cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transplantable living scaffolds comprised of micro-tissue engineered aligned astrocyte networks to facilitate central nervous system regeneration

Abstract Neurotrauma, stroke, and neurodegenerative disease may result in widespread loss of neural cells as well as the complex interconnectivity necessary for proper central nervous system function, generally resulting in permanent functional deficits. Potential regenerative strategies involve the recruitment of endogenous neural stem cells and/or directed axonal regeneration through the use of tissue engineered “living scaffolds” built to mimic features of three-dimensional (3-D) in vivo migratory or guidance pathways. Accordingly, we devised a novel biomaterial encasement scheme using tubular hydrogel-collagen micro-columns that facilitated the self-assembly of seeded astrocytes into 3-D living scaffolds consisting of long, cable-like aligned astrocytic networks. Here, robust astrocyte alignment was achieved within a micro-column inner diameter (ID) of 180 μm or 300–350 μm but not 1.0 mm, suggesting that radius of curvature dictated the extent of alignment. Moreover, within small ID micro-columns, >70% of the astrocytes assumed a bi-polar morphology, versus ∼10% in larger micro-columns or planar surfaces. Cell–cell interactions also influenced the aligned architecture, as extensive astrocyte-collagen contraction was achieved at high (9–12 × 105 cells/mL) but not lower (2–6 × 105 cells/mL) seeding densities. This high density micro-column seeding led to the formation of ultra-dense 3-D “bundles” of aligned bi-polar astrocytes within collagen measuring up to 150 μm in diameter yet extending to a remarkable length of over 2.5 cm. Importantly, co-seeded neurons extended neurites directly along the aligned astrocytic bundles, demonstrating permissive cues for neurite extension. These transplantable cable-like astrocytic networks structurally mimic the glial tube that guides neuronal progenitor migration in vivo along the rostral migratory stream, and therefore may be useful to guide progenitor cells to repopulate sites of widespread neurodegeneration. Statement of Significance This manuscript details our development of novel micro-tissue engineering techniques to generate robust networks of longitudinally aligned astrocytes within transplantable micro-column hydrogels. We report a novel biomaterial encasement scheme that facilitated the self-assembly of seeded astrocytes into long, aligned regenerative pathways. These miniature “living scaffold” constructs physically emulate the glial tube – a pathway in the brain consisting of aligned astrocytes that guide the migration of neuronal progenitor cells – and therefore may facilitate directed neuronal migration for central nervous system repair. The small size and self-contained design of these aligned astrocyte constructs will permit minimally invasive transplantation in models of central nervous system injury in future studies.
The Form of the Conspiracy: Ricardo Piglia’s Reading of Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49

In an 1847 essay on “Secret Societies,” Thomas De Quincey speaks of the curious effect produced by any story about a secret society or conspiracy of individuals. By referring to the “wonder that gathered about the general economy of Secret Societies,” he expresses both the fascination and confusion often produced by conspiracy narratives. In effect, De Quincey’s essay presents the following problem: What would it mean to tell a story about the invisible relationships that constitute a secret society? That is, what would it mean to relate the unrelatable, to tell the untellable, to create a narrative that could link together the accomplices of a secret society? Furthermore, to what extent can we say that a conspiracy narrative produces a specific effect, such as the effect of wonder that De Quincey describes?
Clinical and economic impact of meropenem resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected patients.

Background The emergence of carbapenem resistance has had a significant impact on both clinical and economic outcomes. Methods A retrospective, observational cohort study was performed in a 433-bed tertiary care medical center. The cohort was established from all inpatients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa– positive cultures over a 3-year period. Two multivariate models were developed: a logistic regression model to evaluate the primary outcome of in-hospital mortality and a linear regression model to evaluate the secondary outcome of total hospital cost. Results The adjusted odds ratio for in-hospital mortality among patients with meropenem-resistant isolates was 2.89 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-7.28). There were significantly more deaths in the meropenem-resistant group (28.1% vs 8.9%, P = .003). Patients with meropenem-resistant P aeruginosa experienced a 4-day increase in median length of stay versus those in the meropenem-susceptible group (14 vs 9 days, P = .004). Likewise, the percentage of patients who required intensive care unit (ICU) admission increased from 42% to 81.3% ( P .001). Meropenem resistance was also associated with a significant increase in total hospital cost by a factor of 1.42 among patients who were not admitted to the ICU (95% CI, 1.03-1.95). Conclusions Our results demonstrate that meropenem resistance was a significant predictor of in-hospital mortality. Carbapenem resistance also resulted in a significant increase in hospital cost, but only among patients who were not admitted to the ICU.
Conservation and People

Conservation is a response to the extinctions, habitat loss, and ecosystem degradation caused by human population growth and human activities. Thus, people are the reason why conservation is needed. Conservation seeks to benefit people by protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services for current and future generations of humans. Nonetheless, many actions performed in the name of conservation have harmed people and their interests. Displacements of human communities and restrictions on human activities are enacted presumably for the greater good of both nature and humanity. However, the distribution of benefits and harms among different human communities is highly uneven.
Much Ado About Noise.

