cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract A41: Regulation of Nrf2‐dependent gene expression in aging

Nrf2 is a transcription factor which controls induction of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes, and, therefore, plays an essential role in protection against chemical carcinogens. Here, we reported that expression of Nrf2 and its dependent genes was affected by age and became compromised in aged mouse livers. Detail analysis revealed that age‐dependent Nrf2 expression was regulated primarily at transcriptional level. Accordingly, we cloned and characterized the promoter region of mouse Nrf2 gene. We identified multiple Sp1 binding sites and confirmed their binding activity by gel‐shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. We also showed that the identified Sp1 sites were functional since knockdown of Sp1 expression impaired Nrf2 promoter activity as well as expression of Nrf2‐dependent genes. We then compared Sp1 expression and its binding activity to Nrf2 promoter in young and aged mouse liver tissues. While no significant change in Sp1 expression was found, Sp1 binding activity was severely impaired in aged tissues. Given that Sp1‐binding sites are GC rich elements, we analyzed their methylation status in Nrf2 promoter, and found that Sp1 sites were highly methylated in aged tissues. In support of the role of methylation, treatment of a mouse hepatoma cell line with demethylase inhibitors indeed reduced Sp1 binding to Nrf2 promoter. We also cloned and analyzed human Nrf2 promoter. Multiple Sp1 binding sites were identified and shown to be equally functional as in mouse Nrf2 promoter. Thus, we propose that age‐dependent expression of Nrf2 and its downstream genes is regulated by methylation. A strategy that targets methylation would help to restore Nrf2‐mediated protection against oxidative stress or chemical carcinogens in aged tissues. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):A41.
Response of unimmunized and sporozoite-immunized chickens to challenge with avian Eimeria species: effects of intraperitoneal injection of Sephadex.

SUMMARY. Unimmunized chickens, given intraperitoneal injections of Sephadex at the same time that they were inoculated with oocysts of either Eimeria tenella or E. acervulina, had significantly lower lesion scores at 6 days postinoculation (PI) than unimmunized chickens that were injected with saline instead of Sephadex. Despite the difference in lesion scores, there was little effect on weight gain, except in one experiment, in which Sephadex-injected chickens gained significantly more weight than saline-injected chickens. In contrast, in chickens that were immunized by prolonged exposure to sporozoites of E. adenoeides, injection of Sephadex at the time of challenge with E. tenella did not reduce lesion scores or parasite development as compared with the uninjected chickens, and the weight gain of the Sephadexinjected challenged chickens fell to a level significantly lower than that of their saline-injected challenged counterparts. The data indicate that Sephadex injected at the time of oocyst inoculation 1) produces markedly different effects on lesion scores and weight gain in unimmunized and immunized chickens and 2) abrogates sporozoite-elicited immunity against
Distribution of erythrocyte free porphyrin content in erythropoietic protoporphyria.

Abstract Erythrocytes of patients suffering from erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) contain high levels of unchelated protoporphyrin IX (PP) molecules when they enter circulation, and the leakage of PP that leaks from the circulating cells is responsible for the patients' cutaneous photosensltivity. The level of PP in EPP blood has long been used as an indicator of the severity of the disease and is useful in its management. The present study investigates what additional information may be obtained by determining the distribution of the PP content of individual EPP red cells. Absorption and fluorescence images of fields of the dispersed and immobilized red cells from nine patients with EPP were acquired under computer control by use of an inverted fluorescence microscope equipped with a cooled slow-scan charge-coupled device camera. The distribution functions of the fluorescence emitted by individual red blood cells (I RBC ) were derived by a suitable image analysis program and were converted to the distributions of the cellular PP content by relating the average value of the distributions (I av ) to the PP level of packed cells, as determined by an extraction assay. The I RBC distributions show that a small percentage of the red cells is responsible for most of the PP fluorescence, and the distributions of I RBC /I av for the nine patients with EPP were found to be very similar. This is consistent with the leakage rate during circulation being approximately proportional to the cells' PP content.
Financial Social Work

Beginning in the Progressive Era, social workers collaborated with home economists to improve financial wellbeing in US cities swelling with poor rural migrants and immigrants. Today, in the wake of the Recession, there is a resurgence of interest in financial social work (FSW) in an era where finances increasingly shape human wellbeing. With a focus on low-income and financially vulnerable communities, social workers provide financial guidance and education, and access to sound financial supports, services, and wealth building opportunities. Social science theory and key social work principles—including person-in-environment and the strengths perspective—guide FSW practice. Social workers use direct practice, organizational development, community organizing, policy advocacy, and research to help households achieve income sufficiency, financial capability, and asset building. Looking to the future, schools of social work are launching FSW curricula aimed at tackling growing economic challenges affecting financially vulnerable households and communities.
The individuality thesis (3 ways)

I spell out and update the individuality thesis, that species are individuals, and not classes, sets, or kinds. I offer three complementary presentations of this thesis. First, as a way of resolving an inconsistent triad about natural kinds; second, as a phylogenetic systematics theoretical perspective; and, finally, as a novel recursive account of an evolved character (individuality). These approaches do different sorts of work, serving different interests. Presenting them together produces a taxonomy of the debates over the thesis, and isolates ways it has been (and may continue to be) productive. This goes to the larger point of this paper: a defense of the individuality thesis in terms of its utility, and an update of it in light of recent theoretical developments and empirical work in biology.
Flavanol concentrations do not predict dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitory activities of four cocoas with different processing histories.

