cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hormonal regulation of the differentiation of cultured ovarian granulosa cells

1. Cell Culture Approach to the Study of Granulosa Cells In 1672, Regnier de Graaf first described the differentiation of ovarian follicles into the corpus luteum. He stated that “age and coitus cause very great changes in eggs (follicles). In young animals, they are very small and in more developed ones they are larger. After coitus, they (the follicles) so alter as to resemble the globules (the corpora lutea) …, being one or more according as the animal will produce one or more fetuses.” (1) Follicles as the functional unit: Ovarian follicles have since been shown to be the basic functional unit of the ovary and consist of an outer layer of theca interna cells which encircle inner layers of granulosa cells. Granulosa cells, in turn, surround the innermost oocyte-cumulus cell complex. The maturation of ovarian follicles and their transformation into corpora lutea is regulated by a specific set of hormones and has been a major research area for ovarian physiologists for several hundred years.
Patient's Body Size Influences Dental Hygienist Shoulder Kinematics

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS This study found that dental hygienists are exposed to higher shoulder elevation angles when treating a simulated big-girth patient versus a simulated average-girth patient. These differences in motion patterns may increase dental hygienists’ susceptibility to shoulder musculoskeletal disorders. Ergonomic interventions may be needed to facilitate solutions to problems associated with treating patients who are overweight or obese. Ergonomics and human factors practitioners should educate dental hygienists to be more aware of their body posture, specifically shoulder position, while working on patients with big chest girth. TECHNICAL ABSTRACT Background: Dental hygienists suffer from musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremities, and the prevalence of these disorders increases with years of occupation. Furthermore, the prevalence of overweight and obese individuals in the United States has been rapidly increasing for both adults and children in recent years. This may increase ...
Diode laser sensor

A new sensor capable of detecting sinusoidal displacements as small as ~9 ×10-5 nm has been constructed. The sensor, employing phase modulation of light fed back into the laser cavity by an external reflector, has been successfully tested as an acoustic sensor.
Processing of Complex Sounds in the Auditory Cortex of Cat, Monkey, and Man

One of the fundamental features in the organization of sensory cortices which has emerged from 30 years of research in the visual system is the existence of multiple representation of the sensory world in the cerebral cortex. Compared with the visual system much less information exists about the functional specialization of multiple maps in the central auditory system. This is surprising, since an understanding of central auditory representations seems necessary for an understanding of higher auditory processing, including the perception of speech and the perception of auditory space. We have recorded single neuron activity in higher areas of auditory cortex of cats and rhesus monkeys. In cats, activity was recorded in the caudal part of the anterior ectosylvian (AE) cortex (areas AEA and AAF). More than half of the neurons were clearly tuned to the location of a sound source in azimuth and elevation. Frequency-modulated (FM) sounds elicited best responses at fast rates of modulation. By contrast, neurons in the posterior ectosylvian (PE) areas (PAF, VPAF) responded better to slow FM rates. This suggests a possible specialization for the processing of spatial attributes in the AE cortex, and a possible preference for auditory "patterns" in PE. In macaque monkeys, we explored the question of parallel processing in the higher auditory pathways by combining lesion and anatomical tracer techniques with single unit recording. Inactivation of primary auditory cortex (AI) abolished pure-tone responses in the caudomedial area (CM), but not in the rostral area (R). Injections of retrograde fluorescent tracers into R showed strong labeling of the main, ventral nucleus of the medial geniculate (MGv). Both findings suggest the existence of parallel pathways in the auditory cortex, originating at more peripheral sites and possibly specialized for the processing of auditory space vs. auditory patterns. The auditory pattern pathway in Macaque auditory cortex was further explored by using complex stimuli including Macaque-specific communication sounds. Neurons in the lateral belt areas (AL, ML, and CL) respond very selectively to bandpassed noise stimuli, to FM sounds of a certain rate and direction, as well as to certain classes of monkey calls. We are now in the process of exploring higher areas of human auditory cortex by measuring cortical activation with noninvasive functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while stimulating with complex auditory sounds.
Fairness and Performance Isolation: an Analysis of Disk Scheduling Algorithms

An I/O system using a sharing model provides concurrently executing applications shared access to the underlying I/O resources. Although the existing sharing models of these I/O systems are purported to be fair, none of them results in performance isolation. Failing to provide performance isolation results in unpredictable application performance. Unpredictability in application performance hampers providing quality of service guarantees. In this paper, we present a formal analysis of the fairness properties of various disk scheduling algorithms and an experimental evaluation of their performance isolation properties. We show that none of the existing "fair" scheduling algorithms provides performance isolation.
Saccade and vergence interaction during fatigued versus non-fatigued sessions

