cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic ethanol consumption alters rat liver plasma membranes and potentiates release of alkaline phosphatase

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate possible mechanisms involved in the elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase activity in alcoholics. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pair-fed nutritionally adequate liquid diets containing ethanol as 36% of energy or an isocaloric amount of carbohydrate for 4–5 wk. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity was increased moderately but significantly. Hepatocytes isolated from ethanol-fed animals exhibited pronounced morphologic alterations of their plasma membranes by scanning electron microscopy and a reduced content of alkaline phosphatase despite an increase in total liver alkaline phosphatase content. Chronic ethanol feeding also potentiated the release of alkaline phosphatase from the cells during incubation with 50 mM ethanol. Furthermore, chronic ethanol feeding resulted in reduced recovery of alkaline phosphatase in hepatic plasma membranes isolated by sucrose gradient centrifugation but did not affect the recoveries of other plasma membrane markers (5′-nucleotidase and Na + ,K + -adenosine triphosphatase) nor the subcellular distribution of alkaline phosphatase in the nuclear, mitochondrial, microsomal, and cytosolic fractions. These findings suggest that the increased serum alkaline phosphatase levels observed in response to chronic ethanol feeding may be due, at least in part, to increased lability of this plasma membrane enzyme.
EPR spectra of DMPO spin adducts of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals in pyridine.

Electron spin resonance spectroscopy and the spin trapping technique were used to study the formation of the superoxide radical in pyridine. 5,5-Dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) was employed as ...
Volume Regulation in the Collecting Duct and Related Epithelia

Under normal physiological conditions, cells of tight, Na+-reabsorbing urinary epithelia, such as the collecting tubule, are exposed to both anisosmotic and isosmotic volume stress. A common but poorly understood response of these cells to volume perturbation is the activation of mechanisms that restore volume to its original resting value. The purpose of this article is to review briefly what is currently known about volume regulatory processes in the collecting tubule, amphibian and mammalian bladder, and frog skin. Specifically, the role of solute loss and accumulation pathways, transcellular cross-talk mechanisms, and volume sensor/transducer systems will be discussed. Key questions in need of future research will be emphasized.
Mental health and substance use disparities among urban adolescent lesbian and bisexual girls.

BACKGROUND: Sexual minority girls (SMGs) report large substance use disparities and victimization experiences, yet there is a dearth of research that focuses exclusively on SMGs. OBJECTIVE: To examine substance use and mental health disparities among SMGs and to determine whether disparities were larger for African American compared with European American girls. METHOD: Data were used from Wave 11 of the Pittsburgh Girls Study, a multiple-cohort, prospective study of urban girls. Girls for the current analysis were aged 16 to 19 years. Fifty-five percent were African American. One hundred and seventy-three (8.3%) identified as SMGs, and 1,891 identified as heterosexual. Multiple regression analyses controlling for age, race, and parent education were conducted. RESULTS: SMGs reported a robust pattern of large disparities in externalizing, internalizing, and borderline personality disorder symptoms. There was little evidence to suggest disparities were moderated by race. CONCLUSION: SMGs and their families...
An interdigitated gate electrode field effect transistor (IGEFET) for epoxy cure monitoring

An interdigitated gate electrode field effect transistor (IGEFET) has been fabricated and utilized to monitor the cure of a common epoxy. The IGEFET sensor consists of an interdigitated gate electrode structure coupled to the gate of a conventional MOSFET. The epoxy was deposited on the interdigitated gate electrode, and the IGEFET's electrical performance was observed as the epoxy cured. The cross-linked chemical reaction during epoxy cure caused impedance perturbations that were quantified when the IGEFET was excited with a voltage pulse. Charge transferred through the chemically active epoxy is manifested as a time-dependent potential applied to the MOSFET gate contact. By operating the MOSFET as a linear amplifier, a potential corresponding to the time-dependent gate voltage was directly measured at the amplifier output. The Fourier transform of the IGEFET's time-domain response at specific time increments was computed. The resulting epoxy cure spectra were compared to a common baseline formed by computing the difference spectra involving the IGEFET's pulse excitation signal and the signal corresponding to the epoxy's chemical state at a specific instant of time. >
Effect of Obesity on the Preovulatory Follicle and Lipid Fingerprint of Equine Oocytes

