cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The HDAC Inhibitors Trichostatin A (TSA) and Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid (SAHA) Exhibit Multiple Modalities of Benefit for the Vascular Pathology of Sickle Disease.

Abstract 2586 Poster Board II-562 The chronic, inflammatory vasculopathy of sickle cell anemia accounts for much of the non-infectious morbidity and mortality of this disease. The pathogenesis of vasculopathy involves multiple sub-biologies (sickling, hemolysis, inflammation, adhesion, coagulation, NO deficiency, stasis, and reperfusion injury). Moreover, these various sub-biologies overlap and transactivate each other. So a single modality approach would very likely fail to be effective. For this reason, effective preventative and interventional therapy for sickle vasculopathy will very likely require true multi-modality therapy, preferably with as few drugs as possible. To this end, we have evaluated the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors TSA and SAHA for beneficial vascular effects in sickle transgenic mouse models. We used the hBERK1 mouse, which displays abnormal endothelial activation even at ambient air; and we used the NY1DD mouse which only acquires significant endothelial activation upon exposure to hypoxia/reoxygenation. Both drugs significantly inhibited the abnormal endothelial expression of tissue factor, predicting beneficial effects for sickle coagulopathy. Both drugs significantly inhibited abnormal endothelial expression of VCAM1, a molecule involved in both adhesion and inflammation sub-biologies. Both drugs worked in both mouse models. For these benefits, both drugs were effective when given as preventative therapy (NY1DD model) or as longer term therapy (hBERK1 model), although previously-established endothelial activation (e.g., the hBERK1 model) required long term (3 weeks) therapy to observe the most significant benefits. TSA markedly inhibited the vascular stasis in the dorsal skinfold chamber model of hBERK1 mice that is seen after their exposure to H/R; SAHA did so in S+SAntilles mice after H/R; our previous studies have implicated VCAM1 and abnormal cell/cell interaction as the etiology of stasis in this model. Both drugs induced gamma globin and levels of HbF in K562 cells in vitro. Both drugs exhibited activity as iron chelators, as detected by absorption spectra in vitro. Since both drugs are hydroxamic acids, they may promote NO formation by the same mechanism that hydroxyurea is said to work, although we did not test this. We suggest that SAHA, which is already approved for other human clinical use, should be considered for testing in a pilot study to determine drug tolerance and in vivo efficacy in sickle subjects. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
CHD and Atherosclerosis: Human Epidemiological Studies and Transgenic Mouse Models

The HDL-associated serum paraoxonase (PON1) has been demonstrated to prevent LDL oxidation via its peroxidase-, esterase- and phospholipase A2-like activities. Polymorphisms of the PON1 gene, including the promoter region polymorphism, T(-107)C, and the coding region polymorphisms, L55M and Q192R, have been associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) in case-control studies of various populations, indicating PON1 may be a genetic factor that influences atherogenesis. Inbred and genetically modified mice that are susceptible to atherosclerosis exhibit lower PON1 activities, whereas mice that are resistant to atherosclerosis tend to have higher PON1 activities. The PON1 knockout mouse has been constructed to examine the role of PON1 in preventing LDL oxidation and atherosclerosis. The HDL isolated from the PON1 knockout mice fails to prevent LDL oxidation. Furthermore, PON1 mice on the C57BL/6J and the apolipoprotein E knockout genetic backgrounds are more susceptible to atherosclerosis as compared to the wild-type littermates. These indirect and direct lines of evidence demonstrate that PON1 plays an important role in preventing atherosclerosis. The other members of the PON family, PON2 and PON3, share about 65% homology in amino acid sequence with PON1. Recent biochemical and genetic studies suggest that PON2 and PON3 may be involved in atherogenesis as well.
New Products, Residents and Housing—and the Growth of Good US Jobs

Gabe explores the old adage that “new is better” in the regional economic analysis of new products, residents and housing. The chapter explains how these indicators of youth and, more generally, new “stuff” have different types of impacts on the growth of good jobs in states and US metropolitan areas. An abundance of young residents, as of 1990, helped the economic development of US regions from that time to the near present. Having a lot of new residents and a young housing stock in 1990, however, helped the growth of regions—but not their productivity. Gabe shows that the beneficial impacts of patents, an indicator of new products, are limited to a positive effect on the productivity of large metropolitan areas.
Group-Induced Distortion of Visually Perceived Linear Extent: The Asch Effect Revisited

