cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Localized surface plasmon resonance biosensors

In this review, the most recent progress in the development of noble metal nano-optical sensors based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectroscopy is summarized. The sensing principle relies on the LSPR spectral shifts caused by the surrounding dielectric environmental change in a binding event. Nanosphere lithography, an inexpensive and simple nanofabrication technique, has been used to fabricate the nanoparticles as the LSPR sensing platforms. As an example of the biosensing applications, the LSPR detection for a biomarker of Alzheimer's disease, amyloid-derived diffusable ligands, in human brain extract and cerebrospinal fluid samples is highlighted. Furthermore, the LSPR sensing method can be modified easily and used in a variety of applications. More specifically, a LSPR chip capable of multiplex sensing, a combined electrochemical and LSPR protocol and a fabrication method of solution-phase nanotriangles are presented here.
Chronic hepatitis C and persistent occult hepatitis C virus infection are characterized by distinct immune cell cytokine expression profiles

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicates in immune cells in both chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and occult HCV infection, but the extent of virus replication in this compartment in these opposing infection forms varies greatly. It was unknown whether this could be linked to HCV genotype or to differences in host gene expression shaping the immune response, and whether HCV replication in immune cells is sensitive to endogenous antiviral cytokines. In this study, we uncovered that significantly greater HCV load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), but not in plasma, coincided with HCV genotypes 2 and 3 in CHC, but with genotype 1 in residual occult infection after clinical resolution of hepatitis C. Moreover, PBMC from individuals with occult infection transcribed significantly greater levels of IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, but less interleukin (IL)-10 than those from CHC. In CHC, PBMC with low HCV load expressed significantly more IFN-gamma but less IL-12 than did cells with high virus content. In occult infection, HCV RNA detection in PBMC was associated with much lower IFN-alpha and IL-12 expression. Further, HCV replication in T lymphocytes could be completely eliminated by activation of endogenous IFN-gamma in CHC, but of IFN-alpha in occult infection. In conclusion, CHC and persistent occult HCV infection are characterized by clearly different profiles of antiviral cytokine response in circulating immune cells which are also different from those of healthy individuals. Higher expression of IL-10, combined with lower transcription of IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, is associated with a more robust HCV replication in immune cells.
Four hundred and sixty brands of e-cigarettes and counting: implications for product regulation

Introduction E-cigarettes are largely unregulated and internet sales are substantial. This study examines how the online market for e-cigarettes has changed over time: in product design and in marketing messages appearing on websites. Methods Comprehensive internet searches of Englishlanguage websites from May–August 2012 and December 2013–January 2014 identified brands, models, flavours, nicotine strengths, ingredients and product claims. Brands were divided into older and newer groups (by the two searches) for comparison. Results By January 2014 there were 466 brands (each with its own website) and 7764 unique flavours. In the 17 months between the searches, there was a net increase of 10.5 brands and 242 new flavours per month. Older brands were more likely than newer brands to offer cigalikes (86.9% vs 52.1%, p<0.01), and newer brands more likely to offer the more versatile eGos and mods (75.3% vs 57.8%, p<0.01). Older brands were significantly more likely to claim that they were healthier and cheaper than cigarettes, were good substitutes where smoking was banned and were effective smoking cessation aids. Newer brands offered more flavours per brand (49 vs 32, p<0.01) and were less likely to compare themselves with conventional cigarettes. Conclusions The number of e-cigarette brands is large and has been increasing. Older brands tend to highlight their advantages over conventional cigarettes while newer brands emphasise consumer choice in multiple flavours and product versatility. These results can serve as a benchmark for future research on the impact of upcoming regulations on product design and advertising messages of e-cigarettes.
Bis(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3,2‐dioxaphospholenyl) Oxide

[55894-94-5] C8H12O7P2 (MW 282.13) InChI = 1S/C8H12O7P2/c1-5-6(2)12-16(9,11-5)15-17(10)13-7(3)8(4)14-17/h1-4H3 InChIKey = NZXHMOAFTMHVGU-UHFFFAOYSA-N (phosphorylating agent; selective for primary alcohols over secondary alcohols, especially in the presence of triethylamine; used for the preparation of various unsymmetrical phosphodiesters; precursor of the more reactive phosphorylating agents 4,5-dimethyl-2-chloro-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphole and 4,5-dimethyl-2-(1′-imidazolyl)-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphole) Alternate Names: bis(1,2-dimethylethylene)pyrophosphate; acetoin enediol cyclopyrophosphate. Physical Data: mp 84–86 °C. Solubility: widely sol organic solvents. Preparative Methods: prepared from 4,5-dimethyl-2-methoxy-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphole 1 by treatment with pyridine in benzene to form the salt 2, followed by reaction with phosgene in benzene (eq 1). The solid 3 is recrystallized from CH2Cl2/hexanes.2 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: the reagent is hydrolyzed by water. (1)
Spin splitting and even-odd effects in carbon nanotubes

