cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Liberation, Feminism, and Development Communication

This essay notes the relative neglect of considerations of both liberation and gender in the scholarship and practice of development communication. Liberation perspectives on development, grounded in religion and spirituality, argue for individual and collective empowerment, and therefore appear to offer consistency with feminist thought. In practice, it is unclear to what extent women are included or empowered in applications of liberation theology to development communication. This paper argues that the theory and practice of development communication would be strengthened by drawing on insights from both feminism and liberation theology.
Linearizing coordinate transformations and Riemann curvature

Using the Lagrangian framework and point transformations, an alternative derivation of an existing result on the special decomposition of the inertia matrix is presented. The Riemann curvature tensor is introduced as a computational tool to test for this special decomposition. An example with configuration-dependent inertia which admits such a factorization is presented. For the cart-pole problem, it is shown that such a decomposition is possible and the linearizing transformation is computed. It is shown that a planar two-link manipulator cannot be linearized by point transformations only. >
Knockdown of SCFSkp2 Function Causes Double-Parked Accumulation in the Nucleus and DNA Re-Replication in Drosophila Plasmatocytes

In Drosophila, circulating hemocytes are derived from the cephalic mesoderm during the embryonic wave of hematopoiesis. These cells are contributed to the larva and persist through metamorphosis into the adult. To analyze this population of hemocytes, we considered data from a previously published RNAi screen in the hematopoietic niche, which suggested several members of the SCF complex play a role in lymph gland development. eater-Gal4;UAS-GFP flies were crossed to UAS-RNAi lines to knockdown the function of all known SCF complex members in a plasmatocyte-specific fashion, in order to identify which members are novel regulators of plasmatocytes. This specific SCF complex contains five core members: Lin-19-like, SkpA, Skp2, Roc1a and complex activator Nedd8. The complex was identified by its very distinctive large cell phenotype. Furthermore, these large cells stained for anti-P1, a plasmatocyte-specific antibody. It was also noted that the DNA in these cells appeared to be over-replicated. Gamma-tubulin and DAPI staining suggest the cells are undergoing re-replication as they had multiple centrioles and excessive DNA content. Further experimentation determined enlarged cells were BrdU-positive indicating they have progressed through S-phase. To determine how these cells become enlarged and undergo re-replication, cell cycle proteins were analyzed by immunofluorescence. This analysis identified three proteins that had altered subcellular localization in these enlarged cells: Cyclin E, Geminin and Double-parked. Previous research has shown that Double-parked must be degraded to exit S-phase, otherwise the DNA will undergo re-replication. When Double-parked was titrated from the nucleus by an excess of its inhibitor, geminin, the enlarged cells and aberrant protein localization phenotypes were partially rescued. The data in this report suggests that the SCF(Skp2) complex is necessary to ubiquitinate Double-parked during plasmatocyte cell division, ensuring proper cell cycle progression and the generation of a normal population of this essential blood cell type.
Angular dependance of betatron x-ray spectra in a laser-wakefield accelerator

Our experiments produced betatron x-rays up to 80 keV from a laser-wakefield accelerator. Measurements, performed with stacked image plates spectrometers, provide simultaneous information on the beam profile and spectrum at various angles of observation.
Effect of Increased CRM197 Carrier Protein Dose on Meningococcal C Bactericidal Antibody Response

New multivalent CRM(197)-based conjugate vaccines are available for childhood immunization. Clinical studies were reviewed to assess meningococcal group C (MenC) antibody responses following MenC-CRM(197) coadministration with CRM(197)-based pneumococcal or Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines. Infants receiving a total CRM(197) carrier protein dose of ∼50 μg and concomitant diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP)-containing vaccine tended to have lower MenC geometric mean antibody titers and continued to have low titers after the toddler dose. Nevertheless, at least 95% of children in the reported studies achieved a MenC serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) titer of ≥ 1:8 after the last infant or toddler dose. SBA was measured using an assay with a baby rabbit or human complement source. Additional studies are needed to assess long-term antibody persistence and MenC CRM(197) conjugate vaccine immunogenicity using alternative dosing schedules.
The contribution of basal ganglia to limb control

Publisher Summary This chapter primarily describes the role of the basal ganglia in the control of limb movements. Data from recent anatomical and behavioral/neurophysiological studies in primates is emphasized. The results of recent neurophysiologic studies in trained primates suggest that, basal ganglia output may play a role in scaling the amplitude of step movements by its effects on the magnitude of agonist EMG activity, but that it is not primarily involved in the initiation of limb movement in a reaction time task or in the selection of specific muscles. These studies are generally consistent with the available data on limb movements, in patients with Parkinson's disease. This consistency indicates major deficit in the control of movement amplitude in step-tracking tasks with little or no impairment of reaction time or disruption of the pattern of muscular activity. Evidence for a role of the basal ganglia in the preparation for movements has recently been determined. A role in other aspects of movement, such as motor programming and “complex” behavior, appears likely to be based on both anatomical and physiological data.
Foreword special issue on the 2nd international pyroprocessing research conference

