cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
IEEE Empower a Billion Lives Competition-Unleash Your Suppressed Entrepreneur [Entrepreneur Viewpoint]

The IEEE Power Electronics Society is launching a global competition to crowdsource the innovation needed to overcome this scaling challenge. The IEEE Empower a Billion Lives Competition seeks to foster interdisciplinary innovation to develop and demonstrate solutions to energy access that are regionally relevant and sustainable and can be rapidly scaled to impact a billion people. This may seem ambitious, but the timing cannot be better. We live amid global 21st-century technologies with exponentially declining prices, including photovoltaic (PV) solar, light-emitting diodes, wind, batteries, energy storage, power semiconductors, memory, microcontrollers, the Internet of Things, and cellular communications. Collectively, these technologies offer a unique and unprecedented opportunity for the emerging markets to overhaul how energy is generated, delivered, and used.
Demonstration of Resistant or Wild-Type Virus in Recurrent Viremia After Ganciclovir-Resistant Cytomegaloviral Infection.

Background Ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus (GR-CMV) is a serious complication of transplantation. Recurrence after primary infection is common. Little is known about CMV drug resistance and latency. Objective Review CMV genotype during episodes of recurrent CMV viremia after prior documentation of ganciclovir resistance to evaluate if resistance is redemonstrated. Methods All adult transplant recipients with history of GR-CMV viremia from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2015, were screened; those with subsequent laboratory evidence of recurrent CMV viremia and genotyping were included. Results A total of 23 patients had genetically confirmed GR-CMV within the study time period; 14 were excluded due to lack of repeat resistance testing at recurrence and 4 due to of lack of negativity between testing, leaving 5 patients with 7 episodes of recurrent viremia to evaluate. At first recurrent viremia, 4 patients (80%) demonstrated resistant genotype; 1 patient had wild type. Two patients went on to have a second viremia recurrence; both demonstrated wild-type genotype, despite the fact that the first recurrence in these patients was resistant genotype. Conclusion In transplant recipients with history of GR-CMV, it appears that there is strain variability in latency: repeat genetic testing in patients with recurrent viremia after GR-CMV should be conducted. In the setting of wild-type repopulation, use of GCV should be considered.
Conversão Semi-automática de Algoritmos Sequenciais de Processamento Digital de Imagens para Algoritmos Paralelos na Arquitetura CUDA

Sistemas de processamento digital de imagens podem ter tempo de execucao nao compativeis com o esperado pelo usuario. Uma possivel solucao e o uso de processamento paralelo para diminuir o tempo de execucao de algoritmos de processamento de imagens. A tecnologia CUDA oferece uma interface de desenvolvimento para tirar proveito do processamento paralelo em GPUs, entretanto, possui uma alta curva de aprendizagem e exige conhecimento de recursos especificos, como sua arquitetura e tipos de memoria. Este trabalho propoe uma ferramenta semi-automatica para converter algoritmos de processamento de imagens sequenciais em uma versao paralela para GPU na qual o programador nao precisa conhecer os detalhes da arquitetura, nem os seus comandos de programacao especificos. Para tanto, o programador deve adotar a definicao da API deste trabalho, seguindo os prototipos de funcoes e incluir, em seu codigo fonte, diretivas que identifiquem uma das quatro categorias de processamento: operacoes pixel a pixel, operacoes de vizinhanca de pixel, operacoes que reduzem a imagem para um valor escalar e operacoes que reduzem a imagem para um vetor. O resultado final e o codigo fonte paralelizado na tecnologia CUDA. Foram realizados experimentos para cada uma das categorias e os resultados mostraram que a versao paralela diminui o tempo de execucao para tres categorias, exceto a de operacoes que reduzem a imagem para um vetor devido aos acessos simultâneos ao mesmo endereco de memoria da posicao do vetor.
Signal Processing for Experiments with Nonlinear Energy Sinks

This chapter summarizes several notes on signal processing and numerical computation that have been compiled in the course of performing the experiments reported throughout this volume. While these techniques are certainly not limited to processing data from nonlinear dynamics research, they have proven particularly useful in helping obtain good quantitative agreement between simulations and experiments with the strongly nonlinear models treated herein. Without careful attention to matters such as transducer dynamics, recovering correct time his tory data is especially difficult, and errors that might go unnoticed in the analysis of linear systems can be unacceptable in the nonlinear setting.
Eukaryotic Y-Family Polymerases: A Biochemical and Structural Perspective

Classical DNA polymerases, which replicate DNA rapidly and with high fidelity, stall upon encountering DNA damage. Thus nonclassical polymerases, which have evolved to accommodate DNA damage, are necessary to overcome these replication blocks. These nonclassical polymerases mainly belong to the Y-family and replicate DNA slower and with lower fidelity than their classical counterparts. Y-family polymerases employ surprising strategies to incorporate nucleotides opposite DNA damage. These include the use of larger and less constrained active sites, the use of Hoogsteen base pairing, and the use of amino acid side chains as templates. Y-family polymerases also engage in protein–protein interactions that are important for their recruitment to stalled replication forks and the coordination of their activities on the DNA. These polymerases function within a dynamic network of protein–protein interactions that are mediated by intrinsically disordered regions of these enzymes. This review focuses on the biochemical and structural studies of the Y-family polymerases, which have provided clear insights into their function.
Factors that Determine the Decision to Major in Accounting: A Survey of Accounting Graduates

