cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B vaccine

Abstract Hepatitis B is one of the most important infectious diseases in the world. More than 300 million people are infected worldwide. Six thousand people die per year in the United States as a result of Hepatitis B infection. The incidence of infection in the United States has decreased in the last ten years, in part because of effective immunoprophylaxis. The two licenced vaccines, RecombivaxHB® and Engerix-B®, used in combination with Hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) are effective in preventing transmission of Hepatitis B infection in most cases. The vaccine can be used with or without HBIG for prophylaxis, depending on the type of exposure and prior vaccination record. Preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis for Hepatitis B is effective, safe, and cost effective.
On the Rate of Convergence to Equilibrium of the Andersen Thermostat in Molecular Dynamics

It has been shown in E and Li (Comm. Pure. Appl. Math., 2007, in press) that the Andersen dynamics is uniformly ergodic. Exponential convergence to the invariant measure is established with an error bound of the form $$\mathit{const}\cdot\exp{(-\mathit{const}\cdot\kappa(\nu)\nu^{2N}t)},$$ where N is the number of particles, ν is the collision frequency and κ(ν)→const as ν→0. In this article we study the dependence on ν of the rate of convergence to equilibrium. In the one dimension and one particle case, we improve the error bound to be $$\mathit{const}\cdot\exp{(-\mathit{const}\cdot\kappa(\nu)\nu t)}.$$ In the d-dimension N-particle free-streaming case, it is proved that the optimal error bound is $$\mathit{const}\cdot\exp{\biggl(-\mathit{const}\cdot\frac{\nu}{N}t\biggr)}.$$ It is also shown that as ν→∞, on the diffusive time scale, the Andersen dynamics converges to a Smoluchowski equation.
Advanced DC\/AC Inverters: Applications in Renewable Energy (Luo, F.L. and Ye, H.; 2013) [Book News]

This book presents advanced inversion technologies and provides design examples of inverters for renewable energy systems, including wind turbine and solar panel energy systems. The text systematically reviews cutting-edge inverter topologies and introduces new advanced topologies, originally developed by the authors, such as impedance source inverters (ZSI), quasi ZSI (qZSI), soft-switching inverters, and multilevel inverters up to 81 levels. Novel topologies include trinary hybrid multilevel inverters and four novel multilevel inverters: new series laddered multilevel converters, super-lift converter multilevel inverters, switched capacitor multilevel inverters, and switched inductor multilevel inverters. The authors also present modulation strategies and four methods to solve the problem of the accurate determination of the best switching angles to obtain lowest total harmonic distortion (THD) in advanced multilevel inverters. The analysis of the dc bus power injection is also presented, and methods to avoid regenerative power are also proposed. The text offers theoretical concepts, diagrams, summarizing tables, simulation and experimental results, and design examples for students, researchers, and engineers willing to learn from experts on how to design and implement inverters for renewable energy systems. Prof. Dr. Fang Lin Luo, Ph.D. (Cambridge U., U.K.), IEEE Senior Member, full professor at AnHui University, China,
Shock escape vs food-rewarded running in a successive discrimination

Two groups of rats were trained for 100 trials on a successive discrimination in a runway where on half the trials (S—) nonreinforcement was preceded by an alleyway cue of darkeness or ambient lighting. One group of hungry rats received food as a reward on S+ trials; while the other group of unhungry rats were shocked in the same runway and reinforced on S+ trials by shock termination in the goalbox, but nonreinforced by 30 sec delay of shock termination on S— trials. Rats given the appetitive training learned the discrimination within 20-30 trials, while those given aversive training showed no evidence of forming a discrimination.
A data-driven approach for reduction of molecular simulations

Stochastic simulations based on non-equilibrium statistical mechanics describe the interactions among many discrete atoms or molecules, and thus describe the dynamics of materials processing in applications ranging from inorganic crystalline films to amorphous polymer melts. In general, non-equilibrium thermodynamics does not directly yield a closed, low-dimensional dynamic equation, although such a model would be desirable to analyse the dynamics and to optimize and control the process. A practical approach is described here in which targeted simulations are combined with systematic tools to elucidate the dynamics. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Religion and spirituality in rehabilitation outcomes among individuals with traumatic brain injury.

Objective The long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury affect millions of Americans, many of whom report using religion and spirituality to cope. Little research, however, has investigated how various elements of the religious and spiritual belief systems affect rehabilitation outcomes. The present study sought to assess the use of specifically defined elements of religion and spirituality as psychosocial resources in a sample of traumatically brain injured adults. Participants The sample included 88 adults with brain injury from 1 to 20 years post injury and their knowledgeable significant others (SOs). The majority of the participants with brain injury were male (76%), African American (75%) and Christian (76%). Measures Participants subjectively reported on their religious/spiritual beliefs and psychosocial resources as well as their current physical and psychological status. Significant others reported objective rehabilitation outcomes. Analyses Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to determine the proportion of variance in outcomes accounted for by demographic, injury related, psychosocial and religious/spiritual variables. Results The results indicate that religious well-being (a sense of connection to a higher power) was a unique predictor for life satisfaction, distress and functional ability whereas public religious practice and existential well-being were not. Conclusions The findings of this project indicate that specific facets of religious and spiritual belief systems do play direct and unique roles in predicting rehabilitation outcomes whereas religious activity does not. Notably, a self-reported individual connection to a higher power was an extremely robust predictor of both subjective and objective outcome.
An analysis of the relation between stream channel sinuosity and stream channel gradient

