cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The impact of temperature and gas-phase oxygen on kinetics of in situ ammonia removal in bioreactor landfill leachate.

Abstract Microcosm experiments aimed at defining a rate equation that describes how different environmental conditions (i.e., gas-phase oxygen concentrations, temperature and ammonia concentration) may impact in situ ammonia removal were conducted. Results indicate that ammonia removal can readily occur at various gas-phase oxygen levels (between 0.7% and 100%) and over a range of temperatures (22, 35 and 45 °C). Slowest rates occurred with lower gas-phase oxygen concentrations. All rate data, except at 45 °C and 5% oxygen, fit well ( r 2 =0.75) to a multiplicative Monod equation with terms describing the impact of oxygen, pH, temperature and ammonia concentration. All ammonia half-saturation values are relatively high when compared to those generally found in wastewater treatment, suggesting that the rate may be affected by the mass transfer of oxygen and/or ammonia. Additionally, as the temperature increases, the ammonia half-saturation value also increases. The multiplicative Monod model developed can be used to aid in designing and operating field-scale studies.
Device quality diamond substrates

Abstract A technique to obtain mosaic diamond films and substrates approaching single crystal quality is described. The method includes the patterned etching of structures in Si substrates. The structures hold and orient diamond seeds
Exact formulas for the Hodrick‐Prescott filter

Summary The Hodrick–Prescott (HP) filter is widely used in the field of economics to estimate trends and cycles from time series data. For certain applications—such as deriving implied trend and cycle models and obtaining filter weights—it is desirable to express the frequency response of the HP as the spectral density of an ARMA model; in other words, to accomplish the spectral factorization of the HP filter. This paper presents an exact approach to this problem, which makes it possible to provide exact algebraic formulas for the HP filter coefficients in terms of the HP's signal-to-noise ratio.
Approximate treatment of density gradients in Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities

We present an approximate method, based on a moment equation, to derive explicit analytic formulas for the growth rate of Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities in fluids with density gradients. We illustrate with several examples and compare the results with our earlier method of treating a continuous density profile as a large number of fluid layers. The emphasis is on obtaining simple analytic formulas for the largest growth rate.
Infrastructure to support university Global Positioning System studies

Global Positioning System (GPS) geodesy is one of the most important measurement technologies in modern Earth science. It has had a revolutionary impact on crustal motion research. The number of papers and talks featuring GPS is growing exponentially; new applications appear each month; and system performance continues to improve at a remarkable pace. This rapidly changing environment creates great opportunities for the University Navstar Consortium (UNAVCO) community and a bright future for continued growth.
Phagocytic processing of antigens for presentation by MHC molecules

Abstract Phagocytosis plays a major role in the defence of higher organisms against microbial infection not only by allowing ingested microbes to be destroyed by microbicidal mechanisms, but also by providing the basis for processing o f their antigens to forms that generate immune responses. This article examines the role of the phagolysosome in antigen processing, and discusses the contributions of both MHC class II and MHC class I molecules to the presentation of antigens derived from phagocytosed material.
Philosophical Issues Arising from Experimental Economics

Human beings are highly irrational, at least if we hold to an economic standard of ‘rationality’. Experimental economics studies the irrational behavior of human beings, with the aim of understanding exactly how our behavior deviates from the Homo economicus, as ‘rational man’ has been called. Insofar as philosophical theories depend upon rationality assumptions, experimental economics is the source of both problems and (at least potential) solutions to several philosophical issues. This article offers a programmatic and highly biased survey of some of these issues, with the hope of convincing the reader that experimental economics is well-deserving of careful study by philosophers.
Lecithin formation by methylation of intact phosphatidyl dimethylethanolamine

S>Results are reported from tracer studies of lecithin formation by methylation of intact phosphatidyl dimethylethanolamine (DME). After incubation of C/sup 14/ labeled DME with rat liver slices, the isotope was found to be present in the DME as well as in the choline moiety of the phospholipids. Results are tabulated from typical experiments. Possible reaction mechanisms involved are discussed. (C.H.)
Perfluorocarbon Gases in Vitreous Surgery

Fifty-six patients with complicated retinal detachments were managed with vitreous surgery and one of two perfluorocarbon gases. These gases are capable of greater expansion and greater longevity compared to sulfur hexafluoride. Forty-five patients received perfluoropropane (C3F8), eleven received perfluoroethane (C2F6). The retinas of 31 patients (55.4%) were attached at six months after the disappearance of the gas. In many instances, operations performed with air-sulfur hexafluoride mixtures had failed and the retina was subsequently reattached with the use of the perfluorocarbon gases. The major complications were increased intraocular pressure, which was usually transient, and gas-induced lens opacities.
Sequential steps in synaptic targeting of sensory afferents are mediated by constitutive and developmentally regulated glycosylations of CAMs.

