cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Study on HPLC chromatographic fingerprint of Gualou-Xiebai granules and on the correlation between granules and ingredients in its prescription

OBJECTIVE To study the correlation between fingerprint peaks of Gualou-Xiebai granules and the effective fraction of the relevant herbs in its prescription. METHODS By taking the ethyl acetate extraction and the n-butanol extraction in Gualou-Xiebai granules as the research object,the characteristic spectrum for Gualou-Xiebai granules and the effective fraction of the relevant herbs in its prescription was established by HPLC-PDAD combination,peaks was matched with the asymptotic window orthogonal projection analytical method,the common pattern was established by the mean and the median,and the similarity degree between Gualou-Xiebai granules and the effective fraction of the relevant herbs in its prescription was calculated by the correlation coefficient method and the included angle cosine method. RESULTS There were 22 common peaks between Gualou-Xiebai granules and the ethyl acetate extraction of Gualou,the average similarity degree was calculated by the correlation coefficient method: as the value of mean was 0.766 1,and the value of the median was 0.732 3,and the average similarity degree was calculated by the included angle cosine method: as the value of mean was 0.847 2,and the value of the median was 0.829 8;there were 10 common peaks between Gualou-Xiebai granules and the n-butanol extraction of Xiebai,the average similarity degree was calculated by the correlation coefficient method: as the value of mean was 0.789 3,and the value of the median was 0.775 6,and the average similarity degree was calculated by the included angle cosine method: as the value of mean was 0.829 0,and the value of the median was 0.816 0. CONCLUSION Main peaks had good correlation between the effective fraction of Gualou-Xiebai granules and the ingredients in its prescription,by using this method,the assignment of chromatographic fingerprints for the effective fraction was selected and the chemical components or sources of effective fraction of Gualou-Xiebai granules were further analyzed,this method can provide theoretical basis for quality control of Gualou-Xiebai granules.
Ectopic Parathyroid Adenoma

Ectopic parathyroid glands can significantly impact morbidity associated with parathyroid surgery, including the need for reoperation. Due to their longer migratory path during embryogenesis, the inferior parathyroid glands have a greater probability of becoming ectopic. While most ectopic parathyroid glands are accessible through a cervical incision, some require access to the mediastinum via either thoracotomy or a minimally invasive approach. Preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas correlates with successful surgical resection and can alter the operative approach depending on ectopic gland location. Most surgical centers perform some combination of preoperative and/or intraoperative localization techniques prior to reoperation for persistent or recurrent primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).
Dietary Soy Reduces Colon Carcinogenesis in Human and Rats

The anti-cancer activity of individual soy phytochemicals (non-nutritive plant components with biological activity) have been extensively studied in vitro and in vivo. There is much less data relating soy consumption and colon cancer. This chapter will summarize epidemiologic studies and discuss the animal experiments and one intervention study that have evaluated the potential of dietary soy to inhibit colon carcinogenesis.
Gravity can significantly modify classical and quantum Poincaré recurrence theorems

Poincar\'e recurrence theorem states that any finite system will come arbitrarily close to its initial state after some very long but finite time. At the statistical level, this by itself does not represent a paradox, but apparently violates the second law of thermodynamics, which may lead to some confusing conclusions for macroscopic systems. However, this statement does not take gravity into account. If two particles with a given center-of-mass energy come closer than the distance of the Schwarzschild diameter, according to classical gravity they will form a black hole. In the classical case, a black hole, once formed, will always grow and effectively quench the Poincar\'e recurrence. We derive the condition under which the classical black hole production rate is higher than the classical Poincar\'e recurrence rate. In the quantum case, if the temperature of the black hole is lower than the temperature of the surrounding gas, such a black hole cannot disappear via Hawking evaporation. We derive the condition which gives us a critical temperature above which the black hole production is faster than quantum Poincar\'e recurrence time. However, in the quantum case, the quantum Poincar\'e recurrence theorem can be applied to the black hole states too. The presence of the black hole can make the recurrence time longer or shorter, depending on whether the presence of the black hole increases or decreases the total entropy. We derive the temperature below which the produced black hole increases the entropy of the whole system (gas particles plus a black hole). Finally, if the evolution of the system is fast enough, then newly formed black holes will merge and accrete particles until one large black hole dominates the system. We give the temperature above which the presence of black holes increases the entropy of the whole system and prolongs the Poincar\'e recurrence time.
Chk1 Haploinsufficiency Results in Anemia and Defective Erythropoiesis

