly all patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are exposed to heparin and experience a postoperative platelet count fall, it is not surprising that HIT is commonly suspected in this population. However, the incidence of HIT in cardiac surgery patients who receive intraoperative and postoperative unfractionated heparin is much lower than the incidence of suspected HIT, being approximately 1 to 2%. Clinical diagnosis may therefore be particularly challenging because of the need to distinguish the common platelet count fall associated with CPB and surgery from the much less common platelet count fall associated with HIT. A biphasic platelet count pattern is characteristic of HIT in this setting. Laboratory diagnosis is also difficult because of the high frequency of anti-PF4/heparin antibody seropositivity after cardiac surgery in patients without HIT. A unique aspect of management in the cardiac surgery setting is selecting an anticoagulant for intraoperative use in patients with a history of HIT who require cardiac surgery. In this article, we review the epidemiology, clinical diagnosis, and laboratory diagnosis of HIT in cardiac surgery patients and present a conceptual framework for selecting intraoperative anticoagulation in patients with a history of HIT.
Application of a simple headcut advance model for gullies

Gully erosion begins in streambanks and uplands as a consequence of adjustments in driving forces on the landscape imposed by changes in land use or climate. The deleterious effects of gullies worldwide have led to many site-specific studies of gully form and function. In the continental United States, gully erosion in agricultural land has destroyed valuable farmland yet, prediction of gully processes remains problematic on a national scale. This research has proposed a simple method to predict gully headcut advance. When combined with SWAT hydrologic flow routines, the model predicted gully headcut advance with reasonable accuracy on a daily time step for time periods exceeding two decades. The model was tested in two distinct land resource areas of the United States with differing climate, soils, cover and drainage. The inputs for the headcut model have been kept simple as the model will be applied over large areas. Model inputs consist of headcut height, headcut resistance (based on soil erodibility and a root-cover factor), and daily flow. The model is compared to an annual time step model used in assessment of headcut advance and appears to offer a better way to assess gully headcut advance.
Termination of DNA replication in prokaryotic chromosomes.

In most prokaryotic circular chromosomes, replication forks initiate from a specific origin of replication, move bidirectionally and divergently around the chromosome until meeting each other at specific sequences called replication termini (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). The replication termini are sequences to which replication terminator proteins bind (6, 7, 8) and the protein-DNA complex impedes the movement of replication forks in a polar or orientation specific manner (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14). The arrest of replication forks at the terminus region constitutes the first step in the process of completing a round of replication and the orderly separation of the two daughter chromosomes. Following replication fork arrest, the separation of the two intertwined, circular daughter molecules is catalyzed by topoisomerase IV (15, 16, 17). Occasional multimers generated as a result of an odd number of recombination events between the two daughter molecules are resolved by a site-specific resolution system (18,19).
New-Student Orientations: Supporting Success and Socialization in Graduate Programs

This article describes the use of an orientation logic model to examine whether certain orientation program characteristics, such as resources and tenets, are associated with student retention, grade achievement, and socialization.
Do Anticoagulant or Anti-Platelets Agents Confer Undue Additional Morbidity in the Setting of Acute Traumatic Brain Injury? (P03.144)

