cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human papillomaviruses: basic mechanisms of pathogenesis and oncogenicity

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small double-stranded DNA viruses that infect the cutaneous and mucosal epithelium. Infection by specific HPV types has been linked to the development of cervical carcinoma. HPV infects epithelial cells that undergo terminal differentiation and so encode multiple mechanisms to override the normal regulation of differentiation to produce progeny virions. Two viral proteins, E6 and E7, alter cell cycle control and are the main arbitrators of HPV-induced oncogenesis. Recent data suggest that E6 and E7 also play a major role in the inhibition of the host cell innate immune response to HPV. The E1 and E2 proteins, in combination with various cellular factors, mediate viral replication. In addition, E2 has been implicated in both viral and cellular transcriptional control. Despite decades of research, the function of other viral proteins still remains unclear. While prophylactic vaccines to block genital HPV infection will soon be available, the widespread nature of HPV infection requires greater understanding of both the HPV life cycle as well as the mechanisms underlying HPV-induced carcinogenesis.
Identification of Cross-Reactive Norovirus CD4+ T Cell Epitopes

Immune responses and the components of protective immunity following norovirus infection in humans are poorly understood. Although antibody responses following norovirus infection have been partially characterized, T cell responses in humans remain largely undefined. In contrast, T cells have been shown to be essential for viral clearance of mouse norovirus (MNV) infection. In this paper, we demonstrate that CD4 + T cells secrete gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in response to stimulation with MNV virus-like particles (VLPs) after MNV infection, supporting earlier reports for norovirus-infected mice and humans. Utilizing this model, we immunized mice with alphavirus vectors (Venezuelan equine encephalitis [VEE] virus replicon particles [VRPs]) expressing Norwalk virus (NV) or Farmington Hills virus (FH) virus-like particles to evaluate T cell epitopes shared between human norovirus strains. Stimulation of splenocytes from norovirus VRP-immunized mice with overlapping peptides from complete libraries of the NV or FH capsid proteins revealed specific amino acid sequences containing T cell epitopes that were conserved within genoclusters and genogroups. Immunization with heterologous norovirus VRPs resulted in specific cross-reactive IFN-γ secretion profiles following stimulation with NV and FH peptides in the mouse. Identification of unique strain-specific and cross-reactive epitopes may provide insight into homologous and heterologous T cell-mediated norovirus immunity and provide a platform for the study of norovirus-induced cellular immunity in humans.
Reconstruction of volumetric surface textures for real-time rendering

Volumetric texturing is a popular technique for rendering rich 3-D detail when a polygonal surface representation would be ineffective. Although efficient algorithms for rendering volumetric textures have been known for years, capturing the richness of a real-life volumetric materials remains a challenging problem. In this paper we propose a technique for generating a volumetric representation of a complex 3-D texture with unknown reflectance and structure. From acquired reflectance data in the form of a 6-D Bidirectional Texture Function (BTF), the proposed algorithm creates an efficient volumetric representation in the form of a stack of semi-transparent layers each representing a slice through the texture's volume. In addition to negligible storage requirements, this representation is ideally suited for hardware-accelerated real-time rendering.
Contrast statistics for foveated visual systems: fixation selection by minimizing contrast entropy.

The human visual system combines a wide field of view with a high-resolution fovea and uses eye, head, and body movements to direct the fovea to potentially relevant locations in the visual scene. This strategy is sensible for a visual system with limited neural resources. However, for this strategy to be effective, the visual system needs sophisticated central mechanisms that efficiently exploit the varying spatial resolution of the retina. To gain insight into some of the design requirements of these central mechanisms, we have analyzed the effects of variable spatial resolution on local contrast in 300 calibrated natural images. Specifically, for each retinal eccentricity (which produces a certain effective level of blur), and for each value of local contrast observed at that eccentricity, we measured the probability distribution of the local contrast in the unblurred image. These conditional probability distributions can be regarded as posterior probability distributions for the “true” unblurred contrast, given an observed contrast at a given eccentricity. We find that these conditional probability distributions are adequately described by a few simple formulas. To explore how these statistics might be exploited by central perceptual mechanisms, we consider the task of selecting successive fixation points, where the goal on each fixation is to maximize total contrast information gained about the image (i.e., minimize total contrast uncertainty). We derive an entropy minimization algorithm and find that it performs optimally at reducing total contrast uncertainty and that it also works well at reducing the mean squared error between the original image and the image reconstructed from the multiple fixations. Our results show that measurements of local contrast alone could efficiently drive the scan paths of the eye when the goal is to gain as much information about the spatial structure of a scene as possible.
Monovalent Cationic Channel Activity in the Inner Membrane of Nuclei from Skeletal Muscle Fibers

