cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survivin: A Bifunctional Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein

Survivin is a recently discovered protein belonging to the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) gene family. IAP molecules are characterized by both the presence of a zinc-binding fold termed the baculoviral IAP repeat and the ability to suppress apoptosis. In addition to inhibiting apoptosis, survivin is essential for proper cell division. Survivin is expressed during embryonal development but is absent in most normal, terminally differentiated tissues. Survivin is also upregulated in a variety of human cancers, and its expression in tumors is associated with a more aggressive phenotype, shorter survival times, and a decreased response to chemotherapy. The exact mechanism behind the ability of survivin to inhibit apoptosis is still unclear. Furthermore, it is not known why this protein is upregulated in cancer. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the current knowledge of survivin, including its role in cell division and its expression in normal and neoplastic tissues. Although much of the cu...
Synthesis of Biomolecule-Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Targeted Hydrophobic Drug Delivery to Cancer Cells

Synthetic methodologies integrating hydrophobic drug delivery and biomolecular targeting with mesoporous silica nanoparticles are described. Transferrin and cyclic-RGD peptides are covalently attached to the nanoparticles utilizing different techniques and provide selectivity between primary and metastatic cancer cells. The increase in cellular uptake of the targeted particles is examined using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Transferrin-modified silica nanoparticles display enhancement in particle uptake by Panc-1 cancer cells over that of normal HFF cells. The endocytotic pathway for these particles is further investigated through plasmid transfection of the transferrin receptor into the normal HFF cell line, which results in an increase in particle endocytosis as compared to unmodified HFF cells. By designing and attaching a synthetic cyclic-RGD, selectivity between primary cancer cells (BT-549) and metastatic cancer cells (MDA-MB 435) is achieved with enhanced particle uptake by the metastatic cancer cell line. Incorporation of the hydrophobic drug Camptothecin into these two types of biomolecular-targeted nanoparticles causes an increase in mortality of the targeted cancer cells compared to that caused by both the free drug and nontargeted particles. These results demonstrate successful biomolecular-targeted hydrophobic drug delivery carriers that selectively target specific cancer cells and result in enhanced drug delivery and cell mortality.
Structural Control of the Photodynamics of Boron-Dipyrrin Complexes

Boron−dipyrrin chromophores containing a 5-aryl group with or without internal steric hindrance toward aryl rotation have been synthesized and then characterized via X-ray diffraction, static and time-resolved optical spectroscopy, and theory. Compounds with a 5-phenyl or 5-(4-tert-butylphenyl) group show low fluorescence yields (∼0.06) and short excited-singlet-state lifetimes (∼500 ps), and decay primarily (>90%) by nonradiative internal conversion to the ground state. In contrast, sterically hindered analogues having an o-tolyl or mesityl group at the 5-position exhibit high fluorescence yields (∼0.9) and long excited-state lifetimes (∼6 ns). The X-ray structures indicate that the phenyl or 4-tert-butylphenyl ring lies at an angle of ∼60° with respect to the dipyrrin framework whereas the angle is ∼80° for mesityl or o-tolyl groups. The calculated potential energy surface for the phenyl-substituted complex indicates that the excited state has a second, lower energy minimum in which the nonhindered aryl...
Inhibition of interferon‐gamma‐induced nitric oxide production in BV‐2 microglial cells by polyphenolic compounds

Microglial cells are known to play an important role in mediating the host defense functions in the brain. These cells respond readily to pro-inflammatory cytokines, which stimulate signalling pathways and induction of many genes, including the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In the immortalized BV-2 microglial cells, our studies have demonstrated that interferon gamma (IFNγ) alone could stimulate the induction of iNOS through activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. Increased NO production in the brain has been implicated in enhanced oxidative stress associated with many neurodegenerative diseases. Many polyphenolic compounds in vegetables and fruits, including resveratrol, catechin, quercetin, genistein are regarded as phytoestrogens and are known to possess potent antioxidant properties. However, whether these compounds also offer anti-inflammatory effects and inhibit cytokine-induced NO production in microglial cells have not been examined in detail. The major goal for this project is to use BV-2 microglial cells as cell model to investigate the effects of these polyphenolic compounds on IFNγ induction of NO. Results show that all the polyphenolic compounds tested could inhibit NO production albeit to different extents, with quercetin having the lowest IC50 and catechin the highest IC50. Surprising, daidzin, a non-tyrosine kinase analog of genistein, also inhibited IFNγ-induced NO production, suggesting that the inhibitory effects may not be due entirely to their action on the tyrosine kinase pathway. These results lead to the conclusion that polyphenolic compounds tested not only possess antioxidative but also anti-inflammatory properties. Acknowledgements: Supported by 5 P01 ES10535 from NIH.
Comparison of a Multi-Megawatt High Temperature Fuel Cell System With Reciprocating Engines and Aero-Derivative Gas Turbines