Obesity is associated with disrupted reproductive cycles in mares, but the impact of obesity on follicles and oocytes has received minimal attention. We investigated the impact of obesity on 1) expression of selected genes in follicle cells for carbohydrate metabolism, inflammatory cytokines, lipid homeostasis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and mitochondrial function; 2) follicular fluid content of metabolic hormones and metabolites; and 3) lipid fingerprint of oocytes. Mares (9-13 yr) were classified as control (n = 8, normal weight, body condition score [BCS] 5.1, 10.4% body fat) or obese (n = 9, BCS 7.9, 16.2% body fat). Gene expression from granulosa cells (GC) and cumulus cells (CC) was evaluated by RT-PCR. Serum and follicular fluid were evaluated for insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and metabolite profiling. Oocyte lipid fingerprints were acquired using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. Several genes for lipid homeostasis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and mitochondrial function were different between groups in GC and CC. Obese had (P < 0.05) or tended to have (0.05 < P < 0.1) lower insulin sensitivity and higher insulin and leptin in serum and follicular fluid. Many metabolites differed between control and obese in serum and/or follicular fluid and correlated with BCS and/or insulin sensitivity. Oocytes from control had greater concentrations of lipids consistent with phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, and sphingomyelins, while lipids consistent with triglycerides tended to be higher in obese. These findings suggest that maternal obesity causes alterations in the follicle and oocyte; the extent to which these alterations impact the conceptus and offspring is still to be determined.
Federal Crop Insurance and the Disincentive to Adapt to Extreme Heat

Economic damages associated with climate change in the United States have been studied in the burgeoning climate economics literature covering various sectors. For example, most of the predicted damages from climate change in the United States come from the increased frequency of extreme heat ( Houser et al. 2014) . Warming leads to fewer cold and more hot days. The reduction in cold days is generally beneficial, but the increase in very hot days more than offsets these benefits due to an asymmetric relationship where the magnitude of the sensitivity to extreme heat is much larger than to extreme cold. In the agricultural sector, the damaging effects of temperature increases above roughly 85o F are an order of magnitude larger than the beneficial effects below the threshold ( Schlenker and Roberts 2009) . Government programs may both enable or potentially distort societal adaptation behavior. Yet, empirical evidence about the effectiveness of governmental programs and whether they aid
Genetic Analysis of the 2,4-Diacetylphloroglucinol Biosynthetic Locus from Pseudomonas Fluorescens Q2-87

The antibiotic 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (Phl) is produced by certain strains of fluorescent pseudomonads that control soilborne plant pathogens. Phl production is required for the suppression of take-all disease of wheat by Pseudomonas fluorescens (formerly P. aureofaciens) Q2-87, and a locus involved in synthesis of the antibiotic was described previously ( Vincent et al., 1991, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57:2928-2934). The objective of this study was to characterize the cloned locus with respect to structure and function. A 7-kb subclone was sufficient to transfer Phl biosynthetic capability to each of 17 heterologous Phl-nonproducing strains of Pseudomonas from the rhizosphere of wheat. Tn3HoHol mutagenesis identified a region of 5 kb with at least one promoter and up to three transcriptional and/or translational units necessary for Phl biosynthesis. Three open reading frames located within a 2-kb segment predicted proteins designated PS 1, PS2 and PS3 respectively. PS 1 and PS2 show similarity to the chalcone synthase/stilbene synthase family of enzymes from plants and PS3 shows similarity to sterol-carrier protein from animals. The structure of these predicted proteins suggests that they function directly in the biosynthesis of the antibiotic.
Substrate integrated waveguide filter on LCP substrate at 94 GHz

In this paper we present a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) filter on a thin film liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate at 94 GHz. The proposed filter consists of two cascaded SIW cavities coupled through an iris window, and is fed by microstrip lines. These two cavities are constructed using twenty four vias. The full-wave simulation predicts the proposed filter has a pass band of 8% centered at 94 GHz. To validate our design, low-loss and low-reflection CBCPW probe pads without ground-connected vias were also designed to integrate with the microstrip lines for probing. The devices were fabricated on a large LCP panel by using commercial state-of-the-art large-scale circuit printing technologies. The measured spectrum responses of the second-ordered SIW filter are in good agreement with the simulated ones, and the total insertion loss is below 2.6 dB at 94 GHz with two feeding CBCPW pads. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:577–580, 2016
Photovoltaic space power - Status and future

The key elements of spacecraft photovoltaic cell and array design are identified and discussed. Requirements governed by the choice of mission such as total power, insolation, temperature, radiation environment, and stowed volume are discussed with respect to the solar cell parameters important to that mission (conversion efficiency, weight, tolerance to the space radiation environment, cost, and availability). Array parameters (dollars per watt, watts per kilogram, watts per square meter) are discussed for three types of arrays (rigid, lightweight flexible and concentrator). Progress hi cell efficiencies are noted with a record GalnP/GaAs cell efficiency of 26.9%. Recent advances hi thin film cells, CIS and amorphous silicon, are discussed. Manufacturing capability and progress in multibandgap cells is noted. Space photovoltaics can look forward to an exciting next ten years as the demand for a variety of satellites continues to grow.
Reproductive biology of several species of recently collected pelagic nemerteans

