cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plasma membrane wounding and repair in pulmonary diseases

Various pathophysiological conditions such as surfactant dysfunction, mechanical ventilation, inflammation, pathogen products, environmental exposures, and gastric acid aspiration stress lung cells, and the compromise of plasma membranes occurs as a result. The mechanisms necessary for cells to repair plasma membrane defects have been extensively investigated in the last two decades, and some of these key repair mechanisms are also shown to occur following lung cell injury. Because it was theorized that lung wounding and repair are involved in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), in this review, we summarized the experimental evidence of lung cell injury in these two devastating syndromes and discuss relevant genetic, physical, and biological injury mechanisms, as well as mechanisms used by lung cells for cell survival and membrane repair. Finally, we discuss relevant signaling pathways that may be activated by chronic or repeated lung cell injury as an extension of our cell injury and repair focus in this review. We hope that a holistic view of injurious stimuli relevant for ARDS and IPF could lead to updated experimental models. In addition, parallel discussion of membrane repair mechanisms in lung cells and injury-activated signaling pathways would encourage research to bridge gaps in current knowledge. Indeed, deep understanding of lung cell wounding and repair, and discovery of relevant repair moieties for lung cells, should inspire the development of new therapies that are likely preventive and broadly effective for targeting injurious pulmonary diseases.
Radiographic outcomes of single versus dual plate fixation of acute mid-shaft clavicle fractures

The clavicle exhibits considerable movement in three planes making rigid fixation challenging. The addition of a second plate may be considered to improve fixation rigidity, but risks compromising the blood supply to the fracture site. The purpose of this study is to assess if extraperiosteal dual plate fixation increases the rate of non-union, reoperation, and complications at 1 year for surgically treated acute mid-shaft clavicle fractures. Between June 1998 and June 2013, surgically treated mid-shaft clavicle fractures undergoing open reduction internal fixation within 4 weeks of injury were retrospectively reviewed. Patients undergoing single plate fixation were compared to dual plate fixation. Patients were followed for a minimum of 1 year. Charts were reviewed to assess union rates, reoperation, and complications. One hundred and sixty-three clavicles (125 single plates, 34 dual plates) were evaluated. All patients (100%) in dual plating group and one hundred and fourteen (91%) in single plating group obtained bony union by 1 year (p = 0.13). Six patients (4.8%) experienced a non-union in the single plating cohort compared to the dual plating cohort who had a 100% union rate. Seven patients required reoperation in the single plate cohort due to implant failure (N = 4), infection (N = 2), and non-union (N = 1). This limited series of patients demonstrates dual plate fixation is a reliable option for acute mid-shaft clavicle fractures, with excellent union rates and low complication rates. Compared to single plate fixation, no significant differences in outcomes were identified. In the case of more complex fracture patterns, application of a second extraperiosteal plate may be utilized without compromising healing or increasing complication rates.
Dispelling Some Myths about Hatcheries

Abstract Contributing to the controversies that have surrounded fish hatcheries in recent years are a number of misconceptions or myths about hatcheries and their effects on natural populations. These myths impede productive dialogue among those with differing views about hatcheries. Most of the myths include a measure of truth, which makes it difficult to recognize the elements that are not true. Consideration of these myths leads to the following conclusions: (1) Hatcheries are intrinsically neither good nor bad—their value can be determined only in the context of clearly defined goals; (2) genetic changes in cultured populations can be reduced but not eliminated entirely; (3) empirical evidence exists of many adverse effects of hatcheries, but some risks have been overstated; and (4) monitoring and evaluation programs are important but should not be used as a substitute for developing risk-averse hatchery programs in the first place. A key step in resolving some of the controversies will be moving towa...
Placental oxygen consumption in vitro. I. Baseline studies.

Abstract Barcroft-Warburg respirometric observations of fresh in vitro placental tissue have been reported as part of a correlative study of the effects of various clinical features upon placental metabolism and their relationship to fetal development and survival. Data are presented to illustrate the rates of decay of placental activity under various conditions of storage, indicating the urgent need to study the material in the freshest possible state. Similarly, degradation occurs so rapidly during manometric studies that consecutive observations for the purpose of determining the effects of adding substrates are interdicted. The reduction of the oxygen concentration of the gas phase produces a corresponding, although nonlinear, reduction in oxygen uptake. Normal term placentas consume 2.02 ± 0.03 μl of oxygen per milligram of dry weight per hour. A linear decline is seen from early pregnancy to term. Numerous clinical factors are correlated with placental oxygen consumption, but, except in rare instances, the data are not sufficiently numerous to allow for statistical verification of observed trends.
Modeling and Validation of Temperature and Void Effects on Reactivity Experiments at the Missouri S&T Research Reactor