High temperature fuel cells can be successfully integrated in a simple cycle or in a combined cycle configuration and achieve lower heating value (LHV) efficiencies greater than gas turbines and reciprocating engines. A simple cycle fuel cell system reaches 50 to 51% LHV efficiencies. A fuel cell system integrated with gas and steam turbines in a hybrid system could lead to LHV efficiencies of 70% to 72%. An aero-derivative gas turbine that is the most efficient simple cycle gas turbine achieves 40% to 46% thermal efficiency and a new generation reciprocating engine 39% to 42%. Upon integration in a combined cycle configuration with steam injection, aero-derivative gas turbines potentially reach LHV efficiencies of 55% to 58%. The purpose of the present paper is to compare initially the performance of a stand alone fuel cell with a stand alone gas turbine and a stand alone reciprocating engine. Then the fuel cell is integrated in a hybrid system and it is compared with a gas turbine combined cycle plant. The system sizes explored are 5MW in the stand alone case, and 20MW, 30MW, 60MW, 100MW and 200MW in the hybrid / combined cycle case. The performance of the hybrid system was reviewed under different ambient temperatures (0° F–90° F) and site elevations (0 ft–3000 ft). High temperature fuel cells are more efficient and have lower emissions than gas turbines and reciprocating engines. However fuel cells cannot be used for peak power generation due to long start-up time or load following applications.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Validation of an Adaptive Combustion Instability Control Method for Gas-Turbine Engines

This paper describes ongoing testing of an adaptive control method to suppress high frequency thermo-acoustic instabilities like those found in lean-burning, low emission combustors that are being developed for future aircraft gas turbine engines. The method called Adaptive Sliding Phasor Averaged Control, was previously tested in an experimental rig designed to simulate a combustor with an instability of about 530 Hz. Results published earlier, and briefly presented here, demonstrated that this method was effective in suppressing the instability. Because this test rig did not exhibit a well pronounced instability, a question remained regarding the effectiveness of the control methodology when applied to a more coherent instability. To answer this question, a modified combustor rig was assembled at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The modified rig exhibited a more coherent, higher amplitude instability, but at a lower frequency of about 315 Hz. Test results show that this control method successfully reduced the instability pressure of the lower frequency test rig. In addition, due to a certain phenomena discovered and reported earlier, the so called Intra-Harmonic Coupling, a dramatic suppression of the instability was achieved by focusing control on the second harmonic of the instability. These results and their implications are discussed, as well as a hypothesis describing the mechanism of intra-harmonic coupling.
Sensitivity of water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) seedlings to manganese enrichment under water-saturated conditions

In anaerobic soils of wetlands, Mn is highly available to plants because of the decreasing redox potential and pH of flooded soil. When growing adjacent to each another in wetland forests, water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica L.) had 10 times greater leaf manganese concentration than bald cypress (Taxodium distichum [L.] Richard). This interspecific difference was examined over a range of manganese-enriched soil conditions in a greenhouse experiment. Water tupelo and bald cypress seedlings were grown in fertilized potting soil enriched with 0, 40, 80, 160, 240, 320, and 400 mg Mn/L of soil and kept at saturated to slightly flooded conditions. Leaf Mn concentration was greater in water tupelo than bald cypress for all but the highest Mn addition treatment. Growth of water tupelo seedlings was adversely affected in treatments greater than 160 mg Mn/L. Total biomass of water tupelo in the highest Mn treatment was less than 50% of the control. At low levels of added Mn, bald cypress was able to restrict uptake of Mn at the roots with resulting low leaf Mn concentrations. Once that root restriction was exceeded, Mn concentration in bald cypress leaves increased greatly with treatment; that is, the highest treatment was 40 times greater than control (4,603 vs 100 microg/g, respectively), but biomass of bald cypress was unaffected by manganese additions. Bald cypress, a tree that does not naturally accumulate manganese, does so under manganese-enriched conditions and without biomass reduction in contrast to water tupelo, which is severely affected by higher soil Mn concentrations. Thus, bald cypress would be less affected by increased manganese availability in swamps receiving acidic inputs such as acid mine drainage, acid rain, or oxidization of pyritic soils.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF STEADY AND PULSATILE FLOW THROUGH MODELS OF VASCULAR AND AORTIC VALVE STENOSES

A commercially available numerical flow solver “FLUENT” is employed in the simulation of blood flow through rigid models of vascular and aortic valve stenoses. For the vascular stenoses, in-vitro computations are performed for flow in axisymmetric and 3-D concentric flow phantoms for steady and pulsatile flow for 50%, 75% and 90% area stenoses at different flow rates, by considering the blood as a Newtonian fluid. The influence of stenosis on pressure distribution, velocity field and wall shear stress is examined for both steady and pulsatile flow (at 1 Hz). For axisymmetric stenoses, computations are compared with phase contrast MRI data; good agreement is obtained. The numerical results show the effect of flow rate and severity of stenosis on the pressure across the stenosis. Similar calculations (both steady and pulsatile at 3 Hz) are performed for a model of stenotic aortic valve by varying the flow rate and degree of stenosis to assess the range of validity of the Gorlin’s equation. Based on the results, a modification to the Gorlin’s equation is proposed that fits both the numerical and the limited experimental data for low and high flow rates as well as mild to severe stenosis.
Volumetric peeling: feature centric visualization using membership functions

