cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determinants of cardiac performance in severe aortic stenosis.

Left ventricular (LV) myocardial function and the influence on LV pump performance of associated coronary arterial disease, of outflow obstruction and its consequences, and of altered ventricular pressure-volume characteristics were examined in a representative group of 28 adult patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (valvular orifice area less than 0.50 sq cm/sq m). Eighteen patients (64%) exhibited depressed LV pump performance with levels of ejection fraction less than 0.50. In seven patients, coronary arterial disease documented by either arteriographic studies or postmortem analyses was associated with a segmental (i.e., nonhomogeneous) LV contractile disorder consistent with previous myocardial infarction. In the remaining 11 patients a homogeneous LV contractile disorder was the result of chronic outflow obstruction and its consequences. The possibility that reduced ventricular performance might be accounted for by increased afterload could not be supported by significant correlation between LV contractile characteristics (estimated from the ejection fraction and the mean circumferential fiber shortening rate) and indices of afterload (including LV systolic pressure, aortic valvular orifice area, and mean systolic wall tension). This observation suggested that myocardial hypertrophy and other consequences of longstanding obstruction to outflow played a primary role in depression of LV performance in these patients. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume was abnormal in all but three patients with depressed LV function; this increase was accompanied by a disproportionately greater increment in end-diastolic pressure, suggesting that reduced distensibility limited the ability of the ventricle to compensate for reduced contractile performance by means of the Starling mechanism.
Reorganization of suprachiasmatic nucleus networks under 24-h LDLD conditions.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), locus of the master circadian clock in the brain, is comprised of multioscillator neural networks that are highly plastic in responding to environmental lighting conditions. Under a 24-h light:dark:light:dark (LDLD) cycle, hamsters bifurcate their circadian locomotor activity such that wheel running occurs in each of the 2 daily dark periods with complete inactivity in between. In the present study, we explored the neural underpinning of this behavioral bifurcation. Using calbindin (CalB)–containing cells of the SCN as a regional marker, we characterized PER1 and c-FOS expression in the core and shell SCN subregions. In LD-housed animals, it is known that PER1 and c-FOS in the core and shell region are in phase with each other. In contrast, in behaviorally bifurcated animals housed in LDLD, the core and shell SCN exhibit antiphase rhythms of PER1. Furthermore, cells in the core show high FOS expression in each photophase of the LDLD cycle. The activation of FOS in the core is light driven and disappears rapidly when the photophase is replaced by darkness. The results suggest that bifurcated activity bouts in daytime and nighttime are associated with oscillating groups of cells in the core and shell subregions, respectively, and support the notion that reorganization of SCN networks underlies changes in behavioral responses under different environmental lighting conditions.
Crisis and Human Biology

We review the literature on the effects of aggregate crises on human biological outcomes. The crises we consider are acute, severe, and unexpected negative events occurring at the population level: recessions, famines, epidemics, natural and environmental disasters, and wars. Our review of the literature suggests that the effects of aggregate crises on human biology are pervasive and long-lasting.
Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) and Polar Form

In this section we assume that we are dealing with a real Euclidean space E. Let \( f : E \rightarrow E \) be any linear map. In general, it may not be possible to diagonalize f. We show that every linear map can be diagonalized if we are willing to use two orthonormal bases. This is the celebrated singular value decomposition (SVD). A close cousin of the SVD is the polar form of a linear map, which shows how a linear map can be decomposed into its purely rotational component (perhaps with a flip) and its purely stretching part.
Percutaneous Approaches to Valvular Heart Disease After Previous Cardiac Surgery

While open surgical correction is the best treatment for most patients with valvular heart disease, there have been recent technical advances that permit percutaneous approaches to valve replacement and valve repair in selected circumstances. The most widely accepted catheter-based therapy for valvular heart disease is percutaneous balloon dilatation for rheumatic mitral valve stenosis, and this might be applicable to some patients who require relief of mitral valve stenosis after previous aortic or tricuspid valve surgery. As discussed earlier, degenerative mitral valve disease is the most common mitral valve etiology in Western populations, and considerable effort has been extended toward catheter-based methods for repair of mitral valve prolapse. Patients with aortic valve stenosis constitute the largest population of patients who might be considered for transcatheter therapy. Percutaneous and transapical insertion of collapsible bioprostheses has been used widely in elderly high-risk patients, and many of these patients have had previous cardiac surgery [1, 2].
Measures Needed to Achieve Conservation and Efficient Production

