cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The nature of the overdoped state in high T c superconductors

We correlate the non-monotonic doping dependence of the penetration depth λ obtained on La2−xSrxCuO4 thin films, with the doping dependence of the63Cu Knight shift Ks⊥ and the electronic specific heat coefficient γ obtained on bulk compounds. These data suggest that the increase of λ in the overdoped regime is related to a decrease of the superfluid density and that the carriers induced beyond optimum doping do not condense into pairs, but contribute to decrease the superfluid density which was present at optimum doping.
Aging and Oxidative Stress Reduce the Response of Human Articular Chondrocytes to Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 and Osteogenic Protein 1

Objective To determine the effects of aging and oxidative stress on the response of human articular chondrocytes to insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and osteogenic protein 1 (OP-1). Methods Chondrocytes isolated from normal articular cartilage obtained from tissue donors were cultured in alginate beads or monolayer. Cells were stimulated with 50–100 ng/ml of IGF-1, OP-1, or both. Oxidative stress was induced using tert-butyl hydroperoxide. Sulfate incorporation was used to measure proteoglycan synthesis, and immunoblotting of cell lysates was performed to analyze cell signaling. Confocal microscopy was performed to measure nuclear translocation of Smad4. Results Chondrocytes isolated from the articular cartilage of tissue donors ranging in age from 24 years to 81 years demonstrated an age-related decline in proteoglycan synthesis stimulated by IGF-1 and IGF-1 plus OP-1. Induction of oxidative stress inhibited both IGF-1– and OP-1–stimulated proteoglycan synthesis. Signaling studies showed that oxidative stress inhibited IGF-1–stimulated Akt phosphorylation while increasing phosphorylation of ERK, and that these effects were greater in cells from older donors. Oxidative stress also increased p38 phosphorylation, which resulted in phosphorylation of Smad1 at the Ser206 inhibitory site and reduced nuclear accumulation of Smad1. Oxidative stress also modestly reduced OP-1–stimulated nuclear translocation of Smad4. Conclusion These results demonstrate an age-related reduction in the response of human chondrocytes to IGF-1 and OP-1, which are 2 important anabolic factors in cartilage, and suggest that oxidative stress may be a contributing factor by altering IGF-1 and OP-1 signaling.
A microcontroller-based embedded system design course with PSoC3

The development of a microcontroller-based system design course using the PSoC Lab Manual and customly designed project assignments are presented in this paper. Due to the natural segregation of computing blocks on these devices as digital vs. analog blocks, microcontroller-based systems can be taught in 2 terms, for digital and analog systems design separately. The presented course is designed to combine analog and digital design concepts in one single course that lasts for 10 weeks, using the PSoC3 board. The course is designed to include (i) lab tasks and (ii) weekly assignments. Based on the course syllabus, the students are assigned lab tasks following a selected lab from the PSoC3 Lab Manual each week. In addition to these selected labs from the manual, a weekly design project is assigned which cumulatively covers concepts both the current and previous weeks, in order to provide students in-depth knowledge about the microcontrollers and programmable system-on-chip boards.
Complete integrin headpiece opening in eight steps

Carefully soaking crystals with Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptides, we captured eight distinct RGD-bound conformations of the αIIbβ3 integrin headpiece. Starting from the closed βI domain conformation, we saw six intermediate βI conformations and finally the fully open βI with the hybrid domain swung out in the crystal lattice. The β1-α1 backbone that hydrogen bonds to the Asp side chain of RGD was the first element to move followed by adjacent to metal ion-dependent adhesion site Ca2+, α1 helix, α1’ helix, β6-α7 loop, α7 helix, and hybrid domain. We define in atomic detail how conformational change was transmitted over long distances in integrins, 40 A from the ligand binding site to the opposite end of the βI domain and 80 A to the far end of the hybrid domain. During these movements, RGD slid in its binding groove toward αIIb, and its Arg side chain became ordered. RGD concentration requirements in soaking suggested a >200-fold higher affinity after opening. The thermodynamic cycle shows how higher affinity pays the energetic cost of opening.
Functional interaction of the K-Cl cotransporter (KCC1) with the Na-K-Cl cotransporter in HEK-293 cells

We have studied the regulation of the K-Cl cotransporter KCC1 and its functional interaction with the Na-K-Cl cotransporter. K-Cl cotransporter activity was substantially activated in HEK-293 cells...
Creating relational data from unstructured and ungrammatical data sources

