cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microscopic hydraulic behavior from the interactions between uneven-sized wet particles and liquid bridge

Soil particle-level investigation of basic behavior for unsaturated soil is increasingly concerned by soil mechanics researchers. It seems easier to recognize microscopic hydraulic behavior of wet particulate material such as unsaturated soil by analyzing the interaction between wet particles and liquid bridge. A theoretical model for the interaction between uneven-sized wet particles and liquid bridge is proposed,consisting of an assumed toroid-shaped liquid bridge in contact with corresponding smooth particles,at a separation determined by their actual surface roughness. The volume and capillary force of the liquid bridge between them are related to matric suction,ratio of particle radius,solid-liquid contact angles,and roughness of the particles. In addition,equilibrium between liquid and liquid vapor is also analyzed. Finally, the model can be in good accordance with the test data of capillary force versus particle separation in the past literature.
Analysis of the extended influenza surveillance in Wuxi City between 2010 and 2012

Objective The study analyzed the results of influenza surveillance in Wuxi between 2010 and 2012 to determine the epidemic patterns, species of viruses, and the levels of virus activities, so to provide a scientific reference for the prevention and control of influenza epidemic. Methods Influenza surveillance results from the existing national sentinels in Wuxi City between 2010-2012 and from county sentinels in 2012 were analyzed. The influenza surveillance monitored patients with influenza-like illness and the etiology of the epidemic. A portion of the ILI throat swab specimens from the sentinel hospitals were collected; viruses in the specimens were isolated by real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and culturing Madin-Darby canine kidney(MDCK) cells, and the isolated influenza strains were genotyped by hemagglutination inhibition assay. Results A total of 1354671 patients visited the clinics at the two national sentinel hospitals between 2010 and 2012, including 28919 cases of ILI(2.13%). The ILI% peaked in winter/spring and in summer, and 70.30% of the ILI cases occurred in patients under the age of 5. The correlation between positive rate of influenza nucleic acids and ILI% was not statistically significant(P0.05); during certain peak months, the positive rate and ILI% showed slight deviations or no peak value for ILI%. In 2012, positive rate of influenza strains(72.73%) and ILI%(27.47%) at two county sentinel hospitals in Jiangyin City peaked at the 30th week; and the two numbers were positively correlated(with a correlation coefficient of 0.738, P0.01). Among the 3720 collected nasopharyngeal swabs, 566 strains of influenza virus were detected, with a positive rate of 15.22% and the percentage of A(H3), Type A H1N1, and Type B H1N1 being 37.81%, 11.66%, and 50.53%, respectively. The positive rate of influenza virus was the highest among patients in the 15-24 age group, and the most common strains were Type B and Type A H1N1; positive rate of A(H3) was the highest among patients over the age of 60. Conclusion After the Type A H1N1 influenza pandemic, influenza epidemic in Wuxi City between 2010 and 2012 had exhibited a regular seasonality; ILI and positive rate of influenza virus peaked twice each year, in winter/spring and in summer to be more specific. Prevalence of dominant strains had shown a certain degree of regularity, and influenza virus activity had been correlated with ILI. ILI surveillance data from some county areas was high in sensitivity and in consistency between ILI% and positive rate.
Imaginary Worlds: The Status of Modeled Quality Adjusted Life Year Claims for New Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation Published Between January 2012 and February 2016

The purpose of this commentary is to evaluate modeled quality adjusted life year claims (QALYs) for new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) published in the period from January 2012 to February 2016. The focus of this commentary is to assess whether or not the modeled claims meet the standards of normal science in supporting falsification and replication. A systematic and consensus review by the authors identified a total of 23 cost-utility NOACs evaluations along with four single technology appraisals undertaken by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK. Each study was evaluated in terms of four criteria: (i) did the study generate evaluable claims (ii) id the authors attempt to generate evaluable claims (iii) did the authors suggest how the claims might be evaluated and (iv) did the authors caution readers as to the implications of generating non-evaluable projections or claims for credibility in health system decision making? None of the 23 studies assessed or the four NICE single technology appraisals met any of the four assessment criteria. None of the studies presented projections or claims in a form suitable for empirical evaluation. None could support falsification or replication. They failed the standards associated with the scientific method. Failure to meet the standards of normal science meant that the studies, from a formulary assessment perspective, are not credible. The claims made were either impossible to verify, or if potentially verifiable, were not presented in a testable form. There was no basis for assessing whether the claims were right or even if they were wrong. This lack of scientific credibility is a major concern. In particular, the choice of a lifetime cost-utility framework for assessing the NOACs against warfarin and against each other effectively precludes any experimental assessment. If medical economics is to advance through the formulation and testing of hypotheses, then editors of journals should consider whether or not to set standards for the acceptance of publications to include the requirement for testable claims and the results of claims assessment. If this is not acceptable, then it should be made clear that published modeled claims and simulations are simply imaginary worlds or thought experiments. Editors cannot sit back and assume that at some time in the future non-testable projections will possibly be evaluated. Conflict of Interest None Type: Commentary
Oxygen measurements to improve singlet oxygen dosimetry