Fatigue is also known as weariness. However, fatigue is insufficiently understood in vision research. This study investigates saccades during the transient portion of symmetrical vergence responses when subjects report fatigue and non-fatigue. Four degree convergence and divergence eye movements were recorded from five subjects using an infrared eye movement monitor. Preliminary data show that there is an increase in the number of saccades during the transient portion of vergence responses when subjects are fatigued. Results suggest that saccades may be a compensatory mechanism used by the vergence system when humans are fatigued.
Deterministic and stochastic multi-mode multi-dimensional systems with application to switched systems with delay

The dynamics of hybrid systems with mode dynamics of different dimensions is described. The first part explores structural properties of such multi-mode multidimensional (M3D) systems. The second part considers such models under sequential switching at random times. More specifically, the backward Kolmogorov equation is derived. This is applied to a causally restricted hybrid system containing a mode with delay. Causal restriction is necessitated by the condition ≤ 1 which must be imposed on systems with timevariant delay, τ (t).
Reply to Wardell

Professor Wardell is unconvinced by my account of Marx's use of the method of successive approximations. My argument, he says, is flawed by misrepresentation and misquotation. In particular, he objects to my emphasis upon the scientific character of Marx's later work, a view, as he correctly notes, which has been developed by Louis Althusser and a number of other European scholars. (It is one thing to be accused of holding a "scientistic" view of Marx's work. It is another to be caricatured as holding "the view that Marx was a physical scientist looking at social behavior." I must demur from this latter characterization on two grounds: (1) Marx was not a physical scientist; (2) he was not a behaviorist.) In place of this reading of Marx, Wardell offers an interpretation which stresses the pre-scientific philosophical roots of Marxian theory. In so doing, he makes a number of rather startling and, to my knowledge, unprecedented claims concerning Marx's work which include the three following theses. (1). "It is impossible to decipher what [Marx] really meant." This would seem to forestall all further discussion of Marx's work. If Wardell really believes this, on what grounds does he criticize my reading of Marx as being incorrect? It should be noted that Wardell does not make this claim in reference to some particular aspect of Marx's work, but clearly intends his comment as a general assessment. What is important about Marx's writings, he says, is "the response we make to them." But if we cannot establish through appeal to evidence and logical argument precisely what Marx wrote and what he meant, then in what sense can we be said to be responding to his work? If, as Wardell seems to imply, this precept is established as a fundamental epistemological principal and is not seen as some idiosyncratic problem peculiar to Marx's work, the prospects for intellectual discourse and argumentation would seem to be dim, indeed. I doubt that Wardell himself would wish to accept all the consequences that this principle implies. (2). Marx's position was that the end of scientific theorizing is so that "practitioners can explain their own behavior as well as that of others." This would seem to make Marx an important precursor of contemporary subjectivist trends in sociology, such as ethnomethodology. For myself, I seriously doubt that the notion of constructing a theory of capitalist society so that he could better understand his own behavior ever crossed Marx's mind. But we do not need to engage in idle speculation. If he can, let Wardell produce (any) evidence from Marx's writings to corroborate this idiosyncratic view. (But then again, this may not be possible since according to thesis #1 we cannot know how to correctly interpret anything that Marx wrote, anyway.) (3). Marx did not believe "the social world . .. to move in predictable ways." This would come as a great surprise, I am sure, to generations of Marxian scholars who have devoted themselves to studying the historical development of the capitalist mode of production. It is a gross caricature of Marx's actual position.
Pulsed polarimetry techniques for fusion plasmas

Pulsed polarimetry techniques are described for the determination of the local magnetic field distribution, B(r), in magnetically confined plasmas. Pulsed polarimetry is a non-perturbative Lidar-like technique that exploits both the Thomson scattering and magneto-optic Faraday effects to measure B|| at the position and along the sightline of a polarized light pulse propagating in the plasma. The implementation of pulsed polarimetry on high performance magnetized plasmas of relevance to magnetic fusion falls naturally into three categories based on the size and optical activity of the plasma and present-day laser and detector options: 1) large tokamak plasmas typified by ITER and DEMO, 2) meter-sized high energy density plasmas typified by the Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) program and 3) cm-sized plasmas typified by wire Z-pinches. Plausible pulsed polarimetry systems are presented for each category along with the current interest in obtaining the local field measurement for the respective programs.
Levels of Dissolved Oxygen and Carbon Fixation by Marine Microalgae1

Seven species of marine microalgae including chlorophytes, diatoms, and a chrysomonad, of tropical, Antarctic, and temperate origin, were used to measure photosynthetic carbon fixation as affected by concentration of dissolved O2 at two levels of CO2. An apparent O2 inhibition of carbon fixation was observed in some species, but others were affected little or not at all by concentration of dissolved O2. In several cases, O2 appeared necessary for maximal carbon fixation.
Therapeutics: Pharmacology, Chemotherapy, Radiation Oncology