AbstractTo validate an MCNP5 model of the Missouri S&T Research Reactor (MSTR), temperature and void effects on reactivity experiments were simulated and performed. We compared the keff of the modeled reactor mirroring the position of all control rods to the actual critical reactor (keff = 1.00000). In the simulation we modeled three different scenarios. In the first two scenarios, the reactor is modeled as isothermal at two different temperatures (measured experimentally near the core), and in the third scenario, we split the core into bottom and top parts and used interpolated values for the temperatures of both halves. The model predicted keff’s for the “critical reactor” between 1.00234 and 1.00248 (±0.00018) when using as temperature the experimental thermocouple readings at the top of the core and keff’s between 1.00296 to 1.00383 (±0.00018) when using the temperature of thermocouple readings at the bottom of the core. In the third experiment, a linear vertical temperature profile was included in th...
Tissue microdissection and processing.

The accurate analysis of molecular changes associated with tumors and their precursor lesions requires the precise isolation of the specific cell types from a heterogeneous background of non-neoplastic elements such as normal epithelium, desmoplastic stroma, inflammatory cells and blood vessels(1).In the absence of a prior cell enrichment technique, the results of molecular analysis are undoubtedly confounded by genetic material not derived from cancer cells alone(2).The need for obtaining pure samples of tumor tissue has resulted in the genesis of several methods of cell enrichment including xenograft enrichment,tumor cell lines, cell sorting and microdissection. Xenograft enrichment involves the serial passage of tissues through immunodeficient rodents such asnu/nuor SCID mice to obtain human tumor cell populations whose non-malignant cells are of rodent origin(3, 4, 5).Despite their potential for being an unlimited self-replicating source of high quality genetic material, the ability to propagate xenografts requires considerable expertise, a reasonable animal facility,and time for establishment (between 2 to 6 months)(5).Moreover,there is a possibility that additional genetic changes may be introduced in the tumor cells during serial passage, or a subset of tumor cells with a selective growth advantage may propagate, which may not necessarily be representative of the primary lesion(4,6).Further, the presence of large numbers of stromal cells of rodent origin may complicate molecular analyses. On a similar note, tumor cell lines have been used for a long time to study genetic changes in neoplasia, and are an excellent source of unlimited reagents for this purpose(7,8).Like xenografts however,the establishment of a human tumor cell culture facility requires time,considerable expertise and resources;in addition, the introduction of additional genetic alterations or subset selection are always possibilities(9). Moreover, both cell lines and xenografts are virtually limited to the study of tumor cells only,and preneoplastic lesions have rarely been cultured (10).Cell sorting techniques have also been used at times as a means of cell enrichment, using density gradients, fluoroscence-activated cell sorting or antibody-labeled immunobead selection(11, 12, 13).Cell sorting can be easily applied to tumors amenable to formation of suspensions,such as hematolymphoid malignancies.However,cell sorting techniques are rarely applicable in solid tissue where intercellular adhesion generally prevents the disaggregation of cells,which is a prerequisite for the formation of a cell suspension.
Knowledge representation and processing in economics and management

Various techniques for computer-based knowledge representation and processing are widely used in management and economics. Other techniques such as rules and demons have arisen in the artificial intelligence field. These too can be useful in managerial and economics settings. A major issue is how to effectively employ multiple traditional and artificial intelligence techniques when working on a problem. In this paper, we examine the various knowledge management techniques with respect to their applicability to handling distinct types of knowledge. An object-oriented framework is presented as a basis for the unified and coordinated treatment of multiple knowledge management techniques in a single environment. Using this framework, two approaches are identified for delivering these techniques to a knowledge worker: skeletal environments and furnished environments.
SP-CIP: a secure and privacy aware patient centric information portal

There is an urgent need for the establishment of patient-centric and quality aware solutions in today's healthcare environment. To this effect, Clinical Information Systems (CIP) play a powerful role to significantly influence the quality and efficiency of health care delivery systems. However, most of the current functional CIP are static [1] in design and typically represent and cater to only a single healthcare entity. This leads to an inaccurate and stale view of the patient status both in the care of the patient and also in the delivery of essential healthcare services. Moreover, it also delays patient care and leads to inconveniences in patient billing and the overall usability of the system. Added to this there is an oversight of security and privacy policies and procedures in the implementation of such systems. Thus, with the current pervasive nature of technology in such healthcare organizations, this creates a critical risk of such information systems to fall prey to data leaks and/or abuse during the access, storage and transmission of such systems. To address the above key barriers towards the development of the effective CIP this research proposes SP-CIP: a standardized, security and privacy aware patient portal system. By utilizing the proposed standard design framework, the features of patient portals can evolve from static to a more dynamic design, which is inclusive of a user-centric, secure and proactive approach for patient care. These features also provide flexibility to include a de-centralized mechanism to access, store and transmit healthcare information over cloud based systems, and aims to establish the expectations of an effective patient portal, leading to improved cost and quality of patient care in today's healthcare systems. The pilot evaluation of the proposed systems at a high-end federal government Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 6 health care organization (> 500 bed capacity) and its associated partner organizations and clinical practices further demonstrates the strengths of proposed system.
Tissue-Engineered Wound Dressings for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

