cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Uptake of Bt endotoxins by nontarget herbivores and higher order arthropod predators: molecular evidence from a transgenic corn agroecosystem

The planting of transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxins is widespread throughout the world; the prolific increase in their application exposes nontarget organisms to toxins designed to control pests. To date, studies have focused upon the effects of Bt endotoxins on specific herbivores and detritivores, without consideration of their persistence within arthropod food webs. Here, we report the first quantitative field evaluation of levels of Bt endotoxin within nontarget herbivores and the uptake by higher order arthropods. Antibody-based assays indicated significant quantities of detectable Cry1Ab endotoxin within nontarget herbivores which feed on transgenic corn (including the corn flea beetle, Chaetocnema pulicaria, Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica and southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi ). Furthermore, arthropod predators (Coccinellidae, Araneae, and Nabidae) collected from these agroecosystems also contained significant quantities of Cry1Ab endotoxin indicating its movement into higher trophic levels. This uptake by predators is likely to have occurred by direct feeding on plant material (in predators which are facultatively phytophagous) or the consumption of arthropod prey which contained these proteins. These data indicate that long-term exposure to insecticidal toxins occurs in the field. These levels of exposure should therefore be considered during future risk assessments of transgenic crops to nontarget herbivores and arthropod predators.
Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1-dependent Golgi unlinking occurs in G2 phase and promotes the G2/M cell cycle transition

Two controversies have emerged regarding the signaling pathways that regulate Golgi disassembly at the G(2)/M cell cycle transition. The first controversy concerns the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase activator mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)1, and the second controversy concerns the participation of Golgi structure in a novel cell cycle "checkpoint." A potential simultaneous resolution is suggested by the hypothesis that MEK1 triggers Golgi unlinking in late G(2) to control G(2)/M kinetics. Here, we show that inhibition of MEK1 by RNA interference or by using the MEK1/2-specific inhibitor U0126 delayed the passage of synchronized HeLa cells into M phase. The MEK1 requirement for normal mitotic entry was abrogated if Golgi proteins were dispersed before M phase by treatment of cells with brefeldin A or if GRASP65, which links Golgi stacks into a ribbon network, was depleted. Imaging revealed that unlinking of the Golgi apparatus begins before M phase, is independent of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 activation, and requires MEK signaling. Furthermore, expression of the GRASP family member GRASP55 after alanine substitution of its MEK1-dependent mitotic phosphorylation sites inhibited both late G(2) Golgi unlinking and the G(2)/M transition. Thus, MEK1 plays an in vivo role in Golgi reorganization, which regulates cell cycle progression.
Surgical excision of extensive anal condylomata not associated with risk of anal stenosis.

Introduction Surgical treatment of extensive and confluent anal condylomata results in large open wounds, which in other contexts of anorectal surgery (e.g., hemorrhoidectomy), have been associated with a relevant risk of stricture formation. The aim of our study was therefore to revisit the issue and assess this risk and the general morbidity in patients undergoing extensive excision and fulguration of anal warts.
The Importance of Different Frequency Bands in Predicting Subcutaneous Glucose Concentration in Type 1 Diabetic Patients

We investigated the relative importance and predictive power of different frequency bands of subcutaneous glucose signals for the short-term (0-50 min) forecasting of glucose concentrations in type 1 diabetic patients with data-driven autoregressive (AR) models. The study data consisted of minute-by-minute glucose signals collected from nine deidentified patients over a five-day period using continuous glucose monitoring devices. AR models were developed using single and pairwise combinations of frequency bands of the glucose signal and compared with a reference model including all bands. The results suggest that: for open-loop applications, there is no need to explicitly represent exogenous inputs, such as meals and insulin intake, in AR models; models based on a single-frequency band, with periods between 60-120 min and 150-500 min, yield good predictive power (error <;3 mg/dL) for prediction horizons of up to 25 min; models based on pairs of bands produce predictions that are indistinguishable from those of the reference model as long as the 60-120 min period band is included; and AR models can be developed on signals of short length (~300 min), i.e., ignoring long circadian rhythms, without any detriment in prediction accuracy. Together, these findings provide insights into efficient development of more effective and parsimonious data-driven models for short-term prediction of glucose concentrations in diabetic patients.
CYLINDRICAL TANK OF FLUID OSCILLATING ABOUT A STATE OF STEADY ROTATION.

