cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The oxidation of alloy 690 in simulated pressurized water reactor primary water

Abstract The oxide film formed on alloy 690 in simulated pressurized water reactor primary water is decorated with NiFe 2 O 4 particles which remain epitaxial with matrix. The penetrative inner oxides on both surface and crack wall are composed of Cr-rich (Fe,Cr,Ni) 3 O 4 and Cr 2 O 3 which were formed by solid state reactions of substrate with inwards diffusing oxygen and have orientation relationships with the substrate. Cr 2 O 3 forms first along the widely spaced planes of substrate. Compact Cr 2 O 3 layer cannot develop as there is no long-range outward diffusion of Cr in substrate with low defect density at low temperature.
Lipoprotein(a) and Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Death in Chronic Kidney Disease: Findings From the CRIC Study (Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort).

Objective— To investigate the effect of LPA gene variants and renal function on lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels in people with chronic kidney disease and determine the association between elevated Lp(a) and myocardial infarction and death in this setting. Approach and Results— The CRIC Study (Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort) is an ongoing prospective study of 3939 participants with chronic kidney disease. In 3635 CRIC participants with genotype data, carriers of the rs10455872 or rs6930542 variants had a higher median Lp(a) level (mg/dL) compared with noncarriers (73 versus 23; P P 61.3. There were 315 myocardial infarctions and 822 deaths during a median follow-up of 7.5 years. The second quartile had the lowest event rate. After adjusting for potential confounders and using a Cox proportional hazards model, the highest quartile of Lp(a) was associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction (hazard ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–2.11), death (hazard ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.57), and the composite outcome (hazard ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.56) compared with the second quartile of Lp(a). Conclusions— Among adults with chronic kidney disease, elevated Lp(a) is independently associated with myocardial infarction and death. Future studies exploring pharmacological Lp(a) reduction in this population are warranted.
Coarse-grained molecular dynamics studies of the structure and stability of peptide-based drug amphiphile filaments.

Peptide-based supramolecular filaments, in particular filaments self-assembled by drug amphiphiles (DAs), possess great potential in the field of drug delivery. These filaments possess one hundred percent drug loading, with a release mechanism that can be tuned based on the dissociation of the supramolecular filaments and the degradation of the DAs [Cheetham et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2013, 135(8), 2907]. Recently, much attention has been drawn to the competing intermolecular interactions that drive the self-assembly of peptide-based amphiphiles into supramolecular filaments. Recently, we reported on long-time atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the structure and growth of chiral filaments by the self-assembly of a DA containing the aromatic anti-cancer drug camptothecin [Kang et al., Macromolecules, 2016, 49(3), 994]. We found that the π–π stacking of the aromatic drug governs the early stages of the self-assembly process, while also contributing towards the chirality of the self-assembled filament. Based on these all-atomistic simulations, we now build a chemically accurate coarse-grained model that can capture the structure and stability of these supramolecular filaments at long time-scales (microseconds). These coarse-grained models successfully recapitulate the growth of the molecular clusters (and their elongation trends) compared with previously reported atomistic simulations. Furthermore, the interfacial structure and the helicity of the filaments are conserved. Next, we focus on characterization of the disassembly process of a 0.675 μm DA filament at microsecond time-scales. These results provide very useful tools for the rational design of functional supramolecular filaments, in particular supramolecular filaments for drug delivery applications.
A composite beam theory for modeling nonlinear shear behavior

Abstract Accurate predictions of physically nonlinear elastic behaviors of a material point in the structure are essential to the further analyses which are beyond the linear elasticity regime, for example, the progressive damage and the failure. In light of substantial experimental evidence of nonlinear shear stress-strain responses in composites, it is necessary to consider them in the structure-level simulations rigorously. A variational asymptotic beam model is developed for this purpose. The three-dimensional continuum is rigorously reduced to a two-dimensional cross-sectional analysis and a one-dimensional Euler-Bernoulli beam analysis. The original three-dimensional continuum features material nonlinearities in longitudinal shear. The unknown cross-sectional warping is solved by finite element method using the principle of virtual work. Nonlinear beam constitutive relation and three-dimensional stress and strain fields are obtained.
Leading Ministry Teams, Part I: Theological Reflection on Ministry Teams:

This article seeks to establish the biblical and theological foundations for teamwork and team leadership for ministry practice. In order to understand and evaluate the applicability of a ministry ...
To Where Have We Come: Noisy Philosophical Ponderings of a Quiet Mind. An Epiphany

Epiphany = A revelation, a kind of sudden brightness that lights up the landscape of a mind, of a community, of a whole social order.
Data Drives Quality: ACS–NSQIP