Abstract Sensory afferents in the leech are labeled with both constitutive and developmentally regulated glycosylations (markers) of their cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). Their constitutive mannose marker, recognized by Lan3-2 monoclonal antibody (mAb), mediates the formation of their diffuse central arbors. We show that, at the ultrastructural level, these arbors consist of large, loosely organized axons rich with filopodia and synaptic vesicles. Perturbing the mannose-specific adhesion of this first targeting step leads to a gain in cell–cell contact but a loss of filopodia and synaptic vesicles. During the second targeting step, galactose markers divide afferents into different subsets. We focus on the subset labeled by the marker recognized by Laz2-369 mAb. Initially, the galactose marker appears where afferents contact central neurons. Subsequently it spreads proximally and distally, covering the entire afferent surface. Afferents now gain cell–cell contact, with central neurons and self-similar afferents, but lose filopodia and synaptic vesicles. Extant synaptic vesicles prevail where afferents are apposed to central neurons. These neurons develop postsynaptic densities and en passant synapses are forming. Perturbing the galactose-specific adhesion of this second targeting step causes a loss of cell–cell contact but a gain in filopodia and synaptic vesicles, essentially returning afferents to the first targeting step. The transformation of afferent growth, progressing from mannose- to galactose-specific adhesion, is consistent with a change from cell–matrix to cell–cell adhesion. By performing opposing functions in a temporal sequence, constitutive and developmentally regulated glycosylations of CAMs collaborate in the synaptogenesis of afferents and the consolidation of self-similar afferents.
Quantitative profiling of major neutral lipid classes in human meibum by direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Purpose The purpose of this investigation was to better understand lipid composition in human meibum. Methods Intact lipids in meibum samples were detected by direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis in positive detection mode using sodium iodide (NaI) as an additive. The peak intensities of all major types of lipid species, that is, wax esters (WEs), cholesteryl esters (CEs), and diesters (DEs) were corrected for peak overlapping and isotopic distribution; an additional ionization efficiency correction was performed for WEs and CEs, which was simplified by the observation that the corresponding ionization efficiency was primarily dependent on the specific lipid class and saturation degree of the lipids while independent of the carbon chain length. A set of WE and CE standards was spiked in meibum samples for ionization efficiency determination and absolute quantitation. Results The absolute amount (μmol/mg) for each of 51 WEs and 31 CEs in meibum samples was determined. The summed masses for 51 WEs and 31 CEs accounted for 48 ± 4% and 40 ± 2%, respectively, of the total meibum lipids. The mass percentages of saturated and unsaturated species were determined to be 75 ± 2% and 25 ± 1% for CEs and 14 ± 1% and 86 ± 1% for WEs. The profiles for two types of DEs were also obtained, which include 42 α,ω Type II DEs, and 21 ω Type I-St DEs. Conclusions Major neutral lipid classes in meibum samples were quantitatively profiled by ESI-MS analysis with NaI additive.
Growth of the positive braid semigroups

Abstract We investigate the structure of Thurston's greedy canonical form for elements of the positive braid semigroup Pn and find a method to calculate the growth function of Pn. The rationality of the growth of Pn is proved and the explicit growth functions for P3 and P4 are calculated.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Psychology, it has recently been said, has “gone cognitive” (Dember, 1974). Moreover, judging from an examination of the theoretical and dinical literature, behavior therapy has followed suit (Bandura, 1974; Mahoney, 1974). The attention devoted to cognitive variables in behavior therapy has grown steadily in the 1970s (Franks and Wilson, 1973–77), and several recent developments have tended to make formal this trend toward a cognitive mediational model of the modification of behavior. These have included pertinent publications (e.g., Beck, 1976; Meichenbaum, 1976), the appearance of the journal Cognitive Therapy and Research, and an inaugural convention on “cognitive behavior therapy” in New York City in 1976.
Effects of thrombopoietin and erythropoietin on platelet production in rebound-thrombocytotic and normal mice.

The effects of thrombopoietin-rich (TSF-rich) kidney cell culture medium and partially purified preparations of human urinary and step I sheep plasma erythropoietin (Ep) on platelet production in mice were determined. After TSF and Ep preparations had been injected into mice in rebound thrombocytosis and into normal mice, the rate of incorporation of Na235SO4 into platelets was measured as an index of platelet production. TSF injections caused significant increases in platelet production of all the mice; however, greater effects were observed in rebound-thrombocytotic mice than in normal mice. In rebound-thrombocytotic mice, low dosages of Ep (0.25–1.0 units per mouse) significantly depressed percentage 35S incorporation into platelets. The same low dosage of Ep did not alter platelet production rates in normal mice, but large doses (2.5–5.0 units per mouse) stimulated 35S incorporation into platelets. Thus, these results show that Ep caused different responses in rebound-thrombocytotic and normal mice. Endotoxin, injected in dosages previously shown to be present in Ep, gave responses similar to that of the low dosages of Ep, ie, depressed thrombocytopoiesis in rebound-thrombocytotic mice but had no effect in normal mice. When two foreign proteins were injected in doses similar to the previously tested Ep protein content, platelet production was not stimulated. We conclude, therefore, that the thrombocytopoietic effects of Ep cannot be due to contamination with known humoral factors or foreign proteins.
The functional significance of autistic behaviors for the psychotic child.