Noise is defined as unwanted sound, and as such has both an objective (physical) and subjective (psychological) component. Its effects are multifarious. Sound pressure levels that are too high for too long or extreme even for a short time lead to hearing loss, which can be increasingly observed in non-occupational settings (e.g., due to music that is too loud). However, even at lower levels sound can affect an organism. These “nonauditory” effects of noise include annoyance reactions, communication interference, delayed speech development in children, and sleep disturbances (1). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the nonauditory effects of noise are responsible for the loss of at least 1 million DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) every year in Western Europe (2).
A hybrid multibreath wash‐in wash‐out lung function quantification scheme in human subjects using hyperpolarized 3He MRI for simultaneous assessment of specific ventilation, alveolar oxygen tension, oxygen uptake, and air trapping

Purpose To present a method for simultaneous acquisition of alveolar oxygen tension (PAO2), specific ventilation (SV), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of hyperpolarized (HP) gas in the human lung, allowing reinterpretation of the PAO2 and SV maps to produce a map of oxygen uptake (R). Method An imaging scheme was designed with a series of identical normoxic HP gas wash-in breaths to measure ADC, SV, PAO2, and R in less than 2 min. Signal dynamics were fit to an iterative recursive model that regionally solved for these parameters. This measurement was successfully performed in 12 subjects classified in three healthy, smoker, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cohorts. Results The overall whole lung ADC, SV, PAO2, and R in healthy, smoker, and COPD subjects was 0.20 ± 0.03 cm2/s, 0.39 ± 0.06,113 ± 2 Torr, and 1.55 ± 0.35 Torr/s, respectively, in healthy subjects; 0.21 ± 0.03 cm2/s, 0.33 ± 0.06, 115.9 ± 4 Torr, and 0.97 ± 0.2 Torr/s, respectively, in smokers; and 0.25 ± 0.06 cm2/s, 0.23 ± 0.08, 114.8 ± 6.0Torr, and 0.94 ± 0.12 Torr/s, respectively, in subjects with COPD. Hetrogeneity of SV, PAO2, and R were indicators of both smoking-related changes and disease, and the severity of the disease correlated with the degree of this heterogeneity. Subjects with symptoms showed reduced oxygen uptake and specific ventilation. Conclusion High-resolution, nearly coregistered and quantitative measures of lung function and structure were obtained with less than 1 L of HP gas. This hybrid multibreath technique produced measures of lung function that revealed clear differences among the cohorts and subjects and were confirmed by correlations with global lung measurements. Magn Reson Med, 2016. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Fuel carbon intensity standards may not mitigate climate change

Abstract To mitigate the climate change effects of transportation, the US states of California and Oregon, the Canadian province of British Columbia, and the European Union have implemented regulations to reduce the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity of transport fuel, commonly referred to as "carbon intensity", or CI. In this article, we unpack the theory and practice of fuel CI standards, examining claims regarding climate-change mitigation. We show that these standards do not reliably mitigate climate change because estimates of GHG reductions rely primarily on models that are not designed to estimate changes in emissions and climate impacts. Some regulations incorporate models that estimate a subset of changes in emissions, but the models must project changes in global markets over decades, and there is little agreement about the best model structure or parameter values. Since multiple models and projections may be equally plausible, fuel CI is inevitably subjective and unverifiable. We conclude that regulating or taxing observable emissions would more reliably achieve emission reduction.
Computer-Aided Detection of Colorectal Polyps at CT Colonography: Prospective Clinical Performance and Third-Party Reimbursement.

OBJECTIVE. We assessed the initial clinical performance and third-party reimbursement rates of supplementary computer-aided detection (CAD) at CT colonography (CTC) for detecting colorectal polyps 6 mm or larger in routine clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We retrospectively assessed the prospective clinical performance of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved CAD system in second-reader mode in 347 consecutive adults (mean age, 57.6 years; 205 women, 142 men) undergoing CTC evaluation over a 5-month period. The reference standard consisted of the prospective interpretation by experienced CTC radiologists combined with subsequent optical colonoscopy (OC), if performed. We also assessed third-party reimbursement for CAD for studies performed over an 18-month period. RESULTS. In all, 69 patients (mean [± SD] age, 59.0 ± 7.7 years; 32 men, 37 women) had 129 polyps ≥ 6 mm. Per-patient CAD sensitivity was 91.3% (63 of 69). Per-polyp CAD-alone sensitivity was 88.4% (114 of 129), including 88.3% (...
Diminished gastric prokinetic response to ghrelin in a rat model of spinal cord injury

