cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Agitation scale‐up effects during VCM suspension polymerization

Experimental data are presented showing the effect of reactor agitation intensity and reactor size on final resin properties during VCM suspension polymerization. Experiments were carried out in three stirred batch polymerization reactors covering a broad range of vessel sizes (bench scale, pilot plant, and commercial production units). Reactors' shapes were geometrically similar. The same charge recipe and operating procedure was also used for all three reactors. The effects of major agitation parameters such as impeller diameter, width, and speed are correlated against resin properties using the Weber number. The same characteristic U-shaped curve is found for all three reactors when mean particle diameter is plotted versus Weber number. However, the curves do not lie on top of one another but are spread apart, the larger reactors having a higher Weber number. Another interesting feature is that the coefficient of variation (particle size standard deviation divided by mean diameter) decreases dramatically as reactor size is increased. Other resin properties also show improvement upon scale-up. In summary, resin properties continue to improve as reactor size is increased over the range studied (bench-to-commercial large reactor scale), but a correct application of the complex scale-up technology must be employed to take advantage of this observation.
Calcineurin signaling in human cardiac hypertrophy

On the basis of studies in cell and animal models, a great diversity of signaling molecules have been implicated in stimulus–response pathways by which hypertrophic growth of the myocardium is controlled. It remains unclear, however, which signal transduction pathways are pertinent to the common forms of cardiac hypertrophy that lead to heart failure and sudden death in humans. See p 2265 The initial observation in 19981 that calcineurin, a calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, is capable of driving cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, and death in experimental animal models received special attention for several reasons. Previous evidence suggested that dysregulation of calcium metabolism is an integral feature of stresses that promote hypertrophy, and calcineurin was known to be abundant in cardiomyocytes, reinforcing the plausibility of its proposed role as a key mediator of hypertrophic signaling. Perhaps most intriguing is the fact that calcineurin is the target of drugs already approved for use in humans to inhibit T-cell activation and prevent rejection of transplanted organs, validating the concept that nodal points in complex signaling networks exist and can indeed serve as targets for clinically …
Choline supplementation increases tissue concentrations of carnitine and lowers body fat in guinea pigs

Abstract It has been documented that choline supplementation results in urinary conservation of carnitine in both humans and guinea pigs. This conservation in guinea pigs is associated with increased concentrations of carnitine in skeletal muscle for which no functional consequences have been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in fat metabolism and body composition as a consequence of the increased tissue carnitine in choline-supplemented guinea pigs. Guinea pigs were given free access to commercial diet without or with 3 g choline/kg diet. Using indirect calorimetry, the respiratory exchange ratios (RER) of the animals were determined under normal, exercise, and unfed conditions. There were no differences in RER between supplemented and nonsupplemented groups under any of the conditions. The RER data lead to the conclusion that choline–carnitine did not promote oxidation of fat over carbohydrates for energy. However, proximate analysis of carcass revealed significantly lower total body fat and higher body proteins in the choline-supplemented animals compared with the nonsupplemented animals. These apparently contradictory results are explained by the hypothesis that the acetates generated by the β-oxidation of fatty acids are transferred to carnitine and not oxidized to carbon dioxide, resulting in little or no shift in RER.
Bond breaking energy in collision induced dissociation: A study of carbon cage fragmentation in cubane, kepone and mirex

Collision induced dissociation of the carbon cage compounds cubane, kepone and mirex breaks the cage structures. The energy available for bond breaking is thus not less than about 9 eV, and the time between energy acquisition and subsequent unimolecular fragmentation is long enough that the available energy can be concentrated in three bonds to the same carbon atom. Collision induced dissociation mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectra of [C5Cl6]+˙ from mirex and from hexachlorocyclopentadiene are virtually identical, and similar for [C6H6]+˙ ions from cubane and benzene.
Pension privatization in crisis: Death or rebirth of a global policy trend?: WORLDVIEW

From 1981 to 2007, more than thirty countries worldwide fully or partially replaced their pre-existing pay-as-you-go pension systems with ones based on individual, private savings accounts in a process often labelled “pension privatization”. After the global financial crisis, this trend was put on hold for economic, ideational, and institutional reasons, despite a rise in critical indebtedness that has facilitated pension privatization in the past. Is the global trend towards pension privatization dead or in the process of being reborn, perhaps in a somewhat different form? Several recent trends point to rebirth as policy-makers scale back public and private pension systems, attend to minimum pensions and “nudge” rather than mandate people to save for retirement.
A phase field model of unsaturated flow