Continuous quality improvement requires ongoing data collection and analysis. This chapter will assess the importance of high-quality data to assess the quality of surgical care given, to identify areas for improvement, to assess the effectiveness of quality improvement initiatives, and for ongoing monitoring.
DFT-Assisted Design and Evaluation of Bifunctional copper(I) Catalysts for the Direct Intermolecular Addition of Aldehydes and Ketones to Alkynes

Abstract Bifunctional catalysts containing discrete metal pi-acid and amine sites were designed and investigated for the direct intermolecular addition of aldehydes and ketones to unactivated alkynes. Copper(I)-based catalysts were prioritized based on intramolecular (Conia-ene type) reactions, and complexes were designed with tridentate ligands and potentially hemilabile heterocyclic spacers. The structures of the designed catalysts were computed using density functional theory (DFT), and the relative energies of putative catalytic intermediates were estimated and used to prioritize catalyst designs. Novel bifunctional precatalysts containing a thiazole spacer were synthesized via a 9-step sequence and combined with transition metals before screening for the direct addition of aldehydes and ketones to several internal and terminal alkynes. Despite the lack of desired intermolecular reactions, DFT calculations of putative catalyst intermediates appears to be a promising strategy for the design and prioritization of bifunctional catalysts for C C bond formation.
A Kinesiology Conundrum: Physical Activity Requirements in Kinesiology Degree Programs

ABSTRACTOne of the most long-standing controversies in kinesiology has been that of physical activity requirements (PARs) in corresponding degree programs. Despite a recommendation from the American Kinesiology Association to include “the practice of physical activity” in undergraduate kinesiology degree programs, some programs have PARs, while others do not. The question still remains: should physical activity be required for all kinesiology students? In this article, we build a case for PARs in kinesiology degree programs. First, we highlight the most common theoretical and practical objections to such requirements. The theoretical objections are namely dualism, materialism, and utilitarian pragmatism; the practical objections are cost, the credit crunch, and public perception. Second, and most importantly, we describe why these theoretical and practical objections fail. As unapologetic partisans on this issue, our primary aim is to highlight why PARs belong in every kinesiology degree program, regardle...
Environmental Impact Assessment of Uranium Mining on Indigenous Land in Labrador (Canada): Biases and Manipulations

Abstract Studies in Canada reveal the entrenched nature of the nation's mining paradigm that fundamentally undermines the interests of Indigenous peoples. However, very few research studies have ex...
Champions of Equity: Fostering Civic Education to Challenge Silence, Racial Inequity, and Injustice

This article presents a study that explored how race and racism impact teaching and learning and how civic education can be employed to promote racial justice. We argue the need to examine educator...
p53 mutant-type in human prostate cancer cells determines the sensitivity to phenethyl isothiocyanate induced growth inhibition

We reported previously that phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a dietary compound, can reactivate p53R175H mutant in vitro and in SK-BR-3 (p53R175H) breast xenograft model resulting in tumor inhibition. Because of the diversity of human cancers with p53 mutations, these findings raise important questions whether this mechanism operates in different cancer types with same or different p53 mutations. In this study, we investigated whether PEITC recuses mutant p53 in prostate cancer cells harboring different types of p53 mutants, structural and contact, in vitro and in vivo. Cell proliferation, cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest assays were performed to examine the effects of PEITC on prostate cancer cell lines with p53 mutation(s), wild-type p53, p53 null or normal prostate cells in vitro. Western blot analysis was used to monitor the expression levels of p53 protein, activation of ATM and upregulation of canonical p53 targets. Immunoprecipitation, subcellular protein fraction and qRT-PCR was performed to determine change in conformation and restoration of transactivation functions/ inhibition of gain-of-function (GOF) activities to p53 mutant(s). Mice xenograft models were established to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of PEITC and PEITC-induced reactivation of p53 mutant(s) in vivo. Immunohistochemistry of xenograft tumor tissues was performed to determine effects of PEITC on expression of Ki67 and mutant p53 in vivo. We demonstrated that PEITC inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells with different “hotspot” p53 mutations (structural and contact), however, preferentially towards structural mutants. PEITC inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis by rescuing mutant p53 in p53R248W contact (VCaP) and p53R175H structural (LAPC-4) mutant cells with differential potency. We further showed that PEITC inhibits the growth of DU145 cells that co-express p53P223L (structural) and p53V274F (contact) mutants by targeting p53P223L mutant selectively, but not p53V274F. The mutant p53 restored by PEITC induces apoptosis in DU145 cells by activating canonical p53 targets, delaying cells in G1 phase and phosphorylating ATM. Importantly, PEITC reactivated p53R175H and p53P223L/V274F mutants in LAPC-4 and DU145 prostate xenograft models, respectively, resulting in significant tumor inhibition. Our studies provide the first evidence that PEITC’s anti-cancer activity is cancer cell type-independent, but p53 mutant-type dependent.
Simulation and assessment of long-term stormwater basin performance under real-time control retrofits

The use of real-time control (RTC) as an adaptation technique for improving stormwater systems has been gaining attention in recent years for its ability to enhance water quality treatment and quan...
Future Prospects of Superconducting RF for Accelerator Applications

Part I of this article provides a status update on the ongoing projects for both high-beta and low-beta applications. Some of these projects are already under production, others are perfecting prot...
Cash Conversion Cycle: Which One and Does It Matter?

