cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Late Endosome and Its Lipid BMP Act as Gateways for Efficient Cytosolic Access of the Delivery Agent dfTAT and Its Macromolecular Cargos

Endosomal entrapment is a severely limiting bottleneck in the delivery of biologics into cells. The compound dfTAT was recently found to circumvent this problem by mediating endosomal leakage efficiently and without toxicity. Herein, we report on the mechanism of endosomal escape of this cell-penetrating peptide. By modulating the trafficking of the peptide within the endocytic pathway, we identify late endosomes as the organelles rendered leaky by dfTAT. We establish that dfTAT binds bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP), a lipid found in late endosomes, and that the peptide causes the fusion and leakage of bilayers containing BMP. Together, these data identify late endosomes as desirable gateways for cell penetration and BMP as a cellular factor that can be exploited for the development of future delivery agents.
Diasporic researcher: an autoethnographic analysis of gender and race in political science

ABSTRACTWhy do we find pervasive gender- and race-based discrimination and exclusion in the academy and in the field when feminist scholarship has, for decades, provided the tools necessary to make sense of and combat these very exclusions? I share my personal experience to ask what it means to produce knowledge as a woman of color in the academy and a diasporic researcher in the field. I draw on interpretive approaches, particularly autoethnography, to examine the contradictory situation where political science champions objectivity and meritocracy, which should make gender and race identities irrelevant, yet maintains gendered and raced hierarchies, which undermine efforts to diversify the discipline. I argue that this contradictory outcome is best explained by what I call exclusionary inclusion, where women and other minorities are formally included in academia, but always on a limited basis. I find that I am not seen by people either in the academy or in the field as a legitimate knowledge producer be...
Assessment of edema volume in skin upon injury in a mouse ear model with optical coherence tomography

Accurate measurement of edema volume is essential for the investigation of tissue response and recovery following a traumatic injury. The measurements must be noninvasive and repetitive over time so as to monitor tissue response throughout the healing process. Such techniques are particularly necessary for the evaluation of therapeutics that are currently in development to suppress or prevent edema formation. In this study, we propose to use optical coherence tomography (OCT) technique to image and quantify edema in a mouse ear model where the injury is induced by a superficial-thickness burn. Extraction of edema volume is achieved by an attenuation compensation algorithm performed on the three-dimensional OCT images, followed by two segmentation procedures. In addition to edema volume, the segmentation method also enables accurate thickness mapping of edematous tissue, which is an important characteristic of the external symptoms of edema. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first method for noninvasively measuring absolute edema volume.
Using Application Insights

A key idea of DevOps is the build-measure-learn cycle that you go through. Throughout this book you've seen how the planning, build, test, and release management tools that Visual Studio Team Services offers help you with building and releasing your app. This sets you up for the DevOps cycle that you can now run in automated, efficient way. This chapter introduces you to the measure step and how you can use that to learn things about your application and your users. You will learn what Application Insights is and how you can you use it to monitor your applications.
Multiframe, Single Line-of-Sight X-Ray Imager for Burning Plasmas

The purpose of this LDRD project was to demonstrate high spatial and temporal resolution x-ray imaging using optical detectors, and in particular the VISAR and OHRV diagnostics on the OMEGA laser. The x-ray source being imaged was a backlighter capsule being imploded by 39 beams of the OMEGA laser. In particular this approach utilized a semiconductor with the side facing the backlighter capsule coated with a thin aluminum layer to allow x rays to pass through the metal layer and then get absorbed in the semiconductor. The other side of the semiconductor was AR coated to allow the VISAR or OHRV probe beam to sample the phase change of the semiconductor as the x rays were absorbed in the semiconductor. This technique is capable of acquiring sub-picosecond 2-D or 1-D x-ray images, detector spatial resolution of better than 10 um and the ability to operate in a high neutron flux environment expected on ignition shots with burning plasmas. In addition to demonstrating this technique on the OMEGA laser, several designs were made to improve the phase sensitivity, temporal resolution and number of frames over the existing diagnostics currently implemented on the OMEGA laser. These designs included both 2-d imaging diagnosticsmore » as well as improved 1-D imaging diagnostics which were streaked in time.« less
Performance evaluation of SAR/GMTI algorithms

There is a history and understanding of exploiting moving targets within ground moving target indicator (GMTI) data, including methods for modeling performance. However, many assumptions valid for GMTI processing are invalid for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. For example, traditional GMTI processing assumes targets are exo-clutter and a system that uses a GMTI waveform, i.e. low bandwidth (BW) and low pulse repetition frequency (PRF). Conversely, SAR imagery is typically formed to focus data at zero Doppler and requires high BW and high PRF. Therefore, many of the techniques used in performance estimation of GMTI systems are not valid for SAR data. However, as demonstrated by papers in the recent literature, 1-11 there is interest in exploiting moving targets within SAR data. The techniques employed vary widely, including filter banks to form images at multiple Dopplers, performing smear detection, and attempting to address the issue through waveform design. The above work validates the need for moving target exploitation in SAR data, but it does not represent a theory allowing for the prediction or bounding of performance. This work develops an approach to estimate and/or bound performance for moving target exploitation specific to SAR data. Synthetic SAR data is generated across a range of sensor, environment, and target parameters to test the exploitation algorithms under specific conditions. This provides a design tool allowing radar systems to be tuned for specific moving target exploitation applications. In summary, we derive a set of rules that bound the performance of specific moving target exploitation algorithms under variable operating conditions.
Abstract 1248: Ibrutinib inhibits platelet aggregation through inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain function and suppression of Syk activation

