cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What's hot today? Current topics in sports and exercise medicine

This American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM)-shaped issue of BJSM highlights ‘hot topics’ in sports medicine. The Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines ‘hot’ as: of intense and immediate interest. I used this simple definition to guide AMSSM's selection of articles for this issue. This issue's selections are clearly ‘hot topics’ but to whom are they considered ‘hot?’ What defines a sport and exercise medicine practitioner? Is it the team physician who cares for the professional or elite athlete? Is it the paediatrician who encourages the obese adolescent to put down the Wii controller and get outside? Or is it the cardiologist who dedicates herself to getting a heart failure patient back to tolerating light exercise? How does someone best describe what we do for our patients? We as ‘sports and exercise medicine’ providers have a unique role that encompasses multiple specialties, age groups and patient populations. We are tasked with prescreening athletes prior to activity, preventing and treating all manners of sporting injury. We care for the elderly, the young and those with chronic illness. We follow patients after injuries and are often the experts consulted with difficult and challenging medical cases that are both medical and sports related. We are a diverse group and we meet a wide range of needs. Thus, choosing what is ‘hot’ and relevant to everyone reading this AMSSM-shaped issue was challenging. So how did we select these articles? There are hundreds of topics of interest to the sports and exercise medicine practitioner, but which of these are of interest to our …
Role of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and Cyclooxygenase-2 in Endotoxin-Induced Cerebral Hyperemia

Background and Purpose —Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin, has been reported to induce the expression of inducible isoforms of both nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) in various cell types. LPS is also known to dilate systemic vasculature, including cerebral vessels. This study aimed to determine to what extent LPS induces iNOS and COX-2 expression in the brain and whether NO and/or cyclooxygenase metabolites derived from iNOS and/or COX-2 contribute to the LPS-induced cerebral hyperemia. Methods —Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry in halothane-anesthetized, artificially ventilated rats for 4 hours after intracerebroventricular administration of LPS. Results —LPS at doses of 0.01 mg/kg to 1 mg/kg caused dose-dependent, progressive increases in rCBF at 1 to 4 hours after administration. The increase in rCBF was attenuated by systemic administration of the selective iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine (100 mg/kg IP) or the selective COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 (5 mg/kg IP), and it was abolished by preventing induction of these isoforms with dexamethasone (4 mg/kg IP). LPS significantly increased iNOS and COX-2 mRNA, iNOS protein, and iNOS and cyclooxygenase enzyme activity. The increases in iNOS and cyclooxygenase enzyme activity were eliminated by aminoguanidine and NS-398, respectively. Dexamethasone also prevented the increase in iNOS and cyclooxygenase activity. Conclusions —These results indicate that induction of iNOS and COX-2 expression and the increased production of NO and vasodilator prostanoids in the brain contribute to the elevation in CBF after intracerebroventricular administration of LPS.
Receptor Tyrosine Kinases Endocytosis in Endothelium Biology and Signaling

Receptor tyrosine kinases are involved in regulation of key processes in endothelial biology, including proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. It is now generally accepted that receptor tyrosine kinase signaling occurs intracellularly and on the plasma membrane, although many important details remain to be worked out. Endocytosis and subsequent intracellular trafficking spatiotemporally regulate receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, whereas signaling endosomes provide a platform for the compartmentalization of signaling events. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of endothelial receptor tyrosine kinase endocytosis and signaling using vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 as a paradigm.
Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) plays an important role in retinal ganglion cell death after acute optic nerve injury

Optic nerve damage initiates a series of early atrophic events in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that precede the BAX-dependent committed step of the intrinsic apoptotic program. Nuclear atrophy, including global histone deacetylation, heterochromatin formation, shrinkage and collapse of nuclear structure, and the silencing of normal gene expression, comprise an important obstacle to overcome in therapeutic approaches to preserve neuronal function. Several studies have implicated histone deacetylases (HDACs) in the early stages of neuronal cell death, including RGCs. Importantly, these neurons exhibit nuclear translocation of HDAC3 shortly after optic nerve damage. Additionally, HDAC3 activity has been reported to be selectively toxic to neurons. RGC-specific conditional knockout of Hdac3 was achieved by transducing the RGCs of Hdac3 fl/fl mice with an adeno-associated virus serotype 2 carrying CRE recombinase and GFP (AAV2-Cre/GFP). Controls included similar viral transduction of Rosa26 fl/fl reporter mice. Optic nerve crush (ONC) was then performed on eyes. The ablation of Hdac3 in RGCs resulted in significant amelioration of characteristics of ONC-induced nuclear atrophy such as H4 deacetylation, heterochromatin formation, and the loss of nuclear structure. RGC death was also significantly reduced. Interestingly, loss of Hdac3 expression did not lead to protection against RGC-specific gene silencing after ONC, although this effect was achieved using the broad spectrum inhibitor, Trichostatin A. Although other HDACs may be responsible for gene expression changes in RGCs, our results indicate a critical role for HDAC3 in nuclear atrophy in RGC apoptosis following axonal injury. This study provides a framework for studying the roles of other prevalent retinal HDACs in neuronal death as a result of axonal injury.
International Education and Higher Education's Revised Role in a Global Society