Physiological, cognitive, and emotional factors were examined throughout the treatment of a psychotic child. Heart rate, latency and accuracy in task performance, behavioral indices of stress (e.g., muscular tension, facial expression), and frequency of autistic mannerisms were measured concurrently. Both contemporaneous relationships and patterns of change suggested that autistic behaviors were organized and psychologically meaningful. Self-stimulation, conflict, and negativism (deliberate erroneous performance) occurred predictably, were intimately related, and were associated with specific patterns of heart-rate change. The changing function of self-stimulation across treatment and the centrality of negativism in this child's disturbance were discussed.
On the blocks of semisimple algebraic groups and associated generalized Schur algebras

In this paper we give a new proof for the description of the blocks of any semisimple simply connected algebraic group when the characteristic of the field is greater than 5. The first proof was given by Donkin and works in arbitrary characteristic. Our new proof has two advantages. First we obtain a bound on the length of a minimum chain linking two weights in the same block. Second we obtain a sufficient condition on saturated subsets π of the set of dominant weights which ensures that the blocks of the associated generalized Schur algebra are simply the intersection of the blocks of the algebraic group with the set π. However, we show that this is not the case in general for the symplectic Schur algebras, disproving a conjecture of Renner.
Phase relationships in the Ti–Si–C system at high pressures

The compatibility of phases in the Ti–Si–C system was studied for pressures from 10 to 20 kbars (1 to 2 GPa) and temperatures from 1200 °C to 1500 °C via an interfacial reaction between titanium and silicon carbide. The interface was characterized by backscattered electron imaging and electron probe microanalysis. Ti3Si was stabilized at high pressures exhibiting an appreciable solubility for carbon (up to 9 at. %). At higher temperatures and lower pressures, it decomposed to Ti5Si3, Ti(Si, C), and TiCx according to the relation Ti3Si (Cz) = (0.70588)TiCx + (0.32437)Ti5Si3 + (0.67227)Ti (Si, C), where the mathematical coefficients were calculated using z = 0.4 and x = 0.5. No detectable quantities of carbon dissolved in Ti5Si3 under these conditions. A clapeyron slope of 0.08 (±0.01) kbar/K was measured for this reaction. The microstructure of the reaction zone and other general thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics are discussed for different experimental conditions.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Performed via Left Ventricular Assist Device Inflow Cannula

A 62-year-old woman with a history of lung cancer, prior surgical aortic valve replacement with a 23-mm Hancock (Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, MN) porcine valve, and nonischemic cardiomyopathy supported with a HeartMate II destination therapy left ventricular assist device (LVAD; Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA) presented with hemolytic anemia (hemoglobin, 6.8 g/dL; lactate dehydrogenase, 1536 U/L) because of LVAD thrombosis and severe insufficiency of the 23-mm Hancock bioprosthetic valve (Figure 1; Movie I in the Data Supplement). Given her comorbidities and multiple prior sternotomies, she was felt to be a poor candidate for combined redo-surgical aortic valve and LVAD replacement via another sternotomy. Peripheral vascular disease precluded transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Therefore, it was decided that she would be best treated with concomitant LVAD pump exchange and TAVR via a transapical approach using the existing LVAD inflow cannula for access. Figure 1. Intraoperative aortogram showing severe bioprosthetic aortic valve insufficiency. Note the Coda occlusion balloon in the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) outflow cannula (*), LVAD inflow cannula (**) through which the Amplatz Extra Stiff wire can be seen traversing the porcine aortic valve, percutaneous venous cardiopulmonary bypass cannula (arrow), and temporary transvenous pacemaker in the right ventricle (arrowhead). A 5-cm incision was made below the lateral two thirds of the right clavicle to access the right axillary artery, and a 6-mm Dacron …
Emotion and consciousness

Consciousness and emotion feature prominently in our personal lives, yet remain enigmatic. Recent advances prompt further distinctions that should provide more experimental traction: we argue that emotion consists of an emotion state (functional aspects, including emotional response) as well as feelings (the conscious experience of the emotion), and that consciousness consists of level (e.g. coma, vegetative state and wakefulness) and content (what it is we are conscious of). Not only is consciousness important to aspects of emotion but structures that are important for emotion, such as brainstem nuclei and midline cortices, overlap with structures that regulate the level of consciousness. The intersection of consciousness and emotion is ripe for experimental investigation, and we outline possible examples for future studies.
Efficient implementation of mutual exclusion locks in large multiprocessors

