cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Si technology in the Internet Era

In the PC era, microcomputers (/spl mu/C) and memory were the components that drove growth of the PC industry. In the Internet era, digital signal processors (DSP) and analog processors will be the components that drive growth in Internet products. Over the next 10 years, technology will continue to follow Moore's law of scaling, and in addition, system-on-a-chip (SOC) integration will drive technology. This paper reviews the challenges of continued Moore's law scaling, presents a vision of SOC integration, and makes predictions for the future.
Lying and Law

How should the law regulate lies and other forms of deception? Sometimes, it takes a hard line, subjecting those who engage in deception to serious criminal or disciplinary sanctions. Other times, it is quite tolerant, declining to impose sanctions, and even affording certain kinds of deception constitutional protection. This chapter, written for a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary collection of essays on lying, offers a general survey of a very broad topic, focusing primarily on U.S. law, but also attempting, in a selective manner, to contrast that law to the law of other jurisdictions. The discussion begins with a consideration of the various ways in which deception functions as an element in three very different sorts of criminal offenses: perjury, fraud, and rape by deception. It then looks at how the law regulates deception by the police (during interrogations) and by lawyers (to courts and to their adversaries). Finally, it consider the possibility that deception used by the media and in the course of political campaigns might lie beyond the scope of permissible legal regulation. The main point will be to show how the law’s treatment of deception varies depending on the role of the person doing the deceiving (e.g., private individuals vs. government officials) and the social context in which the deception occurs (such as a courtroom, the marketplace, a police station, or a sexual encounter). More generally, it is intended to show the quite nuanced ways in which the law seeks to deter deceptive speech that is truly harmful without “chilling” deceptive speech that is harmless or even socially beneficial.
Employing Trafficking Laws to Capture Elusive Leaders of Destructive Cults

In the 1970’s and 80’s in the United States, American newspapers raised public awareness about cults. Capturing headlines were articles about women, and later men, who followed Charles Manson to the extreme length of committing “Helter Skelter,” a cold-blooded killing spree. Cults continued to exist, out of sight and unobserved, until each next tragic occurrence when they would again be the topic of a news story. Even when cults did not achieve “front-page” status in the news, they continued to recruit adults and raise children born into the group.Because cults are undocumented and do not appear in our census, it is difficult to estimate how many are in the United States today. Estimates range from 2,500 to 8,000 cults in the United States, with their membership ranging from a few individuals to tens of thousands in any given cult. According to the International Cultic Studies Association (“ICSA”), an organization that monitors cults and provides education and counseling, approximately 2,500,000 Americans have joined cultic groups since the 1970s. Some cults are benign, others destructive; cults may change over time, sometimes from benign to destructive, sometimes vice versa. Benign cults appear not to inflict physical or emotional trauma to their members. In contrast, destructive cults do harm members, in large part because they are characterized by exploitatively manipulative and controlling interpersonal dynamics. Destructive cults are the focus of this paper. (The term “cult” is more commonly used in the United States; whereas, “sect” is used more prevalently in Europe.) Cults continue to evade our justice system here in the United States and abroad. This paper seeks to offer a fresh legal framework, which, I posit, could aid in the capture and prosecution of cult leaders for their crimes.In Part I, I describe how cults function. In Subpart (A), I describe a young girl’s (Elissa Wall) tragic marriage into a lifetime, and expected eternity, with a relative whom she initially resisted. Cults use four processes of control involving the mind, behavior, emotion and information, explained in (B). In Subpart (C), cults are categorized as religious, political, terrorist groups, psychotherapy, and commercial. The shortcomings of our legal system to provide remedies is set forth in Subpart (D). In Part II, international and American efforts to prevent and combat trafficking are presented. In Part III, I posit that law enforcement and the international community use the anti-trafficking laws and resources in capturing cult leaders, prosecuting them for the harm that they inflict on their adherents, and to provide services to former cult members. In this way, the religious or political dogma of cults is not an obstacle to holding them accountable for their criminal behavior.
Mössbauer effect study of hyperfine interactions in 145 Nd

The magnetic hyperfine splitting of the 72.5 keV γ rays of145Nd was investigated in intermetallic compounds of Nd and in the paramagnetic salts Nd x Y 1-x Cl3·6H2O (withx=0.02 andx=0.05) at 4.2 K. With the magnetic hyperfine tensorA of Nd0.01Y0.99Cl3·6H2O known from EPR spectroscopy, the analysis of the unresolved magnetic hyperfine spectra yieldsI e =5/2 for the spin of the 72.5 keV state, in contradiction to a previous result. The multipolarity of the 72.5 keV γ transition was found to be essentiallyM1 with δ2=0.010±0.014, and the magnetic moment of the 72.5 keV state was determined as μ(5/2)=−0.319±0.004 nm. For various divalent and trivalent Nd compounds as well as for metallic Nd the isomer shift IS of the 72.5 keV γ line was measured. A value for the change of the mean square nuclear charge radius during the 72.5 keV γ transition of Δ〈r 2〉=+(1.9±0.9)·10−3fm2 was deduced using electron density differences from free-ion Hartree-Fock calculations.
Comparison of three protocols for gallbladder ejection fraction by hepatobiliary scintigraphy