demonstrations on the part of governmental personnel, technically trained in the sciences brought to bear on this problem, or cash payments by the government for uses of land less exploitative than would otherwise prevail. The underlying assumptions, largely correct, have been that lack of knowledge of improved farming practices and economic pressures are the two major causes of uneconomic exploitation of our soil resources. A few of our people who have thought more deeply into the subject see these two factors as the immediate ones, but back of them they see a system of direct and indirect social controls of land use and attitudes
Liver-Directed Therapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Approximately 50–70 % of patients with colorectal cancer ultimately develop colorectal liver metastases. Determining which patients may benefit from aggressive treatment has historically been achieved through clinical predictive models. However, factors such as radiographic response to neoadjuvant therapy should also be taken into consideration. Recently, molecular markers have emerged as an adjunct to clinical-pathologic factors and provide a surrogate for tumor biology. With improved understanding of tumor biology, the likelihood of recurrence can be better predicted. However, when feasible, the best chance for cure entails surgical resection as a part of multimodal therapy, and select patients can achieve prolonged median survival. Alternatively, ablation techniques may be used in conjunction with surgery or as isolated therapy in patients who are not candidates for surgical resection. Transarterial therapy may also provide clinical benefit in certain patient subsets with unresectable disease. These strategies have allowed for a more tailored approach to patients with colorectal liver metastases.
Fault localization for automated program repair: effectiveness, performance, repair correctness

Automated program repair (APR) tools apply fault localization (FL) techniques to identify the locations of likely faults to be repaired. The effectiveness, performance, and repair correctness of APR depends in part on the FL method used. If FL does not identify the location of a fault, the application of an APR tool will not be effective--it will fail to repair the fault. If FL assigns the actual faulty statement a low priority for repair, APR performance will be reduced by increasing the time required to find a potential repair. In addition, the correctness of a generated repair will be decreased since APR will modify fault-free statements that are assigned a higher priority for repair than an actual faulty statement. We conducted a controlled experiment to evaluate the impact of ten FL techniques on APR effectiveness, performance, and repair correctness using a brute force APR tool applied to faulty versions of the Siemens Suite and two other large programs: space and sed. All FL techniques were effective in identifying all faults; however, Wong3 and Ample1 were the least effective FL techniques since they assigned the lowest priority for repair in more than 26 % of the trials. We obtained the worst APR performance significantly when Ample1 was used since it generated a large number of variants in 29.11 % of the trials, and took the longest time to produce potential repairs. Jaccard FL improved repair correctness by generating more validated repairs---potential repairs that pass a set of regression tests, and generating potential repairs that failed fewer regression tests. Also Jaccard's performance is noteworthy in that it never generated a large number of variants during the repair process compared to the alternatives.
Abstract 1721: Resistance to silvestrol is mediated by MDR1/Pgp over-expression in a lymphoblastic leukemia cell line and is reversible by treatment with rapamycin

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL We previously showed that silvestrol, a translation initiation inhibitor, has potent cytotoxic activity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) B-cells in vitro and in vivo (Blood. 2009; 113(19):4656-66). To study potential mechanisms of silvestrol resistance, we generated a silvestrol-resistant B-leukemia cell line as a model system for B-cell leukemias. The 697 ALL cell line was incubated with step-wise increasing concentrations of silvestrol to generate a cell line (697-R) resistant to 80 nM silvestrol. In contrast, the LC50 (concentration lethal to 50%) of silvestrol in the parental 697 cell line is approximately 5 nM. 697-R cells retained genotypic and immunophenotypic features of the parental 697 cell line. One common mechanism of drug resistance in cancer is the over-expression of the multidrug resistance gene ABCB1 and its protein product, multidrug resistance-1/permeability glycoprotein (MDR1/Pgp). Using RT-PCR and flow cytometry, we confirmed increased MDR1 mRNA and protein expression in 697-R cells compared to parental 697 cells. Consistent with MDR1 upregulation, 697-R cells also showed resistance to the MDR1 substrates vincristine and depsipeptide, but not to the non-MDR1 substrate flavopiridol. We next assessed the functional activity of MDR1 in 697-R by measuring efflux of the fluorescent MDR1 substrate rhodamine 123 by flow cytometry. Rhodamine 123 was nearly completely eliminated from 697-R cells within 2 hours, but was fully retained in parental 697 cells. The common MDR1 inhibitors verapamil and cyclosporine inhibited rhodamine efflux from 697-R cells. As this type of multidrug resistance can be mediated by several genes, we used MDR1-specific siRNA to determine whether over-expression of MDR1 is responsible for rhodamine efflux. At 48 hours post-transfection, MDR1 siRNA-transfected cells showed significantly reduced efflux of rhodamine 123 compared to scrambled and irrelevant controls. It has previously been reported that the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin can also block MDR1 function. We therefore tested this using the 697-R cell line. Similar to verapamil, rapamycin was also able to inhibit the efflux of rhodamine 123 from these cells. Furthermore, rapamycin was also able to restore silvestrol sensitivity to 697-R cells. In conclusion, we show that MDR1/Pgp over-expression is at least one mechanism of silvestrol resistance in cell lines, and known MDR1 inhibitors including rapamycin can reverse this resistance in vitro. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1721. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1721
Production of mycelial forms by oïdium albicans in carrot infusion