Erythropoiesis is a highly regulated and well-characterized developmental process responsible for providing the oxygen transport system of the body. However, besides erythropoietin’s role, few of the mechanisms involved in this process have been elucidated. Checkpoint Kinase 1 (Chk1) is best known for its role in the cell cycle and DNA damage pathways. Chk1 expression in the hematopoietic system has been demonstrated to be restricted to T-cells, erythroid cells and the hematopoietic stem cell. Interestingly, a lack of Chk1 has recently been shown to disrupt T-cell differentiation (Zaugg et al. PNAS 2007) Here, we show that haploinsufficiency of Chk1 leads to a 30% increase in the incidence of anemia in mice. Furthermore, the anemic Chk1 +/− mice exhibit distorted spleen and bone marrow architecture, and an increase in erythroid progenitors (MEP, stages I, and II). In young non-anemic Chk1 +/− mice, a decrease in enucleated cells of the erythroid lineage is observed, suggesting a role for Chk1 in proper erythroid enucleation. In addition, a decrease in Chk1 RNA has been observed in patients with refractory anemia with excess blasts (Pellagatti et al. Blood, 2006), further supporting an important role for Chk1 status in clinical anemia. Finally, Chk1 has recently been show to affect the regulation of Fancd2, one of the gene’s responsible for Fanconi anemia. These results indicate Chk1 plays a part in maintaining the balance between erythroid progenitors and the enucleated erythroid cells during differentiation.
Cloud communication for remote access smart grid testbeds

This paper presents a cloud-enabled architecture for remote access smart grid testbeds. Innovative smart grid technologies need to leverage realistic and scalable cyber-physical test platforms. The interdisciplinary structure of the smart grid concept compels heterogeneous testbeds with different capabilities to interconnect in real-time. The systematic integrated testbed platforms are essential to perform large scale realistic experiments. Cloud communication and information management is an emerging networking architecture for smart grids to facilitate real-time monitoring and control. In this study, a cloud communication platform was applied to monitor, control and perform remote control of a smart grid test bed.
Why Customer Service Frustrates Consumers: Exploiting Hassle Costs by a Tiered Customer Service Organization

Can a firm limit the amount of redress it pays out to dissatisfied customers by forcing them to endure hassle costs? We examine how a Customer Complaint Management (CCM) organization can be designed to exploit consumer hassle costs and reduce redress payouts to complaining customers. We find that a tiered organizational structure embeds hassle costs for those dissatisfied customers who seek the highest levels of redress claims. The optimal tiered-structure specifies that first level CCM agents are empowered with lower payout authority than higher level agents. Only by escalating her complaint to an upper level agent, and thereby incurring additional hassle costs, can a dissatisfied customer obtain more redress from the firm. Larger hassle costs imply higher prices, more profits and worse product design. Finally, implementing tiered CCM is profitable if consumers have sufficient hassle costs. This research suggests that consumer frustration may be systematically embedded in the firm’s design of its CCM program through the deliberate exploitation of consumer hassle costs.
Abstract 4562: Slug knockdown suppresses malignant phenotype of nanomaterial-transformed human lung epithelial cells

Nanomaterials have increasingly become part of modern everyday life, but their long-term health effects are largely unknown. Previous studies have shown that carbon nanotubes (CNTs), one of the most widely used nanomaterials in industry, can induce or promote tumor formation in animals, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We previously found that chronic exposure to CNTs induced malignant transformation of human lung epithelial cells, the primary cellular target of inhaled nanomaterials. The transformed cells exhibited aggressive cancer phenotypes, including increased cell migration, invasion and anchorage-independent cell growth. We hypothesized that such increased aggressiveness may be due to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). To test this hypothesis, cultured human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells were continuously exposed to physiologically relevant concentration (0.02 μg/cm2 surface area dose) of single-walled CNT (SWCNT) for a period of 6 months. The cells were then analyzed for EMT markers and aggressive cellular behavior. Western blot analysis of EMT markers indicated an increased expression of mesenchymal markers and decreased epithelial markers, indicating the activation of EMT in the chronic SWCNT-exposed cells. Moreover, the cells exhibited a dramatic increase in one of the EMT master regulators, a transcription factor Slug (Snail2). We hypothesized that Slug upregulation may be responsible for the aggressive phenotype of the cells. We stably downregulated the Slug expression using lentiviral shRNA particles, and examined its effect on cell migration and invasion by Transwell® assays. Our results showed that knockdown of Slug attenuated cell migration and invasion without having any effect on cell proliferation. Together, our results indicated the activation of EMT by SWCNT and demonstrated its role in aggressive cancer phenotype. Slug plays a crucial role in this process and could serve as a potential biomarker for CNT-induced malignancies. Citation Format: Maria Voronkova, Sudjit Luanpitpong, Liying Wang, Yon Rojanasakul. Slug knockdown suppresses malignant phenotype of nanomaterial-transformed human lung epithelial cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4562. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4562
Vertically-Aligned Carbon Nanotube Arrays as Binder-Free Supports for Nickel Cobaltite based Faradaic Supercapacitor Electrodes