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs (ACAPs) confer additional morbidity for patients who sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI). BACKGROUND: Given the rising use of ACAPs for various chronic conditions, the authors sought to study the impact of these medication on TBI outcome. DESIGN/METHODS: This is an observational cohort study of adults who presented to the emergency department (ED) at a level-one trauma center serving over 1 million/yr. The trauma acuity is high, with >50% having Injury Severity Scale (ISS) scores >15. Data were input into RedCap, a secure web based system designed for clinical data capture. JMP 9.0 for the Macintosh was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: In the cohort of 2246, the median age was significantly different between those on ACAPs (median age 74, IQR 62-81) and those who weren9t (median age 35, IQR 23-51). The proportion of whites were significantly higher in the ACAP group (83% vs. 79%, p=0.0066, 95% CI -0.25 to -0.155), while the percentage of Hispanics was significantly lower (1% vs. 5%, p=.0046, 95% CI=-0.123 to -0.0677). The ACAPs distributions were: 24% warfarain, 59% aspirin, 29% clopidogrel, 3% ticlodipine, 4% heparin, and 4% enoxaparin. After adjusting for age, patients on ACAPs were significantly more likely to be admitted to the hospital (p=.0372); be re-admitted within 30 days (p=.0017); and be dead at 3 months post TBI (p=0.0029). This group also had more severe TBIs (p=0.0130), more abnormal head CTs (p=.0375) and underwent neurosurgical intervention for their TBI (p=.0360) more often. Skull and maxillofacial fractures (p=.0.0301), as well as epidural hematomas (p CONCLUSIONS: It appears that ACAP use confers additional morbidity in patients with acute TBI. Given the aging population, this burden needs to be recognized and proactive measures instituted. Supported by: 1- The Toral Family Foundation, Davie, Florida; 2- NIH/NCRR Clinical and Translational Science Award UL1 RR029890. Disclosure: Dr. Stead has nothing to disclose. Dr. Patel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Elie-Turenne has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bodhit has nothing to disclose. Dr. Daneshvar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Miller has nothing to disclose.
Effort-reward imbalance in police work: associations with the cortisol awakening response.

Purpose We hypothesized that effort–reward imbalance (ERI) is associated with an atypical cortisol response. ERI has been associated with higher job stress. Stress triggers cortisol secretion via the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, and significant deviation from a typical cortisol pattern can indicate HPA axis dysfunction.
Finding balance: Optimizing medication prescribing in older patients.

According to a 2016 study, more than one-third of older adults in the United States take 5 or more medications.[1][1] This is a growing problem. Not only do older patients take more drugs than younger patients, they are also at higher risk of adverse drug events, drug-drug interactions, geriatric
The Rise of Catalan as a Royal Language: Bernat Desclot’s Account of the Battle of Castellammare in Response to Bernat d’Auriac’s sirventés

This chapter presents an analysis of the Catalan chronicler Bernat Desclot’s description of the Battle of Castellamare between the Catalan-Aragonese fleet and the French navy in the Gulf of Naples on June 5, 1284. This battle occurred two years after the Catalan-Aragonese conquest of Sicily in the so-called Sicilian Vespers (1282), when the French King of Sicily Charles of Anjou (r. 1266–1282) was deposed in favor of the Catalan-Aragonese King Peter III (r. 1276–1285). The analysis shows that Desclot’s narrative of the Battle of Castellamare is in fact a metalinguistic discourse with important ideological and political ramifications for the relationship between Catalan, Occitan, and French. Specifically, the description of this naval confrontation could be considered the first instance of the naturalization of the political and linguistic independence of Catalan vis a vis French and Occitan. This episode is particularly relevant because although the Catalan language is never referred to by name, it is described as representing a stable political power: the Catalan-Aragonese monarchy. However, Occitan is portrayed as politically unstable since it can support either the French or the Catalan-Aragonese monarchy. I argue that the description of the battle in Desclot’s Cronica represents a linguistic and political response to a political sirventes, “Nostre reys, qu’es d’onor ses par” (“Our King, who is the epitome of honor”), written and sung in Occitan by Bernat d’Auriac during the French invasion of Catalonia in 1285.
Polyvinyl alcohol–boronate gel for sodium hydroxide extraction

Gels formed from commercially available polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and 1,4-benzene diboronic acid (BdBA) in DMSO absorb NaOH efficiently from a bulk aqueous solution decreasing its pH.
A service model for development and test clouds

A Development & Test Cloud (DTC) enables IT service enterprises to host standardized configurations of just about any tool-set on cloud – the hosted software need not be designed for multi-tenancy and they may come from a multitude of vendors. However, since most enterprise software are available only under perpetual licenses, DTCs cannot become truly pay-per-use – customers of a DTC have to upfront purchase software licenses. This paper proposes a service model for a DTC vendor wherein the vendor purchases software licenses and recovers the cost from its clients based on their period of usage. Our model allows the vendor to maximize returns from a purchased license by using it in multiple projects separated in time. We set up an optimization problem to decide how best a DTC operator can invest in buying software licenses such that it gets maximum opportunity to resale purchased licenses. We conduct empirical studies to validate the feasibility and usefulness of our approach. Also, we enlist characteristics of tool-sets that make them profitable for the DTC vendor.
Bargaining in Weighted Majority Voting Games