1991 Objectives Compare efficacy of drinking nutrition supplement, hand injection of Sincalide, and pump infusion of Sincalide for evaluation of gallbladder EF using HIDA scans. Methods Using routine search function of the PACS, 1002 completed HIDA scans from 1/2004 to 12/2012 were reviewed. Exclusion criteria included younger than 10 years old and no reported gallbladder EF. During that time period, our institution used three different protocols for stimulation of gallbladder contraction. The HIDA protocol for gallbladder EF starts with a less than 24-hour fast followed by injection of radiotracer. When radiotracer activity fills the entire gallbladder and is present in small bowel, liquid meal or intravenous Sincalide is administered. Sincalide has been administered using two different protocols at our institution: hand injection of 0.01 microgram/kg of Sincalide over 3-5 minutes and in the later protocol, continuous infusion of 0.01 microgram/kg of Sincalide over 15 minutes. After administration of contractile stimulant, imaging was obtained for 30 minutes. ROI is drawn over the gallbladder, then EF is calculated. Statistical analysis was then performed to determine effect of protocol on EF. Results There was a significant difference in gallbladder EF among the 3 protocols (p=0.0007). Pump infusion of Sincalide yielded the highest EF (mean=49.2). Liquid meal yielded the second highest EF (mean=43.7). Hand injection yielded the lowest EF (mean=35.5). There was significant difference as a function of age (p=0.018) with older patients having higher EF’s. Conclusions The key to reliable and maximum gallbladder EF is the choice for method of stimulation of gallbladder contraction. Implementation of pump infusion of Sincalide substantially increased the gallbladder EF compared to hand injection from mean EF of 35.5% to 49.2%. Liquid meal performed better than hand injection of Sincalide at contracting the gallbladder. The mean gallbladder EF with liquid meal had an difference of 5% compared to pump infusion with Sincalide.
Reconstruction of the area-moment-of-inertia of a beam using a shifting load and the end-slope data

AbstractIn recent years, much concern has been reported about the condition of US infrastructure, particularly the bridges. These concerns have brought attention to the area of structural health monitoring and its significance in averting tragedies. The main focus of this study was to develop a mathematical model that could be used to determine the changes in the structural characteristics such as cross-sectional area-moment-of-inertia from the knowledge of a shifting load and the end-slope data. In this investigation, the cross-sectional area-moment-of-inertias of a scaled model of simply supported steel bridge are reconstructed using a shifting load scheme and the corresponding end-slope data. The end-slope data used in this inverse problem were numerically generated using the finite element method. The end-slope data and the loading were then used in the inverse problem to reconstruct the cross-sectional area-moment-of-inertias for the model. To solve the inverse problem, the solution domain was discre...
Surface Effects Mediate Self-Assembly of Amyloid-β Peptides

Here we present a label-free method for studying the mechanism of surface effects on amyloid aggregation. In this method, spin-coating is used to rapidly dry samples, in a homogeneous manner, after various incubation times. This technique allows the control of important parameters for self-assembly, such as the surface concentration. Atomic force microscopy is then used to obtain high-resolution images of the morphology. While imaging under dry conditions, we show that the morphologies of self-assembled aggregates of a model amyloid-β peptide, Aβ12–28, are strongly influenced by the local surface concentration. On mica surfaces, where the peptides can freely diffuse, homogeneous, self-assembled protofibrils formed spontaneously and grew longer with longer subsequent incubation. The surface fibrillization rate was much faster than the rates of fibril formation observed in solution, with initiation occurring at much lower concentrations. These data suggest an alternative pathway for amyloid formation on sur...
The Validity of Trichogramma pretiosum

The name Trichogramma pretiosum Riley is removed from synonomy with T. minutum Riley on bases of morphological and behavioral differences between the species. The early differentiation of these 2 species merely on the basis of host relations is confirmed. T. euproctidis Girault also is removed from synonymy.
RESOURCE UTILIZATION AT THE TIME OF PROSTACYCLIN INITIATION IN CHILDREN WITH PRIMARY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION: A MULTICENTER ANALYSIS

There is limited published data regarding the initiation of intravenous prostacyclins in children with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Knowledge of the relative frequency of prostacyclin drugs being utilized for initiation, length of stay, and inpatient costs may inform clinical practice. All patients
Casimir interactions in semiflexible polymers

We investigate the Casimir or fluctuation-induced interaction between two cross-linkers bound to the same semiflexible filament. The calculation is complicated by the appearance of second-order derivatives in the bending Hamiltonian for such filaments, which requires a careful evaluation of the the path integral formulation of the partition function in order to arrive at the physically correct continuum limit and properly address ultraviolet divergences. Doing so based on the previous work of Kleinert [Kleinert, J. Math. Phys. 27, 3003 (1986)], we find that cross-linkers interact along a filament with an attractive logarithmic potential proportional to thermal energy. The proportionality constant depends on whether and how the cross-linkers constraint the relative angle between the two filaments to which they are bound. We comment on the implications of this Casimir interaction for equilibrium distribution of labile cross-linkers in semiflexible biopolymer, e.g., F-actin, networks, and bundles.
A field study of winter fruit preferences of Cedar Waxwings