Demand for accounting professionals is currently strong and is expected to remain so into the foreseeable future. As accounting programs help satisfy demand, recruiting and retaining the best students is important. While existing research has examined what factors lead students to choose accounting as a major, research on the success of recruitment and retention efforts is minimal. This paper examines the success of recruitment and retention efforts by the accounting department at a state university in the southeast. Each semester the department recruits successful students enrolled in the first introductory accounting course, with the goal of encouraging high performing students to consider majoring in accounting. Once students become accounting majors, follow up occurs with out-of-the-classroom opportunities in studentsâ€™ junior and senior years. A survey of graduates was conducted to determine the perceived usefulness of the recruitment and retention efforts. Results indicate that the efforts are perceived by graduates as valuable. Other programs looking for ways to enhance recruitment and retention efforts may find ideas herein.
Self-reported addiction to pornography in a nationally representative sample: The roles of use habits, religiousness, and moral incongruence.

Background and aimsDespite controversies regarding its existence as a legitimate mental health condition, self-reports of pornography addiction seem to occur regularly. In the United States, prior ...
Can a phone hear the shape of a room

Understanding the location of acoustically reflective surfaces in a room is a critical component in advanced sound processing. For example, intelligent speakers can use a room's acoustic geometry to improve playback quality, source separation accuracy, and speech recognition. In this paper, we present Synesthesia, a system for capturing the acoustic properties of a room using a single fixed speaker and a mobile phone that records audio at multiple locations. Using the arrival time of echoes, the system is able to reconstruct the position of reflective surfaces like walls and then estimate properties like surface absorption. Previous work has shown how the acoustic room impulse response (RIR) of an environment can be used to analyze echoes within a space to reconstruct room geometry. The best current RIR-based approaches rely on high-end equipment and capturing an acoustic signal broadcast into space from a known fixed constellation of microphones. They also require the precise calibration and measurement of microphone positions. In addition, most approaches pose constraints on room geometries and limit the order of RIR to achieve accurate and consistent results. In this paper, we introduce a new approach that performs RIR imaging using a mobile phone that tracks its location with visual inertial odometry (VIO) to record a dense set of samples albeit with noise in their locations. We present a new approach that is able to relax several key assumptions on RIR and show through both experimentation and simulation that even with 20cm of uncertainty in the microphone locations provided by VIO, we are still able to reconstruct the room geometry with accurate shape and dimensions. We demonstrate this capability by prototyping a tool for acoustic engineers, that allows a user to view a room's estimated geometry and absorption overlaid on the actual sensed space with augmented reality.
The world’s last best hope: El excepcionalismo americano y la política exterior de Estados Unidos en la era Obama

Desde la llegada al poder de Barack Obama, el excepcionalismo americano se ha situado en el centro del debate politico en estrecha conexion con el debate en torno al declive internacional de EE.UU. El presente articulo pretende ofrecer un estudio del excepcionalismo tanto desde el punto de vista teorico como desde su impacto mas reciente en la politica exterior de EE.UU. A tal efecto, procederemos a desentranar sus principales aspectos conceptuales, analizando las distintas interpretaciones del mismo en el marco de las principales doctrinas de politica exterior estadounidense. Sobre esta base teorica, nos detendremos en la influencia de la idea excepcionalista en la practica de la politica exterior de la Administracion Obama, denunciada por sus mas acerbos criticos como antiexcepcionalista y, por inmediata extension, como antiamericana.
The benefit of adjuvant radiotherapy in high-grade retroperitoneal sarcoma: A SEER analysis.

10559 Background: There is significant controversy surrounding the use of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). Grade is a prognostic factor in RPS and high-gra...
Calorie restriction decreases proinflammatory cytokines and polymeric Ig receptor expression in the submandibular glands of autoimmune prone (NZB x NZW)F1 mice