In order for agents to act on behalf of users, they will have to retrieve and integrate vast amounts of textual data on the World Wide Web. However, much of the useful data on the Web is neither grammatical nor formally structured, making querying dificult. Examples of these types of data sources are online classifieds like Craigslist1 and auction item listings like eBay.2 We call this unstructured, ungrammatical data "posts." The unstructured nature of posts makes query and integration dificult because the attributes are embedded within the text. Also, these attributes do not conform to standardized values, which prevents queries based on a common attribute value. The schema is unknown and the values may vary dramatically making accurate search dificult. Creating relational data for easy querying requires that we define a schema for the embedded attributes and extract values from the posts while standardizing these values. Traditional information extraction (IE) is inadequate to perform this task because it relies on clues from the data, such as structure or natural language, neither of which are found in posts. Furthermore, traditional information extraction does not incorporate data cleaning, which is necessary to accurately query and integrate the source. The two-step approach described in this paper creates relational data sets from unstructured and ungrammatical text by addressing both issues. To do this, we require a set of known entities called a "reference set." The first step aligns each post to each member of each reference set. This allows our algorithm to define a schema over the post and include standard values for the attributes defined by this schema. The second step performs information extraction for the attributes, including attributes not easily represented by reference sets, such as a price. In this manner we create a relational structure over previously unstructured data, supporting deep and accurate queries over the data as well as standard values for integration. Our experimental results show that our technique matches the posts to the reference set accurately and eficiently and outperforms state-of-the-art extraction systems on the extraction task from posts.
Taking It to the Next Level: The Elevation of District Court Judges to the U.S. Courts of Appeals

We address an important aspect of judicial careers: the elevation of judges from the U.S. District Courts to the Courts of Appeals. We argue that the likelihood of a judge being elevated is a function of informational cues and signals regarding the nature of the judge and the judge’s compatibility with presidential preferences. We also expect norms involving the intersection between geography and Senate politics to affect a judge’s elevation chances. Using data on district court judges appointed between 1946 and 1995, we find that the likelihood of a judge being elevated is a function of the judge’s ideological compatibility with the president, the judge’s previous ABA rating, and Senate norms involving state “ownership” of appeals court seats. Blunt indicators of policy preferences trump direct signals when presidents decide whom to elevate, leaving judges little control over their career prospects and thus less incentive to slant their decisions in the direction of the president’s preferences.
Framing Competency-based Assessment for Interprofessional Education

University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA Students enrolled in medical and other health professions education programs today must become skilled practitioners, proficient when working both within their own disciplines as well as across disciplines to improve patient and community health care outcomes.
Adolescent mothers in the NICU: how much do they understand?

We aimed to characterize adolescent parents’ understanding of their infant's diagnosis, treatment and illness severity in the intensive care unit. Adolescent mothers were interviewed and neonatal medical records were reviewed. Forty-two teens were interviewed. All had spoken with providers: 86% with nurses, 60% with physicians and 45% with both. Most teens could name their infant's diagnosis and treatment but often underestimated the illness severity. Teens reported reluctance to ask providers to clarify technical language. Those who said they spoke with a physician were less likely to understand their infant's illness severity than those who said they had not spoken with a physician (48 vs 82%). Parents’ knowledge was better if physicians had documented explicit efforts to communicate with parents. Teens often underestimated the critical nature of their infant's illness. Future work should target adolescent willingness to ask questions and provider ability to accurately gauge parent knowledge.
Comparison of cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation and high-intensity focused ultrasound for treating small renal tumours.

For an ablative technology to be considered as a clinically viable alternative for oncological applications, two simple criteria must be met. First, an ablative technology must be able to completely destroy all viable tissue, with no areas of viable tissue left. Second, the surgeon must be able to monitor and precisely target the area to be ablated to assure complete tumour destruction and preservation of surrounding vital structures. Ablative methods that can achieve these two basic requirements while allowing a minimally invasive approach may become the future of surgical management of small renal masses. Herein, we discuss the currently available data on the efficacy and morbidity rates of the most promising ablative technologies, i.e. cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).
Correlation of EMI measurements and simulations for simple package geometries

This paper presents three measurement- and one simulation-approaches to quantify radiation from IC-package geometries. Two test boards were built and measured by using a semi-anechoic chamber, GTEM cell and near-field scan. Good correlations were achieved between measurements and simulations. Advantages and limits of each approach were addressed.
Domain-based on-line simulation for real-time decision support

In this research the applicability of on-line simulation systems for real time decision support is explored and the concept of domain based on-line simulation systems is introduced. For the purpose of demonstrating the feasibility of this concept, a prototype domain based on-line simulation has been designed, developed, and implemented. The details of the prototype system and how it could be used to make real-time decisions for various problem situations in a chosen domain are discussed. The implemented on-line simulation system has been validated using an off-line simulation model and the results have been analyzed to evaluate the feasibility and cost effectiveness of developing domain based on-line simulation systems.
Stochastic control techniques for throughput optimal wireless multicast