Winter field censuses of Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) in an urban area of central Oklahoma were used to evaluate which fruit characteristics influence avian choice. Abundance estimates (g/ha) of fruits of each species in the study area were made to determine the resource base available to waxwings. I hypothesized that waxwing foraging preferences would be correlated with one or more of the following fruit characteristics: (1) abundance, (2) color, (3) size, (4) height, (5) pulp-to-seed ratio, (6) percent water, (7) percent protein, and (8) caloric content. Preliminary data from 1983-1984 indicated that waxwings were selective; they ate mostly mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum) and one species of a relatively small crab apple (Malus sp.) from the 16 species available. During the winter of 1984-1985, waxwings used mistletoe heavily, along with hackberry (Celtis sp.), until these species were mostly depleted. Yaupon and deciduous hollies (Ilex vomitoria and I. decidua) then were used heavily and became the most important overall food sources during the winter. Waxwings generally ate abundant species and seldom ate rare ones. Among the fruits consumed, the order of waxwing preference was related only to fruit abundance, size, and caloric content. Comparisons of the results with other studies of frugivorous birds shows only partial agreement on the fruit characteristics most influential in avian choice, suggesting that a number of factors interact to determine foraging preferences and that these factors are not constant for all frugivorous species.
Web-based software tool for constraint-based design specification of synthetic biological systems.

miniEugene provides computational support for solving combinatorial design problems, enabling users to specify and enumerate designs for novel biological systems based on sets of biological constra...
Electron channeling in TiO2 coated Cu layers

Electron transport in metal conductors with ~5-30 nm width is dominated by surface scattering. In situ transport measurements as a function of surface chemistry demonstrate that the primary parameter determining the surface scattering specularity is the localized surface density of states at the Fermi level N(Ef). In particular, the measured sheet resistance of epitaxial Cu(001) layers with thickness dCu = 9-25 nm increases when coated with dTi = 0.1-4.0 monolayers (ML) of Ti, but decreases again during exposure to 37 Pa of O2. These resistivity changes are a function of dCu and dTi and are due to a transition from partially specular electron scattering at the Cu surface to completely diffuse scattering at the Cu-Ti interface, and the recovery of surface specularity as the Ti is oxidized. X-ray reflectivity and photoelectron spectroscopy indicate the formation of a 0.47±0.03 nm thick Cu2O surface layer on top of the TiO2-Cu2O during air exposure, while density functional calculations of TiOx cap layers as a function of x = 0-2 and dTi = 0.25-1.0 ML show a reduction of N(Ef) by up to a factor of four. This reduction is proposed to be the key cause for the recovery of surface specularity and results in electron confinement and channeling in the Cu layer upon Ti oxidation. Transport measurements at 293 and 77 K confirm the channeling and demonstrate the potential for highconductivity metal nanowires by quantifying the surface specularity parameter p = 0.67±0.05, 0.00±0.05, and 0.35±0.05 at the Cu-vacuum, Cu-Ti, and Cu-TiO2 interfaces.
Are micromegakaryocytes specific for refractory cytopenia of childhood (RCC)? A study of 38 pediatric patients with thrombocytopenia unrelated to RCC.

Abstract Background Micromegakaryocytes (microMKs) are considered the most reliable dysplastic feature for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), particularly refractory cytopenia of childhood (RCC); there is no minimal threshold for the diagnosis of RCC. Since most RCC patients present with thrombocytopenia, the presence of microMKs should raise concern for MDS/RCC. This study attempted to investigate the prevalence of microMKs and associated marrow fibrosis in patients with thrombocytopenia unrelated to MDS/RCC and the need for establishing a threshold for microMKs for the diagnosis of MDS/RCC. Design Bone marrow biopsies of pediatric patients with thrombocytopenia unrelated to RCC were examined for microMKs and fibrosis by CD61 immunohistochemical and reticulin stains respectively. Result Thirty eight patients (1–18 years old) were included: 33 immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), 3 chronic thrombocytopenia, and 2 inherited macrothrombocytopenia. Fourteen cases (37%) had microMKs; four cases showed increased marrow fibrosis associated with microMKs (two had ITP and two had macrothrombocytopenia). All patients are alive and none developed MDS (follow up: 3months to 4 years). Conclusion MicroMKs can be seen in pediatric patients with thrombocytopenia unrelated to RCC. Hence the mere presence of microMKs is insufficient for the diagnosis of RCC in the pediatric population, and a quantitative threshold needs to be established.
Psychotherapy research and its implications for a theory of therapeutic change. A forty-year overview.

The Psychotherapy Research Project of The Menninger Foundation was started in the early 1950s, with the goal of learning more about what changes occur in psychoanalytic therapies (outcome) and how ...
Experimental mitral regurgitation: effects on left ventricular function before and after elimination of chronic regurgitation in the dog.