Abstract Faradaic supercapacitors have been proposed as energy storage devices capable of providing both high energy and power densities. The exceptional attributes of high specific surface area and good electrical properties displayed by vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays make them a promising candidate as faradaic capacitive electrode supports. However, some drawbacks to their use and performance exist including their resistance to wetting by an aqueous electrolyte solution, bad electrical continuity at the array/electrode base interface for binder-free applications, and potential collapse of the VACNT array because of capillary forces. This study explores possible solutions to these challenges by growing the arrays directly on conducting electrodes thus reducing the interfacial electrical resistance and removing the need for binders, using a combined plasma and forced vacuum wetting procedure to improve the wetting behavior, using a pulsed electrodeposition technique to obtain a uniform distribution of faradaic capacitive material (nickel cobaltite), and using freeze drying to prevent the collapse of the VACNT array’s native pore structure after electrodeposition. A specific capacitance of 970 Fg−1 at 2 Ag−1 is measured for the fabricated electrode with excellent performance ( > 80% retained capacity) over 3000 charge-discharge cycles.
Patient reported distress is predictive of survival in patients with gastrointestinal tumors.

764Background: Psychosocial distress screening and assessment in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers has an established importance due to the distress experienced during and post treatment. GI cancer patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) for curative or palliative measures were reviewed in order to determine if there was a relationship between patient reported distress (PRD) and survival. Methods: Patients at our institution who receive external beam RT for GI cancers completed a 30 question PRD survey that also included a linear analog measure of overall distress, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer, which ranged from 1 (low overall distress) to 10 (high overall stress) at the start of and/or during treatment. Each question on the PRD questionnaire concentrated on a possible cause of distress. It allowed patients to rate distress levels for each question from 1 to 5 (1 being the least distressed and 5 being the most distressed), and also overall distress according...
Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of novel Hedgehog Inhibitors for treating Pancreatic Cancer

Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell (CSC) maintenance resulting in tumor progression. GDC-0449, an inhibitor of Hh pathway component smoothened (Smo) has shown promise in the treatment of various cancers including pancreatic cancer. However, the emergence of resistance during GDC-0449 treatment with numerous side effects limits its use. Therefore, here we report the design, synthesis and evaluation of novel GDC-0449 analogs using N-[3-(2-pyridinyl) phenyl] benzamide scaffold. Cell-based screening followed by molecular simulation revealed 2-chloro-N 1-[4-chloro-3-(2-pyridinyl)phenyl]-N 4,N 4-bis(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1,4-benzenedicarboxamide (MDB5) as most potent analog, binding with an extra interactions in seven-transmembrane (7-TM) domain of Smo due to an additional 2-pyridylmethyl group than GDC-0449. Moreover, MDB5 was more efficient in inhibiting Hh pathway components as measured by Gli-1 and Shh at transcriptional and translational levels. Additionally, a significant reduction of ALDH1, CD44 and Oct-3/4, key markers of pancreatic CSC was observed when MIA PaCa-2 cells were treated with MDB5 compared to GDC-0449. In a pancreatic tumor mouse model, MDB5 containing nanoparticles treated group showed significant inhibition of tumor growth without loss in body weight. These evidence highlight the enhanced Hh pathway inhibition and anticancer properties of MDB5 leaving a platform for mono and/or combination therapy.
El Esfuerzo de Vivir Ocioso / The Idle Living Effort

ABSTRACT Ortega asks himself which activities man is going to perform with all the energies he has managed to save thanks to modern technology. Human beings are animals whose desire to live happens to be a desire to livewell. A man only behaves as such when, after making sure his basic, strictly biological necessities have been satisfied he creates with his own efforts a program of life that can afford him comfort. Living comfortably is not a matter of doing nothing; just pure leisure is a way of life inferior to other fully creative options of living. Thorstein Veblen, the great philosopher of leisure,presents us with a theory that, paradoxically enough, coincides with Ortega's idea that a life without occupations would not be truly human. He shows us how leisure can be in itself a sort of activity, very absorbing for many. For the new leisure class --a privileged product of the Industrial Revolution and a direct descendent of the old barbaric class--, its actions must be ostensibly unproductive, "honorable", a clear proof that they are not necessary for daily subsistence, but required as a proof of leisure. Both authors coincide in saying that the creation of superfluou goods is the foundation of human living --a fact that Veblen expresses most radically when he applies it to the peculiar necessities of the so-called "leisure class". RESUMEN Ortega se pregunta que haceres van a ocupar la vida del ser humano con el ahorro de esfuerzo que la tecnica procura. El hombre es un animal cuyo deseo de vivir es un deseo de vivir bien. Solo se comporta como ser humano cuando, librado de sus necesidades estrictamente biologicas, se crea con su propio esfuerzo un programa de vida que pueda procurarle bienestar. No se trata de no hacer nada; el ocio, es un modo de vida inferior al de otras opciones vitales plenamente creativas. Thorstein Veblen, el gran filosofo del ocio, nos ofrece una teoria a de la ociosidad que, paradojicamente, coincide con la idea de Ortega de que una vida sin ocupaciones no seria propiamente humana. Veblen nos muestra como el ocio puede ser en si mismo una forma de actividad, sobremanera absorbente para muchos. Para la nueva clase ociosa, producto privilegiado de la Revolucion Industrial, y heredera de la clase barbara de otro triempo, sus actos han de resultar ostensivamente improductivos, "honorables", clara prueba de que son innecesarios para la subsistencia, pero imprescincibles para certificar un vivir ocioso. Ambos autores conciden en que la creacion de bienes superfluos es el fundamento del vivir humano, hecho que Veblen expresa en su mayor radicalidad al aplicarlo a las peculiares necesidades de la llamada "clase ociosa".
Diversity and Inclusion in Law School and the Legal Profession