[1] We present a phase field model of infiltration that explains the formation of gravity fingers during water infiltration in soil. The model is an extension of the traditional Richards equation, and it introduces a new term, a fourth-order derivative in space, but not a new parameter. We propose a scaling that links the magnitude of the new term to the relative strength of gravity-to-capillary forces already present in Richards' equation. We exploit the thermodynamic framework to design a flow potential that constrains the water saturation to be between 0 and 1, its physically admissible values. The model predicts a saturation overshoot at the wetting front, which is in good agreement with experimental measurements. Two-dimensional numerical simulations predict gravity fingers with the appearance and characteristics observed in visual laboratory experiments. A linear stability analysis of the model shows that there is a direct relation between saturation overshoot and the strength of the front instability. Therefore our theory supports the conjecture that saturation overshoot, a pileup of water at the wetting front, is a prerequisite for gravity fingering.
Assisted Reproductive Technology and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis: Impact on the Fetus and Newborn

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) techniques have enabled couples with low fertility to conceive, and approximately 1% of births in the United States result from such procedures. ART combined with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) has provided a method for couples at risk for genetic conditions to deliver a baby free from the condition. ART presents many perinatal risks and may be associated with long-term health effects for the offspring. PGD, which can screen for known conditions, at present cannot screen for all genetic conditions.
Correlating Bulk Optical Spectroscopy and Ultrahigh-Resolution Mass Spectrometry to Determine the Molecular Composition of Dissolved Organic Matter in Northern Peatlands

Northern peatlands store vast amounts of carbon. Although peatlands are at present net carbon sinks, they are also an important source for the greenhouse gases CO2 and CH4, and there is some concern that they may become carbon sources as global temperatures rise. In this work, we used Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), PARAFAC modeling of excitation–emission fluorescence spectroscopy (EEMS), and specific UV absorbance (SUVA254) to investigate the chemical quality and composition of DOM in porewaters collected from different bog and fen systems in northern Minnesota, USA. Four terrestrial humic-like components and one non-humic-like component were identified by EEM-PARAFAC, and their dynamics were evaluated based on their distribution with depth as well across different sites. We found an abundance of a microbial humic-like component in fen porewater DOM. This component was not as abundant in bog porewaters. SUVA, determined at 254 nm, was strongly correlated with lower aromaticity in deep fen samples relative to deep bog samples as determined by 1H-NMR. Aromatic and carbohydrate components represented up to 70% of deep bog DOM but comprised a much smaller proportion of deep fen DOM, which was dominated by functionalized and non-functionalized aliphatics. Molecular formula data determined by FT-ICR mass spectrometry were consistent with results from optical and NMR spectroscopy experiments and showed that compounds with low O/C and high H/C were generated with depth in the fen. Such compounds were absent in both surface fen and in surface and deep bog samples, respectively, providing further evidence of qualitative and quantitative differences in the evolution of DOM in fens and bogs. These differences in reactivity suggest that bogs and fens will behave differently in response to global warming, with more CO2 and CH4 released from fens compared to bogs.
The Consequences of the Malian Crisis in Senegal: Political Response, Public Debate, and Institutional Resilience

The Malian crisis of 2012 that resulted from the fall of Gaddafi not only threatened the sovereignty of the Malian state from an assault led by a Tuareg rebellion connected to Islamists affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, it also feeds the fear of instability in many countries of the Sahel. The French military intervention and the dismantlement of the Islamists initial positions in northern Mali have raised concerns about the dispersion of the jihadists throughout the sub-region, including in Senegal. This paper analyzes the domestic impact of the Malian crisis in Senegal by focusing on three issues. First is the risk of contagion from jihadist sentiments given that Senegal and Mali share a border and have similar religious structures with a Muslim population accounting for at least 90% of the overall population. The second issue is the Senegalese state response to both the Malian political crisis and the Islamists in northern Mali and the subsequent public debates in Senegal. The third element is the role of political and religious institutions in mitigating the potential negative effects of the Malian crisis in Senegal. This paper will be based on fieldwork in Senegal during the summer of 2013, building on significant previous work.
Accumulation of strontium-90 into human fetal teeth and bone.

SummaryThe strontium-90 content of mandibular bone and tooth buds of 73 fetuses aborted in the St. Louis metropolitan area between 1961 and 1966 has been correlated with the mother's dietary intake of the nu-clide. The data obtained during increasing and decreasing periods of fallout may be expressed by a linear equation, CB = K CD-6M, where CB is fetal bone Sr-90/g Ca, CD-6m is the mother's dietary strontium-90 intake for the first 6 months of pregnancy and K is a constant equal to 0.21. The equation is useful to calculate the amount of strontium-90 accumulating in fetal calcined tissues from known milk strontium-90 values or conversely, to obtain data concerning the mother's dietary strontium-90 intake when fetal strontium-90 values are known.
beta -decay branching ratios of the neutron-rich nucleus 15B.