We design transmission strategies for MAC layer multicast which maximize the utilization of available bandwidth. Bandwidth efficiency of wireless multicast can be improved substantially by exploiting the fact that several receivers can be reached at the MAC layer by a single transmission. However, this feature can be effectively exploited only by resolving several decision problems. The fundamental relations between QoS parameters such as throughput, stability and loss change on account of the multicast nature of transmissions, e.g., a strategy that maximizes the system throughput does not necessarily maximize the stability region or minimize packet loss. We explore the trade-off between the QoS parameters, and provide optimal transmission strategies which maximize the system throughput subject to stability and loss constraints.
Impact of process characteristics on submicron defect effects

The impact of submicron mask defect printability for semiconductor processing is investigated. Computer simulations of image intensities resulting from programmed defects are compared to recorded images produced from defects of known size and proximity. Defects ranging in sizes from 0.6 to 2.0 mu m, located from 0 to 5 mu m from features imaged in various resist materials over silicon, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, polysilicon, and aluminum show varying degrees of printability. Results analyzed through scanning electron microscopy are compared to theoretical results through two-dimensional modeling. >
SRDP: securing route discovery in DSR

Routing is a critical function in multi-hop mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). A number of MANET-oriented routing protocols have been proposed, of which DSR is widely considered both the simplest and the most effective. At the same time, security in MANETs-especially, routing security-presents a number of new and interesting challenges. Many security techniques geared for MANETs have been developed, among which Ariadne is the flagship protocol for securing DSR. The focus of this work is on securing the route discovery process in DSR. Our goal is to explore a range of suitable cryptographic techniques with varying flavors of security, efficiency and robustness. The Ariadne approach (with TESLA), while very efficient, assumes loose time synchronization among MANET nodes and does not offer non-repudiation. If the fanner is not possible or the latter is desired, an alternative approach is necessary. To this end, we construct a secure route discovery protocol (SRDP) which allows the source to securely discover an authenticated route to the destination using either aggregated message authentication codes (MACs) or multi-signatures. Several concrete techniques are presented and their efficiency and security are compared and evaluated.
Allocating modules to processors in a distributed system

The author studies the complexity of the problem of allocating modules to processes in a distributed system to minimize total communication and execution costs. He shows that unless P=NP, there can be no polynomial-time epsilon -approximate algorithm for the problem, nor can there exist a local search algorithm that requires polynomial time per iteration and yields an optimum assignment. Both results hold even if the communication graph is planar and bipartite. On the positive side, it is shown that if the communication graph is a partial k-tree or an almost-tree with parameter k, the module allocation problem can be solved in polynomial time. >
Extremal optimization for graph partitioning.

Extremal optimization is a new general-purpose method for approximating solutions to hard optimization problems. We study the method in detail by way of the computationally hard ~NP-hard! graph partitioning problem. We discuss the scaling behavior of extremal optimization, focusing on the convergence of the average run as a function of run time and system size. The method has a single free parameter, which we determine numerically and justify using a simple argument. On random graphs, our numerical results demonstrate that extremal optimization maintains consistent accuracy for increasing system sizes, with an approximation error decreasing over run time roughly as a power law t 20.4 . On geometrically structured graphs, the scaling of results from the average run suggests that these are far from optimal with large fluctuations between individual trials. But when only the best runs are considered, results consistent with theoretical arguments are recovered.
Investigation of metal oxide anode degradation in lithium-ion batteries via identical-location TEM

Metal oxides are one of the most promising classes of materials to replace graphite anodes in future high energy density, high power density applications for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), including (hybrid) electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage. Unlike graphite, which undergoes lithium ion intercalation, nearly all metal oxides (MOs) experience structural decomposition and phase separation during charge–discharge. In this work, ordered mesoporous nickel oxide (OMNiO) was synthesized and used as a representative MO to study the nanoscale structural changes that occur during charge–discharge via identical-location transmission electron microscopy (IL-TEM). We connect IL-TEM with coin cell electrochemical studies to explain the root cause for the rapid capacity fade that is common to MOs generally, and NiO specifically. We show that the electronic conductivity, in addition to MO structure, plays a crucial role in maintaining high capacity over repeated charge–discharge cycling.
Polymicrobial sepsis alters antigen-dependent and -independent memory CD8 T cell functions.

Mortality from sepsis frequently results from secondary infections, and the extent to which sepsis affects pathogen-specific memory CD8 T cell responses remains unknown. Using the cecal ligation and puncture model of polymicrobial sepsis, we observed rapid apoptosis of pre-existing memory CD8 T cells after sepsis induction that led to a loss in CD8 T cell–mediated protection. Ag sensitivity (functional avidity) and Ag-driven secondary expansion of memory CD8 T cells were decreased after sepsis, further contributing to the observed loss in CD8 T cell–mediated immunity. Moreover, Ag-independent bystander activation of memory CD8 T cells in response to heterologous infection was also significantly impaired early after sepsis induction. The reduced sensitivity of pre-existing memory CD8 T cells to sense inflammation and respond to heterologous infection by IFN-γ production was observed in inbred and outbred hosts and controlled by extrinsic (but not cell-intrinsic) factors, suggesting that sepsis-induced changes in the environment regulate innate functions of memory CD8 T cells. Taken together, the data in this study revealed a previously unappreciated role of sepsis in shaping the quantity and functionality of infection- or vaccine-induced memory CD8 T cells and will help further define the decline in T cell–mediated immunity during the sepsis-induced phase of immunosuppression.
An automated data acquisition system for modeling the characteristics of a soil moisture sensor

