cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Operationally-Informed Hospital-Wide Discharge Prediction Using Machine Learning

Accurate patient discharge time estimates are invaluable for hospital operations management. They are vital for efficient and effective scheduling of hospital resources including beds and staff. Unexpected discharges place strain on the patient families and care providers, in addition to causing hospital inefficiencies. Due to the increasing availability of electronic health record data, predictive models can be leveraged to not only offer clinical decision support, but also to optimize hospital operations. In this work, we incorporate clinical knowledge from operational leaders at Kaiser Perma-nente Northern California to design a predictive model for patient discharge using a novel dataset that contains hourly data from the electronic health records of 14 different Kaiser Permanente hospitals. We train and test several algorithms with varying complexity to predict patient-level discharges for the following day at operationally relevant times on the hospital-centric timescale. The highest AUC we achieve is 0.729 with a gradient boosted model, which significantly outperforms both the current estimates deployed in these 14 facilities and the baseline model without hourly data. A feature permutation importance assessment is performed and we conclude that the majority of the improvement is due to the inclusion of the detailed, hourly data.
Indigenous-Settler Climate Change Boundary Organizations Contending With U.S. Colonialism:

Indigenous peoples who are taking actions on climate change issues have formed networks that are at the intersect between Indigenous knowledges and various environmental science fields. These clima...
Cognitive Route Selection and Frequency Allocation for CubeSat Swarm

A CubeSat swarm is comprised of a large number of picoclass, low-power, and low-weight satellite units working together. It brings significant benefits, such as interoperability, reduced mission failure rates, and the ability to perform space communication and observation. However, realizing CubeSat swarms face many challenges, including increased service demands, autonomous operation, relative motion and dynamic routing. Cognitive network in CubeSat swarms has attracted intensive research interest recently and has played a significant role for route selection and resource allocation. In this paper, we consider the cognitive route selection and frequency allocation in a CubeSat swarm based on different network environments and requirements. In a cognitive network, the Master CubeSat can sense the changes about the internal and external environment of the CubeSat swarm, proactively regulates and optimizes the communication network employing the adjustable inter-satellite routing decisions for the CubeSat swarm, improving the capabilities adapted to complex environments and achieve provable energy efficiency. The proposed cognitive algorithm further considers the frequency allocation from millimeter wave to optical wave in the route selection to account for limited bandwidth and restricted data rates. Simulation results and analysis confirm that the proposed route selection and frequency allocation can achieve high energy efficiency improvement and can decrease much time latency as compared to generic route selection approaches.
Abstract 13221: Family Caregivers’ Perceptions of Illness Severity in Heart Failure Patients with Limited Life Expectancy

Introduction: End-of-life (EOL) services, such as hospice and palliative care are often lacking even for the sickest heart failure (HF) patients. Use of these services have been hampered by the lack of availability, lack of referrals due to the unpredictable course in HF, and refusal of services by patients and caregivers due to a lack of understanding of the terminality of HF. The purpose of this study was to determine whether caregivers of HF patients with a predicted survival of less than 2 years, understood disease terminality prior to and after the patient’s death. Methods: As part of a longitudinal study of 100 patient-caregiver dyads, caregivers were interviewed monthly until the patient’s death and then twice post-death. Caregiver interviews immediately preceding and post-patient death were analyzed to determine caregivers’ perceptions of the terminality of heart failure. Results: There were 49 caregivers of patients who died. Patients died an average of 8 months after study enrollment. Most careg...
Blimp-1's maiden flight.

### Discovery of Blimp-1 In 1994, Turner et al. ([1][1]) reported cloning a cDNA encoding a zinc-finger–containing protein whose forced expression was sufficient to drive a cell line with an activated B cell phenotype to differentiate into plasmacytoid cells secreting Ig. At the time this was a
Frequency of Transaction and House Price Modeling

This article examines the characteristics and price behavior of repeatedly transacted properties. Using data from four U.S. counties, we estimate hedonic price models of properties grouped by transaction frequency, and compare estimated standard deviations and estimated appreciation rates by group. For each of four counties studied, we find that estimated house price appreciation is systematically higher among properties that transact more frequently. One possible explanation for this result is that purchasers make property improvements that are not adequately reflected in the available data. We also find that estimated standard deviations of the disturbance term show a marked decrease as the frequency of transaction increases. Since frequently transacting properties are not found to be systematically more homogeneous than seldomly transacting properties, we do not attribute this to any increase in homogeneity for frequently transacting properties, but rather to the length of time elapsed between transactions of properties. The findings of this article suggest that repeat-sales price models may need to be adjusted to account for cross-sectional variation in transaction probabilities---that is, the selectivity of the subsample of properties that transacted (or transacted repeatedly) during any finite study period.
Model experiments on the evolution and stability of ice streams

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://www.igsoc.org/annals/23/.
Pollution Abatement Activities and Traditional Productivity: A Joint Production Perspective