To ensure proper mutual exclusion, a lock is often employed to determine the processor among those which compete for the critical section. Accesses to such a mutual exclusion lock may create heavy synchronization traffic and/or serious contention over the network, thereby degrading system performance considerably. In this paper, we introduce an efficient lock scheme which keeps synchronization traffic low and avoids serious hot-spot contention. This is made possible by constructing a ring of the processors waiting for the critical section and by dispersing accesses to the lock. Our simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme indeed achieves better performance than prior techniques, promising good scalability. >
Abating colon cancer polyposis by Lactobacillus acidophilus deficient in lipoteichoic acid

An imbalance of commensal bacteria and their gene products underlies mucosal and, in particular, gastrointestinal inflammation and a predisposition to cancer. Lactobacillus species have received considerable attention as examples of beneficial microbiota. We have reported previously that deletion of the phosphoglycerol transferase gene that is responsible for lipoteichoic acid (LTA) biosynthesis in Lactobacillus acidophilus (NCK2025) rendered this bacterium able to significantly protect mice against induced colitis when delivered orally. Here we report that oral treatment with LTA-deficient NCK2025 normalizes innate and adaptive pathogenic immune responses and causes regression of established colonic polyps. This study reveals the proinflammatory role of LTA and the ability of LTA-deficient L. acidophilus to regulate inflammation and protect against colonic polyposis in a unique mouse model.
The effects of oxygen stresses on the development of features of severe retinopathy of prematurity: knowledge from the 50/10 OIR model

The objective of this study is to determine growth factor expression and activation of signaling pathways associated with intravitreous neovascularization and peripheral avascular retina using a model of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) relevant to today with oxygen monitoring in neonatal units. Studies using 50/10 oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) and 50/10 OIR+SO models were reviewed. Repeated fluctuations in oxygen increased retinal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) even while peripheral avascular retina persisted and prior to the development of intravitreous neovascularization. Repeated fluctuations in oxygen increased VEGF164 expression but not VEGF120. Neutralizing VEGF bioactivity significantly reduced intravitreous neovascularization and arteriolar tortuosity without interfering with ongoing retinal vascularization. Repeated oxygen fluctuations led to retinal hypoxia and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). Inhibiting ROS with NADPH oxidase inhibitor, apocynin, reduced avascular retina by interfering with apoptosis. Supplemental oxygen reduced retinal VEGF concentration and exacerbated NADPH oxidase activation to contribute to intravitreous neovascularization through activation of the JAK/STAT pathway. Oxygen stresses relevant to those experienced by preterm infants today trigger signaling of different pathways to cause avascular retina and intravitreous neovascularization. Increased signaling of VEGF appears important to the development of both avascular retina and intravitreous neovascularization.
Making Sense of Gender in the World Economy: Focus on Latin America:

The paper highlights gender as a main force in the distribution of power and resources in the global economy. As more Latin American women join the labor force, men partake of a two-fold experience; while some are making gains as technicians and professionals, many more are working in jobs with characteristics formerly associated with female employment. As workforces reconfigure on the basis of gender, men and women confront new dilemmas about their proper roles in society.
MYXOMA OF BONE

The microscopic findings reported fulfill Stout's criteria for "myxoma". Stout observed ten myxomata of bone and collected sixteen cases from the literature. Most of them occurred in the jaws, mainly in the mandible, and the rest in the long and flat bones, metatarsals, and phalanges. As to age dist
Fine-scale population structure and sex-biased dispersal in bobcats (Lynx rufus) from southern Illinois

In mammal populations, the spatial and genetic structure can be affected by dispersal, philopatry, and relatedness. Bobcats (Lynx rufus (Schreber, 1777)) are thought to exhibit typical mammalian dispersal behaviour where males disperse and females are philopatric, potentially leading to higher relatedness among females compared with males. We used 10 microsatellite loci to examine population structure and sex-biased dispersal in 146 bobcats sampled in southern Illinois during 1993–2001 using population genetic descriptive statistics, a Bayesian clustering algorithm, relatedness (rxy), and autocorrelation analyses. A randomization test demonstrated that female dyads had significantly higher rxy values with respect to randomly selected dyads (rxy = 0.093 ± 0.222, P = 0.012) and spatial autocorrelation analyses determined that females in close proximity (<5 km) had a high probability of being related (P = 0.001). Conversely, rxy values for males were not different from the null distribution (rxy = 0.019 ± 0....
The analysis of power-controlled MAC layer for wireless ad hoc networks

