cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal Signatures of Plasmonic Fano Interferences: Toward the Achievement of Nanolocalized Temperature Manipulation

A consequence of thermal diffusion is that heat, even when applied to a localized region of space, has the tendency to produce a temperature change that is spatially uniform throughout a material with a thermal conductivity that is much larger than that of its environment. This implies that the degree of spatial correlation between the heat power supplied and the temperature change that it induces is likely to be small. Here, we show, via theory and simulation, that through a Fano interference, temperature changes can be both localized and controllably directed within certain plasmon-supporting metal nanoparticle assemblies. This occurs even when all particles are composed of the same material and contained within the same diffraction-limited spot. These anomalous thermal properties are compared and contrasted across three different nanosystems, the coupled nanorod-antenna, the heterorod dimer, and the nanocube on a substrate, known to support both spatial and spectral Fano interferences. We conclude that the presence of a Fano resonance is not sufficient by itself to induce a controllably nanolocalized temperature change. However, when present in a nanosystem of the right composition and morphology, temperature changes can be manipulated with nanoscale precision, despite thermal diffusion.
MANA from heaven: Testing the utility of minimum analytical nodule analysis at large, repeatedly reoccupied ceremonial sites

Abstract Minimum Analytical Nodule Analysis (MANA) continues to gain popularity among lithic analysts as a compliment to refitting. Despite the increased use of MANA in the last two decades, all implementations focus on the same types of sites, those occupied by hunter-gatherers and our foraging ancestors. This paper represents the first formal attempt to explore the utility of MANA among groups with different levels of mobility and social organization. This is accomplished by examining the bladelet industry utilized by horticultural groups at two ceremonially oriented Hopewell earthworks. This attempt to expand the scope of MANA can be labeled as a success which yielded information on bladelet production and discard processes, as well as an additional line of evidence on temporal relationships at the sites. Issues were encountered, however, in data integration common when multiple archaeologists lead independent investigations at large sites. Additional issues arose with relatively few artifacts assigned to individual nodules and the subsequent difficulties in examining production skill and exchange. But even these issues point to new possibilities for research elsewhere to address new types of questions.
NEUROPATHOLOGY OF AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS : NEW PERSPECTIVES ON AN OLD DISEASE

Recent discoveries on linkage of the gene mutation of an enzyme, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1), to familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (which constitutes about 1% of all ALS cases) and several transgenic mouse models of ALS have shed light on potential pathogenetic processes involved in this disease. Any speculation as to the pathogenesis of ALS must reflect the unique neurobiology of motor neurons. The most distinctive aspects of motor neurons are their asymmetry, large size, and enormously elongated and thick axons. These characteristics also contribute to their vulnerability to ALS. The determinants of these unique properties are the intermediate cytoskeletal filaments, and the neurofilaments of motor neurons. This characteristic is not exclusive to motor neurons and is shared with other neurons with long axons, including some sensory neurons that are also involved in ALS. The histopathology of the early stages of ALS overwhelmingly suggests that accumulation and aggregation of neurofilaments within motor neurons is intimately related to the morphogenesis of the unique cytoplasmic inclusions, and plays a central role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Understanding of the causal relationship and the morphogenesis of inclusion bodies is critical in any attempt to reverse this complex disease process, which potentially involves the neurotoxic effects of free radicals (nitric oxide, superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxynitrite, etc) on neurofilaments. By emphasizing the unique make-up of motor neurons, this review intends to reevaluate and reinterpret the basic neuropathology of ALS in the light of recent molecular genetic-data.
Smart Cities as Cyber-Physical Social Systems

ABSTRACT The emerging prototype for a Smart City is one of an urban environment with a new generation of innovative services for transportation, energy distribution, healthcare, environmental monitoring, business, commerce, emergency response, and social activities. Enabling the technology for such a setting requires a viewpoint of Smart Cities as cyber-physical systems (CPSs) that include new software platforms and strict requirements for mobility, security, safety, privacy, and the processing of massive amounts of information. This paper identifies some key defining characteristics of a Smart City, discusses some lessons learned from viewing them as CPSs, and outlines some fundamental research issues that remain largely open.
Innovative Electrical Thermal Co-Design of Ultra-High Q TPV-Based 3D Inductors in Glass Packages

This paper introduces an innovative concept of electrical-thermal co-design for high-Q 3D inductors using through-package-via (TPV)-based copper networks in ultra-thin power amplifier-integrated glass modules. The copper networks are designed to provide high quality factor inductors, and also simultaneously enable heat transfer in ultra-miniaturized glass packages. Such TPV-based 3D inductors achieved the highest Q factor (>150 @ 1 GHz, >200 @ 2.4 GHz, SRF > 25 GHz), 7 times greater than that of the state-of-the-art package embedded inductors at LTE frequencies. The thermal structure, with power amplifier die assembled onto it, also reduces the package size by placing the embedded TPV-based inductor adjacent to it without affecting its Q.
Condensed representation and individual prediction of consumer demand