Cocoa and its constituent bioactives (particularly flavanols) have reported anti-diabetic and anti-obesity activities. One potential mechanism of action is inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP4), the enzyme that inactivates incretin hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 and gastric inhibitory peptide. The objective of this study was to determine the DPP4 inhibitory activities of cocoas with different processing histories, and identify processing factors and bioactive compounds that predict DPP4 inhibition. IC25 values (μg mL−1) were 4.82 for Diprotin A (positive control), 2135 for fermented bean extract, 1585 for unfermented bean extract, 2871 for unfermented liquor extract, and 1076 for fermented liquor extract This suggests mild inhibitory activity. Surprisingly, protein binding activity, total polyphenol, total flavanol, individual flavanol and complex fermentation/roasting product levels were all positively correlated to IC25 concentrations (greater levels correspond to less potent inhibition). For the representative samples studied, fermentation appeared to improve inhibition. This study suggests that cocoa may possess mild DPP4 inhibitory activity, and that processing steps such as fermentation may actually enhance activity. Furthermore, this activity and the variation between samples were not easily explainable by traditional putative bioactives in cocoa. The compounds driving this activity, and the associated mechanism(s) by which this inhibition occurs, remain to be elucidated.
Multi-sensor monitoring for real-time 3D visualization of construction equipment

Construction and mining worksites pose unique challenges to workers and equipment operators due to their dynamic and unstructured nature. Narrow haul roads, crowded work spaces and presence of workers and equipment in close proximity, combined with large blind spots and overall poor visibility afforded to operators lead to collisions and run-over-type accidents between equipment, workers, and other entities that may be present on the jobsite. Operations that involve machine-infrastructure interaction, particularly in the case of concealed infrastructure such as excavation and drilling lead to unintended strikes between the equipment’s end-effector and the infrastructure. Such accident-prone scenarios can be avoided by providing operators with real-time feedback and warnings using 3D visualization and proximity monitoring of the entities present in the equipment’s vicinity. Thus the jobsite in the real world is abstracted and represented in a 3D virtual world. However, this requires the ability to create a seamless link between real-world sensors present on the equipment and/or the jobsite and the virtual environment. This paper describes a non-restrictive acquisition allocation framework that allows position and orientation sensor streams from construction and mining job sites to be used for updating 3D virtual scenes in real-time for providing vital collision avoidance warnings to equipment operators.
Seed-Induced Heterogeneous Cross-Seeding Self-Assembly of Human and Rat Islet Polypeptides.

Amyloid peptides can misfold and aggregate into amyloid oligomers and fibrils containing conformationally similar β-sheet structures, which are linked to the pathological hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. These β-sheet-rich amyloid aggregates provide common structural motifs to accelerate amyloid formation by acting as seeds. However, little is known about how one amyloid peptide aggregation will affect another one (namely, cross-seeding). In this work, we studied the cross-seeding possibility and efficiency between rat islet amyloid polypeptide (rIAPP) and human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) solution with preformed aggregates at different aggregation phases, using a combination of different biophysical techniques. hIAPP is a well-known peptide hormone that forms amyloid fibrils and induces cytotoxicity to β-cells in type 2 diabetes, whereas rIAPP is a nonaggregating and nontoxic peptide. Experimental results showed that all different preformed hIAPP aggregates can cross-seed rIAPP to promo...
Abstract TP461: Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Cognition: The Northern Manhattan Study