An important consideration in analyzing the stability of multiparty coalition governments is the modelling of the bargaining process between parties. This chapter considers a bargaining theory, known as the bargaining set, which gives payoff predictions for coalitions in the transferable value case. A proof of the existence of a bargaining set, called B* is presented. As an illustration it is shown that in Denmark after the 1957 election, B* provides a superior prediction that the Gamsom proportionality prediction.
Applications of a Realistic Model for CCD Imaging

We have constructed a computer model for simulation of point sources imaged on CCDs. An attempt has been made to ensure that the model produces “data” that mimic real data taken with two-D detectors. To be realistic, such simulations must include randomly generated noise of the appropriate type from all sources. The synthetic data are output as simple one-D integrations, as two-D radial slices, and as three-D intensity plots. Each noise source can be turned on or off so they can be studied independently as well as in combination to provide insight into the image components.
A Novel Approach for the Determination of Critical Two-Phase Flow

The knowledge of critical two-phase flow is very important in many engineering design problems. Several models have been developed in the past, in order to predict the critical flux of an evaporating fluid. These models are based on separated flow conditions in the fluid and use various criteria for the onset of critical flow. The present paper presents a method for the prediction of critical two-phase flow based on the positive entropy production principle, which emanates from irreversible thermodynamics. Use is being made of the Fanno lines and the onset of critical flow is characterized by the maximum entropy point, at constant mass flux. Vertical as well as horizontal pipes are examined. Also the cases of slip or nonslip conditions for the two fluids are incorporated in the model and the results are compared to experimental data. It appears that the proposed criterion with the other assumptions for the flow, yield very good agreement between the calculated and the experimental data.
Extreme Candidates as the Beneficent Spoiler? Range Effect in the Plurality Voting System:

How does the entrance of radical candidates influence election results? Conventional wisdom suggests that extreme candidates merely split the votes. Based on the range effect theory in cognitive ps...
Lack of aggression and spatial association of colony members in Reticulitermes flavipes.

INTRODUCTIONThe concept of kin selection and the evolution of altruistic behavior, whichis fundamental to the evolution of eusociality, predicts that either relativescan recognize one another and discriminate against strangers or the popu-lation structure naturally keeps nonrelatives separate (Carlin, 1989). SinceHamilton (1964a,b) formulated the kin selection theory, numerous socialinsects have been found to possess the ability to distinguish between kinand nonkin (Fletcher and Michener, 1987). Many investigations of nestmatediscrimination in social insects have revealed some degree of hostility be-tween conspeciﬁcs from different colonies (Carlin, 1989), including studiesof nestmate discrimination in termites (Thorne and Haverty, 1991).A large number of termite species are subterranean and there are noobvious physical structures associated with individual colonies that might re-veal their spatial distribution. Behavioral assays have been successfully em-ployed to investigate spatial aspects of termite colony organization (Levingsand Adams, 1984; Adams and Levings, 1987; Binder, 1988; Husseneder
Necrotizing enterocolitis attenuates developmental heart rate variability increases in newborn rats

Background We have shown previously that a decreased high-frequency spectrum of heart rate variability (HF-HRV), indicative of reduced vagal tone, shows promise in predicting neonates likely to develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) before its clinical onset. We hypothesized that NEC induction in rat pups decreases HF-HRV power; subdiaphragmatic vagotomy worsens the severity of the NEC phenotype, increases levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and alters the myenteric phenotype. Methods Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats, representative of preterm human neonates, were subjected to 7-8 days of brief periods of cold stress and hypoxia to induce NEC with or without unilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. HRV was measured at postnatal days one and five, pups were sacrificed at day 8/9, and gastrointestinal tissues and blood were collected for immunohistochemical, corticosterone, and cytokine analysis. Key results Compared to control, NEC-induced rats showed the following: (a) typical histological signs of grade 2 NEC, which were more severe in rats that underwent vagotomy; (b) reduced developmental increases in time (RMSSD) and frequency (HF) HRV spectra when combined with the stress of laparotomy/vagotomy; (c) increases in nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactivity in the myenteric plexus of jejunum and ileum; furthermore, compared to mild NEC and controls, vagotomized NEC rats had increased plasma values of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. Conclusions and inferences Our data suggest that in rodents, similar to neonatal observations, NEC induction attenuated developmental HF-HRV increases, furthermore, subdiaphragmatic vagotomy worsened the histological severity, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, and altered the nitrergic myenteric phenotype, suggesting a role of the vagus in the development of NEC pathology.
Cerebellar hemorrhage: a 10-year evaluation of risk factors.