The end goal of international education’s revised role in higher education is to provide a greater good to the global society. During the past several years, globalization has emerged as a trend that supports a move on the part of higher education to provide students with an education that extends beyond their native country (Brodin, 2010). Formidable global challenges contribute to necessary changes to the components of higher education so as to enhance overall societal good. Multi-cultural experiences that enhance career opportunities and components making up higher education’s revised role in international education include: international programs and curriculums, study abroad experiences, international tourism and sport, and international education’s potential economic impact on the university, local community, and world. Factors driving higher education’s revised role in international education include: technological progress in communication, international business and social needs, competitive job markets, and the global economy. In particular evidence continues to build in support of the notion that students who are immersed in foreign cultures will return home wiser and a more well rounded global citizen (Gumbel, 2011). International education in the form of experiences embedded into higher education curriculums is rapidly becoming the norm.
Formation and Current Results of a Patient-Organized Registry for α1-Antitrypsin Deficiency

Background Significant challenges exist toinvestigating uncommon illnesses because too few patients are seen atany single clinical center to permit appropriate research studies. Recognizing this impediment to clinical research inα 1 -antitrypsin deficiency, the Alpha One Foundation, apatient-organized research foundation, has collaborated withclinician-scientists to organize a voluntary registry of individualswith α 1 -antitrypsin deficiency. Purpose To facilitate clinical research in α 1 -antitrypsindeficiency by organizing a registry of affected individuals willing tobe approached to participate in clinical studies. Methods Elements of the Alpha One Foundation Research Network Registry include a Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee, composed of physician-investigators and patient advocates, designatedclinical resource centers at medical institutions with expertise in themanagement of individuals with α 1 -antitrypsin deficiency, and a data coordinating center with responsibility for databasemanagement and analysis. Questionnaires requesting information aboutdemographic features, α 1 -antitrypsin phenotype, smokinghistory, and health-care utilization were distributed to prospectiveregistrants through the following channels: mailings from the Alpha One Foundation; mailings from the clinical resource centers; and distribution by home-care and pharmaceutical companies. Informationfrom this questionnaire formed the basis of the initial registrydatabase. Results Between May 1997 and June 1999,7,789 forms were distributed, and forms were returned by 712 uniqueregistrants. Registrants have the following characteristics: mean(± SD) age, 49.3 ± 13.2 years; women, 47.7%; white, 96.2%;PI*ZZ phenotype, 70.7%; ex-smokers, 73.3%; COPD patients, 87.2%(emphysema patients, 54.2%; chronic bronchitis patients, 33%); and self-reported liver disease, 6.4%. The mean number of physician visitsreported by registrants in the preceding 12 months was 7.8 ± 9.4,59% reported currently receiving IV augmentation therapy, and 35% reported using supplemental oxygen at home. Examples of ongoingresearch studies using this unique database include: (1) a case-controlstudy to evaluate occupational risk factors for obstructive lungdisease in individuals with α 1 -antitrypsin deficiency and (2) a study to evaluate the health-care costs for affectedindividuals. Conclusions A registry currentlyincluding 712 individuals with α 1 -antitrypsin deficiencyhas been organized through a collaboration betweenphysician-investigators and a patient-organized research foundation. Use of the registry has already facilitated studies that werepreviously difficult because of the paucity of identifiable studysubjects. The registry cohort promises to provide an important resourcefor future clinical and epidemiologic studies.
Clinical, relevant data -- what and how often?

There is not a simple answer to the questions by this title. The first and most important answer is to stress that important and relevant data may differ depending on the patient population to be served. There is, however, a commonality of information needed on all patients.
Expression of, and in vivo stressosome formation by, single members of the RsbR protein family in Bacillus subtilis