Consumer Demand Response (DR) is an important research and industry problem, which seeks to solve three problems. First, grouping consumers into useful categories, second, predicting a given consumer's energy consumption, and third, estimating for that consumer if and when a specific device will be used. Unfortunately, measured consumer energy consumption patterns (24-hour load curves) show great variability even for an individual consumer, making it difficult to classify consumers into stable representative groups and to predict individual energy consumption. Traditional clustering methods have resulted in many hundreds of clusters, with a given consumer often associated with several clusters. In this paper, we present a new method that better classifies and predicts fine grain consumer energy consumption behavior. The method is based on Dynamic Time Warping. DTW seeks an optimal alignment between energy consumption patterns reflecting the effect of hidden patterns of regular consumer behavior. Using actual consumer 24-hour load curves from Opower Corporation, this method results in a 50% reduction in the number of representative groups and an improvement of 20% in prediction accuracy. We extend the approach to predict which electrical devices will be used and at what times for a given day, based on partial day data.
Sequential approximate optimization for design under uncertainty problems utilizing Kriging metamodeling in augmented input space

Abstract This paper discusses design-under-uncertainty problems that employ a probabilistic performance as objective function and consider its estimation through stochastic (i.e., Monte Carlo) simulation. This setting facilitates a great modeling flexibility but has an associated high computational burden, and a framework relying on kriging surrogate modeling is proposed here to address this challenge. The metamodel is formulated to approximate the system response (metamodel output) with respect to both the design variables and the uncertain model parameters (augmented metamodel input), so that it can simultaneously support the uncertainty propagation and the design optimization, adopting a sequential approximate optimization (SAO) strategy for the latter. At each SAO cycle a sub-region of the design space is defined and a kriging metamodel is built exploiting information from the previous SAO cycle to improve accuracy. Within a stochastic simulation setting this metamodel is first utilized to approximate the system performance when estimating the objective function for specific design configurations. This information is subsequently used to search for a local optimum within the considered design sub-region till convergence to an interior point or the boundary of the region is established, prompting the termination of the current SAO cycle. When convergence to the boundary is established, the quality of the obtained solution is examined and if desired criteria are satisfied the next cycle moves to a new sub-region and the process is repeated till convergence is established. Else, an adaptive refinement of the design of experiments is established by adding optimally selected new support points for informing the metamodel development, and the next SAO cycle remains in the current sub-region. Through this approach an adaptive control for the accuracy of the metamodel is achieved, minimizing the number of simulations for the expensive system model.
Preliminary Assessment of a Raspberry Ketone Supplement as a Weight-Loss Aid

Raspberry Ketone (RK) supplements have received significant amounts of media and lay press attention as potential weight loss aids, despite a lack of published human studies evaluating their effica...
Coating nanoparticles with gastric epithelial cell membrane for targeted antibiotic delivery against Helicobacter pylori infection

Inspired by the natural pathogen-host interactions and adhesion, this study reports on the development of a novel targeted nanotherapeutics for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Specifically, plasma membranes of gastric epithelial cells (e.g. AGS cells) are collected and coated onto antibiotic-loaded polymeric cores, the resulting biomimetic nanoparticles (denoted AGS-NPs) bear the same surface antigens as the source AGS cells and thus have inherent adhesion to H. pylori bacteria. When incubated with H. pylori bacteria in vitro, the AGS-NPs preferentially accumulate on the bacterial surfaces. Using clarithromycin (CLR) as a model antibiotic and a mouse model of H. pylori infection, the CLR-loaded AGS-NPs demonstrate superior therapeutic efficacy as compared the free drug counterpart as well as non-targeted nanoparticle control group. Overall, this work illustrates the promise and strength of using natural host cell membranes to functionalize drug nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery to pathogens that colonize on the host cells. As host-pathogen adhesion represents a common biological event for various types of pathogenic bacteria, the bioinspired nanotherapeutic strategy reported here represents a versatile delivery platform that may be applied to treat numerous infectious diseases.
Epigenetic Approaches to Adipose Biology

Adipocytes play a major role in many metabolic diseases. To understand how adipocyte function is regulated in health and disease, we have focused on identifying and characterizing the transcriptional pathways that regulate differentiation, insulin sensitivity, lipogenesis, and lipolysis. Traditional strategies to accomplish these goals rely upon the discovery of candidate factors that may come to researchers’ attention because of homology, expression, or an unexpected phenotype in a knockout animal, for example. In contrast, we have developed strategies to map epigenetic alterations in adipocytes, reasoning that this information can be used to identify novel pathways that would have been difficult to predict otherwise. In initial proof-of-principle studies, we employed a high-throughput DNase hypersensitivity analysis in developing adipocytes. These experiments led us to identify interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) and the nuclear receptor, Nr2f2, as key players in adipocyte differentiation. Despite the success of this approach, there were temporal, spatial, and functional biases that prevented a truly comprehensive analysis. We have therefore performed a genome-wide analysis using ChIP-Seq-based mapping of modified histones in two species (mouse and human) and at four distinct developmental time points, providing an unprecedented look at chromatin state changes over the course of cellular differentiation. These studies will allow us to draw inferences about the transcriptional control of adipocyte function and open the door for downstream studies that directly address metabolic disease.
Spermatic Cord and Testicular Adnexae

