cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alternative Adaptive Immunity in Jawless Vertebrates

Jawless vertebrates use variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs) that are generated by RAG-independent combinatorial assembly of leucine-rich repeat cassettes for Ag recognition, instead of the Ig-based Ag receptors used by jawed vertebrates. The VLR genes encode for crescent-shaped proteins that use variable beta-strands and a C-terminal loop to bind to Ags rather than the six CDR loops used by BCRs and TCRs. VLR mAbs have been isolated recently, which enabled the structure of VLR-Ag complexes to be defined. The jawless vertebrate adaptive immune system has many similarities to the Ig-based system of jawed vertebrates, including the compartmentalized development of B-like and T-like lymphocyte lineages that proliferate and differentiate into VLR-secreting plasmacytes and proinflammatory cytokine-producing cells in response to Ags. The definition of common features of the VLR-based and Ig-based systems offers fresh insight into the evolution of adaptive immunity.
Vascular hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease: role of apoE and apoE receptors

Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that has emerged as the most prevalent form of late-life dementia in humans [1]. Production of amyloid-b (Ab) from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its subsequent accumulation, aggregation and deposition in the brain are central events in the pathogenesis of AD [1]. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a major pathological feature of AD where amyloid spreads and deposits throughout the blood vessel walls in the central nervous system. These pathogenic events induce a specific clinical presentation profile including cerebral hemorrhage, stroke, ischemic infarctions, subarachnoid hemorrhage, seizures, cognitive impairment and dementia [2]. While Ab is a key molecule in AD, epidemiological studies have shown that several well-established risk factors for AD, including diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, stroke, hypertension, transient ischemic attacks, microvessel pathology and smoking, have a vascular component that reduces cerebral perfusion [3]. In fact, detection of regional cerebral hypoperfusion through neuroimaging techniques can preclinically identify individuals at risk for AD. Further, cerebral hypoperfusion precedes hypometabolism, cognitive decline, and neurodegeneration in AD [3]. Therefore, disturbance of cerebrovascular system is likely a major contributor to AD pathogenesis. Among the three human apolipoprotein E (apoE) isoforms (E2, E3 and E4), APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset AD. The most consistent finding that differentiates apoE4 from apoE3 is their respective roles in brain Ab clearance, where apoE4 is less efficient than apoE3 in promoting Ab clearance [4]. In addition, APOE4 also increases the risk for CAA and vascular dementia [4]. Because apoE4 is known to damage blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and reduces small cerebral vessels [5], apoE is likely involved in the maintenance of cognitive function through regulating the function of cerebrovascular systems.
A Triad of Subunits from the Gal11/Tail Domain of Srb Mediator Is an In Vivo Target of Transcriptional Activator Gcn4p

The Srb mediator is an important transcriptional coactivator for Gcn4p in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that three subunits of the Gal11/tail domain of mediator, Gal11p, Pgd1p, and Med2p, and the head domain subunit Srb2p make overlapping contributions to the interaction of mediator with recombinant Gcn4p in vitro. Each of these proteins, along with the tail subunit Sin4p, also contributes to the recruitment of mediator by Gcn4p to target promoters in vivo. We found that Gal11p, Med2p, and Pgd1p reside in a stable subcomplex in sin4Delta cells that interacts with Gcn4p in vitro and that is recruited independently of the rest of mediator by Gcn4p in vivo. Thus, the Gal11p/Med2p/Pgd1p triad is both necessary for recruitment of intact mediator and appears to be sufficient for recruitment by Gcn4p as a free subcomplex. The med2Delta mutation impairs the recruitment of TATA binding protein (TBP) and RNA polymerase II to the promoter and the induction of transcription at ARG1, demonstrating the importance of the tail domain for activation by Gcn4p in vivo. Even though the Gal11p/Med2p/Pgd1p triad is the only portion of Srb mediator recruited efficiently to the promoter in the sin4Delta strain, this mutant shows high-level TBP recruitment and wild-type transcriptional induction at ARG1. Hence, the Gal11p/Med2p/Pgd1p triad may contribute to TBP recruitment independently of the rest of mediator.
A longitudinal examination of factors predicting anxiety during the transition to middle school

The transition from elementary to middle or junior high school is commonly regarded as a period of stress and turmoil for young adolescents, and has been associated with changes in anxiety and other psychological problems. However, less is known about risk and resilience factors that may predict these changes. This study examined changes in anxiety, as well as predictors of these changes among 77, predominantly Caucasian (88%), male and female (52%) adolescents from Grades 6 to 8. Repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to examine the predicted grade and gender differences. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the prediction of eighth grade anxiety symptoms by sixth grade self-worth, perceived social acceptance, and social support, as well as the potential moderating role of gender in these relations. Results suggested a significant decrease in anxiety, particularly social anxiety, over this period for boys but not girls. Examination of predictors of changes in anxiety suggested that, in general, global self-worth, social acceptance, and gender were each associated with overall and social anxiety. Findings are integrated with extant literature on developmental changes associated with anxiety and school transitions and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Effects of testosterone on cell-mediated and humoral immunity in non-breeding adult European starlings