Abstract Nuclear ion channels remain among the least studied and biophysically characterized channels. Although considerable progress has been made in characterizing calcium release channels in the nuclear membrane, very little is known regarding the properties of nuclear monovalent cationic channels. Here, we describe a method to isolate nuclei from adult skeletal muscle fibers that are suitable for electrophysiological experiments. Using this approach, we show for the first time, to our knowledge, that a nuclear monovalent cationic channel (NMCC) is prominently expressed in the inner membrane of nuclei isolated from flexor digitorum brevis skeletal muscle fibers of adult mice. In isotonic 140 mM KCl, the skeletal muscle NMCC exhibits a unitary conductance of ∼160 pS and high, voltage-independent open probability. Based on single-channel reversal potential measurements, NMCCs are slightly more permeable to potassium ions over sodium ( P K /P Na = 2.68 ± 0.21) and cesium ( P K /P Cs = 1.39 ± 0.03) ions. In addition, NMCCs do not permeate divalent cations, are inhibited by calcium ions, and demonstrate weak rectification in asymmetric Ca 2+ -containing solutions. Together, these studies characterize a voltage-independent NMCC in skeletal muscle, the properties of which are ideally suited to serve as a countercurrent mechanism during calcium release from the nuclear envelope.
Transaction and data models for design databases

Transaction management schemes and data models proposed for conventional database applications such as data processing are inadequate for advanced applica­ tions encountered in CAD/CAM, VLSI and office automation. The main issues that need to resolved are a new transaction model and control mechanism and a data model. Design transactions cooperate and communicate with other design transac­ tions. This behavior cannot be captured by a transaction model where correctness is based on serializability theory. Due to the multiple versions that coexist in a design database, other correctness criteria version control, internal and mutual consistency are also required. In addition, issues such as recovery are reviewed in the context of design databases.
On the Applications for a Radiation Reconfigurable Antenna

In this work, applications involving a radiation reconfigurable antenna are presented and discussed. The antenna is capable of reconfiguring its radiation pattern from broadside to endfire over a common impedance bandwidth. After outlining the operation and radiation behavior of the single element its use in multiple antenna systems, such as multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) and diversity systems, is described. Recent results using the antenna in both one-dimensional and two-dimensional planar arrays setting are also included. These examples illustrate the potential benefits and impact that pattern reconfigurable antennas can have in diverse kinds of wireless communications networks.
Circular couette flow of a polymerizing fluid

Flow of a polymerizing fluid between rotating concentric cylinders has been analyzed theoretically. A solution has been obtained employing a finite difference method. Using a RIMtype (reaction injection molding) urethane system as an example, the velocity, temperature, and NCO group concentration fields have been described as functions of time. A numerical example is given to demonstrate the applicability of the present analysis to reactive processing and viscometry. The mixing characteristics and the flow rate associated with circular drag flows involved, e.g., in reactive extrusion, have been shown to depend strongly on the operating conditions. It has also been demonstrated that the range of applicability of Couette viscometers to fast curing systems may be limited by the interfering time-dependent temperature gradients involved. It has been concluded that analysis of the. present nature provides a useful design and evaluation tool applicable to Couette flow problems in reactive processing and viscometry.
Probe dependency of polymer-plasticizer and polymer-polymer interaction parameters in inverse gas chromatography

Inverse gas chromatography has been widely used to determine the Flory–Huggins parameter, χ, between a plasticizer and a polymer, or between two polymers. Many studies showed that interaction parameters may be probe dependent. In a recent study it was proposed that, when a specific interaction occurred between two polymers, the probes had less interaction with the polymers, leading to a lower solubility parameter for polymer blends than the volume average of the components. An equation was derived to relate the probe dependency to the deviation of solubility parameter of polymer mixtures. Here this approach is applied to plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and a copolymer, and to poly(vinylidene fluoride)–poly(ethyl methacrylate) blends. For a PVC and epoxidized oil system the relative deviation of specific retention volume showed two trends, with saturated hydrocarbons as one group, and polar and aromatic probes as another group. For the poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(ethyl methacrylate) system the plot of retention volume deviation versus solubility parameter of probes also showed separate trends for n-alkanes, esters, and alcohols. But the plot of ϕ2ϕ3RT(χ23/V2) versus solubility parameter had better linearity for the systems studied. The slope of this plot was used as an indicator for miscibility. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007
Ant Colony Optimization and its Application to Boolean Satisfiability for Digital VLSI Circuits

Ant colony optimization (ACO) [8] is a non-deterministic algorithm framework that mimics the foraging behavior of ants to solve difficult optimization problems. Several researchers have successfully applied ACO framework in different fields of engineering, but never in VLSI testing. In this paper, we first describe the basics of the ACO framework and ways to formulate different optimization problems within an ACO framework. We then present our own ACO algorithm to simultaneously solve multiple boolean SAT instances for digital VLSI circuits. Experiments conducted on scanned versions of ISCAS'89 benchmark circuits produced astonishing results. ACO framework for boolean satisifiability was found 200 times faster than spectral meta-heuristics [36] run in combinational mode. ACO framework has proven to be a promising optimization technique in large number of other fields. Since ACO can be used to solve different types of optimization and search problems, we believe that the concepts presented in this paper can open the gates for researchers solving different optimization problems that exist in VLSI testing more efficiently.
Globalization, Factor Mobility, Partisanship, and Compensation Policies