Existing literature lends credence to the idea that channel sinuosity and channel gradient are independent morphologic elements responding to characteristics of the water and sediment regime of a stream. At the same time, sinuosity and gradient are viewed as closely related variables, since sinuosity is often defined as a ratio of valley gradient to channel gradient over a stream reach. These conceptions of the sinuosity variable are essentially contradictory if viewed from the standpoint of process, since in the latter case, water and sediment characteristics have no direct bearing on the determination of sinuosity, but only the potential of indirect influence operating through the channel gradient. This paper presents an empirical analysis aimed at evaluating the validity of these two conceptions of the sinuosity variable. The results of the analysis strongly support the gradient ratio concept and suggest that the traditional sinuosity variable is not reasonably viewed as an independent element of stream channel morphology, since it is essentially determined by the same process as that which determines the channel gradient. Thus, channel sinuosity is insignificantly influenced by the direct effects of water and sediment discharge. Certain indirect effects of these factors do exist, however, given the role of channel gradient in the determination of sinuosity. A summary of these results is given in the form of a two-equation recursive model.
Lightweight, Flexible, Polarization-Insensitive, Highly Absorbing Meta-Films

An absorbing metafilm is proposed that is based on a dual-concentric-ring resonator design on a flexible substrate. Detailed simulations and parameter studies demonstrate that it has no polarization dependence and has strong absorption performance even at highly oblique angles of incidence. To explain its behavior, the design and its properties are related to the origin of the physical processes of absorption that occur in naturally occurring materials. Variations of this metafilm absorber design are presented that enhance its performance characteristics and its potential for use in several practical applications.
An invariance principle for the local time of a recurrent random walk

Let (S j ) be a lattice random walk, i.e. S j =X 1 +...+X j , where X 1,X 2,... are independent random variables with values in the integer lattice ℤ and common distribution F, and let \(L_n (\omega ,k) = \sum\limits_{j = 0}^{n - 1} {\chi _{\{ k\} } } (S_j (\omega ))\), the local time of the random walk at k before time n. Suppose EX 1=0 and F is in the domain of attraction of a stable law G of index α> 1, i.e. there exists a sequence a(n) (necessarily of the form n 1αl(n), where l is slowly varying) such that S n /a(n)→ G. Define \(g_n (\omega ,u) = \frac{{c(n)}}{n}L_n (\omega ,[uc(n)])\), where c(n)=a(n/log log n) and [x] = greatest integer ≦ x. Then we identify the limit set of {g n (ω, ·)∶ n≧1} almost surely with a nonrandom set in terms of the I-functional of Donsker and Varadhan.The limit set is the one that Donsker and Varadhan obtain for the corresponding problem for a stable process. Several corollaries are then derived from this invariance principle which describe the asymptotic behavior of L n (ω, ·) as n→∞.
Advanced Information Systems for Archival Appraisals of Contemporary Documents

This work addresses the problem of designing a scalable framework for archival appraisals of contemporary PDF documents. The motivation for our work is to provide an e-science solution that (a) fuses the independent research methodologies focusing on specific information types to one comprehensive analytical framework, (b) optimizes tradeoffs between computational requirements and preservation costs, and (b) bridges the small scale and large scale computational studies. The e-science solution presented here consists of (1) a methodology for comprehensive comparisons of contemporary documents containing text, images and vector graphics, (2) a framework for including 3D and 3D+time data sets into the appraisal analyses, (3) interfaces supporting exploratory archival appraisal analyses with small scale data sets, and (4) infrastructure supporting the transition from small scale to large scale computations using commodity and high performance computing resources. The novelty of our work is in designing methodologies, mathematical frameworks and prototypes for comprehensive and scalable document appraisals that include text, images, vector graphics, and high dimensional data.
Synthesis of protective coatings on steel by surface spontaneous polymerization. 3: Process development and coating property studies