The reproductive biology and morphology of six polystiliferous and onemonostiliferous species of pelagic nemerteans was studied in specimensrecently collected off California. Depth distributions for these specimensranged from 250 m to 3250 m, with most specimens obtained between 700 m and1750 m. Length of sexually mature individuals ranged from 2 mm for themonostiliferan to 61 mm for a male Phallonemertes cf. murrayi. Among P. cf.murrayi and Nectonemertes cf. mirabilis, which yielded the largest specimensstudied, mature males were larger than mature females and mature animalswere larger than those in which gonads were not apparent. Females typicallyoutnumbered males, although N. cf. mirabilis approached a 1:1 sex ratio. Inthe polystiliferans studied by light microscopy, accessory ovarian cellsappeared to translocate yolk or yolk precursors to oocytes via cytoplasmicbridges, a mechanism typically associated with nurse cells and notpreviously reported from nemerteans. Mature oocytes 0.5–1 mm indiameter were common, making them very large compared to those of benthicnemerteans. Sperm possessed elongated heads and nuclei. In general, thepelagic nemerteans studied appeared: a) to produce relatively few maturegametes at a time, b) spawn in close proximity to each other, c) undergoiteroparous reproduction, and d) display moderately long-lived life cycles.In addition, data for P. cf. murrayi and possibly N. cf. mirabilisdemonstrates potential seasonal peaks in reproductive activity.
Association between Natural Resources for Outdoor Activities and Physical Inactivity: Results from the Contiguous United States.

Protected areas including national/state parks and recreational waters are excellent natural resources that promote physical activity and interaction with Nature, which can relieve stress and reduce disease risk. Despite their importance, however, their contribution to human health has not been properly quantified. This paper seeks to evaluate quantitatively how national/state parks and recreational waters are associated with human health and well-being, taking into account of the spatial dependence of environmental variables for the contiguous U.S., at the county level. First, we describe available natural resources for outdoor activities (ANROA), using national databases that include features from the Protected Areas Database, NAVSTREETS, and ATTAINSGEO 305(b) Waters. We then use spatial regression techniques to explore the association of ANROA and socioeconomic status factors on physical inactivity rates. Finally, we use variance analysis to analyze ANROA’s influence on income-related health inequality. We found a significantly negative association between ANROA and the rate of physical inactivity: ANROA and the spatial effect explained 69%, nationwide, of the variation in physical inactivity. Physical inactivity rate showed a strong spatial dependence—influenced not only by its own in-county ANROA, but also by that of its neighbors ANROA. Furthermore, community groups at the same income level and with the highest ANROA, always had the lowest physical inactivity rate. This finding may help to guide future land use planning and community development that will benefit human health and well-being.
Towards Achieving Diagnostic Consensus in Medical Image Interpretation

The workload associated with the daily job of a clinical radiologist has been steadily increasing as the volume of the archived and the newly acquired images grows. Computer-aided diagnostic systems are becoming an indispensable tool in automating image analysis and providing preliminary diagnosis that can help guide radiologist's decisions. In this paper, we introduce a novel metric to evaluate the difficulty of reaching diagnostic consensus when interpreting a case and illustrate several benefits that such insight can provide. Using a lung nodule image dataset, we demonstrate how a metric-based case partitioning can be used to better select how many radiologists are assigned to each case and how to identify image features that provide important feedback to further assist with the diagnosis. This knowledge can also be leveraged to shed 25% of radiologist annotations without any loss in predictive accuracy.
New Treatment Options in Neonatal Hyperbilirubinaemia

Jaundice is one of the most common problems encountered in the newborn period. It has been estimated that in the United States over 60% of the 4 million newborns born each year develop clinical jaundice with bilirubin levels greater than 5 mg/dL (86 µmol/L) in the first week of life. Bilirubin encephalopathy, known pathologically as kernicterus for the yellow staining of the subthalmic nuclei (kerns), has been recognized for a long time. The degree to which bilirubin may cause more subtle neurologic abnormalities remains controversial [1]. While clinical jaundice is commonly encountered in the newborn, kernicterus is a rare occurrence. Factors that affect bilirubin toxicity are complex and incompletely understood. These include; the serum albumin concentration and available binding sites on albumin for bilirubin, the integrity of the blood brain barrier and therefore ability for bilirubin to enter the brain, the duration of bilirubin exposure and the type and stage of development of the cells being exposed [2]. The relationship between increasing total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels, particularly greater then 20 mg/dL (344 µmol/L), and the risk of developing kernicterus in infants with Rh haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) was observed in the late 1940s and early 1950s [3]. This led to an aggressive approach to the treatment of jaundice in these patients with exchange transfusion being the predominant mode of therapy to maintain bilirubin levels below 20 mg/dL (344 µmol/L). In 1958 it was observed that premature infants exposed to sunlight or blue fluorescent light experienced a decrease in TSB levels [4].
Buried targets in layered media: A combined finite element/physical acoustics model and comparison to data on a half buried 2:1 cylinder.