Chronic left ventricular-atrial regurgitation (LVAR) was created in 8 dogs by means of an external conduit so that the effects of acute correction of regurgitation on the mechanics of left ventricular performance could be studied in detail. LVAR of 46 to 77 per cent of the total left ventricular (LV) output was associated with a depression of the LV inotropic state (downward displacement of the stress-velocity relationship, reduction in Vmax), reduced forward flow, and signs of cardiac failure. Acute occlusion of the shunt (analogous to return of mitral valvular competence) in the anesthetized, open-chest animal resulted in a statistically significant increase in the integrated LV systolic wall stress (afterload), which averaged 18 per cent. In the dog with greatest depression of the LV inotropic state, the increase in afterload was associated with a decrease in forward flow. Occlusion of the shunt had no significant effect on the inotropic state. This model of mitral regurgitation appears to be useful in assessing the effects of chronic LVAR on cardiac performance and may explain the hemodynamic deterioration observed in some patients with severe mitral regurgitation following valve replacement.
Watersipora subtorquata and the Possible Role of Its Associated Microbes: An Attempt to Explain the Extraordinary Invasion Success of This Marine Bryozoan Species

The Watersipora species complex comprises several sessile marine bryozoan clades which have successfully invaded human-influenced coastal areas worldwide over the last decades. These encrusting fouling bryozoa do not have physical means of defense against predation and overgrowth and are thriving in human-influenced and polluted environments in contrast to many native bryozoan species. A thin biofilm, which mainly consists of bacterial species and pennate diatoms of the genus Cocconeis, is generally associated with the frontal membranes and opercula of the Watersipora zooids. Ongoing research has indicated that epibiotic bacterial species of W. subtorquata sampled from locations in Japan and California predominantly belonged to different α-proteobacterial species within the family Rhodobacteraceae, but also Cyanobacteria and members of the Sphingobacteria have been identified. Some of these bacteria produce strong antifungal metabolites, or have genes involved in copper tolerance, which might increase their host’s ability to be more competitive in eutrophic and polluted environments. An endosymbiotic bacterial species associated with W. subtorquata larvae has been identified in the past as well, but specific function of this Endowatersipora sp. remained unknown.
Towards an Optimizing Model for Older People at Risk of Falls

Falls represent a problem associated with elder people. Statistics show that the percentage of people who are aged 65 years and older, get a serious injury when they fall is increasing in a very rapid way. When an elderly person falls, the cost will be high since the fall might cause in bone fractures and sometimes even death. This paper aims to detect the possible fall event by monitoring two parameters that will be put into a mathematical formula, in order to predict whether a fall is going to occur or not so we can avoid getting a long term serious injury.
dBHound: Privacy Sensitive Acoustic Perception in Home Settings: Poster Abstract

We present dBHound, a mobile sensing analytics app for tracking room occupancy and activities while preserving privacy for users. dBHound takes advantage of audio sensors available on mobile devices to collect data about the environment. dBHound is a layer in the mobile operating system API that gathers decibel (dB) data from the device's onboard audio sensors and strips it of sensitive information. Using mobile devices as sensors has the advantage that users do not have to purchase or manage additional sensing devices within the home. Among the different sensor modalities discussed in [4, 1, 2, 5, 3] many of which are limited to detecting a small subset of activities in-home, sound is a highly general and aligns well with everyday human activity. We demonstrate that having access to decibel-level data streams from multiple devices can give us more insight into activity and occupancy patterns than a single sensor, without compromising privacy.
Flow cytometric immune profiling in infliximab-associated tuberculosis

Tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists (TNFA) are associated with an increased risk of infections, including TB. Prior data showed that flow cytometric (FC) detection of co-expression of surface markers CD25(IL-2α receptor) and CD134(OX40) can identify antigen-specific effector CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell activation in LTBI. This diagnostic FC strategy has not been reported in active TB. A 18 year-old, US-born presented with 3 months of night sweats, abdominal pain, fever and cough. She received infliximab to treat ulcerative colitis for 2 years prior to presentation and had a negative tuberculous skin test. Chest CT revealed miliary pattern and lymphadenopathy. QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-Tube™ test was positive (2.62 IU/mL). Transbronchial lung biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage showed acid-fast bacilli and culture showed pansensitive M. tuberculosis (MTB). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with specific MTB (RD1-peptides) and purified protein derivative (PPD) antigens and controls. Cells were marked with fluorescent antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25 and OX40; 2x10 5 cells were analyzed. FC detection of CD25 + CD134 + co-expression in CD3 + CD4 + T-cells stimulated with RD1-peptides and PPD were 0.34% and 0.84%, respectively. Upregulation of CD25+CD134 on CD3 + CD8 + T-cells after stimulation with RD1-peptides and PPD were 0.26% and 0.59%, respectively. The FC assay results were within the positive thresholds for TB infection (Escalante P et al. AJRCCM, 2015). This new FC immune profiling strategy can detect antigen-specific T-cell activation in a patient with disseminated TB associated with TNFA. TNFA do not appear to cause false negative results to this test but further validation studies are warranted.
Methods to Study Epithelial Transport Protein Function and Expression in Native Intestine and Caco-2 Cells Grown in 3D