Background Patients with cervical or high-thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) often present reduced gastric emptying and early satiety. Ghrelin provokes motility via gastric vagal neurocircuitry and ghrelin receptor agonists offer a therapeutic option for gastroparesis. We have previously shown that experimental high-thoracic injury (T3-SCI) diminishes sensitivity to another gastrointestinal peptide, cholecystokinin. This study tests the hypothesis that T3-SCI impairs the vagally mediated response to ghrelin. Methods We investigated ghrelin sensitivity in control and T3-SCI rats at 3-days or 3-weeks after injury utilizing: (i) acute (3-day post-injury) fasting and post-prandial serum levels of ghrelin; (ii) in vivo gastric reflex recording following intravenous or central brainstem ghrelin; and (iii) in vitro whole cell recording of neurons within the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV). Key results The 2-day food intake of T3-SCI rats was reduced while fasting serum ghrelin levels were higher than in controls. Intravenous and fourth ventricle ghrelin increased in vivo gastric motility in fasted 3-day control rats but not fasted T3-SCI rats. In vitro recording of DMV neurons from 3-day T3-SCI rats were insensitive to exogenous ghrelin. For each measure, vagal responses returned after 3-weeks. Conclusions and inferences Hypophagia accompanying T3-SCI produces a significant and physiologically appropriate elevation in serum ghrelin levels. However, higher ghrelin levels did not translate into increased gastric motility in the acute stage of T3-SCI. We propose that this may reflect diminished sensitivity of peripheral vagal afferents to ghrelin or a reduction in the responsiveness of medullary gastric vagal neurocircuitry following T3-SCI.
Slow swimming exhausts fish

![Graphic][1] Fish must spend energy to swim when they forage, reproduce and avoid danger. While it's well known that fish metabolize energy quicker at fast speeds to propel themselves, slow swimming should, theoretically, also demand high energy costs as the fish works to maintain its
Evaluation of the readability, validity, and user-friendliness of written web-based patient education materials for aphasia

ABSTRACTBackground: Despite the importance of written healthcare information in improving an individual’s health status, patients may not be able to sufficiently utilize available resources because of a disparity between the accessibility of online written materials and patients’ ability to process that information. For individuals with impairments in written language comprehension, such as persons with aphasia, this disparity may be magnified. It is crucial that written health resources be cognitively accessible, accurate, and understandable for persons with aphasia.Aims: The aims of this study were to: (1) objectively measure the accessibility of current written educational materials for persons with aphasia and (2) examine the relationship between levels of readability, validity, and user-friendliness of materials accessed.Methods & Procedures: Aphasia-related webpages likely to be accessed during an Internet search were retrieved and analysed. These webpages were determined by selecting the first 10 s...
Exploring the Relationships Between Discrepancies in Perceptions of Emotional Performance Among College Students on Self-Esteem and Psychological Distress

Using the cultural-normative perspective (Ekman [1973] 2006; Gordon 1981, 1990; Hochschild 1975, [1983] 2012) and the perceptual control emphasis in identity theory (Burke 1991, 1996; Burke and Stets 2009; Stets 2003, 2004, Social Psychology Quarterly, 68(1), 39–56 Stets 2005; Stets and Asencio 2008; Stets and Osborn 2008; Stets & Carter, Social Psychology Quarterly, 74(2), 192–215, 2011, American Sociological Review, 77(1), 120–140 2012; Stets et al. 2008b; Stets and Trettevik 2016; Stets and Tsushima 2001) I explore how college students’ perceptions of self versus others evaluations of emotional performances impact self-esteem and psychological distress. Drawing on a convenience sample of 1100 college students from a large university in the United States, I run a series of structural equation models (SEM) to examine my hypotheses. I suggest that the greater the discrepancy in the evaluation of the emotional response of happiness (or sadness) related to the student identity is related to lower self-esteem, greater depression and anxiety. Results support my hypotheses, even small discrepancies in perceptions of our emotional displays of happiness or sadness impact the self and psychological distress. I suggest ways this work can inform counselors, educators and others working within higher education to encourage integration of coping responses associated with the college student identity to be embedded in the cultural landscape of the university setting. I offer suggestions how theoretical, empirical and applied work in this tradition can enhance the lives of college students and present a number of pathways for future research.
Review of wholesale markets and regulations for advanced energy storage services in the United States: Current status and path forward