Calorie restriction or fish oil (enriched in n-3 fatty acids) supplementation ameliorates glomerulonephritis and Sj¨ogren's syndrome lesions in (NZB × NZW)F1(B/W) mice. Enhanced proinflammatory cytokine expression and deposition of immune complexes are the important pathological events in the development of Sj¨ogren's syndrome. In the present study, we have examined the effect of calorie restriction and fish oil supplementation on the expression of key inflammatory cytokines [gamma interferon (INF-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and IL-12] and polymeric immunoglobulin (Ig) receptor (pIgR) (receptor for IgA and IgM) and the secretion of Ig in the submandibular glands (SMG) of B/W mice. Weanling B/W mice were fed either ad libitum (AL) or calorie restricted (CR) (40% less calories than AL) diet supplemented with 5% corn oil (CO) or 5% fish oil (FO) until 4 or 9 months of age. The SMGs were removed and a portion of the tissue used for semiquantitive determinations of IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-12 (p40), and pIgR mRNA. The remaining SMG tissue was fragmented and cultured for 7 days and the culture supernatants assayed for IgA, IgM, and IgG2a levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results revealed a significant increase in the expression of IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-12 mRNA with age in AL fed mice, whereas CR fed mice maintained their levels to near those seen in young animals regardless of the dietary fat. PIgR mRNA expression also remained unaltered in CR animals irrespective of age and dietary fat, while it was found significantly increased in AL fed mice. CR significantly inhibited the elevated levels of IgA and IgG2a seen in aged mice. Interestingly, CR also influenced the Ig level in young animals. In summary, these results indicate that amelioration of autoimmune disease by CR in B/W mice is possibly mediated by the lowered mRNA expression of IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-12, and pIgR and the reduced Ig secretion.
A role for hippocampal adult neurogenesis in shifting attention toward novel stimuli.

New granule neurons are born in the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus throughout life. Behavioral effects of slowing or stopping this ongoing neurogenesis are generally observed only in complex cognitive tasks involving high levels of cue or memory interference or in tests of emotion presented after stress exposure. Here, we tested the role of new neurons in naive rats in a simple, one-trial orienting task previously shown to be affected by hippocampal lesions. Using a pharmacogenetic method to inhibit adult neurogenesis, we found that loss of new neurons decreased orienting toward a novel auditory cue. Rats lacking new neurons showed this change in orienting only when they were drinking from a water bottle and not when they were exploring an empty arena, suggesting that the deficit is not in the ability to orient to a novel sound but in shifting of attention toward a second stimulus. Orienting was reduced to the same extent after 4 or 8 weeks of neurogenesis reduction but was not detectably altered after 2 or 3 weeks of treatment, suggesting that new neurons must mature for approximately a month before functioning in this behavior. These findings demonstrate that adult-born neurons affect behavior in a simple attention reorienting task in naive animals with no prior stress or task-related learning.
Alkali Transition‐Metal Molybdates: A Stepwise Approach to Geometrically Frustrated Systems

Materials with triangular arrangements of transition metal ions are of great interest for their complex magnetism resulting from geometric frustration. This paper describes the stepwise formation of kagome lattices of open shell transition-metal ions from half-delta chains to delta/sawtooth chains, and finally kagome nets. The systems can be viewed as a testbed for magnetic studies since a variety of spin states can be introduced across the same structure type, and progress through increasing levels of structural complexity and dimensionality. The synthetic and structural development of this continuum is studied here in well-formed single crystals of A2 M3 (MoO4 )3 (OH)2 (A=K, Rb; M=Mn, Co), CsM2 (MoO4 )2 (OH) (M=Mn, Fe, Co, Zn), and KM3 (MoO4 )2 O(OH) (M=Mn).
Machine Learning Meteorologist Can Predict Rain

This paper presents the process of predicting weather conditions, and specifically rain, by examining five classification algorithms and data from popular weather datasets. Two datasets were trained and analyzed; an inconclusive dataset containing weather data from New Delhi, India and an Australian weather dataset. We have found that Machine Learning can perform better than traditional mathematical models in the scope of weather prediction over time through research into related work coupled with our experimentation. The main predicament of our research is the inability for the simple models we used to adapt to a dataset in which positive weather cases are few and far between.
Diagnosis and Safe Excision of Lumbar Synovial Cysts and Accompanying Pathology: A Perspective.

Background Lumbar synovial cysts are often not sufficiently diagnosed prior to spine surgery. Utilizing both MR and CT studies is critical for recognizing the full extent/severity of these lesions. Methods In patients with chronic, acute, or subacute lumbar disease, obtaining both MR and CT studies is critical to correctly diagnose; disc disease, hypertrophy/ossification of the yellow ligament (OYL), stenosis, with/without degenerative spondylolisthesis, and/or synovial cysts (SC). Results MR T2 weighted images directly demonstrate hyperintensity within a SC. They initially cause lateral recess/caudad nerve root and/foraminal compromise, with larger extrusions causing significant lateral thecal sac, and far lateral/superior cephalad root compromise. CT 2 mm cuts often better demonstrate mid-vertebral level compression of cephalad nerve roots with/without SC calcification, along with the extent of mid-vertebral stenosis, hypertrophy/OYL, and DS. When CT studies directly document SC calcification, it alerts the surgeon to the increased potential risk of creating a cerebrospinal fluid fistula with full SC excision, and should prompt the adoption of alternative measures such as decompression/partial removal. Most critically, surgery for synovial cysts often warrants a 2-level laminectomy for fuller visualization of the cephalad and caudad nerve roots, and clearer differentiation of neural tissues from the large fibrotic SC capsule, to effect safer removal. Conclusions Preoperatively, establishing the full cephalad and cauda extent of lumbar synovial cysts with both MR and CT studies is critical. Anticipation and better visualization of the foraminal/far lateral and superior extent of these lesions often warrants more extensive multilevel laminectomies for thecal sac and both cephalad and caudad root decompression.
SARS-CoV-2 PCR and antibody testing for an entire rural community: methods and feasibility of high-throughput testing procedures