This paper examines the relationship between economic globalization, factor mobility, government partisanship, and the relative budgetary salience of two different instruments of compensation policies: social welfare spending and industrial subsidy provision. While welfare spending directly benefits labor, industrial subsidies benefit both capital owners and labor along the sectoral line. Based on both factoral and sectoral models of trade, we theoretically argue and empirically show that governments are more likely to use welfare politics as compensation policies if free trade generates class-based interests in the society, and subsidy politics if trade openness promotes industry-based interests. We also argue that the interactions of the three variables are contingent on government partisanship. When non-class-based interests are salient as a consequence of trade openness, left-wing governments are likely to focus on welfare politics while right-wing governments favor provision of subsidies. However, when class-based interests are salient, even right-wing governments behave similarly to left-wing governments, favoring welfare spending over subsidies as the key compensation policy. In the analysis of compensation policies in the OECD countries between 1980 and 2001, the test results confirm our expectations.
Inherited and Secondary Thrombophilia

Case Presentation 1: A healthy 19-year-old man presented with new chest pain and near syncope. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography showed a saddle pulmonary embolus. The patient denied recent travel, trauma, surgery, or hospitalization. His mother had 2 miscarriages at 10 weeks of gestation, and his maternal grandfather had deep venous thrombosis at 60 years of age. Case Presentation 2: A healthy 45-year-old woman reported new dyspnea and left calf pain. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography and compression venous duplex ultrasonography showed bilateral pulmonary emboli and acute left leg deep vein thrombosis, respectively. The patient denied exogenous hormone use, recent travel, trauma, surgery, or hospitalization. Her health maintenance was current, and she gave a family history of pernicious anemia, Grave disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Laboratory analyses showed reduced hemoglobin (11.4 g/dL; normal, 12.0–15.5 g/dL), increased red blood cell distribution width (18.9%; normal, 11.9%–15.5%), and mild thrombocytopenia. Neither patient had previous venous thromboembolism, and both were referred to the Mayo Clinic Thrombophilia Center for apparent idiopathic venous thromboembolism. Thrombophilia is defined as a predisposition (susceptibility) to thrombosis. Thrombophilia is not a disease per se, but may be associated with a disease (eg, cancer), drug exposure (eg, oral contraceptives) or condition (eg, pregnancy or postpartum, secondary thrombophilia; Table 1), and thrombophilia may be inherited (Table 2).1 This concept is important because disease susceptibility does not imply an absolute requirement for primary or secondary prevention, or for treatment. Most persons with a thrombophilia do not develop thrombosis. Thus, thrombophilia must be considered in the context of other risk factors for incident thrombosis, or predictors of recurrent thrombosis, when estimating the need for primary or secondary prophylaxis, respectively. View this table: Table 1. Secondary Thrombophilia1 View this table: Table 2. Inherited Thrombophilia1 The role of special coagulation testing for an acquired or inherited thrombophilia is controversial. Thrombophilia testing should only be done if …
The flexibility of locally melted DNA

Protein-bound duplex DNA is often bent or kinked. Yet, quantification of intrinsic DNA bending that might lead to such protein interactions remains enigmatic. DNA cyclization experiments have indicated that DNA may form sharp bends more easily than predicted by the established worm-like chain (WLC) model. One proposed explanation suggests that local melting of a few base pairs introduces flexible hinges. We have expanded this model to incorporate sequence and temperature dependence of the local melting, and tested it for three sequences at temperatures from 23°C to 42°C. We find that small melted bubbles are significantly more flexible than double-stranded DNA and can alter DNA flexibility at physiological temperatures. However, these bubbles are not flexible enough to explain the recently observed very sharp bends in DNA.
An analysis of Monte Carlo methods for likelihood estimation of Gibbsian images

A unified analysis of two Monte Carlo algorithms for estimating the likelihood function of Gibbs random field images is presented. It is shown that such an estimation reduces to estimating the partition functions of suitably chosen Gibbs random fields. The first algorithm requires drawing samples from a mutually compatible Gibbs random field and provides unbiased and consistent estimators of these partition functions. The second algorithm uses samples which are approximately drawn from the Gibbs distribution, and results in asymptotically unbiased and consistent estimators of the partition functions. A measure of the computational complexity of these algorithms which makes it possible to compare them is introduced. It is concluded that the first algorithm is superior, especially for models with strong interactions. >
Estimating Effective Population Size or Mutation Rate With Microsatellites