Two experiments corrected the methodological weaknesses of the research of Sherif, Asch, and all others who have attempted to determine whether a majority causes genuine changes in, as well as conscious falsification of, perceptions of a single naive individual. Both experiments used psychophysical methodology, subject anonymity, and the first also contained a means of assessing real-time subject awareness of perceptual distortions, all to insure detection of genuine perceptual distortion. The second study contained a means of detecting the relative amounts of genuine and falsified perceptual changes caused by the majority. The first experiment revealed a monotonic relationship (p =.96) between degree of majority and degree of individual distortion of reports of line lengths up to at least 20% majority distortion. Real-time introspection of individuals revealed no relationship (insignificant correlation) between their confidence in the accuracy of their perceptual reports and the degree of distortion of the latter, indicating that the perceptual distortions caused by the majority were real. Experiment 2 revealed that conscious falsification of perception as well as genuine perceptual change can occur simultaneously and that the former may greatly exceed (4 to 5 times) the latter. This supports a two-process interpretation of the majority’s influence on the individual. The two experiments together suggest that there is a curvilinear relationship between degree of majority distortion of perceptual reports and the degree of genuine perceptual distortion in the naive individual.
Inhibition of the endocannabinoid-regulating enzyme monoacylglycerol lipase elicits a CB1 receptor-mediated discriminative stimulus in mice.

Substantial challenges exist for investigating the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1)-mediated discriminative stimulus effects of the endocannabinoids, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide; AEA), compared with exogenous CB1 receptor agonists, such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the synthetic cannabinoid CP55,940. Specifically, each endocannabinoid is rapidly degraded by the respective hydrolytic enzymes, monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Whereas MAGL inhibitors partially substitute for THC and fully substitute for CP55,940, FAAH inhibitors do not substitute for either drug. Interestingly, combined FAAH-MAGL inhibition results in full THC substitution, and the dual FAAH-MAGL inhibitor SA-57 serves as its own discriminative training stimulus. Because MAGL inhibitors fully substitute for SA-57, we tested whether the selective MAGL inhibitor MJN110 would serve as a training stimulus. Twelve of 13 C57BL/6J mice learned to discriminate MJN110 from vehicle, and the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant dose-dependently blocked its discriminative stimulus. CP55,940, SA-57, and another MAGL inhibitor JZL184, fully substituted for MJN110. In contrast, the FAAH inhibitor PF-3845 failed to substitute for the MJN110 discriminative stimulus, but produced a 1.6 (1.1-2.2; 95% confidence interval) leftward shift in the MJN110 dose-response curve. Inhibitors of other relevant enzymes (i.e., ABHD6, COX-2) and nicotine did not engender substitution. Diazepam partially substituted for MJN110, but rimonabant failed to block this partial effect. These findings suggest that MAGL normally throttles 2-AG stimulation of CB1 receptors to a magnitude insufficient to produce cannabimimetic subjective effects. Accordingly, inhibitors of this enzyme may release this endogenous brake producing effects akin to those produced by exogenously administered cannabinoids.
Improved resistivity in bismuth deficient morphotropic phase boundary 0.88BNT-0.08BKT-0.04BT ceramics

Acceptor doping is used to achieve hard piezoelectric properties by inducing oxygen vacancies. In Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 (BNT) based ceramics, modifying the A-site stoichiometry can be used to achieve similar effect as acceptor doping, such as bismuth deficiency that induces oxygen vacancies. In this work 0.88Bi 0.50−x Na 0.50 TiO 3 - 0.08Bi 0.50−x K 0.50 TiO 3 - 0.04BaTiO 3 (BNKBT88-xBi) ceramics with bismuth deficiency x≥0.02 have been prepared. The Bi-deficient ceramics have low dielectric loss, high mechanical quality factor of 1200, and coercive field of 48kV/cm. However, at elevated temperature the mobility of oxygen vacancies decreases resistivity, limiting the use of these ceramics for high power transducer application. The addition of bismuth oxide to the calcined Bi-deficient compositions improves piezoelectric, dielectric, ferroelectric, and electrical properties at elevated temperature. Mechanical quality factor over 900 was achieved for small Bi 2 O 3 addition.
Teacher perceptions of the educational goals of the Education and Resiliency Through Horticulture program

A review of literature revealed a lack of research related to teacher involvement in school gardens. This research study provides more information to build on the body of knowledge pertaining to school gardens and more specifically the teacher involvement. The research study took place at Gifft Hill School, a private school, on St. John, USVI. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which two of the Education and Resiliency Through Horticulture (EARTH) program goals are being met from the perspective of the teachers directly involved with the program. The specific objectives of the study were: • Determine the extent to which the school curriculum has been integrated to include horticulture and place-based environmental science; • Identify how the outdoor classroom has been utilized by the teachers and students; and • Identify possible program modifications that could help the teachers carry out their part of the EARTH program more successfully. The main data collection method of this qualitative research study was face-to-face interviews with the teachers of Gifft Hill School involved with the EARTH program. The involvement and extent to which the goals of the EARTH program are being met vary widely by subject taught and the teacher. Some reduced involvement was due to lack of time while others use the EARTH program to drive their classroom learning and activities. Unforeseen benefits are also emerging as the program becomes a staple to the GHS school community. There is room for improvement to use the outdoor classroom by the teachers outside of the scheduled EARTH classes. Beyond that time, it is used minimally by the teachers. The teachers provided recommendations that could improve their involvement with the program as well as other general recommendations for the program.
Future Questions: Democracy and the New Converging Technologies

