cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Perioperative Administration of Ropivacaine With Epinephrine on Postoperative Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Recovery

Objectives To determine whether perioperative administration of ropivacaine hydrochloride with epinephrine decreases postoperative pain following adenotonsillectomy and to determine the pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine following injection. Design Prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Setting University pediatric ambulatory center. Participants A total of 130 children, aged 2 to 12 years, undergoing adenotonsillectomy. Intervention Patients received injections, in the tonsillar fossae, of isotonic sodium chloride solution or 0.5% ropivacaine hydrochloride with epinephrine immediately following tonsillectomy. Main Outcome Measures Modified objective pain score, time to 100 mL of oral intake, serial plasma ropivacaine levels, use of analgesics, incidence of retching and emesis, and other symptoms. Results Fifty-three patients (80%) in the ropivacaine group had detectable plasma levels in at least 3 of the 4 measurement time periods. The mean ± SD peak concentration (C max ) was 0.71 ± 0.33 µg/mL and the half-life was 0.96 hours. The average modified objective pain scores over all time points favored the placebo group ( P = .06 test of between-subjects effects). Similarly, the average behavior score over time favored the placebo group ( P = .046 test of between-subjects effects). Neck pain was better in the placebo group when averaged over postoperative days 1, 3, 7, and 14 ( P = .04). The percentage of patients who had retching in the recovery room was greater in the ropivacaine group (41% vs 19%, P = .006). Conclusions The injection of 0.5% ropivacaine with epinephrine immediately following adenotonsillectomy results in a measurable plasma level. Ropivacaine with epinephrine injection does not reduce pain postoperatively and adversely affects behavior scores, neck pain scores, and retching frequency compared with placebo. Ropivacaine with epinephrine injection for postoperative analgesia is not recommended for this patient population.
Treatment of prostate cancer by radioiodine therapy after tissue-specific expression of the sodium iodide symporter.

Causing prostate cancer cells to express functionally active sodium iodide symporter (NIS) by targeted NIS gene transfer might offer the possibility of radioiodine therapy of prostate cancer. Therefore, we investigated radioiodine accumulation and therapeutic effectiveness of 131I in NIS-transfected prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell line LNCaP was stably transfected with NIScDNA under the control of the prostate-specific antigen promoter. The stably transfected LNCaP cell line NP-1 showed perchlorate-sensitive, androgen-dependent iodide uptake in vitro that resulted in selective killing of these cells by 131I in an in vitro clonogenic assay. Xenografts were established in athymic nude mice and imaged using a gamma camera after i.p. injection of 500 μCi of 123I. In contrast to the NIS-negative control tumors (P-1) which showed no in vivo uptake of 123I, NP-1 tumors accumulated 25–30% of the total 123I administered with a biological half-life of 45 h. In addition, NIS protein expression in LNCaP cell xenografts was confirmed by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. After a single i.p. application of a therapeutic 131I dose (3 mCi), significant tumor reduction was achieved in NP-1 tumors in the therapy group compared with P-1 tumors and tumors in the control group. In conclusion, a therapeutic effect of 131I has been demonstrated in prostate cancer cells after induction of tissue-specific iodide uptake activity by prostate-specific antigen promoter-directed NIS expression in vitro and in vivo. This study demonstrates the potential of NIS as a novel therapeutic gene for nonthyroidal cancers, in particular prostate cancer.
Tapentadol immediate-release for acute pain

Tapentadol is a novel opioid agent with a dual mode of analgesic action. The inhibition of norepinephrine combined with moderate opioid agonist activity results in fewer gastrointestinal adverse effects compared with equianalgesic doses of oxycodone. Having no active metabolites and minimal protein binding, tapentadol provides improved tolerability with a lower potential for pharmacokinetic drug–drug interactions or accumulation with impaired renal or hepatic function when compared with oxycodone. Tapentadol immediate-release is currently US FDA approved for moderate-to-severe acute pain in adults.
Impact of a Warm Ocean Eddy’s Circulation on Hurricane-Induced Sea Surface Cooling with Implications for Hurricane Intensity

AbstractUpper oceanic heat content (OHC) in advance of a hurricane is generally superior to prestorm sea surface temperature (SST) for indicating favorable regions for hurricane intensification and maintenance. OHC is important because a hurricane’s surface winds mix the upper ocean and entrain cooler water into the oceanic mixed layer from below, subsequently cooling the sea surface in the region providing heat energy to the storm. For a given initial SST, increased OHC typically decreases the wind-induced sea surface cooling, and a warm ocean eddy (WCR) has a higher OHC than its surroundings, so conditions typically become more favorable for a hurricane to intensify when the storm’s core encounters a WCR. When considering hurricane intensity, however, one often-neglected aspect of a WCR is its anticyclonic circulation. This circulation may impact the location and magnitude of the hurricane-induced sea surface cooling. Using an ocean model, either prescribed hurricane wind stress or wind stress obtained ...
Joint optimal bit allocation and best-basis selection for wavelet packet trees

In this paper, an algorithm for wavelet packet trees that can systematically identify all bit allocations/best-basis selections on the lower convex hull of the rate-distortion curve is presented. The algorithm is applied to tree-structured vector quantizers used to code image subbands that result from the wavelet packet decomposition. This method is compared to optimal bit allocation for the discrete wavelet transform.
Examining the Effects of Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports on Student Outcomes: Results from a Randomized Controlled Effectiveness Trial in Elementary Schools.

Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) is a universal, schoolwide prevention strategy that is currently implemented in over 9,000 schools across the nation to reduce disruptive behavior problems through the application of behavioral, social learning, and organizational behavioral principles. SWPBIS aims to alter school environments by creating improved systems and procedures that promote positive change in student behavior by targeting staff behaviors. This study uses data from a 5-year longitudinal randomized controlled effectiveness trial of SWPBIS conducted in 37 elementary schools to examine the impact of training in SWPBIS on implementation fidelity as well as student suspensions, office discipline referrals, and academic achievement. School-level longitudinal analyses indicated that the schools trained in SWPBIS implemented the model with high fidelity and experienced significant reductions in student suspensions and office discipline referrals.
Characterization of a Novel Chemotactic Factor for Neutrophils in the Bronchial Secretions of Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Chronic airway inflammation is a hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF). Biological products with chemotactic activity are essential for neutrophil recruitment to sites of inflammation. The presence of a factor with chemotactic activity higher than that of interleukin (IL)-8 in the bronchial secretions of patients with CF has recently been reported. This article reports that the chemotactic activity of this factor remained unaffected by a variety of physical treatments and could be distinguished from those of IL-8, formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine, leukotreine B4, and platelet-activating factor. The factor induced chemotaxis and chemokinesis locomotion of neutrophils, and its chemotactic activity was sensitive to pertussis toxin and thapsigargin. Semipurified preparation of the chemotactic factor increased transiently intracellular Ca(2+) concentration but failed to stimulate the release of neutrophil primary granules and the production of superoxide, suggesting that the semipurified chemotactic factor is a Ca(2+)-dependent chemoattractant of neutrophils, acting via pertussin toxin-sensitive G protein-coupled surface receptors, that directs neutrophil movement toward the airway epithelium.
Chronic Estrogen Treatment Increases Levels of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Protein in Rat Cerebral Microvessels

Background and Purpose —A number of studies indicate that the female gonadal hormone, estrogen, confers protection against cerebrovascular disorders such as stroke. One postulated mechanism for these effects of estrogen is an action on the enzyme endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), which produces the vasodilatory molecule NO. We have investigated the hypothesis that estrogen increases expression of eNOS in cerebral microvessels of male and female rats. Methods —We measured levels of eNOS protein by Western blot in cerebral microvessels isolated from 7 groups of animals: females, ovariectomized females, ovariectomized females treated with estrogen, males, castrated males, castrated males treated with estrogen, and castrated males treated with testosterone. Results —Ovariectomized female rats treated with estrogen had 17.4-fold greater levels of eNOS protein in cerebral microvessels than ovariectomized females, and intact females had 16.6-fold greater levels than ovariectomized females ( P <0.01). In intact females, cerebral microvessel eNOS protein levels were 9.2-fold higher than those of intact males ( P <0.05). Levels of eNOS protein in castrated males, castrated males treated with testosterone, and males were not different from each other. Estrogen treatment of castrated animals resulted in an 18.8-fold increase in cerebral microvessel eNOS protein ( P <0.05). Conclusions —Chronic estrogen treatment increases levels of eNOS protein in cerebral microvessels of male and female rats. This increase in eNOS protein correlates with our previous functional findings indicating that estrogen exposure increases NO modulation of cerebrovascular reactivity in both male and female animals. Upregulation of eNOS expression may contribute to the neuroprotective effect of estrogen.
The Proposal of Conditions of Personal Engagement in Knowledge Harvesting

Knowledge harvesting is a knowledge management approach focusing on the elicitation and explication of the tacit knowledge residing in an expert. The objectives of knowledge harvesting are to not only succeed in eliciting experts' knowledge but also develop effective training and learning designs as well as their evaluation. However, the successful implementation of such program remains a key challenge. Management needs to develop an understanding of the factors that have significant associations to a successful implementation of such program. Prior research has linked the factors of employees' engagement to their performance level. The purpose of this study is to identify and examine the factors that have significant impacts on the successfulness of knowledge harvesting. This study investigates the relationship between these factors and personal engagement of experts and novices in knowledge harvesting process.
Begonia hahiepiana, a New Species of Begonia Section Sphenanthera (Begoniaceae) from Vietnam