Abstract : The study concerns a cylindrical tank, full of fluid, which is oscillating and rotating about its axis of symmetry. It is assumed that the amplitude of oscillation is small and the viscosity is low such that boundary layers exist. Analysis shows the unsteady boundary layer thickness on the top and bottom plates' thickness on the side walls. The interior unsteady flow shows source-like behavior at the corners. The steady flow field is caused by the steady component of the non-linear centrifugal forces coupled with an induced steady rotation of the interior. (Author)
Increasing Energy Efficiency of HVAC Systems of Buildings Using Phase Change Material

Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), four different cooling systems used in contemporary office environments are modeled to compare energy consumption and thermal comfort levels. Incorporating convection and radiation technologies, full-scale models of an office room compare arrangements for (a) an all-air overhead system (mixing ventilation), (b) a combined air and hydronic radiant system (overhead system with a chilled ceiling), (c) an all-air raised floor system (displacement ventilation), and (d) a combined air and hydronic radiant system (displacement ventilation with a chilled ceiling). The computational domain for each model consists of one temperature varying wall (simulating the temperature of the exterior wall of the building during a 24-hour period) and adiabatic conditions for the remaining walls, floor, and ceiling (simulating interior walls of the room). Two sets of computations are conducted. The first set considers a glass window and plastic shade configuration for the exterior wall to compare the four cooling systems. The second set of computations consider a glass window, a phase change material layer and the plastic shade configuration for the exterior wall to examine the effect of the phase change material (PCM) layer on the cooling energy requirements. Both sets of simulations assumed an external wall that changed temperature as a function of time simulating the temperature changes on the exterior wall of the room during a 24 hour period. Results show superior thermal comfort levels as well as substantial energy savings can be accrued using the displacement ventilation and especially the displacement ventilation with a chilled ceiling over the conventional overhead mixing ventilation system. The results also show that the addition of a PCM layer to the exterior wall can significantly decrease the cooling energy requirements.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Mechanisms of chloride transport in thymic lymphocytes.

This study examined mechanisms of Cl− transport in rat lymphocytes under a variety of conditions. Basal intracellular Cl− concentration ([Cl−]i) was not different between cells assayed in the prese...
Arginine in burn injury improves cardiac performance and prevents bacterial translocation

Horton, Jureta W., Jean White, David Maass, and Billy Sanders. Arginine in burn injury improves cardiac performance and prevents bacterial translocation. J. Appl. Physiol. 84(2): 695–702, 1998.—Thi...
Age-specific foraging performance and reproduction in tool-using wild bottlenose dolphins

Effective foraging is necessary for nearly all animals, but most animals are not born with adult-like foraging performance. Instead, foraging skills are developed during an individual’s lifetime. Life-history theory predicts that adult-level foraging performance should be reached prior to the start of reproduction, but for most species, we know little about age-specific foraging in the wild. Here, we examine lifetime changes in foraging performance for a group of female wild bottlenose dolphins that use marine sponge tools to forage. After controlling for ecological effects and developmental changes in activity budgets, we show that females continue to improve in 3 aspects of foraging until a peak at around midlife, well after dolphins reach physical and sexual maturity. The factors that lead to this improved performance are unknown, but likely include learning and increasing physical ability. Dolphins’ peak in foraging performance also coincided with a peak in reproduction, with middle-aged females maximizing foraging efficiency and having the highest probability of lactating. Thus, inadequate mastery of foraging behaviors, such as tool use in bottlenose dolphins, does not limit the onset of reproduction, but improvement in foraging skill may help maximize age-specific reproduction and lifetime fitness.
XANA: An End User Software Product Line Framework for Smart Spaces

This paper describes XANA, an end user development framework that extends existing end user development tools for smart spaces with software product line concepts. The framework targets two types of users: the Software Product Line (SPL) designers and the end users. SPL designers use XANA's product line creation interface to create the software product line for end users. The product line creation interface allows SPL designers to capture the product line's feature model, the component design that implements each feature and the product line architecture. End users using XANA's application derivation interface select the features needed for their smart spaces and generate software applications from the product line previously created. In this paper we present the phases and operational semantics of XANA. We illustrate its use with a case study. The paper presents a preliminary user study that was conducted to assess the usability of the framework.
Single Point Diamond Turning of an Organic Nonlinear Crystal, L-Arginine Phosphate

We have demonstrated that single point diamond turning can be used to generated high optical quality finished surfaces on a new organic nonlinear crystal, L-arginine phosphate (LAP). The proper choice of cutting conditions can produce surfaces with less than 5 angstroms rms surface roughness. Local softening or melting near the cutting tool tip may play a key role in the machining process by ensuring that material is removed by ductile cutting rather than brittle fracture. At the same time, the low melting temperature of LAP makes lubrication and cooling especially important to prevent extensive melting and tool fouling. In spite of the presence of a weak cleavage plane in LAP, the surface quality is relatively insensitive to crystallographic orientation. Tool wear is apparently negligible, so that surface flatness is governed by the stability of the diamond turning machine. Data on residual subsurface strain and preliminary measurements of the optical damage thresholds of diamond turned LAP surfaces will be presented.
Understanding the Impact of Uncertainty on the Fidelity of the Value Model