Background/Objective: Carotid artery intima media thickness (cIMT) may be a marker of cerebral atherosclerotic disease and therefore related to cognitive status in the elderly. We hypothesized that those with greater cIMT would exhibit worse cognition at baseline and have greater cognitive decline over time. Methods: A sample of 1166 stroke-free community participants from the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS) underwent carotid ultrasound and repeated neuropsychological (NP) testing. cIMT was imaged with a standardized B-mode ultrasound protocol and analyzed by a trained sonographer. We used multivariable linear regression to examine cIMT as a correlate of domain-specific NP Z-scores cross-sectionally and over time; we investigated possible effect modification by APOE e4 allele, adjusting for demographics and vascular risk factors. Results: The mean age of participants was 71±9 years, 60% were women, 15% white, 18% black, 67% Hispanic, and mean cIMT was 0.93 ± 0.09 mm. NP testing was performed among 1166 participants at baseline and among 826 participants with NP follow-up at a mean of 6.2 years apart. Participants with greater cIMT exhibited worse episodic memory at baseline after adjustment for demographics and vascular risk factors (beta=-0.60, P=0.04). APOE e4 allele presence was a significant effect modifier, and after stratification, APOE e4 carriers with greater cIMT exhibited worse episodic memory (beta=-1.26, P=0.04), semantic memory (beta=-1.35, P=0.01), and processing speed (beta=-1.22, P=0.02) at baseline. In longitudinal analysis, participants with greater cIMT at baseline did not exhibit cognitive decline after adjustment for demographics and vascular risk factors, but APOE e4 allele presence was a significant effect modifier. After stratification, APOE e4 non-carriers with greater cIMT at baseline exhibited greater declines in executive function (beta=-1.03, P=0.05). Conclusions: cIMT may be associated with worse cognition and greater cognitive decline in multiple domains among those at high risk for Alzheimer disease, and with worsening executive function in APOE e4 non-carriers. Interventions that target early stages of atherosclerosis may modify the course of cognitive aging and prevent cognitive decline.
Abstract 2332: Integral modulation of nuclear factor-kappa B activation by C/EBPβ and the endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor PERK to mediate estrogen-induced apoptosis in estrogen-deprived breast cancer cells

Stress responses are critical for estrogen (E2) to induce apoptosis in E2-deprived breast cancer cells. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is well known as a therapeutic target to prevent stress responses in chronic inflammatory diseases including cancer. However, whether E2 activates NF-κB to participate in stress-associated apoptosis in E2-deprived breast cancer cells is unclear. We demonstrated that E2 differentially modulates NF-κB activity in E2-deprived breast cancer cells according to the treatment time. Because E2 initially has significant potential to down modulate the NF-κB activation, it completely suppresses the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-induced NF-κB activation. We found that E2 preferentially and constantly enhances the expression of transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPβ) which is responsible for suppression of NF-κB activation by E2 in MCF-7:5C cells. The mTOR signaling pathway promotes repression of NF-κB by C/EBPβ which is confirmed by the evidence that inhibition of mTOR is synergistic with E2 to upregulate NF-κB-dependent genes, such as TNFα. Interestingly, NF-κB p65 activity is upregulated when E2-treatment is administered for 48 hours, leading to induction of TNFα. Blocking the nuclear translocation of NF-κB completely prevents E2 from induction of TNFα and apoptosis. Importantly, protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), a stress sensor of unfolded protein response, is activated by E2 and plays an essential role in increasing NF-κB p65 DNA binding through the activation of STAT3, independently of canonical IκBα signal pathway. Thus, inhibition of PERK kinase activity completely blocks nuclear activation of NF-κB and NF-κB-dependent induction of TNFα, thereby preventing E2-induced apoptosis. All of these findings illustrate a crucial role for the novel PERK/NF-κB/TNFα axis in E2-induced apoptosis which is integrally modulated by the stress responsive transcription factor C/EBPβ and endoplasmic reticulum stress. This study provides an important rationale for exercising caution in clinical trials when considering targeting PERK or NF-κB following the development of acquired resistance to aromatase inhibitors whereas mTOR may be a target to enhance the therapeutic effects of E2 in antihormone resistant breast cancer. Citation Format: Ping Fan, Amit K. Tyagi, Fadeke A. Agboke, Niranjana Pokharel, V. Craig Jordan. Integral modulation of nuclear factor-kappa B activation by C/EBPβ and the endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor PERK to mediate estrogen-induced apoptosis in estrogen-deprived breast cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2332. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2332
Couch Potato: The Antithesis of Hormesis

The impact of hormesis on health can be further appreciated by consideration of the “couch potato” lifestyle. When cells in the body and brain are not challenged, they become complacent and are therefore vulnerable to injury and disease. Lack of physical and mental exercise, in combination with excessive food intake, results in a condition called insulin resistance that is a harbinger of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, when fewer calories are consumed and when more energy is expended (exercise), cells are subjected to a mild metabolic stress. They respond to this mild stress adaptively by increasing their ability to take up glucose in respond to insulin. This hormesis response is, in part, responsible for the ability of dietary energy restriction and exercise to ward off diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, obesity and diabetes are not the only adverse physiological consequences of being a “couch potato.” Exercise and dietary energy restriction improve the functional efficiency of the heart and gut through a hormetic mechanism that involves increased activity of the parasympathetic component of the autonomic nervous system. As a consequence, heart rate and blood pressure are decreased and gut motility is increased, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and colon cancer. Relatively underappreciated is the contribution of the lack of mental challenges to the poor health associated with the couch potato lifestyle. Individuals who engage in intellectually challenging occupations or hobbies may be at reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease because of the beneficial stress imposed on the neurons when they are challenged. Studies have shown that neurons respond to mental and physical activity by increasing their production of “neurotrophic factors” that may help them to resist disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
The Global Carbonate-Silicate Sedimentary System — Some Feedback Relations