Oidium albicans (Monilia albicans) is considered the specific cause of thrush or parasite stomatitis. The actual classification of the organism has been a subject for discussion since it was first isolated by Robin.1 The formation of long branching mycelial forms similar to the morphology of the molds on one medium and the formation of yeasts on other mediums has been the ground for dispute. Although it has had numerous names given to it, the organism is more generally classed as an oidium. When found in the false membrane of thrush, generally the mycelial forms predominate. The cells are elongated and at the junction of these, other cells bud forth and in turn take on the mycelial growth. Transplants from the membrane to ordinary mediums yield the yeast forms.
Short Circuit Analysis of Power Transmission Line Based on MATLAB

By using MATLAB/SIMULINK/SimPowerSystems,some models are build on three-phase short circuit,two-phase short circuit of grounding,one-phase short circuit of grounding of electric power systems.Ideal simulation results can be got by designing、simulating and analyzing short circuit fault of a power system transmission line.
Routing decision algorithm based on limit arrangement

In order to do further research on routing protocol of OSPF,this paper analyzed and introduced the method of limit arrangement in mathematical principle,and designed a new routing decision algorithm. It showed that this algorithm and Dijkstra algorithm were the same in time complexity when the arrangement of routing was under the condition of single strand. Meanwhile it existed that the time complexity was between O( n2) and O( n3),and it could possibly be a good superiority when the time complexity was O( n3) when the arrangement of routing was in the actual network structure. When the network topology changes,the algorithm always has a good convergence,which show the algorithm expands OSPF and has widely application.
Considering the Oneness: Reviewing Valerie J. Janesick's Contemplative Qualitative Inquiry: Practicing the Zen of Research Mindfully

Valerie Janesick's book Contemplative Qualitative Inquiry: Practicing the Zen of Research (2015) is a beautiful, thoughtful work of art that compels the reader to consider the oneness of qualitative research and mindfulness. Zen Buddhism is introduced as a foundation for mindfulness with accessible language and concise definitions from the onset.Three Zen definitions capture the intentions of this book and offer context for the reader. Janesick cleverly ties the foundations of Buddhism to issues of quality, rigor, and ethics in qualitative research. First, the concept of impermanence, the Buddhist practice of knowing that everything is changing all of the time and all of our experiences are temporary, is linked to the fact that "all findings are tentative" (p. 15). Second, the Buddhist concept of non-self means that we already have everything we need within us and that we are simply extensions of one another and the universe. This thought is linked to the idea that qualitative researchers can be thought of as extensions of their research. There is no separation because we are both the research instrument and the analyst. Third, the concept of nirvana, the Buddhist practice of non-suffering, extends into the practice of qualitative inquiry because it helps us to see clearly, in the present moment, how our participant thinks, feels, and behaves. When we "let go" of our own agenda, we can invite this clarity very purposefully so that our participant can share all that they wish.Janesick begins the book with a preface, asking her readers to "experience" her book rather than read it. Chapters 1 and 9 are beautifully written opening and closing chapters that express the art of qualitative inquiry from the Zen Buddhist perspective. These chapters remind us why we love stories, why we want to capture other people's stories, and why we value the human connection. Chapters 2 through 4 offer the foundation for qualitative research: openness, observation, writing and memoing, the interview, and the Institutional Review Board process. Janesick uses rich description and real-life dialogue to teach and model this content. Chapter 5 offers a concise approach to the use of documents, photographs, and artifacts in the research process. Chapter 6 takes us through the manuscript writing process, followed by Chapter 7, which illustrates poetry as a means to represent (data) in a dynamic and engaging way. Chapter 8 reminds us of the significance of the reflective journal. Janesick offers wonderful suggestions for how to develop this habit and skill.Within each chapter, Janesick begins with a koan, defined as a riddle-like story, to get her reader thinking more openly about the content. …
Defensive Concepts and the Security Dilemma

Identifying the’ security dilemma’ as a core problem of East-West tensions in the 1980s, defensive proponents argued that it could be resolved if both sides adopted manifestly defensive military doctrines. This line of argument ran counter to the official Western view that, given the Soviet threat, Western security depended on maintaining or increasing NATO’s military strength as a clear signal of resolve to the Soviet Union, and that this sometimes meant acquiring offensive capabilities.1 This chapter explores how defensive theorists have defined and used the security dilemma concept and identifies major defensive-concept problems that lie at the heart of security dilemma theorising, including those that have arisen in the post-Cold War environment.
Dopamine vs nesiritide for acute heart failure with renal dysfunction.

Dr Chen and colleagues1 evaluated the role of low-dose dopamine and nesiritide as individual strategies in treating patients with acute decongested heart failure while attempting to preserve or improve renal function. The trial found no benefit from low-dose dopamine or nesiritide with standard diuretic therapy. Despite significant advances in understanding the pathophysiology of acute heart failure, contemporary therapies have failed to have an effect.2
Inhibition/Depletion of CD26/DPPIV Enhances Survival Promoting Activity of SDF-1/CXCL12 and Myelosuppressive Activities of Inhibitory Chemokines on Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells.