We have used the Michigan State University National Superconducting Cylcotron Laboratory A1200 radioactive beam facility and a newly designed neutron detector array to measure the first \ensuremath{\beta}-delayed neutron spectrosopy of $^{15}\mathrm{B}$ and the $^{15}\mathrm{B}$ \ensuremath{\beta}-decay branch to $^{15}\mathrm{C}$ bound states. The $^{15}\mathrm{B}$ ions were produced as projectile fragments in the interaction of an E/A=80 MeV $^{18}\mathrm{O}$ beam with a thick beryllium target. From these measurements, we deduce the $^{15}\mathrm{B}$ \ensuremath{\beta}-decay branching ratios. The results are compared with shell-model predictions carried out in the psd model space.
HETEROCHRONY WITHIN SPECIES: CRANIOFACIAL GROWTH IN GIANT, STANDARD, AND DWARF RABBITS

Change in developmental timing is one source of heritable variation upon which selection can act. However, the amount of variation possible in ontogenetic trajectories is often unknown. We used three different-sized conspecific breeds of domestic rabbits to investigate the extent of variation in growth trajectories of craniofacial morphology. The growth and adult morphology of several structures (one soft tissue and 15 skeletal) were quantified and analyzed. We took two views of radiographs at close time intervals throughout ontogeny, from one week of age through adult size. Measurements from the radiographs were analyzed using a Gompertz growth model. Between-breed differences in model parameters were tested using one-way ANOVA. Few significant differences existed between the white and giant rabbits, but several differences were found between the white and dwarf breeds. Similarly, comparisons of adult morphology showed that white and giant rabbits are the same shape, while dwarf rabbits have shorter and broader snouts than white rabbits. The variation in size among breeds appeared to be due to differences in the length of time spent growing at rates near the maximum growth rate. While no one parameter of this model quantifies this pattern, differences in duration of maximum growth rate can be seen in the first derivative of the growth trajectory. Small changes in the model's parameters that measure rate and timing of growth have large morphological consequences, indicating that heterochronic changes are important sources of variation.
Steroids and the Development of Mammary Epithelial Cells

Mammary gland tissue from immature mice [1] , adult virgin mice [2] and pregnant mice [3] can be stimulated to differentiate in vitro. Additions of insulin, glucocorticoid and prolactin to the synthetic culture medium are required for the complex sequence of cellular events which culminates in the synthesis of secretory proteins such as casein [3]. The interplay of these hormones during development of mouse mammary epithelial cells, in vitro, is the subject of this discussion, with particular emphasis on the roles of the steroids.
Early Adolescent Trajectories of Impulsiveness and Sensation Seeking in Children of Fathers with Histories of Alcohol and Other Substance Use Disorders

Background Problem substance use often begins in adolescence. This vulnerability likely stems, at least partially, from relatively rapid increases in sensation seeking occurring in early to mid-adolescence and more gradual improvements in impulse control occurring through later adolescence. Better understanding how these processes develop in high-risk youth may lead to enhanced substance use disorder treatment and prevention strategies. Methods We characterized trajectories of self-reported impulsivity and sensation seeking in 305 FH+ youths who at minimum had a father with a history of alcohol or other drug use disorders and 81 youths with no family histories of substance use disorders (FH−). Assessments started at ages 10 to 12 and continued at 6-month intervals for up to 42 months. In addition, a subset of 58 FH+ youths who began alcohol or other drug use before age 15 (FH+ Users) were compared to 58 FH+ propensity-matched adolescents who did not initiate substance use before age 15 (FH+ Non-Users). Results Compared to FH− youths at preadolescence, FH+ youths reported higher general impulsivity and higher impulsivity related to poor planning and attention. Over time, there were no differential effects of FH status on changes in impulsivity or sensation seeking across adolescence. FH+ Users had smaller decreases in general impulsivity and impulsivity related to restlessness and fidgeting across adolescence than FH+ Non-Users. FH+ Users also had greater increases in sensation seeking across adolescence than FH+ Non-Users. Conclusions Increased impulsivity in FH+ youths may make them less able to regulate sensation seeking drives that peak in adolescence, which may contribute to their high risk for developing substance use disorders. Additionally, FH+ adolescents who initiate early use may be at increased risk in part due to increased impulsivity coupled with greater increases in sensation seeking.
Lanthanum and gallium co-modified BiFeO/sub 3/-PbTiO/sub 3/ crystalline solutions: lead reduced morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) piezoelectric ceramics

Crystalline solutions of (1-x)(Bi,La) (Ga,Fe)O/sub 3/-xPbTiO/sub 3/ (BLGF-PT) have been developed using conventional mixed oxide ceramic processing. An attractive feature is that BLGF-PT has electrical resistivity up to 10/sup 13/ /spl Omega//spl middot/cm at room temperatures. The MPB of (1-x)BLGF-xPT was shifted to higher x content with increasing La concentration. The La substituent was also found to decrease the ferroelectric coercive field, resulting in significantly dielectric and piezoelectric properties. The dielectric constant K and piezoelectric d/sub 33/ constant of 1760 and 295 pC/N have been achieved for BLGF-PT with La-20 at% and x=0.43, a composition in the vicinity of MPB. BGF-0.3PT (La-0, x=0.3) exhibited great remnant polarization Pr and strain of 67 /spl mu/C/cm/sup 2/ and 0.4% respectively, under an electric field of 150 kV/cm. Our results clearly demonstrate that BLGF-PT is competitive and alternative piezoelectric materials to conventional Pb(Zr,Ti)O/sub 3/ (PZT) ceramics, served as piezoelectric and high power components, but in significantly lead reduced forms.
IGF-1R as a target in head and neck cancer, lung cancer, and cervical cancer: Expression in patient samples and in vitro inhibition studies.