This essay contains remarks on diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and at Penn State given at Penn State Law's orientation for the class of 2020.
Service Learning in IS: Teaming with Community and Industry

Service learning is a valuable instructional methodology that is little used in information systems (IS) education. The purpose of service learning is to promote real-world relevance through the application of classroom knowledge to problems in the business community. Students develop leadership and teamwork skills while enhancing their civic engagement. Service learning is self perpetuating by increasing the service activity's impact on the business community; the service activity increases the impact of classroom lessons on the student. This paper presents the historical background of service learning in the United States, the benefits of service learning in promoting student learning and meeting the local business community’s needs, steps for organizing service learning activities in (IS) education, and an example of a successful service learning project in IS.
Diverticulitis: Beyond the Basics

Diverticulitis is a common problem resulting in approximately 298,000 admissions to US acute care hospitals each year. For every patient admitted to the hospital, a much larger number are treated on an outpatient basis. Despite the increasing prevalence of the disease, our understanding of diverticulitis is still rather rudimentary. In the last decade, the recommendations for diverticulitis have changed markedly due to the widespread use of CT scanning and the ability to classify the severity of the disease, the further refinement of the natural history of the disease, and the risk of recurrent attacks, in addition to the adoption of minimally invasive techniques. This chapter summarizes the controversies and current recommendations for treatment of this common disease.
Predictive values of Miraluma scintimammography in patients with localized breast abnormalities and intermediate risks for carcinoma

2118 Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the negative and positive predictive values (NPV and PPV) of Miraluma scintimammography in female patients(pts) with palpable or non-palpable breast lesions and intermediate (Bi Rads 3) risks for carcinoma by mammography. Methods: A total of 60 female pts were referred for Miraluma imaging were evaluated. 31 had palpable masses and 27 had non-palpable mammographic abnormalities (Bi Rad 3). One pt had known Paget’s disease and one presented with a bloody discharge from the nipple. All pts were scanned in multiple views, including prone-dependent lateral views following IV administration of 20-25 mCi of Tc-99m sestamibi in the arm opposite the suspected lesions. Miraluma scintiscans were interpreted by an experienced nuclear physician with knowledge of pertinent patient information. Results of Miraluma scans were compared to follow-up data (mammograms, physical examination, biopsy). Mean length of follow-up was 9-37 months. Results: Only two of 60 pts had breast cancers, one missed by Miraluma. Of the 58 pts with benign findings, Miraluma scans were true negative in 52 (specificity 90%, NPV 98%), and false positive in 6 pts with active fibrocystic disease (scans showed a diffuse pattern). None of the false positive pts required surgical intervention. Specificity and negative predictive values were slightly higher in patients with palpable lesions than in patients with non-palpable disease (94% and 100%, versus 83% and 95%), although the difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Miraluma scintimammography is a useful tool in patients with intermediate risks for breast cancers. The high specificity and negative predictive value could reduce the need for follow-up tests, and alleviate the patient’s emotional burden.
Activation of AMPK-SIRT3 signaling is chondroprotective by preserving mitochondrial DNA integrity and function.