The level spectrum of a single-walled carbon nanotube rope, studied by transport spectroscopy, shows Zeeman splitting in a magnetic field parallel to the tube axis. The pattern of splittings implies that the spin of the ground state alternates by 1/2 as consecutive electrons are added. Other aspects of the Coulomb blockade characteristics, including the current-voltage traces and peak heights, also show corresponding even-odd effects.
Do variations in assisted reproductive technology programs’ screening practices indicate a need for national guidelines? Another perspective

Some see an "alarming inconsistency" in candidate-screening practices of assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs and call for common guidelines. However, reasonable people can disagree about who should be prevented from having children and why.
SENSITIVITY TO CHANGE IN COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE AND MOOD MEASURES OF ENERGY AND FATIGUE IN RESPONSE TO DIFFERING DOSES OF CAFFEINE OR BREAKFAST

This double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects (N = 18) experiment compared the sensitivity to change of cognitive performance and mood measures of mental energy following consumption of either 100 or 200-mg caffeine or a 440-calorie breakfast. Breakfast and 200-mg caffeine improved mood and cognitive performance. The sensitivity to change of the measures did not differ in response to any treatment (all p values > .05). The mood and cognitive measures of mental energy used here have similar sensitivity to detecting change in response to a moderate dose of caffeine and breakfast consumption.
Counseling College Women Experiencing Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified: A Cognitive Behavior Therapy Model

Eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) is, by far, the most common eating disorder that college counseling professionals encounter among their female clients. Empirical evidence and best practice guidelines support use of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) with women experiencing EDNOS. This article describes the EDNOS constellation of symptoms in college women and provides a detailed description of the CBT model for eating disorders, including counseling phases, behavioral goals, and cognitive components.
Advances in reflection grating technology for Constellation-X

The Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) on Constellation-X will require thousands of large gratings with very exacting tolerances. Two types of grating geometries have been proposed. In-plane gratings have low ruling densities (~500 l/mm) and very tight flatness and assembly tolerances. Off-plane gratings require much higher ruling densities (~5000 l/mm), but have somewhat relaxed flatness and assembly tolerances and offer the potential of higher resolution and efficiency. The trade-offs between these designs are complex and are currently being studied. To help address critical issues of manufacturability we are developing a number of novel technologies for shaping, assembling, and patterning large-area reflection gratings that are amenable to low-cost manufacturing. In particular, we report results of improved methods for patterning the sawtooth grating lines that are required for efficient blazing, including the use of anisotropic etching of specially-cut silicon wafers to pattern atomically smooth grating facets. We also report on the results of using nanoimprint lithography as a potential means for replicating sawtooth grating masters. Our Nanoruler scanning beam interference lithography tool allows us to pattern large area gratings up to 300 mm in diameter. We also report on developments in grating assembly technology utilizing lithographically patterned and micromachined silicon metrology structures ("microcombs") that have achieved submicron assembly repeatability.
A Two-Year Experience with the Neodymium-YAG Laser in Endobronchial Obstruction

In the first two years after the introduction of neodymium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd: YAG) laser therapy to our practice, 116 patients were treated 176 times. One hundred six patients (9L4 percent) were treated with the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope. General anesthesia was used in 89.7 percent of treatments; there were four transient anesthetic complications. Three deaths from massive hemorrhage occurred in the first 59 treatments (first 30 patients). After laser power settings were reduced from 90 to 40 W, there were no further incidences of massive hemorrhage or death in the subsequent 117 treatments. The airway caliber was improved in 83.4 percent of treatments. The trachea, mainstem bronchi, and bronchus intermedius airway calibers were improved more often than those of the lobar bronchi. With lower laser power settings, Nd: YAG laser therapy is a safe and effective means of relieving airway obstruction. Thirty-six percent of patients were alive at one year. The median time to retreatment or death was 130 days.
Montelukast moderately decreased asthma symptoms in children with persistent asthma.

Source Citation Knorr B, Franchi LM, Bisgaard H, et al. Montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, for the treatment of persistent asthma in children aged 2 to 5 years. Pediatrics. 2001 Sep;10...
Achieving antigen-specific tolerance in diabetes: regulating specifically.

Autoreactive T cells that escape negative selection in the thymus do not normally cause productive immune responses to self-antigens because of a number of regulatory mechanisms. Studies with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have suggested that immune regulatory mechanisms are induced by drug treatments that are able to stop on-going unwanted immune responses, such as type 1 diabetes, involving induction of regulatory T cells. TGF-β dependent and independent mechanisms have been described involving CD4+ as well as CD8+ T cells. The challenge is now to apply these mechanisms in an antigen-specific manner and so that lasting tolerance to the autoimmune responses can be maintained. We discuss recent data concerning the mechanisms of anti-CD3 mAb treatment and the ways in which our understanding of these mechanisms can be used to develop adoptive immune therapy with regulatory T cells to treat patients with type 1 diabetes or other autoimmune diseases.
Tensile strength of filled GR-S vulcanizates

