cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving Children’s Social Competence

A child’s social competence continues to receive extensive attention from researchers, developmentalists, and social practitioners (e.g., Edelson & Rose, 1981; LaGreca & Santogrossi, 1980; LeCroy, 1983; Swetnam, Peterson, & Clark, 1983). By social competence we are referring to the ability to produce desired effects on others in specific social situations. Research is revealing how important social interactions can be in the healthy development of children. This focus on social interaction can be facilitated through the use of small groups. Models for small-group treatment have lagged behind the development of new knowledge on helping children obtain a greater degree of social competence. In fact, many programs designed to help children develop better social skills have not even utilized the natural format of small groups for teaching children these skills. Many practitioners have continued to work individually with children ignoring the benefits the small group can provide.
Intranasal Administration of Interferon Beta Attenuates Neuronal Apoptosis via the JAK1/STAT3/BCL-2 Pathway in a Rat Model of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is an injury that often leads to detrimental neurological deficits. Currently, there are no established therapies for HIE and it is critical to develo...
Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase enables anaplerotic refilling of TCA cycle intermediates in stroke-affected brain

Ischemic stroke results in excessive release of glutamate, which contributes to neuronal cell death. Here, we test the hypothesis that otherwise neurotoxic glutamate can be productively metabolized by glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) to maintain cellular energetics and protect the brain from ischemic stroke injury. The GOT-dependent metabolism of glutamate was studied in primary neural cells and in stroke-affected C57-BL6 mice using magnetic resonance spectroscopy and GC-MS. Extracellular Glu sustained cell viability under hypoglycemic conditions and increased GOT-mediated metabolism in vitro. Correction of stroke-induced hypoxia using supplemental oxygen in vivo lowered Glu levels as measured by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. GOT knockdown abrogated this effect and caused ATP loss in the stroke-affected brain. GOT overexpression increased anaplerotic refilling of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates in mouse brain during ischemic stroke. Furthermore, GOT overexpression not only reduced is...
Information Flow in Streaming 3D Video

We describe streaming 3D video on the Argus sensor space. Argus is a Beowulf-style distributed computer with 64 processors and 64 video camera/capture pairs. Argus is a test-bed for comparing sensor space modeling and reconstruction algorithms. We describe the implementation of tomographic and stereo triangulation algorithms on this space and consider mappings from the sensor space to associated display spaces.
The scale of geometric texture

The most defining characteristic of texture is its underlying geometry. Although the appearance of texture is as dynamic as its illumination and viewing conditions, its geometry remains constant. In this work, we study the fundamental characteristic properties of texture geometry—self similarity and scale variability—and exploit them to perform surface normal estimation, and geometric texture classification. Textures, whether they are regular or stochastic, exhibit some form of repetition in their underlying geometry. We use this property to derive a photometric stereo method uniquely tailored to utilize the redundancy in geometric texture. Using basic observations about the scale variability of texture geometry, we derive a compact, rotation invariant, scale-space representation of geometric texture. To evaluate this representation we introduce an extensive new texture database that contains multiple distances as well as in-plane and out-of plane rotations. The high accuracy of the classification results indicate the descriptive yet compact nature of our texture representation, and demonstrates the importance of geometric texture analysis, pointing the way towards improvements in appearance modeling and synthesis.
The Epidemiology of Healthcare-associated Infections in Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Units.

Background:Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent serious complications for patients within pediatric cardiac intensive care units (CICU). HAIs are associated with increased morbidity, mortality and resource utilization. There are few studies describing the epidemiology of HAIs across the
The Rocky Road to High Temperature Superconductivity

The story of high temperature superconductivity has its genesis in the stars, particularly in one star, our sun. In the 1860’s, unusual spectral lines were observed from the emitted light of the hot incandescent gases in the chromosphere of the sun. These spectral lines appeared unrelated to any then known substance on earth. The gas was given the name “helium” deriving from the Greek word “helios” — sun. At the turn of the century, helium was discovered on earth, and in 1908, the Dutch scientist, Kamerlingh Qnnes, succeeded in liquifying helium gas at a temperature a few degrees above absolute zero. This set the stage for the discovery of superconductivity.
Atrial fibrillation symptom clusters and associated clinical characteristics and outcomes: A cross-sectional secondary data analysis.

