cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Model experiments on refraction arrivals from a linear transition layer

Ultrasonic model experiments were performed to examine the effect of a transition layer on the frequency spectra of refraction arrivals. Two-dimensional, layered structures with transition layers constructed from polystyrene and Plexiglas sheets served as the models. The materials were so chosen that the model simulated the relation between the crust and the mantle. A pulsed sinusoidal wave with variable frequency and a square-wave pulse were used. The amplitude of the refraction arrivals showed a rapid decrease with increasing frequency starting at a frequency f which was found to have the value 1.7 k , where k is the velocity gradient in the transition layer. It is expected that a similar effect will be observed for the refraction arrivals from the Mohorovicic discontinuity if a transition layer exists at the boundary.
Retarded Developmental Expression and Patterning of Retinal Cone Opsins in Hypothyroid Mice

Color vision is mediated by cone photoreceptors that express opsin photopigments with sensitivities to different light wavelengths. Most mammals, including mice, differentially express M and S opsins for response to medium-long and short wavelengths, respectively. Previous studies demonstrated that a thyroid hormone receptor (TRβ2) is critical for opsin patterning: in TRβ2-deficient mice, M opsin is lost and all cones instead express S opsin. Here, to investigate the requirement for thyroid hormone in cone development, we studied Tshr−/−mice as a model of congenital hypothyroidism. The onset of M opsin expression in Tshr−/−mice was severely delayed until after postnatal d 17 (P17), and M opsin expression failed to attain normal levels at older adult ages. S opsin showed a subtler change with an extended distribution pattern over the superior-inferior axis of the retina. Similar opsin abnormalities were detected in wild-type C57BL/6J mice made hypothyroid by methimazole treatment. In Tshr−/− mice, T3 treat...
Challenges in the development of novel treatment strategies for neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain might best be considered as a collection of various pain states with a common feature, that being symptoms suggestive of dysfunction of peripheral nerves. The development of therapeutic options for the treatment of neuropathic pain is complicated significantly by several factors. Neuropathic pain may arise from widely diverse etiologies such as physical trauma, disease, infection, or chemotherapy. Symptoms indicative of neuropathic pain may also arise in individuals with no evidence of any type of nerve trauma (idiopathic). Although neuropathic pain is a substantial health care issue, it is relatively uncommon and only occurs in a small fraction (<10%) of individuals with these initiating factors. Moreover, the efficacy of treatment protocols, even against the same type of symptoms, differ depending on the underlying initiating cause of the neuropathy. Although these observations strongly suggest that there are predisposing factors that may impart susceptibility to the development of neuropathic pain, no common predisposing factors or genetic markers have been satisfactorily identified. Because of these vagaries, treatment of neuropathic pain has been based on trial and error. However, recent progress in the understanding of neurophysiologic changes that accompany peripheral nerve dysfunction indicate that regulation of ion channels that maintain membrane potentials or generate action potentials may provide an important therapeutic approach. Neuropathic pain is accompanied by increased activity of peripheral nociceptors, which is produced in part by changes in levels of specific calcium and sodium channels. The identification of sodium and/or calcium channels subtypes that are expressed almost exclusively on nocicpetors may provide a way of regulating the activity of exaggerated nociceptor function without altering other sensory modalities. Thus, the selective targeting of ion channels may represent a viable therapeutic target for the management of the neuropathic pain state, regardless of etiology.
Active learning of model parameters for influence maximization

Previous research efforts on the influence maximization problem assume that the network model parameters are known beforehand. However, this is rarely true in real world networks. This paper deals with the situation when the network information diffusion parameters are unknown. To this end, we firstly examine the parameter sensitivity of a popular diffusion model in influence maximization, i.e., the linear threshold model, to motivate the necessity of learning the unknown model parameters. Experiments show that the influence maximization problem is sensitive to the model parameters under the linear threshold model. In the sequel, we formally define the problem of finding the model parameters for influence maximization as an active learning problem under the linear threshold model. We then propose a weighted sampling algorithm to solve this active learning problem. Extensive experimental evaluations on five popular network datasets demonstrate that the proposed weighted sampling algorithm outperforms pure random sampling in terms of both model accuracy and the proposed objective function.
Earthquake ruptures with thermal weakening and the operation of major faults at low overall stress levels