The testicular tunics, appendix testis, appendix epididymis, efferent ductules, epididymis, vas deferens, and spermatic cord are regarded as paratesticular structures. This chapter discusses their normal histologic findings and the pathologic changes they undergo. The rete testis and its pathologic changes were discussed in Chap. 6.
Using an Editor

Each different SSL specification results in an editor with distinct language-dependent characteristics; however, all generated editors share the generic user interface described in this chapter.
Long-Term Outcome After Marrow Transplantation for Severe Aplastic Anemia

We reviewed the records and reevaluated 212 patients with aplastic anemia transplanted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) between 1970 and 1993 who survived ≥2 years and who have been followed for up to 26 years. Parameters analyzed included hematopoietic function, chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), skin disease, cataracts, lung disease, skeletal problems, posttransplant malignancy, depression, pregnancy/fatherhood, and the return to work or school, as well as patient self-assessment of physical and psychosocial health, social interactions, memory and concentration, and overall severity of symptoms. Survival probabilities at 20 years were 89% for patients without (n = 125) and 69% for patients with chronic GVHD (n = 86) (the status was uncertain in 1 surviving patient). All patients had normal hematopoietic parameters. Skin problems occurred in 14%, cataracts in 12%, lung disease in 24%, and bone and joint problems in 18% of patients. Eleven patients (12%) developed a solid tumor malignancy and 19% of patients experienced depression. Chronic GVHD was the dominant risk factor for late complications. Seventeen patients died at 2.5 to 20.4 years posttransplant; 13 of these had chronic GVHD and related complications. At 2 years, 83% of patients had returned to school or work; the proportion increased to 90% by 20 years. At least half of the patients preserved or regained the ability to become pregnant or father children. Patients rated their quality of life as excellent and symptoms as minimal or mild. In conclusion, marrow transplantation in patients with aplastic anemia established long-term normal hematopoiesis. No new hematologic disorders occurred. The major cause of morbidity and mortality was chronic GVHD. However, the majority of patients who survived beyond 2 years returned to a fully functional life.
Exploration of the effects of storm surge on the extent of saltwater intrusion into the surficial aquifer in coastal east-central Florida (USA)

Climate change such as altered frequency and intensity of storm surge from tropical cyclones can cause saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers. In this study, a reference SEAWAT model and a diagnostic SEAWAT model are developed to simulate the temporal variation of surficial aquifer total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations after the occurrence of a storm surge for exploration of the effects of storm surge on the extent of saltwater intrusion into the surficial aquifer in coastal east-central Florida (USA). It is indicated from the simulation results that: (1) rapid infiltration and diffusion of overtopping saltwater resulting from storm surge could cause a significant and rapid increase of TDS concentrations in the surficial aquifer right after the occurrence of storm surge; (2) rapid infiltration of freshwater from rainfall could reduce surficial aquifer TDS concentrations beginning from the second year after the occurrence of storm surge in that the infiltrated rainwater could generate an effective hydraulic barrier to impede further inland migration of saltwater and provide a downgradient freshwater discharge for saltwater dilution and flushing counteracting the effects of storm surge on the extent of saltwater intrusion; and (3) infiltrated rainwater might take approximately eight years to dilute and flush the overwhelming majority of infiltrated saltwater back out to the surrounding waterbodies, i.e., the coastal lagoons and the Atlantic Ocean.
Location of Recurrence by Gallium-68 PSMA-11 PET Scan in Prostate Cancer Patients Eligible for Salvage Radiotherapy.

Abstract Objective To identify locations of recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP) with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients with PSMA-PET imaging for biochemical recurrence following RP with PSA ≤2.0 ng/mL and assessed if the recurrent disease was within standard radiation target volumes. We compared patient and clinical variables between men with recurrences covered by standard salvage radiation fields and those with recurrences outside of standard fields. Results We identified 125 patients for study inclusion. The median PSA at imaging was 0.40 ng/mL (interquartile range 0.28-0.63). PSMA-avid disease was found in 66 patients (53%). Of these, 25 patients (38%) had PSMA-avid lesions found outside of the pelvis, 33 (50%) had lesions confined to the pelvic lymph nodes and prostate bed, and 8 (12%) men had PSMA-avid recurrence only in the prostate bed. Salvage radiation including standard Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) pelvic nodal volumes would not cover PSMA-avid nodal disease in 38 men (30%). PSA at the time of imaging was statistically associated with having PSMA-avid disease outside of standard nodal fields (P Conclusion The 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET detects disease in a majority of patients with PSA ≤2.0 following RP. Nearly one-third of men had PSMA-avid disease that would be missed by standard radiation fields. This imaging modality may dramatically impact the design and use of post-RP salvage radiotherapy.
Catalytic Processes Involving Dihydrogen Complexes and Other Sigma-bond Complexes