This study proposes a new theoretical framework - modeling the joint production of good and bad outputs - to determine the association between pollution abatement activities and changes in traditional productivity growth. After using the joint production model to investigate the theoretical foundations of previous studies of the effects of pollution abatement activities on traditional measures of productivity, we use the joint production model to derive a new approach to determining the association between traditional productivity growth and pollution abatement activities for U.S. coal-fired electric power plants between 1985-1995.
(4R,5R)‐2‐(3‐Nitrophenyl)‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolane‐4,5‐dicarboxylic Acid

[467443-01-2] C10H8BNO8 (MW 281.03) InChI = 1S/C10H8BNO8/c13-9(14)7-8(10(15)16)20-11(19-7)5-2-1-3-6(4-5)12(17)18/h1-4,7-8H,(H,13,14)(H,15,16)/t7-,8-/m1/s1 InChIKey = DKYPDMHYDHHGRL-HTQZYQBOSA-N (reagent used as chiral director in asymmetric reduction of ketones) Alternate Name: (l)-TarB-NO2. Physical Data: N/A. Solubility: sol THF, ether, acetonitrile. Form supplied in: N/A. Analysis of Reagent Purity: 1H-NMR, 11B-NMR, IR. Preparative methods: 3-NO2-phenylboronic acid and tartaric acid are refluxed in dry THF over CaH2 for 1 h. Solution is cooled, then filtered and transferred to an ampoule. Purification: N/A. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: solution must be stored in ampoule under inert dry atmosphere and withdrawn under inert atmosphere to prevent hydrolysis of boronic ester.
A Multichannel High-Speed Data Acquisition and Processing System

A computer controlled data acquisition and processing system is described which acquires multiple-channel analog data at high sampling rates and stores the information on a digital magnetic tape. The system then processes the tape by deleting redundant data, making an arbitrary number of predetermined potentially complicated determinations about the data, and printing output results in full English statements. The system has been successfully interfaced with a number of one-shot test systems and centrifuges. It has resulted in considerably more accurate, prompt, and consistent data than previous methods employing galvanometric oscillographs.
Hot-electron emission in n-channel IGFETs

The authors discuss the emission of both substrate and channel hot electrons from the silicon into the gate insulator of n-channel IGFETs. In each case the discussion begins with a physical model to elucidate the many parametric dependencies. The effect of changing important material and geometrical parameters as well as temperature and terminal voltages is documented with emission data. Under proper conditions the majority of emitted hot electrons are collected at the gate electrode, so that electron heating can be studied by directly observing gate current. In addition, gate current is a sensitive probe of trapping effects in the gate insulator, and it is shown how these measurements can be used to deduce long-term stability in IGFET structures.
The effects of cold acclimation on electrocardiogram parameters in five species of turtles.

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of thermal acclimation at 25 or 5°C on electrical activity in the heart were investigated in Pseudemys scripta, Terrapene Carolina, Chrysemys picta marginata, Chrysemys picta dor salis, Chelydra serpentina, and Stemotherus odoratus. 2. 2. The durations of the QRS complex and P-R, R-T and R-R intervals were found to increase with decreasing body temperature in all animals tested. 3. 3. The amplitudes of the P and T waves and QRS complex were dependent upon both acclimation temperature and test temperature. 4. 4. Differences between acclimation groups in the change in QRS amplitudes between 20 and 0°C were statistically significant for all species.
Innovation in Strategic Human Resource Management: Building Capacity in the Age of Globalization

This article addresses innovation as a strategic instrument in human resource management capacity building in the age of globalization. To meet the challenges of globalization—negative as well as positive—capacity building is needed in areas of organization, management, governance, and public administration all over the world. Innovation is defined, strategic innovations and innovative strategies are explained, capacity building is delineated, and over 22 areas or realms of innovation are identified, explained, and emphasized as strategic instruments of capacity building. Viewing human resources as human capital and beyond, the article argues that without human resources nothing can be accomplished, and without a well-trained, well-developed, well-appreciated, and well-managed human resources, modern organizations of government and business cannot meet the challenges of the globalization age, which demands a new generation of future-oriented, anticipatory managers who can develop effective visions and manage organizations by riding the high waves of change in the turbulent world.
Verification Points for Self-adaptive Systems☆

Abstract Verification of self-adaptive systems is a key area of research within the adaptive systems community. Self-adaptive systems change over time. These changes are frequently based on a stimulus from the outside environment. Adaptive systems may learn how to adapt in real time. The unstable nature of adaptive systems present challenges to testers. This is especially true when portions of an adaptive system achieve a stable testable state, and other portions do not. This study researches how to identify stable states within a Bayesian self-adaptive system. This paper presents an example self-adapting robot system whose function is avoiding obstacles within a simulation environment. It contains a static non-avoiding simulated robot, a rule-based obstacle avoiding robot, and a self-adapting simulated robot. The paper describes the performance different simulated robots and compares them against one another. This research analyzes the emerging set of Bayesian posterior probabilities in order to discover the point in time where the self-adaptive robot system achieves homeostasis. Engineers may use this point to execute verification or validation processes with minimal fear that new adaptation will interfere with results.
A flow rate monitor for a variety of physiological preparations, including in vitro brain slices