Summary Objective In osteoarthritis (OA), articular chondrocytes manifest mitochondrial damage, including mitochondrial DNA 4977-bp (mtDNA4977) deletion that impairs mitochondrial function. OA chondrocytes have decreased activity of AMPK, an energy biosensor that promotes mitochondrial biogenesis. Here, we tested if pharmacologic AMPK activation, via downstream activation of predominately mitochondrially localized sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), reverses existing decreases in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity and function in human OA chondrocytes and limits mouse knee OA development. Design We assessed mtDNA integrity and function including the common mtDNA4977 deletion and mtDNA content, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) generation, oxygen consumption and intracellular ATP levels. Phosphorylation of AMPKα, expression and activity of SIRT3, acetylation and expression of the mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme SOD2 and DNA repair enzyme 8-oxoguanine glycosylase (OGG1), and expression of subunits of mitochondrial respiratory complexes were examined. We assessed effect of pharmacologic activation of AMPK on age-related spontaneous mouse knee OA. Results The mtDNA4977 deletion was detected in both OA chondrocytes and menadione-treated normal chondrocytes, associated with increased mtROS, decreased SIRT3, and increased acetylation of SOD2 and OGG1. AMPKα1 deficient chondrocytes exhibited significantly reduced SIRT3 activity. AMPK pharmacologic activation attenuated existing mtDNA4977 deletion and improved mitochondrial functions in OA chondrocytes via SIRT3 by reducing acetylation and increasing expression of SOD2 and OGG1, and limited aging-associated mouse knee OA development and progression. Conclusions AMPK activation, via SIRT3, limits oxidative stress and improves mtDNA integrity and function in OA chondrocytes. These effects likely contribute to chondroprotective effects of AMPK activity.
Evaluation of a Long-Acting Opioid Restriction Policy: Does Restriction Reduce the Need for Naloxone Reversal?:

Purpose: After a sentinel event related to long-acting (LA) opioid administration at our institution and subsequent root cause analysis, an inpatient LA opioid restriction policy was implemented to improve patient safety. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of an inpatient LA opioid restriction policy on inpatient therapy utilization and to compare rates of naloxone reversal events among patients administered LA opioids before and after policy implementation. Methods: To evaluate the first objective, an electronic medical record report was created to capture all inpatient LA opioid orders prescribed to adults at our institution between March 1, 2014, and July 30, 2017. Utilization was compared before and after policy implementation and use controlled for by patient days. To evaluate the second objective, naloxone administrations were identified via a query of the medical record between March 1, 2014, and July 30, 2017. Naloxone reversal events were independently evaluated by 2 trained reviewers, and a third when discrepancies existed. Rates of naloxone reversal events related to LA opioid administration were compared between the pre- and post-policy phase. Results: The results of our first objective demonstrate that policy implementation was associated with a statistically significant reduction in LA opioid utilization that was sustained throughout the study duration. For our second objective, among the 144 patients deemed to have an opioid-related naloxone reversal event, a LA opioid was administered to 12 patients (18.9%) in the pre-policy phase and 17 patients (15.9%) in the post-policy phase. This difference was not statistically significant (odds ratio [OR] = 1.629, confidence interval [CI] = 0.711-3.732, P = .248). Conclusion: A LA opioid restriction policy significantly reduced LA opioid utilization at our institution. Despite this, we did not find a significant reduction in inpatient naloxone reversals related to LA opioids. Further study is warranted to identify an optimal method to reduce LA opioid-related toxicity.
Characterizing an Aberrant Band on Protein Electrophoresis

For decades, one of the most widely adopted and extensively used methods to measure serum proteins in the clinical laboratory was serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP). This method involves the separation of large molecules based on size and charge across a solid matrix (agarose gel) maintained in a vertical or horizontal plane. The resolution and surface to volume ratios are low in SPEP. More recently, hospital laboratories are using capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the measurement of serum proteins mainly due to its high separation efficiency, short analysis time, low waste generation, and versatility. As opposed to SPEP, CE separates large and small molecules based on size and charge in a capillary tube. With CE, band resolution is high as well as the surface to volume ratios. While CE has many advantages as a technique, it can lead to the development of an aberrant band appearing between the beta and gamma regions. Currently, this band is being labeled as a non-specific band, even though the true identity of the band remains unknown. In this study, we identified 31 samples displaying an aberrant band between the beta and gamma regions on CE during a 6 month period. All samples were divided into two aliquots and frozen at -20°C until subsequent analysis. One aliquot was treated with thrombin and re-assayed using capillary electrophoresis and the other aliquot was used to perform western blot. Results indicated that twenty-three of the thirty-one samples showed the presence of CRP, fibrinogen like proteins (FGLs) or fibrinogen. Fourteen samples showed the presence of CRP, twelve samples showed the presence of FGLs and five samples showed the likely presence of fibrinogen. The researchers concluded that the band identity is more related to acute phase proteins; CRP or FGL, or fibrinogen.
Analysis of the Immune and Antioxidant Response of Cellulose Nanocrystals Grafted with β-Cyclodextrin in Myeloid Cell Lines

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have great potential in many areas of research, applications, and future commercialization prospects. Recently, CNCs have emerged as attractive candidates for biomedical applications such as drug and gene delivery systems. As such, cytotoxicity studies have been the major focus in the past decade. However, despite the rod-like nature of CNCs, the potential immune response of surface-modified CNCs is not well investigated. The current study examined the potential immune and antioxidant response induced by CNCs grafted with β-cyclodextrin (CNCs-β-CD) in a human monocyte cell line (THP-1) and a mouse macrophage-like cell line (J774A.1). We analyzed the secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), by ELISA and mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) using fluorescence cell imaging and examined the intracellular levels of proteins involved in the immune and antioxidant response by immunoblotting. Our results indicated a dramatic increase neither in the IL-1β secretion nor in the mitochondria-derived ROS resulting in no changes in the intracellular antioxidant response in THP-1 cells treated with different concentrations of CNCs-β-CD. Overall, CNCs-β-CD is nonimmunogenic and do not induce an increased antioxidant response under the conditions tested and hence has the potential to be used as a drug delivery carrier.
Let There Be Clamor: Exploring the Emergence of a New Public Sphere in India and Use of Social Media as an Instrument of Activism:

This article traces the emergence of a new public sphere in India by applying a critical-cultural theoretical lens to the digital discourse on the Twitter platform surrounding the 2014 Jadavpur Uni...
Using the Community of Inquiry Framework to Understand Students’ Learning Experience in Online Undergraduate Business Courses

This paper presents the results of a study that explored undergraduate students’ perceptions of cognitive, social, and teaching presences in online business courses and their relationship to students’ course satisfaction in addition to demographic variables. Student engagement has proven to be one of the main reasons for student retention and satisfaction in online courses and the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework by Garrison, Anderson, and Archer promised to provide clear structure to identify student engagement. A total of 223 business undergraduate students participated in the online survey adapted from the CoI survey (Garrison et al., The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2–3), 87–105, 2000) with additional demographic variables. Results indicated that teaching presence and cognitive presence of the CoI framework has a significant impact on the course rate of online undergraduate business courses confirmed by the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). A moderation effect of gender on the relationship between age and course rate was also found.
Expression and function of umami receptors T1R1/T1R3 in gastric smooth muscle

Background l-amino acids, such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), activate the umami receptor T1R1/T1R3. We previously showed increased peristalsis in response to activation of T1R1/T1R3 by MSG in mouse colon. However, the expression and function of these receptors in the different regions of the stomach are not clear. Methods Mouse gastric smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were isolated and cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium. Expression of T1R1 and T1R3 was measured by RT-PCR and Western blot. The effect of MSG with and without inosine monophosphate (IMP, an allosteric activator of T1R1/T1R3) on acetylcholine (ACh)-induced contraction was measured in muscle strips and isolated SMCs by scanning micrometry. The effect of MSG with or without IMP on activation of G proteins and ACh-induced Ca2+ release was measured in SMCs. Key results Monosodium glutamate inhibited ACh-induced contractions in muscle strips from both antrum and fundus and the effect of MSG was augmented by IMP; the effects were concentration-dependent and not affected by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L-NNA, or tetrodotoxin suggesting a direct effect on SMCs. In isolated gastric SMCs, T1R1 and T1R3 transcripts and protein were identified. Addition of MSG with or without IMP inhibited ACh-induced Ca2+ release and muscle contraction; the effect on contraction was blocked by pertussis toxin suggesting activation of Gαi proteins. MSG in the presence of IMP selectively activated Gαi2 . Conclusions and inferences Umami receptors (T1R1/T1R3) are present on SMCs of the stomach, and activation of these receptors induces muscle relaxation by decreasing [Ca2+ ]i via Gαi2 .
Bleeding, Thrombosis and the Defense Reaction During Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes bleeding, thrombotic complications, and triggers the body’s defense systems to initiate a general inflammatory response. These reactions are caused by activation of blood constituents by contact with the synthetic surfaces of the heart-lung machine. Bleeding results from heparin, fibrinolysis, and loss of platelet numbers and function. Thrombosis generates emboli. Production of vasoactive substances alters cardiac function, vascular tone and capillary permeability. Massive fluid retention and temporary dysfunction of nearly every organ system results. The major complications of CPB due to blood activation are listed in Table 1.
Efficient Implementation of a Threshold Modified Min-Sum Algorithm for LDPC Decoders

In this brief, we present a hardware efficient implementation of a threshold modified min-sum algorithm (MSA) to improve the performance of a low density parity-check (LDPC) decoder. The proposed architecture introduces a novel lookup table based threshold attenuation technique, called threshold attenuated MSA (TAMSA). The proposed TAMSA implementation is shown to improve bit error rate (BER) performance compared to the conventional AMSA and MSA. Furthermore, a layered version of the TAMSA implementation is investigated to reduce hardware cost. Utilizing circuit optimization techniques, including a parallel computing structure, the proposed layered TAMSA field-programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation results show that the modified architecture requires no extra circuit power or circuit area compared to conventional AMSA, and only 0.07% extra leaf cells compared to conventional MSA.
High power K a -band Goldstone solar system radar transmitter: Transmission line component development