The tensile strengths of high and low temperature GR-S rubber vulcanizates containing various fillers have been measured. The fillers used were HAF black, calcium carbonate, and a high styrene-butadiene copolymer (Pliolite S-6). Measurements were made as a function of filler concentration, temperature, and degree of crosslinking. These measurements are compared with the predictions of a molecular theory for tensile strength previously published. The following major conclusions are drawn. (1) The theory previously presented for the tensile strength of rubbers is correct in general concept. (2) The increase in strength of GR-S with added filler is a result of the fact that the filler particles distribute more widely the additional load imposed when a chain breaks. (3) In order for the filler to be effective, the polymer chains must adhere well to its surface. (4) The decrease in effectiveness of fillers at high temperatures is a direct result of the poorer adhesion at higher temperatures.
Overcrowding and Inmate Behavior: Some Preliminary Findings

This report used four prisons of different types in Florida to study the relationships between overcrowding and inmate behavior. Two types of behavior were examined, disruptive and constructive behavior. The results in general confirm previous findings that overcrowding is positively related to disruptive behavior, and the strength of this relationship varies with different types of institutions. Additional findings are that overcrowding and constructive behavior are negatively related, and the strength of this relationship also has various strengths with different types of institutions.
Yoga in heart failure patients: a pilot study.

Abstract Background Complementary therapies such as yoga practice have become commonplace, yet the safety, physical, and psychological effects on patients with heart failure (HF) are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an 8-week yoga program was safe and would positively influence physical and psychological function in HF patients. Methods and Results Stable HF patients were recruited (n = 15) and completed (n = 12) 8 weeks of yoga classes. Data collected were: safety (cardiac and orthopedic adverse events); physical function (strength, balance, endurance, flexibility); and psychological function (quality of life [QOL], depression scores, mindfulness) before and after 8 weeks of yoga classes. Results Mean age was 52.4 ± 11.6 with three-fourths (n = 9) being male and Caucasian. No participant had any adverse events. Endurance ( P P = .04 and lower body P = .01) significantly improved. Balance improved by 13.6 seconds (26.9 ± 19.7 to 40.0 ± 18.5; P = .05). Symptom stability, a subscale of QOL, improved significantly ( P = .02). Although no subject was depressed, overall mood was improved. Subjects subjectively reported improvements in overall well-being. Conclusions Yoga practice was safe, with participants experiencing improved physical function and symptom stability. Larger studies are warranted to provide more nonpharmacological options for improved outcomes in patients with HF.
Diagnostic Usefulness and Prognostic Impact of CD200 Expression in Lymphoid Malignancies and Plasma Cell Myeloma

The membrane glycoprotein MRC OX-2 (CD200) is expressed in several lymphoid malignancies. However, the diagnostic usefulness and potential prognostic importance of CD200 expression have not been rigorously examined. We show that CD200 is uniformly expressed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and absent in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). It is important to note that expression of CD200 is retained even in CLLs with immunophenotypic aberrancies, making CD200 a particularly useful marker for discrimination between these cases and MCL. CD200 is expressed in nearly all precursor B-lymphoblastic leukemias, with aberrant overexpression or underexpression compared with normal B-cell progenitors in 55% of cases. More than 70% of plasma cell myelomas (PCMs) expressed CD200, and loss of CD200 expression in PCM may be associated with more clinically aggressive disease. CD200 is expressed in several hematolymphoid neoplasms. Analysis of its expression has several diagnostic and potentially prognostic applications in the flow cytometric evaluation of lymphoid malignancies.
Food Environment, Built Environment, and Women’s BMI: Evidence from Erie County, New York

The authors present the results of a neighborhood-scaled exploratory study that tests the association of the food environment and the built environment with women’s body mass index (BMI) in Erie County, New York. The proximity of women’s homes to a supermarket relative to a convenience store is associated with lower BMI. A diverse land use mix in a neighborhood is positively associated with women’s BMI, especially when restaurants dominate nonresidential land use. The article offers suggestions for how food environments may be improved using planning strategies.
Promoter‐independent cold‐shock induction of cspA and its derepression at 37°C by mRNA stabilization

The gene for CspA, the major cold-shock protein of Escherichia coli is known to be dramatically induced upon temperature downshift. Here, we report that three-base substitutions around the Shine-Dalgarno sequence in the 159-base 5'-untranslated region of the cspA mRNA stabilizes the mRNA 150-fold, resulting in constitutive expression of cspA at 37 degrees C. This stabilization was found to be at least partially due to resistance against RNase E degradation. The cold-shock induction of cspA was also achieved by exchanging its promoter with the non-cold-shock Ipp promoter. The results presented indicate that the cspA gene is efficiently transcribed even at 37 degrees C. However, the translation of the cspA mRNA is blocked because of its extreme instability at 37 degrees C. The presented results also demonstrate that the cspA gene is constitutively transcribed at all temperatures; however, its expression at 37 degrees C is prevented by destabilizing its mRNA.
Achieving cooperation in a minimally constrained environment