We have previously reported a new method for applying protective coatings on metal surfaces, the Surface Spontaneous Polymerization Process (1). In this process, polymerization occurs spontaneously on the substrate upon immersion into a monomer solution, forming a layer of uniform coating in-situ. No initiator is added. In this paper, studies on the development of the process and coating properties are reported. A monomer reaction system containing phenylmaleimide/ styrene/bismaleimide/2-(methacryloyoxy)ethyl acetoacetate has been developed to afford protective coatings on steel. The coatings obtained from this system have good thermal, dielectric, and adhesion properties. Corrosion resistance of 4CPMI coatings, as measured by the ASTM B-117 salt spray test, is excellent after 700 hours of salt spray. The effects of several process variables on the polymer molecular weight were also studied, including monomer concentration, solution temperature, solution pH, and monomer feed composition. Solution stability studies indicate that polymerization occurs only on the surface and does not propagate into the solution.
Vasodilators in the treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension

be identified? There is nothing in the duration of their symptoms, clinical presentation or baseline haemodynamics to indicate which patients will respond. In a paper in this issue of the European Respiratory Journal, SITBON et al. [14] report a comparison of the acute haemodynamic responses to inhaled nitric oxide and to high-dose oral CCB (nifedipine or diltiazem) in 33 consecutive PPH patients. Of these patients, ten showed a fall in both mean pulmonary artery pressure and total pulmonary resistance of >20% after inhaled nitric oxide. Nine of the 10 patients also responded acutely to CCB. The other 23 patients failed to respond to either nitric oxide or CCB. Consequently in this series, there were no patients who responded to CCB who did not also respond to nitric oxide. If this is confirmed in a larger series, nitric oxide will be the agent of choice to determine which patients would be candidates for long-term CCB treatment. The administration of nitric oxide (10 parts per million (ppm)) is fast and relatively inexpensive compared to prostacyclin. The same group has reported that the acute responses of pulmonary artery pressure and resistance to nitric oxide and prostacyclin are closely correlated [15]. In that study of 35 PPH patients, 13 patients (37%) had a fall in total pulmonary resistance >30% in response to both drugs, while 22 were nonresponders to both. Although occasional patients who respond to prostacyclin may fail to respond to nitric oxide, the key conclusion from the present paper [14] is that nitric oxide testing identifies most, or possibly all, of those who might benefit from long-term oral CCB. If nitric oxide can be relied upon to do this, then an acute trial with high-dose oral CCB, which carries the greatest risk of side-effects in nonresponders, will not be necessary. It is interesting that 38% of the nonresponders suffered serious side-effects from the acute trial of CCB (shock, prolonged hypotension or severe vomiting), compared to 6% in an earlier study [10]. It is possible that the preceding trial of nitric oxide initiated some longer-lasting changes in vascular smooth muscle physiology, which rendered the patients more susceptible to CCB-induced hypotension. The problem with CCB is that they are not selective for the voltage-gated, L-type calcium channels in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle and consequently can precipitate systemic hypotension. Potassium channels are largely responsible for the control of vascular smooth muscle membrane potential and thus can determine the gating of the L-type calcium channel. Given the greater number of potassium channels and the diversity of their expression in different blood vessels [16, 17], it may be possible to develop potassium channel agonists that cause only pulmonary vasodilatation. Other new approaches to the treatment of PPH include nebulizing prostacyclin or its stable analogue iloprost [18]. This mode of delivery may be more convenient, induce
Strength and Reliability of Steel Frames with Random Properties

This paper studies the effects of random properties on the strength and reliability of two steel frames. Monte Carlo simulation is used to analyze the behavior of a low-rise industrial frame and a grain storage bin. Both structures exhibit significant second-order effects with their strength limited by loss of frame stability. Both frames have been previously studied for the development of the direct analysis provisions of the 2005 AISC Specification for Structural Steel Buildings. The analyses consider randomness in yield strength, elastic modulus, residual stresses, and out-of-plumb ( P –Delta) and out-of-straightness ( P –delta) imperfections. The effects of spatial correlation of these properties are also studied. The simulation results are used to estimate probability distributions of frame strength and reliability, or probability of failure. The results provide probabilistic relationships between material and geometric properties of steel frames and the overall strength of the frames. Randomness in ...
Multiscale medial shape-based analysis of image objects

Medial representation of a three-dimensional (3-D) object or an ensemble of 3-D objects involves capturing the object interior as a locus of medial atoms, each atom being two vectors of equal length joined at the tail at the medial point. Medial representation has a variety of beneficial properties, among the most important of which are 1) its inherent geometry, provides an object-intrinsic coordinate system and thus provides correspondence between instances of the object in and near the object(s); 2) it captures the object interior and is, thus, very suitable for deformation; and 3) it provides the basis for an intuitive object-based multiscale sequence leading to efficiency of segmentation algorithms and trainability of statistical characterizations with limited training sets. As a result of these properties, medial representation is particularly suitable for the following image analysis tasks; how each operates will be described and will be illustrated by results: segmentation of objects and object complexes via deformable models; segmentation of tubular trees, e.g., of blood vessels, by following height ridges of measures of fit of medial atoms to target images; object-based image registration via medial loci of such blood vessel trees; statistical characterization of shape differences between control and pathological classes of structures. These analysis tasks are made possible by a new form of medial representation called m-reps, which is described.
Advanced two-moment bulk microphysics for global models. Part I: off-line tests and comparison with other schemes.