Low to intermediate potency, 45–60 min duration Dosage calculation 1 %, 2 %, 4 % = 10 mg/ml, 20 mg/ml, 40 mg/ml Dosage max: w/o epinephrine: 5 mg/kg and w/epinephrine: 7 mg/kg
Multicenter, Randomized Trial of Quantitative Pretest Probability to Reduce Unnecessary Medical Radiation Exposure in Emergency Department Patients With Chest Pain and Dyspnea

Background— Use of pretest probability can reduce unnecessary testing. We hypothesize that quantitative pretest probability, linked to evidence-based management strategies, can reduce unnecessary radiation exposure and cost in low-risk patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome and pulmonary embolism. Methods and Results— This was a prospective, 4-center, randomized controlled trial of decision support effectiveness. Subjects were adults with chest pain and dyspnea, nondiagnostic ECGs, and no obvious diagnosis. The clinician provided data needed to compute pretest probabilities from a Web-based system. Clinicians randomized to the intervention group received the pretest probability estimates for both acute coronary syndrome and pulmonary embolism and suggested clinical actions designed to lower radiation exposure and cost. The control group received nothing. Patients were followed for 90 days. The primary outcome and sample size of 550 was predicated on a significant reduction in the proportion of healthy patients exposed to >5 mSv chest radiation. A total of 550 patients were randomized, and 541 had complete data. The proportion with >5 mSv to the chest and no significant cardiopulmonary diagnosis within 90 days was reduced from 33% to 25% ( P =0.038). The intervention group had significantly lower median chest radiation exposure (0.06 versus 0.34 mSv; P =0.037, Mann–Whitney U test) and lower median costs ($934 versus $1275; P =0.018) for medical care. Adverse events occurred in 16% of controls and 11% in the intervention group ( P =0.06). Conclusions— Provision of pretest probability and prescriptive advice reduced radiation exposure and cost of care in low-risk ambulatory patients with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome and pulmonary embolism. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: . Unique identifier: [NCT01059500][1]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT01059500&atom=%2Fcirccvim%2F7%2F1%2F66.atom
Propagation of Structural Random Field Uncertainty Using Improved DR Method

This paper presents an improved dimension reduction (IDR) method for structural random field uncertainty quantification with a large number of variables. The IDR method takes inspiration from the eigenvector dimension reduction method (EDR) and integrates the dimension reduction method (DR) with advanced statistical tools. DR effectively reduces a multidimensional integration into multiple one-dimensional integrations by additive decomposition, then uses this capability to calculate statistical properties of a system performance function. The EDR method uses eigenanalysis to generate a surrogate model to improve computational efficiency; it is then combined with the DR method to obtain the required properties. Once the statistical properties (raw moments) are determined, the Pearson system is used to generate the probability density function (PDF) of a system performance function. The DR and EDR methods have been successfully applied to many structural uncertainty quantification problems. The DR method may not be ideal because of the approximate binomial formula and the computational expense involved in moment-based numerical integration. The EDR method may lose its efficiency due to the dimension dependent sampling scheme and the use of non-orthogonal basis functions for the surrogate model for random field problems. The IDR method employs (i) dimensionindependent adaptive sampling using extended Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS), (ii) a surrogate model using orthogonal basis functions, and (iii) the Pearson system. First, adaptive sampling using extended LHS is employed to generate design points with the flexibility of increasing the sampling size without affecting the LHS stratified structure of the samples. Second, a surrogate model of the performance function is constructed using basis functions that are orthogonal to each other and convergent in the mean square sense. Third, the Pearson system is used to construct the probability density function (PDF) of a system performance function. The new methodology is demonstrated on four example problems and compared with results from Monte Carlo Simulations, DR, and EDR methods.
The work ethic as moderator variable of life stress: preliminary inquiry.

Sumwy.-Internal control and belief in hard work have each' been associated with good physical health. This study evaluated these variables (individually and as paired comparisons) in the relationship between life stress and physical illness. Each appeared to be a moderator variable; their combination was the more' powerful predictor. Despite methodological issues, research suggests that certain personality factors moderate the relationship between life stress and physical illness. Internal control (4, 8), task involvement (4), and social supports ( 7 ) are examples. White (8) has suggested that adherence to the basic components of the work ethic may be an additional moderator along with internal control. Initial data of Vaillant and Vaillant (6) suggest that the capacity for hard work in childhood results in better physical health in adulthood. The present study examined the relationship between life stress and physical illness as a function of internal control and belief in the work ethic (each individuallv and as paired comparisons). Life stress was predicted to be related to the dependeqt measure for subjects low in internal control and work ethic belief, on the assumption ,that life stress most affects persons who perceive themselves with little control over environmental events and have less persistence with planned, orderly, continuing tasks. Subjects were 24 men and 66 women who worked full-time, headed households, and attended evening college. Predominantly white, married, Protestant or Roman Catholic, and upwardly mobile as evidenced by pursuing higher education, the sample ranged in age from 18 to 64 yr., with a mean of 26 yr. (& 8.83). The attained education level ranged from 12 to 23 yr., with a mean 15.5 (& 1.98). These characteristics suggest a conservative view of the stress-illness relationship. In group settings, subjects voluntarily completed the Schedule of Recent Experiences (3), a 43-item measure of cultural life change; the Personal Control Scale (2), a 5-item measure of internal control; and the Control Ideology Scale (2), a 13-item measure of work-ethic belief. The first person items of the Locus of Control Scale (5) comprise the Personal Control Scale score; the third person items, the Control Ideology Scale score. For these two measures reliability and validity have been established ( 1, 2). Self-report measures of physical illness and hospitalization during the preceding year were completed. Illness was any medical or psychosomatic episode, regardless of physicians' attention. Standard scoring of measures was employed; highhow scores on the Personal Control Scale and the Control Ideology Scale were determined by a median split of the
Brazilian Twin Registry: A Bright Future for Twin Studies/Twin Research: Twin Study of Alcohol Consumption and Mortality; Oxygen Uptake in Adolescent Twins/In the News: Superfecundated Twins In Vietnam; Adolescent Twin Relations; Twin and Triplet Co-Workers; A Special Twin Ultrasound; Monozygotic Twins With Different Skin Color; Identical Twin Returns from Space.