Ibrutinib represents a therapeutic improvement in hematologic cancers, but it is associated with bleeding-related adverse events. To minimize such adverse events and improve the therapeutic utility of this drug, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms responsible for the adverse events. In this study, we observed that platelets isolate from the blood samples of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treated with Ibrutinib exhibited deficiencies in collagen-mediated aggregation. Mechanistic studies identified the mitochondrial respiratory chain as a potential mediator of ibrutinib-induced impairment of platelet function. A short-term treatment of platelets isolated from human blood with ibrutinib for less than one hour led to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation associated with inhibition of mitochondrial respiration, as evident by a reduction in oxygen consumption rate measured by a Seahorse metabolic analyser. Long-term incubation of megakaryocytes with ibrutinib markedly suppressed the expression of mitochondrial electron transport chain components in platelets and a reduction in mitochondrial respiration. Interference with the respiratory chain by rotenone also resulted in similar reduction in collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Interestingly, ROS generation upon collagen stimulation induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk (spleen tyrosine kinase) to activate platelet, while impairment of respiratory chain induced by ibrutinib diminished collagen-evoked activation of the Syk pathway. These data suggest that ibrutinib suppresses mitochondrial respiration, leading to defects in collagen-induced platelet aggregation, potentially through inhibiting the activation of the Syk pathway. Citation Format: Jie Huang, Helen Pelicano, Feng Li, Michael J. Keating, Peng Huang. Ibrutinib inhibits platelet aggregation through inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain function and suppression of Syk activation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1248.
Jewish Resistance Against the Nazis

Even before the end of the Second World War the pernicious notion that Jewish victims had gone like “sheep to the slaughter” was widespread. To the shame of us all, it persists today as a shadowy a...
Expanding the Space of Reasons? Strauss, Jacobi, and the Sources of Normativity

Perhaps the most important claim that Leo Strauss made about the “political philosophy” he sought to refound is that it arises from pre-scientific and pre-theoretical experiences that are in principle universal, or “coeval with human thought.” Much depends on it: above all, it seems, the possibility of “natural right” as Strauss understood it, that is, of a source of normativity that is prior to, and binding for, the human will, and that is somehow “given” to us as human beings. What this source might be; whether one can appeal to “nature” or to the “natural understanding of the world” in a philosophically coherent way; and whether one can thereby ground norms, which themselves justify the use of coercive power — these are intricate questions, which have been the subject of much scholarly debate. Ironically, however, what remains to be explored is the origins of the very idea that natural right can be grounded in experience, which must be traced back to the influence of the phenomenological movement on the young Strauss. This paper seeks to shed light on those origins by returning to Strauss’s earliest writing, his 1921 dissertation on The Problem of Knowledge in the Philosophical Doctrine of F.H. Jacobi. The aim will be twofold. First, I shall seek to provide a close reading of Strauss’s youthful engagement with Jacobi in the context of the early phenomenological movement; or, more precisely, in the transitional phase between the “third wave” of neo-Kantianism and phenomenology, in which Heidegger’s breakthrough to his own “path of thinking” also occurred. Second, I shall argue that the quest to retrieve the phenomenological origins of normativity, which characterized, not only that moment in German thought but the existential situation of a “young Jew born and raised in Germany,” made possible a dramatic expansion of our understanding of the “sources of normativity,” or what we may also call the space of reasons.
Beyond the Individual: The Interdependence of Advance Directive Completion by Older Married Adults.

Objectives To determine how individual and spousal demographic and health factors are associated with advance directive (AD) completion by married older adults. Design Dyadic structural equation modeling using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Setting The 2004 to 2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Participants Community-dwelling heterosexual married couples aged 65 and older (N = 2,243). Measurements Structural equation modeling with a probit link function was used to estimate associations between men's and women's age, education, health status, prior hospitalization or outpatient surgery in the past 10 years, regular health care provider, and household net assets and their own and their spouses’ probabilities of having an AD. Results Individual and spousal ages were each positively associated with AD completion for men and women. Those with higher education were more likely to possess ADs. Women's probabilities of having ADs were also positively associated with husbands’ education. Men whose wives’ were in poor health were less likely to have ADs. Men who were hospitalized or underwent outpatient surgery were more likely to have ADs, as were their wives. Women who had regular sources of health care were more likely to have completed ADs. Conclusion AD completion by older married adults is associated with both individual and spousal factors. How spouses influence one another's advance care planning differs by gender. Future research should account for the dyadic nature of advance care planning, as should public education efforts and interventions promoting AD completion.
Symmetric multiprocessing from boot to virtualization

