cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Platelets in Inflammation and Thrombosis

For many years it has been known that platelets play an important role in thrombosis and hemostasis. In recent times, however, it has become evident that platelets also have relevant functions in inflammation. It was shown that thrombosis and inflammation share several key molecular mechanisms and in fact are 2 intrinsically linked processes. In this review, we intend to give a short overview with emphasis on work stemming from our laboratory.
Exercise Decreases Lipogenic Gene Expression in Adipose Tissue and Alters Adipocyte Cellularity during Weight Regain After Weight Loss

Exercise is a potent strategy to facilitate long-term weight maintenance. In addition to increasing energy expenditure and reducing appetite, exercise also favors the oxidation of dietary fat, which likely helps prevent weight re-gain. It is unclear whether this exercise-induced metabolic shift is due to changes in energy balance, or whether exercise imparts additional adaptations in the periphery that limit the storage and favor the oxidation of dietary fat. To answer this question, adipose tissue lipid metabolism and related gene expression were studied in obese rats following weight loss and during the first day of relapse to obesity. Mature, obese rats were weight-reduced for 2 weeks with or without daily treadmill exercise (EX). Rats were weight maintained for 6 weeks, followed by relapse on: (a) ad libitum low fat diet (LFD), (b) ad libitum LFD plus EX, or (c) a provision of LFD to match the positive energy imbalance of exercised, relapsing animals. 24 h retention of dietary- and de novo-derived fat were assessed directly using (14)C palmitate/oleate and (3)H20, respectively. Exercise decreased the size, but increased the number of adipocytes in both retroperitoneal (RP) and subcutaneous (SC) adipose depots, and prevented the relapse-induced increase in adipocyte size. Further, exercise decreased the expression of genes involved in lipid uptake (CD36 and LPL), de novo lipogenesis (FAS, ACC1), and triacylglycerol synthesis (MGAT and DGAT) in RP adipose during relapse following weight loss. This was consistent with the metabolic data, whereby exercise reduced retention of de novo-derived fat even when controlling for the positive energy imbalance. The decreased trafficking of dietary fat to adipose tissue with exercise was explained by reduced energy intake which attenuated energy imbalance during refeeding. Despite having decreased expression of lipogenic genes, the net retention of de novo-derived lipid was higher in both the RP and SC adipose of exercising animals compared to their energy gap-matched controls. Our interpretation of this data is that much of this lipid is being made by the liver and subsequently trafficked to adipose tissue storage. Together, these concerted effects may explain the beneficial effects of exercise on preventing weight regain following weight loss.
Atypical and Anaplastic Meningiomas: Comparison of Outcomes Between Photon and Proton Radiation Therapy

Purpose/Objective(s): To compare clinical outcomes in patients with grade 2 and 3 meningiomas treated with photon or proton radiation therapy (RT). Materials/Methods: Retrospective review of 42 patients with grade 2 (nZ36) or grade 3 (nZ6) meningiomas treated with photon (nZ16) or proton (nZ26) RT from 2005e2014. The median patient age was 58.3 years (range 14e75) for the entire cohort. Twenty-seven patients were treated adjuvantly and 15 at the time of disease progression with a median interval from surgery to RT of 2 months and 21.5 months, respectively. Two patients were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery with median dose of 15.5 Gy to the 50% isodose line, while the remainder received conventionally fractionated therapy. The median tumor volume at time of RT was 5.3 cc. There was no statistical difference between the two RT modality cohorts by patient gender, tumor location, indication for RT, number of prior meningioma surgeries, or tumor volume at the time of RT. The median fractionated RT dose was 63 Gy (RBE) (range 54e68.4) for proton therapy and 59.4 Gy (range 54e68.4) for photon therapy (p 60 Gy (pZ0.06). On multivariate analysis, negative prognostic factors for local recurrence were grade 3 tumor histology (hazard ratio (HR) 20.1, 95% CI 3.3e121.3, pZ0.001), tumor volume larger than the median volume of 5.3 cc (HR 5.1, 95% CI 1.2e21.2, pZ0.025), and radiation dose 60 Gy (HR 4.8, 95% CI 1.2e20.0, pZ0.03). The 2-year overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 91.8% (95% CI 82.8e100%). On univariate analysis, tumor grade was the only variable significantly associated with OS (grade 3 HR for death 42.9, 95% CI 5.8e319.5, p 60 Gy was associated with improved local control on multivariate analysis. Prospective studies are needed to define the optimal radiation dose for high-grade meningiomas. Author Disclosure: T.M. Hansen: None. G.K. Bartlett: None. K.P. McMullen: None. M.W. McDonald: None.
Design, development, and testing of a low cost, fully autonomous indoor Unmanned Aerial System