The establishment of the Brazilian Twin Registry for the study of genetic, social, and cultural influences on behavior is one of eleven newly funded projects in the Department of Psychology at the University of Sao Paulo. These 11 interrelated projects form the core of the university's Center for Applied Research on Well-Being and Human Behavior. An overview of the planned twin research and activities to date is presented. Next, two recent twin studies are reviewed, one on the relationship between alcohol consumption and mortality, and the other on factors affecting maximal oxygen uptake. Twins cited in the media include the first identified superfecundated twins in Vietnam, adolescent twin relations, twins and triplets who work together, monozygotic twins with different skin tones and a co-twin control study that addresses the effects of space travel.
Effectiveness Evaluation for Network Countermeasures Command Ability

Using fuzzy comprehensive evaluation theory and compared with each other principle,the model of effectiveness evaluation for network countermeasures command ability is established.The effectiveness of this method is validated with an instance,which could solve the problem of effectiveness evaluation of command ability better.
Erratum: On Analyses of the Solution to a Linear Programming Problem

(1962). Erratum: On Analyses of the Solution to a Linear Programming Problem. Journal of the Operational Research Society: Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 132-132.
Product Innovation: Strategic logic of product innovation

Introduction The strategic logic of the organization provides the rationale for product innovation. New-product strategies and programs are based on external and internal perspectives; the business environment, the market situation, customer needs, and competitive analysis make up the external perspective, while core capabilities, core technologies, development capabilities, organizational skills and knowledge, and strategic requirements constitute the internal perspective. The business environment, market requirements, and core capabilities are primary considerations in the formulation and implementation of market-related new-product strategies. The basic philosophy for developing sustainable new products is to create value based on the expressed and latent needs of the customers and stakeholders. The new-product development (NPD) process has to focus on finding opportunities and creating new products to delight customers and enhance long-term capabilities and prosperity. Product innovation is established within the strategic context of the organization and its enterprise. The enterprise is the integration and alignment of the organization with all of its external constituents under the leadership of strategic management. It provides the overarching framework for understanding the opportunities and challenges in the business environment and the organization's capabilities and resources in the business context. Strategic management determines vision, mission, and direction. Strategic direction provides the overall objectives, strategies, and action plans. The aim of strategic logic is to integrate the management system, its processes, and interrelated activities so that all initiatives and development programs flow seamlessly across the organization.
Restoration of Mid-Sagittal Femoral Offset Using a Multi-Radius Femoral Component Design