With the rise in the number of individuals suffering from diabetes, a greater number of patients are at risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). While traditional wound therapies can be successful at treating moderate DFUs when detected early, they often fall short in treating more severe cases which can lead to secondary ulcer formation or lower extremity amputations. To remedy this, a number of FDA-approved therapies have been developed and approved in the past two decades that take advantage of advances in biomaterials and tissue engineering to manufacture materials that have specific functionalities, and exploit active dressing materials that can enhance the wound healing process for these patients. Despite these advances, diabetic patients still suffer from slow healing wounds that often lead to further infections and delayed healing and/or amputations. Recent research in the wound healing field has focused on developing dressings with improved properties, especially the ability to encapsulate and release therapeutics over prolonged durations. These can potentially enhance the wound healing process by controlling cell migration and proliferation into the wound and provide a physiochemical environment conducive to healing. While many of these therapies are still undergoing clinical testing, or have yet to be tested for the treatment of DFUs, they provide a promising future.
Differences between National and Local Media in News Coverage of the Zika Virus

ABSTRACTDo national and local papers report on health threats in the same way? This question is investigated in an important and increasingly common context: the outbreak of an infectious disease. ...
A World Government: A Critical Look into the Present, to Foresee the Future

Philosophers, legal scholars, and economists have long contemplated the possibility of establishing a world government: a super-state that will rule over planet Earth and prevent war to achieve the dream of perpetual peace. Both advocates and critics of the idea of world government have adopted an array of contrasting ideologies—from anarchism and liberalism to Nazism and communism—in order to justify their positions. Before pursuing the project of establishing a world government, perhaps as an outcome of globalization, policymakers and scholars must discuss the theoretical question of whether world government is a solution to humanity’s problems, or a curse that threatens states’ self-determination. In order to consider whether world government is theoretically desirable, this Comment will scrutinize the effectiveness of two current models of unification, the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU). These models show that three main factors can either unite or divide nations: the power of money, the sense of oneness, and the power of media. Based on an analysis of the UN and the EU, this Comment reaches the conclusion that a world government is unfeasible, no matter how desirable it is, as long as the right to self-determination exists.
Two-Dimensional Electronic Spectroscopy Reveals Excitation Energy-Dependent State Mixing during Singlet Fission in a Terrylenediimide Dimer

Singlet fission (SF) is a spin-allowed process in which a singlet exciton, 1(S1S0), within an assembly of two or more chromophores spontaneously down-converts into two triplet excitons via a multiexciton correlated triplet pair state, 1(T1T1). To elucidate the involvement of charge transfer (CT) states and vibronic coupling in SF, we performed 2D electronic spectroscopy (2DES) on dilute solutions of a covalently linked, slip-stacked terrylene-3,4:11,12-bis(dicarboximide) (TDI) dimer. This dimer undergoes efficient SF in nonpolar 1,4-dioxane and symmetry-breaking charge separation in polar dichloromethane. The various 2DES spectral features in 1,4-dioxane show different pump wavelength dependencies, supporting the presence of mixed states with variable 1(S1S0), 1(T1T1) and CT contributions that evolve with time. Analysis of the 2DES spectra in dichloromethane reveals the presence of a state having largely 1(T1T1) character during charge separation. Therefore, the 1(T1T1) multiexciton state plays an important role in the photophysics of this TDI dimer irrespective of solvent polarity.
Electrically-Transduced Chemical Sensors Based on Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials

Electrically–transduced sensors, with their simplicity and compatibility with standard electronic technologies, produce signals that can be efficiently acquired, processed, stored, and analyzed. Two dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, including graphene, phosphorene (BP), transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), and others, have proven to be attractive for the fabrication of high–performance electrically-transduced chemical sensors due to their remarkable electronic and physical properties originating from their 2D structure. This review highlights the advances in electrically-transduced chemical sensing that rely on 2D materials. The structural components of such sensors are described, and the underlying operating principles for different types of architectures are discussed. The structural features, electronic properties, and surface chemistry of 2D nanostructures that dictate their sensing performance are reviewed. Key advances in the application of 2D materials, from both a historical and analytical pers...
Use of kZ -space for high through-plane resolution in multislice MRI: Application to prostate.

