cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract IA10: Improving existing cancer therapy by targeting the tumor microenvironment

Many human cancers fail to respond to chemotherapy, and cancers that initially respond frequently acquire drug resistance and relapse. This process of tumor relapse is particularly confounding, as patients can be in remission for years following treatment prior to the reemergence of a cancer. Additionally, tumors that relapse have generally acquired resistance to the initial treatment. While conventional anti-cancer therapies have been in clinical use for decades, little is known about the mechanisms by which a tumor cell can survive treatment and persist in a patient for extended period of time. In fact, a major cause of cancer deaths is the inability to eradicate small sets of surviving tumor cells, termed “minimal residual disease” or “MRD”. Work from our laboratory has found that chemotherapy paradoxically elicits a pro-survival response in certain anatomical cites. Specifically, normal cells proximal to tumor cells secrete factors that counter the effects of the chemotherapy. This survival response likely serves to protect normal progenitor and stem cells to allow for tissue regeneration following damage, but it is coopted by tumor cells that find themselves in these specialized sites. Thus, effective cancer therapy may not only involve targeting cancer cells but also may require inhibiting survival signals emanating from surrounding cells. We have developed multiple models of MRD that have not only identified mechanisms of tumor cell persistence, but also strategies to sensitize chemorefractory tumors to front-line chemotherapy. Citation Format: Christian Pallasch, Luke Gilbert, Michael Hemann. Improving existing cancer therapy by targeting the tumor microenvironment. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: The Translational Impact of Model Organisms in Cancer; Nov 5-8, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr IA10.
ALIROCUMAB TITRATION STRATEGY ALLOWS INDIVIDUALIZED LDL-C REDUCTION IN A REAL WORLD SETTING: RESULTS FROM ODYSSEY OLE (LONG TERM COHORT)

Background: Patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) who completed the 78-week LONG TERM study (LT) of alirocumab (ALI) were eligible to enroll in an open-label study (OLE; [NCT01954394][1]). In contrast to previous ODYSSEY studies (where ALI dose was increased automatically
DStress: Efficient Differentially Private Computations on Distributed Data

In this paper, we present DStress, a system that can efficiently perform computations on graphs that contain confidential data. DStress assumes that the graph is physically distributed across many participants, and that each participant only knows a small subgraph; it protects privacy by enforcing tight, provable limits on how much each participant can learn about the rest of the graph.We also study one concrete instance of this problem: measuring systemic risk in financial networks. Systemic risk is the likelihood of cascading bankruptcies -- as, e.g., during the financial crisis of 2008 -- and it can be quantified based on the dependencies between financial institutions; however, the necessary data is highly sensitive and cannot be safely disclosed. We show that DStress can implement two different systemic risk models from the theoretical economics literature. Our experimental evaluation suggests that DStress can run the corresponding computations in about five hours, whereas a naive approach could take several decades.
Catch Bonds at T Cell Interfaces: Impact of Surface Reorganization and Membrane Fluctuations.

Catch bonds are characterized by average lifetimes that initially increase with increasing tensile force. Recently, they have been implicated in T cell activation, where small numbers of antigenic receptor-ligand bonds at a cell-cell interface can stimulate a T cell. Here, we use computational methods to investigate small numbers of bonds at the interface between two membranes. We characterize the time-dependent forces on the bonds in response to changes in the membrane shape and the organization of other surface molecules. We then determine the distributions of bond lifetimes using recent force-dependent lifetime data for T cell receptors bound to various ligands. Strong agonists, which exhibit catch bond behavior, are markedly more likely to remain intact than an antagonist whose average lifetime decreases with increasing force. Thermal fluctuations of the membrane shape enhance the decay of the average force on a bond, but also lead to fluctuations of the force. These fluctuations promote bond rupture, but the effect is buffered by catch bonds. When more than one bond is present, the bonds experience reduced average forces that depend on their relative positions, leading to changes in bond lifetimes. Our results highlight the importance of force-dependent binding kinetics when bonds experience time-dependent and fluctuating forces, as well as potential consequences of collective bond behavior relevant to T cell activation.
Electrospun Iron-Based Fibers for Use in MEMS Sensors

This letter reports on the characterization of iron containing nanofibers using a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based solution in a batch electrospinning processing method. Variation of iron content within the pre-fiber solution, and characterization of fiber size and porosity are important for the use of these nanomaterials in sensing. Simulated non-porous fibers are compared with nanofibers obtained utilizing this method. Pre-calcination (thermal) fibers had diameters of 243 nm on average with a standard deviation of ±43 nm and a standard error of ±4.53 nm. Fabrication of mesoporous iron-based nanofibers was achieved after the calcination of the iron/PVA fibers. With the calcination process, we produced fibers with 32-nm diameters, and a standard deviation of ±12 nm and a standard error of ±1.41 nm. The error between model and experimental results is 37.5% for producing Fe3O4 fibers. This error percentage and oversized dimensions suggest near total conversion to Fe3O4 occurring due to calcination as well as creating mesoporous fibers. [2017-0014]
Evaluating and Comparing the Effects of Group Contingencies on Mathematics Accuracy in a First-Grade Classroom: Class Average Criteria Versus Unknown Small-Group Average Criteria

