cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Step‐growth cationic polymerization of α‐hydroxyisopropylferrocene

α-Hydroxyisopropylferrocene, HPF, was synthesized in good yield and polymerized at 20°C with either SnCl4 or BF3OEt2. The polymerization proceeds by self-alkylation of the stable intermediate ferrocenylcarbenium ion on the cyclopentadienyl ring to form oligomers that contain both homoannular and heteroannular links. The unusually high stability of the α-isopropylferrocenylcarbenium ion was demonstrated by synthesizing and isolating α-isopropylferrocenylcarbenium tetrafluoborate from HPF and using it to initiate the polymerization of styrene. Initiation was successful at 20° and at 0°C, but no polymerization occurred −78°C. The condensation of ferrocene and acetone in the presence of AlCl3 gave oligomers having structures very similar to those obtained from the cationic polymerization of isopropenylferrocene.
Specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes are involved in in vivo clearance of infectious bronchitis virus.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were determined at regular intervals between 3 and 30 days postinfection (p.i.). The maximum response with 82% lysis of labeled target cells was detected at 10 days p.i. The specific CTL response did not begin to decline until the amount of virus, which peaked at day 8 p.i. in both the kidneys and lungs, started to decrease. Clinical respiratory signs of illness also correlated with amount of virus. CTL activity was shown to be major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class restricted because the lysis of MHC-mismatched targets was negligible, and lysis was mediated by CD8+ CD4- T cells, as the CTL response could be abolished with removal of CD8+ CD4- but not CD4+ CD8- lymphocytes. In contrast, immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody was not detected until day 10 p.i., and levels peaked at day 12 p.i.; IgG antibody levels were minimal until day 15 p.i. but continued to increase exponentially until day 30 p.i., the last day examined. In summary, CTL responses correlated with initial decreases in infection and illness.
Dynamics of somatic cell counts and intramammary infections across the dry period

The objectives of this research were to study the relationship between somatic cell count (SCC) and intramammary infection (IMI) across the dry period and the risk of subclinical mastitis at the first dairy herd improvement (DHI) test of the subsequent lactation. A secondary objective was to determine SCC test characteristics for diagnosis of IMI at both the cow and quarter levels. A total of 218 cows from a university herd were enrolled at dry-off. Duplicate quarter milk samples were collected from all quarters at dry-off, calving and on the day of the first DHI test. Somatic cell count status across the dry period was defined based on the comparison of quarter SCC from dry-off and the post-calving sampling periods and comparison of composite SCC from DHI samples from the last test and first test of the following lactation. Of new IMI detected from post-calving milk samples (n=45), 46.7, 26.7 and 11% were caused by CNS, Streptococci and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. Of cured IMI at post-calving (n=91), 61.5, 23.1 and 9.9% had CNS, Streptococci and Coryneforms isolated from dry-off milk samples. The most frequent microorganisms related to cured IMI were CNS (33%). Of chronically infected quarters across the dry period (n=10), only one had the same species of pathogen isolated from dry-off and post-calving samples. The sensitivity of a SCC threshold of 200,000 cells/mL for detection of subclinical IMI was 0.64, 0.69 and 0.65 for milk samples obtained at dry-off, post-calving and first DHI test, respectively. The specificity was 0.66, 0.84 and 0.93 for milk samples obtained at dry-off, post-calving and first DHI test, respectively. Quarters with SCC> or =200,000 cells/mL at both dry-off and post-calving sampling periods were 20.4 times more likely to be subclinically infected by a major pathogen (rather than being uninfected) and 5.6 times more likely to be subclinically infected by a minor pathogen (rather than being uninfected) at the first DHI test than quarters with SCC<200,000 cells/mL at both periods. Cows with SCC greater than 200,000 cells/mL at both the last and the first DHI test between lactations produced 9.1 kg less milk on the first DHI test day than the average milk production of cows with SCC less than 200,000 cells/mL at both periods.
Sodium-Calcium Interactions Under Salinity Stress

There are a wide range of responses of plants to salinity which involve interactions of Na with Ca. Plant processes such as growth, photosynthesis, mineral nutrition, water and ion transport are affected by these Na-Ca interactions. Many of these responses can be linked to the direct Na-Ca interactions at the surface of the plasma membrane and subsequent Ca signaling events.
Property to Market: The Transformation of Business Investments in Emerging Markets