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 1527 Background: IGF-1R is a receptor tyrosine kinase that has emerged recently as a novel therapeutic target. The purpose of this study was to compare IGF-1R expression in head and neck cancer, lung cancer, and cervical cancer and validate its usefulness as a therapeutic target using in-vitro inhibition studies, by itself, in combination with cisplatin chemotherapy, and radiation. Methods: Tumor tissue microarrays from patients with head and neck cancer, lung cancer (squamous, adeno, large cell, and small cell (one array each) were stained by immunohistochemistry for IGF-1R. Tumor cell lines were treated with a small molecule IGF-1R inhibitor alone, and in combination with cisplatin or radiation and viability was analyzed using either soft agar or media colony formation assays. Results: Strong expression of IGF-1R was seen in all tumor types including small cell lung cancer in more than 50% of tumors. Inhibition in multiple tumor cell lines lead to growth inhibition/ decrease in colony formation. At least additive effects were identified with both cisplatin and radiation in multiple cell lines. Conclusion: Our results validate IGF-1R as a therapeutic target in multiple tumors and clinical studies in these tumors are indicated alone or in combination with cisplatin or radiation.
Visualization of macro-immune complexes in the antiphospholipid syndrome by multi-modal microscopy imaging

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune thrombotic condition that is marked by autoantibodies against phospholipid-binding proteins. The mechanism(s) of thrombogenesis has (have) resisted elucidation since its description over thirty years ago. Nevertheless, a defining aspect of the disorder is positivity for clinical laboratory tests that confirm antibody binding to anionic phospholipids. It is remarkable that, to our knowledge, the binding of proteins from plasmas of APS patients to phospholipid has not been previously imaged. We therefore investigated this with high resolution microscopy-based imaging techniques that have not been previously used to address this question, namely atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Atomic force microscopy imaging of APS plasmas incubated on an anionic planar phospholipid layer revealed the formation of distinct complex three-dimensional structures, which were morphologically dissimilar to structures formed from control plasmas from healthy patients. Likewise, scanning electron microscopy analysis of phospholipid vesicles incubated with APS plasmas in suspension showed formation of layered macro-immune complexes demonstrated by the significant agglomeration of a complex proteinaceous matrix from soluble plasma and aggregation of particles. In contrast, plasmas from healthy control samples bound to phospholipid vesicles in suspension generally displayed a more flattened, mat-like appearance by scanning electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy of plasma samples incubated on planar phospholipid layers and previously imaged by atomic force microscopy, corroborated the results obtained by mixing the plasmas with phospholipids in solution. Analysis of the incorporated proteins by silver stained SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated considerable heterogeneity in the composition of the phospholipid vesicle-adsorbed proteins among APS patients. To our knowledge, these results provide the first images of plasma-derived APS immune complexes at high resolution, and show their consistent presence and heterogeneous compositions in APS patients. These findings demonstrate how high resolution microscopic techniques can contribute to advancing the understanding of an enigmatic disorder and may lay additional groundwork for furthering mechanistic understanding of APS.
A New Paradigm for Understanding and Enhancing the Critical Heat Flux (CHF) Limit.

Nearly a century of research on enhancing critical heat flux (CHF) has focused on altering the boiling surface properties such as its nucleation site density, wettability, wickability and heat transfer area. But, a mechanism to manipulate dynamics of the vapor and liquid interactions above the boiling surface as a means of enhancing CHF has not been proposed. Here, a new approach is implemented to limit the vapor phase lateral expansion over the heat transfer surface and actively control the surface wetted area fraction, known to decline monotonically with increasing heat flux. This new degree of freedom has enabled reaching unprecedented CHF levels and revealed new details about the physics of CHF. The impact of wickability, effective heat transfer area, and liquid pressure on CHF is precisely quantified. Test results show that, when rewetting is facilitated, the CHF increases linearly with the effective surface heat transfer area. A maximum CHF of 1.8 kW/cm2 was achieved on a copper structure with the highest surface area among all tested surfaces. A model developed based on the experimental data suggests that the thermal conductivity of the surface structures ultimately limits the CHF; and a maximum CHF of 7–8 kW/cm2 may be achieved using diamond surface structures.
The Subject Controlling His Relationships with Another Subject

In Part One, in introducing profiles of individuals (saint, hero, opportunist, hypocrite), we use a model of the subject in which there is neither intention to choose a pole nor ability to imitate the other. In this chapter, by using the Boolean-linear model, we will construct a profile of the ‘hero’ possessing all these qualities.
Deposition of sticky spheres in channel flow: Modeling of surface coverage evolution requires accurate sphere-sphere collision hydrodynamics.