Hematopoiesis is regulated by an interacting network of cells, cell surface proteins, and cytokines/chemokines. CD26 is a cell surface peptidase (Dipeptidylpeptidase IV) that cleaves the N-terminal dipeptide from various substrates, such as selected members of the chemokine family, at a penultimate proline or alanine residue. CD26 is expressed by hematopoietic stem (HSCs) and progenitor (HPCs) cells, as well as a number of other immature and mature cell types. By truncating the chemokine stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12), CD26 has been implicated in modulation of chemotaxis, homing and mobilization of HSCs/HPCs. Inhibition of CD26 by small peptides such as Diprotin A, or deletion of CD26 (e.g. cells from CD26 −/− mice or siRNA induced decreases in CD26) manifests in enhanced chemotaxis of HSCs/HPCs to SDF-1/CXCL12, and enhanced homing/engraftment of HSCs in mice. We hypothesized that inhibition of CD26 would manifest in enhanced activities of other functions of SDF-1/CXCL12. Moreover, since CD26 truncates other chemokines, we reasoned that inhibition of CD26 would enhance hematopoietic activities of these other chemokines. SDF-1/CXCL12 enhances survival/anti-apoptosis of HSCs/HPCs. We now report that pretreating mouse bone marrow cells (BMCs) with Diprotin A, whether or not the cells were washed prior to plating, or use of CD26 −/− mouse BMCs in a delayed addition of growth factor setting resulted in enhanced survival of HPCs at concentrations of SDF-1/CXCL12 at least 100-fold less than that which would normally manifest survival enhancing activities. We also assessed the influence of CD26 inhibition or deletion on the myelosuppressive effects of chemokines with known inhibitory activity and those that had not previously shown this activity. Suppression/deletion of CD26 on mouse BMCs greatly enhanced the activity of myelosuppressive chemokines such as is MIP-1α/CCL3 and GCP-2/CXCL6, such that these chemokines demonstrated inhibition of colony formation by multi-cytokine stimulated CFU-GM, BFU-E, and CFU-GEMM, at concentrations of these chemokines at least 100-fold less than that possible without inhibition/deletion of CD26. However, CD26 inhibition/deletion did not change the activity of non-myelosuppressive chemokines such as MIP-1β/CCL4, RANTES/CCL5, or SDF-1/CXCL12 into suppressive molecules. Since survival of HPCs is related to the cell cycle status of HPCs, such that slow or non-cycling HPCs are less sensitive to stresses leading to apoptosis, the enhanced activity of SDF-1/CXCL12 and the myelosuppressive chemokines (which are specifically inhibitory to HPCs in S-phase of the cell cycle) may act as coordinating separate signals to protect HPCs from stress-induced apoptosis. These results demonstrate that CD26 plays a modulating role on different hematopoietic activities mediated by chemokines, and this role for CD26 should be taken into account when describing models of chemokine effects on hematopoiesis, and attempts at modifying these effects.
Impulsivity and test meal intake among women with bulimia nervosa.

Many patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) also meet criteria for a lifetime alcohol use disorder (AUD). In order to understand possible mechanisms contributing to the co-occurrence and perpetuation of these disorders, this study investigated the importance of impulsivity and test meal intake among patients with BN by comparing women with BN only (n = 18), BN and current/past AUDs (n = 13), and healthy controls (n = 12). All participants completed assessments of eating disorder symptoms, frequency of alcohol use, binge eating, and purging via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews over two sessions. Measures of impulsivity consisted of computerized and self-report measures, and laboratory test meals. Significant differences between individuals with BN with/without comorbid AUDs were not found for test meal intake, impulsivity measures, or self-reported psychological symptoms. As hypothesized, compared to healthy controls, individuals with BN had significantly higher scores on two subscales and the total score of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, a trait measure of impulsivity, and consumed significantly more calories in the binge instruction meal. Total Barratt Impulsiveness Scale scores were also significantly related to kcal consumed during the laboratory test meal when individuals were instructed to binge eat (BN groups). Data from this study add to the existing literature implicating impulsivity in the psychopathology of disorders of binge eating, including BN, and also support the use of laboratory meals as a symptom-specific measure of this trait in eating disorder populations.
Supply-voltage optimization to account for process variations in high-volume manufacturing testing