This paper is concerned with the design, development, and autonomous ight testing of the GT Lama indoor Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). The GT Lama is a fully autonomous rotorcraft UAS capable of indoor area exploration. It weighs around 1.3 lbs (600 gms), has a width of about 27.6 inches (70 cm), and costs less than USD 900. The GT Lama employs only ve o-the-shelf, extremely low-cost range sensors for navigation. The GT Lama does not rely on other expensive and sophisticated sensors, including inertial measurement units, Laser based range scanners, and GPS. The GT Lama achieves this by using simple wall following logic to ensure that maximum perimeter of an indoor environment is explored in a reasonable amount of time. The GT Lama hardware, and the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) algorithms used are discussed in detail. The details of a MATLAB based method that facilitates rapid in ight validation of GNC algorithms on real ight hardware is also discussed. Results from ight tests as the GT Lama autonomously explores indoor environments are presented.
Vitamin Content of Royal Jelly from Honey Bee Colonies Fed Normal Diet and from Those Fed Pollen Substitutes

Vitamin content of royal jelly produced by honey bee colonies in the apiaries has been studied by several investigators (see Johansson 1955, 1958). However, no information is available on the vitamin content of royal jelly produced by colonies fed pollen substitutes.
The Impact of Steel upon the Greater New York-Philadelphia Industrial Region

For a long time the inadequacy of the traditional Weberian agglomeration analysis1 has been fully recognized. Palander, in particular, has pointed up its shortcomings.2 More recently, a fresh and more general approach has been made by P. Sargant Florence and others.3 This approach, primarily an attempt to identify from processed census data meaningful geographical associations in industry, of necessity does not concern itself with the development of a theoretical framework.4
Upwind methods for ionized flows

Numerical issues resulting from the electron pressure term in the electron energy equation are discussed. It is shown that when a separate rotational energy equation is employed, the heavy particle equations are essentially decoupled from the electron energy equation. This decoupling is exhibited by the fact that the total pressure has no explicit dependence on the electron energy. As a result, ambiguities in determining eigenvalues and eigenvectors are removed. The approach is implemented in solving the NavierStokes equations over the Project Fire I1 vehicle at two points early in its trajectory using an eleven species, four temperature model. Results show that for low density flows significant thermal nonequilibrium can exist between the electrons and other modes. Moreover, the numerical scheme employed removes numerical instabilities that appear in flows characterized by low degrees of ionization. -
Pyroelectric energy harvesting with a high Curie temperature material LiNbO3

Energy harvesting has been gaining significant interest as a potential solution for energizing next generation sensor and energy storage devices. The most widely investigated material for piezoelectric and pyro-electric energy harvesting to date is PZT (Lead Zirconate Titanate), owing to its good piezoelectric and pyro-electric properties. However, Lead is detrimental to human health and to the environment. Hence, alternative materials are required to be investigated for this purpose. In this paper, a lead free material Lithium Niobate (LNB) is reported as a potential material for pyro-electric energy harvesting. Although, it has lower pyro-electric properties than PZT, it has better properties than other lead free alternatives of PZT such as ZnO. In addition, LNB has a high curie point of 1142 °C, which makes it suitable for high temperature environment where other pyro-electric materials are not suitable. Therefore, a single crystal LNB has been investigated as a source of energy harvesting under alternative heating and cooling environment. A commercial 0.2 F super-capacitor was used as the energy storage device.
A practical automated timing and physical design implementation methodology for the synchronous asynchronous interface and multi-voltage domain in high-speed synthesis

In a high-speed synthesis design environment, designers struggle to ensure that multi-clock and multi-power interfaces are designed, placed, connected and timed correctly. Identifying and applying proper timing constraints such as "no cycle stealing" at synchronous and asynchronous domain interfaces in macro synthesis, unit and chip timing are essential. Standard cell library characterization, for multi-power and timing challenges due to an additional delay for level translator circuitry, demand careful implementation in a high-speed synthesis methodology. We propose a pseudo algorithm and methodology for synthesis and timing that will correctly identify synchronous and asynchronous interfaces. Our proposed methodology shows how these interface paths should be excluded from "cycle stealing" and yet, take full advantage of slack borrowing for the rest of the design. We find ~28% and ~80% timing path improvement in two of the units for IBM's Power8TM (P8) microprocessor. As an alternative to high-effort custom design, we develop a synthesis-based physical design methodology that incorporates the use of a level translator, enabling designers to address major issues that encompass dual-voltage solutions in high-speed design. We find ~50% physical design effort savings using this methodology. P8 is a 12-core, 649 mm2, 4.2B transistor chip fabricated in IBM's 22-nm Silicon On Insulator (SOI) technology, which is fully functional to support a wide range of high performing systems with an operating frequency greater than 4.5GHz.
Bioelectric properties of cultured monolayers from epithelium of distal human fetal lung.