We describe a simple environment to study cooperation between two agents and a method of achieving cooperation in that environment. The environment consists of randomly generated normal form games with uniformly distributed pay-offs. Agents play multiple games against each other, each game drawn independently from the random distribution. In this environment cooperation is difficult. Tit-for-Tat cannot be used because moves are not labeled as "cooperate" or "defect", fictitious play cannot be used because the agent never sees the same game twice, and approaches suitable for stochastic games cannot be used because the set of states is not finite. Our agent identifies cooperative moves by assigning an attitude to its opponent and to itself. The attitude determines how much a player values its opponents payoff, i.e how much the player is willing to deviate from strictly selfinterested behavior. To cooperate, our agent estimates the attitude of its opponent by observing its moves and reciprocates by setting its own attitude accordingly. We show how the opponent's attitude can be estimated using a particle filter, even when the opponent is changing its attitude.
1-(Phthalimidometh-yl)pyridinium p-toluene-sulfonate.

In the crystal of the title compound, C14H11N2O2+·C7H7O3S−, the cation and anion inter­act by way of an aromatic π–π inter­action [centroid–centroid separation = 3.5783 (2) A] and a T-stacking (C—H⋯π) inter­action between cations. The dihedral angle between the aromatic rings in the cation is 61.73 (8)°. The ionic units are aligned in a zigzag fashion in the b-axis direction.
Bone lesions secondary to benign phaeochromocytoma. Four cases in childhood

Metaphyseal sclerotic bone changes associated with benign phaeochromocytoma are very rare in childhood. We report four cases, in each of which the radiographic changes returned to normal after removal of the tumour.
The dissociation between nouns and verbs in Broca's and Wernicke's aphasia: Findings from chinese

Abstract Studies in English and Italian have shown that non-fluent Broca's aphasics find it more difficult to produce verbs than nouns, while some fluent patients (including Wernicke's aphasics and anomics) show the opposite profile. Explanations for this double dissociation include grammatical accounts (e.g. verb deficits reflect differences in morphological and/or syntactic complexity), semantic-conceptual accounts (e.g. verbs are based on action meanings, which are stored in anterior motor regions; nouns are based on object meanings, which are stored in sensory cortex), and lexical accounts (verbs and nouns are stored in separate regions of the brain, independent of their semantic content). In Chinese, many words are compounds with a complex internal structure, including VN compound verbs like ‘LOOK-BOOK’ (‘read’) and VN compound nouns like ‘STAND-GOOSE’ (‘penguin’). Hence words may be nouns at the lexical level, but they contain verbal elements at the sublexical level, providing a challenge to existin...
Fun, Activities, and Social Context: Leveraging Key Elements of Recreation Programs to Foster Self-Regulation in Youth

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Youth face a number of obstacles during adolescence that can make achieving a healthy trajectory into adulthood challenging. An abundance of literature indicates that the ability to effectively self-regulate is an important factor that helps youth navigate some of these challenges and is predictive of positive development (Dahl, 2004; Masten, 2004). Self-regulation is characterized by the ability to plan, guide, and monitor one’s thoughts, feelings, behavior, and motivation to achieve self-set goals (Zimmerman, 2000). Although evidence shows that a number of youth contexts (family, school, athletics, etc.) can promote young people’s self-regulation skills, there is very little evidence on how recreation programs may act a context to foster self-regulation. Yet, recreation programs are well positioned to serve as an important context that can promote self-regulation skill development in youth. This article examines the literature on self-regulation, youth development, and recreation programming, and offers recreation professionals suggestions on how to support self-regulation in youth. We argue that practitioners should leverage fun and enjoyment, activities that have developmental attributes, and a positive social context to promote self-regulation. More specifically, the underlying developmental qualities within recreation activities that support self-regulatory skills are those that are goal oriented, challenging, and build skills. These types of activities provide the opportunity to engage in the cognitive processing, motivation, and self-directed behaviors that reflect effective self-regulation (Larson, 2000; Watts & Caldwell, 2008). Moreover, the social context within recreation programs provides meaningful opportunities for participants to build healthy adult-youth and peer relationships (Bocarro & Witt, 2003), which this relational mechanism is argued to be the basis for developing self-regulation. The social fabric inherent to these programs is well situated for adults to scaffold opportunities that teach youth how to plan, guide, and monitor their efforts towards achieving self-set goals. Collectively, it appears that both the activities and relational mechanisms integral to recreation programs are well situated to support self-regulation in youth, yet their intentional application to a recreation setting has received little attention. However, if recreation professionals intentionally and proactively work to promote self-regulation, their programs may directly address this critical aspect of positive youth development.
Gravity Wave Reflection at a Discontinuity in Bottom Slope

