cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Negative regulation of RNA-binding protein HuR by tumor-suppressor ECRG2

Esophageal cancer-related gene 2 (ECRG2) is a newer tumor suppressor whose function in the regulation of cell growth and apoptosis remains to be elucidated. Here we show that ECRG2 expression was upregulated in response to DNA damage, and increased ECRG2 expression induced growth suppression in cancer cells but not in non-cancerous epithelial cells. ECRG2-mediated growth suppression was associated with activation of caspases and marked reduction in the levels of apoptosis inhibitor, X chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). ECRG2, via RNA-binding protein human antigen R (HuR), regulated XIAP mRNA stability and expression. Furthermore, ECRG2 increased HuR ubiquitination and degradation but was unable to modulate the non-ubiquitinable mutant form of HuR. We also identified missense and frame-shift ECRG2 mutations in various human malignancies and noted that, unlike wild-type ECRG2, one cancer-derived ECRG2 mutant harboring glutamic acid instead of valine at position 30 (V30E) failed to induce cell death and activation of caspases. This naturally occurring V30E mutant also did not suppress XIAP and HuR. Importantly, the V30E mutant overexpressing cancer cells acquired resistance against multiple anticancer drugs, thus suggesting that ECRG2 mutations appear to have an important role in the acquisition of anticancer drug resistance in a subset of human malignancies.
Optimal Layout Design for Unsteady Flows

A methodology for optimal design considering unsteady incompressible flows at low Reynolds numbers is presented. The proposed framework is based on a fictitious po rous material approach that allows for overall topological changes in the geometry of the fluid-solid inter face. The underlying flow problem is modeled by the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations and solved by a stabilized finite element method. Flow through porous material is described via a Brinkman penalization. The optimization problem is solved by the Method of Moving Asymptotes and the design sensitivities are evaluated by an adjoint method. Methods for reducing the computational costs are discussed. The capabilities of the overall optimization approach are demonstrated by a numerical example comparing results for steady-state and unsteady flow. The results show that considering unsteady effects in the optimization process leads to noticeably different geometries and improved performance.
Mitotic Mechanisms of Normal and Malignant Cells

RESUMEL'auteur de cet article poursuit une discussion detaillee des diverses aberrations de nombres chromosomiques, qui pourraient etre dues soit a l'endomitose, soit a la pseudo-meiose somatique, soit enfin a la symploidie et a la dysploidie. Il propose ces deux derniers mots comme termes nouveaux pour signifier, respectivement, la conjugaison dans les tissus de deux cellules non-sexuelles voisines, souvent jumelles, et la « normalisation » d'une cellule cancereuse polyploide a noyau geant se divisant par karyokinese en plusieurs (au lieu de deux) cellules-filles a taux de chromosomes inferieurs.
Comparison between free amino acid levels in plasma deproteinated with picric acid and with sulfosalicylic acid.

SummaryA comparative study of 20% sulfosalicylic acid and of 1% picric acid in precipitating plasma proteins before analysis for free amino acids by ion-exchange chro-matography showed that both methods give values comparable in precision and accuracy. The sulfosalicylic acid method is less time-consuming, and requires fewer manipulations.
A Thyrotropic Field Surrounding the Immature Pituitary of the Tadpole.

It was previously reported that pituitary primordia when grafted are capable of developing thyrotropic activity in the tadpole, though such activity is generally delayed in appearance and much less than that of the normal gland.1, 2 In the course of a series of investigations on the development of function in such grafts, it was found that multiple grafts placed under the adhesive discs and into the eye cup of hypophysectomized tailbud embryos of Rana sylvatica induced prococious metamorphosis in the host. Since single grafts similarly placed did not induce precocity, it was considered that the excess pituitary tissue was responsible for the precocity.3 No precocity was observed by Blount in Amblystoma with excess pituitary grafts.5In attempting to confirm these observations in R. pipiens, a series of normal animals with extra pituitary primordia inserted into the eye, near the otocyst and under the adhesive discs was prepared. Only those animals which had extra pituitaries placed under the adhesive discs...
Diagnosis of coronary artery lesions and long-term follow-up in patients with Kawasaki disease by echocardiogram

Objectives To explore the characteristics of coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease and the changes in convalescence.Methods Color Doppler echocardiography was performed on 388 patients with Kawasaki di-sease and long-term follow-up were completed for patients with coronary artery lesions.Results The coronary artery le-sions were found in 168 patients(43.3%,168 / 388) by echocardiography.During six months to five years follow-up,the coronary artery were found recovered by echocardiography examination in all patients(106) with coronary artery dilatation and 82.4%(42 / 51) patients with medium or small coronary aneurysm group,however,none had recovered in giant coronary aneurysm group.The incidence of coronary artery lesions in patients younger than one year old was significantly higher than those older than five years old(P 0.05) .Conclusions Most of coronary artery lesions found during acute stage in patients with Kawasaki disease were transient.The giant coronary aneurysms may exist longer.A high incidence of coronary artery lesions appeared in patients younger than one year old.
Sports Financial Investment,Sports Business Development and Economic Growth——A Empirical Study Based on the Time Series Data in China