Throughout intrauterine life, Cl(-)-rich liquid is secreted by the pulmonary epithelium. To evaluate the role of the most distal epithelium in liquid secretion, we measured bioelectric properties o...
Gas permeation properties of thermally rearranged (TR) isomers and their aromatic polyimide precursors

Abstract This study explores the influence of meta/para and ortho-position functional group structures on gas transport properties of two isomeric polyimides and their thermally rearranged (TR) polymers. The diamine isomers, 3,3′-dihydroxy-4,4′-diamino-biphenyl (p-HAB) and 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl-3,3′-diamino-biphenyl (m-HAB), were polymerized with 2,2′-bis-(3,4-dicarboxy-phenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) to form two aromatic polyimide isomers. These polyimides were also prepared with either hydroxyl or acetate groups at the ortho-positions to the imide ring, and the polyimides were partially converted to the corresponding polybenzoxazoles by thermal treatment at various temperatures and times. Single gas permeabilities of CH4, H2, O2, N2 and CO2 were measured at 35 °C and upstream pressures ranging from 3 atm to 17 atm. Polyacetylimides and their corresponding TR polymers showed higher gas permeability and lower selectivity than polyhydroxyimides and their TR analogs, respectively. The effect of isomerism on gas transport properties was also investigated. Para-connected polyhydroxyimide had higher fractional free volume, and thus, gas permeability coefficients than meta-connected polyhydroxyimide. Interestingly, in contrast to the meta/para effects previously reported in the literature for linear aromatic polymers, the meta-linked polyacetylimide had higher permeabilities and lower selectivities than its para-linked analog, presumably due to steric hindrance from the acetate groups that may inhibit the rotational mobility of the phenylene units in the para-linked isomer. For TR polymers derived from either polyhydroxyimides or polyacetylimides, para-configured polymers had higher gas permeabilities than meta-configured analogs. Finally, polyimide precursors for TR polymers can be sensitive to synthesis and casting conditions, and this study demonstrates how small variations in synthesis and casting procedure can have a significant effect on physical and gas permeation properties.
Elevation of plasma von Willebrand factor and tumor necrosis factor-a in obese subjects and their reduction by the low molecular weight heparin tinzaparin.

AIM Increased plasma-soluble von Willebrand factor (vWF) level, a marker of vascular endothelial cell dysfunction, is a predictor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We compared associations between vWF level and markers of inflammation as well as the effects of LMWH in obese as compared to healthy human subjects. METHODS Plasma samples were obtained from healthy volunteers (n=32) and obese subjects (n=12) before and after administration of a single subcutaneous dose of tinzaparin, given at 75 IU/kg once a day, a deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis dose. Plasma samples were analyzed for vWF and tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-alfa) using specific and sensitive ELISA. RESULTS Obese subjects showed relatively higher plasma levels of TNF-alfa compared with normal-weight subjects. Regression analysis showed that plasma vWF levels to be directly associated with the presence of higher plasma levels of TNF-alfa in these obese subjects. Tinzaparin significantly reduced elevated plasma levels of both vWF and TNF-a levels (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Plasma values of vWF and TNF-alfa are higher in obese than in normal-weight individuals. Treatment with tinzaparin lowers plasma levels of TNF-alfa in both obese and normal-weight subjects. The levels of vWF were higher in obese subjects than in normal-weight ones, which might be due to the higher levels of circulating TNF-alfa. Tinzaparin reduced vWF levels in these obese subjects.
“It’s Like Moving the Titanic:” Community Organizing to Address Food (In)Security

Health communication scholars are uniquely positioned to examine the ways in which individuals organize to address current and future exigencies related to social ills. In particular, organizations are key sites in understanding our health decisions related to food choice. From a young age, children develop habits of eating that stay with them throughout their life. More specifically, food insecurity impacts childhood nutrition. Children from low-income homes experience disproportional negative health outcomes. Appalachian Ohio is an area within the United States that experiences severe poverty. In 2013, community members in a small public school district in Appalachian Ohio formed the Appalachian Nutrition Advisory Council to address the nutritional needs of students in schools. This project stories the ways in which community members creatively organized to supplement existing structures in place designed to address school nutrition and food security.
Growth Modulation Techniques: Tethering

The current standard of care for severe progressive spinal deformity in growing children is deformity correction with spinal fusion and instrumentation, sacrificing both motion and further spinal growth. A possible etiology of idiopathic scoliosis is associated with disproportionate overgrowth of the anterior spinal column compared to the posterior column creating deformity in the sagittal plane (hypokyphosis) that ultimately leads to coronal (scoliosis) and axial plane (rib and lumbar prominence) deformities. In theory, application of compression to the convex and anterior sides of the vertebrae decreases anterolateral growth (Hueter–Volkmann principle), while allowing growth on the concave and posterior side. Animal models and preliminary clinical experience suggest that spinal growth can be modulated in this way using a flexible tether applied to the convex side of scoliotic vertebra, spanning the intervening disks. Experimental studies suggest that disk health is preserved with a flexible tether as disk motion is maintained during the growth period. The dawn of 3-dimensional imaging to potentially plan for precise placement of a tether to address the specific deformity is arriving. Anterolateral tethering may be performed via a thoracoscopic spinal approach, thus reducing surgical morbidity related to thoracotomy or the posterior approach. Initial results of anterolateral tethering in growing patients with spinal deformities are promising.
Systemic intraoperative lidocaine infusion for postoperative pain management in obese patients: A randomized, placebo controlled pilot study