The intestinal epithelium has important transport and barrier functions that play key roles in normal physiological functions of the body while providing a barrier to foreign particles. Impaired epithelial transport (ion, nutrient, or drugs) has been associated with many diseases and can have consequences that extend beyond the normal physiological functions of the transporters, such as by influencing epithelial integrity and the gut microbiome. Understanding the function and regulation of transport proteins is critical for the development of improved therapeutic interventions. The biggest challenge in the study of epithelial transport is developing a suitable model system that recapitulates important features of the native intestinal epithelial cells. Several in vitro cell culture models, such as Caco-2, T-84, and HT-29-Cl.19A cells are typically used in epithelial transport research. These cell lines represent a reductionist approach to modeling the epithelium and have been used in many mechanistic studies, including their examination of epithelial-microbial interactions. However, cell monolayers do not accurately reflect cell-cell interactions and the in vivo microenvironment. Cells grown in 3D have shown to be promising models for drug permeability studies. We show that Caco-2 cells in 3D can be used to study epithelial transporters. It is also important that studies in Caco-2 cells are complemented with other models to rule out cell specific effects and to take into account the complexity of the native intestine. Several methods have been previously used to assess the functionality of transporters, such as everted sac and uptake in isolated epithelial cells or in isolated plasma membrane vesicles. Taking into consideration the challenges in the field with respect to models and the measurement of transport function, we demonstrate here a protocol to grow Caco-2 cells in 3D and describe the use of an Ussing chamber as an effective approach to measure serotonin transport, such as in intact polarized intestinal epithelia.
Regulation of Angiotensin II Receptors in Medullary Thick Ascending Limbs

P102 Angiotensin II (Ang II) is an important regulator of the function of the medullary thick ascending limb of loop of Henle (MTAL). Recent studies showed that changes in Ang II receptor expression occur and underlie changes in the function of proximal tubules during altered sodium intake. The present experiment was designed to determine 1) whether expression of the type 1 Ang II (AT1) receptor in MTAL is regulated by altered sodium intake, and 2) the specific pathway(s) mediating sodium-induced AT1 expression in MTAL. Wistar rats were fed a normal sodium (0.5%, NS), low sodium (0.07%, LS), or high sodium (4%, HS) diet for 2 weeks. Northern blot analysis and radioligand binding showed that in rats fed a normal sodium diet the rank of order for both AT1 mRNA expression and receptor density was outer medulla>cortex>inner medulla. Sodium restriction significantly increased both AT1 mRNA expression and receptor density in the outer medulla. In contrast, neither AT1 mRNA expression nor receptor density in the outer medulla was altered by sodium loading. Losartan treatment (3 mg/kg/per day by oral gavage for 2 weeks) prevented low sodium-induced upregulation of the AT1 receptor in the outer medulla, but it had no effect on AT1 expression in the outer medulla of rats fed a normal sodium diet. Highly purified suspensions of MTAL were isolated from rats fed a normal or low sodium diet. Low sodium intake significantly increased AT1 mRNA level by 184% and AT1 receptor density by 58% in MTAL. Primary culture of MTAL cells were treated with PBS, Ang II (10 -8 M), and Ang II + 17 octadecynoic (17 ODYA, 10μM). Ang II caused about 2-fold increase in AT1 mRNA levels, and this increase was dinimished by about 30% by the addition of 17 ODYA. We conclude that 1) sodium restriction but not sodium loading increases AT1 receptor expression in MTAL, 2) low sodium-induced upregulation of the AT1 receptor in MTAL is Ang II-dependent, and 3) Ang II induced upregulation of the AT1 receptor in MTAL is mediated, at least in part, by cytochrome P450 pathways.
The lasting charm of Media Events

This essay analyzes the power, charm and limitations of Daniel Dayan’s and Elihu Katz’s Media Events: The Live Broadcasting of History (Harvard, 1992). It argues that the book presented a uniquely compelling and alluring concept, but has three limitations: Media Events has a present-centric view of events, a constrained understanding of conflicting narratives in the global context, and it is inattentive to how media events travel across multiple platforms. But overall, this essay concludes that ceremonial media events as described by the canonic book of Dayan and Katz are still important in the 21st century, and will survive the passing of time and media.
Calcitriol Reverses Induced Expression of Efflux Proteins and Potentiates Cytotoxic Activity of Gemcitabine in Capan-2 Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