Pyroprocessing is a nuclear fuel cycle technology that can be used to separate spent fuel into reusable actinide products and high-level waste streams. It consists of nonaqueous, electrochemical un...
Effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on the proliferation of leukemic cells from children with B-cell precursor-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL): studies of primary leukemic cells and BCP-ALL cell lines

The effect of recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF-alpha) on the primary leukemic blasts and leukemic cell lines derived from children with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) was studied. The proliferation of leukemic cells from the bone marrow of 11 of 13 patients (seven at diagnosis, four in relapse) and from the 697 (BCP-ALL) cell line was significantly inhibited by rTNF-alpha at the lowest dose tested (0.1 ng/mL), as measured by 3H-TdR uptake. The degree of inhibition was variable, ranging from 17% to 78%. Furthermore, a dose-dependent inhibitory effect was observed, with approximately 70% mean inhibition of DNA synthesis detected when cells from 12 of 13 patients were incubated with 100 ng/mL of rTNF-alpha for 3 days. In contrast, rTNF-alpha did not inhibit another BCP-ALL cell line (EU-1/ALL) established recently in our laboratory. Studies indicated that the TNF-alpha gene was expressed by the primary leukemic blasts of one TNF-resistant case in his third relapse and by EU-1 cells. Also, TNF-alpha protein was detected by Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay in the supernatant of EU-1 cells; this is the first report of TNF production by a BCP-ALL cell lines. The production of TNF-alpha mRNA and protein was not detected in the 697 cell line and in the primary leukemic blasts from six patients (four at diagnosis, two in relapse) whose leukemic cells were inhibited by TNF. The partially purified TNF-alpha obtained from the EU-1 cell line also suppressed the proliferation of TNF-sensitive primary leukemic cells, and this inhibitory activity was abolished by an anti-TNF-alpha specific antibody. Our results demonstrate that TNF-alpha is an inhibitor of in vitro proliferation of BCP-ALL cells from most patients. The TNF-resistant leukemic cells from a few patients and the EU-1 cell line express TNF mRNA, suggesting that the induction of TNF gene expression is associated with the development of TNF resistance.
A transition in circumbinary accretion discs at a binary mass ratio of 1:25

We study circumbinary accretion discs in the framework of the restricted three-body problem (R3Bp) and via numerically solving the height-integrated equations of viscous hydrodynamics. Varying the mass ratio of the binary, we find a pronounced change in the behaviour of the disc near mass ratio $q \equiv M_s/M_p \sim 0.04$. For mass ratios above $q=0.04$, solutions for the hydrodynamic flow transition from steady, to strongly-fluctuating; a narrow annular gap in the surface density around the secondary's orbit changes to a hollow central cavity; and a spatial symmetry is lost, resulting in a lopsided disc. This phase transition is coincident with the mass ratio above which stable orbits do not exist around the L4 and L5 equilibrium points of the R3B problem. Using the DISCO code, we find that for thin discs, for which a gap or cavity can remain open, the mass ratio of the transition is relatively insensitive to disc viscosity and pressure. The $q=0.04$ transition has relevance for the evolution of massive black hole binary+disc systems at the centers of galactic nuclei, as well as for young stellar binaries and possibly planets around brown dwarfs.
Generation of 3D Retina-Like Structures from a Human Retinal Cell Line in a NASA Bioreactor:

Replacement of damaged cells is a promising approach for treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP); however, availability of donor tissue for transplantation remains a major obstacle. Key factors for successful engineering of a tissue include the identification of a neural cell line that is: homogeneous but can be expanded to give rise to multiple cells types; is nontumorigenic, yet capable of secreting neurotrophic factors; and is able to form three-dimensional (3D), differentiated structures. The goal of this study was to test the feasibility of tissue engineering from a multipotential human retinal cell line using a NASA-developed bioreactor. A multipotential human retinal precursor cell line was used to generate 3D structures. In addition, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells were cocultured with neural cells to determine if 3D retinal structures could be generated in the bioreactor with cells grown on laminin-coated cytodex 3 beads. Cell growth, morphology, and differentiation were monitored by light and scanning electron microscopy, Western blot analysis, and analysis of glucose use and lactate production. The neuronal retinal precursor cell line cultured in a bioreactor gave rise to most retinal cell types seen in monolayer culture. They formed composite structures with cell-covered beads associated with one another in a tissue-like array. The beginning of layering and/or separation of cell types was observed. The neuronal cell types previously seen in monolayer cultures were also seen in the bioreactor. Some of the retinal cells differentiate into photoreceptors in the bioreactor with well-developed outer segment-like structures, a process that is critical for retinal function. Moreover, the neuronal cells that were generated resembled their in vivo phenotype more closely than those grown under other conditions. Outer segments were almost never seen in the monolayer cultures, even in the presence of photoreceptor-inducing growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF-alpha). Muller cells were occasionally seen when retinal, RPE cells were cocultured with retinal cells in the bioreactor. These have never been seen in this retinal cell line before. Cells grown in the bioreactor expressed several proteins specific for the retinal cell types: opsin, protein kinase C-alpha, dopamine receptor D4, tyrosine hydroxylase, and calbindin.
Effects of HA compound fertilizer applied in multilayer soil on water content of soil,plant growth and yield of maize

