cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Properties of Ca2+ sparks revealed by four-dimensional confocal imaging of cardiac muscle

Parameters (amplitude, width, kinetics) of Ca2+ sparks imaged confocally are affected by errors when the spark source is not in focus. To identify sparks that were in focus, we used fast scanning (LSM 5 LIVE; Carl Zeiss) combined with fast piezoelectric focusing to acquire x–y images in three planes at 1-µm separation (x-y-z-t mode). In 3,000 x–y scans in each of 34 membrane-permeabilized cat atrial cardiomyocytes, 6,906 sparks were detected. 767 sparks were in focus. They had greater amplitude, but their spatial width and rise time were similar compared with all sparks recorded. Their distribution of amplitudes had a mode at ΔF/F0 = 0.7. The Ca2+ release current underlying in-focus sparks was 11 pA, requiring 20 to 30 open channels, a number at the high end of earlier estimates. Spark frequency was greater than in earlier imaging studies of permeabilized ventricular cells, suggesting a greater susceptibility to excitation, which could have functional relevance for atrial cells. Ca2+ release flux peaked earlier than the time of peak fluorescence and then decayed, consistent with significant sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) depletion. The evolution of fluorescence and release flux were strikingly similar for in-focus sparks of different rise time (T). Spark termination involves both depletion of Ca2+ in the SR and channel closure, which may be synchronized by depletion. The observation of similar flux in sparks of different T requires either that channel closure and other termination processes be independent of the determinants of flux (including [Ca2+]SR) or that different channel clusters respond to [Ca2+]SR with different sensitivity.
piRNAs, transposon silencing, and Drosophila germline development

Transposons are prominent features of most eukaryotic genomes and mobilization of these elements triggers genetic instability. Transposon silencing is particularly critical in the germline, which maintains the heritable genetic complement. Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) have emerged as central players in transposon silencing and genome maintenance during germline development. In particular, research on Drosophila oogenesis has provided critical insights into piRNA biogenesis and transposon silencing. In this system, the ability to place piRNA mutant phenotypes within a well-defined developmental framework has been instrumental in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the connection between piRNAs and transposon control.
The Vertical Resolution of the Kennedy Space Center 50-MHz Wind Profiler

Abstract The effective vertical resolution of the Kennedy Space Center 50-MHz Doppler radar wind profiler is determined using vertical wavenumber spectra and temporal coherence. The resolution ranges from being Nyquist limited at 300 m to as coarse as 900 m. The average resolution is about 500 m.
Chronic alcohol feeding impairs hepatic translation initiation by modulating eIF2 and eIF4E

The present study examined potential cellular mechanisms responsible for the inhibition of protein synthesis in liver after chronic alcohol consumption. Rats were maintained on an alcohol-containin...
Mitochondrial proliferation in cardiac hypertrophy

Mitochondrial proliferation was studied in mature female rats following aortic constriction. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was assayed by a fluorometric method. The conditions for removal of nuclear DNA were developed and verified by assessment of molecular conformation of DNA. The mtDNA concentration in mitochondria increased 2,4, and 7 days post-operatively by 11, 72 and 117% respectively. Comparison with the rates of accumulation of cytochrome c, b, and aa3 indicates that during the first 24 hours of cardiac enlargement the inner mitochondrial components accumulate faster then mtDNA, but during the six subsequent days the rate of mtDNA increment far outstrips that of the cytochromes. These data indicate that the amount of available mtDNA template is not the only factor regulating the transcriptional and translational processes in the enlarging myocardium.
Review of the Postbaccalaureate Degree for Professional Entry into Physical Therapy

The American Physical Therapy Association has endorsed the postbaccalaureate entry-level degree for the physical therapy profession. This article reviews the purpose of entry-level professional training and contrasts various options of educational systems with degree structures. Professional economic, political, and educational factors are considered. After analysis of these variables, the Master of Physical Therapy degree is my recommendation for the postbaccalaureate entry-level degree for physical therapists.
Selective depolarization of interneurons in the early posttraumatic dentate gyrus: involvement of the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase.

Interneurons innervating dentate granule cells are potent regulators of the entorhino-hippocampal interplay. Traumatic brain injury, a leading cause of death and disability among young adults, is f...
Across the Colonial Divide Conversations About Evaluation in Indigenous Contexts

This essay engages questions of evaluator role and indigenous peoples participation in evaluation within colonial and decolonization contexts. Specifically, I critique the Western emphasis on cultural competence and contrast the utility of ‘mainstream’ evaluation approaches alongside three indigenous inquiry models (Te Kotahitanga, Whakawhanaungatanga, and He Taniko) as utilized by/with indigenous Maori in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Using practical examples of evaluation projects conducted with and by Maori, the article highlights the very different ‘evaluation conversations’ happening amongst ‘mainstream’ practitioners—where the focus is on difference, competency, and issues of access—relative to those occurring amongst indigenous evaluators and communities—where evaluation praxis is framed within broader struggles for sovereignty and self-determination. By placing these paradigms in conversation with each other, I highlight the ways in which evaluation approaches that engage indigenous people and places are ...
Determination of Lift Gas Leakage Rate for a Stratospheric Airship Hull