Abstract We analyzed the role of hydrodynamic interactions in a microfluidic channel flow containing a dilute suspension of micron-scale colloidal spheres (0.03%, 0.1%, 0.3% volume fraction) engineered to adhere onto a collector patch on the channel wall at wall shear rates of 9.3–930 s−1. Particle-wall adhesion was mediated by single-stranded DNA oligomers grafted onto the spheres and the glass channel wall, producing well-defined interactions via DNA strand base pairing. Particle positions in the flow were evolved using Brownian dynamics simulations in which hydrodynamic interactions between moving particles and the channel walls and/or adhered particles were computed off-line using a series of local simulations that explicitly resolve the fluid flow at the particle scale. By systematically varying the nature of hydrodynamic interactions captured in the Brownian dynamics simulations, we find that the interactions between moving and adhered particles represents the single most important physical element in such models. Once captured sufficiently accurately, the resulting models are able to predict coarse variables such as the overall particle coverage evolution, as well as more subtle characteristics, such as the microstructural distribution of the adhered particles.
The Republic v. The Other

In the face of issues of cultural and religious difference in France, this conference paper explores whether and to what extent French Republicanism (and the practices and theories thereof) -- rooted in theoretical and historical conceptions of the Social Contract and the General Will and in the romanticized political and social construct of the uniform and universal French citizen -- can take on and accommodate cultural and religious difference within its view of the state, the nation, law and politics. In short, I consider whether and to what extent the model that has theoretically and historically advanced a colorblind and assimilationist attitude to difference contains, in reality, a certain flexibility for a diversity of moral, cultural and religious values and identities, in the particular form of the 4-5 million Muslims in France today. I contend that a level of flexibility and elasticity is already evident in the theories and practices of French Republicanism, which has transformed over time as the French Republic has adapted to different circumstances of diversity; and that this transformation underscores the fact that French Republicanism, as a political model, is not monolithic or 'fixed' in time, but is contingent and consists in multiple and alternative narratives of and visions for the French republican nation-state vis-a-vis diversity. I work to reconceive of French Republicanism in more 'diversity-friendly' terms and to carve out from the history of ideas in this area a theoretical and practical space for cultural difference within the French Republic.
Improving Intuition in Product Development Decisions

Market research has traditionally been aimed at collecting and delivering information to decision makers. A major problem has been that decision makers filter information according to its fit with their intuition. The present article maintains that market research must therefore directly target the intuition of decision makers. To do this, two problems must be solved. The first is to bring the intuition of the company mind into alignment with the thinking of the customer mind. Equally important is the need to bring the intuitions of the various functions within the company into alignment with each other. This research philosophy has led to two specific methods at General Motors: Inspirational Research and Iterative Design. Examples of these two approaches and evidence of their effectiveness are presented.
National Planning and Multinational Planning under the Alliance for Progress

The possibilities of achieving high level self-sustained economic growth by the less developed countries of the world has taken on a new dimension in the past generation with the emergence of three powerful forces. First, widespread desire by the people of these countries to rapidly raise their standards of living and a belief that this is a feasible goal. Second, the provision of substantial financial and technical assistance by the more developed nations. Third, the forging of regional institutions to advance economic growth.
Group Symmetries of Antenna Arrays

The analysis of the radiation patterns of three-dimensional arrays has, up to the present time, been limited to a few well-known structures which were introduced as natural extensions of simple geometric shapes, such as spheres or cylinders, etc. At the present time no systematic procedure exists for choosing the proper three-dimensional arrangement of radiators in space. New geometrical concepts are needed to enrich the presently available techniques of analysis of antenna theory. An area where similar geometrical concepts have been developed with great succes is crystallography. In this area, using group theory as the underlined mathematical structure, a large class of crystal lattices in space were studied and a very elegant and systematic formalism was developed for the classification of crystal structures.
On the implications of using composite vehicles in choice model prediction