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves interactions between the three main components of light fluence, photosensitizer concentration, and oxygenation. Currently, singlet oxygen explicit dosimetry (SOED) has focused on the first two of these components. The macroscopic model to calculate reacted singlet oxygen has previously involved a fixed initial ground state oxygen concentration. A phosphorescence-based oxygen probe was used to measure ground state oxygen concentration throughout treatments for mice bearing radioactively induced fibroscarcoma tumors. Photofrin-, BPD-, and HPPH-mediated PDT was performed on mice. Model-calculated oxygen and measured oxygen was compared to evaluate the macroscopic model as well as the photochemical parameters involved. Oxygen measurements at various depths were compared to calculated values. Furthermore, we explored the use of noninvasive diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) to measure tumor blood flow changes in response to PDT to improve the model calculation of reacted singlet oxygen. Mice were monitored after treatment to see the effect of oxygenation on long-term recurrence-free survival as well as the efficacy of using reacted singlet oxygen as a predictive measure of outcome. Measurement of oxygenation during treatment helps to improve SOED as well as confirm the photochemical parameters involved in the macroscopic model. Use of DCS in predicting oxygenation changes was also investigated.
Holographic Aperture Ladar with Range Compression

Simultaneous range compression and aperture synthesis is experimentally demonstrated with a stepped linear frequency modulated waveform and holographic aperture ladar. The resultant three-dimensional (3D) data has high resolution in the aperture synthesis dimension and is recorded using a conventional low bandwidth focal plane array. Individual cross-range field segments are coherently combined using data driven registration and phase correction methods allowing range compression to be performed without the benefit of a coherent waveform. Furthermore, we demonstrate a synergistically enhanced ability to discriminate image objects due to the coaction of range compression and aperture synthesis. We show that two objects can be precisely located in 3D space, despite being unresolved in two directions, due to resolution gains in both the range and azimuth cross-range dimensions.
Dropping the hammer: Examining impact ignition and combustion using pre-stressed aluminum powder

Pre-stressing aluminum (Al) particles by annealing and quenching Al powder alters particle mechanical properties and has also been linked to an increase in particle reactivity. Specifically, energy propagation in composites consisting of aluminum mixed with copper oxide (Al + CuO) exhibits a 24% increase in flame speed when using pre-stressed aluminum (PS Al) compared to Al of the same particle size. However, no data exist for the reactivity of PS Al powders under impact loading. In this study, a drop weight impact tester with pressure cell was designed and built to examine impact ignition sensitivity and combustion of PS Al when mixed with CuO. Both micron and nanometer scale powders (i.e., μAl and nAl, respectively) were pre-stressed, then combined with CuO and analyzed. Three types of ignition and combustion events were identified: ignition with complete combustion, ignition with incomplete combustion, and no ignition or combustion. The PS nAl + CuO demonstrated a lower impact ignition energy threshold...
Bi-resonant klynac

Abstract Here we present the first analysis of a new device called the bi-resonant klynac, which is a combined klystron and linac. In a bi-resonant klynac, all RF cells, except for the cell that acts as the input for the klystron section, belong to a single resonant circuit. This resonant coupling configuration leads to increased operational stability and can tolerate significant temperature variations. In this paper, a basic analysis of this device is presented, including discussions of how it operates and of the advantages of resonantly coupling the RF generation directly to the linac. We additionally describe the approach used to numerically model the klynac and we include detailed simulations of a 50-kV, 10-A klynac that produces a 1-MeV, 0.1-A output beam. This type of device may be especially useful for situations where an electron beam is needed at low cost.
Vitamin K-Dependent Coagulopathy in Pediatric Osteomyelitis: A Case Report.

Thromboembolism in children is rare and is generally limited to those with genetic disorders of coagulation and diseases that induce a hypercoagulable state1. The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in children with osteomyelitis is reported to be much higher (between 5% and 10%) 2-4. In addition to DVT, there are other coagulation abnormalities that occur with osteomyelitis that are often paradoxically “mixed” and include features of hypercoagulability (such as pulmonary embolus and cerebral infarct5) and hypocoagulability with increased risk of bleeding4,6-11. The pathophysiology behind the coagulopathy associated with osteomyelitis is unknown. Because mixed coagulopathies often result from a loss of both procoagulant and anticoagulant factors, we hypothesize that osteomyelitis induces persistent activation of the coagulation system, resulting in consumption of coagulation factors. We present a case of osteomyelitis in a fifteen-year-old boy who developed both hypercoagulable disease (DVT) and hypocoagulable disease (gastrointestinal bleed). Laboratory evaluation revealed a severe consumption of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors, which responded rapidly to the administration of subcutaneous vitamin K. The patient and his parents were informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and they provided consent. A fifteen-year-old previously healthy boy presented with a three-day history of left knee pain after minor trauma, fever, and inability to bear weight. A summary of the laboratory findings throughout hospitalization is presented in Figure 1. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the left leg revealed a large subperiosteal abscess and osteomyelitis of the distal part of the femur (Fig. 2-A). The patient subsequently underwent irrigation and debridement. Intraoperative duplex ultrasound showed an occlusive thrombus in the left superficial femoral and popliteal veins (Figs. 2-C, 2-D, and 2-E). Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus grew on both blood and intraoperative cultures. Fig. 1 Coagulation and inflammatory changes …
Evaluating a Child Abuse Intervention Program