ABSTRACT Begonia hahiepiana H. Q. Nguyen & Tebbitt (Begoniaceae; section Sphenanthera (Hasskarl) Warburg), a new species from Phu Tho Province, Vietnam, is described and illustrated. This new species is most readily distinguished from the closely related B. balansana Gagnepain and B. ceratocarpa S. H. Huang & Y. M. Shui by its upper leaf surfaces, which are an iridescent dark blue (rather than glossy green) and have deeply sunken veins giving them a puckered appearance (rather than smooth), by its outer pair of tepals having a covering of red trichomes on their outer surfaces (rather than appearing glabrous throughout), and by its fruits, which are spherical with three thickened rib-like wings (rather than being either rhomboidal with three horned appendages or star shaped with six, or sometimes five or seven, fleshy wedge-shaped points). Fieldwork indicates that the new species has a restricted distribution and a total population of less than 1000 individuals; it is recommended to be placed in the IUCN c...
The pineal gland and the clinical course of multiple sclerosis.

Clinical, epidemiological, biochemical, immunological, and radiological studies suggest that the pineal gland may be implicated in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). The following communication is concerned with the association among MS, pregnancy, the postpartum period, and melatonin secretion and illustrates, based on a clinical case report, the influence of the pineal gland on the clinical course of MS. This association is noteworthy since MS may worsen during the postpartum period and melatonin secretion is reported to be altered most dramatically by pregnancy and delivery. Since melatonin secretion is cyclical, undergoing diurnal, weekly, seasonal, and annual variations, it is proposed that the pineal gland may be the “prime mover” underlying the spontaneous exacerbations and remissions in MS.
Arachidonic acid and oleoylacetylglycerol induce a synergistic facilitation of Ca2+-dependent glutamate release from hippocampal mossy fiber nerve endings

Arachidonic acid and oleoylacetylglycerol enhance depolarization-evoked glutamate release from hippocampal mossy fiber nerve endings. It was proposed this is a Ca(2+)-dependent effect and that protein kinase C is involved. Here we report that arachidonic acid and oleoylacetylglycerol synergistically potentiate the glutamate release induced by the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin. The Ca2+ dependence of this effect was established, as removal of Ca2+ eliminated evoked release and the lipid-dependent potentiation. Also, Ca2+ channel blockers attenuated ionomycin- and KCl-evoked exocytosis, as well as the facilitating effects of the lipid mediators. Although facilitation required Ca2+, it may not involve an enhancement of evoked Ca2+ accumulation, because ionomycin-dependent glutamate release was potentiated under conditions that did not increase ionomycin-induced Ca2+ accumulation. Also, the facilitation may not depend on inhibition of K+ efflux, because enhanced release was observed in the presence of increasing concentrations of 4-aminopyridine and diazoxide did not reduce the lipid-dependent potentiation of exocytosis. In contrast, disruption of cytoskeleton organization with cytochalasin D occluded the lipid-dependent facilitations of both KCl- and ionomycin-evoked glutamate release. In addition, arachidonic acid plus glutamatergic or cholinergic agonists enhanced glutamate release, whereas a role for protein kinase C in the potentiation of exocytosis was substantiated using kinase inhibitors. It appears that the lipid-dependent facilitation of glutamate release from mossy fiber nerve endings requires Ca2+ and involves multiple presynaptic effects, some of which depend on protein kinase C.
A first-in-human study of AMG 208, an oral MET inhibitor, in adult patients with advanced solid tumors

// David S. Hong 1 , Peter Rosen 2 , A. Craig Lockhart 3 , Siqing Fu 1 , Filip Janku 1 , Razelle Kurzrock 1 , Rabia Khan 1 , Benny Amore 4 , Isaac Caudillo 5 , Hongjie Deng 5 , Yuying C. Hwang 5 , Robert Loberg 5 , Gataree Ngarmchamnanrith 5 , Darrin M. Beaupre 5 and Peter Lee 2 1 MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA 2 Tower Cancer Research Foundation, Beverly Hills, CA, USA 3 Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA 4 Amgen Inc., Seattle, WA, USA 5 Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA Correspondence to: David S. Hong, email: // Keywords : MET, first-in-human, solid tumors, prostate cancer, small molecule Received : February 04, 2015 Accepted : May 30, 2015 Published : June 19, 2015 Abstract Background: This first-in-human study evaluated AMG 208, a small-molecule MET inhibitor, in patients with advanced solid tumors. Methods: Three to nine patients were enrolled into one of seven AMG 208 dose cohorts (25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, and 400 mg). Patients received AMG 208 orally on days 1 and days 4–28 once daily. The primary objectives were to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of AMG 208. Results: Fifty-four patients were enrolled. Six dose-limiting toxicities were observed: grade 3 increased aspartate aminotransferase (200 mg), grade 3 thrombocytopenia (200 mg), grade 4 acute myocardial infarction (300 mg), grade 3 prolonged QT (300 mg), and two cases of grade 3 hypertension (400 mg). The MTD was not reached. The most frequent grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse event was anemia ( n = 3) followed by hypertension, prolonged QT, and thrombocytopenia (two patients each). AMG 208 exposure increased linearly with dose; mean plasma half-life estimates were 21.4–68.7 hours. One complete response (prostate cancer) and three partial responses (two in prostate cancer, one in kidney cancer) were observed. Conclusions: In this study, AMG 208 had manageable toxicities and showed evidence of antitumor activity, particularly in prostate cancer.
Developmental Characteristics of Adapting Mouse Small Intestine Crypt Cells