We model ruptures on faults that weaken in response to flash heating of microscopic asperity contacts (within a rate-and-state framework) and thermal pressurization of pore fluid. These are arguably the primary weakening mechanisms on mature faults at coseismic slip rates, at least prior to large slip accumulation. Ruptures on strongly rate-weakening faults take the form of slip pulses or cracks, depending on the background stress. Self-sustaining slip pulses exist within a narrow range of stresses: below this range, artificially nucleated ruptures arrest; above this range, ruptures are crack-like. Natural earthquakes will occur as slip pulses if faults operate at the minimum stress required for propagation. Using laboratory-based flash heating parameters, propagation is permitted when the ratio of shear to effective normal stress on the fault is 0.2–0.3; this is mildly influenced by reasonable choices of hydrothermal properties. The San Andreas and other major faults are thought to operate at such stress levels. While the overall stress level is quite small, the peak stress at the rupture front is consistent with static friction coefficients of 0.6–0.9. Growing slip pulses have stress drops of ∼3 MPa; slip and the length of the slip pulse increase linearly with propagation distance at ∼0.14 and ∼30 m/km, respectively. These values are consistent with seismic and geologic observations. In contrast, cracks on faults of the same rheology have stress drops exceeding 20 MPa, and slip at the hypocenter increases with distance at ∼1 m/km.
Aerosolized ZnO Nanoparticles Induce Toxicity in Alveolar Type II Epithelial Cells at the Air-Liquid Interface

The majority of in vitro studies characterizing the impact of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) on cells that line the respiratory tract were conducted in cells exposed to NPs in suspension. This approach introduces processes that are unlikely to occur during inhaled NP exposures in vivo, such as the shedding of toxic doses of dissolved ions. ZnO NPs are used extensively and pose significant sources for human exposure. Exposures to airborne ZnO NPs can induce adverse effects, but the relevance of the dissolved Zn(2+) to the observed effects in vivo is still unclear. Our goal was to mimic in vivo exposures to airborne NPs and decipher the contribution of the intact NP from the contribution of the dissolved ions to airborne ZnO NP toxicity. We established the exposure of alveolar type II epithelial cells to aerosolized NPs at the air-liquid interface (ALI) and compared the impact of aerosolized ZnO NPs and NPs in suspension at the same cellular doses, measured as the number of particles per cell. By evaluating membrane integrity and cell viability 6 and 24 h post-exposure, we found that aerosolized NPs induced toxicity at the ALI at doses that were in the same order of magnitude as doses required to induce toxicity in submersed cultures. In addition, distinct patterns of oxidative stress were observed in the two exposure systems. These observations unravel the ability of airborne ZnO NPs to induce toxicity without the contribution of dissolved Zn(2+) and suggest distinct mechanisms at the ALI and in submersed cultures.
COEXPRESSION OF CD44 VARIANT (V10/EX14) AND CD44S IN HUMAN MAMMARY EPITHELIAL CELLS PROMOTES TUMORIGENESIS

CD44 is the major hyaluronan cell surface receptor and functions as an adhesion molecule in many different cell types, including human breast epithelial cells. The coexpression of certain CD44 variants (CD44v), such as CD44v (v10/ex14), with CD44s (standard form) appears to be closely associated with human breast tumor metastasis. In this study we have established a stable transfection of CD44v (v10/ex14) cDNA into nontumorigenic human breast epithelial cells (HBL100) which contain endogenous CD44s. Our results indicate that coexpression of both CD44v (v10/ex14) and CD44s alters the following important biological properties of these cells: 1) there is a significant reduction in hyaluronic acid (HA)-mediated cell adhesion; 2) there is an increased migration capability in collagen-matrix gel; and 3) these cells constitutively produce certain angiogenic factors and effectively promote tumorigenesis in athymic nude mice. These findings suggest that coexpression of CD44v (v10/ex14) and CD44s may trigger the onset of cell transformation required for breast cancer development.
Exploiting hierarchy in a cache-based switch-level simulator

The article presents a caching method that significantly reduces the cost of subnetwork evaluation during switch-level simulation. The method speeds up simulation by as much as a factor of two. While caching may require additional memory it is shown how the structural hierarchy can be exploited to quickly identify subnetworks computing identical functions, merge their cache tables and significantly reduce the memory requirements. >
Cytokine receptors on glial cells

Given what evidence there is for the molecular and functional nature of cytokines and their cognate binding proteins in the immune system and the emerging similarities or even identities for these ligands and receptors in the nervous system, two general models may be relevant. The first emerging pattern is that receptors for related but distinct trophic factors in the CNS are in many instances multichain complexes with one or more shared components. The shared components of the receptor complex may be either signal- or nonsignal-transducing chains. A second emerging motif is that related ligands and related receptors fall into gene families. Undoubtedly, these models will facilitate the cloning of novel members of these families whose function is quite specific to the nervous system and in particular to glial cells. This article will review the function of the receptors for cytokines and families of differentiation/survival/growth factors as they operate on astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes in development, health, and disease. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Expression of the chemokine decoy receptor D6 mediates dendritic cell function and promotes corneal allograft rejection