Abusing parents who became part of an educational-developmental treatment program, Positive Parenting, were compared with a control group of abusers in a pre- and post-testing evaluation process. S...
La crise de la psychiatrie contemporaine 2ème partie: la reconquête du singulier

La premiere partie de l’article (PSN vol. 1, n° 3 : 19–24) a mis en evidence les faiblesses theoriques et les contraintes pratiques qui grevent la psychiatrie contemporaine, dominee par un processus de medicalisation excessive car non ponderee par une conception du normal et du pathologique. Dans cette seconde partie, les auteurs repondent au reductionnisme scientifique en developpant les elements d’une anthropologie philosophique. Une approche globale de la realite humaine, prenant en compte les dimensions biologique, psychologique, sociale et culturelle, vise a comprendre l’existence singuliere ainsi que son rapport de dependance ou d’independance a l’egard de l’environnement. Les differents types de rapport de l’individu aux roles sociaux el aux valeurs etablies donnent lieu a des “types existentiaux”, conduisant a jouer des roles sociaux et historiques differents. Pour des raisons a la fois biologiques et sociales, les personnes sujettes a des troubles psychiatriques sont fixees inflexiblement a une seule forme de relation aux valeurs : la suridentification, dans la maladie maniaco-depressive (“hypernomie”) ; l’affaiblissement, dans la schizophrenie (“heteronomie”) ; la sous-identification, dans certains troubles de la personnalite (“hyponomie”) ; le conflit, dans le trouble obsessionnel (“idionomie”).
Normal Adipose Tissue Biology: Adipocytokines and Inflammation

The adipose tissue is now considered an active endocrine organ. Adipocytes and immune cells (mainly macrophages) in the adipose tissue secrete biologically active proteins that act locally or at distant sites and thus regulate metabolism. These proteins are collectively referred to as adipocytokines. As obesity develops, adipocytes enlarge and die while macrophages massively infiltrate the adipose tissue. As a result, the adipocytokine profile shifts from anti-inflammatory to proinflammatory. Leptin, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-6 are well-characterized proinflammatory adipocytokines. Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing adipocytokine. Proinflammatory adipocytokines generally increase, while anti-inflammatory adipocytokines decrease in obesity and these changes mediate development of obesity-related metabolic dysfunctions such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and atherosclerosis. However, therapeutic interventions targeting adipocytokines have not been very successful in the treatment of obesity and associated metabolic conditions. More work on the detailed action of adipocytokines will not only help understand the pathophysiology of metabolic dysfunction associated with obesity but also assist to identify therapeutic targets to prevent or reverse these metabolic derangements.
LTD at mossy fiber synapses onto stratum lucidum interneurons requires TrkB and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling.

We investigated signaling mechanisms underlying plasticity of the hippocampal mossy fiber filopodial synapse with interneurons in stratum lucidum. High-frequency stimulation of the mossy fibers ind...
Factors influencing surgical treatment decisions for breast cancer: a qualitative exploration of surgeon and patient perspectives

Background The rate of mastectomy is much higher in Newfoundland and Labrador than in any other province in Canada, even for women diagnosed at an early stage. In this paper, we present qualitative data from women who have made a decision for surgical treatment and from breast surgeons in an effort to better explicate factors influencing breast cancer (bca) surgical decision-making. Methods The study’s descriptive, qualitative design involved holding interviews with breast surgeons and holding focus groups and interviews with women who were offered the choice of breast-conserving surgery (bcs) or mastectomy (mt). Results Participants included 35 women and 13 surgeons. High interest in mt and increasing requests for prophylactic contralateral mt were evident. A host of factors—clinical, demographic, psychosocial, education-related, and cultural—influenced the decisions. A key factor for women was fear of recurrence and a need to “just get rid of it,” but the experiences of others also influenced the decisions. Life stage and family considerations also factored prominently into women’s decisions. Conclusions Women with early-stage bca more often chose mt and often demanded prophylactic removal of the healthy breast. Findings highlight the importance of ensuring that women at average risk are appropriately counselled about the low likelihood of a subsequent contralateral bca and the lack of survival benefit associated with prophylactic contralateral mt. Findings also revealed other areas of presurgical discussion that might help women think through their personal circumstances and values so as to encourage informed surgical decisions.
Payloads of Antibody-Drug Conjugates