The discovery of dihydrogen complexes, L n M(H2), pointed to direct transfer of hydrogen from coordinated H2 ligands to substrates as an operable pathway in catalysis both in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. Sigma complexes, L n M(η2-H–X) (X=H, Si, C, etc), are indeed relevant in hydrogenation as well as silane alcoholysis and methane conversion.
Multi-platform observations of small-scale lateral mixed layer variability in the northern Bay of Bengal

Abstract Observations of the ocean surface boundary layer in the Northern Bay of Bengal were collected simultaneously from multiple platforms during the late summer of 2015. A spatial survey, consisting of a ∼ 4 km triangle, was repeated for 2 days by R/V Roger Revelle. The shipboard observations included profiles of temperature, salinity, velocity, and microstructure, and a towed bow-chain. Concurrently, an autonomous surface vessel and a drifting vertical profiler collected high resolution temperature, salinity, velocity and turbulence measurements nearby. An air-sea flux mooring provided continuous atmospheric and upper ocean data. The observed ocean surface boundary layer (SBL) was very shallow ( ∼ 10 m) and salinity stratified, with frequent observations of subsurface temperature maxima. Freshwater filaments strongly influenced SBL depth on horizontal scales of one to tens of kilometers. Our measurements showed a complex pattern in the strength and vertical structure of shear, stratification, and turbulent heat fluxes within and just below the SBL. SBL heat flux was impacted by surface buoyancy loss, shear at the SBL base from wind-driven near-inertial oscillations, and, at times, vertically spiraling Ekman currents. The phase of near-inertial currents displayed significant submesoscale lateral variability, as observed by the multiple high-resolution synoptic measurements, with horizontal differences in vertical turbulent fluxes in the SBL of the ocean varying by an order of magnitude over only a few kilometers. Integrated air-sea heat fluxes diverged by about 7–15 % over a few days within a series of one-dimensional simulations initialized with simultaneously observed SBL profiles only a few kilometers apart. Taken together, our results document the variability of ocean-atmosphere coupling on scales far smaller than those used in coupled ocean-atmosphere forecast models.
Case Study: The Evolution of the IT Discipline in a Research University

This paper describes the journey of an IT program in a mid-west large research university (44,000+ students). For the past seventeen years, the program grew from nonexistence to the largest computing program on campus and the seventh largest overall. The undergraduate program evolved into an academic unit that later added a Master's program and most recently a PhD program in Information Technology. The paper documents the evolution as a case study on IT program implementation, accreditation, ranking, keeping up with the evolving IT landscape, developing graduate programs in IT, articulating the role of the IT discipline to stakeholders, defining the IT research space, managing change, and securing internal and external funding. In addition, the paper will describe key initiatives that are now positioning the program to regional, state, a possibly national leadership. Finally, the paper provides lessons learned, strategies, and recommendations.
Stirring vulnerability, (un)certainty, and (dis)trust in humanizing research: duoethnographically re-membering unsettling racialized encounters in social justice teacher education

This article details how the embodied underpinnings of engaging in a duoethnographic collaboration were generative for theorizing and operationalizing humanization in a qualitative inquiry on socia...
Is having an educationally diverse social network good for health