Background: While cerebellar hemorrhage (CH) has been linked with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants, it remains under-recognized and the underlying mechanisms are not fully unde...
Thermal Loads and Cooling Design for ITER in-Port Low Field Side Reflectometer Diagnostic System

Abstract The current design for the ITER Low Field Side Reflectometer (LFSR) diagnostic system contains six circular waveguides that function as both launch and receive antennas. The front end of LFSR system, interfacing with the plasma facing DFW and its supporting diagnostic shielding Modules (DSM), is integrated into Equatorial Port Plug 11(EPP#11). In-vessel LFSR configuration is mainly divided into two sections, i.e. Front Antenna Unit (FAU) and in-vessel Transmission Line (TL) components. During plasma normal operation, the 14 MeV neutrons from D-T fusion reactions penetrate into the port plug and LFSR components. Neutronics code ATTILA is used for assessing the volumetric heating of in-vessel components. The maximum normal heat load due to radiation and the charge exchange from plasma is 0.35 MW/m2, which has to be applied on those surfaces affected by a viewing factor consistent with the aperture surface position and orientation. The front antenna unit (FAU) needs the active cooling to handle the radiant and nuclear heating from the plasma. Due to the specific viewing aperture layout at the front-end of in-vessel LFSR, the cooling channel design is challenging. The thermal-hydraulic iterations are performed to achieve the desirable temperature distribution of the water cooled front antenna units. Finally, the progressive ratcheting effects of the FAU subjected to cyclic thermal loading are examined by the preliminary non-linear elastic-plastic analysis.
Usage patterns of carbapenem antimicrobials in dogs and cats at a veterinary tertiary care hospital.

Background Carbapenems are a class of antimicrobials reserved for resistant infections or systemically ill people, yet the extent and context in which they are prescribed in the small animals is understudied. Hypothesis/objective To describe cases in dogs and cats treated with carbapenems to establish baseline data regarding the types of infections, outcomes, and resistance profiles of target infections. We hypothesize that prescribing practices for carbapenems at a veterinary tertiary care hospital would not comply with the recommended use guidelines in human medicine. Methods Retrospective study of veterinary medical records from all dogs and cats prescribed carbapenems between May 1, 2016, and April 30, 2017. Results A total of 81 infections (71 in dogs and 10 in cats) representing 68 animals (58 dogs and 10 cats) involving carbapenem use were identified. Cultures were performed in 65/81 (80%) infections, and antimicrobial use was de-escalated or discontinued in 10/81 (12%) infections. The average duration of treatment was 27.5 days and ranged from 1 to 196 days. Resistance to more than 3 antimicrobial classes was present in 57/115 (50%) isolates. Resistance to carbapenems was found in 2/64 (3%) of the bacterial isolates with reported carbapenem susceptibility. Conclusions and clinical importance The majority of carbapenem use at a veterinary tertiary care hospital was prescribed in conjunction with culture and sensitivity determination, with de-escalation performed in a minority of cases, and treatment durations longer than typically recommended in human medicine.
Protein Kinase C Downregulation Enhanced Extracellular Ca2+-Induced Relaxation of Isolated Mesenteric Arteries from Aged Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats.