Abstract An adapted alternating treatments design was used to evaluate and compare the effects of two group contingency interventions on mathematics assignment accuracy in an intact first-grade classroom. Both an interdependent contingency with class-average criteria (16 students) and a dependent contingency with criteria based on the average of a smaller, unknown, randomly selected group of students (4 students) were applied. For both contingencies, rewards and criteria were randomly selected and unknown to students. Results showed immediate, sustained, and meaningful improvements in mathematics assignment accuracy (from a class average of 64% to a class average above 83%) across both contingencies, with little differences between the two interventions. Social validity data suggest that the two teachers and the majority of the students preferred the small-group contingency. Discussion focuses on applied implications of the current results and directions for future research, including investigating side e...
Revisiting Perceiver and Target Gender Effects in Deception Detection

Existing research is inconclusive regarding the influence of perceiver gender and target gender on lie detection. Researchers have offered a number of conclusions regarding gender effects in deception detection (e.g., women are better at lie detection than men, participant and target gender interact in predicting deception detection accuracy, there are no gender effects in deception detection). In the current work, we revisit the question of whether and how gender influences lie detection, employing a large database of controlled stimuli, a large sample size, and the analytical advantages provided by signal detection theory. Participants viewed videos of male and female targets telling truths and lies about interpersonal relationships, and after each video, they rendered a truth or lie judgment. Female targets were easier to “read” (i.e., greater sensitivity) and were called liars more frequently than male targets. No effects of participant gender were observed. This work sheds light on an important issue in the lie detection literature (i.e., does gender matter?), and it identifies important considerations for understanding gender biases and cross-gender social interactions.
Evaluation and Management of Aortic Stenosis for the Emergency Clinician: An Evidence-Based Review of the Literature

Abstract Introduction Aortic stenosis is a common condition among older adults that can be associated with dangerous outcomes, due to both the disease itself and its influence on other conditions. Objective This review provides an evidence-based summary of the current emergency department (ED) evaluation and management of aortic stenosis. Discussion Aortic stenosis refers to significant narrowing of the aortic valve and can be caused by calcific disease, congenital causes, or rheumatic valvular disease. Symptoms of advanced disease include angina, dyspnea, and syncope. Patients with these symptoms have a much higher mortality rate than asymptomatic patients. Initial evaluation should include an electrocardiogram, complete blood count, basic metabolic profile, coagulation studies, troponin, brain natriuretic peptide, type and screen, and a chest radiograph. Transthoracic echocardiogram is the test of choice, but point-of-care ultrasound has been found to have good accuracy when a formal echocardiogram is not feasible. Initial management should begin with restoring preload and ensuring a normal heart rate, as both bradycardia and tachycardia can lead to clinical decompensation. For patients with high blood pressure and heart failure symptoms, nitrate agents may be reasonable, but hypotension should be avoided. Dobutamine can increase inotropy. For hypotensive patients, vasopressors should be used at the lowest effective dose. The treatment of choice is valve replacement, but extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and percutaneous balloon dilatation of the aortic valve have been described as temporizing measures. Conclusion Aortic stenosis is an important condition that can lead to dangerous outcomes and requires prompt recognition and disease-specific management in the ED.
Graph embedding and its application in defect detection system

Recent years, auto meter reading system performance has been the focus of research. In this paper, we apply graph analysis method to embedding the node in the power system to detect the defect in auto meter reading system. We use decision tree algorithm to determine the problematic nodes. We tried five kinds of graph embedding methods to experiment. We find that these methods have improved the accuracy of fault diagnosis to a certain extend.
Evaluation of 13kV dry-type shunt reactor protection following near-miss

At the end of a bird-caused fault sequence, the protection scheme for a 13kV dry-type shunt reactor left the reactor energized and carrying load current on two phases, which resulted in a more severe fault when the field operator attempted to clear the shunt reactor using manually operated disconnect switches. The operator was not injured but given his proximity to the fault and arc, the result could have resulted in serious injury or much worse. In order to avoid such situations, this paper evaluates the protection scheme for 13kV dry-type shunt reactors, highlighting deficiencies, compares company practices against one industry guide, and describes planned improvements.
Electromechanically Induced Brillouin Scattering in AlN Optomechanical Waveguides