Purpose: To identify the role of chemokine receptor 6 (D6) expression by dendritic cells (DCs) and its role in corneal transplant immunity. Methods: Flow cytometry analysis was used to assess the expression level of the D6 chemokine receptor in different leukocyte populations and DC maturation following lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation of bone marrow–derived DCs isolated from wild-type (WT) or D6 −/− mice (C57BL/6 background). Mixed-lymphocyte reactions and delayed-type hypersensitivity assays were performed with bone marrow–derived DCs from WT or D6 −/− mice to evaluate T-cell alloreactivity. Adoptive transfer experiments with T cells from WT or D6 −/− hosts with BALB/c corneal allografts were performed. Graft opacity was assessed over an 8-week period, and graft survival was plotted using Kaplan–Meier survival curves. Results: Expression of the D6 chemokine receptor was significantly higher in DCs compared to other leukocyte subpopu lations, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes/macrophages. LPS challenge of D6 −/− bone marrow–derived DCs elicited significantly lower levels of major histocompatibility complex II and costimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80, and CD86) compared to WT bone marrow–derived DCs, indicating the role of the D6 chemokine receptor in DC maturation. Further, DCs isolated from D6 −/− mice induced less T-cell proliferation (p≤0.001) and interferon-gamma production in T cells of draining lymph nodes compared to WT mice following corneal transplantation (p≤0.001). Moreover, adoptively transferred T cells from D6 −/− corneal transplanted mice to WT mice led to impaired graft rejection, compared to the hosts that received T cells from the WT transplanted mice. Conclusions: We demonstrated D6 chemokine receptor expression by DCs and identified its critical function in multiple aspects of DC biology, including maturation and consequent elicitation of alloreactive T-cell responses that are responsible for corneal allograft rejection.
Modest cancer prevention benefit with long-term multivitamin supplementation: Physicians’ Health Study II results warrant cautious interpretation

Commentary on Gaziano JM, Sesso HD, Christen WG, et al. Multivitamins in the prevention of cancer in men: the Physicians’ Health Study II randomised controlled trial. JAMA 2012;308:1871–80.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Various vitamins and minerals have been shown to inhibit carcinogenesis or reduce cancer risk in preclinical experiments and observational studies. Such work has given rise to several chemoprevention trials of isolated nutrients, many of which (eg, Alpha-Tocopherol and Beta-Carotene (ATBC) Trial, Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET) and Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT)) have produced disappointing findings.1 Multivitamin supplements, however, may yield greater benefit and less risk, since the nutrient profile more closely approximates a healthy, balanced diet. A randomised controlled trial (RCT) of multivitamin supplements is significant since over one-third of US adults regularly take these preparations.2 Gaziano and colleagues recently reported … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DJAMA%26rft.stitle%253DJAMA%26rft.issn%253D0002-9955%26rft.aulast%253DGaziano%26rft.auinit1%253DJ.%2BM.%26rft.volume%253D308%26rft.issue%253D18%26rft.spage%253D1871%26rft.epage%253D1880%26rft.atitle%253DMultivitamins%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bprevention%2Bof%2Bcancer%2Bin%2Bmen%253A%2Bthe%2BPhysicians%2527%2BHealth%2BStudy%2BII%2Brandomized%2Bcontrolled%2Btrial.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1001%252Fjama.2012.14641%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F23162860%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1001/jama.2012.14641&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=23162860&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F18%2F6%2F214.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000310952700023&link_type=ISI
Thyroid Function, Growth Hormone, and Organ Growth in Broilers Deficient in Phosphorus

Abstract The effects of a dietary P deficiency on thyroid function, serum growth hormone, and growth parameters in 10 to 29-day-old broiler cockerels was determined. Chicks fed severely P-deficient diets (.05% or .10% available P) grew more slowly and ate less feed than controls fed .65% P. The deficiency was also accompanied by hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and decreases in percent bone ash, fat-free tibial weight, and tibial length and width. Increases in the relative weights of kidneys, hearts, and pituitary glands (.05% P only) occurred as well. Most of these changes occurred to a lesser extent or not at all in pair-fed controls, showing that they resulted specifically from the P deficiency and were not simply a result of reductions in feed intake. Phosphorus deficiency also was accompanied by peripheral edema and hydropericardium. Relative thyroid weight was unaffected. Serum triiodothyronine was consistently lower in the P-deficient chicks, although effects were significant only in one experiment. Thyroxine levels tended to be low also, but not consistently so. Serum growth hormone in P-deficient chicks in both studies was consistently lower than that in pair-fed controls, but this was significant only when .10% but not .05% available P was fed. The findings suggest that serum levels of both thyroid hormone and growth hormone are altered by P deficiency, but the results were not clearly definitive.
New development of the yolk sac theory in diabetic embryopathy: molecular mechanism and link to structural birth defects