Summary The x86 multicore processor architecture and the concepts associated with symmetric multiprocessing have become the linchpin of modern operating systems and cloud computing. A solid understanding of these technologies has become critical to any developer entering the field. Unfortunately, the complexity associated with discovering, enabling, using, and virtualizing multiple cores has created a paucity in the available documentation, transferable knowledge, and readable code exemplars. This paper describes our experience in overcoming these hurdles in the design of a from scratch, multi-core operating system––Bear––for secure and resilient cloud computing. In particular, we trace the intricacies involved in the development of a multi-core microkernel with an integrated multi-core hypervisor. By exploring the implementation details, from bootstrapping through core virtualization to process scheduling, this paper aims to fill the knowledge gaps, highlight potential pitfalls, and introduce multicore development in a concise start-to-finish exemplar.
Evaluating the cytotoxicity of tin dioxide nanofibers.

Tin dioxide nanofibers (SnDNFs) are small fibers that have many applications. Tin dioxide nanofibers can be used in cosmetics, solar cells, toxic gas release sensors, and air pollution control. To date there have been few studies on the cytotoxicity of SnDNFs. The goal of this research is to determine if electrospun SnDNFs are toxic in a lung cancer cell line (A549). Considering the nano-scale size of the fibers, they can easily be inhaled and enter the pulmonary system and cause toxic effects in the lung. Occupational exposure to SnDNFs has been linked to pulmonary disease, making the A549 cell line important in this study. Nanofiber toxicity can vary based upon the characteristics of the fibers. Smaller nanofibers have been shown to have more toxic effects than their larger counterparts. The synthesized SnDNFs were characterized using SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffractometer (PXRD). SEM images showed the fibers to be 200-300 nm in diameter. Raman spectroscopy and PXRD indicated that the fibers were in the rutile phase. After quantifying the SnDNFs, the fibers were introduced to A549 cells at concentrations ranging from 0.02-500 µg mL-1 and incubated at 37°C. These cells were quantified with the MTT assay to measure cell proliferation (IC50 = 0.02 mg mL-1), while lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage was used to determine cytotoxicity, and apoptosis assays to assess the mechanism of cell death. Increasing concentration of SnDNF generated a consequential decrease in cell proliferation and viability. The percent cytotoxicity of SnDNF was not significantly changed at the various concentrations and time frames. In order to gain additional insight about the mechanism of cytotoxicity of SnDNFs, genes with links to inflammation and apoptosis were evaluated and found to be over-expressed in treated cells. At the concentrations of SnDNF examined, SnDNF was mildly toxic to the A549 cells.
Power to the People: The Tenth Circuit and the Right of Citizens to Sue for Equitable Relief Under Section 309(g)(6)(A) of the Clean Water Act

The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit recently determined that the jurisdictional bar contained in section 309(g)(6)(A) of the Clean Water Act does not preclude citizen plaintiffs from seeking equitable relief, but only bars those actions seeking civil penalties. However, this holding by the Tenth Circuit in Paper, AlliedIndustrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union v. Continental Carbon Co. directly conoicts with prior decisions by the First and Eighth Circuits. The First and Eight Circuits have broadly interpreted the jurisdictional bar to preclude citizens from seeking civil penalties or equitable relief once an administrative enforcement action is underway. An examination of the relevant statutory language, legislative history, and policy rationale, however, reveals that section 309(g)(6)(A) was only intended to bar citizens actions for civil penalties, preserving citizens’ powerful role in the protection and restoration of the navigable waters
The Chlorophylls–An Introductory Survey

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the chlorophylls. The name chlorophyll was given initially to the green pigments that are involved in the photosynthesis of higher plants. Subsequently, it has been extended to all classes of photosynthetic porphyrin pigments. Functionally, this appears to be proper, as the chlorophylls have not been shown to have any other function except—possibly indirectly—in some types of bacterial phototaxis. It excludes phycocyanin and phycoerythrin, the closely related bilin-proteinoids which, under certain conditions of light and culture of organism, may become the major pigment in the action spectrum of photosynthesis. A variety of chlorophylls have been described: chlorophylls a , b , c , and d ; bacteriochlorophylls a and b ; chlorobium chlorophylls 660 and 650; and their immediate precursors and degradation products, for example, the pheophytins and pheophorbides. Of these chlorophylls, only three, chlorophylls a and b and bacteriochlorophyll a , are known definitively; that is to say, the proposed structures of the others are assumed to varying degrees. The chlorobium chlorophylls, though known to be diverse chemically, are nevertheless difficult to distinguish spectroscopically, a difficulty that does not permit their individual recognition in vivo .
Household Chaos, Hostile Parenting, and Adolescents’ Well-Being Two Years Later