The Bacillus subtilis stressosome is a 1.8 MDa complex that is the focal point for activating the bacterium's general response to physical stress. In vitro studies demonstrated that the stressosome's core element can be formed from one or more of a family of paralogous proteins (RsbRA, -RB, -RC and -RD) onto which the system's activator protein (RsbT) and its principal inhibitor (RsbS) are bound. The RsbR components of the stressosome are envisioned to be the initial receptors of stress signalling with the stressosome structure itself serving as a device to integrate multiple stress signals for a coordinated response. In the current work, we examine several of the in vivo characteristics of the RsbR family members, including their expression and ability to form stressosomes to regulate sigma(B). Translational fusions of lacZ to each rsbR paralogue revealed that rsbRA, -RB and -RC are expressed at similar levels, which remain relatively constant during growth, ethanol stress and entry into stationary phase. rsbRD, in contrast, is expressed at a level that is only slightly above background during growth, but is induced to 30 % of the rsbRA expression level following ethanol stress. Velocity sedimentation analyses of B. subtilis extracts from strains expressing single rsbR paralogues demonstrated that each incorporates RsbS into fast-sedimenting complexes. However, consistent with rsbRD's lower expression, the RsbRD-dependent RsbS complexes were present at only 20 % of the level of the complexes seen in a wild-type strain. The lower stressosome level in the RsbRD strain is still able to hold RsbT's activity in check, implying that the RsbR/S component of stressosomes is normally in excess for the control of RsbT. Consistent with such a notion, reporter gene and Western blot assays demonstrate that although RsbT is synthesized at the same rate as RsbRA and RsbS, RsbT's ultimate level in growing B. subtilis is only 10 % that of RsbRA. Apparently, RsbT's inherent structure and/or its passage between the stressosome and its activation target compromises its persistence.
Scintillation Camera Quality Control, Part I: Establishing the Quality Control Program

This is the first article in a four-part series on scintillation camera quality control. This series of articles will include both theory and practical knowledge on setting up a quality control program, acceptance testing and quality control for planar, SPECT and special imaging procedures. On completion of this article the reader should be able to: (a) discuss the purpose of a quality control program; (b) know how to establish the performance criteria for a scintillation camera; (c) know how to design a quality control program; (d) be able to set up the schedule for the quality control program; (e) understand the economics of quality control; and (f) justify the expenditure of the institution’s resources on quality control.
Viewpoints on the Fire Plan of Chongqing City

The fire plan aiming to create the fire security environment for the development of the city,is an important part of the modern city plan.This article reviews the experience of the fire plan of compilation Chongqing city,discusses its frame,and summarizes its notable effect on the construction of the public fire infrastructure.Some advices on how to improve the urban fire plan is also put forward in this article.
Role of a Project Manager in Managing Agile Projects

With the advent of the agile project management methods, the role of a project manager has enhanced to satisfy the needs. The traditional project management principles are not enough to manage today’s large, complex projects. In this paper, we will review the role of a project manager in managing agile projects and how it is different from traditional project manager’s approaches. A comprehensive literature review on the changing roles of a project manager in an agile project is the theoretical foundation of the paper.
Shared use agreements between municipalities and public schools in the United States, 2014

Abstract Shared use agreements allow public use of school facilities during non-school hours. Such agreements can cover outdoor facilities alone or may be more comprehensive by also including indoor facilities. Our aim was to: 1) estimate the prevalence of shared use agreements and facility types covered among U.S. municipalities and 2) identify differences in prevalence by municipality characteristics. The 2014 National Survey of Community-based Policy and Environmental Supports for Healthy Eating and Active Living is a representative survey of US municipalities (n = 2029). Data were analyzed using survey weights to create national estimates. Logistic and multinomial regression models determined odds ratios adjusting for municipality characteristics. Among 1930 municipalities with a school, 41.6% had a shared use agreement as reported by a local official, 45.6% did not, and 12.8% did not know. Significant differences in prevalence existed by population size, rural/urban status, poverty prevalence, median education level, and census region; however, after adjustment for other municipality characteristics significant differences remained only by population size, median education level, and census region. Among municipalities with a shared use agreement, 59.6% covered both outdoor and indoor facilities, 5.5% covered indoor facilities only, and 34.9% covered outdoor facilities only. Opportunities exist to expand the use of shared use agreements particularly in municipalities with small populations, lower education levels, and in the South, and to promote more comprehensive shared use agreements that include both indoor and outdoor facilities.
Reassessing the importance of long-acting contraception

Background Several recent studies have highlighted the need for greater use of long-acting contraception. The most influential of these studies is the Contraceptive CHOICE Project, which was credited with substantially reducing participants' pregnancy risk by increasing their use of long-acting methods such as intrauterine devices and subdermal implants. However, because participants' rates of nonuse and condom use fell to zero at the outset of the intervention, it is possible that sizable pregnancy reductions could still have been achieved if enrollees had chosen shorter-acting, female-controlled methods such as oral contraception. Objective The objective of the study was to estimate the proportion of the CHOICE Project's fertility impacts that could have been achieved without any increase in long-acting method use. Study Design The FamilyScape 3.0 microsimulation model was used to estimate CHOICE's impact on pregnancy risk and to simulate the counterfactual effect of moving all nonusers and condom users onto shorter-acting, female-controlled methods. FamilyScape models the sexual and contraceptive behaviors of women in the United States between 2006 and 2010, which is the period when CHOICE was implemented. Results Nearly three quarters of the CHOICE intervention's effects on pregnancy risk could have been achieved if participants had chosen shorter-acting, female-controlled methods over long-acting methods. Conclusion Prioritizing the adoption of long-acting contraception may not be the most advisable strategy for reducing unintended pregnancy. The most impactful interventions will likely be those that increase the use of female-controlled methods, long-acting or otherwise.
Identifying hot socket problem in smart meters