Background:Symptom clusters among adults with atrial fibrillation have previously been identified but no study has examined the relationship between symptom clusters and outcomes.Aims:The purpose o...
Long wave infrared spectropolarimetric directional reflectometer (Conference Presentation)

We report on the design, modeling, calibration, and experimental results of a LWIR, spectrally and temporally resolved broad band bi-directional reflectance distribution function measuring device. The system is built using a commercial Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, which presents challenges due to relatively low power output compared to laser based methods. The instrument is designed with a sample area that is oriented normal to gravity, making the device suitable for measuring loose powder materials, liquids, or other samples that can be difficult to measure in a vertical orientation. The team built a radiometric model designed to understand the trade space available for various design choices as well as to predict instrument success at measuring the target materials. The radiometric model was built by using the output of commercial non sequential raytracing tools combined with a scripted simulation of the interferometer. The trade space identified in this analysis will be presented. The design was based on moving periscopes with custom off axis parabolas to focus the light onto the sample. The system assembly and alignment will be discussed. The calibration method used for the sensor will be detailed, and preliminary measurements from this research sensor will be presented.
Hydrodynamics of the Bio-Gripper: A Fluid-Driven "Claw Machine" for Soft Microtissue Translocation.

Technological advances in solid organ tissue engineering that rely on the assembly of small tissue-building parts require a novel transport method suited for soft, deformable, living objects of sub...
Transcriptional Regulation in Bacteriophage

We describe mechanisms used by several well-studied virulent and temperate phages to control the expression of viral and host genes. The principal targets of regulation are at the level of transcription: promoter utilization rate, transcription elongation rate, and transcription termination efficiency. The virus-directed changes can be modest or drastic, ranging from chemical modification of a host RNA polymerase subunit to synthesis of a new and structurally dissimilar polymerase. Many of them can be seen as part of larger regulatory strategies that include conquest and destruction of the host for virulent species, and peaceful coexistence with the host for temperate species.
Using Performance Tasks to Improve Quantitative Reasoning in an Introductory Mathematics Course

A full-cycle assessment of our efforts to improve quantitative reasoning in an introductory math course is described. Our initial iteration substituted more open-ended performance tasks for the active learning projects than had been used. Using a quasi-experimental design, we compared multiple sections of the same course and found non-significant gains on a pre/post, rubric-scored, measure of quantitative reasoning. Subsequent course modifications included more explicit emphasis on critical thinking as a course goal and extended experience with the rubric used to score the performance tasks. Results of the second iteration yielded stronger evidence for gains in quantitative reasoning and suggest that the impact of open-ended performance tasks is increased when supported by efforts that emphasize their importance.
Circulating monocytes from prostate cancer patients promote invasion and motility of epithelial cells.

Background Recruited myeloid cells are known to promote cancer initiation, malignant progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapy in the tumor niche. We tested the hypothesis that circulating blood monocytes from advanced prostate cancer (PCa) patients exhibit a protumor phenotype and directly influence the tumor microenvironment in response to tumor-derived signals. Methods Blood monocytes from advanced and stable PCa patients were cultured, and the conditioned media (CM) were collected and analyzed using standard invasion and wound closure assays to measure effects on invasion and motility of PCa tumor cells. We then identified the proteome profile of these monocytes using proteome array and ELISA. Results Conditioned media from circulating monocytes in patients with metastatic prostate cancer (PCa-M) increased invasion of epithelial PCa cells in vitro. Proteome Profiler Analysis revealed that monocyte-derived CM from metastatic castration-resistant (mCRPC) patients presented high levels of chitinase-3-like 1 (CHI3L1, YKL-40) when compared to patients with stable disease (PCa-N) and healthy control individuals (HC). The only described receptor for CHI3L1, interleukin-13 receptor α2 (IL-13Rα2), was significantly up-regulated in the human metastatic PCa cell line, ARCaPM . Accordingly, we observed that the activation of IL-13Rα2 from PCa-M CM increased the invasiveness of ARCaPM cells while siRNA directed against this receptor significantly reduced invasiveness of these cells in the presence of CM from PCa-M patients. Conclusions Thus, we show that circulating monocytes from metastatic PCa patients exert a tumor-promoting role via the secretion of CHI3L1, and CHI3L1 demands further exploration as a possible therapeutic target in advanced PCa.
Key Factors Influencing the Incidence of West Nile Virus in Burleigh County, North Dakota

The city of Bismarck, North Dakota has one of the highest numbers of West Nile Virus (WNV) cases per population in the U.S. Although the city conducts extensive mosquito surveillance, the mosquito abundance alone may not fully explain the occurrence of WNV. Here, we developed models to predict mosquito abundance and the number of WNV cases, independently, by statistically analyzing the most important climate and virus transmission factors. An analysis with the mosquito model indicated that the mosquito numbers increase during a warm and humid summer or after a severely cold winter. In addition, river flooding decreased the mosquito numbers. The number of WNV cases was best predicted by including the virus transmission rate, the mosquito numbers, and the mosquito feeding pattern. This virus transmission rate is a function of temperature and increases significantly above 20 °C. The correlation coefficients (r) were 0.910 with the mosquito-population model and 0.620 with the disease case model. Our findings confirmed the conclusions of other work on the importance of climatic variables in controlling the mosquito numbers and contributed new insights into disease dynamics, especially in relation to extreme flooding. It also suggested a new prevention strategy of initiating insecticides not only based on mosquito numbers but also 10-day forecasts of unusually hot weather.
Complex Modulation Method for Measuring Cross-Frequency Coupling of Neural Oscillations