One of the primary assumptions of the immunocompetence hypothesis is that testosterone is immunosuppressive. Although many studies in birds and mammals have supported this assumption, conflicting results have been reported in a variety of species. We investigated the effects of testosterone manipulation on both cell-mediated and humoral immunity in adult songbirds, European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Male and female starlings were wild-caught, housed in the laboratory, and implanted with either empty silastic capsules or capsules containing testosterone. Six weeks after implantation, humoral immunity was assessed by injecting the birds with a novel antigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and measuring specific antibody responses 10 and 15 days later via an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. Cell-mediated immunity was assessed 7 weeks after implantation via intradermal injection of the T-cell mitogen phytohemagglutinin into the wing web and measuring the degree of swelling 24 h later. Antibody responses to antigenic challenge were significantly suppressed in testosterone-treated females 10 days postinjection and in both sexes 15 days post-injection. Furthermore, there was a significant inverse relationship between individual variability in antibody responsiveness and plasma testosterone concentrations. Cell-mediated responses to phytohemagglutinin stimulation were also significantly suppressed in testosterone-treated males compared to same-sex controls. Testosterone treatment significantly increased plasma corticosterone concentrations compared to controls, and the possibility of this effect mediating the immunosuppressive effects of testosterone is discussed. The present study is among the first to demonstrate testosterone-induced suppression of both cell-mediated and humoral immunity in a species of songbird. Key words: immune function, cell-mediated, humoral, immunity, birds, starling, phytohemagglutinin, KLH, testosterone, corticosterone, immunocompetence. [Behav Ecol 11:654–662 (2000)]
History QUASSHed: Quantitative Social Scientific History in Perspective

History is different from the other social sciences. Nine contrasting qualities have produced a striking variation between the course of development of quantitative methods in history and that in the rest of the social scientific disciplines. First, historians have framed less compelling research agendas, and feel less constrained by the ones which have been proposed, than do professionals in other fields. Historians borrow, rather than invent theories, prize diversity of insight more than coherence; paradoxically, more are attracted by interpretations which claim to overturn or replace older ones entirely, rather than those which stress their continuity with previous structures of understanding. If historians are often classified as belonging to one "school" or another, the underlying educational philosophy is decidedly progressive, the assignments only roughly structured, the discipline very loose.
Past/forward policy-making: transforming Chinese engineering education since the Reform and Opening-up

Although engineering education has played important roles in China’s growing power and influence on the world stage, engineering education policy since the Reform and Opening-up in the late 1970s has not been well documented in current English-language scholarship. Informed by historical and sociological studies of education, engineering and engineering education, this paper attempts to address this scholarly gap by relating contemporary Chinese engineering education policy-making to its broader historical, cultural and ideological contexts. Based on analysis of policy documents and reports released by the Chinese government and engineering schools, and drawing on prior scholarship of Chinese (engineering) education policy, this paper employs the concept of ‘past/forward’ as an analytic lens to interpret and understand four major areas of engineering education policy change in contemporary China: institutional reform, disciplines and majors, training objectives, and curriculum reform.
Stakeholder Audits: An Alternative Approach to Environmental Auditing

Summary NGOs in the United States (US) are pioneering an innovative approach to the question of environmental auditing in industry. Instead of relying upon industries to evaluate themselves, citizens groups and trade unions are requesting detailed disclosures from companies as well as the right to conduct their own on-site audits of industrial environmental and safety performance. This article will review this alternative approach to environmental auditing and makes several recommendations for implementing effective policies for stakeholder participation in health, safety and environment matters.
Saliency detection via divergence analysis: A unified perspective

A number of bottom-up saliency detection algorithms have been proposed in the literature. Since these have been developed from intuition and principles inspired by psychophysical studies of human vision, the theoretical relations among them are unclear. In this paper, we present a unifying perspective. Saliency of an image area is defined in terms of divergence between certain feature distributions estimated from the central part and its surround. We show that various, seemingly different saliency estimation algorithms are in fact closely related. We also discuss some commonly used center-surround selection strategies. Experiments with two datasets are presented to quantify the relative advantages of these algorithms.
Gonadotrophin releasing hormone pulse generator activity before and during sexual maturation in girls : new insights