In a high-volume manufacturing environment, it is difficult to set up test conditions, including supply-voltage levels, that can take into account the wide range of inter-die process variations on a wafer. Test conditions that do not take into consideration these process variations can lead to either yield loss or poor quality control. In this work, we propose a method to identify supply-voltage levels to test semiconductor chips based on the process variations experienced by them, while also adapting these supply-voltage levels based on the chip locations on the wafer. For this purpose, we first identified various process zones on the wafer, based on frequencies of on-chip ring oscillators. Next we modeled the ring oscillator (RO) performance in terms of the variations in SPICE parameters using the design of experiments (DoE) method. The equation corresponding to the DoE model was solved for each process zone on the wafer in order to fit a set of independent SPICE parameters set for the corresponding zone. These independent SPICE parameters were then used to create an updated SPICE model for the ring oscillator corresponding to each zone, and these SPICE models were used to derive an appropriate supply-voltage level for each zone. The results were used to test 250 devices to identify chips that exhibit significant performance deviation compared to other chips from the same zone. Among these 250 devices, 89 belonged to the slow zone, 87 belonged to the medium-fast zone, and 74 belonged to the fast process zone. A total of seven devices from the medium-fast zone and nine devices from the fast zone showed performance deviations and they were successfully screened.
Drugs for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Learn about the drug and non-drug interventions that have dramatically improved the quality of life for patients with COPD.
Butterflies Do Not Alter Conspecific Avoidance in Response to Variation in Density.

SYNOPSIS High conspecific densities are associated with increased levels of intraspecific competition and a variety of negative effects on performance. However, changes in life history strategy could compensate for some of these effects. For instance, females in crowded conditions often have fewer total offspring, but they may invest more in each one. Such investment could include the production of larger offspring, more time spent engaging in parental care, or more choosy decisions about where offspring are placed. For animals that have a relatively immobile juvenile stage, the costs of competition can be particularly high. Females may be able to avoid such costs by investing more in individual reproductive decisions, rearing young or laying eggs in locations away from other females. We tested the hypothesis that conspecific density cues during juvenile and adult life stages lead to changes in life history strategy, including both reproduction and oviposition choices. We predicted that high-density cues during the larval and adult stages of female Pieris rapae butterflies lead to lower fecundity but higher conspecific avoidance during oviposition, compared to similar low-density cues. We used a 2×2 factorial design to examine the effects of low and high conspecific density during the larval and adult stages of butterflies on avoidance behavior and fecundity. We found that past information about conspecific density did not matter; all butterflies exhibited similar levels of fecundity and a low level of conspecific avoidance during oviposition regardless of their previous experience as larvae and adults. These results suggest that P. rapae females use a fixed, rather than flexible, conspecific avoidance strategy when making oviposition decisions, and past information about conspecific density has no effect on life history and current reproductive investment. We speculate that this may be partially because past conspecific density per se is not a reliable cue for predicting current density and levels of competition, and thus it does not affect the development of life history strategies in this system.
Constraints on millisecond magnetars as the engines of prompt emission in gamma-ray bursts

We examine millisecond magnetars as central engines of Gamma Ray Bursts' (GRB) prompt emission. Using the proto-magnetar wind model of Metzger et al. 2011, we estimate the temporal evolution of the magnetization and power injection at the base of the GRB jet and apply these to different prompt emission models to make predictions for the GRB energetics, spectra and lightcurves. We investigate both shock and magnetic reconnection models for the particle acceleration, as well as the effects of energy dissipation across optically thick and thin regions of the jet. The magnetization at the base of the jet, $\sigma_0$, is the main parameter driving the GRB evolution in the magnetar model and the emission is typically released for $100\lesssim \sigma_0 \lesssim 3000$. Given the rapid increase in $\sigma_0$ as the proto-magnetar cools and its neutrino-driven mass loss subsides, the GRB duration is typically limited to $\lesssim 100$ s. This low baryon loading at late times challenges magnetar models for ultra-long GRBs, though black hole models likely run into similar difficulties without substantial entrainment from the jet walls. The maximum radiated gamma-ray energy is $\lesssim 5 \times 10^{51}$erg, significantly less than the magnetar's total initial rotational energy and in strong tension with the high end of the observed GRB energy distribution. However, the gradual magnetic dissipation model (Beniamini & Giannios 2017) applied to a magnetar central engine, naturally explains several key observables of typical GRBs, including energetics, durations, stable peak energies, spectral slopes and a hard to soft evolution during the burst.
Instructor and peer bullying in college students: Distinct typologies based on Latent Class Analysis

ABSTRACTObjective: Although bullying is traditionally considered within the context of primary and secondary school, recent evidence suggests that bullying continues into college and workplace sett...
Cost-effectiveness of HA-1A therapy for Gram-negative sepsis

Source Citation Schulman KA, Glick HA, Rubin H, Eisenberg JM. Cost-effectiveness of HA-1A monoclonal antibody for gram-negative sepsis. Economic assessment of a new therapeutic agent. JAMA. 1991 De...
In vitro evaluation of lysophosphatidic acid delivery via reverse perfluorocarbon emulsions to enhance alveolar epithelial repair.