Surgeons often desire a volume visualization where a region of interest (vessels, tumor) is isolated and viewed with complete clarity in relation to neighboring landmarks. A method to fade the landmarks/ surrounding structures in relation to the region of interest is desired as it provides context and an appreciation of the surgical approach. Current methods for generating these visualizations are either cumbersome (clip--planes) or require significant preprocessing (segmentation). Transfer functions, which can provide this visualization, are limited to datasets where a relation between voxel intensities and structures exists.We present a powerful, easy-to-use method for exploring volumetric data by controlling visibility according to membership volumes. These membership volumes facilitate a plethora of effects that cannot be achieved using conventional classification methods such as transfer functions. The membership volumes allow assignment of optical properties based on a combination of spatial and intensity criteria. Various membership functions, ranging from analytical to distance map based are shown. Through the use of Boolean operations in pixel shaders, we demonstrate several examples of interactive real-time visualization using our method.
Is Western Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Ldlr-/- Mice Reversible?

Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major public health burden in western societies. The progressive form of NAFLD, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is characterized by hepatosteatosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and hepatic damage that can progress to fibrosis and cirrhosis; risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma. Given the scope of NASH, validating treatment protocols (i.e., low fat diets and weight loss) is imperative. Methods We evaluated the efficacy of two diets, a non-purified chow (NP) and purified (low-fat low-cholesterol, LFLC) diet to reverse western diet (WD)-induced NASH and fibrosis in Ldlr-/- mice. Results Mice fed WD for 22–24 weeks developed robust hepatosteatosis with mild fibrosis, while mice maintained on the WD an additional 7–8 weeks developed NASH with moderate fibrosis. Returning WD-fed mice to the NP or LFLC diets significantly reduced body weight and plasma markers of metabolic syndrome (dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia) and hepatic gene expression markers of inflammation (Mcp1), oxidative stress (Nox2), fibrosis (Col1A, LoxL2, Timp1) and collagen crosslinking (hydroxyproline). Time course analyses established that plasma triglycerides and hepatic Col1A1 mRNA were rapidly reduced following the switch from the WD to the LFLC diet. However, hepatic triglyceride content and fibrosis did not return to normal levels 8 weeks after the change to the LFLC diet. Time course studies further revealed a strong association (r2 ≥ 0.52) between plasma markers of inflammation (TLR2 activators) and hepatic fibrosis markers (Col1A, Timp1, LoxL2). Inflammation and fibrosis markers were inversely associated (r2 ≥ 0.32) with diet-induced changes in hepatic ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content. Conclusion These studies establish a temporal link between plasma markers of inflammation and hepatic PUFA and fibrosis. Low-fat low-cholesterol diets promote reversal of many, but not all, features associated with WD-induced NASH and fibrosis in Ldlr-/- mice.
Synthesis and Size-Selective Precipitation of Monodisperse Nonstoichiometric MxFe3–xO4 (M = Mn, Co) Nanocrystals and Their DC and AC Magnetic Properties

Spinel ferrite nanocrystals (NCs) have shown great promise for a wide variety of electromagnetic and medical applications. In this work, the AC magnetic properties of nonstoichiometric manganese and cobalt ferrites (MxFe3–xO4, M = Mn, Co) NCs are systematically studied as a function of composition. Samples of very similar average size and shape, but different Mn to Fe and Co to Fe ratios are prepared to study the effect of composition. Conventional syntheses are combined with a size-selective precipitation method using oleic acid as an antisolvent yielding nearly monodisperse samples. DC and AC magnetic measurements shows that introducing Co to the ferrite crystal increases the blocking temperatures and magnetic anisotropies of the nanocrystals with corresponding shifts in AC magnetic susceptibilities, while manganese ferrites are relatively insensitive to the variation in compositions as size and shape dominate over crystal anisotropy. The systematic AC-magnetic characterizations of superparamagnetic Mnx...
Central amygdala lesions inhibit pontine nuclei acoustic reactivity and retard delay eyeblink conditioning acquisition in adult rats