Background: Systemic intraoperative lidocaine has been seen to decrease postoperative pain following abdominal surgery, butfew studies have examined its use in morbidly obese patients. Objective: We sought to evaluate the safety and effects of intravenous lidocaine in obese patients undergoing laparoscopicRoux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. Methods: Setting: University-affiliated, private hospital, United States. In this preliminary prospective, double-blinded, andplacebo-controlled safety study, we enrolled 21 patients and 20 completed the study. Ten patients were randomly assigned to thestudy group and received a continuous infusion of lidocaine intravenously from induction of general anesthesia until the endof the operation. Ten other patients were assigned to the control group and received a dextrose placebo intravenously over thesame time period. Subjects were followed for 24 hours postoperatively. The primary endpoint was the presence of symptoms oflidocaine toxicity at 1 hour postoperatively. Exploratory outcomes were adverse events, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores,opioid consumption, time to first passage of flatus and bowel movement, and length of hospital stay. Results: No significant differences were seen between groups for overt signs of lidocaine toxicity or adverse events, opioidconsumption, postoperative pain scores, time to first passage of flatus or first bowel movement, or length of hospital. We identifieda trend towards less opioid consumption in patients receiving lidocaine. We were underpowered to detect statistical differencesdue to our pilot study design; addressing safety as the primary outcome measure as opposed to efficacy. Conclusions: In this study, intravenous lidocaine in RYGB surgery was found to be safe without differences in postoperativepain or adverse effects.
In Tradition of Speaking Fearlessly: Locating a Rhetoric of Whistleblowing in the Parrhēsiastic Dialectic

ABSTRACTThis essay examines how the dialectic over the presence of rhetoric in Michel Foucault’s catalog of truth telling in ancient Greek and Roman texts informs a separate but similar dialectic over the relationship between parrhēsia and contemporary whistleblowing. I posit that the argumentation justifying the practice of government and military whistleblowing used by Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning parallels the dispute over rhetoric’s place in parrhēsia. This essay plots out how the arguments for or against the presence of rhetoric in parrhēsia routinely manifests at specific junctures in the whistleblowing timeline, indicating how the dialectic of parrhēsia naturally leads to a rhetoric of whistleblowing.
Modeling the molecular structure of the carbon fiber/polymer interphase for multiscale analysis of composites

The carbon fiber/polymer matrix interphase region plays an important role in the behavior and failure initiation of polymer matrix composites and accurate modeling techniques are needed to study the effects of this complex region on the composite response. This paper presents a high fidelity multiscale modeling framework integrating a novel molecular interphase model for the analysis of polymer matrix composites. The interphase model, consisting of voids in multiple graphene layers, enables the physical entanglement between the polymer matrix and the carbon fiber surface. The voids in the graphene layers are generated by intentionally removing carbon atoms, which better represents the irregularity of the carbon fiber surface. The molecular dynamics method calculates the interphase mechanical properties at the nanoscale, which are integrated within a high fidelity micromechanics theory. Additionally, progressive damage and failure theories are used at different scales in the modeling framework to capture scale-dependent failure of the composite. Comparisons between the current molecular interphase model and existing interphase models and experiments demonstrate that the current model captures larger stress gradients across the material interphase. These large stress gradients increase the viscoplasticity and damage effects at the interphase which are necessary for improved prediction of the nonlinear response and multiscale damage in composite materials.
The Costs of “Living the Dream” for Hmong Immigrants: The Impact of Subtractive Schooling on Family and Community

In this article, I engage critical discourse analysis of in-depth, semistructured interviews with 4 Hmong community leaders to illumine their perspectives on the role of subtractive schooling in the struggles of Hmong students, parents, and the ethnic community as a whole. I reveal their understanding of the exclusionary practices of school that privilege dominant White culture and contribute to children's Hmong language loss, ignorance about the Hmong refugee experience and sacrifices of parents and elders, and disengagement from family cultural obligations. This study significantly contributes to the current research on subtractive schooling.
Influence of habitat heterogeneity on the community structure of deep-sea harpacticoid communities from a canyon and an escarpment site on the continental rise off California

The sediment-covered deep-sea floor was initially thought to be environmentally homogeneous. Recent work has shown otherwise, and deep-sea ecologists have been searching for ecologically important environmental heterogeneities on different spatial and temporal scales, with particular interest in canyons. Here we report results for harpacticoid copepods from a site at 3262 m depth in the axis of Monterey Canyon and one on an escarpment 46 km away at 3090 m depth. Multivariate community analyses revealed significant differences between sites in community structure. Absolute abundance, the ratio of subadult copepodites to adults, species density, the proportion of the harpacticoid individuals that emerged, and the proportion that lived in tubes were significantly lower at the canyon site than at the escarpment site. The proportion of the harpacticoid individuals that belonged to the surface-dweller life-style group was significantly higher than at the escarpment site. These marked differences imply that ecologically important environmental heterogeneities exist. We speculate that differences between the sites in food conditions and sediment grain-size distributions are among them.
A simulation environment for vehicle-to-grid integration studies