Purpose. Efflux and influx proteins play a major role in chemo-resistance by affecting the net cellular uptake of anti-cancer drugs. Hence, alteration of the efflux and influx protein expression may result in variations of chemotherapeutics uptake and consequently cell death rate. The present study investigated the effects of pre-treatment of capan-2 pancreatic cancer cells with calcitriol, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) or silibinin on the induction of three major efflux proteins and the main gemcitabine influx protein. The influence of the pre-treatments on the net cellular uptake of gemcitabine, total ATPase activity, and cell death rate were also evaluated. Methods. Capan-2 pancreatic cancer cells were pre-treated for 24 h with calcitriol, BHT, BHA, or silibinin, followed by gemcitabine treatment. The concentration of gemcitabine was quantified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was utilized in order to investigate the expression of the mRNAs. The expression of the proteins was assessed using western blotting. Measurement of the ATPase activity was conducted utilizing a colorimetric method and viability of the cells was determined using a luminescent cell viability assay. Results. Protein expression studies showed that BHT, silibinin, and BHA increased expression of the efflux proteins and decreased the overall uptake of gemcitabine, whereas calcitriol significantly inhibited expression of the efflux proteins and increased gemcitabine uptake. Expression of specific mRNAs correlated reasonably well with the levels of corresponding proteins. Additionally, the expression of efflux proteins and ATPase activity were well correlated, signifying that the induced efflux proteins are functionally active. Moreover, pre-treatment with calcitriol resulted in a significant increase in cell death with gemcitabine treatment, whereas, BHA significantly reduced the cell death rate. On the other hand, pre-treatment with BHT and silibinin had no significant effect on the cell death rate. Conclusions. Pre-treatment of the pancreatic cancer cells with calcitriol significantly increased gemcitabine cellular uptake and consequently decreased cell viability after treatment with gemcitabine, whereas BHA significantly reduced gemcitabine uptake and decreased cell death rate, which were at least partially attributed to the alteration of expression of efflux and influx proteins. This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW . Registered readers (see “For Readers”) may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue’s contents page.
Safety of secukinumab in hepatitis B virus

The usage of TNF antagonists in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) can result in viral reactivation and potential liver failure. However, little is known about the risk of viral reactivation with the newer IL-17 antagonists. We report a patient with seropositive hepatitis B, ankylosing spondylitis, and disabling palmar plantar psoriasis treated successfully with secukinumab without liver complications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The unused iron.

![Figure][1] A 35-year-old man with prolonged aplasia (62 days) after 2 inductions for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), underwent a myeloablative, matched-sibling, A-to-O allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Despite rapid neutrophil and platelet recovery, he remained red blood cell aplastic (
LADAR System and Algorithm Design for Spectropolarimetric Scene Characterization

We present a new active imaging architecture that enables rapid spectropolarimetric imaging in a compact system. The transmitter laser produces a synchronous cascade of closely spaced wavelengths, each of which is modulated with a unique amplitude pattern. Temporal multiplexing of the optical return signals is used to reduce system cost, size, weight, and power. This architecture enables a single laser and a single detector for all wavelengths and polarization states. This in turn enables pixel-by-pixel scene characterization, which could be used for target identification in future work. The basic hardware and software architecture will be presented in addition to technologies that are being investigated to develop this system architecture. We will introduce analytical expressions for the temporally multiplexed transmitted and detected signals based on the proposed hardware configuration. We then derive optimal and computationally efficient algorithms for the estimation of the overall range per pixel and the reflectivity per wavelength per pixel, as well as the Cramer–Rao lower bound on estimator variance. The bound and simulated performance yield guidelines for the system parameters required to achieve a desired level of fidelity of the spectral and polarimetric reflectivity. The proposed system is validated with laboratory data and explored via simulations.
Radiative Properties of Thin Films of Common Dielectric Materials in the IR Spectral Range of 1.5-14.2 μm: Application to Infrared Imaging

To measure, map and control temperature, imaging of materials in a thermal furnace routinely utilizes non-contact sensors, such as pyrometers. These pyrometers require a pre-knowledge of the radiative properties of materials in the desired infrared range of wavelengths. In this study, radiative properties of some commonly used thin films of dielectric materials are investigated within the infrared (IR) spectral range of 1.5–14.2 μm. Radiative properties of aluminum oxide (Al2O3), silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminum nitride (AlN) and silicon nitride (Si3N4) have been simulated and compared, utilizing a matrix method of representing the optical properties. The simulated results of the radiative properties show that Si3N4 is an excellent choice for the infrared radiation absorbing layer that is currently used in infrared uncooled detectors (microbolometers) because of its optical, mechanical and electrical properties. A case study of the radiative properties of an infrared uncooled microbolometer (Honeywell structure) is presented and discussed in the infrared spectral range of 8–14 μm. The results obtained serve as useful information for the design and fabrication of infrared imaging systems and components such as coatings, detectors, filters, lenses and waveguides.
Biomechanical Movements in Experienced Cane Users with and without Visual Impairments.

Travelers with visual impairments and orientation and mobility (O&M) instructors were assessed in their performance of the two-point touch cane technique. Both groups deviated similarly from classi...
Ca2+ responses to hypoxia are mediated by IP3-R on Ca2+ store depletion.