Engineers often deal with design problems that are large, complex and involving multi-level decision analyses. This is particularly true for aerospace systems. To obtain a suitable design, it is necessary to iterate through numerous data sets and often uncertainties inherent in the system complicate the decision making process.In this paper we study the sensitivities of the inherent uncertainties and its effect on the value function. A satellite design example is used to the investigate the effects and sensitivities of the uncertainties.
Evaluation of an Existing Steel Frame Building against Progressive Collapse

The internal forces increase in structural components neighbouring a member, usually a column, removed or destroyed as a result of manmade or natural hazards, such as an explosion. If the additional internal forces created by an initial small or local structural failure can not be efficiently redistributed within the structure, damage spreads and partial or total collapse (progressive collapse) of the building occurs. Progressive collapse has been of an increasing concern in the structural engineering community, especially since the collapse of the World Trade Center towers in 2001. The terrorist attacks showed that well-designed and robust modern buildings can be susceptible to progressive collapse. The Ronan Point collapse of 1968 in London, and the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City in 1996 are the most publicized examples of progressive collapse [1]. Therefore, it is necessary to design of buildings to resist progressive collapse. In this study, progressive collapse performance of an actual building was investigated. The Ohio Student Union building, located on the Ohio State University campus, was also tested by physically removing four first story columns from one of the long perimeter frames prior to building's scheduled demolition. Our field experiments and analytical studies provide both practical and fundamental information on the collapse response of an existing building with a regular structural configuration. A commercially available computer program, SAP2000 was used to model and analyze the building following the General Services Administration (GSA, 2003) guidelines. The elastic static and nonlinear dynamic analysis results are presented and their implications are discussed.
Recovering communities in weighted stochastic block models

We derive sharp thresholds for exact recovery of communities in a weighted stochastic block model, where observations are collected in the form of a weighted adjacency matrix, and the weight of each edge is generated independently from a distribution determined by the community membership of its endpoints. Our main result, characterizing the precise boundary between success and failure of maximum likelihood estimation when edge weights are drawn from discrete distributions, involves the Renyi divergence of order 1/2 between the distributions of within-community and between-community edges. When the Renyi divergence is above a certain threshold, meaning the edge distributions are sufficiently separated, maximum likelihood succeeds with probability tending to 1; when the Renyi divergence is below the threshold, maximum likelihood fails with probability bounded away from 0. In the language of graphical channels, the Renyi divergence pinpoints the information-theoretic capacity of discrete graphical channels with binary inputs. Our results generalize previously established thresholds derived specifically for unweighted block models, and support an important natural intuition relating the intrinsic hardness of community estimation to the problem of edge classification. Along the way, we establish a general relationship between the Renyi divergence and the probability of success of the maximum likelihood estimator for arbitrary edge weight distributions. Finally, we discuss consequences of our bounds for the related problems of censored block models and submatrix localization, which may be seen as special cases of the framework developed in our paper.
Multicenter trial of gadoteridol, a nonionic gadolinium chelate, in patients with suspected head and neck pathology.

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of gadoteridol as an MR contrast agent in patients with suspected head and neck pathology. METHODS One hundred thirty-three adult patients were studied with MR at 12 clinical trial sites before and after the intravenous administration of 0.10 mmol/kg gadoteridol. After enrollment, patients underwent a complete physical examination. Patient monitoring included vital signs, laboratory tests, and recording of the incidence and duration of adverse events. To evaluate efficacy, postcontrast T1-weighted images were compared with precontrast T1- and T2-weighted images. Investigators having clinical information evaluated 129 studies for efficacy; two readers blinded to clinical information subsequently evaluated 122 studies using the same criteria as the investigators. RESULTS Eight patients (6.0%) experienced mild adverse events possibly or probably related to contrast administration, all of which resolved without treatment. Two clinically significant laboratory abnormalities considered related or possibly related to the administration of gadoteridol were reported in two patients. Enhancement of pathology was seen in 82.9% of cases evaluated by investigators at the study site and in 78.7% of cases subsequently evaluated by the blinded readers. Postcontrast images were judged by investigators to provide additional diagnostic information over precontrast images in 68.9% of studies. The additional diagnostic information available on postcontrast studies most often consisted of improved visualization of pathology and better definition of lesion borders. The use of this information might have contributed to a change in patient diagnosis in 18.6% of the cases evaluated by the investigators and in 16.4% of the cases reviewed by the blinded readers. CONCLUSIONS Preliminary results show gadoteridol to be a safe and efficacious contrast agent for enhanced MR study of extracranial and extraspinal head and neck pathology.
Building a Better Houston: Highways, Neighborhoods, and Infrastructural Citizenship in the 1970s:

This article examines how residents from two disparate, central Houston, Texas, neighborhoods—the white and wealthy Courtlandt Place and the predominately black, mostly lower-class Third Ward—responded to disruptive physical changes caused by highway building in the 1960s and 1970s. To resist highway construction and its aftereffects, residents from both communities embraced a rhetoric and set of actions that turned their homes and streets into political tools. By transforming elements of the built environment from inert materials into arenas in which they could claim and assert political power, the Houstonians examined here crafted a shared set of actions this article frames as expressions of “infrastructural citizenship.” While imbalances in racial and economic power shaped the outcomes of these two fights, the common language and action residents found in infrastructural citizenship allowed them to protect their visions of the city and to participate in the planning of its future.
Associated Bronchial and Visceral Anomalies

Certain congenital heart lesions, in the present series, appear to be associated with particular abnormalities of the bronchial tree. Other visceral anomalies have also appeared with some frequency. The most commonly occurring in this series have been pulmonary isomerism and asplenia or polysplenia. A summary of the various congenital heart defects and their associated bronchial and visceral anomalies in the present series is presented in Table 1. These are not necessarily representative of all of their associations, since some selectivity was exercised in assembling the present collection.
Epistemological Assumptions in Evaluation: The Intersection between Philosophy and Practice in Youth Ministry:

Evaluation is ubiquitous, value laden, often implicit, and closely tied to improvement and effectiveness. A two-tier qualitative method was used to uncover the practice and understanding of evaluat...
Anthropogenic Trace Elements in the Ocean

Abstract Fluxes of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and several other elements into the oceans have been significantly increased by human activities. Of these, only Pb has a well documented history of this increase based on atmospheric flux estimates, ocean water column measurements, and historical archives such as corals and ocean sediments. Most of the Pb in the ocean today is from human emissions. Sedimentary and ice core archives and atmospheric measurements document the Hg increase, but accurate water column measurements are available only recently. For other elements, there are clear increases in some archives and in coastal environments, but not for the open ocean.
Comparison of the Interactions of XeF2 and F2 with Si(100)(2 × 1)†

The interaction of low-energy XeF2 with Si(100)(2 × 1) has been studied and compared to that of F2. Helium atom diffraction, beam-surface scattering, and thermal desorption measurements are the major techniques used in this study. It is found that XeF2 dissociatively chemisorbs with high probability solely on the Si dangling bonds up to a coverage of about one monolayer (ML). Molecular fluorine has previously been observed to react similarly, saturating the dangling bonds at 1 ML coverage. The thermal desorption kinetics and products from the fluorinated layer produced by XeF2 exposure are identical to those produced by F2 exposure. The interactions of XeF2 and F2 are also strikingly similar with respect to the long-range order of the fluorinated Si up to about 1 ML coverage. The order is monitored by He diffraction. In both systems, the diffracted He beams exhibit a sharp decrease in intensity because of the disorder produced by the fluorination of random surface-unit cells as the coverage increases from...
Industrial Clustering Leadership in Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico

The purpose of this case study was to understand the leadership forms and values that could affect organizational practices of an industrial cluster in the Brownsville/Matamoros region. A sample of 30 leaders from manufacturing companies in Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoras, Mexico participated in interviews and surveys. The analysis of the interview and survey data generated 12 major themes that emerged regarding the leadership forms, values, and cross-cultural challenges pertinent to the industrial cluster in the region. Participants viewed marked differences between American and Mexican leadership strategies, with emphasis on differences in procedural and power structures. Unifying goals and a commitment to learning about and understanding culture, family, and community may help foster respect and acceptance of cultural differences across the border. Cluster priorities for leadership include optimizing work conditions, education and training, resource utilization, and focusing on quality products and customer-oriented leadership. Planning, organization, and decentralized knowledge sharing, involving the combined knowledge, understanding, and experience of leaders, require communication, collaboration, and cross-functional teamwork. Education and training for current and future leaders and employees, with reasonable goals aligned with a unified vision for the cluster concept, encompasses measurable performance assessments based on goal achievement, supported by intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. The results from this study led to specific recommendations for leaders of the industrial sectors of Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoras, Mexico. The study concluded with limitations of the study and suggestions for future research based on the major thematic findings from this case study.
RasIns: Genetically Encoded Intrabodies of Activated Ras Proteins.