Population growth results in an increasing demand on water supply. Usually, growers determine how much water is needed to irrigate their fields on the basis of the amount of time elapsed since the last irrigation cycle. A soil moisture sensor enables the users (or an automated irrigation system) to monitor the relative soil moisture constantly at many different locations throughout the field in order to schedule irrigation cycles more precisely. An automated data acquisition system for measuring the characteristics of a soil moisture sensor under various moisture conditions is presented. Based on the measurement data, an empirical model for the soil moisture sensor is also developed. A comparison of the model and experimental data is included. >
Gastric volume detection after selective vagotomies in rats

Rats receiving intragastric infusions of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, or 10.0 ml of normal saline while their pylori are reversibly occluded suppress meal size to the smallest infusion and display a dose-depende...
Relativistic Parts and Places: A Note on Corner Slices and Shrinking Chairs

Worries about parthood and location continue to stimulate the debate about persistence over time. It is now widely recognized that physical considerations are highly relevant to it. Recent work investigating the impact of relativity theory on the ontology of persistence has revealed many unexpected aspects of this impact. There now appears to be a broad consensus that no interesting view of persistence (endurance, perdurance, or exdurance) is decisively refuted by relativistic considerations. There is little consensus as to how and to what extent any such view is supported by them.
Corrections for the Pressure Gradient Effect on Vehicle Aerodynamic Drag

Effects of the pressure gradient in the wind tunnel test section on vehicle aerodynamic drag were investigated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The numerical study was used to obtain the aerodynamic drag of several vehicles in two virtual wind tunnels, one with a zero pressure gradient and another with a non-zero (but small) pressure gradient. A comparison of the vehicle aerodynamic drags in these two virtual wind tunnels, and investigation of the physical mechanisms causing these differences, have led to two correction formulas. These formulas can be used to correct for the pressure gradient effect on vehicle aerodynamic drag measurement in a wind tunnel that has a non-zero pressure gradient. In the first formula, the correction is given explicitly in terms of known variables. The correction is 80% accurate for passenger car, sports car, sports utility vehicle (SUV), and is 70% accurate for pickup truck. In the second formula, the correction is more accurate, but is more involved with vehicle aerodynamic computations carried out twice, in wind tunnels with and without the pressure gradient. The CFD methodology used in the present can also be applied to generate other wind tunnel corrections.
Involvement of adenosine in antinociception produced by spinal or supraspinal receptor-selective opioid agonists: dissociation from gastrointestinal effects in mice.

Possible involvement of adenosine, as a secondary neurotransmitter, in opioid modulation of nociception and gastrointestinal function was investigated in mice. Inhibitory actions of theophylline, a nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist, were evaluated against effects evoked by opioid receptor-selective agonists administered at spinal or supraspinal sites. Intrathecal administration of theophylline significantly inhibited antinociceptive actions produced by intrathecal (i.th.) injections of morphine, [D-Ala2, NMPhe4, Gly-ol] enkephalin (DAMGO), [D-Pen2, D-Pen5] enkephalin (DPDPE) and beta-endorphin as measured with the warm water tail-flick assay. The rank order of rightward displacement of i.th. agonist dose-response curves by theophylline (i.th.) was DPDPE (greatest) > DAMGO > morphine > beta-endorphin. Theophylline was less effective as an inhibitor in the hot-plate assay. Additionally, i.th. administration of theophylline inhibited antinociceptive effects evoked by i.c.v. administration of opioids. The rank order of rightward displacement of dose-response curves after i.c.v. opioid administration was DAMGO (greatest) > beta-endorphin > morphine > DPDPE. In contrast to the effectiveness of theophylline administered i.th., theophylline coadministered i.c.v. with opioid agonists did not inhibit opioid-induced antinociception. Neither i.th. nor i.c.v. theophylline altered inhibitory effects on gastric emptying and gastrointestinal propulsion produced by i.th. or i.c.v. administration of selective opioid agonists. These data provide additional support for involvement of spinal adenosine as a secondary neurotransmitter in opioid antinociceptive processes associated with local spinal reflexes as well as in descending antinociceptive processes. Adenosine was not involved in modulation of opioid-activated gastrointestinal outflow pathways at either spinal or supraspinal levels.
Costly Communication, Shareholder Activism, and Limits to Arbitrage