Smart meters play an important role in distribution system for both customers and utilities. The hot socket problem has recently become a safety issue for smart meters. This paper proposes a method to extract information from massive data and verifies the method by proper prediction model. The case study shows that the method and the model have good performance.
Comprehensive Guide for the Safe Administration of rTMS While Providing for Patient Comfort.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive somatic treatment with promising therapeutic potential for a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions (George & Belmaker, 2007). A...
Common Neuromusculoskeletal Disorders

Neuromusculoskeletal disorders have high rates of prevalence and in composite are the most common reason to seek medical treatment. They are also commonly encountered in the occupational setting even without taking into account the potential contribution of workplace factors. Many of these problems appear clinically as acute disorders with a typically acute onset of symptoms. However, the pathophysiology of the disorders would indicate a chronic degenerative process. Thus, they appear best classified as diseases rather than injuries. Epidemiologic studies defining many of these disorders as occupational in etiology are weak or absent. Nevertheless, the inability to perform work often is a primary motivator for seeking medical care from occupational health professionals.
Abstract 167: Intracerebral Hemorrhage After Emergency Department Visits for Hypertension

Introduction: Although common, severe hypertension in the emergency department (ED) has not been well studied. Current guidelines recommend against aggressive treatment of acutely hypertensive ED patients without end-organ failure and instead recommend initiation of oral antihypertensive agents and outpatient follow-up. However, recent data suggests that intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) often occurs shortly after an acute rise in blood pressure. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that patients discharged from the ED with hypertension face an increased risk of ICH in subsequent weeks. Methods: Using administrative claims data from CA, NY, and FL, we identified all patients discharged from the ED from 2005 through 2011 with a primary diagnosis of hypertension (ICD-9-CM codes 401-405). Patients were excluded if they were hospitalized from the ED or had prior histories of cerebrovascular disease at the index visit with hypertension. Using the Mantel-Haenszel estimator for matched data, we compared each patient’s odds of ICH during days 8-38 after ED discharge to the same patient’s odds during days 373-403 after discharge. This cohort-crossover design with a one-week washout period enabled individual patients to serve as their own controls, thereby minimizing confounding bias. Results: Among 552,569 patients discharged from the ED with a primary diagnosis of hypertension, 93 (0.017%) were diagnosed with ICH during days 8-38 after discharge compared to 70 (0.013%) during days 373-403 (OR 1.33, 95% CI 0.96-1.84). The odds of ICH were increased in certain subgroups of patients (≥60 years of age and those with secondary discharge diagnoses besides hypertension), but absolute risks were low in all subgroups. Conclusions: Contrary to our hypothesis, patients with ED visits for hypertension did not face an increased short-term risk of ICH after discharge. These findings support current guidelines for the ED management of patients with acute hypertension.
Positioning for College Success: The Evaluation of the Princeton University Preparatory Program's Work With High-Achieving, Low-Income Students

In summer 2015, Princeton University contracted with Educational Testing Service (ETS) to conduct an evaluation of the Princeton University Preparatory Program (PUPP), the college access program developed by Princeton University faculty and staff. The mixed-method ETS evaluation of PUPP included the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data on the program and its participants. Data revealed that the PUPP model is perceived by a majority of participants and stakeholders as a well-designed and comprehensive program with effective practices, in particular the highly personalized nature of its services—lasting more than 3 years—and its strong emphasis on personal relationships. PUPP activities and instruction are viewed as high quality and rigorous. PUPP participants and stakeholders describe the program as highly beneficial for participants' academic and social–emotional skills and cultural knowledge and for their access to and preparation for college. Outcomes analyses confirm that participants tend to demonstrate strong academic outcomes and succeed in college. Participants also report attending more selective colleges than they otherwise would have, largely due to the supports provided by PUPP.
Wearable Driver Distraction Identification On-The-Road via Continuous Decomposition of Galvanic Skin Responses