AbstractPrognostic precipitation is added to a cloud microphysical scheme for global climate models. Results indicate very similar performance to other commonly used mesoscale schemes in an offline driver for idealized warm rain cases, better than the previous version of the global model microphysics scheme with diagnostic precipitation. In the mixed phase regime, there is significantly more water and less ice, which may address a common bias seen with the scheme in climate simulations in the Arctic. For steady forcing cases, the scheme has limited sensitivity to time step out to the ~15-min time steps typical of global models. The scheme is similar to other schemes with moderate sensitivity to vertical resolution. The limited time step sensitivity bodes well for use of the scheme in multiscale models from the mesoscale to the large scale. The scheme is sensitive to idealized perturbations of cloud drop and crystal number. Precipitation decreases and condensate increases with increasing drop number, indic...
Relative erodibility of source-area rock types, as determined from second-order variations in alluvial-fan size

The area of an alluvial fan is approximately proportional to the 0.9 power of the area of the drainage basin discharging to the fan. The constant of proportionality is, in part, a function of the erodibility of the bedrock in the source area. By using multiple linear-regression techniques to analyze this functional relationship in three groups of fans in Death Valley, California, and vicinity, we determined coefficients of relative erodibility for some of the dominant rock types. Comparison of these coefficients with weathering characteristics observed in the field and with changes during weathering experiments in the laboratory suggests that fracture density is more important than mineralogy in determining rock erodibility.
The effect of the agency and anthropomorphism of users' sense of telepresence, copresence, and social presence in virtual environments

We report on an experiment that examined the influence of anthropomorphism and perceived agency on presence, copresence, and social presence in a virtual environment. The experiment varied the level of anthropomorphism of the image of interactants: high anthropomorphism, low anthropomorphism, or no mage. Perceived agency was manipulated by telling the participants that the image was either an avatar controlled by a human, or an agent controlled by a computer. The results support the prediction that people respond socially to both human and computer-controlled entities, and that the existence of a virtual image increases telepresence. Participants interacting with the less-anthropomorphic image reported more copresence and social presence than those interacting with partners represented by either no mage at all or by a highly anthropomorphic image of the other, indicating that the more anthropomorphic images set up higher expectations that lead to reduced presence when these expectations were not met.
Massive endocytosis triggered by surface membrane palmitoylation under mitochondrial control in BHK fibroblasts

Large Ca transients cause massive endocytosis (MEND) in BHK fibroblasts by nonclassical mechanisms. We present evidence that MEND depends on mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) openings, followed by coenzyme A (CoA) release, acyl CoA synthesis, and membrane protein palmitoylation. MEND is blocked by inhibiting mitochondrial Ca uptake or PTP openings, depleting fatty acids, blocking acyl CoA synthesis, metabolizing CoA, or inhibiting palmitoylation. It is triggered by depolarizing mitochondria or promoting PTP openings. After mitochondrial MEND blockade, MEND is restored by cytoplasmic acyl CoA or CoA. MEND is blocked by siRNA knockdown of the plasmalemmal acyl transferase, DHHC5. When acyl CoA is abundant, transient H2O2 oxidative stress or PKC activation initiates MEND, but the immediate presence of H2O2 prevents MEND. The PTP inhibitor, NIM811, significantly increases plasmalemma in normally growing cells. Thus, the MEND pathway may contribute to constitutive as well as pathological plasmalemma turnover in dependence on mitochondrial stress signaling. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01293.001.
Thoracoscopic drainage and resection of giant mediastinal cyst

Video thoracoscopy is being used with increasing frequency by thoracic surgeons. Although initially used primarily for simple diagnostic purposes, improved instrumentation and evolving expertise have allowed for the performance of increasingly complex therapeutic procedures. We present a case of a giant subcarinal bronchogenic cyst in an elderly man with multiple medical problems. The cyst nearly occluded the bronchus intermedius and resulted in recurrent respiratory tract infections. Using video thoracoscopy, the cyst was drained and the wall of the cyst was resected successfully with minimal concomitant morbidity.
Activity-Dependent Genes in Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons

Activity-dependent survival of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) may allow animals to tune their olfactory systems to match their odor environment. Activity-dependent genes should play important roles in this process, motivating experiments to identify them. Both unilateral naris occlusion of mice for 6 days and genetic silencing of OSNs decreased S100A5, Lrrc3b, Kirrel2, Slc17a6, Rasgrp4, Pcp4l1, Plcxd3, and Kcnn2 while increasing Kirrel3. Naris occlusion also decreased Eml5, Ptprn, and Nphs1. OSN number was unchanged and stress-response mRNAs were unaffected after 6 days of naris occlusion. This leaves odor stimulation as the most likely cause of differential abundance of these mRNAs, but through a mechanism that is slow or indirect for most because 30–40min of odor stimulation increased only 3 of 11 mRNAs decreased by naris occlusion: S100A5, Lrrc3b, and Kirrel2. Odorant receptor (OR) mRNAs were significantly more variable than the average mRNA, consistent with difficulty in reliably detecting changes in these mRNAs after 6 days of naris occlusion. One OR mRNA, Olfr855, was consistently decreased, however. These results suggest that the latency from the cessation of odor stimulation to effects on activity-dependent OSN survival must be a week or more in juvenile mice.
Causal Claims and Causal Explanations in International Studies