Abstract The one-dimensional reflection of a gravity wave at a discontinuity in bottom slope is calculated from a Green–Liouville (WKB) solution of the mild-slope equation.
The City, Technology, and History

ban environment. Their frequency diminishes, though, at greater distance from the residence of the person in question. Of various characteristics, only the ownership of a car and its price are significantly related to the distance of different contacts from the family home. Car ownership increases the radius of urban contacts. We, also, now see that the city dweller travels farther for social as compared to commercial contacts. Anyway, he does not tend to neighbor in close proximity to the family home. Not all, not even the majority of his social and commercial contacts are confined within the walkingdistance neighborhood. We have negative evidence about a significant association between the following characteristics and the average distance of social and commercial contacts from the family home: (1) age, (2) family size, (3) sex composition of the family, (4) length of residence in Los Angeles, (5) length of residence at present address, (6) status as home owner or renter.
2:1 Cocrystals of Homochiral and Achiral Amino Acid Zwitterions with Li+ Salts: Water-Stable Zeolitic and Diamondoid Metal–Organic Materials

Eight 2:1 cocrystals of amino acid zwitterions and Li+ salts were crystallized from hot water to afford cationic networks based on tetrahedral lithium cations: square grids, an ABW topology net, and diamondoid nets.
Mysidella hoshinoi, a new species from Izu-Oshima Island, Japan (Crustacea, Mysidae, Mysidellinae)

A new mysid, Mysidella hoshinoisp. n. is described from Izu-Oshima Island, Sagami Sea, central Japan. This species differs from its congeners in having a posterodorsal finger-like papilla on the eyestalk, five peculiar spines terminating in plumed seta on outer margin of carpopropodus of endopod of first thoracopod, and uropodal endopod bearing 27 spines on inner margin.
Application of simple genetic algorithms to sequential circuit test generation

In this work we investigate the effectiveness of genetic algorithms (GAs) in the test generation process. We use simple GAs to generate populations of candidate test vectors and to select the best vector to apply in each time frame. A sequential circuit fault simulator is used to evaluate the fitness of each candidate vector, allowing the test generator to be used for both combinational and sequential circuits. We experimented with various GA parameters, namely population size, number of generations, mutation rate, and selection and crossover schemes. For the ISCAS85 combinational benchmark circuits, 100% of testable faults were detected in six of the ten circuits used, and very compact test sets were generated. Good results were obtained for many of the ISCAS89 sequential benchmark circuits, and execution times were significantly lower than in a deterministic test generator in most cases. >
8. Guanylyl Cyclase A-Targeted Gene Therapy Ameliorates Disease Progression in Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease

Although Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a leading cause of renal and hepatic pathologies, there are limited therapies available. PKD presents with cystic manifestations leading to organ enlargement, loss of functional parenchyma, progressive organ dysfunction and hypertension, ultimately leading to organ failure.Cardiac B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is central in the control of intravascular volume by regulating water and sodium homeostasis. Additionally, BNP has been characterized to counteract several key properties contributing to cystic disease progression such as; inhibiting fibroblast proliferation, preventing monocyte chemotaxis, antagonizing vasopressin (AVP)-mediated water reabsorption, and preventing renin-angiotensin-aldosterone activation. Along with its blood pressure-lowering propensity, BNP presents a promising therapeutic strategy in hindering the progression of PKD.We investigated the therapeutic effect of vector mediated BNP expression in the rat model of ARPKD (PCK). Littermate PCK neonates received placebo, or single intraperitoneal injection of adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) vectors at 1.0E+12 genome copies/kg, under the control of an internal CMV promoter.Three months post treatment, kidney weight was significantly reduced (TKW/BW 12.6±1.7* vs 14.5±2.0) in treated PCK, along with a significant reduction in renal cyst burden. Blood and urine analysis confirmed decreased disease with BNP treatment, with a nearly 50% reduction in 24 hour urine output, (8.8±3* vs 13.2±1 mL/24-hr), higher creatinine clearance (eGFR: 0.51±0.1* vs 0.26±0.2 mL/min), decreased proteinuria (490±270* vs 270±190 mg/dL), and increased urine concentrations of sodium (130±39* vs 85±20 mmol/L) and potassium (395.8±41* vs 282.1±75 mmol/L) in treated PCK, compared to controls, respectively. Excretion of renal injury markers, kidney injury molecule-1 and lipocalin-2, was lower in BNP-treated rats compared to controls. BNP treatment also preserved glomerular architecture, retarded basement membrane thickening and glomerular sclerosis in PCK. Real-time RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that BNP treatment significantly reduced renal and hepatic expression of the fibrosis-associated genes; Collagen, fibronectin, and transforming growth factor β. Furthermore, liver protection, in BNP-treated PCK, was observed through decreased expression of fibrosis marker desmin, and galectin-3, along with decreased cyst-index. Additionally, echocardiography demonstrated preserved cardiac function with treatment (ejection fraction: 78±5 * vs 73±5%) at three months, though both groups remained normotensive.Together, these observations indicate that a single intraperitoneal AAV9 injection elicits therapeutic benefit in protecting against declining hepatic and renal function, remodeling of healthy parenchyma, and increased cyst burden, while providing cardiac protection. The present study further suggests that sustained GC-A activation provides a novel opportunity for the treatment of polycystic kidney and liver diseases.±±
Identifying State-Free Networked Tags