Abstract Today, advanced energy storage technologies, particularly electrochemical batteries, represent an increasingly economic option for supporting the integration of renewable energy resources and providing the grid with greater operational flexibility. Crucially though, the large-scale deployment of these assets, and the development of successful business models to support them is heavily reliant on policy, regulation and market design. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of the array of federal, ISO/RTO and state-level rules and regulations shaping today's energy storage deployment across the United States. We highlight the fragmented and heterogeneous nature of existing market participation models available for advanced energy storage across restructured power markets and emphasize the need for design changes to power markets at all timescales to allow for the more efficient integration of energy storage. We also reflect on how well FERC's recent Order 841 does in terms of providing a framework for the establishment of more fit-for-purpose market participation models for storage, something that will be key for today's evolving power sector as it becomes more dependent on intermittent renewable resources.
Towards a Methodology for Analyzing Sustainability Standards using the Zachman Framework

There exists a multitude of standards and regulations related to sustainability. It is critical to enable users to identify applicable standards across entire lifecycles of products, processes, and services. To synthesize this variety of standards, it is important to analyze them from the information modeling point of view, while incorporating the requirements of various stakeholders. Here, we propose such a multi-perspective approach based on the Zachman framework. Using this approach it is possible to identify gaps and overlaps, harmonize, and develop implementation strategies for sustainability standards. We then introduce our case study results as part of the Sustainability Standards Portal.
Direct Detection of Anchor Damping in MEMS Tuning Fork Resonators

This paper presents the use of our approach to comprehensive measurements of the quality factor ( $Q$ ) of 1-MHz microelectromechanical system (MEMS) tuning fork resonators. We examined the most important mechanisms that are believed to limit the quality factor in MEMS tuning fork resonators (i.e., gas damping, thermoelastic dissipation (TED), anchor damping, and Akhiezer damping), and we were able to quantitatively account for each mechanism and to eliminate several from consideration. We take advantage of the elimination of TED at ~120 K, where the linear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) becomes 0. These observations enabled the first direct examination of the strength of anchor damping in megahertz tuning fork resonators, allowing the study of the effect of anchor design and other factors. In this megahertz frequency range, the wavelength of elastic waves far exceeds the dimensions of the die, so commonly used models cannot make predictions of anchor damping. Our results show that elastic energy can escape from the resonator through the anchor(s) and still be retained within the die. We find that anchor damping in these megahertz resonators is impacted more by die attach structures at the boundaries of the die than by the resonator anchor designs within the die. [2018-0038]
Novel linezolid resistance plasmids in Enterococcus from food animals in the USA.

Objectives To sequence the genomes and determine the genetic mechanisms for linezolid resistance identified in three strains of Enterococcus isolated from cattle and swine caecal contents as part of the US National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) surveillance programme. Methods Broth microdilution was used for in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing to assess linezolid resistance. Resistance mechanisms and plasmid types were identified from data generated by WGS on Illumina® and PacBio® platforms. Conjugation experiments were performed to determine whether identified mechanisms were transmissible. Results Linezolid resistance plasmids containing optrA were identified in two Enterococcus faecalis isolates and one Enterococcus faecium. The E. faecium isolate also carried the linezolid resistance gene cfr on the same plasmid as optrA. The linezolid resistance plasmids had various combinations of additional resistance genes conferring resistance to phenicols (fexA), aminoglycosides [spc and aph(3')-III] and macrolides [erm(A) and erm(B)]. One of the plasmids was confirmed to be transmissible by conjugation, resulting in linezolid resistance in the transconjugant. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first identification of linezolid resistance in the USA in bacteria isolated from food animals. The oxazolidinone class of antibiotics is not used in food animals in the USA, but the genes responsible for resistance were identified on plasmids with other resistance markers, indicating that there may be co-selection for these plasmids due to the use of different antimicrobials. The transmissibility of one of the plasmids demonstrated the potential for linezolid resistance to spread horizontally. Additional surveillance is necessary to determine whether similar plasmids are present in human strains of Enterococcus.
Genetics and Genomics in Public Health

Abstract This chapter reviews the emergence and progress in the field of public health genetics/genomics. Firmly rooted in two fields with a rich and disparate history (medical genetics and public health), public health genomics has taken shape only in the past 20 years. Broadly defined, public health genomics is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the responsible and effective translation of genomic science and technologies to improve population health. In contrast to medical genetics, where the unit of intervention is the individual and other family members, public health genomics is concerned with the health and well-being of a whole population or community, no matter how it is defined. We review the goals and activities of public health, discuss public health essential services in the context of genetics/genomics, and give examples of ongoing priorities and activities in the field, such as hereditary cancers, pathogen genomics, precision medicine, and integrating evidence-based genomics applications into the changing landscape of community-based healthcare. Moving forward, the role of public health genomics is expected to expand due to rapid developments and applications of genomics in healthcare and disease prevention, requiring further assessment, policy development, and assurance efforts.
Disappearing Diamonds: Fitch-Like Results in Bimodal Logic