BACKGROUND Alveolar drug delivery is needed to enhance alveolar repair during acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, delivery of inhaled drugs is poor in this setting. Drug delivery via liquid perfluorocarbon emulsions could address this problem through better alveolar penetration and improved spatial distribution. Therefore, this study investigated the efficacy of the delivery of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) growth factor to cultured alveolar epithelial cells via a perfluorocarbon emulsion. METHODS Murine alveolar epithelial cells were treated for 2 h with varying concentrations (0-10 μM) of LPA delivered via aqueous solution or PFC emulsion. Cell migration was evaluated 18 h post-treatment using a scratch assay. Barrier function was evaluated 1 h post-treatment using a permeability assay. Proliferation was evaluated 72 h post-treatment using a viability assay. RESULTS Partially due to emulsion creaming and stability, the effects of LPA were either diminished or completely hindered when delivered via emulsion versus aqueous. Migration increased significantly following treatment with the 10 μM emulsion (p < 10-3), but required twice the concentration to achieve an increase similar to aqueous LPA. Both barrier function and proliferation increased following aqueous treatment, but neither were significantly affected by the emulsion. CONCLUSIONS The availability and thus the biological effect of LPA is significantly blunted during emulsified delivery in vitro, and this attenuation depends on the specific cellular function examined. Thus, the cellular level effects of drug delivery to the lungs via PFC emulsion are likely to vary based on the drug and the effect it is intended to create.
Baseline-free guided wave damage detection with surrogate data and dictionary learning

In guided wave structural health monitoring, damage detection is often accomplished by comparing measurements before damage (i.e., baseline data) and after damage (i.e., test data). Yet, in practical scenarios, baseline data is often unavailable. Data from surrogate structures (structures similar to the test structure) could replace baseline data, but due to small differences in material properties, such as thickness, temperature, and other effects, this data is often unreliable. In this paper, a dictionary learning framework overcomes this challenge and detects damage with surrogate information. The framework combines wave propagation characteristics of a test structure with geometric information from surrogate structures to create a synthetic damage-free baseline. The test data is compared with the synthetic baseline to detect damage. The framework is evaluated with four 108 mm ×108 mm plates: two 1.6-mm thick aluminum plates, one 1.6-mm thick steel plate, and one 6.25 mm thick aluminum plate. The framework is applied to each test structure after learning from plates with different material properties and thicknesses. With full wavefield data, this paper successfully isolates reflections from a mass without using explicit baseline data. Furthermore, with sparse guided wave data, this paper shows that a drop in a correlation coefficient can detect a mass without using explicit baseline data.
Assays of Hypothalamic Releasing and Inhibiting Hormones

It is firmly established that the secretory activity of the pituitary gland is regulated by the hypothalamus of the brain by means of the releasing and inhibiting hormones which are elaborated by the nerve cells in the hypothalamus and transported to the pituitary via the hypophyseal portal vessels. The secretion of each of the six adenohypophyseal hormones (ACTH, TSH, LH, FSH, GH, and prolactin) and the hormone of the intermediate lobe of pituitary (MSH) is controlled by the respective hypothalamic regulating hormone(s). The release of ACTH, TSH, LH, FSH, and GH is under the control of stimulatory influence of the releasing hormones, whereas the secretion of prolactin and MSH is mainly under a tonic control by the inhibitory hormones. In addition, the secretion of prolactin and MSH appears to be regulated by their releasing hormones, and GH by the release-inhibiting hormone (Schally et al., 1973a).
Bacterial infection in chronic rhinosinusitis: a controlled paired analysis.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine if pathogenic bacteria are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).MethodsA consecutive series of adult patients with unilatera...
Surface Modification of Polymers for Biomedical Applications: Chemical, Biological, and Surface Analytical Challenges

Synthetic polymers are widely used in contact with biological systems. Applications in medicine, biotechnology, food processing and natural water environments are common. Millions of medical devices comprised of synthetic materials (biomaterials) are used in humans each year (Table 1). These medical devices can be designed, synthesized, and fabricated to have appropriate mechanical properties, durability, and functionality. Examples are a knee prosthesis that should withstand high localized mechanical stresses, a blood oxygenator membrane that should have the requisite permeability characteristics, and the leaflets in a heart valve that should flex for millions of cycles without failure. The bulk structure of the materials governs these properties. Biological responses to biomaterials, on the other hand, are dominated by their surface chemistry and structure. Thus, the rationale for the surface modification of biomaterials is straightforward: retain the key physical properties while modifying only the outermost surface to influence biointeraction. If surface modification is properly effected, the bulk mechanical properties and functionality of the medical device will be unchanged, but the biological performance will be improved. Improvements in certain important surface physical properties such as lubricity are also readily achieved by surface modification.
A hybrid approach to guaranteed effective control strategies

Machine learning has demonstrated success in enhancing the effectiveness of domain–independent planning. Unfortunately the conditions for which success can be realized are difficult to articulate. Promising empirical results can be overturned by subtle changes to the input. This paper describes amethod which generates strategies guaranteed to enhanceplanning performance to an arbitrary level of certainty. The problem is naturally approached by a combination of theory–based and empirical learning techniques.
Status of Solar Photovoltaics