In delay eyeblink conditioning (EBC) a neutral conditioned stimulus (CS; tone) is repeatedly paired with a mildly aversive unconditioned stimulus (US; periorbital electrical shock). Over training, subjects learn to produce an anticipatory eyeblink conditioned response (CR) during the CS, prior to US onset. While cerebellar synaptic plasticity is necessary for successful EBC, the amygdala is proposed to enhance eyeblink CR acquisition. In the current study, adult Long-Evans rats received bilateral sham or neurotoxic lesions of the central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA) followed by 1 or 4 EBC sessions. Fear-evoked freezing behavior, CS-mediated enhancement of the unconditioned response (UR), and eyeblink CR acquisition were all impaired in the CEA lesion rats relative to sham controls. There were also significantly fewer c-Fos immunoreactive cells in the pontine nuclei (PN)-major relays of acoustic information to the cerebellum-following the first and fourth EBC session in lesion rats. In sham rats, freezing behavior decreased from session 1 to 4, commensurate with nucleus-specific reductions in amygdala Fos+ cell counts. Results suggest delay EBC proceeds through three stages: in stage one the amygdala rapidly excites diffuse fear responses and PN acoustic reactivity, facilitating cerebellar synaptic plasticity and the development of eyeblink CRs in stage two, leading, in stage three, to a diminution or stabilization of conditioned fear responding.
Effect of Collaboration on Localizability in Range-Based Localization Systems

In this paper, we examine, via analysis, the improvement in device localizability through collaboration. Depending on the sensitivity of the receivers in the devices, it is not unusual for an unlocalized device to lack a sufficient number of detectable positioning signals from localized devices to determine its location without ambiguity (i.e., to be uniquely localizable). This occurrence is well-known to be a limiting factor in localization performance, especially in communications systems. In cellular positioning, for example, cellular network designers call this the hearability problem. In this work, we employ tools from stochastic geometry to derive accurate approximations for the probabilities of unique localizability in the noncollaborative and collaborative cases. We consider range-based positioning scenarios with and without shadowing. The results are very promising and motivate further research into enhancing cellular positioning with small-scale collaboration (e.g., using D2D in LTE).
Minimum Conditions for the Induction of Cortical Spreading Depression: Implications for Migraine with Aura (S16.002)

Objective: Determine whether cortical spreading depression can be induced under conditions physiologically compatible with migraine. Background Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is thought to be the mechanism of the migraine aura. If so, it must occur in awake humans, be focally inducible, and not be overtly injurious. In contrast, laboratory models of CSD use conditions that are associated with brain injury in humans. It is important to define the parameters under which CSD can be triggered, and determine whether any of these are plausible in migraine aura. Design/Methods: We used a novel microfluidic device to precisely vary extracellular potassium concentration (Ke) as well as the area exposed to this increased Ke, in a mouse brain slice model. Ke was varied over a range from 15 to 140 mM above normal baseline of 3 mM. Microfluidic port radius was varied from 75 to 250 µm. Whole slice perfusion was also performed. Results: We found that CSD was inducible with small areas exposed to high Ke, and large areas exposed to lower Ke levels, in an approximately hyperbolic relationship. For elevations in Ke unlikely to be associated with tissue damage ( 300 µm (on the order of magnitude of a cortical column or penetrating artery territory). Smaller areas supported CSD when Ke was raised to levels that can only be achieved by cell lysis. Perfusion of the whole brain slice yielded the lowest CSD threshold (15 mM Ke). Conclusions: Our results show that relatively large focal regions must be depolarized to generate CSD in a manner compatible with migraine aura. However they also suggest that the induction of CSD in migraine is physiologically plausible. Supported by: NIH NS 059072, NS 070084 (KCB). Disclosure: Dr. Brennan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lopez-Valdes has nothing to disclose. Dr. Charles has received personal compensation for activites with MAP Pharmaceuticals and Merck & Co., Inc. Dr. Charles has received research support from MAP Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Ju has nothing to disclose.
Effect of Growth Temperature on Structural and Magneto-Transport Properties of Co-Doped In2O3 Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors

Recently, Diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) based on transition metal oxides have attracted considerable attention due to their potential applications in spintronic devices. In2O3 is a wideband gap semiconductor with unique optical and electrical properties. The high conductivity of In2O3 is due to presence of interstitial oxygen vacancy. By doping with the transition metal such as cobalt, the possibility of room temperature ferromagnetism is expected. Thin films of Co-doped In2O3 diluted magnetic semiconductor have been grown on c-plane sapphire single crystals using pulsed laser deposition technique. Different characterizations such as x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and magneto-transport have been carried out to study the effect of growth temperature on the structural, electrical, and magnetic properties of these films. The films grown at high temperature have preferred orientation along (222) direction, while films grown at low temperature show amorphous nature. It is observed that electrical properties of the films strongly depend on growth temperature. The resistivity of the films decreases with increase in growth temperature. On the other hand, mobility of the films increases with increase in growth temperature. This could be due to improvement in crystallinity of the films.
Experimental Investigation of Two Impinging Model Scale Jets