Inositol 1,4, 5-triphosphate (IP3) is generated from the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-triphosphate (PIP2) which is a component of plasma membrane. IP3 acts as a messenger to link with receptors IP3-Rs which are located on intracellular Ca2+ stores, such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (Belousov et al., 1995; Berridge, 1993). The ER also often shares the same domain of the mitochondria which have a low affinity, high-capacity for Ca2+ uptake mechanism, and Ca2+ concentrations influence mitochondrial metabolism (Duchen, 2000). Thus, IP3-Rs are an ideal candidate for Ca2+- related cellular functions, Rizzuto et al. (1993) have shown that [Ca2+]m increases rapidly and transiently upon stimulation with agonists coupled to IP3- R generation. This leads to high [Ca2+]i close to IP3-R and sensed by mitochondria. Conversely, metabolites generated by energy production may influence IP3-mediated Ca2+ dynamics. Depletion of cellular energy resources leads to the accumulation of cytoplasmic reduced NADH (Veech et al., 1970). Hypoxia decreases mitochondrial respiration by inhibiting the terminal step in the electron transport chains, provoking a rapid rise in intracellular Ca2+ (Biscoe and Duchen, 1990; Kaplin et al., 1996; McCormack et al., 1990). Hypoxia also increases cytoplasmic NADH levels as a result of enhanced glycolysis (Yager et al., 1991). Also, NADH selectively stimulates the release of Ca2+ mediated by IP3-R (Ferris and Snyder, 1992).
S1P-5 Receptor

The S1P5 receptor is the most recently cloned G protein-coupled receptor specifically responsive to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). The s1p5 gene was identified as a nerve-growth factor-repressed gene by EST expression-profiling from a rat PC12 cell cDNA library …
Assessment of tacrolimus intrapatient variability in stable adherent transplant recipients: Establishing baseline values.

The purpose of this study was to determine the intrapatient (within the same patient) variability of tacrolimus in adherent patients. Daily tacrolimus trough levels were obtained at home using dried blood spot technology in kidney and liver transplant recipients. Patients were randomized to receive 3 formulations of tacrolimus, each for two 1-week periods. Adherence was monitored by patient diary, pill counts, and use of the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS). Variability was quantified as the coefficient of variation (CV). Comparison of CV between groups was by independent t test or one-way ANOVA as appropriate. The population was found to be adherent with a rate of 99.9% with a mean interval between the evening and morning dose of tacrolimus of 11.86 hours. The median CV for the entire population was 15.2% (range 4.8%-110%). There were no differences in CV by allograft type or tacrolimus formulation. The multivariate analysis did not identify any demographic characteristics associated with a CV > 30%. In a highly adherent population, tacrolimus did not display high intrapatient variability. Given the association between IPV and poor allograft outcomes, future studies are needed to quantitate the influence of adherence and establish target IPV goals.
Influence of sex differences in interpreting learning and memory within a clinical sample of older adults.

ABSTRACTSex is an important factor to consider when evaluating memory with older adults. This present study aimed to examine sex differences in memory within a clinical sample of older adults (N = ...
Impact of a Culturally Tailored mHealth Medication Regimen Self-Management Program upon Blood Pressure among Hypertensive Hispanic Adults.

Background: Uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) and medication nonadherence are more prominent among Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic whites and African Americans. Advances in wireless health technology enable real-time monitoring of medication adherence (MA) and blood pressure (BP), facilitating timely patient–provider communication including tailored reinforcement/motivational feedback to patients and quicker titration changes by providers. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a 9-month smartphone-enabled efficacy trial addressing MA and BP control among Hispanic adults with uncontrolled HTN and poor MA. Methods: The research design was a 9-month, two-arm efficacy trial including an experimental (Smartphone Med Adherence Stops Hypertension, SMASH) group and an enhanced standard care (ESC) group. SMASH participants utilized a SMASH app which interfaced with a Bluetooth-enabled BP monitor for BP self-monitoring and an electronic medication tray. The ESC participants received text messages including links to PDFs and brief video clips containing healthy lifestyle tips for attention control. Results: Participants were 54 Hispanic adults (mean age: 46.5 years) with uncontrolled HTN. They were randomly assigned to either the SMASH (n = 26) or ESC group (n = 28). At baseline, no participants had controlled systolic BP (SBP). Baseline group averages for SBP between the SC and SMASH groups did not differ (150.7 and 152.3 mmHg, respectively; p = 0.53). At the 1, 3, 6, and 9-month time points, SBP averages were significantly lower in the SMASH versus SC groups (month 1: 125.3 vs. 140.6; month 3: 120.4 vs. 137.5, month 6: 121.2 vs. 145.7 mmHg; month 9: 121.8 vs. 145.7, respectively; all p-values <0.01). At months 3, 6, and 9 there was a significant difference between the percentage of participants meeting the 7th Joint National Committee cutoffs for SBP control in the SC and SMASH groups (month 3: 62.5 vs. 92.0%; month 6: 57.9 and 94.4%, month 9: 27.8 and 92.3%, respectively; all p-values ≤0.01). Average medical regimen adherence, as indicated by timestamped medication intake and BP monitoring for the SMASH group, ranged from 89.1 to 95.2% across the 9-month trial. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that our culturally tailored smartphone-enabled medical regimen self-management program may be an effective solution for the promotion of MA, resulting in statistically and clinically significant reductions in SBP among Hispanic adults with uncontrolled HTN.
A Smoothed l 0 -Norm and l 1 -Norm Regularization Algorithm for Computed Tomography.