We experimentally demonstrate electromechanically induced Brillouin scattering in a photonic waveguide fabricated on aluminum nitride thin film, and show single sideband modulation due to the non-reciprocal acousto-optic phase matching conditions.
Cyclotomic Polynomials, Symmetric Polynomials, and a Generalization of Euler's Totient Function

We introduce a generalization of Euler's totient function that, when applied to an integer n ≥ 2, can be written as a polynomial in the prime factors of n. We then show how cyclotomic and complete ...
Say's Principle and Monetary Equilibrium

This chapter is an introduction to monetary theory. It introduces and discusses the connection between two important ideas: monetary equihbrium and Say's Principle. Monetary equilibrium occurs when the total or aggregate demand for money by people in the economy equals the existing stock of money made available by the joint actions of the Federal Reserve and the banking system. Realization of monetary equilibrium requires the presence of forces that also produce an equilibrium between the aggregate supply and aggregate demand for goods and services in the economy. Forces that disturb the equilibrium between the demand for and stock of money can also disturb the equilibrium between the aggregate demand for and supply of goods and services. We will discuss these forces in detail in Chapters 13, 14, 15, and 16. Say's Principle is the essential idea that connects monetary equilibrium or disequilibrium with equilibrium or disequilibrium in the markets for goods and services. As such, it helps to show how monetary impulses or shocks work their way through the economy to impose changes in money prices or the level of output and employment. For that reason, it is a most important idea for the understanding of business cycles and the problem of inflation, subjects that will occupy much of the remainder of this book.
The State Space

Linear systems theory, as the term generally applies today, is not directly concerned with the study of physical systems but rather deals with the study of a class of mathematical representations or models of physical systems which we will call dynamical systems. Rather than present a rigorous abstract definition of this notion of a dynamical system, as is often done, we will employ an intuitive approach more suited to students with engineering backgrounds. In particular, the reader has undoubtedly been introduced to a number of physical laws which are commonly employed to obtain a mathematical description of the behavior of physical systems. For example, Kirchoff’s laws can be used to obtain a set of differential equations which, when solved, describe the manner in which various node voltages and loop currents vary with time as functions of driving terms (inputs) as well as various initial conditions. Similarly, Newton’s laws and the Euler-Lagrange equations are commonly used for analogous reasons in the study of mechanical systems.
Role of Reactive Stroma in Prostate Cancer

Reactive stroma initiates at sites of epithelial damage to mediate tissue repair and restore homeostasis. Genomic instability of epithelial cells at sites of early lesions such as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia produces a similar breach of the epithelial barrier and an initiation of reactive stroma. Reactive stromal cells, termed myofibroblasts and carcinoma-associated fibroblasts, have been shown to originate potentially from several sources including tissue fibroblasts, resident stromal stem cells, vascular cells, and marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Several growth factors such as transforming growth factor-β and interleukin-8 induce reactive stroma and regulate several downstream factors expressed in reactive stroma. Reactive stroma in prostate cancer is heterogeneous, and the amount of reactive stroma is predictive of disease progression. The heterogeneity of cells in reactive stroma is possibly a key aspect of the tumor-promoting properties. It is likely that reactive stroma biology is an important aspect of tumor progression to metastasis and acquired therapeutic resistance. Targeting the tumor microenvironment reactive stroma together with direct targeting of cancer cells may represent an effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Tooncap: a layered deformable model for capturing poses from cartoon characters

Characters in traditional artwork such as children's books or cartoon animations are typically drawn once, in fixed poses, with little opportunity to change the characters' appearance or re-use them in a different animation. To enable these applications one can fit a consistent parametric deformable model--- a puppet ---to different images of a character, thus establishing consistent segmentation, dense semantic correspondence, and deformation parameters across poses. In this work, we argue that a layered deformable puppet is a natural representation for hand-drawn characters, providing an effective way to deal with the articulation, expressive deformation, and occlusion that are common to this style of artwork. Our main contribution is an automatic pipeline for fitting these models to unlabeled images depicting the same character in various poses. We demonstrate that the output of our pipeline can be used directly for editing and re-targeting animations.
Precipitation δ 18 O on the Himalaya–Tibet orogeny and its relationship to surface elevation