High-volume, community-wide ascertainment of SARS-CoV-2 prevalence by PCR and antibody testing was successfully performed using a community-led, drive-through model with strong operational support, well-trained testing units, and an effective technical platform.
Cell intrinsic signaling in MEN1 mutant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors unveils novel signaling pathways associated with de-differentiation

Abstract Objectives Preliminary genomic analysis of primary pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors revealed a complex mutational landscape with four common oncogenic events; however, critical activation pathways responsible for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor progression and metastasis have yet to be elucidated. Here, we analyzed six primary pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors to determine which pathways are deregulated and responsible for progression. Methods Selected genomic profiling of six primary pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors was performed using the Ion Torrent Comprehensive Cancer Panel with matched transcriptomes analyzed by Affymetrix Clariom D arrays. Validation of gene expression changes were measured by quantitative PCR using TaqMan assays and immunohistochemistry on tumor specimens. Results MEN1 was mutated in half (50%) of our sequenced tumors while FGFR3 was mutated in 2/6 (33%). Transcriptome analysis revealed that ITGA2 and EZH2 were overexpressed in MEN1 mutant tumors whereas ALK and VEGFA were overexpressed in FGFR3 mutant tumors. Immunohistochemistry revealed increased nuclear ITGA2 and EZH2 staining along with increased VE-Cadherin staining and loss of membranous E-cadherin localization in MEN1 and FGFR3 mutant tumors. Conclusions Our results suggest that pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors containing MEN1 and FGFR3 mutations are more aggressive and de-differentiated than their wild-type counterparts. Additionally, we provide novel chemotherapeutic target FGFR3 for patients with this disease.
Age, Comorbid Conditions, and Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes.

Black patients are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to compare risks of hospitalization of Black and non-Black COVID-19 patients presenting to the emergency department and, of those hospitalized, to compare mortality and acute kidney injury. A retrospective cohort of 831 adult COVID-19 patients (68.5% Black) who presented to the emergency departments of four academic hospitals, March 1, 2020–May 31, 2020. The primary outcome was risk of hospitalization among Blacks vs. non-Blacks. Secondary outcomes were mortality and acute kidney injury, among hospitalized patients. The crude odds of hospitalization were not different in Black vs. non-Black patients; however, with adjustment for age, Blacks had 55% higher odds of hospitalization. Mortality differed most in the model adjusted for age alone. Acute kidney injury was more common in the Black hospitalized patients, regardless of adjustment. Stratified analyses suggested that disparities in the risk of hospitalization and of in-hospital acute kidney injury were highest in the youngest patients. Our report shows that Black and non-Black patients presenting to the emergency department with COVID-19 had similar risks of hospitalization and, of those who were hospitalized, similar mortality when adjusted for multiple factors. Blacks had higher risk of acute kidney injury. Our results suggest that examination of disparities without exploration of the individual effects of age and comorbidities may mask important patterns. While stratified analyses suggest that disparities in outcomes may differ substantially by age and comorbid conditions, further exploration among these important subgroups is needed to better target interventions to reduce disparities in COVID-19 clinical outcomes.
The Utility of an Anxiety Screening Measure in Youth With Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders and Clinical Characteristics Associated With Presence of Anxiety.

OBJECTIVES Anxiety is common in youth with functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD) and is related to increased pain-related impairment. However, it is unknown if self-reported anxiety on a clinical screener represents a true anxiety disorder diagnosis in youth with FAPD. Further, little is known about clinical characteristics in youth with FAPD and comorbid anxiety (ANX). Therefore, we evaluated whether the clinical cutoff on the Screen for Anxiety and Related Disorders (SCARED) corresponded with the presence of an anxiety disorder. We predicted a more clinically complex profile (eg, increased pain-related impairment, psychological problems, and family risk factors) in youth with FAPD+ANX compared with youth with FAPD alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS Participants completed measures of anxiety, functional disability, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and mood, and underwent a semistructured diagnostic interview to assess for psychological disorders. Caregivers completed family characteristics and caregiver distress measures. Analyses of group differences were conducted using χ2 and multivariate tests. RESULTS The SCARED appears to be a good proxy for an anxiety disorder in youth with FAPD, particularly for generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder. Youth with FAPD+ANX reported higher rates of pain-related disability and depressive symptoms compared with those with FAPD alone, but other clinical characteristics and family risk factors were comparable across groups. DISCUSSION Findings support the use of the SCARED as a proxy for an anxiety disorder diagnosis in youth with FAPD and suggest youth with FAPD+ANX may have a more complex clinical profile categorized by greater mental health and health-related impairment as compared with youth with FAPD alone.
Pain differences in neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging measures among community-dwelling older adults.

