cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional Mechanisms Underlying Hemoglobin Synthesis

The physiological switch in expression of the embryonic, fetal, and adult β-like globin genes has garnered enormous attention from investigators interested in transcriptional mechanisms and the molecular basis of hemoglobinopathies. These efforts have led to the discovery of cell type-specific transcription factors, unprecedented mechanisms of transcriptional coregulator function, genome biology principles, unique contributions of nuclear organization to transcription and cell function, and promising therapeutic targets. Given the vast literature accrued on this topic, this article will focus on the master regulator of erythroid cell development and function GATA-1, its associated proteins, and its frontline role in controlling hemoglobin synthesis. GATA-1 is a crucial regulator of genes encoding hemoglobin subunits and heme biosynthetic enzymes. GATA-1-dependent mechanisms constitute an essential regulatory core that nucleates additional mechanisms to achieve the physiological control of hemoglobin synthesis.
Film Pool Boiling of Nitrogen from Flat Surfaces

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of saturated film pool boiling from flat horizontal surfaces. Nitrogen at atmospheric pressure was used as the boiling fluid. Heat-transfer results were obtained over a range of temperature differences of approximately 1000°F (plate temperatures of 100 to 1100°F). The scope of the research has included correlation of data with analytical expressions relating heat flux, heat-transfer coefficients, fluid properties, and the temperature difference between the fluid temperature and the plate temperature for stable film boiling from flat horizontal surfaces in nitrogen. The experimental results and theoretical correlations for prediction of heat-transfer coefficients for film boiling are expected to have value in the design and analysis of nuclear reactors, space vehicles, quenching operations, and cryogenic systems.
Platelet microparticles and calcium homeostasis in acute coronary ischemias

Elevation of free cytoplasmic calcium is the common pathway of platelet activation, leading to shape change, shedding of platelet microparticles (PMP), aggregation, and secretion of internal granules, including expression of CD62p on the surface. Platelet activation is well documented in unstable angina (UA) and acute myocardial infarction (MI). We investigated the following markers of platelet activation in 55 patients undergoing coronary angiography for suspected CAD: free cytoplasmic calcium, [Ca2+]cyt, PMP, CD62p expression, and platelet/leukocyte (P/L) interaction. [CA2+]cyt was measured by Fluo-3 and the other measurements were by flow cytometry. Patients were classified into three groups: unstable angina (UA, n = 11), recent myocardial infarction (MI, n = 11), and patient controls (CTL, n = 33). Blood was drawn before infusion of heparin through femoral lines at the time of catheterization for assays. Results: (1) PMP values were significantly higher in both UA and MI than in CTL, P < 0.05. There was no difference between UA and MI. (2) P/L interaction was significantly elevated only in UA, P < 0.05. (3) CD62p expression on free platelets did not differ significantly between any of the three groups. (4) The resting [Ca2+]cyt, thrombin-induced CA2+ influx, and release of CA2+ from internal stores were all significantly higher in platelets from the combined patient group (UA + MI) than in the patient group, P < 0.001 Conclusions: Results on calcium hemostasis and PMP were significantly different in patients with acute coronary syndromes than those with stable angina or no coronay ischemia; this may reflect underlying pathophysiology of acute coronary ischemia. P/L interaction was higher only in the UA group, suggesting a role of leukocytes in the UA. Am. J. Hematol. 54:95–101, 1997 © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of Modified Low‐Density Lipoproteins on Human Retinal Pericyte Survival

Abstract: According to a current paradigm cardiovascular diseases can be initiated by exposure of vascular cells to qualitatively modified low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Capillary leakage, an early feature of diabetic retinopathy, results in the exposure of retinal pericytes to modified LDL, including glycated (G-LDL) and heavily oxidized glycated LDL (HOG-LDL). We demonstrate here that modified LDL inhibits the proliferation and survival of cultured human retinal pericytes. Modified LDL also induced DNA fragmentation in bovine retinal pericytes. Overall, HOG-LDL produced a significantly higher extent of cytotoxicity and apoptosis in retinal pericytes. These results indicate that exposure of pericytes to HOG-LDL could be implicated in the development of diabetic retinopathy.
Seconds-long preexposures to pheromone from rubber septum or polyethelene tube dispensers alters subsequent behavioral responses of male Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in a sustained-flight tunnel