Feenberg’s main reproach levelled at Heidegger is that Heidegger does not offer an alternative to the technological revealing as embodied in the Ge-stell. This is so because Heidegger conceives of the Ge-stell ontologically (as event of Being or Schickung des Seins) affecting all aspects of society, rather than sociologically, as the real-life interests of capitalism (calculation, profitability). And it is for this reason that Heidegger cannot distinguish between beneficial and negative effects of technology and his thought remains barren for any activist intervention. By contrast, Feenberg maintains that his Critical Theory of Technology can overcome technology’s negative ramifications through a politics of democratic participation in technical design. This paper argues, on the contrary, that recent developments in artificial intelligence, nanotechnologies, and molecular biology show that such democratic politics is itself increasingly implicated in the technological revealing that Heidegger referred to as Ge-stell. While this fact does not make political intervention impossible, it suggests that such intervention is implicated in the technological revealing rather than its corrective.
Mechanomyographic responses for the biceps brachii are associated with failure times during isometric force tasks.

In order to characterize the physiological adjustments within the neuromuscular system that contribute to task failure, this study examined the surface mechanomyographic (MMG) response during maximal and submaximal isometric force tasks of the elbow flexors sustained to failure. The time and frequency components of the MMG signal have shown to be influenced by motor unit activation patterns as well as tetanus. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the rate of change for the MMG response would associate with failure times and would be reduced to a similar degree between the two tasks. The isometric force tasks were performed by the dominant elbow flexors of twenty healthy males (age: 25 ± 4 years) and MMG was collected from the biceps brachii. Regression analyses were used to model the relationships between the rates of change for MMG versus failure times. There were high levels of interindividual variability in the response patterns, yet the models demonstrated significant negative associations between the rate of change for the MMG responses and failure times during both tasks (R2 = 0.41-0.72, P < 0.05). Similarly, the mean MMG amplitude and frequency values were reduced to comparable levels at the failure point of the two tasks. The results of this study demonstrated that force failure is associated with the rate of diminution in the properties of the muscle force twitch.
Clinical significance of late gadolinium enhancement in pediatric patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Methods This single center, retrospective study included all patients 21 years or less with a clinical diagnosis of HCM who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) from 2007-2012. Using a 16-segment model, segments with hypertrophy or LGE were identified by agreement of two experienced readers blinded to outcome. Circumferential and radial strain were evaluated by segment, using feature tracking software (TomTec, Unterschleissheim, Germany). The composite outcome was defined as death, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), or ventricular fibrillation (VF).
Mnemonic Instruction of Science Concepts.

Previous research has documented the severe academic deficiencies of behaviorally disordered students, but little is known regarding optimal strategies for teaching content area information to such...
Electrosynthesis and Study of Conducting Polymeric Films

This report briefly describes the electrochemical preparation1 and behavior2 of the polypyrrole films. The orientation of this report was selected because a more detailed overview of the properties of these films was recently reported in the proceedings to the International Conference on Low Dimensional Synthetic Metals.3
Rice Quality and Grades

Components of rice known and referred to as grain quality largely determine market price and consumer acceptance. The most important factors plant breeders consider in developing new rice varieties are grain quality and yield. If consumers do not like the flavor, texture, taste, aroma, appearance, cookability, or processability of a newly developed rice, any other outstanding attribute of the variety may be worthless (IRRI 1985).
Cloning of tobacco genes that elicit the hypersensitive response.

We used a functional screening method to isolate genes whose products elicit the hypersensitive response (HR) pathway of defense against plant pathogens. A cDNA library derived from tobacco leaves undergoing the HR was cloned into a tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-based expression vector. Infectious transcripts were generated and used to inoculate tobacco plants lacking the N resistance gene (genotype Xanthi nn). Approximately 1/1000 of the infectious transcripts produced local lesions, and may thus elicit the HR. The cDNA inserts from 50 lesion-forming clones were recovered by RT-PCR, and 12 unique clones were sequenced. Comparisons with protein databases revealed homologies to (a) ubiquitin, (b) tobacco tumor-related protein, similar to Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitors and (c) ribosomal protein S14. The remaining nine clones revealed no homology to known proteins and are thus considered novel. Five clones were able to induce the expression of PR2, a gene which is specifically activated in the tobacco HR. Northern and western blot analyses of leaves infected by the clone encoding ubiquitin strongly suggest that the infection produced a co-suppression response; the endogenous levels of ubiquitin mRNA and protein in infected leaves are ca. 50% less than those found in healthy leaves. This observation supports a previous report on the involvement of the ubiquitin system in the tobacco HR [2], and validates the utility of the functional cloning method.
Characteristics, Applications and Properties of Polymers