There is growing evidence from human intracranial electrocorticography (ECoG) studies that interactions between cortical frequencies are important for sensory perception, cognition and inter-regional neuronal communication. Recent studies have focused mainly on the strength of phase-amplitude coupling in cross-frequency interactions. Here, we introduce a complex modulation method based on measures of coherence to investigate cross-frequency coupling in the neural time series. This novel approach uses complex demodulation transform and coherence measures from the transformed signals. We used this method to quantify power coupling between two cortical frequency bands: theta (47 Hz) and high gamma (70–150 Hz) in ECoG signals recorded during an auditory task. We compared complex modulation results with traditional phase-amplitude coupling measures (PAC) derived from the same ECoG dataset. Our results suggest that cross-frequency coupling may involve changes in both phase-amplitude and power relationships between frequencies, reflecting the complexity of neuronal oscillatory interactions.
Deletion of the Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 1 (vmat1/slc18a1) Gene Affects Dopamine Signaling

The vesicular monoamine transporter is involved in presynaptic catecholamine storage and neurotransmission. Two isoforms of the transporter exist, VMAT1 and VMAT2, and both are expressed in the brain, though VMAT2 expression is more robust and has been more widely studied. In this study we investigated the role of VMAT1 KO on markers of dopaminergic function and neurotransmission, and dopamine-related behaviors. Null-mutant VMAT1 mice were studied behaviorally using the tail suspension test, elevated zero maze and locomotor activity assessments. Tissue monoamines were measured both ex vivo and by using in vivo microdialysis. Protein expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and D2 dopamine receptors was measured using western blot analysis. Results show that VMAT1 KO mice have decreased dopamine levels in the frontal cortex, increased postsynaptic D2 expression, and lower frontal cortex tyrosine hydroxylase expression compared to WT mice. VMAT1 KO mice also show an exaggerated behavioral locomotor response to acute amphetamine treatment. We conclude that dopaminergic signaling is robustly altered in the frontal cortex of VMAT1 null-mutant mice and suggest that VMAT1 may be relevant to the pathogenesis and/or treatment of psychiatric illnesses including schizophrenia and bipolar disease.
Effects of Multipath and Conventional NMES on Maximum Comfortable Stimulus and Torque Production

A novel multipath NMES (m-NMES) device has shown improved outcomes relative to conventional NMES (c-NMES) during recent basic and training studies. However, the mechanisms by which m-NMES outperformed c-NMES remain unclear. This study aimed to better understand these mechanisms by comparing the effects of m-NMES and c-NMES on maximum comfortable stimulus intensity and the subsequent NMES-induced torque, as these variables ultimately impact NMES training intensity; which is considered to be the primary determinant of NMES effectiveness. We measured maximum comfortable stimulus intensity and the subsequent NMES-induced torque while participants performed NMES-induced contractions under two conditions (m-NMES and c-NMES). Maximum comfortable stimulus intensity was significantly greater under the m-NMES condition, but the subsequent NMES-induced torque was not significantly different across conditions. m-NMES does not appear to influence the outcomes in a clinically meaningful manner, since it performed similarly to c-NMES with respect to peak NMES-induced torque.
Development of a high fidelity subglottic stenosis simulator for laryngotracheal reconstruction rehearsal using 3D printing.

Abstract Introduction Laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) with cartilage graft augmentation is an effective treatment for subglottic stenosis and a critical advanced procedure for Pediatric Otolaryngologists. Trainees almost exclusively learn this procedure intraoperatively on children due to the lack of adequate pediatric training models. An enhanced and accelerated educational experience may be possible if trainees can rehearse the key portions of the procedure on a simulation model. Objective To design and manufacture a low-cost, high fidelity surgical simulation model of subglottic stenosis for LTR. Methods This simulator is composed of two component models: rib cartilage and trachea. Additive manufacturing techniques, including Computer Aided Design and Three Dimensional (3D) printing, were utilized to create the simulator. Three expert Pediatric Otolaryngologists rated the functionality and realism of the simulator using Likert scale survey data. Results The use of CAD and 3D printing techniques allowed for realistic, reproducible surgical simulation of key aspects of LTR. The validation evidence indicated good to excellent means across the five domains relevant to the simulator's fidelity and usability (M = 3.47 to 4.00) out of a maximum of 4 points. Lowest rated items were consistent with expert comments suggesting minor simulator improvements. Time of production is approximately 20 h from print to post-processing, and consumable material costs per model are $2.60 USD. Conclusions This subglottic stenosis airway simulator facilitated Laryngotracheal Reconstruction rehearsal and is a promising training tool for pediatric otolaryngologists. Our methods allow patient-specific, pre-surgical rehearsal for complex airway scenarios that could benefit the experienced airway surgeon and trainees alike. Future research aims to validate this device's utility for accelerating attainment of proficiency and improving surgical outcomes.
Column Subset Selection with Missing Data via Active Sampling