The use of computers to simulate real-world phenomena has been a primary driver for computing applications. We have developed a simulation platform for evaluating novel approaches to smart power grids and energy management. Originally conceived to address issues of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration, the platform is expanded to other kinds of electric loads. We describe our motivations for undertaking the development of a special-purpose simulation platform, the simulation model, and how parallel hardware is exploited in a classical event-driven simulation set up. Specific support for control approaches of random processes is described and some simulation results are presented.
Concomitant administration of methotrexate does not improve efficacy of intra-articular joint injections in patients with oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Setting : Ten hospitals in Italy. Patients : Patients under the age of 18 with a diagnosis of oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis were eligible to receive intra-articular steroids in at least two joints or who had received a single joint injection in shoulder, elbow, wrist ankle or knee which had flared within 12 months of a joint injection were eligible for randomisation.1 Patients were excluded if they had received methotrexate, biologic disease-modifying drugs, intra-articular or systemic steroids within 3 months prior to enrolment. Non-Steroidal Antinflammatory Drugs NSAIDs were discontinued prior to enrolment. Patients with single knee arthritis were also excluded as this has the highest rate of 12-month remission. Intervention : 207 …
Six themes to guide spiritual formation ministry based on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

What key themes for spiritual formation ministry and Christlike living does Jesus identify? From a study of Jesus' central Sermon on the Mount (SM) emerged six broad formation themes. Further suppo...
The Burden of Guardianship: A Matched Cohort Study.

Background In cases where patients are unable to provide informed consent and have no surrogate decisionmaker, a hospital must seek guardian appointment as a legally recognized surrogate decision-maker. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the magnitudes of length of stay (LOS) beyond medical clearance and healthcare costs among patients referred for guardianship. Design, setting, patients This was a retrospective cohort study of all 61 adult inpatients in a single tertiary care hospital requiring guardianship between October 1, 2014, and September 30, 2015, matched with up to 3 controls from the same discharging services and hospitalized for at least as long as the date of clearance for referred patients. Measurements The following parameters were measured using generalized estimating equations: total LOS, LOS beyond medical clearance (excess LOS), medical complications, and total charges among referred patients, and the LOS and costs were compared with those of matched controls. Results Mean LOS for patients requiring guardianship was 31 ± 2 days, and the total charges averaged $179,243 ± 22,950. We documented 12 hospital-acquired complications in 10 (16%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8%-28%) unique patients. Accounting for potential confounders, the process of obtaining guardianship was associated with a 37% longer total LOS (95% CI [12%- 67%]; P = .002), 58% higher excess LOS (95% CI [2%- 145%]; P = .04), and 23% higher total charges (95% CI [4%-46%]; P = .02). Conclusions In this single-center cohort study, the guardianship process was associated with prolonged hospital stay and higher total hospital charges even when compared with matched controls. Furthermore, one in six patients suffered from a hospital-associated complication after medical clearance.
Phospholipid hydrolysis in pancreatic islet beta cells and the regulation of insulin secretion

Abstract The β-cells of pancreatic islets maintain the blood D-glucose concentration within a narrow range by secreting insulin in response to rising D-glucose concentrations in the fluid bathing them. D-glucose must be transported into the β-cell and metabolized there in order to induce insulin secretion. Signals derived from the metabolism of D-glucose within β-cells increase the membrane permeability to Ca 2+ and induce a rise in the cytosolic [Ca 2+ ], which is a critical signal in the induction of insulin secretion. Upon stimulation with secretagogues including D-glucose, phospholipid hydrolytic events occur in β-cells and result in the accumulation of a variety of phospholipid-derived mediators including nonesterified arachidonic acid and arachidonate metabolites. A major fraction of the D-glucose-induced hydrolysis of arachidonate from β-cell membrane phospholipids is independent of Ca 2+ influx and occurs in Ca 2+ -free medium, but D-glucose-induced eicosanoid release from islets does not occur when glucose metabolism is prevented by compounds which inhibit the phosphorylation of D-glucose and its entry into glycolysis. Sufficient nonesterified arachidonate accumulates in D-glucose-stimulated islets to achieve an increment in the β-cell concentration of at least 30–70 μM, and such concentrations of arachidonate induce a rise in the β-cell cytosolic [Ca 2+ ] and amplify depolarization-induced insulin secretion. The D-glucose-induced hydrolysis of arachidonate from β-cell membrane phospholipids is mediated by a phospholipase A 2 enzyme whose activity is independent of Ca 2+ and stimulated by ATP and which prefers plasmalogen substrates with sn -2 arachidonoyl residues. Selective inhibition of this islet ATP-stimulated, Ca 2+ -independent (ASCI)-phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) with a haloenol lactone suicide substrate which is sterically similar to plasmalogens suppresses the D-glucose-induced hydrolysis of arachidonate from β-cell phospholipids, the rise in β-cell cytosolic [Ca 2+ ], and insulin secretion. Islets contain substantial amounts of plasmenylethanolamine molecular species bearing arachidonoyl residues in the sn -2 position, and these molecules are hydrolyzed more rapidly than diacyl-phospholipid substrates by islet ASCI-PLA 2 in vitro and also undergo hydrolysis in intact, secretagogue-stimulated islets. Islet ASCI-PLA 2 appears to constitute an important component of the β-cell D-glucose sensor apparatus.
THE PRESIDENT'S SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE USE OF PESTICIDES AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA'S POLICY ON RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ASSOCIATED WITH PESTICIDE CHEMICALS.