Previously, a combined finite element/physical acoustics model for proud targets [K. L. Williams, S. G. Kargl, E. I. Thorsos, D. S. Burnett, J. L. Lopes, M. Zampolli, and P. L. Marston, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 127, 3356–3371 (2010)] was compared to both higher fidelity finite element models and to experimental data for a proud 2:1 aluminum cylinder. Here that expression is generalized to address the case of a target buried in a layered media. The result is compared to data acquired for the same 2:1 cylinder but half buried in a mud layer that covers the sand sediment (considered here as infinite in extent below the mud layer). The generalized expression reduces to both the previous proud result and to the result for a target buried in an infinite medium under the appropriate limiting conditions. The model/data comparisons shown include both the previous proud model and data results along with the ones for the half buried cylinder. The comparison quantifies the reduction in target strength as a function of fre...
GPU alignment of two and three sequences

In this chapter, we consider the optimal alignment of two and three sequences using graphics processing units. The problem of aligning two sequences is commonly referred to as pairwise alignment. Experimental results on the NVIDIA Tesla C2050 are presented.
An Unanticipated Outcome of Undergraduate Research Experiences for Community College Students: Creation of a Materials Science and Engineering Educational Program

Since 2005 the West Houston Center for Science & Engineering (WHC) has provided opportunities for select cohorts of community college students to participate in summer research experiences. Participating research institutions include regional universities, NASA-JSC and Sandia National Laboratories (NM). Research activities cross numerous engineering, physical and biological sciences, and computational disciplines, and have been supported by federal agencies and corporate/educational foundations. These experiences have generated three important outcomes: (1) Providing significant motivation for students regarding university transfer and completion; (2) Generating realistic expectations for students regarding completion of their undergraduate degrees, and transitioning into the science and engineering workforce and/or graduate school; and, (3) Providing support for the creation of a formal materials science educational program at the West Houston Center. This paper describes the influence and impact that the Materials Research Society, through its members, conferences, and working committees, has contributed to the transition of the West Houston Center as it moves from a broad based science and engineering educational center to one with a concentration on materials science.
Precarious privilege: Indignad@s, daily disidentifications, and cultural (re)production

ABSTRACTIn this article, I develop the notion of precarious privilege to investigate dialectics of cultural (re)production, in relation to both specific discursive practices and broader discursive formations. Using the Indignad@s social movement as an example, I locate, interpret, and critique a series of disidentification dynamics shaping the movement as a whole, as well as the rhetoric of specific participants. Regarding the rise and development of Indignad@s, precarious privilege illuminates a conflicted social position enabled by disidentification from the current crisis of neoliberalism in Western Europe—a conjuncture that the movement strives to both expose and exploit. As for the views expressed by specific activists, precarious privilege helps explain the discursively enacted disidentification from the imagined aspects of their and others’ (supra)national cultural identities. Grounded in this analysis, I emphasize the potentiality but also the limitations of this generalized tension between residu...
Vesicoureteral reflux and continuous prophylactic antibiotics

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) management must be tailored based on the risk for further infections and renal scarring, gender, likelihood of spontaneous resolution, and parental preferences. Because we now understand that sterile VUR is benign and most reflux spontaneously resolves over time, the initial approach in majority of children is non-surgical with continuous antibiotic prophylaxis (CAP) and correction of bladder and bowel dysfunction. Despite increasing utilization of CAP over the past four decades, the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis has been questioned due to conflicting results of studies plagued with design flaws and inadequate subject sample size. The Randomized Intervention for Children with Vesicoureteral Reflux (RIVUR) trial, which was designed to address many of the limitations from previous studies, provided much needed answers. In this review, we sought to describe the controversy surrounding VUR management, highlight the results of RIVUR trial, and discuss how the RIVUR findings impact our understanding of CAP in the management of VUR.
The effect of imidazole on human platelet aggregation.

Since imidazole buffers have been used in platelet function tests and the compound has been reported to alter several biochemical activities of platelets, it seemed important to determine whether imidazole influenced platelet aggregation. ADP-induced, collagen-induced, and norepinephrine-induced platelet aggregations were tested in platelet-rich plasma by turbidimetric techniques. Glass bead-induced platelet aggregation in whole blood was tested by a method dependent upon platelet counts. Imidazole, in concentrations of 5m M or less, inhibited aggregation induced by each of these four agents and had negligible effect on the pH of platelet-rich plasma. The second phase of both ADP- and norepinephrine-induced aggregation was inhibited or abolished by imidazole, and 5m M imidazole also inhibited the first phase of norepinephrine-induced aggregation. As little as 0.5 m M imidazole inhibited collagen-induced aggregation in some plasmas. Imidazole appears to be unsuitable for use as a buffer in platelet function tests.
T and B cell activation profiles from cows with and without Johne’s disease in response to in vitro stimulation with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis

Johne's disease (JD) is a chronic wasting disease of ruminants caused by infection with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). JD is particularly problematic on US dairy farms: estimates show that over 50% of farms are MAP-contaminated and as many as 91% of dairy herds could be infected. Although estimates vary widely, JD may cost the dairy industry between $200 million and $1.5 billion every year. One major obstacle to JD management is that JD is difficult to detect in many animals, in part due to the variable immunity against MAP demonstrated by JD+ cattle. To characterize the diversity of immune responses against MAP, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 154 JD test negative and 96 JD test positive cows from the same dairy herds were stimulated with MAP in vitro. The activation of CD4+, CD8+ and γδ T cells and surface IgM+ B cells was measured using flow cytometry. CD4+CD45R0+ T cells, γδ+MHCII+ and γδ+MHCII- T cells and SIgM+ B cells from JD test positive cows all exhibited increased proportions expressing CD25 after MAP stimulation, while CD8+ T cells did not demonstrate increased CD25 expression in response to MAP.
Leptin Mediates a Glucose-Fatty Acid Cycle to Maintain Glucose Homeostasis in Starvation.

The transition from the fed to the fasted state necessitates a shift from carbohydrate to fat metabolism that is thought to be mostly orchestrated by reductions in plasma insulin concentrations. Here, we show in awake rats that insulinopenia per se does not cause this transition but that both hypoleptinemia and insulinopenia are necessary. Furthermore, we show that hypoleptinemia mediates a glucose-fatty acid cycle through activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in increased white adipose tissue (WAT) lipolysis rates and increased hepatic acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) content, which are essential to maintain gluconeogenesis during starvation. We also show that in prolonged starvation, substrate limitation due to reduced rates of glucose-alanine cycling lowers rates of hepatic mitochondrial anaplerosis, oxidation, and gluconeogenesis. Taken together, these data identify a leptin-mediated glucose-fatty acid cycle that integrates responses of the muscle, WAT, and liver to promote a shift from carbohydrate to fat oxidation and maintain glucose homeostasis during starvation.
Outcomes of Reconstruction of the Stage II Adult-Acquired Flatfoot Deformity in Older Patients

Background:Reconstruction of the stage II adult-acquired flatfoot deformity (AAFD) often requires the use of multiple osteotomies and soft tissue procedures that may not heal well in older patients. The purpose of our study was to determine whether patients older than 65 years with stage II AAFD had inferior clinical outcomes or an increased number of subsequent surgical procedures after flatfoot reconstruction when compared with younger patients.Methods:One-hundred forty consecutive feet (70 right, 70 left) with stage II AAFD in 137 patients were divided into 3 groups based on age: younger than 45 years (young; n = 21), 45 to 65 years (middle-aged; n = 87), and 65 years and older (older; n = 32). Preoperative and postoperative Foot and Ankle Outcome Scores (FAOSs) at a minimum of 2 years were compared. Hospital records were reviewed to determine if patients underwent a subsequent procedure postoperatively.Results:Patients in the older group did not demonstrate any differences in changes in FAOS subscales...
Expertise in essay scoring

Achieving levels of reliability that allow large-scale essay assessments to be used to guide educational policy is a major hurdle for test developers. Previous studies have shown that one influential source of measurement error associated with essay scores is rater idiosyncracies [Engelhard 1994]. Although the literature dealing with scoring cognition is not conclusive about why some scorers are more consistent than others, it offers some insight into variables that may account for individual differences in scoring competence [Pula & Huot 1993; Wolfe & Feltovich 1994].
Ischemic Proctitis: Case Series and Literature Review:

Ischemic injury to the rectum is rare owing to its rich vascular supply, and is seldom seen in clinical practice. Risk factors include major vascular occlusive disease, disruption of collateral circulation, and low flow state. It is of paramount importance to diagnose this entity early in its course. Although CT scan can suggest the diagnosis and identify other causes of clinical deterioration, colonoscopy remains the key test in diagnosing and determining the extent of ischemic change. Endoscopic findings and the overall clinical picture determine patient management. Treatment is nonoperative for nongangrenous ischemic proctocolitis, whereas surgery is necessary for gangrenous, transmural rectal ischemia. Over a 20-year period, a retrospective review of cases of acute rectal ischemia were analyzed. Aortoiliac occlusive disease accounted for nearly one-half the cases (7/15), and 40 per cent (6/15) was secondary to a low flow state. In our series, two-thirds of the cases involved transmural necrosis of the rectal wall (40% mortality) and the remaining one-third presented with patchy ischemic changes (20% mortality).
Bacterial pneumonia. Managing a deadly complication of influenza in older adults with comorbid disease.