Background & Aims: Following massive small bowel resection (SBR), the remnant intestine undergoes an adaptive process characterized by increases in a number of physiologic and morphologic parameters. These changes are the result of a stimulus that increases crypt cell mitosis and augments cellular progression along the villus axis. To better define this process, we identified patterns of gene expression specifically within adapting intestinal crypt cells following SBR. Methods: Laser capture microdissection was used to isolate mouse intestinal crypt cells following SBR or sham operation. Multiple biological and technical complementary DNA microarray replicates allowed rigorous statistical analyses for identification of important expression profiles. Major groups of genes were classified as to site of action, functional pathway, and possible regulatory groups. Results: A total of 300 genes differentially expressed at significant levels within adapting crypt enterocytes were analyzed. Comparison of this list of differentially expressed adapting crypt cell genes with a generalized mouse gene expression database (from 82 developing and adult mouse tissues) showed the greatest overlap with developing and immature intestinal tissues. We identified prominent groups of genes involved with cell growth, signal transduction, and nucleic acid binding. Genes not previously shown to be involved with adaptation or development and maturation were identified. Conclusions: Identification of similar genes coordinately regulated during both adaptation and development, processes that share key morphologic features, provides a basis for new mechanistic insights into these shared characteristics.
In-Ear Microphone Speech Data Recognition using HMMs

Many applications requiring detection and identification of speech while in high noise environments can be commonly found in factory, automobile, aircraft or other settings. In such conditions, collecting speech at other locations than the mouth may lead to speech of better quality than can be obtained at the mouth. Our study focuses on a COTS foam-incased in-ear microphone device well suited for multiple users and various environments. We present results obtained with a basic DHMM recognizer implemented on a seven isolated words vocabulary
Very high quality p-type AlxGa1−xN/GaN superlattice

Very high quality p-type AlxGa1−xN/GaN superlattice has been achieved through optimization of Mg flow and period of superlattice. Theoretical model was used to optimize the structure of superlattice by choosing suitable Al compositions and superlattice periods. The experiments show that for x=0.26, the resistivity is as low as 0.19 Ω cm and hole concentration is as high as 4.2×1018 cm−3, the highest values ever reported for p-type AlGaN/GaN superlattices. Hall effect measurement and admittance spectroscopy on the samples confirm the high quality of the superlattices. The activation energy calculated for p-type GaN and p-type A0.1Ga0.9N/GaN superlattice is estimated to be ∼125 and 3 meV respectively.
Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights

In the present report, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights presents fiscal policy, and particularly taxation policies, as a major determinant in the enjoyment of human rights. Taxation is a key tool when tackling inequality and for generating the resources necessary for poverty reduction and the realization of human rights, and can also be used to foster stronger governance, accountability and participation in public affairs. She outlines relevant human rights obligations to guide and inform State revenue-raising practices, including the duty to use the maximum available resources for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. She also analyses the questions of how the principles of non-discrimination and equality and the duty of international cooperation and assistance should inform taxation policies at the global and national levels. After assessing how revenue-raising policies and practices can be strengthened through a human rights-based approach, she makes recommendations for fiscal and tax policies that are grounded in human rights and can lead to poverty reduction, sustainable development and the realization of transformative rights.
Four emerging arboviral diseases in North America: Jamestown Canyon, Powassan, chikungunya, and Zika virus diseases

Arthropod-borne viruses, or arboviruses, are viruses that are transmitted through the bites of mosquitoes, ticks, or sandflies. There are numerous arboviruses throughout the world capable of causing human disease spanning different viral families and genera. Recently, Jamestown Canyon, Powassan, chikungunya, and Zika viruses have emerged as increasingly important arboviruses that can cause human disease in North America. Unfortunately, there are currently no proven disease-modifying therapies for these arboviral diseases, so treatment is largely supportive. Given there are also no commercially available vaccines for these four arboviral infections, prevention is the key. To prevent mosquito or tick bites that might result in one of these arboviral diseases, people should wear long-sleeved shirts and pants while outside if feasible, apply insect repellant when going outdoors, using window screens or air conditioning to keep mosquitoes outside, and perform tick checks after being in wooded or brushy outdoor areas.
Fully implicit particle-in-cell algorithms for kinetic simulation of plasmas

Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation techniques have been wildly successful in the firstprinciples simulation of plasma dynamics. However, the fundamental algorithmic underpinnings of standard PIC algorithms have not changed in decades. Classical PIC employs an explicit approach (leap-frog) to advance the Vlasov-Poisson system using particles coupled to a grid. Explicit PIC is subject to both temporal stability constraints (requiring a minimum temporal resolution) and spatial stability constraints (requiring a minimum spatial resolution), which makes it unsuitable for realistic multi-scale kinetic problems, even with the aid of modern super-computers. Implicit algorithms can potentially eliminate both spatial and temporal stability constraints, thus becoming orders of magnitude more efficient than explicit PIC methods. This motivated much exploration of these algorithms in the literature since the 1980's. However, the lack of efficient nonlinear solvers for the resulting system of equations required approximations that resulted in intolerable accumulation of numerical error in long-term simulations. In this talk, we will present the first successful (i.e., efficient and accurate) fully implicit, nonlinear PIC algorithm using a Jacobian-Free-Newton-Krylov method on a one-dimensional electrostatic model [1]. The formulation conserves local charge and total energy exactly. Momentum is not exactly conserved, but errors are kept small by an adaptive particle substepping orbit integrator. The formulation survives when one considers mapped meshes, thus opening the possibility of accurate spatially adaptive PIC computations [2]. The superior accuracy and efficiency properties of the scheme will be demonstrated with challenging numerical examples. We will also discuss the extension of the approach to electromagnetic PIC in the non-relativistic regime via a Darwin model, which avoids noise issues associated with numerical Cherenkov radiation [3] while remaining exactly energy conserving.
Presentations and attacks, and spoofs, oh my

Abstract “Presentation attacks” are attacks at a biometric recognition data capture sensor which interfere with its normal operation. When artificial materials are used to create a fake biometric characteristic, it has been more commonly termed spoofing and the artifacts used to attack the system have been called spoofs. This paper gives an overview of this field, describes vocabulary formalized by the recent publication of an ISO standard for biometric “presentation attack detection,” and discusses evaluating the performance of systems which incorporate methods to detect and reject presentation attacks. In particular, this paper describes terms such as “attack presentation classification error rate” and “attack presentation match rate” from the ISO standard. To reduce confusion, it is important to differentiate metrics related to presentation attacks from the false accept rate which is specifically referring “zero-effort” imposter attempts, not a presentation attack. Last, some considerations for the future which relate to evaluating the performance of presentation attack detection are discussed.
Rod hydrodynamics and length distributions of single-wall carbon nanotubes using analytical ultracentrifugation.

Because of their repetitive chemical structure, extreme rigidity, and the separability of populations with varying aspect ratio, SWCNTs are excellent candidates for use as model rodlike colloids. In this contribution, the sedimentation velocities of length and density sorted single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are compared to predictions from rod hydrodynamic theories of increasing complexity over a range of aspect ratios from 400. Independently measuring all contributions to the sedimentation velocity besides the shape factor, excellent agreement is found between the experimental findings and theoretical predictions for numerically calculated hydrodynamic radius values and for multiterm analytical expansion approximations; values for the hydrodynamic radii in these cases are additionally found to be consistent with the apparent hydrated particle radius determined independently by buoyancy measurements. Lastly, we utilize this equivalency to calculate the apparent distribution of nanotube length...
Hydroxide Degradation Pathways for Imidazolium Cations. A DFT Study

Imidazolium cations are promising candidates as covalently tetherable cations for application in anion exchange membranes. They have generated specific interest in alkaline membrane fuel cell applications where ammonium-based cations have been the most commonly applied but have been found to be susceptible to hydroxide attack. In the search for high stability cations, a detailed understanding of the degradation pathways and reaction barriers is required. In this work, we investigate imidazolium and benzimidazolium cations in the presence of hydroxide using density functional theory calculations for their potential in alkaline membrane fuel cells. The dominant degradation pathway for these cations is predicted to be the nucleophilic addition–elimination pathway at the C-2 atom position on the imidazolium ring. Steric interferences, introduced by substitutions at the C-2, C-4, and C-5 atom positions, were investigated and found to have a significant, positive impact on calculated degradation energy barriers...
New or Little known Chytridiales

During the springs of 1923, 1924, and 1925 a fungus was ob? served to be parasitic within the threads of Pythium gracile and P. dictyosporum, the two species of Pythium being in turn para? sitic in the threads of Spirogyra areolata and Spirogyra sp. In the development and structure of the plant body the fungus showed a striking resemblance to certain species of Olpidiopsis; in the development and behavior of the spores it resembled Aphanomycopsis Scherffel and certain species of Ectrogella (sense of Scherf? fel), while in sexual reproduction there was a resemblance to Pythium. This peculiar combination of characters separated this fungus from any other previously described and therefore it seemed logical to erect a new genus combining some of the characters of each of the following genera: Olpidiopsis, Ectrogella, Aphanomycopsis, and Pythium.
p53 Expression in Neurofibroma and Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor: An Immunohistochemical Study of Sporadic and NF1-Associated Tumors