Purpose The goal of this work is to demonstrate 1 mm through-plane resolution in multislice T2SE MRI using k Z -space processing of overlapping slices and show applicability in prostate MRI. Methods Multiple overlapped slices are acquired and Fourier transformed in the slice-select direction. The slice profile is incorporated into a Tikhonov-regularized reconstruction. Through-plane resolution is tested in a resolution phantom. An anthropomorphic prostate phantom is used to study the SNR, and results are compared with theoretical prediction. The proposed method is tested in 16 patients indicated for clinical prostate MRI who gave written informed consent as overseen by our IRB. The "proposed" vs. "reference" multislice images are compared using multiple evaluation criteria for through-plane resolution. Results The modulation transfer function (MTF) plots of the resolution phantom show good modulation at frequency 0.5 lp/mm, demonstrating 1 mm through-plane resolution restoration. The SNR measurements experimentally match the theoretically predicted values. The radiological evaluation shows that the proposed method is superior to the reference method for five criteria of sharpness but inferior with respect to artifacts. Conclusions In conjunction with overlapped slices a k Z -space-based reconstruction approach can be used to improve through-plane resolution in multislice T2SE MRI. 1 mm resolution is demonstrated from 3.2 mm thick slices. The in vivo results from prostate MRI show improved sharpness when compared to the standard multislice method.
Repeat reports among cases reported for child neglect: A scoping review.

Abstract Background In the United States (US), child welfare policy prioritizes prevention of future harm (e.g., repeat reports) after a report of maltreatment. The majority of reports include some form of child neglect, but no prior review of the recurrence literature has focused on neglect. Objective This review sought to help guide future research, policy and practice by summarizing recurrence findings related to child neglect with attention to the broader ecological context in which maltreatment occurs. Participants The final review included 34 US studies of maltreatment recurrence. Twenty-eight studies compared child neglect with at least one other form of maltreatment and six studies examined recurrence among neglect cases. Methods Eleven online databases were searched to locate relevant empirical studies. This review attended specifically to contextualizing findings according to other modifiable factors as well as methodological variation. A scoping review approach was used to summarize findings. Results Of the 28 studies comparing neglect to other types of maltreatment, 14 found increased risk for neglect, 12 found no association, and two reported a lower risk. When significant, the effect size ranged from 10% to over three times higher risk for neglect. Poverty or material need was the most commonly included control (15 studies), with two thirds finding that lower resource families had higher risk. Conclusion Methodological variability across studies confounds current ability to guide practice or policy. More research is needed that can replicate and extend findings with comparable samples and model specifications that take into account the regional and policy context.
Modeling Cell Size Dynamics in a Confined Nonuniform Dense Cell Culture

In this work, we analyze an ensemble of dividing and growing living cells that maintain contact with each other. The dynamics of the cell area distribution in a confined system is theoretically investigated in both uniform and nonuniform settings. The effective pressure is introduced to model the experimentally observed phenomenon in which the average cell size dramatically decreases over time. For a nonuniform system, the cell shift due to the gradient of the effective pressure is considered and its effect on the average cell area profiles is examined.
Formation of magic gold fingers under mild and relevant experimental conditions

Abstract Using electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM) at room temperature and under a liquid layer, magic gold fingers were grown in the presence of three different amino acids, N-Boc-L-Isoleucine, L-Tyrosine, and L-Phenylalanine. The surface was modified using a very mild electric field induced by the tip and the interaction of amino acid molecules with the Au(111) surface. When 0.28 V vs Ag/AgCl was supplied to the working electrode, an extremely small tunneling current of 0.07 nA and a bias of −0.1 V could be used to induce the surface modification. It is clear that a combination of the interaction of the molecules with the surface and the external potential led to the formation of the fingers. The results demonstrate the first instance of this surface structure formed at such mild electric field conditions and imaged under relevant experimental parameters, i.e. at room temperature and in a fluid cell.
Likelihood of depressive symptoms in US older adults by prescribed opioid potency: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2013.