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has initiated a design and development program for the next generation Ka-Band (34.5 GHz) 400 KW CW Goldstone solar system radar transmitter. The new transmitter will be used for radar observations of the near planets and asteroids. The radar signal is essentially a CW signal with a duration of approximately the round trip light time to the body under observation, which may range from 20 seconds to a few hours. The power amplifier to be used in the transmitter, a gyroklystron, is under development at Varian Associates in Palo Alto, CA. (1), and will not be discussed further in this paper. The transmitter will be housed on the 64 meter Cassegrain antenna at Goldstone, California. A transmission line will transport the microwave power from the gyroklystron to the antenna focus. This system must maintain mode purity, monitor certain characteristics of the signal, and provide efficient illumination of the subreflector. The remainder of this paper will describe the specifications for the transmission line components and theoretical and experimental results for several prototype components. The effects of mode purity on antenna performance will also be summarized.
H(div) conforming methods for the rotation form of the incompressible fluid equations

New H(div) conforming finite element methods for incompressible flows are designed that involve the rotation form of the equations of motion and the Bernoulli function. With a specific choice of numerical fluxes, we recover the same velocity field as in Guzman et al. (IMA J Numer Anal 37(4):1733–1771, 2016) for the incompressible Euler equation in the convection form. Error estimates are presented for the semi-discrete method. We further study the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation with the full version of the stress tensor $$\nu \left( \nabla \varvec{u}+ \nabla \varvec{u}^T - \frac{2}{3} \left( \nabla \cdot \varvec{u}\right) \mathbb {I} \right)$$ , instead of partially enforcing the divergence free constraint at the continuous level (as is commonly done in finite element methods), we let the numerical scheme to fully control the enforcement of this constraint. Finally, we test the behavior of the proposed methods with some numerical simulations. Our results show that (1) We recover the same velocity field in Guzman et al. (2016), (2) When H(div) conforming with BDM-DG elements, we achieve less errors in the velocity compared with Schroeder et al. (SeMA J 75(4):629–653, 2018) when polynomial order $$p\in \{2,3\}$$ , (3) When H1 conforming with Taylor-Hood elements, the use of full stress tensor helps to reduce errors in both the velocity and the Bernoulli function, (4) H(div) conforming method does a better job in long time structure preservation compared with the classical mixed method even with the grad-div stabilization.
A consistent and conservative volume distribution algorithm and its applications to multiphase flows using Phase-Field models

Abstract In the present study, the multiphase volume distribution problem, where there can be an arbitrary number of phases, is addressed using a consistent and conservative volume distribution algorithm. The proposed algorithm satisfies the summation constraint, the conservation constraint, and the consistency of reduction. The first application of the volume distribution algorithm is to determine the Lagrange multipliers in multiphase Phase-Field models that enforce the mass conservation, and a multiphase conservative Allen-Cahn model that satisfies the consistency of reduction is developed. A corresponding consistent and conservative numerical scheme is developed for the model. The multiphase conservative Allen-Cahn model has a better ability than the multiphase Cahn-Hilliard model to preserve under-resolved structures. The second application is to develop a numerical procedure, called the boundedness mapping, to map the order parameters, obtained numerically from a multiphase model, into their physical interval, and at the same time to preserve the physical properties of the order parameters. Along with the consistent and conservative schemes for the multiphase Phase-Field models, the numerical solutions of the order parameters are reduction consistent, conservative, and bounded, which are theoretically analyzed and numerically validated. Then, the multiphase Phase-Field models are coupled with the momentum equation by satisfying the consistency of mass conservation and the consistency of mass and momentum transport, thanks to the consistent formulation. It is demonstrated that the proposed model and scheme converge to the sharp-interface solution and are capable of capturing the complicated multiphase dynamics even when there is a large density and/or viscosity ratio.
Optimization of Temporary Wafer Bonding Materials and Processes for 3D IC Integration

A 3D stacked IC technology has promoted technological developments to satisfy the great demand for high-end applications such as flexible ICs, system-in-packaging (SiP), high-integration microelectronics, and power application. Temporary wafer bonding has become a critical element in device processing over the past decades. The release layer and adhesive materials used for bonding a device wafer onto a carrier wafer play a key role in the manufacture of ultrathin devices and high-performance packages.We optimize the process integration and manufacturing aspects of the release layer in a temporary wafer bonding process, which is used for three-dimensional integrated circuits (3D IC) package. We provide optical performance data on the materials and attempt to establish a standard route for temporary wafer bonding in order to cost-effective and increase the reliability and yield of integration schemes. This manuscript covers three parts: focused ion beam (FIB) observation the morphology of the release layer, temporary bonding of a device wafer onto a carrier wafer, and de-bonding of the wafer from the carrier. The purpose of release layer observation is to identify its thickness and monitor the morphology of the release layer. Temporary bonding can attach the device wafer onto the carrier wafer prior to the back-grinding for preventing thinned device wafer chipping or cracking. The wafer bonding defect and thickness variation are discussed. It is noticed that the critical step in temporary bonding is plasma active process for forming a release layer. Hence, three types of plasma active release layers are assessed to bond a device wafer onto a silicon wafer. Plasma active time starts from 360 seconds reduced to 120 seconds and 100 seconds, the corrugated release layer becomes much flatter. Three bonded stacks are debonded by SUSS DB12T de-bonder to qualify the performance of the temporary bonding process. Bonded stack with maximum plasma active time is failed for de-bonding, less of them are succeeded in wafer separating process.
Design and Fabrication of 3D Wire Grid Antenna An Integrated Method for Optimization in Constrained Volumes