The activity of the gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator during pubertal transition was investigated in 40 healthy girls 7-18 years of age. Ten were pre-pubertal, seven were in early puberty, and 23 were post-menarcheal. Serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured with immunofluorimetric assays, which have a sensitivity approximately 100-fold that of radioimmunoassay, in samples taken at 10-min intervals for 24 h during basal conditions, during Nal-Glu antagonist suppression, and in response to GnRH stimulation (10 micrograms). Serum levels of androstenedione, testosterone and oestradiol were measured by radioimmunoassay. Our data show that the GnRH pulse generator is functionally active in prepubertal girls with selective expression of LH and FSH pulses after the onset of sleep. The onset of puberty is associated with a greater increase in LH pulse amplitude than frequency. These overall changes are punctuated by a switch of wake/sleep activities of GnRH pulse generator with a progressive increase in day-time pulsatility and a gradual reduction of sleep-entrained amplification. While LH pulsatility appears to be highly GnRH dependent at all ages, a remarkable decrease in the predominance of GnRH regulation of FSH pulsatility occurs in conjunction with ovarian activation.
Kinetics of Stimulated Emission in Neutron-Pumped Nuclear Laser Systems

Plane wave solution of kinetic equations for a Mossbauer transition graser, pumped by an instantaneous neutron burst, shows low group velocity and reduced nonexponential amplification prolonged by superradiance when account is taken of time-dependence (“inertia”) in the resonance cross section and of finite neutron moderation time and indicates that directly pumped grasers, assuming that radiation damage and isomer ratios do not preclude their functioning, should employ resonance capture and recoilless transitions between excited states.
Spatial Management of Invasive Species: Pathways and Policy Options

In addressing the problem of invasive species, decision makers have a variety of options, each targeting different aspects as it evolves over time and space. We develop a 2-region bioeconomic model that includes several transmission pathways that spread the invader. Within each region, inspections, removal efforts, and sustainable land management practices, including habitat restoration and less damaging production activities, are available to the regulator. We investigate the implications of different transmission pathways and second-best policies on the control patterns and invasive populations. Second-best settings where certain controls are not available to the regulator result in large distortions on the optimal use of the land. Overall, we find that non-linear interactions between regions, pathways, and controls are significant determinants of the optimal management of invasive species.
Stability analysis of the consensus-based distributed LMS algorithm

We deal with consensus-based online estimation and tracking of (non-) stationary signals using ad hoc wireless sensor networks (WSNs). A distributed (D-) least-mean square (LMS) like algorithm is developed, which offers simplicity and flexibility, while it solely relies on single-hop communications among sensors. Starting from a pertinent squared-error cost, we apply the alternating-direction method of multipliers to minimize it in a distributed fashion; and utilize stochastic approximation tools to eliminate the need for a complete statistical characterization of the processes of interest. By resorting to stochastic averaging and perturbed Lyapunov techniques, we further establish that local estimates are exponentially convergent to the true parameter of interest when observations are noise free and linearly related to it. This convergence result is necessary for bounding the estimation error in the presence of noise, and holds not only when regressors are white across time but even when they exhibit temporal correlations. Numerical tests confirm the merits of the novel D-LMS algorithm and its stability analysis.
GC-MS metabolomic differentiation of selected citrus varieties with different sensitivity to citrus huanglongbing.

Abstract Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most destructive disease of citrus worldwide. The rapid identification of tolerant varieties is considered a critical step towards controlling HLB. GC–MS metabolite profiles were used to differentiate HLB-tolerant citrus varieties ‘ Poncirus trifoliata ’ (TR) and ‘Carrizo citrange’ (CAR) from HLB-sensitive varieties ‘Madam Vinous sweet orange’ (MV) and ‘Duncan’ grapefruit (DG). PCR analyses revealed that MV was the most sensitive variety followed by DG and the tolerant varieties CAR and TR. Metabolomic multivariate analysis allowed classification of the cultivars in apparent agreement with PCR results. Higher levels of the amino acids l -proline, l -serine, and l -aspartic acid, as well as the organic acids butanedioic and tetradecanoic acid, and accumulation of galactose in healthy plants were characteristic of the most sensitive variety MV when compared to all other varieties. Only galactose was significantly higher in DG when compared to the tolerant varieties TR and CAR. The tolerant varieties showed higher levels of l -glycine and mannose when compared to sensitive varieties MV and DG. Profiling of the sensitive varieties MV and DG over a 20-week period after inoculation of those with the HLB-containing material revealed strong responses of metabolites to HLB infection that differed from the response of the tolerant varieties. Significant changes of l -threonine level in the leaves from old mature flushes and l -serine, l -threonine, scyllo-inositol, hexadecanoic acid, and mannose in the leaves from young developing flushes were observed in MV. Significant changes in myo-inositol in old flushes and l -proline, indole, and xylose in new flushes were observed in DG.
Dynamics of Aboveground Phytomass of the Circumpolar Arctic Tundra During the Past Three Decades