Objectives To investigate the relationships between depressive symptoms and opioid potency among adults aged 50 years and older reporting use of one or more prescription opioids in the past 30 days. Materials/design Adjusted multiple linear regression models were conducted with 2005-2013 files from a secondary cross-sectional dataset, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Respondents were community-dwelling, noninstitutionalized adults 50 years or older (n = 1036). Predictor variables included a positive screen for minor depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] score greater than or equal to 5 and less than or equal to 9), moderate depression symptoms (PHQ-9 greater than or equal to 10 and less than or equal to 14), and severe depression symptoms (PHQ-9 greater than or equal to 15). Criterion variables included weaker-than-morphine analgesics (eg, codeine and tramadol) and morphine-equivalent opioids (eg, morphine and hydrocodone), which served as the reference category, as well as stronger-than-morphine opioid analgesics (eg, fentanyl and oxycodone). Results Prevalence rates for symptoms of minor depression, moderate depression, and severe depression were n = 236 (22.8%), n = 135 (13.0%), and n = 122 (11.8%), respectively. Severe depression was significantly associated with high-potency opioid use (odds ratio [OR]: 2.27; confidence interval [CI], 1.16-4.46). In post hoc tests, severe depression remained significantly associated with high-potency opioid use only among respondents without arthritis (OR: 5.80; CI, 1.59-21.13). Conclusions Compared with older adults without depressive symptoms, older adults with severe depressive symptoms are more likely to be taking high-potency opioid medications. Future prescription opioid medication research should prioritize investigations among older adults with pain-related diagnoses, other than arthritis, reporting preexisting or new symptoms of severe depression.
Abstract 375: MCL-1 Regulates Mitochondrial Dynamics and Mitophagy

The anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family protein Myeloid Cell Leukemia-1 (MCL-1) is essential for maintaining mitochondrial integrity and cardiac function in the adult heart. Recently, we reported that card...
Contestability in Algorithmic Systems

As algorithmic (and particularly machine learning) decision making systems become both more widespread and make more important decisions, there are growing concerns about their embedded values and ability to establish legitimacy among decision subjects. We argue that designing for contestability in these systems can assist in surfacing values, aligning system design and use with context, and building legitimacy. However, designing for contestability can be challenging, particularly in systems that are designed to be opaque: systems need to accurately surface embedded values, expose decision making processes in ways that are meaningful for users, support engagement with and allow influence over system performance, and so on. In addition to these technical aspects, designing for contestability may by challenged by the need to protect intellectual property and prevent gaming of the system. In this workshop, we will address goals, audiences, and designs for contestability in algorithmic systems. We hope to develop a taxonomy of contestable systems and understand the value provided by contestability, while bringing together a community to work on this multidisciplinary problem.
Research on the Architecture of NQI One-Stop Service Cloud Platform in Smart Grid Measurement Field

The basic situation of NQI (National Quality Infrastructure) in the field of smart grid measurement is introduced. Aiming at the information requirement of NQI in the field of smart grid measurement, the construction scheme and purpose of NQI one-stop service cloud platform are proposed. The technical architecture of cloud platform is studied, the operation and security management of cloud platform are introduced. The data architecture of cloud platform is studied, the data access scheme and data acquisition method are designed in accordance with the current business situation, and the data model based on NQI is proposed. The application architecture of cloud platform is studied, and the service design of cloud platform is discussed according to the application goal of cloud platform. Finally, the further development of cloud platform and its application in real business are prospected.
Brain, Body, and World in Cognition: Competing Models of Thought: Brain, Body, and World in Cognition: Competing Models of Thought Review of Embodied Cognition (Second Edition) by Lawrence Shapiro New York, NY: Routledge, 2019, 288 pp. Reviewed by David J. Tomaselli and Jill C. Baird, Point Park University, Pittsburgh, PA

In the introduction to Shapiro’s second edition of Embodied Cognition, he identifies his task, and its gravity, without delay. As of the fifth sentence, Shapiro explains that what is at stake in in...
Beyond Bikram: Stretching the Definition of Choreographic Works

The author analyzes the definition of choreographic works under copyright law. Pointing out the absence of a solid legislative or judicial definition for choreographic works, she analyzes the U.S. Copyright Office’s definition in its internal manual, suggesting that the manual’s definition is overly restrictive in its emphasis on “dance” movement because it excludes post-modern choreographic works that contain regular pedestrian movements. She posits that copyright law should look to choreographers to define choreographic works and discusses the nature of post-modern choreography with its emphasis on experimentation. She argues that the definition of choreographic works should be broadened to encompass post-modern works and to align the definition with the underlying purpose of copyright law, which is to promote the arts.
Sports-Related Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion

Sports-related concussions (SRC) continue to be a major area of concern in athletes who participate in collision and contact sports. There is growing recognition that concussion from sport is a public health priority, with many states and sport-governing bodies changing rules in an attempt to prevent and/or reduce the incidence of concussion from sport-related impact.
Intrathecal Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Cancer-Associated Chronic Pain in Children