Many materials found in nature are polymers. In fact, the basic molecular structure of all plant and animal life is similar to that of a synthetic polymer. Natural polymers include such materials as silk, shellac, bitumen, rubber, and cellulose. However, the majority of polymers or plastics used for engineering design are synthetic and often they are specifically formulated or “designed” by chemists or chemical engineers to serve a specific purpose. Other engineers (mechanical, civil, electrical, etc.) typically design engineering components from the available materials or, sometimes, work directly with chemists or chemical engineers to synthesize a polymer with particular characteristics. Some of the useful properties of various engineering polymers are high strength or modulus to weight ratios (light weight but comparatively stiff and strong), toughness, resilience, resistance to corrosion, lack of conductivity (heat and electrical), color, transparency, processing, and low cost. Many of the useful properties of polymers are in fact unique to polymers and are due to their long chain molecular structure. These issues will be discussed at length in the next chapter. In this chapter, focus will be on general characteristics, applications and an introduction to the mechanical behavior including elementary concepts of their inherent time dependent or viscoelastic nature.
Three Distinct Contact-Dependent Growth Inhibition Systems Mediate Interbacterial Competition by the Cystic Fibrosis Pathogen Burkholderia dolosa.

The respiratory tracts of individuals afflicted with cystic fibrosis (CF) harbor complex polymicrobial communities. By an unknown mechanism, species of the Gram-negative Burkholderia cepacia complex, such as Burkholderia dolosa , can displace other bacteria in the CF lung, causing cepacia syndrome, which has a poor prognosis. The genome of B. dolosa strain AU0158 ( Bd AU0158) contains three loci that are predicted to encode Contact-Dependent growth Inhibition (CDI) systems. CDI systems function by translocating the toxic C-terminus of a large exoprotein directly into target cells, resulting in growth inhibition or death unless the target cells produce a cognate immunity protein. We demonstrate here that each of the three bcpAIOB loci in Bd AU0158 encodes a distinct CDI system that mediates interbacterial competition in an allele-specific manner. While only two of the three bcpAIOB loci are expressed under the in vitro conditions tested, the third conferred immunity under these conditions due to the presence of an internal promoter driving expression of the bcpI gene. One Bd AU0158 bcpAIOB allele is highly similar to bcpAIOB in Burkholderia thailandensis strain E264 ( Bt E264), and we showed that their BcpI proteins are functionally interchangeable, but Contact-Dependent Signaling (CDS) phenotypes were not observed in Bd AU0158. Our findings suggest that the CDI systems of Bd AU0158 may provide this pathogen an ecological advantage during polymicrobial infections of the CF respiratory tract. IMPORTANCE Human-associated polymicrobial communities can promote health and disease, and interbacterial interactions influence the microbial ecology of such communities. Polymicrobial infections of the cystic fibrosis respiratory tract impair lung function and lead to death of individuals suffering from this disorder; therefore, a greater understanding of these microbial communities is necessary for improving treatment strategies. Bacteria utilize contact-dependent growth inhibition systems to kill neighboring competitors and maintain their niche within multicellular communities. Several cystic fibrosis pathogens have the potential to gain an ecological advantage during infection via contact-dependent growth inhibition systems, including Burkholderia dolosa . Our research is significant as it has identified three functional contact-dependent growth inhibition systems in B. dolosa that may provide this pathogen a competitive advantage during polymicrobial infections.
Inhibitory Antibodies against Activin A and TGF-β Reduce Self-Supported, but Not Soluble Factors-Induced Growth of Human Pulmonary Arterial Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Increased growth and proliferation of distal pulmonary artery vascular smooth muscle cells (PAVSMC) is an important pathological component of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily plays a critical role in PAH, but relative impacts of self-secreted Activin A, Gremlin1, and TGF-β on PAH PAVSMC growth and proliferation are not studied. Here we report that hyper-proliferative human PAH PAVSMC have elevated secretion of TGF-β1 and, to a lesser extent, Activin A, but not Gremlin 1, and significantly reduced Ser465/467-Smad2 and Ser423/425-Smad3 phosphorylation compared to controls. Media, conditioned by PAH PAVSMC, markedly increased Ser465/467-Smad2, Ser423/425-Smad3, and Ser463/465-Smad1/5 phosphorylation, up-regulated Akt, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK, and induced significant proliferation of non-diseased PAVSMC. Inhibitory anti-Activin A antibody reduced PAH PAVSMC growth without affecting canonical (Smads) or non-canonical (Akt, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK) effectors. Inhibitory anti-TGF-β antibody significantly reduced P-Smad3, P-ERK1/2 and proliferation of PAH PAVSMC, while anti-Gremlin 1 had no anti-proliferative effect. PDGF-BB diminished inhibitory effects of anti-Activin A and anti-TGF-β antibodies. None of the antibodies affected growth and proliferation of non-diseased PAVSMC induced by PAH PAVSMC-secreted factors. Together, these data demonstrate that human PAH PAVSMC have secretory, proliferative phenotype that could be targeted by anti-Activin A and anti-TGF-β antibodies; potential cross-talk with PDGF-BB should be considered while developing therapeutic interventions.
Nonparametric Tolerance Limits