Maternal diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor for structural birth defects, including congenital heart defects and neural tube defects. With the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity in women of childbearing age, diabetes mellitus-induced birth defects have become an increasingly significant public health problem. Maternal diabetes mellitus in vivo and high glucose in vitro induce yolk sac injuries by damaging the morphologic condition of cells and altering the dynamics of organelles. The yolk sac vascular system is the first system to develop during embryogenesis; therefore, it is the most sensitive to hyperglycemia. The consequences of yolk sac injuries include impairment of nutrient transportation because of vasculopathy. Although the functional relationship between yolk sac vasculopathy and structural birth defects has not yet been established, a recent study reveals that the quality of yolk sac vasculature is related inversely to embryonic malformation rates. Studies in animal models have uncovered key molecular intermediates of diabetic yolk sac vasculopathy, which include hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1, and its inhibitor thioredoxin-1, c-Jun-N-terminal kinases, nitric oxide, and nitric oxide synthase. Yolk sac vasculopathy is also associated with abnormalities in arachidonic acid and myo-inositol. Dietary supplementation with fatty acids that restore lipid levels in the yolk sac lead to a reduction in diabetes mellitus-induced malformations. Although the role of the human yolk in embryogenesis is less extensive than in rodents, nevertheless, human embryonic vasculogenesis is affected negatively by maternal diabetes mellitus. Mechanistic studies have identified potential therapeutic targets for future intervention against yolk sac vasculopathy, birth defects, and other complications associated with diabetic pregnancies.
Chronic stridor in a nine-month-old—Consider esophageal foreign body☆

Abstract We present the case of a 9-month-old female with seven weeks of stridor. Initial lateral neck radiograph showed widening of the retropharyngeal space with significant mass effect displacing the cervical and thoracic trachea. She was taken emergently by ENT to the operating room for intubation. In the OR, flexible fiberoptic nasotracheal intubation was achieved. Through multimodality imaging and several procedures, she was found to have ingested part of a Christmas ornament, which lodged in the esophagus, causing a perforation with retropharyngeal phlegmon. This compressed the airway, causing respiratory distress. She improved on intravenous antibiotics and the ornament was retrieved endoscopically.
Overcrowding Factors of Mosquito Larvae: Isolation and Chemical Identification

Four major toxic and growth-retarding compounds isolated from an overcrowded culture of larvae of the mosquito Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say were chemically identified as n -heptadecane, 7-methyloctadecane, n -octadecane and 8-methylnonadecane. The minor constituents, presumed to consist of 2-ethyl long-chain fatty acids, also contributed to the overall activity of overcrowding factors produced by mosquito larvae. Production of these compounds was dependent on the larval density rather than on the number of larvae used. The “ego space” of the 4th-instar larva is ca. 9 mm2, below which the larvae come in bodily contact through the lateral thoracic and abdominal hairs, resulting in the elaboration of detectable quantities of biologically active materials.
Evolution of manatees; a speculative history

The following historical scenario is proposed to explain the available data on manatee evolution. Protosiren-like sirenians probably reached the isolated South American continent in the Eocene; this dispersal and subsequent genetic isolation marked the origin of the Trichechidae. The earliest known probable trichechid, Potamosiren from Colombia, is Middle Miocene (Friasian) in age, and lacks the horizontally-replaced supernumerary molars which characterize later manatees. Up to the Late Miocene, trichechids may have been restricted to coastal rivers and estuaries of South America, where they fed on freshwater plants, while dugongids inhabited West Atlantic and Carib- bean marine waters and exploited seagrass meadows. The Mio-Pliocene Andean orogeny dumped large quantities of silt and dissolved nutrients into many South American rivers, stimulating growth of aquatic macrophytes, particularly true grasses (Gramineae). Manatees adapted to this newly abun- dant but abrasive food source by evolving supernumerary molars continually replaced throughout life, as in the Mio-Pliocene form Ribodon from Argentina. Further elaboration of this functional analogue of hypsodonty led to smaller but more numerous teeth (providing greater length of enamel ridge per unit of occlusal area) in the Pliocene-Recent genus Trichechus. The Late Miocene orogeny also blocked the Pacific entrance to the upper Amazon region, temporarily forming a closed basin. Manatees trapped in the Amazon basin, or entering it via stream-capture events, further adapted to feed on the gramineous "floating meadows" of Amazonian lakes and evolved the yet smaller, more complex and wear-resistant teeth of the modern T. inunguis, in contrast to the less progressive T. manatus remaining in coastal waters. Meanwhile, the Pliocene onset of continental glaciation, by lowering sea level and increasing erosion and silt runoff into nearshore seagrass beds, probably put added stress on the already marginally adequate brachyodont dentitions of marine bottom-feeding dugongids. In the Indopacific, Dugong evolved root hypsodonty, possibly in response to this source of increased tooth wear. In the Caribbean, however, immediate competition from the already "hyp- sodont" manatees must have forestalled any such adaptation in the dugongids of that region, which became extinct and were replaced by Ribodon and, later in the Pliocene, Trichechus. Pliocene or Pleistocene waif dispersal of primitive Trichechus to West Africa gave rise to T. senegalensis. Also discussed are the homologies of manatee cheek teeth, the adaptive significance of differing rostral deflections among Trichechus species, and apparent competitive exclusion between T. manatus and T. inunguis.
Treatment of Congenital Penile Curvature Due to Disparate Corpora Cavernosa by the Nesbit Technique: A Rule of Thumb for the Number of Wedges of Tunica Required to Achieve Correction