We assessed the relationship between household chaos at grade 10 and adolescent well-being (depression, problematic substance use, and physical health) two years later in a sample of rural youth living in economically-vulnerable communities. Also, we evaluated whether household chaos moderated the effect of hostile parenting on adolescent the mental, physical, and behavioral health. Adolescents (N = 238; M age = 15.59; 55% female) completed questionnaires at school in grade 10 and again two years later. Adolescents' perceptions of household chaos at grade 10 were associated with increased problematic substance use (B = .23, p < .05) and worse physical health (B = .17, p < .05) two years later. Household chaos moderated the effect of hostile parenting (B = .13, p < .05), such that the effect of hostile parenting on adolescents’ depression two years later was exacerbated in highly chaotic households. Reduction in household chaos through routine, stability and organization along with a focus on warm and supportive parenting are important for healthy adolescent mental, physical and behavioral health.
Impact of an innovative pain elective course on student beliefs and attitudes towards opioid medication use

Abstract Background and purpose To determine if an innovative elective course in chronic pain management focused on a multimodal treatment approach changed student views on opioid use for chronic, non-cancer pain. Educational activity and setting Offered to students in the second and third professional year, the course focused on various aspects of the treatment and impact of pain. Students completed two major, self-directed projects as well as four reflection journals throughout the semester. A nine question survey was provided to students on the first and last day of class that identified their beliefs and attitudes towards opioid use in chronic non-cancer pain using a five point Likert scale. Findings There was a statistical difference in one question asking if long acting opioids were effective in controlling pain long term. Summary There was evidence of change in student perceptions. Similar self-directed courses should be considered by other institutions as a means to change student beliefs and attitudes.
Consequences of Routine Work-Schedule Instability for Worker Health and Well-Being:

Research on precarious work and its consequences overwhelmingly focuses on the economic dimension of precarity, epitomized by low wages. But the rise in precarious work also involves a major shift in its temporal dimension, such that many workers now experience routine instability in their work schedules. This temporal instability represents a fundamental and under-appreciated manifestation of the risk shift from firms to workers. A lack of suitable existing data, however, has precluded investigation of how precarious scheduling practices affect workers' health and well-being. We use an innovative approach to collect survey data from a large and strategically selected segment of the U.S. workforce: hourly workers in the service sector. These data reveal that exposure to routine instability in work schedules is associated with psychological distress, poor sleep quality, and unhappiness. Low wages are also associated with these outcomes, but unstable and unpredictable schedules are much more strongly associated. Precarious schedules affect worker well-being in part through the mediating influence of household economic insecurity, yet a much larger proportion of the association is driven by work-life conflict. The temporal dimension of work is central to the experience of precarity and an important social determinant of well-being.
Feasibility Study of In Vivo Robotic Plasma Medicine Devices

This paper proposes a robotic plasma medicine device and demonstrates the feasibility in terms of electrical and thermal safety for in vivo plasma generation. The proposed device can produce a low-temperature plasma plume through a dynamically moving, steerable tip to potentially kill tumors selectively. Simulation and experimental studies were performed to investigate the motion effect on the flow rate related to the plasma dosage and the impact of insulation thickness on the electrical breakdown leading to the device failure and temperature increase during plasma generation. A full-scale robotic plasma device with a robotic interface was developed, and we demonstrated a plasma plume successfully delivered through a steerable tip that is operated by a robotic system.
Power of ocean: Evaluation of blue energy

Blue Energy has created a new vista of renewable and sustainable energy forms with the power of ocean. This article evaluates tidal energy as a major source of blue energy. It analyzes how tidal energy has the potential to contribute enormously towards a greener future. A few real-life examples are illustrated how the blue energy research paradigm can harness the kinetic energy of the ocean, such as triboelectric nanogenerators, tidal barrage, and tidal current turbines to replace the fossil fuels with renewable energy.
Appropriate Methodology for EBRT and HDR Intracavitary/Interstitial Brachytherapy Dose Composite and Clinical Plan Evaluation for Patients With Cervical Cancer.