The payload of antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) is the warhead of ADCs that kills the tumor cells. Three classes of highly potent toxins including maytansinoids, auristatins, and calicheamicins are currently being employed or pursued in the clinic as the payloads of ADCs. The structures, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and toxicities of these toxins are reviewed and discussed. The payloads along with the clinically tested ADCs and their therapeutic areas are summarized.
The intellectual structure of the journal Business Strategy and the Environment: A 25‐year author cocitation analysis

This article presents the intellectual structure and 25‐year author cocitation analysis of the journal Business Strategy and the Environment. The findings show that Business Strategy and the Environment is an emerging, well‐established journal in its field. The journal needs a core set of authors who are actively engaged in the production and certification of knowledge; further, it consists of a number of loosely linked research team contributors, each with its own areas of interest. The existence of these research teams is a sign of strength that characterizes the journal as it strives to foster a community of unified scholars whose published works advance our understanding of business strategic decisions and behavior with regard to the natural environment. This study is useful for contributors, readers, and editorial board members who form the journal's community of knowledge creation and certification.
Locomotor Coordination, Visual Perception and Head Stability during Running

Perception and action are coupled such that information from the perceptual system is related to the dynamics of action in order to regulate behavior adaptively. Using running as a model of a cyclic behavior, this coupling involves a continuous, cyclic relationship between the runner's perception of the environment and the necessary adjustments of the body that ultimately result in a stable pattern of behavior. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how individuals relate visual perception to rhythmic locomotor coordination patterns in conditions during which foot-ground collisions and visual task demands are altered. We review the findings of studies conducted to illustrate how humans change their behavior to maintain head stability during running with and without various degrees of visual challenge from the environment. Finally, we show that the human body adapts specific segment/joint configuration and coordination patterns to maintain head stability, both in the lower extremity and upper body segments, together with an increase in coordinative variability. These results indicate that in human locomotion, under higher speed (running) and visual task demands, systematic adaptations occur in the rhythmic coupling between the perceptual and movement systems.
Saliva and Drugs of Abuse

The drug overdose epidemic resulted in approximately 630,000 deaths from 1999 to 2016 according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2015, 52,404 drug overdose deaths occurred in the USA in which 63.1% involved an opioid; whereas in 2016, there were 63,632 drug overdose deaths reported, opioids accounted for 66.4% of them. On average, 115 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) confirmed this data by reporting that drug-related deaths have more than doubled since 2000. There are more deaths, oral and systemic complications and disabilities from substance use than from any other preventable health condition. Today, one in four deaths is attributable to alcohol, tobacco, and illicit or prescription drug use. NIDA 5 pertains to the five drugs of abuse, which should be tested in relation to a drug-free workplace, by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The NIDA 5 drugs that need to be tested are Cannabinoids (hashish, marijuana, THC or tetrahydrocannabinol), phencyclidine (PCP), opiates (opium, codeine, heroin, and morphine), amphetamines (methamphetamine), and cocaine (benzoylecognine, cocaethylene).
Deep learning based wireless localization for indoor navigation

Location services, fundamentally, rely on two components: a mapping system and a positioning system. The mapping system provides the physical map of the space, and the positioning system identifies the position within the map. Outdoor location services have thrived over the last couple of decades because of well-established platforms for both these components (e.g. Google Maps for mapping, and GPS for positioning). In contrast, indoor location services haven't caught up because of the lack of reliable mapping and positioning frameworks. Wi-Fi positioning lacks maps and is also prone to environmental errors. In this paper, we present DLoc, a Deep Learning based wireless localization algorithm that can overcome traditional limitations of RF-based localization approaches (like multipath, occlusions, etc.). We augment DLoc with an automated mapping platform, MapFind. MapFind constructs location-tagged maps of the environment and generates training data for DLoc. Together, they allow off-the-shelf Wi-Fi devices like smartphones to access a map of the environment and to estimate their position with respect to that map. During our evaluation, MapFind has collected location estimates of over 105 thousand points under 8 different scenarios with varying furniture positions and people motion across two different spaces covering 2000 sq. Ft. DLoc outperforms state-of-the-art methods in Wi-Fi-based localization by 80% (median & 90th percentile) across the two different spaces.
Enhancing Crop Breeding Using Population Genomics Approaches