Abstract K- and H-Ras are the most commonly mutated genes in human tumors and are critical for conferring and maintaining the oncogenic phenotype in tumors with poor prognoses. Here, we design genetically encoded antibody-like ligands (intrabodies) that recognize active, GTP-bound K- and H-Ras. These ligands, which use the 10th domain of human fibronectin as their scaffold, are stable inside the cells and when fused with a fluorescent protein label, the constitutively active G12V mutant H-Ras. Primary selection of ligands against Ras with mRNA display resulted in an intrabody (termed RasIn1) that binds with a K D of 2.1 μM to H-Ras(G12V) (GTP), excellent state selectivity, and remarkable specificity for K- and H-Ras. RasIn1 recognizes residues in the Switch I region of Ras, similar to Raf-RBD, and competes with Raf-RBD for binding. An affinity maturation selection based on RasIn1 resulted in RasIn2, which binds with a K D of 120 nM and also retains excellent state selectivity. Both of these intrabodies colocalize with H-Ras, K-Ras, and G12V mutants inside the cells, providing new potential tools to monitor and modulate Ras-mediated signaling. Finally, RasIn1 and Rasin2 both display selectivity for the G12V mutants as compared with wild-type Ras providing a potential route for mutant selective recognition of Ras.
Presentation of the Roebling Medal of the Mineralogical Society of America for 1999 to Ikuo Kushiro

Characterization of rock-forming processes requires laboratory experiments to determine physicochemical properties of these materials or their analog model compounds at high temperatures and high pressures. Those data are, however, only useful to earth scientists when integrated with observational and theoretical information. Ikuo Kushiro approaches experiments with this integrated view as his guiding light. He does experimental petrology, geochemistry, and geophysics with the clear understanding that the experimental data provide only a piece of a more complex puzzle. All too often we ask what experiments can be carried out and how to interpret the experimental data. Then we look for an application to rock-forming processes. Ikuo first asks the real question and then designs the experiment. Ikuo Kushiro’s career as an experimentalist began shortly after receiving his Ph. D. from the University of Tokyo in 1962. At that time he was appointed research associate at the university. Within months, however, we find him at the Geophysical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, where he spent the ensuing three years as a post-doctoral fellow working with Frank Schairer and Hat Yoder. This was a very active period where experimental studies of olivine + 2 pyroxenes + aluminosilicate phases led to the establishment of the principal phase relations governing basalt petrogenesis at high pressure and temperature. Upon his return to the University of Tokyo in 1965, Ikuo began a collaboration with S. Akimoto. Together, they initiated a search for mineralogical storage of H2O in the Earth’s interior. In 1967, Kushiro, Syono, and Akimoto reported that phlogopite is such a mineral with pressure-temperature stability well into the upper mantle. In 1968, working with Tony Erlank, the H2O-bearing mineral …
Ewing sarcoma family of tumors: Translating biomarker research into patient treatment

E sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) is an aggressive malignant tumor of bone and soft tissue in children and adolescents that may present with metastasis at diagnosis in 20-25% of cases. Modern treatment regimens for localized disease have resulted in significant improvement in survival. However, the presence of metastasis is associated with mortality in 80% of patients. New insights into the pathogenesis and proliferative mechanisms of this tumor have led to the identification of a number of specific translocation proteins and messenger molecules that are essential for tumorigenesis and are frequently used as biomarkers for pathologic diagnosis of this tumor. A chromosomal translocation involving EWS, a gene located in chromosome 22q12, and any of the ETS family transcription factors is considered a primary genetic event that drives the malignant transformation of ESFT. These fusion proteins act as transcription factors that bind DNA and cause altered expression of several down-stream genes which eventually lead to the activation and production of cell cycle proteins, growth factors and other proliferation molecules. Although research into targeting molecules that will directly inhibit the functions of EWS-FLI1 and other translocation proteins is lagging, there is a potential benefit of targeting downstream proliferation pathway molecules that will reduce tumor growth. Tumor inhibiting experiments on cell lines frequently yield promising results. However, there is a challenge is to generate a pharmacokinetically stable molecule that can be administered to patients for in vivo tumor growth control. Translating the research on inhibitory molecules into effective patient treatment often requires carefully controlled clinical trials that will also provide opportunities for personalized medicine.
A Circle Tracking Method for Nonholonomic Vehicles

Abstract In this paper a circle tracking algorithm is proposed for vehicles under the nonholonomic constraint using the curvature controlling principle. The algorithm is derived for controlling the movement of the vehicle to track a given directed circle without allowing any spinning motion. The derivative of path curvature is computed as a linear function of the current vehicle path curvature, vehicle orientation, and positional difference. This function is called a steering function. This is a generalization of the algorithm that has been previously developed by the authors for the straight line tracking problem. By linearization an optimal selection of parameters is found for critically damped motions and a single parameter σ for tracking is obtained called smoothness. This method is simple and is applicable to numerous motion control problems. To verify the effectiveness and usefulness of this steering function method for tracking a circular path, numerous simulation results are presented.
Notas sobre territorialidad, sacralidad y economíía políítica bennizáá/binigula'/beneshon

In the following paper, we attempt to re-evaluate the rise of complex societies in the Valley of Oaxaca based on indigenous conceptualizations of land, territory and ““resources”” as components within a broader Mesoamerican cosmological system. In so doing, we challenge Eurocentric theoretical models of the emergence of civilization that rely on a uniform linear progression, and we articulate an approach that seeks to integrate both material and ideological perspectives.
Novel role of surfactant protein A in bacterial sinusitis.