One of the main reasons for fatal accidents on the road is distracted driving. The continuous attention of an individual driver is a necessity for the task of driving. While driving, certain levels of distraction can cause drivers to lose their attention, which might lead to an accident. Thus, the number of accidents can be reduced by early detection of distraction. Many studies have been conducted to automatically detect driver distraction. Although camera-based techniques have been successfully employed to characterize driver distraction, the risk of privacy violation is high. On the other hand, physiological signals have shown to be a privacy preserving and reliable indicator of driver state, while the acquisition technology might be intrusive to drivers in practical implementation. In this study, we investigate a continuous measure of phasic Galvanic Skin Responses (GSR) using a wristband wearable to identify distraction of drivers during a driving experiment on-the-road. We first decompose the raw GSR signal into its phasic and tonic components using Continuous Decomposition Analysis (CDA), and then the continuous phasic component containing relevant characteristics of the skin conductance signals is investigated for further analysis. We generated a high resolution spectro-temporal transformation of the GSR signals for non-distracted and distracted (calling and texting) scenarios to visualize the associated behavior of the decomposed phasic GSR signal in correlation with distracted scenarios. According to the spectrogram observations, we extract relevant spectral and temporal features to capture the patterns associated with the distracted scenarios at the physiological level. We then performed feature selection using support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) in order to: (1) generate a rank of the distinguishing features among the subject population, and (2) create a reduced feature subset toward more efficient distraction identification on the edge at the generalization phase. We employed support vector machine (SVM) to generate the 10-fold cross validation (10-CV) identification performance measures. Our experimental results demonstrated cross-validation accuracy of 94.81% using all the features and the accuracy of 93.01% using reduced feature space. The SVM-RFE selected set of features generated a marginal decrease in accuracy while reducing the redundancy in the input feature space toward shorter response time necessary for early notification of distracted state of the driver.
Knowledge gaps persist and hinder progress in eliminating mumps

Mumps, a common childhood disease in the pre-vaccine era that causes swelling of the parotid salivary glands, can lead to orchitis, viral meningitis, and sensorineural deafness. While the incidence of disease decreased dramatically after the vaccine was added to standard vaccination schedules, the disease has made a substantial resurgence in recent years. As a result, it becomes critical to examine the factors involved in recurring outbreaks. Although low and incomplete vaccination coverage may be a key reason, it does not fully explain the issue due to the high rate of occurrence in populations with high vaccination coverage rates. Multiple studies suggest that waning immunity and secondary vaccine failure play a large role, the effects of which were previously masked by subclinical boosting. Significant knowledge gaps persist around the exact role and mechanism of waning immunity and demonstrate the need for more research in this area, as well as a reevaluation of mumps vaccine policy.
Consolidation and Strength Characteristics of Biofilm Amended Barrier Soils

Experimental work was conducted to investigate the influence of biofilm on the consolidation and strength characteristics of two barrier soils. Biofilm has potential as a low-cost additive for soil stabilization, and it may be formed naturally in landfills throughout the developing world. The EPS-producing bacterium Beijerinckia indica was used to prepare solutions of varying concentration of exopolymeric substances (EPS). These solutions were then used as the molding moisture for compacted specimens of locally available clay (“red bull tallow,” RBT) as well as a mix of 65% sand and 35% bentonite (65:35 mix). As compared to tap water, the influence of the nutrient solution or biofilm on RBT is to increase the compression index (Cc), although this trend is variable for increasing EPS concentration. While the effect of biofilm on the 65:35 mix is less uniform, the largest increase in Cc was observed for the highest level of biofilm amendment (EPS-5, 300 mg/L). Amendment with biofilm results in both increases and decreases in the rate of consolidation (cv). The cv values ranged from 0.4 to 13.6 m2/year and from 0.2 to 19.3 m2/year for RBT and 65:35 mix, respectively. In general, EPS has a decreasing effect on observed strength. For example, the peak unconfined compressive strengths for unmodified RBT and 65:35 mix were found to be 667.0 and 395.3 kPa, respectively. Many of these values decreased with increasing biofilm amendment, and for the highest level of amendment, the observed peak strengths were 159.1 and 98.8 kPa. To the extent that naturally-occurring methanotrophic activity in landfill cover systems results in biofilm production, the results suggest potential concerns with cover stability.
A New Robust Design Strategy for Sigmoidal Models Based on Model Nesting

For a given process, researchers often have a specific nonlinear model in mind and perhaps a reasonable initial estimate of the p model parameters. In this situation, optimal design theory produces designs which typically have only p support points even when the final sample size (n) is chosen to exceed the number of parameters. Since p-point designs assume that the model function is known with complete certainty and provide no opportunity to test for the adequacy of the assumed model, they are clearly not “optimal” in most practical settings.
Probing Single-Cell Mechanical Allostasis Using Ultrasound Tweezers