Many discussions of causation, especially those in the social sciences, are hampered by their reliance on an impoverished conception where the necessary and essential mark of a causal connection is systematic cross-case covariation. This leads to an 'observational' understanding of causation as connected to general patterns, as well as a thorough-going conflation of causal claims and causal explanations. If we think of a causal explanation as a response to a specific kind of practical problem-situation in which the task is 'how to accomplish' something and we shift to a 'manipulationist' understanding of causation, many things become clearer. In particular, we see that the various efforts to conduct real-world open-system evaluations of casual claims are often misguided, inasmuch as such evaluations are often mistaken for causal explanations of observed outcomes.
Ultra-low Power Optical Modulation within Tapered Nanofiber using 5S-5P-5D Ladder Transition of Rb Atoms

We show, theoretically and experimentally, how an optical modulator can be realized within 5S-5P-5D ladder transition of Rb atoms inside a tapered nano-fiber.
Sex Pheromones of Lepidoptera. Xxix. An Improved Double-Cone Trap for Males of Trichoplusill ni

Various sticky substances have been commonly used to immobilize males attracted to traps baited with lepidopteran female sex pheromones. However, Sharma et al. (1971) found that 2 designs of sticky traps were inefficient for trapping males of Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), the cabbage looper moth, when compared with double-cone traps that captured moths alive. Sticky traps may be especially inefficient at high population densities, when the available surface becomes clogged with scales and moths. It is also very time consuming to remove captured moths to prepare sticky traps for reuse.
Dam-forming cacti and nitrogen enrichment in a piñon-juniper woodland in northwestern Arizona

In a pinon-juniper woodland in northwestern Arizona, connected basal cladodes of a prickly pear cactus ( Opuntia littoralis var. martiniana ) form check dams that cause deposition of N-rich detritus interspaces otherwise lacking litter. Seventy-eight percent of connected basal cladodes measured in transects grew at an angle (with respect to the slope contour) ≤ 45° -an orientation facilitating deposition of flood-borne debris. Soil total N was significantly greater ( P P = 0.0001) compared to adjacent interspaces. Soil total N and organic C above cactus dams were equal to areas beneath canopies (tree and shrub combined). Net NO 3 - (0-5 cm depth) above cactus dams was significantly greater ( P = 0.0001) than below cactus dams, at interspaces, and beneath canopies. Net NH 4 + (0-5 cm soil depth) above cactus dams was significantly greater ( P s ‾x = 0.625, P = 0.0001).
Study on pulsed electro-optic Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 1319nm

In order to study pulsed electro-optic Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 1319nm,the transition radiation energy level of Nd:YAG crystal was analyzed.A single pulsed laser at 1319nm was acquired after restraining laser oscillator of wavelength at 1064nm through coating chosen film on the mirror.In a configuration of lamp pumped,water-cooled Nd:YAG with KD~* P as electro-optic Q-switched,pulsed output static energy of 340.9mJ at 1319nm,Q-switched output energy of 768mj with pulsedwidth of 17ns and divergence of 2.7mrad were acquired.Experimental results show that coating chosen-film can be used to obtain laser at 1319nm.
Specification and Verification of a Composition of Services

In this chapter, we show how our model can be used to specify and verify a sequential flow of data-centric Web services. A sequential flow of services is essentially made up of a number of individual services that are executed in a specific order and are integrated by means of sequential composition, loops and conditional statements. This is a traditional service composition problem where a service consumer integrates the functionalities of two or more services in order to construct a new service that provides a more complex functionality. The challenge that we are addressing here is how to guarantee that the integration will have the intended final effect on the underlying data.
Up-Regulation of PKR Signaling Pathway by Ethanol Displays an Age of Onset-Dependent Relationship.

Background Ethanol (EtOH) neurotoxicity can result in devastating effects on brain and behavior by disrupting homeostatic signaling cascades and inducing cell death. One such mechanism involves double-stranded RNA activated protein kinase (PKR), a primary regulator of protein translation and cell viability in the presence of a virus or other external stimuli. EtOH-mediated up-regulation of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ; the oxidative stress-inducible regulator of PKR), PKR, and its target, p53, are still being fully elucidated. Methods Using Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence, and linear regression analyses, changes in the IFN-γ-PKR-p53 pathway following chronic EtOH treatment in the frontal cortex of rodents were examined. The role of PKR on cell viability was also assessed in EtOH-treated cells using PKR overexpression vector and PKR inhibitor (PKRI). Results In rats chronically fed EtOH, PKR, phosphorylated PKR (p-PKR), IFN-γ, and p53 were significantly increased following chronic EtOH exposure. Linear regression revealed a significant correlation between IFN-γ and p-PKR protein levels, as well as p-PKR expression and age of EtOH exposure. Overexpression of PKR resulted in greater cell death, while use of PKRI enhanced cell viability in EtOH-treated cells. Conclusions Chronic EtOH exposure activates the IFN-γ-PKR-p53 pathway in the frontal cortex of rodents. p-PKR expression is greater in brains of rodents exposed to EtOH at earlier ages compared to later life, suggesting a mechanism by which young brains could be more susceptible to EtOH-related brain injury. PKR and p-PKR were also colocalized in neurons and astrocytes of rats. This study provides additional insight into biochemical mechanisms underlying alcohol use disorder related neuropathology and warrants further investigation of PKR as a potential pharmacotherapeutic target to combat EtOH-related neurotoxicity, loss of protein translation and brain injury.
Experimental Study of DRACS Thermal Performance in a Low-Temperature Test Facility