Male Oriental fruit moths, Grapholita molesta (Busck), were briesy preexposed in a wind tunnel to plumes from a rubber septum lure releasing a three-component, optimally attractive pheromone blend for this species or to plumes generated by Isomate-M Rosso pheromone dispensers. The objectives were to determine how brief preexposures to low- and high-dosage pheromone dispensers affect initiation of anemotaxis, duration of sustained anemotactic sight, and peripheral sensitivity 15 min and 24 h after exposure. A greater proportion of G. molesta males took sight and successfully oriented toward a lure 15 min after briesy orienting in plumes generated by an identical lure compared with unexposed, nao¨ve moths or control moths preexposed to clean air. In addition, the proportion of males contacting a lure or orienting to the lure without source contact 24 h after a preexposure was not signiÞcantly different from the proportions of nao¨ve or control moths completing these behaviors. However, the mean duration of sustained sights of lure-preexposed male G. molesta in plumes generated by a lure was signiÞcantly shorter 15 min and 24 h after preexposure compared with that of nao¨ve moths. The proportion of male G. molesta contacting lures 15 min and 24 h after preexposure to ropes was not statistically different from the proportions of nao¨ve or control moths contacting the lure or orienting without source contact. However, as observed with moths preexposed to a lure, the mean duration of sustained sights of male G. molesta preexposed to an Isomate-M Rosso dispenser was signiÞcantly shorter than that of nao¨ve moths 15 min and 24 h after preexposure. Mean durations of sustained sights of male G. molesta preexposed to a lure or rope were signiÞcantly longer after 24 h compared with 15 min after the exposure treatment, indicating that the effect of pheromone preexposure decayed over time. Electroantennograms recorded 15 min and 24 h after preexposures to lures or Isomate-M Rosso dispensers in the sight tunnel were indistinguishable from those recorded from unexposed moths. We suggest that false-plume following by nao¨ve maleG.molesta combined with decreases in duration of subsequent anemotactic orientations after previous bouts of false-plume following may explain why Isomate-M Rosso dispensers are effective in mating disruption experiments with G. molesta.
Evaluation of snow cover fraction for regional climate simulations in the Sierra Nevada

Mathematical and Physical Sciences: 2nd Place (The Ohio State University Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum)
Cross-scale, cross-pathway evaluation using an agent-based non-small cell lung cancer model

We present a multiscale agent-based non-small cell lung cancer model that consists of a 3D environment with which cancer cells interact while processing phenotypic changes. At the molecular level, transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) has been integrated into our previously developed in silico model as a second extrinsic input in addition to epidermal growth factor (EGF). The main aim of this study is to investigate how the effects of individual and combinatorial change in EGF and TGFβ concentrations at the molecular level alter tumor growth dynamics on the multi-cellular level, specifically tumor volume and expansion rate. Our simulation results show that separate EGF and TGFβ fluctuations trigger competing multi-cellular phenotypes, yet synchronous EGF and TGFβ signaling yields a spatially more aggressive tumor that overall exhibits an EGF-driven phenotype. By altering EGF and TGFβ concentration levels simultaneously and asynchronously, we discovered a particular region of EGF-TGFβ profiles that ensures phenotypic stability of the tumor system. Within this region, concentration changes in EGF and TGFβ do not impact the resulting multi-cellular response substantially, while outside these concentration ranges, a change at the molecular level will substantially alter either tumor volume or tumor expansion rate, or both. By evaluating tumor growth dynamics across different scales, we show that, under certain conditions, therapeutic targeting of only one signaling pathway may be insufficient. Potential implications of these in silico results for future clinico-pharmacological applications are discussed. Contact: [email protected] Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Empirical nonlinear dynamic modeling of processes with output multiplicities

Nonlinear multivariable time series modeling of process systems with exogenous manipulated input variables is presented. The model structure is similar to that of a generalized additive model (GAM) and is estimated with a nonlinear canonical variate analysis (CVA) algorithm called CANALS. The system is modeled by partitioning the data into two groups of variables. The first is a collection of future outputs, the second is a collection of past input and outputs, and future inputs. This approach is similar to linear subspace state space modeling. An illustrative example of modeling is presented based on a simulated continuous chemical reactor that exhibits multiple steady states in the outputs for a fixed level of the input.
Differential expression of immobilization antigen genes in Tetrahymena thermophila, II. Reciprocal and non-reciprocal transfer of i-antigen during conjugation and expression of i-antigen genes during macronuclear development

Abstract Two developmentally related aspects of cell surface (i-) antigen expression in Tetrahymena thermophila were studied by immunofluorescence. 1. During conjugation, i-antigen is reciprocally exchanged in some genotypes (wild-type and/or mutant), but in other genotypes (mutant) transfer is unilateral. Transfer probably occurs by mixing of the cytoplasms and is insensitive to cycloheximide. Mutants (rseA1 and rseB1) which unilaterally transfer i-antigen are normally recessive to wild-type, but in conjugating cells (macronuclear heterokaryons) they are ‘dominant’, i.e. both conjugants are phenotypically mutant. This new approach demonstrates a significant new cytoplasmic aspect of i-antigen regulation. 2. In the cell cycle following conjugation, i-antigen specified by the new macronuclei is first detectable at about the 16C stage of macronuclear development.
Endgame Solving in Large Imperfect-Information Games