Numerous studies have evaluated the dynamics of Arctic tundra vegetation throughout the past few decades, using remotely sensed proxies of vegetation, such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). While extremely useful, these coarse-scale satellite-derived measurements give us minimal information with regard to how these changes are being expressed on the ground, in terms of tundra structure and function. In this analysis, we used a strong regression model between NDVI and aboveground tundra phytomass, developed from extensive field-harvested measurements of vegetation biomass, to estimate the biomass dynamics of the circumpolar Arctic tundra over the period of continuous satellite records (1982-2010). We found that the southernmost tundra subzones (C-E) dominate the increases in biomass, ranging from 20 to 26%, although there was a high degree of heterogeneity across regions, floristic provinces, and vegetation types. The estimated increase in carbon of the aboveground live vegetation of 0.40 Pg C over the past three decades is substantial, although quite small relative to anthropogenic C emissions. However, a 19.8% average increase in aboveground biomass has major implications for nearly all aspects of tundra ecosystems including hydrology, active layer depths, permafrost regimes, wildlife and human use of Arctic landscapes. While spatially extensive on-the-ground measurements of tundra biomass were conducted in the development of this analysis, validation is still impossible without more repeated, long-term monitoring of Arctic tundra biomass in the field.
Hepatic Lipase Deficiency Attenuates Mouse Ovarian Progesterone Production Leading to Decreased Ovulation and Reduced Litter Size

Abstract The lipolytic enzyme hepatic lipase (HL) may facilitate mobilization of cholesterol substrate for ovarian steroidogenesis. We investigated whether HL was necessary for optimum reproduction in the female mouse by analyzing breeding performance and ovarian responses to gonadotropins in HL−/− mice. HL−/− female mice bred with HL−/− males had the same pregnancy success rate and pup survival rate as did wild-type (WT) mice but had significantly smaller litters, producing 1.7 fewer pups per litter. Mice were primed with eCG/hCG, and at 6 h post-hCG the HL−/− mice had smaller ovaries than did the WT mice. HL deficiency specifically affected ovarian weight; adrenal gland weights did not differ between WT and HL−/− mice. HL−/− mice weighed more than age-matched WT mice. Between the two mouse genotypes, uterine weights were the same, indicating that estrogen production was equivalent. However, the HL−/− ovaries produced significantly less progesterone than did the WT ovaries within 6 h of hCG stimulation. ...
Where the wild things were

nineteenth-century France. In the region known as the Cevennes, villages were doing well: the silk and chestnut industries were booming, and shepherds banded together to make the yearly ‘transhumance,’ bringing thousands of sheep up to the rich pastures of Mont Aigoual in springtime. Life was good– too good. Clearing of the land for pasture and crops had been going on for at least 1⁄2ve thousand years, but population booms in the late 1700s greatly overtaxed the land. Clearing and cutting trees for pastureland and 1⁄2rewood had denuded the old forested lands. Whole mountainsides were barren. By 1856, the normal heavy rains of this region caused abnormal floodwaters. When rains came, the now loose soil became mudslides pouring down into the valleys and towns below. Once bountiful fresh springs and clear streams became silted and undrinkable. “On the 4th of October, 1861,” wrote Fabre in his diary, “clouds from the southeast, which had amassed for three days on the high summits of the Aigoual, burst suddenly and poured into the valley such quantities of water and stones that all the roads were cut off and the lands silted up . . . . On [the] 28th of October 1868, the disaster reoccurred . . . local people were astonished. Flood water from the Herault [river] had never before been so sudden nor so strong; it reached second stories.” In 1875, the French National Forestry Commission gave Fabre a monumental task: to repair the environmental problems in the Cevennes. Over the next thirty years, Fabre, with the help of botanist Charles Flahaut, restored some 3,500 hectares, reaching 11,800 hectares by the time the Parc de Cevennes was created. To recover a working watershed, these two unintentional environmentalists argued the need to restore the land as it was before the clear-cutting. This was not an easy task: they had to win over angry locals, who feared the loss of pastureland for their sheep. They
Prolotherapy for tissue repair.

P rolotherapy is recognized as one of the most popular complementary and alternative medical therapies to treat chronic musculoskeletal and arthritic pain. This therapeutic approach has been in clinical practice for more than 100 years to treat various chronic conditions under different names. Dr. George Hackett formalized the therapy in the 1950s as a viable therapeutic strategy to treat ligamentous laxity and related musculoskeletal conditions. Briefly, prolotherapy is an injection therapy consisting of repeated injections of an irritant solution at or near the site of connective tissue dysfunction over the course of several months. Even though several clinical and preclinical studies demonstrated the potential of the therapeutic approach, the mechanism of action of the injection therapy is not fully known. It was known previously by the name sclerotherapy based on the observation that the injected solution was sclerosing the connective tissue. This property has shown to stabilize joints by tightening interarticular ligaments and joint capsule
Development of trust in electronic mentoring relationships

With the rising number of geographically dispersed workers and employees working from home (telecommuting), mentoring relationships are being supported, to various degrees, by Computer-Mediated Communications (CMC). The purpose of this study is to increase understanding of the challenges of developing trust in mentoring partnerships when face-to-face communication is very limited. Five female business leaders participated in a focus group discussion on this topic. In-depth interviews were performed with five additional managers. The results of the qualitative analysis were used to create a research model on the impact of CMC Use on the Development of Trust in Electronic Mentoring.
Workplace culture, social interactions, and supports for transition-age young adults

The role of the workplace and its culture in supporting social inclusion and workplace support for employees with disabilities is discussed and results of a qualitative study of the workplace experiences of 8 young adults with developmental disabilities presented. Data were collected using participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Four characteristics of supportive workplaces were identified: (a) multiple context relationships, (b) specific social opportunities, (c) a personal and team-building management style, and (d) interdependent job designs. The more supportive workplaces had all of these characteristics, suggesting that collectively they represent key features of a supportive workplace culture. Implications for job development and job creation are identified.
Percutaneous Lumbar Diskectomy.