While network research often focuses on social integration as a predictor of health, a less-explored idea is that connections to dissimilar others may benefit well-being. As such, this study investigates whether network diversity is associated with changes in four health outcomes over a 3-year period of time in the U.S.A. Specifically, we focus on how an underexplored measure of network diversity-educational attainment assortativity-is associated with common self-reported outcomes: propensity to exercise, body-mass index, mental health, and physical health. We extend prior research by conducting multilevel analyses using this measure of diversity while adjusting for a range of socio-demographic and network confounders. Data are drawn from a longitudinal probability sample of U.S. adults (n = 10, 679) in which respondents reported information about themselves and eight possible alters during three yearly surveys (2013-2015). We find, first, that higher educational attainment is associated with more educationally insular networks, while less-educated adults have more educationally diverse networks. Results further suggest that having educationally similar networks is associated with higher body-mass index among the less educated. Further exploration of the relationship between ego network diversity, tie strength, and health is warranted.
Risedronate to Prevent Bone Loss After Sleeve Gastrectomy: Study Design and Feasibility Report of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Mounting evidence implicates bariatric surgery as a cause of increased skeletal fragility and fracture risk. Bisphosphonate therapy reduces osteoporotic fracture risk and may be effective in minimizing bone loss associated with bariatric surgery. The main objective of this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT; Clinical Trial No. NCT03411902) was to determine the feasibility of recruiting, treating, and following 24 older patients who had undergone sleeve gastrectomy in a 6 month RCT examining the efficacy of 150-mg once-monthly risedronate (versus placebo) in the prevention of surgical weight-loss-associated bone loss. Feasibility was defined as: (i) >30% recruitment yield, (ii) >80% retention, (iii) >80% pills taken, (iv) 80% participant satisfaction. Study recruitment occurred over 17 months. Seventy participants were referred, with 24 randomized (34% yield) to risedronate (n = 11) or placebo (n = 13). Average age was 56 ± 7 years, 83% were female (63% postmenopausal), and 21% were black. The risedronate group had a higher baseline BMI than the placebo group (48.1 ± 7.2 versus 41.9 ± 3.8 kg/m2). The 10-year fracture risk was low (6.0% major osteoporotic fracture, 0.4% hip fracture); however, three individuals (12.5%, all risedronate group) were osteopenic at baseline. Twenty-one participants returned for 6-month follow-up testing (88% retention) with all (n = 3) loss to follow-up occurring in the risedronate group. Average number of pills taken among completers was 5.9 ± 0.4 and 6.0 ± 0.0 in the risedronate and placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.21), with active participants taking >80% of allotted pills. Five AEs (3.7% AE rate) were reported; one definitely related, four not related, and none serious. All participants reported high satisfaction with participation in the study. Use of bisphosphonates as a novel therapeutic to preserve bone density in patients who had undergone a sleeve gastrectomy appears feasible and well-tolerated. Knowledge gained from this pilot RCT will be used to inform the design of an appropriately powered trial. Clinical trial registration http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT03411902. Weight Loss With Risedronate for Bone Health. © 2020 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Myogenic marker expression as a function of age and exercise-based therapy in the tongue.

Abstract Degeneration of tongue muscles with aging may contribute to swallowing deficits observed in elderly people. However, the capacity for tongue muscle stem cells (SCs) to regenerate and repair the aged tongue and improve tongue strength following tongue exercise (a current clinical treatment) has never been examined. We found that the expression of regenerative, myogenic markers were impaired with age and may be related to increased expression of senescent marker p16INK4a. Tongue strength increased in young adult and old rats following exercise and was related to the expression of Pax7, MyoD, myogenin, and p16INK4a. Our study also suggests that strengthening of tongue muscles via clinical rehabilitation strategies also increased the expression of SC regenerative markers in the tongue throughout the exercise duration.
Extrapolation of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of sunitinib in children with gastrointestinal stromal tumors

The starting dose of sunitinib in children with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) was extrapolated based on data in adults with GIST or solid tumors and children with solid tumors. Integrated population pharmacokinetics (PK), PK/pharmacodynamics (PD), and exposure–response analyses using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling approaches were performed to extrapolate PK and PD of sunitinib in children with GIST at projected dose(s) with plasma drug exposures comparable to 50-mg/day in adults with GIST. The analysis datasets included PK/PD data in adults with GIST and adults and children with solid tumors. The effect of covariates on PK and safety/efficacy endpoints were explored. Two-compartment models with lag time were successfully used to describe the PK of sunitinib and its active metabolite SU012662. PK/PD models were successfully built to describe key continuous safety and efficacy endpoints. The effect of age on sunitinib apparent clearance (CL/F) and body surface area on SU012662 CL/F was statistically significant (P ≤ 0.001): children who were younger or of smaller body size had lower CL/F; however, age and body size did not appear to negatively affect safety or efficacy response to plasma drug exposure. Based on PK, safety, and efficacy trial simulations, a sunitinib starting dose of ~ 25 mg/m2/day was predicted to provide comparable plasma drug exposures in children with GIST as in adults with GIST treated with 50 mg/day. However, in the absence of a tumor type effect of sunitinib on CL/F in children, the projected equivalent dose for this population would be ~ 20 mg/m2/day.
Deciphering Myostatin's Regulatory, Metabolic, and Developmental Influence in Skeletal Diseases.

Current research findings in humans and other mammalian and non-mammalian species support the potent regulatory role of myostatin in the morphology and function of muscle as well as cellular differentiation and metabolism, with real-life implications in agricultural meat production and human disease. Myostatin null mice (mstn-/- ) exhibit skeletal muscle fiber hyperplasia and hypertrophy whereas myostatin deficiency in larger mammals like sheep and pigs engender muscle fiber hyperplasia. Myostatin's impact extends beyond muscles, with alterations in myostatin present in the pathophysiology of myocardial infarctions, inflammation, insulin resistance, diabetes, aging, cancer cachexia, and musculoskeletal disease. In this review, we explore myostatin's role in skeletal integrity and bone cell biology either due to direct biochemical signaling or indirect mechanisms of mechanotransduction. In vitro, myostatin inhibits osteoblast differentiation and stimulates osteoclast activity in a dose-dependent manner. Mice deficient in myostatin also have decreased osteoclast numbers, increased cortical thickness, cortical tissue mineral density in the tibia, and increased vertebral bone mineral density. Further, we explore the implications of these biochemical and biomechanical influences of myostatin signaling in the pathophysiology of human disorders that involve musculoskeletal degeneration. The pharmacological inhibition of myostatin directly or via decoy receptors has revealed improvements in muscle and bone properties in mouse models of osteogenesis imperfecta, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and diabetes. However, recent disappointing clinical trial outcomes of induced myostatin inhibition in diseases with significant neuromuscular wasting and atrophy reiterate complexity and further need for exploration of the translational application of myostatin inhibition in humans.
The Immediate Physiological Effects of E-Cigarette Use and Exposure to Secondhand E-Cigarette Vapor.