Stratospheric airship development efforts under the HiSentinel program have yielded a recent flight of a quarter-million cubic foot displ acement vehicle to an altitude of over 60,000 feet. The airship hull structural integrity was mai ntained throughout ascent and during float. Prior to flight, the hull underwent leakage rate testing over multiple days. It was instrumented and inflated to a differential pressur e of several inches of water while stationed at ground level. The rate measured during this test ing predicted the inflation gas leakage observed during flight. Improvement in the flight d uration of subsequent similar LighterThan-Air platforms will be realized by reducing the overall leakage rate of the airship hull and requires corresponding improvement of the leak qualification testing itself. The confounding factor of variation in actual test item volume from that modeled based on hull material strains can be reduced by using an integra l method to calculate average leak area. This analysis method coupled with currently available sensors can be used to quantify leak size confidently within a few days of testing, prov ided sufficient provisions are made in the construction of the test item for bulk gas temperat ure sensing.
Ion Current Detection During Cold Starting and Idling in Diesel Engines

Cold starting of diesel engines is characterized by inherent problems such as long cranking periods and combustion instability leading to an increase in fuel consumption and the emission of high concentrations of hydrocarbons which appear as white smoke. The ion current signal has been considered for the feedback control of both gasoline and diesel engines. However, the ion current signal produced from the combustion of the heterogeneous charge in diesel engines is weaker compared to that produced from the combustion of the homogeneous charge in gasoline engines. This presents a problem in the detection of the ion current signal in diesel engines, particularly during starting and idling operations. This paper investigates and addresses the ion current detection problems pertaining to cold starting and various idling speeds. Also, different approaches have been investigated to improve the signal detection under these conditions.© 2012 ASME
Book Review: Handbook of Research Methods on Social Entrepreneurship:

Richard Seymour (Ed.), Handbook of Research Methods on Social Entrepreneurship, Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2012, 261 pp.
Discussion on Test Technology of Merging Units

Merging units,which involve a variety of equipments in substations and between substations,are the core function units of digital interface in digital substations and also the key to ensuring the accuracy and reliability of various data.This paper introduces the main functions of merging units.Through the analysis on synchronization methods,it elaborates two methods of simulation and digital test systematically in terms of synchronization errors,sampling accuracy etc.
Inflammatory cell-derived NO modulates cardiac allograft contractile and electrophysiological function.

We previously demonstrated that inhibition of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) ameliorated acute cardiac allograft rejection. This study used a rat cardiac transplant model to characteri...
Hematologic causes of intracerebral hemorrhage and their treatment.

Abstract Spontaneous ICH is an unusual and potentially disastrous event that may complicate primary and secondary hemostatic abnormalities. Among the primary abnormalities, deficiencies of coagulation factors I, VII, VIII, IX and XIII as well as von Willebrand factor have been clearly associated with ICH. Specific factor replacement or supportive management to normalize the hemostatic defect is indicated in each case. Among secondary alterations in hemostasis, thrombocytopenia, platelet function abnormalities, or factor consumption contribute to the risk of ICH in patients with ITP, TTP, disseminated intravascular coagulation, myeloproliferative or myelodysplastic disorders, and exposure to certain medications. The precise incidence of spontaneous hemorrhage among these disorders is unknown but low. Platelet transfusion and fibrinogen replacement are appropriate in specific cases; however, treatment of the underlying cause is usually required. The association of hemorrhage with antithrombotic agents in several settings is better defined. Cessation of the medication is required in each instance. Fibrinogen replacement may be required after the use of fibrinolytic agents. In all cases, an assessment of the precise hemostatic defect is recommended.
Thermal Expansion of Several Technical Metals from -255° to 300°C

The thermal-expansion measurement system used Is shown In Fig. 1. This system consists of suitable cryogenic dewars, vacuum equipment, an Interferometer-dllatometerj automatic temperature control system, temperature-measurement equipment and a hoist for assembly of the dilatometer and specimen. The dewars, Interferometer, and dilatometer are supported on a stable platform to reduce effects of mechanical vibrations.
Thermodynamic and Structural Impact of α,α-Dialkylated Residue Incorporation in a β-Hairpin Peptide

Peptides containing α,α-dialkylated α-amino acids, owing to their ability to disrupt aggregation of β-amyloid proteins, have therapeutic potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Thermodynamic and structural analyses are reported for a series of β-hairpin peptides containing α,α-dialkylated α-amino acids with varying side-chain lengths. The results of these experiments show that α,α-dialkylated α-amino acids with side-chain lengths longer than one carbon unit are tolerated in a β-hairpin, although at a moderate cost to folded stability.
Applications of the Fault-Tolerance Best-Effort Multicast Algorithm

The papers [1][2] presented an adaptive best- effort tree construction algorithm with fault tolerance. In this paper, we present applications to [1] showing how to (1) build QoS trees and paths, (2) build fault-tolerant multi-source and single or multi-root trees, (3) build link-disjoint trees, (4) discover the tree topology, and (5) support multi-party conferencing. We demonstrate the operations of the algorithms using computer simulations.
Mutational Analysis of VKOR.