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common inflammatory disorder of the upper airway characterized by chronic inflammation and significant sinonasal remodeling. CRS is comprised of 2 major subgroups, based on whether polyps are present or absent. In some cases, it is characterized by colonization with opportunistic pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), Staphylococcus aureus, and other bacteria. The innate immune system of the sinonasal epithelium is the first line of defense against inhaled pathogens. Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is a member of the collectin family secreted by the airway epithelia and plays a critical role in airway innate immunity, as it can aggregate bacteria. We hypothesized that SP-A plays a role in bacterial CRS. Methods Air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures of nasal epithelial cells were derived from human ex-vivo healthy and CRS sinus tissues (n = 26) and challenged with PA. SP-A levels were measured with western blot and quantitative reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in ALI and sinus tissues. Results We determined that SP-A: (i) mRNA and protein levels are increased significantly in CRS tissues compared with healthy sinuses; (ii) although primarily expressed in the lung, it is also synthesized and expressed in sinonasal epithelia; (ii) is expressed in the sinuses of an SP-A humanized transgenic mouse but not in SP-A knockout mice; (iv) mRNA levels are upregulated significantly during PA challenge, but protein levels are downregulated 4 hours postchallenge and upregulated at 12 hours. Conclusion Our data suggest that SP-A is expressed in the sinuses and that it plays a role in the sinus innate immune responses during bacterial infections.
Plasma Epstein–Barr Virus DNA for Screening

In this issue of the Journal, Chan et al.1 report on the monitoring of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA in plasma samples to screen a population that was at high risk for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Although interest in monitoring circulating cell-free tumor DNA has surged, the application of this method to early detection of tumors remains challenging.2,3 Among the challenges are assay sensitivity and specificity. In healthy persons, circulating cell-free DNA is composed of DNA originating from normal cells. In early-stage cancer, only a small fraction of cell-free DNA is derived from tumor. Sensitive screening for cancer-associated mutations in turn yields false . . .
Dry-Machining of Aerogel Foams, CH Foams, and Specially Engineered Foams Using Turn-Milling Techniques

A new method has been developed to dry-machine foams. Most of these foams are at the lower end of what is considered machineable because of their density or foam composition. Excluding aerogel foam...
Neuroinflammation and sympathetic overactivity: Mechanisms and implications in hypertension.

Abstract Essential hypertension is a multifactorial disorder with a strong genetic predisposition. Although anti-hypertensive medications have drastically reduced cardiovascular diseases mortality and morbidity rates, a significant percentage of hypertensive individuals currently on anti-hypertensive therapy, remain hypertensive. In spite of the emergence of transgenic animals and sophisticated tools to study the pathophysiology of hypertension, unraveling the causal mechanisms remains a challenge. Research on borderline hypertensive humans and/or prehypertensive rat models revealed an elevation in centrally-mediated sympathetic activity and a heightened neuroinflammatory state. Hyperactive brain renin angiotensin system (RAS), oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in brainstem cardiovascular centers and other brain regions are implicated as key factors in augmenting sympathetic activity in hypertension and other cardiovascular abnormalities. Angiotensin (Ang) II, the main RAS effector peptide, has been shown to trigger significant upsurges in pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Both microglial and astroglial cells, via a host of different mechanisms, contribute to pro-inflammatory states and ROS generation in the brain. Hence, it becomes essential to understand the impact of Ang II and neuroinflammatory mediators on the impairment of cardioregulatory centers in the brain, and to investigate the role of glia in Ang II-mediated sympathoexcitation. Understanding the mechanisms leading to an elevation in neuroinflammatory states, and the possible ways of counteracting it, could aid in devising better therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. This review primarily focuses on the molecular aspects of hypertension from a neuroinflammatory standpoint within brainstem cardiovascular centers.
V-Y Nipple Reconstruction

Nipple-areola complex reconstruction (NAR) may be complicated by scars or previous nipple reconstruction. V-Y advancement flap NAR is a reliable technique for both novice and experienced surgeons when treating patients with vertical mastectomy or Wise-pattern scar of the breast. A traditional V-Y advancement flap is lifted at the site of the future nipple. Scars from prior mastectomy, mammoplasty, or nipple reconstruction can be incorporated into the flap. The flap is folded caudally upon itself and the donor site is linearly closed. This method is easy to perform and reproducible, has low operative morbidity, and yields minimal to no additional scar burden while producing an acceptable aesthetic result.
Needle Thoracostomy: Does Changing Needle Length and Location Change Patient Outcome?