Column subset selection of massive data matrices has found numerous applications in real-world data systems. In this paper, we propose and analyze two sampling based algorithms for column subset selection without access to the complete input matrix. To our knowledge, these are the first algorithms for column subset selection with missing data that are provably correct. The proposed methods work for row/column coherent matrices by employing the idea of adaptive sampling. Furthermore, when the input matrix has a noisy low-rank structure, one algorithm enjoys a relative error bound.
Genetic estimates of jurisdictional and strain contributions to the northeastern Lake Michigan brown trout sportfishing harvest

Abstract The Lake Michigan brown trout (Salmo trutta) fishery is sustained by the stocking of five hatchery strains by four state natural resource agencies. In the absence of exhaustive marking programs, strain-specific measures of stocking success are lacking for brown trout in Lake Michigan. We used microsatellite-based genetic assignment testing and genetic stock identification (GSI) to determine the strain of 122 angler-caught brown trout from four northeastern Lake Michigan ports. We compared strain composition estimates for sportfishing harvest to expected proportions of each brown trout strain in Lake Michigan at the time of harvest using stocking records corrected for age-specific mortality rates. Reassignment rates of individuals from baseline strains averaged 92.1% (range: 84.1–98.0%). Assignment testing and GSI analyses consistently found Wild Rose strain brown trout represented approximately 89% of the northeastern Lake Michigan sportfishing harvest, while only comprising 43.8% of the expected stock. Of the Michigan angler harvest of Wild Rose strain brown trout, approximately half were estimated to have originated from Wisconsin hatcheries, demonstrating a propensity for lake-wide movements. Continued assessments will improve understanding of strain relative contributions to angler harvests that can direct future stocking efforts.
Renormalization in the golden-mean semi-Siegel Hénon family: universality and non-rigidity

It was recently shown in Gaidashev and Yampolsky [Golden mean Siegel disk universality and renormalization. Preprint, 2016, arXiv:1604.00717] that appropriately defined renormalizations of a sufficiently dissipative golden-mean semi-Siegel Henon map converge super-exponentially fast to a one-dimensional renormalization fixed point. In this paper, we show that the asymptotic two-dimensional form of these renormalizations is universal and is parameterized by the average Jacobian. This is similar to the limit behavior of period-doubling renormalizations in the Henon family considered in de Carvalho et al [Renormalization in the Henon family, I: universality but non-rigidity. J. Stat. Phys.121 (5/6) (2006), 611–669]. As an application of our result, we prove that the boundary of the golden-mean Siegel disk of a dissipative Henon map is non-smoothly rigid.
Robust Quadratic Gaussian Control of Continuous-time Nonlinear Systems.

In this paper, we propose a new Robust Nonlinear Quadratic Gaussian (RNQG) controller based on State-Dependent Riccati Equation (SDRE) scheme for continuous-time nonlinear systems. Existing controllers do not account for combined noise and disturbance acting on the system. The proposed controller is based on a Lyapunov function and a cost function includes states, inputs, outputs, disturbance, and the noise acting on the system. We express the RNQG control law in the form of a traditional Riccati equation. Real-time applications of the controller place high computational burden on system implementation. This is mainly due to the nonlinear and complex form of the cost function. In order to solve this problem, this cost function is approximated by a weighted polynomial. The weights are found by using a least-squares technique and a neural network. The approximate cost function is incorporated into the controller by employing a method based on Bellman's principle of optimality. Finally, an inertially stabilized inverted pendulum example is used to verify the utility of the proposed control approach.
In-situ Microscopy Characterization of Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 Potential-Induced Degradation

We report on the role of sodium in potentialinduced degradation (PID) of Cu(In, Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) solar cells. In-situ microscopy characterizations on AFM platform were performed on two stressed CIGS device under room temperature (RT) and high temperature (HT) at 85 °C. During PID stressing we observed depletion region gets wider as Na migrates, p-n junction becomes leaky at RT for over a month; and similar junction evolution was observed for HT-stressed sample, eventually the junction collapsed after 18 hours. The diode behaviors were confirmed by dark I-V measurement. Time-of Flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry reveals that the Na accumulates on ZnO and CdS side, as well as the upper layer of CIGS layer. The results indicate that Na drifted by the voltage applied on the soda-lime glass, then diffuse through the whole device. And the sodium profiles have different points of evolution due to the temperature differences between the two stressed samples. The consistent results unambiguously show how Na from substrate glass causes PID in CIGS solar cells.
A Critical Review: Moral Injury in Nurses in the Aftermath of a Patient Safety Incident