Microsatellites are short tandem repeats that are widely dispersed among eukaryotic genomes. Many of them are highly polymorphic; they have been used widely in genetic studies. Statistical properties of all measures of genetic variation at microsatellites critically depend upon the composite parameter theta = 4Nmicro, where N is the effective population size and micro is mutation rate per locus per generation. Since mutation leads to expansion or contraction of a repeat number in a stepwise fashion, the stepwise mutation model has been widely used to study the dynamics of these loci. We developed an estimator of theta, theta; (F), on the basis of sample homozygosity under the single-step stepwise mutation model. The estimator is unbiased and is much more efficient than the variance-based estimator under the single-step stepwise mutation model. It also has smaller bias and mean square error (MSE) than the variance-based estimator when the mutation follows the multistep generalized stepwise mutation model. Compared with the maximum-likelihood estimator theta; (L) by, theta; (F) has less bias and smaller MSE in general. theta; (L) has a slight advantage when theta is small, but in such a situation the bias in theta; (L) may be more of a concern.
Georeferencing locality descriptions and computing associated uncertainty using a probabilistic approach

Locality information for specimens of geological, biological, and cultural objects is traditionally stored as textual descriptions. With an increasing demand for natural and cultural information, the lack of spatially explicit descriptions has become a major barrier to the management and analysis of these data using geographic information systems. In this paper, we propose a method to georeference descriptive data, using an uncertainty field model to represent the distribution of a locality based on two types of uncertainties: uncertainty of reference objects, and the uncertainty of spatial relationships. We propose probability distributions for each known form of these two types of uncertainties and present a probabilistic method to georeference localities based on the integration of different uncertainty sources.
Theory and computation of hot carriers generated by surface plasmon polaritons in noble metals

Hot carriers (HC) generated by surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in noble metals are promising for application in optoelectronics, plasmonics and renewable energy. However, existing models fail to explain key quantitative details of SPP-to-HC conversion experiments. Here we develop a quantum mechanical framework and apply first-principles calculations to study the energy distribution and scattering processes of HCs generated by SPPs in Au and Ag. We find that the relative positions of the s and d bands of noble metals regulate the energy distribution and mean free path of the HCs, and that the electron–phonon interaction controls HC energy loss and transport. Our results prescribe optimal conditions for HC generation and extraction, and invalidate previously employed free-electron-like models. Our work combines density functional theory, GW and electron–phonon calculations to provide microscopic insight into HC generation and ultrafast dynamics in noble metals.
“HERO OF KNOWLEDGE, BE OUR TRIBUTE THINE:” ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT IN VICTORIAN AMERICA

Abstract Alexander von Humboldt has been a neglected figure in American intellectual and cultural history. His visit to the United States in 1804, his many connections with American scientists, explorers, politicians, writers, and artists, and the wide popularity of his books, all show Humboldt to be of great significance to nineteenth-century America. This essay traces the course of Humboldt's fame in Victorian America, the reasons for his special connection with the United States and for the precipitous decline in his reputation, and closes with a consideration of Humboldt's legacy in American art and literature.
Stroke and Cardiovascular Disease among Women

Stroke falls under the umbrella of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the number one killer of Americans. CVD, including stroke and heart disease, takes about 267,000 women’s lives every year [1]. In the present study, a health risk assessment of a population of women residing in North-eastern Pennsylvania was conducted to provide an estimate of vulnerability to stroke on the basis of medical history, genetic predisposition, and other lifestyle factors. Using the Health Belief model of Rosenstock, Strecher, and Becker [2] and the stage model of Prochaska, Diflemente, and Norcross [3], a health promotion plan was developed to address the needs of that population. An evaluation of risks that can and cannot be modified is developed to help people understand the basic lifestyle changes that could be made to prevent CVD, which includes stroke. An action plan was developed to lower the risk of stroke among women based on their individual needs and to raise awareness throughout the United States. Individuals should take the essential precautions for their personal cases. This will substantially lower the risk of CVD, especially stroke, among women.
Integrase inhibitors in late pregnancy and rapid HIV viral load reduction

Background Minimizing time to HIV viral suppression is critical in pregnancy. Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs), like raltegravir, are known to rapidly suppress plasma HIV RNA in nonpregnant adults. There are limited data in pregnant women. Objective We describe time to clinically relevant reduction in HIV RNA in pregnant women using INSTI-containing and non-INSTI-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) options. Study Design We conducted a retrospective cohort study of pregnant HIV-infected women in the United States from 2009 through 2015. We included women who initiated ART, intensified their regimen, or switched to a new regimen due to detectable viremia (HIV RNA >40 copies/mL) at ≥20 weeks gestation. Among women with a baseline HIV RNA permitting 1-log reduction, we estimated time to 1-log RNA reduction using the Kaplan-Meier estimator comparing women starting/adding an INSTI in their regimen vs other ART. To compare groups with similar follow-up time, we also conducted a subgroup analysis limited to women with ≤14 days between baseline and follow-up RNA data. Results This study describes 101 HIV-infected pregnant women from 11 US clinics. In all, 75% (76/101) of women were not taking ART at baseline; 24 were taking non-INSTI containing ART, and 1 received zidovudine monotherapy. In all, 39% (39/101) of women started an INSTI-containing regimen or added an INSTI to their ART regimen. Among 90 women with a baseline HIV RNA permitting 1-log reduction, the median time to 1-log RNA reduction was 8 days (interquartile range [IQR], 7-14) in the INSTI group vs 35 days (IQR, 20-53) in the non-INSTI ART group ( P P Conclusion ART that includes INSTIs appears to induce more rapid viral suppression than other ART regimens in pregnancy. Inclusion of an INSTI may play a role in optimal reduction of HIV RNA for HIV-infected pregnant women presenting late to care or failing initial therapy. Larger studies are urgently needed to assess the safety and effectiveness of this approach.
Inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Formation with Bromoageliferin Analogues