A flow rate monitor system for constant perfusion of media for maintaining physiological preparations, particularly in vitro brain slices, is described. The system consists of 3 components: the counter with a drip rate meter and alarm; a drop sensor; and a remote DC power supply. It provides accurate and immediate readout of flow rate in drops per minute and it provides an audio warning if the drip rate falls below a level set by the investigator.
A Day at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, LLC: Work and Patient Flow

In our outpatient Breast Center, we have spent years establishing a workflow pattern that is efficient for our facility. In the following pages, we will describe the unique and effective workflow designed to meet our patients' needs. We have developed a Radiology Information System (RIS), which includes patient scheduling, film requests, patient tracking, pathology results, and patient health history. We average 250 screening patients a day, with an additional 50-100 diagnostic patients. We are now 100% digital, using a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and a homegrown RIS. Daily we strive to maintain the highest professional standards while providing the patient with excellent service. With an efficient behind-the-scenes workflow, the patient experiences seamless professional interaction in an environment that serves her needs and addresses her concerns.
High-confinement nanophotonic structures on chip

Photonics on chip could enable a platform for monolithic integration of optics and microelectronics for applications in which high data streams are required in a small footprint. Recent results in Nanophotonics have shown the ability to guide, filter, bend and split light on Silicon chips using nano-size structures. Using highly confined photonic structures we have demonstrated ultra-compact silicon photonic components with very low loss. The highly confined photonic structures enhance the effective light matter interaction in the structures.
Study of the discrete singularly perturbed linear-quadratic control problem by a bilinear transformation

Abstract This paper presents a new approach in the study of the linear quadratic control problem of singularly perturbed discrete systems. By applying a bilinear transformation, the algebraic discrete Riccati equation is converted into a continuous one, which can be solved by using the reduced-order recursive method already documented in the control literature. This method produces the reduced-order near-optimal solution up to an arbitrary order of accuracy and reduces the size of required computations. The method is very suitable for parallel programming. A real world example, an F-8 aircraft, demonstrates the efficiency of the proposed method.
Intradermal granulocyte - Macrophage colony-stimulating factor alters cutaneous antigen-presenting cells and differentially affects local versus distant immunization in humans

We hypothesized that intradermal delivery of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) would alter the number and differentiation state of local antigen-presenting cells and thereby alter immunization strength at that site in humans. GM-CSF or placebo was administered intradermally on consecutive days prior to contact sensitization at that site. In GM-CSF-treated skin, epidermal CD1a(+)S100(+) Langerhans cells were reduced in number and had altered morphology, while the number of dermal CD1a(+), HLA-DR(+), and S100(+) cells was increased. In the deep dermis CD68(+) macrophages were increased. Expression of the APC activation markers CD40 and ICAM-1 was also increased in the dermis. Subjects were sensitized to DNCB through GM-CSF- or placebo-pretreated skin and to DPCP through untreated skin. Subjects immunized through GM-CSF-treated sites exhibited 64% greater elicitation responses to DNCB than placebo-treated subjects. GM-CSF-treated subjects also showed 43% lower responses to DPCP than placebo-treated subjects. The difference between DNCB (local) and DPCP (distant) responses was significantly greater for GM-CSF-treated subjects than for placebo responses (n = 8, P < 0.05). Therefore, local immunization site pretreatment with intradermal GM-CSF enhances immunization efficiency at that site.
Amplitude accuracy in the presence of noise

This paper addresses amplitude measurement accuracy near the system noise floor by first defining the maximum theoretical S/N available for measuring a signal at a regulatory limit, and then showing how this ratio is reduced by the physical limitations of the components of the measurement system. Shown next is a quantization of the magnitude of the errors when measuring CW signals in a background of broadband noise as a function of the type of detection used. Next, the paper discusses and quantifies the relationship between the input S/N ratio and the detected S/N ratio that is seen on the measuring instrument. The paper closes with a discussion of a method by which a designer can determine the maximum cable loss allowable to guarantee a specific S/N ratio when using known antennas and measuring instruments.
Childhood Trauma and Adulthood Physical Health in Mexico.

The present study examined the effect of childhood trauma on adulthood physical health among a randomly selected sample of adults (N = 2,177) in urban Mexico. Adults were interviewed about their experiences of trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and physical health symptoms using Module K of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Physical Symptoms Checklist. Trauma was prevalent, with 35% reporting a traumatic event in childhood. In general, men reported more childhood trauma than women, with the exception of childhood sexual violence where women reported more exposure. For men, childhood sexual violence was related to total and all physical health symptom subscales. For women, childhood sexual violence was related to total, muscular-skeletal, and gastrointestinal-urinary symptoms; hazards/accidents in childhood were related to total, muscular-skeletal, cardio-pulmonary, and nose-throat symptom subscales. Depression mediated the relationship between childhood sexual violence and physical health symptoms for men and women. Among women only, PTSD mediated the relationship between childhood sexual violence and total, muscular-skeletal, and gastrointestinal-urinary symptoms. PTSD also mediated the relationship between hazards/accidents in childhood and total, muscular-skeletal, cardio-pulmonary, and nose-throat symptoms. These findings can be used to increase awareness among general practitioners, as well as community stakeholders, about the prevalence of childhood trauma in Mexican communities and its impact on subsequent physical health outcomes. With this awareness, screening practices could be developed to identify those with trauma histories in order to increase positive health outcomes among trauma survivors.
Microstructural changes of nanocrystalline nickel during cold rolling