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of different fertilizer and fertilization technology on soil water content,maize growth and yield.The results indicated that,compared with the technology of applying conventional inorganic fertilizer,applying HA compound fertilizer in different soil layers could increased 10-90 cm soil layers' water content by 7.16%,the head sprouting and grain filling's leaf area index increased by 19.3%、14.0%,SPAD increased by 24.5%、18.5%,corn biomass and dry matter accumulation were all increased.In addition,plant height was reduced,strain thick was increased,corn yield and its constitutes were all enhanced.Finally,increase maize yield by 16.06%,reach to 11 883 kg/hm2.
Vagal body tumors.

Six cases of vagal body tumor are reviewed. All first presented as painless neck masses with normal cranial nerve function. Otologic symptoms were infrequent, occurring only with temporal bone involvement. In true vagal paragangliomas, cranial nerve and auditory function is usually preserved until there is extensive disease of the skull base. Tumor progression after radiotherapy was documented in four patients, three of whom were treated with 4500 cGy or more. One patient was found to have regional lymph node metastases. The six patients had a total of 10 head and neck paragangliomas, illustrating the high incidence of synchronous and metachronous lesions. Because of the high incidence of multiple lesions, these tumors threaten lower cranial nerves bilaterally in many instances. Because cranial nerve function is preserved until late, and because vagal and accessory nerve paralysis is usually unavoidable with resection, we advocate conservative treatment in selected cases. It may be reasonable to postpone surgery until cranial nerve impairment becomes evident or other vital structures are threatened.
Developing more open and equitable relationships with industry to improve advancements in clinical research in dermatology

Relationships between physicians, scientists, and the pharmaceutical industry can be complicated by conflicts of interest. Honest and equitable relationships, however, are essential to the advancement of dermatologic clinical research. Several factors can increase transparency in clinical trials including preregistration of clinical trials, reporting of all data produced from clinical trials, non-industry ownership of clinical trial data, clarity of statistical methods and publication of both positive and negative results. Through collaborative, scientifically rigorous studies, physicians and industry can achieve significant advances in dermatologic care.
Computer support for teaching the Routh-Hurwitz criterion

This paper presents a method of computer support for teaching the Routh-Hurwitz criterion in two different undergraduate junior level Electrical Engineering courses at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Software Engineering (SWE) and Computer Control Systems (CCS) are two courses that students use C# programming and MATLAB® software to learn about the Routh-Hurwitz principle and its applications. In SWE the objectives are to apply the Routh-Hurwitz criterion to the procedural and object-oriented C# programming skills in order to implement code with a user-friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI). In this laboratory the GUI allows the user to enter the values that represent the coefficients of a polynomial. The results of the GUI return whether the polynomial represents a stable or unstable system. In CCS the objectives are modeling the physical system and applying the Routh-Hurwitz criterion to analyze the closed loop system performance. In this lab students determine the mathematical model for an antenna azimuth position control system. They then apply the Routh-Hurwitz criterion to find all proportional gains for the controllers that meet certain performance requirements for the antenna position control system. The modeling and system performance are achieved via calculation by hand, programming, and simulation using MATLAB® and its Control System Toolbox. Students in these two particular labs demonstrate achievement of numerous a-k ABET criteria.
Potential benefit of early operative utilization of low profile, partial resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (P-REBOA) in major traumatic hemorrhage

A 28-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and upper extremities was transported by private vehicle to a community hospital with limited trauma capabilities. On arrival he developed pulseless electrical activity and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated. He was intubated, transfused with 4 units of packed red blood cells, and resuscitated with 2 L of crystalloid prior to regaining spontaneous circulation. Left-sided tube thoracostomy immediately drained 1600 mL of bright red blood. He was transiently stable for a short transport to the nearest level 1 trauma center. On arrival the patient was normotensive with tachycardia. Chest X-ray demonstrated persistent left-sided hemothorax despite a well-positioned chest tube. Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) examination was negative for pericardial fluid, but positive for intra-abdominal fluid. During the secondary examination the patient became hypotensive with systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the 70 s. A massive transfusion protocol was initiated, tranexamic acid was administered, and the patient was promptly transported to the operating room. The patient transiently responded to the massive transfusion. While instruments were being opened in the operating room, he again became hypotensive with SBP in the 50 s. The patient was acidotic (pH of 6.87, base excess −14.6), coagulopathic (international normalized ratio of 1.5) and …
Methylmalonic Acidemia and Extrapyramidal Disease