The development of an approach for percutaneous lumbar diskectomy (PLD) began over 20 years ago. Since then, clinical investigations of manual and automated PLD techniques have recorded an average success rate of 50% to 70%. Currently, the indications for PLD include (1) a major complaint of acute unilateral leg pain localized to a single dermatome associated with a single-disk herniation; (2) neurologic signs or symptoms appropriate to a single-disk herniation; (3) magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomographic, or diskographic evidence of a single herniation contained within the annulus of the lumbar disk; and (4) failure of a well-managed course of conservative treatment to relieve the pain and symptoms. Conventional laminotomy/laminectomy, with or without the use of a microscope or surgical loupes, remains the usual method of surgical care for symptomatic lumbar disk disease. The role of PLD awaits further prospective randomized controlled studies. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 1993;1:33-40
STABLE ISOTOPE GEOCHEMISTRY by John W. Valley and David R. Cole, Eds., Reviews in Mineralogy & Geochemistry (2001) vol. 43, 662 p. Mineralogical Society of America, Washington, D.C. $32 ($24 for MSA members).

This volume was prepared for a like-titled short course that took place at the 2001 Geological Society of America annual meeting in Boston. The objective of the course was to review select topics within the field of stable isotope geochemistry that the organizers felt had emerged or greatly advanced since 1986, the year of publication of an earlier volume in the Reviews series that focussed on stable isotopes ( Stable Isotopes in High Temperature Geological Processes . J.W. Valley, H.P. Taylor Jr., and J.R. O’Neil, Editors, Reviews in Mineralogy, vol. 16). Stable Isotope Geochemistry consists of 13 separate chapters authored or coauthored by 17 leading researchers. The chapter titles are: (1) Equilibrium Oxygen, Hydrogen and Carbon Isotope Fractionation Factors Applicable to Geologic Systems , (2) Rates and Mechanisms of Isotopic Exchange , (3) Fractionation of Carbon and Hydrogen Isotopes in Biosynthetic Processes , (4 ) Stable Isotope Variations in Extraterrestrial Materials , (5 ) Oxygen Isotope Variations of Basaltic …
Group Finder: Finding the "Right": Online Support Groups for People in Recovery

Nowadays, more people in recovery choose to seek help from online support groups. This paper presents Group Finder, a content-based online support groups recommender that makes suggestions by using the measurements of post contents in social and psychological dimensions.
Immunotherapy-Associated Hemolytic Anemia with Pure Red-Cell Aplasia

The authors report a case of immunotherapy-associated autoimmune hemolytic anemia with pure red-cell aplasia in a patient receiving the anti–PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab for therapy of mucosal malig...
China’s Rare Earth Supply Chain: Illegal Production, and Response to new Cerium Demand

As the demand for personal electronic devices, wind turbines, and electric vehicles increases, the world becomes more dependent on rare earth elements. Given the volatile, Chinese-concentrated supply chain, global attempts have been made to diversify supply of these materials. However, the overall effect of supply diversification on the entire supply chain, including increasing low-value rare earth demand, is not fully understood. This paper is the first attempt to shed some light on China’s supply chain from both demand and supply perspectives, taking into account different Chinese policies such as mining quotas, separation quotas, export quotas, and resource taxes. We constructed a simulation model using Powersim Studio that analyzes production (both legal and illegal), production costs, Chinese and rest-of-world demand, and market dynamics. We also simulated new demand of an automotive aluminum-cerium alloy in the US market starting from 2018. Results showed that market share of the illegal sector has grown since 2007–2015, ranging between 22% and 25% of China’s rare earth supply, translating into 59–65% illegal heavy rare earths and 14–16% illegal light rare earths. There will be a shortage in certain light and heavy rare earths given three production quota scenarios and constant demand growth rate from 2015 to 2030. The new simulated Ce demand would require supply beyond that produced in China. Finally, we illustrate revenue streams for different ore compositions in China in 2015.
On Scientists and Advocacy

Howe considers how researchers, environmentalists, and the public have interpreted and responded to the problem of global warming.
Synthesis and Post-Synthesis Optimization of Novel Copper Biocomposites and Exploration of Potential Applications