Treatment of pure congenital penile curvature due solely to asymmetry of the corpora cavernosa as described by Nesbit lacks precision. Intraoperative verification of Nesbit correction by artificial erection after wedge excision may be impossible because leakage through the sutured corporeal incisions prevents full erection. We present a rule of thumb to calculate the number of 1 cm. wedges of tunica albuginea to be excised to correct an individual deformity. The number of such wedges required is equal to the measured difference in centimeters between the lengths of the asymmetric, concave and convex surfaces of the affected penis, between the pubis and mid glans. Results of application of this principle in 6 patients are presented.
Sequencing medical therapy in prostate cancer: not as easy as 1-2-3.

With the emergence of several new agents for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer, new questions have arisen regarding the optimal sequence or combination of these agents. As we await the results of ongoing and planned clinical trials to answer some of these questions directly, the decision-making process will rely heavily on considerations of side effects and patient characteristics.
Interlaced Partition Multiplier

A new apparatus for fast multiplication of two numbers is introduced. Inputs are split into partitions, and one number is replaced by two with zeros interlaced in every other partition. Products are computed with no carries between partitions, in the time required to multiply the short partitions and add the partial sums. Component adders and multipliers can be chosen to trade off area and speed. A new graphical tool is used to compare this multiplier to existing ones based on CMOS VLSI simulations.
A diagnosis more than skin deep: A case of late-stage pulmonary langerhans’ cell histiocytosis with skin lesions

Introduction: Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a group of rare diseases with a wide variety of presentations across age groups. We describe a case of pulmonary LCH diagnosed at a late stage despite having additional skin findings for several years. Case description: A 32-year-old male presented with acute exacerbation of chronic dyspnea resulting in markedly decreased functional capacity as well as cutaneous lesions. He had smoked cigarettes for 10 years with no occupational exposures. The patient also complained of a pruritic rash in his axillary and groin areas. His vitals were within normal limits. His exam was notable for diminished right lung sounds and expiratory wheezes bilaterally. A chest x-ray showed marked emphysema and bilateral upper lobe reticular opacities suggestive of scarring. Computerized tomography of the chest showed loculated right pneumothorax and hyperinflated lungs with destructive changes secondary to numerous irregular, thick walled cysts and scattered irregular pulmonary nodules. Diagnosis was ultimately confirmed with biopsy of concomitant cutaneous lesions and characteristic radiographic findings on Chest CT. The patient started inhaled corticosteroids, inhaled anticholinergic, and inhaled short-acting beta agonists. He was sent home with oxygen and strongly encouraged to abstain from smoking. Discussion: LCH is characterized by end-organ infiltration of proliferating monoclonal Langerhans’ cells, a histiocyte involved in antigen presentation. The highest incidence of LCH is between ages 5-10 years; the adult incidence is estimated to be less than half as frequent than the pediatric, about one patient in 500,000. LCH most commonly involves the skin, bones, and lungs. Pulmonary LCH (PLCH) is interesting in that it has a peak incidence in ages 20-40 years and occurs almost exclusively in smokers (> 90% of cases). Conclusion: Smoking cessation is the cornerstone of management of PLCH. It has been hypothesized that tobacco smoke can incite the production of cytokines by alveolar macrophages, leading to increased recruitment of histiocytes to the lung parenchyma. In isolated pulmonary pathology, lung transplant with smoking cessation is often curative.
Cardiac Surgical Procedures in Patients with Cirrhosis

Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with higher mortality and morbidity in patients with cirrhosis. Child–Pugh (CP) classification and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score help stratify risk in patients who need cardiac surgery. CP Class A is not associated with higher mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery as compared with propensity matched patients without cirrhosis. Cardiac surgery can be considered in select patients with CP Class B though it is associated with higher mortality and morbidity as compared to patients without cirrhosis. Patients with CP Class C have a prohibitively high risk for cardiac surgery with CPB. In these patients, off pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB), transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), percutaneous mitral valve repair, and transcatheter endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) may offer a safer solution. All patients with cirrhosis should undergo careful evaluation before elective cardiac surgery by a hepatologist. Sequelae of cirrhosis, like esophageal varices and ascites, should be addressed preoperatively. Careful postoperative management may decrease the risk of bleeding, need for transfusions, prolonged ventilation, and infections. Combined open heart surgery and orthotropic liver transplantation (OLT) is feasible and should be utilized in appropriate cases.
Abstract WP434: Decreased Manual Dexterity is Associated With Low Fractional Anisotropy in the Fornix of Healthy Middle-aged Persons at Risk for Vascular Disease