The Ca2+-sensing receptor (CaSR) detects small changes in extracellular calcium (Ca2+e) concentration ([Ca2+]e) and transduces the signal into modulation of various signaling pathways. Ca2+-induced relaxation of isolated phenylephrine-contracted mesenteric arteries is mediated by the CaSR of the perivascular nerve. Elucidation of the regulatory mechanisms involved in vascular CaSR signaling may provide insights into the physiologic functions of the receptor and identify targets for the development of new treatments for cardiovascular pathologies such as hypertension. Protein kinase Cα (PKCα) is a critical regulator of multiple signaling pathways and can phosphorylate the CaSR leading to receptor desensitization. In this study, we used automated wire myography to investigate the effects of CaSR mutation and small-interfering RNA downregulation of PKCα on CaSR-mediated relaxation of phenylephrine-contracted mesenteric arteries from aged Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats on a low-salt diet. The data showed minimal relaxation responses of arteries to Ca2+e in wild-type (SS) and CaSR mutant (SS-Casrem1Mcwi) rats. Mutation of the CaSR gene had no significant effect on relaxation. PKCα expression was similar in wild-type and mutant rats, and small-interfering RNA downregulation of PKCα and/or inhibition of PKC with the Ca2+-sensitive Gӧ 6976 resulted in a >80% increase in relaxation. Significant differences in EC50 values were observed between treated and untreated controls (P SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT G protein-coupled CaSR signaling leads to the regulation of vascular tone and may, therefore, play a vital role in blood pressure regulation. The receptor has several PKC phosphorylation sites in the C-terminal intracellular tail that mediate desensitization. We have previously shown that activation of the CaSR in neuronal cells leads to PKC phosphorylation, indicating that protein kinase C is an important regulator of CaSR function. Therefore, PKC in the CaSR signaling pathway in mesenteric arteries is a potential target for the development of new therapeutic approaches to treat hypertension and age-related vascular dysfunction. The present studies show that small-interfering RNA downregulation of PKCα and pharmacological inhibition of PKC enhanced CaSR-mediated relaxation of phenylephrine-contracted mesenteric arteries from aged Dahl salt-sensitive rats.
Stress analysis of wood-framed low-rise buildings under wind loads due to tornados

Buildings in the “tornado alley” of the United States, an area where tornados occur most frequently, are built to withstand 3-sec wind speeds of 90 mph, whereas 90% of the tornados reported generate anywhere from 40 to 157 mph. At the same time, these codes are based mostly on studying the effects of straight line winds and not on tornado type winds on buildings, especially on low-rise, wood framed buildings which make up the majority of structures in the United States. Previous research at Iowa State University (ISU) includes extensive testing on a scaled down low-rise gable roof building model (1:100) to understand tornado induced loading pattern as the tornado sweeps past the building. This study was performed using the ISU tornado simulator for various building models and orientations subjected to different tornado speeds and vortex cores. In this work Finite Element models were developed using ANSYS for full-scale numerical gable roof buildings with three different roof angles (13.4 0 , 25.5 0 and 35.1 0 ). The tornado-induced wind loads recorded in the laboratory experiments were applied to the models to determine the detailed stress distribution over them. This numerical study was performed using the same parameter as in the laboratory experiments such as those listed earlier. In the next phase of this research work a routine was developed in ANSYS to incorporate a failure criterion for the building models to assess its damage potential and resulting debris formation. Composite movie sets were created showing the stress distribution over the buildings as the tornado goes past it and also the pattern of debris generation and the order in which the building gets damaged.
Environmental exposures, stem cells, and cancer.

Abstract An estimated 70–90% of all cancers are linked to exposure to environmental risk factors. In parallel, the number of stem cells in a tissue has been shown to be a strong predictor of risk of developing cancer in that tissue. Tumors themselves are characterized by an acquisition of “stem cell” characteristics, and a growing body of evidence points to tumors themselves being sustained and propagated by a stem cell-like population. Here, we review our understanding of the interplay between environmental exposures, stem cell biology, and cancer. We provide an overview of the role of stem cells in development, tissue homeostasis, and wound repair. We discuss the pathways and mechanisms governing stem cell plasticity and regulation of the stem cell state, and describe experimental methods for assessment of stem cells. We then review the current understanding of how environmental exposures impact stem cell function relevant to carcinogenesis and cancer prevention, with a focus on environmental and occupational exposures to chemical, physical, and biological hazards. We also highlight key areas for future research in this area, including defining whether the biological basis for cancer disparities is related to effects of complex exposure mixtures on stem cell biology.
Evidence Disclosure and Discovery in Common Law Jurisdictions