Four children, 4-13 yrs old, with methylmalonic acidemia who developed acute dystonia after metabolic decompensation with ketoacidosis are reported from the Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA, and other collaborating institutions.
Temperature balancing in steam methane reforming furnace via an integrated CFD/data-based optimization approach

Abstract In this work, we introduce a furnace-balancing scheme that generates an optimal furnace-side feed distribution that has the potential to improve the thermal efficiency of a reformer. The furnace-balancing scheme is composed of four major components: data generation, model identification, a model-based furnace-balancing optimizer and a termination checker. Initially, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of an industrial-scale reformer, developed in our previous work, is used for the data generation as the model has been confirmed to simulate the typical transport and chemical reaction phenomena observed during reformer operation, and the CFD simulation data is in good agreement with various sources in literature. Then, we propose a model identification process in which the algorithm is formulated based on the least squares regression method, basic knowledge of radiative heat transfer and the existing furnace-side flow pattern. Subsequently, we propose a model-based furnace-balancing optimizer that is formulated as an optimization problem within which the valve position distribution is the decision variable, and minimizing the sum of the weighted squared deviations of the outer reforming tube wall temperatures from a set-point value for all reforming tubes with a penalty term on the deviation of the valve positions from their fully open positions is the objective function. CFD simulation results provide evidence that the optimized furnace-side feed distribution created by the furnace-balancing scheme can reduce the severity of nonuniformity in the spatial distribution of furnace-side temperature in the combustion chamber even when the reformer is under the influence of common valve-related disturbances.
Conflicts of Interest as Corrupting the Checks and Balances in the Postpublication Oversight of Academic Business Journals

In this case-based essay, we explore how conflicts of interest can corrupt the postpublication oversight process in academic business journals. We build on Carson’s comprehensive definition of the ...
A multicenter review of ablation in the aortic cusps in young people

BACKGROUND Ablation within the aortic cusp is safe and effective in adults. There are little data on aortic cusp ablation in the pediatric literature. We investigated the safety and efficacy of aortic cusp ablation in young patients. METHODS A retrospective, descriptive study of aortic cusp ablation in five pediatric electrophysiology centers from 2008 to 2014 was performed. All patients <21 years of age who underwent ablation in the aortic cusps were included. Factors analyzed included patient demographics, procedural details, outcomes, and complications. RESULTS Thirteen patients met inclusion criteria (median age 16 years [range 10-20.5] and median body surface area 1.58 m2 [range 1.12-2.33]). Substrates for ablation included: nine premature ventricular contractions or sustained ventricular tachycardia (69%), two concealed anteroseptal accessory pathways (APs) (15%), one Wolff-Parkinson-White with an anteroseptal AP (8%), and one ectopic atrial tachycardia (8%). Three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping in combination with fluoroscopy was used in 12/13 (92%) patients. Standard 4-mm-tip radiofrequency (RF) current was used in 11/13 (85%) and low-power irrigated-tip RF in 2/13 (15%). Angiography was used in 13/13 and intracardiac echocardiography was additionally utilized in 3/13 (23%). Ablation locations included: eight noncoronary (62%), three left (23%), and two right (15%) cusps. Ablation was acutely successful in all patients. At median follow-up of 20 months, there was one recurrence of PVCs (8%). There were no ablation-related complications and no valvular injuries observed. CONCLUSION Arrhythmias originating from the coronary cusps in this series were successfully and safely ablated in young people without injury to the coronary arteries or the aortic valve.
Generalization patterns for sensory and reach adaptation following exposure to visual-proprioceptive discrepancies

The CNS evolved sensory and reach adaptation as types of plasticity to deal with body-growth changes and variability in the surrounding world. Reach adaptation generalize to untrained contexts and transfer between limbs. We examined the extent by which proprioceptive recalibration generalize to the untrained hand, across novel locations in the workspace. In experiment 1, subjects trained to reach with an aligned and translated cursor, we assessed the resulting changes in hand movements (without cursor) and felt hand position for both trained and untrained hand. Reach adaptation transferred between hands, proprioceptive recalibration did not transfer. In experiment 2, we measured reach adaptation and proprioceptive recalibration at novel locations following training with a rotated cursor. Reach and sensory adaptation generalized to novel locations at different distances, however, sensory changes generalized with smaller extent at far-locations. In experiment 3, we removed the motor component during training so that subjects exposed to a proprioceptive-visual discrepancy in which they see the cursor heading to the training target while the robot gradually rotates their unseen hand-path. Subjects reached to one target from a starting-position(S1) then we measured reach and sensory changes at novel locations from S1 and from a novel starting-position (S2). We found proprioceptive recalibration at the trained and novel locations from S1 and S2. Additionally, we found reach adaptation at the same locations but with smaller extent. Our findings suggest that reach and sensory adaptation may be independent, mere exposure to proprioceptive-visual discrepancy results in proprioceptive recalibration which drive partial reach adaptation that follow similar generalization pattern.
Pediatric elbow arthroscopy: indications and safety.