The report (Wiesner Report) of the President’s Science Advisory Committee “Use of Pesticides” has been evaluated in terms of the aims, goals, and research of the University of California. This is a comprehensive report which frequently poses searching questions on safety, hazards, risks, and uses of pesticides which have long been a concern to the members of the staff of the University of California; however, there are parts of this report which generalize and appear to draw conclusions from these generalizations. These incidences, however, are in the minority and are not the main subject of the present discussion.
Debunking Portland: The City That Doesn’t Work

Though many people consider Portland, Oregon, a model of 21st-century urban planning, the region's integrated land-use and transportation plans have greatly reduced the area's livability. To halt urban sprawl and reduce people's dependence on the automobile, Portland's plans use an urban-growth boundary to greatly increase the area's population density, spend most of the region's transportation funds on various rail transit projects, and promote construction of scores of high-density, mixed-use developments. When judged by the results rather than the intentions, the costs of Portland's planning far outweigh the benefits. Planners made housing unaffordable to force more people to live in multifamily housing or in homes on tiny lots. They allowed congestion to increase to near-gridlock levels to force more people to ride the region's expensive rail transit lines. They diverted billions of dollars of taxes from schools, fire, public health, and other essential services to subsidize the construction of transit and high-density housing projects. Those high costs have not produced the utopia planners promised. Far from curbing sprawl, high housing prices led tens of thousands of families to move to Vancouver, Washington, and other cities outside the region's authority. Far from reducing driving, rail transit has actually reduced the share of travel using transit from what it was in 1980. And developers have found that so-called transit-oriented developments only work when they include plenty of parking. Portland-area residents have expressed their opposition to these plans by voting against light rail and density and voting for a property-rights measure that allows landowners to claim either compensation or waivers for land-use rules passed since they purchased their property. Opposition turned to anger when a 2004 scandal revealed that an insider network known as the light-rail mafia had manipulated the planning process to direct rail construction contracts and urban-renewal subsidies to themselves. These problems are all the predictable result of a process that gives a few people enormous power over an entire urban area. Portland should dismantle its planning programs, and other cities that want to maintain their livability would do well to study Portland as an example of how not to plan.
The interplay between natural organic matter and bromide on bromine substitution.

This study examined the interplay between bromide and DOM characteristics, described with SUVA254, in terms of formation and speciation of selected DBPs [trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), and haloacetonitriles (HANs)] during chlorination under various water treatment conditions. Cytotoxicity evaluations were also conducted based on the types and amounts of DBPs formed and their corresponding cytotoxicity index values. The results showed that the formation of THMs and HAAs increased as the specific UV absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254) of the waters increased; however, there was no clear trend for HANs. THM and HAN formation increased with increasing bromide levels, while there was no bromide effect on the HAA formation. Lower HAA5 (monochloroaceticacid, monobromoaceticacid, dichloroaceticacid, trichloroaceticacid, dibromoaceticacid) to HAA9 (monochloroaceticacid, monobromoaceticacid, dichloroaceticacid, trichloroaceticacid, dibromoaceticacid, bromochloroaceticacid, bromodichloroaceticacid, dibromochloroaceticacid, tribromoaceticacid) ratios, independent of SUVA254, were observed with increasing bromide levels. Bromine substitution factor (BSF) values were in the order of BSFDHAN > BSFTHAA > BSFTHM ≈ BSFDHAA. BSF values for all class of DBPs decreased with increasing SUVA254. TOX formation increased with increasing SUVA254 without an impact of bromide concentration. UTOX/TOX ratios were higher in treated low SUVA254 waters than raw waters having higher SUVA254 values, and they decreased with increasing initial bromide concentration in all sources. Increasing bromide concentration from 0.5 μM to 10 μM elevated the calculated cytotoxicity index values of waters. Despite their much lower (approximately ~10 times) formation as compared to THMs and HAAs, HANs controlled the calculated cytotoxicity of studied waters.
Induction of anti-leukemic responses by stimulation of leukemic CD3+ cells with allogeneic stimulator cells.