The transformation of business interests into liquid assets is a critical step in the development of a market economy. How ownership interests came to be commodified can be studied in 19th century American businesses and capital markets. This commoditization of ownership interest solved the twin problems of capital lock-in and liquidity that had heretofore dogged partnerships and small corporations. The bringing of these new property interests to market is the subject of this essay. This paper focuses on the transition from physical, tangible investments to intangible investments represented by stocks and bonds in American 19th century capital markets. At the beginning of the century, America was a nation largely of subsistence farmers and small businessmen. The businesses that were conducted were predominantly small affairs, usually sole proprietorships and partnerships. While, at law, partnerships interests are intangibles, the assets of the business, its operation, management, and liabilities were tangible indeed. That was one of the charms and, ultimately, one of the critical defects of such enterprises. Early 19th century investors, even corporate investors in mills and small factories, thought in tangible terms and saw themselves intimately connected with the business. That connection provided a sense of security, control and safety. It also severely limited size and sources of capital. Fortunately, as a consequence of sound fiscal and monetary policies, America possessed a strong government bond market. "Wall Street" provided liquidity and investor experience with intangible securities, the Hamilton 6s and other federal bonds. State changes in corporate laws permitted general incorporation (making incorporation relatively easy). The capital demands of railroads, required to link the agrarian hinterlands with the cities of the Atlantic Coast and Europe, necessitated the corporate form. Modern management pioneered by the Erie and the Boston & Albany railroads substituted for hands on control. Boston & Albany stockholders, and later investors in other railroads and gigantic businesses, quickly accepted the corporate form and widely dispersed holdings, notwithstanding the apparent loss of control. These venturers accepted the loss of control because the emerging markets provided paradoxically two additional critical features: a lock-in for capital, thus avoiding the partnership hold-up problem, and liquidity. These important features of the market gave investors greater confidence. This confidence, in turn, fueled greater investment, lowering the cost of capital, producing greater growth and strengthening the demand for more intangible investments.
Histophilosis as a Natural Disease

Histophilus somni is responsible for sporadic disease worldwide in cattle and, to a lesser extent, in small ruminants, bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), and North American bison (Bison bison). The importance of H. somni diseases can be attributed to improved clinical and laboratory recognition, combined with the growth in intensive management practices for cattle. Although outbreaks of bovine histophilosis can occur year-round, in northern and southern hemispheres, it is most frequent in late fall and early winter. Weather, stress, dietary changes, and comingling of cattle are likely to be major triggers for outbreaks. The most frequent clinical expressions of histophilosis include undifferentiated fever, fibrinosuppurative pneumonia, encephalitis-leptomeningitis, necrotizing myocarditis, and diffuse pleuritis. Neurological disease occurs either as thrombotic meningoencephalitis (TME) or as suppurative meningitis with ventriculitis. Acute myocarditis is characteristically necrotizing and generally involves one or both papillary muscles in the left ventricular myocardium. Biofilm-like aggregates of bacteria occur in capillaries and veins in myocardium, in the central nervous system, and on endocardial surfaces. H. somni is a component of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex. In our experience, it is most commonly diagnosed in subacute-to-chronic polymicrobial pulmonary infections in combination with Mannheimia haemolytica, Trueperella pyogenes, Pasteurella multocida, or Mycoplasma bovis. Other, less common forms of H. somni disease present as polyarthritis/tenosynovitis, abortion with placentitis and fetal septicemia, epididymitis-orchitis, and ocular infections. It is likely that H. somni is under-recognized clinically and diagnostically. Most state and provincial laboratories in North America rely on bacterial isolation to confirm infection. The use of more sensitive detection methods on field cases of histophilosis will help resolve the pathogenesis of H. somni in natural outbreaks, and whether the disease is as common elsewhere as it is in Canada.
Design Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization of Dynamically Driven Systems

Methods for calculation of first and second design derivatives of measures of response for dynamic systems are presented. Dynamic mechanical systems are considered in which applied forces are prescribed and the dynamic response is determined by equations of motion. Design sensitivity analysis formulations for dynamic systems are presented in two alternate forms; (1) the system of equations of motion are written in terms of independent generalized coordinates and are reduced to first order form and (2) the system equatons of motion are written in terms of a mixed system of second order differential and algebraic equations of motion for constrained dynamic systems. Both first and second order design sensitivity analysis methods are developed, using a theoretically simple direct differentiation approach and a somewhat more subtle, but numerically efficient, adjoint variable method. Detailed derivations are presented and computational algorithms are given and discussed. Examples of first and second order design sensitivity analysis of simple mechanisms and machines and optimization of a five degree-of-freedom vehicle suspension system are presented and analyzed.
Applications and challenges of DNA microarray technology in military medical research.

ABSTRACT This review discusses the challenges and applications of DNA microarray technology as it is being used in each of the four major research areas of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command: military infectious diseases, combat casualty care, military operational medicine, and medical chemical and biological defense. The overall objective of this review is two-fold. First, the objective is to increase awareness in senior military leadership of the challenges and opportunities presented by DNA microarray technology and the emerging and rapidly changing field of bioinformatics. Second, the aim is to publicize to the civilian research community the additional challenges associated with the use of microarray technology in military medical research. This discussion contains material that would be useful for making programmatic recommendations that team strategic research investments and emerging technologies with U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command resources.
Crocheted artificial tendons and ligaments for the anatomically correct testbed (ACT) hand