Abstract The microstructural changes of electrodeposited nanocrystalline Ni with an initial grain size of about ∼30–40 nm during cold rolling up to 76% thickness reduction have been studied using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. In response to the cold deformation processing we observed significant changes in the scale and morphology of grains, defect content, as well as of crystallographic texture. Our experimental findings for nanocrystalline Ni are directly compared to the behavior of coarse-grained Ni. The role of the grain scale reduction to the nanometer regime is discussed with respect to the microstructural changes.
Linear volcanoes along the Pacific-Cocos plate boundary, 9°N to the Galapagos triple junction

Abstract A Seabeam-based reconnaissance of the 500 km of the East Pacific Rise crest between 7°N and 2°40′N shows that the axial ridge is segmented by four 4–13 km non-transform offsets into an en echelon string of distinctively different linear volcanoes. These axial volcanoes are oriented orthogonal to relative plate motion, except where their overlapping ends veer 15° toward each other and where small intra-volcano offsets of their crestal rift zones create abrupt kinks. Longitudinal gradients of the crestlines are less than 5 m/km, except where they plunge at rift-zones' overlapped ends and where they rise locally to small axial peaks. Transverse profiles vary from trapezoidal to triangular, with a steep shield-shaped cross-section being most common. Conventional sounding data indicate that this pattern continues to the 140 km-offset Siqueiros transform fault system at 8.2°N. Within this fault system is a short spreadingcenter volcano contained in a rift valley that links two strike-slip fault zones. Immediately to the north is the shallow 9.0°–8.3°N axial volcano, with unusual relief mapped by a deeply towed instrument package. At the southern end of the plate boundary, as the rise crest enters the region of the Pacific-Cocos-Nazca triple junction, the axial ridge narrows, deepens, and acquires a more irregular long profile. South of 2°30′N the rise crest has a 15 km-wide rift valley that contains multiple volcanic ridges with north-south strikes. Structural hypotheses suggested or supported by these morphologic observations include a point-source magma supply to the spreading center from mantle diapirs, the along-strike continuity of axial magma chambers on fast-spreading rises, even across small rift-zone offsets, and the importance of magma intrusion as well as eruption for building the axial ridge. Hypotheses inconsistent with the new data include magma supply and long-distance dispersal from a few widely spaced plumes, primary control of the topographic, volcanic, and tectonic characteristics of the rise crest by distance from transform faults, and localization of triple junctions over major mantle upwellings.
Combination of psoralens and ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris: A bilateral comparison study

Forty-two adults with psoriasis vulgaris were treated total body thrice weekly with both ultraviolet B (UVB) and psoralens and ultraviolet A (PUVA) with the use of protocols shown to be effective with either treatment alone. Patients previously difficult to manage with either UVB or PUVA and at least 25% psoriasis were selected. No other treatment was used for 2 months prior to initiation or during the study. All patients tolerated treatments well and cleared in an average of only 11.3 treatments, less than half the number of treatments usually required with either PUVA or UVB. The mean UVB dose at clearing and the mean cumulative PUVA dose were less than half that normally required with either therapy alone. The total cumulative UVB dose was only 18% of that normally required with UVB. Bilateral comparison studies comparing the PUVA-UVB combination with PUVA and UVB found that whenever there was a clear difference it was always the combination that cleared more rapidly. The marked reduction of total cumulative energy required may be a significantly smaller insult to skin and the marked reduction in mjoules/cm2 of UVB and joules/cm2 of PUVA at clearing may make it possible to provide effective maintenance therapy with either treatment at a markedly lower treatment dose. Hopefully, long-term side effects may thereby be markedly diminished.
Unity feedback compensation of unstable plants

The compensation of a plant (possibly unstable and/or non-minimum phase) via unity feedback with internal stability is studied in this paper. The restrictions imposed on the designer by unstable poles and zeros of the plant are described and discussed, and the whole class of appropriate compensators needed for a particular design is given. The hidden modes which might be introduced in the closed loop system are fully characterized; and the sensitivity of the compensated system, as well as the stability and properness of the compensator and its relation to state observers, are also treated.
Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) Pulsed Field Ionization−Photoelectron and VUV−IR Photoinduced Rydberg Ionization Study of trans-Dichloroethene†

The vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) pulsed field ionization-photoelectron (PFI-PE) spectrum for trans-dichloroethene (trans-ClCH=CHCl) has been measured in the energy range 77 600-79 200 cm - 1 . On the basis of the spectral simulation of the origin VUV-PFI-PE vibrational band, we have determined the IE-(trans-ClCH=CHCl) to be 77 678.4 ′ 2.0 cm - 1 (9.630 97 ′ 0.000 25 eV). The vibrational bands resolved in the VUV-PFI-PE spectrum of trans-ClCH=CHCl are assigned on the basis of ab initio vibrational frequencies and calculated Franck-Condon factors for the ionization transitions, yielding eight vibrational frequencies v 1 + = 163 cm - 1 , v 3 + = 367 cm - 1 , v 4 + = 871 cm - 1 , v 5 + = 915 cm - 1 , v 6 + = 944 cm - 1 , v 8 + = 1235 cm - 1 , v 9 + = 1258 cm - 1 , v 1 0 + = 1452 cm - 1 . The distinct feature of the VUV-PFI-PE spectrum is the strong vibrational progression of the v 3 + (C-Cl stretching) mode of trans-ClCH=CHCl + , which is consistent with the theoretical geometry calculation, predicting a significant change in the C-Cl bond distance upon photoionization of trans-ClCH=CHCl. We have also determined the frequency (3068 cm - 1 ) for the v 1 1 + (C-H stretching) vibrational mode of trans-ClCH-CHCl + by employing the VUV-IR-photoinduced Rydberg ionization (VUV-IR-PIRI) method. The VUV-IR-PIRI spectra for trans-ClCH=CHCl prepared in the effective principal quantum numbers, n* = 14 and 36, are found to be identical, supporting the previous conclusion that the Rydberg electron behaves as a spectator; i.e., the Rydberg electron orbital is conserved during the IR excitation of the ion core.
Elucidating the higher-order structure of biopolymers by structural probing and mass spectrometry: MS3D

Chemical probing represents a very versatile alternative for studying the structure and dynamics of substrates that are intractable by established high-resolution techniques. The implementation of MS-based strategies for the characterization of probing products has not only extended the range of applicability to virtually all types of biopolymers but has also paved the way for the introduction of new reagents that would not have been viable with traditional analytical platforms. As the availability of probing data is steadily increasing on the wings of the development of dedicated interpretation aids, powerful computational approaches have been explored to enable the effective utilization of such information to generate valid molecular models. This combination of factors has contributed to making the possibility of obtaining actual 3D structures by MS-based technologies (MS3D) a reality. Although approaches for achieving structure determination of unknown targets or assessing the dynamics of known structures may share similar reagents and development trajectories, they clearly involve distinctive experimental strategies, analytical concerns and interpretation paradigms. This Perspective offers a commentary on methods aimed at obtaining distance constraints for the modeling of full-fledged structures while highlighting common elements, salient distinctions and complementary capabilities exhibited by methods used in dynamics studies. We discuss critical factors to be addressed for completing effective structural determinations and expose possible pitfalls of chemical methods. We survey programs developed for facilitating the interpretation of experimental data and discuss possible computational strategies for translating sparse spatial constraints into all-atom models. Examples are provided to illustrate how the concerted application of very diverse probing techniques can lead to the solution of actual biological systems.
Thin jet and contour dynamics models of Gulf Stream meandering

This paper reexamines the theory of the meandering of the Gulf Stream and other inertial jets. We develop a hybrid model (with piecewise constant potential vorticity in the upper layer and a deep layer initially at rest) which allows us to clarify the relationships among thin jet, contour dynamics, and instability models. Approximating the hybrid model leads to a simple two-contour model which can be analyzed easily and can be integrated numerically for large amplitude disturbances. The jet evolution predicted by the approximate model is quite similar to the meander development under the full dynamics, except that the time scales are shorter. The model shows that baroclinic processes clearly play a significant role in the growth of meanders, while upper-layer interactions drive the final pinch-off of eddies. In addition to such process studies, the approximate model provides a simple dynamical system for further investigations.
Structure of a Membrane-Embedded Prenyltransferase Homologous to UBIAD1

Membrane-embedded prenyltransferases from the UbiA family catalyze the Mg2+-dependent transfer of a hydrophobic polyprenyl chain onto a variety of acceptor molecules and are involved in the synthesis of molecules that mediate electron transport, including Vitamin K and Coenzyme Q. In humans, missense mutations to the protein UbiA prenyltransferase domain-containing 1 (UBIAD1) are responsible for Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy, which is a genetic disease that causes blindness. Mechanistic understanding of this family of enzymes has been hampered by a lack of three-dimensional structures. We have solved structures of a UBIAD1 homolog from Archaeoglobus fulgidus, AfUbiA, in an unliganded form and bound to Mg2+ and two different isoprenyl diphosphates. Functional assays on MenA, a UbiA family member from E. coli, verified the importance of residues involved in Mg2+ and substrate binding. The structural and functional studies led us to propose a mechanism for the prenyl transfer reaction. Disease-causing mutations in UBIAD1 are clustered around the active site in AfUbiA, suggesting the mechanism of catalysis is conserved between the two homologs.
Nrf2 Expression Modifies Influenza A Entry and Replication in Nasal Epithelial Cells