This paper describes an experimental study of dual model scale jets impinging on a ground plane. The dual model scale jets consist of a front jet issuing from a contoured converging nozzle and a rear jet issuing from a converging-diverging nozzle. The dual impinging jets are individually operated at various jet Mach numbers during the experiments. The fundamental characteristics of the flow field produced by the dual impinging jets on the ground plane are investigated by a chalk flow visualization, shadowgraphy, static pressure taps, and a total pressure pitot rake. A near-field microphone array (composed of seven microphones) is used to quantify the near-field acoustics at different locations relative to the dual impinging jets with various distances between the nozzle exit to the ground plane. The purpose of studying dual supersonic impinging jets is to have an overall understanding of the corresponding flow-field and acoustic field for the development of a short take off and vertical landing aircraft and to provide an additional experimental database for computational tool development.
Standardization, Labor Investment, Skill, and the Organization of Ceramic Production in Late Prehispanic Highland Peru

Specialization encompasses many ways to organize craft production, ranging from small, household-based work units to large workshops. Distinctive types of specialization develop in response to various social, economic, and environmental factors, including the demand for crafts, the social relations of producers, and the support base for artisans. These factors in turn influence manufacturing technology. Thus, different types of specialization can be characterized by a “technological profile,” which reflects relative labor investment, skill, and standardization. An analysis of Prehispanic ceramic technology in the central sierra of Peru demonstrates how these technological profiles can be used to identify the ways ceramic production was organized to provision consumers with utilitarian and luxury pottery. As we demonstrate in our analysis of pottery recovered in the Yanamarca Valley, utilitarian Wanka-style cookwares and storage jars were produced by independent household-based artisans, while imperial Inka-style jars were produced by locally recruited corvee labor working for the state.
Flowering phenology influences bee community dynamics in old fields dominated by the invasive plant Centaurea stoebe

Abstract Wild and managed bees provide critical pollination services to both native and cultivated plants, and the invasion of exotic plants can have positive or negative effects on bee communities. In this study we investigated the influence of the exotic invasive Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (spotted knapweed) on bee species diversity and abundance in old-fields (Michigan, USA). We conducted field observations in knapweed dominated fields and adjacent fields with greater forb diversity to determine whether the bee communities foraging in each field type differed in their composition, diversity, and abundance, and to determine how bees’ use of floral resources changed throughout the growing season. This was coupled with a common garden experiment that contrasted the attractiveness of C. stoebe to 12 native plant species, which occur in similar habitats. Both studies were conducted throughout the 2012–2013 growing seasons to examine the temporal effect of floral resource availability. C. stoebe was the most heavily-visited plant, in terms of total bee visitation and bee species richness in both studies. While C. stoebe-dominated old-fields had high floral resource levels during its peak bloom period, before and after this period these fields contained very few floral resources. In contrast, diverse fields had a number of flowering plant species that provided floral resources before, during, and after C. stoebe bloom. As a result, diverse fields contained significantly greater season-long floral resource availability and significantly greater season-total bee abundance, diversity and species richness. This greater species richness was driven at least in part by the ability of diverse flowering plant communities to support bee species that are active before and after the bloom period of C. stoebe. Our results suggest that efforts to manage C. stoebe should take into account the floral resources the plant is providing, and coincide with the restoration of diverse forb communities in order to enhance bee foraging habitat in old-fields.
Role of Cdc42 dynamics in the control of fission yeast cell polarization

Cell polarization is fundamental to many cellular processes, including cell differentiation, cell motility and cell fate determination. A key regulatory enzyme in the control of cell morphogenesis is the conserved Rho GTPase Cdc42, which breaks symmetry via self-amplifying positive-feedback mechanisms. Additional mechanisms of control, including competition between different sites of polarized cell growth and time-delayed negative feedback, define a cellular-level system that promotes Cdc42 oscillatory dynamics and modulates activated Cdc42 intracellular distribution.
Charcoal rendering and shading with reflections

In this work, we have developed an approach to include global illumination effects into charcoal drawing (see Figure 1). Our charcoal shader provides a robust computation to obtain charcoal effect for a wide variety of diffuse and specular materials. Our contributions can be summarized as follows: (1) A Barrycentric shader that is based on degree zero B-spline basis functions; (2) A set of hand-drawn charcoal control texture images that naturally provide desired charcoal look-and-feel; and (3) A painter's hierarchy for handling a high number of shading parameters consistent with charcoal drawing.
Regulating the Jackals of the Monetary World: Banking and Constitutional Reform in the Antebellum Northwest

This article describes the fights over banks and paper money in state constitutional conventions in the antebellum Northwest. These debates played a central role in the development of popular self-government and democracy in the region. Citizens demanded fundamental constitutional reforms that would circumvent irresponsible legislatures and thwart undemocratic financial institutions. Este estudio describe las luchas sobre los bancos y el papel moneda en las convenciones constitucionales estatales en el noroeste prebelico. Estos debates jugaron un papel central en el desarrollo del autogobierno popular y la democ-racia en la region. Los ciudadanos exigieron unas reformas constitucionales fundamentales que burlarian las legislaturas irresponsables y que frustrarian las instituciones financieras antidemocraticas.
Girl, Pixelated - Narrative Identity, Virtual Embodiment, and Second Life