For any distribution of measurements, two-sided tolerance limits are given by the smallest and largest observations in a sample of size n, and a one-sided tolerance limit is given by the smallest (largest) observation in a sample of size n. γ is the probability that the interval will cover a proportion 1 -α of the population with a random sample of size n.
The effect of different sampling and recall periods in the CAHPS Clinician & Group (CG‐CAHPS) survey

OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of changing the sampling and reference periods for the CAHPS® Clinician & Group Survey from 12 to 6 months. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING Adult patients with a visit in the last 12 months to New England community health centers. STUDY DESIGN We randomly assigned patients to receive a survey with either a 12- or 6-month recall period. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS Questionnaires were mailed to patients, with a second questionnaire mailed to nonrespondents, followed by six attempts to complete a telephone interview. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS If the sampling criterion was a visit in the last 6 months, 9 percent of those with a visit in the last 12 months would not have been surveyed. A total of 1837 patients completed 6-month surveys (44.9 percent response rate); 588 completed 12-month surveys (46.0 percent response rate). Shortening the reference from 12 to 6 months reduced the proportion of respondents reporting a blood test, X-ray, or other tests. Adjusting for respondent characteristics, the most positive response was selected more often on the 6-month survey for 12 out of 13 questions, and three of these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Surveys using a 6-month recall period may yield slightly higher scores than surveys with a 12-month recall period.
Outcomes of laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair based on surgical specialty: thoracic versus general surgeons

Hiatal Hernia Repairs (HHR) are performed by both general surgeons (GS) and thoracic surgeons (TS). However, there are limited literature with respect to outcomes of HHR based on specialty training. The objective of this study was to compare the utilization, perioperative outcomes, and cost for HHR performed by GS versus TS. The Vizient database was used to identify patients who underwent elective laparoscopic HHR between October 2014 and June 2018. Patients were grouped according to surgeon’s specialty (GS vs. TS). Patient demographics and outcomes including in-hospital mortality were compared between groups. During the study period 13,764 patients underwent HHR by either GS or TS. GS performed 9930 (72%) cases while TS performed 3834 (28%) cases. There was no significant difference between GS versus TS with regard to serious morbidity (1.28% vs. 1.30%, p = 0.97) or mortality (0.10% vs. 0.21%, p = 0.19). The mortality index was 0.24 for GS versus 0.45 for TS. Compared to TS, laparoscopic HHR performed by GS was associated with a shorter LOS (2.57 days vs. 2.72 days, p < 0.001) and lower mean hospital costs ($7139 vs. $8032, p < 0.0001). Within the context of academic centers, laparoscopic HHRs are mostly performed by GS with comparable outcome between general versus thoracic surgeons.
Geschichte und Motivation

Die Idee, mit dem Automobil Rennen auszutragen, ist praktisch genauso alt wie das Automobil selbst, dessen Geschichte 1885 mit der Jungfernfahrt des Benz Patent-Motorwagen Nummer 1 (Abb. 2.1a) – eines dreiradrigen Fahrzeugs mit benzingetriebenem Verbrennungsmotor und elektrischer Zundung – beginnt. Am 29. Januar 1886 meldete Carl Benz seine Erfindung beim Reichspatentamt unter der Nummer 37435 zum Patent an. Dieses Patent gehort heute zum Weltkulturerbe der UNESCO.
Interaction of alcohol with time of eating on markers of circadian dyssynchrony and colon tissue injury.

Abstract Background Alcohol increases the risk of developing colon cancer (CRC), in part via tissue inflammation and impaired barrier integrity. Circadian dyssynchrony (CD) is an understudied but common lifestyle associated factor that increases the risk of multi-organ tissue injury and number of malignancies including CRC. Our prior studies showed that the shift in light-dark cycle exacerbates barrier dysfunction and colonic inflammation in the setting of alcohol treatment, and increases the risk of CRC. Here we studied the interaction of alcohol with an abnormal eating pattern on markers of CD and colonic barrier integrity. Method Mice were subjected to day (rest-phase = wrong-time WT) or night-time (active-phase = right-time RT) access to food in combination with access to water or 15% alcohol for total duration of 10 weeks. The food and liquid intake was measured. The locomotor activity data was recorded throughout the study, using a beam-break system. Mice were euthanized at two time points (ZT2 and ZT14). Time variation in the expression of the molecular marker of circadian clock (per2 gene) was measured in the central (hypothalamus) and intestinal (colon) tissue. Colonic protein expression of barrier markers (Occludin and Claudin-1) was studied. Results No significant differences were present in the weight gain and alcohol intake among the groups over the study period. We observed an interaction of WT eating with alcohol on behavioral markers of circadian rhythm. Compared to the RT + Water treated animals (“reference group”), combination of WT eating and alcohol consumption (WT + Alcohol) significantly changed the per2 oscillatory pattern, that was different between the colon and hypothalamus, indicative of worsening circadian dyssynchrony. This was associated with an overall impaired expression of barrier integrity markers in the colon. Conclusions Alcohol induces circadian dyssynchrony which is worsened by abnormal food timing, associated with impaired barrier integrity in the colon. Future studies on the interaction of alcohol and food timing could provide further insights into alcohol associated CRC pathophysiology.
Greed is Good: The Agency Costs of Blockholder Philanthropy