The use of genetic information to predict the value of individuals in plant breeding populations began about 40 years ago. The original paradigm was to identify genomic regions with outsize influence on a trait of economic value and then to use markers in that genomic region to select individuals carrying the desired allelic variants. An explosion of interest in mapping such quantitative trait loci (QTL) followed, with thousands of genomic regions associated with important traits across many species. The practical use of such information lagged well behind the discovery of QTL, however, due mostly to the problem that individual markers were often only associated with a small proportion of genetic variation, such that their value in selection was very small. In a few lucky cases, individual genes with very large effects on important traits were discovered, and these could be more easily turned into useful selection targets. Genome-wide association studies have improved the ability to identify individual variants associated with useful effects in crops, but the fundamental problem of accurately estimating marker effects and using them in selection remains for traits affected by many genes. Genomic selection was proposed by animal breeders as a way to more effectively use the information contained in dense genetic marker sets for the prediction of quantitative traits. Crop breeders subsequently discovered that this approach could be generalized across the diverse population structures and mating systems of plants and have begun implementing genomic selection in crops with success. Here, we first discuss how to identify and select for major genes and QTL in the breeding process. We then discuss the myriad benefits of implementing genomic selection to improve the rate of genetic gain.
Valosin-Containing Protein, a Calcium-Associated ATPase Protein, in Endoplasmic Reticulum and Mitochondrial Function and Its Implications for Diseases.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrion are the key organelles in mammal cells and play crucial roles in a variety of biological functions in both physiological and pathological conditions. Valosin-containing protein (VCP), a newly identified calcium-associated ATPase protein, has been found to be involved in both ER and mitochondrial function. Impairment of VCP, caused by structural mutations or alterations of expressions, contributes to the development of various diseases, through an integrating effect on ER, mitochondria and the ubiquitin–proteasome system, by interfering with protein degradation, subcellular translocation and calcium homeostasis. Thus, understanding the role and the molecular mechanisms of VCP in these organelles brings new insights to the pathogenesis of the associated diseases, and leads to the discovery of new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarized the progress of studies on VCP, in terms of its regulation of ER and mitochondrial function and its implications for the associated diseases, focusing on the cancers, heart disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.
Experimental tasks of behavioral risk taking in alcohol administration studies: A systematic review

Abstract Research on emerging adults shows this population exhibits the highest rates of alcohol use and engages in the riskiest of behaviors (Boyer, 2006; Fromme, Corbin, & Kruse, 2008). Among experimental paradigms, prior reviews have established an increase in behavioral risk taking while under the influence of alcohol (Moskowitz & Robinson, 1988; Martin et al., 2013; Weafer & Fillmore, 2016). Previous research highlighted the importance of alcohol dose on behavioral risk taking and the lack of agreement on which psychometric tools are most accurate in assessing behavioral risk taking (Beulow & Blaine, 2015; King, Toule, De Wit, & Holdstock, 2002). This systematic review of experimental paradigms assessing the effects of the dose of alcohol on various behavioral risk taking tasks suggest that higher alcohol doses (0.6 g/kg and above) produces the most robust increase in behavioral risk taking across tasks, compared to lower doses of alcohol ( Public Health Significance Past experimental paradigms measuring behavioral risk taking under the influence of alcohol in emerging adults have used various alcohol administration paradigms, experimental protocols, and behavioral risk tasks. Key to examining behavioral risk taking via experimental paradigms should use at higher alcohol doses. Future interventions need to assess for levels of blood alcohol concentration when assessing for at-risk populations for alchol use disorders.
A Ticket to Ride: The Implications of Direct Intercellular Communication via Tunneling Nanotubes in Peritoneal and Other Invasive Malignancies.

It is well established that the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in cancer progression and therapeutic resistance is crucial, but many of the underlying mechanisms are still being elucidated. Even with better understanding of molecular oncology and identification of genomic drivers of these processes, there has been a relative lag in identifying and appreciating the cellular drivers of both invasion and resistance. Intercellular communication is a vital process that unifies and synchronizes the diverse components of the tumoral infrastructure. Elucidation of the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) over the past decade has cast a brighter light on this field. And yet even with this advance, in addition to diffusible soluble factor-mediated paracrine and endocrine cell communication as well as EVs, additional niches of intratumoral communication are filled by other modes of intercellular transfer. Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), tumor microtubes (TMs), and other similar intercellular channels are long filamentous actin-based cellular conduits (in most epithelial cancer cell types, ~15-500 µm in length; 50-1000+ nm in width). They extend and form direct connections between distant cells, serving as conduits for direct intercellular transfer of cell cargo, such as mitochondria, exosomes, and microRNAs; however, many of their functional roles in mediating tumor growth remain unknown. These conduits literally create a physical bridge to create a syncytial network of dispersed cells amidst the intercellular stroma-rich matrix. Emerging evidence suggests that they provide a cellular mechanism for induction and emergence of drug resistance and contribute to increased invasive and metastatic potential. They have been imaged in vitro and also in vivo and ex vivo in tumors from human patients as well as animal models, thus not only proving their existence in the TME, but opening further speculation about their exact role in the dynamic niche of tumor ecosystems. TNT cellular networks are upregulated between cancer and stromal cells under hypoxic and other conditions of physiologic and metabolic stress. Furthermore, they can connect malignant cells to benign cells, including vascular endothelial cells. The field of investigation of TNT-mediated tumor-stromal, and tumor-tumor, cell-cell communication is gaining momentum. The mixture of conditions in the microenvironment exemplified by hypoxia-induced ovarian cancer TNTs playing a crucial role in tumor growth, as just one example, is a potential avenue of investigation that will uncover their role in relation to other known factors, including EVs. If the role of cancer heterocellular signaling via TNTs in the TME is proven to be crucial, then disrupting formation and maintenance of TNTs represents a novel therapeutic approach for ovarian and other similarly invasive peritoneal cancers.
Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Growth is Minimal at Sizes That Do Not Meet Criteria for Surgical Repair