Abstract. The elevation history of the Himalaya–Tibet orogen is central to understanding the evolution and dynamics of both the India–Asia collision and the Asian monsoons. The surface elevation history of the region is largely deduced from stable isotope ( δ18O , δD ) paleoaltimetry. This method is based on the observed relationship between the isotopic composition of meteoric waters ( δ18O p , δD p ) and surface elevation, and the assumption that precipitation undergoes Rayleigh distillation under forced ascent. Here we evaluate how elevation-induced climate change influences the δ18O p –elevation relationship and whether Rayleigh distillation is the dominant process affecting δ18O p . We use an isotope-enabled climate model, ECHAM-wiso, to show that the Rayleigh distillation process is only dominant in the monsoonal regions of the Himalayas when the mountains are high. When the orogen is lowered, local surface recycling and convective processes become important, as forced ascent is weakened due to weaker Asian monsoons. As a result, the δ18O p lapse rate in the Himalayas increases from around −3 to above − 0.1 ‰ km −1 , and has little relationship with elevation. On the Tibetan Plateau, the meridional gradient of δ18O decreases from ∼1 to ∼0.3 ‰ ∘ −1 with reduced elevation, primarily due to enhanced sub-cloud reevaporation under lower relative humidity. Overall, we report that using δ18O p or δD p to deduce surface elevation change in the Himalayan–Tibetan region has severe limitations and demonstrate that the processes that control annual-mean precipitation-weighted δ18O p vary by region and with surface elevation. In summary, we determine that the application of δ18O paleoaltimetry is only appropriate for 7 of the 50 sites from which δ18O records have been used to infer past elevations.
Wideband Monostatic Co-Polarized Co-Channel Simultaneous Transmit and Receive Broadside Circular Array Antenna

A novel wideband monostatic circularly co-polarized co-channel simultaneous transmit and receive (C-STAR) broadside circular array antenna with a partially shared beam-forming network (BFN) is proposed. The configuration consists of four sequentially rotated two-arm Archimedean spiral antennas, backed by a finite ground plane and driven by a BFN. Every two diagonal antenna pairs are fed with differential phases to obtain similar co-polarized broadside transmitting (TX) and receiving (RX) beams. Each individual element has single feeding port and operates simultaneously as TX and RX over the same frequency. The proposed C-STAR approach utilizes antenna orientation, geometric symmetry, and partially shared BFN to overcome self-interference. In the absence of asymmetry and BFN imbalances, complete wideband self-interference cancellation is achieved without relying on time-, frequency-, space-, pattern-, antenna/port-, or polarization-multiplexing. The fabricated prototype has measured TX/RX isolation >38 dB, axial ratio 0.93.
Recombinant peptide fusion proteins enable palladium nanoparticle growth

Abstract The soluble fraction of bacterial lysates containing repeat units of a metal binding domain (Pd4) fused to the carrier protein Green Fluorescent Protein (GFPuv) was used to direct palladium nanoparticle synthesis on the order of 2 nm. Characterization confirmed the synthesis of highly ordered materials, as evident by microscopy and elemental analysis, demonstrating the fact that crude bacterial lysates containing fusion peptides may be used in lieu of expensive, pure peptide.
Health of the public: An academic challenge.

Academic medicine has contributed to the successes of the U.S. health care system, including excellence in biomedical research, extensive dissemination and use of medical technologies, lowered death rates for heart disease and stroke, and decreased rates of cigarette smoking. However, its substantial degree of public support and its central social role mandate that it become more involved in improving the health of the public. Relevant problems include poor health status and disproportionately high expenditures for medical care, inappropriate mix and distribution of medical manpower, and insufficient attention to chronic illness and disability. To help address these problems, Health of the Public, funded jointly by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Rockefeller Foundation, has established programs in six academic health centers: Columbia; Johns Hopkins; Tufts; and the Universities of New Mexico, North Carolina, and Washington. These programs support population-based education for medical students and residents, research and training in clinical prevention, and reorientation of senior faculty members toward population-based concepts.
Knowledge among patients with heart failure: A narrative synthesis of qualitative research

Abstract Background Patients’ knowledge of heart failure (HF) is integral to improved outcomes. However, the HF literature has not adequately explored the nature of patients’ knowledge of HF as part of their lived experience. Objectives We aimed to characterize the nature of patients’ knowledge of HF, in the context of living with the disease. Methods We conducted a narrative synthesis of qualitative studies that addressed patients’ knowledge of HF. Studies were systematically searched and retrieved from MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES databases. Findings were synthesized using an iterative coding process carried out by multiple analysts and reported following Enhancing Transparency in the Reporting of Qualitative Health Research (ENTREQ) criteria. Results Analysis of 73 eligible articles produced five themes: the content that comprises HF knowledge; development of HF knowledge over time; application of HF knowledge for decision making; communication of information between clinicians and patients; and patients’ experience of knowledge. Conclusion The nature of patients’ knowledge of HF is both explicit and implicit, dynamic, and personal. This multidimensional model of knowledge-in-context calls for equally multidimensional research and intervention design.
Creative (Climate) Communications: Productive Pathways for Science, Policy and Society