Traditional radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies allow tags to communicate with a reader but not among themselves. By enabling peer communications between nearby tags, the emerging networked tags represent a fundamental enhancement to today’s RFID systems. They support applications in previously infeasible scenarios where the readers cannot cover all tags due to cost or physical limitations. This paper is the first study on identifying state-free networked tags, which is a basic, fundamental function for most tagged systems. To prolong the lifetime of networked tags and make identification protocols scalable to large systems, energy efficiency and time efficiency are most critical. Our investigation reveals that the traditional contention-based protocol design will incur too much energy overhead in multihop tag systems. Surprisingly, a reader-coordinated design that serializes tag transmissions performs much better. In addition, we show that load balancing is important in reducing the worst case energy cost to the tags, and we present a solution based on serial numbers. We also show that, by leveraging the request aggregation and transmission pipelining techniques, the time efficiency of serialized ID collection can be greatly improved.
A Late Sixteenth-Century Chinese Buddhist Fellowship: Spiritual Ambitions, Intellectual Debates, and Epistolary Connections

Chinese Buddhism in the late imperial period is a lukewarm research field in Buddhist studies despite the vast number of existing primary sources. Many scholars started to realize the importance of...
Correlating the optical properties of WS2 monolayers grown by CVD with isoelectronic Mo doping level (Conference Presentation)

Incorporating dopants in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) can enable manipulations of their electrical and optical properties. Previous attempts in amphoteric doping in monolayer TMDs have proven to be challenging. Here we report the incorporation of molybdenum (Mo) atoms in monolayer WS2 during growth by chemical vapor deposition, and correlate the distribution of Mo atoms with the optical properties including photoluminescence and ultrafast transient absorption dynamics. Dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging quantified the isoelectronic doping of Mo in WS2 and revealed its gradual distribution along a triangular WS2 monolayer crystal, increasing from 0% at the edge to 2% in the center of the triangular WS2 triangular crystals. This agrees well with the Raman spectra data that showed two obvious modes between 360 cm-1 and 400 cm-1 that corresponded to MoS2 in the center. This in-plane gradual distribution of Mo in WS2 was found to account for the spatial variations in photoluminescence intensity and emission energy. Transition absorption spectroscopy further indicated that the incorporation of Mo in WS2 regulate the amplitude ratio of XA and XB of WS2. The effect of Mo incorporation on the electronic structure of WS2 was further elucidated by density functional theory. Finally, we compared the electrical properties of Mo incorporated and pristine WS2 monolayers by fabricating field-effect transistors. The isoelectronic doping of Mo in WS2 provides an alternative approach to engineer the bandgap and also enriches our understanding the influence of the doping on the excitonic dynamics.
Interobserver Variability in Scoring Liver Biopsies with a Diagnosis of Alcoholic Hepatitis

Background Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is one of the most severe forms of alcoholic liver disease. Recently, a histologic scoring system for predicting prognosis in this patient cohort was proposed as Alcoholic Hepatitis Histologic Score (AHHS). We aimed to assess interobserver variability in recognizing histologic features of AH, and the effect of this variability on the proposed AHHS categories. Design Hematoxylin-eosin and trichrome stained slides from 32 patients diagnosed with AH with liver biopsies within 1 month of presentation (2000-2015), were reviewed by 5 pathologists including 3 liver pathologists and 2 gastrointestinal (GI) pathologists masked to the clinical findings or outcome. Histologic features of AH were assessed, the AHHS was calculated and an AHHS category (mild, moderate, severe) was assigned. The Fleiss’ kappa coefficient (Kappa) analysis was performed to determine the interobserver agreement. Results A slight-to-moderate level of interobserver agreement existed among 5 reviewers on histopathological features of AH with kappa value ranging from 0.20 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03-0.46, megamitochondria) to 0.52 [95% CI: 0.40-0.68, polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration]. There was only a fair level of agreement in assigning AHHS category (K=0.33, 95% CI: 0.20-0.51). While overall fibrosis and neutrophilic inflammation were comparably evaluated by 3 liver pathologists and 2 GI pathologists, bilirubinostasis and megamitochondria were more consistently diagnosed by liver pathologists. Overall, 18 out of 32 (56%) were uniformly assigned to an AHHS category by all liver pathologists with a kappa value of 0.40 (95% CI: 0.22-0.60). Conclusion In general, features of AH can be recognized with a slight-to-moderate level of interobserver agreement and there was fair interobserver agreement on assigning an AHHS category. Significant interobserver variability among pathologists revealed by the current study can limit its usefulness in everyday clinical practice. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Probiotics and Infection Prevention