Influenza infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially during pandemics outbreaks. Emerging data indicate that phase II antioxidant enzyme pathways could play a role in virus-associated inflammation and immune clearance. While Nrf2-dependent gene expression is known to modify inflammation, a mechanistic role in viral susceptibility and clearance has yet to be elucidated. Therefore, we utilized differentiated human nasal epithelial cells (NEC) and an enzymatic virus-like particle entry assay, to examine the role Nrf2-dependent gene expression has on viral entry and replication. Herein, lentiviral vectors that express Nrf2-specific short hairpin (sh)-RNA effectively decreased both Nrf2 mRNA and Nrf2 protein expression in transduced human NEC from healthy volunteers. Nrf2 knockdown correlated with a significant increase in influenza virus entry and replication. Conversely, supplementation with the potent Nrf2 activators sulforaphane (SFN) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) significantly decreased viral entry and replication. The suppressive effects of EGCG on viral replication were abolished in cells with knocked-down Nrf2 expression, suggesting a causal relationship between the EGCG-induced activation of Nrf2 and the ability to protect against viral infection. Interestingly, the induction of Nrf2 via nutritional supplements SFN and EGCG increased antiviral mediators/responses: RIG-I, IFN-β, and MxA at baseline in the absence of infection. Our data indicate that there is an inverse relationship between the levels of Nrf2 expression and the viral entry/replication. We also demonstrate that supplementation with Nrf2-activating antioxidants inhibits viral replication in human NEC, which may prove to be an attractive therapeutic intervention. Taken together, these data indicate potential mechanisms by which Nrf2-dependent gene expression regulates susceptibility to influenza in human epithelial cells.
Effects of puromycin on incorporation of [3H]lysine into protein following hemisection of rat spinal cord.

Abstract Single applications of puromycin into the lesion site of spinal hemisected rats were previously shown to induce transient nerve fiber growth into the lesion. We determined the protein incorporation of [ 3 H]lysine into rat spinal cord and brain treated with puromycin in groups of animals 3 h, 12 h, and 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after a left spinal cord hemisection at T2 and compared it to that in saline-treated controls. Each group consisted of two control animals, in which a left spinal hemisection was made at T2 and a Gelfoam sponge soaked in saline implanted in the lesion, and five experimental animals which were implanted with Gelfoam soaked in 1 m m puromycin in saline. One hour prior to utilization, animals were injected subcutaneously with 200 μCi l -[4,5( n )- 3 H]lysine monohydrochloride. In brain, no hemispheric or regional differences in protein or soluble fraction radioactivity could be detected in puromycin-treated or control animals. In spinal cord, inhibition of amino acid uptake was not demonstrable 3 h after hemisection, but could be detected at the site of the lesion 6 and 12 h after implantation. Three and 7 days after spinal hemisection, puromycin-treated animals exhibited a larger uptake of amino acid into protein at the lesion site than controls. The results suggest that morphological effects produced by puromycin on spinal cord regeneration may correspond to chemical events occurring within the first 24 h after cord hemisection and puromycin implantation.
Mudflow transport behavior and deposit morphology: Role of shear stress to yield strength ratio in subaqueous experiments

Abstract The ratio of the shear stress to yield strength, defined here as the flow factor, controls a wide spectrum of mass transport processes (slow, retrogressive failure to rapid, liquefied flows) and deposit morphologies (highly fractured and hummocky to thin and smooth) in subaqueous dam-break experiments. We control pre-failure flow factor in sediment–water slurries by systematically varying water content and silt:clay fraction. We document (1) the style and rate of sediment transport, and (2) the morphology of the entire deposit (source area to down-dip extent) for low, medium, and high flow factor slurries. A high flow factor (shear stress ≫ yield strength) generates a rapid collapse of the source area with an accelerating, long run-out flow and a prominent turbidity current. These flows remove approximately 70% of the original source area volume within 10 s from flow initiation. These flows leave behind a thin and smooth source area and deposit as a single mass that is thin, long and wide. In contrast, a medium flow factor (shear strength > yield strength) generates a slow retrogressive failure, in which individual fault blocks evacuate the source area and accumulate gradually over time into a deposit. These flows leave behind a blocky, highly fractured source area and construct short and thick deposits with a hummocky surface. Lateral levees (characteristic of these flows) focus material down-dip while inhibiting lateral spreading, thus producing an elongated deposit. When flow factor is low, approaching unity (shear stress ≈ yield strength), only a narrow zone of failure occurs and a short and thick deposit is constructed. Our experiments display characteristics similar to natural field examples of submarine failures. Our experiments suggest that a detailed analysis of deposit surface morphology from geophysical or outcrop observations can yield important clues to the flow history. In turn, this has practical implications for hazards assessments and predictions in which it is important to consider how possible future failures may behave.
Photo-induced potentials across a polymer stabilzied planar membrane, in the presence of bacteriorhodopsin