Background To date, there has been no published work towards understanding or classifying patient safety incidents (PSIs) or their aftermath as potential morally injurious experiences (pMIEs). A morally injurious experience is one that violates deeply held moral values and beliefs, and can put an individual at risk for burnout, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other trauma-related problems. This can also set the stage for moral injury, which can occur when there has been a betrayal of what is right by someone in a position of legitimate authority, or by one's self, in a high-stakes situation. Objective The objective of this review of nurse second victim literature is to describe symptoms of moral injury empirically observed in nurses in the aftermath of a PSI. Methods A critical review using a SALSA (search, appraisal, synthesis, analysis) method commenced with a search of electronic data base-indexed original evidence between 1980 and December 2018, focusing on registered nurses involved with a PSI. Results The nurse empirical literature reviewed included qualitative (n = 10), quantitative (n = 7), and mixed-methods (n = 4) studies (total n = 21). Core moral injury symptoms included guilt (67%), shame (71%), spiritual-existential crisis (9%), and loss of trust (52%). Secondary symptoms of moral injury included depression (33%), anxiety (57%), anger (71%), self-harm, (19%), and social problems (48%). Implications Moral injury better describes what historically has been called the nurse second victim phenomenon. Through identification of pMIEs and symptoms of moral injury, nurses and organizations can be empowered to advance training and intervention programs addressing pMIEs that affect nurses' safety and retention in the aftermath of a PSI. Clinical relevance By describing the experiences associated with a PSI as potentially morally injurious, we set the stage to describe the potential consequences associated with the aftermath of the PSI. Furthermore, this language avoids victimizing those involved by more accurately reflecting the pMIEs of the aftermath.
Sex chromosome aneuploidy alters the relationship between neuroanatomy and cognition

Sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA) increases the risk for cognitive deficits, and confers changes in regional cortical thickness (CT) and surface area (SA). Neuroanatomical correlates of inter-individual variation in cognitive ability have been described in health, but are not well-characterized in SCA. Here, we modeled relationships between general cognitive ability (estimated using full-scale IQ [FSIQ] from Wechsler scales) and regional estimates of SA and CT (from structural MRI scans) in both aneuploid (28 XXX, 55 XXY, 22 XYY, 19 XXYY) and typically-developing euploid (79 XX, 85 XY) individuals. Results indicated widespread decoupling of normative anatomical-cognitive relationships in SCA: we found five regions where SCA significantly altered SA-FSIQ relationships, and five regions where SCA significantly altered CT-FSIQ relationships. The majority of areas were characterized by the presence of positive anatomy-IQ relationships in health, but no or slightly negative anatomy-IQ relationships in SCA. Disrupted anatomical-cognitive relationships generalized from the full cohort to karyotypically defined subcohorts (i.e., XX-XXX; XY-XYY; XY-XXY), demonstrating continuity across multiple supernumerary SCA conditions. As the first direct evidence of altered regional neuroanatomical-cognitive relationships in supernumerary SCA, our findings shed light on potential genetic and structural correlates of the cognitive phenotype in SCA, and may have implications for other neurogenetic disorders.
Infrasound characteristics of nontornadic and tornadic thunderstorms using high-resolution simulations

There has been increased interest in improving severe weather detection by supplementing NOAA's WSR-88D radar network with an infrasound observation network, which may be able to detect distinct sub-audible signatures from tornadic thunderstorms. While there is evidence that tornadic thunderstorms exhibit observable infrasound signals, what is not well-understood is whether these infrasound signals are unique to tornadic storms compared to nontornadic storms or whether there is any useful signal prior to tornadogenesis (which would be most relevant to NWS forecasters). In this presentation, we will present the results of high-resolution simulations of severe thunderstorms, specifically tailored to represent acoustic wave propagation with frequencies of 0.1 to 1 Hz. The spectral analysis of pressure perturbations generated by a nontornadic and tornadic supercell thunderstorm will be compared against each other. Two additional sensitivity tests that employ different microphysics schemes (i.e., the representation of precipitation within the storm) will be discussed, since prior work has indicated that the melting of precipitation is a dominant contributor to infrasound generation in thunderstorms. So far, preliminary results suggest that there are no discernible differences in infrasound observed in the vicinity of tornadic versus nontornadic supercell thunderstorms prior to tornadogenesis.
Implementation of interventions designed to promote healthy sleep and circadian rhythms in shiftworkers.