In the present study, we attempt to investigate the information validity of an important financial metric, the cash conversion cycle (CCC.) A survey of scholarly papers and textbooks reveals that multiple methods to compute the CCC components are employed. Based on a relatively large dataset for six public companies, we explore two of the different methods and their effect on the resulting CCC value. We find that the means of the time series of the two methods over 20 years have only mild statistically significant differences. However, there are important differences in several annual periods for some of the firms analyzed. Since financial managers and financial analysts use the CCC for decision-making, analysis and valuation purposes, the findings of this research represent a warning that the CCC computations might not yield reliable conclusions, as they are dependent on the input used in the calculations.
Significance of the micropores electro-sorption resistance in capacitive deionization systems.

Capacitive Deionization (CDI) is an emerging technology representing a potential alternative to the common, energy-intensive desalination methods for low salinity water streams. In CDI an electrical field is applied to separate ionic species from aqueous solutions and electro-adsorb them into a highly porous material. CDI is a complex multi-scale system which requires robust mathematical models to closely describe its performance. Here, a dynamic two-dimensional model is developed coupling the diffusion and advection of the species in the bulk solution with their diffusion and electro-sorption in the porous electrodes. In this model, the adsorption/desorption resistance between the micropores and macropores along with variable non-electrostatic attractive forces in the micropores are also incorporated. The proposed theory is validated against experiments using a circular CDI cell operating under various conditions, where different transport mechanisms are limiting the total ion removal process. Performance of the CDI systems is also evaluated using inclusive figures of merit. The obtained results accentuate the significant effect of the rate-limited transfer of the ionic species from the macropores into the micropores, especially in systems subject to severe ion starvation, where neglecting this electro-sorption resistance leads to up to 50% and 210% overestimation of the energy efficiency and overall desalination performance, respectively. Furthermore, although the commonly used transport theory describing CDI fails to capture the dynamics of the systems at low initial concentration and high adsorption capacity by assuming fast electro-sorption without any resistance, the presented theory closely models the transport mechanisms in such systems. Moreover, we experimentally and numerically demonstrate a trade-off between the energetic and desalination performance in systems with low and high mass Peclet number.
Energy-Aware Application Placement in Mobile Edge Computing: A Stochastic Optimization Approach

The Quality of Service (QoS) in Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) systems is significantly dependent on the application offloading and placement decisions. Due to the movement of users in MEC networks, an optimal application placement might turn into the least efficient placement in few minutes. Thus, it is crucial to take the dynamics of the system into account when designing application placement mechanisms. On the other hand, energy consumption of servers is a significant component of the cost of services in MEC systems and must also be considered in the design of the mechanisms. In this article, we model the problem of energy-aware application placement in edge computing systems as a multi-stage stochastic program. The objective is to maximize the QoS of the system while taking into account the limited energy budget of the edge servers. To solve the problem, we design a novel parallel Sample Average Approximation (SAA) algorithm. We conduct an extensive experimental analysis to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm using real-world trace data.
Analytical sensitivity and efficiency comparisons of SARS-COV-2 qRT-PCR assays

The recent spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exemplifies the critical need for accurate and rapid diagnostic assays to prompt clinical and public health interventions. Currently, several quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays are being used by clinical, research, and public health laboratories. However, it is currently unclear if results from different tests are comparable. Our goal was to evaluate the primer-probe sets used in four common diagnostic assays available on the World Health Organization (WHO) website. To facilitate this effort, we generated RNA transcripts to be used as assay standards and distributed them to other laboratories for internal validation. We then used these (1) RNA transcript standards, (2) full-length SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and (3) pre-COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swabs, and (4) clinical samples from COVID-19 patients to determine analytical efficiency and sensitivity of the qRT-PCR primer-probe sets. We show that all primer-probe sets can be used to detect SARS-CoV-2, but there are clear differences in the ability to differentiate between true negatives and positives with low amounts of virus. We found that several primer-probe sets cross-react with SARS-CoV-2-negative nasopharyngeal swabs. However, background cross-reactivity by the 2019-nCoV_N2 set issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not interfere with outcomes of the combined 9N19 and 9N29 assay when testing COVID-19 clinical samples. Our findings characterize the limitations of currently used primer-probe sets and can assist other laboratories in selecting appropriate assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.
The Changing Landscapes in DCD Liver Transplantation