BACKGROUND: Vaping continues to grow as an alternative to smoking and as a recreational activity for people of all ages, including minors. The billion-dollar industry offers users a plethora of flavors, nicotine concentrations, e-juice combinations, and devices. While some studies suggest vaping is beneficial for certain ailments and as a smoking cessation tool, many studies report concerning health outcomes associated with vape use. Recent FDA regulations have banned certain vaping products following an increase of vaping-related lung injuries reported in 2019. Health care providers need to better understand the physiological effects of vaping-specific products and the impact of secondhand vapor. The specific aims of the present study were to understand the immediate effects on heart rate, breathing frequency, blood pressure, blood sugar, S pO 2 , pulmonary function, and oral temperature following e-cigarette use and secondhand vapor exposure. METHODS: A total of 149 volunteers participated in this study; 76 subjects vaped mint-flavored e-cigarettes with 5% nicotine for 20 min while seated next to 73 nonvaping subjects who agreed to be exposed to the vapor. Health variables including heart rate, blood pressure, breathing frequency, blood glucose, FVC, S pO 2 , and oral temperature were obtained prior to vaping or exposure to vapor and again after 20 min. RESULTS: Subjects who vaped had significantly higher heart rate, breathing frequency, and oral temperature, and significantly lower blood oxygenation levels (ie, S pO 2 ) after vaping for 20 min. Nonvaping subjects exposed to vapor had significantly higher oral temperature after 20 min of exposure. Blood sugar and FVC were not significantly affected by vaping or exposure to vapor. CONCLUSIONS: Vaping with mint-flavored e-cigarettes with 5% nicotine for 20 min resulted in significant immediate physiological changes. Exposure to e-cigarette vapor significantly increased oral temperature within the same amount of time.
To whom the specimen goes: a look at how touch preparations and core needle biopsies are handled in different practices and the effect on fellowship education.

Introduction Core needle biopsies (CNBs) have proven to be an excellent source of tissue for diagnosis and ancillary testing in the era of personalized medicine, commonly yielding sufficient material for testing via a relatively minimally invasive technique. Thus, there has been an increase in touch preparations (TPs) evaluated with rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE) of these small biopsies either in isolation or with concurrent fine needle aspiration (FNA). This in turn has forced cytopathology practices to make decisions with regard to processing and workflow of CNBs, which affects cytopathology fellowship education substantially. Study design The present review is based on a review of recent literature and an evaluation of the authors' personal experiences. Results and conclusions Deciding whether CNBs with associated TPs should be assigned to the cytology service, the subspecialty or general surgical pathology service, or a split between cytopathology and surgical pathology, is complicated. The workflow is variable at different institutions depending on multiple factors. Each of these routes has benefits and disadvantages that can affect patient care and laboratory workflow, in addition to having downstream effects on the quality and type of education our pathology trainees receive. Herein, the advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches for CNB triage are discussed, with an emphasis on the impact upon cytopathology fellowship education.
Carbon-11 labeled triphenylmethylamides as potential PET melanoma cancer imaging agents