Shiftwork is a significant risk factor for a host of negative health and safety outcomes, which have been at least partly attributed to disturbances of the circadian timing system. As a result, an ...
Thwarting Control Plane Attacks with Displaced and Dilated Address Spaces

To maintain the control-flow integrity of today’s machines, code pointers must be protected. Exploits forge and manipulate code pointers to execute arbitrary, malicious code on a host machine. A corrupted code pointer can effectively redirect program execution to attacker-injected code or existing code gadgets, giving attackers the necessary foothold to circumvent system protections. To combat this class of exploits, we employ a Displaced and Dilated Address Space (DDAS), which uses a novel address space inflation mechanism to obfuscate code pointers, code locations, and the relative distance between code objects. By leveraging runtime re-randomization and custom hardware, we are able to achieve a high-entropy control-flow defense with performance overheads well below 5% and similarly low power and silicon area overheads. With DDAS in force, attackers come up against 63 bits of entropy when forging absolute addresses and 18 to 55 bits of entropy for relative addresses, depending on the distance to the desired code gadget. Moreover, an incorrectly forged code address will result in a security exception with a probability greater than 99.996%. Using hardware-based address obfuscation, we provide significantly higher entropy at lower performance overheads than previous software techniques, and our re-randomization mechanism offers additional protections against possible pointer disclosures.
Aberrant Induction of a Mesenchymal/Stem Cell Program Engages Senescence in Normal Mammary Epithelial Cells.

Although frequently associated with tumor progression, inflammatory cytokines initially restrain transformation by inducing senescence, a key tumor-suppressive barrier. Here, we demonstrate that the inflammatory cytokine, oncostatin M, activates a mesenchymal/stem cell (SC) program that engages cytokine-induced senescence (CIS) in normal human epithelial cells. CIS is driven by Snail induction and requires cooperation between STAT3 and the TGFβ effector, SMAD3. Importantly, as cells escape CIS, they retain the mesenchymal/SC program and are thereby bestowed with a set of cancer SC (CSC) traits. Of therapeutic importance, cells that escape CIS can be induced back into senescence by CDK4/6 inhibition, confirming that the mechanisms allowing cells to escape senescence are targetable and reversible. Moreover, by combining CDK4/6 inhibition with a senolytic therapy, mesenchymal/CSCs can be efficiently killed. Our studies provide insight into how the CIS barriers that prevent tumorigenesis can be exploited as potential therapies for highly aggressive cancers. Implications: These studies reveal how a normal cell9s arduous escape from senescence can bestow aggressive features early in the transformation process, and how this persistent mesenchymal/SC program can create a novel potential targetability following tumor development.
Response to "Implementation of a Physician Assistant Emergency Medicine Residency Within a Physician Residency".

Author(s): Tsyrulnik, Alina; Goldflam, Katja; Coughlin, Ryan; Bod, Jessica; Chekijian, Sharon; Della-Giustina, David
‘A Weapon in the Cracks’: Wasteways Between Worlds in the New Urban Gothic

Looking at the underside of the city, Sabo explores the material filth, refuse and decaying matter that every city produces. He traces the dynamics of street rubbish in millennial Gothic fictions to suggest that we ignore trash and residue in the Anthropocene at our peril. Placing the texts in a larger context of impending ecological disaster, Sabo examines the Gothic irruptive potential of trash to deconstruct uncanny horrors and the urgent materiality of waste as expressions of one-way anxieties of filth in contemporary cityscapes. In particular, he looks to the dynamics of street rubbish in China Mieville’s The City and the City (2009) and the transcendence of discarded material objects in David Mitchell’s Slade House (2015) to map the wasteways between Gothic worlds and tropes. Sabo argues that the pressing threat of ecological disaster related to the accumulation of waste limits the new urban Gothic’s ability—or even willingness—to craft ontological oppositions that are easily extricable from the materiality of contemporary ecology.
Comparing stereotypes across racial and partisan lines: a study in affective polarisation

The past few decades have witnessed increasing levels of hostility among partisans, a phenomenon labelled affective polarisation. This study examines how partisan affective polarisation compares to...
Effects of Supraharmonics Immunity Testing on LED Lighting

With the advent of distributed energy resources (DERs) and proliferation of single-phase consumer loads based on power electronics, the problem of voltage and current distortion due to frequencies in the range 2 to 150 kHz (also known as supraharmonics) is becoming more and more common. In order to assess the impact of such grid changes on end use load in the United States (US), a multiple year project was launched by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). This paper presents select results from this project, involving LED based lighting commonly sold in the US consumer market. Although LED lamps themselves have been shown to be sources of supraharmonics emission, the results in this paper show that under certain conditions, the presence of supraharmonics in applied voltage can lead to the production of visible flicker from such lamps. Furthermore, during testing, audible noise was also observed to be emanating from some of the lamps. The results confirm and agree with the results of similar tests conducted in Europe. In contrast to previous studies however, a light flickermeter specified in IEC 61457 was used in these tests so that the results could be quantified in a format familiar to most Power Quality engineers. In addition to informing knowledge of supraharmonics emission at the utility level, the results shown in this paper are intended to guide and inform active discussion on the subject of supraharmonics and flicker in IEEE standards committees, where two active PARs on these subjects are currently under discussion and deliberation.
Socioeconomic selectivity of Japanese migration to the continental United States during the Age of Mass Migration

This study explores the socioeconomic selectivity of Japanese male immigrants who migrated to the continental United States (US) during the Age of Mass Migration (mid-nineteenth to the early twenti...
Lactate production can function to increase human epithelial cell iron concentration