More than 21 million prescriptions for warfarin are written yearly in the US for Vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR), the target of warfarin The vitamin K epoxide reductase, VKOR, apparently uses cysteines, 132 and 135 as active sites. In addition to cysteines 132 and 135, cysteines 43 and 51 are conserved throughout evolution. Rost et al. have mutated each of the cysteines in VKOR and found that, in whole cell lysates, mutations in of C43 result in less than 20% of wild-type activity while mutation of C53 eliminates activity. We have repeated these experiments and mutated all of the cysteine residues in VKOR. Our results in microsomes are similar to the results of Rost et. al. (2005) Thromb. Haemost. 94, 780–786. However, when the mutated enzymes are purified we find that the activity of C43 has 30% residual activity while C51 has 60% residual activity. Mutation of both residues in the same molecule results in an enzyme that is similar to the C51 mutation. In addition, we find that a portion of purified VKOR has a disulfide bond between residues 43 and 51. This suggested that we might be able to remove the loop between C43 and C51 and retain activity. Indeed, the mutated enzyme with this loop removed also has substantial activity. Warfarin inhibition studies suggest that these mutations do not materially affect warfarin sensitivity. Our results stress the importance of utilizing purified enzyme for interpreting the results of mutations in VKOR.
Willing interpreters and receivers: American alumni of the Japan exchange and teaching (JET) program

Established in 1987, the Japanese government’s Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program has generated more than 60,000 alumni worldwide, half of them Americans. Coalescing over three decades, the American JET alumni community offers a compelling example of how the creation of “willing interpreters and receivers” (Nye) through an international exchange program can yield benefits for both sponsors and participants. Focused on the American JET alumni community’s composition and its efforts to organize into an independent actor in its own right, this paper offers insight into a large-scale effort to promote soft power in the context of the strategically important US—Japan relationship. This article is published as part of a collection on soft power.
The Insight–Prototype–Product Cycle Best Practices and Processes to Iteratively Advance In-Vehicle Interactive Experiences Development

In-vehicle experiences are made up mainly of mundane small moments, repeated practices, and taken-for-granted decisions that make up daily experiences in and around private passenger vehicles. Understanding what those experiences are for drivers around the world presents an opportunity for designing novel interactive experiences, technologies, and user interfaces for vehicles. In this chapter, we present a set of tools, methodologies, and practices that will help reader create a holistic design space for future mobility. Transitioning between ethnography, insights, prototyping, experience design, and requirements decomposition is a challenging task even for experienced UX professionals. This chapter provides guidance in this matter with practical examples.
Abstract #2329: Malignant stromal cells enhance proliferation and aggressiveness of breast cancer cells by secreting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases-1 (TIMP-1)

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 18-22, 2009; Denver, CO Tumor or \#8220;malignant\#8221; stroma plays an important role in cancer development and promotion. We recently isolated and characterized a malignant mouse stromal cell line called BJ3Z (Jacobsen et al. Cancer Res. 66: 8274, 2006). It arose in xenografts after cell-cell fusion of normal mouse mammary gland stromal cells with the human breast cancer cells surrounding them. BJ3Z stromal cells are tumorigenic in nude mice and express classic markers of \#8220;activated\#8221; or malignant stroma including alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin and fibroblast activation protein alpha, while lacking epithelial cell cytokeratins. To study the influence of stroma in malignancies, we established a three dimensional (3D) in vitro model in which BJ3Z cells were embedded in Matrigel alone, or in combination with estrogen receptor (ER) positive MCF-7 or highly aggressive ER-negative MDA-231 human breast cancer cells, or with immortalized normal human mammary epithelial MCF-10A cells. Interestingly, in co-cultures, BJ3Z cells induce formation of characteristic 3D structures in which the epithelial cells surround and encapsulate the BJ3Z cells. Bromo-deoxyuridine incorporation indicates that in these structures, MCF-7 and MCF-10A cell mitosis is increased, while the stromal cells cease proliferating. However, proliferation of MDA-231 cells is unaffected by the stromal cells. Transmigration assays show that migration of MCF-7 cells is enhanced by the presence of BJ3Z cells but not by normal mouse mammary fibroblasts. We speculated that BJ3Z cells secrete an inducer. Indeed, using antibody arrays we determined that BJ3Z cells in 3D culture secrete both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1). Blocking antibodies to VEGF analogous to Avastin (Bevacizumab), or anti-TIMP-1 antibodies (AF980, R&D Systems) in BJ3Z/MCF-7 cell co-cultures decrease the proliferative activity of MCF-7 cells to their levels in mono-culture. Treatment of mono-cultured MCF-7 cells with recombinant (r) mouse or human VEGF increases expression of phosphorylated-ERK (p-ERK) and proliferative activity to the levels seen with BJ3Z cell co-cultures. On the other hand, rVEGF does not modify constitutively high p-ERK or proliferation levels in mono-cultured MDA-231 cells. These results demonstrate that malignant stroma elaborates factors such as VEGF that have not only angiogenic, but also important proliferative actions on malignant epithelial cells that are not constitutively aggressive. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 2329.
Review of Causal Inference in Statistics: A Primer, by Judea Pearl, Madelyn Glymour, and Nicholas P. Jewell