Conversations about climate change at the science-policy interface and in our lives have been stuck for some time. This handbook integrates lessons from the social sciences and humanities to more effectively make connections through issues, people, and things that everyday citizens care about. Readers will come away with an enhanced understanding that there is no 'silver bullet' to communications about climate change; instead, a 'silver buckshot' approach is needed, where strategies effectively reach different audiences in different contexts. This tactic can then significantly improve efforts that seek meaningful, substantive, and sustained responses to contemporary climate challenges. It can also help to effectively recapture a common or middle ground on climate change in the public arena. Readers will come away with ideas on how to harness creativity to better understand what kinds of communications work where, when, why, and under what conditions in the twenty-first century.
Multiple Sequence Alignment

Multiple Sequence alignment (MSA) is a generalization of Pairwise Sequence Alignment to multiple sequences. Thus, instead of aligning two sequences, the objective in MSA is to align k sequences simultaneously such an overall functional is optimized. The motivation behind doing a MSA is that it allows us to extract consensus evident in a widely diverse set of sequences. The similarities we observe across a wider range of sequences can help us better understand the evolutionary history of sequences as well as help infer a functional relationship amongst a group of biological sequences. Particularly for protein sequences, MSA can provide insight into the secondary/tertiary structure of proteins and discover critical consensus motifs and common blocks representative of protein domains or the functional units. Generally however, before performing the MSA step, typically we already know that the set of sequences being aligned are related, and our objective is to discover those regions and strength of relatedness.
Endovascular Embolization Techniques in a Novel Swine Model of Fatal Uncontrolled Solid Organ Hemorrhage and Coagulopathy

Background Endovascular embolization is increasingly used in treating traumatic hemorrhage and other applications. No endovascular-capable translational large animal models exist and coagulopathy’s effect on embolization techniques is unknown. We developed a coagulation-adaptable solid organ hemorrhage model in swine for investigation of embolization techniques. Methods Anesthetized swine (n = 26, 45 ± 3 kg) had laparotomy and splenic externalization. Half underwent 50% isovolemic hemodilution with 6% hetastarch and cooling to 33–35°C (COAG group). All had controlled 20 mL/kg hemorrhage and endovascular access to the proximal splenic artery with a 4F catheter via a right femoral sheath. Splenic transection and 5 min free bleeding were followed by treatment (n = 5/group) with 5 mL gelfoam slurry, three 6-mm coils, or no treatment (n = 3, control). Animals received 15 mL/kg plasma resuscitation and were monitored for 6 hr. Splenic blood loss was continuously measured and angiograms were performed at specified times. Results Coagulopathy was successfully established in COAG animals. Pre-treatment blood loss was greater in COAG (11 ± 6 mL/kg) than non-COAG (7 ± 3 mL/kg, P = 0.04) animals. Splenic hemorrhage was universally fatal without treatment. Non-COAG coil survival was 4/5 (326 ± 75 min) and non-COAG Gelfoam 3/5 (311 ± 67 min) versus non-COAG Control 0/3 (82 ± 18 min, P Conclusions A swine model of coagulation-adaptable fatal splenic hemorrhage suitable for endovascular treatment was developed. Coagulopathy had profound negative effects on coil and gelfoam efficacy in controlling bleeding, with implications for trauma and elective embolization procedures.
Defeating Dragons by Reading the Right Books: Narrative and Leadership

Lives are stories and the stories with which we interact form us, including as individuals and societies. As such, stories are useful for leadership reflection and leadership formation by forming virtues, inspiring action, simplifying the complex, and expanding perspectives. Lewis’ own stories provide appropriate material to inspire these reflections for leadership formation. Lewis’ own reflections on the use of narrative affirm these possibilities.
An Endonasal Incision Adds a Second Vector of Manipulation During Percutaneous Reduction of Fractures Involving the Frontonasal Region.

Study Design:A case report.Objective:To describe a modification of percutaneous reduction of frontal sinus and/or naso-orbito-ethmoid (NOE) fractures, adding an endonasal intercartilaginous incisio...
Cellulose nanocrystal effects on the biodegradability with alginate and crude seaweed extract nanocomposite films

Abstract Degradability of alginate and crude seaweed extract bionanocomposite films were used to study the effect of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) on biodegradation. CNC were successfully isolated from brown seaweeds, kombu (Laminaria japonica) and sargassum (Sargassum natans). Degradability was measured using weight loss with an indoor soil burial and lake water immersion tests for 35 days each. With the addition of CNC, alginate nanocomposite films showed lower weight lost than pure alginate films with 13.6% in soil burial and 19.9% in lake water immersion which indicated higher stability. In the case of kombu and sargassum films, stability of films increased 9.3 and 11.9% in soil burial and lake water immersion with CNC, respectively. Morphological observations with scanning electron microscopy showed wrinkles, pores, and cracks of the films after soil burial and lake water immersion. Chemical structure analysis showed that the molecular interactions in the polymer matrix diminished after the degradation tests. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to determine the thermal stabilities of nanocomposite films. The study showed that the alginate and crude seaweed extract bionanocomposite films reinforced with CNC can increase the polymer matrix interactions which led to higher stability in soil burial and lake water immersion tests.
Characterization of plastically compressible solids via spherical indentation