Objectives Management of refractory cancer-associated pain can be particularly challenging. Regional anesthesia is an alternative modality to treat acute and chronic refractory pain. Intrathecal (IT) drug delivery of opioids and other adjuncts has been used to treat refractory cancer-associated pain. This method has been shown to be relatively safe and effective, often associated with fewer systemic side effects when compared to oral or IV opioid administration. While intrathecal drug delivery systems (IDDS) are regularly used in the adult cancer population for the treatment of refractory, chronic pain, there is limited evidence of similar use in the pediatric setting. Materials and methods We performed a systematic review using conventional Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology to identify studies reporting IT drug delivery for the treatment of pediatric cancer-related pain. The primary outcome was satisfaction with analgesia categorized as "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory." Functional benefits, previous systemic pharmaceutical interventions, previous non-IT regional interventions, indication for IT drug delivery, IT drugs used, and method of delivery were collected. Results A total of 11 studies were identified, describing 16 patients with cancer-related pain treated with IT drug delivery. The average age of the cohort was 12.25 years, with ages ranging from 3 to 19 years. Most patients were adolescent (10/16). All patients had cancer diagnoses, with most patients suffering from solid tumor pain (14/16). Nearly all patients achieved satisfactory analgesia through IT drug delivery (15/16) and most reported functional benefits in addition to analgesia (13/16). Majority received IT drugs via external catheters (9/16). One severe complication of respiratory depression was reported, which resolved following naloxone administration. Conclusions There exist children with cancer whose pain is refractory to the standard approaches and may benefit from IT drug delivery. The existing data, although limited and of low tier evidence, suggest that IT drug delivery has been effective in the pediatric cancer population.
Intracellular pH dynamics regulates intestinal stem cell fate

Emerging evidence is revealing critical roles of intracellular pH (pHi) in development, but it remains unclear whether pHi regulates stem cell fate specification. We find that pHi dynamics is a key regulator of cell fate in the mouse intestinal stem cell lineage. We identify a pHi gradient along the intestinal crypt axis and find that dissipating this gradient inhibits crypt budding due to loss Paneth cell differentiation. Mechanistically, decreasing pHi biases intestinal stem cell fate toward the absorptive and away from the secretory lineage, by regulating the activity of the lineage transcription factor Atoh1. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized role for pHi dynamics in the specification of cell fate within an adult stem cell lineage.
School as a hostile institution: How Black and Immigrant Girls of Color Experience the Classroom:

The paradox of girls’ academic gains over boys, across race and class, has perplexed scholars for the last few decades. Through a 3-year longitudinal ethnography of two predominantly economically m...
Role of Bone Marrow—Derived Cells in Gastric Adenocarcinoma

The origin of gastric cancer has remained mysterious for many years. Waldeyer originally developed the idea that gastric cancer arose from gastric epithelial cells, and believed that almost any gastric epithelial cell could be converted to a cancer cell (Houghton et al. 2007). Our understanding of the origins of gastric cancer has undergone a considerable change in recent years, partly based on the evolving paradigm of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Although for many years physicians and scientists regarded tumors as generally homogeneous tissues, accumulating evidence supports the view that cancer is sustained by a subset of cells—cancer stem cells—that have the exclusive ability to renew and propagate a tumor. The origin of the CSC hypothesis dates back to the discovery of the light microscope in the nineteenth century. During that time, it was recognized that tumors were composed of a heterogeneous mixture of cell types with varying levels of differentiation, similar in many respects to a normal organ. Consequently, Julius Cohnheim in 1867 proposed that tumors were derived not from normal adult tissues but from “embryonal cell rests” which represented residual embryonic cells that were left behind during the development of the adult organ (Rather 1978). Nevertheless, during most of the twentieth century, it was believed that most cells in a tumor should be competent for tumor formation. Cohnheim’s theory was largely ignored for 100 years until the 1970s when additional experimental evidence came to light. Studies in leukemia and multiple myeloma showed that only a small subset of cells was capable of extensive proliferation and could give rise to colony-forming units in vitro or splenic colonies in mice (Houghton et al. 2007). Similarly, work in solid tumors also showed that fewer than 1 in 1,000 cells were clonogenic in vitro or in vivo. Based on his studies of mouse teratocarcinoma, Pierce (1974) speculated that tumors contain a very small number of malignant cells that sustain the tumor and gave rise to daughter cells with varying degrees of differentiation and function. The actual existence of CSCs was first directly demonstrated by John Dick in 1994, when his group proved the hypothesis to be largely true for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) (Lapidot et al. 1994). Only a small subset of human leukemic
Osteoprotegerin Is an αvβ3-induced, NF-κB-dependent Survival Factor for Endothelial Cells