1869 Objectives: Small molecules triphenylmethylamides (TPMAs) have been developed as potential antimelanoma agents by Dothager et al., in which some TPMAs were found to potently induce apoptosis in melanoma cells through G1 cell cycle arrest and dramatically reduce the level of active nuclear factor κ-B (NFκB) in the cell. We are interested in the development of new cancer imaging agents. TPMAs labeled with carbon-11 may enable non-invasive monitoring of cancer proliferation and apoptosis in melanoma cells and NFκB, and melanoma cancer response to chemotherapy using PET imaging technique. Methods: To further develop chemotherapeutic agents as diagnostic agents, two carbon-11 labeled TPMA compounds, N-(4-[11C]methoxyphenyl)-2,2,2-triphenyl-acetamide ([11C]MTA) and 3-phenyl-(R)-2-(2,2,2-triphenyl-acetylamino)-propionic acid [11C]methyl ester ([11C]PAME), were designed and synthesized. The reference standards N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,2,2-triphenyl-acetamide (MTA) and 3-phenyl-(R)-2-(2,2,2-triphenyl-acetylamino)-propionic acid methyl ester (PAME) were prepared from triphenylacetyl acid with corresponding amines p-anisidine and D-phenylalanine methyl ester via 2 steps. The desmethylation of MTA and PAME provided precursors N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2,2-triphenyl-acetamide and 3-phenyl-(R)-2-(2,2,2-triphenyl-acetylamino)-propionic acid, respectively, which were labeled with [11C]methyl triflate under basic conditions to give target radiotracers. The structure of the compound MTA was determined by X-ray crystallography. Results: The overall chemical yields for MTA and PAME and precursors were 92% and 90% in 2 steps, and 83% and 86% in 3 steps, respectively. [11C]MTA was synthesized through O-[11C]methylation of phenol precursor and purified by HPLC in 30-35% radiochemical yields, 30-35 min overall synthesis and formulation time from EOB, >99% radiochemical purity and > 1.5 Ci/μmol specific activity at EOS. [11C]PAME was synthesized through O-[11C]methylation of carboxylic acid precursor and purified by C18 SPE in 40-45% radiochemical yields, 20-25 min overall synthesis and formulation time from EOB, >95% radiochemical purity and > 1.0 Ci/μmol specific activity at EOS. The reported IC50 values in melanoma cell lines and normal human bone marrow UACC-62, B16-F10, SK-MEL-5 and bone marrow for MTA and PAME show both compounds are potent antimelanoma agents. The single crystal structure of the most selective antimelanoma agent of TMPAs, MTA, was obtained. Conclusions: The synthetic procedures that provided precursors, reference standards, and target tracers have been well-developed. The single crystal structure of the most potent compound MTA was first reported. The chemistry results with reported in vitro data warrant further in vivo evaluation of the new tracers [11C]MTA and [11C]PAME as potential PET melanoma cancer imaging agents.
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma tumor growth suppression using adenoviral vectors expressing endostatin-angiostatin fusion protein

3313 INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is the third most common urologic neoplasm. Radiation and chemotherapy have largely proven ineffective in treating metastatic disease. Immunotherapy has shown modest results. These limitations have prompted investigation into novel techniques. One promising area is gene therapy. The highly vascular tumors of RCC appear to be highly susceptible to antiangiogenic gene therapy. The aim of this study was to produce metastatic tumor inhibition using combined treatments of tailored adenovirus therapy. METHODS: Subcutaneous RCC-29 tumors were induced in 7-week old athymic nude male mice by injecting 2x10 6 cells bilaterally into each flank region. On days 2 and 10 post-injection, the mice were subjected to an intratumoral injection of adenoviral vector on the right flank only. The mice were randomly assigned to seven treatment groups: control (n=7), GFP (n=7), Tie2 (n=9), Endostatin/Angiostatin (n=8), GFP + Tie2 (n=7), GFP + EndoAngio (n=9), and EndoAngio + Tie2 (n=8). Each group received two injections of 2x10 9 PFU respectively. The tumor volumes were measured twice weekly for 60 days. Additionally, during days 40-50 of the trial, the subjects were administered fluorescent rhodamine-conjugated BSA dye and skin windows were established over the tumors. Using dual-photon optical imaging, qualitative assessment of tumor vasculature was performed. RESULTS: Tumors treated with adenovirus expressing endostatin-angiostatin fusion protein, GFP + EndoAngio, and EndoAngio + Tie2 demonstrated 82%, 83%, and 87% growth reduction respectively (p in vivo imaging illustrated a reduction in blood vessel number and size in the EndoAngio treatment groups as compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that adenoviral vectors expressing Endostatin/Angiostatin fusion proteins have effective antiangiogenic action against human RCC cells and possess great potential as a novel treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
"I Just Absolutely Loved What I Did": The Rhetorical Construction of a Disabled Identity

Siebers (2008) calls for a move beyond the social model of disability toward a "theory of complex embodiment" that allows for acknowledgment of the "negative" aspects of embodied disability and, in turn, allows for the adoption of a disabled identity. I answer Siebers' call by analyzing the discourse of one disabled individual—my father, a man with multiple sclerosis—and discussing his complex identity construction as a disabled person who sees the disability as a source of strength and knowledge as well as a source of suffering. Returning to that on which the social model is built—rhetoric—I argue that his rhetorical construction of a disabled identity is necessary and provides evidence for the need to step beyond the social model as currently conceived.
The panE Gene, Encoding Ketopantoate Reductase, Maps at 10 Minutes and Is Allelic to apbA in Salmonella typhimurium

In Salmonella typhimurium, precursors to the pyrimidine moiety of thiamine are synthesized de novo by the purine biosynthetic pathway or the alternative pyrimidine biosynthetic (APB) pathway. The apbA gene was the first locus defined as required for function of the APB pathway (D. M. Downs and L. Petersen, J. Bacteriol. 176:4858–4864, 1994). Recent work showed the ApbA protein catalyzes the NADPH-specific reduction of ketopantoic acid to pantoic acid. This activity had previously been associated with the pantothenate biosynthetic gene panE. Although previous reports placed panE at 87 min on the Escherichia coli chromosome, we show herein that apbA and panE are allelic and map to 10 min on both the S. typhimurium and E. coli chromosomes. Results presented here suggest that the role of ApbA in thiamine synthesis is indirect since in vivo labeling studies showed that pantoic acid, the product of the ApbA-catalyzed reaction, is not a direct precursor to thiamine via the APB pathway.
Gastroscopic findings in patients with subtotal gastrectomy.