Using the methods of literature review and time series measurement,based on China's time-series data in 1995- 2012,we employed a VAR model including sports financial investment,sports business development and economic growth to study their dynamic changes and interrelated characteristics,to make up for the inadequacy of existing research and provide useful experience for the establishment of related policies for our country sports enterprise development. The results showed that sports financial investment,sports business development and economic growth change synergistically,the model which includes only two variables is prone to be biased. There is a close linkage among them,sports financial investment promotes economic growth through boosting the development of sports industry,sports development and economic growth promote mutually in both short and long-term,sports development and economic growth do not drive into more sports financial investment in the long- term. In order to promote the healthy development of sports industry and economic growth in China,we make the following proposals: when developing financial investment budget,relevant departments should be targeted and purposeful; continue to support sports industry and the tertiary industry and make more policy support; when formulating relevant policies,policy makers should consolidate distribution,and take full account of time- lag effect,enhance the perspectiveness,pertinence and effectiveness of the policies.
A Comparison of Endometrial Histology with Simultaneous Plasma Progesterone Determinations in Infertile Women

A retrospective analysis of 238 endometrial biopsies and simultaneous plasma progesterone determinations performed during the course of infertility evaluations is presented. The data suggest a high (93%) correlation between the two procedures for the detection of ovulation. Endometrial abnormalities were detected in 5% of the biopsies. Shortening of the cycle was noted in 36% of the patients, while only 3% demonstrated a longer cycle. Simultaneous measurement of plasma progesterone levels in association with the endometrial biopsy is believed to better document corpus luteum defects. One should be aware of the frequent occurrence of a shortened cycle on the basis of postbiopsy bleeding. Basal body temperature graphs should be utilized prior to biopsy in patients with a history of irregular menstrual cycles.
Can PFTS Differentiate PVFMD From Subglottic Stenosis

OBJECTIVE To determine if the results of routine spirometry and flow volume loops (Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)) can be used to distinguish Paradoxic Vocal Fold Movement Disorder (PVFMD) from Subglottic Stenosis (SGS). METHODS PFT records and medical history of 49 patients with diagnosis of PVFMD and 39 patients with SGS were compared. Groups were then subdivided to compare PFTs in patients with and without smoking history or lung disease. RESULTS Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and Expiratory Disproportion Index (ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) over PEFR (FEV1/PEFR)) were both significantly different between patients with SGS and those with PVFMD (p<0.02). FEV1 was also significantly different, but only in the patients with no smoking history or lung disease (p<0.02). CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that spirometry can be a valuable tool in distinguishing SGS from PVFMD. Previous studies have shown the utility of PFTs for distinguishing SGS from pulmonary pathology, but this is the first study to exploit PFTs for distinction of SGS from PVFMD. Given that the flexible laryngoscopic exam used to diagnose PVFMD does not always visualize the subglottis completely, PFTs can be used to increase suspicion of SGS and direct further work-up.
Regulation of Host Chromatin by Bacterial Metabolites

The function of microbiota-specific metabolites expressed by the 100 trillion bacteria resident in the human intestine is poorly understood. However, on a global scale, certain well-defined microbial metabolites have direct effects on host chromatin structure and function. Specifically, this review addresses key concepts of microbial modulation of chromatin by specific nuclear transcription factors (and nuclear receptors), posttranslational modifications of histone, and alteration of histone deacetylases. Overall, we show that virtually every microbial metabolite, whether it is food derived or endogenous to bacterial metabolism, has a significant impact on host physiology that with the current evidence correlates with specific host targets/mechanisms. However, as will be presented, there are numerous gaps in our knowledge of the systems biology of these metabolites, either alone or in concert with other metabolites that coexist in the human intestine.
Credit and Finance Issues in the Eurasian Wheat Belt

Availability of financial means is critical to the growth and development of production and productivity in the Eurasian wheat belt, but this has been one of the constraints on realising the agricultural potential of this region. This chapter uses examples from Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine, as well as other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, to identify key constraints on well-functioning credit and finance markets and discuss issues and potential remedies for the future. The scope of the chapter includes short-term operating capital, medium-term credit for durable assets and long-term credit for investment through bank credit as well as various other alternatives. It is recognised that the basic conditions for well-functioning market institutions, including for commodities, land and finance, take a long time to achieve, so innovations are needed to bridge these gaps. Successes and failures in the past experiences of transition countries in Europe and Central Asia are used in assessing future strategies and alternatives.
Abstract 2236: Emergence of epigenetic regulation of tight junction genes in recurrent serous epithelial ovarian cancer