Augment the propositional language with two modal operators: □ and ■. Define \(\blacklozenge \) to be the dual of ■, i.e. \(\blacklozenge \equiv \neg \blacksquare \neg \). Whenever (X) is of the form φ → ψ, let (X\(^{\blacklozenge } \) ) be \(\varphi \rightarrow \blacklozenge \psi \). (X\(^{\blacklozenge } \) ) can be thought of as the modally qualified counterpart of (X)—for instance, under the metaphysical interpretation of \(\blacklozenge \), where (X) says φ implies ψ, (X\(^{\blacklozenge } \) ) says φ implies possiblyψ. This paper shows that for various interesting instances of (X), fairly weak assumptions suffice for (X\(^{\blacklozenge } \)) to imply (X)—so, the modally qualified principle is as strong as its unqualified counterpart. These results have surprising and interesting implications for issues spanning many areas of philosophy.
Exposure to air pollution is associated with adverse cardiopulmonary health effects in international travellers

BACKGROUND With the number of annual global travellers reaching 1.2 billion, many individuals encounter greater levels of air pollution when they travel abroad to megacities around the world. This study's objective was to determine if visits to cities abroad with greater levels of air pollution adversely impact cardiopulmonary health. METHODS A total of 34 non-smoking healthy adult participants who travelled abroad to selected cities from the New York City (NYC) metropolitan area were pre-trained to measure lung function, blood pressure and heart rate (HR)/HR variability (HRV) and record symptoms before, during and after travelling abroad. Outdoor particulate matter (PM)2.5 concentrations were obtained from central monitors in each city. Associations between PM exposure concentrations and cardiopulmonary health endpoints were analysed using a mixed effects statistical design. RESULTS East and South Asian cities had significantly higher PM2.5 concentrations compared with pre-travel NYC PM2.5 levels, with maximum concentrations reaching 503 μg/m3. PM exposure-related associations for lung function were statistically significant and strongest between evening Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1) and same-day morning PM2.5 concentrations; a 10-μg/m3 increase in outdoor PM2.5 was associated with a mean decrease of 7 mL. Travel to a highly polluted city (PM2.5 > 100 μg/m3) was associated with a 209-ml reduction in evening FEV1 compared with a low polluted city (PM2.5 < 35 μg/m3). In general, participants who travelled to East and South Asian cities experienced increased respiratory symptoms/scores and changes in HR and HRV. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to increased levels of PM2.5 in cities abroad caused small but statistically significant acute changes in cardiopulmonary function and respiratory symptoms in healthy young adults. These data suggest that travel-related exposure to increased PM2.5 adversely impacts cardiopulmonary health, which may be particularly important for travellers with pre-existing respiratory or cardiac disease.
When a pandemic influenza lands in your community: A planned response to maintain a safe facility

BACKGROUND Our healthcare system's pandemic plan, although reviewed annually, had remained an antiquated process originally designed for the 2009 H1N1 pandemic outbreak. Our healthcare system has grown to 17 facilities with 2.7?million outpatient visits per year and 2,600 inpatient beds. State and local health departments recommend response plans for healthcare settings related to the number of cases, clinical severity and how the outbreak spreads; however, facilities should have their own risk-based mitigation strategies that can be promptly initiated when indicated. We realized we needed a more localized response as our facilities cross four health preparedness districts within the state. METHODS Data analyzed within a large health system showed that the outbreak of influenza peaked at different times yearly across the state. We developed a standardized plan defining the safety measures necessary for pandemic planning that allowed for phased and tailored implementation of various strategies such as fever clinics, masking all personnel, and cancelling non-essential procedures. Interventions can By sharing the same plan across the system, we are better able to leverage resources and quickly implement strategies to minimize the spread of the disease. RESULTS This tailored approach allows for a more focused, regional approach with interventions that are based on how the pandemic expands. With large healthcare systems spread across multiple state or counties, this method provides a flexible method to rolling out interventions where resources can be easily flexed up, down or across sites. CONCLUSIONS As healthcare systems continue to grow, a more flexible, regional approach to pandemic planning with structured interventions that can be tailored to each site is vital to maintain a safe environment.
Inspiration and Revelation

‘Revelation and inspiration’ analyzes the concept of revelation as it is used in everyday discourse. The article then suggests that the prevailing tendency in Christian theology has been to limit revelation to one locus or source, e.g., propositions in scripture, acts of God in history, human experience, and the like. Finally, the article argues that a more useful account of divine revelation will mirror the way in which the concept of revelation functions in everyday usage, allowing for God to engage in an entire range of activities in an effort to reveal God's self, God's purposes, and the like to human persons.
Using Complete Enumeration to Derive "One-Size-Fits-All" Versus "Subgroup-Specific" Diagnostic Rules for Substance Use Disorder.