This paper focuses on the reasons for, and consequences of, expanding our notions of human embodiment to virtual worlds. Increasingly, it is within virtual environments that we seek to extend, and enhance, who we are. Yet, philosophical worries persist about what sorts of selves count as moral agents, and the extent to which self-enhancements affect personal identity and agency. This paper critiques and expands the discourse on embodiment and personal identity by locating it within the virtual environments of Second Life, challenging the prevailing limitations of what counts as identity-constituting embodiment. I argue that more inclusive notions of embodiment make possible a deeper understanding of its moral and epistemic force that constitutes and locates our identities in a universe of shared moral understandings. Thus, by including enhanced virtual embodiments alongside the non-virtual, not only do we expand our ideas of what it might mean to be embodied, but we also deepen our moral vocabularies of the self.
The effects of progress cues and gender on online wait

Abstract A wait screen is one of the proactive mechanisms that have been suggested to manage online wait. Despite the presence of significant gender differences in traditional wait, a lack of studies in online wait context has been acknowledged. This study proposes a research model of online wait management based on the cognitive absorption theory and gender literature. We test the effects of online interface designs in a wait screen on waiting time perceptions across gender by manipulating the salience and framing of a progress cue. A total of 535 subjects participated in two controlled experiments. MANOVA and subsequent ANOVA tests were conducted. We found significant main and interaction effects of wait screen design cues and gender on the relationships between the design cues and cognitive absorption variables. Detailed theoretical and practical implications are provided.
Canis familiaris (Dog)

The male karyotype was obtained from lymphocyte culture of a normal domestic dog. Skin and kidney cultures were established from a female “grey collie”, and the karyotypes obtained from these were indistinguishable from those of a normal dog. The karyotype appears to be identical in all races of dogs with the exception of the Y which is described as a small acrocentric in some reports.
Perceived support from a caregiver's social ties predicts subsequent care-recipient health

Most social support research has examined support from an individual patient perspective and does not model the broader social context of support felt by caregivers. Understanding how social support networks may complement healthcare services is critical, considering the aging population, as social support networks may be a valuable resource to offset some of the demands placed on the healthcare system. We sought to identify how caregivers' perceived organizational and interpersonal support from their social support network influences care-recipient health. We created a dyadic dataset of care-recipient and caregivers from the first two rounds of the National Health and Aging Trends survey (2011, 2012) and the first round of the associated National Study of Caregivers survey (2011). Using structural equation modeling, we explored how caregivers' perceived social support is associated with caregiver confidence to provide care, and is associated with care-recipient health outcomes at two time points. All data were analyzed in 2016. Social engagement with members from caregivers' social support networks was positively associated with caregiver confidence, and social engagement and confidence were positively associated with care-recipient health at time 1. Social engagement positively predicted patient health at time 2 controlling for time 1. Conversely, use of organizational support negatively predicted care-recipient health at time 2. Care-recipients experience better health outcomes when caregivers are able to be more engaged with members of their social support network.
On the Origins of the Prosodic Word in Russian

The Prosodic Word (Pwd) is a foundational notion in phonological theories, being relevant for the statement of many phonological generalizations. In spite of this importance, basic open questions remain about prosodic words. How many distinct prosodic categories, even at the ‘word’ level, are available to languages? Are they innately determined or emergent? Can their structure in one language vs. another be predicted? In this paper I consider a research program that attempts to address such questions by viewing prosodic words as emergent over time from the interaction of phonetics, phonologization, and syntactic structure. An important bridging idea in this understanding of prosodic words is that of domain generalization.
ELDRS characterization up to 100 krad of texas instruments' dual amplifier LM158

The ELDRS characterization data is presented for Texas Instruments' dual op amp LM158, where it is shown that results for the low dose rate have better performance than for the high dose rate. The LM158 is ELDRS free to 100 krad.
Pearls & Oy-sters: Persistent elevation of serum carcinoembryonic antigen in secretory meningioma.

Elevation in serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is uncommon in the context of primary CNS neoplasms but can be seen with metastatic brain tumors. CEA elevation can be the presenting feature of a secretory meningioma (SM), a rare subtype of WHO grade I meningioma.
Informed adherence: the need for shared medical decision making.