Purpose: Despite a complete clinical response following treatment with surgery and first-line chemotherapy, about 70-90% of advanced ovarian cancer (OC) patients experience cancer recurrence. Our objective was to identify potential new therapeutic targets to prevent recurrence by identifying changes in gene regulation that occur in recurrent versus matched primary tumors. Procedures: We used 16 primary-recurrent tumor pairs from patients with stage III/IV serous epithelial OC from the Duke Gynecologic Oncology Tissue Bank. Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip was used to quantify DNA methylation and Affymetrix Human Genome U133A arrays were used to quantify gene expression. Methylation data were analyzed using Illumina9s GenomeStudio software and Pearson9s r values for correlation between gene expression (log2 RMA normalized) and methylation beta values were generated using Prism 6. Genes with significant correlation between expression and methylation (p Results: Methylation-expression relationships for 67 tight junction genes, including multiple CLDN family genes, emerged as significantly enriched in recurrent but not primary OCs (Bayes factor 7; p Conclusion: Our findings indicate that methylation-regulated expression of CLDNs are significantly associated with recurrent OC and suggest that changes in DNA methylation modulate emergence of these relationships. CLDNs regulation may play an important role in tumor recurrence and may offer new therapeutic opportunities. Citation Format: Zhiqing Huang, Zachery Visco, Gregory Sfakianos, Regina Whitaker,Andrew Berchuck, Susan K. Murphy. Emergence of epigenetic regulation of tight junction genes in recurrent serous epithelial ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2236. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2236
An Eulerian transport/transformation/removal model for SO2 and sulfate. I - Model development. II - Model calculation of SO(x) transport in the eastern United States

A three-dimensional, time dependent Eulerian atmospheric SO2 and sulfate transport/transformation/removal model is described and applied to the eastern U.S. The model was developed in anticipation of increased input to the atmospheric sulfur content by coal-burning power plants in the near future and is intended as an aid in identifying sources of SO2. The Eulerian transport model incorporates functions for chemical transformations, dry deposition, spatial topographical variations, spatial and temporal variations of mixing layer heights, the wind field, eddy diffusivities, deposition velocities, and temperature and water concentration profiles. Attention is also given to the SO2 photochemical oxidation mechanism and rates. Results from a 72-hr simulation of SO(x) transport over the eastern U.S., using actual 1974 meteorological data, illustrate the model's capability to depict interactions between emissions, transport, chemistry and removal. Concentration distributions are demonstrated to have significant spatial and temporal variations.
Treatment of infants identified as having severe combined immunodeficiency by means of newborn screening

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is characterized by severely impaired T-cell development and is fatal without treatment. Newborn screening (NBS) for SCID permits identification of affected infants before development of opportunistic infections and other complications. Substantial variation exists between treatment centers with regard to pretransplantation care, and transplantation protocols for NBS identified infants with SCID, as well as infants with other T-lymphopenic disorders detected by using NBS. We developed approaches to management based on the study of infants identified by means of NBS for SCID who received care at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). From August 2010 through October 2016, 32 patients with NBS-identified SCID and leaky SCID from California and other states were treated, and 42 patients with NBS-identified non-SCID T-cell lymphopenia were followed. Our center's approach supports successful outcomes; systematic review of our practice provides a framework for diagnosis and management, recognizing that more data will continue to shape best practices.
Dietary Fat Inflames CD4+ T Cell Memory in Obesity.

T cells promote inflammation in obesity, but how metabolic stress associated with obesity alters T cell responses remains unclear. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Mauro et al. (2017) demonstrate that saturated fatty acids directly increase effector-memory T cell formation by amplifying T cell antigen-receptor-induced PI3K/Akt signaling.
Fertility care interventions should be provided as the first line options for HIV+ serodiscordant couples who desire children in settings with affordable access to care, regardless of their fertility status.