The leading approach for computing strong game-theoretic strategies in large imperfect-information games is to first solve an abstracted version of the game offline, then perform a table lookup during game play. We consider a modification to this approach where we solve the portion of the game that we have actually reached in real time to a greater degree of accuracy than in the initial computation. We call this approach endgame solving. Theoretically, we show that endgame solving can produce highly exploitable strategies in some games; however, we show that it can guarantee a low exploitability in certain games where the opponent is given sufficient exploitative power within the endgame. Furthermore, despite the lack of a general worst-case guarantee, we describe many benefits of endgame solving. We present an efficient algorithm for performing endgame solving in large imperfect-information games, and present a new variance-reduction technique for evaluating the performance of an agent that uses endgame solving. Experiments on no-limit Texas Hold'em show that our algorithm leads to significantly stronger performance against the strongest agents from the 2013 AAAI Annual Computer Poker Competition.
Optical Radiation Safety Considerations for Ocular Glucose Monitoring

The potential for noninvasive detection of blood glucose is an area of intense academic and commercial research and a subject of keen interest in the diabetic and healthcare communities. A number of techniques are under investigation that attempt to infer blood glucose levels from measurements of optical signals. Frequently, these techniques are based on laser sources that may, under certain circumstances, be capable of inducing ocular injury. This article provides an overview of ocular damage mechanisms and the international standards for laser exposure limits that have been developed. The application of relevant standards to specific implementations of lasers in optical glucose sensing is presented. In addition, the concept of risk versus benefit for consideration of new medical devices is also discussed.
Personal Foul, Roughing the Speaker: The Illusory War between the Establishment Clause & College Football

Under the current landscape of First Amendment free speech and Establishment Clause jurisprudence, the boundaries of permissible speech at the university level has not been decided by the Supreme Court. While public employees have the right to speak out on matters of public concern and religious speech cannot be excluded from government property under the premise that it represents viewpoint discrimination, the exact boundaries of employee speech regarding religious matters is uncertain at best. Further, the Court’s Establishment Clause doctrine, although appearing to move toward adoption of the coercion test, is muddled with conflicting tests and ideologies. What happens when these rights so valuable and vital to the Constitution, intersect has not been settled by the Supreme Court. Several recent trends in collegiate football have raised serious issues regarding this uncertainty, as head coaches at major collegiate athletic programs seek to exercise their right to speak on matters of religion to players. Their speech raises Establishment Clause concerns for fear that students will be coerced to participate or acquiesce to the coach’s desires.This article proposes a method for resolving these differences. In Part I, I will analyze the background law governing public employee’s free speech claims, the intersection between the freedom of speech and the Establishment Clause, and whether coercive speech falls outside the realm of constitutional protection. In addition, I will provide background on the Court’s Establishment Clause jurisprudence regarding the Coercion test, as well as the implications of the recent case of Town of Greece v. Galloway. In Part II, I will set out the views of several Circuit Courts of Appeals on the issue. In Part III, I explain why religious speech is a matter of public concern, and why the Coercion Test represents the best tool for analyzing potential Establishment Clause violations at the university level. In Part IV, I will separately analyze the issue of prayer using the same methodology. Finally, in Part V I will set out my test for a violation with regard to employee speech in the university context, namely that the coercion test, where coercion is defined as either mandatory presence at an event, religious service, or some other instance that represents a blatant and clear violation of the Establishment Clause, or the imposition of harmful punishments or consequences for disagreement or non-participation, represents the proper test. I will then apply this test to several real life examples in the world of college football.
Recent Developments in the Seismic Analysis of Multiply Supported Piping Systems

This paper presents results from some of the recent studies on seismic analysis of multiply supported piping systems. The seismic responses for an actual feedwater piping system as evaluated from the conventional uncoupled analysis are compared with those obtained from an analysis of the coupled building-piping system. A discussion is also presented on the significance of non-classical damping in such analyses. It is illustrated that the composite modal damping is just another form of classical damping. Consideration of composite modal damping in a coupled analysis can give inaccurate piping responses when the modes of uncoupled systems are nearly tuned. In such systems, the effect of nonclassical damping is quite significant. Since the floor spectra are neither generated nor required in a coupled systems analysis, methods like peak broadening or peak shifting cannot be used directly to account for the effect of uncertainties. Formulations are presented to evaluate the design response from a coupled system analysis by considering the effect of uncertainties in modal properties of uncoupled systems.© 2004 ASME
Single Molecules under High Pressure

Single-molecule Raman spectra were studied at high pressure (1–4 GPa) in a diamond-anvil cell (DAC) with an Ar hydrostatic pressure medium, with the intent of resolving the different pressure-induced vibrational blueshifts of individual molecules. The molecules were two isotopologues of the dye rhodamine 6G (R6G and d4-R6G), adsorbed on colloidal Ag particles immobilized in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Surface-enhanced Raman (SERS) ensemble measurements were compared to single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman (SMSERS) measurements made in a confocal Raman microscope. Spectra of mixed isotopologues in the 610 cm–1 region (the “isotope-sensitive” transition) allowed us to identify when the majority of spectra came from single-isotope sites, and were thereby statistically likely to arise from single molecules. There was a dramatic drop in SERS intensity when samples were pressurized in the DAC. SMSERS measurements revealed the intensity drop was caused by a pressure-induced destruction of SMSERS-active hot spot...
Study on the Affecting Factors of Ion Exchange Resin Preparing Ultra-pure Water Technique