Abstract Purpose This study assessed the appropriateness of full parameter addition (FPA) methods with respect to the 3-dimensional deformable dose composite method for evaluating combined external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT). Methods and Materials A total of 22 patients who received EBRT and high-dose-rate ICBT were retrospectively evaluated. Split-ring and tandem applicators were used for all patients. Additional interstitial needles were used for 5 patients to supplement the implant. Deformable image registrations were performed to deform the secondary EBRT and ICBT planning computed tomography (CT) images onto the reference CT from the third fraction of ICBT. The Dice similarity coefficient was used to evaluate the quality of deformable registration. Doses were transferred to the reference CT, scaled to the equivalent dose in 2-Gy fractions and combined to create the dose composite. Eight dose-accumulation methods were evaluated and compared. D2cc and D0.1cc for organs at risk were investigated. Results The differences in D2cc for rectum, bladder, sigmoid, and bowel between the FPA method for whole-pelvis EBRT and ICBT, calculated using an old American Brachytherapy Society worksheet (FPA_Eh + I_old) and deformable composite for EBRT with boosts and ICBT (Def_E + B + I) were –2.19 ± 1.37 Gyα/β = 3, –0.64 ± 1.13 Gyα/β = 3, –2.06 ± 2.71 Gyα/β = 3, and –1.59 ± 0.89 Gyα/β = 3, respectively. The differences in D2cc for rectum, bladder, sigmoid, and bowel between the new ABS worksheet (FPA_Eh + B + I_abs) and the Def_E + B + I method were 1.21 ± 1.22 Gy α/β = 3, 1.93 ± 1.38 Gyα/β = 3, 0.72 ± 1.12 Gyα/β = 3, and 1.19 ± 1.46 Gyα/β = 3, respectively. Differences in dose-volume histogram parameter values among Def_E + B + I and other FPA methods were not statistically significant (P > .05). Conclusions Compared with the FPA-based method, deformable registration–based dose composites demonstrated lower OAR D2cc and D0.1cc values; however, the differences were not statistically significant. The current ABS-recommended FPA-based sheet can serve as an acceptable plan evaluation tool for clinical purposes.
Shape Analysis via Functional Map Construction and Bases Pursuit.

We propose a method to simultaneously compute scalar basis functions with an associated functional map for a given pair of triangle meshes. Unlike previous techniques that put emphasis on smoothness with respect to the Laplace--Beltrami operator and thus favor low-frequency eigenfunctions, we aim for a spectrum that allows for better feature matching. This change of perspective introduces many degrees of freedom into the problem which we exploit to improve the accuracy of our computed correspondences. To effectively search in this high dimensional space of solutions, we incorporate into our minimization state-of-the-art regularizers. We solve the resulting highly non-linear and non-convex problem using an iterative scheme via the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers. At each step, our optimization involves simple to solve linear or Sylvester-type equations. In practice, our method performs well in terms of convergence, and we additionally show that it is similar to a provably convergent problem. We show the advantages of our approach by extensively testing it on multiple datasets in a few applications including shape matching, consistent quadrangulation and scalar function transfer.
Einstein’s Gyros

Einstein’s life-long effort to develop a theory that unifies gravitation and electromagnetism was not a purely theoretical enterprise. The technical environment of a gyrocompass factory triggered his search for a novel connection between the rotation of an electrically uncharged body and its magnetic field. The dimensional equality of the electric unit charge and the mass of a body multiplied by the square root of the gravitational constant hinted at a nonsensical electric charge, to which he gave the name “ghost charge.” He felt that he found a fundamental unity of gravitating mass and electricity, a hitherto undiscovered law of nature. Two physicists offered to assist him in finding evidence of this peculiar electric charge. Peter Pringsheim performed experiments with deionized gases and Teodor Schlomka made measurements of the earth’s magnetic field from balloons and airplanes; Schlomka also executed a thorough literature search and placed Einstein’s efforts in their historical context.
Mitochondrial–nuclear heme trafficking in budding yeast is regulated by GTPases that control mitochondrial dynamics and ER contact sites

Heme is a cofactor and signaling molecule that is essential for much of aerobic life. All heme-dependent processes in eukaryotes require that heme is trafficked from its site of synthesis in the mitochondria to hemoproteins located throughout the cell. However, the mechanisms governing the mobilization of heme out of the mitochondria, and the spatio-temporal dynamics of these processes, are poorly understood. Herein, using genetically encoded fluorescent heme sensors, we developed a live cell assay to monitor heme distribution dynamics between the mitochondrial inner-membrane, where heme is synthesized, and the mitochondrial matrix, cytosol, and nucleus. Surprisingly, heme trafficking to the nucleus is ∼25% faster than to the cytosol or mitochondrial matrix, which are nearly identical, potentially supporting a role for heme as a mitochondrial-nuclear retrograde signal. Moreover, we discovered that the heme synthetic enzyme, 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS), and GTPases in control of the mitochondrial dynamics machinery, Mgm1 and Dnm1, and ER contact sites, Gem1, regulate the flow of heme between the mitochondria and nucleus. Overall, our results indicate that there are parallel pathways for the distribution of bioavailable heme.
Altered tibiofemoral position following ACL reconstruction is associated with cartilage matrix changes: A voxel-based relaxometry analysis.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between postsurgical tibial translation (TT) and tibial rotation (TR) with cartilage matrix changes using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging, specifically voxel-based relaxometry with T1ρ and T2 mapping sequences. Knee magnetic resonance imaging's (MRI's) of 51 patients with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament injury, no concomitant ligamentous injury, history of osteoarthritis (OA), and previous knee surgery were scanned prior to surgery. Thirty-four patients completed follow-up MRI scans at 6-month, 1- and 2-year post-reconstruction and were included in this study. Knee biomechanics, T1ρ, and T2 were calculated using an in-house Matlab program. Compared to the contralateral knee, the injured knee demonstrated significantly increased anterior TT at baseline (P < .001), 6-month (P < .001), 1- (P = .001), and 2-year (P < .001). Furthermore, patients were divided into groups based on TT at 6-month. When compared to patients with normal TT, those with increased anterior TT at 6-month displayed significantly longer T1ρ and T2 relaxation times in 10.4% and 7.4% of the voxels in the injured medial tibia at 1-year, respectively, as well as 12.4% and 9.8% of the voxels in the injured medial tibia at 2-year, respectively. Our results demonstrate an association between abnormal tibiofemoral position and early degradative changes to the articular cartilage matrix of the injured knee. Clinical significance: These findings suggest that altered tibiofemoral position following ACL reconstruction is associated with early degeneration of knee cartilage. Future prospective studies employing longer follow-up times are warranted to evaluate the relationship between abnormal tibiofemoral position and the early onset of posttraumatic OA.
Morphology at the Distal Radioulnar Joint: Identifying the Prevalence of Reverse Obliquity