Abstract Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) is a technique providing more detailed information on the microstructural bases of white matter. Given the previously reported white matter contributions to chronic pain, the present study aims to investigate pain-specific differences in NODDI measures across white matter tracts in a sample of community-dwelling older adults with (n = 29) and without (n = 18) chronic musculoskeletal pain. We further aimed to investigate associations between NODDI measures and clinical and experimental pain measures. As part of the Nepal study, a subset of older adults (>60 years old), underwent multiple laboratory sessions providing self-reported and experimental pain measures and a diffusion weighted neuroimaging sequence. Older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain had a lower neurite density with less geometric complexity across a number of white matter tracts compared to older pain-free controls (corrected p's 0.05). Our study demonstrates less geometric complexity in neurite density and architecture in chronic musculoskeletal pain, partly in a sex-dependent manner. An increased understanding of neurobiological mechanisms such as those measured by NODDI may contribute to the potential targeting of interventions in our older population suffering from chronic pain.
Light entrainment of the SCN circadian clock and implications for personalized alterations of corticosterone rhythms in shift work and jet lag.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) functions as the central pacemaker aligning physiological and behavioral oscillations to day/night (activity/inactivity) transitions. The light signal entrains the molecular clock of the photo-sensitive ventrolateral (VL) core of the SCN which in turn entrains the dorsomedial (DM) shell via the neurotransmitter vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). The shell converts the VIP rhythmic signals to circadian oscillations of arginine vasopressin (AVP), which eventually act as a neurotransmitter signal entraining the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to robust circadian secretion of glucocorticoids. In this work, we discuss a semi-mechanistic mathematical model that reflects the essential hierarchical structure of the photic signal transduction from the SCN to the HPA axis. By incorporating the interactions across the core, the shell, and the HPA axis, we investigate how these coupled systems synchronize leading to robust circadian oscillations. Our model predicts the existence of personalized synchronization strategies that enable the maintenance of homeostatic rhythms while allowing for differential responses to transient and permanent light schedule changes. We simulated different behavioral situations leading to perturbed rhythmicity, performed a detailed computational analysis of the dynamic response of the system under varying light schedules, and determined that (1) significant interindividual diversity and flexibility characterize adaptation to varying light schedules; (2) an individual’s tolerances to jet lag and alternating shift work are positively correlated, while the tolerances to jet lag and transient shift work are negatively correlated, which indicates trade-offs in an individual’s ability to maintain physiological rhythmicity; (3) weak light sensitivity leads to the reduction of circadian flexibility, implying that light therapy can be a potential approach to address shift work and jet lag related disorders. Finally, we developed a map of the impact of the synchronization within the SCN and between the SCN and the HPA axis as it relates to the emergence of circadian flexibility.
A Western diet with alcohol in drinking water recapitulates features of alcohol-associated liver disease in mice.

Background Mouse models of alcohol-associated liver disease vary greatly in their ease of implementation and the pathology they produce. This ranges from steatosis and mild inflammation in Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet, and severe inflammation, fibrosis and pyroptosis seen in the Tsukamoto-French intragastric feeding model. Implementation of all these models is limited by the labor-intensive nature of the protocols and the specialized skills necessary for successful intragastric feeding. We thus sought to develop a new model that would reproduce features of alcohol-induced inflammation and fibrosis with minimal operational requirements. Methods Mice were fed ad libitum with a pelleted high fat western diet (40% calories from fat) and alcohol added to the drinking water. We found that optimal alcohol consumption occurred when alcohol concentration alternated between 20% for 4 days and 10% for 3 days per week. Control mice received western diet pellets with water alone and the total feeding duration was 16 weeks. Results Alcohol consumption was 18-20 g/kg/day in males and 20-22 g/kg/day in females. Mice in the alcohol groups developed elevated serum ALT and AST after 12 weeks in males and 10 weeks in females. At 16 weeks, both males and females developed liver inflammation, steatosis and pericellular fibrosis. Control mice on western diet without alcohol had mild steatosis only. Alcohol fed mice showed reduced mRNA and protein expression of HNF4α, the master regulator of hepatocyte differentiation, downregulation of which is a known driver of hepatocellular failure in alcoholic hepatitis. Conclusion A simple to administer, 16-week western diet alcohol model recapitulates the inflammatory, fibrotic and gene expression aspects of human alcohol-associated steatohepatitis.
The Effects of Ursolic Acid Treatment on Immunopathogenesis Following Mannheimia haemolytica Infections

Bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) is a costly economic and health burden for the dairy and feedlot cattle industries. Mannheimia haemolytica (MH) is common commensal bacteria found in the nasopharynx of healthy cattle; however, following environmental and immunological stressors, these bacteria can rapidly proliferate and spread to the lower respiratory tract, giving rise to pneumonic disease. Severe MH infections are often characterized by leukocyte infiltration and dysregulated inflammatory responses in the lungs. IL-17A is thought to play a key role in this inflammatory response by inducing neutrophilia, activating innate and adaptive immune cells, and further exacerbating lung congestion. Herein, we used a small molecule inhibitor, ursolic acid (UA), to suppress IL-17A production and to determine the downstream impact on the immune response and disease severity following MH infection in calves. We hypothesized that altering IL-17A signaling during MH infections may have therapeutic effects by reducing immune-mediated lung inflammation and improving disease outcome. Two independent studies were performed (Study 1 = 32 animals, and Study 2 = 16 animals) using 4-week-old male Holstein calves, which were divided into 4 treatment group including: 1) non-treated and non-challenged, 2) non-treated and MH-challenged, 3) UA-treated and non-challenged, and 4) UA-treated and MH-challenged. Based on the combined studies, we observed a tendency (p = 0.0605) towards reduced bacterial burdens in the lungs of UA-treated animals but did not note a significant difference in gross (p = 0.3343) or microscopic (p = 0.1917) pathology scores in the lungs. UA-treatment significantly altered the inflammatory environment in the lung tissues following MH infection, reducing the expression of IL-17A (p = 0.0870), inflammatory IL-6 and STAT3 (p = 0.0209 and 0.0205 respectively) compared to controls. This reduction in IL-17A signaling also appeared to alter the downstream expression of genes associated with innate defenses (BAC5, DEFB1, and MUC5AC) and lung remodeling (MMP9 and TIMP-1). Taken together, our results support our hypothesis that IL-17A signaling may contribute to lung immunopathology following MH infections, and that further understanding this inflammatory pathway during BRDC could expand therapeutic intervention strategies for managing BRDC.
Burn induced changes in spinal cord and diaphragm glucose metabolism in rodents

1555 Objectives Burn injury can cause unusual alterations in glucose metabolism. In previous studies we have demonstrated that burn injury results in reduced cerebral and increased myocardial glucose metabolism (JNM 2009; 50: 1216). In the present study, we extended these investigations to examine the effect of burn injury on spinal cord and diaphragm glucose metabolism in rodents. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats (225 to 250 g) and CD-1 mice (25-28 g) were subjected to dorsal full-thickness, non-lethal thermal injury (25% total body surface area). The rats or mice were anesthetized, the dorsum shaven, and then subjected to 100oC boiling water for 10 seconds (rats) or 90oC water for 9 seconds (mice). Animals were resuscitated with saline (50 ml/kg, intraperitoneal injection). Sham treated animals served as controls. 24 hrs after injury, unanesthetized animals were injected with FDG (rats: 100 μCi, mice: 50 μCi) via tail vein. One hr later, the animals were sacrificed and uptake in the spinal cord and diaphragm was measured. The results were calculated as %ID/g (mean±sem, n=6-10/group). Results The patterns of FDG uptake are summarized in the Table. Spinal cord uptake was decreased significantly (p Conclusions The findings of decreased FDG uptake in spinal cord and increased uptake in diaphragm are similar to our results demonstrating decreased uptake in brain and increased uptake in myocardium. These findings may have important implications for future studies of burn induced spinal cord injury, as well as burn induced alterations in function of the diaphragm. Research Support Shriners Hospital for Childre
Comparison of Pretenured and Tenured Engineering Professors

Analyzing 36,000 strings of instructional data from fifteen faculty teaching twenty-eight courses over five semesters, the authors conducted a research study exploring differences in the pedagogical practices of pretenured and tenured faculty teaching innovative courses designed around the principles of the “How People Learn” (HPL) framework and of pretenured and tenured faculty teaching traditional, lecture-based courses. Consistent with previous research that reports that time is needed for pretenured faculty to become proficient teachers and with research that identifies lecture to be the primary teaching strategy used by engineering faculty, the current study provides additional insight into the types of pedagogical practices most prevalent among the four types of faculty. Lectures incorporating HPL elements were used to a greater extent by pretenured faculty teaching HPL courses and by tenured faculty in traditional courses more than their tenured and pretenured counterparts, respectively. Pretenured faculty who taught courses that were designed to reflect HPL pedagogical practices incorporated more HPL elements and illustrations in their lectures and supplemented their lecture with comments that were and were not HPL-oriented than tenured faculty teaching HPL-oriented courses.
Transforming Recent Gains in the Digital Divide into Digital Opportunities: Africa and the Boom in Mobile Phone Subscription

This paper discusses the mobile phone boom in Africa and examines the potential impacts of mobiles on the socio-economic development process in African countries. Drawing on data from case studies, the paper explains that mobile phones may not just help create new jobs and new sources of revenue to the state but can also contribute to economic growth by widening markets, creating better information flow, lowering transaction costs, and becoming substitute for costly transportation that is lacking in rural Africa. On the social front, the paper contends that the mobile phone can help create unique personal identities and status symbols for some users. The technology also facilitates the democratic process as groups can use the enhanced communication tools for political and community action thereby reducing the reliance on conventional and often government controlled media. The paper discusses these and other ways by which mobile phones can influence conditions in Africa to induce changes that promote economic and social development. The paper concludes with suggestions that can strengthen ICT adoption in African countries.
Project N.O.I.S.E.E.sm: Intergenerational Laughter, Squeals and Giggles

Perhaps Project N.O.I.S.E.E.sm is not the name of a project one would associate with a nursing home. However, Project N.O.I.S.E.E.sm, which stands for “Naturally Occurring Interactions in a Shared ...
Radiation and actinomycin D mortality studies in C57BL 6 mice. II. Combined treatment and gastrointestinal lethality.