Abstract Vehicle choice modelers often use composite alternatives, which are simplified representations of a larger, diverse group of vehicle options—a practice known as choice set aggregation. Although this practice has been justified by computational tractability and data constraints, it can introduce arbitrary changes to choice-share predictions. We isolate and characterize the implications of using composite vehicles for choice prediction, given exogenously determined model parameters. We first identify correction factors needed for composite models to predict choice shares that are consistent with those from models that use the full set of disaggregated elemental alternatives. We then assess the distortion of choice-share predictions under various composite specifications and partial corrections using two case studies based on models in the literature used in transportation and energy policymaking: (1) we examine a logit model without alternative-specific constants (ASCs) and find that the distortion in share predictions due to composite specification is substantial and can be larger than variation due to parameter uncertainty; (2) we examine counterfactual predictions of a nested logit model with ASCs based on the NEMS and LVChoice models and find that composite models using ASCs can mitigate or eliminate distortion in some, but not all, counterfactual scenarios. In particular, the distortion is larger when the scenario significantly affects the differences in elemental membership or utility heterogeneity between composite groups. We provide explicit correction factors for composite models with and without ASCs that can be used to take advantage of the tractability of composite models while ensuring that their choice-share predictions exactly match those of their corresponding elemental models in counterfactual and forecasting scenarios.
Leutusome: A Biomimetic Nanoplatform Integrating Plasma Membrane Components of Leukocytes and Tumor Cells for Remarkably Enhanced Solid Tumor Homing

Cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles have appeared as a promising platform to develop active tumor targeting nanomedicines. To evade the immune surveillance, we designed a composite cell membrane-camouflaged biomimetic nanoplatform, namely, leutusome, which is made of liposomal nanoparticles incorporating plasma membrane components derived from both leukocytes (murine J774A.1 cells) and tumor cells (head and neck tumor cells HN12). Exogenous phospholipids were used as building blocks to fuse with two cell membranes to form liposomal nanoparticles. Liposomal nanoparticles made of exogenous phospholipids only or in combination with one type of cell membrane were fabricated and compared. The anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) was used to make drug-encapsulating liposomal nanoparticles. Leutusome resembling characteristic plasma membrane components of the two cell membranes were examined and confirmed in vitro. A xenograft mouse model of head and neck cancer was used to profile the blood clearance kinetics, biodistribution, and antitumor efficacy of the different liposomal nanoparticles. The results demonstrated that leutusome obtained prolonged blood circulation and was most efficient accumulating at the tumor site (79.1 ± 6.6% ID per gram of tumor). Similarly, leutusome composed of membrane fractions of B16 melanoma cells and leukocytes (J774A.1) showed prominent accumulation within the B16 tumor, suggesting the generalization of the approach. Furthermore, PTX-encapsulating leutusome was found to most potently inhibit tumor growth while not causing systemic adverse effects.
Video Tracking of Insect Flight Path: Towards Behavioral Assessment

In this paper, we propose a cohort of new methods that cooperate together to improve the detection/tracking of mosquitos in a 2D video clip. A commonly recognized challenge in the biotechnology research field is evaluating the effect of a repellent which entails tracking the unpredictable flight paths of the insects, which may be swift flying or slow moving. Our work presented in this paper provides an efficient tool to deal with tracking the small insects with unpredictable moving patterns by proposing a new dual foreground and background modeling/updating system for target detecting and tracking. The proposed processing elements take advantage of the similarity of the frames and use the estimated speeds to collectively capture the relevant information and contribute in concert to ensure fast and accurate measurement to reach the goal of behavior evaluation of mosquitos in response to a repellent.
Paraneoplastic glomerular disease: The struggle is real:

Over the past decade, the relationships between various kidney disease and cancer have been established, but not fully elucidated. Development of acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease as a ...
The speech-like properties of nonhuman primate vocalizations

The origins of speech, the most complex form of animal communication, remain a puzzle. Human speech and nonhuman primate vocalizations have traditionally been viewed dichotomously, with several aspects of speech having no clear analogues in the calls of our primate relatives. The putative unique aspects of speech include a diverse array of learned sounds that are rapidly produced in rhythmic strings and continuously recombined in new sequences. However, recent research challenges the idea that these features are indeed unique to humans and suggests more continuity between nonhuman and human primates than was previously appreciated. Here we review recent findings in four areas of this emerging continuity. In light of these studies, we argue that the evolution of human speech abilities most likely originated in a primate ancestor capable of (1) producing a ‘speech-ready’ range of vowel-like sounds, (2) vocalizing with simultaneous rhythmic mouth movements, (3) combining long strings of varied and structured sounds and (4) exercising some volitional control over calls that were modified based on experience. Taken together, these results suggest that the considerable latent vocal ability that we observe in nonhuman primates is consistent with the hypothesis that a key step towards human speech was the evolution of greater cognitive control of the vocal apparatus (and not the evolution of speech-specific anatomical adaptations). By shifting research emphasis away from the mechanics of how speech is produced to the conditions that favoured more diverse, open-ended and imitative vocal systems, we hope to encourage new avenues for future comparative research.
Looking smart: Preschoolers’ judgements about knowledge based on facial appearance