Background Recent advances in the understanding of ulnar-sided wrist pathologies such as ulnar abutment syndrome (UAS) have brought increased attention to the anatomy of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ). Previous work established three anatomical variants of the sigmoid notch (parallel, oblique, and reverse oblique). The reverse oblique DRUJ poses theoretical risk of increased contact forces following ulnar shortening osteotomy, a common method of treating UAS. Purpose As prevalence of reverse oblique morphology has been under-reported, this study aims to better define the prevalence of reverse oblique morphology in the adult population. Methods Institutional Review Board-approved review of 1,000 radiographs over a 2-year period was performed. Demographic data and radiographic measurements were recorded (ulnar variance, notch inclination, and presence of arthritis). Correlation tests, a test of proportions, a t-test, and linear and logic regression tests were used to examine associations between ulnar variance, sigmoid inclination, sex, age, and presence of arthritis. Results One thousand radiographs were analyzed revealing prevalence rates of: parallel—68%, oblique—26%, and reverse oblique—6%. Females were significantly more likely to have reverse inclination. No significant correlation was noted for morphology by age. Ulna positive variance was negatively correlated with reverse inclination. DRUJ arthritis was noted in 14% of patients. Higher sigmoid inclination was associated with higher odds of presence of arthritis, adjusting for sex and age. Higher incidence of arthritis was noted among patients with the oblique (20.8%) or reverse oblique (24.6%) compared with parallel (10.5%) morphology. Conclusion This series of 1,000 radiographs demonstrates a 6% overall prevalence of reverse obliquity. This large dataset allows for better quantification of the prevalence of DRUJ morphologies and determination of correlations that have clinical implications for patients with ulnar-sided wrist pathology. Level of Evidence This is a Level IV study.
The Moral Significance of Social Networking Technologies

On Christmas Day in 2010, Simone Back, a 42-year-old social worker in the United Kingdom, updated her Facebook status: “took all my pills, be dead soon, bye bye everyone.” Simone had 1082 friends on Facebook, but instead of prompting a reaction or response to this cry for help, the message provoked an online debate on Simone's Facebook wall. Some friends mocked or openly doubted the sincerity of the attempt, and others suggested that previous responders would soon regret their comments if the message was, in fact, sincere. To the observers, the event was seemingly abstracted and objectified. No one called for help or attempted to contact Simone by other means, despite the fact that several friends lived within walking distance of Simone's apartment. Seventeen hours later, Simone's mother was informed of the status update via a text message, and police found Simone dead shortly after. Simone's mother was, of course, left baffled as to why none of her daughter's “friends” did anything to help. In this case, connectivity did not equate to community, care or responsibility (Miller, 2015). Are social networking technologies to blame for the death of Simone Back? The easy answer is no, but the possible answer is yes, because of the moral influence social media has on us. But understanding this influence is more difficult than it seems. According to Enlightenment thinking, morality is portrayed as the sole province of the moral subject who, unlike the material object of technology, possesses consciousness, intentionality, and free will, all of which are necessary for the attribution of moral responsibility. This classical framework puts humans squarely in control over the development and deployment of technology and the responsibility for its consequences rests on our shoulders. At every stage of technological evolution, we see ourselves as the cause behind the effects of technology, directing it toward the ends we envision, either good or bad. The way we think about our relationship with technology, however, also informs and, more importantly, misinforms the solutions we apply to the human behaviors taking shape on the Internet.
Analysis of the Characteristics of Dry and Wet Spells in a Mediterranean Region