Introduction: With increasing life expectancy, couples with at least one partner afflicted with HIV are more commonly pursuing the opportunity to have biologic offspring. Currently, there are no universally accepted recommendations regarding first line reproductive treatments for HIV serodiscordant couples lacking a history of infertility. We strongly believe that fertility care intervention should be the first line treatment, when affordably accessible, over natural conception for HIV serodiscordant couples to achieve pregnancy in a safe and efficacious manner. Discussion: In the era of highly active anti-retroviral therapy, in combination with timed intercourse and pre-exposure prophylaxis for the HIV negative partner, some members of the medical community are arguing in favour of natural conception as a means of achieving pregnancy in this patient population. In our opinion, laboratory assisted fertility methods, including intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection with semen washing should be the first line treatment recommendation for HIV serodiscordant couples desiring pregnancy for the following reasons: (1) abundance of evidence in the medical literature supporting the safety profile and efficacy of fertility care intervention in couples with HIV; paucity of data addressing safety of natural conception in comparison to fertility intervention techniques (2) unknown public health impact of promoting natural conception as a safe means of achieving pregnancy (3) ethical implications: patients should be offered the available and accessible treatment option posing the lowest possible known risk to the uninfected partner. Conclusions: We believe that physician assisted fertility care, when affordably accessible, should be the treatment of choice over natural conception. While the preliminary data on natural conception in couples using highly active anti-retroviral therapy/pre-exposure prophylaxis/timed intercourse appears promising, we believe that this approach should be limited to patients in resource poor settings where more sophisticated measures do not exist or for patients that simply cannot afford subspecialty care. There are likely to be unknown psychological and behavioural factors impacted by promoting natural conception and diminishing the importance of safe sex practices. Additionally, it is our moral obligation to patients to offer the affordably accessible treatment interventions that pose the least known risk when considering reproductive options. Keywords: HIV; human immunodeficiency virus; fertility; serodiscordant; assisted reproduction; sperm washing; in vitro fertilization; natural conception (Published: 8 March 2017) Citation: Safier LZ and Sauer MV Journal of the International AIDS Society 2017, 20(Suppl 1):21294 http://www.jiasociety.org/index.php/jias/article/view/21294 | http://dx.doi.org/10.7448/IAS.20.2.21294
Identifying Artists with an Old-Age Style: Contributions from Experts, Laypersons, and Artists

Progress in understanding the old-age style depends on identifying artists who showed this change (Chapter 11). For the selections to be reliable, the criteria for choosing certain artists have to be spelled out, including those without an old-age style. With these broad guidelines in mind, artists with an old-age style were identified in two studies, and their distinguishing characteristics investigated in a third. (Details are in Lindauer, 1993a; Lindauer, Orwoll, & Kelley, 1997.)
An MCMC Approach to Multisensor Linear Modulation Classification

Automatic modulation classification (AMC) with multiple sensors is a challenging problem when the channel conditions are unknown at the receiver. In this paper, using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach, we develop a novel algorithm for AMC when the amplitude and phase of the channel gains are unknown. Using sampling techniques, we marginalize over the unknown channel parameters that follow a certain probability distribution. This improves the estimate of the a posteriori distribution of the modulation formats, thereby improving the overall classification performance. Further, to overcome the problem of local extrema traps encountered in sampling algorithms, we introduce the idea of adding artificial noise beyond a certain threshold of signal-to-noise (SNR). This improves the performance of the sampling based AMC algorithm in the high SNR regime. Simulation results and comparisons are provided to show the efficiency of the proposed algorithm over the most related works in the literature.
Nif Gene Products and Their Roles in Nitrogen Fixation

More advances in our understanding of the roles of the various nif-specific gene products in biological nitrogen fixation have occurred in the 2+ years since the Knoxville meeting than in any period following the original designation of gene product relationships by Roberts et al. (1978). Several nif gene products have been isolated, the biochemical properties of some have been determined and the roles of a number of the products have been established or proposed. Table 1 lists the known nif genes from K. pneumoniae and provides a brief description of the roles that each have been shown or proposed to play in the nitrogenase catalysis or the assembly of those gene products involved in catalysis. Information regarding the role of nif gene products in assembly, maturation or stability of the nitrogenase complex has come primarily from the Azotobacter vinelandii and Kiebsiella pneumoniae systems, but homologs for genes encoding the proteins assigned to various functions have been found in several organisms. As the structural information regarding the nitrogenase proteins becomes more definitive, our attention will turn to how those structural entities are assembled, how they function and how they are maintained in the cell.
Immune and Inherited Thrombocytopenia in Children

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), the most common isolated thrombocytopenia in children, is regarded collectively as various thrombocytopenic diseases commonly involved in immunological mechanisms. ITP children can be treated with multiple therapeutic modalities including novel biological agents. However, without available means of confirmative diagnosis yet, ITP more or less requires exclusion diagnosis. As recent investigation of inherited thrombocytopenic disorders has revealed that genetic thrombocytopenia is frequently overlooked, inherited thrombocytopenias (ITs) might become increasingly important as diseases of differential diagnosis. Misdiagnosis of ITP not only prevents IT patients from correct management but also exposes them to inappropriate and potentially harmful treatments. Therefore, correct diagnosis based on combined clinical examinations and gene analyses may become more necessary for appropriate management and treatment choice of children with thrombocytopenia.
PSEUDOPHAKIC RETINAL DETACHMENTS. ANATOMIC AND VISUAL RESULTS

Retinal reattachment rates and visual results were analyzed in 227 consecutive primary pseudophakic rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. The overall anatomic reattachment rate was 90%, with no significant difference between the anterior chamber (AC) and posterior chamber intraocular lens groups. Visual results were significantly worse in the AC lens group ( P P
Using markedly abnormal vital signs in the emergency department to anticipate needs for intensive care unit admission