Summary 1.The gastroscopic findings in 62 patients who were asymptomatic 3.5 years after a subtotal gastrectomy for peptic ulcer were compared with 82 patients who had symptoms suggestive of recurrent ulcer following such an operation. 2.No difference in the size of the gastric remnant or stoma could be demonstrated in patients with and without dumping symptoms. 3.The incidence of normal gastric mucosa was the same in both the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. (When abnormalities were seen, there was a tendency for multiple abnormalities to occur in the symptomatic group.) 4.No correlation was noted between the size of the gastric remnant and the recurrence of an ulcer. 5.By the use of both radiologic and gastroscopic examinations 34 ulcers were demonstrated in the 82 symptomatic patients. 6.It is suggested that the finding of a fish-mouth narrowed stoma is significant and indicative of ulcerative disease.
Ribosomal Competence and Spore Germination in Fusarium solani

Extracts prepared from macroconidia of Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli are capable, under defined conditions, of incorporating phenylalanine into polypeptide with exogenous polyuridylic acid as messenger. Extracts from ungerminated and germinated spores have approximately the same activity. With endogenous template, leucine incorporation occurs, but in this reaction extracts from germinated spores have about 10 times more activity than do those from ungerminated spores. It is suggested that the low rate in ungerminated spores is attributable to a relative deficiency in the number of ribosomes which are organized into polysomes.
Biological Roles of Alpha-Fetoprotein During Pregnancy and Perinatal Development:

The use of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as a serum marker in cancer actually predates its employment in the detection of congenital defects; however, the latter use of AFP as a fetal defect marker has propelled its clinical utilization. Although the serum-marker capacity of AFP has long been exploited, less is known of the biological activities of this oncofetal protein during fetal and perinatal development. In the present review, the biological activities of AFP are discussed in light of this glycoprotein's presence in various biological fluid compartments: embryonic and fetal tissues, serum, urine, and reproductive fluids. After a review of the histochemical detection of AFP in various cells and tissues during development, AFP concentrations within various biological fluids were discussed in the context of gestational age and anatomic location. Discussion follows concerning the relationships and roles of AFP in developmental events such as erthyropoiesis, histogenesis/organogenesis, and ligand binding and in developmental disorders such as hypothyroidism, folate deficiencies, and acquired immunodeficiency disorder (AIDS). Based on its association with so many types of birth defects, malformations, and congenital anomalies, AFP can be viewed as a molecular "troubleshooter" until signal transduction pathways are established during pregnancy and prenatal development. The review concludes with a discussion of the place of AFP in the rapidly expanding field of proteomics.
Nurses' perspectives: hospitalized older patients and end‐of‐life decision‐making

Aims To explore pressing issues identified by nurses caring for older patients in US NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for the Healthsystem Elders) hospitals, regarding palliative care and end-of-life (EOL) decision-making. Objectives are to (1) identify the most pressing palliative care and EOL decision-making issues and strategies to address them and (2) identify the association of nursing demographics (age, gender, race, education and experience), institutional/unit characteristics and these issues. Background Critical care nurses have an integral role in supporting older patients and families faced with palliative care and EOL decision-making issues. Despite national imperatives to improve the quality of palliative care, patients continue to experience uncontrolled pain, inadequate communication, disregard of their wishes and life prolonging interventions. These contribute to increased hospitalizations and costs. Understanding the prevalent issues is needed to address patient needs at the end-of-life. Design It is a mixed method study. Methods A secondary analysis of the NICHE Geriatric Institutional Assessment Profile (GIAP) database (collected 1/08-9/13) was conducted using the sample of Critical Care RNs who provided comments regarding palliative care and EOL decision-making. Qualitative data were analyzed using Dedoose software. Data clusters and patterns of co-occurring codes were explored through an iterative analysis process. Themes were examined across nurse demographics, institutional and unit characteristics. Results Comments specifically addressing issues regarding EOL decision-making were provided by 393 critical care nurses from 156 hospitals (x‾ age = 42·3 years, 51% BSN degree). Overarching theme was discordance in goals of care (prolonging life versus quality of life), ineffective physician-patient-family communication, lack of time and unrealistic expectations. Conclusions Nurses' descriptions highlight the need for increased communication, staff education and availability of palliative care services. Relevance to Practice Palliative care and EOL decision-making will remain a nursing priority as people age and require increased care.