In this paper, we study the improvement of power control in wireless ad hoc networks that use the DS-SS MAC layer protocol. We obtain the probability density function (PDF) and the cumulative density function (CDF) of the interference at a receiver node in a power-controlled network. We then use these PDF and CDF to compare the MAC layer performance of power-controlled and non-power-controlled networks. Packet success probability, expected hop length, expected energy spent per successful packet, and expected energy spent per meter per successful packet are the four performance metrics that we chose for the comparison. We show that the signal-strength power control does not increase the packing of the network nodes, but it does, however, reduce the power consumption by a factor between 3 and 4, for the same packet success probability.
Inhibition of Human Endothelial Cell Chemokine Production by the Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungal pathogen commonly acquired by inhalation. Extrapulmonary dissemination can lead to infection of the bloodstream and various organs, most commonly resulting in meningoencephalitis. However, infection with C. neoformans is often characterized by a scant inflammatory response. The leukocyte response to infection depends in part upon a gradient of chemotactic factors and adhesion molecules expressed by the host vascular endothelium, yet the inflammatory response of human endothelial cells (EC) to C. neoformans has not been previously investigated. We found that incubation of primary human EC with C. neoformans did not induce chemokine synthesis, and resulted in differential inhibition of cytokine-induced IL-8, IFN-gamma-inducible protein-10, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. In contrast, C. neoformans had little effect on EC surface expression of the leukocyte ligand, ICAM-1, as determined by flow cytometry. Modulation of chemokine production was dependent on the chemokine under study, the inoculum of C. neoformans used, fungal viability, and cell-cell contact, but independent of cryptococcal strain or encapsulation. These observations suggest a novel mechanism whereby C. neoformans can affect EC function and interfere with the host inflammatory response.
Suppression of Self-Sustained Oscillations in a Supersonic Impinging Jet

A passive control technique was used to suppress the self-sustained oscillations in a supersonic impinging jet. A rigid plate, placed in the ambient region close to the jet exit, was used to interrupt the upstream propagating acoustic waves originating from the impingement region. The effectiveness of this technique was examined using the particle image velocimetry. The results clearly showed that the large-scale coherent vortical structures, which dominated the normal impinging jet, are completely suppressed with the passive control technique. As a result, a signie cant reduction in induced entrainment velocity was found. A recovery of about 16% of the lift loss on the attached lift plate was achieved when compared to an uncontrolled impinging jet. A reduction of about 11 dB in the near-e eld overall sound pressure level was observed.
Iterative construction of optimum signature sequence sets in synchronous CDMA systems

Optimum signature sequence sets that maximize the capacity of single-cell synchronous code division multiple access (CDMA) systems have been identified. Optimum signature sequences minimize the total squared correlation (TSC); they form a set of orthogonal sequences, if the number of users is less than or equal to the processing gain, and a set of Welch (1994) bound equality (WBE) sequences, otherwise. We present an algorithm where users update their transmitter signature sequences sequentially, in a distributed fashion, by using available receiver measurements. We show that each update decreases the TSC of the set, and produces better signature sequence sets progressively. We prove that the algorithm converges to a set of orthogonal signature sequences when the number of users is less than or equal to the processing gain. We observe and conjecture that the algorithm converges to a WBE set when the number of users is greater than the processing gain. At each step, the algorithm replaces one signature sequence from the set with the normalized minimum mean squared error (MMSE) receiver corresponding to that signature sequence. Since the MMSE filter can be obtained by a distributed algorithm for each user, the proposed algorithm is amenable to distributed implementation.
Steady state thermal analysis and high-power reliability considerations of RF MEMS capacitive switches

This paper presents a detailed steady-state thermal analysis of RF MEMS capacitive switches. In the up-state position, the maximum temperature on the bridge occurs at the center and is only 50/spl deg/ and 70/spl deg/C for 1 /spl mu/m-thick gold and aluminum membranes, respectively, for a power dissipation in the bridge of 20 mW. This corresponds to an incident RF power of 10 W for C/sub u/ = 100 fF at 12 GHz (or C/sub u/ = 35 fF at 35 GHz) and R/sub s/ = 0.5 /spl Omega/. In the down-state position, it is shown that the bridge temperature does not increase considerably for an incident power of 1 W, and therefore, does not contribute to the reliability problems at high RF powers. On the other hand, it is our opinion that the RF current density on the leading edge of the bridge membrane is the main factor of the failure of MEMS capacitive switches at high RF powers. Two-dimensional temperature measurements are currently being done at Rockwell Scientific, and will be presented at the conference.
RNA interference (RNAi) screening approach identifies agents that enhance paclitaxel activity in breast cancer cells

Introduction Paclitaxel is a widely used drug in the treatment of patients with locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer. However, only a small portion of patients have a complete response to paclitaxel-based chemotherapy, and many patients are resistant. Strategies that increase sensitivity and limit resistance to paclitaxel would be of clinical use, especially for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Occupational Sex Segregation And Economic Development

Occupational sex segregation is an important measure of equality between men and women in the labor force. As men and women share more occupations and increasingly perform the same jobs in the workplace, occupational sex segregation decreases, indicating a more similar work experience between the sexes, as well as an increase in gender equality. In this paper a cross-national examination of D, an index of dissimilarity, is presented. Data from the International Labor Organization is used to calculate D for various countries. Using the United Nations’ classification of countries into least developed, developing, developed, and Eastern European, this paper examines the effect of economic development on occupational sex segregation.
AML in Older Adults