Objective: To assess the utility and relative strength of markedly abnormal vital signs thresholds (triggers) in prediction of the needs for intensive care unit (ICU) admission from the emergency department (ED). Methods: A retrospective cohort study performed in a 37 000 annual visit, urban, community teaching ED. All adult patient encounters from July 10, 2011 to July 9, 2013 were eligible for inclusion. The primary outcome was ICU admission from the ED. We collected the incidence of trigger vital signs (heart rate>130 bpm, heart rate 30 breaths per minute, respiratory rate< breaths 8 per minute, oxygen saturation<90%, systolic blood pressure<90 mmHg) as binary variables for each patient enrolled. Univariate and multi-variable logistic regression models were created to determine the ability of the trigger vital signs to predict ICU admission. Results: Total of 68 554 patient encounters were included in the analysis. Of these, 2 355 [3.4%, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 3.3%-3.6%] patients exhibited trigger vital signs, and 1 135 (1.7%, 95% CI 1.6%-1.8%) patients were admitted to ICU. All trigger vital signs were strongly associated with admission to the ICU and demonstrated higher odds of ICU admission with HR<40 (odds ratio 5.2, with 95% CI 2.7-10.1) being the best predictor among the studied covariates. The likelihood of ICU admission increased in a linear fashion with the number of trigger vital signs exhibited. Conclusions: Trigger vital signs serve as predictors that an ED patient may need admission to the ICU and may serve as a tool to expedite disposition of these resource-intensive patients.
Nrf2 deletion from adipocytes, but not hepatocytes, potentiates systemic metabolic dysfunction after long-term high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a canonical regulator of cytoprotective gene expression, but evidence of its cross talk with other pathways, including metabolic ones, is ever ...
Utilizing the GentleWave System for Debridement of Undetected Apical Anatomy

Aim and background Debriding and disinfecting complex anatomies within the root canal system pose a major challenge during root canal therapy. Even with current chemomechanical techniques, debris and bacterial remnants are commonly left behind, which are generally believed to increase the risk of endodontic failure. This case details the use of a new technique to debride complex apical anatomy in a maxillary molar. Case report A 48-year-old female presented to the clinic with a chief complaint of increasing pain in her tooth. Clinical examination of the right first maxillary molar (#3) revealed moderate sensitivity to percussion and mild sensitivity to palpation. A pulpal diagnosis of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and a periapi-cal diagnosis of symptomatic apical periodontitis were made. Mechanical instrumentation was performed using rotary file size #25/.04 for the mesiobuccal and distobuccal canals and size #25/.06 for the palatal canal to create a fluid path and enable obturation of the root canal system following the GentleWave® Procedure. The GentleWave Procedure was completed using Multisonic Ultracleaning™ for complete debridement and disinfection of the root canal system. The tooth was obturated using a warm vertical continuous wave obturation technique. Postoperative radiographs revealed complex anatomy within the apical third that was undetected both during pre-operative radiography and mechanical instrumentation. The palatal canal exhibited a complex apical delta with multiple points of exit, and the mesiobuccal canal revealed an undetected lateral canal within the apical third that had a separate and distinct egress. Conclusion and clinical significance: It is important for the clinician to debride and disinfect complex anatomy within the root canal system to reduce the risk of endodontic failure. This case report highlights the clinical significance of utilizing the GentleWave Procedure for detecting complex apical anatomy during endodontic therapy.
Abstract 12392: Optimal Balloon Size in Post-Stenting Angioplasty for Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease (AIOD) With Self-Expandable Nitinol Stent

Introduction: Although the self-expandable nitinol stent is considered to be dilated by radial force in chronic phase after endovascular treatment (EVT), the optimal post-stenting angioplasty has r...
Modeling diabetic sensory neuropathy in rats.

In this chapter we cover what we have found to be a "best practice" for real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for relative mRNA quantification. We describe our techniques for tissue-sample collection and freezing, sample handling for quick and reproducible extraction of total RNA, first strand cDNA synthesis, real-time PCR amplification, and template dilution and storage for PCR. We offer our insights on intron-spanning primer design for genes (when applicable), effective primer selection vs reaction optimization, and relative quantification and sample normalization using housekeeping genes. Comments are also provided on the choice of PCR reagents including fluorescent probes, prevention of PCR "carry over," and on the practical aspects of real-time PCR theory and interpretation.
The Necessity of Prerequisite Undergraduate Microbiology Courses for Pre-Allied Health Professionals.