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are highly malignant sarcomas arising either de novo or in transition from neurofibroma. Although relatively little is known of the molecular genetic alterations that underlie their formation, recent DNA sequencing studies have demonstrated the presence of p53 mutations in some MPNST. This tumor-suppressor gene has been implicated in the progression of a variety of human malignancies, including sarcomas. Employing the anti-p53 monoclonal antibody Do-7, this retrospective immunohistochemical study of p53 gene overexpression in MPNST found reactivity to be present in 68% and to be significant in degree in 57%. In contrast, although some degree of p53 overexpression was present in 48% of neurofibromas, none stained strongly and only 1 of the 27 (4%), a cellular example, showed significant staining. No difference in the frequency or degree of p53 staining was noted between MPNSTs from patients with or without neurofibromatosis 1. The observed overexpression of the gene product, possibly the reflection of a p53 gene mutation, suggests a role for p53 in the progression of neurofibroma to MPNST. Although the prognostic of p53 overexpression in MPNST remains to be confirmed, in the present series immunopositive tumors were associated with a shorter median patient survival (18 months) than were tumors showing no reactivity (82 months) (P =.02).
Reducing Ribosome Biosynthesis Promotes Translation during Low Mg2+ Stress

Summary The synthesis of ribosomes is regulated by both amino acid abundance and the availability of ATP, which regenerates guanosine triphosphate (GTP), powers ribosomes, and promotes transcription of rRNA genes. We now report that bacteria supersede both of these controls when experiencing low cytosolic magnesium (Mg 2+ ), a divalent cation essential for ribosome stabilization and for neutralization of ATP's negative charge. We uncover a regulatory circuit that responds to low cytosolic Mg 2+ by promoting expression of proteins that import Mg 2+ and lower ATP amounts. This response reduces the levels of ATP and ribosomes, making Mg 2+ ions available for translation. Mutants defective in Mg 2+ uptake and unable to reduce ATP levels accumulate non-functional ribosomal components and undergo translational arrest. Our findings establish a paradigm whereby cells reduce the amounts of translating ribosomes to carry out protein synthesis.
TLE lateralization using whole brain structural connectivity

A prerequisite of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) surgery is to lateralize the disease. Recent studies have shown the capability of diffusion weighted MRI (DWMRI) in lateralizing TLE patients. This has been achieved by analyzing diffusion parameters of specific white matter tracts or regions known to be involved in the disease; however, other brain regions and connections have not been investigated for TLE lateralization. Whole brain structural connectivity using DWMRI provides a wealth of information regarding the structural connections in the brain. This information can be explored to find the most effective connections for TLE lateralization. In this work, we investigate the connectivity matrices calculated from DWMRI of 10 left and 10 right TLE patients to find the most effective connections for lateralizing the disease. Linear support vector machine (LSVM) classifier and leave-one-out cross validation scheme are used to estimate classification performance of the connectivity feature subsets. A subset of three connections with 100% classification accuracy is found. The corresponding LSVM classifier may be used to lateralize prospective TLE patients.
Water-Gas Shift Activity of Atomically Dispersed Cationic Platinum versus Metallic Platinum Clusters on Titania Supports

Atomically dispersed supported metal catalysts offer unique opportunities for designing highly selective catalysts and maximizing the utility of precious metals that have potential applications in a wide variety of industrial chemical reactions. Although substantial advances in understanding the origin of the activity of such highly dispersed metal catalysts have been made for a few chemical reactions, the reaction mechanisms and the nature of the active site—small metal clusters versus single atoms—are still highly debated. Using a combination of density functional theory and microkinetic modeling, we confirm that a positively charged single Pt atom on TiO2(110) can exhibit a very high low-temperature activity for the water-gas shift reaction (TOF > 0.1 s–1 at 473 K). A comparison of these results with our work on TiO2-supported Pt cluster models provides clear evidence that different active sites are responsible for the experimentally observed activity at low and high temperatures. Finally, we explain w...
Timing of food introduction and atopy prevention

The apparent increase in atopic disease, particularly food allergy, over the past 2 decades has resulted in reconsideration of prevention strategies aimed at the infant's diet. Early advice to have atopy-prone infants delay ingestion of potential food allergens, such as egg, cow's milk, and peanut, was rescinded, as new evidence emerged that did not support these approaches. More recently, randomized controlled trials have provided data to support an opposite strategy, promoting early ingestion of allergens as a means of food allergy prevention. Specifically, new guidelines suggest early ingestion of peanut as a means to prevent peanut allergy. Additional dietary approaches regarding breastfeeding, early introduction of other types of food allergens, formula feeding, dietary nutrients, and probiotics are also under scrutiny as potential preventative strategies. This review focuses on the timing of food introduction as a preventative strategy for food allergy and also discusses other aspects of the infant diet that may provide opportunities for prevention of atopic disease.
Comparative Optimism About Privacy Risks on Facebook

Comparatively optimistic people feel that they are less susceptible to risks than are others. This study investigated predictors and outcomes of comparative optimism about privacy risks on Facebook. Results from a nationally representative survey of adult U.S. Facebook users (N = 1,156) show that users exhibit comparative optimism in believing that they are less susceptible to privacy risks than are average users. However, unlike prior findings in offline contexts, this study finds that comparatively optimistic Facebook users do not appear to engage in riskier privacy behaviors. The findings of this study shed light on how privacy decision-making may be different in social networking contexts compared to other contexts due to the networked nature of the communication platform.
Using Standardized Patients With Pediatric Scenarios in the Practice Setting: Opportunities and Challenges.