The characteristics of polishing mixed bed ion exchange resin for electron-level ultra pure water was introduced.The influence of main factors such as quality of raw water,flow and resin size uniformity to the quality of product water were studied based on conductivity and TOC.As a result,the quality of product water improved while the raw water improving,the optimal flow was 50 ~70BV/h.And the resin size was more uniform,the product water was better.The polishing mixed bed ion exchange resin for electron-level ultra pure water could meet the requirements of electron-ics industry under some conditions.
A Non-surgical Intervention for Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Tears.

Background and Purpose The current literature contains no reports of treatment options other than surgery following failed conservative management of a triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tear. The purpose of this study is to describe the use of a novel brace as a non-surgical intervention for TFCC tears. Methods This paper is a case study of a subject with a magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed TFCC tear. As an alternative to surgery, he consented to wear a novel brace for 12 weeks after conservative management of his injury had failed. His recovery from injury was monitored with a weight-bearing tolerance test and the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) outcome measure. Results An increase in weight-bearing tolerance and upper extremity use was evident immediately after donning the brace. After 12 weeks, the subject demonstrated a return to normal weight-bearing tolerance and normal DASH outcome measure scores. These improvements were still evident at a 1-year follow-up appointment. Discussion Utilizing this novel brace resulted in functional status improvement in a subject with a TFCC tear as demonstrated by significant changes in his DASH outcome measure scores. This case study demonstrates the first non-surgical alternative treatment for a TFCC tear after conservative management has failed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of carbadox on fasting oxygen consumption by portal vein-drained organs and by the whole animal in growing pigs.

Fasting O2 consumption by the whole animal (W) and by portal vein-drained organs (PVDO) during the 24- to 30-h postprandial period were measured in seven growing pigs (36.1 +/- 2.3 kg) with catheters chronically placed in the hepatic portal vein, ileal vein, and carotid artery trained to consume 1.2 kg of a 16% CP corn soybean meal basal diet (B) once daily. The pigs were placed individually into an open-circuit, indirect calorimeter and connected to an arteriovenous (A-V) O2 difference analyzer for hourly simultaneous measurements of O2 consumption by W and PVDO. The PVDO O2 consumption was calculated by multiplying the A-V O2 difference by the portal vein blood flow rate derived from constant infusion of a p-aminohippuric acid solution into the ileal vein. After the initial series of hourly measurements, four pigs remained on the B diet and three pigs were fed a B + 55 ppm carbadox diet. Seven days later, the second series of measurements was made. In pigs fed the diet with carbadox added, the hourly W O2 consumptions were not different (P greater than .05) between the initial and second series and averaged 7.5 mL.min-1.kg of BW-1. However, the A-V O2 differences (mL/dL) were reduced (P less than .05) from 4.6 to 4.0 at 24 h, 4.8 to 4.0 at 25 h, and 4.6 to 4.0 at 29 h postprandial and the fractions of W O2 consumption used by PVDO (percentage) were reduced (P less than .05) from 28.6 to 21.6 at 26 h and 25.2 to 18.2 at 27 h postprandial.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Nihilism and Education in Heidegger's Essay: "Nietzsche's Word: "God Is Dead".

In the ‘Rectoral Address’, of 1933, Martin Heidegger indicates that the crisis of the West, articulated by Nietzsche as the ‘death of God’, was a central concern in his attempt to rethink and refor...
Input/Output and Postprocessing

The problem of reading and writing data from media such as disk and tape while performing computation has long been a challenging one. As the quotes above indicate, I/O has often been an afterthought, a sideshow to the theater of more exciting developments in the field of high-performance computing.
Democratizing Business Software: Small Business Ecosystems for Open Source Applications

Open source has democratized software innovation to an unprecedented degree, but doubts persist as to whether democratized innovation can extend to business applications, where individual developers are not the end users. We report on a new kind of ecosystem around extensions to open source business applications, and examine the types of contributors and contributions relative to previous open source research. Our results show a surprising presence of small businesses, particularly consultants and freelance developers. These smaller firms bridge an important gap between lead users and producers, contributing disproportionately to new back-end and integration features. This study shows how new networks of commercial and semi-commercial players, particularly small businesses, are combining their efforts to create viable business ecosystems around successful open source business applications.
Adolescent total knee arthroplasty