WA letter to the editor addressing recent concerns about the necessity of microbiology as a prerequisite for pre-nursing and pre-allied health programs.
Heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon distributions in petroleum: A source facies assessment tool

Abstract This study reports a novel source facies assessment application from distributions of heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in petroleum, i.e., dibenzothiophene (DBT), dibenzofuran (DBF) and fluorene (F). To illustrate the approach initially, a large set of crude oils from global petroleum basins are geochemically characterized based on source facies, organic-matter type and environment of deposition variation. Petroleum bulk properties and molecular distributions of isoprenoids, terpanes, steranes and related parameters are applied to demonstrate the source facies and maturity of the entire oil suite and to delineate the oil suite into marine carbonate, marine shale, marine shale with terrigenous organic matter (OM), coaly and lacustrine source-facies families. From within this interpretive context, the relative percentages of hetercyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are reported and discussed from each of these source-facies families. A triplot drawn from the percentages of DBT, DBF and F is shown to effectively differentiate the oils source-facies classifications. Marine carbonate oils show highest %DBT plotted in the DBT vertex, freshwater lacustrine-sourced oils positioned near to 100% F vertex, coaly-sourced oils revealed highest %DBF. The marine shale and marine shale with terrigenous-OM oil families plotted away from three vertices and represent a distinctive position with in the triplot. These results establish an effective source-facies assessment tool triplot based on heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon distributions. These novel signatures which are derived from variations in the chemical composition of source rocks, hence kerogen, lead to the occurrence of kerogen catalysis in sedimentary reaction (like carbon catalysis) for the formation of heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Throughput Analysis between Unicast and MBSFN from Link Level to System Level

Public safety incidents typically involve significant amount of group traffic. This paper initializes our study in exploring the potential spectrum savings and improvement in first responders experience by using Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) to serve group traffic among first responders. Towards this goal, this paper proposes a comprehensive methodology that closely follows The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifications and considers unicast multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and MBSFN without MIMO. High fidelity Block Error Rate (BLER) curves for both MBSFN and unicast are generated, and Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) points to switch Channel Quality Indicators (CQIs) are extracted and analyzed. Several simulation scenarios have been designed and the empirical results are analyzed.
A Transport-Free Method for Predicting the Post-Depletion Spatial Neutron Flux Distribution

AbstractAn adjoint-based method to predict the variation in spatial flux distribution during a depletion interval is presented in this paper. Burnup analyses require dividing a fuel cycle into mult...
Genomic characterization of rectal cancer and molecular determinants of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

192Background: Rectal cancers are clinically different from colon cancers and have not yet been molecularly characterized due to the scarcity of pretreatment specimens. Discovery of molecular deter...
Appendiceal Endometriosis Presenting as Possible Cecal Mass.

Background Endometriosis is endometrial tissue located outside of the uterus. Endometriosis is rarely found in the appendix and can present very similar to acute appendicitis and is often indistinguishable on physical exam and imaging. The diagnosis is typically made after an appendectomy on pathology. Case summary A 45-year-old female presented with right sided abdominal pain and CT revealed a possible cecal or appendiceal lesion. Colonoscopy revealed a submucosal non-obstructing cecal mass. In the operating room, the appendix was completely adherent to the cecum and a laparoscopic ileocecectomy was performed. Pathology revealed endometriosis of the appendix and cecum. Discussion Endometriosis of the appendix is a rare condition reported in less than 1% of females that is diagnosed after an appendectomy is performed for suspected appendicitis or other pathology. This diagnosis is made based on the finding of endometrial glands and stroma in the appendix. This can present as acute appendicitis or appendiceal or peri-appendiceal mass on imaging. When symptomatic, pain can align with the menstrual cycle and hemoperitoneum may be encountered intra-operatively. Treatment can be appendectomy, ileocecectomy, or right hemicolectomy if malignancy is suspected. In the patient we described, an ileocecectomy was performed with the intention of converting to a right hemicolectomy if the frozen section pathology had revealed malignancy. This case illustrates the importance of having a broad differential when diagnosing patients with abdominal pain, especially in women of childbearing age. Conclusion Appendiceal endometriosis should be considered in females of childbearing age with abdominal pain or cecal/appendiceal mass on imaging.
On Approximate Message Passing for Unsourced Access with Coded Compressed Sensing

Sparse regression codes with approximate message passing (AMP) decoding have gained much attention in recent times. The concepts underlying this coding scheme extend to unsourced access with coded compressed sensing (CCS), as first pointed out by Fengler, Jung, and Caire. More specifically, their approach uses a concatenated coding framework with an inner AMP decoder followed by an outer tree decoder. In the original implementation, these two components work independently of each other, with the tree decoder acting on the static output of the AMP decoder. This article introduces a novel framework where the inner AMP decoder and the outer tree decoder operate in tandem, dynamically passing information back and forth to take full advantage of the underlying CCS structure. The enhanced architecture exhibits significant performance benefit over a range of system parameters.
“I Am a Caregiver”: Sense-making and Identity Construction through Online Caregiving Narratives

The all-consuming role and responsibilities of providing care to an aging parent or spouse create identity disruption and stress. However, this stress may be resolved as family caregivers integrate...
Three-Dimensional Quantification of Collagen Microstructure During Tensile Mechanical Loading of Skin