Background Needle thoracostomy (NT) is a common prehospital intervention for patients in extremis or cardiac arrest due to trauma. The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes, efficacy, and complications after a change in policy related to NT in a four-county Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system with a catchment area of greater than 1.6 million people. Methods This is a before and after observational study of all patients who had NT performed in the Central California (USA) EMS system. The before, anterior midclavicular line (MCL) group consisted of all patients who underwent NT from May 7, 2007 through February 28, 2013. The after, midaxillary line (MAL) axillary group consisted of all patients who underwent NT from March 1, 2013 through January 30, 2016, after policy revisions changed the timing, needle size, and placement location for NT. All prehospital and hospital records where NT was performed were queried for demographics, mechanism of injury, initial status and post-NT clinical change, reported complications, and final outcome. The trauma registry was accessed to obtain Injury Severity Scores (ISS). Information was manually abstracted by study investigators and examined utilizing univariate and multivariate analyses. Results Three-hundred and five trauma patients treated with NT were included in this study, of which, 169 patients (the MCL group) were treated with a 14-guage intravenous (IV) catheter at least 5.0-cm long at the second intercostal space (ICS), MCL after being placed in the ambulance; and 136 patients (the MAL group) were treated with a 10-guage IV catheter at least 9.5-cm long at the fifth ICS, MAL on scene. The mean ISS was lower in the MAL cohort (64.5 versus 69.2; P=.007). The mortality rate was 79% in both groups. The multivariate model with regard to survival supported that a lower ISS (P Conclusions Changing the timing, length of needle, and location of placement did not change mortality in patients requiring NT. Needle thoracostomy was used more frequently after the change in policy, and the MAL cohort was less injured. No increase in reported complications was noted. WeichenthalLA, OwenS, StrohG, RamosJ. Needle thoracostomy: does changing needle length and location change patient outcome? Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(3):237-244.
Clone-hunter: accelerated bound checks elimination via binary code clone detection

Unsafe pointer usage and illegitimate memory accesses are prevalent bugs in software. To ensure memory safety, conditions for array bound checks are inserted into the code to detect out-of-bound memory accesses. Unfortunately, these bound checks contribute to high runtime overheads, and therefore, redundant array bound checks should be removed to improve application performance. In this paper, we propose Clone-Hunter, a practical and scalable framework for redundant bound check elimination in binary executables. Clone-Hunter first uses binary code clone detection, and then employs bound safety verification mechanism (using binary symbolic execution) to ensure sound removal of redundant bound checks. Our results show the Clone-Hunter can swiftly identify redundant bound checks about 90× faster than pure binary symbolic execution, while ensuring zero false positives.
Vertebral Augmentation is Superior to Nonoperative Care at Reducing Lower Back Pain for Symptomatic Osteoporotic Compression Fractures: A Meta-Analysis.

STUDY DESIGN This is a systematic review and meta-analysis. OBJECTIVE This study's goal was to (i) assess the clinical outcomes with and without vertebral augmentation (VA) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) with versus without correlating signs and symptoms; and (ii) acute (symptoms 6 mo). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Previously, a randomized controlled trial in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that vertebroplasty for osteoporotic VCFs provided no clinical benefit over sham surgery. However, the VCFs examined had no clinical correlation with symptom, physical examination, or imaging (magnetic resonance imaging/bone scan) findings. Nonetheless, the randomized controlled trial resulted in a reduction in VA performed in the United States. Currently, no consensus exists on VA versus nonoperative care for symptomatic VCFs (SVFs). MATERIALS AND METHODS A literature search was conducted for studies on VA and conservative management for VCFs. Meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model. The primary outcome was improvement in lower back pain visual analog score. SVFs were defined as radiographic VCF with clinical correlation. Radiographic-alone VCF (RVF) was defined as radiographic VCF without clinical correlation. RESULTS Thirteen studies totaling 1467 patients with minimum 6-month follow-up were found. Pain reduction was greater with VA over conservative management for SVFs (P<0.000001) and equivalent for RVFs (P=0.22). Subanalysis for acute/subacute SVFs and chronic SVFs showed that VA was superior to nonoperative care (P=0.0009 and 0.04, respectively). No difference was observed in outcomes between VA and nonoperative care for chronic RVF (P=0.22). CONCLUSIONS VA is superior to nonoperative care in reducing lower back pain for osteoporotic VCFs with correlating signs and symptoms. VA had no benefit over nonoperative care for chronic VCFs that lacked clinical correlation. Lower back pain has many etiologies and patients should be clinically assessed before recommending VA.
Desmoid Tumor/Deep-Seated Fibromatosis (Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis)

Desmoids are enigmatic clonal malignancies of myofibroblastic cells that do not have the ability to metastasize, but cause morbidity and occasionally mortality by locally aggressive growth. They are sometimes termed deep fibromatoses, to distinguish them from superficial fibromatoses such as Dupuytren contracture, trigger finger, or Peyronie disease.
Anti-Inflammatory, Immunologic and Carcinostatic Attributes of Selenium in Experimental Animals