Older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) present a complex array of therapeutic dilemmas. As a result of host factors making chemotherapy less well tolerated, and disease factors making response to antineoplastic strategies less likely, difficult decisions abound. Therapeutic options, including aggressive chemotherapy, supportive care, or less intense therapy (e.g., clinical trials), have vastly different implications. The choice among these requires prolonged discussions with the patient and family members. Because of the poor results obtained in this age group, there is a need for the development of novel targeted, less toxic, and more effective therapies.
Spartacus Redivivus: Hollywood’s Blacklist Remembered

Kirk Douglas, I Am Spartacus: Making a Film, Breaking the Blacklist (New York: Open Road Integrated Media, 2012).
Age-Related Effects on Individual Discrimination Among Meadow Voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus

There is a paucity of data about the effects of aging on an individual’s response to scent marks in terrestrial mammals. In a recent series of experiments on the arvicoline rodent, the meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus, age of the subject had different effects on three odor-related behaviors: self-grooming, scent marking, and over-marking, suggesting that age of the vole may also affects its ability to identify and discriminate among the scent marks of different conspecifics. We used a habituation/test paradigm to test the hypothesis that aging affects the ability of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) to identify individual differences in the scent marks of two conspecifics. In experiments 1 and 2, 2–3-month-old, 5–7-month-old, and 10–12-month-old voles that were exposed four successive times to the scent mark of an opposite-sex conspecific or a same-sex conspecific habituated to the scent mark of these donors. Later, during the test phase, 2–3-, 5–7-, and 10–12-month-old voles spent more time investigating the scent mark of a novel donor than that of the familiar donor. Thus, 2–12-month-old voles behave as if the scent marks of the donors were individually distinct. In contrast, in both experiments 1 and 2, 15–18-month-old voles failed to habituate to the scent mark of the familiar donor. In addition, during the test phase, 15–18-month-old voles spent similar amounts of time investigating the scent mark of the novel donor and that of the familiar donor. In experiment 3, 15–18-month-old voles could distinguish between the scent mark of a male and that of a female donor, spending more time investigating the scent mark of the opposite-sex conspecific to that of the same-sex conspecific. Thus, 15–18-month-old voles can no longer distinguish between the scent marks of two same-sex conspecifics but can discriminate between the scent marks of a male and a female conspecific. The data suggest that age of the vole may influence its ability to identify and discriminate among the scent marks of different same-sex conspecifics. The consequences of such impairment in social recognition may result in a trade-off between survival and mating success for older voles.
Detection of patient's bed statuses in 3D using a Microsoft Kinect

Patients spend the vast majority of their hospital stay in an unmonitored bed where various mobility factors can impact patient safety and quality. Specifically, bed positioning and a patient's related mobility in that bed can have a profound impact on risks such as pneumonias, blood clots, bed ulcers and falls. This issue has been exacerbated as the nurse-per-bed (NPB) ratio has decreased in recent years. To help assess these risks, it is critical to monitor a hospital bed's positional status (BPS). Two bed positional statuses, bed height (BH) and bed chair angle (BCA), are of critical interests for bed monitoring. In this paper, we develop a bed positional status detection system using a single Microsoft Kinect. Experimental results show that we are able to achieve 94.5% and 93.0% overall accuracy of the estimated BCA and BH in a simulated patient's room environment.
Abstract 2039: Hyaluronan-CD44 interaction with PKCε promotes oncogenic signaling by the stem cell marker, Nanog and the production of microRNA-21 leading to downregulation of the tumor suppressor protein, PDCD4, anti-apoptosis and chemotherapy resistance in breast tumor cells

Multidrug resistance and disease relapse is a challenging clinical problem in the treatment of breast cancer. In this study we investigated the hyaluronan (HA)-induced interaction between CD44 (a primary HA receptor) and protein kinase Ce (PKCe) which regulates a number of human breast tumor cell functions. Our results indicate that HA binding to CD44 promotes PKCe activation which, in turn, increases the phosphorylation of the stem cell marker, Nanog, in the breast tumor cell line, MCF-7. Phosphorylated Nanog is then translocated from the cytosol to the nucleus and becomes associated with RNase III DROSHA and the RNA helicase, p68. This process leads to microRNA-21 (miR-21) production, and a tumor suppressor protein [e.g., the Program Cell Death 4 (PDCD4)] reduction. All of these events contribute to upregulation of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs, e.g., XIAP and survivin) and the multidrug resistant protein (MDR1)/P-glycoprotein (P-gp) resulting in anti-apoptosis and chemotherapy resistance. Transfection of MCF-7 cells with PKCe or Nanog-specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) effectively blocks HA-mediated PKCe/Nanog signaling events, abrogates miR-21 production and increases PDCD4 expression/eIF4A binding. Subsequently, this PKCe/Nanog signaling inhibition causes IAP/MDR1 (P-gp) downregulation, apoptosis and chemosensitivity. To further evaluate the role of miR-21 in oncogenesis and chemoresistance, MCF-7 cells were also transfected with a specific anti-miR-21 inhibitor in order to silence miR-21 expression and inhibit its target functions. Our results indicate that anti-miR-21 inhibitor not only enhances PDCD4 expression/eIF4A binding, but also blocks HA/CD44-mediated tumor cell behaviors [e.g., IAP/MDR1 (P-gp) upregulation, anti-apoptosis and chemotherapy resistance] in MCF-7 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that the HA-induced CD44 interaction with PKCe plays a pivotal role in Nanog signaling and miR-21 production leading to the tumor suppressor protein (PDCD4) downregulation, anti-apoptosis/survival and chemoresistance. Thus, this newly-discovered HA/CD44 signaling pathway should provide important drug targets for sensitizing tumor cell apoptosis and overcoming chemotherapy resistance in breast cancer cells. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2039.
The implication of two methods of dietary survey in dietary administration of a nursery school and a kindergarten