Two analogues of the marine natural product bromoageliferin have been synthesized and subsequently assayed for the ability to inhibit the formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Both compounds inhibited the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains PAO1 and PA14 to form biofilms; however, they displayed differential toxicity to planktonic bacteria. The cis analogue, CAGE, was found to possess greater toxicity than the trans analogue, TAGE. These compounds have no structural homology to any known inhibitors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.
RESOLUTION APPROPRIATE OVERSET GRID ASSEMBLY FOR STRUCTURED AND UNSTRUCTURED GRIDS

The assembly of an overset grid system requires two different resolution scales to perform the required holecutting and donor cell location. The assembly of nearbody grids, with overlapping surface grids and possible viscous layers, requires high-resolution and special procedures to produce an accurate assembly. Fortunately, in most moving body cases, this near-body grid assembly is static and must be performed only once. In contrast, the assembly of off-body grids is characterized by larger size cells and needs less stringent tolerances. This off-body grid assembly may have to be performed many times in a moving body problem, and an efficient process is desirable. A new process that splits the assembly of an overset grid system into a near-body and off-body process is detailed in this paper.
Susceptibility of Early Season Cotton Floral Bud Types to Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Damage

Because of suggestions that four-bract floral buds (squares) are more vulnerable to thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) injury than three-bract squares, we evaluated ‘Deltapine’ (DPL) cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars ‘61,’ ‘77,’ and ‘90,’ for production and susceptibility of square types during the 1985-1986 early squaring period. Most squares (61-88%) had three bracts. Cultivar differences were found only in one test in 1986 in which DPL ‘77’ produced a higher proportion of four-bract squares than DPL ‘90.’ Square loss was compared in plots treated with insecticide for thrips control and in untreated plots to determine any differential Joss of either square type. Total square loss was higher in untreated plots for all cultivars tested during the early part of the season. Proportional loss of four bract squares was no higher and was sometimes lower than three-bract loss. Abscised squares with enclosing bracts were more abundant than those with bracts open, whether in treated or untreated plots.
Culture, biology, and human behavior

Social scientists have not integrated relevant knowledge from the biological sciences into their explanations of human behavior. This failure is due to a longstanding antireductionistic bias against the natural sciences, which follows on a commitment to the view that social facts must be explained by social laws. This belief has led many social scientists into the error of reifying abstract analytical constructs into entities that possess powers of agency. It has also led to a false nature-culture dichotomy that effectively undermines the place of biology in social scientific explanation. Following the principles of methodological individualism, we show how behavioral explanations supported by data and theory from the neurosciences can be used to correct the errors of reificationist thinking in the social sciences. We outline a mechanistic approach to the explanation of human behavior with the hope that the biological sciences will begin to find greater acceptance among social scientists.
Genomic dimensions of Su(H)-targeted regulatory belts in Drosophila

Asymmetric Notch signaling promotes divergent fates in select cells throughout metazoan development. In the receiving cell, signaling results in cleavage of the Notch intracellular domain and its import into the nucleus, where it binds Suppressor of Hairless [Su(H)] to promote gene expression in conjunction with contextual cues in the surrounding DNA sequence. To investigate the nature of this contextual logic, we identify 1344 Su(H)-site containing regulatory belts that are conserved across the Drosophila genus. Each Su(H)-type regulatory belt (SUH-RB) is a 0.6–1.0 kb chain of conservation peaks consistent with a transcriptional enhancer or core promoter. These regulatory belts contain one or more canonical binding sites for Su(H) along with ~15–30 other binding sites. SUH-RBs are densely clustered in certain chromosomal regions such as the E(spl)-complex, the Wnt gene complex, and genes encoding Notch receptor ligands (Delta and Serrate). SUH-RBs overlap most known Su(H)/Notch-target enhancers and others, including non-embryonic enhancers that are not identified by embryonic ChIP-seq peaks. Thus, SUH-RBs overcome the stage-specific nature of embryonic ChIP-seq peaks and suggest a pervasive role for contextual tissue-specific pioneer and/or enhancer-licensing factors. SUH-RBs also delineate false positive ChIP-seq peaks, which do not overlap SUH-RBs, are missing even the weakest Su(H)-binding sequences, and have the shortest ChIP peak widths. Last, we characterize several novel enhancers including Su(H)-dependent enhancers at Notch and Delta, intestinal enhancers at A2bp1 and hedgehog, and distinct enhancers at roughest, E2f1, and escargot.
Retinoic acid increases surfactant protein mRNA in fetal rat lung in culture