Proper restoration of posterior condylar offset during TKA has been shown to be important to maximize range of motion and minimize flexion instability. However, there is little information as to the importance of restoration of mid-sagittal femoral geometry. There is controversy as to whether a TKA prosthesis should have a single radius or multiple radii of curvature. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-radius femoral component at restoring mid sagittal femoral offset. A consecutive series of 100 TKAs with digital preoperative and postoperative radiographs and standardized radiographic markers were analyzed. There were 71 female and 29 male knees with mean age of 59 years. All TKAs were performed by a single surgeon using a multi-radius femoral component design. The distal femoral resection was set to resect 10 mm from the distal femoral condyle and a posterior referencing system was used to size the femoral component. Using radiographic perfect lateral projections of the knees, a line was drawn along the posterior femoral shaft and another parallel line down the anterior femoral shaft. A 3rd line was then drawn parallel to the posterior shaft at the furthest point posterior on the condyle. A 4th line was drawn parallel to the anterior shaft at the furthest point anterior on the femur. 90 degree angles were constructed to create a grid in the anterior and posterior directions, similar to a previously reported technique. Finally, 45 degree angle lines were created in the grid to assess mid flexion dimensions [Fig-1 and 2]. The percent change in posterior condylar offset (PCO), anterior femoral offset (AFO), mid femoral anterior offset (MAFO) and mid femoral posterior offset (MFPO) were calculated. The mean reproduction of the mid-anterior femoral offset and mid-posterior femoral offset were 101.1% [range 56.5%–167.5%] and 96.8% [range 54.9%–149.0%] of preoperative measurements respectively. The average restoration of posterior offset and anterior offset were 92.8% [range 49.0%–129.8%] and 115.3% of preoperative measurements [range 35.7%–400.0%] respectively. When the posterior condylar offset was restored to within 10% of the native anatomy, the MPFO restoration more closely resembled normal anatomy (103.0% vs. 93.9%, p = 0.005). When the postoperative posterior condylar offset was decreased greater than 20%, both the MAFO (90.1% vs. 104.5%, p = 0.004) and MPFO (78.5% vs. 102.9%, p A modern multi-radius condylar knee design is capable of reproducing the mid-sagittal geometry of the preoperative knee. However, the restoration of mid sagittal offset is largely dependent on the restoration of the posterior condylar offset. Intraoperative adjustments in anterior and posterior femoral resections can have significant impact in the ability of the implant to reproduce mid-sagittal femoral anatomy.
Project BioEYES: Accessible Student-Driven Science for K-12 Students and Teachers.

BioEYES, a nonprofit outreach program using zebrafish to excite and educate K–12 students about science and how to think and act like scientists, has been integrated into hundreds of under-resourced schools since 2002. During the week-long experiments, students raise zebrafish embryos to learn principles of development and genetics. We have analyzed 19,463 participating students’ pre- and post-tests within the program to examine their learning growth and attitude changes towards science. We found that at all grade levels, BioEYES effectively increased students’ content knowledge and produced favorable shifts in students’ attitudes about science. These outcomes were especially pronounced in younger students. Having served over 100,000 students, we find that our method for providing student-centered experiences and developing long-term partnerships with teachers is essential for the growth and sustainability of outreach and school collaborations.
Assertive questions in Máíhĩki

Abstract This paper considers the use of assertive questions – utterances which have the form of questions, but are heard as assertions – in conversation and narrative in Maih ĩ ki (Tukanoan, Peru). Maih ĩ ki assertive questions are syntactically identical to polar questions, but are pragmatically treated as declaratives of the opposite polarity. Speakers employ assertive questions as the conventional means for several grammatical and interactional ends. I show that the class of actions done by assertive questions in this language is uniquely characterized by the presence of a threat to the speaker's positive face. Crucially, the facework properties of assertive questions arise from their preference structure, not from their syntax.
Effects of Short and Long-Term Hydrological Regimes on the Composition and Function of Denitrifying Bacteria in Experimental Wetlands

We investigated effects of short- and long-term hydrologic fluctuations on denitrification in constructed wetland basins. N2 and N2O emission rates, their ratio and a number of physicochemical variables were compared between pulsed (with annual drawdown-flooding cycles) and static (constantly flooded) wetland basins. The abundance and structure of general and denitrifying bacterial communities were compared based on quantitative PCR and terminal restriction fragment polymorphism analyses of 16S rRNA and nosZ genes, respectively. These variables significantly differed among sampling months, but not between the two long-term hydrologic treatments. The same set of variables were measured and compared among samples from different sites of one pulsed basin. The single basin experiment revealed temporal shifts in measured variables, which coincided with short-term hydrological changes. Bank sites, which had larger changes in abiotic conditions, showed greater variability in denitrifying activities than basin sites. Significant difference in N2 and N2O emission rates, 16S rRNA and nosZ gene abundance and structural composition was also identified between basin and bank sites. Our results suggest that activity and community structure of denitrifying bacteria in wetland soils are insensitive to moderate hydrology change, but can be significantly impacted by large hydrological fluctuation at both short-term and long-term scales.
State Requirements for Automated External Defibrillators in American Schools: Framing the Debate About Legislative Action

Installation of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools has been associated with increased survival after sudden cardiac arrest. An authoritative academic research database was interrogated to identify all current state statutes pertaining to AEDs in schools. As of February 2016, 17 of 50 U.S. states (34%) require AED installation in at least some of their schools; the remaining states have no legislation. However, requirements are far from comprehensive in these 17 states. Only 5 states offer unequivocal funding to schools for purchasing AEDs. A minority of U.S. states have legislation requiring AED placement in schools, and even fewer provide funding. State legislatures that have not yet enacted legislation requiring AEDs in schools may look to neighboring states for examples of child and adult lifesaving law. Placement of an AED in schools should be implemented with an emergency response plan that trains staff in the recognition and response to cardiac arrest.
Avoidance and Response Duration as a Function of the Length of the Warning Period