In the human hand, tendons and ligaments are important soft tissues that transfer forces from muscles to finger joints and coordinate the complex finger movements. However in conventional robotic hand research, their functions are often simplified by cables and linkages due to biological counterparts' complicated shapes and branching mechanism. In order to better simulate the neuromuscular control strategy of the human hand, we believe that it is important to replicate the salient features of the biological ligaments and tendons using artificial materials. To this end, we design and fabricate the artificial extensor hood for the anatomically correct testbed (ACT) hand via innovative crochet technique. The resulting artificial extensor hood resemble not only the shape and branching mechanism but also the varying fiber orientation in ligaments of its human counterparts. We successfully validate our design efficacy through finger movement experiments and quantitatively test the mechanical properties of the crocheted tendons under different branching conditions. We find that the crocheted ligament has a force-displacement behavior similar to that of the human hand and possesses a five times higher breaking strength on average.
The Role of Support Morphology and Impregnation Medium on the Water Gas Shift Activity of Ceria-Supported Copper Catalysts

The effect of support morphology and impregnation medium on the activity of Cu/CeO2 catalysts in the water gas shift reaction was investigated. Steady-state reaction experiments showed that the catalysts supported over CeO2 nanoparticles achieved significantly higher CO conversions than catalysts supported over nanorods, which achieved only marginally higher conversions than the bare support. The catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N2O chemisorption, and H2-temperature-programmed reduction. Characterization of the catalysts showed that copper dispersion and catalytic activity were strongly correlated. Copper was observed to be better dispersed over CeO2 nanoparticles, whereas larger, crystalline CuO domains with properties closer to that of bulk CuO were identified over CeO2 nanorods. The finely dispersed copper species constitute the active sites for the WGS reaction over Cu/CeO2 catalysts.
About PerKai Polyomial

The properties of PerKai polynomial of dependent Legendre polynomial is researehed, and derive the general form of sequence of orthogonal polynomoial of dependent Legendre polynomial
National sentinel surveillance of HIV infection in MAANSHAN city STD clinics from 2005 to 2008

Objective To understand high-risk behavior and HIV infection status of out-patient in STD clinics and provide a scientific basis for the development of appropriate prevention and control strategy.Methods From 2005 to 2008,questionnaires were collected and HIV antibody blood was detected simultaneously for all attendees more than 13-year-old in the STD clinic sentinel initial treatment.Results 5 HIV infections were found in monitoring sentinel of STD clinic in MAANSHAN city from 2005 to 2008;the higher prevalence rate of STD was syphilis,condyloma,the composition of non-gonococcal urethritis,the corresponding proportion respectively was 38.70%,36.52%,15.98 %.7.04% persons used condom when they had illegal sexual behavior.Conclusions Some underlying factors accelerating HIV infection existed in populations visiting MAANSHAN STD clinics.We must promptly carry out health education and behavioral intervention among the high-risk groups.
Recent progress in hydrogel delivery systems for improving nutraceutical bioavailability

Nutraceuticals are bioactive molecules found in foods that may improve human performance, wellbeing, or health. The potential health benefits of many nutraceuticals are not fully realized because they are chemically degraded during storage or within the gastrointestinal tract. Consequently, there is a need to develop food-grade delivery systems to encapsulate and protect nutraceuticals until they reach an appropriate location within the human body, e.g., mouth, stomach, small intestine, or colon. Hydrogel beads (“microgels”) assembled from proteins and/or polysaccharides can improve nutraceutical performance by protecting them from chemical degradation. These beads can be fabricated using simple and inexpensive processing operations that typically involve two steps: (i) formation of biopolymer-enriched particles; (ii) cross-linking of the biopolymers. Hydrophilic nutraceuticals are usually mixed directly with the biopolymer solution prior to formation of the hydrogel beads, whereas hydrophobic nutraceuticals are typically incorporated into lipid droplets (emulsions or nanoemulsions) prior to mixing with the biopolymer solution. Common particle-formation methods include injection, shearing, templating, and phase separation, whereas common cross-linking methods include changes in solvent quality, counter-ion addition, enzyme addition, heating, and cooling. This article provides an overview of recent progress in the design and fabrication of food-grade hydrogel beads to encapsulate and protect nutraceuticals, including some examples of their potential applications.
Anion-Abstraction Catalysis: The Cooperative Mechanism of α-Chloroether Activation by Dual Hydrogen-Bond Donors

In this paper, we provide a detailed mechanistic characterization of the electrophile-activation step in a representative thiourea-catalyzed enantioselective reaction proposed to involve generation of ion-pair intermediates. Comparison of catalyst-promoted substrate epimerization with catalytic alkylation points to the participation of a common intermediate in both pathways and provides conclusive evidence for anion abstraction via an SN1-like pathway involving the cooperative action of two catalyst molecules.
Thrombin Preconditioning in Surgical Brain Injury in Rats

The surgical brain injury model replicates neurosurgical brain parenchymal damage. Postsurgical brain edema correlates with postoperative neurological dysfunction. Intranasal administration is a proven method of delivering therapies to brain tissue. Thrombin preconditioning decreased brain edema and improved neurological outcomes in models of ischemic brain injury. We hypothesized thrombin preconditioning in surgical brain injury may improve postoperative brain edema and neurological outcomes. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 78) weighing 285–355 g were randomly assigned to sham or pre-injury treatment: one-time pretreatment 1 day prior, one-time pretreatment 5 days prior, and daily preconditioning for 5 days prior. Treatment arms were divided into vehicle or thrombin therapies, and subdivided into intranasal (thrombin 5 units/50 μL 0.9 % saline) or intracerebral ventricular (thrombin 0.1 unit/10 μL 0.9 % saline) administration. Blinded observers performed neurological testing 24 h after brain injury followed immediately by measurement of brain water content. There was a significant difference in ipsilateral brain water content and neurological outcomes between all treatment groups and the sham group. However, there was no change in brain water content or neurological outcomes between thrombin- and vehicle-treated animals. Thrombin preconditioning did not significantly improve brain edema or neurological function in surgical brain injury in rats.
Adhesions and adhesiolysis: the role of laparoscopy.