In patients with influenza, the risk of death from secondary bacterial pneumonia is closely associated with age and chronic conditions. Two-thirds of patients who die of influenza-related pneumonia are age >=65, and 90% have a comorbid illness. Dr. Sethi discusses the typical and atypical presentations of pneumonia, the patient work-up, and the effectivenss of various antimicrobial therapies in this at-risk population.
Nicotine Inhibits Cytokine Production by Placenta Cells via NFκB: Potential Role in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), also known as preeclampsia, Is one of the major causes of maternal and fetal death. While the precise cause of PIH is not known, aberrant cytokine production and placenta participation are considered to be important factors. Gestational cigarette smoking, which is widely accepted to be harmful to both the mother and fetus, is protective against PIH. Based on the antiinflammatory activity of nicotine, the major component of cigarettes, we examined the effect of nicotine and other cholinergic agonists on placental inflammatory responses ex vivo. We observed that nicotine and other cholinergic agonists significantly suppress placenta cytokine production following stimulation. Placenta cells express the α 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR), and using cholinergic antagonists, we demonstrated that the antiinflammatory effect of nicotine and other cholinergic agonists is, in part, mediated through the nAChR pathway. By contrast, cholinergic stimulation had no effect on the expression of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt), an antiangiogenic substance implicated in maternal vascular dysfunction during PIH. Mechanistic studies reveal that cholinergic agonists exert their antiinflammatory effects through the NFκB pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that cholinergic agonists, including nicotine, may reduce cytokine production by placenta cells via NFκB to protect against PIH.
Is Red Cell Flow Heterogeneity a Critical Variable in the Regulation and Limitation of Oxygen Transport to Tissue

The vasculature plays more than a purely subservient role in relation to the tissue it supplies - a tissue and its associated vasculature operate in synchrony to modulate the form and function of the organ. Nowhere is the interplay between vascular function and tissue function more apparent than in the supply of O2 where vascular O2 supply has the capacity to limit or even to control tissue function. Four closely related, but separable questions have arisen from our efforts to understand close match between O2 supply and demand. 1.) What is the critical or limiting PO2 for a tissue? 2.) Is tissue oxygen consumption dependent on flow at PO2’s above those which produce gross tissue hypoxia? 3.) What determines (limits) VO2max? 4.) Does the vasculature control tissue function, or does tissue function control vascular behavior? A closely related issue concerns the location of the tissue oxygen sensor, either that regulating tissue oxygen consumption, or that involved in the control of flow.
SENS-U: validation of a wearable ultrasonic bladder monitor in children during urodynamic studies.

Summary Purpose Urinary incontinence is a common problem in school-age children. Because many children remain unaware of a full-bladder sensation, the SENS-U™ Bladder Sensor was developed. The SENS-U is a small, wearable ultrasound sensor, which is positioned on the lower abdomen using a skin-friendly adhesive. The sensor continuously estimates the bladder filling status and informs the user when it is time to go to the toilet. In this study, the clinical performance of the SENS-U is evaluated in children during (video) urodynamics. Material and methods In this study, 30 children (6–12 years) were included who were scheduled for a (video) urodynamic study. During urodynamics, the SENS-U determined the average anterior–posterior (A-P) bladder dimension (every 30 s) to estimate the filling status. The correlation between the average A-P bladder dimension and the infused volume is analyzed by Spearman's correlation. Results Thirty patients (boys/girls: 15/15; mean age: 7.9 ± 1.4 years) were included, in whom the SENS-U detected the full bladder before voiding in 90% of the patients (27/30). In the other patients, the bladder was outside the detection area due to either erroneous sensor placement (n = 1) or an (relative) obese abdomen in the upright position (n = 2). There was a strong correlation (median rs = 0.94) between the average A-P bladder dimension and the infused volume. The detectable maximum bladder volume ranged between 71 and 463 ml. Conclusion The SENS-U is able to detect a full bladder with a success rate of 90%. When excluding erroneous data due to sensor misplacement or an (relative) obese abdomen, the detection rate may even be higher. Future research will focus on investigating the effect of theSENS-U in incontinence training. Download : Download high-res image (339KB) Download : Download full-size image Summary . The SENS-U™ Bladder Sensor (left); the device is positioned just above the pubic bone and determines the average anterior–posterior (A-P) bladder dimension, based on the axial position of the anterior (AW) and posterior (PW) bladder wall, to estimate the bladder filling status (right).
Evaluation of operational and environmental sustainability tradeoffs in multimodal freight transportation planning

Abstract Transportation planners often need to justify transportation related investments to public officials. Besides efficiency measures, the environment protection and sustainability are gaining more and more importance. In order to improve freight flow efficiency in a sustainable way, it is necessary to have a systematic tool to study the freight flow over all three major surface modes and their connections and, in turn, to help public officials identify the best way to improve freight transportation. We built a system-level intermodal simulation model that includes highways, railways, and waterways because all three modes, working together, play significant roles in freight flows. We evaluated the performance of the Louisiana freight network under different scenarios and measured the benefits of mode changes evaluating the tradeoff between environmental goals and other performance measures.
Pirfenidone attenuates the profibrotic contractile phenotype of differentiated human dermal myofibroblasts