Introduction: Decreased fornix fractional anisotropy (FA) on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in normal ageing has been associated with impaired problem solving, working memory and motor tasking, but its role in multi-dimensional cognitive-motor tasks in apparently healthy people has not been studied. Also, the extent of its association with vascular disruption remains unclear. White matter lesions of presumed ischemic origin on MRI are associated with decrements in Grooved Pegboard test (GPBT) in young asymptomatic family members of probands with premature coronary artery disease (CAD). Hypothesis: We hypothesized that decrements in GPBT in this population, is associated with decreased FA in relevant brain regions. Methods: The GPBT was averaged for both hands. DTI was acquired on a Phillips 3T scanner (slice thickness 2.2 mm, field of view 212X212 mm and b-value 700 mm 2 /s). The brain was segmented into 181 regions with Large Deformation Diffeomorphic Metric Mapping using the Eve atlas. Pearson correlations of regional FA values and log-transformed GPBT scores were performed and Multivariable GEE linear regression (adjusted for family relatedness) was done for regions meeting the Bonferroni threshold of 0.00028 (0.05/181). Results: Subjects with DTI and GPBT data were included (N=115, mean age 49± 11 years; mean education 14 ± 3 years; 49% male; 41% African American). GPBT score was normal (106±15) seconds. Higher GPBT (worse performance) was negatively correlated with FA in regions of the left (L) and right (R) frontal and temporal lobes and LR R fornix R=-0.47, p=1.3E-07, L EC R=-0.35, p=8.1E-05). After adjusting for age, sex, race, and education every 25% lower FA in the R fornix was associated with 12% decrement in GBPT (R fornix p=0.05, L fornix and EC p=0.19). Conclusions: Decreased fornix FA is associated with worse manual dexterity in a healthy middle-aged population with a family history of early onset CAD, at risk for future cerebrovascular disease. This suggests injury of the fornix fibers may represent early ischemic injury in this population.
A Simple, Cleated DNA Walker That Hangs on to Surfaces

We designed and demonstrated a single-legged or unipedal walker that has a “cleat” that allows it to persistently associate with a track and make autonomous decisions about movement. The walker is highly processive over long periods of time, as shown by its movement over a microparticle surface suffused with substrate. The simple design can be readily optimized on the basis of simple energetic considerations. The walker can be used for signal amplification and should prove especially valuable for programming amorphous computations within chemical reaction networks.
More Than Mere Motivation: Learning Specific Content Through Multimodal Narratives

ABSTRACTThis study explores the possibilities for learning content that might accompany the use of an historically accurate graphic novel as part of a language arts instructional unit. During a 6-day unit, 16 sixth grade students engaged in graphic novels in ways that support comprehension, both in the context of a graphic novel text set and a specific novel, One Dead Spy. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis, we evaluated student learning of content related to the topic of the American Revolution. Results indicate that engaging students in instruction around the novel built the background knowledge on the topic, as well as increasing their understanding of the topic as measured by a free-recall assessment. In addition, the unit posttest indicated significant learning around conceptual ideas.
Molecular engineered conjugated polymer with high thermal conductivity

Traditional polymers are both electrically and thermally insulating. The development of electrically conductive polymers has led to novel applications such as flexible displays, solar cells, and wearable biosensors. As in the case of electrically conductive polymers, the development of polymers with high thermal conductivity would open up a range of applications in next-generation electronic, optoelectronic, and energy devices. Current research has so far been limited to engineering polymers either by strong intramolecular interactions, which enable efficient phonon transport along the polymer chains, or by strong intermolecular interactions, which enable efficient phonon transport between the polymer chains. However, it has not been possible until now to engineer both interactions simultaneously. We report the first realization of high thermal conductivity in the thin film of a conjugated polymer, poly(3-hexylthiophene), via bottom-up oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD), taking advantage of both strong C=C covalent bonding along the extended polymer chain and strong π-π stacking noncovalent interactions between chains. We confirm the presence of both types of interactions by systematic structural characterization, achieving a near–room temperature thermal conductivity of 2.2 W/m·K, which is 10 times higher than that of conventional polymers. With the solvent-free oCVD technique, it is now possible to grow polymer films conformally on a variety of substrates as lightweight, flexible heat conductors that are also electrically insulating and resistant to corrosion.
The Critical Importance of Personhood

I argue that the onset of personhood marks a critical stage in the development of life and that it signals the start of a contract between the neonate and society. The point at which personhood begins is birth, and a series of critical events occur at that point which confer the public status of personhood on the neonate. These events signal an obligation that society should honor the needs, interests, and welfare of the neonate. This critical developmental stage is not unique to humans, but is general in the ontogeny of most birds and mammals, and the period immediately following birth is a period that is crucial to normal psychological and social development.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors and Anticancer Activity