The steps required to make a box model of the important reservoirs and fluxes in the global geochemical cycle of carbon dioxide are detailed in a series of equations and diagrams. A summary schematic model is constructed that permits material transfer between various sedimentary reservoirs without changing the CO2 content of the atmosphere or of the ocean. Then the actual present-day reservoirs and fluxes of various carbonates and silicates are presented, and discussed in terms of controls of atmospheric CO2 fluctuation caused by inorganic processes.
Xavier Herbert. Requiem for Genius

In today’s global celebrity culture it’s hard to imagine a word more over-used and abused than ‘genius’. It is a slippery word with a long and contradictory conceptual history. Yet, in the Land of the Tall Poppy, self-confessions of genius invariably have paved a broad road to public ridicule and denigration. Xavier Herbert’s notion of genius was not static. It changed throughout his life and it evolved through his writing. He agreed with Carlyle that the first condition of genius must always be a ‘transcendent capacity of taking trouble’ and on this foundation he built his own concept of genius, as the unending ‘capacity for loving’. This article explores what genius meant to Xavier Herbert and how it translated into his fiction, before considering how our sense of genius today influences the way we respond to his most challenging fictions of love and hate, 'Capricornia' and 'Poor Fellow My Country'.
Beyond PPARs and Metformin: New Insulin Sensitizers for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by a failure of peripheral tissues to respond to the actions of insulin. Insulin sensitizers such as the biguanide metformin and the thiazolidinedione (TZD) drug pioglitazone play important roles in the management of the disease but lose durability over time and are contraindicated in some patients. While many gliptins and insulin secretagogues have been recently approved, a new insulin sensitizer has not reached the marketplace in the past decade. In this review, we describe progress toward the discovery of the next generation of insulin sensitizers, focusing especially on novel mechanisms and synthetic agents that have demonstrated body weight-independent insulin-sensitizing efficacy in preclinical animal models. A formidable challenge in this area is the identification of targets for which the rodent pharmacology, and equally importantly safety, will translate into robust and safe insulin sensitizing and glucose-lowering activities in humans.
Safety, trust, and disclosure: A qualitative examination of violence against refugee adolescents in Kiziba Camp, Rwanda.

Abstract Refugee adolescents face increased vulnerability to child protection risks including abuse, neglect, violence, and exploitation. The aim of this qualitative study was to examine the nature of violence against adolescents in Kiziba Camp, Rwanda, using an ecological framework to analyze the factors that influence protection risks and abuse disclosure across multiple system levels. In order to understand these issues more comprehensively, a transgenerational inquiry sought perceptions from both adolescents and their caregivers. In April 2016, as part of a larger, comprehensive study on adolescent protection, 19 focus group discussions were conducted with a total of 70 adolescents and 68 caregivers from the Democratic Republic of Congo. A qualitative content analysis identified three salient themes. First, structural protection risks exist for adolescents in Kiziba Camp, with economic insecurity and resource constraints resulting in specific risks such as overcrowded housing and adolescents traveling for firewood collection. Second, intergenerational conflict between caregivers and adolescents was perceived to negatively influence abuse disclosure. Lastly, protection mechanisms and reporting pathways were underutilized as caregivers and adolescents expressed concern over the shame, embarrassment, and social rejection that characterized formal disclosure in Kiziba, often rooted in restrictive and inequitable gender norms. These findings suggest that efforts at child protection should be multi-faceted and address structural aspects of risk; household levels of communication and trust; and societal norms that deter abuse reporting. The study also underscores the need for further research on risk and protective factors in camp settings to better tailor interventions aiming to reduce violence against children.
Nondestructive Testing System to Assess Lack-Of-Bond in Brazed Generator Coils by Ultrasonic Retro-Reflection

Margetan et al. investigated the problem of assessing the integrity of diffusion bonds using reflected ultrasound at oblique incidence [1,2]. They presented a quasi-static distributed spring model to derive the ultrasonic reflectivity of an imperfectly-bonded interface as a function of frequency and angle of incidence. The results were then incorporated in a model for the corner reflection from a diffusion-bonded joint between two butting plates. Rose also studied the ultrasonic reflectivity of diffusion bonds and utilized it for quantitatively characterizing defective joints [3, 4]. Angel and Achenbach investigated the reflection of ultrasonic waves by an array of microcracks [5].
Insights into the stress corrosion cracking of solution annealed alloy 690 in simulated pressurized water reactor primary water under dynamic straining