Abstract The response in spherical indentation is used to identify material properties for plastically compressible materials with presumed known elastic properties. The materials are assumed to be characterized by a Deshpande–Fleck constitutive relation (Deshpande and Fleck, 2000). The indentation force versus indentation depth responses and the residual surface profiles (the surface profiles after unloading) are calculated for two sets of material parameters. These are regarded as the “experimental” input materials. The constitutive parameters for these two materials are identified using the Bayesian-type statistical approach of Zhang et al. (2019) both for noise-free and for noise-contaminated data. The uniaxial stress–strain responses obtained from the spherical indentation responses are good approximations of those of the “experimental” input materials, particularly if surface profile data is used, but the quality of the approximation decreases with increasing noise amplitude. Plastic compressibility is found to have a relatively small effect on the correction factor β in the Oliver–Pharr relation (Oliver and Pharr, 2004) between the unloading slope and the effective (or reduced) elastic modulus. The indentation response of the plastically compressible materials can be well-represented by a nearly incompressible plastic constitutive relation but the inferred uniaxial stress–strain response is a poor representation of the “experimental” material uniaxial stress–strain response. The predicted residual surface profile is less dependent on the assumed elastic constant values than is the indentation force versus indentation depth response. The indentation force versus indentation depth responses in spherical indentation for three materials with very different uniaxial stress–strain curves are found to be indistinguishable if the indentation depth is sufficiently small but are distinguishable if the indentation depth is sufficiently large.
Evidence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Replication and Tropism in the Lungs, Airways, and Vascular Endothelium of Patients With Fatal Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Autopsy Case Series.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to produce substantial morbidity and mortality. To understand the reasons for the wide-spectrum complications and severe outcomes of COVID-19, we aimed to identify cellular targets of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) tropism and replication in various tissues. METHODS: We evaluated RNA extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded autopsy tissues from 64 case patients (age range, 1 month to 84 years; 21 COVID-19 confirmed, 43 suspected COVID-19) by SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). For cellular localization of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and viral characterization, we performed in situ hybridization (ISH), subgenomic RNA RT-PCR, and whole-genome sequencing. RESULTS: SARS-CoV-2 was identified by RT-PCR in 32 case patients (21 COVID-19 confirmed, 11 suspected). ISH was positive in 20 and subgenomic RNA RT-PCR was positive in 17 of 32 RT-PCR-positive case patients. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was localized by ISH in hyaline membranes, pneumocytes, and macrophages of lungs; epithelial cells of airways; and endothelial cells and vessel walls of brain stem, leptomeninges, lung, heart, liver, kidney, and pancreas. The D614G variant was detected in 9 RT-PCR-positive case patients. CONCLUSIONS: We identified cellular targets of SARS-CoV-2 tropism and replication in the lungs and airways and demonstrated its direct infection in vascular endothelium. This work provides important insights into COVID-19 pathogenesis and mechanisms of severe outcomes.
Relic cosmological vector fields and inflationary gravitational waves

We show that relic vector fields can significantly impact a spectrum of primordial gravitational waves in the postinflationary era. We consider a triplet of U(1) fields in a homogeneous, isotropic configuration. The interaction between the gravitational waves and the vector fields, from the end of reheating to the present day, yields novel spectral features. The amplitude, tilt, shape, and net chirality of the gravitational wave spectrum are shown to depend on the abundance of the electric- and magneticlike vector fields. Our results show that even a modest abundance can have strong implications for efforts to detect the imprint of gravitational waves on the cosmic microwave background polarization. We find that a vector field comprising less than 2% of the energy density during the radiation-dominated era can have a greater than order unity effect on the predicted inflationary gravitational wave spectrum.
Equilibrium analysis of Mott memristor reveals criterion for negative differential resistance