This chapter for the Oxford Handbook of Criminal Process offers a critical, comparative account of pretrial evidence disclosure laws in common law jurisdictions. Disclosure law was once minimal throughout the common law world; the longstanding norm was that one party need not aid the other’s preparation by sharing evidence prior to trial. Substantial pretrial disclosure duties are comparatively recent, and reflect several developments. One is the fact that trials are now exceptional as the process by which to resolve prosecutions; guilty pleas are the norm. Evidence can face adversarial scrutiny, and facilitate negotiated resolutions, only if parties have pretrial access to it. Another is changes in the nature of evidence; expert analysis, for example, often cannot be confronted effectively without advance preparation. Moreover, pretrial disclosure has gradually become understood to make both trials and negotiated resolutions more efficient, and — despite some dissent — to improve the truth-finding capacity and fairness of criminal process. Common law jurisdictions show considerable similarity on disclosure rules. In the last half century, there emerged a strong consensus that the government must disclose relevant evidence in its possession that does not support the prosecution’s case and thus that it would not present at trial. Rules also typically impose greater duties on the defense to disclose significant portions of its evidence before trial. The critical exception to this international consensus relates to inculpatory evidence. Rules in England, Canada, and elsewhere outside the United States generally require the prosecution to disclose evidence it will rely on to prove guilt. Many U.S. jurisdictions, however, have resisted this trend, mandate very little prosecution disclosure, and even limit judicial authority to compel such disclosure. As a framework for critical assessment, the chapter examines structural choices that adversarial justice systems must make in disclosure schemes and their rationales doing so. Those choices include how much to empower judges rather than parties to control disclosure, and how to enforce parties’ obligations to disclose when their partisan interest counsels otherwise. Those decisions reflect assessments about how to balance competing epistemic and non-epistemic goals including the goal of accurate truth-determination and divergent interests of the parties, constitutional principles, and the security or privacy victims and witnesses.
Differences in Self-Reported Physical and Behavioral Health in Musculoskeletal Patients Based on Physician Gender.

BACKGROUND Differences in patient-physician interactions based on physician gender have been demonstrated. However, the association between patients' self-perceived health and their decision to see a female versus male physician is still unclear. OBJECTIVE To determine if self-reported physical or behavioral health is different in musculoskeletal patients who present to female vs male physicians. We hypothesized that patients who present to female physicians report worse physical and behavioral health. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Tertiary academic medical center. PATIENTS Consecutive 21 980 adult patients who presented to a musculoskeletal medicine specialist for initial evaluation of a musculoskeletal condition between April 1, 2016 and November 1, 2017. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Physical Function, Pain Interference, Anxiety, and Depression Computer Adaptive Test domains of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). The primary study outcome was the mean difference (MD) in PROMIS scores by physician gender. RESULTS Patients who presented to female physicians self-reported slightly worse health in all domains: Physical Function (female physicians 40.2, male physicians 42.4, MD -2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.5 to -1.8), Pain Interference (female physicians 61.6, male physicians 60.4, MD 1.3 [1.0-1.5]), Anxiety (female physicians 52.5, male physicians 51.4, MD 1.1 [0.8-1.5]), and Depression (female physicians 47.5, male physicians 46.2, MD 1.3 [0.9-1.6]) (all P < .001). Patients who presented to female physicians were also slightly younger (51.9 vs 52.4 years, P = .034) and more likely to be female (63% vs 56%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Patients who presented to female physicians self-reported slightly worse physical and behavioral health compared to those patients who presented to male physicians. Further investigation into this finding may provide insight into drivers of patients' preferences, which may enable physicians of both genders to optimize patient care.
A Stochastic Integer Programming Approach to Air Traffic Scheduling and Operations

Air traffic management measures comprise tactical operating procedures to minimize delay costs and strategic scheduling interventions to control overcapacity scheduling. Although interdependent, th...
Exploring one aspect of pedagogical content knowledge of teaching assistants using the test of understanding graphs in kinematics