Immunotherapeutic protocols have focused on identification of stimuli that induce effective anti-leukemic immune responses. One potent immune stimulus is the encounter with allogeneic cells. Our group previously showed that the infusion of haploidentical donor white blood cells (1–2 × 108 CD3+ cells/kg) into patients with refractory hematological malignancies induced responses of varying magnitude in over half of the patients. Because donor cells were eliminated within 2 weeks in these patients, it is presumed that the responses of recipient lymphocytes were critically important in achieving prolonged anti-leukemic responses. The role of patient CD3+ cells in anti-leukemic responses was examined by isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells from newly diagnosed leukemic patients. Immunophenotyping was performed on these peripheral blood mononuclear cells. CD3+ cells were isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and tested for their ability to proliferate and lyse autologous leukemic cells when stimulated with unrelated allogeneic cells. Allostimulated CD3+ cells effectively generated cytolytic responses to autologous CD3-cells in 11/21 patients. Increased numbers of CD4+ cells expressing high levels of granzyme A, B and perforin and CD8+CD39+ cells were found in nonresponsive CD3+ cells. These results indicate that CD3+ cells from leukemic patients are capable of generating anti-leukemic responses when stimulated with unrelated allogeneic cells. This model can be used to identify approaches using alloreactive responses by patient lymphocytes to enhance in vivo anti-leukemic responses.
Two Old Dogs, One New Trick: A Review of RNA Polymerase and Ribosome Interactions during Transcription-Translation Coupling

The coupling of transcription and translation is more than mere translation of an mRNA that is still being transcribed. The discovery of physical interactions between RNA polymerase and ribosomes has spurred renewed interest into this long-standing paradigm of bacterial molecular biology. Here, we provide a concise presentation of recent insights gained from super-resolution microscopy, biochemical, and structural work, including cryo-EM studies. Based on the presented data, we put forward a dynamic model for the interaction between RNA polymerase and ribosomes, in which the interactions are repeatedly formed and broken. Furthermore, we propose that long intervening nascent RNA will loop out and away during the forming the interactions between the RNA polymerase and ribosomes. By comparing the effect of the direct interactions between RNA polymerase and ribosomes with those that transcription factors NusG and RfaH mediate, we submit that two distinct modes of coupling exist: Factor-free and factor-mediated coupling. Finally, we provide a possible framework for transcription-translation coupling and elude to some open questions in the field.
Keep Meeting Summaries on Topic: Abstractive Multi-Modal Meeting Summarization

Transcripts of natural, multi-person meetings differ significantly from documents like news articles, which can make Natural Language Generation models for generating summaries unfocused. We develop an abstractive meeting summarizer from both videos and audios of meeting recordings. Specifically, we propose a multi-modal hierarchical attention across three levels: segment, utterance and word. To narrow down the focus into topically-relevant segments, we jointly model topic segmentation and summarization. In addition to traditional text features, we introduce new multi-modal features derived from visual focus of attention, based on the assumption that the utterance is more important if the speaker receives more attention. Experiments show that our model significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art with both BLEU and ROUGE measures.
Surface-Spreading AAR Systems (Non-basin)

Infiltration basins are a widely used surface-spreading method for infiltrating stormwater, surface water, and reclaimed water. A variety of other types of surface-spreading methods are also used for managed aquifer recharge, which vary depending upon whether they occur in an unmodified channel, modified channel, or on off-channel land surfaces (e.g., adjacent flood plains, farm fields, and sand dunes). Channel modifications include large dams, check dams, sand dams, and temporary in-channel levee systems. Irrigation return flows can be an important source recharge in spate irrigation systems, in which fields are intentionally flooded, and during irrigated agriculture in general. Although surface-spreading MAR systems contribute to increased recharge, more and higher quality data are needed on the efficiency of systems (i.e., fraction of applied water that actually reaches the water table) and the fate of the recharged water (amount of water that becomes available for beneficial use). Management of clogging remains an important operational concern.
Choices and Consequences: Internationalizing Competition Policy after TPP

In its chapters on antitrust law, state-owned enterprise, and procurement, the Trans-Pacific Partnership aims to advance the project of “internationalizing” competition policy. This technocratic effort, even in modest forms, conceals deep problems flowing from divergent values, interests, and beliefs, such that grand multilateral efforts are unlikely to be sustainable. We may do better if we rely on a toolkit that is differentiated along at least three different dimensions, to increase the chances that jurisdictions can find common ground: (1) geographic scope (using regional tools as a “middle-layer” complement to multilateral and bilateral efforts); (2) obligatory force (using a proposed approach called “frameworks for contingent cooperation” as a complement to traditional legal tools and networks for cooperation); and (3) substantive scope (including the use of pure competition-policy instruments rather than relying solely on the coat-tails of integrated trade-liberalization efforts).
Volume of Irrigation Does Not Affect Rate of Abscess in Perforated Appendicitis.