Retinoic acid has both early or immediate (within hours) and late (after days) effects on gene expression. We studied the early effects of retinoic acid on the surfactant protein (SP) genes. Exposure of fetal rat lung explants to all trans-retinoic acid for 4 h resulted in a significant dose-dependent increase in SP-A, -B, and -C mRNA with markedly different dose-response characteristics. The maximal (2.5x) increase in SP-A mRNA was observed with 10(-10) M retinoic acid, whereas treatment with 10(-5) M resulted in a tendency to decreased levels. In contrast, maximal stimulation of SP-C (6x) was noted at 10(-5) M retinoic acid and that of SP-B (2x) at 10(-7) to 10(-5) M retinoic acid. Similar differences in the dose-response characteristics of SP-A and SP-C were observed with 9-cis-retinoic acid. A retinoic acid response element consensus sequence was identified in the rat SP-A gene; we hypothesize that retinoic acid-receptor complexes act directly on the SP-A gene via this response element.
A retinoic acid receptor β2 agonist reduces hepatic stellate cell activation in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are an important cellular target for the development of novel pharmacological therapies to prevent and treat nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD). Using a high fat diet (HFD) model of NAFLD, we sought to determine if synthetic selective agonists for retinoic acid receptor β2 (RARβ2) and RARγ can mitigate HSC activation and HSC relevant signaling pathways during early stages of NAFLD, before the onset of liver injury. We demonstrate that the highly selective RARβ2 agonist, AC261066, can reduce the activation of HSCs, marked by decreased HSC expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), in mice with HFD-induced NAFLD. Livers of HFD-fed mice treated with AC261066 exhibited reduced steatosis, oxidative stress, and expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). Kupffer cell (macrophage) expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), which plays a critical role in early HSC activation, was markedly reduced in AC261066-treated, HFD-fed mice. In contrast, HFD-fed mice treated with an RARγ agonist (CD1530) showed no decreases in steatosis, HSC activation, or Kupffer cell TGF-β1 levels. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that RARβ2 is an attractive target for development of NAFLD therapies. • Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are an important pharmacological target for the prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD). • Retinoids and retinoic acid receptors (RARs) possess favorable metabolic modulating properties. • We show that an agonist for retinoic acid receptor-β2 (RARβ2), but not RARγ, mitigates HSC activation and NAFLD.
Upgrading the NIST electrostatic force balance

After the adoption of a redefined SI, electrostatic force measurements will become an ideal way to realise forces at the sub-micronewton level in a laboratory setting using an instrument such as the NIST electrostatic force balance. The balance has recently undergone a complete replacement of the control system. We describe both the new updated control system and recent improvements to analysis and data collection.
Insecticide effects onEntomophthora muscae [Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales]

Studies were conducted to determine the effect of insecticide residues on germination of primary conidia ofentomophthora muscae (Cohn) Fresenius and to determine the relative susceptibility of healthy and infectedMusca domestica L. to insecticides. Primary conidia were discharged fromM. domestica cadavers onto glass microscope slides treated with insecticides. All insecticides significantly inhibited germination relative to control slides. Permethrin and naled had the least inhibition (36–40 %), while malathion and dimethoate almost completely inhibited germination (87–94 %). Tetrachlorvinphos/dichlorvos and carbaryl were intermediate (57–59 %). Healthy flies were not significantly different from infected flies in terms of susceptibility to naled, dimethoate, or permethrin. Infected flies exposed on the last day of pathogen incubation died on the bottom of the Petri dishes, rather than climbing and attaching as did untreated, infected flies. Both control and treated groups produced large numbers of primary conidia.
Effect of Liquid Acrylic Polymer on Geotechnical Properties of Fine-Grained Soils

The present paper investigates the effect of liquid polymer on the geotechnical properties of fine-grained soil. Commercially available liquid polymer (acrylic polymer) was used to stabilize natural Carbondale soil (Soil A) and commercially available soil (Soil B). The polymer was mixed at various percentages (i.e., 2, 3, 4, and 5 %) of the dry weight of both soils. Tap water was added corresponding to its OMC (optimum moisture content) for a particular soil-polymer mixture and compacted to achieve its maximum dry unit weight. The compacted samples were allowed to cure for 7, 14, and 28 days under confined and open air environment. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test was performed to evaluate the strength of polymer stabilized soil. The results show that with the addition of polymer; UCS value for Soil B samples prepared at OMC increases from 30 to 75 % in open air environment and the UCS value increases from 12 to 14 % in confined air environment. Soil A samples prepared at OMC (i.e., 23.50 %) show cracks while curing in open air environment and there is no significant change (i.e., 1.2–13.8 %) of strength in confined air environment. For the Soil A samples prepared with reduced moisture contents (less than OMC i.e., 12.50 %) and cured in open air environment shows increase in UCS strength from 7 to 10 %. Also, California bearing ratio (CBR) test was performed for both soils and there was marginal increase (i.e., 14 %) in CBR value for Soil A but a significant increase (i.e., 340 %) in CBR value for Soil B.
Sequential estimation and diffusion of information over networks