Skin is a heterogeneous tissue that can undergo substantial structural and functional changes with age, disease, or following injury. Understanding how these changes impact the mechanical properties of skin requires three-dimensional (3D) quantification of the tissue microstructure and its kinematics. The goal of this study was to quantify these structure-function relationships via second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy of mouse skin under tensile mechanical loading. Tissue deformation at the macro- and micro-scale was quantified, and a substantial decrease in tissue volume and a large Poisson's ratio was detected with stretch, indicating the skin differs substantially from the hyperelastic material models historically used to explain its behavior. Additionally, the relative amount of measured strain did not significantly change between length scales, suggesting that the collagen fiber network is uniformly distributing applied strains. Analysis of undeformed collagen fiber organization and volume fraction revealed a length scale dependency for both metrics. 3D analysis of SHG volumes also showed that collagen fiber alignment increased in the direction of stretch, but fiber volume fraction did not change. Interestingly, 3D fiber kinematics was found to have a non-affine relationship with tissue deformation, and an affine transformation of the micro-scale fiber network overestimates the amount of fiber realignment. This result, along with the other outcomes, highlights the importance of accurate, scale-matched 3D experimental measurements when developing multi-scale models of skin mechanical function.
Arteriolar Bottle-Necks in the Lung Are the Site of Pulmonary Thrombo-Embolism

Abstract Acute Pulmonary Thrombo-Embolism (PTE) is a major vaso-occlusive pulmonary complication associated with high morbidity. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, the pathophysiology of PTE remains incompletely understood and anticoagulant therapy is the only available treatment. Based on computed tomography in humans and accumulation of radiolabeled platelets in mice, PTE is believed to be primarily triggered by embolic platelet aggregates arriving from the venous circulation and sequestering in the pulmonary arterioles. However, new clinical evidence suggest that in situ pulmonary arteriole micro-thrombosis may also promote PTE. Studies that can visualize PTE in real time in vivo in mice are highly warranted to identify different mechanisms contributing to PTE. Improved understanding of the biophysical, cellular and molecular mechanism would enable development of new therapies for PTE. ADP, collagen or thrombin were administered intravascularly (IV) to wild type (WT) mice and the pulmonary microcirculation was studied using multi-photon-excitation (MPE) enabled quantitative intravital fluorescence lung microscopy (qFILM). Fluorochrome-conjugated anti-mouse CD49b Ab and dextran was administered IV for in vivo staining of circulating platelets and visualization of blood vessels. Time series of qFILM images were collected at baseline and immediately following IV administration of ADP, collagen or thrombin. Images were analyzed to identify PTE, which was defined as occlusion of blood vessels with platelet aggregates leading to loss of blood flow. ADP (0.5-2.5 mg/kg), collagen (0.2-0.5 mg/kg) and thrombin (250-500 U/kg) triggered dose-dependent PTE in mice. Remarkably, large embolic platelet aggregates were observed to arrive in the pulmonary arterioles and occlude the arteriolar bottle-necks located at the junction of pulmonary arterioles and capillaries. The occlusion of arteriolar bottle-necks led to stasis of blood flow in the arteriole and the down-stream capillaries. Surprisingly, unlike collagen or thrombin, ADP induced PTE was transient and resolved over a time period of 10 min. However, thrombin (500 U/kg) and collagen (0.5 mg/kg) triggered stable emboli within the arteriolar bottle-necks. We introduce an intravital microscopy approach to probe agonist-dependent platelet aggregation in the lung microcirculation of live mice. We provide the first real-time visual in vivo evidence establishing that PTE indeed involves entrapment of embolic platelet aggregates in the pre-capillary pulmonary arterioles. Our model has potential application in investigating the molecular determinants of pulmonary thrombosis in diverse pulmonary disorders as well as evaluating efficacy of new antithrombotic drugs. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Investigating the role of endogenous estrogens, hormone replacement therapy, and blockade of estrogen receptor-α activity on breast metabolic signaling

Menopause is associated with an increased risk of estrogen receptor-positive (ER +) breast cancer. To characterize the metabolic shifts associated with reduced estrogen bioavailability on breast tissue, metabolomics was performed from ovary-intact and ovariectomized (OVX) female non-human primates (NHP). The effects of exogenous estrogen administration or estrogen receptor blockade (tamoxifen treatment) on menopause-induced metabolic changes were also investigated. Bilateral ovariectomies were performed on female cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) to model menopause. OVX NHP were then divided into untreated (n = 13), conjugated equine estrogen (CEE)-treated (n= 13), or tamoxifen-treated (n = 13) subgroups and followed for 3 years. Aged-matched ovary-intact female NHP (n = 12) were used as a premenopausal comparison group. Metabolomics was performed on snap-frozen breast tissue. Changes in several different metabolic biochemicals were noted, particularly in glucose and fatty acid metabolism. Specifically, glycolytic, Krebs cycle, acylcarnitines, and phospholipid metabolites were elevated in breast tissue from ovary-intact NHP and OVX + CEE in relation to the OVX and OVX + tamoxifen group. In contrast, treatment with CEE and tamoxifen decreased several cholesterol metabolites, compared to the ovary-intact and OVX NHP. These changes were accompanied by elevated bile acid metabolites in the ovary-intact group. Alterations in estrogen bioavailability are associated with changes in the mammary tissue metabolome, particularly in glucose and fatty acid metabolism. Changes in these pathways may represent a bioenergetic shift in gland metabolism at menopause that may affect breast cancer risk.
Contemporary Left Ventricular Assist Device Outcomes in an Aging Population: An STS INTERMACS Analysis