Previous experiments have documented the discovery of novel high-aspect ratio structures (HARS) composed of cystine and copper synthesized in a physiological environment. These HARS scale in size from nano to micro dimensions and have favorable properties such as biocompatibility, long-term stability, and non-agglomerating properties. Here we tested for: optimal synthesis conditions, stability limits, and their application to uniformly coat films. Because the HARS have an amino acid component, functionalization using layer-by-layer techniques may provide strategies for improved imaging, masking, and ordering the structures for controlled interaction with cells in 2d and 3d spaces.
Research and Implementation of Communication Protocol in Embedded Network

This article presents communication principle of fibre channel protocol.Because of the complexity of the process,Here a high-speed and low-latency communication solution is adopted.Also a implemented model is adopted base upon the new communication protocol,which will facilitate developement of high-speed and low-latency embedded network communication software.
Comparison of the Late Carboniferous Reef Community Ecosystem in Guizhou and Guangxi

To better understand the effects of biological and environmental factors of late Carboniferous reefs on organic reef development, through the reef community ecology and environment,comparative study w as done w ith the late Carboniferous ecological characteristics of reef-building communities,effect of the biological factors on reef community development,the reef development background and construction scale in Guizhou and Guangxi. The key species occupied obvious dominance,reef-builders grew rapidly and had a strong colonial ability,and the large-scale reefs,made reefs develop more maturely in Houchang,Guizhou. While in Langping, Guangxi,no obvious key and dominant species appeared,reef-builders w ere not prominent in their ecological features and poor reef-building ability,the environmental influence of shoal w as significant and small-scale reefs w ere the direct causes of poor development of reefs.
Self-sensing structural composites in aerospace engineering

Abstract Self-sensing structural composite materials refer to structural materials that can sense their own condition (strain, stress, damage and temperature), without embedded or attached sensors. Self-sensing based on electrical resistance measurement is effective in continuous carbon fibre polymer matrix composites, which are important for aerospace structures. This effectiveness stems from the electrical conductivity of the carbon fibres and the consequent effect of the composite microstructure on the electrical resistivity of the composite. The volume, surface region and interlaminar interface of a carbon fibre composite laminate are all associated with electrical resistance, which serves to indicate the condition of the laminate. By using an array of electrical contacts, spatially distributed sensing is achieved. The strain and stress can be in the longitudinal (in-plane) direction, through-thickness direction or other directions of a laminate. In addition, the joint interface of a fastened joint between two laminates is associated with electrical resistance, which serves to indicate the condition of the joint.
Presentation and management of nasal foreign bodies at a tertiary children's hospital in an American metro area

Abstract Objectives To examine rates of otolaryngology intervention in children presenting to our emergency department with nasal foreign bodies, factors associated with otolaryngology involvement, rates of complications, and details on nasal button battery exposure. Methods All patients presenting with a nasal foreign body to Children's Hospital Colorado from 2007 to 2012 were identified. Factors leading to referral to otolaryngology and operative intervention were examined, as well as complications. Results 102 patients were included. 36 (35%) patients were referred to the otolaryngology clinic, of which 58.9% required operating room intervention. 66 (64.7%) children had their nasal foreign bodies removed in the emergency room, however 30 (45%) of these were removed by an otolaryngology resident or attending physician. Overall, 64.7% of nasal foreign bodies required removal by otolaryngology. Of the 15 objects removed in the operating room, six were button batteries. No septal perforations occurred as a result of nasal button battery exposure. Multivariable logistic regression showed two significant predictors of OR removal: age and disc shaped objects. Conclusion While emergency department providers are comfortable attempting removal of nasal foreign bodies, there was a high rate of otolaryngology intervention. Based on this data, there is a need to educate emergency room providers on nasal anatomy and techniques for nasal foreign body removal.
Rationality, Democracy, and Justice: Why It’s Rational to Vote

The paradox of nonvoting claims that, because one’s vote is not pivotal, it is not instrumentally rational to vote. The paradox assumes that voters care only about whether an issue wins or loses, not about vote margins. But it is conceptually mistaken in insisting that redundant votes have no causal influence on the outcome. Next, if a voter also cares about margins, then each vote is pivotal towards that end. The paradoxicalist now objects that such a vote is imperceptible in advancing the public good. Smallness of benefit does not mean absence of benefit, however, and we observe that generally humans contribute imperceptibly to low-cost, continuous public goods. Many voters say they are motivated by duty to contribute and desire to influence the outcome. Thus, it is possibly rational to vote. The same arguments apply against the claim that citizens are necessarily in a state of rational ignorance about politics.
Abstract 2062: Nanoemulsion formulations for anticancer agent piplartine characterization, toxicological, pharmacokinetics and efficacy studies