Abstract Black lipid planar membranes were prepared by incorporating polymers such as polystyrene in a membrane forming solution. The polymerincorporated planar membranes showed greater stability to applied electric fields and have longer lifertimes. Photopotentials were studied under several conditions; with bacteriorhodopsin in the planar membrane; with bacteriorhodopsin in liposomes; with bacteriorhodopsin fragments in suspension; and with bacteriorhodopsin both in the planar membrane and in liposomes. Skulachev's laboratory has reported that bacteriorhodopsin-liposomes develop potentials across a black lipid planar membrane. In our studies, because the polymer incorporated planar membranes are very stable, it was possible to obtain somewhat larger photopotentials in the presence of bacteriorhodopsin ranging between 30–500 mV. The enhancement of bacteriorhodopsin catalyzed photopotentials, found in the presence of Ca ++ (or other bivalent cations) and/or applied electric fields, appeared to result from an orientation effect of bacteriorhodopsin at the membrane interface.
P nucleotide insertions and the resolution of hairpin DNA structures in mammalian cells.

Two lines of evidence point to a hairpin DNA intermediate in V(D)J joining (V, variable; D, diversity; J, joining) [Lieber, M.R. (1991) FASEB J. 4, 2934-2944]. One is the presence of P nucleotide insertions (short inverted-repeat sequence) in V(D)J junctions [Lafaille, J. J., DeCloux, A., Bonneville, M., Takagaki, Y. & Tonegawa, S. (1989) Cell 59, 859-870]; a second is the detection of site-specifically broken DNA molecules with covalently closed (hairpin) termini in thymus DNA [Roth, D. B., Menetski, J. P., Nakajima, P., Bosma, M. J. & Gellert, M. (1989) Cell 70, 983-991]. However, P nucleotide insertions could be generated in ways not involving a hairpin structure, and because physical evidence for hairpin-ended DNA fragments has been obtained only with mutant mice, there is some uncertainty regarding the role of hairpin molecules in the normal V(D)J joining pathway. To determine whether mammalian cells are capable of metabolizing this odd type of DNA terminus and whether, in doing so, junctions with P insertions are in fact created, a linear DNA molecule with a hairpin closure at each end was transfected into several murine cell lines. The hairpin-ended molecules were recircularized, and the junctions exhibited P insertions at a high frequency. This result directly links the presence of P insertions to a hairpin precursor, providing strong evidence for the notion that a hairpin DNA intermediate exists in V(D)J recombination. A comparison of hairpin end joining in various cells, including those derived from mice with the severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) mutation, is presented.
Rugged telemetry system for coiled-tubing earth drilling

The development of a rugged optical fiber telemetry system for coiled-tubing earth-drilling is described. The transmitter and receiver of the telemetry system are located on the surface. A high temperature fiber cable connects a serial array of downhole modulators with the surface. Each modulator consists of an intrinsic fiber Bragg grating (FBG) fixed to a piezoelectric transducer (PZ). Each modulating signal causes a PZ to stretch its attached FBG, shifting the wavelength of the light reflected by the grating. The wavelength shift of the grating-reflected light is detected at the output using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
For the safe use of lasers in educational institutions: elementary through university

The use of lasers by the academic community continues to dramatically escalate. Academia is inundated with a profusion of lasers, each with a diverse function. Traditional departments such as biology, chemistry, and physics have introduced the use of lasers as an essential element of tutelage. Even the more distinctive departments such as Cancer Research, Civil Engineering, Earth and Planetary Science, Plasma Fusion, Spectroscopy, and so forth, have incorporated the laser in the composition of their educational mechanism. The literature indicates most ocular accidents happen during alignment procedures, which is an everyday activity for educational laboratories. Also, the improper use of laser safety eye wear is a major area of concern for laser safety in education institutions. More Class II, III, and IV lasers are used in universities, colleges, laser electro-optic technical colleges and high schools than probably any other area: for teaching, research, laboratory experiments, and demonstrations. Relatively large numbers of students work in laboratory groups in confined area, with various lasers of different wavelengths in the same laboratory. Open cavity and beam paths of Class IV lasers are common in these environments. Most educational institutions do not have laser safety officers or standard operation procedures. This paper will discuss the development of a new laser safety standard by an ANSI ad-hoc committee and by the executive committee of the ANSI Z-136 intended to provide adequate, reasonable, and practical guidance for educators, students, and spectators found in classrooms, lecture halls, and laboratories associated with universities, colleges, high, and elementary schools.
Controls of shear zone rheology and tectonic loading on postseismic creep