The transplant community continues to look for ways to help address the discordance between donor liver graft availability and patients on the liver transplant waiting list. Donation after circulatory death (DCD) donor livers represents one potential means to help address this discordance. The present review describes the changing landscape of DCD liver transplantation (LT). The number of DCD LTs performed annually within the USA has continued to grow on an annual basis. Importantly, national data has demonstrated that outcomes with DCD LT have been improving. This improvement has been driven by better understanding of how to successfully utilize these organs through better donor and recipient matching and careful evaluation of both hemodynamics during withdrawal of life support and the refinement of the procurement operation. Despite these improvements in outcome, ischemic cholangiopathy (IC) continues to be the Achilles heel of DCD LT. Emerging technologies such as various forms of machine perfusion may allow for reduction of complications and better prognostication of the risk associated with DCD liver grafts.
Remission From Unhealthy Drinking Among Patients With an Alcohol Use Disorder: A Longitudinal Study Using Systematic, Primary Care-Based Alcohol Screening Data.

Objective:Using electronic health record (EHR) data from a systematic, primary care–based alcohol screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) initiative within a health system,...
Stability and transferability assessment of the cotton fiber strength QTL qFS-c7-1 on chromosome A07

Abstract Previously we identified a major cotton fiber strength QTL (qFS-c7-1) on chromosome A07 using a multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population. To assess the stability and transferability of this QTL and its utility in cotton breeding, we made ten new populations. These populations were developed from crosses between MAGIC recombinant inbred lines, or between cotton cultivars that are different from the MAGIC parents. A total of 2801 F2 plants were grown and their fiber quality traits were measured. We also selected a subset of F3 seeds from two populations, and grew F3 progeny plots to further evaluate the stability of this QTL. Our results showed that the peak of qFS-c7-1 is at 70–72 Mb region. This QTL had a major effect on fiber strength explaining 21.9% phenotypic variance. Its effect on other fiber quality attributes such as micronaire, short fiber content, length and uniformity varied between populations, and no effect on fiber elongation was observed. The QTL effects were stable in the populations analyzed, and in different generations of the same population. The SSR and SNP markers near and within the QTL peak reported herein will assist selecting superior fiber quality traits in breeding, with a recommendation that the parental cotton lines should be analyzed using the seven DNA markers within the QTL peak before fully implementing marker assisted selection in a cotton breeding program.
The Recalled Age of Initiation of Multiple Tobacco Products among 26-34 Year Olds: Findings from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Wave 1 (2013-2014).

This study examined the recalled age of initiation of seven different tobacco products (TPs) and explored potential influences of sex, race/ethnicity, and cigarette-smoking status on tobacco use initiation among adults 26–34 years old using the PATH study. Methods: Secondary analyses were conducted in the adult restricted PATH wave 1 (2013–2014) dataset. Weighted statistics are reported using the balanced repeated replication method and Fay’s correction to account for PATH’s complex study design. Distributions and histograms of the recalled age of initiation of seven different TPs (cigarettes, cigarillos, traditional cigars, filtered cigars, hookah, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes) are reported, as well as the impact of sex and race/ethnicity using Cox proportional hazard models. The impact of cigarette-smoking status on the recalled age of initiation of each tobacco product other than cigarettes was explored. Results: The highest modes of the recalled age of initiation of cigarette use were at 14–15 and 15–16 years old. The distributions of the recalled age of initiation of cigarillos, traditional cigars, filtered cigars, hookah, and smokeless tobacco occurred later, with the highest modes at 15–16 and 17–18 years old. The distribution of the recalled age of initiation of e-cigarettes had a different shape than the other TPs, with the highest mode reported at 27–28 years old. Conclusion: Due to the ever-changing tobacco marketplace, understanding when contemporary adults aged 26–34 years recall initiating TP use is important and will inform prevention researchers.
Impact of dietary fat composition and quantity in pancreatic carcinogenesis: Recent advances and controversies

A significant number of pancreatic cancer cases are due to modifiable risk factors, with many being attributed to increased body fatness. This has sparked investigators to examine the role played by high dietary fat intake in pancreatic cancer development and the mechanisms driving this connection. However, there is currently no consensus on how dietary fat quantity and composition specifically affect pancreatic carcinogenesis. The objective of this narrative review is to discuss the link between high total fat consumption and fatty acid composition (saturated, mono-, or poly-unsaturated fats) with pancreatic cancer incidence and progression. Following our detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of recent preclinical and human studies, we discuss existing research gaps and opportunities, and provide recommendations for future studies. Numerous studies suggest that diets high in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are associated with reduced pancreatic cancer risk. However, the current evidence appears insufficient for a general conclusion regarding the impact of other types of fat in pancreatic carcinogenesis, with many studies providing inconclusive findings due to study limitations. Thus, we recommend future studies to include detailed methodology of the animal experiments, not limited to the diet composition, type of ingredients, formulations, and administration of the diets. Moreover, human studies should include a diverse population and well-characterized biomarkers for accurate determination of dietary fat intake. Ultimately, this will aid the study rigor, and improve our understanding of the impact of fat quantity and composition in pancreatic carcinogenesis.
The FGCU Effect: Institutional Impact on Regional Sustainability