Four Ss (rats) were given 3000 trials under a discriminated avoidance training schedule in a lever pressing apparatus. The warning period was correlated with silence, and a 5 sec. intertrial interval was indicated by a buzzer. For three Ss the warning period was gradually increased over sessions from 1 sec. to 16 sec, and to 32 sec. for the fourth S. On a few sessions the distinction between the warning signal and inter-trial interval was eliminated and then reinstated; this tested for stimulus control. Measures of response latency to the warning stimulus and of response holding times were obtained. The results showed that percentage avoidance increased with the length of the warning period and was negatively correlated with the Ss’ lever holding behavior. Latencies of avoidance response fell at the mid-point of the warning periods investigated.
Sex Differences in Select Non-communicable HIV-Associated Comorbidities: Exploring the Role of Systemic Immune Activation/Inflammation.

The goals of this review are to (1) explore HIV-associated cardiovascular disease (CVD), neurocognitive impairment, and non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADC) as heterogeneous model disease states fuelled in part by systemic immune activation/inflammation; (2) consider sex differences in the epidemiology of these diseases in both high-resource and lower-resource settings; and (3) examine biological and environmental factors which may contribute to heightened systemic immune activation/inflammation specifically among women living with HIV (WLHIV). The observation that WLHIV have higher levels of systemic immune activation/inflammation than men living with HIV (MLHIV) may be relevant to sex differences in select non-communicable HIV-associated comorbidities. Heightened systemic immune activation among WLHIV may be influenced by sex-specific responses to the virus and to immunomodulatory agents, as well as by behavioral choices/comorbid conditions and perturbations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Additional research is needed to elucidate region-specific drivers of heightened systemic immune activation/inflammation among WLHIV and to determine whether WLHIV who present with one immune-mediated HIV-associated comorbidity (e.g., cognitive impairment) may be at increased risk for another (e.g., CVD, NADC). This kind of research would facilitate improved risk prediction for non-communicable HIV-associated comorbidities among WLHIV and the development of targeted immunomodulatory prevention strategies.
Modeling and optimal operation of a combined heat and power system in microgrids

Combined heat and power generation is a popular option for microgrids because of its efficiency, flexibility and environment-friendliness. This paper proposed a realistic economic dispatch model based on fuel efficiency data from a real combined heat and power system. The study shows the cost function and the feasible operating region are not convex. The operation problem has been formulated as a quasiconvex optimization problem. The operation problem has been formulated as a quasiconvex optimization problem so standard solvers can be used. Our solutions have been validated by simulations.
Making Change for Equity: An Inquiry-Based Professional Learning Initiative

To close equity gaps in California Community Colleges, we need institutional and curricular transformations. This article discusses research on pedagogical and institutional approaches to equity an...
Explicating the Dispositional Basis of the OCRDs: a Hierarchical Perspective

We examined the dispositional component of the obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs) in a large adult sample. Our battery included two hierarchical measures of personality, which allowed us to examine relations with both higher-order domains and lower-order facets of the five-factor model. In addition, our study included multiple indicators of each OCRD, which enabled us to model them as latent factors. Principal factor analyses of these indicators revealed six dimensions: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Hoarding, Excoriation, Body Dissatisfaction, Trichotillomania, and Body Preoccupation. Body Dissatisfaction, OCD, and Hoarding showed the strongest links to personality, with the other symptoms displaying more moderate associations. Neuroticism was the strongest and broadest predictor of the OCRDs at the domain level, exhibiting significant positive relations with every symptom dimension except Body Preoccupation in both bivariate and multivariate analyses. Conscientiousness showed negative associations with Body Dissatisfaction and Hoarding, and was positively related to Body Preoccupation. Finally, openness was negatively linked to OCD at both the bivariate and multivariate level. In comparison to domain-level analyses, the lower-order facets jointly contributed an additional 11.8% (Excoriation) to 17.6% (OCD) of the criterion variance, with a mean increment of 14.2%. Three neuroticism facets—anger, self-consciousness, and impulsiveness—displayed robust positive associations with two or more OCRD symptom factors, but no lower-order trait contributed significantly in every analysis. Overall, our results indicate that—similar to most other forms of psychopathology—OCRD symptoms have a common component of elevated neuroticism.
Effects of Brief Interactions with Male Experimenters Shortly Before and During the Trier Social Stress Test on Study Participants’ Testosterone Salivary Concentrations