In this paper, the design concept, optimization methods, simulated radiation properties, and additive manufacturing methods for 3D wire grid antennas in symmetric and non-symmetric arbitrary volumes are presented.
Development of a real-time spectral imaging system using in-site micro-LED-based illumination and high-speed micro-camera for endoscopic applications

We designed a compact, real-time LED-based endoscopic imaging system for the detection of various diseases including cancer. In gastrointestinal applications, conventional endoscopy cannot reliably differentiate tumor from normal tissue. Current hyperspectral imaging systems are too slow to be used for real-time endoscopic applications. We are investigating real-time spectral imaging for different tissue types. Our objective is to develop a catheter for real-time hyperspectral gastrointestinal endoscopy. The endoscope uses multiple wavelengths within UV, visible, and IR light spectra generated by a micro-LED array. We capture images with a monochrome micro camera, which is cost-effective and smaller than the current hyperspectral imagers. A wireless transceiver sends the captured images to a workstation for further processing, such as tumor detection. The spatial resolution of the system is defined by camera resolution and the distance to the object, while the number of LEDs in the multi-wavelength light source determines the spectral resolution. To investigate the properties and the limitations of our high-speed spectral imaging approach, we designed a prototype system. We conducted two experiments to measure the optimal forward voltages and lighting duration of the LEDs. These factors affect the maximum feasible imaging rate and resolution. The lighting duration of each LED can be shorter than 10 ms while producing an image with a high signal-to-noise ratio and no illumination interference. These results support the idea of using a high-speed camera and an LED-array for real-time hyperspectral endoscopic imaging.
Culture is Bad for You: by Orian Brook, Dave O’Brien, and Mark Taylor. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 2020, 361 pp., US$19.95, paperback, ISBN: 978-1-5261-4416-4

Well, of course, culture is good for you, right? It helps our children and adults expand their intellectual, moral, and creative horizons, it is linked with better health and longevity, it can prov...
Armodafinil-Associated Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: a Case Report

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are two overlapping presentations of the same clinical condition. The diseases typically develop in response to the classically insulting drugs: antibiotics, anticonvulsants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and analgesics. Steven-Johnson Syndrome following armodafinil is rare. We report the case of a 33-year-old woman who presented with large areas of blistering rash, fever, and malaise of a day’s duration following the ingestion of armodafinil. A diagnosis of Steven Johnson-Syndrome was made and confirmed by biopsy. Initial treatment consisted of oral steroids, broad-spectrum antibiotics, debridement, Silvadene, and topical cyclosporine for her skin lesions with 200 mg IV BID initially and then tapered over the course of several weeks, and vaginal triamcinolone and nystatin for genital involvement. Following decreased urinary output and respiratory failure, she required diuresis, subsequent intubation for respiratory support, and intravenous immunosuppressants. She improved over the next several days and was discharged home on day 18 with cyclosporine taper, topical creams for skin lesions, and instruction for follow-up with primary care, dermatology and obstetrics and gynecology. Armodafinil can be an inciting pharmaceutical cause of Steven-Johnson syndrome and possibly toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation-Associated Neurological Complications and Their Brain MR Imaging Findings in a Pediatric Population.

Purpose: To determine the prognostic indicators for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)-associated neurological complications, the clinical characteristics and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions in pediatric HSCT recipients were reviewed. Methods: This retrospective study included 51 patients who had underwent a brain MRI due to newly developed neurological symptoms or infection signs during chemotherapy or HSCT. We reviewed the demographics, received treatments, treatment-related morbidities, laboratory findings and brain MRI findings, which were compared between good and poor neurologic outcome groups. Results: Thirty-seven patients (72.5%) fully recovered from the neurologic deficits and fourteen (27.5%) persisted or aggravated. The children with an underlying malignant disease had significantly poorer neurological outcomes (p = 0.015). The neurologic complications associated with infection were more frequent in the poor outcome group (p = 0.038). In the neuroimaging findings, the extent of the white matter lesions was significantly higher in the poor outcome group, as was that of abnormal enhancement, ventriculomegaly, cortical change, deep gray matter abnormalities and cerebellar abnormalities. Conclusion: Most children with neurologic complications and neuroimaging abnormalities during HSCT had recovered. However, children with neurologic complications associated with infectious causes, malignant disease or severe brain MRI abnormalities should be more carefully monitored during HSCT.