Using a unique hand-collected dataset, we show that shareholder activism designed to open U.S. based closed-end funds has become more frequent since the SEC's reform of the proxy rules in 1992 (the 1992 Reform) that lifted restrictions on shareholder communication. We denote this activity activist arbitrage and distinguish it from the standard pure trading arbitrage. We document a dual relationship between activist arbitrage and funds' discounts: a high discount increases the probability of activist arbitrage, while a high probability of ex post activist arbitrage reduces the ex ante discount. We provide evidence that the ease of shareholder communication is a major determinant for the emergence of activist arbitrage. This holds for the time series - activist arbitrage has become much more common following the 1992 Reform - as well as for the cross section - activist arbitrage is more likely in funds that exhibit low costs of communication. Overall, our results provide direct evidence of the presence of arbitrage activities, but also demonstrate how costly communication leads to limits on arbitrage.
Challenger: the high cost of hype

NASA and the news media had a long-time, comfortable relationship before the Challenger explosion. The first of the following two articles explores the disillusionment that followed that disaster, while the second asks why well-informed journalists did not write about the potential for trouble.
The search for dielectric resonance of biological agents by microwave radiation

This paper reports on investigating the ability of microwave radiation to detect the biological agents, with a particular focus on anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) spores. A multilayered CPW sensor is designed and fabricated to test liquid samples and materials in solution from 45 MHz to 40 GHz. Complex material permittivity is calculated by ABCD matrices based on measured S-parameters.
Limited Phase I Trial of Sequential High Dose Cytarabine and Clofarabine (HiDAC→CLOF) in Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

High dose cytarabine (HiDAC) is the most effective single agent for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML); clofarabine (CLOF) is also an active agent in AML. Preclinical data suggest synergy between cytarabine and clofarabine. We conducted a two step limited phase I trial of sequential HiDAC (2g/m2 over 3 hours) followed by CLOF (30 or 40 mg/m2 infused over 2 hours), each given daily for 5 days, in adults with AML in first or second relapse or refractory to initial induction chemotherapy. Patients with persistent leukemia on day 12–14 received a second course of HiDAC→CLOF; phase I toxicity evaluation was based on cycle 1 data only. Nine patients (6 men and 3 women) were treated. The median age was 55.5 years (range 29.2 – 68.1). All had relapsed AML; two had prior autologous stem cell transplant. The initial cohort of 3 patients received clofarabine 30 mg/m2 with one dose limiting toxicity (DLT); an additional 3 patients were treated in cohort 1. The second cohort was treated with CLOF 40 mg/m2, the target dose for a planned phase II trial of HiDAC→CLOF. Hematologic toxicities and infections were not considered DLT. In the first cohort (30 mg/m2; n = 6) there was 1 DLT - grade 4 skin rash in a patient who subsequently died on day 17 with sepsis-related multi-organ failure; 3 patients had reversible grade 3 elevations in AST/ALT, 1 had grade 3 skin toxicity. In cohort 2 (40 mg/m2 ; n = 3) there was no DLT; 1 patient had grade 3 AST/ALT; 2 had grade 3 skin. Three of nine patients received a second course of induction HiDACCLOF. Two of six patients in cohort 1 achieved complete remission (CR), 1/3 patients in cohort 2 achieved CRi(CRp). Two of three CR/CRi patients received one course and one received two courses of HiDAC→CLOF induction. Conclusion: HiDAC→CLOF was associated with transient elevation in AST/ALT (4/9) and skin rash (3/9; primarily extensive palmar/plantar); skin toxicity appeared especially prominent in patients with palmar/plantar toxicity during prior therapy with HiDAC. Toxicities (other than skin) were comparable to other salvage regimens for relapsed and refractory AML. This combination is active in relapsed AML with 3/9 CR/CRp. A phase II trial of HiDAC→CLOF is underway; prophylactic intravenous hydrocortisone has been incorporated in an attempt to decrease skin toxicity.
Nutritional Ketosis Affects Metabolism and Behavior in Sprague-Dawley Rats in Both Control and Chronic Stress Environments.