The Direct Reactor Auxiliary Cooling System (DRACS) is a passive decay heat removal system proposed for the Fluoride salt–cooled High-temperature Reactor (FHR) that combines coated particle fuel an...
Novel long-chain compounds with both immunomodulatory and MenA inhibitory activities against Staphylococcus aureus and its biofilm.

Menaquinone (MK) biosynthesis pathway is a potential target for evaluating antimicrobials in gram-positive bacteria. Here, 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoate prenyltransferase (MenA) was targeted to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) growth. MenA inhibiting, long chain-based compounds were designed, synthesized and evaluated against MRSA and menaquinone utilizing bacteria in aerobic conditions. The results showed that these bacteria were susceptible to most of the compounds. Menaquinone (MK-4) supplementation rescued MRSA growth, suggesting these compounds inhibit MK biosynthesis. 3a and 7c exhibited promising inhibitory activities with MICs ranging 1–8 μg/mL against MRSA strains. The compounds did not facilitate small colony variant formation. These compounds also inhibited the biofilm growth by MRSA at high concentration. Compounds 3a, 6b and 7c displayed a promising extracellular bactericidal activity against MRSA at concentrations equal to and four-fold less than their respective MICs. We also observed cytokines released from THP-1 macrophages treated with compounds 3a, 6b and 7c and found decreases in TNF-α and IL-6 release and increase in IL-1β. These data provide evidence that MenA inhibitors act as TNF-α and IL-6 inhibitors, raising the potential for development and application of these compounds as potential immunomodulatory agents.
Mechanisms and Drug Targets for Pancreatic Cancer Chemoprevention.

Background Pancreatic cancer management remains a major challenge to society. Poor prognosis results in dismal patient survival rates and quality of life post chemo/radiation therapies. Although progress has been made in drug development for targeting pancreatic cancer, accompanying issues of drug resistance renders it futile. While intake of fruits and vegetables in routine diets has been linked to reduced risk of pancreatic cancer, a wide variety of natural agents are being evaluated as adjuvant therapies in combination with frontline chemotherapeutics in pancreatic cancer clinical trials. Objective This review highlights the emerging area of cancer chemoprevention with natural/ dietary compounds serving as novel agents possessing strong anticancer properties; these are pleiotropic agents targeting multiple pathways with minimal toxicity in normal tissue. Methods We employed extensive literature search and considered all the relevant information presented in a concise, well-balanced and structured format. Results Completed and ongoing human studies with natural agents have shown surprisingly successful rates for regulating pancreatic carcinogenesis. Combinatorial therapies with synthetic, approved drugs and natural agents not only improved the patient response rates, but also helped in overcoming drug resistance and inducing chemosensitivity to the resistant tumors, as opposed to monotherapies for pancreatic cancer chemoprevention. Conclusion The current review focuses on the available chemotherapeutic drugs and their limitations, and moves on to discuss the wide realm of chemopreventive efficacy that the natural agents have to offer. It discusses the underlying mechanisms of action and available information, from extensive literature analysis, to highlight the novelty of these agents for their antitumor effects against pancreatic cancer.
Telenursing: An Audit

Telenursing is a relatively young field; consequently, further long-term studies with regard to legal issues, cost, and safety are required before the technology can be integrated into the mainstream health-care system. Telenursing services are not going away, but the field is evolving. As with many young disciplines, telenursing seems to redefine itself on a fairly regular basis – changing to meet the demand of managing more and larger specialties. Telenursing is growing worldwide annually, due, in large part, to the approval of procedures. In addition, given better acceptance among nurses, physicians, hospitals, and patients, this growth will likely increase. It must be noted that the growth of telenursing will directly support and help the growth of nursing, because telenursing is, of course, an integral part of nursing.
Observation of the Transition from Semiconductor to High- T c Superconductor in ( Sn x Eu 1 − x ) y Mo 6 S 8 under High Pressure

Pressure-induced high-temperature superconductivity is observed in semiconducting ${({\mathrm{Sn}}_{x}{\mathrm{Eu}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x})}_{y}{\mathrm{Mo}}_{6}{\mathrm{S}}_{8}$, where $0l~xl~0.1$ and $y=1.0 \mathrm{and} 1.2$, having a carrier concentration \ensuremath{\simeq}${10}^{19}$/${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ at 4.2 K as determined from Hall-effect measurements. Above a threshold pressure \ensuremath{\simeq}7 kbar, superconductivity appears with $\frac{d{T}_{c}}{\mathrm{dP}}\ensuremath{\simeq}2$ K/kbar. The maximum superconducting temperature (${T}_{c}\ensuremath{\sim}10$ K), reached at \ensuremath{\sim} 12 kbar, represents the highest pressure-induced ${T}_{c}$ in any semiconductor. For $Pg~13$ kbar, the temperature-dependent resistance appears metallic.
Phononic detection of morphological phase transition in atomic-layered Hafnium-Zirconium-Oxide