Background Adhesions commonly result from abdominal and pelvic surgical procedures and may result in intestinal obstruction, infertility, chronic pain, or complicate subsequent operations. Laparoscopy produces less peritoneal trauma than does conventional laparotomy and may result in decreased adhesion formation. We present a review of the available data on laparoscopy and adhesion formation, as well as laparoscopic adhesiolysis. We also review current adjuvant techniques that may be used by practicing laparoscopists to prevent adhesion formation. Database A Medline search using "adhesions," "adhesiolysis," and "laparoscopy" as key words was performed for English-language articles. Further references were obtained through cross-referencing the bibliography cited in each work. Discussion The majority of studies indicate that laparoscopy may reduce postoperative adhesion formation relative to laparotomy. However, laparoscopy by itself does not appear to eliminate adhesions completely. A variety of adjuvant materials are available to surgeons, and the most recent investigation has demonstrated significant potential for intraperitoneal barriers. Newer technologies continue to evolve and should result in clinically relevant reductions in adhesion formation.
Laughter and Truth in Doktor Faustus Nietzschean Structures in Mann’s Novel of Self-cancellations

Nietzsche nimmt das Lachen ernst, ebenso Thomas Mann im Namen seiner Nietzsche-Figur in Doktor Faustus, Adrian Leverkuhn. Fur Nietzsche symbolisiert das Lachen den Akt der Preisgabe einer bestimmten Perspektive. Fur Leverkuhn lost es ebenfalls die apollinische Stabilitat auf; doch bringt Mann, im Gegensatz zu Nietzsche, dieses Gelachter mit dem Bosen in Verbindung. Er unterlauft auch im Gang des Romans die wenigen scheinbar ernsthaften Passagen, die humanistische Positionen als “notwendige Irrtumer” darstellen. Auf diese Weise ironisiert er beide Nietzscheschen Wahrheitsmomente–die standige Loslosung im Gelachter und die ernsthafte Affirmation eines dem Leben dienenden Irrtums -, ebenso wie er sie als die fortgeschrittensten Positionen des Romans und seiner Zeit portratiert.
Treating Scars of the Chin and Perioral Region

Lip and chin scarring occurs owing to reconstruction of congenital, cancer resection, or traumatic defects. Knowledge of lip anatomy and function is critical to optimize results. Realistic expectations should be established before intervention. Scar revision and reconstruction is ideally performed with a subunit approach, placing scars along aesthetic borders and performing subunit reconstruction to camouflage scars. Surgical techniques include direct excision, scar reorientation, local flap rearrangement, pedicled flaps, and regional or free flaps. Resurfacing/adjunctive procedures play important roles in the treatment of scars. This article reviews the anatomy, patient assessment, and techniques used in scar revision of the perioral region.
Uptake of palmitic acid by rabbit alveolar type II cells.

Alveolar type II cells require a source of palmitic acid for synthesis of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), a major constituent of pulmonary surfactant. Previous studies indicated that maximal rates of DPPC synthesis are achieved only if exogenous palmitate is available to the type II cell. Little is known of the mechanisms by which fatty acids enter type II cells. To determine if uptake is mediated by a membrane carrier system, as described in other cell types, we examined the kinetics of palmitate uptake. Using freshly isolated rabbit type II cells, we demonstrated that radiolabeled palmitate uptake was maximal and linear for 45 s; after 1 min the apparent rate of uptake declined. The initial uptake phase was taken as a measure of cellular fatty acid influx because intracellular radiolabeled palmitate remained 80% nonesterified at this time but was 55% esterified by 2 min. Cellular influx of palmitate showed saturation kinetics with increasing concentration of nonalbumin bound palmitate. Michaelis constant was 52.6 nM, and maximum velocity was 152 pmol.10(6) cells-1.min-1. The hypothesis that saturable cellular influx of palmitate is likely linked to the previously identified membrane fatty acid binding protein (MFABP) was supported by Western-blot analysis of rat lung tissue with an antibody to MFABP that demonstrated the presence of this carrier protein in lung tissue. These data suggest that palmitate uptake by type II cells is saturable and may be mediated by a membrane-associated carrier as described in other cell types.
BI-RADS(®) fifth edition: A summary of changes.