Background Elbow arthroscopy is a minimally invasive means by which to treat a variety of acute and chronic elbow conditions. Although the safety and efficacy is well documented in the adult population, comparatively little information is available about the role of elbow arthroscopy in the pediatric population. This study reports the indications for and safety of elbow arthroscopy in a series of pediatric patients. Methods A retrospective review was performed from 2001 to 2015 of a surgical database at a single institution. All elbow arthroscopies performed in patients aged 18 years and younger were reviewed. Indications for surgery, perioperative and postoperative complications, further surgical intervention, and descriptive demographic information were recorded. Results We identified 64 elbow arthroscopic procedures in 59 patients. The average age at the time of surgery was 11.8 years. Indications for the arthroscopic surgery included contracture release (45.3%), closed reduction and fixation for fracture (20.3%), treatment of osteochondritis dissecans (20.3%), diagnostic arthroscopy (7.8%), and debridement (6.3%). The overall complication rate was 17.2%, with a major and minor complication rate of 6.3% and 10.9%, respectively. Conclusion Elbow arthroscopy has applications in the pediatric population with an acceptable safety profile. The techniques and indications continue to evolve.
Development of the Protein Arginine Deiminase (PAD) Inhibitors

The protein arginine deiminases (PADs) catalyze the hydrolysis of positively charged arginine residues to generate neutral citrulline. This reaction is a calciumdependent process wherein calcium binding triggers a conformational change that results in a >10,000-fold increase in activity (Liu et al. 2011; Kearney et al. 2005). There are five known PAD isozymes (PAD1–PAD4 and PAD6), of which only PAD1–PAD4 are catalytically active (Raijmakers et al. 2007). Dysregulated PAD activity has been associated with a variety of autoimmune diseases as well as cancers, with potentially distinct roles for the individual isozymes. Given the abundant evidence linking aberrant PAD activity to human disease, there is a pressing need to develop potent and isozyme-specific inhibitors for use as therapeutics and/or probes to decipher the full complement of processes regulated by these enzymes. Herein, we discuss the latest developments in this area.
Juxtaposing the Brain and Belief

To juxtapose the brain and belief sheds new light on puzzling patterns of belief. The brain works in two ways: a stabilizing step-by-step process and a variety-generating all-at-once process. Patte...
Hypoxic effects on growth of Palaemonetes vulgaris larvae and other species: Using constant exposure data to estimate cyclic exposure response.

First stage larval marsh grass shrimp, Palaemonetes vulgaris, were exposed to patterns of diurnal, semidiurnal, and constant hypoxia to evaluate effects on growth and to determine if there was a consistent relationship between exposures. A comparison of growth with cyclic exposures versus constant low dissolved oxygen (D.O.) concentrations equivalent to the minima of the cycles showed the cyclic exposures resulted in less growth impairment than constant low-D.O. exposures, when compared to saturated controls. The mean extent of growth impairment of cyclic hypoxia was, however, almost 1.5 times more than would be estimated using an arithmetic time-weighted-average of the hypoxic portion of the cycle. Additional testing with other life stages and species resulted in similar patterns of response. Based on this relationship, an adjusted time-weighted-average could be used to estimate field related responses to cyclic dissolved oxygen from laboratory-derived constant exposure data.
Revenge of the Microbes: How Bacterial Resistance is Undermining the Antibiotic Miracle

“What is antibiotic resistance, and why should I be concerned with it?” Media coverage and political and scientific discussions about “superbugs” that defy our current treatments, genetically-modified foods in our fields and grocery stores, the threat of bioterrorism, and the use of antibiotics in agriculture have increased citizen awareness and fears regarding the issues surrounding antibiotic resistance. Revenge of the Microbes: How Bacterial Resistance Is Undermining the Antibiotic Miracle is a single source of answers to this and other questions average people are asking. Written by experts with extensive experience in the field, Revenge of the Microbes provides the scientific information readers will need to form opinions and make informed decisions regarding the use of antibiotics. The authors have carefully sifted through a vast amount of information to ensure comprehensive coverage of topics including the larger issues of economics, politics, health, safety, and the environment. Specific antibiotics and controversies are examined in a real-life context; accounts of positions on all sides of the public policy debate are presented; and less common issues such as what happens to antibiotics once they are released into the environment, are addressed. The evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is put into perspective and bacterial mutation and horizontal gene transfer are explained in simple terms. An in-depth documentation of antibiotic structures is provided in the appendix. Reader-friendly and comprehensible, Revenge of the Microbes will engage a diverse audience, including biologists, doctors, teachers, students, lawyers, environmentalists, and everyday citizens. This new volume encourages readers to consider the extensive role of antibiotics in modern medicine and the potentially catastrophic impact the loss of effective antibiotics would have today and on future generations. Paperback, 186 pages, illustrations, index.
Translational Control of Cancer: Implications for Targeted Therapy