In response to external stress, cells alter their morphology, metabolic activity, and functions to mechanically adapt to the dynamic, local environment through cell allostasis. To explore mechanotransduction in cellular allostasis, we applied an integrated micromechanical system that combines an ‘ultrasound tweezers’-based mechanical stressor and a Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based molecular force biosensor, termed “actinin-sstFRET,” to monitor in situ single-cell allostasis in response to transient stimulation in real time. The ultrasound tweezers utilize 1 Hz, 10-s transient ultrasound pulses to acoustically excite a lipid-encapsulated microbubble, which is bound to the cell membrane, and apply a pico- to nano-Newton range of forces to cells through an RGD-integrin linkage. The actinin-sstFRET molecular sensor, which engages the actin stress fibers in live cells, is used to map real-time actomyosin force dynamics over time. Then, the mechanosensitive behaviors were examined by profiling the dynamics in Ca2+ influx, actomyosin cytoskeleton (CSK) activity, and GTPase RhoA signaling to define a single-cell mechanical allostasis. By subjecting a 1 Hz, 10-s physical stress, single vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were observed to remodeled themselves in a biphasic mechanical allostatic manner within 30 min that caused them to adjust their contractility and actomyosin activities. The cellular machinery that underscores the vital role of CSK equilibrium in cellular mechanical allostasis, includes Ca2+ influx, remodeling of actomyosin CSK and contraction, and GTPase RhoA signaling. Mechanical allostasis was observed to be compromised in VSMCs from patients with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which could potentiate an allostatic maladaptation. By integrating tools that simultaneously permit localized mechanical perturbation and map actomyosin forces, we revealed distinct cellular mechanical allostasis profiles in our micromechanical system. Our findings of cell mechanical allostasis and maladaptation provide the potential for mechanophenotyping cells to reveal their pathogenic contexts and their biophysical mediators that underlie multi-etiological diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, or aging.
Systems of linear equations

In this chapter, we shall discuss the use of matrices for representing and solving systems of linear equations. As we shall see, APL makes the job of solving certain systems of linear equations almost trivial.
Notch signaling is essential in collecting duct epithelial cell fate determination during development and maintenance of cell type homeostasis in adult

Mammalian kidney has at least 26 different cell types (1). The collecting duct derives from the ureteric bud (UB) (2). Nephrogenesis is completed before birth in human beings and mice but continues until postnatal day 11–15 in rats (3). However, renal functional maturation lags behind anatomic maturation in all species. Tubule hypertrophy and hyperplasia and interstitial expansion contribute to the postnatal size increase of the kidney (4). Unlike other segment of nephrons, which contains single epithelial cell type, the collecting duct contains principal cells (PCs) and intercalated cells. PCs and ICs express distinct transporters to enable water and sodium homeostasis and acid-base homeostasis, respectively (5).
CurvaNet: Geometric Deep Learning based on Directional Curvature for 3D Shape Analysis

Over the last decade, deep learning research has achieved tremendous success in computer vision and natural language processing. The current widely successful deep learning models are largely based on convolution and pooling operations on a Euclidean plane with a regular grid (e.g., image and video data) and thus cannot be directly applied to the non-Euclidean surface. Geometric deep learning aims to fill the gap by generalizing deep learning models from a 2D Euclidean plane to a 3D geometric surface. The problem has important applications in human-computer interaction, biochemistry, and mechanical engineering, but is uniquely challenging due to the lack of a regular grid framework and the difficulties in learning geometric features on a non-Euclidean manifold. Existing works focus on generalizing deep learning models from 2D image to graphs (e.g., graph neural networks) or 3D mesh surfaces but without fully learning geometric features from a differential geometry perspective. In contrast, this paper proposes a novel geometric deep learning model called CurvaNet that integrates differential geometry with graph neural networks. The key idea is to learn direction sensitive 3D shape features through directional curvature filters. We design a U-Net like architecture with downsampling and upsampling paths based on mesh pooling and unpooling operations. Evaluation on real-world datasets shows that the proposed model outperforms several baseline methods in classification accuracy.
Rigid External Distractors in Midface Fractures: A Review of Relevant and Related Literature.

Introduction Literature discussing the use of rigid external distraction devices in midfacial trauma is limited. Rigid external distraction devices have been described for use in craniofacial surgery, allowing for distraction and stabilization of bony segments. In complex facial trauma, bony fragments are often comminuted and unstable, making traditional approaches with internal fixation difficult. Moreover, these approaches require subperiosteal dissection, limiting blood supply that is important for bone healing. Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of rigid external distraction devices for the treatment of complex facial trauma. Methods We performed a literature review of rigid external distraction devices, as relevant both for facial trauma and for other craniofacial indications, to better elucidate their use and efficacy in complex facial fractures. Results The review revealed only 2 articles explicitly describing rigid external distraction devices for facial trauma, while 6 other articles describing its use for other craniofacial cases. An important benefit associated with the use of rigid external distraction devices is their ability to provide controlled traction of bony segments while also allowing for movement as needed for fracture reduction. Various articles describe performing internal fixation following rigid external distraction device usage, while others emphasize that internal fixation is not necessarily indicated if the rigid external distraction device is left intact long enough to ensure bony healing. One potential setback described is unfamiliarity with using the rigid external distraction device, which can preclude its use by many surgeons. In addition, the literature review did not provide any uniform guidelines or recommendations about how long rigid external distraction devices should remain intact. Conclusion Based on relevant literature, rigid external distraction devices have been shown to be useful in the stabilization and treatment of complex facial fractures. Further studies should be conducted to better elucidate the specific indications for rigid external distraction devices in complex facial trauma.
CUDA Deformers for Model Reduction