In this continuing series on using standardized patients (SPs) in the practice setting, I interviewed Gene Hobbs, BS, Director of Simulation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Pediatrics. Gene is als
Enforcement of sexual violence law in post-civil conflict societies:

The climate of impunity in many post-civil conflict societies results in unprecedented levels of violence against women, making legal implementation and law enforcement particularly difficult. We a...
The Mechanisms of Psychedelic Visionary Experiences: Hypotheses from Evolutionary Psychology.

Neuropharmacological effects of psychedelics have profound cognitive, emotional and social effects that inspired the development of cultures and religions worldwide. Findings that psychedelics objectively and reliably produce mystical experiences press the question of the neuropharmacological mechanisms by which these highly significant experiences are produced by exogenous neurotransmitter analogues. Humans have a long evolutionary relationship with psychedelics, a consequence of psychedelics’ selective effects for human cognitive abilities, exemplified in the information rich visionary experiences. Objective evidence that psychedelics produce classic mystical experiences, coupled with the finding that hallucinatory experiences can be induced by many non-drug mechanisms, illustrates the need for a common model of visionary effects. Several models implicate disturbances of normal regulatory processes in the brain as the underlying mechanisms responsible for the similarities of visionary experiences produced by psychedelic and other methods for altering consciousness. Similarities in psychedelic-induced visionary experiences and those produced by practices such as meditation and hypnosis and pathological conditions such as epilepsy indicate the need for a general model explaining visionary experiences. Common mechanisms underlying diverse alterations of consciousness involve the disruption of normal functions of the prefrontal cortex and default mode network. This interruption of ordinary control mechanisms allows for the release of thalamic and other lower brain discharges that stimulate a visual information representation system and release the effects of innate cognitive functions and operators. Converging forms of evidence support the hypothesis that the source of psychedelic experiences involves the emergence of these innate cognitive processes of lower brain systems, with visionary experiences resulting from the activation of innate processes based in the mirror neuron system.
The Candida albicans quorum-sensing molecule, farnesol, remodels the peritoneal cavity microenvironment to promote innate inflammatory responses in mice.

Candida albi c ans is a polymorphic fungus that causes mucosal candidiasis and life threatening, systemic and intra-abdominal disease in immunocompromised and transplant patients. In normal healthy adults, C albicans is maintained as a commensal mainly through the actions of innate cells. Secretion of the quorum-sensing molecule, farnesol, acts as a virulence factor for C. albicans during systemic infection, but is protective in oral models of infection. Despite the clinical importance of intra-abdominal candidiasis with a mortality rate as high as 65%, the role of farnesol in its pathogenesis has not been studied. In ongoing experiments, we found that introduction of farnesol into the peritoneal cavity (PC) of mice remodels the peritoneal microenvironment to promote innate inflammatory responses. Early following intraperitoneal injection, farnesol stimulates the rapid depletion of B cells followed by recruitment of inflammatory macrophages and neutrophils into the PC compared to thioglycollate and control mice. Kinetic analyses of the transcriptional profile of farnesol-elicited cells reveal an early increase in chemokines followed by increased proinflammatory cytokines consistent with macrophage recruitment and activation. In addition, farnesol-elicited macrophages and dendritic cells demonstrate hallmarks of innate immune activation through high surface expression of class II and co-stimulatory molecules. Current experiments aim to determine the impact of this innate immune recruitment on antifungal defenses and clearance in the PC. Defining the immunostimulatory properties of farnesol will inform development of more appropriate therapeutic strategies for treatment of intra-abdominal Candida infection.
The Effect of Dissociation on Stereoacuity

Stereoacuity is an important factor in assessing a patient's binocularity. If it is good, one often foregoes other therapy including surgery. If a patient with fusion has poor stereo, this can alte...
Performance assessment of hybrid chiller systems for combined cooling, heating and power production