Judea Pearl’s work with various colleagues over the past several decades has had a tremendous influence on the theory and practice of causal inference. Written with Madelyn Glymour and Nicholas P. ...
Control of laser induced couplings in autoionizing states by XUV transient absorption

Using XUV transient absorption, we investigate and control the excitations between autoionizing states of argon with a femtosecond pulse. We observed and calculated a lineshape transition between Breit-Wigner to Beutler-Fano profiles via varying laser polarization.
Size-Selective Sampling Performance of Six Low-Volume "Total" Suspended Particulate (TSP) Inlets.

Several low-volume inlets (flow rates ≤ 16.7 liters per minute (Lpm)) are commercially available as components of low-cost, portable ambient particulate matter samplers. Because the inlets themselv...
Associations between blooming plants and their bee visitors in a riparian ecosystem in Eastern Oregon

Abstract Native bees are declining worldwide, but conserving or restoring their habitat requires a better understanding of bee-flower associations. High quality bee habitat includes flowers that provide pollen and nectar preferred by bees. However, little data exist about which plants are commonly used by bees in the Pacific Northwest, or whether bees prefer certain plant characteristics over others. We examined bee and plant communities in an Oregon riparian ecosystem. Our purpose was to describe bee-plant associations, determine which plants are most frequently visited by bees, identify plants that may be preferred by bees, and examine how a plant's native status, flower color, and floral morphology affect the types of bees visiting it. We found that many blooming plants received a diverse set of bee visitors, but some plants had a higher number and species richness of visiting bees than others. No plant species seemed limited to visitation by a small set of specialist bees. The number and type of visit...
The United Nations sustainability goals: How can sustainable chemistry contribute?

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) have exceptional value in identifying key areas of challenge that need urgent improvement if we are to move away from the unsustainable trajectory that we are on. The place that is a major shortcoming of these goals is that they take a highly integrated and inextricably linked system, and express them as individual areas such as food, water, poverty, materials, empowerment, etc. In the absence of systems thinking, there is an excellent chance of noble intentions bringing about unintended and perhaps counter-productive consequences. As we employ sustainable chemistry and the tools of its scientific basis, green chemistry, to address so many of these challenges, it is important to integrate these tools not as isolated individual principles or methods, but rather as an integrated interconnected system as well.
Möglichkeiten zur Umsetzung des Grundsatzes der Verfügbarkeit

Um herauszufinden, ob bzw. wie der Grundsatz der Verfugbarkeit in der Europaischen Union umsetzbar ist, mussen die Voraussetzungen dafur abgeklart werden. Das bedeutet konkret die Klarung der Kompetenzen der Europaischen Union, sowie der anderen Voraussetzungen fur ein solches Umsetzungsinstrument. Dabei wird nicht nach den verschiedenen technischen Moglichkeiten differenziert, da diese fur die Frage der Zustandigkeit keine Rolle spielen.
Discovery of a synergistic effect of oxytocin on the efficacy of Alpha-Chloralose, a drug used for capturing and controlling birds

Overdose and death of both target and non-target species are not uncommon when α–chloralose is used for animal control. Alpha–chloralose appears to depress the central nervous system by having an a...
María Eugenia Chaves Maldonado, ed. Los "otros" de las independencias, los "otros" de la nación. Participación de la población afrodescendiente e indígena en las independencias del Nuevo Reino de Granada, Chile y Haití.

La historiografia de las independencias latinoamericanas ha tenido una renovacion importante en las ultimas dos decadas, sobre todo en los contextos latinoamericano, frances, espanol y, en menor medida, en los Estados Unidos. En dialogo con las transformaciones en la historia politica que se dieron inicialmente en Francia, donde se experimento con las perspectivas culturales y sociales desde la historia politica, los historiadores de la independencia en Espana y America Latina, en los albores de los bicentenarios, dieron tres grandes pasos: el primero fue el de ampliar el marco geografico, de uno nacional a otro atlantico; el segundo consistio en reconsiderar la dimension revolucionaria de ese proceso militar y legal que tuvo lugar entre 1810 y 1830 en el mundo hispanico; y el tercero se dio con la incorporacion de multiples perspectivas sobre la politica que, al incluir la experiencia de distintos sectores sociales, implico reconocer la dinamica de negociacion en la base de los procesos de formacion de los Estados y las naciones en hispanoamerica.
Evidence for biological nature of the grape replant problem in California