The use of fixed diagnostic rules, whereby the same diagnostic algorithms are applied across all individuals regardless of personal attributes, has been the tradition in the Diagnostic and Statisti...
Depression and the Effect of Sertraline on Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients with Nondialysis CKD

Background: Inflammatory biomarkers are elevated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and associated with poor outcomes. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is prevalent in CKD and associated with inflammation. No studies investigated the effect of MDD treatment on plasma inflammatory biomarkers in patients with non-dialysis CKD. Methods: In a pre-specified analysis of the randomized, double-blind CKD Antidepressant Sertraline Trial, we investigated whether treatment with sertraline vs. placebo or response to treatment would affect plasma levels of albumin, pre-albumin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. We also explored whether somatic vs. non-somatic depressive symptoms, measured using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, and quality of life subscales, measured using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life short form, were associated with baseline levels of these inflammatory biomarkers. Results: Of the 193 participants, mean (SD) age was 58.4 (13) years and 57.5% were black, 42.0% white, and 18.1% Hispanic. Higher baseline hsCRP correlated with somatic depressive symptoms (r=0.205, P=0.010), fatigue (r=0.223, P=0.005), and poorer physical functioning (r=-0.263, P=0.001). There was no change in hsCRP in the sertraline group. HsCRP increased in placebo non-responders from baseline (median [IQR] 3.7 [1.7, 10.0] mg/L) to exit (4.9 [1.8, 8.8], P=0.011). The change from baseline to exit differed between placebo responders (-0.4 [-9.3, 0.2]) vs. non-responders (0.8 [-0.1, 3.9], P=0.008). There were no differences in changes in albumin, pre-albumin, or IL-6 from baseline in any group. Conclusions: Among patients with CKD and MDD, hsCRP correlated with somatic symptoms of depression and fatigue, but not with non-somatic symptoms. Sertraline treatment was not associated with a longitudinal change in hsCRP from baseline regardless of treatment effect on depressive symptoms, but those who failed to respond to placebo had an increase in hsCRP over time. This area deserves further investigation.
Assessing the impact of sub-pixel vegetation structure on imaging spectroscopy via simulation

Consistent and scalable estimation of vegetation structural parameters from imaging spectroscopy is essential to remote sensing for ecosystem studies, with applications to a wide range of biophysical assessments. To support global vegetation assessment, NASA has proposed the Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) imaging spectrometer, which measures the randiance 380-2500nm in 10nm contiguous bands with 60m ground sample distance (GSD). However, because of the large pixel size on the ground, there is uncertainty as to the effects of vegetation structure on observed radiance. This research evaluates linkages between vegetation structure and imaging spectroscopy. Specifically, we assess the impact of within-pixel vegetation density and position on large-footprint spectral radiances. To achieve this objective, three virtual forest scenes were constructed, which correspond to the actual veg- etation structure of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Pacific Southwest domain (PSW; D17; Fresno, CA). These were used to simulate anticipated HyspIRI data (60m GSD) using the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Image Generation (DIRSIG) model, a first-principles synthetic image generation model de- veloped by the Rochester Institute of Technology. Airborne Visible / Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) and NEON's high-resolution imaging spectrometer (NIS) data were used to verify the geometric parameters and physical models. Multiple simulated HyspIRI data sets were generated by varying within-pixel structural variables, such as forest density, position, and distribution of trees, in order to assess the impact of sub-pixel structural variation on observed HyspIRI data. Results indicate that HyspIRI is sensitive to sub-pixel vegetation density variation in the visible to short- wavelength infrared spectrum due to vegetation structural changes, and associated pigment and water content variation. This has implications for improving the system's suitability for consistent global vegetation structural assessments by adapting calibration strategies to account for this sub-pixel variation.
Effect of Size of Gold Nanoparticles (GNP) on Intracellular Uptake and Cytotoxicity in Breast Cancer Cells

We investigated the effects of intracellular uptake of different sizes of gold nanoparticles (GNP) ranging from 10 nm to 100 nm on breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). The experimental results showed the cell cytotoxicity is high dose-and dimension- dependent. We further investigated the effect of intracellular uptake of GNP on cell morphology, including cell area, perimeter, and aspect ratio. We showed GNP with a diameter of 20 nm enhanced cell proliferation with a low concentration of GNP (2 μg/mL, 4 μg/mL, and 10 μg/mL). To evaluate the specific sizes of GNP affection in wound healing, we investigated the cell migration ability after GNP uptake. Also, we detect the Dll4 expression when the GNP works as a probe, in which the 10 nm GNP-LNA complex reveals significant signal intensity.
Exploring the relationship between student-perceived faculty encouragement, self-efficacy, and intent to persist in engineering programs