Piplartine (PL) is an alkaloid found in black-pepper and known for its anticancer activity, however, due to poor solubility and lack of proper formulation, its use for oral administration is a challenge. The objective of this study was to formulate PL into nanoemulsion drug delivery system for oral delivery and thereafter evaluate toxicity, pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy. Optimized nanoemulsions were formulated by self-emulsification as well as by homogenization-sonication method. Two nanoemulsions enhanced the solubility of PL with low polydispersity index and high stability. Both PL loaded nanoemulsions exhibited enhanced dissolution, cellular permeability and cytotoxic effects as compared to pure PL. Formulation of PL into nanoemulsions did not obstruct its cellular uptake in cancer cells. Blank or PL loaded nanoemulsions did not exhibited toxicity in mice upon daily oral administration for 60 days. Pharmacokinetics of PL followed a two-compartment model after intravenous administration. PL loaded nanoemulsions showed 1.5-fold increase in oral bioavailability as compared to free PL. Finally, PL loaded nanoemulsions showed marked anti-tumor activity at a dose of 10 mg/kg in melanoma tumor bearing mice. In conclusion, for the first time we have developed a stable nanoemulsion delivery system for oral administration of PL, which enhanced its solubility, oral bioavailability and anti-tumor efficacy. Citation Format: Neel Fofaria, Alok Ranjan, Hussaini Syed Sha Qhattal, Xinli Liu, Sanjay K. Srivastava. Nanoemulsion formulations for anticancer agent piplartine characterization, toxicological, pharmacokinetics and efficacy studies. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2062.
Burrowing through the Heterogeneity: Review of Mouse Models of PTCL-NOS.

Currently, there are nineteen different PTCL entities recognized by the World Health Organization; however, approximately 70 percent of PTCL diagnoses fall within one of three subtypes (i.e. peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified [PTCL-NOS], anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma). PTCL-NOS is a grouping of extra-thymic neoplasms that represent a challenging and heterogeneous subset of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Research into PTCLs has been cumbersome as the lack of defining cytogenetic, histological, and molecular features has stymied diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. Similarly, the lack of genetically manipulated murine models that faithfully recapitulate disease characteristics were absent prior to the turn of the century. Herein, we review the literature concerning existing mouse models for PTLC-NOS, while paying particular attention to the etiology of this heterogeneous disease.
Delivering Police Services Effectively

This book addresses the various strategies that are available to police management, such as consolidation, regionalization, and amalgamation of police agencies; new public management (NPM); enhanced performance management; civilianization; and organizational restructuring. It fills the gap in the research as to how police agencies have reacted to the environmental and fiscal changes since the 1980s. The book examines the strategies employed and the effect on police and their delivery of service.
Differential long-term stability of microRNAs and RNU6B snRNA in 12-20 year old archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens.

The quantitative analysis of microRNA (miRNA) gene expression in archived formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues has been instrumental to identifying their potential roles in cancer biology, diagnosis, and prognosis. However, it remains unclear whether miRNAs remain stable in FFPE tissues stored for long periods of time. Here we report Taqman real-time RT-PCR quantification of miR-21, miR-141, miR-221, and RNU6B small nuclear RNA (snRNA) levels from 92 radical prostatectomy specimens stored for 12–20 years in FFPE blocks. The relative stability of each transcript over time was assessed using general linear models. The correlation between transcript quantities, sample age, and RNA integrity number (RIN) were determined utilizing Spearman rank correlation. All transcript levels linearly decreased with sample age, demonstrating a clear loss of miRNA stability and RNU6B snRNA stability over time. The most rapid rates of degradation were observed for RNU6B and miR-21, while miR-141 and miR-221 were more stable. RNA quality was not correlated with sample age or with miR-21, miR-221, or RNU6B snRNA levels. Conversely, miR-141 levels increased with RNA quality. MiRNA and snRNA levels gradually decreased over an eight year period in FFPE tissue blocks. Sample age was the most consistent feature associated with miRNA stability. The reference snRNA, RUN6B, was more rapidly degraded when compared to miR-141 and miR-221 miRNAs. Various miRNAs demonstrated differential rates of degradation. Quantitative miRNA studies from long-term archived FFPE tissues may therefore benefit from epidemiologic study design or statistical analysis methods that take into account differential storage-dependent transcript degradation.
Tay–Sachs Disease

Tay–Sachs disease is a rare recessively inherited disease of brain lipid metabolism. It is one of the best known lysosomal storage diseases because of its striking clinical features, its predilection for certain population subgroups, and the application of carrier screening for this disease in the first successful effort of large-scale genetic disease prevention. Once its molecular pathogenesis became known, a family of diseases was discovered having in common nerve cell storage of GM2 ganglioside but differing in their clinical aspects and molecular DNA abnormalities. Effective treatment remains elusive, but the availability of animal models now permits trials of novel approaches to nervous system repair in Tay–Sachs and related forms of GM2 gangliosidosis.
Differences in the imaging features and distribution of non-indolent and indolent mastocytosis: a single institution experience of 29 patients.