This chapter focuses on the effectiveness of an institution’s transfer of sustainable practices and education for sustainable development to the local community and region. It examines alumni outcomes, high-impact learning practices, faculty-led projects, and town-gown partnerships. These are viewed through the lenses of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)’s alumni office and community members working to assess and advance regional sustainable development objectives. It discusses challenges associated with these efforts and shines a light on gaps in community planning and initiatives where FGCU’s influence and expertise could enhance Southwest Florida’s capacity to adopt and implement sustainability and resiliency policies and practice, resulting in meaningful impact and positive change. Specifically, it explores regional partnerships, including those with municipal and county governments, which show promise in advancing regional transformation by highlighting high-impact projects. It also finds that alumni associations can play crucial roles in helping universities understand if they have successfully prepared students to take on real-world sustainability challenges.
Multiple primary melanoma in association with other personal and family history of cancers.

e21559Background: Patients (PTs) with cutaneous melanoma are at increased risk of developing second primary melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The primary aim of this study was to define the a...
Scale-bridging with the extended/generalized finite element method for linear elastodynamics

This paper presents an extended/generalized finite element method for bridging scales in linear elastodynamics in the absence of scale separation. More precisely, the GFEMgl framework is expanded to enable the numerical solution of multiscale problems through the automated construction of specially-tailored shape functions, thereby enabling high-fidelity finite element modeling on simple, fixed finite element meshes. This introduces time-dependencies in the shape functions in that they are subject to continuous adaptation with time. The temporal aspects of the formulation are investigated by considering the Newmark- $$\beta $$ time integration scheme, and the efficacy of mass lumping strategies is explored in an explicit time-stepping scheme. This method is demonstrated on representative wave propagation examples as well as a dynamic fracture problem to assess its accuracy and flexibility.
Nonuniform transformation field analysis based reduced-order model of high-fidelity generalized method of cells

Abstract The accurate prediction of a composite’s nonlinear behavior using multiscale modeling techniques relies heavily on the description of microscale features and requires many internal variables, leading to high computational costs. This paper presents a reduced-order model (ROM) for composite materials based on a novel adaptation of nonuniform transformation field analysis (NTFA) in conjunction with the high-fidelity generalized method of cells (HFGMC) micromechanics theory accounting for micro constituent damage. First, the composite’s nonlinear behavior is simulated using the HFGMC technique with constituent damage represented as damage-induced inelastic strains. The nonuniformity in the inelastic strains is then approximated using a set of tensorial deformation modes . Next, a macroscopic continuum damage model is formulated based on the inelastic modes to have the same evolution function as their microscopic counterpart. The NTFA procedure is applied in a three-dimensional setting, followed by a detailed description of the localization operators necessary for linearizing the homogenized constitutive equations. Last, the ROM’s capability to capture damage effects using only a finite set of internal variables is demonstrated by comparing the predicted global and local responses through HFGMC simulations for different loading paths. The presented model is shown to decrease the computational cost of micromechanics-based unit cell homogenization significantly.
Sleep problem screening of young children by speech-language pathologists: A mixed-methods feasibility study:

Background & AimsPoor sleep in young children imperils language learning and use. Both sleep and language problems are prevalent in early childhood. Speech-language pathologists are in a unique pos...
Childhood ADHD and Executive Functioning: Unique Predictions of Early Adolescent Depression.

Given the increasing prevalence of adolescent depression, identification of its early predictors and elucidation of the mechanisms underlying its individual differences is imperative. Controlling for baseline executive functioning (EF), we tested separate ADHD dimensions (i.e., inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity) as independent predictors of early adolescent depression, including temporally-ordered causal mediation by academic functioning and social problems, using structural equation modeling. At baseline, participants consisted of 216 children (67% male) ages 6-9 years old with (n = 112) and without (n = 104) ADHD who subsequently completed Wave 2 and 3 follow-ups approximately two and four years later, respectively. Predictors consisted of separate parent and teacher ratings of childhood ADHD and laboratory-based assessments of key EF domains. At Wave 2, parents and teachers completed normed rating scales of youth academic and social functioning; youth completed standardized assessments of academic achievement. At Wave 3, youth self-reported depression. Baseline inattention positively predicted early adolescent depression whereas childhood hyperactivity-impulsivity and EF did not. Neither academic nor social functioning significantly mediated predictions of depression from baseline ADHD and EF. We consider prediction of early adolescent depression from inattention, including directions for future intervention and prevention research.
Effects of Intrapulmonary Chemoreceptors in Perfused and Non-Perfused Lungs