In the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), participants briefly interact with a research assistant (‘greeter’) prior to the test, and then with two ‘judges’ (a ‘talking judge’ and a ‘timing judge’) during the test. We investigated the effects of the sex of the greeter and sex of the judges on participants’ pre-test and post-test salivary concentrations of testosterone and cortisol. Study participants were 137 male and 31 female university students, who underwent the TSST in our laboratory. The TSST was associated with a significant increase in cortisol across male and female participants, and also with an increase in testosterone among male, but not female, participants. Male participants who interacted with a male greeter prior to the TSST had significantly higher pre-test testosterone levels than males who interacted with a female greeter. Moreover, both male and female participants who had a male ‘talking’ judge and a female ‘timing’ judge had significantly greater testosterone increases after the TSST compared to participants who had a female talking judge and a male timing judge, or two female judges. No effects of sex of the greeter or sex of either judge on cortisol levels were found. The most likely explanation for the effects of male greeters and male talking judges on participants’ testosterone levels is that interacting with these individuals stimulated competitiveness in the participants. This finding contributes to the growing literature documenting adaptive hormonal changes in response to brief social interactions with individuals of the same or the opposite sex and also has methodological implications for studies using the TSST.
Functionalized Membranes for Sorption, Separation, and Reaction: An Overview

Functionalized membrane processes are finding wide applications ranging from water treatment to reactors to advanced bioseparations. In this chapter, applications of functionalized membranes in the area of sorption, separation, and reaction are discussed with specific examples. Selected examples for sorption applications include ethoxylated nonionic surfactants sorption from hydrophobic solvent and metal sorption from aqueous solutions. Membranes functionalized with either single layer or layer-by-layer assembly of charged polyelectrolytes have been discussed for separation applications of various ionic and neutral solutes. Charge-based ion exclusion with highly open geometries and high permeabilities is a distinct advantage of the ionizable polyelectrolyte functionalized membranes. Applications of functionalized membranes in the area of reaction by providing alternative support for catalyst immobilization are discussed with reference to catalytic dechlorination of chloro-organics. It was demonstrated that in situ formation of membrane immobilized structured bimetallic nanoparticles offers an efficient way for complete dechlorination of toxic chloro-organics at room temperature.
Response of Coastal Vegetation to Flooding and Salinity: A Case Study in the Rapidly Subsiding Mississippi River Deltaic Plain, USA

In rapidly subsiding coastal environments such as the Mississippi River deltaic plain, maintenance of the marsh surface in the intertidal zone is important for the survival of marsh vegetation. Coastal wetlands vertically accrete in response to increases in water level through accumulation of organic matter and mineral sediment. In brackish and salt marshes, plant productivity is related to the mineral content of the marsh soil profile. Areas which are not receiving adequate sediment supplies are experiencing marsh deterioration resulting from plant stress caused by flooding and saltwater intrusion. These factors adversely affect normal physiological functions leading to stressed plants characterised by increased anaerobic root respiration, lower carbon fixation and lower productivity. Increases in the intensity of soil reduction restricts root elongation, which reduces the effective rooting zone of wetland vegetation, thereby limiting its access to nutrient sources. Results suggest that coastal marsh vegetation requires periods of drainage or less reducing soil conditions during the growing season for root development in otherwise anaerobic soil zones. Once roots are established, anaerobic root metabolism and oxygen transport mechanisms allow plants to survive adverse soil redox conditions. Increased soil sulphide levels and salinity result in stomatal closure and reduction of photosynthetic rates in brackish and freshwater vegetation. The addition of sediment to a deteriorating marsh reduces plant stress and increases productivity.
Heparin cofactor II-proteinase reaction products exhibit neutrophil chemoattractant activity

The physiologic function of the plasma glycoprotein heparin cofactor II (HCII) is not well understood. An in vivo role for thrombin (IIa) inhibition by HCII in the presence of certain glycosaminoglycans (dermatan sulfate and heparin) can be proposed. Many proteins, such as complement components, can be proteolyzed to generate secondary bioactive molecules. HCII is a substrate for the human neutrophil (PMN) proteinases cathepsin G (CG) and elastase (LE). We found that degradation of HCII by CG or LE generated products with potent PMN chemotactic activity, which did not stimulate the PMN oxidative burst. Our results suggest that HCII may be a physiologic regulator of the acute inflammatory response.
An Examination of Discipline-Based Art Education Issues.

The purpose of this paper is to examine DBAE issues for their origins, meanings, and implications. These issues are discussed within the four general categories of conceptual structure, curriculum ...
Cold-stored platelets: A product with function optimized for hemorrhage control

Early administration of blood products following severe trauma is pivotal for establishing hemostasis and achieving successful outcomes. Platelet transfusions, in particular, provide rapid control of hemostasis and help to restore platelet dysfunction induced by trauma. In the U.S. platelets used for therapeutic purposes are stored at room temperature with a limited shelf life of 5-7 days. Issues with room temperature storage of platelets, including an increased risk of bacterial growth and a decline in platelet hemostatic function, have led to a resurgence in interest in cold-stored platelets for therapeutic transfusion. This review presents the current state of cold-stored platelets and cold-stored whole blood as treatment for actively bleeding patients. Usage of cold stored platelets in alternative areas, such as in the field of regenerative medicine, is also discussed.
Winter Upper-Ocean Stability and Ice–Ocean Feedbacks in the Sea Ice–Covered Southern Ocean

AbstractIn this study, under-ice ocean data from profiling floats, instrumented seals, and shipboard casts are used to assess wintertime upper-ocean stability and heat availability in the sea ice–c...
Bioanalytical method for quantitative determination of mithramycin analogs in mouse plasma by HPLC-QTOF.