The Test of Understanding Graphs in Kinematics (TUG-K) is a multiple-choice test developed by Beichner in 1994 to assess students' understanding of kinematics graphs. Many of the items on the TUG-K have strong distractor choices which correspond to students' common difficulties with kinematics graphs. Instruction is unlikely to be effective if instructors do not know the common difficulties of introductory physics students and explicitly take them into account in their instructional design. We evaluate one aspect of the pedagogical content knowledge of first-year physics graduate students enrolled in a teaching assistant training course related to topics covered in the TUG-K. In particular, for each item on the TUG-K, the graduate students were asked to identify which incorrect answer choice they thought would be most commonly selected by introductory physics students if they did not know the correct answer after instruction in relevant concepts. We used the graduate student data and the data from Beichner's original paper for introductory physics students (which was collected from over 500 college and high school students) to assess this aspect of the pedagogical content knowledge of the graduate students, i.e., knowledge of student difficulties related to kinematics graphs as they are revealed by the TUG-K. We find that, although the graduate students, on average, performed better than random guessing at identifying introductory student difficulties on the TUG-K, they did not identify many common difficulties that introductory students have with graphs in kinematics. In addition, we find that the ability of graduate students to identify the difficulties of introductory students is context dependent and that discussions among the graduate students improved their understanding of student difficulties related to kinematics graphs. Moreover, we find that the ability of American graduate students in identifying common student difficulties is comparable with that of foreign graduate students.
Enantioselective Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Sanglifehrin A and B and Analogs.

Sanglifehrin A and B are immunosuppressive macrocyclic natural products endowed with and differentiated by a unique spirocyclic lactam. Herein, we report an enantioselective total synthesis and biological evaluation of sanglifehrin A and B and analogs. Access to the spirocyclic lactam was achieved through convergent assembly of a key pyranone intermediate followed by a stereo-controlled spirocyclization. The 22-membered macrocyclic core was synthesized by ring-closing metathesis in the presence of 2,6-bis(trifluoromethyl) benzeneboronic acid (BFBB). The spirocyclic lactam and macrocycle fragments were united by a Stille coupling to furnish sanglifehrin A and B. Additional sanglifehrin B analogs with variation at the C40 position were additionally prepared. Biological evaluation revealed that the 2-CF3 analog of sanglifehrin B exhibited higher anti-proliferative activity than the natural products sanglifehrin A and B in Jurkat cells. Both natural products induced higher-order homodimerization of cyclophilin A (CypA), but only sanglifehrin A promoted CypA complexation with inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2). The synthesis reported herein will enable further evaluation of the spirolactam and its contribution to sanglifehrin-dependent immunosuppressive activity.
Neural correlates of extrinsic and intrinsic outcome processing during learning in individuals with TBI: a Pilot Investigation

Outcome processing, the ability to learn from feedback, is an important component of adaptive behavior and rehabilitation. Evidence from healthy adults implicates the striatum and dopamine in outcome processing. Animal research shows that damage to dopaminergic pathways in the brain can lead to a disruption of dopamine tone and transmission. Such evidence thus suggests that persons with TBI experience deficits in outcome processing. However, no research has directly investigated outcome processing and associated neural mechanisms in TBI. Here, we examine outcome processing in individuals with TBI during learning. Given that TBI negatively impacts striatal and dopaminergic systems, we hypothesize that individuals with TBI exhibit deficits in learning from outcomes. To test this hypothesis, individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI and healthy adults were presented with a declarative paired-associate word learning task. Outcomes indicating performance accuracy were presented immediately during task performance and in the form of either monetary or performance-based feedback. Two types of feedback provided the opportunity to test whether extrinsic and intrinsic motivational aspects of outcome presentation play a role during learning and outcome processing. Our results show that individuals with TBI exhibited impaired learning from feedback compared to healthy participants. Additionally, individuals with TBI exhibited increased activation in the striatum during outcome processing. The results of this study suggest that outcome processing and learning from immediate outcomes is impaired in individuals with TBI and might be related to inefficient use of neural resources during task performance as reflected by increased activation of the striatum.