Structural alterations of DNA and their corresponding genetic defects are recognized as some of the fundamental characteristics of cancer, whereas gene mutations, deletions, and chromosomal alterations appear to play a critical role in the etiology of the disease. These epigenetic modifications have become the target of novel experimental therapeutic approaches representing a component of a more generalized concept in which the ultimate goal is to address the specific molecular alteration responsible for transformation. The notion of molecularly targeted therapies have radically changed the way cancer therapeutics is currently envisioned [1]. These compounds, in contradistinction to conventional cytotoxic drugs, which exert a more generally disruptive effect on key cellular structures or processes (e.g., DNA replication, formation of the mitotic spindle, etc.), are specifically designed to target pathways directly implicated in neoplastic transformation. There has been substantial progress in the development of drugs targeting epigenetic regulatory processes, and one of the areas that has become the subject of considerable attention is the development of HDAC inhibitors (HDACIs). The present chapter focuses on the analysis of this group of compounds as anticancer therapeutic agents. 2 Histone Deacetylases: HDAC Inhibitors
Hypoxia and Tumor Dormancy: Can the Two Tango?

Majority of cancer patients die of metastatic disease that can develop decades after primary tumor removal. During this period the disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) may stop proliferating and survive in a dormant state, a phenomenon also referred to as minimal residual disease (MRD). MRD is a well-known clinical phenomenon and studying the mechanisms behind this stage of tumor progression specifically the contribution of the microenvironments are areas of active investigation. Hypoxic microenvironments, which result from a decrease in oxygen levels, are common during tumor progression, but its role in the induction and maintenance of the dormant state remains unclear. This chapter focuses on some of the experimental as well as theoretical evidence supporting how tumor hypoxia both in the primary tumor as well as at target organ sites can influence disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) to enter dormancy. Furthermore, the interplay between hypoxic and the unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling in promoting the survival of dormant tumor cells, which is critical for both long term survival as well as therapy resistance is also reviewed. Lastly, the chapter emphasizes on the parallels between the concept of tumor dormancy and cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the overlapping roles of hypoxia mediated signals in the maintenance of quiescence of CSCs as well as and dormant tumor cells. This information is essential to design urgently needed therapeutic strategies aimed at either maintaining these DTCs in a dormant state or eradicating them before they progress to overt metastasis.
Collagen fiber crimping following in vivo UVA-induced corneal crosslinking.

The purpose of this study was to measure collagen fiber crimping (CFC) using nonlinear optical imaging of second harmonic generated (SHG) signals to determine the effects of UVA-riboflavin induced corneal collagen crosslinking (UVA CXL) on collagen structure. Two groups, four rabbits each, were treated in the right eye with standard UVA CXL. In vivo confocal microscopy was performed at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after treatment for the first group and up to three months for the second group to measure epithelial/stromal thickness and corneal haze during recovery. Rabbits were sacrificed at one and three months, respectively, and their corneas fixed under pressure. Regions of crosslinking were identified by the presence of collagen autofluorescence (CAF) and then collagen structure was imaged using SHG microscopy. The degree of CFC was determined by measuring the percentage difference between the length of the collagen fiber and the linear distance traveled. CFC was measured in the central anterior and posterior CXL region, the peripheral non-crosslinked region in the same cornea, and the central cornea of the non-crosslinked contralateral eye. No change in corneal thickness was detected after one month, however the stromal thickness surpassed its original baseline thickness at three months by 25.9 μm. Corneal haze peaked at one month and then began to clear. Increased CAF was detected in all CXL corneas, localized to the anterior stroma and extending to 42.4 ± 3.4% and 47.7 ± 7.6% of the corneal thickness at one and three months. There was a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in CFC in the CAF region in all eyes averaging 1.007 ± 0.006 and 1.009 ± 0.005 in one and three month samples compared to 1.017 ± 0.04 and 1.016 ± 0.06 for controls. These results indicate that there is a significant reduction in collagen crimping following UVA CXL of approximately 1%. One possible explanation for this loss of crimping could be shortening of the collagen fibers over the CXL region.
Single-Cell RNA-Seq Uncovers a Robust Transcriptional Response to Morphine by Glia.