Real-time deformable object simulation is important in interactive applications such as games and virtual reality. One common approach to achieve speed is to employ model reduction, a technique whereby the equations of motion of a deformable object are projected to a suitable low-dimensional space. Improving the real-time performance of model-reduced systems has been the subject of much research. While modern GPUs play an important role in real-time simulation and parallel computing, existing model reduction systems typically utilize CPUs and seldom employ GPUs. We give a method to efficiently employ GPUs for vertex position computation in model-reduced simulations. Our CUDA-based algorithm gives a substantial speedup compared to a CPU implementation, thanks to our system architecture that employs a memory layout friendly to GPU memory, reduces the communication between the CPU and GPU, and enables the CPU and GPU to work in parallel.
Changes in Environmental Profiles of Cancer Villages: A Case Study of Aizheng Cun in China

Cancer villages, or popularly called Aizheng Cun (癌症村) in Chinese, are a new phenomenon after the economic reform in China. This study aims to investigate the degree to which the changes in land us...
The Closest Damped Lyα System

A difficulty of studying damped Lyα systems is that they are distant, so one knows little about the interstellar medium of the galaxy. Here we report on a damped Lyα system in the nearby galaxy NGC 4203, which is so close (vhelio = 1117 km s-1) and bright (B0 = 11.62) that its H I disk has been mapped. The absorption lines are detected against Ton 1480, which lies only 19 (12 h50 kpc) from the center of NGC 4203. Observations were obtained with the Faint Object Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope (G270H grating) over the 2222-3277 A region with 200 km s-1 resolution. Low-ionization lines of Fe, Mn, and Mg were detected, leading to metallicities of -2.29, less than -0.68, and greater than -2.4, which are typical of other damped Lyα systems but well below the stellar metallicity of this type of galaxy. Most notably, the velocity of the lines is 1160±10 km s-1, which is identical to the H I rotational velocity of 1170 km s-1 at that location in NGC 4203, supporting the view that these absorption-line systems can be associated with the rotating disks of galaxies. In addition, the line widths of the Mg lines give an upper limit to the velocity dispersion of 167 km s-1 at the 99% confidence level.
The ripples of trauma caused by severe pain during IUD procedures.

More and more women are coming forward to share their stories of a painful IUD procedure. Healthcare services need to get better at recording these experiences, says Stephanie O’Donohue
Fashion and the Female Gothic, Or, What to Wear to a House-Burning Party

In her now infamous 1973 essay, “Somebody’s Trying to Kill Me and I Think It’s My Husband: The Modern Gothic,” Joanna Russ examines several modern gothic texts in order to detail what they have in ...
Fleming, James Rodger, First Woman: Joanne Simpson and the Tropical Atmosphere

In the early 1970s, a group of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) administrators and their political allies pressured meteorologist Joanne Simpson to undertake a cloud-seeding p...
Epigenetics of Fungal Secondary Metabolism Related Genes

Fungal secondary metabolites play multiple biological roles in development, virulence, defense, adaptation, and stress response. Many of these low-molecular-mass compounds are of intense interest to humankind due to their economic applications (antibiotics and drugs) and/or adverse effects (mycotoxins). Many filamentous fungal secondary metabolites are synthesized by enzymes and related regulator(s) are encoded by clustered genes. Expression of these clusters are governed by various transcription factors and signaling elements. Recent studies have further revealed that fungal secondary metabolite genes are subject to epigenetic regulation. This chapter presents a concise summary of the epigenetic modifications and remodeling of the genes associated with fungal secondary metabolism, focusing on the genetic elements involved in epigenetic regulation, including HepA, (LaeA), complex proteins associated with Set1 (COMPASS) complex, histone deacetylases (HDACs), Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase (SAGA/ADA) complex, and small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO). Finally, the current applications of these epigenetic regulators are discussed.
On the mechanism of erythropoietin-induced differentiation: IV. Some characteristics of erythropoietin action on hemoglobin synthesis in marrow cell culture