Abstract The intergranular attack near both stagnant and active stress corrosion crack (SCC) tips of solution annealed alloy 690 were characterized after constant extension rate tensile tests in simulated pressurized water reactor (PWR) primary water containing 18 cc H2/kg H2O. In both cracks, an intergranular oxide, composed of NiO and Cr2O3, was observed beyond the crack tip with an adjacent Cr depleted grain boundary migration zone. The stagnant crack has a compact Cr2O3 covering the crack tip and the adjacent grain boundary migration zone is deep and free of oxidation, while the active crack has porous penetrative oxide extending into the migration zone. The ability to form a compact Cr2O3 film at the crack tip is important to the IGSCC resistance and may be dictated by the efficiency of Cr diffusion up the migrated grain boundary. When a compact Cr2O3 film does not form at the crack tip, the Cr depleted grain boundary migration zone is subject to penetrative oxidation via the inward diffusion of oxygen, making the zone susceptible to crack propagation. Thus, even a high Cr content cannot guarantee the immunity of a Ni base alloy to SCC during dynamic straining.
54-OR: EVALUATION OF HLA ANTIBODIES IN DECEASED DONOR SIMULTANEOUS LIVER-KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Aim Donor specific HLA antibodies (DSA) in liver transplant recipients have been associated with allograft dysfunction. This analysis aims to describe the clinical outcomes in simultaneous liver-kidney (SLK) recipients with and without HLA antibodies. Methods A retrospective review of 50 SLK recipients transplanted from 03/2010 to 03/2013 identified 31 patients with pre- and post-transplant HLA testing and donor HLA typing. HLA antibodies were monitored by Flow PRA and Luminex single antigen assays. Results The 31 SLK recipients evaluated were 58 ± 10 years old at transplant, had a MELD score of 38 ± 5, were primarily male (52%), Caucasian (68%), on dialysis (81%), and had liver disease due to hepatitis C and/or alcoholic cirrhosis (65%). Mean follow-up was 11 ± 8 mos. Sensitization and clinical outcomes are described in the figure. Flow crossmatch (FXM) was performed on pre-transplant sera in 14 patients. Two sensitized patients without a DSA evaluation had a negative FXM. In DSA+ patients, 11 of 12 FXM were positive. DSA became negative post-transplant in 54% of pre-transplant DSA+ patients. De novo DSA developed in 17% of unsensitized patients. Acute cellular (ACR) or antibody mediated rejection of the kidney were most common in sensitized patients, with the majority seen in DSA+ patients. Liver ACR was seen in 1 unsensitized and 1 DSA+ patient. Three deaths occurred in DSA+ patients.[Fig. 1] Conclusions DSA levels may decrease post-transplant in some patients; however, persistent DSA post-transplant increases likelihood of rejection. Further prospective analysis of DSA in SLK recipients will be important to determine the role of DSA in allograft survival. Download full-size image
Quantifying the Supply of Seniors Housing

The 1991 National Health Provider Inventory1 is a survey of nursing homes, board and care homes, hospices, and home health care agencies. Previous studies have investigated the supply of nursing homes and board and care homes on a national and regional basis (see Delfosse, 1991 and Sirrocco, 1994). This study uses new data from the survey to investigate the data on a state-by-state basis. Since nursing homes and board and care facilities are regulated by the states, the different relationships found between region and supply of seniors housing in earlier studies are explained in this finer-grained analysis.
Improved Species-Level Clinical Identification of Enterobacteriaceae through Broad-Range dnaJ PCR and Sequencing

Enterobacteriaceae represent a diverse and medically important family of bacteria that are difficult to identify to the species level using the standard molecular method of 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Prior work has demonstrated the value of dnaJ gene sequence analysis in resolving different members of the family. However, existing protocols are not optimized for clinical use and exhibit several limitations in practice. Here, we describe an improved assay for dnaJ-based identification of Enterobacteriaceae which boasts increased broad-range specificity across genera, shorter amplicon sizes that are suitable for use with formalin-fixed or direct patient specimens, and enhanced amplification efficiency and assay sensitivity through the incorporation of locked nucleic acid chemistries. Sequence analysis of public databases indicates that the partial dnaJ sequence interrogated by this design retains high discriminatory power among Enterobacteriaceae genera and species, with only particular lineages of Shigella sp. and Escherichia coli proving unresolvable. Limits of detection studies using 8 disparate species indicated that amplification was consistently achievable across organisms and allowed robust dideoxynucleotide chain terminator sequencing from as little as 10 genome equivalents of template, depending on the species interrogated. Retrospective application of the dnaJ assay to patient specimens enabled unambiguous classification of Enterobacteriaceae to the species level in 22 of 27 (81.5%) positive specimens examined, with most remaining cases representing unresolvable calls between closely related Escherichia coli and Shigella species. We expect that this assay will facilitate the accurate molecular identification of species from the Enterobacteriaceae family in a variety of clinical specimens and diagnostic contexts.
Reflections on the science of joy: Current challenges and future directions

This paper offers a response to Matthew Kuan Johnson’s paper, Joy: A Review of the Literature and Suggestions for Future Directions (this issue). In dialogue with Johnson’s review paper and other w...
Bacterial Division: Journey to the Center of the Cell

Summary Most bacteria divide by corralling the tubulin-like FtsZ protein to mid-cell, where it assembles into a ring of treadmilling membrane-tethered oligomers. A study in this issue reveals new details about how FtsZ finds its way to the ring.
A multilayered valve leaflet promotes cell-laden collagen type I production and aortic valve hemodynamics.