Climate change could increase the risk of future hydrological extremes over large regional areas and trigger further pressure on water resource availability. In this study, the overall characteristics of dry and wet spells during a 56-year period (1951–2006) were analysed in the Calabria region (southern Italy), considering both yearly and seasonal scales. In particular, the mean and maximum lengths of dry/wet spells, the number of dry and wet spells with different lengths, and the contribution of dry/wet spells with different lengths to the total number of dry/wet days have been investigated. The results showed similar behaviour of both dry and wet spells in the spatial distribution of the mean lengths, with a difference between the two opposite sides (Ionian and Tyrrhenian) of the region. In fact, mean values ranging between 6 and 8 days, and higher than 8 days have been detected on the Tyrrhenian and on the Ionian side, respectively. The results regarding the maximum values of the lengths show much higher values of dry spells than the wet ones, and different temporal distributions throughout the year. In particular, with respect to dry spells, in autumn the maximum lengths reached values higher than 200 days, while the longest wet spells have been identified in winter, with a maximum value of 44 consecutive days with rain. The outcomes of this study can be useful for both water resources (with respect to the dry sequences) and risk reduction (regarding the wet spells) management.
Extended High Frequencies Provide Both Spectral and Temporal Information to Improve Speech-in-Speech Recognition.

Several studies have demonstrated that extended high frequencies (EHFs; >8 kHz) in speech are not only audible but also have some utility for speech recognition, including for speech-in-speech reco...
Effects of feeding bulls dried corn distiller's grains plus solubles or CaSO4 on mineral and metabolite concentrations in serum and seminal plasma.

Abstract Yearling Angus bulls (n = 36) were assigned one of three diets: 1) 60 % concentrate as corn (CON, 0.2 % S, 13.4 % CP; n = 12); 2) 60 % dried corn distiller’s grains plus solubles (60DDGS 0.5 % S, 22.0 % CP; n = 12); 3) CON diet + equivalent sulfur of 60DDGS as CaSO4 (SULF, 0.5 % S, 13.9 % CP; n = 12) to evaluate effects of feeding 60 % DDGS or sulfur as CaSO4 on mineral and metabolite concentrations in serum and seminal plasma. Treatment × day interactions (P
Neurocognitive endophenotypes in pediatric OCD probands, their unaffected parents and siblings

Abstract Background Limited extant research on neurocognitive endophenotypes in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) show inconsistent results. Limitations of this body of literature include small sample sizes, strict exclusion criteria, lack of objective standard normalized test scores, and significant lack of studies utilizing pediatric probands. This study aimed to address these limitations. Methods A large carefully screened cohort of pediatric OCD (n = 102), their unaffected siblings (n = 78), and parents (n = 164), completed a neuropsychological battery. To compare participants at different ages and developmental stages, standard scores were computed using test norms. Cluster-robust regression with sample size-adjusted sandwich estimates of variance, and interclass correlations were computed. False Discovery Rate procedures were employed to correct for multiplicity. Results Probands, siblings and parents demonstrated deficient task performance (Z Conclusions OCD probands, their unaffected siblings and parents exhibited deficiencies in specific subdomains of cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control, namely, initial concept formation and proactive control, which may be valid candidate neurocognitive endophenotypes of OCD. No other meaningful familial effect has been found on other functions, including other executive function indices such as perseverations and interference control. These results highlight the need to carefully examine individual outcomes from executive function tests instead of the tendency to focus largely on major outcome measures.
Correlation between intracranial pressure and venous sinus pressures in patients undergoing cerebral venography and manometry.

Background The pathophysiology of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is complex but is directly related to cerebral venous hypertension. Few studies have simultaneously recorded venous sinus pressures and lumbar puncture (LP) opening pressure (OP) to understand the relationship between these factors without temporal confounding. Methods A retrospective review was performed of patients with a known or suspected diagnosis of IIH who underwent cerebral venography with manometry followed immediately by LP. Results 47 patients aged 16–68 years met inclusion criteria. 91.5% were female. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 33.3 kg/m2. Of the included patients, median OP was 21 cm H2O (IQR (15.5, 26.5)). Mean (SD) recorded superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and torcular pressures were 25.5 (16.5) mm Hg and 23.8 (16.6) mm Hg, respectively. Twenty patients (42.6%) were discovered to have a trans-stenosis gradient of 8 mm Hg or greater. Transverse sinus, torcula, and SSS pressures were all significantly predicted by OP. On regression analysis, torcular pressures were best predicted by OP of the three measured sites. For 17 patients with OP Conclusions This is the first study to correlate venous sinus pressures and OP in patients with IIH with LP performed directly after manometry. In 47 patients, LP OP significantly predicted transverse sinus, torcula, and SSS pressures. Torcular pressures (mm Hg) were most accurately predicted by OP (cm H2O) in a nearly one-to-one relationship.
Condition Monitoring of a Reciprocating Compressor Using Wavelet Transformation and Support Vector Machines