Abstract Some of the characteristics of the erythropoietin stimulation of hemoglobin synthesis by rat marrow cells in culture have been studied. The relationship between cell number and rate of hemoglobin synthesis at various levels of erythropoietin is sigmoid rather than linear suggesting a cooperative action among the sensitive cells. The magnitude of the erythropoietin effect on the cells increases with time of contact with the hormone; at the time of one-half maximal effect there is no discernible loss of erythropoietin from the culture medium. A previously described lag time in the response to erythropoietin appears to be largely due to the conditions of culture and disappears when the cells are preincubated for 9 h. Replacement of a large fraction of the medium at 24-h intervals enabled the cells to continue hemoglobin synthesis for an additional 24 h.
Iron ore prices and the value of the Australian dollar

AbstractContinued strong Chinese demand for Australia's iron ore has ensured that this commodity is singularly the highest value-ranking, exported mineral commodity for this country. As a consequence, the iron ore price and the value of the Australian dollar have substantial influences on the Australian economy. In this empirical study, the aim is to investigate the long-term relationship and the strength of association between iron ore prices and the corresponding exchange rate (AUD/USD). Several assessments for unit root tests have been performed to examine whether the time series data are stationary or not, and the assessments have revealed that the results from all of the tests have confirmed both the iron ore prices and the AUD/USD exchange rates data are non-stationary in levels and stationary in first differences, being I(1) stationary. Johansen cointegration tests have been performed for examining the cointegrating relationships, and have exposed the evidence in favour of a long-term relationship ...
Membrane-associated protein synthesis of mammalian cells. I. The two classes of membrane-associated ribosomes.

Abstract The properties of the ribosomes and the messenger RNA associated with membranes were studied in HeLa cells. There are two classes of membrane-bound ribosomes which can be distinguished by their attachment to the membranes. The loose ribosomes are dissociated from the membranes by treatment with EDTA, puromycin and RNase. The tight ribosomes are refractory to these agents. About 35 to 40% of the membrane-bound messenger RNA is dissociated from the membranes with EDTA. The EDTA-resistant messenger RNA is partially dissociated from the membranes with puromycin. Ribosomes and messenger RNA re-associate with the membranes after reversal of the puromycin treatment.
The Clement Bible at the Medieval Courts of Naples and Avignon: A Story of Papal Power, Royal Prestige, and Patronage

Contents: Introduction: what is a biography of a Bible? Illuminated Bibles at the court of Naples: the creation of the Clement Bible (c. 1325-1362) A courtier and a bishop at the king's court: the first known owners of the Clement Bible (c. 1326-1340) The artist at court in Naples: the stylistic meaning of Pietro Cavallini and the Clement Bible (c. 1308-1330) Vision and artistic translation in Naples: iconographic meaning and the Clement Bible under King Robert the Wise (1309-1343) Court play: the Clement Bible and the papal library in Avignon (c. 1341-1377) The court in exile: the Clement Bible and art in Avignon during the 'Babylonian captivity' (1341-1377) The divided court of the popes: the Clement Bible and Clement VII (1378-1394) The court's triumph and defeat: the Clement Bible beyond Clement VII (1394-1424) Epilogue: the Clement Bible after the Middle Ages Appendix Bibliography Indexes.
Haacke, E. Mark: Semper Incitare: In MRI Research, there is “Never a Dull Moment”

This work represents the reminiscences of Prof Haacke of his involvement in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from the early 1980s to the present day. He reviews his interests in research and education with a focus on magnetic resonance (MR) developments in which he has been involved in the last 27 years. Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging; angiography; image reconstruction; susceptibility weighted imaging; imaging veins
NON-ERGODICITY OF TWO PARTICLES INTERACTING VIA A SMOOTH POTENTIAL

We examine two point particles interacting via a smooth Lennard-Jones-type potential of finite range on a two-dimensional torus. We find situations under which this system contains a stable, elliptic periodic orbit and hence is not ergodic. This result is in contrast to the case of hard spheres interacting via inelastic collision, which are always ergodic for two particles, are conjectured to be ergodic for arbitrarily many particles, and can never contain elliptic periodic orbits.
EL TRIUNFO Y LOS COSTOS DE LA AVARICIA

Este articulo intenta analizar la cuestion de la causa activa. Examina la estructura de la acumulacion que se desarrollo en Wall Street y la City, analiza los problemas de la logica operativa de este "regimen de crecimiento temporal", asi como sus costos y consecuencias cognitivas (y podria agregarse morales) y economicas. En particular intenta ver este (desastroso) modo de acumulacion no en terminos de "leyes" universales, sino en terminos de fuerzas, de dinamicas de acumulacion que responden a condiciones economicas y politicas particulares, que dieron como resultado un "regimen de crecimiento" sin precedentes, cuyas caracteristicas no han sido entendidas, ni siquiera por sus principales actores (mucho menos por los economistas)..