Osteopontin protects endothelial cells from apoptosis induced by growth factor withdrawal. This interaction is mediated by the alpha(v)beta(3) integrin and is NF-kappaB-dependent (Scatena, M., Almeida, M., Chaisson, M. L., Fausto, N., Nicosia, R. F., and Giachelli, C. M. (1998) J. Cell Biol. 141, 1083-1093). In the present study we used differential cloning to identify osteopontin-induced, NF-kappaB-dependent genes in endothelial cells. One of the genes identified in this screen was osteoprotegerin, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. By Northern and Western blot analysis, osteoprotegerin mRNA and protein levels were very low in endothelial cells plated on the non-integrin cell attachment factor, poly-d-lysine. In contrast, osteoprotegerin mRNA and protein levels were induced 5-7-fold following alpha(v)beta(3) ligation by osteopontin. Osteoprotegerin induction by osteopontin was time-dependent and observed as early as 3 h following treatment. NF-kappaB inactivation achieved by over expression of an IkappaB super repressor in endothelial cells completely inhibited osteoprotegerin induction by osteopontin. Finally, purified osteoprotegerin protected endothelial cells with inactive NF-kappaB from apoptosis induced by growth factor deprivation. These data suggest that alpha(v)beta(3)-mediated endothelial survival depends on osteoprotegerin induction by NF-kappaB and indicate a new function for osteoprotegerin in endothelial cells.
The Theory of Value Dilemma: A Critique of the Economic Analysis of Criminal Law

The economic conception of deterrence enjoins us to grade punishments not in proportion to the intrinsic reprehensibility of various forms of wrongdoing but rather in proportion to the goodness of the consequences that punishing them will produce. This paper, however, argues that the economic theory lacks the power, conceptually or practically, to generate results different from the ones generated by perceptions of intrinsic reprehensibility. The economic conception of deterrence presupposes a consequentialist theory of value that specifies what forms of behavior are disvalued and how much. It is perfectly compatible with the economic position for any individual (and any community of individuals) to derive such a theory from the intuitive apprehension of the intrinsic reprehensibility of different forms of wrongdoing. The best understandings of how individuals do and should make decisions under conditions of uncertainty, moreover, predict that decisionmakers who make deterrence judgments informed by a theory of value so derived will reach results identical to the ones they would have reached had they simply punished in proportion to their perceptions of the intrinsic reprehensibility of different forms of wrongdoing. The normative upshot is that deterrence theory can never be said to furnish a persuasive reason for supporting more or less punishment than otherwise seems just.
Object oriented data design tool

The object oriented data paradigm rests on the assumption that the world can be described in terms of objects (entities), and the relationships among these objects and the standard operations on these objects. The most difficult part of the paradigm is to identity the objects. Assuming that the objects have been identified, the next step is to discover the various relationships among the objects. One objective of this paper specifies three basic relationships in the context of three levels of abstraction. A simple object language description is developed that describes these levels of abstraction. These relationships serve as constraints on the system, Furthermore, these relationships also require the creation of attributes of the objects to hold these relationships. The size of the domain analysis of even a medium size problem has grown beyond the paper recording mechanism and now requires automated help to manage the object names and their relationships. Another objective outlines the development of the model of a tool that will support the code automation of the basic relationships among the objects. The paper addresses these three basic constructs: the hierarchical (is-a) construct, the aggregate construct, and the binary degree construct. Each construct appears in three format levels of abstraction. The formats are a textual format, a skeleton format and a user defined format. The paper also cites the rationale for each format. >
Careful ranking of multiple solvers with timeouts and ties

In several fields, Satisfiability being one, there are regular competitions to compare multiple solvers in a common setting. Due to the fact some benchmarks of interest are too difficult for all solvers to complete within available time, time-outs occur and must be considered. Through some strange evolution, time-outs became the only factor that was considered in evaluation. Previous work in SAT 2010 observed that this evaluation method is unreliable and lacks a way to attach statistical significance to its conclusions. However, the proposed alternative was quite complicated and is unlikely to see general use. This paper describes a simpler system, called careful ranking, that permits a measure of statistical significance, and still meets many of the practical requirements of an evaluation system. It incorporates one of the main ideas of the previous work: that outcomes had to be freed of assumptions about timing distributions, so that non-parametric methods were necessary. Unlike the previous work, it incorporates ties. The careful ranking system has several important nonmathematical properties that are desired in an evaluation system: (1) the relative ranking of two solvers cannot be influenced by a third solver; (2) after the competition results are published, a researcher can run a new solver on the same benchmarks and determine where the new solver would have ranked; (3) small timing differences can be ignored; (4) the computations should be easy to understand and reproduce. Voting systems proposed in the literature lack some or all of these properties. A property of careful ranking is that the pairwise ranking might contain cycles. Whether this is a bug or a feature is a matter of opinion. Whether it occurs among leaders in practice is a matter of experience. The system is implemented and has been applied to the SAT 2009 Competition. No cycles occurred among the leaders, but there was a cycle among some low-ranking solvers. To measure robustness, the new and current systems were computed with a range of simulated timeouts, to see how often the top rankings changed. That is, times above the simulated time-out are reclassified as time-outs and the rankings are computed with this data. Careful ranking exhibited many fewer changes.
Drawing the Curtain Back on Injured Commercial Bicyclists