Patients with aortic heart valve disease are limited to valve replacements that lack the ability to grow and remodel. This presents a major challenge for pediatric patients who require a valve capable of somatic growth and at a smaller size. A patient-specific heart valve capable of growth and remodeling while maintaining proper valve function would address this major issue. Here, we recreate the native valve leaflet structure composed of poly-e-caprolactone (PCL) and cell-laden gelatin-methacrylate/poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (GelMA/PEGDA) hydrogels using 3D printing and molding, and then evaluate the ability of the multilayered scaffold to produce collagen matrix under physiological shear stress conditions. We also characterized the valve hemodynamics under aortic physiological flow conditions. The valve's fibrosa layer was replicated by 3D printing PCL in a circumferential direction similar to collagen alignment in the native leaflet, and GelMA/PEGDA sustained and promoted cell viability in the spongiosa/ventricularis layers. We found that collagen type I production can be increased in the multilayered scaffold when it is exposed to pulsatile shear stress conditions over static conditions. When the PCL component was mounted onto a valve ring and tested under physiological aortic valve conditions, the hemodynamics were comparable to commercially available valves. Our results demonstrate that a structurally representative valve leaflet can be generated using 3D printing and that the PCL layer of the leaflet can sustain proper valve function under physiological aortic valve conditions.
#GunViolence on Instagram and Twitter: Examining Social Media Advocacy in the Wake of the Parkland School Shooting

The February 2018 Parkland school shooting quickly initiated passionate social media response on Twitter and Instagram. Research on the effect of large-scale mass shootings, particularly on social media dialogue, is lacking, at a time when emerging research suggests potential for both driving mass contagion and enhancing risk perceptions for public interest communications. This study examines response to the shooting through a content analysis of Instagram and Twitter. Findings revealed that gun violence advocacy and risk perception variables were present more frequently on Instagram, while Social Ecological Model policy-level factors were observed more frequently on Twitter. Advocacy drove engagement on both platforms; however, anger was associated with higher Instagram engagement. Details of gun violence, associated with potential for mass contagion, drove engagement on both platforms.
Risk factors for ischemic stroke in Uygur population in Xinjiang, China

Objective To investigate the risk factors for ischemic stroke in Uygur population in Xinjiang, China. Methods Using a case-control study mode, 504 Uygur patients with first-ever ischemic stroke and 507 Uygur healthy subjects were investigated in accordance with the principle of the ethnic, sex, and age matching. The risk factors for ischemic stroke were screened. Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the obesity (odds ratio [OR] 4.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.80-12.94; P=0.002), hypertension (OR 8.20, 95%CI 4.93-13.51; P<0.001), and heart disease (OR 2.40, 95%CI 1.07-5.39; P=0.033) were the independent risk factors for ischemic stroke in Uygurs. While the education level of junior high school or above (OR 0.38, 95%CI 0.18-0.81; P=0.012), tea drinking habit (OR 0.22, 95%CI0.06-0.70; P=0.021), siesta habit (OR 0.38, 95%CI 0.24-0.59; P<0.001), high levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 0.34, 95%CI 0.20-0.59; P<0.001), and apolipoprotein A (OR 0.23, 95%CI 0.07-0.77; P=0.017) were the protective factors for ischemic stroke. Conclusions The risk factors for ischemic stroke are more and typical in Uygur population in Xinjiang, China. Adjusting the diet structure of Uygurs, less taking meats and high-salt diet, intaking high fiber foods and fish, and appropriate physical exercise will play an important role for the prevention of stroke in Uygur population. Key words: Stroke; Brain Ischemia; Uygur Nationality; Risk Factors
Cracking Channel Hopping Sequences and Graph Routes in Industrial TSCH Networks

Industrial networks typically connect hundreds or thousands of sensors and actuators in industrial facilities, such as manufacturing plants, steel mills, and oil refineries. Although the typical industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications operate at low data rates, they pose unique challenges because of their critical demands for reliable and real-time communication in harsh industrial environments. IEEE 802.15.4-based wireless sensor-actuator networks (WSANs) technology is appealing for use to construct industrial networks because it does not require wired infrastructure and can be manufactured inexpensively. Battery-powered wireless modules easily and inexpensively retrofit existing sensors and actuators in industrial facilities without running cables for communication and power. To address the stringent real-time and reliability requirements, WSANs made a set of unique design choices such as employing the Time-Synchronized Channel Hopping (TSCH) technology. These designs distinguish WSANs from traditional wireless sensor networks (WSNs) that require only best effort services. The function-based channel hopping used in TSCH simplifies the network operations at the cost of security. Our study shows that an attacker can reverse engineer the channel hopping sequences and graph routes by silently observing the transmission activities and put the network in danger of selective jamming attacks. The cracked knowledge on the channel hopping sequences and graph routes is an important prerequisite for launching selective jamming attacks to TSCH networks. To our knowledge, this article represents the first systematic study that investigates the security vulnerability of TSCH channel hopping and graph routing under realistic settings. In this article, we demonstrate the cracking process, present two case studies using publicly accessible implementations (developed for Orchestra and WirelessHART), and provide a set of insights.
The Schro¨dinger functional for improved gluon and quark actions