Before our discussions on the technical aspects of solar photovoltaics, we will first review the status of solar photovoltaics. This chapter begins with a review on current solar cell technologies and their efficiencies. It is followed by a discussion on solar cell cost, a well-known barrier to large-scale deployment of solar photovoltaics.
The Influence of CO2 Forcing on North American Monsoon Moisture Surges

Widespread multiday convective bursts in the southwestern United States during the North American monsoon are often triggered by Gulf of California moisture surges (GoC surges). However, how GoC surges, and the amount and intensity of associated precipitation, will change in response to CO_2-induced warming remains little known, not least because the most widely available climate models do not currently resolve the relevant mesoscale dynamics due to their coarse resolution (100 km or more). In this study, a 50-km resolution global coupled model (FLOR) is used to address this question. It is found that the mean number of GoC surge events remains unchanged under CO_2 doubling, but intermediate-to-high intensity surge-related precipitation tends to become less frequent, thus reducing the mean summertime rainfall. Lowlevel moisture fluxes associated with GoC surges as well as their convergence over land to the east of the GoC intensify, but the increases in low-level moisture are not matched by the larger increments in the near-surface saturation specific humidity due to amplified land warming. This results in a more unsaturated, low-level atmospheric environment which disfavors moist convection. These thermodynamic changes are accompanied by dynamics changes that are also less conducive to convective activity, with the mid-level monsoonal ridge projected to expand and move to the west of its present-day climatological maximum. Despite the overall reduction in precipitation, the frequency of very intense, localized daily surge-related precipitation in Arizona and surrounding areas is projected to increase, consistently with increased precipitable water.
Quantification of 19 Aldehydes in Human Serum by Headspace SPME/GC/High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Sources of human aldehyde exposure include food additives, combustion of organic matter (tobacco smoke), water disinfection byproducts via ozonation, and endogenous processes. Aldehydes are potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic, and chronic human aldehyde exposure has raised concerns about potential deleterious health effects. To aid investigations of human aldehyde exposure, we developed a novel method to measure 19 aldehydes released from Schiff base protein adducts in serum using controlled acid hydrolysis, solid-phase microextraction (SPME), gas chromatography (GC), and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Aldehydes are released from Schiff base protein adducts through acid hydrolysis, and are quantified in trace amounts (μg/L) using stable isotope dilution. Detection limits range from 0.1 to 50 μg/L, with calibration curves spanning 3 orders of magnitude. The analysis of fortified quality control material over a three-month period showed excellent precision and long-term stability (3–22% CV) fo...
Russia and China: A Political Marriage of Convenience – Stable and Successful

Relations between China and Russia can be difficult for westerners to understand intuitively. Contemporary western media portray China as “increasingly assertive,” and Russia as a sinister manipula...
Elderly Prisoners are Literally Dying for Reform

In the last twenty years, the number of older prisoners has increased by 750 percent nationwide. Unfortunately, the prison system's ability to deal with an increasingly geriatric population has not adapted at a similar rate. The current conditions that many older prisoners now face are appalling. Part I of this paper will examine the characteristics of the aging population within the California prison system, the specific problems the population faces, the rising cost of maintaining this population in the absence of reform, and finally, the level of risk these prisoners pose. Part II will examine possible solutions for dealing with the graying of the prison population, including solutions currently implemented in other states. Part III will suggest certain policies for implementation within the California system.
How do nurse managers describe clinical nurses' work arrangements? A qualitative study.

Aim The researcher sought to understand how nurse managers describe nurses in alternative work arrangements. Design The researcher conducted this study using grounded theory. Method Semi-structured interviews. A theoretical sample of 26 baccalaureate-prepared nurse managers located across the United States participated in the study. Results A typology of five work arrangements provides descriptors that contribute toward greater conceptual clarity on nurses' work arrangements. The data reveal that the typology is fluid because nurses can easily switch across work arrangements. Because the rise in alternative work arrangements means that nurses can leave permanent positions-or explore different work arrangements-when circumstances permit or necessitate, nurses who do not receive continued mentoring will likely bring their deficiencies in skill and/or knowledge to facilities where they find future employment. Hence, inadequate mentoring at the unit level has practical consequences for the quality of patient care at the institutional level.
Moving to the Next Level: Doubly Latent Multilevel Mediation Models with a School Climate Illustration

Traditional observed variable multilevel models for evaluating indirect effects are limited by their inability to quantify measurement and sampling error. They are further restricted by being unabl...
Perioperative Outcomes for Combined Ventral Rectopexy With Sacrocolpopexy Compared to Perineal Rectopexy With Vaginal Apical Suspension.