Objective: Historic studies of nonsyndromic ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (aTAAs) suggested that aTAA growth rate was approximately 0.6mm/year, but data were limited, with relatively few stud...
Nurse Listening as Perceived by Patients: How to Improve the Patient Experience, Keep Patients Safe, and Raise HCAHPS Scores.

Objective The purpose of this qualitative research study was to ascertain which nurse behaviors a subsection of adults 50 years and older who had had a recent inpatient admission believed conveyed nurse listening. Background Listening by nurses has been identified as one of the factors with the greatest impact on patients' overall rating of their hospital experience. The behaviors of nurses that lead to patients' perceptions that listening has occurred have been unexamined, thus hampering attempts at improvement. Methods Because of lack of literature support, a qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis was undertaken to elicit a rich description of patients' lived experiences related to nurse listening behaviors. Results Study participants provided specific behaviors, both verbal and nonverbal, which led them to believe the nurse was either listening or not. These perceptions affected their sense of safety and ability to trust. Conclusions Embracing these described behaviors could significantly impact patients' safety and recovery.
Febrile neutropenia after kidney transplantation.

Neutropenia is common after kidney transplant. There are few data on febrile neutropenia episodes (FNE) after kidney transplant. We studied FNE in a single-center retrospective cohort of 1682 kidney transplant recipients. Neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count [ANC] <1000) occurred in 32% and FNE in 3%. There were 56 FNE. Median time to FNE was 143 days, and median time from onset of neutropenia to onset of FNE was 5.5 days. The most common sources of infection were urine, blood, and lungs, and in 20% of FNE no source was identified. No infectious organism was identified in 46% of FNE, and opportunistic infections were uncommon. Patient survival was similar among those with and without FNE, but FNE was associated with increased death-censored graft failure (DCGF). Following FNE, acute rejection occurred in 31% and DCGF in 15%, often in the setting of persistent reduced immunosuppression. In conclusion, FNE are common after kidney transplant and are associated with inferior long-term outcomes.
Human Deep Cortical Neurons Promote Regeneration and Recovery After Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract Cervical spinal cord injuries (SCI) sever and permanently disrupt sensorimotor neural circuitry. Restoring connectivity within the damaged circuitry is critical to improving function. Herein we report robust regeneration of severed neural circuitry in a rat SCI model following transplantation of human induced pluripotent cells differentiated towards a deep cortical neuron lineage (iPSC-DCNs). In vivo, iPSC-DCNs: (1) integrated within the damaged cord and extended axons to caudal targets, (2) reversed SCI pathophysiology, (3) promoted robust regeneration of severed host supraspinal neural tracts, (4) and improved sensorimotor function. The results herein represent a significant paradigm shift in anatomical and functional outcomes over current preclinical/clinical models and demonstrates the survival and efficacy of human stem cell-derived cortical neurons in a SCI.
Single-cell measurement of higher-order 3D genome organization with scSPRITE

Although three-dimensional (3D) genome organization is central to many aspects of nuclear function, it has been difficult to measure at the single-cell level. To address this, we developed 'single-cell split-pool recognition of interactions by tag extension' (scSPRITE). scSPRITE uses split-and-pool barcoding to tag DNA fragments in the same nucleus and their 3D spatial arrangement. Because scSPRITE measures multiway DNA contacts, it generates higher-resolution maps within an individual cell than can be achieved by proximity ligation. We applied scSPRITE to thousands of mouse embryonic stem cells and detected known genome structures, including chromosome territories, active and inactive compartments, and topologically associating domains (TADs) as well as long-range inter-chromosomal structures organized around various nuclear bodies. We observe that these structures exhibit different levels of heterogeneity across the population, with TADs representing dynamic units of genome organization across cells. We expect that scSPRITE will be a critical tool for studying genome structure within heterogeneous populations.
The N Coupled-Channel Problem

Nonempirical or ab initio methods play an important role in theoretical chemistry by (1) providing a source of reliable data in cases where experiments may be difficult to perform and (2) serving as a gauge of approximate methods. In thermal energy collisions of atoms and molecules, coupled-channel (CC) methods fill such a role. These methods can be formulated quite generally for the wide variety of processes occurring in heavy-particle collisions, including energy transfer (among the rotational, vibrational, and electronic degrees of freedom) and chemical reaction.
Does Specification Error Explain the Discrepancy Between Open-Ended and Dichotomous Choice Contigent Valuation Responses? A Comment on "Monte Carlo Benchmarks for Discrete Valuation Methods" by Ju-Chin Huang and V. Kerry Smith