Molecular and behavioral responses to opioids are thought to be primarily mediated by neurons, although there is accumulating evidence that other cell types play a prominent role in drug addiction. To investigate cell-type-specific opioid responses, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of the nucleus accumbens of mice following acute morphine treatment. Differential expression analysis uncovered unique morphine-dependent transcriptional responses by oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. We examined the expression of selected genes, including Cdkn1a and Sgk1, by FISH, confirming their induction by morphine in oligodendrocytes. Further analysis using RNA-seq of FACS-purified oligodendrocytes revealed a large cohort of morphine-regulated genes. The affected genes are enriched for roles in cellular pathways intimately linked to oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination, including the unfolded protein response. Altogether, our data illuminate the morphine-dependent transcriptional response by oligodendrocytes and offer mechanistic insights into myelination defects associated with opioid abuse.
Autoencoder versus pre-trained CNN networks: deep-features applied to accelerate computationally expensive object detection in real-time video streams

Traditional event detection from video frames are based on a batch or offline based algorithms: it is assumed that a single event is present within each video, and videos are processed, typically via a pre-processing algorithm which requires enormous amounts of computation and takes lots of CPU time to complete the task. While this can be suitable for tasks which have specified training and testing phases where time is not critical, it is entirely unacceptable for some real-world applications which require a prompt, real-time event interpretation on time. With the recent success of using multiple models for learning features such as generative adversarial autoencoder (GANS), we propose a two-model approach for real-time detection. Like GANs which learns the generative model of the dataset and further optimizes by using the discriminator which learn per sample difference between generated images. The proposed architecture uses a pre-trained model with a large dataset which is used to boost weekly labeled instances in parallel with deep-layers for the small aerial targets with a fraction of the computation time for training and detection with high accuracy. We emphasize previous work on unsupervised learning due to overheads in training labeled data in the sensor domain.
Variance component estimates for post-thaw sperm variables measured by computer assisted semen analyzer for inbred and non-inbred Hereford bulls.

Abstract Inbreeding has been shown to have negative effects on animal reproductive performance. It, however, has not been documented as to the extent that inbreeding impacts sperm cell characteristics especially after cells have undergone cryopreservation. In the present study, therefore, there was evaluation of sperm motion and size characteristics from two inbred lines and non-inbred Hereford bulls using Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). Pre-frozen semen samples were obtained from Line 1, Prospector, and a non-inbred Hereford bulls. Average inbreeding of each group was 27%, 45%, and 0%, for Line 1, Prospector, and non-inbred groups, respectively. For each bull, two straws (0.5 ml) were evaluated, within each straw two slides with ten fields per slide analyzed with the CASA. Cells were analyzed by mixed model analysis using a model that contained line as fixed effect and individual bull, straw, slide, and fields are random effects. No significant differences between lines of bulls were found for motility or progressive motility. For the head elongation (ELON), and head area (AREA) significant differences existed between lines. Mean separation indicated that Line 1 group had a larger head area and the heads were not as elongated as the Prospector and non-inbred group cells. The lack of significant differences for motility and progressive motility across lines was surprising and indicates there was no inbreeding depression for post-thaw semen characteristics. One explanation for this could be that indirect selection pressure was placed on these characteristics as inbreeding was increased.
A Shelter Is Not a Home: The Crisis of Family Homelessness in the United States

* Abbreviations: AAP — : American Academy of Pediatrics ACE — : adverse childhood experience NYC — : New York City Family homelessness in the United States became an egregious problem in the 1980s and was the reason that I, as a young pediatrician, discovered the importance of advocacy. In my hometown, New York City (NYC), because of increasing income inequality, neighborhood gentrification, and poor housing policies nationally and locally (all leading to dramatically decreased availability of affordable housing for low-income families), there was a growing number of children living in so-called “welfare hotels.” This number increased from 5000 each night in 1983 to 12 000 each night in 1988.1 Because many of these families were sheltered in hotels in midtown Manhattan, my program at Bellevue Hospital Center provided many of these children with health care within our hospital as well as in a clinic that we ran in one of the biggest hotels. I became active in my American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) chapter and started the Committee on Homeless Families in New York Chapter 3. My colleagues and I learned how to collaborate with community-based advocacy organizations to fight for better treatment of homeless families in the shelter system as well as for better housing policies, at least in NYC. The result of those efforts by many advocates was that by 1990–1991, the number of children without a home being sheltered each night was back down to ∼5000.1 The nightmarish conditions of the lawless hotels were gone, and instead, safer and better-resourced, city-run shelters housed these families. Today, however, there are more homeless families in NYC than ever, with 22 000 children in 15 000 families being housed … Address correspondence to Benard P. Dreyer, MD, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, 462 First Ave, NBV 8E-11, New York, NY 10016. E-mail: bpd1{at}nyulangone.org
Which patients with pulmonary embolism need echocardiography

The decision should be based on clinical presentation, burden of pulmonary embolism, and other imaging fi ndings.
The impact of a mentorship program on leadership practices and job satisfaction.

A statewide organization for nurse leaders offers an evidence-based, year-long mentorship program for its members with the aim of transforming leadership practices. The framework includes a full-day education session, a strategic matching process by the mentorship committee, a year-long pairing guid