We measured respiratory movements in 21 thoracotomized cockerels whose lungs were unidirectionally ventilated separately. The right lungs were denervated so that variations in right pulmonary \({\operatorname{P} _{{{\operatorname{CO} }_2}}}\) or blood flow could not affect respiratory movements.\({\operatorname{P} _{{{\operatorname{aCO} }_2}}}\) was kept at 27 torr by adjusting gas flow to perfused lungs. Amplitude of respiratory movements were the same in six cockerels with intact and in six with blocked left pulmonary artery, the latter receiving 1 1/min 28 torr \({\operatorname{P} _{{{\operatorname{CO} }_2}}}\) in O2 in the left lung. We injected 5 mg/kg 2,4-dinitrophenol in these, and after adjusting ventilation so that .\({\operatorname{P} _{{{\operatorname{aCO} }_2}}}\) was again 27 torr, we found that respiratory amplitude was slightly smaller in those with perfused than in those non-perfused left lungs. In three cockerels,we did not find any alteration of intrapulmonary chemoreceptor inhibition of respiratory movements in non-perfused left lungs when dinitrophenol was administered. We estimated the respiratory inhibition from calculated discharge frequency in six cockerels given three .\({\operatorname{P} _{{{\operatorname{CO} }_2}}}\) levels in left, non-perfused lungs. We calculated .\({\operatorname{P} _{{{\operatorname{CO} }_2}}}\) profiles resulting from various \({\operatorname{C} _{\bar vC{O_2}}}\); higher \({\operatorname{C} _{\bar vC{O_2}}}\) gave lower initial .\({\operatorname{P} _{{{\operatorname{CO} }_2}}}\) but higher .\({\operatorname{P} _{{{\operatorname{eCO} }_2}}}\). As most receptors are within the initial .\({\operatorname{P} _{{{\operatorname{aCO} }_2}}}\) region, calculated discharge increases, increasing predicted respiratory inhibition.
Sex-differences in Mitochondrial Respiration in Rat Cerebral Arteries

We determined whether sex-differences exist in mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in cerebral arteries from male and female Sprague Dawley rats. The Seahorse XFe24 analyzer was used to exp...
DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA: A REVIEW

Diabetic macular edema can be classified into a focal variety, characterized by focal leakage from microaneurysms, often with accumulation of extravascular lipoprotein in a circinate pattern around the focal leakage, and a diffuse variety, with diffuse leakage from retinal vessels often accompanied by cystoid macular changes. Laser photocoagulation is directed at microaneurysms for focal leakage and is applied in a grid pattern for diffuse leakage. Several prospective randomized clinical trials have shown that laser-treated eyes fare better than untreated eyes: there is a higher rate of modest visual improvement and a lower rate of visual deterioration in eyes treated with laser photocoagulation. In patients with diabetic macular edema, especially the diffuse variety, systemic factors also may play a pathogenic role. Fluid retention and hypertension due to cardiovascular and renal disease exacerbate retinal capillary leakage. Correction of systemic abnormalities (reduced blood pressure, diuresis) may reduce macular edema and should be included as part of the total management of patients with diabetic macular edema.
Rewarding "Good" Behavior: End-User Debugging and Rewards

Emerging research has sought to bring effective debugging devices to end-user programmers. This research has largely focused on how well such devices bring genuine "functional" rewards to end users. However, emerging models of programming behavior indicate that another, often ignored, type of reward - perceivable rewards - can play an equally vital role in how well debugging devices serve end users. Using an empirically evaluated fault localization device, the paper investigates the impact such perceivable rewards can have on end-user debugging. Our results indicate that perceivable rewards alone can significantly improve the effectiveness and understanding of end users performing debugging tasks
Type 2 diabetes mellitus and survival in pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence has identified pre-existing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as a risk factor for the development of PAC, but relatively little is known about its effects on survival. Our aim was to determine the effect of varying durations of pre-existing T2DM on survival in patients with PAC. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a primary care electronic medical record database from the UK (2003-2010). The study cohort included all subjects with a diagnostic code for PAC. Subjects with a diagnostic code for T2DM before their PAC diagnosis were classified as exposed; otherwise, subjects were classified as unexposed. The primary outcome was overall survival. The analysis was performed using univariate and multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models. Additional analysis was performed to assess the effect of increasing duration of pre-existing T2DM [i.e., 5 years] on survival. RESULTS: The study included 3,147 patients with PAC, with 745 patients having pre-existing T2DM and 2,402 patients without pre-existing T2DM. In the primary multivariate analysis, there was no difference in survival between those exposed and those unexposed to pre-existing T2DM (HR 1.02 [0.93, 1.12], p = 0.620). In the secondary analysis, only those patients with T2DM > 5 years duration had a significantly increased mortality (HR 1.16 [1.00, 1.33], p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term pre-existing T2DM is associated with increased mortality in patients diagnosed with PAC. Cancer 2013. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Microbial ecology and applied microbiology.