Collaborative estimation of parameters of stochastic models in networks from observations made by individual nodes is a core topic in the field of signal and information processing over networks. In this talk, we formulate the problem of collaborative sequential estimation of unknown parameters where information in the network diffuses with time. The formulation is abstract and independent from any particular model. Our objective is to reach a generic solution that is applicable to a wide class of popular models. We adopt the Bayesian and information-theoretic paradigms so that we have at our disposal probabilistically consistent means for incorporation of the observations in the implemented estimation and for effective combination of the gained “knowledge” by the nodes in the network. The presented theory will be demonstrated by examples. They include linear regression, Kalman filtering, logistic regression, and inference of an inhomogeneous Poisson process.
Far-red radiation promotes growth of seedlings by increasing leaf expansion and whole-plant net assimilation

Abstract By definition, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) includes wavelengths between 400 and 700 nm and thus, far-red radiation (FR, 700–800 nm) is excluded when the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) is measured and reported. However, FR radiation [and the ratio of red (R; 600–700 nm) to FR] regulates phytochrome-mediated morphological and developmental plant responses to promote radiation capture and survival under shade. We postulated that the inclusion of FR in a radiation spectrum would have little effect on photosynthesis but would increase radiation capture and plant growth, while accelerating the subsequent flowering of shade-avoiding species. Geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum), petunia (Petunia × hybrida), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), and impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) were grown at 20 °C under an 18-h photoperiod provided by sole-source lighting from light-emitting diodes that included 32 μmol m−2 s−1 of blue and the following intensities of R and FR radiation: R128 (128 μmol m−2 s−1 of R), R128 + FR16, R128 + FR32, R128 + FR64, R96 + FR32, and R64 + FR64. Plant height in all species studied and total leaf area of geranium and snapdragon linearly decreased as the R:FR (or the estimated phytochrome photoequilibrium) of each treatment increased. In geranium and snapdragon, the increase in total leaf area (by 7%) with the addition of FR to the same PPFD subsequently increased shoot dry weight (DW) (by 28–50%) while the increase in total leaf area (by 30–40%) with the partial substitution of R with FR partly compensated for the reduction in PPFD (by 40%), producing a similar shoot DW. Whole-plant net assimilation of geranium, snapdragon, and impatiens increased with additional FR radiation, showing a linear relationship with the calculated yield photon flux density of each radiation treatment. In addition, inclusion of FR during seedling growth promoted flowering in the long-day plant snapdragon. We conclude that FR radiation increases plant growth indirectly through leaf expansion and directly through whole-plant net assimilation and in at least some species, promotes subsequent flowering.
Beginning with the Larger Social System: Mindfulness and Restorative Justice

This chapter examines the role of mindfulness within restorative justice practices. Restorative justice values the importance of addressing both inter and intrapersonal conflict and pain within a healing or restorative framework. Mindfulness practices emphasize staying with or being with ‘what is’ and experiencing the present moment without averting attention from difficult emotions or dialogue. Although many exceptional circle keepers/facilitators may intuitively or purposefully incorporate mindfulness practices, there has been a notable absence of research about the formal integration of the two practices. The example and suggestions in this chapter provide a framework for that integration.
Safety of MEDI4736 (anti-PD-L1 antibody) administered concomitant with weekly nab-paclitaxel and dose dense doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (ddAC) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for stage I-III triple negative breast cancer (TNBC): A Phase I/II trial.

572Background: Pathologic complete response (pCR) rates to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in TNBC plateaued at 40% with existing regimens, the co-administration of an immune checkpoint inhibitor might increase pCR rate. The objective of the Phase I portion of this trial was to assess the safety of administering MEDI4736 concomitant with sequential taxane and anthracycline chemotherapy. Methods: The Phase I part followed the 3+3 design exploring two dose levels of MEDI4736 (3 and 10 mg/kg iv q2wk) in combination with weekly nab-paclitaxel (100 mg/m2) x 12 followed by ddAC x 4. Dose limiting toxicities (DLT) were evaluated during the entire 20 weeks of therapy and were defined as (1) gr 4 immune related adverse event (irAE), (2) gr 3 irAE that did not resolve to gr 2 within 3 days or to ≤ gr 1 within 14 days, (3) > gr 3 colitis or pneumonitis, (4) ≥ gr 3 non-irAE causally related to MEDI4736. Results: 3 patients completed therapy at the 3 mg/kg dose without any DLT, 1 additional patient refused further study medi...
Federally Qualified Health Center Clinicians And Staff Increasingly Dissatisfied With Workplace Conditions