Preschoolers use others' behaviours to make inferences about what traits they possess (Harris et al., 2018, Ann. Rev. Psychol., 69, 251). The current study examined whether 4- and 5-year-olds also associate others' behaviour with how they appear on the surface. Specifically, we asked whether children's sensitivity to different face-traits (e.g., Cogsdill et al., 2014, Psychol. Sci., 25, 1132) would bias them to associate knowledgeable behaviours with faces that adults rate as highly competent- or trustworthy-looking. We find that preschoolers expect puppets with trustworthy-looking faces to be knowledgeable about the functions of familiar objects. In contrast, children did not match a puppet's knowledge to facial features that adults rate as varying in competence. These data suggest that children, like adults, are biased to associate facial appearance and behaviour. Furthermore, this bias appears to be rooted in a response to the same facial features that have been found to govern judgements of trustworthiness across development (e.g., Jessen & Grossmann, 2016, J. Cogn. Neurosci., 28, 1728). Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Preschoolers selectively trust others using epistemic and non-epistemic cues (Harris et al., 2018). Preschoolers associate specific faces with trustworthiness and competence (Cogsdill et al., 2014). What the present study adds? Preschoolers infer that trustworthy-looking characters will behave knowledgeably. Preschoolers do not infer that competent-looking characters will behave knowledgeably. Children's reliability judgements are influenced by others' appearance.
Improved Use of Human Milk, Growth, and Central Line Utilization With Standard Feeding Roadmap in an Academic NICU

BACKGROUND Before the initiation of a standardized feeding roadmap in our regional, level IV academic neonatal intensive care unit, utilization of central lines was high, and initiation of enteral feeds delayed in the very low-birth-weight population (<1500 g). Given our review of the literature, it appeared that the standardization of feeding advancement would likely result in improved performance in both issues. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort comparison of very low-birth-weight patients before initiation of any feeding roadmap with a second cohort following completion of the final roadmap. Infants were examined retrospectively in 2 historical cohorts: Phase 1, infants fed before roadmap development and rollout, October 1, 2012-March 31, 2013; and Phase 2, following promulgation of the final feeding roadmap, January 1, 2017-June 30, 2017. RESULTS During Phase 2, we observed a significant reduction in median (interquartile range) days to first feed (3 [1] vs 1 [1] [P < 0.0001]) and utilization of a second central line (35% vs 12% [P < 0.01]). Weight gain was significantly improved from before roadmap implementation to final, mean (SD) (g/d, 21 [5] vs 24 [4]; [P < .0001]). Percentage of first enteral feedings that were human milk also increased significantly from 71% to 91% (P = 0.0007). CONCLUSION Implementation of a standardized feeding roadmap was associated with a reduction in days to first enteral feeds, an increase in the primary use of human milk for initiation of enteral feeds, and a decrease in the utilization of central lines while improving weight gain in very low-birth-weight infants.
A Mosque-Based Qualitative Study on American Muslim Women's Organ Donation Beliefs.

Introduction:Detailed studies on the associations between religious beliefs and organ donation attitudes among religious minorities remain wanting. Although Muslims appear to have low rates of supp...
Assessment of Cardiovascular Diagnostic Tests and Procedures Offered in Executive Screening Programs at Top-Ranked Cardiology Hospitals.

This survey study of hospital administrators assesses the cardiovascular examinations included in the executive health screening programs offered by the top hospitals for cardiology and heart surgery as ranked by US News & World Report.
Standards of Proof for Campus Sexual Misconduct Cases

This paper is a contribution to the interdisciplinary volume, Adjudicating Campus Sexual Misconduct and Assault: Controversies and Challenges (Cognella Series on Family and Gender-Based Violence. Claire M. Renzetti & Diane R. Follingstad, eds., 2020). The chapter, Standards of Proof for Campus Sexual Misconduct Cases, addresses the continuing controversy over what standard of proof educational institutions should use in resolving allegations of sexual assault. After surveying recent developments under Title IX, in which the Trump Administration has proposed new rules to replace Obama-era guidance favoring the preponderance of the evidence standard, the chapter examines the competing understandings of sexual assault – as either a crime or a civil rights matter – that underlie the Administrations’ divergent approaches. From there, the chapter traces the evolution of Title IX’s legal framework from recognition of sexual assault as a form of sex discrimination to the Obama Administration’s more detailed guidance on the regulatory requirement of a fair and equitable process for handling such complaints. The chapter then considers and ultimately rejects arguments in favor of the new proposed rule changes, which would set strict limits on the use of the preponderance standard for such cases while granting broad leeway to use a higher clear and convincing evidence standard, even if not used for any other student disciplinary matter besides sexual misconduct. The chapter discusses the likely impact of such a rule change on institutional practice, concluding that switching from a preponderance to a clear and convincing evidence standard in such cases would have the unfortunate effect of messaging skepticism toward sexual assault complainants and discouraging reporting.
Terrorist Attacks and Household Trading