Abstract Background: Although previous studies have evaluated whether use of irrigation decreases postoperative intraabdominal abscess (PO-IAA) formation, these studies treated irrigation as a dich...
Psychological first aid to support healthcare professionals

Psychological first aid (PFA) may be considered a form of acute psychological crisis intervention designed to foster human resilience. PFA has been universally endorsed as an important addition to ...
Effect of emitter orientation on the outcoupling efficiency of perovskite light-emitting diodes

Metal halide perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have experienced a rapid advancement in the last several years with the external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) reaching over 20%, comparable to the state-of-the-art organic LEDs and quantum dot LEDs. The photoluminescence quantum yields of perovskite films have also been approaching 100%. Therefore, the next step to improving the EQE of PeLEDs should be focused on boosting light extraction. In this Letter, we demonstrate the emitter dipole orientation as a key parameter in determining the outcoupling efficiency of PeLEDs. We find that the CsPbBr3 emitter has a slightly preferred orientation with the horizontal-to-vertical dipole ratio of 0.41:0.59, as compared to 0.33:0.67 in the isotropic case. A theoretical analysis predicts that a purely anisotropic perovskite emitter may result in a maximum EQE of 36%.
Networks, Linking Complexity, and Cross Predictability

This paper provides evidence that network complexity limits investors' ability to process non-local information, through the lens of return cross predictability. Using firm-to-firm citation networks, we find that the non-local indirectly-linked firms can well predict the return of the focal firm, while the predictability of the local directly-linked firms is weak. A long-short strategy using the indirect links yields a risk-adjusted monthly alpha of 198 (164) basis points with equal (value) weights. We further find that (i) the indirect citation links are much more complex than direct ones, (ii) the magnitude of cross predictability increases with the degree of link complexity, (iii) institutional investors don't adjust their positions in a stock with complex links, but in one with simple links immediately, (iv) firms with more complex links receive more public attention, are much larger in size, and exhibit less idiosyncratic volatility than those with simple links, (v) there is little role of the usual proxies for limited investor attention and arbitrage cost in explaining our anomalies, once controlling for the linking complexity, and (vi) there are no differences in expected returns of stocks with various link complexity.
NT-proBNP: Can We Better Utilize Biomarkers in Patients With Diabetes?

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is secreted from the atria of the heart as a response to myocardial stretch that occurs with increases in volume, afterload, and other hemodynamic changes that result in increased cardiovascular stress. The atria of the heart secrete BNP in its proform and it is subsequently cleaved into an inactive form (N-terminal [NT]-proBNP) and an active form (BNP) (1). Although there are some differences with regard to interpretation of the assays for these different metabolites, both NT-proBNP and BNP (referred to collectively as natriuretic peptides [NP]) can be measured and quantified and play an important role in the diagnosis and management of both acute and chronic heart failure. While the role of NP in the management of heart failure is well established, the role of NP outside of heart failure is less well defined. Prior studies consistently show a clear relationship between elevated levels of NP and subsequent risk of cardiovascular events, including atrial fibrillation (2), diastolic dysfunction (3), coronary heart disease, and stroke (4), and the development of diabetes (5). Given these associations, it is possible to use NP to assist in the risk stratification of patients into those who are at high and low risk of cardiovascular events in populations at risk for cardiovascular disease, with stable coronary artery disease, or following a myocardial infarction (6). Furthermore, it is possible that these biomarkers could also help to tailor therapy such that patients at high risk have intensification of …
Personal and organizational mindsets at work

Abstract Decades of research have shown that people’s mindsets beliefs—their beliefs about the fixedness or malleability of talent, ability, and intelligence—can powerfully influence their motivation, engagement, and performance. This article explores the role of mindsets in organizational contexts. We start by describing the evolution of mindset theory and research and review why mindsets matter for people’s workplace outcomes. We discuss some of the most common growth mindset misconceptions—termed “false growth mindset”—that emerged as the fixed and growth mindset became popularized and (mis)applied in educational settings. We review literature on the situations that move people between their fixed and growth mindsets. Finally, we review new research on organizational mindsets and how organizations’ mindset culture—communicated through its norms, policies, practices, and leadership messages—influences people’s motivation and behavior in the workplace. We outline open theoretical and methodological questions as well as promising future directions for a forward-looking research agenda on mindsets at work. We suggest that extending mindset research—at the personal and organizational levels—to workplace contexts may shed new light on classic organizational behavior questions such as how to create more positive, innovative, and ethical organizational cultures; how to increase employee engagement; and how to reduce group-based disparities and inequalities in organizations.
Exploring whether wireless emergency alerts can help impede the spread of Covid-19

Abstract Officials worldwide have sought ways to effectively use mobile technology to communicate health information to help thwart the spread of Covid-19. This study offers a preliminary exploration of whether state-level (N?=?6) and local-level (N?=?53) wireless emergency alert (WEA) messages might contribute to impeding the spread of Covid-19 in the United States. The study compares changes in reported rates of infections and deaths between states and localities that issued WEA messages in March and April of 2020 with states that did not. Small sample sizes and differences in the rates of Covid-19 spread prohibit robust statistical analysis and detection of clear effect sizes, but estimated effects are generally in the right direction. Combining statistical analysis with preliminary categorization of both WEA message content and social media themes suggests that a positive effect from WEA messages cannot be ruled out.
Adjuvant radiotherapy use in a population-based sample of breast cancer patients

617 Background: Previous studies have suggested underutilization and socioeconomic disparities in use of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) among patients with breast cancer. However, these studies used re...