Abstract Screening tests for colon cancer, breast cancer, and elevated serum cholesterol are widely advocated and included in some practice guidelines. Failure to complete these tests is regarded as patient noncompliance. The purpose of this paper is to review noncompliance with screening tests from the perspective of a traditional biomedical model and an outcomes model. According to the traditional biomedical model, compliance with screening tests is necessary to identify disease at an early stage and to initiate treatment. In contrast, the outcomes model argues that patients and providers should engage in activities that maximize benefit from the patient's perspective. Screening may lead to significant increases in case identification and in treatment rates. However, screening might also identify “pseudodisease,” defined as disease that is not clinically important. For some diagnostic tests, cases of pseudodisease far exceed cases of clinically meaningful disease. The outcomes model suggests shared medical decision making in which uncertainties surrounding tests are disclosed to patients. Using information about the risks and expected health outcomes of screening and treatment, patients can participate in decisions about their own health care. Control Clin Trials 2000;21:233S–240S
Remarks on history and interpretation: Replies to Casey, Carr and Rockmore

En reponse aux articles precedents de E. Casey, D. Carr et T. Rockmore (in «Man and World», 30, 2, 1997, pp. 127-49) consacres au theme de l'interpretation et a la philosophie de l'histoire de J. Margolis, l'A. reprend plusieurs points strategiques de ses reflexions: 1)le probleme de la predication, de la reference et de la denotation, 2) la relation entre le probleme esprit-corps et le probleme culture-nature, 3) l'historicite, l'intentionnalite, l'interpretation et le soi dans le cadre d'une certaine Lebensform
The Role of Gangliosides in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Gangliosides are cell membrane-associated glycolipids with various and unique functions in tumors and normal tissues. Preclinical data suggest that they have a role in modulating the immune response to tumors, modification of biological effects of several trophic and growth factors in vivo and in vitro as well as identifying the phenotype of tumors and their behavior. Their specific role in modulating tumor angiogenesis in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an interesting and promising area of research which could potentially have a tremendous benefit in the era of targeted therapy. Although specific expression pattern of certain gangliosides (GM2 and GM1) can be seen in RCC, and “pro-angiogenic” versus “anti-angiogenic” gangliosides have been identified in various tumors and cell lines, more mature data in RCC are needed to integrate these antigens into the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches to this tumor. Their role in the downregulation of the type 1 T-cell response as evident by the inhibition of interferon-γ production from T cells cultured in the presence of renal cell carcinoma-derived gangliosides is another area of interest that would alter the immunotherapy approach to this tumor. Developing antiganglioside antibodies or inhibitors after further understanding of their role in tumor growth and behavior is the ultimate goal in integrating the use of these antigens into antitumor therapy of RCC.
Audience Costs and the Dynamics of War and Peace

We estimate audience costs and examine their substantive effects on the evolution of interstate disputes by using an infinitely repeated and dynamic game of crisis escalation. Unlike past efforts, our approach estimates country‐specific audience cost parameters without relying on proxy variables, such as democracy measures. Contrary to intuition, increases in a country's audience costs encourage it to initiate disputes in equilibrium because the costs serve as a commitment device during the subsequent crisis, incentivizing the country to stand firm and coercing its opponent to back down. Nonetheless, the results demonstrate that larger audience costs would result in more peace worldwide, as they also discourage potential opponents from initiating disputes. Beyond regime type, we find that a free press, provisions for executive appointment or removal, and historical rivalries are also important determinants of audience costs.
Non-clairvoyant scheduling with conflicts for unit-size jobs

Abstract We consider the problem of scheduling unit-size jobs with conflicts in a non-clairvoyant setting. In this problem, all jobs are released at the same time but the conflict graph is unknown to the scheduling algorithm beforehand. Instead, the conflicts between the jobs are revealed online by an adversary during the jobs' execution. There is an unlimited number of processors so that all jobs could be executed simultaneously. However, two jobs with a conflict cannot be both completed in the same time step; when their conflict is revealed, one of them must be aborted and re-executed later. The objective is to minimize the total number of time steps required to complete all jobs, or the makespan. We present an online non-clairvoyant algorithm and analyze its performance for three types of conflict graphs. For bipartite graphs, we show that it is O ( log ⁡ n ) -competitive, where n denotes the total number of jobs. For unit-interval graphs, we show that it is O ( log ⁡ χ ) -competitive, where χ denotes the chromatic number of the graph. For bounded-degree graphs, we show that it is O ( Δ ) -competitive, where Δ denotes the maximum degree of any node in the graph. For bipartite and bounded-degree graphs, we also provide matching lower bounds and show that the obtained competitive ratios are asymptotically tight.
Gowns, globalization, and “global intimate mapping”: Geovisualizing Uganda’s wedding industry:

In this article, we put critical geographic information systems (GIS) methods into conversation with feminist political and economic geographies, mapping the Ugandan wedding industry across the bod...
Leveraging marginal structural modeling with Cox regression to assess the survival benefit of accepting vs declining kidney allograft offers