The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS®) is a standardized system of reporting breast pathology as seen on mammogram, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. It encourages consistency between reports and facilitates clear communication between the radiologist and other physicians by providing a lexicon of descriptors, a reporting structure that relates assessment categories to management recommendations, and a framework for data collection and auditing. This article highlights the changes made to the BI-RADS® atlas 5th edition by comparison with its predecessor, provide a useful resource for a radiologist attempting to review the recent changes to the new edition, and serve as a quick reference to those who have previously become familiar with the material.
Myotonic dystrophy: disease repeat range, penetrance, age of onset, and relationship between repeat size and phenotypes

Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is an autosomal dominant neuromuscular disease primarily characterized by myotonia and progressive muscle weakness. The pathogenesis of DM involves microsatellite expansions in noncoding regions of transcripts that result in toxic RNA gain-of-function. Each successive generation of DM families carries larger repeat expansions, leading to an earlier age of onset with increasing disease severity. At present, diagnosis of DM is challenging and requires special genetic testing to account for somatic mosaicism and meiotic instability. While progress in genetic testing has been made, more rapid, accurate, and cost-effective approaches for measuring repeat lengths are needed to establish clear correlations between repeat size and disease phenotypes.
Cluster Engineering for Photoconductive Switches

Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) of arsenides such as GaAs or AlGaAs with typical group III and As fluxes, but with a substrate temperature in the range of 200°C to 300°C, results in the incorporation of excess As in the epilayer;1 annealing at temperatures of 600°C or higher causes the excess As to precipitate.2–5 The final average size and corresponding density of the As clusters is controlled by the temperature and duration of the anneal,6–7 while the amount of excess As in the epilayer is controlled by the substrate temperature during MBE.8 This composite material, consisting of semi-metallic As clusters in a semiconductor matrix, exhibits very interesting electrical and optical properties. The composite is semi-insulating due to the internal Schottky barriers associated with the As clusters.9,10 In addition, the composite exhibits reasonable mobilities and in some cases sub-picosecond lifetimes, making it an attractive material as a high-speed photoconductor.11–15 The lifetime of photogenerated carriers is very dependent on the spacing of the As clusters and can be tuned from less than 200 fs to over 10 ps with anneal.16 The lifetime varies as the square of the average spacing between precipitates, which indicates the lifetime may be controlled by diffusion of carriers to the As precipitates where they recombine. In addition, when the composite is used as a photoconductive switch to generate and detect freely propagating bursts of electromagnetic radiation, the radiated intensity increases with either substrate growth temperature17 or with anneal temperature, indicating an increase in carrier mobilites. In this paper we present details of the control of the lifetime in these composites and use of the material to launch electromagnetic pulses. In addition, we introduce a technique to form composites using ion-implantation of metals—such as Fe and Ni—into GaAs and a subsequent anneal to nucleate clusters.
Brain carnitine deficiency causes nonsyndromic autism with an extreme male bias: A hypothesis

Could 10-20% of autism be prevented? We hypothesize that nonsyndromic or "essential" autism involves extreme male bias in infants who are genetically normal, but they develop deficiency of carnitine and perhaps other nutrients in the brain causing autism that may be amenable to early reversal and prevention. That brain carnitine deficiency might cause autism is suggested by reports of severe carnitine deficiency in autism and by evidence that TMLHE deficiency - a defect in carnitine biosynthesis - is a risk factor for autism. A gene on the X chromosome (SLC6A14) likely escapes random X-inactivation (a mixed epigenetic and genetic regulation) and could limit carnitine transport across the blood-brain barrier in boys compared to girls. A mixed, common gene variant-environment hypothesis is proposed with diet, minor illnesses, microbiome, and drugs as possible risk modifiers. The hypothesis can be tested using animal models and by a trial of carnitine supplementation in siblings of probands. Perhaps the lack of any Recommended Dietary Allowance for carnitine in infants should be reviewed. Also see the video abstract here: https://youtu.be/BuRH_jSjX5Y.
How Should the FDA Review Diagnostic Radiopharmaceuticals

The purpose of this article is to reconsider the manner in which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. Mass characteristics of several common nonradioactive drugs and several diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are considered. A history of the regulation of radiopharmaceuticals is presented. The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and the American College of Nuclear Medicine should choose the membership of a radiopharmaceutical advisory committee, and the FDA should contract with them to do so. Members of the radiopharmaceutical advisory committee should decide on the data to be presented by the manufacturer or the compounder and review those data, and the FDA should honor their decision. In this way, requirements would be radiopharmaceutical-specific, and much information of questionable usefulness would be foregone.
Cellular hormetic response to 27-hydroxycholesterol promotes neuroprotection through AICD induction of MAST4 abundance and kinase activity

The function of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) in brain health remains unclear. This study elucidated a novel cytoprotective signaling pathway initiated by the APP transcriptionally active intracellular domain (AICD) in response to 27-hydroxycholesterol (27OHC), an oxidized cholesterol metabolite associated with neurodegeneration. The cellular response to 27OHC was hormetic, such that low, but not high, doses promoted AICD transactivation of microtubule associated serine/threonine kinase family member 4 (MAST4). MAST4 in turn phosphorylated and inhibited FOXO1-dependent transcriptional repression of rhotekin 2 (RTKN2), an oxysterol stress responder, to optimize cell survival. A palmitate-rich diet, which increases serum 27OHC, or APP ablation, abrogated this response in vivo. Further, this pathway was downregulated in human Alzheimer's Disease (AD) brains but not in frontotemporal dementia brains. These results unveil MAST4 as functional kinase of FOXO1 in a 27OHC AICD-driven, hormetic pathway providing insight for therapeutic approaches against cholesterol associated neuronal disorders.
Understanding the New ABET Computer Science Criteria

The Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET accredits over 300 Computer Science programs worldwide under the Computer Science program criteria. In the past few years, the Commission has engaged the computing community to modify and update these criteria, and has now signed off on an updated set of program criteria that take into account factors such as the CS2013 curricular guidelines, impact on currently accredited programs, structural changes to clarify the criteria, and the reduction of the assessment burden. These recent changes to the Computer Science program criteria primarily impact student outcomes (what program graduates are expected to know and be able to do by graduation) and curriculum. Those changes will impact computer science programs in a variety of ways and degrees---some programs will be impacted significantly while others will be affected in a relatively minor way. This paper examines the changes that will take effect starting in the 2019-20 accreditation cycle, covering the rationale for those changes and exploring the likely impact on computer science programs that are currently accredited or seeking accreditation in the near future.
StrongBox: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Performance using Stream Ciphers for Full Drive Encryption

Full-drive encryption (FDE) is especially important for mobile devices because they contain large quantities of sensitive data yet are easily lost or stolen. Unfortunately, the standard approach to FDE-the AES block cipher in XTS mode-is 3--5× slower than unencrypted storage. Authenticated encryption based on stream ciphers is already used as a faster alternative to AES in other contexts, such as HTTPS, but the conventional wisdom is that stream ciphers are unsuitable for FDE. Used naively in drive encryption, stream ciphers are vulnerable to attacks, and mitigating these attacks with on-drive metadata is generally believed to ruin performance. In this paper, we argue that recent developments in mobile hardware invalidate this assumption, making it possible to use fast stream ciphers for FDE. Modern mobile devices employ solid-state storage with Flash Translation Layers (FTL), which operate similarly to Log-structured File Systems (LFS). They also include trusted hardware such as Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) and secure storage areas. Leveraging these two trends, we propose StrongBox, a stream cipher-based FDE layer that is a drop-in replacement for dm-crypt, the standard Linux FDE module based on AES-XTS. StrongBox introduces a system design and on-drive data structures that exploit LFS»s lack of overwrites to avoid costly rekeying and a counter stored in trusted hardware to protect against attacks. We implement StrongBox on an ARM big.LITTLE mobile processor and test its performance under multiple popular production LFSes. We find that StrongBox improves read performance by as much as 2.36× (1.72× on average) while offering stronger integrity guarantees.
South Africa: Newsrooms in Transition

South Africa is a beautiful country with a diverse citizenry at the Southernmost tip of the African continent. But the nation also has a long history of racial struggle, which includes an era of racial segregation, called apartheid that ended formally in 1994 after nearly 50 years of political oppression and protest. The country today is a land of contrasts. It has a vibrant media scene and one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, guaranteeing equality for all and freedom of the press. Women are breaking through newsroom boundaries, making up about half of the journalism workforce, the majority of those in senior-management positions, and moving up to positions at the top.
Characterization of Sludge Deposits from Refineries and Gas Plants: Prerequisite Results Requirements to Facilitate Chemical Cleaning of the Particular Equipment

In this paper, the method developed by the authors to separate the inorganic materials from the hydrocarbon of the sludge deposits, which is fast and can accurately identify very small quantities of inorganic materials, has been extended to characterize the 12 types of sludge samples collected from (a) a regeneration overhead acid gas condenser, (b) water draw-off pump’s suction strainer in a gas plant, and (c) condenser, inside vessels of inlet head, and head coiler tube equipment at gas plants. The results revealed that the major phases are (a) iron sulfide corrosion products with the hydrocarbon type of mixture of diesel and lube oil for a condenser and (b) carbonate scale in the form of calcium carbonate with the hydrocarbon type of lubricant oil for sludge deposits from a suction strainer for pumps, and drilling mud in the form of barium sulfate with no organic hydrocarbon or polymer for sludge samples from a water recycling pump. Moreover, the major phases for inorganic materials built up in a condenser, inside the vessel’s inlet head, and the head coiler tube revealed that iron oxide corrosion products are found in the steam drum, and iron sulfate corrosion products are built up in the condenser. The presence of dissolved oxygen in the boiler feed water is indicated by a high wt% of iron oxide corrosion product in the form of magnetite (Fe3O4), which appeared in the inorganic materials built up in the condenser steam drum. Knowing accurately which phases and their wt% were involved in the inorganic materials can guide the field engineers to facilitate efficient cleaning of the equipment by drawing up the right procedures and taking preventive action to stop the generation of those particular sludge deposits.
Oxidation of 1,8-oxybis(ethyleneethoxyethylenethio)anthracene-9,10-dione into sulfoxide changes the selectivity: Synthesis, spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography

Abstract Oxidation of sulfur in 1,8-oxybis(ethyleneethoxyethylenethio)anthracene-9,10-dione (1) using 30% hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate yielded 1,8-oxybis(ethyleneethoxyethylenesulfoxide)anthracene-9,10-dione (2) and 1,8-oxybis(ethyleneethoxyethylenesulfone)anthracene-9,10-dione (3) respectively. Both sulfoxides (2) and sulfones (3) were characterized thoroughly by NMR and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compound 2 produced an intense green emission upon association with Ca(II) in acetonitrile. Selectivity for Ca(II) is distinctly improved as compared to the parent (1) as well as the oxygen analogue of 1 (1,8-oxybis(ethyleneethoxyethyleneoxy)anthracene-9,10-dione). UV–Visible & emission titrations and Job’s plot studies reveal that compound 2 formed 2:1 complexes with Ca(II) and Pb(II) in acetonitrile solution, which was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Ca(II) and Pb(II) are complexed within the macrocycle through the anthraquinone carbonyl oxygen, two ether oxygens and two oxygens of the sulfoxide. Reversibility between compound 2 and its Ca(II) complex is studied using UV–Vis and emission experiments mixing with EDTA. Unlike compound 2, compound 3 is non-emissive with metal ions. X-ray studies of Pb(II) complex of 3 revealed that a unique mixed complex (2:1 and 1:1 ratios) formed within the unit cell.
Acceleration of Radiation Transport Solves Using Artificial Neural Networks

Discontinuous Finite Element Methods (DFEM) have been widely used for solving $S_n$ radiation transport problems in participative and non-participative media. In the DFEM $S_n$ methodology, the transport equation is discretized into a set of algebraic equations that have to be solved for each spatial cell and angular direction, strictly preserving the following of radiation in the system. At the core of a DFEM solver a small matrix-vector system (of 8 independent equations for tri-linear DFEM in 3D hexehdral cells) has to be assembled and solved for each cell, angle, energy group, and time step. These systems are generally solved by direct Gaussian Elimination. The computational cost of the Gaussian Elimination, repeated for each phase-space cell, amounts to a large fraction to the total compute time. Here, we have designed a Machine Learning algorithm based in a shallow Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to replace that Gaussian Elimination step, enabling a sizeable speed up in the solution process. The key idea is to train an ANN with a large set of solutions of random one-cell transport problems and then to use the trained ANN to replace Gaussian Elimination large scale transport solvers. It has been observed that ANNs decrease the solution times by at least a factor of 4, while introducing mean absolute errors between 1-3 \% in large scale transport solutions.
Enantioselective Total Syntheses of 13,14,15-Isocrambescidin 800 and 13,14,15-Isocrambescidin 657

The first total syntheses of 13,14,15-isocrambescidin 800 (1) and 13,14,15-isocrambescidin 657 (2) were accomplished in convergent fashion. The central strategic step was tethered Biginelli condensation of guanidine aminal 14 and β-ketoester 15 to give 1-iminohexahydropyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine carboxylic ester 16. This step united all the heavy atoms of the pentacyclic guanidine nucleus and set the critical trans C10−C13 stereorelationship. Acidic treatment of derivative 18 triggered tricyclization to generate pentacyclic guanidine 19b in high yield. After cleavage of the allyl ester, the derived acid underwent coordinated epimerization at C14 and C15 in the presence of triethylamine to form the pentacyclic isocrambescidin nucleus. The synthesis of 1 was achieved in 11% overall yield from amine 12 by a sequence involving five isolated intermediates. As detailed in the preceding account, 12 can be accessed from commercially available 3-butyn-1-ol in 30% overall yield by way of nine isolated and purified int...
Dynamics of Bad Debts: Has Peak Been Reached?

The growth of bad assets in the banking sector slowed down signiﬁcantly in 2016. This has resulted in a decrease of reserves increment against potential losses on loans and other assets and was the principal factor for restoring banking proﬁt in 2016.
Endothelial Cell Elongation Impacts Thrombogenicity Independent of Fluid Shear Stress.