In the author’s opinion there are three major historical benchmarks in the evolution of our knowledge about the element of the moon, selenium (Se), since its discovery by Berzelius in 1817 (Fredga, 1972). The first significant chronological event was the recognition of Se as an integral part of factor 3 (Schwarz, 1951) which prevented dietary liver necrosis in rats fed selenium deficient torula yeast diets (Schwarz and Foltz, 1957). Occurring in 1957 this discovery subsequently led to the recognition of many selenium deficiency conditions in numerous animal species. Such Se deficiency conditions include exudative diathesis in poultry, while muscle disease in calves and lambs, and cardiac necrosis in mice and mink as well as others (Schwarz and Pathak, 1975).
Intracellular Processes that Affect Renal Phosphate Transport

Studies of phosphate transport in the proximal renal tubule have focused recently on interactions with intracellular processes, especially oxidative metabolism and gluconeogenesis. Intracellular inorganic phosphate is essential for oxidative phosphorylation and participates in mitochondrial respiration. Gluconeogenesis liberates phosphate. This review will summarize our recent observations on changes in phosphate transport with metabolic inhibitors, metabolic substrates and changes in gluconeogenesis.
Gender and Racial/Ethnic Differences in Educational Outcomes: Examining Patterns, Explanations, and New Directions for Research

Gender and race/ethnicity function as major axes of social stratification in the United States, and males and those from White backgrounds have historically occupied a position of advantage within the educational system. Although there has been progress towards decreasing inequality in recent decades, gender disparities and, to a much greater extent, racial/ethnic disparities remain in educational outcomes. This chapter reviews the empirical patterns and discusses the major theoretical explanations behind these patterns, focusing on K–16 education within the U.S. Additionally, some of the limitations of prior research are discussed. In closing, the authors also outline three key areas where more empirical sociological research is needed, and highlight recent research that provides compelling examples of where the field of sociology of education should be headed in order to better understand and disrupt educational inequality.
Radiation databases and archives - examples and comparisons.

Studies of ionizing radiation effects through the archiving of data began with standardizing medical treatments in the early 1900s shortly after the discovery of X-rays. Once the breadth of the del...
Restless Legs Syndrome (Willis–Ekbom Disease) and Gastrointestinal Diseases

More than 50 diseases, disorders, and conditions have been reported to be associated and/or contribute to restless legs syndrome (RLS) (recently renamed Willis–Ekbom disease). In many of these diseases, disorders, and conditions is the potential to have systemic inflammation or immune disorders. In addition, in some of the idiopathic syndromes and diseases, there is an underlying gut dysfunction with subsequent dysbiosis and/or small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Recently, idiopathic or primary RLS has been shown to be associated with SIBO, and preliminary evidence suggests that treating the underlying gastrointestinal (GI) disorder can improve RLS severity. In this chapter, all GI diseases and disorders that are associated with RLS are reviewed and potential mechanisms to explain the relationship are discussed. Potential food triggers and mechanisms of action for the food triggers are discussed with respect to these GI diseases.
Faulty Schematics of the Ruined Machine

ABSTRACTHere the intrepid reader will find a list, assembled by chance and improvisation. These severed digits are obscure, unreadable; but, in the context of Benjamin's fascination with the partia...
Narrative Structure and Lexical Aspect: Conspiring Factors in Second Language Acquisition of Tense-Aspect Morphology.

Two hypotheses regarding the distribution of emergent tense-aspect morphology in SLA have been proposed: the aspect hypothesis, which claims the distribution of interlanguage verbal morphology is determined by lexical aspectual class, and the discourse hypothesis, which claims it is determined by narrative structure. Recent studies have tested and supported both hypotheses individually. This study expands the investigation to include an analysis of both narrative structure and lexical aspectual class in a single corpus comprising 74 narratives (37 oral and written pairs) produced by adult learners of English as a second language at various proficiency levels. The results suggest that both hypotheses are necessary to account for the distribution of verbal morphology in interlanguage.
Clearchus on Love

Clearchus of Soloi, a junior colleague of Aristotle's, devoted a work in at least two books to the topic of eros. Like most of what survives from his once substantial corpus, the remains of this work display wide learning, especially in history and literature, and a moralizing orientation. The work did not circulate widely; all that survives is a handful of passages in Athenaeus (frs. 21-35 Wehrli), most very brief. That is far too little to permit any reconstruction of its overall structure or scope. But some of its interests and themes can be recovered. Clearchus discussed love, especially between the sexes, with more sympathy and subtlety than previous scholarship has recognized. His work on eros also appears to have been largely in tune with trends in early Hellenistic poetry.