A bioassay was developed to investigate causes of grape replant problems under controlled conditions. Soils were collected from methyl bromide-fumigated and non-fumigated plots at a site cleared from a 65-year-old grape vineyard (Vitis vinifera cv. Thompson seedless) at Parlier, CA. Subsamples of the non-fumigated soil were either left non-treated, subjected to autoclaving (twice 45 min), or heating at 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, the samples were placed in 120-mL pots, planted with rooted hardwood grape cuttings (V. vinifera, cv. Carignane) and placed in a greenhouse or growth chamber. Three months after transplanting, vines from non-treated or 40 °C-treated soil had lower shoot weights and densities of healthy lateral roots than vines from the other treatments. Pythium spp. were isolated from 45 to 55% of the plated root segments from vines grown in non-treated, or soil that had been heated at 40 or 50 °C but were not detected in roots from soil given other treatments. Egg masses of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne spp., were produced on roots from non-treated or heated at 40 °C soil, but no egg masses were detected on roots of the other treatments. In another test with the same soils, remnant roots from non-fumigated or pre-plant methyl bromide-fumigated soil were extracted and amended to non-fumigated soil, soil from fumigated field plots, soil fumigated in a small container, or autoclaved potting mix. The transfer of old vine roots from non-fumigated field soil resulted in incidence of Pythium spp. on grape assay roots, but there was no measurable effect of the transfer on growth and health of the bioassay plant roots. The results of the bioassays indicate that grape replant problem at the California site had biological causes. The bioassay approach may aid in future determinations of the etiology of grape replant problems.
Data mining tasks and methods: Rule discovery: characteristic rules

Descriptive data mining is the description of a set of data in a concise and summary manner and the presentation of the general properties of the data. Mining characteristic rules and discriminant rules from the data are two essential components in descriptive data mining. In contrast to online analytical processing, data description puts more emphasis on (1) automated processing, helping users determine which dimensions (or attributes) should be included in the analysis and to what abstraction level the data set should be generalized in order to obtain interesting summarization; and (2) handling complex data types. Mining data characteristics and discriminant descriptions can be implemented based on a data cube method or an attribute-oriented induction method. Moreover, data description can be enhanced by data dispersion analysis, multifeature data cubes, and discovery-driven data cubes.
Short Paper: Improving the Responsiveness of Internet Services with Automatic Cache Placement

The backends of today’s Internet services rely heavily on caching at various layers both to provide faster service to common requests and to reduce load on back-end components. Cache placement is especially challenging given the diversity of workloads handled by widely deployed Internet services. This paper presents FLUXO, an analysis technique that automatically optimizes cache placement. Our experiments have shown that near-optimal cache placements vary significantly based on input distribution.
Partitioned Real-Time NAND Flash Storage

This paper addresses the problem of guaranteeing performance and predictability of NAND flash memory in a real-time storage system. Our approach implements a new flash translation layer scheme that exploits internal parallelism within solid state storage devices. We describe the Partitioned Real-Time Flash Translation Layer (PaRT-FTL), which splits a set of flash chips into separate read and write sets. This ensures reads and writes to separate chips proceed in parallel. However, PaRT-FTL is also able to rebuild the data for a read request from a flash chip that is busy servicing a write request or performing garbage collection. Consequently, reads are never blocked by writes or storage space reclamation. PaRT-FTL is compared to previous real-time approaches including scheduling, over-provisioning and partial garbage collection. We show that by isolating read and write requests using encoding techniques, PaRT-FTL provides better latency guarantees for real-time applications.
First elucidation of a blood fluke (Electrovermis zappum n. gen., n. sp.) life cycle including a chondrichthyan or bivalve

Abstract We describe a new fish blood fluke (Digenea: Aporocotylidae: Electrovermis zappum n. gen., n. sp.) and its life cycle in the intertidal zone adjacent to Mobile Bay (north-central Gulf of Mexico). This is the first elucidated aporocotylid life cycle that includes a chondrichthyan definitive host or a bivalve intermediate host. The new species undergoes asexual reproduction within the gonad of the variable coquina clam before maturing in the heart of the lesser electric ray. These adults and cercariae had identical 28S, 18S, and ITS2 nucleotide sequences. The new genus is similar to Ogawaia Cutmor et al., 2018 by having an inverse U-shaped intestine, a looping testis, and a uterus having distinct ascending and descending segments. It differs by having a body that is ≥ 30 × longer than wide, a testis with >30 curves, an obvious cirrus sac enveloping an extremely elongate cirrus, an ovary anterior to the seminal vesicle, and a post-gonadal uterus. The new species further differs from the type species of Ogawaia (Ogawaia glaucostegi Cutmore et al., 2018) by having a massive seminal vesicle (>10% of body length), a cirrus sac enveloping an extremely elongate cirrus, and a slightly sinuous uterus. Histology confirmed gametogenesis in an infected coquina clam but no discernible cellular response to infection was observed. We also i) characterize a second morphologically and genetically distinct cercaria (perhaps representing an innominate chondrichthyan aporocotylid) infecting the green jackknife clam in Mississippi Sound (north-central Gulf of Mexico), ii) compare all known aporocotylid cercariae infecting estuarine and marine mollusks and polychaetes and iii) provide a key to identify those cercariae. A phylogenetic analysis including nucleotide sequences from adult and cercarial specimens of the newly collected fish blood flukes further supports the notion that chondrichthyan aporocotylids are monophyletic and use bivalves as the first intermediate host; perhaps unlike any other blood fluke lineage.
Synchrotron Facilities: Vibration and Stability Challenge

The new generation of synchrotron accelerator facilities are opening exciting new opportunities in imaging, spectroscopy, structural and dynamic studies, and other applications by pushing the envel...
Fertility and Sexual Function in Women Following Pediatric Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis.