C57BL/6 mice were treated with actinomycin or radiation therapy and with a combination of the two agents. LD50 estimates based on radiation doses were calculated from 6-day (intestinal death) mortality data. A factorial analysis of the data was performed to determine the. main effects for actinomycin (A) or radiation exposure (R) as well as actinomycin-radiation (AR) interactions. The LD50 data indicated that the effects of the combined treatment were generally more lethal in causing intestinal death than the effects of either agent given independently. Significant main effects for A and R were generally observed with few AR interactions. The principal mechanism for intestinal death in animals treated with various combinations of actinomycin and radiation exposure appears to be additive cytotoxicity either at the level of crypt survival and/or prolongation of the time to the appearance of the compensatory proliferative response.
Association of glucocerebroside homolog biosynthesis with Schwann cell proliferation

The biosynthesis of myelin-associated glycolipids was studied in quiescent secondary cultures of Schwann cells and in a rapidly proliferating population of transfected Schwann cells (TSC) by in vitro incorporation of [3H]galactose. The TSC demonstrated a marked increase (>10-fold) in [3H]galactose incorporation when compared to quiescent Schwann cells. The level (or amount) of [3H]galactose incorporation into lipids is dependent upon the number of TSC in culture. The majority of3H-labeled lipids were oligohexosylceramides (GL-2, GL-3, and GL-4). Substrates that inhibit TSC proliferation, collagen type I and Matrigel™, an artificial basement membrane, decrease the [3H]galactose incorporation by 25% and 80%, respectively. Our results indicate that the synthesis of glucocerebroside and its homologs is associated with Schwann cell proliferation.
Natural Disaster and Crisis: Lessons Learned About Cleft and Craniofacial Care From Hurricane Katrina and the West Bank

Cleft care is generally characterized by staged, carefully timed surgeries and long-term, team-centered follow-up. Acute and chronic crises can wreak havoc on the comprehensive team care required by children with craniofacial anomalies. In addition, there is evidence that crises, including natural disasters and chronic disruptions, such as political turmoil and poverty, can lead to an increased incidence of craniofacial anomalies. The purpose of this article is to delineate the impact of acute and chronic crises on cleft care. Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2005, resulted in an acute crisis that temporarily disrupted the infrastructure necessary to deliver cleft care; chronic turmoil in the West Bank/Palestine has resulted in an absence of infrastructure to deliver cleft care. Through these central examples, this article will illustrate—through the prism of cleft care—the need for (1) disaster preparedness for acute crises, (2) changing needs following acute crises that may lead to persis...
Cocaine and cardiovascular function in dogs: effects on heart and peripheral circulation

The effects of cocaine on the heart and peripheral circulation were examined in seven mongrel dogs. Hemodynamic variables, in addition to data on ventricular relaxation, mean circulatory filling pressure and arterial compliance, were measured during an intravenous infusion (0.5 mg/kg per min) of cocaine. Holter monitor recordings (6 h) and coronary arteriograms were also obtained. Cocaine increased (p less than 0.01) mean aortic pressure from 72 +/- 5 to 92 +/- 5, left ventricular systolic pressure from 102 +/- 3 to 121 +/- 5, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure from 4.9 +/- 1.3 to 8.2 +/- 1.4 and mean circulatory filling pressure from 7.9 +/- 0.4 to 10.9 +/- 0.5 mm Hg. Cardiac index and stroke volume decreased (p less than 0.01) from 166 +/- 17 to 125 +/- 8 ml/min per kg and from 44 +/- 4 to 29 +/- 3 ml, respectively. Ejection fraction decreased (p less than 0.01) from 61 +/- 1 to 49 +/- 3%. Heart rate, first derivative of left ventricular pressure (dP/dt) and right atrial, mean pulmonary artery and pulmonary artery wedge pressures did not change. The result was a 58% increase in systemic vascular resistance and a 32% decrease in arterial compliance. The pressure gradient for venous return did not change, but resistance to venous return increased 42%. Cocaine prolonged (p less than 0.05) the half-time of left ventricular isovolumic relaxation from 13.4 +/- 0.8 to 16.4 +/- 0.8 ms and the time constant of left ventricular isovolumic relaxation from 19.3 +/- 1.2 to 23.6 +/- 1.1 ms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Triiodothyronine inhibits phorbol ester-induced thyrotropin release from elutriated bovine thyrotrophs.