Two-terminal electronic devices that exhibit voltage-controlled threshold switching (TS) via negative differential resistance (NDR) are important for many emerging applications. Pickett and Williams developed what has become a well-known physics-based model for nanoscale devices exhibiting NDR due to a reversible insulator-metal phase (Mott) transition. The Mott memristor model couples changes in electrical resistance and Joule heating to the phase of the material using one dynamic state variable, u, that describes the volume fraction of metal in the cross section of the device. The model formulation involves one nonlinear first-order ordinary differential equation and eight physical parameters. New equilibrium analysis reveals a simple condition that determines whether the model predicts NDR required for current–voltage (i–v) hysteresis in a voltage-controlled operation. We show that S-shaped NDR (also called current-controlled NDR) arises only above a critical ratio, Mc, of insulator to metal resistivity. Specifically, hysteresis in the i–v plane cannot occur below M c = e 2 + 1 ≈ 8.39 (i.e., e ≈ 2.718 …; Euler's number), but above this value hysteresis appears. This understanding enables tuning of hysteretic features, including threshold voltages for resistive switching, which benefit the use of TS memristors as memory storage elements, as well as excitable devices mimicking neural action potentials.
Effects of a Back-Support Exoskeleton on Pelvis-Thorax Kinematics and Coordination During Lifting

We assessed the effects of a commercially available passive back support exoskeleton device on pelvis thorax kinematics and coordination. Eight male participants performed randomized block trials of 8 freestyle, symmetrical lifting tasks of a 13 kg container with or without use of the device. We obtained whole body kinematic data using an inertial motion capture system. We used Principal component analysis (PCA) to discern angular position and velocity waveform variations between conditions and assessed inter-segmental coordination using continuous relative phase measures. For joint angular position, only 1 PC exhibited statistical significance across conditions. This PC, which explained 10% of the loading vector variation, was interpreted as a phase shift feature. For joint angular velocity profiles, 2 PCs statistically differed between conditions. We interpreted these PCs as local magnitude difference features, particularly at the initial portion of the lift cycle. We did not detect a significant main effect of device usage or lifting phase on pelvis-thorax coordination. Our preliminary results suggest that use of a passive back support exoskeleton changes joint kinematics, but not inter-segment coordination during performance of a lifting task. These results may help understand device usability and interaction.
Agreement between Compass Fundus Perimeter New Grid and 10-2 Testing Protocols for Detecting Central Visual Field Defects.

Purpose To evaluate the agreement between Compass New Grid (NG) and 10-2 test protocols for detecting early glaucomatous defects in the central 10 degrees of the visual field (CVFD). Design Cross-sectional study. Participants A total of 123 eyes of 14 healthy individuals, 17 glaucoma suspects, and 32 glaucoma patients were enrolled. Methods Subjects performed NG and 10-2 Compass automated perimetry testing within 1 week. For both test protocols, total deviation (TD) and pattern deviation (PD) plot CVFDs were defined by 3 contiguous points with probabilities of Main Outcome Measures Protocols’ agreement, sensitivity, and specificity. Results Fair to moderate agreement was observed between NG and 10-2 protocols for detecting presence of superior CVFDs on TD (k = 0.57) and PD (k = 0.26) plots and for detecting inferior CVFDs on TD (0.49) and PD (0.27) plots. With the use of OCT macula deviation maps, specificity for detecting CVFD was consistently higher with NG than 10-2 tests for TD plots of the superior hemifield (0.82 and 0.65), inferior hemifield (0.92 and 0.84), and PD plots of the superior hemifield (0.81 and 0.36) and inferior hemifield (0.86 and 0.52). Sensitivity of NG was consistently lower than TD plots of the superior hemifield (0.48 and 0.72), inferior hemifield (0.28 and 0.46), and PD plots of the superior hemifield (0.48 and 0.78) and inferior hemifield (0.20 and 0.52). By using pattern standard deviation (PSD) criterion, the mean PSD values for 10-2 and NG VF tests were 1.61 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26–1.96) and 1.81 (95% CI, 1.45–2.17) (P Conclusions Although the Compass NG detected fewer CVFDs than the 10-2 test protocol, it did detect CVFDs that were not observed in the Compass 24-2 test in patients with early glaucoma. Therefore, NG may be particularly useful in clinical situations when higher specificity is desired or PSD criterion is used.
Growing Disparity in the Incidence of Colorectal Cancer among Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native Populations-United States, 2013-2017.

Background: American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations have experienced regional variation and disparities in colorectal cancer incidence rates. Methods: We examined colorectal cancer incidence (2013–2017) and colorectal cancer incidence trends (1999–2017) among AI/AN persons. Incidence data were linked to Indian Health Service enrollment records, and analyses were restricted to Purchased/Referred Care Delivery Areas. Incidence rates of colorectal cancer among AI/AN and White persons were analyzed in six geographic regions; Hispanic persons were excluded. Incidence trends were analyzed using linear modeling. Results: During 2013–2017, colorectal cancer incidence was 41% higher among AI/AN than among White persons. AI/AN incidence rates per 100,000 varied regionally from 34.4 in the East to 96.1 in Alaska. Compared with White persons, AI/AN persons had higher colorectal cancer incidence rates among all age strata and were more likely to have late-stage diagnoses. Incidence rate trends indicated significant increases among both AI/AN and White persons ages Conclusions: The disparity of colorectal cancer incidence rates between AI/AN and White persons has widened since 2005–2009. AI/AN populations have higher colorectal cancer incidence compared with White populations, especially in the Alaska region. Impact: Our finding of increased colorectal cancer incidence disparities suggests that enhanced screening efforts and culturally appropriate clinical and public health interventions are needed among AI/AN persons overall, and especially in regions and age groups in which colorectal cancer rates are increasing.
Pediatric Tibial Spine Fractures: Exploring Case Burden by Age and Sex.