Background Management of adolescent patients with end-stage arthritis is challenging. Nonoperative treatments may be ineffective and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is rarely performed. Currently, minimal long-term data are available on the outcomes in this patient population. Our goal was to describe TKA for patients with end-stage arthritis who were aged 20 years and younger.
Debulking of Extensive Neuroendocrine Liver Metastases

Patients with small bowel neuroendocrine tumors (SBNET) and pancreas neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) frequently metastasize to the liver. Progressive disease in the liver is the primary cause of disease-specific death. The choices of effective treatment include liver resection and ablation and interventional radiology procedures, including chemoembolization and intra-arterial injection of radioactive spheres. Optimal treatment involves a combination of these approaches to eliminate or debulk liver disease. The surgical approach to metastatic NET in the liver differs significantly from liver resection for colo-rectal metastases. Metastatic lesions are resected by enucleation, making no attempts to obtain negative margins even for large lesions. Deep lesions near major vascular structures are treated by radiofrequency or microwave ablation. Patients with over 30 distinct NET metastases are still candidates for surgical treatment. Patients benefit from surgical debulking and should undergo operation even if not all disease may be treated. Patients with metastatic SBNET and PNET should be evaluated at tertiary centers with experience in surgical treatment of NET liver metastases.
Reducing user error in dipstick urinalysis with a low-cost slipping manifold and mobile phone platform (Conference Presentation)

Urinalysis dipsticks were designed to revolutionize urine-based medical diagnosis. They are cheap, extremely portable, and have multiple assays patterned on a single platform. They were also meant to be incredibly easy to use. Unfortunately, there are many aspects in both the preparation and the analysis of the dipsticks that are plagued by user error. This high error is one reason that dipsticks have failed to flourish in both the at-home market and in low-resource settings. Sources of error include: inaccurate volume deposition, varying lighting conditions, inconsistent timing measurements, and misinterpreted color comparisons. We introduce a novel manifold and companion software for dipstick urinalysis that eliminates the aforementioned error sources. A micro-volume slipping manifold ensures precise sample delivery, an opaque acrylic box guarantees consistent lighting conditions, a simple sticker-based timing mechanism maintains accurate timing, and custom software that processes video data captured by a mobile phone ensures proper color comparisons. We show that the results obtained with the proposed device are as accurate and consistent as a properly executed dip-and-wipe method, the industry gold-standard, suggesting the potential for this strategy to enable confident urinalysis testing. Furthermore, the proposed all-acrylic slipping manifold is reusable and low in cost, making it a potential solution for at-home users and low-resource settings.
Evidence of disturbances of deep levels of semantic cohesion within personal narratives in schizophrenia

Abstract Since initial conceptualizations, schizophrenia has been thought to involve core disturbances in the ability to form complex, integrated ideas. Although this has been studied in terms of formal thought disorder, the level of involvement of altered latent semantic structure is less clear. To explore this question, we compared the personal narratives of adults with schizophrenia (n = 200) to those produced by an HIV + sample (n = 55) using selected indices from Coh-Metrix. Coh-Metrix is a software system designed to compute various language usage statistics from transcribed written and spoken language documents. It differs from many other frequency-based systems in that Coh-Metrix measures a wide range of language processes, ranging from basic descriptors (e.g., total words) to indices assessing more sophisticated processes within sentences, between sentences, and across paragraphs (e.g., deep cohesion). Consistent with predictions, the narratives in schizophrenia exhibited less cohesion even after controlling for age and education. Specifically, the schizophrenia group spoke fewer words, demonstrated less connection between ideas and clauses, provided fewer causal/intentional markers, and displayed lower levels of deep cohesion. A classification model using only Coh-Metrix indices found language markers correctly classified participants in nearly three-fourths of cases. These findings suggest a particular pattern of difficulties cohesively connecting thoughts about oneself and the world results in a perceived lack of coherence in schizophrenia. These results are consistent with Bleuler's model of schizophrenia and offer a novel way to understand and measure alterations in thought and speech over time.
On Distance and Disconnection: Entering a Moral Black Hole

This chapter examines the operator and the operation of remote drone strikes and confronts the question of who is ultimately more morally culpable—the pilot of the drone, or the person who orders the attack. Through examination of post-traumatic stress disorder, civilian and child causalities, and statistics from the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, the author critiques the Obama Administration’s response to both foreign and domestic tragedies.
Sex Differences Shape Brain Development and Function, in Health and Disease: Policy Implications:

Sex differences profoundly impact health and disease. Despite this, the inclusion of females in clinical and fundamental research lags far behind advances in other aspects of medicine, especially i...
Peano-HASEL actuators: Muscle-mimetic, electrohydraulic transducers that linearly contract on activation