The inhibitory effect of T3 on TSH release was studied on a population of thyrotroph-enriched cells prepared from bovine pituitary glands by centrifugal elutriation. The cells (2.0 × 105/ml) were cultured for 2 days and then exposed to TRH, phorbol-12 myristate-13 acetate (PMA), or calcium ionophore (A23187) with or without 100 nM T3 for two different preincubation periods, 3 h and 24 h. Cytosolic TSH and release of TSH into the medium were measured by a specific RIA for bovine TSH. TRH (10 nM, 100 nM), PMA (100 nM, 1 μM, 10 μM), and A23187 (100 nM, 1 μM, 10 nM) increased TSH release in a dosedependent manner. One-hundred nanomolar TRH, 10 /xM PMA, and 10 nM A23187 increased TSH release maximally from 176 ± 6 μU/ml (mean ± SD, n = 4) to 240 ± 40, 308 ± 39, and 228 ± 16, respectively. PMA and A23187 interacted synergistically in the release of TSH. Cytosolic TSH was not affected by TRH or A23187. PMA (100 nM) together with A23187 resulted in a decrease in cytosolic TSH. PMA alone (1 and 10 nM) decreased cy...
Piecewise Linear Large Signal Models for Optoelectronic Devices

We have developed piecewise linear models to provide accurate (waveform) simulations of large signal (rail-to-rail) behavior of CMOS circuits, used in logic gates, the driver electronics [1] and in the transimpedance amplifiers of optoelectronic systems . These models have successfully been implemented in Chatoyant ; a design framework and simulation tool that uses system-level models of optoelectronic (O/E) components. It provides system-level simulation and analysis for O/E devices using a Gaussian propagation based high-level optical system simulator. Chatoyant is built on Ptolemy, a simulator framework developed at the University of California at Berkley.
Synthesis of organotin poly(ether esters) from reaction with glycyrrhetinic acid and their preliminary activity against various cancer cell lines

Abstract Polyether esters are rapidly formed employing the interfacial condensation of organotin dihalides with glycyrrhetinic acid in high yield and oligomeric to polymeric chain length. Infrared spectroscopy shows the formation of tin–oxygen bonds. The products are a mixture of bridging and non-bridging structures about the tin atom. Proton NMR and MALDI MS results are consistent with the formation of the poly(ether esters). The dimethyltin, dibutyltin, and diphenyltin polymers exhibit good inhibition of the pancreatic and prostrate cell lines.
A transgenic embryonic sexing system for Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae).

The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a highly successful biologically-based strategy to control pest insect populations that relies on the large-scale release of sterilized males to render females in the field nonreproductive. For medfly, a mutant-based sexing system is available as well as a transgenic system where a tetracycline-suppressible (Tet-off) toxic molecule is female-specifically produced. However, the former classical genetic system took many years to refine, and the latter system results in female death by a poorly understood mechanism, primarily in the pupal stage after rearing costs have been incurred. Here we describe a Tet-off transgenic embryonic sexing system (TESS) for Anastrepha suspensa that uses a driver construct having the promoter from the embryo-specific A. suspensa serendipity a gene, linked to the Tet-transactivator. This was used to drive the expression of a phospho-mutated variant of the proapoptotic cell death gene, Alhid, from Anastrepha ludens. The system uses a sex-specific intron splicing cassette linked to a cell death gene lethal effector. Progeny from TESS strains heterozygous for the transgene combination were 80e100% males, whereas four double homozygous TESS strains had 100% male-only progeny, with female death limited primarily to embryogenesis. In a large-scale test, more than 30,000 eggs from two strains resulted in 100% male-only progeny. The transgenic sexing approach described here is highly effective and cost-efficient by eliminating most, if not all, female insects early in embryogenesis using a well-characterized apoptotic mechanism. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Superconductivity and heavy fermion behavior in PrOs 4 Sb 12

Superconductivity has been observed in ${\mathrm{PrOs}}_{4}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{12}$ at ${T}_{C}=1.85 \mathrm{K}$ and appears to involve heavy fermion quasiparticles with an effective mass ${m}^{*}\ensuremath{\sim}50 {m}_{e}$ as inferred from the jump in the specific heat at ${T}_{C},$ the upper critical field near ${T}_{C},$ and the normal state electronic specific heat. Thermodynamic and transport measurements suggest that the heavy fermion state has a quadrupolar origin, although a magnetic origin cannot be completely ruled out.
Risk Communication, Knowledge, and Attitudes: Explaining Reactions to a Technology Perceived as Risky

Several factors influence peoples’decisions about food irradiation, a technology perceived as risky. Responses to questions about three dimensions of acceptability of food irradiation provide the dependent variables. Risk message characteristics, respondent background characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes form the independent variables. Multiple regression is used to assess relative effects. Levels of acceptability of food irradiation varied somewhat as the focus of the question changed: negative reactions were more likely if the question mentioned serving it to family members than it it stressed self use. The only message manipulation that had a significant impact was information about irradiated food users (e.g., astronauts) and prestigious national and international organizations that endorse food irradiation. Support for a normative/value type of decision-making is more substantial than for a rational/technical type of decision-making. Although knowledge of food irradiation correlates with support for the technology, trust factors are much more powerful predictors. The implications for effective risk communications are discussed.