Copious research on Social Cognitive Career Theory has found student self-efficacy substantially related to persistence in engineering programs. The present exploratory study investigated the assoc...
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Prostatic Adenocarcinoma.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is caused by excessive immune activation. It can be primary in the setting of genetic defects or secondary in the setting of infection, inflammation, and malignancy. Here we present the fourth reported case of secondary HLH in association with prostatic adenocarcinoma and the diagnostic challenges of this rare, life-threatening condition. This is a 78-year-old male who presented to the hospital with fever and generalized weakness for three days and found to have splenomegaly, pancytopenia, markedly elevated transaminases, and ferritin. Bone marrow biopsy revealed hemophagocytes. He underwent an extensive evaluation to identify the etiology. Para-aortic lymph node biopsy was consistent with prostatic adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis of HLH needs a high index of suspicion because the presentation is nonspecific. HLH is a rapidly progressive and potentially fatal condition underscoring the need for a prompt evaluation if this condition is suspected.
Spermidine as a possible mediator of glucocorticoid effect on milk protein synthesis in mouse mammary epithelium in vitro.

Abstract Several lines of evidence are presented for the involvement of spermidine in milk protein synthesis during hormone-dependent differentiation of mouse mammary epithelium in vitro. (a) When mammary explants from midpregnant mice are cultured in the presence of insulin, hydrocortisone, and prolactin, synthesis of casein and α-lactalbumin increases markedly during the initial 48 hours. The requirement for hydrocortisone, but not for insulin or prolactin, can be met by spermidine at a concentration as low as 10-4 m. Thus the combination of insulin, spermidine, and prolactin results in an increase in synthesis of the milk proteins similar to that produced by the triple hormone combination. The related polyamines, spermine and putrescine, and divalent cations such as Mg2+ are ineffective. (b) The concentration of spermidine in mammary epithelium increases by about 3-fold when mammary explants are incubated for 48 hours in the presence of insulin, hydrocortisone, and prolactin, the same combination of hormones which causes marked stimulation of milk protein synthesis. Significant increases in the spermidine concentration occur prior to the accelerated synthesis of milk proteins. The combination of insulin and prolactin, which results in a slight stimulation of milk protein synthesis, correspondingly effects a smaller increase in the intracellular concentration of spermidine. (c) Methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone), a potent inhibitor of spermidine synthesis, at a concentration of 2 µm, prevents increases in both the cellular spermidine concentration and the milk protein synthesis that occur in the presence of the three hormones. The simultaneous presence of spermidine, but not spermine or putrescine, however, overcomes the inhibitory effect of methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) on milk protein synthesis. The mechanism whereby glucocorticoid, together with insulin and prolactin, causes the large increase in the concentration of spermidine in cultured mammary cells appears to be mediated through stimulation of the activity of S-adenosyl-l-methionine decarboxylase, which plays a key role in the biosynthesis of spermidine. In mammary epithelium, glucocorticoid, in combination with insulin, markedly increases the enzyme activity in concert with the increase in spermidine concentration.
Ubiquitous Autofragmentation of Fluorescent Proteins Creates Abundant Defective Ribosomal Products (DRiPs) for Immunosurveillance.

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and other fluorescent proteins are essential tools for biological research. When fused to peptides or proteins as a reporter, GFP enables localization and quantitation of gene products in otherwise unmanipulated live cells or organisms. We previously reported that a sizable fraction of nascent GFP is post-translationally converted into a 20-kDa Triton X-100-insoluble proteasome substrate (Qian, S. B., Princiotta, M. F., Bennink, J. R., and Yewdell, J. W. (2006) J. Biol. Chem. 281, 392–400; Dolan, B. P., Li, L., Veltri, C. A., Ireland, C. M., Bennink, J. R., and Yewdell, J. W. (2011) J. Immunol. 186, 2065–2072). Here, we show that a similarly sized fragment is generated by all GFP and red fluorescent protein family members we examined. We demonstrate that fragmentation is a by-product of GFP chromophore rearrangement. A non-rearranging GFP mutant fails to fragment and generates diminished levels of Kb-SIINFEKL complexes when SIINFEKL is genetically fused to either the C- or N-terminal domains of GFP fusion proteins. Instructively, another fragmenting GFP mutant that cannot create the functional chromophore but still generates fragments also demonstrates diminished Kb-SIINFEKL generation. However, the mutant and wild-type fragments differ fundamentally in that wild-type fragments are rapidly liberated from the intact molecule and degraded quickly, accounting for increased Kb-SIINFEKL generation. In the fragmenting mutant, the fragments are generated slowly and remain associated, likely in a native conformation based on their original structural description (Barondeau, D. P., Kassmann, C. J., Tainer, J. A., and Getzoff, E. D. (2006) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128, 4685–4693). The wild-type GFP fragments represent the first biochemically defined natural defective ribosomal products to contribute peptides for immunosurveillance, enabling quantitation of peptide generation efficiency from this source of defective ribosomal products. More broadly, given the wide use of fluorescent proteins, their ubiquitous and abundant fragmentation must be considered when interpreting experiments using these extremely useful probes.
Testing for cointegration