In this working paper we demonstrate that some of the statistical tests used by Huang and Smith in a recent Land Economics article (74(2 1998): 186-202) were erroneous, and raise concerns about their corresponding conclusions. Specifically, using data from one of the studies that they showcase, we demonstrate that Huang and Smith’s analysis suggesting statistical equality between hypothetical dichotomous choice responses and actual contributions is incorrect. We further show that their purported equality between dichotomous choice and open-ended response formats is unfounded. Based on these analyses we conclude that when real humans make real or stated decisions, the observed procedural variance across elicitation methods and the degree of hypothetical bias are more fundamental than relying on alternative econometric specifications.
Energy Metabolism and Pyridine Nucleotide Levels during Xenopus Oocyte Maturation*, 1. (xenopus oocytes/pyridine nucleotides/energy metabolism/meiotic cell division)

The rate of oxygen consumption increased in maturing Xenopus oocytes within 2 hr after progesterone addition, well before GVBD. This suggested an early requirement for energy metabolism during maturation, similar to the situation in sea urchin eggs during fertilization. Yet, the absence of similar increases in glucose-6-phosphate levels, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, glucose conversion to CO2, and the conversion of NAD(H) to NADP(H), indicated that carbohydrate metabolism was not being stimulated in Xenopus oocytes during maturation. The oxidation of other energy yielding substrates is discussed which might account for the finding that, within 5 min of progesterone addition, both reduced forms of the pyridine nucleotides increased 20% over control levels. This was later followed by a drop in NADH levels and a rise in NAD relative to controls. The significance of these changes in pyridine nucleotide levels and their relationship to a number of maturation events are discussed.
Long-term selenium status in humans

The association of sub-optimal selenium status with increased riskfactors for some cancers has been reported in two recent epidemiological studies.In both studies the same threshold in selenium status was observed, belowwhich, cancer incidence increased. To assess the use of nails as a biologicmonitor to measure the long-term selenium status, an eight-year longitudinalstudy was undertaken with a group of 11 adult subjects, 5 women and 6 men.Selenium has been measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Differencesbetween fingernails and toenails will be discussed. In addition, the resultswill be discussed in the context of the long-term stability of the nail monitorto measure selenium status during those periods when selenium determinantsare static; and the changes that occur as a result of selenium supplementation.
Reexamining The Long-Run Stock Split Anomaly Puzzle

Long-run performance is reexamined following stock splits during 1950 to 2000. Significantly positive and robust equally weighted abnormal returns are documented during the first year following the announcement month; however, significant value weighted long-run abnormal returns are largely confined to the period from 1975 to 1987. When long-run performance is examined following the ex or effective date of stock splits, abnormal returns are insignificant, except for equally weighted portfolios during 1975 to 1987. Further analysis documents that the equally weighted long-run abnormal performance during 1975 to 1987 is strongly correlated with unexpected decreases in post-split systematic risk.
Social Work Students as Market Consumers: Faculty Perceptions of Customer Service Expectations

Social work education has become a consumers market, and social work faculty are increasingly expected to fill certain customer service roles in order to retain students as customers. Using the Academic Entitlement Questionnaire, this study sought to examine social work faculty in the USA (N = 57) who are members of the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors listserv perceptions of student customer service expectations. Findings were that these social work faculty are under increased pressure to fill certain customer service roles, and that they feel conflict about doing so. Implications for the delivery of social work education and practice are explored.
Regulation of Fas (CD95)-induced apoptosis by nuclear factor-κB and tumor necrosis factor-α in macrophages

The APO-1/Fas ligand (FasL) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are two functionally related molecules that induce apoptosis of susceptible cells. Although the two molecules have been reported to i...
Effects of administration of testosterone on vitamin A-deficient rats.

Summary1. In an effort to find whether the “virtual castration” of vit. A deficient male rats is due to prevention of the synthesis of androgens or to the lack of response of target organs, the effects of administration of testosterone in deficient non-castrates and castrates were compared with the effects on their controls.The response of the deficient animals was found to be essentially normal. The accessory sex organs in particular were extraordinarily hypertrophied under the influence of testosterone administration even in the face of severe losses of weight.The evidence obtained suggests that vitamin A deficiency interferes with the synthesis or release of androgens.
Control of platelet actomyosin activity: Effect of ADP on superprecipitation and ATPase activity of human platelet actomyosin ☆

Abstract 1. 1. Platelet actomyosin superprecipitation performed in 0.09 M to 0.12 M KCl showed a biphasic curve with clearing and turbidity increase after addition of Mg-ATP. 2. 2. Addition of ADP produced inhibition of the duration and extent of the clearing phase (Km of 4 · 10−5 M), and activation of the superprecipitation phase (Km of 1.96 · 10−5 M). 3. 3. The effect of ADP was observed with no significant increase of ATPase activity and was apparently specific for ADP and not for GDP, UDP, or IDP when superprecipitation was initiated only with Mg-ATP. 4. 4. The effect of ADP was observed when superprecipitation occurred in the presence of EGTA. These data suggest that ADP may form part of a control mechanism of platelet contractile activity.
Low-angle normal faults in the Basin and Range Province: nappe tectonics in an extending orogen