Atherosclerotic vascular disease and dysfunction of endothelial cells (ECs), which form the continuous lining of blood vessels, preferentially develop in regions where blood vessels are bifurcated and curved. In these regions, ECs are exposed to low, oscillatory fluid shear stress (FSS), are cobblestone in morphology, and have an athero-prone phenotype. In contrast, in regions where FSS is high and unidirectional, ECs are elongated parallel to the direction of flow and have an athero-protective phenotype. Although previous research has correlated FSS with EC morphology and phenotype, the effects of dramatic changes in cell morphology alone, i.e., in the absence of FSS differences, on EC functions remain largely unknown. To determine the role of EC shape on cell function, we investigated the regulation of EC hemostatic functions, an important measure of EC dysfunction and atherosclerosis, by elongated and cobblestone ECs (with shape independent of FSS). To separate EC shape from FSS-induced effects, surface engineering was used to create elongated ECs on micropatterned collagen I lanes (25 μm wide with 100 μm spacing). By 24 hrs, ECs elongated on these micropatterned lanes had a comparable shape index and cytoskeletal alignment as ECs elongated by exposure to 24 hrs of 12.5 dyn/cm2 FSS. qtPCR was used to determine the gene expression of the following markers of coagulant/hemostatic functions: tissue factor (TF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), thrombomodulin (TM), and von Willebrand Factor (vWF). PCR results indicated that EC elongation alone upregulated expression of TF (1.41 ± 0.28) and decreased expression of eNOS (0.78 ± 0.07). vWF was downregulated (0.59 ± 0.11). Micropattern elongated ECs expressed TFPI and TM at levels comparable to cobblestoneappearing ECs (1.04 ± 0.08 and 1.12 ± 0.04, respectively). To determine whether these changes in gene expression had functional consequences, the generation of thrombin (factor X activation, FXa) and platelet adhesion were studied. Micropattern elongated ECs were able to convert more FX to FXa per cell compared to cobblestone ECs (0.88 ± 0.20 and 0.065 ± 0.01 pg/cell, respectively), indicating an increase in TF activity. This data is consistent with the increased TF gene expression seen in micropattern elongated ECs. Platelet adhesion studies also suggested a thrombogenic phenotype for micropattern elongated ECs, with more platelets adhering and spreading per cell on elongated (8.82 ± 1.47) versus cobblestone (4.64 ± 1.49) ECs. Overall, these findings suggest that EC shape is an independent variable that can regulate cell hemostatic functions, such as thrombotic potential. Surprisingly, elongated ECs exhibited a more thrombogenic phenotype, findings that contrast results obtained with FSS-elongated ECs, both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, both cell shape and FSS may play important and in some instances opposing roles in regulating EC hemostatic functions in the maintenance of vascular integrity.
Diabetes in Children and Adolescents

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most critical public health problems facing children today. The prevalence of DM in children is predicted to continue to rise at an alarming rate, associated with considerable health and financial burdens. This chapter presents updated data on recent progress in understanding etiology and pathogenesis of DM, developmental origins and programming of DM, acute and chronic complications, prevention and therapy of DM and associated comorbidities, as well as transition of adolescents with DM from the children’s care service into the adult health care service.
Chapter 23 – Cholangiocarcinoma

Publisher Summary Cholangiocarcinomas occur in that portion of the biliary tree that lies within the liver. Other than the inflammatory effects of liver fluke infestations in Southeast Asia, the causes of these cancers are not known. For unknown reasons, they appear more commonly in patients with ulcerative colitis. Cholangiocarcinomas occur slightly more frequently among men than among women, and, except for the higher rate in San Francisco, occur at about the same frequency as in other regions. They are common at advanced ages, and occur at similar rates in persons of all social classes. These malignancies have been increasing in frequency, especially in women, although incidence among the residents of high-risk census tracts has been relatively constant over time. No systematic variation in the occurrence of these malignancies in Los Angeles County is evident, and therefore no local causes are suggested.
Consumer arrogance and word-of-mouth

We investigate the widespread yet under-researched social phenomenon of consumer arrogance—the propensity to broadcast one’s superiority over others in the consumption domain. Building on the theory of positive illusions, we examine how and under what conditions triggering people’s consumer arrogance prompts their positive and negative word-of-mouth communication. In a pilot study and five experiments, we establish that triggering people’s sense of consumer arrogance will increase their word-of-mouth inclinations and behaviors. We show that triggering consumers’ sense of arrogance will result in a greater propensity for word-of-mouth communication than triggering their sense of superiority or desire to brag independently. While most consumers engage in positive word-of-mouth, consumer arrogance fuels both positive and negative word-of-mouth communication. Furthermore, whereas the former stems from self-enhancement needs, negative word-of-mouth communication arises from the needs for both self-affirmation and self-enhancement, especially in a social context. Overall, the results highlight the uniqueness and strategic potential of consumer arrogance as a social phenomenon.
Flat Bands and Chiral Optical Response of Moiré Insulators.

We present a low-energy model describing the reconstruction of the electronic spectrum in twisted bilayers of honeycomb crystals with broken sublattice symmetry. The resulting moir\'e patterns are classified into two families with different symmetry. In both cases, flat bands appear at relatively large angles without any magic-angle condition. Transitions between them give rise to sharp resonances in the optical absorption spectrum at frequencies well below the gap of the monolayer. Owing to their chiral symmetry, twisted bilayers display circular dichroism, that is, different absorption of left and right circularly polarized light. This optical activity is a nonlocal property determined by the stacking. In hexagonal boron nitride, sensitivity to the stacking leads to strikingly different circular dichroism in the two types of moir\'es. Our calculations exemplify how subtle properties of the electronic wave functions, encoded in current correlations between the layers, control physical observables of moir\'e materials.
Case 36-2020: A 72-Year-Old Woman with Dark Urine and Weakness

A Woman with Dark Urine and Weakness A 72-year-old woman who had undergone mechanical mitral-valve and aortic-valve replacements 25 years earlier presented to the hospital with weakness and dark ur...