Publisher Summary In this chapter, Microbial ecology and applied microbiology is discussed in detail. Microbial ecology deals with the interactions of microbes with their environments, including other microorganisms. The interaction of two organisms on an agar plate is an ecological interaction and should be viewed as such. Any efforts to eliminate the folklore and sentimentality involved in looking for new antibiotics should be welcome. In this chapter, the problem has been divided in its components parts and displays the decisions regarding the methods of approaches required in analyzing the theoretical basis of the approach, and a consideration of its possible outcomes is discussed. This chapter discusses the merits of the ecological approach, as it is different from the current approach, it is intellectually satisfying and would be more satisfying than the screening approach, and it may lead to some unsuspected new knowledge that is of use, whereas at the end of an unsuccessful screening operation, little new knowledge is available..
Advances in modeling ventricular arrhythmias: from mechanisms to the clinic

Modern cardiovascular research has increasingly recognized that heart models and simulation can help interpret an array of experimental data and dissect important mechanisms and interrelationships, with developments rooted in the iterative interaction between modeling and experimentation. This article reviews the progress made in simulating cardiac electrical behavior at the level of the organ and, specifically, in the development of models of ventricular arrhythmias and fibrillation, as well as their termination (defibrillation). The ability to construct multi-scale models of ventricular arrhythmias, representing integrative behavior from the molecule to the entire organ, has enabled mechanistic inquiry into the dynamics of ventricular arrhythmias in the diseased myocardium, in understanding drug-induced pro-arrhythmia, and in the development of new modalities for defibrillation, to name a few. In this article we also review the initial use of ventricular models of arrhythmia in personalized diagnosis, treatment planning, and prevention of sudden cardiac death. Implementing individualized cardiac simulations at the patient bedside is poised to become one of the most thrilling examples of computational science and engineering approaches in translational medicine.
Expression of engineered human 17 beta-estradiol dehydrogenase in a prokaryotic system.

Objective 17 beta estradiol dehydrogenase (17 beta DH) is a model for pyridine-dependent steroid-converting enzymes. To define the structural and functional parameters of 17 beta DH, we created an expression system for production of abundant, homogeneous enzyme. Methods A full-length 17 beta DH cDNA clone was engineered into the inducible expression vector pMON 5839. After induction of plasmid-bearing Escherichia coli JM109 cells, the authenticity of the recombinant human placental 17 beta DH (r17 beta DH) was evaluated. Results Protein electrophoresis and Western blot analysis confirmed the immunologic identity of r17 beta DH with native human placental enzyme. The amino acid sequence, enzyme activity, Vmax, K(m), and kcat of r17 beta DH matched that of the native enzyme. Conclusion Prokaryotic cell lines offer the opportunity to create an unlimited supply of recombinant human placental 17 beta DH without the expense and time commitment of baculoviral or eukaryotic cell lines. We are now able to use r17 beta DH and its mutants to elucidate the mechanisms of action of this class of enzyme.
Does Manganese Influence Phosphorus Cycling under Suboxic Lake Water Conditions

Abstract The comparative roles of iron and manganese in internal phosphorus loading were examined in a managed lake. Sediments and the water column of Irondequoit Bay, an embayment along Lake Ontario's southern shore, were sampled monthly during summer thermal stratification. Total phosphorus, total iron, and total manganese concentrations in the sediment averaged 1.389 ± 0.150 g/kg dry wt, 24.415 ± 0.760 g/kg dry wt, and 1.727 ± 0.053 g/kg dry wt, respectively. Elevated total phosphorus (maximum = 0.915 mg P/L) and soluble reactive phosphorus (maximum = 0.749 mg P/L) concentrations were observed in the hypolimnion. Sequential extraction of phosphorus fractions from the top 25 cm of deep-water sediment revealed that approximately 25% of phosphorus was stored in a redox-sensitive form, most likely associated with iron and manganese oxyhydroxides. Typically, phosphorus released from sediments is associated with iron, not manganese. However, iron and manganese profiles from the water column indicated that ma...
Message tracking in SOAP-based Web services