Abstract Dysregulated wound healing after burn injury frequently results in debilitating hypertrophic scarring and contractures. Myofibroblasts, the main effector cells for dermal fibrosis, develop from normal fibroblasts via transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1). During wound healing, myofibroblasts produce extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, modulate ECM stability, and contract the ECM using alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in contractile stress fibers. The antifibrotic pirfenidone has previously been shown to inhibit the initial differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts in vitro and act as a prophylactic measure against hypertrophic scar development in a mouse burn model. To test whether pirfenidone affects differentiated myofibroblasts, we investigated the in vitro effects of pirfenidone treatment after three to five days of stimulation with TGF-β1. In assays for morphology, protein and gene expression, and contractility, pirfenidone treatment produced significant effects. Profibrotic gene expression returned to near-normal levels, further α-SMA protein expression was prevented, and cell contraction within a stressed collagen matrix was reduced. These in vitro results promote pirfenidone as a promising antifibrotic agent to treat existing scars and healing wounds by mitigating the effects of differentiated myofibroblasts.
Education Research: A novel resident-driven neurology quality improvement curriculum

Objective To describe and assess the effectiveness of a neurology resident quality improvement curriculum focused on development of practical skills and project experience. Methods We designed and implemented a quality improvement curriculum composed of (1) a workshop series and (2) monthly resident-led Morbidity, Mortality, & Improvement conferences focused on case analysis and project development. Surveys were administered precurriculum and 18 months postcurriculum to assess the effect on self-assessed confidence with quality improvement skills, attitudes, and project participation. Scholarship in the form of posters, presentations, and manuscripts was tracked during the course of the study. Results Precurriculum, 83% of neurology residents felt that instruction in quality improvement was important, but most rated their confidence level with various skills as low. Following implementation of the curriculum, residents were significantly more confident in analyzing a patient case (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval) (2.4, 1.9–3.1), proposing system changes (3.1, 2.3–3.9), writing a problem statement (9.9, 6.2–13.5), studying a process (3.1, 2.3–3.8), identifying resources (3.1, 2.3–3.8), identifying appropriate measures (2.5, 1.9–3.0), collaborating with other providers to make improvements (4.9, 3.5–6.4), and making changes in a system (3.1, 2.3–3.8). Project participation increased from the precurriculum baseline (7/18, 39%) to the postcurriculum period (17/22, 77%; p = 0.023). One hundred percent of residents surveyed rated the curriculum positively. Conclusions Our multifaceted curriculum was associated with increased resident confidence with quality improvement skills and increased participation in improvement projects. With adequate faculty mentorship, this curriculum represents a novel template for preparing neurology residents for meeting the expectations of improvement in practice and offers scholarship opportunities.
14 – Microchip lasers

: Microchip lasers are a rich family of solid-state lasers defined by their compact size, robust integration, reliability, and potential for low-cost mass production. CW microchip lasers cover a wide range of wavelengths, often operate single frequency in a near-ideal mode, and can provide a modest amount of tunability. Q-switched microchip lasers provide the shortest output pulses of any Q-switched solid-state laser, with peak powers up to several hundred kilowatts.
"Bad Enough to Cook for Two, Worse for One" - Mixed Method Evaluation of Eating Behavior among Community Dwelling Older Adults.

Food insecurity, life events, and emotional eating can influence dietary patterns. However, their interaction among older adults requires further investigation. This mixed-method, interdisciplinary...
Behavioral and social science research to support development of educational materials for clinical trials of broadly neutralizing antibodies for HIV treatment and prevention.

Background/AimsEarly integration of behavioral and social sciences research into clinical trials can improve trial conduct and facilitate future implementation of biomedical interventions. We sough...
Thermal conductivity measurements of thin films by non-contact scanning thermal microscopy under ambient conditions