The Schro¨dinger functional (quantum/lattice field theory with Dirichlet boundary conditions) is a powerful tool in the non-perturbative improvement and for the study of other aspects of lattice QCD. Here we adapt it to improved gluon and quark actions, on isotropic as well as anisotropic lattices. Specifically, we describe the structure of the boundary layers, obtain the exact form of the classically improved gauge action, and outline the modifications necessary on the quantum level. The projector structure of Wilson-type quark actions determines which field components can be specified at the boundaries. We derive the form of O(a) improved quark actions and describe how the coefficients can be tuned non-perturbatively. There is one coefficient to be tuned for an isotropic lattice, three in the anisotropic case. Our ultimate aim is the construction of actions that allow accurate simulations of all aspects of QCD on coarse lattices.
Zero Curvature Formalism for Supersymmetric Integrable Hierarchies in Superspace

We generalize the Drinfeld–Sokolov formalism of bosonic integrable hierarchies to superspace, in a way which systematically leads to the zero curvature formulation for the supersymmetric integrable systems starting from the Lax equation in superspace. We use the method of symmetric space as well as the non-Abelian gauge technique to obtain the supersymmetric integrable hierarchies of the AKNS type from the zero curvature condition in superspace with the graded algebras, sl(n+1,n), providing the Hermitian symmetric space structure.
Resilience in Nicaragua: Preliminary Factor Analysis and Validation of the CYRM-28

Objectives: The current study used factor analytic techniques to examine the performance of the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-28) in Nicaragua. Method: Nicaraguan youth from Managua, Leon, Chinandega, and Granada (n = 2,764) completed the CYRM-28 and the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI-A). The CYRM-28 and PWI-A are self-report measures that were translated into Spanish in previous studies. Results: A confirmatory factor analysis on the CYRM-28 did not support the eight-factor model from previous research. An exploratory factor analysis yielded a six-factor model: Social Belonging, Cultural Context, Caregiver Context, Social Skills, Spiritual Context, and Responsibility. Seven items were removed to improve model fit, reducing the CYRM-28 to only 21 items. We named this the CYRM-21-N (Nicaragua). Conclusion: The CYRM-28 did not yield an eight-factor structure in our data from Nicaraguan youth. Implications: From our analyses, we constructed the CYRM-21-N, a briefer version of the CYRM-28 with a revised factor structure. The CYRM-21-N may be useful in studying youth populations or assessing intervention outcomes in Nicaragua.
Management of Combat Casualties

War provides significant opportunity to care for injured military personnel and civilians injured during the course of hostile action. Perhaps the only ultimate benefit of war is the massive amount of experience one can accumulate caring for the injured within a very short period of time. It has been said that a lifetime of experience can be gained in a short time during these unfortunate events.
Classification of Free-Living Body Posture with ECG Patch Accelerometers: Application to the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study

SO_SCPLOWUMMARYC_SCPLOWAs health studies increasingly monitor free-living heart performance via ECG patches with accelerometers, researchers will seek to investigate cardio-electrical responses to physical activity and sedentary behavior, increasing demand for fast, scalable methods to process accelerometer data. We provide the first published analysis of tri-axial accelerometry data from Zio XT patch and introduce an extension of posture classification algorithms for use with ECG patches worn in the free-living environment. Our novel extensions to posture classification include (1) estimation of an upright posture for each individual without the reference measurements used by existing posture classification algorithms; (2) correction for device removal and re-positioning using novel spherical change-point detection; and (3) classification of upright and recumbent periods using a clustering and voting process rather than a simple inclination threshold used in other algorithms. Methods were built using data from 14 participants from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), and applied to 1, 250 MACS participants. As no posture labels exist in the free-living environment, we evaluate the algorithm against labelled data from the Towson Accelerometer Study and against data labelled by hand from the MACS study.
Of Disconnected Highways: Heart Blocks

In this chapter, the author discusses the different types of heart blocks (first degree, second degree, and complete heart block), the pioneers of heart block, the Stokes-Adams syndrome, as well as the causes of heart block, its presentation, and treatment.
Initial results from the RHEPP module

Several potential applications such as medical waste treatment, chemical waste treatment, food treatment, and flue gas cleanup have been identified for high average power electron beam systems. In the RHEPP (Repetitive High Energy Pulsed Power) project, the technology for such a system is being developed. The RHEPP module consists of a magnetic pulse compressor driving a linear induction voltage adder with an e-beam diode load. It has been designed to operate continuously, delivering 350 kW of average power to the diode in 60-ns FWHM, 2.5-MV, 2.9-kJ pulses. The module is presently under construction with the first phase scheduled for completion in the summer of 1992. In the first phase, four of ten adder stages are being built so that testing can begin with a 1-MV, 160-kW diode with the balance of the power from the compressor diverted to a resistive load. A description of the system and test results from the initial stages of the compressor will be presented.
East Asian Students in a U.S. Library: addressing expectations