Abstract Purpose Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis (IPAA) is the standard of care for children requiring surgical treatment of severe colitis or polyposis syndromes. This study aims is to investigate the sexual function and fertility in women after undergoing childhood IPAA. Methods A prospectively maintained colon and rectal database of consenting patients was queried from January 1980 to October 2015. We included all females that replied to at least 1 survey between the ages of 20 and 45 years that had undergone IPAA younger than 20 years of age. Results Two hundred females met inclusion criteria, whereas 149 women replied to the sexual function questions. Ulcerative colitis was diagnosed in 122 (83%) patients, with the remainder having polyposis. Seven patients had a laparoscopic proctectomy. Only 2 patients had a pelvic infection, whereas 21 had intestinal obstruction postoperatively. A severely restricted sex life was reported in 6 (5%) patients. Of the 93 (62%) women who attempted pregnancy, 68 (73%) became pregnant. Median age of pregnancy and IPAA was 34 (range 22–45) and 17 years (range 9–20), respectively. Medical intervention to assist fertilization was required in 14/68. A total of 29 women reported problems during pregnancy with 58/68 (88%) giving birth to a live baby. Elective termination was reported in 2/68 surveys. Vaginal delivery occurred in 26/58 mothers with 27/58 planned and 9/58 unplanned cesarean sections. Age at IPAA, diagnosis, procedure type, pelvic infection, and obstruction were not associated with decreased fertility. All 7 patients operated laparoscopically have become pregnant. Change in pouch function after delivery was reported in 20/68 (32%, 5 missing) surveys. Conclusions 73% of women who desired children become pregnant, and 88% had a successful delivery after pediatric IPAA. Only 5% reported severely restricted sexual function. Changes in pouch function occurred with pregnancy and persisted in 1/3 after delivery. Minimally invasive techniques may improve fertility rates but equire continued follow-up. Level of evidence Level IV. Type of study Observational study.
Boron Trifluoride Etherate Promoted Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Antimalarial Acridones

A microwave-assisted, rapid and efficient method using boron trifluoride etherate (BF3.Et2O) for the synthesis of acridones, via an intramolecular acylation of N-phenylanthranilic acid derivatives, has been developed. The reaction proceeds under solvent-free conditions, tolerates a wide range of functional groups, and provides rapid access to a range of acridones in good to excellent yields. Several of the synthesized acridones exhibited potent antimalarial activities against CQ sensitive and multi-drug resistant (MDR) parasites.
Enhancing Brain Retention of a KIF11 Inhibitor Significantly Improves its Efficacy in a Mouse Model of Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma, the most lethal primary brain cancer, is extremely proliferative and invasive. Tumor cells at tumor/brain-interface often exist behind a functionally intact blood-brain barrier (BBB), and so are shielded from exposure to therapeutic drug concentrations. An ideal glioblastoma treatment needs to engage targets that drive proliferation as well as invasion, with brain penetrant therapies. One such target is the mitotic kinesin KIF11, which can be inhibited with ispinesib, a potent molecularly-targeted drug. Although, achieving durable brain exposures of ispinesib is critical for adequate tumor cell engagement during mitosis, when tumor cells are vulnerable, for efficacy. Our results demonstrate that the delivery of ispinesib is restricted by P-gp and Bcrp efflux at BBB. Thereby, ispinesib distribution is heterogeneous with concentrations substantially lower in invasive tumor rim (intact BBB) compared to glioblastoma core (disrupted BBB). We further find that elacridar-a P-gp and Bcrp inhibitor-improves brain accumulation of ispinesib, resulting in remarkably reduced tumor growth and extended survival in a rodent model of glioblastoma. Such observations show the benefits and feasibility of pairing a potentially ideal treatment with a compound that improves its brain accumulation, and supports use of this strategy in clinical exploration of cell cycle-targeting therapies in brain cancers.
Preoperative Localization of Breast MRI Lesions: MRI-guided Marker Placement With Radioactive Seed Localization as an Alternative to MRI-guided Wire Localization