The limitations of contemporary cytotoxic therapy and the unveiling of signaling networks that govern the decision of a cancer cell to propagate or die have spawned the era of targeted anticancer therapy. However, treatment of patients with agents targeting specific oncoproteins frequently leads to acquired treatment resistance. What is the next step in anticancer therapy? One robust approach to drug discovery might be to target the few key pathways activated by oncogenes at vulnerable steps, i.e., at nodal points where oncogenic pathways converge. This concept embraces the unfortunate reality that several hundred genetic alterations – no one of which is obligatory for carcinogenesis – are able to usurp a few critical regulatory hubs converting cells from normal to malignant. It also powerfully motivates the search for those components of the cellular machinery that are ubiquitous and absolutely essential parts of the oncogenic circuitry – and yet are resilient enough in normal cells to tolerate perturbation. Two decades of experimental data summarized here indicate that eIF4F – the machinery mediating the initiation step in the translation of mRNA into protein – is an obligatory regulatory hub of multiple oncogenic pathways and thus is a bona fide candidate molecular target for cancer drug discovery.
Core psychopathology of treatment-seeking patients with binge-eating disorder: a network analysis investigation

BackgroundMental disorders may emerge as the result of interactions between observable symptoms. Such interactions can be analyzed using network analysis. Several recent studies have used network analysis to examine eating disorders, indicating a core role of overvaluation of weight and shape. However, no studies to date have applied network models to binge-eating disorder (BED), the most prevalent eating disorder.MethodsWe constructed a cross-sectional graphical LASSO network in a sample of 788 individuals with BED. Symptoms were assessed using the Eating Disorders Examination Interview. We identified core symptoms of BED using expected influence centrality.ResultsOvervaluation of shape emerged as the symptom with the highest centrality. Dissatisfaction with weight and overvaluation of weight also emerged as highly central symptoms. On the other hand, behavioral symptoms such as binge eating, eating in secret, and dietary restraint/restriction were less central. The network was stable, allowing for reliable interpretations (centrality stability coefficient = 0.74).ConclusionsOvervaluation of shape and weight emerged as core symptoms of BED. This trend is consistent with past network analyses of eating disorders more broadly, as well as literature that suggests a primary role of shape and weight concerns in BED. Although DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for BED does not currently include a cognitive criterion related to body image or shape/weight overvaluation, our results provide support for including shape/weight overvaluation as a diagnostic specifier.
Internet Node as a Network of Relationships: Sociotechnical Aspects of an Internet Exchange Point

This research paper examines the formation of an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) in a country with a low level of telecommunications competition in the Global South. The research applies the Actor-Network Theory (ANT) framework to the policy dynamics around the first IXP formed in Mexico, contributing to unveil the materiality of internet infrastructure and the imaginary that surrounds it. Following Michel Callon (1984)’s three principles: agnosticism – to be impartial with the parts of a controversy; symmetry – to analyze different perspectives with the same lens; and free association – to break the divide between society and technological artifacts, the analysis shows how technical and political aspects are completely interlaced in the design and implementation of an IXP, here defined as a network of relationships. Organizations – characterized by their design and governance – along with individuals, documents, laws, and technology artifacts, are significant actors in the scenario where social, political and economic goals are delegated to the IXP’s technical functions. The lack of convergence among these actors, however, prevents the project from succeeding in the first years of deployment as its implementers expected, while regulatory documents work as the supporters of a dynamic equilibrium to keep the project ongoing.
Learning to win games in a few examples: Using game-theory and demonstrations to learn the win conditions of a connect four game

Teaching robots new skills using minimal time and effort has long been a goal of artificial intelligence. This paper investigates the use of game theoretic representations to represent interactive games and learn their win conditions by interacting with a person. Game theory provides the formal underpinnings needed to represent the structure of a game including the goal conditions. Learning by demonstration, has long sought to leverage a robot’s interactions with a person to foster learning. This paper combines these two approaches allowing a robot to learn a game-theoretic representation by demonstration. This paper demonstrates how a robot can be taught the win conditions for the game Connect Four using a single demonstration and a few trial examples with a question and answer session led by the robot. Our results demonstrate that the robot can learn any win condition for the standard rules of the Connect Four game, after demonstration by a human, irrespective of the color or size of the board and the chips. Moreover, if the human demonstrates a variation of the win conditions, we show that the robot can learn the respective changed win condition.
Response bias, recollection, and familiarity in individuals with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM).