Abstract Hybrid chiller systems that combine electric and absorption chillers can play critical roles in performances of a combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) or trigeneration system. The objective of the present study is to investigate a new strategy for hybrid chiller-based CCHP systems that can optimize electric power production while achieving zero-excess electricity generation for a given building. Using this operation strategy, energy and environmental performances were examined for two U.S. Department of Energy reference buildings (large office and hospital) located in two climates (San Francisco, CA and Long Island, NY). The results show that the hybrid chiller-based CCHP systems can save the primary energy consumption up to 5.8 GWh/y for the large office building and 13.6 GWh/y for the hospital compared to the conventional reference system that utilizes a central grid. More significant energy savings are realized for the hospital than the large office mainly due to high electric and thermal loads throughout the year. Carbon dioxide emission associated with a CCHP system highly varies with the emission factor of a local grid. In case of using the hybrid chiller system in Long Island, NY, the carbon dioxide emission is 0.2–1.5 kton/y lower than the reference system, whereas it is 1.1–1.5 kton/y higher in San Francisco. However, compared to traditional CCHP systems that utilize only absorption chillers, the hybrid chiller-based CCHP systems can reduce carbon dioxide emission by 0.7 kton/y for the large office and 3.5 kton/y for the hospital. When comparing the effects of building types and local climates, building types have more significant effects on the energy performance, while local grid conditions have larger impacts on carbon dioxide emission of a hybrid chiller-based CCHP system. Overall, the study results suggest that the hybrid chiller-based CCHP systems can reduce more energy and carbon dioxide emission for commercial buildings or districts with high thermal and electric loads during the cooling season.
BETTI NUMBERS AND REFLEXIVE MODULES

This chapter describes the Betti numbes and reflexive modules. A quasi-Frobenius ( QF ) ring R may be described as a ring with the property that all of its modules are reflexive or equivalently Ext i ( M, R ) = 0 for all i ≥ 1 and all R -modules M . The chapter presents a class of commutative noetherian local rings, called BNSI rings, that are as different as possible from QF rings. It is shown that for such a ring, for any finitely generated module M , the vanishing of Ext i ( M, R ) for any i > 2 implies that M is free. As a consequence, every finitely generated reflexive module is free. No proper principal ideal is the annihilator of any ideal (whereas in a QF ring, every ideal is an annihilator). All rings are assumed to be commutative noetherian local rings and all modules are unital and finitely generated. Every protective module is free and the maximal ideal of the ring R will be denoted by m .
A parametric evaluation of supersonic STOVL

This paper describes the results of a study to evaluate parametric variations to a single engine short-takeoff vertical-landing fighter/attack aircraft design. The variables considered involved thrust vectoring, thrust degradation, maximum lift, and other changes to determine the impact on short-takeoff performance, but subject to a vertical-landing capability. The results indicate that there are certain parameters that have a significant effect on short-field performance. Also, the optimal control strategies for transitions from a short-takeoff to forward flight and from forward flight to hover are determined. The results have applicability beyond the configuration evaluated.
Positive Coworker Exchanges

When asked why they work, particularly why they continue to work when they no longer need to, workers will oen report that it is because of the relationships they have developed with their coworkers. Indeed, empirical research has suggested that coworkers have an important inuence on employees, above and beyond that of supervisors (Chiaburu & Harrison, 2008). As Kahn (2007) noted, coworkers “shape how people think, how they feel, and what they do” (p. 189). In this chapter, I explore the positive nature of these coworker relationships with the goal of summarizing the existing literature and suggesting avenues for additional exploration. To that end, I will turn to the psychology, communication, sociology, and management literatures to provide a brief synopsis of what we know and what we don’t know regarding positive coworker relationships.
Clinically Based Models of Teacher Preparation

A teacher preparation institution critically reviewed current programs and began moving toward a clinically based model. One focuses on Middle Grades/Secondary Math and Science, another focuses on Secondary English Language Arts, and a pilot project focuses on Elementary with a minor in either English/Language Arts or STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Keywords: teacher education, clinical practice, and clinical teacher preparation
Prospects for vectorlike leptons at future proton-proton colliders

Vectorlike leptons are an intriguing possibility for physics beyond the Standard Model. We study the reach for discovering (at $5\ensuremath{\sigma}$ significance) or excluding (at 95% confidence) models of charged vectorlike leptons that mix predominantly with the tau, using multilepton signatures at various future proton-proton collider options: a high-luminosity LHC with $\sqrt{s}=14\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$, a high-energy LHC with $\sqrt{s}=27\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{TeV}$, and possible new longer-tunnel colliders with $\sqrt{s}=70$ or 100 TeV. For weak-isodoublet vectorlike leptons, we estimate that a 27 TeV high-energy LHC with $15\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{ab}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ could exclude masses up to about 2300 GeV, or discover them if the mass is less than about 1700 GeV, while a 100 TeV collider with $30\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{ab}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ could exclude masses up to about 5750 GeV or make a discovery if the mass is less than about 4000 GeV. However, we find that weak-isosinglet vectorlike leptons present a much more difficult challenge, with some reach for exclusion, but not for discovery at any of the collider options considered.
The Meaning and Use of Phase in Subwavelength Scattering

We show that the influence of evanescent wave is preserved in the phase of far field as an energetic time delay during scattering. We demonstrate the capability for sub-wavelength sensing by far-field phase measurements. © 2019 The Author(s)