Iron is an essential micronutrient required by every cell, inclusive of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Under conditions of limited iron availability, plants and microbes evolved mechanisms to acquire iron which include carbon metabolism reprogramming, with the activity of several enzymes involved in the Krebs cycle and the glycolytic pathway being stimulated by metal deficiency. Following release, resultant carboxylates/hydroxycarboxylates can function as ligands to complex iron and facilitate its solubilization and uptake, reversing the deficiency. Human epithelial tissue may produce lactate, a hydroxycarboxylate, during absolute and functional iron deficiency in an attempt to import metal to reverse limited availability. Here we investigate 1) if lactate can increase cell metal import, 2) if lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in and lactate production by cells correspond to metal availability, and 3) if blood concentrations of LDH in a human cohort correlate with indices of iron homeostasis. Exposures of Caco-2 cells to both Na lactate and ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) increased metal import relative to FAC alone. Fumaric, isocitric, malic, and succinic acid exposure revealed that FAC co-incubation similarly increased iron import relative to FAC alone. Increased iron import following exposures to Na lactate and FAC elevated both ferritin and metal associated with mitochondria. LDH in Caco-2 cell scrapings did not change after exposure to deferoxamine but decreased with 24 hr exposure to FAC. Lactate levels in both the supernatants and cell scrapings revealed decreased levels at 4, 8, and 24 hr with FAC. In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2005-2010), Spearman correlations demonstrated significant negative relationships between LDH concentrations and serum iron. We conclude that iron import in human cells can involve lactate, LDH activity can reflect the availability of this metal, and blood LDH concentrations can correlate with indices of iron homeostasis.
How Americans Make Race: Stories, Institutions, Spaces

Introduction. Comme il faut 1. Identities and stories 2. Black places 3. Ordinary stories 4. Home, sweet home 5. White fences Conclusion: stories, institutions, and spaces Appendix. Interview respondents and interview schedule.
Chapter 2 – Who Are the Victims?

Publisher Summary A student who is a repeated target of another student's coercive behavior becomes a victim of bullying. Coercive behaviors can be—physical: such as hitting, pushing, holding, and hostile gesturing; verbal: such as threatening, humiliating, degrading, teasing, name-calling, and taunting; psychological: such as staring, sticking out the tongue, eye-rolling, and ignoring; and social: such as manipulating friendships and ostracizing. Socially, victims tend to have close relations with their parents. In contrast, families of bullies tend to struggle with financial and social problems, lack family structure including parental conflicts, and have a cold emotional environment, all of which distance bullies from their parents. The most common reaction of victims to bullying is withdrawal. Victims learn to avoid certain places at school, such as the school playground, for fear of being bullied. Some victims avoid going to school for a period of time to stay away from bullies or even drop out of school altogether.
Ventricular tachycardia during general anesthesia in a patient with congenital long QT syndrome

Congenital long QT syndrome is characterized by a corrected QT interval of at least 440 msec on the electrocardiogram and has been associated with recurrent syncope, documented ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death. There have been numerous articles over the past 20 years describing isolated instances of surgical and anesthesia related complications but the general anesthetic management of the condition remains unclear. An 11-yr-old female with documented long QT syndrome, with two episodes of syncope in the past, was admitted for emergency drainage of left periorbital cellulitis. Anesthesia was induced with propofol, fentanyl and rocuronium, and initially maintained with nitrous oxide and halothane. After 20 min, the patient developed ventricular tachycardia (torsade de pointes). Lidocaine 1 mg·kg−1 iv was given and the rhythm reverted to normal sinus. Halothane was discontinued and the surgery proceeded without further incident. Our review of the literature revealed that patients with long QT syndrome whose symptoms are well controlled prior to surgery tend to do well regardless of the anesthetic chosen. There are, however, theoretical reasons to avoid anesthetics which either sensitize the myocardium to catecholamines or which cause an increase in circulating levels of catecholamines.
Creation of partial fascicular block: an approach to ablation of idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia in the pediatric population.

1 Background Catheter ablation of idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia in the pediatric population remains challenging. A recent multicenter study reported limited success with 14% not undergoing ablation due to inability to induce ventricular tachycardia (VT) or blood pressure instability during tachycardia. Creating complete or partial fascicular block with radiofrequency catheter ablation is a technique that may eliminate VT. This approach is performed during sinus rhythm, enabling atrioventricular conduction monitoring and maintaining stable hemodynamics. Importantly, induction of VT is not necessary for mapping or assessing efficacy of the procedure. 2 Methods A retrospective review of pediatric patients (3–17 years) with recurrent, documented idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia by electrocardiogram who received catheter ablation by creating fascicular block as a therapeutic endpoint was performed. All had ablation at the site of an identified Purkinje potential. 3 Results There were six patients with idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia, five originating from the posterior fascicle and one from the anterior fascicle. VT was not induced or spontaneous in four patients using programmed stimulation and isoproterenol infusion. All patients had a QRS axis shift following ablation, though none met criteria for fascicular block. At follow up (7–49 months, mean 27 months), all patients had persistence of this shift. There were no recurrences of VT and none of the patients were taking antiarrhythmic medication. 4 Conclusion The technique of creating partial fascicular block appears to be a safe and effective approach to ablation of idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia in children.
KINETIC STUDY OF CH3 + HBR AND CH3 + BR REACTIONS BY LASER PHOTOLYSIS-TRANSIENT ABSORPTION OVER 1-100 BAR PRESSURE RANGE