Background:Pediatric tibial spine fractures (TSFs) are a well-known clinical entity, but the epidemiology of these injuries is not fully understood. Further, there are limited data on outcomes afte...
Glycemic variability: Importance, relationship with physical activity, and the influence of exercise

Abstract Glycemic variability is a more sensitive assessment of glycemic health as opposed to traditional clinical measurements. It considers all blood glucose concentrations over a given period to better account for glucose oscillations that occur and provides clinicians with insight into how individuals regulate and/or maintain their glycemic health. The advancement of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) allows for the measurement of free-living glucose concentrations while providing a more reliable assessment of treatment of dysregulated glycemic. CGM coupled with management of lifestyle behavioral factors, such as reduced sedentary behavior and increased physical activity and regular exercise, potentially offers a previously untapped method for promoting improved glycemic health through greater regulation of glucose concentrations. The aim of this review is to critically evaluate the evidence regarding the measurement of glycemic variability and summarize the current understanding of the relationship between glycemic variability, sedentary behavior, physical activity, the influence of a single exercise session or repeated exercise sessions, and exercise training. This review considers information pertaining to the strengths and limitations for measuring glycemic variability and provides insight into future study designs aimed at evaluating the relationship between sedentary behavior and physical activity with, as well as the influence of exercise on, glycemic variability as a primary outcome.
Effect of Superoxide Generation and Dismutation on Hydroxylation Reactions Catalyzed by Liver Microsomal Cytochrome P-450

Abstract The mechanism of hydroxylation reactions catalyzed by an enzyme system containing cytochrome P-450 was investigated with the aid of highly purified enzymes known to catalyze the generation and decomposition of superoxide (O2·-). The liver microsomal enzyme system used in these studies was previously solubilized and resolved into three components (cytochrome P-450, TPNH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, and phosphatidylcholine) which are required for the hydroxylation of a variety of fatty acids, hydrocarbons, and drugs. Superoxide dismutase (erythrocuprein) was shown to inhibit benzphetamine hydroxylation in the presence of TPNH, molecular oxygen, and the reconstituted liver microsomal enzyme system. The extent of inhibition was the same determined by benzphetamine-dependent TPNH oxidation and by benzphetamine demethylation, which results from hydroxylation of the N-methyl group and the subsequent liberation of formaldehyde. The dismutase caused complete inhibition only in the presence of a concentration of salt which itself was partially inhibitory. A superoxide generating system (xanthine and xanthine oxidase) was shown to couple with cytochrome P-450 to support the hydroxylation of benzphetamine and ethylmorphine in the absence of TPNH and the reductase. The coupling was dependent upon the presence of phosphatidylcholine and was abolished by the addition of the dismutase.
Explaining the cyclical behavior of labor market flows: A dual perspective

Abstract Burda and Wyplosz (1990) and Blanchard and Diamond (1991) have recently established that gross flows between unemployment and employment are counter-cyclical. This paper shows that this may be explained by dual labor markets.
Analysis of Global Changes in Gene Expression Induced by Human Polynucleotide Phosphorylase (hPNPaseold-35)

As a strategy to identify gene expression changes affected by human polynucleotide phosphorylase (hPNPaseold-35), we performed gene expression analysis of HeLa cells in which hPNPaseold-35 was overexpressed. The observed changes were then compared to those of HO-1 melanoma cells in which hPNPaseold-35 was stably knocked down. Through this analysis, 90 transcripts, which positively or negatively correlated with hPNPaseold-35 expression, were identified. The majority of these genes were associated with cell communication, cell cycle, and chromosomal organization gene ontology categories. For a number of these genes, the positive or negative correlations with hPNPaseold-35 expression were consistent with transcriptional data extracted from the TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) expression datasets for colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM), ovarian serous cyst adenocarcinoma (OV), and prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD). Further analysis comparing the gene expression changes between Ad.hPNPaseold-35 infected HO-1 melanoma cells and HeLa cells overexpressing hPNPaseold-35 under the control of a doxycycline-inducible promoter, revealed global changes in genes involved in cell cycle and mitosis. Overall, this study provides further evidence that hPNPaseold-35 is associated with global changes in cell cycle-associated genes and identifies potential gene targets for future investigation. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 1952–1962, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.