Nutritional ketosis may enhance cerebral energy metabolism and has received increased interest as a way to improve or preserve performance and resilience. Most studies to date have focused on metabolic or neurological disorders while anecdotal evidence suggests that ketosis may enhance performance in the absence of underlying dysfunction. Moreover, decreased availability of glucose in the brain following stressful events is associated with impaired cognition, suggesting the need for more efficient energy sources. We tested the hypotheses that ketosis induced by endogenous or exogenous ketones could: a) augment cognitive outcomes in healthy subjects; and b) prevent stress-induced detriments in cognitive parameters. Adult, male, Sprague Dawley rats were used to investigate metabolic and behavioral outcomes in 3 dietary conditions: ketogenic (KD), ketone supplemented (KS), or NIH-31 control diet in both control or chronic stress conditions. Acute administration of exogenous ketones resulted in reduction in blood glucose and sustained ketosis. Chronic experiments showed that in control conditions, only KD resulted in pronounced metabolic alterations and improved performance in the novel object recognition test. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response revealed that KD-fed rats maintained peripheral ketosis despite increases in glucose whereas no diet effects were observed in ACTH or CORT levels. Both KD and KS-fed rats decreased escape latencies on the third day of water maze, whereas only KD prevented stress-induced deficits on the last testing day and improved probe test performance. Stress-induced decrease in hippocampal levels of β-hydroxybutyrate were attenuated in KD group while both KD and KS prevented stress effects on BDNF levels. Mitochondrial enzymes associated with ketogenesis were increased in both KD and KS hippocampal samples and both endothelial and neuronal glucose transporters were affected by stress but only in the control diet group. Our results highlight the complex relationship between peripheral metabolism, behavioral performance and biochemical changes in the hippocampus. Endogenous ketosis improved behavioral and metabolic parameters associated with energy metabolism and cognition while ketone supplementation replicated the biochemical effects within the hippocampus but only showed modest effects on behavioral improvements.
On Mikhail Bakhtin and human studies (with continual reference to Moscow and Sheffield)

This essay was reconstructed and upgraded from lecture notes for a keynote address delivered, with modest visuals, on 28 October 2016 at the University of Sheffield, U.K. The occasion was the 50th ...
Complex Determinants of Epithelial: Mesenchymal Phenotypic Plasticity in Ovarian Cancer

Unlike most epithelial malignancies which metastasize hematogenously, metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) occurs primarily via transcoelomic dissemination, characterized by exfoliation of cells from the primary tumor, avoidance of detachment-induced cell death (anoikis), movement throughout the peritoneal cavity as individual cells and multi-cellular aggregates (MCAs), adhesion to and disruption of the mesothelial lining of the peritoneum, and submesothelial matrix anchoring and proliferation to generate widely disseminated metastases. This exceptional microenvironment is highly permissive for phenotypic plasticity, enabling mesenchymal-to-epithelial (MET) and epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) transitions. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on EOC heterogeneity in an EMT context, outline major regulators of EMT in ovarian cancer, address controversies in EMT and EOC chemoresistance, and highlight computational modeling approaches toward understanding EMT/MET in EOC.
A general approach to full-range tail dependence copulas

Abstract Full-range tail dependence copulas have recently been proved very useful for modeling various dependence patterns in the joint distributional tails. However, there are only a few applicable candidate models that have the full-range tail dependence property. In this paper, we present a general approach to constructing bivariate copulas that have full-range tail dependence in both upper and lower tails and are able to account for both reflection symmetry and reflection asymmetry. The general approach is based on mixtures of positive regularly varying random variables, and the full-range tail dependence property is established for such a general model. In order to construct copulas that possess the above dependence properties and are fast to compute, we construct a full-range tail dependence copula based on mixtures of Pareto random variables. We derive dependence properties of the proposed copula, and the extreme value copula based on it. A comparison with the full-range tail dependence copula proposed in Hua (2017) has been conducted, and the computational speed has been largely improved by the copula proposed in the current paper.
Economic Integration in Africa: The East African Community in Comparative Perspective

In this work, Richard E. Mshomba offers an in-depth analysis of economic integration in Africa with a focus on the East African Community (EAC), arguably the most ambitious of all the regional economic blocs currently in existence in Africa. Economic Integration in Africa provides more than just an overview of regional economic blocs in Africa; it also offers a rich historical discussion on the birth and death of the first EAC starting with the onset of colonialism in the 1890s, and a systematic analysis of the birth, growth, and aspirations of the current EAC. Those objectives include forming a monetary union and eventually an East African political federation. This book also examines the African Union's aspirations for continent-wide integration as envisioned by the Abuja Treaty. Mshomba carefully argues that maturity of democracy and good governance in each country are prerequisites for the formation of a viable and sustainable East African federation and genuine continent-wide integration.
Abstract 18870: Sirt1 Maintains PGC-1α Function Through Periodic Promoter Release

The heart is an organ which demands high energy production. PGC-1α is a transcriptional coactivator that stimulates energy metabolism through activation of target transcription factors, such as PPA...
Introduction: Flint and the Racialized Geography of Indifference:

In this introduction to the Critical Sociology symposium, “The Flint Water Crisis and the Failure of Neoliberal Governance,” the authors outline the social and cultural conditions for the racialize...
ASMBS updated position statement on bariatric surgery in class I obesity (BMI 30-35 kg/m2).