Recent experimental research in corporate social responsibility suggests that principal philanthropy offers benefits to the firm. I test this finding using archival data in a natural experiment. In publically traded firms, I find that charitable pledges by blockholders create agency problems that overwhelm any benefits and destroy shareholder value. This effect is stronger when the blockholder has, beyond his economic incentives, a fiduciary duty (as a director or fund manager) to monitor the firm and its managers. I attribute these findings to small investors relying on the self-interest of major shareholders to monitor their shared investment. A charitable pledge lessens the market’s expectation of the philanthropic blockholder’s self-interest, which reduces the ability of small investors to rely on him (and his preference for wealth-maximization) to monitor the firm.
Caring for the Whole Student: How Do Chaplains Contribute to Campus Life?

In the changing religious landscape of American higher education, campus chaplains offer vital resources to student affairs professionals. Drawing from interviews with 16 religiously diverse chapla...
Eulerian Modeling of Plasma-Pressure Driven Laser Impact Weld Processes

Abstract In this study, details of the rapidly evolving state of a laser impact welding (LIW) process are simulated by incorporating a hydrodynamic plasma pressure model into a high-fidelity thermomechanical Eulerian numerical approach. Detailed evolution of the localized velocities, shear stresses, plastic strains, and temperature state in the vicinity of the weld interface during its formation are revealed. The presented simulation technique applies a load distribution that is temporally and spatially modeled based on the plasma pressure induced during surface ablation by a nanosecond-pulsed infrared laser. Due to the Gaussian plasma-pressure loading profile, significant shear stress patterns are observed to develop in the flyer foil prior to its collision with the target foil, the character of which appears to be significant in achieving a successful impact weld. Moreover, features already known to be critical to successful impact welding of thin foils are captured by the combination of the high-fidelity Eulerian control volume and the plasma pressure model, including the requisite collision velocity and impact angle. During the impact welding, interfacial material ‘jetting’ is observed, in addition to concentrated shear stress fields along the weld front. A wavy interface arising from a regular pattern of material mixing is confirmed to occur, in addition to significant plastic strains and heat generation due to the plastic deformation, all of which indicate the formation of a collision joint due to the more realistic loading condition imposed.
Access to Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery for Adnexal Surgery: Impact of Race and Payer Mix

Study Objective To determine racial and social disparities regarding adnexal surgery. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting Data was obtained from the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) for New York State. The database was reviewed from 2011 - 2015 for ovarian cystectomy with or without salpingectomy for benign indications. Patients or Participants There were 68,029 patients included in this analysis. Average age was 43 years, with 81.3% between 18-55 and 17.7% older than 55. Racial composition comprised of 68.7% Caucasian, 4.8% Asian, 11.2% Black, and 15.3% as other. Payor mix included 79.6% insured, 7.4% Medicaid, 8.3% Medicare, and 4.7% other or self-payment. Majority resided in metropolitan areas (90.6%) and did not travel greater than 15 miles for care. Interventions Adnexal surgery performed via laparotomy or laparoscopy. Measurements and Main Results Of the 68,029 patients included, 54,829 were performed via laparoscopy (80.6%) while 13,200 were via laparotomy (19.4%). Compared to Caucasian, odds ratio of having a laparoscopy was 0.68 for Black, 0.81 for Hispanic, and 0.80 for other. Compared to commercial insurance, odds ratio of having a laparoscopy was 0.69 for Medicaid, 0.72 for Medicare, 0.92 self. At high-volume surgical facilities, the odds ratio for utilizing laparoscopy was 1.83 compared to low volume facilities and 1.49 compared to medium volume facilities. At institutions with major teaching affiliation, the odds ratio was 0.91 compared to non-teaching and 1.0 for minor affiliation. Conclusion Race is not the only factor associated with a lower likelihood of laparoscopy for adnexal surgery. Other factors such as institution type and payer mix also impact likelihood.
Optically Pumped FIR Laser Monitored by Piezoelectric Transducers

The power and frequency of a pumped FIR laser can be monitored by piezoelectric transducers, reliable solid state devices which detect chopped absorbed radiation by the opto-acoustic effect.
A Privacy Preserving E-Voting System Based on Blockchain

An electronic voting system can enable greater democracy by allowing virtual and remote voting and facilitating greater participation. However, the e-voting systems have experienced allegations due to corruption and unfair practices including voter impersonation, fraud, or duplicate votes. This has caused a decline in transparency and faith in the electoral process, resulting in reduced participation of citizens in the democratic process. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a blockchain-based e-voting system to ensure the fairness of the electoral process and restore people’s faith while protecting the users’ privacy. First, we utilize face recognition technology to authenticate voters after extracting feature sets from images while users actively make actions. Second, we design a smart contract to secure voter information during the election. Our approach involves analyzing the limitations of the existing electoral voting system and applies the blockchain-based solution to the vulnerable aspects of the existing system. We implement our approach by using Ethereum, smart contract, and OpenCV Haar Cascade detection classifiers, and our evaluation based on the prototype shows that our approach is effective and efficient.
Net.Create: Network Visualization to Support Collaborative Historical Knowledge Building