Objectives. We determined the demographic characteristics, behaviors, injuries, and outcomes of commercial bicyclists who were injured while navigating New York City’s (NYC’s) central business district.Methods. Our study involved a secondary analysis of prospectively collected data from a level 1 regional trauma center in 2008 to 2014 of bicyclists struck by motor vehicles. We performed univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.Results. Of 819 injured bicyclists, 284 (34.7%) were working. Commercial bicyclists included 24.4% to 45.1% of injured bicyclists annually. Injured commercial bicyclists were more likely Latino (56.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 50.7, 62.8 vs 22.7%; 95% CI = 19.2, 26.5). Commercial bicyclists were less likely to be distracted by electronic devices (5.0%; 95% CI = 2.7, 8.2 vs 12.7%; 95% CI = 9.9, 15.9) or to have consumed alcohol (0.7%; 95% CI = 0.9, 2.5 vs 9.5%; 95% CI = 7.2, 12.3). Commercial and noncommercial bicyclists did not differ in helmet use (38.4%; 95...
InP laterally tapered wide-bandwidth optical power splitter

A new optical power splitter design utilizing laterally coupled tapered waveguides with small size, low splitting loss and arbitrary splitting ratio is designed and fabricated in InP. The splitter loss of dependence of wavelength is about 0.1 dB over 100 nm.
Exact Computation of Coalescent Likelihood under the Infinite Sites Model

Coalescent likelihood is the probability of observing the given population sequences under the coalescent model. Computation of coalescent likelihood under the infinite sites model is a classic problem in coalescent theory. Existing methods are based on either importance sampling or Markov chain Monte Carlo. In this paper, we develop a simple method that can compute the exact coalescent likelihood for many datasets of moderate size, including a real biological data whose likelihood was previously thought to be difficult to compute exactly. Simulations demonstrate that the practical range of exact coalescent likelihood computation is significantly larger than what was previously believed.
Finding Resilience: The Mediation Effect of Sense of Community on the Psychological Well-Being of Military Spouses

The goal of this study was to identify positive factors that increase the psychological well-being of military spouses in the areas of environmental mastery. We proposed that positive affect and social support from family and friends would have indirect effects on psychological well-being through their association with a greater sense of community with the military culture. Participants were 207 female spouses of active-duty service members. Data were analyzed using MEDIATE to test the mediational effect. Results indicated that social support from friends and positive affect did predict a sense of community, which in turn was associated with increased feelings of psychological well-being. The findings suggest that a perceived sense of military community helps military spouses gain a sense of mastery and control in a constantly changing environment.
Induction of propranolol metabolism in the Hep G2 human hepatoma cell line

Metabolism of propranolol by the human hepatoma cell line Hep G2 was studied. Although metabolism qualitatively was similar to that in-vivo, the P450-mediated N-desisopropylation clearly predominated. Pretreatment of cells with 3-methylcholanthrene increased the activity of this pathway 14-fold, whereas phenobarbitone had no effect. This is similar to the pathway-selective inductive response observed for cigarette smoking in-vivo. As in-vivo, secondary metabolism of N-desisopropylpropranolol was extensive. This could, however, be completely blocked by 0.1 microM clorgyline, a potent MAO type A inhibitor. As in human liver microsomes, the stereochemistry of propranolol metabolism demonstrated a preference for the R(+)-enantiomer. These observations emphasize the usefulness of the Hep G2 cell line as a model of man.
Improving Contact Resistance at the Nanotube−Cu Electrode Interface Using Molecular Anchors

It is anticipated that future nanoelectronic devices will utilize carbon nanotubes (CNT) and/or single graphene sheets (SGS) as the low-level on-chip interconnects or functional elements. Here we address the contact resistance of Cu for higher level on-chip interconnects with CNT or SGS elements. We use first-principles quantum mechanical (QM) density functional and matrix Green’s function methods to show that perfect Cu−SGS contact has a contact resistance of 16.3 MΩ for a one square nanometer contact. Then we analyzed possible improvements in contact resistance through incorporation of simple functional groups such as aryl (−C_6H_4−), acetylene (−CC−), carboxyl (−COO−), and amide (−CONH−), on CNT. We find that all four anchors enhance the interfacial mechanical stabilities and electrical conductivity. The best scenario is −COOH functionalized CNT which reduces the contact resistance to the Cu by a factor of 275 and increases the mechanical stability by 26 times.