Increasing interest in the clinical use of probiotics in the United States is driven both by consumer enthusiasm for products marketed to have potential health benefits and by researchers inspired by the potential to prevent, treat, and mitigate disease. A limited number of studies have examined the use of probiotics as a potential tool in the antimicrobial resistance crisis. These studies include trials using probiotics to eliminate vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus colonization and to prevent multidrug-resistant organisms. These topics, along with the safety of probiotics in the healthcare setting, will be discussed in detail in this chapter. Results have been mixed, leading to ongoing controversy regarding the utility of probiotics in these settings. The conversation is limited by the quality of published studies. Specifically, there is an overall lack of uniformity in nearly all elements of study design which makes generalizability of results difficult for clinicians.
Tracers of chemical scavenging in the ocean: boundary effects and large-scale chemical fractionation

Several nuclides in the natural radioactive decay series display a strong non-conservative behaviour in the oceanic water column because of their removal to the sediments by uptake at the solid—solution interface. This removal process is commonly referred to as scavenging, and it is believed to be important in governing the behaviour of many heavy metals and other trace substances in the ocean. Measurements of radioactive disequilibrium in seawater yield estimates of the rate at which scavenging occurs. Results show that removal times by scavenging are comparable to within-basin lateral mixing times. It follows that the distribution of the scavenged tracers should be sensitive to the spatial distribution of their sinks, and this has been demonstrated by observation, most notably in the case of 210 Pb. The distribution of 210 Pb suggests a strong control by intensified uptake at boundaries, especially at the ocean margins. This conclusion has been confirmed by sediment traps and by measurements of 210 Pb accumulations in the sediment column. A similar phenomenon of intensified scavenging at ocean margins has been observed for 231 Pa. Studies with 230 Th, on the other hand, show that its delivery to the sediments is mainly caused by the local flux of sinking particles. Thus two transport pathways for removal by scavenging are envisioned, one with a strong horizontal component due to the intensified uptake at the margins and the other with a strong vertical component due to the particle flux. Important large-scale chemical fractionations, best illustrated by comparative studies of 230 Th and 231 Pa, are produced by differential partitioning of elements between these two pathways. Model calculations suggest that horizontal mixing rate and particle flux are important variables controlling the partitioning of reactive chemical substances between pelagic sediments of the interior ocean and hemipelagic sediments of the ocean margins. Changes in the extent of this partitioning through time may be recorded as changes in the 230 Th/ 231 Pa ratio through the sediment column.
Treating development networks seriously: What public managers should know

In recent years, local governments have concentrated on revitalizing their local economies through economic development policy, which raises a number of important political and legal issues. However, the political attraction of jobs, the popularity of professional sports, and the public's anticipation of obtaining “big league” status stifle a critical probing of these issues. One result has been a systematic pattern of one-sided interactions in favor of entrepreneurs, particularly those who control professional sports franchises. This pattern threatens to undermine the effectiveness and legitimacy of the development policymaking process. This article clarifies these costly though less obvious issues and provides a framework for considering them more candidly, and hopefully, more effectively.
Labeling for Quantitative Comparison of Imaging Measurements in Vitro and in Cells

Qualitative imaging of biomolecular localization and distribution inside cells has revolutionized cell biology. Most of these powerful techniques require modifications to the target biomolecule. Over the past 10 years, these techniques have been extended to quantitative measurements, from in-cell protein folding rates to complex dissociation constants to RNA lifetimes. Such measurements can be affected even when a target molecule is just mildly perturbed by its labels. Here, the impact of labeling on protein (and RNA) structure, stability, and function in cells is discussed via practical examples from the recent literature. General guidelines for selecting and validating modification sites are provided to bring the best from cell biology and imaging to quantitative biophysical experiments inside cells.
Axillary basal cell carcinoma in patients with Goltz-Gorlin syndrome: report of basal cell carcinoma in both axilla of a woman with basal cell nevus syndrome and literature review

Background: Basal cell carcinoma of the axilla, an area that is not usually exposed to the sun, is rare. Individuals with basal cell nevus syndrome, a disorder associated with a mutation in the patch 1 (PTCH1) gene, develop numerous basal cell carcinomas.Purpose: To describe a woman with basal cell nevus syndrome who developed a pigmented basal cell carcinoma in each of her axilla and to review the features of axillary basal cell carcinoma patients with Goltz-Gorlin syndrome.Methods: Pubmed was used to search the following terms: axillary basal cell carcinoma and basal cell nevus syndrome. The papers and their citations were evaluated.Results: Basal cell nevus syndrome patients with basal cell carcinoma of the axilla were observed in two women; this represents 2.5% (2 of 79) of the patients with axillary basal cell carcinoma. Both women had pigmented tumors that were histologically nonaggressive. The cancers did not recur after curettage or excision.Conclusions: Basal cell carcinoma of the axilla has only been described in 79 individuals; two of the patients were women with pigmented tumors who had basal cell nevus syndrome. Similar to other patients with axillary basal cell carcinoma, the tumors were histologically nonaggressive and did not recur following treatment. Whether PTCH1 gene mutation predisposes basal cell nevus patients to develop axillary basal cell carcinomas remains to be determined.
Perchlorate: Human Toxicity