Abstract Background Survival, functional outcomes, and quality of life after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) are ill-defined in elderly patients, and with new-generation devices. Objectives This study sought to evaluate survival, functional outcomes, and quality of life after LVAD in contemporary practice. Methods Adults receiving durable LVADs between January 1, 2010, and March 1, 2020, were identified from the INTERMACS (Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support) database. The primary outcome was adjusted survival; secondary outcomes included quality of life rated using a visual analogue scale (where 0 represents “worst health” and 100 “best health”); 6-minute walk distance; stroke; device malfunction; and rehospitalization, stratified by patient age. Median follow-up was 15 months (IQR: 6-32 months). Results The cohort comprised 68.9% (n = 16,808) patients aged 75 years, who were predominantly male (n = 19,119, 78%) and on destination therapy (n = 12,425, 51%). Competing outcomes analysis demonstrated mortality (70% CIs) of 34% (33%-34%), 54% (54%-55%), and 66% (64%-68%) for patients aged 75 years, respectively, which improved during the study in patients aged >75 years. Newer-generation devices were associated with reduced late mortality (HR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.25-0.49). Stroke, device malfunction or thrombosis, and rehospitalizations decreased with increasing age (all P Conclusions In elderly patients, LVADs are associated with increased functional capacity, similar improvements in quality of life, and fewer complications compared with younger patients.
SPICE Modeling and CMOS Circuit Development of a SiC Power IC Technology

This paper presents the SPICE modeling and circuit development of a SiC power integrated circuit (IC) technology that offers monolithic integration of high-voltage lateral n-type SiC power metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) and low-voltage SiC complementary-MOS (CMOS) devices. The SPICE models are based on two-dimensional device simulations with the Sentaurus TCAD device simulator. With the developed SPICE models, this technology enables the design of application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) in SiC, such as fully integrated high-voltage SiC power converters, that can work in high temperature and radioactive environments. Circuit simulations of a SiC CMOS inverter and a SiC ring oscillator are included to demonstrate the technology.
The Connected Lawyer: The Evolving

The legal profession must prepare for generations of networked law students and attorneys who demand interaction with a professional system in the same way they experience connection in their social system. As technology evolves, new professionals will expect more autonomy and control over their interactions. The central thesis of this Essay is that technology allows greater control of an individual’s professional interactions, and this control can provide a benefit, but devices of connection can also serve as a barrier to the authentic experiences that provide professional learning and innovation.
Anti-Melanoma Capability of Contactless Cold Atmospheric Plasma Treatment

In this study, we demonstrated that the widely used cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) jet could significantly inhibit the growth of melanoma cells using a contactless treatment method, The flow rate of helium gas was a key operational parameter to modulate electromagnetic (EM) effect on melanoma cells. Metal sheets with different sizes could be used as a strategy to control the strength of EM effect. More attractive, the EM effect from CAP could penetrate glass/polystyrene barriers as thick as 7 mm. All these discoveries presented the profound non-invasive nature of a physically based CAP treatment, which provided a solid foundation for CAP-based cutaneous/subcutaneous tumor therapy.
Vast Area Detection for Experimental Radiochemistry (VADER) at the National Ignition Facility

At the National Ignition Facility (NIF), the flux of neutrons and charged particles at peak burn in an inertial confinement fusion capsule induces measureable concentrations of nuclear reaction products in the target material. Radiochemical analysis of post-shot debris can be used to determine diagnostic parameters associated with implosion of the capsule, including fuel areal density and ablator-fuel mixing. Additionally, analysis of debris from specially doped targets can support nuclear forensic research. We have developed and are deploying the Vast Area Detection for Experimental Radiochemistry (VADER) diagnostic to collect shot debris and interact with post-shot reaction products at the NIF. VADER uses quick release collectors that are easily reconfigured for different materials and geometries. Collectors are located ~50 cm from the NIF target; each of up to 9 collectors views ~0.005-0.0125 steradians solid angle, dependent upon configuration. Dynamic loading of the NIF target vaporized mass was modelled using LS-DYNA. 3-dimensional printing was utilized to expedite the design process. Model-based manufacturing was used throughout. We will describe the design and operation of this diagnostic as well as some initial results.