The current study focused on individuals with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM) and had two main objectives: 1) investigate whether HSAMs have increased recollection performance compar...
Under their “control”: Perceptions of Traffickers’ Power and Coercion Among International Female Trafficking Survivors During Exploitation

ABSTRACTDespite an increase in knowledge about human trafficking, little is understood about interpersonal power dynamics between traffickers and their victims; particularly in relation to coercion...
OCT spectrometer calibration using B-scan Doppler shift

The calibration of a spectrometer is a critical step to obtain high-quality images in SDOCT. The spectra acquired with the spectrometer of an SDOCT are usually linear in wavelength, which should be linearly resampled in wavenumber before Fourier transform. Then the depth axis along each A-scan can be marked based on the wavenumber resolution of the spectrometer. In our project, we propose a novel method to calibrate the spectrometer. An easy and cost-effective way to generate Doppler frequency shift is introduced. Compared with previous methods, our method does not need additional hardware, such as a piezo shifter or a calibration light source. We prove that this Doppler frequency shift can be used to linearize the spectra from the wavelength domain to wavenumber domain. In addition, experiments prove that tissue images can be directly used for calibration without requiring mirror images. In other words, the calibration can be accomplished in situ, which is very useful for some clinical applications as the images can be calibrated by itself during or after imaging without relying on accurate manual calibration before imaging. For retinal imaging, this method may avoid spectrometer calibration using a model eyeball in the sample arm. In the further step, to mark depth axis, an interference signal is generated by coverslip which can provide maximum probing depth.
The Management of Hypertension in 2018: What Should the Targets Be?

To provide an overview of the different guidelines for hypertension management from around the world. The guidelines discussed include those from the United States (US), Europe, Canada, and Latin America. All guidelines except the US define hypertension as > 140/90 mmHg, and the US defines it as > 130/80 mmHg. In general, all guidelines except those from the US emphasize lifestyle modification as the cornerstone of initial therapy given blood pressure levels 130/80 mmHg in US and > 140/90 mmHg in the rest of the world.
Intubation studies of the human small intestine

On the basis of 76 kymographic records of intestinal activity obtained by intestinal intubation from 64 well-controlled subjects, including both normal individuals and patients, the following conclusions seem justified : 1. That such a diagnostic study is practical. 2. That three types of observations can be made: (a) on the caliber of the small bowel, (b) on the pattern of its large and small waves and (c) on the motility of its contents. 3. That such observations offer in many otherwise obscure cases objective data for an opinion as to the existence of a functional or organic basis for intestinal symptoms and as to the existence of a local or general small bowel involvement.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Possible CTE Cases

It is clear without any question that CTE exists and many theories exist to explain the cases which have been documented and those which show neuropathological CTE but fail to show any behavioral, cognitive or sensorimotor symptoms. We are also faced with cases of suicide or aggression in which there is debate as to the role of CTE and TBI in general. It is clear that few if any of the known cases can easily be explained by one factor or theory. Understanding on a clinical level, for clinicians like ourselves or for family or friends who know someone who has spiraled out of control, requires a thorough understanding of the brain as well as the psychosocial factors which influence all of us and which interact with the multiple head traumas which characterize CTE. It is important that we develop diagnostic techniques which can pinpoint the beginning of these symptoms so as to avoid these disastrous consequences as best as possible.
Topography of Corticostriatal Projections in Nonhuman Primates and Implications for Functional Parcellation of the Neostriatum

The corticostriatal pathway is a massive projection system linking virtually the entire neocortex with the neostriatum. Although it is widely recognized as a vital relay between cognitive centers and the extrapyramidal motor system, the exact nature of the anatomical relationship between these major centers has remained a puzzle to neurologists and neuroscientists alike. The functional role of the neostriatum has been equally clouded. The behavioral consequences of lesions in this structure are astonishingly diverse and seem not to be consistent from one study to another or from one species to another, including man (Denny-Brown, 1962; Divac and Oberg, 1979; DeLong and Georgopoulus, 1981).
Doppler Data Versus Results from High Precision Traverse

The transcontinental traverses (TT) in the conterminous United States will contribute to the framework of high precision control for a new adjustment of the triangulation networks consisting of abo...
Epidemiology and Risk Factors

Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary liver cancer, with a reportedly rising incidence.
Modeling radionuclide release of TRISO bearing fuel compacts during post-irradiation annealing tests