Preamble The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) issued a position statement on the role of bariatric surgery in class I obesity in 2012 [1]. That statement was developed in response to inquiries made to the ASMBS by society members, physicians, patients, hospitals, health insurance payers, policy makers, and the media regarding the safety and efficacy of bariatric surgery for patients with body mass index (BMI) 30-35 kg/m 2 . In the evolving field of bariatric and metabolic surgery, The Clinical Issues Committee of ASMBS recognized the necessity to update the position statement since additional high quality data has emerged in the past 5 years to support bariatric surgery in class I obesity. In this updated statement, the ASMBS recommendations are presented that are derived from available knowledge, peer-reviewed scientific literature, and expert opinion. The statement may be revised in the future should additional evidence become available. The statement is not intended as, and should not be construed as, stating or establishing a local, regional, or national standard of care.
Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cell-regulated Cytokine Gene Expression for Adjustment of Tacrolimus in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

Background The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of a pharmacodynamics assay that measures Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cell-dependent cytokines expressed as % mean residual expression (MRE) to adjust tacrolimus (tac) dose (intervention [INT] arm) in comparison with the standard of care of tac trough levels (control [CTL] arm). Methods We conducted a single-center randomized controlled trial involving 40 stable kidney transplant recipients over 1 year. In the INT arm, the dose of tac was reduced by 15% if the MRE was less than 20% and was increased by 15% if the MRE was greater than 60%. Controls were adjusted based on tac trough levels. Results There was a median of 2 tac dose changes per arm. Ten subjects had 1 or more infections in the INT arm and 6 subjects had 1 or more infection in the CTL arm. Rates for hospitalizations, rejections, malignancies and death were similar in both arms. In subjects whose tac dose was not adjusted in the first 6 months, those with infections had a lower MRE at enrollment compared with those without infections (P = 0.049). This was not true for tac trough levels (P = 0.80). There was no correlation between MRE and rejection. Conclusions Our study suggests that adjusting tac based on this pharmacodynamics assay is feasible. Quantitative analysis of nuclear factor of activated T-regulated gene expression may serve as a reliable assay to lower tac dosing. Further studies with larger populations are needed.
Five minute oscillations as a probe of the solar interior

The solar five minute oscillation has been shown to consist of a large number of nonradial acoustic modes. Observations of these modes provide a probe of the solar interior; specifically tests on models of the solar convection zone.
Accounting in 2036: A Learned Profession

ABSTRACT My vision is that by 2036 accounting is known as the learned profession that provides information for informed decision-making to support a prosperous society. By 2036, academic and practi...
Almond Snacking for 8 wk Increases Alpha-Diversity of the Gastrointestinal Microbiome and Decreases Bacteroides fragilis Abundance Compared with an Isocaloric Snack in College Freshmen

Author(s): Dhillon, Jaapna; Li, Zhaoping; Ortiz, Rudy M | Abstract: BackgroundChanges in gut microbiota are associated with cardiometabolic disorders and are influenced by diet. Almonds are a rich source of fiber, unsaturated fats, and polyphenols, all nutrients that can favorably alter the gut microbiome.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to examine the effects of 8 wk of almond snacking on the gut (fecal) microbiome diversity and abundance compared with an isocaloric snack of graham crackers in college freshmen.MethodsA randomized, controlled, parallel-arm, 8-wk intervention in 73 college freshmen (age: 18-19 y; 41 women and 32 men; BMI: 18-41 kg/m2) with no cardiometabolic disorders was conducted. Participants were randomly allocated to either an almond snack group (56.7 g/d; 364 kcal; n = 38) or graham cracker control group (77.5 g/d; 338 kcal/d; n = 35). Stool samples were collected at baseline and 8 wk after the intervention to assess primary microbiome outcomes, that is, gut microbiome diversity and abundance.ResultsAlmond snacking resulted in 3% greater quantitative alpha-diversity (Shannon index) and 8% greater qualitative alpha-diversity (Chao1 index) than the cracker group after the intervention (P l 0.05). Moreover, almond snacking for 8 wk decreased the abundance of the pathogenic bacterium Bacteroides fragilis by 48% (overall relative abundance, P l 0.05). Permutational multivariate ANOVA showed significant time effects for the unweighted UniFrac distance and Bray-Curtis beta-diversity methods (P l 0.05; R 2 ≤ 3.1%). The dietary and clinical variables that best correlated with the underlying bacterial community structure at week 8 of the intervention included dietary carbohydrate (percentage energy), dietary fiber (g), and fasting total and HDL cholesterol (model Spearman rho = 0.16; P = 0.01).ConclusionsAlmond snacking for 8 wk improved alpha-diversity compared with cracker snacking. Incorporating a morning snack in the dietary regimen of predominantly breakfast-skipping college freshmen improved the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03084003.
Influence of indoor conditions on microbial diversity and quantity in schools