To study the effect of dietary monitoring and problems in dietary survey. The data of dietary survey obtained by two different methods: weighting sample food and records of weighted food in past 20 years of a nursery school and a kindergarten in urban Shanghai were analyzed and cmpared. The nutrient intake counted by the two methods were higher than the actual intake. This differences in assessment of dietary quality were related to methods, duration of investigation, different decades and age of children. [Conclusion] The dietary survey plays an important role in monitoring dietary quality. The method of investigation and dietary administration should be improved.
Pathogenesis and progress in treatment of postherpetic neuralgia

Middle-aged and elderly persons were apt to suffer fron postherpetic neuralgia,which was characterized by long duration and fierce pain.The definition,pathogenesis,clinical feature and treatment of postherpetic neuralgia were reviewed in this paper.
Abstract B40: AKT-ACLY signaling preferentially maintains histone acetylation over lipid synthesis during nutrient limitation

Metabolic reprogramming by oncogenes is a mechanism to support biosynthesis and growth in cancer cells. Activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway increases glucose consumption and glycolysis, leading to higher acetyl-CoA production. Extra-mitochondrial acetyl-CoA is utilized in lipid synthesis and protein acetylation. We previously showed that tumor cell histone acetylation is regulated in a glucose-dependent manner, through ATP-citrate-lyase (ACLY) conversion of glucose-derived citrate into acetyl-CoA. In low glucose conditions, acetyl-CoA and histone acetylation levels decrease. However, AKT-dependent phosphorylation of ACLY at serine 455 promotes acetyl-CoA production to allow maintenance of global levels of histone acetylation under glucose limitation. It is unclear whether partitioning of acetyl-CoA between lipid synthesis and histone acetylation in the setting of nutrient limitation impacts cell growth or survival. In this study, we examined whether acetyl-CoA utilization for lipid synthesis is impacted by AKT-ACLY signaling during nutrient limitation. Using 13C-glucose labeling and mass spectrometry, we determined that de novo lipid synthesis is suppressed to a much greater extent than histone acetylation in low glucose conditions. Moreover, phosphorylation of ACLY does not sustain fatty acid synthesis under glucose limitation, in contrast to its effects on histone acetylation. These data indicate that the PI3K-AKT-ACLY axis preferentially maintains histone acetylation over lipid synthesis during nutrient limitation. This regulation is likely due to AMPK-dependent phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (p-ACC), blocking acetyl-CoA commitment to fatty acid synthesis. This study reveals that cancer cells employ robust mechanisms to maintain histone acetylation in nutrient limited environments. Citation Format: Joyce V. Lee, Zuo-Fei Yuan, Shichong Liu, Benjamin A. Garcia, Kathryn E. Wellen. AKT-ACLY signaling preferentially maintains histone acetylation over lipid synthesis during nutrient limitation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Metabolism and Cancer; Jun 7-10, 2015; Bellevue, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2016;14(1_Suppl):Abstract nr B40.
Genetic determination of the cytolytic T lymphocyte receptor repertoire.

The immune system has evolved a number of sophisticated molecular mechanisms that assure the maintenance of a highly diverse repertoire of lymphocyte receptors. In view of the vast potential for V region diversity, the immune system must judiciously choose specificities that are of greatest value for expression in the lymphocyte receptor repertoire. Indeed, the challenge to immunologists no longer lies in explaining the generation of diversity, but rather in understanding the basis for variable region selection at the genomic level and receptor selection at the environmental level. This is, of course, also the ongoing challenge to the immune system.
Gender Nonconforming, Transgender, and Transsexual Patient Navigation of the American Health Care System: Locating a Primary Care Provider