Soft robotic systems are well suited to unstructured, dynamic tasks and environments, owing to their ability to adapt and conform without damaging themselves or their surroundings. These abilities are crucial in areas such as human-robot interaction. Soft robotic systems are currently limited by the soft actuators that power them. To date, most soft actuators are based on pneumatics or shape-memory alloys, which have issues with efficiency, response speed, and portability. Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are controlled and powered electrically and excel with muscle-like actuation, but they typically require a rigid frame and prestretch to perform effectively. In addition, DEAs require complex stacks or structures to achieve linear contraction modes. We present a class of soft electrohydraulic transducers, termed Peano-HASEL (hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic) actuators, that combine the strengths of fluidic actuators and electrostatic actuators, while addressing many of their issues. These actuators use both electrostatic and hydraulic principles to linearly contract on application of voltage in a muscle-like fashion, without rigid frames, prestretch, or stacked configurations. We fabricated these actuators using a facile heat-sealing method with inexpensive commercially available materials. These prototypical devices demonstrated controllable linear contraction up to 10%, a strain rate of 900% per second, actuation at 50 hertz, and the ability to lift more than 200 times their weight. In addition, these actuators featured characteristics such as high optical transparency and the ability to self-sense their deformation state. Hence, this class of actuators demonstrates promise for applications such as active prostheses, medical and industrial automation, and autonomous robotic devices.
Abstract 2819: Mutations Of Presenilin Genes In Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy And Heart Failure

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a myocardial degenerative disease and is frequently familial. Its molecular pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. Accumulating evidences suggest common mechanisms underlying the tissue degeneration in different organs. Presenilins, highly expressed in hearts and critical to cardiovascular development, implicate neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. We therefore postulated that genetic defects in presenilins may also cause myocardial degeneration and consequently dilated cardiomyopathy.Clinical evaluations were conducted on132 independent kindreds of familial DCM and 183 patients with idiopathic DCM. Presenilin 1 and 2 were sequenced for mutations in those index patients and their family members when indicated. The histopathological studies were performed on cardiac tissues. Primary fibroblast cell lines from patients were utilized to interrogate intracellular calcium signaling.Two distinct mutations, a novel missense mutation of Presenilin1 and a single residue substitution in presenilin 2, were identified in three unrelated multi-generation families. The mutations altered two highly conserved amino acids and were present in all clinically affected subjects, but none of 309 controls. The family with preseniln 1 mutation featured complete penetrance and progressive heart failure. Two other families carrying presenilin 2 mutation showed incomplete penetrance and mild cardiomyopthy and other cardiac abnormalities. Myocardium pathology is consistent with idiopathic DCM and no positive staining for amyloid or other protein aggresome substrates was observed in an explanted heart. Intracellular calcium signaling was altered in patients’ fibroblasts. In conclusion, we have for the first time linked genetic defects of presenilins with dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. The finding suggests a shared molecular mechanism for tissue degeneration of distinctive origins of either cardiac myocytes or neurons.
Longitudinal distribution of arylamine N-acetyltransferases in the intestine of the hamster, mouse, and rat: Evidence for multiplicity of N-acetyltransferases in the intestine

Experimental and clinical evidence indicates that AcCoA:arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs; EC 2.3.1.5) are involved in the bioactivation and inactivation of a wide variety of arylamine, hydrazine, and carcinogenic arylamine xenobiotics. Longitudinal distribution of NATs in the intestine of the hamster, mouse, and two strains of rat was examined utilizing the model arylamine substrates procainamide(PA) and p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) for the monomorphic (NAT1) and polymorphic (NAT2) enzymes in the rodent. NAT1 and NAT2 were distributed quite differently in each species examined. In particular, rat intestinal NATs were distributed equally throughout the intestinal tract. In contrast, hamster intestinal NATs decreased in activity from the proximal small intestine to the distal large intestine. Mouse NAT2 activity was highest in the cecum, whereas NAT1 was highest in the proximal small intestine. Although these model substrates have been shown to be selective for NATs, they are not specific. Therefore, a series of biochemical studies were undertaken to evaluate NAT multiplicity in the intestine of the F-344 rat. To assess multiplicity of NAT expression, selective inhibition, differential sensitivity to heat inactivation, and kinetic analysis were performed on intestinal cytosol. Eadie-Hofstee transformation of PA N-acetylation yielded a curvilinear plot indicative that a low affinity-high capacity enzyme aside from NAT1 (presumably NAT2) was contributing to PA N-acetylation activity. PA activity was found to exhibit approximately 4- to 5-fold greater thermostability than PABA activity. Furthermore, PA acetylation could be inhibited selectively with vinyl fluorenyl ketone (2.5 to 5 microM) but not with methotrexate (up to 2 mM). Taken together, these studies suggest the expression of both NAT1 and NAT2 in the intestine of the F-344 rat.
The Main Tenets of the Theory of Knowledge of Dialectical Materialism