Condition monitoring techniques were applied to a reciprocating compressor in order to determine if faults were present in a system. Through the use of vibration based sensors, fault monitoring of the crank-side discharge valve springs was accomplished. Data was collected through a range of injected fault conditions and analyzed through the use of discrete wavelet transformations. The wavelet coefficients produced were transformed into a six-dimensional feature space though the use of first and second order statistics. By using a support vector machine classifier, the nominal and faulted condition data was used to train a fault monitoring classifier. This classifier was verified through the use of additional test data, and resulted in classification rates of 90% and above. This result is based on the trial of a multitude of different wavelets and support vector kernels in order to achieve the optimal performance for the dataset.
Pretreatment With Fluticasone Propionate Increases Antibiotic Efficacy During Treatment of Late-Stage Primary Pneumonic Plague

Severe and late-stage pneumonias are often difficult to treat with antibiotics alone due to overwhelming host inflammatory responses mounted to clear infection. These host responses contribute to pulmonary damage leading to acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and death. In order to effectively treat severe and late-stage pneumonias, use of adjunctive therapies must be considered to reduce pulmonary damage when antimicrobial agents can be administered. Pneumonic plague, a severe pneumonia caused by inhalation of Yersinia pestis, is a fatal disease that causes death within six days without antibiotic intervention. Late-stage pneumonic plague is difficult to treat, as antibiotics must be delivered within 24 hours after onset of symptoms to be effective. Here, we use a murine model of primary pneumonic plague to examine how host inflammatory responses impact antibiotic treatment of late-stage pneumonic plague. We developed a murine infection model demonstrating the poor outcomes associated with delayed delivery of antibiotics. We show that pretreatment of mice with intranasal fluticasone propionate increased efficacy of delayed antibiotic delivery and enhanced murine survival. Mice receiving fluticasone propionate also showed decreased bacterial burden and reduced inflammatory pathology in the lungs. Further, we show that treatment and survival correlated with decreased levels of IL-6 and reduced neutrophil infiltration to the lungs. This work demonstrates how host inflammatory responses complicate treatment of late-stage pneumonic plague, and suggests that targeting of host inflammatory responses may improve treatment of severe, late-stage pneumonia.
Symplectic geometry of plurisubharmonic functions

In these lectures we describe symplectic geometry related to the notion of pseudo-convexity (or J-convexity). The notion of J-convexity, which is a complex analog of convexity, is one of the basic mathematical notions. Symplectic geometry built-in into this notion is essential for understanding the structure of affine (or Stein) complex manifolds. It plays also a major role in the classification of Stein complex structures up to deformation. Plurisubharmonic (or J-convex) functions on complex manifolds are analagous to convex functions on Riemannian manifolds but their theory is much richer. Symplectic geometry is crucial for understanding Morse-theoretic properties of J-convex functions.
Chapter 14 – Malaria

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an analysis of the disease malaria and discusses the dearth of progress in the global management of this disease. Malaria is transmitted by an insect vector—in the case of humans, the Anophelesmosquito. The parasite uses host saccharides in both the insect vector and humans for recognition/binding events. Experimental results show that these host saccharides are usually anionic in nature and involve heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and sialyl residues. Specific domains on parasite surface proteins are identified that are involved in these phenomena and confirm the charge-based nature of the primary interactions. Direct glycosylation of parasite proteins is primarily through the attachment of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchors, a predominant mechanism for surface immobilization of parasite proteins. The anchors have a Man4 structure and are immunogenic in humans. Explicit identification of any protein of the parasite that contains N- or O-linked saccharides has not been accomplished although a small amount of high mannose structures are present. The lack of a convenient animal model and the difficulty in growing the parasite in vitro are contributing factors. Disease control that targets the vector (insecticide, bed nets) has had some limited success but is not a long-term solution. The magnitude of the problem is underscored by the reintroduction of DDT in several areas of sub-Saharan Africa.
Relation Between Quantities of Lead Ingested and Health Effects of Lead in Humans

Major metabolic effects of lead are briefly reviewed and available data on quantitative relationships between lead ingestion and development of toxicity in adults and children are discussed. Levels of lead ingestion producing clinical toxicity in adults are compared with normal levels of exposure. For children, comparison of levels of lead ingestion and quantities of lead producing toxic effects is not currently possible, as information on levels of lead producing clinical toxicity appears to be highly variable on the basis of the small amount of data available. However, recommendations on tolerable levels of lead exposure for children are proposed. based on estimates of lead exposure for children having normal and elevated body burdens of lead.
Data centric SIR particle filter design using buffer-level pipelining

In this paper, we introduce use of sample importance resampling (SIR) particle filter for bearings-only tracking problem using buffer-level pipelining. The SIR particle filter is heavily data centric in that it transfer significant amount of data between processing blocks. We propose to design the overall filter using buffer-level pipelining where design flow can be significantly simplified. In the buffer-level pipelining, overall execution synchronization is done through controlling patterns of data producing and consuming by each processing block. We verify temporal operation of the filter using Verilog and SystemC.