Abstract This article presents calculated radionuclide release fractions from TRISO fuel during post-irradiation annealing and comparison with AGR-1 irradiated TRISO compacts using the BISON fuel performance code. The BISON code was found to produce good agreement in an analytical comparison and with legacy German TRISO compact irradiation data. However, the recommended IAEA fission product diffusion coefficients did not produce good agreement with the 2014 AGR-1 data (Demkowicz et al., 2015). Thus, the diffusion coefficients prefactors and activation energies were modified to obtain best agreement with the recent AGR data. Future work involves investigating the release behavior of silver from silicon carbide and implementing methods to provide predictive capability for the silver release behavior.
Behavior and ecology of post-fledging American Kestrels

We observed the development of foraging behavior after nest departure in 12 sibling groups of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius). Perch resting decreased whereas perch hunting, eating self-captured prey, and flying increased over the 5-wk period that young were observed. Kestrels used perch hunting more than other types of hunting and fed exclusively on invertebrates, primarily grasshoppers. Perch hunting success (captures/pounces) increased significantly 3 wk after fledging and after this period there was no significant change. Significant increases in capture rate (captures/hour) occurred 4 and 5 wk after fledging due to increased pounce rates. We observed social hunting among siblings, families, and also among unrelated kestrels. Social hunting occurred during both perch hunting and ground hunting. Social foraging in these kestrels was imitative rather than cooperative.
A Priority-Based Control Strategy and Performance Bound for Aggregated HVAC-Based Load Shaping

Air conditioning systems have been recognized as a potential, cost-effective resource for shaping electrical load in a power system. This paper presents a new priority-based control strategy that explicitly addresses three requirements for using a collection of air conditioning units in this capacity. These are 1) tracking a regulation signal, 2) maintaining the building temperature near its set point, and 3) satisfying a cycling constraint of the air conditioners. After introducing the control strategy, we derive a bound for the regulation signal within which tracking is guaranteed while also satisfying the temperature requirement. These results are illustrated with simulations.
Inactivation of the Levansucrase Gene in Paenibacillus polymyxa DSM 365 Diminishes Exopolysaccharide Biosynthesis during 2,3-Butanediol Fermentation.

ABSTRACT The formation of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) during 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) fermentation by Paenibacillus polymyxa increases medium viscosity, which in turn presents considerable technical and economic challenges to 2,3-BD downstream processing. To eliminate EPS production during 2,3-BD fermentation, we used homologous recombination to disable the EPS biosynthetic pathway in P. polymyxa. The gene which encodes levansucrase, the major enzyme responsible for EPS biosynthesis in P. polymyxa, was successfully disrupted. The P. polymyxa levansucrase null mutant produced 2.5 ± 0.1 and 1.2 ± 0.2 g/liter EPS on sucrose and glucose, respectively, whereas the wild type produced 21.7 ± 2.5 and 3.1 ± 0.0 g/liter EPS on the same substrates, respectively. These levels of EPS translate to 8.7- and 2.6-fold decreases in EPS formation by the levansucrase null mutant on sucrose and glucose, respectively, relative to that by the wild type, with no significant reduction in 2,3-BD production. Inactivation of EPS biosynthesis led to a considerable increase in growth. On glucose and sucrose, the cell biomass of the levansucrase null mutant (8.1 ± 0.8 and 6.5 ± 0.3 g/liter, respectively) increased 1.4-fold compared to that of the wild type (6.0 ± 0.1 and 4.6 ± 0.3 g/liter, respectively) grown on the same substrates. Evaluation of the genetic stability of the levansucrase null mutant showed that it remained genetically stable over fifty generations, with no observable decrease in growth or 2,3-BD formation, with or without antibiotic supplementation. Hence, the P. polymyxa levansucrase null mutant has potential for use as an industrial biocatalyst for a cost-effective large-scale 2,3-BD fermentation process devoid of EPS-related challenges. IMPORTANCE Given the current barrage of attention and research investments toward the production of next-generation fuels and chemicals, of which 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) produced by nonpathogenic Paenibacillus species is perhaps one of the most vigorously pursued, tools for engineering Paenibacillus species are intensely sought after. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) production during 2,3-BD fermentation constitutes a problem during downstream processing. Specifically, EPS negatively impacts 2,3-BD separation from the fermentation broth, thereby increasing the overall cost of 2,3-BD production. The results presented here demonstrate that inactivation of the levansucrase gene in P. polymyxa leads to diminished EPS accumulation. Additionally, a new method for an EPS assay and a simple protocol employing protoplasts for enhanced transformation of P. polymyxa were developed. Overall, although our study shows that levan is not the only EPS produced by P. polymyxa, it represents a significant first step toward developing cost-effective 2,3-BD fermentation devoid of EPS-associated complications during downstream processing.