[1] Postseismic deformation is well documented in geodetic data collected in the aftermath of large earthquakes. In the postseismic time interval, GPS is most sensitive to creep in the lower crust or upper mantle activated by earthquake-generated stress perturbations. In these regions, deformation may be localized on an aseismic frictional surface or on a ductile shear zone. These two hypotheses imply specific rheologies and therefore time dependence of postseismic creep. Hence postseismic creep constitutes a potential probe into the rheology of aseismic regions of the lithosphere. I present a simple shear zone model of postseismic creep in which the rheology of the creeping element can be varied. In the absence of tectonic loading during the postseismic time interval, the displacement history of the shear zone obeying a power law rheology with stress exponent n follows an analytical relaxation curve parameterized by 1/n. For a frictional surface, postseismic creep follows the same relaxation law in the limit 1/n → 0. A rough estimate of the apparent stress exponent can be obtained from continuous GPS records. Application to data collected after the 1994 Sanriku earthquake yields 1/n ∼ 0.1, which is consistent with dislocation creep mechanisms. However, the records of two other subduction zone events, the 2001 Peru event and the 1997 Kronotski earthquake, and a continental strike-slip earthquake, the 1999 Izmit earthquake, require negative 1/n. Rather than characterizing the shear zone rheology, these negative exponents indicate that reloading of the shear zone by tectonic forces is important. Numerical simulations of postseismic deformation with nonnegligible reloading produce curves that are well fit by the generalized relaxation law with 1/n < 0, although the actual stress exponent of the rheology is positive. While this prevents rheology from being tightly constrained by the studied GPS records, it indicates that reloading is important in the postseismic time interval. In other words, the stress perturbation induced by an earthquake is comparable to the stress supported by ductile shear zones in the interseismic period.
Melting Point and Aqueous Solubility Determination of 2H-Hexadecafluoro-2-decenoic Acid (C10F16H2O2)

Two physical properties of the fluorinated carboxylic acid, 2H-hexadecafluoro-2-decenoic acid (C10F16H2O2), were investigated in this study: melting point and solubility. Melting point data were ascertained on a traditional melting point apparatus and a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), while solubility data were obtained using an LC−MS/MS system. A melting point of 105 ± 1 °C and an aqueous solubility of 64 ± 5 ng/μL at ambient temperatures were observed.
“The play is set in the theatre”: Conor McPherson and the late-modern humanism of the theatrical event

The plays of Conor McPherson emphasise a sociality of story, language, and theatre. His theatre demands both that a storyteller be heard and that storytellers acknowledge the reality of their words existing in a social space. Meaning-making in McPherson's monologues must thus be social, shared either between the monologists and the theatrical audience, or between a storyteller and the in-play audience. This essay argues that the dynamic of storytelling in McPherson's theatre epitomises a late-modern humanist pursuit. We encounter his characters on loosely defined linguistic journeys of ontological becoming, and are called upon as audience to become interlocutors, supporting and advancing this humanist process. Ultimately, McPherson's work suggests that dramatic characters and theatrical audience exist in a reciprocal relationship of soliciting and supporting a becoming from one another.
Synthesis and Characterization of Glucosamine-Bound Near-Infrared Probes for Optical Imaging

Two novel near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes have been synthesized by linking a carbocyanine fluorophore and glucosamine through different linkers. These probes demonstrated a high quantum yield, low cytotoxicity, reversible pH-dependent fluorescence in the physiological pH range, and a decreased aggregation tendency in aqueous solutions. In vitro NIR optical imaging studies revealed cellular uptake and strong intracellular NIR fluorescence of these two probes in four breast epithelial cell lines.
mGluR1-mediated potentiation of NMDA receptors involves a rise in intracellular calcium and activation of protein kinase C.

Abstract Potentiation of ionotropic glutamate receptor activity by metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) is thought to modulate activity at glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampus. However, the precise pathway by which this modulation occurs is not well understood. The present study tests the hypothesis that mGluR1-mediated potentiation of N-methyl- d -aspartate receptors (NMDARs) occurs via a phospholipase C (PLC)-initiated cascade. NMDAR functional activity was examined by whole-cell recording from Xenopus oocytes expressing recombinant NMDARs and mGluR1α. The mGluR1 agonist (1S,3R)-1-amino-cyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (ACPD) significantly potentiated NMDA-elicited currents. mGluR1α-mediated potentiation of NMDA responses was eliminated by the PLC inhibitor U-73122. Buffering of intracellular Ca2+ by BAPTA-AM or depletion of intracellular Ca2+ by the Ca2+/ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin greatly reduced ACPD potentiation. ACPD potentiation was reduced by the specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Ro-32-0432 and eliminated by the broad spectrum kinase inhibitor staurosporine. ACPD produced no further potentiation after potentiation of NMDARs by the PKC-activating phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Thus, Group I mGluRs potentiate NMDA responses via activation of PLC; at least part of the potentiation is due to rise in intracellular Ca2+ and stimulation of PKC. Cytochalasin D, which disrupts the actin cytoskeleton, blocked ACPD-elicited chloride currents and ACPD-induced potentiation of NMDAR currents, consistent with a role for cytoskeletal protein(s) in the signaling pathway. As Group I mGluRs are localized to the perisynaptic region in juxtaposition to NMDARs at glutamatergic synapses, mGluR-mediated potentiation of NMDAR activity may play a role in synaptic transmission and plasticity including LTP.