This paper presents a novel technique for high-resolution spectroscopy of the morphology and dynamic phase transitions in atomically synthesized polymorph films with sub-10nm thickness. A multi-mode nano-resonant test-vehicle is developed to excite and trap acoustic phonons in the ultra-thin polymorph film. The dispersion signature of the phonons is interrogated, using digital holographic microscopy, to extract the morphological content of the film and its dynamics under device-level thermal treatments. As a proof of concept, the notion of the phononic spectroscopy is demonstrated for the in-situ detection of crystal phase transitions in a ∼10nm thick Hafnium-Zirconium-Oxide film. The phononic constituents of multiple resonance modes of the test-vehicle are extracted to construct the dispersion signature of the film, before and after crystal phase transition stimulation through in-situ rapid thermal annealing. The experimentally extracted phononic dispersion diagram is compared with the numerically extracted counterpart to confirm the fractional transition between tetragonal and orthorhombic phases in the film.
Effects of Latino children on their mothers' dietary intake and dietary behaviors: The role of children's acculturation and the mother-child acculturation gap.

Abstract Rationale Research shows that acculturation is important to Latinas' dietary intake and related behaviors. Although evidence suggests children may also play a role, it remains unclear whether children's acculturation is related to mothers' dietary intake/behaviors. Objectives We examined the relationship between Latino children's acculturation and mothers' dietary intake/behaviors. We also examined the mother-child acculturation gap to identify dyad characteristics associated with mothers' diet. Methods Baseline surveys were collected in 2010 from 314 Latino mother-child (7–13 years old) dyads of Mexican-origin enrolled in a family-based dietary intervention in Southern California, USA. Mother's daily intake of fruits, vegetables, and sugary beverages, percent of calories from fat, weekly away-from-home eating, and percent of weekly grocery dollars spent on fruits and vegetables were assessed via self-report. Mothers' and children's bidimensional acculturation were examined using acculturation groups (e.g., assimilated, bicultural) derived from Hispanic and non-Hispanic dimensions of language. We also assessed the acculturation gap between mothers and children with the a) difference in acculturation between mothers' and children's continuous acculturation scores and b) mother-child acculturation gap typologies (e.g., traditional mothers of assimilated children). Results Findings show that having an assimilated versus a bicultural child was negatively associated with mothers' vegetable intake and positively associated with mothers' sugary beverage intake, percent of calories from fat, and frequency of away-from-home eating, regardless of mothers’ acculturation. Traditional mothers of assimilated children reported more sugary beverage intake, calories from fat, and more frequent away-from-home eating than traditional mothers of bicultural children. Conclusion Results suggest that children's acculturation is associated with their mothers' dietary intake/behaviors and traditional mothers of assimilated children require more attention in future research.
Gradual damage evolution and propagation in quasi-isotropic CFRC under quasi-static loading

Abstract The gradual damage initiation and evolution in quasi-isotropic (±45, 90, 0)s carbon fiber laminate composites under a quasi-static tension loading is investigated experimentally. The full-field strains across the thickness of the laminate as a function of applied tensile load was acquired using high spatial resolution digital image correlation . The chnage in strain during the initiation and growth of micro-cracks is evaluated, and the influence of strain redistribution over the surrounding layers is analyzed. The local failure mechanism is investigated and the influence of the local damage on the global mechanical response of the composite is explored. It was found that the failure is initiated as a matrix crack in the most off-axis plies, gradually propagate to the nearby ply and eventually grow to a complete delamination . Further, it was found that the shear lagging induced between two adjacent plies has a significant effect in directing the matrix crack growth and inducing delamination.
Toward Genetics-Driven Early Intervention in Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Design and Implementation of the DCM Precision Medicine Study

Background— The cause of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is unknown by definition, but its familial subtype is considered to have a genetic component. We hypothesize that most idiopathic DCM, whether familial or nonfamilial, has a genetic basis, in which case a genetics-driven approach to identifying at-risk family members for clinical screening and early intervention could reduce morbidity and mortality. Methods— On the basis of this hypothesis, we have launched the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute- and National Human Genome Research Institute-funded DCM Precision Medicine Study, which aims to enroll 1300 individuals (600 non-Hispanic African ancestry, 600 non-Hispanic European ancestry, and 100 Hispanic) who meet rigorous clinical criteria for idiopathic DCM along with 2600 of their relatives. Enrolled relatives will undergo clinical cardiovascular screening to identify asymptomatic disease, and all individuals with idiopathic DCM will undergo exome sequencing to identify relevant variants in genes previously implicated in DCM. Results will be returned by genetic counselors 12 to 14 months after enrollment. The data obtained will be used to describe the prevalence of familial DCM among idiopathic DCM cases and the genetic architecture of idiopathic DCM in multiple ethnicity–ancestry groups. We will also conduct a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of Family Heart Talk , an intervention to aid family communication, for improving uptake of preventive screening and surveillance in at-risk first-degree relatives. Conclusions— We anticipate that this study will demonstrate that idiopathic DCM has a genetic basis and guide best practices for a genetics-driven approach to early intervention in at-risk relatives. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03037632.
Patterns of Kidney Function Decline in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease: A Post Hoc Analysis From the HALT-PKD Trials