Students across disciplines struggle with sensemaking when they are faced with the need to understand and analyze massive amounts of information. This is particularly salient in the disciplines of both history and data science. Our approach to helping students build expertise with complex information leverages activity theory to think about the design of a classroom activity system integrated with the design of a collaborative open-source network-analysis software tool called Net.Create. Through analysis of network log data as well as video data of students’ collaborative interactions with Net.Create, we explore how our activity system helped students reconcile common contradictions that create barriers to dealing with complex datasets in large lecture classrooms. Findings show that as students draw on details in a historical text to collaboratively construct a larger network, they begin to move more readily between small detail and aggregate overview. Students at both high and low initial skill levels were able to increase the complexity of their historical analyses through their engagement with the Net.Create tool and activities. Net.Create transforms the limitation of large class sizes in history classrooms into a resource for students’ collaborative knowledge building, and through collaborative data entry it supports the historiographic practices of citation and revision and helps students embed local historical actors into a larger historical context.
Validation of computed tomography angiography as a complementary test in the assessment of renal artery stenosis: a comparison with digital subtraction angiography.

Renal artery stenosis is an important cause of hypertension in children, accounting for 5–10% of cases. When suspected, noninvasive imaging options include ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) angiography and magnetic resonance (MR) angiography. However, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) remains the gold standard. To investigate the accuracy and inter-reader reliability of CT angiography in children with suspected renal artery stenosis. This is a retrospective study of patients suspected of having renal artery stenosis evaluated by both CT angiography and DSA between 2008 and 2019 at a tertiary pediatric hospital. Only children who underwent CT angiography within 6 months before DSA were included. CT angiography studies were individually reviewed by two pediatric radiologists, blinded to clinical data, other studies and each other’s evaluation, to determine the presence of stenosis at the main renal artery and 2nd- and 3rd-order branches. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were calculated using DSA as the reference. The effective radiation dose for CT angiography and DSA was also calculated. Kappa statistics were used to assess inter-reader agreement. Seventy-four renal units were evaluated (18 girls, 19 boys). The patients’ median age was 8 years (range: 1–21 years). Overall, CT angiography was effective in detecting renal artery stenosis with a sensitivity of 85.7%, specificity of 91.5% and accuracy of 88.9%. There was moderate inter-reader agreement at the main renal artery level (k=0.73) and almost perfect inter-reader agreement at the 2nd/3rd order (k=0.98). However, the sensitivity at the 2nd- and 3rd-order level was lower (14.3%). CT angiography provided excellent negative predictive value for evaluating renal artery stenosis at the main renal artery level (90.1%) and at the 2nd- or 3rd-order branches (82.7%). The median effective dose of CT angiography studies was 2.2 mSv (range: 0.6–6.3) while the effective dose of DSA was 13.7 mSv. CT angiography has high sensitivity and specificity at the main renal artery level with a lower radiation dose than previously assumed. Therefore, it can be used as a diagnostic tool in patients with low to medium risk of renal artery stenosis, and as a screening and treatment planning tool in patients at high risk.
Free-Space Electro-Optic Samplers

We demonstrate the broadband detection capability (GHz to THz) of free-space electro-optic samplers for pulsed far-infrared radiation (THz beam).
Preserving Identities: Protecting Personal Identifying Information through Enhanced Privacy Policies and Laws

This article explores the developing phenomenon of the ongoing collection and dissemination of personal identifying information (PII): first, explaining the nature and form of PII, including the consequences of its collection; second, exploring one of the greatest threats associated with data collection - unauthorized disclosure due to data breaches, including an overview of state and federal legislative reactions to the threats of data breaches and identity theft; third, discussing common law and constitutional privacy protections regarding the collection of personal information, revealing that United States privacy laws provide very little protection to individuals; and fourth, examining current practices by online commercial enterprises regarding privacy policy disclosure and conduct. This section reveals that there is almost no legal regulation of online privacy policies. This paper concludes that new, stronger laws are required to protect individuals regarding the collection and dissemination of their PII. A model law is therefore proposed to address those areas where PII protection is lacking.
Reliability Management in Competitive Electricity Markets

This paper examines market design issues for reliability management in competitive power markets. The institutional structure is characterized by a power exchange that conducts electricity market trading, a system operator that operates the electric power system, and a property right system for transimission pricing. In a competitive market, priority insurance fosters market information for determining efficient system reliability levels and induces system operator to maintain system security efficiently. A six-node network example is examined to illustrate the basic insights.
Low-degree points on Hurwitz-Klein curves