Thermal conductivity measurements using Scanning Thermal Microscopy (SThM) usually involve heat transfer across the mechanical contact and liquid meniscus between the thermal probe and the sample. However, variations in contact conditions due to capillary effects at probe–sample contact and probe and sample wear due to mechanical contact interfere with accurate determination of the thermal conductivity. This paper presents measurements of thin film thermal conductivity using a SThM method employing a Wollaston probe in non-contact mode in synergy with detailed heat transfer analysis. In this technique, the thermal probe is scanned above the sample at a distance comparable with the mean free path of the ambient gas molecules. A Three-Dimensional Finite Element Model (3DFEM) that includes the specifics of the heat transfer between the sample and the probe in transition heat conduction regime was developed to predict the SThM probe thermal resistance and fit the thermal conductivity of the measured thin films. Proof-of-concept experimental in-plane thermal conductivity results for 240 nm and 46.6 nm Au films deposited on glass and silicon substrates were validated by experimental measurements of their electrical conductivity coupled with the Wiedemann–Franz law, with a discrepancy < 6.4%. Moreover, predictions based on a kinetic theory model for thin-film thermal conductivity agreed with the experimental results for the Au films with <6.6% discrepancy. To reduce the time and complexity of data analysis and facilitate experimental planning, an analytical model was also developed for the thermal transport between the Wollaston probe, ambient, and film-on-substrate samples. The accuracy of thin film thermal conductivity measurements using the analytical model was investigated using 3DFEM simulations. Fitted functions were developed for fast data analysis of thermal conductivity of thin films in the range of ∼100–600 W m−1 K−1 and thickness between ∼50–300 nm deposited on the two types of substrates investigated in this work, which yielded results with a discrepancy of 6–16.7% when compared to the Au films' thermal conductivity values.
Smoking and liver disease

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, causing approximately 480,000 deaths per year, which is equivalent to 1 in 5 deaths being attributable to tobacco use. The adverse effects of cigarette smoking on the lungs and cardiovascular system are well described; however, the detrimental effects of smoking on the liver are not as well defined. Smoking affects the liver via 3 separate mechanisms: toxic (both direct and indirect), immunologic, and oncogenic. There is an emerging body of evidence of an association between cigarette smoking and progression of fibrosis in chronic liver diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and primary biliary cholangitis. Smoking is associated with accelerated development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C virus infection. Tobacco smoking adversely affects lung function, which increases physical limitations and may preclude liver transplantation. Following liver transplantation, smoking is associated with several adverse outcomes, including increased risk of de novo malignancy, vascular complications, and nongraft-associated mortality. The respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 serves as a good example of the complex interplay between the lungs and the liver. It is evident that cigarette smoking has important negative effects on a multitude of liver diseases and that patients' smoking cessation must be prioritized. The data are limited, and more research is needed to better understand how smoking affects the liver. This article summarizes what is known about the pathologic effects of cigarette smoking on common liver diseases.
Nuclear pore complex maintenance and implications for age-related diseases

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) bridge the nucleus and the cytoplasm and are indispensable for crucial cellular activities, such as bidirectional molecular trafficking and gene transcription regulation. The discovery of long-lived proteins (LLPs) in NPCs from postmitotic cells raises the exciting possibility that the maintenance of NPC integrity might play an inherent role in lifelong cell function. Age-dependent deterioration of NPCs and loss of nuclear integrity have been linked to age-related decline in postmitotic cell function and degenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of NPC maintenance in proliferating and postmitotic cells, and how malfunction of nucleoporins (Nups) might contribute to the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.
A Regulatory Wakeup Call: Lessons from BP's Deepwater Horizon Disaster

Learning from BP's disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico means understanding why extraction technology innovations flourished while cleanup and prevention technologies stagnated. Only then can we fruitfully identify the kinds of changes to the governance regime that might prevent this sort of tragedy going forward. In learning from the BP disaster, there are two levels at which to understand what happened, and two kinds of lessons to draw: straightforward and complex. The straightforward lesson focuses on BP as a distinct entity, emphasizing the company’s culpability for its poor safety decisions at the Macondo well and elsewhere. The complex lesson does not deny BP’s culpability but seeks to situate the company’s private actions within a broader regulatory context in order to identify systemic failures that contributed to the disaster. This essay delves into both sets of lessons, concentrating more on the “complex” explanation in order to surface gaps in the statutory scheme and conflicts in agency incentives. Part I begins with a retrospective of the scope and scale of the worst environmental crisis in U.S. history. It then explores the simple explanation for the disaster, situating BP’s environmental and safety record against industry norms and practices, and contrasting BP’s actions with the corporate ethos described in their “beyond petroleum” ad campaign. Part II focuses on the complex explanation, identifying some of the regulatory dysfunctions that contributed to the disaster. While acknowledging that poor private decisionmaking was the central and primary cause of the Macondo blowout, this Part focuses on the regulatory and institutional structures that allowed the situation to unfold in order to identify the points at which different regulatory choices might have fruitfully constrained or redirected private activities. It sketches out a widespread regulatory failure. In particular, this Part focuses on the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) permitting process, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental analyses that are supposed to be required by that process. It details how structural aspects of the OCSLA, as well as cultural norms within the agency and regulated community, virtually assured that these processes would dwindle into mere paper-pushing exercises. Further, it suggests that these flaws had been obvious to critics for some time, in many ways making BP’s Gulf Oil Spill a wholly predictable disaster. The essay concludes by identifying some overarching structural inadequacies in regulatory oversight of private risk management decisions in order to understand why deepwater extraction technology innovations flourished while cleanup and prevention technologies stagnated.