The nonmonotone alternating direction algorithm (NADA) was recently proposed for effectively solving a class of equality-constrained nonsmooth optimization problems and applied to the total variation minimization in image reconstruction, but the reconstructed images suffer from the artifacts. Though by the - norm regularization the edge can be effectively retained, the problem is NP hard. The smoothed - norm approximates the - norm as a limit of smooth convex functions and provides a smooth measure of sparsity in applications. The smoothed - norm regularization has been an attractive research topic in sparse image and signal recovery. In this paper, we present a combined smoothed - norm and - norm regularization algorithm using the NADA for image reconstruction in computed tomography. We resolve the computation challenge resulting from the smoothed - norm minimization. The numerical experiments demonstrate that the proposed algorithm improves the quality of the reconstructed images with the same cost of CPU time and reduces the computation time significantly while maintaining the same image quality compared with the - norm regularization in absence of the smoothed - norm.
Gender differences in exposure to potentially traumatic events and diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by racial and ethnic group.

Abstract Objective There is a robust literature base documenting gender differences and racial/ethnic differences in exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis. Yet, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the risk of PTEs and PTSD between genders, stratified by race/ethnicity. We aimed to better understand whether factors associated with poor psychological adjustment following PTEs (e.g., PTE type, sociodemographic factors, social support) varied by gender and race/ethnicity. Method Data were collected from three U.S.-based national studies comprising the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiologic Surveys (CPES; N = 13,649). Trained lay interviewers administered questionnaires and collected data on PTE exposure, PTSD, and psychosocial covariates. Regression analyses were conducted to investigate relations between PTEs, PTSD, and gender, stratified by race/ethnicity. Results Adjusting for sociodemographic variables, mental health comorbidity, social support, and PTE frequency, White, African-American, and Afro-Caribbean women had higher odds of PTSD than men in their respective racial/ethnic groups, whereas gender differences were not observed for Latinos or Asians. Conclusion Findings suggest that risk of exposure to PTEs and PTSD may differ by gender and race/ethnicity. Future studies should consider the contributions of social, cultural, and contextual factors in estimating PTSD risk.
10H-Pyrazino[2,3-b][1,4]benzotellurazine, a Novel Tellurium-Containing Heterocyclic System

Condensation of 2,3-dichloropyrazine with 2-aminobenzenetellurole and 2-amino-5-methylbenzenetellurole, generated in situ by reduction of the corresponding ditellurides, resulted in the formation of novel 10H-pyrazino[2,3-b][1,4]benzotellurazine and its 7-methyl derivative. The products were purified via their well-crystallized 5,5-dibromo derivatives. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the title compound indicates that it has a pronounced V-shape and forms hydrogen-bonded dimers. Te, N-containing heterocycles have the potential of offering access to supramolecular assemblies.
Silicon photomultipliers as a replacement for GaAsP and GaAs PMTs in high speed fluorescence imaging (Conference Presentation)

Photomultiplier tubes are the standard for high sensitivity detection of fluorescence signals, but are costly, fragile, have limited QE and worse sensitivity at far-red wavelengths. Silicon photomultipliers (SIPMs) combine the higher shot-noise limited sensitivity of silicon sensors with the single photon sensitivity of PMTs. We evaluate the new generation of SIPMs for high speed fluorescent imaging applications and find that for a range of operating conditions, SIPMs offer higher SNR and dynamic range than GaAsP or GaAs PMTs. We show how to design low cost electronics that enable extremely high sensitivity, dynamic range, and bandwidth, discuss how to customize detectors for high speed fluorescent imaging, and show the results of human tissue imaging comparing PMTs and SIPMs.
A GDSL Lipase Is Required for Anther and Pollen Development.

Male fertility in angiosperms requires specific spatiotemporal gene expression patterns and cellular differentiation during male reproductive development ([Wilson and Zhang, 2009][1]; [Lin et al., 2017][2]). The formation of the male gametophyte begins inside the anther with the formation of a large
Ideal biomarkers of acute kidney injury

Abstract An ideal biomarker of acute kidney injury should be able to capture a disturbance in renal function at the time of injury. It should also provide site-specific discrimination, measure prognosis and guide surveillance. Several biomarkers have been identified but none singularly fit the criteria to be the ideal one so far. However, in certain clinical scenarios, using a combination of available biomarkers could potentially yield valuable information, thus aiding timely diagnosis and therapy. This chapter summarizes the qualities of some prominent biomarkers that have unfolded in the recent past.
Physician-Public Defender Collaboration - A New Medical-Legal Partnership.

Physician–Public Defender Collaboration Involvement in the criminal justice system is one of the most fundamental upstream determinants of health. Fortunately, a model for helping patients navigate...