Background Previous clinical studies of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) reported that loss of kidney function usually follows a steep and relentless course. A detailed examination of individual patterns of decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) has not been performed. Study Design Longitudinal post hoc analysis of data collected during the Halt Progression of Polycystic Kidney Disease (HALT-PKD) trials. Setting & Participants 494 HALT-PKD Study A participants (younger; preserved eGFR) and 435 Study B participants (older; reduced eGFR) who had more than 3 years of follow-up and 7 or more eGFR assessments. Measurements Longitudinal eGFR assessments using the CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) creatinine equation. Predictors Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging features of participants. Outcomes Probability of linear and nonlinear decline patterns or of stable eGFR calculated for each participant from a Bayesian model of individual eGFR trajectories. Results Most (62.5% in Study A and 81% in Study B) participants had a linear decline in eGFR during up to 8 years of follow-up. A proportion (22% in Study A and 13% in Study B) of progressors had a nonlinear pattern. 15.5% of participants in Study A and 6% in Study B had a prolonged (≥4.5 years) period of stable eGFRs. These individuals (Study A) had significantly smaller total kidney volumes, higher renal blood flows, lower urinary albumin excretion, and lower body mass index at baseline and study end. In Study B, participants with reduced but stable eGFRs were older than the progressors. Two-thirds of nonprogressors in both studies had PKD1 mutations, with enrichment for weak nontruncating mutations. Limitations Relatively short follow-up of a clinical trial population. Conclusions Although many individuals with ADPKD have a linear decline in eGFR, prolonged intervals of stable GFRs occur in a substantial fraction. Lower body mass index was associated with more stable kidney function in early ADPKD.
Relaxin reverses inflammatory and immune signals in aged hearts.

Background ‘Healthy’ aging drives structural and functional changes in the heart including maladaptive electrical remodeling, fibrosis and inflammation, which lower the threshold for cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Despite mixed results in recent clinical trials, Relaxin-therapy for 2-days could reduce mortality by 37% at 180-days post-treatment, in patients with acute decompensated HF. Relaxin’s short life-span (hours) but long-lasting protective actions led us to test the hypothesis that relaxin acts at a genomic level to reverse maladaptive remodeling in aging and HF. Methods and results Young (9-month) and aged (24-month), male and female F-344/Brown Norway rats were treated with relaxin (0.4 mg/kg/day) for 2-weeks delivered by subcutaneous osmotic mini-pumps or with sodium acetate (controls). The genomic effects of aging and relaxin were evaluated by extracting RNA from the left ventricles and analyzing genomic changes by RNA-sequencing, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, MetaCore and tissue immunohistochemistry. We found that aging promotes a native inflammatory response with distinct sex-differences and relaxin suppresses transcription of multiple genes and signaling pathways associated with inflammation and HF in both genders. In addition, aging significantly increased: macrophage infiltration and atrial natriuretic peptide levels in female ventricles, and activation of the complement cascade, whereas relaxin reversed these age-related effects. Conclusion These data support the hypothesis that relaxin alters gene transcription and suppresses inflammatory pathways and genes associated with HF and aging. Relaxin’s suppression of inflammation and fibrosis supports its potential as a therapy for cardiovascular and inflammation-related diseases, such as HF, AF and diabetes.
Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill evaluated using an end-to-end ecosystem model

We use a spatially explicit biogeochemical end-to-end ecosystem model, Atlantis, to simulate impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and subsequent recovery of fish guilds. Dose-response relationships with expected oil concentrations were utilized to estimate the impact on fish growth and mortality rates. We also examine the effects of fisheries closures and impacts on recruitment. We validate predictions of the model by comparing population trends and age structure before and after the oil spill with fisheries independent data. The model suggests that recruitment effects and fishery closures had little influence on biomass dynamics. However, at the assumed level of oil concentrations and toxicity, impacts on fish mortality and growth rates were large and commensurate with observations. Sensitivity analysis suggests the biomass of large reef fish decreased by 25% to 50% in areas most affected by the spill, and biomass of large demersal fish decreased even more, by 40% to 70%. Impacts on reef and demersal forage caused starvation mortality in predators and increased reliance on pelagic forage. Impacts on the food web translated effects of the spill far away from the oiled area. Effects on age structure suggest possible delayed impacts on fishery yields. Recovery of high-turnover populations generally is predicted to occur within 10 years, but some slower-growing populations may take 30+ years to fully recover.