The theory of knowledge of contemporary dialectical materialism is marked off from that of any other contemporary philosophy by a series of doctrinal tenets which are drawn directly from the classics. Among these the most characteristic are: the ‘Leninist theory of reflection’, the ‘dialectic of absolute and relative truth’, ‘practice as basis of knowledge and criterion of truth’, and the ‘dialectic of the logical and historical’.
Data-Based Reinforcement Learning Approximate Optimal Control for an Uncertain Nonlinear System with Partial Loss of Control Effectiveness

An infinite horizon approximate optimal control problem is developed for a system with unknown drift parameters and control effectiveness faults. A data-based filtered parameter estimator with a novel dynamic gain structure is developed to simultaneously estimate the unknown drift dynamics and control effectiveness fault. A local state-following approximate dynamic programming method with a modified update law and Bellman error extrapolation is used to approximate the unknown optimal value function for the uncertain system. A Lyapunov-based stability analysis shows uniformly ultimately bounded convergence for the closed-loop system.
Low symmetry two-dimensional materials: anisotropic optical properties and device application (Conference Presentation)

The emerging class of low symmetry 2D materials, which include black phosphorus, its isoelectronic materials such as the monochalcogenides of Group IV elements and other layered materials with reduced in-plane symmetry, exhibit strong in-plane anisotropy in their optical and phonon properties that allow for the realization of conceptually new electronic and photonic devices. High mobility, narrow gap BP thin film (0.3 eV in bulk), for example, fill the energy space between zero-gap graphene and large-gap transition metal dichalcogenides, making it a promising material for mid-infrared wavelength infrared optoelectronics. Here, we will first present our work in understanding the fundamental electronic and optical properties of low-symmetry 2D materials such as black phosphorus and rhenium diselenide using a newly developed scanning ultrafast electron microscopy (SUEM) technique and photoluminescence spectroscopy. A few novel photonic device concepts will then be discussed that utilize these new materials, particularly for applications in the infrared wavelength range. We will also discuss about promising future research directions of low-symmetry optoelectronic devices based on anisotropic 2D materials and how their novel properties is expected to benefit the next-generation photonics technologies.
Histoplasmosis Infection of Aortobifemoral Graft Treated with a Neoaortoiliac System

Aortic graft infections are a feared complication of aortic bypass operations and impart significant morbidity and mortality when they occur. The most common etiology is bacterial, with a presentation ranging from subclinical to acutely symptomatic depending on the organism. Fungal infections of prosthetic grafts are rare, especially in immunocompetent patients. Graft infections remain a clinical diagnosis. We report a rare case of an aortobifemoral graft infection with Histoplasma capsulatum that was diagnosed on surgical pathology, as the preoperative infectious evaluation was negative. The neoaortoiliac system operation was successfully used to solve this patient's highly morbid condition.
Clinical and laboratory features of autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPis) are a novel class of immunotherapeutic agents that have revolutionized the treatment of cancer; however, these drugs can also cause a unique spectrum of autoimmune toxicity. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare, but often severe, complication of ICPis. We identified 14 patients from nine institutions across the United States who developed ICPi-AIHA. The median interval from ICPi initiation to development of AIHA was 55 days (interquartile range [IQR], 22-110 days). Results from the direct antiglobulin test (DAT) were available for 13 of 14 patients: 8 patients (62%) had a positive DAT and 5 (38%) had a negative DAT. The median pretreatment and nadir hemoglobin concentrations were 11.8 g/dL (IQR, 10.2-12.9 g/dL) and 6.3 g/dL (IQR, 6.1-8.0 g/dL), respectively. Four patients (29%) had a preexisting lymphoproliferative disorder, and two (14%) had a positive DAT prior to initiation of ICPi therapy. All patients were treated with glucocorticoids, with three requiring additional immunosuppressive therapy. Complete and partial recoveries of hemoglobin were achieved in 12 (86%) and 2 (14%) patients, respectively. Seven patients (50%) were rechallenged with ICPis, and one (14%) developed recurrent AIHA. Clinical and laboratory features of ICPi-AIHA were similar in DAT positive and negative patients. ICPi-AIHA shares many clinical features with primary AIHA; however, a unique aspect of ICPi-AIHA is a high incidence of DAT negativity. Glucocorticoids are an effective first-line treatment in the majority of patients with ICPi-AIHA, and most patients who are rechallenged with an ICPi do not appear to develop recurrence of AIHA.
A Swine Model of Severe Propranolol Toxicity Permitting Direct Measurement of Brain Tissue Oxygenation.