Abstract Purpose Compare imaging features of indolent and non-indolent mastocytosis. Methods For 29 patients, imaging features, imaging indications, and distribution of indolent and non-indolent mastocytosis subtypes were analyzed. Results 16/29 (55%) patients had three distinct patterns of osseous abnormality, not significantly differing between cohorts. Non-indolent disease was more likely to present with hepatomegaly ( p =0.0004), splenomegaly ( p =0.0097), and lymphadenopathy ( p =0.0079). CT, was the most common initial imaging modality, ordered to stage disease in 20 of 29 patients (69%). Conclusion Understanding patterns of involvement of indolent and nonindolent mastocytosis across modalities could assist radiologists in evaluating mastocytosis.
Pharmacological inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase or genetic deletion reduces diclofenac-induced gastric ulcers.

Abstract Aims This research was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that gastric ulcers caused by the NSAID diclofenac sodium (DCF) can be prevented by the soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor TPPU. Main methods Mice were administered a single dose of 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg of DCF. Once an ulcerative dose of DCF was chosen, mice were pretreated with TPPU for 7 days at 0.1 mg/kg to evaluate anti-ulcer effects of the sEH inhibitor on anatomy, histopathology, pH, inflammatory markers and epithelial apoptosis of stomachs. Key findings Diclofenac caused ulceration of the stomach at a dose of 100 mg/kg and a time post dose of 6 h. Ulcers generated under these conditions were associated with a significant increase in the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum and increased apoptosis compared to control mice. Pretreatment with TPPU resulted in a decrease of ulceration in mice treated with DCF with a significant decrease in the level of apoptosis, TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum in comparison to diclofenac-treated mice. TPPU did not affect the pH of the stomach, whereas omeprazole elevated the pH of the stomach as expected. A similar anti-ulcer effect was observed in sEH gene knockout mice treated with DCF. Significance The sEH inhibitor TPPU decreases the NSAID-induced stomach ulcers.
Geochemical and Microbial Community Attributes in Relation to Hyporheic Zone Geological Facies

The hyporheic zone (HZ) is the active ecotone between the surface stream and groundwater, where exchanges of nutrients and organic carbon have been shown to stimulate microbial activity and transformations of carbon and nitrogen. To examine the relationship between sediment texture, biogeochemistry, and biological activity in the Columbia River HZ, the grain size distributions for sediment samples were characterized to define geological facies, and the relationships among physical properties of the facies, physicochemical attributes of the local environment, and the structure and activity of associated microbial communities were examined. Mud and sand content and the presence of microbial heterotrophic and nitrifying communities partially explained the variability in many biogeochemical attributes such as C:N ratio and %TOC. Microbial community analysis revealed a high relative abundance of putative ammonia-oxidizing Thaumarchaeota and nitrite-oxidizing Nitrospirae. Network analysis showed negative relationships between sets of co-varying organisms and sand and mud contents, and positive relationships with total organic carbon. Our results indicate grain size distribution is a good predictor of biogeochemical properties, and that subsets of the overall microbial community respond to different sediment texture. Relationships between facies and hydrobiogeochemical properties enable facies-based conditional simulation/mapping of these properties to inform multiscale modeling of hyporheic exchange and biogeochemical processes.
CARs on a highway with roadblocks

On August 30th 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved KYMRIAH™ (tisagenlecleucel, CTL019) for the treatment of patients up to 25 years of age with B-cell precursor acute lymphobla...
Early blood pressure response to isometric exercise is attenuated in obese individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery has been shown to reduce the blood pressure (BP) response to isometric handgrip exercise. By examining the time course of the BP response to exercise, we found, in contrast to obe...
Framework for Comparing Approaches to Family Therapy

Family therapy methods and techniques are extremely diverse. This article presents a method for comparing the major forms of family intervention that are used by social work practitioners and descr...
Bridging the gap between feedstock growers and users: the study of a coppice poplar-based biorefinery

In the biofuel industry, land productivity is important to feedstock growers and conversion process product yield is important to the biorefinery. The crop productivity, however, may not positively correlate with bioconversion yield. Therefore, it is important to evaluate sugar yield and biomass productivity. In this study, 2-year-old poplar trees harvested in the first coppice cycle, including one low-productivity hybrid and one high-productivity hybrid, were collected from two poplar tree farms. Through steam pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis, the bioconversion yields of low- and high-productivity poplar hybrids were compared for both sites. The low-productivity hybrids had 9–19% higher sugar yields than the high-productivity hybrids, although they have the similar chemical composition. Economic calculations show the impact on the plantation and biorefinery of using the two feedstocks. Growing a high-productivity hybrid means the land owner would use 11–26% less land (which could be used for other crops) or collect $2.53–$3.46 MM/year extra revenue from the surplus feedstock. On the other side, the biorefinery would receive 5–10% additional revenue using the low-productivity hybrid. We propose a business model based on the integration of the plantation and the biorefinery. In this model, different feedstocks are assessed using a metric of product tonnage per unit land per year. Use of this new economic metric bridges the gap between feedstock growers and users to maximize the overall production efficiency.