Better working conditions for clinicians and staff could help primary care practices implement delivery system innovations and help sustain the US primary care workforce. Using longitudinal surveys, we assessed the experience of clinicians and staff in 296 clinical sites that participated in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Advanced Primary Care Practice Demonstration. Participating FQHCs were expected to achieve, within three years, patient-centered medical home recognition at level 3—the highest level possible. During 2013–14, clinicians and staff in these FQHCs reported statistically significant declines in multiple measures of professional satisfaction, work environment, and practice culture. There were no significant improvements on any surveyed measure. These findings suggest that working conditions in FQHCs have deteriorated recently. Whether findings would be similar in other primary care practices is unknown. Although we did not identif...
An Answer Bank for Temporal Inference

Answering questions that ask about temporal information involves several forms of inference. In order to develop question answering capabilities that benefit from temporal inference, we believe that a large corpus of questions and answers that are discovered based on temporal information should be available. This paper describes our methodology for creating AnswerTime-Bank, a large corpus of questions and answers on which Question Answering systems can operate using complex temporal inference.
Walnut extract modulates activation of microglia through alteration in intracellular calcium concentration

Diets supplemented with walnuts have shown to protect brain against oxidative and inflammatory cytotoxicity and promote protective cellular and cognitive function. The current study was undertaken to test the hypothesize that whole walnut extract (WNE) inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation by regulating calmodulin (CaM) expression through [Ca2+]i. To test this hypothesis, we used an in vitro model the highly aggressively proliferating immortalized cells, a rat microglial cell line, treated with various concentrations of WNEs. Treatment with WNE (1.5%, 3%, or 6%) induced a slow rise in intracellular calcium in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and this rise became exaggerated when cells were depolarized with potassium chloride (100 mmol/L). Cells treated with WNE (1%, 3%, or 6%) upregulated CaM protein levels, with 1 hour posttreatment being the peak time, regardless of WNE concentration. Interestingly, this WNE-induced upregulation of CaM was blocked by pretreatment with thapsigargin. Additionally, treatment with WNE (1%, 3%, or 6%) 1 hour prior to LPS treatment was found to be effective in preventing LPS-induced upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, upregulation of ionized Ca2+-binding adaptor-1, and downregulation of CaM. These findings suggest that bioactive compounds in walnut are capable of modulating microglial activation through regulation of intracellular calcium and CaM expression. Nutritional interventions using walnuts may be effective in the amelioration of chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration.
Intersubjectivity in Wittgenstein and Freud: Other Minds and the Foundations of Psychiatry

Intersubjectivity, the cooperation of two or more minds, is basic to human behavior, yet eludes the grasp of psychiatry. This paper traces the dilemma to the “problem of other minds” assumed with the epistemologies of modern science. It presents the solution of Wittgenstein's later philosophy, known for his treatment of other minds in terms of “human agreement in language.” Unlike recent studies of “Wittgenstein's psychology,” this one reviews the Philosophical Investigations' “private language argument,” the crux of his mature views on mind. It reads that argument as recording his shift from the modern egocentric paradigm of mind to an intersubjective one. The paper contrasts the merits of Wittgenstein's reduction of subject and object to grammar with the problems of Freud's metapsychological reduction. It shows how Wittgenstein's intersubjective method avoids the excesses of behaviorism and phenomenology, offering a specifically human way to adapt mechanistic and interpretive means to the communicative ends of psychiatry.
Glycine Crystallization During Freezing: The Effects of Salt Form, pH, and Ionic Strength

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to characterize glycine crystallization during freezing of aqueous solutions as a function of the glycine salt form (i.e., neutral glycine, glycine hydrochloride, and sodium glycinate), pH, and ionic strength. Methods. Crystallization was studied by thermal analysis, microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and pulsed Fourier transform nmr spectroscopy. Results. A solution of neutral glycine with no additives undergoes rapid secondary crystallization during freezing, forming the β polymorph, with a eutectic melting temperature of −3.4°C. Glycine hydrochloride solutions undergo secondary crystallization relatively slowly, and the eutectic melting temperature is −28°C. Sodium glycinate crystallizes from frozen solution at an intermediate rate, forming a eutectic mixture with a melting temperature of −17.8°C. Where secondary crystallization does not occur rapidly, a complex glass transition is observed in the −70° to − 85°C temperature range in the DSC thermograms of all systems studied. Rates of secondary crystallization and the type of crystal formed are influenced by solution pH relative the the pKs of glycine, and also by the change in ionic strength caused by adjustment of pH. Increased ionic strength significantly slows the crystallization of neutral glycine and promotes formation of the γ polymorph. Thermal treatment or extended holding times during the freezing process may be necessary in order to promote secondary crystallization and prevent collapse during freeze drying. Conclusions. The results underscore the importance of recognizing that seemingly minor changes in formulation conditions can have profound effects on the physical chemistry of freezing and freeze drying.