Using two sources of household data, we show that in response to psychological distress induced by terrorist attacks, households significantly reduce their trading activity and equity ownership, are less likely to enter the market, and increase the value of their savings accounts. We find that the effects of attacks are stronger in months with more casualties and increased news coverage, as well in households with a male head and in those located in the same state as the attack. Further tests on security selection suggest that our findings are consistent with risk shifting and inattention as implied by an anxiety-based utility model.
Long-term outcomes of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for refractory functional pituitary adenoma

Refractory functional pituitary adenomas are often treated with single-session stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or conventionally fractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). While single-fraction SRS offers convenience and short time to biochemical remission, large tumors with cranial nerve or chiasmatic involvement often preclude single-fraction SRS, and toxicity may be worse following single-fraction SRS compared with IMRT. The purpose of our study was to explore the long-term outcomes of a unique hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HSRT) regimen delivered in 2–5 fractions. After approval, we studied 16 consecutive patients treated with HSRT for refractory functional pituitary adenoma. Study endpoints included local control, biochemical control, and toxicity. Descriptive statistics summarized endpoints and clinicopathologic factors. Sixteen patients with adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion (n = 9, 56%), growth hormone secretion (n = 4, 25%), and prolactin secretion (n = 3, 19%) were studied with a median follow-up time after HSRT of 10 years (IQR 2–14 years). Patients were treated with two (n = 8), three (n = 1), or five (n = 7) fractions to median dose of 20.5 Gy (range 16–32 Gy). HSRT was well-tolerated with no acute side effects greater than CTCAE grade 1. Local control was 100%, and biochemical control at last follow-up was 58%. Over 142 years patient-years, no instances of optic neuropathy, secondary malignancy, malignant transformation, radionecrosis, cavernous sinus cranial neuropathy, or cerebrovascular complications were noted. HSRT for refractory pituitary adenoma is well-tolerated with long-term local and biochemical control comparable with single-fraction SRS or IMRT. Prospective studies should evaluate whether HSRT provides non-inferior biochemical control and improved toxicity compared with single-fraction SRS.
Amortized Constant Round Atomic Snapshot in Message-Passing Systems.

We study the lattice agreement (LA) and atomic snapshot problems in asynchronous message-passing systems where up to $f$ nodes may crash. Our main result is a crash-tolerant atomic snapshot algorithm with \textit{amortized constant round complexity}. To the best of our knowledge, the best prior result is given by Delporte et al. [TPDS, 18] with amortized $O(n)$ complexity if there are more scans than updates. Our algorithm achieves amortized constant round if there are $\Omega(\sqrt{k})$ operations, where $k$ is the number of actual failures in an execution and is bounded by $f$. Moreover, when there is no failure, our algorithm has $O(1)$ round complexity unconditionally. To achieve amortized constant round complexity, we devise a simple \textit{early-stopping} lattice agreement algorithm and use it to "order" the update and scan operations for our snapshot object. Our LA algorithm has $O(\sqrt{k})$ round complexity. It is the first early-stopping LA algorithm in asynchronous systems.
Differentially Private ADMM for Regularized Consensus Optimization

Due to its broad applicability in machine learning, resource allocation, and control, the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) has been extensively studied in the literature. The message exchange of the ADMM in multiagent optimization may reveal sensitive information of agents, which can be overheard by malicious attackers. This drawback hinders the application of the ADMM to privacy-aware multiagent systems. In this article, we consider consensus optimization with regularization, in which the cost function of each agent contains private sensitive information, e.g., private data in machine learning, and private usage patterns in resource allocation. We develop a variant of the ADMM that can preserve agents’ differential privacy by injecting noise into the public signals broadcast to the agents. We derive conditions on the magnitudes of the added noise under which the designated level of differential privacy can be achieved. Furthermore, the convergence properties of the proposed differentially private ADMM are analyzed under the assumption that the cost functions are strongly convex with Lipschitz continuous gradients, and the regularizer has smooth gradients or bounded subgradients. We find that to attain the best convergence performance given a certain privacy level, the magnitude of the injected noise should decrease as the algorithm progresses. Additionally, the choice of the number of iterations should balance the tradeoff between the convergence, and the privacy leakage of the ADMM, which is explicitly characterized by the derived upper bounds on convergence performance. Finally, numerical results are presented to corroborate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm. In particular, we apply the proposed algorithm to multiagent linear-quadratic control with private information to showcase its merit in control applications.
The Introduction of Paid Plasma in Canada and the U.S. Has Not Decreased Unpaid Blood Donations

Most countries prohibit compensation for plasma donations, and Canada continues to consider a ban. Foremost among reasons for prohibition is the worry that compensated plasma will decrease uncompensated blood donations. Using difference-in-differences analysis of data containing plasma and blood donations in Canada spanning a period in which the country's only three paid-plasma centers began operating, we examine whether the introduction of paid-plasma decreased blood donations overall and among young donors. We find no evidence of a decrease but rather a small increase. We replicate this finding in U.S. cities that experienced the introduction of paid-plasma over a similar time period.