GENDER NONCONFORMING, TRANSGENDER, AND TRANSSEXUAL PATIENT NAVIGATION OF THE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM: LOCATING A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER By Justin Michael Vinneau, M.S. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University Major Director: Dr. Susan Bodnar-Deren, Assistant Professor, Sociology This study explores the experiences of gender nonconforming (GNC), transgender, and transsexual (trans) people in the search for a primary care provider in the United States. The current body of literature on transgender health often discusses HIV rates, substance use, mental health/suicide, and few studies have studies primary care seeking behaviors; this study seeks to provide new insight into the primary care (pcp) seeking behaviors of GNC and trans people. The primary theoretical perspectives utilized in this study were West and Zimmerman’s (1987) “Doing Gender” and the Health Beliefs Mode (Ayers et al., 2007; Connor and Norman, 2005; Green and Murphy, 2014). In order to explore the pcp seeking behaviors among GNC and trans individuals, I designed a 45 item survey. The survey was posted on-line on three separate “sub-reddits” between March and April of 2016 and was open to all individuals who selfidentified as gender nonconforming, transgender, and/or transsexual. Of 96 responses, 68 were included. Although the sample is small, the results showed that structural barriers were significantly associated with having a PCP. Those with health insurance (p=.031) and those with at least one chronic illness (p=.037) were more likely to have a regular primary care provider. Descriptive findings support the role of socioGender Nonconforming, Transgender, and Transsexual Patient Navigation v economic factors, geographic location, and past experiences of discrimination as predictors of primary care status.
Revolutionizing metallic biomaterials for biodegradable implants

T purpose of this engineering research center (ERC) is to transform current medical and surgical treatments by creating "smart" implants for craniofacial, dental, orthopedic, cardiovascular, thoracic and neural interventions. The ERC is developing biodegradable metals with the promise that new kinds of implants can adapt to the human body and eventually dissolve when no longer needed, eliminating multiple surgeries and reduce health care costs. Biodegradable systems offer significant therapeutic advantages over implants used today. These innovations would particularly benefit pediatric patients suffering from cleft palate, angular deformities of long bones, limb length discrepancies, or trauma including fractures that require pins and screws for repair. Biodegradable metal implants would reduce the expense and spare children the pain of multiple procedures used to implant, then later remove, refit and re-implant the current generation of devices. Biodegradable stents could reduce or eliminate the need for additional invasive procedures. Sensors and other neural applications developed by the ERC will provide new information on the biological response of the body to implanted devices. Breakthrough activities include new alloying techniques to produce tunable degradable metallic implants, new improved versions of existing clinical-use plates and screws, innovative nanocoating technologies to yield special surface functionalities and methods to develop new sensors for monitoring/controlling implant corrosion and studying bone growth. J. Sankar, J Material Sci Eng 2013, 2:4 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2169-0022.S1.010
Optimal STATCOM Sizing and Placement Using Particle Swarn Optimization

Heuristic approaches are traditionally applied to find the size and location of Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) devices in a small power system. Nevertheless, more sophisticated methods are required for placing them in a large power network. Recently, the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique has been applied to solve power engineering optimization problems giving better results than classical methods. This paper shows the application of PSO for optimal sizing and allocation of a Static Compensator (STATCOM) in a power system. A 45 bus system (part of the Brazilian power network) is used as an example to illustrate the technique. Results show that the PSO is able to find the best solution with statistical significance and a high degree of convergence. A Detailed description of the method, results and conclusions are also presented.
Extraction of time-frequency target features

Physics-based detection algorithms can improve discrimination of sonar targets from competing bottom reverberation, but are vulnerable to environmental uncertainties. Recent research in the underwater community has identified an environmentally robust time-frequency signature for improved target discrimination. Application of this “invariant” requires processing algorithms to identify striations in a spectrogram and to quantify the associated track certainty. In this paper, two robust invariant-based algorithms are presented and demonstrated with underwater data. The first algorithm uses a Kalman Filter to estimate the time-frequency striations in sonar spectrograms. The second computes a “likeliness” metric to measure discrimination between target and non-target detections.
Relational focus in long duration buyer-seller relationships

There is limited research on the effects of accumulated shared experience on the nature or character of buyer-seller relationships that have extended beyond a few short years. The evidence presented here suggests that when buyer-seller exchanges are sustained over the long-term, the direct effect of duration on relational choice changes in buyer-seller relationships over time. Further, this study suggests that duration moderates the effects of several environmental variables drawn from resource dependency theory and transaction cost economics on relational focus. In light of this evidence we argue that duration must be integrated into contract theory to help us understand how organisations adapt to change.
Discrepancy principle for DSM II

Abstract Let Ay = f, A is a linear operator in a Hilbert space H, y ⊥ N(A) ≔ {u : Au = 0}, R(A) ≔ {h : h = Au, u ∈ D(A)} is not closed, ∥fδ − f∥ ⩽ δ. Given fδ, one wants to construct uδ such that limδ→0∥uδ − y∥ = 0. Two versions of discrepancy principles for the DSM (dynamical systems method) for finding the stopping time and calculating the stable solution uδ to the original equation Ay = f are formulated and mathematically justified.