Objective Preoperative MRI-guided wire localization (MWL) presents challenges to both the physician and patient. In this study, we examined the efficiency and outcome of MRI-guided marker placement followed by mammographic-guided radioactive seed localization (MMP/RSL) as an alternative localization method. The primary outcome parameter was pathology upon excision. The secondary outcome parameters were total procedure time and clinical indication for localization. Methods A retrospective review of a large tertiary cancer center's breast imaging database was performed. Records of 21 patients with MMP/RSL (24 markers) from August 2013 to January 2019 were compared with 34 patients receiving MWL (48 wires) from January 2016 to January 2019. Multiple factors, including age, prelocalization pathology, postsurgical pathology, concordance, re-excision rates, and total procedure time required for each technique, were compared. Univariate and descriptive statistical analyses were performed. Results Mean patient age in years (MMP/RSL = 54.1 ± 13.1, MWL = 55.1 ± 10.8, P = 0.389), time in MR scanner in minutes (MMP/RSL = 31.7 ± 12.0, MWL = 35.8 ± 13.1, P = 0.678), and postsurgical pathology malignancy rates (MMP/RSL = 71.4%, MWL = 65.7%, P = 0.7715) were similar without statistically significant differences. As expected, the mean total procedure time was slightly longer without a statistically significant difference (47.3 ± 19.8 min versus 35.8 ± 13.1 min, P = 0.922) for the MMP/RSL group. All patients in both groups underwent successful localization with 100% radiologic-pathology concordance. Re-excision rates were lower for the MMP/RSL group (9.5%) versus the MWL group (16.7%); however, they were not found to be statistically significant (P = 0.7104). Conclusion MMP/RSL is a feasible alternative to MWL and may alleviate many challenges presented by MWL. Further studies are needed.
Chapter 7 – Eleven-Vertex Carboranes

The preparation, structures, and chemistry of 11-vertex carboranes containing one to four skeletal carbon atoms are outlined, including nido-CB10H13−, closo-CB10H11−, closo-C2B9H11, nido-C2B9H13, nido-C2B9H12−, nido-C2B9H112−, nido-C3B8H12, nido-C3B8H11−, hypho-C3B8H15−, nido-C4B7H11, and arachno-C4B7H13. The facile complexation of the open-cage species, especially nido-C2B9H12− and nido-C2B9H112−, with metal ions to form 12-vertex metallacarboranes (detailed in Chapter 13) is noted, as is their boronation to regenerate the C2B10 icosahedron.
Nanoscale Metal–Organic Frameworks Generate Reactive Oxygen Species for Cancer Therapy

In the past 15 years, enormous progress has been made in cancer nanotechnology, and a several nanoparticles have entered clinical testing for cancer treatment. Among these nanoparticles are nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (nMOFs), a class of organic-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials constructed from metal binding sites and bridging ligands, which have attracted significant attention for their ability to integrate porosity, crystallinity, compositional and structural tunability, multifunctionality, and biocompatibility into a singular nanomaterial for cancer therapies. This Outlook article summarizes the progress on the design of nMOFs as nanosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT), radiotherapy (RT), radiotherapy-radiodynamic therapy (RT-RDT), and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) via nMOF-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated under external energy stimuli or in the presence of endogenous chemical triggers. Inflammatory responses induced by nMOF-mediated ROS generation activate tumor microenvironments to potentiate cancer immunotherapy, extending the local treatment effects of nMOF-based ROS therapy to distant tumors via abscopal effects. Future research directions in nMOF-mediated ROS therapies and the prospect of clinical applications of nMOFs as cancer therapeutics are also discussed.
Optical coherence tomography reveals light-dependent retinal responses in Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is an accessible clinical tool for measuring structural changes to the retina, and increasingly as a biomarker for brain-predominant neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Information about retinal function can also be extracted from OCT images, but is under-studied, with literature examples often employing challenging protocols or requiring specialized hardware. The first goal of this study was to verify that functional retinal imaging was feasible with a commercially-available SD-OCT device and a clinically practical protocol. Inspired by methods from other functional imaging modalities, we acquired images while repeatedly cycling lights on and off, and spatially normalized retinas to facilitate intra- and inter-individual analyses. In eight healthy young adults, light-dependent increases in reflectivity were easily demonstrated at photoreceptor inner and outer segments, changing by ~7% in bright light and ~3% in dim light. Bright light elicited a subtle (~2%) but consistent light-dependent decrease in reflectivity through much of the rest of the retina, including the avascular outer nuclear layer (ONL). We speculated that some of these changes are influenced by glial function – as through water management – a topic of high interest in neurodegenerative diseases that may involve the glymphatic system. Functional abnormalities in patients with antibodies against aquaporin-4 (n ​= ​3) supported this interpretation. We next compared patients with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (n ​= ​14) to age-matched controls (n ​= ​14), revealing that patients had a relatively exaggerated light-induced change in ONL reflectivity (p ​
Special Issue of Rock Music Studies Steely Dan at 50

Submissions are invited for a special issue of Rock Music Studies on Steely Dan at 50. The year 2022 will mark the fiftieth anniversary of Steely Dan, based on the release date of their debut recor...
P143 Analyzing Costs Associated with Implementation of a Nutrition Program in Early Childhood Education