Mithramycin (MTM) has potent anticancer activity, but severe toxicities restrict its clinical use. Semi-synthetic approaches have yielded novel MTM analogs with potentially lower toxicity and similar efficacy. In an effort to transition these analogs into in vivo models, a bioanalytical method was developed for their quantification in mouse plasma. Here we present the validation of the method for the quantitation of mithramycin SA-tryptophan (MTMSA-Trp) as well as the applicability of the methodology for assaying additional analogs, including MTM, mithramycin SK (MTMSK) and mithramycin SA-phenylalanine (MTMSA-Phe) with run times of 6 min. Assay linearity ranged from 5 to 100 ng/mL. Accuracies of calibration standards and quality control samples were within 15% of nominal with precision variability of <20%. MTMSA-Trp was stable for 30 days at -80°C and for at least three freeze-thaw cycles. Methanol (-80°C) extraction afforded 92% of MTMSA-Trp from plasma. Calibration curves for MTM and analogs were also linear from ≤5 to 100 ng/mL. This versatile method was used to quantitate MTM analogs in plasma samples collected during preclinical pharmacokinetic studies.
Molecular Biomarkers in Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common inherited form of intellectual disability (ID) and a known monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is a trinucleotide repeat disorder, in which more than 200 CGG repeats in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene causes methylation of the promoter with consequent silencing of the gene, ultimately leading to the loss of the encoded fragile X mental retardation 1 protein, FMRP. FMRP is an RNA binding protein that plays a primary role as a repressor of translation of various mRNAs, many of which are involved in the maintenance and development of neuronal synaptic function and plasticity. In addition to intellectual disability, patients with FXS face several behavioral challenges, including anxiety, hyperactivity, seizures, repetitive behavior, and problems with executive and language performance. Currently, there is no cure or approved medication for the treatment of the underlying causes of FXS, but in the past few years, our knowledge about the proteins and pathways that are dysregulated by the loss of FMRP has increased, leading to clinical trials and to the path of developing molecular biomarkers for identifying potential targets for therapies. In this paper, we review candidate molecular biomarkers that have been identified in preclinical studies in the FXS mouse animal model and are now under validation for human applications or have already made their way to clinical trials.
FABRICATION OF Ta2O5 AEROGEL TARGETS FOR RADIATION TRANSPORT EXPERIMENTS USING THIN FILM FABRICATION AND LASER PROCESSING

Experiments on the Omega laser at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics require tantalum oxide (Ta 2 O 5 ) aerogel thin films with a thickness ranging from 70 to 150 μm and densities of 250 and 500 mg/cm 3 . Experiments have been done with the aerogel in a disk geometry with diameters ranging from ∼2 to 3 mm with annular slots machined into it and without the slots. These experiments place demanding specifications on the targets in terms of thickness, dimensionality, and mass density variation. Future radiation experiments at the National Ignition Facility will require larger targets ∼7 mm in diameter and 200 μm thick with more complex features. In the past these targets have been conventionally machined from a starting billet of aerogel ∼5 mm in diameter and height. Through a series of steps the aerogel was eventually machined down to the desired thickness. This was a long and arduous labor-intensive process that had high attrition rates and an overall yield of ∼50%. We have improved this process by developing a new fabrication technique involving casting the foam to the desired thickness and then laser processing to create the desired features. This technique yields targets that meet the demanding specifications used in recent experiments while increasing throughput, yield, and available feature complexity in targets.
Efficiency of three materials in apexification for young permanent teeth

Objective To study the effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA),Vitapex paste and calcium hydroxide(CH) paste in apexification for young permanent teeth.Methods 257 younger permanent teeth with underdeveloped apex and necrotic pulp from 224 cases were randomly selected.The average age was (9.3 ± 1.5) years old.The teeth were randomly assigned to three groups,71 teeth in group A, 68 teeth in group B and 65 teeth in group C.After root canals were prepared and sterilized, the apexification was assigned with MTA paste used in group A,Vitapex paste used in group B and CH paste used in group C.All the teeth were observed for three years.Results In group A,65 teeth were effective and the effective rate was 91.55％.In group B,61 teeth were effective and the effective rate was 89.70％.In group C,50 teeth were effective and the effective rate was 76.92％.There Was significant difference between Vitapex paste and CH paste (P＜ 0.05).And there was significant difference between MTA paste and CH paste (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in MTA paste and Vitapex paste (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion MTA paste and Vitapex paste were more ideal materials than HA paste for apexification in young permanent teeth. Key words: Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA); Vitapex paste; Calcium hydroxide paste; Apexification; Younger permanent teeth