Existing studies evaluating the survival benefit of kidney transplantation were unable to incorporate time-updated information on decisions related to each organ offer. We used national registry data, including organ turndown data, to evaluate the survival benefit of accepting vs turning down kidney offers in candidates waitlisted from 2007-2013. Among candidates who declined their first offer, only 43% ultimately received organ transplantations. Recipients who later underwent organ transplantation after declining their first offer had markedly longer wait times than recipients who accepted their first offer, and 56% received kidney transplants that were of similar or lower quality compared to their initial offer. In marginal structural modeling analyses accounting for time-updated offer characteristics (including Kidney Donor Profile Index, Public Health System risk status, and pumping), after 3 months posttransplant, there was a significant survival benefit of accepting an offer (adjusted hazard ratio 0.76, 95% confidence interval 0.66-0.89) that was similar among diabetics, candidates aged >65 years, and candidates living in donor service areas with the longest waitlist times. After carefully accounting for the effect of donor quality, we confirm that the survival benefit of accepting an organ offer is clinically meaningful and persistent beyond 3 months post-kidney transplantation, including high-risk subgroups of organ transplantation candidates.
The prevalence of venous thromboembolism in rectal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) following rectal surgery is a significant and preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, yet the true prevalence is not well established. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the available literature and determined its prevalence following rectal surgery. A systematic review assessed the prevalence of VTE following rectal surgery. In addition, we evaluated whether subgroups (open vs. minimally invasive or benign vs. malignant resections) impacted on its prevalence or rate of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). Thirty-eight studies met the predefined inclusion criteria. The aggregate prevalence of VTE following rectal surgery was 1.25% (95% CI 0.86–1.63), with DVT and PE occurring in 0.68% (95% CI 0.48–0.89) and 0.57% (95% CI 0.47–0.68) of patients. VTE following cancer and benign resection was 1.59% (95% CI 0.60–1.23 and 1.5% (95% CI 0.89–2.12) respectively. The prevalence of VTE in patients having minimally invasive resection was lower than those having open surgery [0.58% (16/2770) vs. 2.22% (250/11278); RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.33–0.86]. This review observed that there is sparse evidence on prevalence of VTE following rectal surgery. It provides aggregated data and analysis of available literature, showing overall prevalence is low, especially in those having minimally invasive procedures.
Sweet Science: Romantic Materialism and the New Logics of Life / Questioning Nature: British Women’s Scientific Writing and Literary Originality, 1750–1830

For the past twenty years, the burgeoning field of Romantic science has produced a number of remarkable works, including Alan Bewell’s Romanticism and Colonial Disease (1999); Tim Fulford, Debbie L...
The Silent Classroom: The Impact of Smartphones and a Social Studies Teacher's Response

The accelerated ownership and usage of smartphones and social media presents multiple issues for educators. There is a relationship between smartphones and (a) academic achievement, (b) engagement,...
Commercial and Religious Press Coverage of the Mormon Struggle in Missouri, 1831–1838

Shortly after Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the group left its New York roots in search of space to practice their faith in peace. They moved to Missouri in 1831, settling near Independence and Liberty. But conflict rose between the newcomers and those already settled in the area, leading to violence and death. This study examined how selected commercial and religious newspapers represented Mormons and the conflict that ultimately ended when Governor Lilburn Boggs issued Executive Order 44, which forced the Mormons from the state. Textual analysis drew out five themes—theology, politics and patriotism, theocracy, legal processes and First Amendment rights, and war and conflict—while showing how the selected commercial newspapers portrayed Mormons, how the selected religious newspapers portrayed Mormons, and how coverage differed between general circulation and religious newspapers.
PLGA Encapsulated Methylene Blue as a Contrast Agent for Optical Coherence Tomography

Methylene Blue (MB), an FDA approved dye, has been widely used in clinical applications. However, issues remain for its use as contrast agent: production of 1O2, reduction into leuco-MB, and nonspecific tagging. These issues were addressed by loading MB into Poly-Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) particles.
Teaching a Broad Discipline: The Critical Role of Text-Based Learning to Building Disciplinary Literacy in Architectural Education

Architecture is a demanding discipline with multiple, complex concerns and identities shaping the profession. The discipline requires analysis of complex and multifaceted issues and synthesizing broad knowledge through a focused creative process. While twenty-first-century education may leverage many sources to educate students of architecture, texts remain the primary repository par excellence of the rich and diverse body of knowledge and ideas that continue to inspire and ground architects, theorists, historians, planners, and policy makers tied to the discipline. Perusing and engaging with the diverse body of architectural literature is a strong approach to support one’s learning to think, speak, and write in the discipline with a high level of fluency and expertise. Yet reading, the foundational skill that provides access to the literature is often overlooked in the development of curriculum and the pedagogy of architectural education. This chapter explores in detail the challenges that inhibit student reading and reading effectiveness followed by strategies for building student reading skills in architectural education to support increased disciplinary literacy. Central to the strategies discussed is increased integration of text-based learning and explicit foregrounding of reading and study tools to support students’ learning through text. Key learning principles that serve a foundational role in text-based learning are analyzed to underpin the strategies discussed. Finally, two case studies are provided that exemplify the integration of these strategies that support increased disciplinary literacy in architectural education.