Reactions of methyl radicals with hydrogen bromide CH3 + HBr → CH4 + Br (1) and bromine atoms CH3 + Br → CH3Br (2) were studied using excimer laser photolysis−transient UV spectroscopy at 297 ± 3 K over the 1−100 bar buffer gas (He) pressure range. Methyl radicals were produced by 193 nm (ArF) laser photolysis of acetone, (CH3)2CO, and methyl bromide, CH3Br. Temporal profiles of methyl radicals were monitored by UV absorption at 216.51 nm (copper hollow cathode lamp with current boosting). The yield of acetyl radicals in photolysis of acetone at 193 nm was found to be less than 5% at 100 bar He based on the transient absorptions at 222.57 and 224.42 nm. The measured rate constants for reaction 1 are k1 = (2.9 ± 0.7) × 10-12, (3.8 ± 1.5) × 10-12, and (3.4 ± 1.3) × 10-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 at the buffer gas (He) pressures of 1.05, 11.2, and 101 bar, respectively. The rate data obtained in this study confirmed high values of the previous (low pressure) measurements and ruled out the possibility of interferen...
Predicting lightning storms

Lightning is the second most deadly weather phenomenon after flash floods. It kills more people a year than tornadoes and damages utilities, curtails recreational activities, and affects flight paths. Roughly half of all aviation accidents are weather related according to Delain Edman, of the National Weather Service's National Severe Storms Forecast Center, Kansas City, Mo. That's why meteorologists are testing a new lightning detection network to help predict storms and pinpoint “hot spots” of lightning activity.
Hormonal Perturbations in Patients With Testicular Cancer Treated With Cisplatin

Patients with testicular cancer treated with cisplatin can undergo feminization that is understood poorly. Rat model studies recently showed that cisplatin can feminize in part the profile of hepatic steroid-metabolizing enzymes and circulating hormone levels. This study was undertaken to determine whether cisplatin similarly might contribute to the perturbations in gonadotropin or steroid hormone levels that can occur in patients undergoing cisplatin-based treatment for testicular cancer. Analysis of serum free testosterone, total testosterone, and androstenedione levels revealed that these hormones were not altered significantly in patients during a 38-week period of cisplatin-based treatment and follow-up. Estradiol levels were elevated before chemotherapy and were reduced to normal levels during treatment. This reduction was attributed to the cytotoxic effect of chemotherapy on the tumors and the resultant reduction in serum chorionic gonadotropin levels. Serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels were normal before chemotherapy but progressively became elevated during treatment with cisplatin in five of ten patients examined. The rise in DHT may relate to the previously described increase in hepatic androgen 5 alpha-reductase activity in cisplatin-treated rats. Levels of the gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were normal before cisplatin-based treatment was administered; however, FSH was elevated selectively during chemotherapy. This selective induction of FSH may reflect an effect of cisplatin on the hypothalamic secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Taken together, these findings suggest that cisplatin contributes to the perturbation of steroid and peptide hormone levels in patients with testicular cancer and perhaps in others undergoing cisplatin-based chemotherapy.
A Novel Fiber-Optic-Based Pump-Probe Instrument for the Acquisition of Kinetic Information

A pump-probe instrument is described that utilizes two beams from the same laser and a fiber-optic-based sample cell for low-temperature measurements. The utility of this instrument is demonstrated through an examination of the excited-state kinetics of 2,7-diphenylphenanthrene, for which the rate constant of singlet-to-triplet intersystem crossing is found to be approximately 8 × 105 S−1. This molecule is interesting in that it undergoes an unusual rotational conformation change in the triplet state with a rate constant of 2.4 × 108 S−1 at 77 K.
Progress in organic functional group analysis: 1959

Abstract This review follows the last one 1 without any duplication of references. A summary of the literature dealing with determinations of organic functional groups on the micro scale (approximately 0.1 meq.) which came to the attention of the reviewer during the past year will be found in Table I. Most of these papers are discussed in the text below, together with some publications on macro (> 1 meq.) and ultramicro (approximately 1 μeq.) methods which may be adapted to the micro scale.
Modulation of TcR/CD3-zeta chain expression by a circulating factor derived from ovarian cancer patients

Modulation of TcR/CD3-zeta chain expression by a circulating factor derived from ovarian cancer patients