OBJECTIVES To describe and compare perioperative complications in women undergoing combined ventral rectopexy with sacrocolpopexy compared with perineal rectopexy with vaginal apical suspension. METHODS Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify women in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database who underwent ventral rectopexy with sacrocolpopexy or perineal rectopexy with vaginal apical suspension from 2006 to 2015. Perioperative complication was defined as any of the following within 30 days of surgery: death, return to the operating room, transfusion, or vascular, wound, respiratory, infectious, or renal morbidity. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay, operative time, blood loss, readmission, and rate of urinary tract infections. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate the adjusted relative risks of complication associated with surgical approach, abdominal versus perineal. RESULTS Of the 273 women included, 240 (88%) underwent surgery with an abdominal approach, and 33 (12%) underwent surgery with a perineal approach. Perioperative complications occurred in 24 (9%) patients; 19 (8%) in the abdominal group and 5 (15%) in the perineal group. The age-adjusted risk of perioperative complications was not significantly different between those with a perineal approach compared with those with an abdominal approach (adjusted relative risk, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-4.33). CONCLUSIONS Patients in this database who underwent surgery with a vaginal/perineal approach were not more likely to have a postoperative complication after adjusting for age compared with those undergoing an abdominal approach. Larger studies are needed to determine a more precise estimate of the impact of surgical approach on rates of perioperative complications.
Traumatic stress history interacts with sex and chronic peripheral inflammation to alter mitochondrial function of synaptosomes

Abstract Background Repeated exposures to chronic stress can lead to long lasting negative behavioral and metabolic outcomes. Here, we aim to determine the impact of chronic stress and chronic low-level inflammation on behavior and synaptosomal metabolism. Methods Male (n = 31) and female (n = 32) C57Bl/6 mice underwent chronic repeated predation stress or daily handling for two rounds of 15 consecutive days of exposure during the adolescent and early adult timeframes. Subsequently, mice were exposed to repeated lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 7.5 × 105 EU/kg) or saline injections every third day for eight weeks. Exploratory and social behaviors were assessed in the open field and social interaction tests prior to examination of learning and memory with the Barnes Maze. Mitochondrial function and morphology were assessed in synaptosomes post-mortem using the Cell Mito Stress test and Seahorse XFe24 analyzer, TEM, and western analysis, respectively. In addition, expression of TNF-α, IL-1s, and ROMO1 were examined in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex with Taqman qPCR. Circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the periphery were assessed using the MSD V-plex Proinflammatory Panel 1 following the first and last LPS injection as well as at the time of tissue collection. Circulating ROMO1 was assessed in terminal samples via ELISA. Results Exposure to repeated predatory stress increased time spent in the corners of the open field, suggestive of anxiety-like behavior, in both males and females. There were no significant group differences in the social interaction test and minimal effects were evident in the Barnes maze. A history of chronic stress interacted with chronic LPS in male mice to lead to a deficit in synaptosomal respiration. Female mice were more sensitive to both chronic stress and chronic LPS such that either a history of chronic stress or chronic LPS exposure was sufficient to disrupt synaptosomal respiration in females. Both stress and chronic LPS were sufficient to increase inflammation and reactive oxygen in males centrally and peripherally. Females had increased markers of peripheral inflammation following acute LPS but no evidence of peripheral or central increases in inflammatory factors or reactive oxygen following chronic exposures. Conclusion Collectively, these data suggest that while metrics of inflammation and reactive oxygen are disrupted in males following chronic stress and chronic LPS, only the combined condition is sufficient to alter synaptosomal respiration. Conversely, although evidence of chronic inflammation or chronic elevation in reactive oxygen is absent, females demonstrate profound shifts in synaptosomal mitochondrial function with either a history of chronic stress or a history of chronic inflammation. These data highlight that different mechanisms are likely in play between the sexes and that sex differences in neural outcomes may be precipitated by sex-specific effects of life experiences on mitochondrial function in the synapse.
Chapter 5 – Skull

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the structure and composition of the skull. A number of the characteristics unique to the order Primates are manifest in the structure and composition of the skull. Among primates, several major trends exist, such as the enlargement and increasing complication of the brain; this trend is expressed in the enlargement of the braincase. Another crucial adaptation is the increased refinement of eyesight and the acquisition of stereoscopic vision. These trends are apparent in the position, size, and the manner of enclosure of the eye sockets or orbits. Relative reduction of the sense of olfaction is expressed in a concurrent reduction of the proportion of the skeletal elements that make up the nasal region. Some functions of the dentition and snout of primitive mammals have been partially taken over by the grasping and sensitive abilities of the pentadactyl hands in primates. The number and size of teeth, and thus the size and overall morphology of the mouth cavity, the mandibular angulation, the height of the mandibular ascending ramus and its articulation with the skull, and the bone strength reflected in its thickness are all part of the functional unit skull. Variations of skull shape are therefore likely to reflect directly or indirectly the size and spatial arrangement of different sensible and mechanical adaptations and requirements within the morphological unit that is the skull.