HVAC systems consumes 37 % of the electricity in educational buildings. Energy consumption varies depending on the ventilation strategy. School buildings have a responsibility of ensuring energy performance and maintenance of indoor environmental quality for its occupants. This study assesses the efficiency of the ventilation system in terms of the microbes present in the spaces. Microorganisms and particulate matters were sampled in classrooms, locker rooms, libraries in two high schools and an elementary school. Six bacterial species and seven fungal species were identified. The most abundant microorganisms were Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus sp., and Micrococcus sp. Elementary school, especially kindergarten, showed higher microbial concentration and particulate matter as a result of higher human activity. Microbial concentration was influenced by the types of room in the same building with the same ventilation system. Canonical correspondence plot (CCA) determined that gender and school type have significant effects. The presence of Bacillus sp., Aerococcus sp., Corynebacterium sp., and Penicillium sp. was significantly related to gender, while Staphylococcus sp. and Alternaria sp. were related to type of school. The presence of Aerococcus sp. and Micrococcus sp. depended on the distance from the vent location. Relatively lower number of Aerococcus sp. was detected when the distance between sampling site and vent was less than 2 m. Micrococcus sp. was generally detected when the distance was < 3.5 m. The distance from the door was not significant.
The real world use of combined P-glycoprotein and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors with rivaroxaban or apixaban increases bleeding.

The use of direct oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation continues to rise. Certain populations may be at higher risk for increased drug exposure and adverse events. Pharmacokinetic studies suggest increased exposure of rivaroxaban and apixaban with combined P-gp and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors but the clinical relevance of this is unknown. This retrospective cohort study included patients receiving rivaroxaban or apixaban from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016 with a moderate inhibitor (amiodarone, dronedarone, diltiazem, verapamil) for at least 3 months in the drug–drug interaction (DDI) group. Propensity matching was used to identify similar control patients without the presence of the DDI. The primary outcome was a time to event analysis of any bleeding episode as defined by the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis. After propensity matching, 213 patients with similar baseline characteristics were included in each group. The mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.0 and median duration of follow-up was 1.45 years. The primary outcome occurred in 26.4% of patients in the DDI group and 18.4% in the control group (hazard ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19 to 2.73; p-value = 0.006). There was no difference in bleeding rates based on type of inhibitor. Use of a combined P-gp and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor with rivaroxaban or apixaban increased bleeding risk compared to patients without the DDI in this real world, retrospective study. Analysis in a larger patient population is needed to confirm these findings.
Financial Implications of Physician Specialty Choice.

Purpose To examine the approximated financial outcomes of physicians by specialty and to determine whether these correlate with mean USMLE Step 1 scores. Methods Specialty-specific data from the Association of American Medical Colleges Careers in Medicine website were analyzed for total length of training, mean USMLE Step 1 scores, average hours worked per week, and median clinical practice salary for physicians. Hourly wage and estimated net worth at retirement were calculated. Coefficients of determination (R2) were calculated to evaluate the relationships between hourly wage, annual salary, and estimated net worth at retirement with competitiveness as measured by USMLE Step 1 scores of matched residents. Results Across all 37 specialties studied, the mean hourly wage was $136 ± $40, ranging from $78 (Geriatrics) to $249 (Neurosurgery). Mean weekly hours worked across all specialties was 54.6 ± 6.4, ranging from 43.4 (Pediatric Emergency Medicine) to 71.1 (Vascular Surgery). At retirement, the mean estimated net worth for all physicians was $4,517,600 ± $1,793,095, ranging from $1,927,779 (Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) to $8,947,885 (Neurosurgery). Step 1 scores, as a marker of specialty competiveness, correlate with specialty compensation - the strongest association was with hourly wage (R2 = 0.6678), then annual salary (R2 = 0.6424), and finally by estimated net worth at retirement (R2 = 0.6158). Conclusion In this study, mean Step 1 scores for each medical specialty were positively correlated with compensation, including absolute salary, hourly wage and estimated net worth at retirement.
Ibrutinib for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with TP53 Alterations

Ibrutinib in CLL with TP53 Alterations Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia with chromosome 17 abnormalities have a worse prognosis than those without such alterations. In this phase 2 study,...
Developing a Rubric for Teaching and Assessing Design Thinking Across the Curriculum

After learning how the steps of the design process mirrored the skills a middle school set out to provide its students, an interdisciplinary team of teachers implemented “design thinking” in their lessons across the curriculum, including art, media literacy, and research projects. Using the design process practiced by architects and others in their work as a model, the team of teachers created a rubric to accompany a variety of projects. This rubric described the 12 steps in the design process with the goal that students following the steps would achieve the goals of the standards-based lessons and practice the twenty-first-century skills imbedded in the design process. These skills include creative problem solving, communication, and collaboration, among others. Standards met included those in Language Arts and Literature as well as Art and Design. This paper assesses the positive outcomes and issues that occurred related to the implementation of such a project, with suggestions for further research and improvements.