Abstract Monte Carlo experiments indicate that temporal disaggregation often yields significant power increases in augmented Dickey-Fuller cointegration tests. This result is contrary to the properties of ADF unit root tests and is robust to several lag specifications and test misspecifications.
Using Blogs and Wikis for International Collective Action: Disaster Response to the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004

On December 26, 2004, a major tsunami hit several countries in South and Southeast Asia. The magnitude of the disaster across the entire region was of a scale that had not been experienced for many years. Among the range of responses which developed, one was an entirely on-line effort. A small group of bloggers in India spearheaded the creation of a blog, later transformed into a wiki, that for a few weeks became a major international clearinghouse for people around the world interested in providing assistance to the victims of the tsunami across the affected region. People from around the world started sending messages on what they knew, what they had, who needed what, what was needed where. The effort was so successful that within a week of its creation, the blog Tsunami Help was among the top ten humanitarian websites visited in the world, just behind the United Nations, Reuters AlertNet, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent. The blog, consisted of entries from people on the ground who could report what they saw happening, of information on who needed help, how best to help, in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other affected areas. While the case is recent, enough time has passed to see the after effects of the activists’ participation. Through examining the blog, the wiki, associated texts in email groups, and interviews with a dozen participants in India, Bahrain, United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, a picture emerges of how to understand technology’s impact on civil society.
The Forgotten Proviso of § 1367(b) (And Why We Forgot)

Professors Rowe, Burbank, and Mengler, who helped draft 28 U.S.C. § 1367 in 1990, their chief antagonists, Professors Freer and Arthur,' and five additional kibitzers destroyed most of a mid-sized forest in an initial ten-article donnybrook about the statute. Now the prestigious panel convened by the Civil Procedure Section of the Association of American Law Schools ("AALS") in January 1998, including three of the original despoilers, surely finished the job.' Among them, these eleven law professors have left nothing new for anyone to say about supplemental jurisdiction. I will therefore revisit an old problem, or set of problems, originally identified by Professor Freer, and the old solution, originally proposed by Professor Rowe and his colleagues, to gauge whether the solution worked, and, if it did not, to discuss why it failed. Both the problems and the proffered solution were posed by § 1367(b), which seemingly denied plaintiffs in diversity-only cases the supplemental jurisdiction so generously extended by § 1367(a) to all claims that are part of the same case or controversy as a jurisdictionally independent claim. Subsection 1367(b) provides:
Influencing Ethical Development: Exposing Students to the AICPA Code of Conduct

Although the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct emphasizes the importance of education in ethics, very little is known about how and when the Code and the topic of ethics can be presented to enhance the effectiveness of ethics-oriented education. The purpose of this research was to provide preliminary evidence about the ethical development of students prior to, and immediately following, such courses. We found that: (1) accounting students, after taking an auditing course which emphasized the AICPA Code, reasoned at higher levels than students who had not taken the course; (2) there were no differences in moral reasoning levels when accounting and non-accounting majors were compared prior to an auditing course; and (3) there was a significant relationship between the Seniors' levels of ethical development and the choice of an ethical versus unethical action. It was concluded that an auditing course emphasizing the 'spirit' of the Code can have a positive impact on the ethical behaviour of some of the future members of the accounting profession.
Hankel norm computation for infinite-dimensional H ∞ model matching problems

This paper considers the problem of computing the induced L2 norm for Hankel operators which are not necessarily compact. Ih the literature such a norm has traditionally been computed by attempting to solve a complex infinite-dimensional eigenvalue-eigenfunction problem. In this paper, it is shown that a sequence of simple finite-dimensional eigenvalue-eigenvector problems can be solved to estimate the desired induced norm.
AI-MIX: using automated planning to steer human workers towards better crowdsourced plans

One subclass of human computation applications are those directed at tasks that involve planning (e.g. tour planning) and scheduling (e.g. conference scheduling). Interestingly, work on these systems shows that even primitive forms of automated oversight on the human contributors helps in significantly improving the effectiveness of the humans/crowd. In this paper, we argue that the automated oversight used in these systems can be viewed as a primitive automated planner, and that there are several opportunities for more sophisticated automated planning in effectively steering the crowd. Straightforward adaptation of current planning technology is however hampered by the mismatch between the capabilities of human workers and automated planners. We identify and partially address two important challenges that need to be overcome before such adaptation of planning technology can occur: (i) interpreting inputs of the human workers (and the requester) and (ii) steering or critiquing plans produced by the human workers, armed only with incomplete domain and preference models. To these ends, we describe the implementation of AI-MIX, a tour plan generation system that uses automated checks and alerts to improve the quality of plans created by human workers; and present a preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of steering provided by automated planning.