TheScience and Engineering Library of the University of Massachusetts Amherstserves many international students from East Asia, who use the library verydifferently from their fellow American students. Though they spend many hoursthere, they seldom ask librarians for research help, use Google for most oftheir research, and consequently are unaware of some very useful resourcesprovided by the library. In order to understand the expectations of East Asianstudents, the author visited academic libraries in China, Japan and SouthKorea, and found important differences from U.S. libraries. Some of these canbe assigned to dissimilar academic cultures, but some originate from thedifferent training of librarians in East Asia and the U.S. The author includessome observations and examples of successful and inexpensive professionaldevelopment events for librarians held in the northeast U.S.
Vacancies in solids and the stability of surface morphology

Determining how thermal vacancies are created and destroyed in solids is crucial for understanding many of their physical properties, such as solid-state diffusion. Surfaces are known to be good sources and sinks for bulk vacancies, but directly determining where the exchange between the surface and the bulk occurs is difficult. Here we show that vacancy generation (and annihilation) on the (110) surface of an ordered nickel-aluminium intermetallic alloy does not occur over the entire surface, but only near atomic step edges. This has been determined by oscillating the sample's temperature and observing in real time the response of the surface structure as a function of frequency (a version of Angstrom's method of measuring thermal conductivity) using low-energy electron microscopy. Although the surface-exchange process is slow compared with bulk diffusion, the vacancy-generation rate nevertheless controls the dynamics of the alloy surface morphology. These observations, demonstrating that surface smoothing can occur through bulk vacancy transport rather than surface diffusion, should have important implications for the stability of fabricated nanoscale structures.
Changes in Mutual Fund Advisory Contracts

We examine changes in equity mutual funds' investment advisory contracts. Contracts generally pay the advisor a fee which is a percentage of the fund's total net assets. We find that high asset growth increases the likelihood of a contract change. Advisory rate changes occur in both directions and are substantial, with typical percentage fee shifts exceeding one-fourth. Our tests show that rate increases are associated with superior past market-adjusted fund performance, whereas rate decreases reflect economies of scale associated with growth. Fund and fund family market power variables also explain cross-sectional variation in the likelihood and magnitude of rate changes. We also provide new evidence on a fund's choice between linear and piece-wise linear advisory contracts and the likelihood of switches.
In-situ Release of Solar Wind Gases from Lunar Soil

A concept is described which has the potential to perform the in situ heating of the lunar regolith in order to release the solar wind gases. The poor thermal conductivity of the lunar soil is increased approximately 100-fold by the introduction of an artificial hydrogen atmosphere at 1 atm pressure enclosed in an inflatable structure. The leakage rate of H2 through the soil is minimal because of the close-packed nature of the soil and the design and operation of the facility.
Paul Willis and the Scientific Imperative: An Evaluation of Learning to Labour

This article evaluates the methodological philosophy and strategy of Paul Willis's classic, Learning to Labour. We use King, Keohane, and Verba's Designing Social Inquiry as a litmus test, showing how Willis's work meets, diverges from, and innovatively reconstructs “good social science research.” Drawing from Learning to Labour and Willis's writings on methodological issues, as well as key texts on the science of sociology, this article evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of a reflexive method and the potential this method holds for qualitative work in sociology.
Genetic hitchhiking and the evolution of reduced genetic activity of the Y sex chromosome.

A new model for the evolution of reduced genetic activity of the Y sex chromosome is described. The model is based on the process of genetic hitchhiking. It is shown that the Y chromosome can gradually lose its genetic activity due to the fixation of deleterious mutations that are linked with other beneficial genes. Fixation of deleterious Y -linked mutations generates locus-specific selection for dosage tolerance and/or compensation. The hitchhiking effect is most pronounced when operating in combination with an alternative model, Muller's ratchet. It is shown, however, that the genetic hitchhiking mechanism can operate under conditions where Muller's ratchet is ineffective.
Evaluation of axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy by immunohistochemistry and multilevel sectioning in patients with breast carcinoma

Abstract Background.—Axillary lymph node dissection for evaluation of the presence or absence of metastatic disease is the single most important prognostic factor for patients with newly diagnosed primary breast cancer. Recently, sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is being investigated as an alternative to the evaluation of the entire axilla. We evaluated whether the application of multilevel sectioning and immunohistochemistry in SLNs will increase the accuracy of detection of metastatic deposits. Methods.—Between October 1998 and July 1999, 38 patients with breast carcinoma (25 ductal, 5 lobular, 4 tubular, and 4 mixed ductal and lobular) underwent successful SLN biopsy followed by complete axillary node dissection. Sentinel lymph nodes were localized with a combination of isosulfan blue dye and radionuclide colloid injection. Frozen sections and permanent sections of SLNs were examined. All negative SLNs were examined for micrometastases by 3 additional hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)-stained sections and immuno...