Cenozoic normal fault mosaics bounded beneath by a basal fault in the Basin and Range Province (BRP) have traditionally been described either in terms of large-scale surficial gravity sliding or by some form of in situ lower plate accommodation. I suggest here that these areas may be an extensional analogue to thin-skinned compressional orogens, a process which may even dominate active BRP tectonics.
JAVA implemented MSE optimal bit-rate allocation applied to 3-D hyperspectral imagery using JPEG2000 compression

This paper describes an efficient algorithm and its Java implementation for a recently developed mean-squared error (MSE) rate-distortion optimal (RDO) inter-slice bit-rate allocation (BRA) scheme applicable to the JPEG2000 Part 2 (J2KP2) framework. Its performance is illustrated on hyperspectral imagery data using the J2KP2 with the Karhunen- Loeve transform (KLT) for decorrelation. The results are contrasted with those obtained using the traditional logvariance based BRA method and with the original RDO algorithm. The implementation has been developed as a Java plug-in to be incorporated into our evolving multi-dimensional data compression software tool denoted CompressMD. The RDO approach to BRA uses discrete rate distortion curves (RDCs) for each slice of transform coefficients. The generation of each point on a RDC requires a full decompression of that slice, therefore, the efficient version minimizes the number of RDC points needed from each slice by using a localized coarse-to-fine approach denoted RDOEfficient. The scheme is illustrated in detail using a subset of 10 bands of hyperspectral imagery data and is contrasted to the original RDO implementation and the traditional (log-variance) method of BRA showing that better results are obtained with the RDO methods. The three schemes are also tested on two hyperspectral imagery data sets with all bands present: the Cuprite radiance data from AVIRIS and a set derived from the Hyperion satellite. The results from the RDO and RDOEfficient are very close to each other in the MSE sense indicating that the adaptive approach can find almost the same BRA solution. Surprisingly, the traditional method also performs very close to the RDO methods, indicating that it is very close to being optimal for these types of data sets.
Segmental Vascular Resistance after Mild Controlled Cortical Impact Injury in the Rat

In an effort to localize the site at which increased resistance occurs after brain trauma, pial arteriole diameter and pressure were assessed after mild controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury in rats using an open cranial window technique. The authors tested the hypothesis that an increase in resistance accompanied by vasoconstriction occurs at the level of the pial arterioles within the injured cortex of the brain. At 1 hour after mild CCI injury, ipsilateral cerebral blood flow was significantly reduced by 42% compared with sham injury (n = 4; < 0.05). Pial arteriole diameter and pressure remained unchanged. Resistance in the larger arteries (proximal resistance), however, was significantly greater after CCI injury (1.87 +/- 0.26 mm Hg/[mL. 100 g. min]) compared with sham injury (0.91 +/- 0.21 mm Hg/[mL. 100 g. min]; < 0.0001). Resistance in small vessels, arterioles, and venules (distal resistance) was also significantly greater after CCI injury (1.13 +/- 0.05 mm Hg/[mL. 100 g. min]) compared with sham injury (0.74 +/- 0.13 mm Hg/[mL. 100 g. min]; = 0.0001). The authors conclude that, at 1 hour after mild CCI injury, changes in vascular resistance comprise a 53% increase in the resistance distal to the area of injury and, surprisingly, a 105% increase in resistance in the arteries proximal to the injury site.
Constrained Large-Region Multifacility Location Problems

In this article, we present a specialized algorithm to solve the problem of locating new facilities on the surface of the earth. The set of feasible locations is defined by area and maximum-distance constraints, and the earth's surface is approximated by a sphere and a spheroid. Computational experience with an illustrative example is presented.
Adaptive equalization approach for canceling the multipath effect in multimode fibers

The main source of bit errors in multi-mode fibers (MMF) transmission systems is the inter-symbol interference (ISI) caused by the differential mode dispersion (DMD) generated multi-path effects. The DMD creates inter-symbol interference and limits the transmission distance-bandwidth product of a MMF to 3OO MHz-km. Hence, at 10 Gb/s data rate, the transmission distance is only -3O meters, which is not very useful for networking. In this work, we propose to utilize the adaptive equalization technique to combat the DMD and increase the transmission distance to almost the desired length. With this technique, we not only obtain MMF-based 10 Gb/s gigabit Ethernets (GE) but also upgrade all the already installed MMFs (OC-3 backbones) to higher-speed pipes. We present simulation results that show the success of our proposed adaptive equalization approach in canceling the DMD generated multi-path effect in MMF transmissions.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.