As Web services become more prevalent, the nature of electronic transactions on the Internet changes from simple browser-to-business clicks to an orchestrated flow of messages between cross-enterprise services. Consequently, more than one service could participate in the federated execution of a single transaction. In such cases, the problem of end-to-end management becomes very important. The inherent cross-enterprise or distributed nature of the problem, security of information exchanged, and the complexity in correlating related messages into a single transaction make this problem challenging. We present an approach to track and correlate messages between Web services that are part of a single transaction. We do this by proposing management information exchange agreements between service providers, and a distributed message tracking algorithm that is executed within each service provider. We also explain the techniques for realizing our solution in the case of Web services that communicate using the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP).
Consumer-operated drop-in centers: Evaluation of operations and impact

Research on self-help for consumers of psychiatric services has focused on the operation of voluntary groups and largely ignored service programs operated by consumers. This evaluation study focused on six consumer-operated drop-in centers, each established for at least two years. These centers served a combined total of 1,445 consumers and were funded as demonstration projects by the Michigan Department of Mental Health. Structured interviews of consumer-users of these centers indicated that the program was meeting its funding intents of serving people with serious mental illness and of creating an environment promoting social support and shared problem solving. Levels of satisfaction were uniformly high; there were few differences across centers. Issues that emerged for future policy and research considerations included funding constraints, enhancing accessibility (particularly for women and people needing frequent hospitalization), variable levels of support from catchment area community mental health agencies, and determining the long-term benefits of drop-in center participation.
Annual cycles of mass flux and isotopic composition of pteropod shells settling into the deep Sargasso sea

Abstract Mass fluxes and stable isotopic compositions (δ18O and δ13C) pteropod shells collected during a 6-year series of 2-month sediment-trap deployments in the deep (3.2 km) Sargasso Sea provide information on annual population changes, habitat depths and life spans of thecosome pteropods (Euthecosomata). The flux of pteropod shells responds to the annual cycle of primary production in the upper ocean. Flux maxima of the shells (> 1 mm) of eight species occur from late winter through autumn. Seasonal changes in the hydrography of the upper water column are quite accurately recorded in the δ18O variations of six perennial species, which generally confirm the distinction between non-migratory (Creseis acicula, Creseis virgula conica, and Diacria quadridentata) and diurnally migratory taxa (Styliola subula, Cuvierina columnella, and Clio pyramidata). Isotopic records of C. acicula and C. virgula conica are consistent with shell formation above 50 m. The records of the migratory species reflect what appear to be average calcification depths of 50–75 m. Average annual δ13C variations reveal the annual cycles of primary production and stratification of near-surface waters. Adult life spans of the species studied appear to be no more than a few months. The results of this study should be useful in paleoceanographic reconstructions based on isotopic measurements of sedimentary pteropod shells.
Fluorination reactions with HF/THF medium solvolysis of N-tosyl-O-phenylhydroxylamine

Abstract Solvolysis of N-tosyl-O-phenylhydroxylamine in HF/THF leads to regiospecific formation of p-fluorophenol via umpolung strategy which induces nucleophilic aromatic fluorine/hydrogen substiution.
The Endosymbiotic Bacterium Wolbachia Induces Resistance to Dengue Virus in Aedes aegypti

Genetic strategies that reduce or block pathogen transmission by mosquitoes have been proposed as a means of augmenting current control measures to reduce the growing burden of vector-borne diseases. The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia has long been promoted as a potential vehicle for introducing disease-resistance genes into mosquitoes, thereby making them refractory to the human pathogens they transmit. Given the large overlap in tissue distribution and intracellular localization between Wolbachia and dengue virus in mosquitoes, we conducted experiments to characterize their interactions. Our results show that Wolbachia inhibits viral replication and dissemination in the main dengue vector, Aedes aegypti. Moreover, the virus transmission potential of Wolbachia-infected Ae. aegypti was significantly diminished when compared to wild-type mosquitoes that did not harbor Wolbachia. At 14 days post-infection, Wolbachia completely blocked dengue transmission in at least 37.5% of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. We also observed that this Wolbachia-mediated viral interference was associated with an elevated basal immunity and increased longevity in the mosquitoes. These results underscore the potential usefulness of Wolbachia-based control strategies for population replacement.
The effects of feedback on performance and retention of skill for a natural language interface

Abstract This study investigated the effectiveness of different types of on-line feedback following user errors for informing users of the information and functions available in a system with a natural language interface. Twenty-four individuals performed a task based on an industry cost savings program, in which they were given general goals to pursue with regard to the task. Three feedback levels which differed according to the type and amount of feedback provided, along with two levels of system complexity, were examined. In addition, subjects performed the task again after one week to determine the effects of feedback on retention. Results indicated that the subjects in the second level of feedback generally performed better with respect to accessing system functions and information than those in the first level. Although there was some performance improvement from the second to third level, it was not significant. However, the third level of feedback did significantly improve the efficiency with whic...