Background Cost analysis is a tool used to summarize and report on individual elements of costs to implementing an innovation. We used cost analysis to track and compare costs of provision of 2 implementation strategies to support an evidence-based nutrition curriculum in the Head Start (HS) setting. Objective To compare how much it cost, per classroom per year, to deliver the basic (ie, training and reminders) and enhanced implementation support (ie, a package of 8 implementation strategies). Study Design, Setting, Participants We partnered with a HS program in an urban area of a Southern state with 9 sites and 38 classrooms. We used stratified randomization to assign sites to participate in either the basic or the enhanced implementation of the nutrition curriculum. All sites received the same 6-hour training and implemented the curriculum with either basic or enhanced implementation support. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Cost accounting methods allowed for a comparison of time and materials allocated to each group. Our primary outcome of cost included fixed (eg, costs of trainings, materials, printing) and variable (eg, duration of facilitation, number of incentives, travel) costs for both strategies. Facilitators logged activities using a smartphone application. Results Estimated costs per classroom, per year were $35 for basic and $261 for enhanced implementation support. This reflects average delivery of 4 incentives and 2 resources per classroom, a total of 39.2 in-person and 20.4 virtual facilitation hours to enhanced classrooms. In-person facilitation accounted for 25% of the enhanced costs; travel 23%; and the tailored incentives and educational materials 21%. Conclusions These data, paired with outcome data, will help understand the relative cost in improving implementation outcomes (eg, fidelity, acceptability) between groups, and will inform scalability and sustainability efforts for future uptake of the intervention.
Dynamic wetting of porous Ni substrate under MCFC conditions

Abstract The dynamic contact angle of molten carbonate in first contact with porous Ni was measured as a function of porosity and thickness of the substrate, and of the amount of carbonate as a fraction of the empty pore volume available (“degree-of-filling”). The spreading of molten carbonate on the outer surface, and its penetration inside the porous Ni substrate were observed separately, and the time to complete absorption of a known mass of melt was measured under different conditions of substrate porosity, thickness and degree-of-filling. The average absorption rate and the average linear velocity over the initial void cross-section were determined and correlated with substrate characteristics. A straightforward quasi-linear correlation with control variables was found. However, although initial filling is capillary-force controlled, later stages of absorption appear slowed down significantly by viscous and inertial effects. This helps to understand why capillary equilibrium models do not accurately predict electrolyte redistribution in long-term performance. Moreover, post-test analysis indicates that on first contact of porous Ni substrates with molten carbonate, sintering of Ni particles occurs even at the relatively low temperature of 580 °C. Models for initial filling need to account for this initial accelerated sintering. The result of this work may be used to optimize the infiltration process of electrolyte into the porous MCFC electrodes.
Faster, Simpler, More Accurate: Practical Automated Machine Learning with Tabular, Text, and Image Data

Automated machine learning (AutoML) offers the promise of translating raw data into accurate predictions with just a few lines of code. Rather than relying on human time/effort and manual experimentation, models can be improved by simply letting the AutoML system run for more time. In this hands-on tutorial, we demonstrate fundamental techniques that enable powerful AutoML. We consider standard supervised learning tasks on various types of data including tables, text, images, as well as multi-modal data comprised of multiple types. Rather than technical descriptions of how individual ML models work, we emphasize how to best use models within an overall ML pipeline that takes in raw training data and outputs pre-dictions for test data. A major focus of our tutorial is on automating deep learning, a class of powerful techniques that are cumbersome to manage manually. Despite this, hardly any educational material describes their successful automation. Each topic covered in the tutorial is accompanied by a hands-on Jupyter notebook that implements best practices (which will be available on Github before and after the tutorial). Most of this code is adopted from AutoGluon (autogluon.mxnet.io), a recent AutoML toolkit for automated deep learning that is both state-of-the-art and easy-to-use.
Highly hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene particle immobilization via polydopamine anchor layer on nitric oxide releasing polymer for biomedical applications.

Abstract Biomedical surface-associated infections and thrombus formation are two major clinical issues that challenge patient safety and patient the fate of a medical device in the body . Single platform multifunctional surfaces are critical to address both these indwelling medical device-related problems. In this work, bio-inspired approaches are employed to fabricate a polymer composite with a versatile surface that can reduce bacterial infections and platelet adhesion in vitro. In the first bio-inspired approach, the functionality of nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial cell lining of blood vessels is mimicked through incorporation of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) within a CarboSil-2080A™ (CarboSil) polymer composite matrix. The second approach involves utilizing mussel adhesive chemistry, via polydopamine (PDA) to immobilize polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles on the polymer composite surface. The PTFE coating facilitates a decrease in wettability by making the polymer composite surface highly hydrophobic (contact angle ca. 120°). The surface of the fabricated polymer composite , CarboSil SNAP-PTFE, had a cobblestone-like structured appearance as characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Water contact angle (WCA) and surface tension measurements indicated no significant coating losses after 24 h under physiological conditions. NO surface flux was measured and analyzed for 5 days using a chemiluminescence-based nitric oxide analyzer and was found to be within the physiological range. CarboSil SNAP-PTFE reduced adhered bacteria (99.3 ± 0.5% for Gram-positive S. aureus and 99.1 ± 0.4% for Gram-negative E. coli) in a 24 h in vitro study. SEM analysis showed the absence of biofilm formation on CarboSil SNAP-PTFE polymer composites, while present on CarboSil in 24 h exposure to S. aureus. Platelet adhesion was reduced by 83.3 ± 4.5%. Overall, the results of this study suggest that a combination of NO-releasing CarboSil with PTFE coating can drastically reduce infection and platelet adhesion.