Perchlorate is an anion with a chemical structure of ClO4−. It has been used as an oxidizer in rocket propellant, explosives, road flares, and air bags. It is stable in the environment, and exposure can occur through its ingestion in food or water following industrial contamination or from naturally occurring perchlorate. Numerous drinking water sources, including several large ones in the southwest United States, have been contaminated. Perchlorate has been found in human breast milk and certain foods. In a recent study, perchlorate was found in the urine of all 2820 subjects tested. The primary health effect is inhibition of iodine uptake in the thyroid where iodine is required for thyroid hormone production. The fetus and young children need thyroid hormone for normal neurodevelopment, and thus could be particularly susceptible. At high doses, perchlorate has been shown to cause decreased thyroid hormone production and hypothyroidism. Several studies have failed to identify clear effects of low environmental perchlorate exposure on thyroid function. However, a recent large study has reported an association between low perchlorate exposure and decreased thyroid hormone in women with low iodine intake. Further research is needed on the impacts of low perchlorate exposure in potentially susceptible groups.
Inference of Compressive Stresses at Joined Interfaces Using Ultrasonic Reflectivity

The nondestructive determination of the compressive component of stress in various kinds of interference fasteners is a problem of considerable interest. As noted in the previous paper,1 none of the usual techniques employed for stress measurement is appropriate for this case. This paper reports results obtained upon Nitinol couplers utilizing ultrasonic reflectivity and interpretive concepts described in that paper as advanced by Haines.2 The reader is referred to a paper in the Proceedings of the 14th Symposium, Southwest Research Institute, for full details of the present work.3
Scope of practice in team-based care: Virginia and nationwide.

A new Virginia law governing collaborations between nurse practitioners and doctors leaves unresolved key legal issues in team-based care, including those pertaining to medical malpractice and liability and anticompetitive practices.
Transcription from the adenovirus major late promoter uses redundant activating elements.

Abstract The adenovirus major late promoter (MLP) has been analyzed by constructing recombinant viral genomes containing mutations in possible promoter elements. Single base pair changes in the TATA box had no effect on viral replication, and MLP expression, as measured by the accumulation of late mRNAs, was at wild type levels. However, a double mutation in the TATA box reduced viral replication and MLP expression, demonstrating that the TATA box is important, although not essential, for maximal activity in virus. Primer extension analysis showed that the mRNAs were initiated at the correct position. A mutation in the CAAT box was viable, and had only minor effects on MLP expression. However, this mutation when coupled to a single mutation in the TATA box, severely reduced viral replication and expression from the MLP. Similarly, a viable mutation in the UPE, shown previously to abolish binding of USF, coupled to a single mutation in the TATA box was lethal. These results suggest that both USF and the CAAT box binding factor CP1 can interact with TFIID to effect activation, and thus that the mechanism of activation is functionally redundant.
Inventory of CO 2 available for terraforming Mars

We revisit the idea of ‘terraforming’ Mars — changing its environment to be more Earth-like in a way that would allow terrestrial life (possibly including humans) to survive without the need for life-support systems — in the context of what we know about Mars today. We want to answer the question of whether it is possible to mobilize gases present on Mars today in non-atmospheric reservoirs by emplacing them into the atmosphere, and increase the pressure and temperature so that plants or humans could survive at the surface. We ask whether this can be achieved considering realistic estimates of available volatiles, without the use of new technology that is well beyond today’s capability. Recent observations have been made of the loss of Mars’s atmosphere to space by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission probe and the Mars Express spacecraft, along with analyses of the abundance of carbon-bearing minerals and the occurrence of CO2 in polar ice from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Mars Odyssey spacecraft. These results suggest that there is not enough CO2 remaining on Mars to provide significant greenhouse warming were the gas to be emplaced into the atmosphere; in addition, most of the CO2 gas in these reservoirs is not accessible and thus cannot be readily mobilized. As a result, we conclude that terraforming Mars is not possible using present-day technology.
Impact of Health on Early Retirement and Post-Retirement Income Loss among Survivors of the 11 September 2001 World Trade Center Disaster.

The health consequences of the 9/11 World Trade Center (WTC) terrorist attacks are well documented, but few studies have assessed the disaster’s impact on employment among individuals exposed to the disaster. We examined the association between 9/11-related health conditions and early retirement among residents and workers who resided and/or worked near the WTC site on 9/11, and the association between such conditions and post-retirement income loss. The study included 6377 residents and/or area workers who completed the WTC Health Registry longitudinal health surveys in 2003–2004 and 2006–2007, and the 2017–2018 Health and Employment Survey. Logistic regression models were used to examine the associations. We found that 9/11-related health conditions were significantly associated with the likelihood of early retirement. Residents and/or area workers with more physical health conditions, especially when comorbid with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), were more likely to retire before age 60 than those with no conditions. For retirees, having PTSD or PTSD comorbid with any number of physical conditions increased the odds of reporting substantial post-retirement income loss. Disaster-related outcomes can negatively impact aging individuals in the form of early retirement and income loss. Long-term effects of major disasters must continue to be studied.