We investigate low-degree points on the Fermat curve of degree 13, the Snyder quintic curve and the Klein quartic curve. We compute all quadratic points on these curves and use Coleman's effective Chabauty method to obtain bounds for the number of cubic points on each of the former two curves.
Antibiotic Resistance and Its Transfer Among Clinical and Nonclinical Klebsiella Strains in Botanical Environments

A total of 183 isolates of Klebsiella from drinking water, market vegetables, wood, sawdust, industrial effluents, and human and animal origin were examined for susceptibility to 10 antibacterial agents. Incidence of resistance to two or more antibiotics tested was: 65% of the human clinical isolates, 59% among bovine mastitis, and 24% among the nonclinical isolates. The five different multiple resistance patterns among nonclinically derived Klebsiella were also found among the human and bovine mastitis isolates. Statistical analyses revealed that patterns of resistance among Klebsiella isolates from drinking water, market vegetables, and industrial effluents were highly correlated with each other and with resistance patterns of human clinical isolates. Antibiotic resistance was transferred between Klebsiella growing in two habitat-simulated environments (growing radish plants and aqueous sawdust suspensions). Transconjugants were detected in 5 of 21 and 6 of 21 mating pairs, respectively. Average transconjugants/donor ranged from 10(-3) to 10(-6) in Penassay broth, from 10(-6) to 10(-7) on radish plants, and from 10(-5) to 10(-8) in sawdust suspensions. Although antibiotic resistance transfer under simulated environmental conditions can occur, regrowth of clinical strains is probably the major cause for the widespread occurrence of antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella in the nonclinical environment.
The autoinhibitory control element and calmodulin conspire to provide physiological modulation of endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity

NO production by the endothelial and neuronal isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) is regulated on a moment-to-moment basis by calmodulin binding, triggered by transient elevations in intracellular-free calcium levels. Nonetheless, additional modes of cNOS regulation are implicit in the discoveries of stimuli that elicit a sustained increase in cNOS activity despite undetectable or transient increases in intracellular Ca2+ in endothelial cells; such stimuli include shear-stress, oestrogen, insulin or insulin-like growth factor treatment of endothelial cells. Recently, we identified a peptide insertion within the FMN-binding domain of mammalian NOSs that is unique to calcium-dependent isoforms, and not shared with inducible NOS or ancestral flavoproteins. Evidence suggests that this insertion serves as a fundamental control element, analogous to intrinsic autoinhibitory peptides that have been demonstrated to regulate activity of other calmodulin-dependent enzymes. Thus, the peptide insertion of cNOSs appears to function as structural element that is displaced upon calmodulin binding, resulting in dysinhibition of NO synthesis. Once displaced, the peptide may also be subject to transient chemical modifications and protein-protein interactions that modulate autoinhibitory function. Herein we summarize our present knowledge and speculate on mechanisms by which calmodulin and the autoinhibitory peptide conspire to regulate cNOS activity.
Inducing and tracking confusion with contradictions during critical thinking and scientific reasoning

Cognitive disequilibrium and its affiliated affective state of confusion have been found to be beneficial to learning due to the effortful cognitive activities that accompany their experience. Although confusion naturally occurs during learning, it can be induced and scaffolded to increase learning opportunities. We addressed the possibility of induction in a study where learners engaged in trialogues on critical thinking and scientific reasoning topics with animated tutor and student agents. Confusion was induced by staging disagreements and contradictions between the animated agents, and the (human) learners were invited to provide their opinions. Self-reports of confusion and learner responses to embedded forced-choice questions indicated that the contradictions were successful at inducing confusion in the minds of the learners. The contradictions also resulted in enhanced learning gains under certain conditions.
Robust testing and evaluation of systems: framework, approaches, and illustrative tools

Testing and evaluation (T&E) will be successful if its plans, methods, and analysis components perform adequately despite departures from ideal conditions. A framework of robust T&E approaches is presented that is aimed at avoiding or gracefully accommodating such departures (e.g., resource losses and schedule changes). Broadening this framework, illustrative tools and other guidance are described for building robust T&E plans, methods, and analysis components. The T&E practitioner can use this broadened framework of robust approaches, tools, and guidance to ensure acceptable results despite departures from the ideal
CHAPTER 41 – Hemolytic Anemia

Publisher Summary Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies directed to antigens on the individuals' own red cell membrane, and by evidence of decreased red cell survival mediated by the red cell autoantibody. AIHA is the first autoimmune disorder in which autoantibodies are shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease state. T cells from AIHA patients recognize specific blood group antigens. The type of T-cell response and accompanying cytokine profile in AIHA appears to be predominantly Th2, a pattern seen in other autoimmune diseases. Studies have shown abnormal anti-idiotype responses in patients with AIHA, which might lead to a loss of peripheral tolerance. The NZB mouse, transgenic mouse, and other animal models have helped in understanding the role of immunoregulatory T cells and the effects of cytokines in AIHA. Selected peptides from red cell membranes have been shown to alter the immune response to one that ameliorates the disease. Moreover, it is possible that the administration of such peptides might be beneficial in the treatment of AIHA.