High-dose insulin (HDI) therapy has been used successfully for beta-blocker toxicity, but needs further study when hypotension persists despite HDI. The objective was to develop a model of propranolol toxicity with persistent hypotension despite HDI and to develop means to measure cerebral oxygen tension (PbrO2). Eight anesthetized Yorkshire pigs were instrumented with a tracheostomy, Swan–Ganz catheter, arterial catheter, and intra-cerebral pressure and oxygen monitor. Intravenous propranolol was given until the initial point of toxicity (POT); 25% reduction from baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP) × heart rate (HR). At the initial POT, normal saline (NS) bolus and infusion along with HDI infusion were started. The propranolol infusion was titrated up slowly to induce hypotension. Group 2 pigs received a norepinephrine (NE) infusion after a secondary POT defined as a MAP 50 mmHg. Cardiac output, HR, MAP, PbrO2, and intracranial pressure were then recorded every 5 min until death or 4 h. Systemic vascular resistance, potassium, and glucose were also measured. Surviving pigs were euthanized. Two pigs received unique doses for protocol development. One pig developed a tachyarrhythmia prior to protocol, one failed to reach secondary POT, leaving 2 pigs in each group reaching secondary POT. The range of PbrO2 recordings for group 1 was 12.7–48.5 mmHg and 9.2–26.2 mmHg for group 2. We report a pilot study swine model of propranolol toxicity with hypotension despite HDI, in which physiologic measures including PbrO2 are achieved. Our toxicity model can be used in the future, and the hemodynamic and brain monitoring model may prove important for subsequent research in various contexts.
Lying down on the Job? Repeat MitraClip after Previous Clip Migrates to an Unusual Position

86 year-old female was hospitalized with heart failure exacerbation. She had a history of severe mitral valve regurgitation (MR) treated with MitraClip® three years ago. Transesophageal echocardiog...
Enhancing Human Face Recognition with an Interpretable Neural Network

The purpose of this work is to determine if the ability to interpret a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture can enhance human performance, pertaining to face recognition. We are interested in distinguishing between the faces of two similar-looking actresses of Indian origin, who have only a few discriminating features. This recognition task proved challenging for humans who were not previously familiar with the actresses (novices) as they performed only just better than random. When asked to perform the same task, humans who were more familiar with the actresses (experts) performed significantly better. We attempted the same task with a Siamese CNN which performed as well as the experts. We therefore became interested in applying any new knowledge obtained from the CNN to aid in improving the distinguishing abilities of other novices. This was accomplished by generating activation maps from the CNN. The maps showed what parts of the input face images created the highest activations in the last convolutional layer of the network. Using "fooling'" techniques, we also investigated what spatial locations on the face were most responsible for confusing one actress for the other. Empirically, the cheekbones and foreheads were determined to be the strongest differentiating features between the actresses. By providing this information verbally to a new set of novices, we successfully raised the human recognition rates by 11%. For this work, we therefore successfully increased human understanding pertaining to facial recognition via post-hoc interpretability of a CNN.
99MTECHNETIUM-PYROPHOSPHATE CARDIAC SCINTIGRAPHY: NOT ALL THAT GLITTERS IS TRANSTHYRETIN AMYLOID

Immunoglobulin light chain (AL) and transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis account for the majority of cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Advances in cardiac imaging have caused a paradigm shift towards a non-invasive diagnostic approach for ATTR CA reducing the dependence on tissue diagnosis. A risk to this
Combating Food Insecurity with Large Scale Aquaponics: A Case Study in Silicon Valley

Food insecurity affects 20 percent of residents in wealthy Santa Clara County, California. To combat this inequity, an aquaponics system was designed in partnership with a local soup kitchen and urban farm to increase produce yield and meal nutrition. The system consists of ninety feet of growing space, a 600 gallon fish pond, and sensors to measure water quality. The fish waste will fertilize the plants while the plants remove chemicals and oxygenate the water for the fish, and nitrifying bacteria convert the ammonia into nitrate to nourish the plants. This quality, low-maintenance, closed-loop system should significantly reduce water usage compared to traditional farming and should improve the efficiency and sustainability of the current farm.
The effectiveness of de-escalation techniques as compared to physical restraint/seclusion on inpatient psychiatric units: a quantitative systematic review

Background Restraint and seclusion were considered a form of treatment but consistently has led to physical and mental injuries to staff and patients. De-escalation has been viewed as a safer option. Understanding which intervention yields decreased injuries, aggression and violence will guide policy and inform practice. Objectives To identify which intervention leads to decreased physical and psychological injury to patients and staff. Methods The frequency of physical injuries to patients and staff from aggressive patients; frequency of psychological injuries to patients and staff from violent, aggressive incidents; frequency of violence, agitation and aggression; competence of staff at managing aggression and violence were evaluated. Results Fourteen studies were included in this review. There are many forms of de-escalation. Studies where techniques were taught to staff, the intervention was effective in decreasing injury in approximately half the studies. De-escalation techniques taught to patients decreased injury in 100% of the studies included in this review. Conclusion Consensus on which intervention works best could not be reached, nor is there overwhelming evidence for a particular type of de-escalation better suited for decreasing aggression and violence. Caution should be exercised when choosing a de-escalation technique for implementation in institutions due to lack of regulating agencies that inform practice and standards. In addition, the literature lacks best practices for de-escalation techniques backed by evidence. Restraint and seclusion should be used as a last resort due to inherent risk associated with the intervention.